ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Sunday 8 December 2013 4 Safar 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5907 Price: QR2 International Qatar’s Nasser Islamic wins focuses top award on Rio goal Business | 18 Sport | 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Judicial powers Emir attends forum on Palestine ‘must for ration inspectors’ 44,000 families have ration cards DOHA: The Ministry of Finance complaints from citizens. and Trade has proposed a new Currently there are about 44,000 law to give judicial powers to its Qatari families holding the smart inspectors monitoring distribu- ration cards. tion of rations to the citizens, a The official said the govern- senior official has said. ment has no plans to increase The supply department the prices of the subsidized food, (Tamween), under the Central despite an increase in the prices Tender Committee of the in source countries. The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the opening of the Second Annual Conference of Strategic and Policy Studies Research Centres Ministry, had issued smart cards A 40kg bag of rice is available at at The Ritz-Carlton Doha yesterday. The conference was themed ‘The Cause of Palestine and the Future of the Palestinian National Movement’. to the citizens last year replacing QR65, 25kg bag of sugar at QR25, Full report on page 4 the traditional paper coupons to four cans of edible oil with three make distribution of the rations litres each at QR35 and canned more organised and transparent. milk at QR60 (96 cans with 170 “The Ministry has requested grammes each). Besides food, fod- for a law giving judicial powers der is also supplied to citizens who (to the inspectors ) to monitor own cattle. Oman ‘opposes’ distribution of the subsided items, “The cost is increasing every Include GCC in Iran talks: FM Gulf states’ union so that they can punish those year but the price is fixed for manipulating with the rations the citizens. It is not going to MANAMA: Gulf Arab states sidelines of the Manama Dialogue, intelligence chief Prince Turki MANAMA: Oman opposes illegally,” said Khalid Ibrahim Al change. The state is bearing the must have a seat at nuclear a regional security conference Al Faisal and Saudi Minister of upgrading the Gulf Cooperation Noaimi, Director of Tamween, in additional expenses,” said Al talks between world powers and organised by the International State for Foreign Affairs Nizar Council to a union of six nations, an interview with Al Sharq. Noaimi. He added that distribu- neighbouring Iran because of Institute of Strategic Studies bin Obaid Madani. an idea first mooted by Saudi He said the monitoring depart- tors are getting only a marginal their own stake in regional sta- think tank. Turning to Syria, Al Attiyah Arabia, Muscat’s foreign minis- ment at the Ministry has been profit. He asked the citizens to bility, Qatar’s Foreign Minister “I know that we have good rela- said Qatar would continue provid- ter said yesterday. conducting regular inspections use the subsidized food respon- H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al tionships and we are a strategic ing support to Syrian rebels fight- The union issue is on the agenda and surprise raids at distribution sibly to ensure continuity of the Attiyah said yesterday. partner with our allies – the US, ing Assad. “We work with our of the GCC summit to be held outlets to prevent irregularities. provisions. “They are supposed to Gulf Arab capitals cautiously UK, France and others. So what I friends to support General Selim on Tuesday in Kuwait. “We are He said most of the complaints take it every month and they can welcomed an interim nuclear was thinking about, it is not only Idris (head of the rebel Supreme against a union,” Omani Foreign from citizens were related to stor- not postpone purchase until next accord between Tehran and six P5 plus Germany; it should be P5 Military Council) and to facilitate Minister Yusuf bin Alawi said at age of the commodities and short- month,” he said. powers agreed on November 24, plus the ... GCC. whatever they want through the the Manama Dialogue here. age in stocks or the distributors’ Currently there are 73 distrib- but some officials said Western At the end of the day (in) any Friends of Syria,” Al Attiyah said. Alawi was speaking after Saudi failure to provide the required utors across the country, includ- allies had not briefed them agreement, the GCC is meant to “This is an international group Assistant Foreign Minister Nizar quantities. ing 49 authorised centres and adequately on a deal central to be part of that agreement on the ... who are there to support the Madani called on Gulf states to “If any violation is detected, 24 Al Meera outlets, besides five regional as well as global security. region. We are trying to say it Syrian people with any means unify against dangers in the the inspectors will first issue a distributors for subsidised fodder. Speaking to Reuters in an should be 5+2,” Al Attiyah said. they need to protect themselves region. “We will not prevent a warning to the distributor and Regarding complaints about a interview, Al Attiyah said the Al Attiyah’s suggestion that from the brutality of the Syrian union, but if it happens we will would cut their quota, if they fail shortage of rice with some dis- Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) the GCC become more closely regime,” he said. not be part of it,” Alawi said. to comply with the instructions,” tributors, the official said it was deserved a place at the table as involved in the nuclear talks was Attiyah said “any terrorist If the five other GCC members said Al Noaimi. caused by a delay in imports. essential partners in regional echoed at the Manama Dialogue group worries us”, but blamed a decide to form a union, “we will The department has set up THE PENINSULA stability. “We are in the region. by several serving and former lack of world action on Syria. simply withdraw” from the new a hotline (44461666) to receive Continued on page 4 We are concerned,” he said on the officials, including former Saudi REUTERS body, he said. AFP Celebrating Mandela’s life WTO seals first global trade deal Qatar among best NUSA DUA, INDONESIA: The World Trade Organisation reached its first ever trade countries for doing reform deal yesterday to the roar of approval from nearly 160 ministers who had gathered on business: Forbes the Indonesian island of Bali to decide on the make-or-break agreement that could add $1 DOHA: Qatar is ranked 40th in However, the magazine also trillion to the global economy the recently released Forbes list said that the country’s oil and The approval came after Cuba of the best countries for doing gas still account for more than dropped a last-gasp threat to veto business. 50 percent of its GDP, roughly 85 the package of measures. “For The list, compiled by the US percent of export earnings, and 70 the first time in our history, the publication, cites Qatar’s strong percent of government revenues. WTO has truly delivered,” WTO economic fundamentals such as a “Oil and gas have made Qatar chief Roberto Azevedo said. “This well-capitalised banking sector, low the world’s highest per capita time the entire membership came inflation, high per capita GDP, huge income country and the country together. We have put the ‘world’ proven reserves of hydrocarbons with the lowest unemployment,” back in World Trade Organization,” and high public sector spending on said the periodical. he said. “We’re back in business... large-scale infrastructure projects In terms of trade freedom, Bali is just the beginning.” Children dance outside the Mandela House in Soweto yesterday as part of the events celebrating the life of for hosting the 2022 World Cup as Qatar is ranked 54th, and on REUTERS former South African president Nelson Mandela, two days after his death. World leaders are preparing to some of the key driving factors for monetary freedom it is placed See also page 17 converge in unprecedented numbers on South Africa for the funeral on December 15. See also page 10 strong growth. 25th. On property rights it is Among the other GCC econo- ranked 20th, on innovation 16th, Sudan’s VP resigns mies, the United Arab Emirates is on technology 31st, on red tape placed higher than Qatar, at 31st 91st, on investor protection 103rd, KHARTOUM: Sudan’s Vice- on the list, while Saudi Arabia is on corruption 26th, on personal President Ali Osman Taha, a placed 56th, Oman 58th, Bahrain freedom 117th, on tax burden sec- key figure behind the Islamist- Al Zubarah fort to be opened to public 59th and Kuwait 76th. ond, and on market performance backed coup 24 years ago, has Forbes determined the ‘Best 28th. resigned to pave the way for DOHA: Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) yes- State. Qatar will host the 38th World Heritage Countries for Business’ by grading Ireland topped the list, followed a new government, President terday announced that it will open Al Zubarah Committee session in Doha in June 2014, it said. 145 nations on 11 factors, including by New Zealand, which slipped to Omar Al Bashir said yesterday. Archaeological site to the public after the official The Al Zubarah Archaeological site, is one of the property rights, innovation, taxes, the second position. Hong Kong “Ali Osman will voluntarily step launch on December 12. largest and best-preserved examples of an 18th-19th technology, corruption, freedom was third for the second straight down”, as he did in 2005 following In a statement, the QMA said the inclusion of century traditional pearl fishing and merchant town (personal, trade and monetary), year.