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Friday 28 December 2012 15 Safar 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5562 Price: QR2

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Foreign activists enter Gaza Setback for Mursi Common job as minister quits CAIRO: An Islamist minister quit Egypt’s government yes- terday, the second cabinet res- ignation this week, as President contracts for Mohammed Mursi tries to shore up his authority. In a move that may pre-empt a planned reshuffle, parliamen- tary affairs minister Mohamed maids likely Mahsoub announced he was quit- ting because he disagreed with the slow pace of reform. GCC studying Saudi proposal Communications Minister Hany Mahmoud quit earlier this week, DOHA: The GCC countries are despite the minimum wage for citing his inability to adapt to the discussing a proposal, sponsored Filipina maids having been raised government’s “working culture”. by Saudi Arabia, for having a to QR1,500 recently, the demand Earlier, a Christian member of common job contract for house- for them has been going up. Egypt’s upper house of parliament, maids, with Qatar suggesting Manpower agencies here Nadia Henry, quit a day after the that the contract include privi- are suffering because despite Islamist-dominated chamber took leges like end-of-service ben- the growing demand, visas for over legislative authority under the efits, in line with international Filipina maids are not being new constitution. The resigna- labour laws. issued anymore. tions come ahead of a promised According to Qatar’s Ministry Families prefer Filipinas as cabinet reshuffle. Cabinet sources of Labour, a maid’s job contract maids because they are good at A delegation of pro-Palestinian activists, mainly French and Egyptian, flash the victory sign and wave the said as many as eight cabinet should not only entitle her to ter- childcare, hygienic and speak Palestinian flag as they arrive in the Gaza Strip via the Rafah border crossing yesterday. Mission ‘Welcome to members from second-tier min- minal benefits like gratuity if she English. The second preference Palestine’ aims to denounce the blockade of the Palestinian territory that was imposed in June 2006. The delega- istries might go next week. has spent a year or more working is for Indonesian maids. “Many Full report on page 4 tion is to stay in the territory until January 1. The visitors brought drugs, surgical supplies and French textbooks. with a household, but also specify families aren’t happy about the working hours and annual leave. decision to ban the recruitment “These are the basic rights of of Filipina maids,” the daily said, a worker as enshrined in inter- citing sources in the recruitment national labour laws,” the labour business. ministry has said while expressing In fact, manpower agencies its opinion on the Saudi proposal to in the Philippines have stopped Vegetables sold for a song at new market have a job contract for maids that recruiting maids for Qatar, Saudi BY SANAULLAH is common to the six GCC states. Arabia and Kuwait, said the daily. Central Market. For example, a as compared to this new market,” and each of them has been allot- Riyadh, it appears, has for- Citing sources in the recruit- seven-kilo box of cucumber was said the Qatari, who didn’t want ted a stall on the condition that warded a sample contract to ment business, the daily added DOHA: Vegetables fresh from selling for an incredible QR11. his name in print. their stall must operate on all the labour ministry here for its that people were not keen to try Qatari farms were available lit- Tomato, the demand for which Middle and lower-end restau- the three days a week the mar- comments. maids from new markets like erally at throwaway prices at the is quite high since it is used not rateurs are sure to patronise the ket will be open. Qatar has also suggested that Bosnia-Herzegovina, Kenya and exclusive market for local pro- only in salads but also in nearly all new market because of the fresh Hassad Food Company has the current practice of having Ghana, among other countries. duce that was formally opened curry preparations in most Arab produce and the lucrative prices, set up two stalls at the market three parties to a maid’s contract When contacted for comment, near Umm Salal yesterday. and Asian homes, was being sold said a stall operator. exclusively selling imported fruits — the maid, her employer and the the Philippines embassy here More than 20 vegetables — literally for a song — a seven-kilo There are 22 stalls, all num- (fruits are not grown in Qatar) manpower agency that recruits denied that Qatar had stopped some of different varieties — box for QR15. bered, at the newly-opened so that those visiting the market her — be done away with, and that issuing visas for Filipina maids, were available at the stalls at “It’s unbelievable,” said a Qatari market, called Al Mazrouah to buy vegetables need not go to it should have only two parties — and said they were still processing such unbelievably low prices customer, of the prices, as he Yard, which has been built by the Central Market to buy fruits, the maid and her employer. requests to hire Filipina maids. that the stall operators said they snapped up large quantities of the Ministry of Environment officials said. As for wages, it has been sug- Asked if the number of requests were confident they would give fresh vegetables, which he said in collaboration with Hassad The market will function on gested that the matter be left to to hire Filipina maids had gone the Central Market a run for its he hoped would last in his large Food Company, and is run by Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays each country to determine based down recently, Consul Gilbert money. household for a week. the latter. from 7am to 7pm, and the farms on local conditions. Segara said evasively: “We don’t The rates of nearly all the vege- He said he wouldn’t be visit- There are 22 farmhouses in have to bring their produce to the Meanwhile, local Arabic daily have data”. tables were 30 to 40 percent lower ing the Central Market any more. the country that grow vegetables market latest by 6.30am. Al Arab reported yesterday that THE PENINSULA than the prices prevailing at the “The prices there are quite high (mainly from October to June), Continued on page 3

Pakistan beat India PSG team due in Doha today

for Asian crown DOHA: Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) will travel to Doha today DOHA: Pakistan dethroned glitter of the nine-goal thriller. for its 10-day winter training defending champions India 5-4 Korean umpire Yun Shin Dong camp and a football friendly to win Asian Champions Trophy decision to first award a penalty match with local team Lekhwiya. hockey title at Al Rayyan stroke to India and then reverse The visiting team will tomor- Stadium yesterday. the decision after consulting the row start its training drill at A brace from Muhammad third umpire raised a few eyebrows. Aspire Complex from 10 am to Waqas (8th and 56th minute) The decision which came with 6pm. This schedule will continue and goals from Shafqat Rasool three minutes left for the final up to January 1, according to the (42) Rashid Mehmood (48) and hooter did not go well with the itinerary posted on the French Muhammad Ateeq (64) helped Indian team which walked away, club’s website. Pakistan to avenge their loss to but returned after spending two On January 2, PSG will play India in the first edition of the minutes on the bench to play the a friendly match with two-time championship held in China. remaining minutes of the match. Qatar Stars League champions India’s goals came from S V Pakistan stood their ground to Lekhwiya at Jassim bin Hamad Sunil (9), VR Raghunath (20), repulse the Indian attacks in the Stadium in Al Sadd from 5.30pm Gurwinder Chandi (55) and last two minutes, after the inter- onwards. Rupinder Pal Singh (59). ruption to win the title much to The French club will resume The controversy-ridden final the delight of the large number of its training schedule on January The Pakistan team celebrates their 5-4 win over India at the Asian Champions Trophy hockey tournament at Al which saw the teams playing fast Pakistan fans. 3 and conclude the camp on attacking hockey was marred by THE PENINSULA January 5 and head back home Rayyan Stadium yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT a late decision which robbed some See also pages 3 & 23 to play Arras FC at Stade de l’Epopee on January 6 in the Coupe de France – Round of 64. PSG are currently leading French Ligue 1 with 38 points on the basis of a better goal difference of +24. Olympique Lyonnais and Bahrain-bound Qatar set for Egypt friendly today Olympique de Marseille also have 38 points each from 19 game DOHA: Qatar take on Egypt in Doha on Wednesday. Qatar are to win (the Gulf Cup). If we win, for the Gulf Cup title’. Meanwhile, side hosts Bahrain, Oman and PSG and Lyon have won 11, in a friendly today with an eye one of eight sides competing for that will help improve the players’ the Egypt national football team the UAE in Group A of the 2013 drawn five and lost three each, on next month’s Gulf Cup, the the Gulf Cup title. confidence going into the remain- was received by the Qatar Football Gulf Cup. In Group B, defending but PSG have hammered 36 goals region’s showpiece football event. “It is an important match ing (FIFA) World Cup qualifiers Association management headed by champions Kuwait have the com- and conceded 12 while the latter Coached by Paulo Autuori, for us as we are heading into a in 2013,” Autuori said two days Saud Al Muhannadi at the airport. pany of football powerhouses Iraq, have scored 33 and conceded 17. Qatar planned the Egypt friendly very important event (the Gulf ago. “It is good that we are playing Qatar have already announced Saudi Arabia and Yemen. PSG’s key players are 31-year-old to gain match practice ahead of Cup). This match (at Al Gharafa such a high-level of tournament.” a batch of 35 players that will MATCH: Qatar vs Egypt Swedish star Zaltan Ibrahimovic the Gulf Cup to be held in Bahrain Stadium) will help us settle down Autuori declined to comment be trimmed closer to the event VENUE: Al Gharafa Stadium who has scored 20 goals from 23 from January 5 to 18. Egypt, on combinations and tactics,” on remarks made by Bahrain in Bahrain. Former champions KICK-OFF TIME: 7:30pm matches this season. coached by Bob Bradley, arrived Autuori said. “We will be playing coach that ‘Qatar were favourites Qatar have been drawn along THE PENINSULA QNA FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Attiyah meets Djibouti officials

www.swiss-belhotel.com Tel Fax

Tel Fax

The Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah with Ambassador of the Republic of Djibouti to France Rashad Farah. The Ambassador of Djibouti to Qatar, Momen Hassan, also took part in the meeting. Tel Fax Qatar Exchange Mowasalat holds ‘train Tollfree to remain closed Fax on January 1 DOHA: The Qatar the trainer’ sessions Tel Exchange will be closed on Tuesday on account of the DOHA: Mowasalat, in part- KTTDC as a regional centre The sessions focused on Fax New Year as per instruc- nership with the International for delivering transportation transferring training method- tions of its regulator, the Road Transport Union (IRU) of dangerous goods – including ology, presenting training mate- Qatar Financial Market Academy, conducted ‘Train chemicals and flammable mate- rial and sharing best practices Tel Authority. the Trainer’ sessions on “safe rials- by road (ADR) training to through group activities, simu- Fax The website of the Qatar loading” and “cargo securing.” all drivers. lations and practical exercises. Exchange remained inac- The training sessions, tar- Such accreditation is first The IRU Academy’s ‘Train tive for two hours yesterday geting Qatari instructors, were of its kind in the Middle East the Trainer’ sessions aim to due to regular maintenance attended by 11 instructors from and is related to certifying equip instructors with knowl- Tel works. the IRU Academy-accredited Mowasalat as an IRU Academy edge, skills and tools to deliver Fax THE PENINSULA Karwa Transportation Training accredited training institute high-quality training to profes- and Development Center licensed to teach the IRU pro- sional managers and drivers, www.doha.hilton.com (KTTDC). grammes, making KTTDC benefiting road safety, transport Mowasalat and the IRU the first centre to deliver such efficiency and the community as Tel +974 44233333 had signed a memorandum of highly specialised and advanced a whole. Educational understanding for accrediting programmes THE PENINSULA Fax +974 44233000 vouchers: Jan 3 deadline to pay fees

DOHA: Due to alleged delays in payment, schools have given Tel a deadline to many families accepted by the educational Fax voucher programme of the Supreme Education Council (SEC) to pay for fees before January 3, Al Raya daily Tel reported yesterday. Fax Unless parents pay before this date, measures may be taken to prevent their children from con- tinuing in school. Schools have Tel stated that the process is very Fax complicated and does not allow them to meet their financial and administrative obligations. Both sides see the account- ability of the delay lays on the Tel Supreme Education Council, Fax the Ministry of Finance and the institutions that employ Instructors from the IRU Academy-accredited Karwa Transportation Training and Development Center. parents, Al Raya reported. Some parents also disapprove Tel of the process because it forces them to demonstrate every Fax three months that their kids continue in the same school. However, both families and Road closure in Bin Mahmoud area schools have said there is a lack Tel of transparency in the process, DOHA: The Public Works Al Quds Street will be closed Sunday, until the first week Fax which makes it difficult to iden- Authority (Ashghal) has for commuters heading from of March 2013. This diversion tify who is responsible for the announced the closure of Al Al Jazeera Street and Bin comes as part of drainage pipe- delay. In September, 32 private Quds Street and Sinan Street Mahmood Street as shown line extension works at the area. schools were selected for the at Bin Mahmoud area. in the illustration map from THE PENINSULA educational voucher programme of the SEC. Educational vouchers allow Qatari children to pursue school education at selected Tel private schools in the country, Fax if they so wish. The programme is intended to give them more options while seeking quality education. Tel The vouchers represent Fax money given by the state to Qatari students to cover their school fees, fully or partially. www.renaissancedoha.com The draft law stipulates the value of the voucher to be Tel +974 44195000 QR28,000 per year. Fax +974 44195100 The vouchers are available to all Qatari students admitted in schools selected by the SEC according to certain terms and conditions. The government has to pay the money to the schools on behalf of the students. THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 QU holds graduation ceremony for 240 males Al Attiyah chief guest at function

DOHA: Two hundred and forty his inspiration from Mahatma (240) male graduates and post- Gandhi. graduates of Qatar University “My admiration was not only received their degrees in a cer- for his wisdom and pure princi- emony at the Qatar National ples, but because he studied law Convention Center yesterday. too,” he said. He further talked The ceremony was held in about his studies in Kuwait which the presence of the Chairman of had to be stopped briefly dur- the Administrative Control and ing the war, then to Jordan for Transparency Authority, H E his Master’s, and further to the Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah. University of East Anglia in the Of the total, 33 students grad- UK where he gained his PhD. uated with honours, with three “It was more than 10 years of achieving GPA 3.94 and above. incidents and experiences, some They were mechanical engineer- of which were filled with con- ing major Mutaz Garbas Elbeh cern, confusion and despair, and who achieved GPA 4, Ahmed Ali at other times, full of the euphoria Al Kuwari (GPA 3.95, electrical of success and excellence,” Dr Al engineering) and Basel Yahya Sayed recalled. Mismar (GPA 3.94, accounting). He urged the students to con- At Bachelor’s level were tinue to follow their dreams and 226 students with College of to always do the best in all their Engineering leading with 83, endeavours. College of Business and Economics “You are Qatar’s future and will 62, College of Arts and Sciences be the next leaders who will help 42, College of Shariah and Islamic to further advance the country’s Studies 17, College of Law 13, and development and its international College of Education 9. reputation. Congratulations on Master’s-level students com- successfully completing this jour- prised 6 MBAs, 4 M.Eng in ney – I know that you will con- Engineering Management, 2 tinue to succeed in all you set out M.Ed in Educational Leadership, to accomplish.” and 2 M.Eng in Computing. Valedictorian Ahmad Ali Al The ceremony also saw the Kuwari, electrical engineering first batch of graduating students major and one of the top achiev- from the Master’s in Engineering ing students, congratulated his Management programme and the colleagues, saying, “Your hard Honours Programme. work and determination through Keynote speaker College of Law this academic journey had paid professor and recipient of the off and now you are ready to State Incentive Award Dr Hassan contribute your knowledge, The Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah and Minister of Education and Higher Education Al Sayed traced his journey to experience and skills to Qatar’s H E Saad bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud with Qatar University President Professor Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad at the Qatar University’s male graduation the legal profession from his first progress.” ceremony held at Qatar National Convention Center yesterday. interest in law as a young boy and THE PENINSULA

Emir, Syrian National Coalition chief meet Prices of various fresh vegetables at Al Mazrouah Yard No auctions at new market DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Name of vegetable Quantity Average Price yesterday met President of the Syrian National Coalition for Continued from page 1 rates will be made known to sell- Revolutionary and Opposition Forces, Ahmad Maaz Al Khatib, Green Chilly 3 kg QR 9 Local growers had long been ers at the Al Mazrouah Yard on all at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The two leaders reviewed the lat- complaining that they were forced the three days they would be open Capsicum (green) 3 kg QR 20 est development in Syria during the talks. QNA to take their produce to the Central for business, and they will have to Cucumber 7 kg QR 11 Market and auction stocks to mid- sell their produce either at those Khoosa 5 kg QR 16 dlemen who manipulated the prices prices or below them. The Yard is to their benefit. some 22km north of Doha, about Egg plant 4 kg QR 15 No auctions are held at the new two kilometres off the Northern Tomatoes 7 kg QR 15 market and the growers can sell Expressway, also called Al Shamal Weathermen say rains their produce directly to consum- Expressway, and located near Umm Cabbage 1 piece weighing 3 kg QR 5 ers. As for pricing, it is mandatory Salal Sports Club. Cauliflower 5 kg QR 12 for them to sell at or below the People working at the stalls are Pumpkin 8 kg QR 11 likely in Doha today rates fixed by the government for employees of their respective farm- the Central Market. houses and they, as well as the por- Yellow pumpkin 8 kg QR 12 DOHA: It drizzled in some places in the country yesterday It may be recalled that the ters working in the market, have to Beans 4 kg QR 10 with forecasters saying there are chances of rain today as well. Consumer Protection Department be registered with the Ministry of Asked specifically if there was a possibility of rain in Doha today, of the Ministry of Business and Environment’s agricultural affairs Radish 5 kg QR 18 the head of analysis and forecast at the Meteorology Department Trade had intervened early last year department. Jirijir leaves 8 bunches in a box QR 5 replied in the affirmative. after increasing public complaints A source told this newspaper Beat root 7 kg QR 16 “There are some chances of rain today in Doha also,” said about auctioneers at the Central that the Qatar Meat and Livestock Abdullah Al Mannai. He said that it would be mildly pleasant Market manipulating prices, and Company (Mawashi) would soon Coriander 15 bunches in a box QR 10 today and tomorrow as temperatures would decrease with the began fixing the retail as well as be setting up shop nearby, which Broccoli 4 kg QR 20 maximum expected to be 23 degrees Celsius in average while the wholesale rates for fresh vegetables would attract more buyers to the minimum likely at around 16 degrees Celsius. Spinach 10 bunches in a box QR 10 and fruits on a daily basis. These market. THE PENINSULA The Meteorology Department, in its forecast for today said wind would be strong and seas would be high offshore. The forecast put the wind speed at between five and 15 knots an hour inshore while offshore it was forecast at between 18 and 30 knots an hour. THE PENINSULA

The Director of Green Qatar Centre Abdullah Mohammed Al Kuwari and other officials visiting Al Mazrouah Yard yesterday. KAMMUTTY VP Dark clouds seen hovering over Doha yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT Asian hockey powerhouses clash in dream final at Al Rayyan BY ARMSTRONG VAS the tournament held in China by With tickets for the final been but that did not deter the fans. break added more flavour to the the fag end of the entertaining defeating Pakistan and also won sold three days in advance some Distance did not matter for them, final. The organisers made sure dual. DOHA: A sell-out crowd of the league match against their fans who were not so fortunate neither was the fact that they they played music from both Korean umpire Yun Shin Dong over 2,000 spectators who had neighbours 2-1 on Monday, but in to lay their hands on the tickets could have a clear view from afar. countries. played spoil sport in the eyes of come in anticipation for a clas- the final the Green Shirts reigned restored to innovative ways to see Backed by a strong contingent Title song from Chade de India the Indian fans. sic India-Pakistan thriller supreme. the action. of fans who chanted Pakistan film, a Shah Rukh Khan starrer, His decision to first award got their money’s worth in a The crowd loved it all through- Fans who had no match tick- Jeetega Jeetega (Pakistan will win based on the life of Kabir Khan, a penalty stroke to India and nine-goal match at Al Rayyan out the seventy minute duration. ets watched the action from the win) the supporters of the Green the former captain of the Indian then reverse the decision after Stadium yesterday. Fans of both teams had their staircases leading to the main Shirts outnumbered the Indians. hockey team was played at the consulting the third umpire in In the tussle for supremacy moments of joy, ecstasy and stands of the nearby Al Rayyan Fans of both came armed with venue and also was a Pakistan the end turned up to be a hotly between the two Asian pow- despair. There was climax and Stadium. Most of them owed alle- flags of different dimensions and song, all which set the mood debated issue among the fans. erhouses of hockey, Pakistan anti-climax. Fortunes also fluctu- giance to Pakistan and some of made their presence felt in their among the fans. In the end the game of hockey defeated defending champions ated in the match with Pakistan them were children and ladies. respective stands whenever a goal And there was not a pleasant was the winner. It was a dream India, to win the Asian champi- taking the lead but India going The staircases of Al Rayyan was scored. ending for the Indian fans. The final, befitting a week-long cel- ons trophy for the first time. into the half time break with a Stadium are some 300 metres The music played before the controversy-ridden final was ebration of hockey in Qatar. India won the last edition of 2-1 lead. away from the hockey stadium, match and during the half time robbed of some glitter at towards THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Russia warns of bloody chaos if Syria talks fail Moscow says Assad’s exit cannot be precondition for talks MOSCOW/DAMASCUS: Damascus by calling for “real was agreed in Geneva in June,” Russia yesterday warned of change” and the quick introduc- Lukashevich said. Although the “bloody chaos” in Syria should tion of a transition government Kremlin has tried to distance peace talks led by UN-Arab “with all powers”. itself from Assad, Lukashevich League envoy Lakhdar Brahimi Assad’s government has still reiterated its stance that Assad’s fail to end a 21 month conflict not responded to Brahimi’s call. exit from power could not be a that has claimed an estimated Lavrov emphasised the urgent precondition for negotiations. 45,000 lives. need to end the 21-month-old Setting such a condition, he Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov conflict during a meeting with said, would violate the terms of said the United States and other Faisal Makdad, Russia’s foreign the agreement reached in Geneva players must redouble their ministry said. on June 30, which called for a efforts amid fading hopes for a “The Russian side underscored transitional government but left political solution to the bloodshed. the lack of an alternative to a Assad’s role unclear. The United “The alternative to a peace- peaceful resolution of (Syria’s) States said it sent a clear message ful solution is bloody chaos. The internal conflict through a broad that he must quit and Moscow longer it continues, the greater its inter-Syrian dialogue and politi- said it did nothing of the kind. scale - and the worse things get cal process,” a statement said. Lukashevich said Russia con- for all,” Lavrov told the Interfax But it made no mention of ways tinued to believe there was news agency. to achieve those goals. “no alternative” to the Geneva Lavrov’s comments followed Lavrov called for robust efforts agreement and repeated accusa- a meeting with a senior Syrian to hammer out a solution based on tions that the United States has delegation led by Deputy Foreign an agreement reached by world reneged on it. “Our American Minister Faisal Muqdad. powers in Geneva in June that colleagues and some others ... Russia remains Syria’s most called for a political transition. have turned sharply from this important international ally and “Considering what is going on position, by 180 degrees, support- is one of the few nations to have in Syria, the chances of reaching A Syrian refugee girl carries a gas canister while entering her tent in Al Marj in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley, yesterday. ing the opposition and conducting unlimited access to President such a solution ... are decreasing. no dialogue with the government - Bashar Al Assad’s government. But there is still a chance and we ministry spokesman Alexander Washington was on the table in and with our American colleagues, putting the opposition in the mood Lavrov’s meeting with the must fight for it,” Interfax quoted Lukashevich played down the Moscow talks. “There has not we are trying to feel a way out for no dialogue with the authorities Syrians came as Brahimi wound Lavrov as saying. idea that a specific new pro- been and is no such plan,” he said. of this situation on the basis of but for overthrowing the authori- down several days of talks in At a weekly briefing, foreign posal agreed by Moscow and “In our talks with Mr Brahimi our common plan of action that ties,” he said. REUTERS/AFP

Mubarak moved Cabinet resignations deal setback for Mursi to army hospital

CAIRO: An Islamist minister quit the slow pace of reform. “I have reached a protests that often turn violent and want Egypt. Her resignation underscores fears CAIRO: Hosni Mubarak, the Egypt’s government yesterday, the sec- clear conclusion that a lot of the policies the government to focus on urgent bread- by Egypt’s Christians, who make up about Egyptian strongman ousted ond cabinet resignation this week as and efforts contradict with my personal and-butter issues. The strife has cast doubt a tenth of its 83 million population, about last year after 30 years in President Mohammed Mursi tries to beliefs and I don’t see them as representa- on the government’s ability to push through the gains by Islamists since Mubarak was power, was moved to an army shore up his authority and gather sup- tive of our people’s aspirations,” he said in the spending cuts and tax hikes needed ousted in 2011. hospital from a prison hospital port for unpopular austerity measures. his resignation letter. to secure a vital $4.8bn International In a resignation letter published by state yesterday following a fall that An economic crisis and a battle over a Communications Minister Hany Monetary Fund loan. The Egyptian pound media, she said liberal and other minority raised fresh concerns about his new constitution have underlined bitter Mahmoud quit earlier this week, citing tumbled to its weakest in almost eight groups were not represented properly in fragile health. divisions between Mursi and his opponents his inability to adapt to the government’s years against the dollar this week as people the chamber. Mubarak, 84, was forced out and delayed a return to stability almost two “working culture”. rushed to withdraw savings from banks. Under pressure to acknowledge Egypt’s in a 2011 uprising and sentenced years since a popular uprising. Earlier yesterday, a Christian mem- diversity, Mursi appointed 90 members to life in prison in June of this Rivals accuse Mursi, who won Egypt’s ber of Egypt’s upper house of parliament, CRISIS MODE including Christians, liberals and women year for his role in killing pro- first freely contested leadership election Nadia Henry, quit a day after the Islamist- The resignations this week come ahead to the Council - alongside figures from the testers during the revolt. He was in June, of polarising society by foisting a dominated chamber took over legislative of a promised cabinet reshuffle. Cabinet Muslim Brotherhood and ultra-conserva- admitted to a prison hospital that divisive, Islamist-leaning constitution on authority under the new constitution. sources have said as many as eight cabi- tive Salafis - last week. Two-thirds of the month following what security the country and using the autocratic ways The constitution crafted by an Islamist- net members from second-tier ministries upper house were already elected in a vote officials called a “health crisis”. of his deposed predecessor Hosni Mubarak. dominated assembly is meant to be the cor- might go next week. this year. Mubarak’s health has been the Deadly violence preceded a referen- nerstone of a democratic and economically Mursi is also promising incentives aimed “We stress again that the nation should subject of intense speculation in dum on the basic law, dealing a blow to a stable Egypt after decades of authoritarian at making Egypt - once a darling of emerg- achieve internal reconciliation and forget Egypt and he has spent much of struggling economy. Mursi’s political rivals rule. The opposition says it does nothing to ing market investors - an attractive place its differences,” the Muslim Brotherhood’s the time before and after his trial refused to accept the result - the text won protect minorities. to do business again. supreme guide, Mohamed Badei, told in the prison hospital. about 64 percent in the vote - and they Mursi says the constitution and an The 270-seat upper house, or Shura Egyptians in his weekly message. His lawyer said he was trans- reject his call for national unity talks. upcoming vote to re-elect the lower house Council, holds legislative authority until “Let’s work seriously to end the recipro- ferred to the military hospital In a move that may preempt a planned of parliament will help end squabbling a new parliament is elected in early 2013. cal wars of attrition. We urgently need to after fracturing a rib in the fall reshuffle by Mursi, parliamentary affairs among feuding politicians. Opposition figures say they fear the Council unify ranks and group together and focus in his prison clinic. He said he also minister Mohamed Mahsoub announced He and his Muslim Brotherhood allies could issue laws curbing freedoms. our capabilities and assets for the general suffered from lung complications he was quitting because he disagreed with say ordinary people are fed up with street Henry represents Anglican Christians in benefit.” REUTERS and dizziness. “The health con- dition is deteriorating to some extent due to the president’s fall the week before last,” lawyer Mohamed Abdel Razek said. Iran’s sole woman minister sacked Mubarak is to be treated at the military hospital in Cairo’s Maadi suburb. “He will stay for awhile,” a TEHRAN: Iranian President Diseases, sent a letter to UN security source told Reuters. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has chief Ban Ki-moon in August Mubarak’s legal team had been sacked the sole woman in asking him to make a case to the pressing to have him moved from his cabinet, Health Minister West to ease sanctions that are the prison hospital to a better- Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi detrimental to patients. equipped facility, saying he was (pictured), state television Both the European Union not receiving adequate treatment. reported yesterday. and the United States have There has been no clarity, how- The minister had proposed imposed tough unilateral sanc- ever, on the exact nature of any price hikes for a number of med- tions against Iran that go well of his ailments, with state media icines in the face of the sharp beyond those imposed by the reporting a variety of illnesses depreciation of the Iranian rial UN Security Council. ranging from shortage of breath as a result of Western sanc- Western governments sus- to heart attacks and comas. tions imposed over Iran’s con- pect Iran is seeking to develop On July 16 Mubarak was sent troversial nuclear programme. a nuclear weapons capability back to prison on the orders of But Ahmadinejad was opposed but many of their ingredients are under cover of its civil pro- the former public prosecutor who to the price rises and dismissed imported. In October, an Iranian gramme but Tehran insists said his health had improved and the minister. official acknowledged the price it is entirely peaceful. Vahid he no longer needed the advanced Although the Western of domestically manufactured Dastjerdi was Iran’s first care of the military hospital sanctions do not directly tar- medicines had increased by woman minister since the where he had been moved in June. get medicines, they make all 15-20 percent over the previ- Islamic revolution of 1979. A At the time, senior officers and imports difficult because of ous three months, and that of female vice president for the military sources gave various restrictions on financial trans- imported drugs by 20-80 per- environment did serve during accounts of Mubarak’s condition, actions. Iran manufactures 97 cent. Fatemeh Hashemi, head the 1997-2005 presidency of including that he was in a coma percent of the medicines it uses of the Foundation for Special Mohammad Khatami. AFP and on life support. REUTERS

Sudan, South blame each other for border attacks

JUBA/KHARTOUM: Sudan and South Sudan yester- day accused each other of incursions into disputed border areas, in a new setback to plans to secure their volatile boundary and resume cross-border oil flows. The accusa- tions come a day after Sudan’s President Omar Hassan Al Bashir said he was willing to meet his South Sudan coun- terpart Salva Kiir to try to move forward stalled talks to set up a demilitarised border zone. The African neighbours agreed to end hostilities in September and to resume oil exports from South Sudan via the north after coming close to war in April, the worst violence since the South’s secession last year. But neither has moved back its army from the border, a step both say is needed to resume oil exports from the landlocked South through the north. Both economies depend on oil. South Sudan’s army spokesman Philip Aguer Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al Bashir waves his walking stick as he said Sudanese war planes had bombed the area of Kiir Adem, addresses the crowd during the inauguration of the new Hadida oilfield in which lies inside a 14 mile-wide (22.5 km) strip of land known Hadida, South Kordofan State, yesterday. as the Mile 14 area and claimed by both countries. REUTERS FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 ISLAM www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 The second coming of Prophet Jesus

BY SHAHUL HAMEED We know that some final Prophet.Besides, he is prop- “Christians” do not follow Jesus. erly described by Allah Almighty in BELIEVING IN JESUS here are a large number They follow St Paul and his ver- the Quran as a “sign” to the world. The verses quoted above clearly of authentic sayings of sion of the religion of Jesus. So But most people did not properly say that all the People of the Book Prophet Muhammad one of the first duties of Jesus will understand the sign and conse- will believe in Jesus before he dies. T(peace and blessings of be to bring the Christians back to quently misconstrued his mission. Obviously, “believe in him” indi- Allah be upon him) that clearly the true religion he preached and cates the right belief about Jesus, indicate the second coming of practiced, namely submission to JEWS BELIEVING IN JESUS? that is, that Jesus was a prophet Jesus. the One God. As Jesus was a sign from Allah, of God preaching His Oneness. Abu Hurairah reported the Also, the Jews who are still there was an aura of wonder We know that neither the Prophet as saying: By the One in waiting for the Messiah will be and mystery around him, which present day Jews nor the present Whose hand is my self, definitely made to realise that the real caused a lot of speculation among day Christians have this belief the son of Mariam will soon descend Messiah was indeed Jesus and his followers after his time. about Jesus. So the reference in among you as a just judge, and he they need to recognise that fact, And there ought to be a way the verse is obviously about future will break the cross, kill the pig and and follow the Messiah (Christ) of clearing the cloud of mystery Jews and Christians who will be abolish the jizyah, and wealth will Jesus. When the Christians and around Jesus before the end of the made to realise the truth about be so abundant that no one will the Jews follow Jesus, they will be world. So Allah Almighty says in the Messiah and will have to accept it, until a single prostration Muslims. By the second coming the Quran what means: accept that truth. will be better than the world and of Jesus, the confusions regard- That they said in boast, “We The occasion for this is when everything in it. (Al Bukhari) ing Jesus will disappear and we killed Christ Jesus the son of Mary, Jesus himself appears again Jabir ibn Abdullah said, “I heard can imagine a situation where the Apostle of Allah”;- but they and clears all misunderstand- the Prophet saying, ‘A party of my Jews, Christians and Muslims killed him not, nor crucified him, ings about him. And then the nation will never stop fighting for join together to pray behind but so it was made to appear to Jews will realise that he was the the truth victoriously until the Day Islam’s prophet Jesus, or behind them, and those who differ therein Messiah they were expecting; and of Rising.’ He said, ‘Then Jesus son a Muslim Imam. are full of doubts, with no certain the Christians will realise that he Mary (peace be upon him) will knowledge, but only conjecture to was not the Son of God who died descend and their amir will say, THREE EXPECTATIONS follow, for of a surety they killed on the cross. And if there are any “Come and lead us in prayer,” but One important point to note him not. Nay, Allah raised him up Muslims who reject the return he will say, “No. Some of you are in this connection is the corre- unto Himself; and Allah is Exalted of Jesus, they too will realise the amirs over others,” as Allah’s show- lation between the expectations in Power, Wise. And there is none truth about him. And in the above ing honor to this nation.’” (Muslim) about the coming of a prophet of the People of the Book but must verse, we may note the expres- or messiah in all the three believe in him before his death; and sion “before he dies”. This expres- A FOLLOWER OF PROPHET Abrahamic religions. Jews expect on the Day of Judgment he will be a sion is attributed to People of the MUHAMMAD (PBUH) the Mashiach (Messiah; literally witness against them… (4:157-159) Book sometimes; i.e. in the sense The above two hadiths show “the Anointed One”) as a politi- Indeed these verses have gen- of “before their death”. that according to Islam, Jesus will cal and military deliverer and erated a lot of controversy about But this cannot be; if so it return to the earth as a follower king. The Christians believe the the implication of certain words. would mean that all the Jews of the final Prophet Muhammad Messiah to be a divine incarna- A few points are worthy of note and Christians who lived after (PBUH). And at the second com- tion and “saviour”, who came to here: The reference is clearly to Jesus’ time would realise the ing, it is inconceivable that Jesus liberate the people from sin. And the future; and the verse tells us truth of Jesus before their death will bring a new Law. the Muslims believe the Messiah A careful evaluation of all the points of something that will happen in till Judgment Day. This is most Even at the first coming, he was to be a sign to the world sent by related to the matter would lead us to the the future which will make the unlikely. Rather the correct working within the framework God with a significant prophetic People of the Book to believe in meaning of the verse must be that of the earlier Law of Prophet mission to the Children of Israel. conclusion that Islam teaches that Jesus Jesus. And we should note that Jesus, on his second coming will Moses (peace be upon him). So, In all the three cases the word, will come again and he will not bring a by “the People of the Book” not bring the Jews and the Christians if Jesus does not follow the Law Messiah (Arabic: Masih) is used merely the Christians but also the of that future time, not only to of Muhammad (PBUH), he should for the expected prophet. Both new Law then; so he would follow the Law Jews are meant. the truth of himself, but also to the follow the Law of Moses, which is Christians and Muslims believe Referring to the doubts and true religion. A careful evaluation most unlikely. We should remem- Jesus to be the Messiah, while the of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). confusion in the minds of the of all the points related to the mat- ber that the religion of Allah has Jews reject him and continue to people (i.e. People of the Book) ter would lead us to the conclusion been completed through the final expect the Messiah even now. clouded the whole issue of com- as a link between Judaism and regarding “the death” and the that Islam teaches that Jesus will Prophet, and so there is no ques- No one can deny the con- mon religious heritage. One of Islam. Because, he is the expected “raising” of Jesus, Allah emphati- come again and he will not bring a tion of another Law at all; so tinuity of the same religious the important links among the Messiah of the Jews, who clearly cally tells us that they did nei- new Law then; so he would follow Jesus has got to follow the Law tradition through the three reli- three religions ought to be the foretells to his followers of the ther kill him nor crucify him; but the Law of Prophet Muhammad of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). gions, though sectarianism has Messiah; especially as he serves coming of the Paracletos – the raised him up to Himself. (PBUH). www.onislam.net Islamic view on persons with special needs

BY DR ABDULHAK HAMICHE In addition this favouring was based on “Verily the most honoured of you in the sight their guardians who are their assets and men and women, are protectors one of piety. Allah the Almighty says: “Verily the of Allah is he who is the most righteous of branches, being that the parents are the another” (Al Tawba: 71). n December 13, Arab coun- most honoured of you in the sight of Allah is you.” (Al Hujurat: 13). guardians of their children because they Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) objects tries celebrated the Arab Day (he who is) the most righteous of you.” Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: are their branches and the children are to those who neglect this bond and its for Persons with Special Needs. (Al Hujurat: 13). “You all belong to Adam and Adam is the guardians of their parents because obligations. He said: “None of you shall OOn this occasion it is relevant Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon created of soil” they are their assets. In addition, fam- have faith until he wishes for his brother to highlight the perspective of Islam him) said: No Arab shall be favoured 3. Stating the full rights of persons ily members are each other’s guardians what he wishes for himself”. towards persons with special needs, and above any Non-Arab except by righteous- with special needs in equality and jus- because as they inherit from each other, Fourth: From the point of charity and how Islam accorded them great atten- ness. The Prophet added: Allah doesn’t tice through leveling between their rights then they must be each other’s guardians. righteousness Allah Almighty says: Allah tion and care which makes them normal look at your features nor at your wealth and duties in accordance with Shariah Each Muslim is obliged to follow the enjointh justice and kindness and giving to people practicing their lives like all other but at your hearts and deeds. of Allah. commands of Allah in that regard, and kinsfolk (Chapter on Ants: 90) members of the society. As for the point of view of Islam 4. The nation is obliged to care for the the Muslim people and nation should Allah also says: “Help ye one another Disability has since ancient times towards the incidence of disability is disabled, on the basis that the ruler is help the guardians of persons with spe- in righteousness and piety.” (Al Ma’ida: 2). attracted people’s attention, and differ- based on considering it as a trial and the guardian of those with no guardians. cial needs, especially if they were unable The Prophet said: “Allah ordained kind- ent people expressed different attitudes test from Allah, life in Islam is all trial 5. Assigning work in accordance to to provide to for them. Especially those ness in all things” towards it depending on their social sys- and test. “He it is Who created the heavens the ability and preparation of the person who totally depend on others, for exam- Since charity and righteousness are tems. Therefore, persons with special and the earth in six Days - and His Throne whether disabled or not. “Our Lord! Lay ple, the fully paralyzed who need others required from all humans, then they are needs have encountered different treat- was over the waters - that He might try you, not on us a burden greater than we have to eat, drink, wash get dressed, and all even more required with people who need ments since ancient times, varying from which of you is best in conduct.” (Hud: 7). strength to bear” (Al Baqara, verse 286). other personal matters, which is a great them, such as ones with disabilities. The execution, disdain, exile, and negligence. Allah almighty says: “He Who created 6. Finally, Islam demands considera- burden on the people surrounding them. reward of being kind with them is much Islamic Shariah presents attitudes Death and Life, that He may try which of tion of reasons and depending on Allah, Islam’s interest in persons with spe- greater than being kind with others. from the sublime sources– Holy Quran you is best in deed” (Al Mulk: 2). then having patience and no regrets for cial needs derives from the following: Fifth: The Islamic society is a single and Sunnah – towards humanity and For that, all scholars of Islamic civili- negligence and what it may cause. “And First: Considering their humanity, connected unit, and the members of this life. Therefore, Islamic Shariah was first sation agree that humanity is one of the bear with patient constancy whatever betide since Allah The Almighty honoured them. society live in solidarity and harmony. in giving persons with special needs the special characteristics of Islam in the thee” (Luqman, verse 17). “We have honoured the sons of Adam” (Al Societies thrive and progress by social appropriate status as humans with the manner in which they deal with others Isra, verse 70). solidarity, and societies also overcome same rights as normal people, and carry on all levels, being social, political etc. And the mercy of Allah is for all problems and difficulties they face. Social similar duties complying with their abili- Islam expressed great care towards humans: “But My mercy extendeth to all solidarity creates equality for the disabled ties given to them by Allah. this group of society, and it granted them things” (Al Aa’raf, verse 156.) In addition, in order to enable them to live a dignified Islam did not view persons with special special provisions. What’s more, Islam Allah sent the last messenger in mercy life. Islamic history is filled with evidence needs as other societies did, it did not cared for their feelings, where if Allah for all humanity. “We sent thee not, but as proving the achievements of social soli- consider them gods and honor and glorify took away one of their senses, the reli- a Mercy for all creatures.” (Al Anbiya 107). darity in making the members of society them, it did not consider them monsters gious duties in relation to the disability Second: All humans are siblings from more linked and connected. and mock, and didn’t ride roughshod over are dropped. For example, the crippled your father – Adam – and one mother – Sixth: Islam has encouraged people them. Islam did not consider them to be and paralysed are not obliged to par- Eve (Hawa) – “O mankind! We created you to cover the needs of others. There are disabling elements for the society; neither ticipate in war and jihad. Persons with from a single pair of a male and a female, many Hadiths that proves this. had it considered them dependants. It special needs are defiantly in a better and made you into nations and tribes, that Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: also did not deem them as animals and religious situation than normal people ye may know each other not that ye may Allah loveth two conducts and abhorth two nobodies that can be easily disposed them with arms and legs who used them to despise each other. Verily the most honoured conducts. The two He loveth are generosity off without any guilt feelings because they commit sins. There are many verses in of you in the sight of Allah is he who is the and forbearing and the two He abhors are are just worthless scum. the Quran that prove the great reward to most righteous of you. And Allah has full ill temper and misery and if Allah wills a Islam’s perspective of persons with those who suffer from disability. knowledge and is well acquainted with all good for one of his servants he engages him special needs is a part of its perspec- Based on the above, it is possible things.” in serving people’s needs”. tive of humans: to specify the basis of Islam’s point (Al Hujurat: 13). The Prophet also said: “There is no serv- Human beings in Islam are honoured. of view towards persons with special Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) said: “Al l ant on whom Allah bestowth His favours “We have honoured the sons of Adam; pro- needs, as per the following: The rule of guardianship and care for people belong to Adam and Adam is created but He makes some of peoples’ needs in his vided them with transport on land and 1. Respecting the dignity of persons persons with special needs in Islam: from the soil.” hands, if he frets with them he thus exposes sea; given them for sustenance things good with special needs, given that they are Caring for the disabled is an obligation Fraternity has a humanitarian and that favour for diminishing”. and pure; and conferred on them special honoured creations of Allah, whom he if done by some is dropped from others, soulful meaning that derives from the In another Hadith Prophet said: “The favours, above a great part of our creation.” created willingly. For that Allah requires and if no member of the society does it, heart of genuine human beings. One of creatures are in need of Allah and the (Al Isra Verse 70). This honour appears Muslims to not mock each other. “O ye then the whole society is sinned. the evidence of this meaning is giving for most beloved by Allah is the one who is more in the status that human beings hold in who believe! Let not some men among you The guardianship of the blind, deaf, nothing in return. A brother gives to his beneficent to the creatures of Allah” Islam and in the responsibility tasked to laugh at others: It may be that the latter paralysed and all other disabled persons brother even if he does not get anything Islam obliged capable Muslims to sup- them in a way that there is no status that are better than the former”. (Al Hujurat, is the responsibility of the society as a in return, he helps him even if he doesn’t port their needy relatives, whether their compares to it, except the visions and verse 11). whole, like their responsibility towards need help, and he wishes for his brother need was due to being poor or whether faiths of Islam. The whole universe was 2. Specifying grounds to differentiate the poor and needy. Similar to how what he wishes for himself. it was incidental. Islam also set severe created for mankind, and human beings between people through piety, because a the nation is responsible for covering Third: In consideration of the fra- penalties for the members of every town are assigned to rule the earth. It is worth person is valued by their piety and not the needs of poor people, they are also ternity of faith and its consequences: or city who are negligent towards the mentioning that this honour and posi- their health and the wellness of their responsible for the needs of the disabled, Allah says: “The Believers are but a single needy. Imam Ahmad said:” There is no tion given to human beings is linked to body parts. That is because Allah does or else the whole society is sinned. Brotherhood” (Al Hujurat: 10). place wherein a person among them slept the supreme characteristics that distin- not consider the way people look, rather There is no doubt that the responsibil- The fraternity of faith requires loyalty, in hunger but Allah is free from their guish human beings from other creatures. he considers their hearts and deeds. ity of caring for the disabled falls first on support and cooperation. “The Believers, pledges”. THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 06 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Editorial

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN: SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI Ready for the job EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: KHALID AL SAYED E-MAIL: [email protected] New secretary of state John F Kerry has ACTING MANAGING EDITOR: HUSSAIN AHMAD E-MAIL: [email protected] the experience and relationship-building EDITORIAL: TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 skills required for the job. FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR. E-MAIL: [email protected] HE NOMINATION of Sen. John F Kerry as secretary of state able representative of Obama during his first term. He has influenced ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 has been widely hailed. Kerry is a man of rich experience, the president’s decision on a number of crucial foreign issues. Two Tespecially on foreign affairs, and a man with several friends are worth mentioning: the intervention in Libya and the endorse- CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] and few enemies which makes him supremely suitable for this position. ment of Hosni Mubarak’s departure from the Egyptian presidency. He is a person who can start his work straightaway, without having to He had also advised the president on Russia and Pakistan. He was SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY acquaint himself with the intricacies of foreign diplomacy. For Kerry instrumental in the Senate’s ratification of a new nuclear arms treaty TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 too, who is a decorated Vietnam veteran, it’s an achievement as a with Russia and on Pakistan he told the president that a long-term E-MAIL: [email protected] losing presidential candidate. He has forged personal relations with strategy of promoting economic development with Islamabad would leaders in scores of countries and his failed presidential bid in 2004 be far better than pursuing a short-term military cooperation. SUBSCRIPTION RATES has given him enough experience in management and diplomacy. Kerry’s policies on Middle East are not different from his pred- ANNUAL QR 675 Obama rightly said that “in a sense, John’s entire life has prepared ecessor or the Obama administration. The region will be watching 6 MONTHS QR 340 him for this role.” his policies on Syria and the Israel-Palestinian conflict. His policies Reports say that President Barack Obama and Kerry agree and can make a huge difference, but it’s unlikely that he would travel a share a common viewpoint on many things. For example, both have completely different road. On the Palestinian issue, he is unlikely to immense faith in the potential benefits of engagement with rogue succeed in doing anything substantial when his president himself has states and dictators. Kerry had favoured dialogue with Syrian presi- almost admitted defeat and taken a backseat, letting Israeli Prime dent Bashar Al Assad though in this case diplomacy hasn’t worked Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to run amok. On Syria, Kerry needs because Assad reneged on all his promises. The engagement policy to follow a more active policy and shed the Obama administration’s PUBLICATION suits the current global situation, where an aggressive and jingoistic hands-off policy. Washington needs to move beyond making state- approach will do more harm than good. ments and try the role of a mediator and set a deadline for Assad to It will work to Kerry’s advantage that he has already worked as an relinquish power to prevent further bloodshed.

The alternative to a peaceful solution (in Syria) is The other side bloody chaos. The longer it continues, the greater its Quote of scale - and the worse things get for all the day Making a pluralist Egypt Sergei Lavrov GYPT’S Muslim Brotherhood is propagating compassion. Russian Foreign Minister It wants to see all sections of society united for rebuilding Ethe crisis-hit country. This is a welcome approach and will go a long way in addressing the concerns of the minorities and opposition elements. It is a good sign that President Mohammed Mursi’s party is not in a victorious psyche and is eager to broker reconciliation. The opposition too should take this gesture on its face value, and sit down with the government for a tête-à-tête in order to ensure that necessary amends are made to the draft constitution and the business of state is conducted in an amicable manner. With the referendum bearing more than 60 per cent of ‘yes’ vote for Mursi’s vetted draft, it would be wise for the liberals, the minorities and the opposition parties to accept the verdict and give the government enough mileage to execute its policies. This would be a rational approach, rather than making attempts to plunge the dispensation in chaos. Egypt, after a long spell of dictatorship, can’t afford to see another episode of misgovernance and political instability. The ongoing crisis has already unnerved many of the foreign investors and international donors. A case in point is the holding back of tranche by the International Monetary Fund fearing socio-eco- nomic somersaults. Perhaps, this has prompted the central bank to issue a statement saying that the banks had stable liquidity to safeguard all deposits. The government, nonetheless, shouldn’t blink from taking even unpopular steps to regulate and broaden the scope of formal economy — and free it from decades of stagnation. Now is the time for the opposition parties to concentrate their synergies on the upcoming parliamentary elections and ensure that the wheel of democracy comes full circle. As rightly stated by Prime Minister Hisham Kandil, there aren’t any losers in the vote, and the people should see it as another phase of evolution on the path of revolution that the country has went through. The onus lies on the government to reach out to each and every organ of the state, especially the judiciary, to dispel the impres- sion that power mongering was Brotherhood’s objective, and all it meant was to strengthen the fundamentals of the revolution. The organisation’s chief Mohammed Badie says, ‘it’s time to begin rebuilding the country’s rebirth with free will…’ Let’s take those words as an assurance in goodwill. It’s time for Egyptians to think on a pluralistic note. KHALEEJ TIMES Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate The high cost of disengagement

BY WALTER PINCUS As I list the new expenses, truck and rail routing through 2011 final departure date of US the United States using air and Inventories in Afghanistan consider who is going to pay for European and Central Asian combat troops. In Afghanistan, sea transport, at a cost that could have not included contractor-used HE United States has spent all this and when. Congress and countries. Those supply routes the Marine Corps and Navy began run to more than $150,000 per government equipment, but the nearly $600 billion over the President Obama are negotiat- were developed after truck con- withdrawal preparations in 2009, van, says the GAO. However, the Afghan command told the GAO Tpast 10 years putting com- ing over increasing revenue and voys from Pakistan were halted the Army in 2010. Marine playbook says only 28 of that it was setting up a “contrac- bat forces into Afghanistan. Now cutting spending, but the billions in November 2011 in response to The Marine Corps established them are needed to meet require- tor drawdown cell” to handle the it’s going to cost an additional in Afghan withdrawal costs can- the US raid that killed Osama bin an “equipment reset strategy” in ments in the United States. The problem. Another unique Afghan $5.7 billion over the next year not be reduced and must be paid. Laden. which it created a “playbook” that GAO suggests that since five will issue is supply routes, because of or two just to transfer or return Their payment will be considered The Defense Department contains what the GAO described be in excess of Marine Corps what the GAO described as the most of the troops and equip- next month when Congress faces has three ways to dispose of its as “a single, detailed accounting needs, a cost-benefit analysis “complex geopolitical environ- ment we shipped into that coun- an increase to the debt limit. Afghan materiel: transfer equip- of each of its 78,168 major end may argue for disposing of them ment in the region.” try, according to a new report by Meanwhile, the Defense ment to another US federal or items in Afghanistan” along with in Afghanistan. Exiting Afghanistan is much the Government Accountability Department estimates that the state agency or a foreign gov- “the initially forecast disposition A problem in Iraq was account- more difficult, and more costly, Office. The size of the withdrawal military services have more than ernment, destroy the materiel instructions (return, transfer or ing for government-owned equip- than leaving Iraq. In Iraq, the is mind-boggling. But with the 750,000 major items worth more in Afghanistan, or return it to destroy) for each item.” ment supplied to contractors. United States had road access “fiscal cliff” approaching fast, it’s than $36 billion in Afghanistan, another Pentagon location. The For example, the July 2012 According to a September 2011 to the port of Umm Qasr and a worth taking a moment to realize including about 50,000 vehicles United States has three Afghan playbook showed that the Marines GAO report, “There were occa- major US logistics base in Kuwait, that the costly Afghan operation and more than 90,000 shipping sites and plans for a fourth where then had 33 “backscatter vans” in sions when contractors left Iraq just over the border. From there is going on a credit card, along containers of materiel, according materiel is to be destroyed and 10 Afghanistan, vehicles whose X-ray camps and associated facili- it was easy to ship materiel by with the $1 trillion or more spent to the GAO report. storage areas where equipment is capabilities are used at check- ties without proper close out, sea from Jordanian and Kuwaiti in Iraq. In fiscal 2011, the US to be inspected and prepared for points and entry control points abandoned equipment, failed to ports. The once-major Afghan Iraq and Afghanistan are Transportation Command transport home. to identify concealed weapons, repatriate personnel (especially supply routes through Pakistan, the first US wars in which the shipped 268,000 tons of supplies The Iraq drawdown showed contraband, ordnance and bulk third country nationals), failed which were reopened in July, are American public was not asked — more than 42,000 containers the importance of early planning. explosives. They cost $700,000 to to obtain proper Iraq exit visas, considered to be in a test phase to pay a cent in additional taxes. — into Afghanistan via its north- Withdrawal plans began in 2008, $800,000 apiece when new. [and] did not return government for materiel exiting Afghanistan. What were we thinking? ern surface routes, which involve three years before the December The plan is to return all 33 to furnished equipment.” WP-BLOOMBERG FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 In Syria, civilians are now the targets

produce about 20 tons of bread fired at customers. The regime The civilians a day. But a shortage in filtered has frequently bombed crowded diesel has forced the plant to rely bread lines staffed by rebels of Aleppo on poorer quality diesel to fuel the because they are easy targets — machines, which results in one even for the most inexperienced machine shutting down every fighter pilots. On Sunday, Dec are trapped day as built-up sediment clogs 23, dozens of civilians were killed the pipes. “It’s a hassle to start when a fighter jet made several in a violent and stop all the time,” says Saka. bombing runs over a bread line in Before the revolution, the fac- the city of Halfaya, in the central tory sold a kilogram of bread for province of Hama. stalemate, left nine Syrian pounds, roughly 20 And war has brought more cents. Today that same kilogram pedestrians concerns as well; it to endure a war costs 15 pounds. But while the is not just the cost of bread that cost of bread has increased by 67 has skyrocketed. The price of percent, it has lagged far behind everything from cooking gas to whose suffering the cost of fuel — which has sky- meat has doubled — and in some rocketed from seven pounds a cases even quadrupled — since grows every day. litre to 180 pounds. To keep bread the regime withdrew from Aleppo affordable, the Free Syrian Army when fighting broke out in July, BY STEVEN SOTLOFF (FSA) rebels have covered the taking its robust state subsidy shortfall, essentially replacing the system along with it. Though amila Hijali initially shied government as the subsidiser of regime forces quickly ceded the away when I approached the basic staple in Syrians’ diet. eastern part of the city, they her in one of the many Outside the factory, civilians hunkered down in western sec- lines outside Aleppo’s are less concerned with the eco- tors and clung to intelligence bread factories and bak- nomics of bread production and headquarters and military bases Jeries. But after a moment she more focused on why they have to in the northern areas. Today, the motioned me over to vent her wait for up to seven hours for a balance of forces has changed lit- frustrations. “We are tired of the three-kilogram bag of pita loaves. tle. Though some neighbourhoods, revolution because before women “Why do we have to stand here such as Karam al-Jabl, have been never stood in line for bread like for almost half the day?” asks destroyed, most quarters bear the this,” the 39-year-old widow with Faras Sido, 33, as squirts of rain scars of war from fierce fighting six children complained. “But pelt his beige jacket. “Haven’t or random shelling. now it is my primary occupation they learned how to make bread Though patient residents even- Women and children sit on a truck with their belongings in Aziza district in Aleppo. in life. Bread line. Sleep. Bread after all these years?” tually get their bag of bread, many line. Sleep.” Though they have tried to make are not as lucky when it comes has made everything worse and Ahmad Jani, 31, is burying his out the window and lets loose The 21-month long Syrian the best of a distribution system to other necessities, including nothing better,” Jadu laments. younger brother, Hamdi, who died a barrage of bullets. “Need to revolution is taking its toll on they are ill-equipped to deal with, the medicine they need to treat “Why do we need it? We have when a shell landed on the street keep them awake,” he says with residents of the country’s larg- the FSA is still blamed for its fail- common ailments. At a makeshift enough problems in Syria.” he was scurrying across. Whether a beaming smile that reveals est city. With everything from ures. “I am here to protect these clinic in the neighbourhood of In the poor neighbourhood of it was an errant shell targeting a wide gap between his teeth. medicine to firewood in scarce people,” says Muhammad Nasr, a Bustan Al Qasr, Dr Faysal Habun Sukari, where buildings stack up fighters in nearby Bustan al- “They are not here for a vacation supply, and with winter bring- fighter from Mara, a small town is examining an infant diagnosed on one another, Bakari Kajaji is Pasha, along the front lines, or from Damascus.” Fighters sitting ing temperatures down to near some 20 miles east of Aleppo. with whooping cough. The disease performing his nightly prayers. merely another of the regime’s on the floor appear not to hear freezing, people here are strug- “But when the machines shut is usually curable with simple The flickers of an oil lamp pro- indiscriminant bombings in civil- Shloni’s routine wakeup call and gling to cope with a war they just down, they accuse us of stealing antibiotics, but the fighting has vide just enough light to illumi- ian neighbourhoods is of little the commentary he offers to jus- hope will end. But with fighting the bread.” disrupted the routine delivery of nate his red prayer rug. Near the concern to Jani. Though fighting tify it. Utter boredom, or the cold, on urban fronts deadlocked, they At 10:45 pm, FSA fighters begin basic medical supplies. And since bed along the other side of the rages daily less than a mile away, has paralysed these men, who admit their wishes are unlikely to handing out numbers — much like the regime bombed the Dar Al wall, auburn embers in a small his family is too poor to flee for huddle around a cell phone look- be filled any time soon. Instead, at a Brooklyn deli — to the 700 or Shifa hospital in November, phy- barbecue grill supply a consistent safer havens. The clan operates ing at pictures of famous female the civilians of Aleppo are trapped so people waiting in line. An hour sicians have had a particularly stream of heat that keeps Kajaji a small supermarket that carries Arab singers. in a violent stalemate, left to later, a small window opens and hard time providing care for their and his wife from shivering. With consumer products ranging from Bustan Al Pasha is one of a endure a war whose suffering the slow process of bread distri- patients. “We just don’t have the no power and heat, the 58-year- soap to sponges. Shuttering its dozen fronts in Aleppo where and hardships grow larger with bution begins. Around dawn, the communications and means we old spends most of his day in doors would mean drying up the fighters spend most of the day every passing day. Though Nato lines thin out as the people disap- had before,” Habun says. Syrian the dark, mumbling to his wife family’s sole source of income. doing everything but fighting. Secretary-General Anders Fogh pear to their houses with their aid groups have cropped up to about topics ranging from the Most stores have closed in They brew tea, forage through Rasmussen recently boasted “it’s bag of precious pita. provide the needed supplies, but wet staircase to his desire to buy Bustan Al Pasha. The only cars houses to find wood for heat, and only a question of time” before the At the Military Bread Factory, none of the major international a new transistor radio. Though driving through its streets shuttle smoke constantly. Their battle Syrian regime of Bashar Assad the process functions fairly aid groups operating in the coun- he has not worked at his laun- fighters to empty buildings that in the city has largely reached collapses, people in Aleppo fear smoothly. But at the hundreds of try has entered rebel-held areas. dromat for two months — one of have been converted into front- a standstill. The winter cold and they are stage players in a war bakeries throughout the city where The result is that volunteers with his bosses was killed by shelling line bunkers. Nearby — often the rain that has come with it with no end in sight. bread is still made by hand, the no experience are desperately and the other fled to Egypt — and around the corner or even in have them merely looking for At the Military Bread Factory, lines are anything but calm. People scrambling to solve a crisis they his savings are almost exhausted, windows overlooking the rubble the next desk to break down to once owned and run by the gov- shove and jockey for better posi- are in no way prepared to handle. Kajaji is not complaining. “It is — regime soldiers are in position. heat the shelters they call home. ernment, Muhi Al Din Saka, 37, tion as FSA fighters argue with Muhammad Jadu wishes time better to starve a thousand days There is no movement in these In these remote buildings on a is busy overseeing the conveyor customers. A fighter occasionally could move backward. The elec- with no electricity and heat than vacant streets. The two sides are quiet front, all the fighters have line as a dozen pita loaves trickle fires a shot to call the crowd to trician does not understand what to endure one more day of Assad. locked in a chess game in which is time. over the belt and fall into a large order, but no one pays attention. the rebels are fighting for, nor We have everything we need.” neither player wants to make the They are still confident they receptacle. Ever since fighting in “We are people, not cattle,” notes does he care. He merely knows It is rare to find residents who next move. will prevail. But the optimism Aleppo broke out, the factory’s Firas Bibsi, 48, as he watches the the war has dealt a death blow share Kajaji’s dogged faith. While Hamid Shloni is on this stale- that pushed them to take up arms manager of operations spends jostling from his makeshift fruit to his business; the city has not many support the rebel fighters, mated front line. He’s 27, and once to oust an oppressive regime has almost all his time at the plant, stand in the neighbourhood of had electricity for several weeks. they are nevertheless quick to worked in a cement factory; he been replaced by a quixotic hope mostly to troubleshoot problems. Fardus. “But this war is slowly Today, Jadu spends his time at share their tales of hardships. The joined the fighting last spring, that their perseverance will even- Chief among them is the slow- killing our humanity without a a friend’s wheel and rim shop, trauma of war has scarred them. when men began mobilising in tually wear down the government down in bread production. The shot ever being fired at us.” drinking tea and smoking an end- At a cemetery in the northeast- his village. Every 20 minutes to the point of collapse. factory has two machines that can Increasingly, however, shots are less string of cigarettes. “This war ern neighborhood of al-Halooq, or so, he pokes his Kalashnikov WP-BLOOMBERG A huge risk we pro-Europeans must take US should look within BY SHAUN WOODWARD In the 2015 election we will tell the public: “Trust me with to change gun culture ext year will be criti- your vote – but this is a one-way BY HENRY ALLEN cal for the EU and street. We won’t trust you with settlers in King Philip’s War, Britain’s member- your vote on the EU.” Can a rela- 1675-76. Some five percent to 10 Nship. Europe remains tionship like that really restore et me dust off my favour- percent of settler men of fight- a toxic issue: scepticism has trust in politics, let alone the EU? ite Sufi parable. ing age were killed. Laws soon gone viral, infecting every argu- Democracy is at stake. You can A man loses a ring required settlers to keep firearms ment – if it’s European, it must only have a vote if you agree with Linside his house. A friend in their homes. be bad. Unsurprisingly, rational us. If not, you don’t get the chance sees him crawling around outside The 1700s brought the argument is a poor tool to tackle to express your views. and asks, “If you lost your ring in “Kentucky rifle,” the long-range opinions formed through emo- Britain’s long-term member- the house, why are you looking symbol of frontier independence. tional responses. ship of the EU needs rescuing for it here?” “You fool,” says the George Washington encouraged As a pro-European I am from the travesty of current man, “the light is much better out “the use of Hunting Shirts, with increasingly pessimistic about political distortions. There are here.” long Breeches made of the same our future in the EU. The much issues to address, genuine reforms And so it goes with people look- Cloth . . . it is a dress justly sup- hinted-at referendum on David to drive through, but fear of hard ing for solutions to gun killings in posed to carry no small terror to Cameron’s “reform package” slog is no reason to leave the EU. America. the enemy, who think every such seems a fudge, more likely to We must win the argument, not We’re talking about the very person a complete marksman.” inflame and anger than to resolve, abandon ship. The public are part best people, the people with sta- In the 19th century, Samuel and runs the risk of setting of the solution, not the problem. tistics and proposals for regu- Colt brought the gleaming moder- Britain inexorably on a road to The prime minister must pro- lation, crawling around in the nity of mass production to gun- a catastrophic exit from the EU. vide the necessary leadership – sunlight of their social-scientific making. The slogan had it that What if the public vote in the it’s a matter of politics, but also rationality. God created man and Samuel first referendum – on whether of principle. If he believes Britain They never find a solution Colt made them equal. Cowboys Britain should renegotiate its rela- is better in Europe, will he make British Prime Minister David Cameron because all their legislation, aca- carried Colts the way noblemen tionship with the EU – plunged the principle of continued mem- demic studies, mathematical carried swords, as blazons of Britain into a second, make-or- bership the greatest principle of proofs, and proposals for waiting their status. Dime-novel writers break referendum – asking if his leadership? Will he resign interests above the nation’s, then – suggest time is a friend. The periods, background checks and invented the quick-draw duels Britain should quit Europe – in rather than see Britain leave the Miliband must define the debate. party leaders should agree a date, buying limits aren’t going to do that almost never happened. the worst possible circumstances? EU? The stakes may be high for A referendum on continued legislated by parliament, ensuring much more than they ever have. The 20th century brought the No wonder the Eurosceptics are Cameron, but the consequences of membership may now be the we will not confuse a vote on the Nor are the pleas of the pro- dark romance of the gangster willing Cameron’s compromise on. getting this wrong are far higher only way to drain the poison from EU with short-term party politi- gressives asking why anyone armed with Thompson subma- Europe is drowning in a dearth for the long-term future of a suc- our membership. Initially it will cal gain. Let us agree a date six would ever want to own a gun chine guns and private eyes with of leadership, so either the politi- cessful United Kingdom. alarm European nation states – months after the next general — thereby demonstrating their their snub-nosed .38s. World cians must lead or the public must The test for his speech next not because the solution is wrong, election, taking crude politics out arrogance toward the people who War II veterans brought home rescue the politicians. Britain’s month is whether he would con- but because they will face simi- of the debate. own the hundreds of millions of enemy guns as trophies of their membership was decided in 1975. tinue serving as prime minister lar calls. Yet they may come to Campaigning should be a mat- guns in the United States. victory. Then came the AK-47, But the issue is back, and it would if Britain left the EU. If Cameron be the best disinfectant, ensuring ter of conscience, not controlled Both the problem and the solu- weapon of choice against Western be reckless for politicians to duck fails the public, Ed Miliband the European commission speed- by party whips. tion lie elsewhere, in what histo- imperialists. it – in a democracy such a posi- must restore broken trust. He ily reforms itself. For a pro-European, this is a rian Richard Hofstadter called Hollywood employs armourers tion is lethal. Each year the pub- has shown himself not wanting The debate would need proper high-risk strategy. But it may be “America as a Gun Culture.” tuned to the tiniest details of gun lic feel increasingly cheated and for courage. If Cameron ducks, time and funding. Scotland’s ref- the only strategy we have left. It started with New England fetishism. untrusted. and should the Tories put party erendum preparations – in years THE GUARDIAN Indians trying to drive out WP-BLOOMBERG FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL

Britain suspends Snow buries parts of US Northeast £7m exploratory Hundreds of flights cancelled; police respond to nearly 700 car crashes on Interstate 81 drilling of Antarctic lake BUFFALO, NEW YORK: A accompanied by freezing rain powerful winter storm respon- and sleet, creating hazards on the LONDON: An ambitious British sible for wind, snow, tornadoes highways and at airports. plan to search for minute forms and a flurry of traffic accidents Retailers, still in the busy hol- of life in an ancient lake beneath battered the US Northeast yes- iday shopping season, expected Antarctica’s ice has been sus- terday, cancelling hundreds of sales would continue with con- pended because of technical flights but also reviving what sumers looking for winter items. problems, the scientist leading had been a snowless ski season. “People are out spending any- the project said yesterday. The storm dumped a foot way. Weather can trigger what In a move that clears the way of snow on parts of the United you purchase - not if you pur- for US and Russian teams to take States with the heaviest snow chase, but what you purchase,” the lead, Professor Martin Siegert falling across northern New York said Evan Gold, senior vice said technical problems and a lack and into northern New England, president of client services at of fuel had forced the closure on the National Weather Service Planalytics, which tracks weather Christmas Day of the £7m ($11m) reported. for businesses including retailers. project, which was looking for life The service issued coastal flood The snow also brought renewed forms and climate change clues in advisories from New York’s Long hope for winter recreation across the lake-bed sediment. Island to southern Maine and upstate New York. “This is of course, hugely frus- winter storm warnings for parts Daniel Ivancic, of the Buffalo trating for us, but we have learned of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New suburb of Tonawanda, said he a lot this year,” said Siegert of York and New England. bought a snowmobile last winter the University of Bristol, princi- Airlines cancelled 548 flights that sat largely idle with snow pal investigator for the mission, yesterday after 1,500 US flights totals well below average. which was headed by the British were cancelled on Wednesday, “I waited and waited and, no Antarctic Survey (BAS). according to FlightAware.com, a snow. This winter it seemed like “By the end, the equipment was website that tracks flights. the same thing was going to hap- working well, and much of it has The massive storm system pen until the storm hit,” Ivancic now been fully field-tested,” he dumped record snow in north said. “I’m just going to take said on the BAS website. Texas and Arkansas before it advantage of every minute of it.” Experts from Britain’s Lake swept through the US South on About 8 to 12 inches (20 to 30 Ellsworth mission had expected A woman tries to shield herself from the rain and wind in New York yesterday. Christmas Day and then veered cm) of snow fell on Buffalo over- to find minute forms of life in the north. The system triggered tor- night. Light snow and freezing lake 3km under Antarctica’s ice, nadoes and left almost 200,000 drizzle persisted throughout the Buffalo. Police patrolling the New spokeswoman Corinne Geller. Long Island MacArthur Airport, the most remote and extreme people in Arkansas and Alabama morning hours, with as much as York State yesterday from Buffalo A 14-year-old girl was killed in about 80km east of New York environment known on Earth. without power on Wednesday. another inch or two possible in to Albany reported as many as a crash near Lynchburg, but City, as it taxied for takeoff, They had also hoped that by The weather service forecast 12 some areas. 50 accidents, mostly involving police have not determined if the Suffolk County police said. dating bits of seashell found in to 18 inches (30 to 46 cm) of snow Before Wednesday evening’s cars that slipped off snowy roads weather was to blame. None of the 134 people aboard the water they would have been for northern New England after snow, Buffalo was 23 inches (58 overnight. “The road conditions were slick Tampa-bound flight No. 4695 was able to ascertain when the ice the storm moved northeast out of cm) below average for this time Virginia State Police responded at the time, but it’s still being injured, police said. sheet last broke up and to better the lower Great Lakes, where it of year, the weather service said. to nearly 700 car crashes on determined if it was weather- “It’s been undetermined at this understand the risks of it hap- left more than a foot (30 cm) of “It’s just a reminder, winter Wednesday, most of which were related,” Geller said yesterday. time if weather was a factor,” a pening again. snow on parts of Michigan. is here,” said Tom Paone of the due to snow and ice around A Southwest Airlines jet skid- police spokeswoman said. Scientists from the United The storm front was National Weather Service in the Interstate 81 corridor, said ded off the runway yesterday at REUTERS States and Russia are hot on Britain’s heels when it comes to drilling through Antarctic ice to lakes that have been hidden for thousands of years. The US team is aiming to Putin vows to Central Africa leader seeks help to stop rebels start drilling in Lake Whillans, one of 360 known sub-glacial lakes in Antarctica, in January sign anti-US BANGUI, Central African great powers, to help us to push troops stationed in the country peacekeeping mission run by the or February 2013. Republic: Central African back the rebels... to allow for dia- to interfere in the conflict, which central African bloc ECCAS. Russia was the first to pierce Republic’s embattled President logue in Libreville to resolve the is escalating despite both sides Since the end of colonisation in 3,769m of solid ice to reach Lake adoption bill Francois Bozize appealed yes- current crisis,” Bozize said in a apparently agreeing to hold talks the 1960s, French troops in west- Vostok early in 2012. But some terday for French and US help to public address in Bangui. in Libreville. ern Africa have often come to the scientists believe their samples MOSCOW: Russian President halt a rebel advance as regional “There is no question of allow- “If we are present, it is not to help of former colonies. may have been contaminated by Vladimir Putin yesterday vowed troops moved in to secure the ing them to kill Central Africans, protect a regime, it is to protect General Jean-Felix Akaga, com- drilling fluids. to sign a bill banning Americans capital in an escalating crisis of letting them destroy houses and our nationals and our interests, mander of the regional central The British scientists decided from adopting Russian children in one of the world’s poorest pillage, and holding a knife to our and in no way to intervene in African military force known as to abandon the mission after try- that has added new strains to countries. throats to demand dialogue,” said the internal affairs of a country,” FOMAC, said Bangui was “fully ing for 20 hours to connect two the uneasy relations between The United Nations is pulling Bozize, who himself seized power Hollande said. “Those days are secured” by its troops, adding that holes in the ice that were needed the former Cold War foes out its staff and the United States in a coup in 2003. gone.” A French foreign minis- others will arrive to help reinforce for the hot-water drill to work, An aide separately raised the has warned its citizens to leave “It is a plot against the Central try spokesman said however that the mission. said a BAS spokeswoman. spectre of the Kremlin eliminat- in the face of the deteriorating African Republic, a plot against its Paris “condemns the continued However, a source in Gabon’s Without a connection between ing all foreign adoptions as part of security situation as rebel fight- people.” Thousands of government hostility by the rebel groups” and defence ministry, told AFP that the two holes, the hot water would a patriotic drive to limit Russia’s ers close in on Bangui, creating supporters marched in Bangui that the crisis should be resolved no decision had been taken, while seep into the porous surface lay- dependence on others. alarm among residents. yesterday in protest at the rebel through dialogue. a senior DR Congo army source ers of ice and be lost, reducing the The highly contentious bill is But former colonial power offensive. In Bangui, a French national said: “There is nothing planned... pressure and rendering the drill widely regarded as the tough- France, whose embassy in Bangui The rebel coalition known said the population feared loot- to combat this (rebel) movement. ineffective. est piece of anti-US legislation came under attack on Wednesday as Seleka has seized a string of ing and a breakdown of order. “It Another source close to the The team tried to melt and dig to reach Putin’s desk during his by demonstrators angry at the towns, including a diamond min- would not take much for things to Cameroon military confirmed that more snow to compensate for the 13-year rule — a period that saw lack of French help, vowed it ing hub, since its fighters took up explode,” she said, but added that no decision had been taken. The water loss, but without success. Moscow engage in repeated squab- would not intervene in the coun- arms on December 10 but said there was no immediate cause for rebels began their push in early As a result of the extra time bles with the West over foreign try, which has a chequered history it had no plans to move on the concern. December, charging that Bozize taken to fix the problem, fuel policy and human rights. of coups and brutal rule. capital. France has around 250 sol- and his government have not stocks had been depleted to such “I do not yet see any reason why “We ask our French cousins and President Francois Hollande diers based at Bangui airport stuck to the terms of peace deals a level as to make the operation I should not sign it,” Putin told the United States of America, the said France would not use its providing technical support to a signed between 2007-2011. AFP unviable. REUTERS a meeting of top officials a day after the draft was unanimously approved by the upper house of parliament. Police checks in London “I intend not only to sign the law... but also a presidential decree US paper draws fire after on changing the way orphans are supported,” he said. Pro-Kremlin lawmakers put publishing gun database together the draft in a matter of days in response to a new US law sanctioning Russian officials NEW YORK: A New York request and that its readers had implicated in the 2009 prison newspaper has sparked outrage a right to know whether their death of the whistleblowing attor- by publishing a detailed map neighbours owned firearms. ney Sergei Magnitsky. with thousands of names and “We knew publication of the In addition, a separate measure addresses of gun permit hold- database would be controver- targets Russia’s liberal activists ers in the wake of the Newtown sial, but we felt sharing as much by banning all domestic political school shooting. information as we could about organisations with funding from The publication came amid a gun ownership in our area was the United States. heated debate over gun control important in the aftermath of the The two measures’ adoption was revived after the Connecticut Newtown shootings,” said CynDee accompanied by virulently nation- massacre and drew intense criti- Royle, editor and vice president alistic rhetoric from lawmakers cism on social media outlets from of the Journal News, a Gannett who accused rich Americans of gun owners, who called it a viola- Publication. buying Russian children and then tion of privacy. “People are concerned about abandoning them to horrible fates. The Journal News in New York who owns guns and how many of Its passage also revealed cracks state’s Westchester County them there are in their neighbor- in the Russian leadership between obtained the publicly available hoods,” she said. The newspaper those who would prefer to get information from county clerks had also asked for information tough with the United States and and published it earlier this week about the type and number of ministers who back a more cau- in an interactive map alongside an weapons people owned, but that British police carry out vehicle spot-checks on Westminster Bridge in central London yesterday. The operation tious approach. article entitled “The Gun Owner request was denied. was aimed at deterring and disrupting “terrorist activity”, according to a police sign on the bridge. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov Next Door.” Critics slammed the move as and the cabinet’s social affairs The paper obtained the names an invasion of privacy that could chief Olga Golodets have both and addresses of more than put gun owners at risk, and the spoken out against it. 33,000 permit holders in two newspaper said it had received The United Nations Children’s counties, though it said that more hundreds of calls from people who Mali PM calls for swift African military action Fund (Unicef) on Wednesday than 13,000 had no activity in the feared for their safety or felt their added its voice of protest by urging last five years, and could belong to privacy had been violated. ABIDJAN: Mali’s new Prime with Ivorian President Alassane The UN Security Council on Moscow to “let the best interests people who moved or passed away. The newspaper’s Facebook page Minister Diango Cissoko yester- Ouattara, the current head of the December 20 approved the deploy- of children -- and only their best It said it was awaiting infor- drew hundreds of comments, day called for military interven- West African bloc ECOWAS which ment of an international force in interests -- determine its actions.” mation on 11,000 permit-holders positive and negative, with sev- tion by an African force to help is preparing the intervention force. Mali, but in stages and without a But Putin mounted a firm defence from a third county. eral irate users publishing the take back the Islamist-controlled This operation “will take place as precise timetable. It also insisted of the measure while accusing the The newspaper defended the home addresses, phone numbers north “as quickly as possible”. soon as conditions are met and we on the need for dialogue with the United States of “acting brazenly publication, saying the informa- and email addresses of the daily’s “We have confidence in this are doing all so those conditions armed groups in the north which and arrogantly” toward Russia’s tion was legally obtained through publisher and editors. intervention,” Cissoko told jour- are met as quickly as possible,” he reject terrorism and the partition point of view. AFP a Freedom of Information Act AFP nalists in Abidjan after meeting said. of the country. AFP FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Tropical storm Wukong Anti-firecracker campaign leaves six people dead 9,000 people stranded in several ports in the country

MANILA: Tropical Storm country. Coast Guard spokesman Caticlan, Legaspi, Virac, Roxas Wukong left six people dead and Commandant Armand Balilo and Tuguegarao and its turn- two missing as it cut through said the number of passengers around flights and eight flights of the central Philippines, follow- waiting in seaports has already Zest Air for Masbate, Tacloban ing devastating Typhoon Bopha reached 9,402 as of early after- and Kalibo and its turn-around that killed hundreds earlier this noon yesterday. flights. month, officials said yesterday. In the South Harbour and the Transmission service pro- The toll from the latest storm North Harbour in Metro Manila vider National Grid Corp of the was relatively low as the public, alone, the number of stranded Philippines is checking trans- alarmed by the huge number of passengers reached 2,550. mission facilities damaged by the fatalities left by Bopha, were quick The Office of Civil Defence storm. The lines from Borangan- to take precautionary measures, in Bicol added some 2,324 pas- McArthur 69-kilovolt line, the civil defence chief Benito Ramos sengers were stranded in vari- Taft-Borongan 69kv line and the said. “They were all aware that a ous ports, as the Coast Guard Sogod-Maasin 69kv line report- typhoon was coming. They were strictly imposed a no-sailing edly tripped between the evening all aware of what happened with policy during the passing of the of December 25 and early morn- (Bopha). The deaths are minimal storm. “The damages were very ing yesterday. compared to (Bopha),” he said. minimal. As of this time, there’s This happened after some Three people were killed when no casualty,” Ramos said, adding 57,000 consumers of the Cebu a tree fell on their home in the that the number of stranded pas- Electric Cooperative Inc were central island of Samar while sengers and rolling cargoes have affected by a power outage after three others were washed away also gone down, as the Coast Quinta hit northern Cebu early by overflowing rivers, he said. Guard has lifted suspension of yesterday. The civil defence office ear- port operations in some of the Thirteen towns, including lier said five were confirmed storm affected areas. Tuburan, Tabuelan, Tabogon, dead and three missing but this Some 41 domestic flights were Catmon, Sogod, Carmen, Medellin, was adjusted after one body was also cancelled after Quinta made San Remigio, Compostela, Borbon, recovered, said Ramos. landfall in several parts of the and Daanbantayan, as well as the The Philippine Coast Guard Visayas since Tuesday. cities of Bogo and Danao, experi- said more than 9,000 people were Cebu Pacific cancelled 33 enced the power outage. Philippine health official Enrique Tayag (centre) performs the ‘Gangnam Style’ dance with students during an stranded in several ports in the domestic flights from Manila to AGENCIES awareness campaign on firecrackers in Manila yesterday. The campaign aims to inform the public of the dangers of using firecrackers and urges them to use alternative noise makers during the upcoming New Year revelry.

Congressman dies Manila to buy three Sky lantern eyed in Quezon of pneumonia MANILA: The representative of Bohol, Erico Aumentado, one naval helicopters City Christmas Day fire of the senior opposition leaders in the House of Representatives, MANILA: The Philippines integrity of the national territory”. died of pneumonia on Tuesday said yesterday it would buy In recent months, the poorly- MANILA: Authorities are still Marina Ayon were recovered apartment units owned by the night at a hospital in Taguig three naval helicopters from an equipped Philippine military has looking into what could be the after the flames were put out. Filamors. City. He was 72. Anglo-Italian manufacturer as been trying to boost its capabili- cause of the fire that trapped and The family owned the 16 two- But Baruelo discounted this Aumentado, who also served for part of its military modernisa- ties amid a standoff with China killed a family of six and their storey apartment units, all of possibility because “if it really three consecutive terms as gov- tion programme amid a territo- over disputed territory in the helper in Barangay Bungad, which were razed by the flames, happened, the one who set off ernor of Bohol, was working on rial dispute with China. South China Sea. Quezon City on Christmas Day. including the one they occupied. the lanterns would have seen it improving transparency among The three AW 109 “Power” heli- It has been ordering or eye- There were reports about a sky Some 80 persons are now staying and informed those living in the lawmakers in filing their state- copters from AgustaWestland will ing new patrol boats, fighter jets, lantern flown by a neighbour of at the village hall. apartment units.” ments of assets, liabilities and net be acquired for P1.337bn ($32.5m) transport planes and attack heli- the Filamors’ across the street, Village chairman Ricardo Based on accounts, the lan- worth as chairman of the House under an emergency procurement copters while seeking to improve even as an illegal connection was Corpuz said a neighbour admitted terns were flown at past 4am ethics committee at the time of programme, the defence depart- defence ties with western nations discovered on the ground floor of to having flown two sky lanterns while the call received by fire- his death. ment said in a statement. like the United States. the apartment unit occupied by made of paper. fighters about the fire incident The lawmaker died at 8:37pm “The acquisition of these naval These efforts have accelerated the Filamor family located in Rest Corpuz said he first heard of was at 5:27am. The first alarm at the St. Luke’s Medical Centre- helicopters is one concrete step since the Philippines and China Haven street. the account from a tricycle driver was set at 5:29am. Global City, according to his son towards the fulfilment of our goal began a standoff in April over However, Senior who saw the neighbour setting off Baruelo said this would have and chief of staff, Erico Aristotle to modernise the Philippine Navy the Scarborough Shoal, a group Superintendent Bobby Baruelo, the lanterns, which are set aloft meant the apartment units were Aumentado. and our armed forces in gen- of islets in the South China Sea. city fire marshal, believes that the when fire is lighted inside the already burning for about an eral,” Defence Secretary Voltaire The Philippines says the shoal most probable cause was faulty lanterns. hour before the fire fighters were 2 dead in balloon Gazmin was quoted as saying. is well within its 200-nautical- electrical wiring. One of these lanterns was called. He said that through this mile exclusive economic zone. The charred remains of vet- reportedly found inside a factory Corpuz claimed firemen were plant explosion acquisition and other planned China claims the shoal as well erinarian Carlos Filamor; his nearby, while the second lantern slow to respond, but Baruelo equipment purchases, the as nearly all of the South China wife Corazon; their two children has not been found. insisted that the firefighters COTABATO CITY: Two work- armed forces was demonstrat- Sea, even waters close to the Carlos Jr and Eva; Eva’s two sons Corpuz said some people believe would have responded immedi- ers of an establishment sell- ing its intent to “secure the coasts of neighbouring countries. Miguel Andrei Mutuc and Mateo this could have started the fire ately when called. ing balloons were killed when sovereignty of the state and the AFP Aaron Mutuc; and family helper as it could have landed on the THE PHILIPPINE STAR a steel cylinder full of helium gas exploded in their workshop in a residential area here on Casino rush Wednesday. The blast felled a coconut tree and damaged a house nearby. DOJ wraps up probe in Aman case The fatalities, 27-year-old Jay Tribunalo of Ilang, Davao City; and 14-year-old Dodong Jimlan, MANILA: The Department of respondents for the multi-billion 90 days to come up with a resolu- who was from Davao Oriental, Justice’s (DOJ) special panel investment scam. tion on the estafa complaints. died while being treated of their handling the P12bn ($286m) The couple asked the panel In the last hearing, Luna and injuries in a local hospital. Aman Futures estafa case in their affidavits that they be his wife sought more time to Tribunalo and Jimlan worked wrapped up its investigation removed from the list of respond- submit their counter-affidavits, for a balloon supplier named yesterday after two officials of ents. The couple said that they saying they only received cop- Georma Salihul. the investment firm surfaced. are also victims of the pyramiding ies of the complaints a few days Most suppliers of decorative Fernando Luna and wife Nimfa, scam since they are also investors before the hearing so they did not balloons in Central Mindanao both board members of the at the Aman Futures. have ample time to prepare their now use helium instead of oxygen, Aman Futures Group Phils Inc, DOJ Secretary Leila de Lima answer. which is more expensive. appeared at the DOJ to submit on Wednesday said that the Another respondent, agent The scene of the explosion is their respective counter-affidavits resolution of the special body on Areceli Pasco Julian, was also not far from a nursing home for to the special panel. the estafa complaints would be summoned to personally affirm elderly people. The couple, along with Aman delayed as they would allow the her answer, which she only sub- The local police are still inves- Futures owner Manuel Amalilio, couple to submit their counter- scribed before a notary public. Workers check slot machines inside the Solaire casino at the entertainment tigating the incident. are charged with at least 40 affidavits yesterday. The panel has THE PHILIPPINE STAR city in Pasay City. Philippines’ casino rush is starting with the slated open- THE PHILIPPINE STAR ing in March of port magnate Enrique Razon Jr’s $1.2bn Solaire property. Chief justice Corona’s removal is ‘biggest achievement’ for Palace this year

MANILA: Malacañang will be in step with the executive “The message is clear: If a Chief economic growth. “At home and across the world,” Lacierda noted. indicators such as a stronger peso counted the impeachment of branch in advancing reforms in Justice can be impeached– and a around the world, the Philippines Among the notable measures and stock record-high exchange former Chief Justice Renato the particular branch of govern- former president put under hos- has become recognised as a bas- approved under the administra- index, said the country has Corona over alleged incon- ment,” Lacierda said, adding that pital arrest for alleged plunder tion of stability and good gov- tion, he said, are the Sin Tax enjoyed a “roaring economy” this sistencies in his Statement former peace negotiator Marvic and electoral sabotage—then so ernance ... Through it all, he Reform Law levying on alcohol year under Aquino. of Assets, Liabilities and Net Leonen’s appointment to the can anyone; a crime is a crime, continues to clean house, elimi- and tobacco and the divisive “These positive indicators are Worth and betrayal of public Supreme Court as associate jus- regardless of wealth or status in nate waste, and put primacy on Responsible Parenthood Law pop- underpinned by an administration trust as among the administra- tice “sustained the momentum of society,” Lacierda said. restoring public trust in our insti- ularly known as the Reproductive that has maintained fiscal disci- tion’s major achievements this reform” in the system. The Palace official said that tutions,” the spokesperson said. Health bill. pline, initiated reforms to ramp year. Corona, installed by former Aquino’s accomplishment’s in He added that the Framework “Legislators, commentators, up quality public spending, and Presidential Spokesperson President Gloria Macapagal 2012 should quiet doubts that the Agreement on the Bangsamoro and media have all lauded the invested heavily in both social and Edwin Lacierda told reporters Arroyo, had also been criticised by president can reform a govern- had caught the attention of the President’s political will in pass- physical infrastructure,” Lacierda yesterday that Corona’s removal Aquino’s officials as a “midnight” ment with “an entrenched culture world as a major step in the peace ing these laws,” he said. said. from office and the subsequent appointee. of corruption.” process. The Palace also claimed that He added that higher budgets appointment of Maria Lourdes In a statement issued after the According to Lacierda, the “This is among the first suc- 2012 had been the “best year” have been granted to key gov- Sereno to the post are steps under press briefing, Lacierda counted international community, for cessful dialogues between a gov- that the country has had in a long ernment agencies to boost health President Benigno Aquino III’s not only the controversial trial one, had recognised and admired ernment and a Muslim separatist time and called for “celebration and education developments as judicial reform agenda. but also Arroyo’s arrest for plun- Aquino as a “true leader” in dip- movement in the modern era, and and pride” for its standing in the well as investments in poverty “Once new justices are in place der charges as among the govern- lomatic affairs and for spurring could set the template on how to global stage. alleviation. we can hope that the judiciary ment’s feats the past year. the country to achieve 7.1 percent peacefully handle such conflicts Lacierda, enumerating positive THE PHILIPPINE STAR FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA China ‘highly vigilant’ Fundraiser on Japan over islands Row severely strains ties between Beijing and Tokyo

BEIJING: China is “highly vig- maritime law enforcement activi- Shinzo Abe has promised not ilant” about Japanese jet fighter ties and protect the country’s ter- to yield in the dispute over the flights over islands claimed by ritorial integrity and maritime islands and boost defence spend- both countries and Japan must rights,” Defence Ministry spokes- ing to counter Beijing’s growing bear responsibility for any con- man Yang Yujun said. military clout. sequences, Chinese military Japan’s Defence Ministry “The Japanese side is using and maritime officials said has acknowledged scrambling military aircraft to interfere with yesterday. F-15 jets on several occasions planes on normal patrol in undis- The officials, speaking a day in recent weeks to intercept puted Chinese airspace,” said Shi after a new hawkish Japanese Chinese marine surveillance Qingfeng, director general of prime minister took office, were planes approaching the islands, the Administration Office of the responding to Japan sending jet called the Diaoyu in Chinese and State Oceanic Administration, fighters several times in the past the Senkaku by Japan. the agency whose ships patrol two weeks to intercept Chinese It says a Chinese aircraft disputed waters in the South and patrol planes approaching air- breached what it considers East China Seas. space above the islands. Japanese airspace for the first “This is highly unreasonable The situation in the vola- time on December 13. conduct and the Japanese side tile East China Sea region has The Japanese government is consciously trying to escalate severely strained relations administers the islands and pur- the situation,” Shi said at a pres- between Beijing and Tokyo. chased three of them from a pri- entation for Chinese media and “We will decisively fulfil our vate owner this past summer, diplomats. “The Japanese side tasks and missions while coor- sparking violent anti-Japanese must assume responsibility for dinating with relevant depart- protests across China. the consequences.” Myanmar’s pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi accepts flowers from supporters as she attends REUTERS ments...so as to safeguard China’s New Japanese Prime Minister a fundraising campaign for the Education Network of her National League for Demorcracy party in the former capital Yangon yesterday. China seizes TVs, Japan’s new govt to review zero-nuclear policy Two dead as Malaysia satellite equipment flash floods subside TOKYO: Japan’s new leaders knocked out cooling systems. KUALA LUMPUR: Floods in Tibetan area set to work yesterday on dis- Hundreds of thousands of peo- triggered by torrential rains in BEIJING: Chinese authori- mantling plans to rid the coun- ple were made homeless by melt- Malaysia claimed a second vic- ties have confiscated televisions try of nuclear power by 2040, downs, which spewed radiation tim as waters started to subside, from 300 monasteries in a heav- pledging to review a post-Fuku- over a wide area of farmland. allowing thousands of evacuees ily Tibetan part of the west of shima policy. Power plant operators must to return home from relief cen- the country and dismantled The pro-business Liberal get permission from the newly- tres, reports said yesterday. satellite equipment that broad- Democratic Party-led govern- formed Nuclear Regulation Fifteen-year-old Mohd Hamidi cast “anti-China” programmes, ment also said they would give Authority (NRA) before their Abdul Hamid drowned while prompted by Tibetan self- the green light to any reactors reactors can be restarted. playing in a flooded field in immolations in the region. deemed safe by regulators, indi- In June then-prime minis- Terengganu — one of three north- Some 94 Tibetans, including cating shuttered power stations ter Yoshihiko Noda ordered the eastern states hit by heavy rain — 81 this year, have set themselves could start coming back online. restarting of reactors at Oi amid on Wednesday, according to state on fire in protest against Chinese “We need to reconsider the fears of a summer power short- news agency Bernama. rule. Five self-immolations previous administration’s policy age, but he vowed ahead of the The previous day Samhanim occurred in Tibetan-dominated that aimed to make zero nuclear election to phase out nuclear Ramli, 36, died after slipping into Huangnan prefecture in Qinghai power operation possible during power by 2040. a river as she tried to cast a fish- province, the state-run Qinghai the 2030s,” Toshimitsu Motegi Motegi said abandoning Japan’s ing net, according to state media. news agency said yesterday. told a news conference. only reprocessing plant for spent The floods had forced the evac- The government in Huangnan Shinzo Abe, who was elected nuclear fuel at Rokkasho in the uation of almost 20,000 people by said its approach in tackling self- as prime minister and unveiled Japanese Economy, Trade and Industry Minister Toshimitsu Motegi far north “is not an option”. Wednesday evening as fast-rising immolations comprised of “guid- his cabinet line-up on Wednesday, Some experts have warned the water reached the roofs of houses ing public opinion on the Dalai appointed Motegi as his economy, plant could sit on an active seis- in some areas. More than four issue”, increasing patrols and trade and industry minister, also Despite anti-nuclear sentiment generation at nuclear plants “if mic fault and would be vulnerable thousand had returned home by “blocking outside harmful infor- in charge of supervising the running high in Japan following they are confirmed safe”. to a massive earthquake. yesterday morning, Bernama said. mation”, according to the news nuclear industry. the Fukushima disaster, parties All but two of Japan’s nuclear If regulators agree they will The torrential rain in the agency, which is managed by the Abe’s LDP won a landslide vic- opposing atomic energy made lit- reactors remain offline after have to order its closure and states of Terengganu, Pahang Qinghai government. tory in the December 16 election, tle impact at the ballot box. being shuttered for regular Japan would be without any recy- and Kelantan, forced the closure “At this critical moment for returning to power after a three- Motegi said he was ready to safety checks following the crisis cling capacity of its own. of number of major roads as rivers maintaining social stability in year break. give the go-ahead to resuming at Fukushima when a tsunami AFP burst their banks. AFP Huangnan prefecture ... (we must) strengthen measures and fully fight the special battle against self-immolations,” the article said. “We do not know anything about it,” an official from the Cambodia jails pair over unionist’s murder Asian student survivors of Huangnan prefecture govern- ment told Reuters by telephone, PHNOM PENH: Cambodian provisionally released the pair that he would be acquitted. when asked to confirm the report, rights campaigners yesterday and ordered a retrial. But the The pair’s lawyers immediately Hiroshima to be honoured before hanging up. condemned the sentencing of Appeal Court yesterday ruled appealed the ruling, which rights Beijing considers Nobel peace two men to 20 years in prison that there was sufficient proof activists said once again failed to TOKYO: Hiroshima University to provide young foreigners with laureate the Dalai Lama, who fled for the 2004 murder of a promi- of their guilt and confirmed the deliver justice. said yesterday it would bestow pro-Japanese education. China in 1959 after an abortive nent labour leader, saying the 20-year sentences. “I am very shocked and dis- honorary doctorates on three According to the university, uprising against Chinese rule, a verdict was deeply flawed. Am Sam Ath, of local rights appointed at the lack of inde- former students from Southeast they were forced to stop their separatist. The Dalai Lama says Chea Vichea, a vocal critic of groups Licadho, said the pair pendence of the court and at the Asia who survived the 1945 studies after the western Japanese he is seeking greater autonomy Prime Minister Hun Sen’s gov- appeared to be innocent victims. inability of the court to provide atomic bombing of the Japanese city was hit by the atomic bomb for his Himalayan homeland. ernment, was gunned down in “Civil groups still consider the two justice in the case,” the president city. dropped by US forces, killing an The article said the prefec- broad daylight at a newsstand men as the artificial killers,” he of the Cambodian Centre for The degrees will be given to estimated 140,000 people. ture’s agricultural and pastoral in the capital Phnom Penh -- a told reporters. Human Rights, Ou Virak, said. former Brunei prime minis- They were among nine foreign areas had relied on certain sat- killing decried by activists as The pair shouted “unjust” and Police alleged at the time that ter Pengiran Yusuf, 91, Hasan students at the university who ellite equipment “to watch and an attempt to silence his labour called for help from the king and the two men were promised 5,000 Rahaya, 91, a former Indonesian were exposed to radiation from listen to overseas, anti-China union. Hun Sen as they were led from dollars to carry out the killing. parliamentarian, and Abdul the bomb, a university official programmes”. Days later, Born Samnang, now the court in handcuffs and taken The pair have denied any involve- Razak, 87, who taught Japanese said, adding that two of them died The local government would 32, and Sok Sam Oeun, 43, were to prison. ment and said they were framed in Malaysia, the university said. instantly. invest 8.64m yuan ($1.39m) to arrested and jailed for 20 years “Let me go. I am not the killer,” by a group of police. The three were among a group The university plans to send install 50 transmitters that would each in a verdict which rights said Born Samnang. Former Phnom Penh police of students from Japanese- officials to the three countries broadcast 70 percent of the pre- watchdogs said was based on Sok Sam Oeun’s wife, Neang chief Heng Pov has also said the occupied Southeast Asia study- early next year to present the fecture’s channels, the report said. insufficient evidence. Heng, told reporters her hus- two did not kill Chea Vichea. ing in Japan during World War degrees to the three, he said. REUTERS In 2008 the Supreme Court band had been “full of hope” AFP II under a programme designed AFP Border view Vietnam police detain dissident lawyer: Family

HANOI: A prominent dissident 161, which covers tax evasion. down on online dissent, ordering lawyer was detained yester- There was no immediate authorities to fight against any- day by Vietnamese police while comment from Vietnamese one using the internet to “defame dropping off his daughter at authorities. and spread propaganda against school, his brother said. Allegations of tax dodging the party and state”. Le Quoc Quan, who blogs on a have previously been levelled at Vietnamese lawyers, bloggers range of sensitive topics includ- activists. and activists are regularly subject ing civil rights, political pluralism High profile dissident blogger to arbitrary arrest and detention, and religious freedom, was taken Nguyen Van Hai, alias Dieu Cay, according to New York-based away by police in Hanoi yester- was initially jailed for tax evasion Human Rights Watch, which has day morning, his brother Le Quoc but then sentenced in September said Quan is being targeted for Quyet said. to 12 years in jail for spreading his work. “Many police took him when anti-state propaganda. Quan, a Catholic in the major- he dropped his daughter off at A court in southern Ho Chi ity Buddhist nation, was jailed for school. They also searched his Minh City is expected to hear his three months in 2007 for partici- office and took documents, and appeal today, along with those of pating in “activities to overthrow searched his home also,” he said two other bloggers who were also the people’s government”, but he by telephone. handed lengthy prison terms on was released following protests South Korean President Lee Myung-bak uses high-powered, laser-infrared observation binoculars to “He was arrested because of his the same charges. from the United States. look into a North Korean border area during his visit to a guard post of the 15th Infantry Division in the political views,” Quyet said, add- Prime Minister Nguyen Tan In August this year Quan was South Korean border county of Hwacheon, 118km northeast of Seoul, yesterday. ing that police had told the family Dung this week restated the gov- beaten by police in an attack. he was to be charged under article ernment’s commitment to crack AFP FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Bhutto’s son launches political career Pakistan marks fifth anniversary of Benazir’s death

ISLAMABAD: The 24-year- looks, will reach in September. old only son of assassinated Benazir Bhutto has become a former Pakistani prime minis- powerful symbol for the ruling ter Benazir Bhutto launched his party, which often refers to her political career yesterday dur- as a martyr. The capital’s airport ing the fifth anniversary of his and a scheme to give cash to poor mother’s death. families have been named after Bilawal Bhutto Zardari is her. Officials hang her portraits among hundreds of high-ranking prominently on their walls. Pakistani officials, including the Her husband, who was elected current president, his father Asif following her death, is less popu- Zardari, who gathered to com- lar. Zardari was jailed on corrup- memorate Bhutto’s killing in a tion charges from 1996 to 2004 gun and suicide attack during a that he has said were politically 2007 political campaign rally. motivated. “Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, follow- Elections are scheduled for next ing in the tradition of generations, spring but many Pakistanis are will prove to be an important angry that Zardari’s government Bilawal Bhutto Zardari turning point for democracy and has failed to tackle Pakistan’s per- politics,” said Prime Minister Raja vasive corruption or end the daily Later, Benazir Bhutto served Pervez Ashraf. “This journey will power cuts that have brought its civilian governments as prime continue forward.” industrial sector to its knees minister twice but was dismissed The Oxford-educated Bhutto, The elections should mark the on corruption charges both times. who was due to make a speech first time in Pakistan’s history that Her killer has never been launching his political career later one elected civilian government caught, and a UN inquiry found in the day, was named chairman has handed power to another. that Pakistani authorities had of the ruling Pakistan People’s The nuclear-armed country of failed to protect her or prop- Party after his mother’s death. 180 million people has a history erly investigate her death. The But he is not yet old enough to of military coups. After one such UN also said that high-ranking contest an election — the mini- coup, the new military ruler hung Pakistani officials had tried to Pakistan Peoples Party supporters mourn beside the grave of Pakistan’s former prime minister Benazir Bhutto on mum age in Pakistan is 25 which Benazir Bhutto’s father in prison block its investigation. her death anniversary, at the Bhutto family mausoleum in Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, near Larkana, yesterday. Bhutto, who has his mother’s good in 1979. REUTERS Pakistan Taliban outlines Four Afghan police killed Taliban seize with ‘insider’ help: Officials 22 Pakistani paramilitary KANDAHAR: Four Afghan administration, confirmed the conditions for ceasefire policemen were killed and incident and also blamed a two wounded yesterday in an Taliban infiltrator. One gunman fighters ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani Military officials said last or terms seriously. The TTP is not insurgent attack assisted by an was wounded during fighting and Taliban have outlined condi- month that Pakistan Taliban a proper entity, certainly not one insider loyal to the Taliban, offi- later arrested, he added. PESHAWAR: The Pakistani tions for a ceasefire, including leader Hakimullah Mehsud had government can negotiate with.” cials said. “Insider” attacks by mem- Taliban have seized at least the adoption of Islamic law and lost operational command to his The ceasefire conditions, con- Attackers stormed the police bers of the police and army have 22 men from a regional para- a break with the United States, deputy, Wali ur-Rehman, who is firmed by spokesman Ihsanullah post at Trin Kot, a remote dis- become a major concern for the military force in attacks on a spokesman said yesterday, an considered to be more open to Ihsan in a phone call to Reuters, trict in the southern province of US-led Nato force deployed in three checkpoints in northern offer a senior government offi- reconciliation with the Pakistani said Pakistan should rewrite its Uruzgan, before dawn and killed Afghanistan. Pakistan, a regional official said cial described as “preposterous”. government. The Taliban deny laws and constitution according the officers as they slept, police The attacks have seen a dra- yesterday. The Taliban, in a letter sent to Mehsud has lost command. to Islamic law. spokesman Farid Ahmad Aiel matic surge this year, causing Taliban and other Pakistani the Pakistan daily The News, also The Pakistani Taliban are a sep- “We are ready to cease fire with said. scores of casualties among inter- sources put the number higher. demanded that Pakistan stop its arate entity allied to the Afghan Pakistan as long as they meet our One policeman who fled with national troops and among local The raids close to the provin- involvement in the war pitting Taliban. Known as the Tehreek- demands, that an Islamic system the insurgents was believed to be security forces. cial capital of Peshawar follows Afghan insurgents against the e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), they should be put into place, they a Taliban infiltrator who aided the The Taliban claim that insider two high-profile attacks in the Kabul government and refocus on have launched attacks against the should fix their foreign policy attack, Aiel said. attacks are carried out by its sup- city this month, underlining the a war of “revenge” against India. Pakistani military and civilians. and stop agreeing to American’s “He had links with the Taliban porters. Afghan authorities and Taliban’s willingness to take on The letter from Taliban spokes- “They are a bunch of criminals. demands,” Ihsan said. and he helped the Taliban to their Nato allies say most are per- the Pakistani state amid specu- man Amir Muawiya comes as the This is not the Afghan Taliban. “The big mistake (the govern- attack the post. He had called sonally motivated. lation of divisions among senior focus in Afghanistan shifts from They are not open to talks,” said ment) made is that they fought them to attack while the other On Monday a female police Talibani leadership. a military push by Nato troops to one senior government official America’s war in Afghanistan and policemen were sleeping,” the officer killed an American adviser At least 22 men were missing, potential peace talks, and amid who called the Pakistan Taliban brought it into Pakistan,” Ihsan spokesman said. in Kabul’s police headquarters. two had been killed and one was speculation of a rift between top offer “preposterous”. said. Abdullah Hemat, a spokes- Police said she was mentally ill. injured after militants armed Pakistan Taliban leaders. “No one can take such an offer REUTERS man for the Uruzgan provincial AFP with rocket-propelled grenades and rifles launched the overnight attacks, said Naveed Akbar, a Afghan snow regional official whose remit covers the Levies, or tribal force, units. YouTube star returns to Other Pakistani officials said at least 30 men had been taken, a fig- ure echoed by Taliban spokesmen. hero’s welcome in Lahore Eight of the paramilitary sol- diers have been killed, Taliban LAHORE: Internet sensation spokesman Mohammed Afridi One Pound Fish Man returned said in Khyber agency, or region. to a hero’s welcome in Pakistan He said the group had captured yesterday, vowing to take his 30 soldiers. Another spokesman, signature tune in honour of cut- Ihsanullah Ihsan, said 33 were price produce to France and the taken. United States. Military sources said no sol- Hundreds showed up at Lahore diers or police were missing. airport in eastern Pakistan to The Levies is a force raised from honour Muhammad Shahid Nazir, the tribes and supported by the who scaled the British music Pakistani government. charts with “One Pound Fish”, It was not clear whether the which he originally composed uptick in attacks was connected to entice shoppers at the east to speculation that the head of the London market where he worked. Pakistani Taliban, Hakimullah The song became a YouTube hit Pakistani singer Muhammad Shahid Mehsud, is losing control to his after someone filmed Nazir sing- Nazir is kissed by his mother deputy. There are many divisions ing it at the market and Warner Kalsoom Akhtar on his return from within the Pakistani Taliban. Music signed him up for a record Britain, in Lahore yesterday. A main point of contention is deal in the hope of getting the whether to focus on attacking coveted Christmas number one US forces in Afghanistan or the spot in the charts. come on ladies, one pound fish. military in Pakistan. A militant Nazir said he spent no time Very very good, one pound fish, leader who favoured not attacking writing the song -- it came to very very cheap, one pound fish.” Pakistani forces was injured in a him in a flash after his boss urged The original video has been bombing last month. him to do something to encourage viewed more than 6.5 mil- An Afghan commuter rides his bicycle as snow falls in Kabul yesterday. As winter sets in across Central Asia, REUTERS customers to cough up a pound lion times on YouTube and the many Afghans struggle to provide adequate food and shelter for their families. ($1.60) for a fish. “o-fish-al” Warner video featuring “This song is gift of God to Nazir shimmying and strutting me, I just sang it on the spot,” Bollywood-style in a natty suit the father-of-four told report- has recorded more than eight mil- ers at the airport. “The owner lion hits. The Christmas number Islamabad’s overseas missions face big overhaul in 2013 of my fish stall asked me to sing one was not to be, with a single to attract the customers and I released in tribute to the victims ISLAMABAD: The leadership government. Another 20 would abroad would fall vacant due to The officer at the headquar- started singing. On the first day of the Hillsborough football disas- of Pakistan’s diplomatic mis- be replaced as part of the routine retirement of political ambassa- ters responsible for making I started slowly and on the second ter claimed the top spot, but “One sions abroad is set for a major rotation of the officers. Pakistan dors serving there when the PPP all these postings, Ikramullah day more loudly.” Pound Fish” managed a respect- overhaul next year due to the has about 70 ambassadorial level government completes its tenure Mehsud - Additional Secretary Around 250 people including able 29 in the chart. completion of the government’s missions abroad, which implies in the first part of next year. Administration - would himself local politicians met him at the Nazir, from the small Punjab tenure and the impending that almost half of the overseas The retiring career ambas- retire next year. airport, showering him with rose town of Pattoki, said he was con- retirement of a number of sen- missions would have new envoys. sadors include Khalid Aziz Some of the important capi- petals and chanting “Long live fident of a bright future in the ior Foreign Service officials. Although a number of officers Babar (Iran), Fauzia Sana (The tals where ambassadorial posi- One Pound Fish”, while TV net- music industry. “At least nine career ambassa- retire every year, what’s interest- Netherlands), Ishtiaq Andrabi tions would fall vacant due to works interrupted coverage of the “I will go to France in two dors serving in missions abroad ing this time is that not only the (Norway), Munawer Bhatti change of government include fifth anniversary of former prime weeks to release this song and are set to retire in 2013,” a source number is on the higher side but (Belgium), Khurshid Anwar Washington, London, Delhi, Abu minister Benazir Bhutto’s assas- then will go back to London,” he said. Add to that about a dozen also some of the Foreign Service (Austria), Haroon Shaukat Dhabi, Moscow, Muscat, Kiev, sination to show his return live. said, adding that he also planned and a half political ambassadors, heavyweights would be reaching (Turkey), Zamir Akram (UN, Mexico City and Permanent The song’s lyrics are decep- to release the track in the United who, as per tradition, would the age of retirement. Geneva) and Irfan-ur-Rehman Representative at the UN in New tively simple: “Come on ladies, States. AFP stand retired with the change in Many of the major capitals Raja (Greece). York. INTERNEWS FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Singapore medics battle to save rape victim Another woman gang raped, dumped on road in Delhi SINGAPORE/NEW DELHI: Doctors in Singapore battled yes- terday to save the life of an Indian student who sustained horrific injuries in a gang rape, after she was dramatically airlifted from a hospital in New Delhi. As India’s prime minister vowed that the 23-year-old’s attackers would face swift jus- tice, doctors at Singapore’s Mount Elizabeth Hospital described her condition in the intensive care unit as “extremely critical”. Dr Kelvin Loh, chief execu- tive officer at the hospital said in a statement: “As at 7pm (1100 GMT) the patient remains in an extremely critical condition. She is under treatment at Mount Elizabeth Hospital’s Intensive Care Unit. “Prior to her arrival, she has already undergone three abdominal surgeries and experi- enced a cardiac arrest in India. “A multi-disciplinary team of The Mount Elizabeth medical centre and hospital in Singapore, where the victim of the gang rape is being treated. Right: Female commuters ride a scooter past a billboard, calling for capital specialists is taking care of her punishment against rape, in New Delhi yesterday. and doing everything possible to stabilise her condition.” The Indian government, which woman had been found overnight connection with the assault on the is paying for the woman’s treat- dumped on a road in southeast student. Singh, whose government ment, approved the decision Delhi after being gagged, sedated President’s son sorry for remarks on protesters has been stung by criticism about to transfer her from Delhi’s and raped by three men. the notoriously slow Indian justice Safdarjung Hospital where she had One of the accused, identified NEW DELHI: The Indian told a regional news channel. my father is absolutely with me system, said their case would be been treated since the December as Dilip Verma, has been arrested. president’s son landed himself The phrase “dented and on this.”The main opposition dealt with “expeditiously”. 16 assault on a bus in the centre of The woman, who runs a bou- in hot water with his own fam- painted” is used by mechanics Bharatiya Janata Party said The government has already the capital. The victim’s relatives tique in Jaipur in Rajasthan, ily yesterday for denigrating who mask the bruised bodywork Mukherjee junior’s remarks set up an inquiry commission into accompanied her to Singapore. was dumped outside a school in women who took part in mass and rust on second-hand vehicles were particularly ill-timed as the attack while a separate panel “Since the day of the incident, it Kalkaji area of the capital around protests over a gang rape as with liberal coatings of paint. the 23-year-old victim of the has been asked to suggest stiffer has been our endeavour to provide 10pm. A case has been registered being middle-aged and caked Among the most vocal critics December 16 attack fights for punishments. “Laws regard- her the best of medical care,” Home at the Kalkaji police station. in makeup. was his own sister Sharmishtha her life in hospital in Singapore. ing the safety of women will be Minister Sushilkumar Shinde In her statement, she told the Abhijit Mukherjee, who is also who described his comments “I think this is exactly the reviewed,” Singh pledged. said. According to police, six men police that she knew Verma for a member of parliament, came as “a bit of a shocker” and said kind of mindset that the youth As part of measures to fight took turns to rape the woman the last five years and met him in in for widespread condemna- her father, President Pranab is fighting against,” said Smriti crime against women, the gov- and assault her with an iron bar, the pilgrimage town of Vrindavan tion after he said that many of Mukherjee, also disapproved. Irani, head of the BJP’s women’s ernment also announced yes- leaving her with severe intestinal in Uttar Pradesh. those who have taken part in “It is definitely something wing. Mukherjee later issued an terday it will post identities injuries, before they threw her out “The woman said she had to the nationwide protests were that we as a family definitely apology. “My intention was not and photos of rapists on official of a bus that they had taken for a come to Delhi for some work, so “dented and painted” women don’t agree with,” she told the to hurt anyone,” he told NDTV. websites to shame them in pub- joyride. she accompanied Verma in his rather than students. NDTV network. “It’s not just “I apologise to all those people lic. India was rocked by a wave While doctors in Singapore car. Later, the accused was joined “These pretty women, dented one protest, it’s accumulated whose sentiment got hurt by of protests in the week after the gave no details about the treat- by two more people and the trio and painted... have no contact rage over the way women are these sentences and these sen- attack, prompting authorities to ment she has received since her raped her in the moving car,” a with ground reality,” Mukherjee being treated, raped, molested... tences are withdrawn.” AFP seal off large parts of the capital. early morning arrival, their coun- police official said. Police said Several thousand riot police were terparts at Safdarjung said Mount the other two accused are auto- again on duty yesterday to pre- Elizabeth was chosen as it has a drivers. “She was taken to AIIMS Dilip Verma has been taken into gang raped and brutally tortured a gathering of chief ministers yes- vent a group of around 500 people multi-organ transplant facility. (All India Institute of Medical custody,” the official said. The by five men and a juvenile in a terday that there was a “problem” from marching on the presiden- “With fortitude and courage she Sciences) for a medical check- incident took place days after a moving bus in the city. Prime which “requires greater atten- tial palace.“We want justice,” the has survived the after-effects of up after a complaint was lodged. 23-year-old physiotherapist was Minister Manmohan Singh told tion”. Six men are in custody in protesters chanted. AFP/IANS the injuries so far, but her condi- tion continues to be critical,” B D Athani, medical superintendent at Safdarjung Hospital, told reporters. Acid attack victim becomes a TV millionaire India has been rocked by a wave of protests since the attack, includ- NEW DELHI: When Sonali Mukherjee dismissed as mere “eve-teasing”. water to wash down medicine administered to appear on Kaun Banega Crorepati, the ing one in Delhi yesterday which spurned the advances of three of her fel- Nine years ago, Mukherjee was a promis- by her father. The government does not Indian version of “Who Wants to be a brought several hundred people low students, they responded by melting ing student at a college in the eastern city keep specific figures on acid attacks. Millionaire” and which was featured in the onto the streets. Riot police pre- her face with acid. But rather than hide of Dhanbad when the three students broke According to the London-based charity movie “Slumdog Millionaire”. After being vented them from marching on herself away, the 27-year-old applied to into her home while she was sleeping and Acid Survivors Trust International, about chosen as a contestant, she went on to win government buildings. appear on India’s most-watched TV quiz hurled acid on her face for rejecting them. 1,500 acid attacks are reported globally `2.5m ($45,000) last month after success- The protests have reflected show - and walked away a millionaire. They used a liquid known as “Tezaab”, each year. But many more victims do not fully answering 10 questions. not only the revulsion at the sav- “If you can stare at a picture of a pretty which is normally used to clean rusted tools. report their injuries to the authorities and The money will be used to fund a round age nature of the attack but also woman then you can look at my burnt face Her attackers used it to melt Mukherjee’s instead suffer in silence. Mukherjee says of plastic surgery next year for Mukherjee, simmering anger over the level of too,” Mukherjee said in her tiny home in eyelids, nose and ears. Even after 22 sub- that numerous appeals failed to produce who keeps a portrait of herself as a fresh- violence against women. the capital New Delhi. “It’s very easy for sequent surgical procedures, she remains any financial or legal support from the faced teenaged cadet. Official figures show that victims of acid attacks to swallow poison blind and partially deaf. No one has ever state. Instead her family had to sell their She said that letters appealing for help 228,650 of the total 256,329 vio- but I made the choice to stand up and been convicted of the attack. two-storey home, farmland, gold and the had failed to yield results but the sight of lent crimes recorded last year scream and shout against the violence.” The three were arrested and spent some cattle to meet medical expenses. In one her injuries had a much more profound were against women, with the The recent gang rape of a university time behind bars on remand but were later letter to the government she even said that impact.“Once everything else had failed, I number of rapes in the capital student on a bus in New Delhi - which freed on bail and the case has been bogged she would prefer to commit suicide - which decided to use my face.” rising 17 percent to 661 this year. sparked angry protests across India - has in India’s notoriously slow justice system. is illegal in India - rather than live in con- Mukherjee says that her winnings may Gang rapes are reported on again shone an uncomfortable spotlight “They couldn’t take a ‘no’ from me and tinuous pain. be welcome but they still will not be enough a daily basis, with police reveal- on the levels of violence against women in so they decided to snatch my face, and steal But as she despaired of funding her to cover all her medical bills. ing yesterday that a 42-year-old the country, where sex assaults are often my life away,” she said as she groped for treatment, Mukherjee decided to apply AFP

Jayalalithaa Assam tea workers burn alive boss, wife IKEA to set up shops soon GUWAHATI: Tea plantation workers torched the home of their walks out of boss, killing both him and his wife, following a labour dispute in Assam, officials said yesterday. Around 1,000 workers at the pri- NEW DELHI: India is on track NDC meeting vately-owned MKB Tea Estate attacked the plantation owner’s to approve a bid by Swedish bungalow on Wednesday and set it on fire in violence blamed on furniture giant IKEA to open NEW DELHI: A miffed festering labour unrest in the tea-growing region, police said. its trademark blue-and-yellow Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Mridul Bhattacharya and his wife Rita were burned to death as stores in the country as it seeks Jayalalithaa yesterday created workers armed with home-made weapons prevented police from res- big new markets for its flat- a flutter by walking out of the cuing them, they said. “The body of the planter was charred beyond pack products, a minister said. National Development Council recognition and reduced to ashes while the body of the wife was found Last month the Foreign (NDC) meeting after accusing lying in the kitchen,” local police officer A Das said by telephone. The Investment Promotion Board the central government of “sti- grisly attack occurred in Assam’s tea-growing Tinsukia district, some rejected 15 of IKEA’s 30 product fling” the voice of chief ministers 500km east of the main city of Guwahati. The Indian Express newspaper lines, underscoring the regula- belonging to opposition parties. said the violence was sparked by orders served by Bhattacharya on tory hurdles faced by foreign The government dismissed her 10 estate workers to vacate their quarters and the detention of three stores hoping to enter the Indian accusations but two Bharatiya employees by police over unspecified disputes. Plantation workers were market.But after complaints Janata Party (BJP) chief ministers seen on local television channels admitting to having carried out an attack. from IKEA over the curbs, com- supported her contention that “We all came and attacked the bungalow and set it on fire. They deserved merce minister Anand Sharma the representatives from states to be killed as the planter has exploited us for a long time and tortured said that the government has should get more time to speak. us for petty things,” a tea estate female worker said on News Live local TV taken a “favourable view” of its The 57th National Development channel. The station did not identify the woman. Assam produces around request and the process of formal Council (NDC) meet at Vigyan 55 percent of India’s annual tea production, which stood at 988.32 million approval is underway. Minister for Commerce, Industry and Textiles Anand Sharma (left), with the Bhawan here had a stipulated 10 kilograms last year, and the state is home to more than 800 tea estates. IKEA had told the Indian CEO of Sweden’s IKEA, Mikael Ohlsson, in St. Petersburg, Russia. minutes for each chief minister government the company must to speak but this did not go down be allowed to retain its “global proposal at a meeting next week. to foreign retailers. IKEA hopes well with the Tamil Nadu chief Alagiri’s son questioned in granite mining scam model” in India, retailing all of its IKEA’s entry into India - it has to open 25 of its stores in India minister. products and running its in-store pledged to invest $1.9bn in coming through a 100-percent owned Jayalalithaa, who was among CHENNAI: Union Minister M K Alagiri’s son Durai Dayanidhi restaurants as it does in every years - is being closely watched as unit, Ingka Holding, as part of a the first speakers, said it was was grilled by police in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai in connection with country where it has operations. a test case for how a large foreign wider push into emerging mar- humiliating to have been signalled illegal mining of granite by a company in which he was a director. “We accept their global model,” corporation negotiates India’s byz- kets like China and Russia. IKEA to stop ten minutes into her A prime accused in the case, Dayanidhi was on the run for several Sharma said in a statement, add- antine rules and red tape. said in a statement that it had no speech. “I began my speech and months till the Madras High Court this month quashed the non- ing: “We see no reason why their The government in September immediate comment on Sharma’s as the 10 minutes were up, they bailable warrant issued against him. Yesterday, Dayanidhi accom- global model has to be changed announced a string of pro-mar- statements and it was awaiting rang a bell. It was a big humilia- panied by a batch of lawyers, presented himself before police for in any manner.” The investment ket and investor-friendly reforms the outcome of government delib- tion,” she told reporters. questioning in connection with the mining of granite by Olympus panel is due to take up IKEA’s new that relaxed or removed barriers erations on its application. AFP IANS Granite. AGENCIES FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Vodafone Rayyan Bank Industries NakilatQatar Islamic Barwa Gulf HoldingComm. Bank Int. Islamic Qatar Bank of Qatar Bank

314,202 8.33 346,432 24.89 59,460 155.00164,316 15.31 12,820 75.20 135,087 27.15 5,753 22.65 175,999 70.90 3,255 52.00 European stock markets rise Euro rises to $1.3231; gold price declines to $1,655.50 an ounce

LONDON: Europe’s main late in New York on Wednesday. likely,” noted ETX Capital econo- On Wednesday, the Treasury stock markets rose for the most Gold prices declined to $1,655.50 mist Ishaq Siddiqi. Department said the government part yesterday following a fes- an ounce on the London Bullion Investors fretted over the would hit its legal borrowing limit tive break and a rally in Tokyo, Market from $1,662.50 late on looming deadlines for a series by Monday, setting in motion with Paris reaching a 2012 high. Monday. of tax hikes and spending cuts emergency measures to keep the Traders were focused on On Wall Street however, US worth some $600bn (¤452bn) due government operating for sev- whether the United States would stocks were lower in midday trad- to take effect on January 1 and 2 eral more weeks. The Treasury’s avert the 2013 “fiscal cliff” of sharp ing as the deadline for the White respectively. manoeuvring is designed to put Qatari bourse index tax hikes and spending cuts. House and Republican lawmak- US lawmakers were to return off until February or March the London’s FTSE 100 index of ers to reach some kind of budget to the negotiating table after the prospect of a full-blown debt cri- leading companies was stable agreement crept closer. Christmas holidays in a last-ditch sis, indicating that the US budget down 0.19 percent at 5,954.30 points; the DAX 30 The Dow Jones Industrial effort to reach a deal. Experts wrangling could continue well gained 0.26 percent to 7,655.88 Average was down by 0.67 per- are warning that going over the into 2013. points in Frankfurt; and the cent while the broad-market S&P widely signalled cliff could drive Asian stock markets closed DOHA: Qatar Exchange index as the Egyptian pound continued Paris CAC 40 added 0.59 percent 500 fell by 1.01 percent and the the world’s biggest economy back higher yesterday, with Tokyo scal- was down 16.16 points or 0.19 to edge down to fresh eight-year to 3,674.26 points, its highest level tech-rich Nasdaq Composite lost into recession. ing a 21-month high thanks to a percent to 8,311.22 points yester- lows, amid talk that authorities for the year. The Milan FTSE Mib 0.87 percent. “No deal tonight will mean the weaker yen, traders said. day from the previous closing of might devalue it or bring in fresh index added 0.45 percent to 16,408 “There are hopes for an 11th- increased likelihood that US law- Tokyo’s benchmark Nikkei 225 8,327.38 points. Among the top capital controls. The possibility points after Italy raised ¤8.5bn hour grand bargain to be bashed makers will have to reach some index climbed 0.91 percent to losers were Qatar National Bank of more controls has prompted ($11.25bn) in a short-term debt out later tonight, but markets are sort of make-shift solution before 10,322.98 points, the highest level whose share dropped 0.38 percent some depositors to move funds auction. likely to hold off from building too the year ends and address the since March 11 last year when to QR129.50, Commercial Bank of into dollars. In foreign exchange deals, the much risk in the case of failure issue with a more comprehensive a massive quake struck Japan, Qatar lost 0.42 percent to QR70.60, But many regional investors euro rose to $1.3231 from $1.3223 which appears to be much more plan in January,” Siddiqi said. sparking a tsunami and the worst Qatar Electricity and Water fell remain interested in the stock atomic crisis in a generation. 0.15 percent to QR129.70 and market because of its longer- The dollar rose to its high- Masraf Al Rayan was down 1.17 term potential. For these inves- est level in more than two years percent to QR24.60. tors, market dips due to political against the yen as Prime Minister The banking and financial sector turbulence can seem like buying Shinzo Abe took office, raising dropped 6.11 points, the insurance opportunities. Arab and non-Arab expectations that the Bank of sector lost 0.68 points, the indus- foreigners were net buyers yes- Japan would initiate more aggres- trial sector added 2.78 points and terday, while Egyptians were net sive monetary easing under his the services sector fell 6 points. sellers, bourse data showed. leadership. A weaker yen boosts Meanwhile, Egypt’s bourse In the Gulf, Dubai’s small-caps Japan’s exporters, helping to lift bounced from a nine-day low, as helped the bourse extend gains as their share prices. foreign investors’ buying interest retail investors dominated, but Europe’s main stock markets continued to support stocks despite other regional markets were mixed. have meanwhile enjoyed strong political instability and economic There was little institutional activ- gains over the year, largely thanks worries. Gulf markets were mixed ity as many investors were away on to a late 2012 rally on signs that amid a lack of positive catalysts. holidays. Deyaar Development and the eurozone debt crisis was being Cairo’s benchmark index rose Ajman Bank rose 2.9 and 3.0 per- tackled effectively. 2.2 percent and closed very near cent respectively. Dubai Financial Frankfurt has surged almost its intra-day high, extending its Market advanced 3.7 percent. 30 percent this year, while Paris 2012 gains to 49.6 percent. Shares Shares in Shuaa Capital has gained 16 percent and London in Telecom Egypt climbed 3.1 per- closed 2.1 percent higher at 0.595 seven percent in value. cent, after the Egyptian regulator dirhams after wild trading which In a reminder however that said it would grant the landline saw them soar as high as 0.67 deep problems remain, shares in monopoly a licence by mid-2013 intra-day. The stock surged 15 Spain’s bailed-out lender Bankia to provide mobile services. percent on Wednesday. plunged yesterday after banking “Telecom Egypt is a good story, Dubai’s index climbed 0.4 per- authorities said it had a negative especially after the universal cent and 0.6 percent this week. Abu of value of ¤4.148bn ($5.5bn). licence by 2013 H1 - Egypt is a Dhabi’s measure advanced 0.3 per- Shares in Bankia, which is at rich market,” said Reda Gomaa, cent, edging up 0.2 percent from the heart of a crisis in the bad- portfolio manager at Mashreq. last Thursday’s close; the index loan ridden Spanish banking Palm Hills Development and failed a test this week of chart system, slumped 19.53 percent to Orascom Telecom climbed 4.7 resistance at 2,640 points, which 55.20 cents in afternoon trade. and 3.0 percent respectively. El was support in mid-October and Madrid’s main IBEX 35 index Saeed Contracting added 1.7 per- late November. Elsewhere, Kuwait’s A passer-by watching Tokyo stock average closing information on a display at a securities office in Tokyo yesterday, was 0.22 percent lower at 8,280.90 cent; the trio were the most active benchmark slipped 0.2 percent, after Liberal Democratic Party’s president Shinzo Abe became the new prime minister on Wednesday. The Nikkei points. Spain’s stock market has stocks on the index. while Oman’s index climbed 0.3 Stock Average climbed 92.62 points to close at 10,322.98. fallen by about 3.0 percent since The market’s rise was particu- percent, halting a three-day dip. the start of the year. AFP larly striking because it occurred QNA/REUTERS Bankia shareholders QSA announces five-year strategy

DOHA: Qatar Statistics line with international standards Qatar (NSD). This document and coordinating the statistical set for more losses Authority (QSA) has announced and recommendations. sets out a vision and a mission activities of data producers in a five-year national strategy for The QSA has already identi- for the national statistical system country to generate a coherent, MADRID: Spain’s Bankia will fund, known as FROB, said on the further enhance its capabil- fied seven strategic goals for the in Qatar and identifies even stra- integrated set of statistics for wipe out the investments of Wednesday. That measure will ities in statistics development, period 2008 to 2013 and working tegic goals to be achieved in the national, regional and interna- 350,000 shareholders, many of be used to help determine share- covering a period from 2013 to on it. This includes institution- five year period from 2008-13. In tional use. them small savers and pension- holder losses. Bankia’s parent 2018. alizing standards for statistical order to achieve this vision, QSA The strategy also aims to ers, after it emerged that losses company BFA had negative equity Some of the important chal- methodology and quality; and has set itself a mission to satisfy engage in advocacy to raise sta- on bad loans at the troubled bank of ¤10.4bn. How much sharehold- lenges that would be addressed strengthening statistical agen- user needs for quality statistical tistical literacy and promote the were even worse than expected. ers will lose will be unveiled when in this process include strength- cies organizationally. QSA is information to support evidence- correct and effective use of statis- The measure will hit small the capital increase takes place in ening of coordination of the sta- also involved in building capac- based policy formulation and to tics in Qatar. investors drawn in by aggressive January following discussions with tistical system to increase data ity to promote statistical literacy monitor development progress According to an interim evalu- marketing just last year after EU authorities, the source said. quality and improve ways of mak- through advocacy and education, while adhering to best interna- ation of the NSD, the QSA found Bankia was formed from a merger Hundreds of thousands of ing statistics available to users, in addition to working on design- tional practices. that progress was achieved towards of provincial savings banks. But it Spaniards, some of them retirees making use of new technology and ing and implementing supporting The plans also include furnish- all the seven strategic goals, with is described by officials as vital if with little awareness of financial social networks. sub-strategies in key areas. ing the official reference figures the overall level of achievement the company, which was national- affairs, ploughed savings into The new strategy also envisages In 2008, QSA prepared and on social, demographic, economic across all level goals was assessed ised in May, is to return to profit Bankia shares when the bank maintaining standards to ensure published a National Strategy and environmental conditions in at two thirds completed. in order to be sold on again. was listed in July 2011. The stock that all statistics are compiled in for Development of statistics in Qatar and harmonising standards THE PENINSULA Bankia will receive ¤18bn of has lost more than 80 percent of European Union money by today its value since then. Small sav- and launch a capital increase in the ers also bought billions of euros first half of January when current of other Bankia instruments, such Indonesia economy shareholders will lose practically as preference shares or subordi- their entire investment, a source nated debt, on which they will Brent eases close to the Bank of Spain said. also suffer steep losses. “Are we looking into leaving “It seems to be to have been NEW YORK: Oil prices eased shareholders with something? managed extraordinarily badly. It in choppy trading yesterday as Yes. How much? That’s too soon is a total cock-up,” said Enrique unresolved US budget talks left to say. Will it be very little? For Marquez, 66, a retired technician open the possibility that loom- sure,” the central bank source who invested ¤7,000 in ordinary ing mandated tax hikes and said on condition of anonymity. shares and more than ¤70,000 in spending cuts could push the “But that will be purely sym- preference shares with Bankia. economy of the No. 1 oil con- bolic. I can assure you they will “I’ve been duped on the preference suming nation into recession. lose up to the shirt on their back.” shares and I’ve been duped on the Brent February fell 67 cents to Under the EU plan to prop up ordinary shares. It’s been an abuse of $110.40 a barrel by 11:16am EST Spain’s banking sector, devastated trust,” added Marquez, who said he (1616 GMT), after reaching $111.33. by a burst real estate bubble, had been told by his bank manager US February crude was down 23 shareholders must be the first in the stock could be very profitable in cents at $90.75 a barrel, after line to accept losses. That was the the medium term. Many of Bankia’s reaching $91.44 during the session, case in Ireland, another victim more than 20,000 employees also highest since October 19. Brokers of the global credit crisis, where invested in the shares in the 2011 said few investors wished to make shareholders in Anglo Irish Bank initial public offering and are set to High-rise buildings seen in Jakarta yesterday. According to projections by the World Bank, Indonesia’s major large bets on the direction of oil were left with nothing. lose their money even as thousands trading partners are estimated to grow by 3.3 percent by the end of the year and by a slightly higher 3.6 prices until the US budget talks Bankia had negative equity - face job cuts enforced as a condi- percent in 2013, which will improve the prospects for higher export growth. were resolved or during the holi- or an excess of debt over assets tion of receiving European aid. day period characterised by low - of ¤4.2bn, Spain’s bank rescue REUTERS trading volumes. REUTERS FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Hong Kong economy to grow Eurozone crisis batters holiday sales prospects Britain and Sweden buck the trend

LONDON: Shoppers in eurozone from customers after two straight nations battered by years of reces- years of falling retail sales. sion and crisis are on the hunt for For Italy, another victim of the bargains, delaying their purchases eurozone crisis, this Christmas will until the last minute, or simply not go down as “the worst in the last 10 buying at all as post-Christmas years”, according to the Codacons A woman walks past a tinted window in front of the city skyline in Hong Kong yesterday. With the global economic weakness continuing to impact sales get underway. consumer organisation, with spend- domestic economy, the IMF said it expects Hong Kong’s economy to grow 1.25 percent this year, before rebounding to three percent next year. Britain and Sweden appeared to ing down by as much as 20 percent buck the trend, however, with the compared with a year ago. Italian number of people visiting shops on families were buying fewer and Wednesday, the day when clearance cheaper presents and even recycling sales traditionally start, well up on last year’s Christmas decorations. An last year and sales volumes high. exception to the downturn was spend- In southern Europe, where the ing on food, which rose 5 percent as US consumer sentiment weakens economic crisis has hit hardest, sales Italians remained reluctant to give up were down, in some cases quite sub- on elaborate Christmas meals. WASHINGTON: US consumer confi- may remain sluggish even as the pace of Analysts said the holiday season can make stantially, according to an informal In France, a special promotion dence fell more than expected in December, layoffs ease. The Labour Department said it more difficult to seasonally adjust the Reuters survey. In Greece, whose by supermarket group Intermarche hitting a four-month low as a looming fis- initial claims for state unemployment ben- claims data, another reason to be cautious. economy has been shrinking for five resulted in the sale of 45,000 tins of cal crisis sapped what had been a growing efits dropped 12,000 to a seasonally adjusted “There is usually a high margin of error years, retail turnover in December is caviar, three times more than last sense of optimism about the economy. 350,000, the Labour Department said. in predicting the monthly payroll number,” expected to have fallen by about one year. But with a month of winter Other data yesterday showed the number That was lower than analysts’ forecasts for said Michelle Meyer, senior economist at fifth compared to a year ago, accord- sales beginning on January 9, the of Americans filing new claims for unem- 360,000 new claims last week. Bank of America Merrill Lynch at New ing to Vassilis Korkidis, chairman of outlook is less rosy. Only 48 percent ployment aid fell last week to nearly its low- “This recent improvement in the claims York. “That’s even more the case this the country’s retail trade association. of shoppers are planning to partici- est level in four-and-a-half years, while new data is potentially a favorable signal for the month from the residual effects of the “Unfortunately, yet another year has pate, according to a poll by market home sales last month hit their highest level labor market,” said Daniel Silver, an econo- hurricane and year-end seasonal adjust- been marked by poor Christmas sales. research firm Harris Interactive. since April 2010. mist at JPMorgan in New York. ments,” she said. I hope that 2013 will put an end to the In relatively prosperous Germany, The Conference Board, an industry group, After spiking in the wake of a mam- Analysts said the holiday season was economic war we have been fighting the outlook was better. Shoppers had said its index of consumer attitudes fell to moth storm that ravaged the East Coast another reason to be cautious about the for five straight years now,” Korkidis waited until the last minute before 65.1 from 71.5 in November. in late October, the weekly levels of new report’s positive tenor. Also, with business told a Greek television station. making their purchases, but a sharp Gauges of business sentiment have weak- claims have now dropped to their lowest sentiment weakening in recent months as the Athens’ main shopping streets were pickup in the week before Christmas ened recently on worries about $600bn in levels since the early days of the 2007-09 fiscal cliff has approached, many economists buzzing with people before Christmas. was expected to continue into the tax hikes and government spending cuts recession. The four-week moving average think businesses are holding back on hiring. But many shopkeepers complained New Year, the German retail asso- scheduled for early January. Now consum- fell 11,250 last week to 356,750, the lowest “A significant improvement in labor mar- that families merely came for a walk ciation said. ers also appear apprehensive, a sign worries since March 2008. ket conditions ahead of any resolution to the to enjoy the warm, sunny weather. “More and more often, Christmas about the so-called “fiscal cliff” could bite The claims data for last week has no fiscal cliff is unlikely,” said Michael Gapen, Spain’s biggest department store, presents are being bought only just into household spending. direct relation to the Labour Department’s an economist at Barclays in New York. El Corte Ingles, has not officially before Christmas,” said Stefan Genth, “People are hearing about (the cliff) and monthly employment report, but suggests Separately, the Commerce Department started its winter sales, but is already head of the HDE retail association, it negatively impacts confidence and inves- the surge in layoffs since the recession has said new US single-family home sales accel- offering discounts on selected items which represents 100,000 members. tor sentiment and even holiday sales,” said at least run its course. Companies in recent erated in November to a 377,000-unit annual such as flat-screen televisions. Revenues from Christmas shopping are Todd Schoenberger, managing partner at months have been adding to their payrolls rate while the median sales price jumped Shopkeepers were expected to expected to amount to about ¤80.4bn, an Landcolt Capital in New York. at a lackluster pace, and analysts expect 14.9 percent from the same month in 2011, offer big reductions when clearance increase of 1.5 percent from the year- Also, with business sentiment weaken- the monthly employment report due on signs that the US housing recovery is gain- sales officially start next month in earlier period, HDE said. ing in recent months as the fiscal cliff has January 4 will show 143,000 jobs created in ing some steam. an attempt to generate some interest REUTERS approached, many economists think hiring December, down from 146,000 in November. REUTERS

QATARI MARKET India PM calls 8pc Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid Price Yield Moodys S&P Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 105.50 0.82% Aa2 AA Sudan opens new oilfield economic growth Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.63 1.69% Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 125.88 2.13% Aa2 AA HADIDA: Sudan yesterday Last week, Vice President Ali ($1.4bn on the black market), ‘ambitious’ goal Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 119.63 2.23% Aa2 AA opened its second new oil field in Osman Taha opened another new said implementation of an eco- Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 115.13 2.61% Aa2 AA a week, as the country struggles field, Al Barsaia, in the western nomic reform package intro- NEW DELHI: India’s premier Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 182.00 3.46% Aa2 AA to make up for the loss of billions part of South Kordofan. The new duced by the government in June Manmohan Singh played down of dollars in oil revenues lost fields will increase oil production has been “mixed”. hopes yesterday for the nation’s Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 140.00 3.97% Aa2 AA when South Sudan separated. “and enhancement of the eco- Spending was not contained as once booming economy, terming Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 130.63 3.97% Aa2 AA “President (Omar) Hassan nomic situation of the country”, Oil hoped for and revenues did not a plan for achieving eight per- Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 105.13 1.46% Aa2 AA Al Bashir launches the actual Minister Awad Ahmad Al Jaz said. flow as expected, he said, adding cent annual growth an “ambi- Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 117.13 2.50% Aa2 AA production of Hadida oil field,” Sudan’s pound has plunged to that the regime lacks fiscal dis- tious” goal. Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 106.00 1.76% A1 A- the official SUNA news agency record lows on the black market cipline. The government said it Singh’s muted expectations announced. and inflation has soared—reach- earned more than $2bn from gold came after the government this Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.50 2.27% A1 A- The field, operated by Chinese- ing 46 percent in November— exports this year but it aims to month cut its growth forecast QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.63 2.13% NR NR controlled Petro Energy E&P, is since South Sudan separated in collect 60 percent of its earnings to just under six percent for this QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.25 1.96% Aa3 A+ located on the border between July 2011 with some 75 percent of from taxation in 2013. financial year — putting Asia’s QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.88 2.14% Aa3 A+ East Darfur state and South the 470,000 b/d produced by the Sudan’s oil output for 2012 third-largest economy on track for Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.00 2.49% A2 A- Kordofan, the country’s main oil- formerly unified country. would likely not exceed 120,000 its worst performance in a decade. producing area. The lost crude accounted for b/d, an International Monetary “Achieving a target of eight per- Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.13 1.97% A2 A SUNA reported that the field most of Khartoum’s export earn- Fund staff report said in cent growth, following less than six Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 130.88 2.64% A2 A would produce 10,000 barrels of ings and half of its fiscal revenues. November. At the start of 2012, percent in the first year, is still an Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 113.13 2.92% A2 A crude per day (b/d), although that An international economist, officials in Khartoum were tar- ambitious target,” said Singh, 80, Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 113.75 3.65% A2 A is unlikely to be the immediate who assessed Sudan’s projected geting 180,000 b/d by year-end. in an unusually downbeat message Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 108.00 0.90% Aa3 A output after start-up. budget deficit at 10bn pounds AFP ahead of the new year. He was speaking to state chief Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 110.13 2.96% Aa3 A ministers reviewing India’s 2012- Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 112.88 3.39% Aa3 A 2017 economic plan which aims SOVEREIGNS for eight percent annual average growth. Despite liberalisation Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid Price Yield Moodys S&P Lukoil cuts Iraq oil output plan by a third steps, India runs on five-year Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 106.50 0.39% Aa2 AA plans based on the old Soviet Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 128.75 1.87% Aa2 AA MOSCOW: Russia’s second-largest crude pro- of 12m b/d by 2017, but has been reviewing the target. Union’s model. Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 110.88 2.60% NR NR ducer Lukoil said it has cut its oil production plan “In return (for cuts) we got a substantial increase The Congress government’s Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.50 3.04% NR NR in Iraq by almost a third, in line with the local in the lifetime of the plateau production. The plateau “first priority must be to reverse government’s plans to increase the lifetime of its output has been envisaged to last 12-13 years, while this slowdown,” said Singh, who is Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 126.50 3.78% NR NR oilfields. now it has been revised to 19 years,” Kuzyayev said. keen to get the economy moving Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 116.63 4.27% NR NR Andrei Kuzyayev, head of Lukoil Overseas, told Any deep cut to Iraq’s overall target could mean again before the 2014 polls. “We Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 105.50 1.29% Aa2 AA Russian state TV channel Rossiya-24 in an interview the deals could need to be adjusted to accommodate cannot change the global economy Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 114.38 3.55% NR BBB aired on Wednesday that Lukoil is now looking for lower production plateaus, or peak output levels, but we can do something about the Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 108.25 4.17% NR BBB peak production at the West Qurna-2 oilfield of 1.2 which would mean lower returns for oil companies domestic constraints which have million barrels per day (b/d), not 1.8m b/d as previ- in the short term. contributed to the downturn,” he Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 99.75 5.79% B2 B ously envisaged. West Qurna-2 is the world’s second- Oil output in 2013 was targeted to reach an aver- said, warning India can no longer Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 102.50 4.11% NR BBB- largest undeveloped field with recoverable oil reserves age 3.7m b/d - just shy of an all-time high of 3.8 “follow a business-as-usual policy”. *Periodic Distribution Amount of around 14 billion barrels, according to Lukoil. million, hit in 1979. Exports are expected to run at AFP IMPORTANT NOTE: Kuzyayev said the Iraqi government has decided to 2.9m b/d, including 250,000 b/d contributed by the Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which cut peak oil production in order to prop up oil prices northern Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG). Mazaya Qatar weighs is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services and help its economy. “That’s why Iraq’s leadership Lukoil controls 75 percent in Iraq’s huge West Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary has decided to limit production in the whole country Qurna-2 oilfield and has been looking for a part- QR170m deal offer data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising to 9 million bpd, not 12m b/d,” he said. ner to replace Statoil which decided to leave the out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not DOHA: take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds “The Iraqis have analysed the situation for the project earlier this year, but has declined to name Mazaya Qatar Real can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant last three years, and they come to the conclusion any candidates. The deposit alone is expected to Estate Development has received liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not they didn’t need (sharp rises in) peak production,” produce 500,000 barrels per day in 2014. Lukoil plans an offer worth QR170m to buy a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and Kuzyayev added. “That’s because the peak produc- to invest some $5bn in development of the field next one of its investment properties. consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. tion will lead to creation of excessive infrastructure. year, while total investments for the whole period of The company is studying this And going forward, when production will start to the project are seen at $30bn. purchase offer, Mazaya Qatar sharply decline that would create an unstable mac- Kuzyayev said the company would be happy to sell said in a statement posted on the roeconomic situation in Iraq. the share left from Statoil it currently owns to an Doha bourse website. It didn’t Iraq has signed a series of contracts with foreign Asian company as it needs to secure stable market provide any other details. companies that target total oil production capacity for its oil. REUTERS THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

QE Indices Summary WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Index 8,311.22 16.16 QE Total Return Index 11,248.08 21.88 RATE QE All Share Index 2,002.84 1.83 INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 1,943.63 6.11 GOLD Buying Selling QE All Share Industrials 2,610.82 2.78 All Ordinaries 4645.608 10.389 0.22 4669 4033.4 QR194.5016 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 1,342.84 3.44 Cac 40 Index/D 3652.61 -8.79 -0.24 3674.57 2922.26 QE All Share Real Estate 1,590.64 5.09 SILVER UK ...... QR 5.8403 QR 5.9110 QE All Share Insurance 1,899.66 0.68 Dj Indu Average 13139.08 -51.76 -0.39 13661.87 12035.16 QR 3.5115 Euro ...... QR 4.7756 QR 4.8650 QE All Share Telecoms 1,054.37 1.52 CA$ ...... QR 3.6338 QR 3.7037 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 4,647.45 6.00 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.9487 QR 4.0247 Hang Seng Inde/D 22541.18 34.89 0.16 22683.72 18056.4 Yen ...... QR 0.0419 QR 0.0429 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.7305 QR 3.8252 Iseq Overall/D 3373.66 -14.73 -0.43 3407.74 2882.71 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0655 QR 0.0670 27-12-2012 26-12-2012 Karachi 100 In/D 16927.34 35.4 0.21 16967.82 10771.13 Index 8,311.22 8,327.38 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0371 QR 0.0378 Change 16.16 53.77 Nikkei 225 Index 10230.36 150.24 1.49 10255.15 8238.96 Peso ...... QR 0.0868 QR 0.0895 % 0.19 0.64 $ 110.46 SL Re ...... QR 0.0284 QR 0.0290 YTD% 5.33 5.14 S&P 500 Index/D 1426.66 -3.49 -0.24 1474.51 1248.64 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0447 QR 0.0451 Volume 2,423,635 3,302,694 Straits Times/D 3180.81 12.24 0.39 3180.5 2657.77 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0414 QR 0.0422 Value (QAR) 112,503,535.61 131,139,341.20 $ 108.54 Trades 2,043 1,990 SA Rand ...... QR 0.4218 QR 0.4305 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 16 | Down 23 | Unchanged 01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 27-12-2012

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED

A C C-A/D 1411.85 1.05 9821 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1201.05 11 2873 Hind.Petrol-A/D 280.3 -0.05 31555 Lloyd Metal-B/D 15.5 0.2 2486 Rallis India-B/D 152.75 3.1 27024 Imperial Tobac/D 2386.3148 -17 441741 Aarti Drugs-T/D 211.55 4.75 3233 Colgate-A/D 1510.65 21.45 18057 Hindalco-A/D 129 0.1 756980 Lloyd Steel-B/D 11.71 -0.02 47749 Reliance Indus/D 441.1 2.6 66351 Kingfisher/D 283.0586 0.2 899308 Aban Offs-B/D 378.55 1.35 49638 Container Cor-/D 920.7 -1.15 307570 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 833.45 7.05 52067 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.75 0.07 4526 Ruchi Soya-B/D 66.4 2.55 26267 Land Secs Grou/D 816.7818 3 211887 Aegis Logis-B/D 179.25 -0.05 31875 Dai-Bichi Kar-/D 46 0.5 2595 I F C I-A/D 34.1 0.25 1125554 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 15.65 0.74 34711 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 439.75 6.9 22539 Legal & Genera/D 147.2015 1.1 2543531 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 157.9 21.15 176832 Dcm Financia-B/D 1.61 0.06 2735 Idbi-A/D 109.3 0.8 264829 Lupin-A/D 612.95 6.75 28700 Saur.Cem-B/D 29.55 1.65 24438 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 48.185 -0.225 34097369 Alembic-B/D 16.25 -0.2 22334 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 43.75 -1.55 1845 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 105.3 -0.9 2995 Lyka Labs-B/D 11.2 0.31 6296 Savita Oil-B/D 517 -11.25 1158 Marks & Sp./D 390.6 -1.4 908403 Alok Indus-B/D 11.44 0.19 2276573 Dhampur Sugar-/D 53.95 0.2 8230 India Cement-B/D 87.45 1.05 143736 Mafatlal Ind-T/D 130.3 0.3 1103 Thirumalai-B/D 116.1 0.4 7845 Next/D 3735.5121 9 43807 Andhra Paper-B/D 284.15 0.25 7330 Dr. Reddy-A/D 1818.3 -1.3 7413 India Glycol-B/D 169.35 -3.5 21179 Mah.Seamless-B/D 280.8 -1 1573 Timexgroup-B/D 18.45 0.6 27418 Pearson/D 1203.0361 13 300590 Apollo Tyre-A/D 86.55 -0.1 188923 E I H-B/D 69.3 -0.4 13188 Indian Hotel-A/D 63.3 -0.35 65184 Maha Scooter-B/D 518.05 11.9 7741 Tinplate-B/D 52.25 -0.25 15172 Prudential/D 872.4571 3 770612 Asahi I Glass-/D 54.7 0.1 7281 E.I.D Parry-B/D 208.05 -1.85 6129 Indo-Tcount-T/D 13.51 0.01 1220 Mangalam Cem-B/D 181.05 2.5 34410 Ub Engineer-B/D 38.05 -0.05 7923 Rank Group/D 145 1 7827 Rentokil Ashok Leyland-/D 26.8 0.25 194756 Eicher Motor-A/D 2865.95 178.85 7640 Indusind-A/D 421.95 -3.5 3425107 Maral Overs-B/D 14.67 0.07 5648 Ub Engineer-B/D 38.05 -0.05 7923 Initi/D 96.3 0.45 189192 Bajaj Hold-A/D 970.9 -1.3 1967 Electrosteel-B/D 25.7 0.05 371244 J.B.Chemical-B/D 94.55 1.5 108477 Mastek-B/D 139.05 1.9 3513 Ucal Fuel-B/D 68.55 -0.2 2154 Rolls Royce Pl/D 884.5025 3 706196 Ballarpur In-B/D 22.4 0 43230 Emco-B/D 28.6 0 19043 Jbf Indu-B/D 124.45 -1.5 15566 Max India L-A/D 240.85 1.35 14399 Ucal Fuel-B/D 68.55 -0.2 2154 Rsa Insrance G/D 127.7 0.5 1987498 Banaras Bead-T/D 34.4 1.55 2419 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.36 0.11 1035 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.6 -0.02 36100 Mrpl-A/D 60.8 -0.35 31277 Ultramarine-B/D 51.9 0.3 17094 Sainsbury(J)/D 350.5174 -1.2 1065714 Bata India-A/D 859.85 -1.65 23309 Escorts-B/D 71.6 -0.3 568141 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.39 -0.01 60298 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 17.9 0.1 5202 Unitech P -A/D 34.05 1.2 3638509 Schroders/D 1707 4 24221 Severn Bayer Crop-A/D 1207.05 -31.85 14100 Essar Oil-A/D 69 0.15 242993 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 3.54 -0.04 12888 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 17.9 0.1 5202 Univcable-B/D 43.5 0.25 6737 Trent/D 1614 4 102255 Beml Ltd-B/D 280.35 0.45 46188 Eveready Indu-/D 22.1 0.05 35738 Jik Indust-B/D 2.69 -0.14 96364 Nahar Spg.-B/D 67.75 0.5 2723 Smith&Nephew/D 688.5 5.5 201669 Bh Electronic-/D 1206.35 19.7 3632 F D C-B/D 94.25 -3.55 335232 Jindal Drill-B/D 256 2.95 2329 Nath Seeds-B/D 6.99 -0.08 2654 Smiths Group/D 1192.0358 12 147970 Bhartiya Int-T/D 176.85 1.85 2494 Federal Bank-A/D 524.1 3.55 59230 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 120.35 0.3 14322 Nation Alum -A/D 49.65 -0.65 41124 LONDON Standrd Chart /D 1580 0.5 708219 Bhel-A/D 230.15 2.6 202930 Ferro Alloys-B/D 6.87 0.02 26480 Jmc Projects-B/D 119.9 -1.1 3784 Navneet Pub.-B/D 69.4 0.95 313237 Tate & Lyle/D 772.5 0.5 116207 Bom.Burmah-B/D 120.65 -0.3 17385 Finolex-B/D 62.7 -0.15 45607 Kabra Extr-B/D 33.7 0.75 3020 Nepc India-B/D 2.55 0.01 8586 3I Group/D 220.0311 1.2 239164 Tesco/D 339.2479 -1.3 6074154 Bombay Dyeing-/D 134.05 2 141522 Gail-A/D 353.4 2.25 47130 Kajaria Cer-B/D 238.4 3.6 5139 Neuland Lab-B/D 126.15 -5.85 9372 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 1569 7 93796 Tomkins/D 0 0 0 Canfin Homes-T/D 151.7 -1.3 8078 Gammon India-B/D 38.2 0.55 10841 Kalpat Power-B/D 89.6 1.05 8798 Nrb Bearings-B/D 35.05 -0.5 13086 B Sky B/D 774.6481 1 576516 Unilever/D 2418.6954 18 480180 Caprihans-B/D 49.6 -0.15 1160 Garden P -B/D 60.35 1.45 4235 Kalyani Stel-B/D 58.85 -0.45 64390 O N G C-A/D 257.2 1 177985 Barclays/D 262.5707 0.1 4771839 United Util Gr/D 684.149 0 1055721 Castrol Ind-A/D 300.2 1.55 27621 Goodricke-B/D 148.8 0.15 4936 Kanoria Chem-B/D 38.35 -0.6 7634 Ocl India-B/D 151.9 5.7 3051 Bg Group/D 1010.4877 6.5 1682575 Vodafone Group/D 155.994 0.7 25296856 Century Enka-B/D 129.3 1.45 9163 Goodyear I -B/D 349.3 3.6 6712 Kg Denim-T/D 14.3 0.5 6836 Oil Country-B/D 50.7 -1.05 1967 Bp/D 431.6441 -0.05 7460816 Whitbread/D 2473 0 37318 Century Text-A/D 420.7 9.35 110311 Hcl Infosys-B/D 38 -0.65 80575 Kilburnengg-B/D 20.45 -0.3 29038 Orchid Chem-B/D 102.1 1.3 244966 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3100.1024 -41 1012886 Chambal Fert-B/D 67.05 0.5 87778 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 9.96 0.04 391559 Kin.Motor-B/D 9.79 -0.14 17666 Orient.Carb.-B/D 128 1.05 1703 British Airway/D 276.4574 0 0 Chola Invest-B/D 280.6 10.45 137277 Himat Seide-B/D 41.1 0.35 53848 Kinetic Eng-B/D 89.2 3 4401 Orient.Carb.-B/D 128 1.05 1703 Bt Group/D 237.4614 -2.6 9792707 Chowgule St-B/D 18.5 -0.5 13281 Hind Motors-B/D 9.82 0.01 95689 Klg Systel-T/D 18.9 -0.45 6151 Punjab Chem.-B/D 53.7 1.9 1552 Centrica/D 339.0907 2.5 1369939 Cipla-A/D 420.45 2.25 80105 Hind Org Chem-/D 18.9 0.05 20187 Kopran-B/D 21.7 0.15 16674 Radico Khait-B/D 146.75 1.9 10524 Gkn/D 229.2741 -0.6 780686 City Union Bk-/D 55.8 0.75 87149 Hind Unilever-/D 523.2 -7.45 110221 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2252.9 39.45 1789 Rallis India-B/D 152.75 3.1 27024 Hsbc Holdings/D 654.0174 5.2 4324227 FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 CLASSIFIEDS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17

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A/C Tech. from Philippines. Waranty after maintenance Software Labs Tel: +974 44622703, 44622705 GSM: 66836037 Ayurvedic Massage, Holistic Rejuvenating Massage. Fareej Al Nasar, Near Something different at moderate prices. Tel: 33202138 / 77619899 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.softlabqatar.com Midmac R/A.Tel.: 44690363 GSM: 66167700 www.mediherbqatar.com CASA BLU COMPANY Tel: 44694020/90 Fax: 44694010 HR MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FIDELITY SERVICES COMPANY [email protected] - www.casabluinteriors.com (DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR QATAR) A/C. Maintenance, Cleaning, Relocation, Repair for all types of • Document Management System • Inventory Management System • Plant Management System MUSIC AC’s 7/7 - Office: 44186738, GSM: 66144629 Expertise and capability to develop any kind of Software to suit your specific business needs!!! MUSIC HOUSE DENTAL Courses Offered: Guitar, Drums, Keyboard, Violin, Voice, Piano, Piano BLINDS INTN’L TRDG. & TECHNICAL SVCS. CO. (INTER-TECH) Tuning + Rentals, Band Rehearsal Studio. Call: 44550203/ AL MASA DENTAL COMPLEX Hardware, Software, Networking, ERP, Cabling, Servers, UPS, 77469047/66022769 - E-mail: [email protected] DR. Saeed Mohammed Abdelkhalek, MS, Prosthodontics. Network Operation, Maintenance, etc. AL SHARK EXHIBITION Tel: 44416556 Fax: 44416410 - [email protected] Vertical-Venitian Blinds. Opposite Villagio. Tel: 44513289 Fax: 44693086 Bin Mehmoud. Tel./Fax: 44422906 MANPOWER SUPPLY AL MASA DENTAL COMPLEX IMMIGRATION SERVICES DR. Sami Khalil Elmorsi Elsharoud, MS, Restorative Dentisty & Endodontics. Opposite Villagio. Tel: 44513289 Fax: 44693086 AL JAWHAR CURTAINS & FURNITURE ‘WE GET THE JOB DONE’ Vertical-Venitian Blinds. Specialised in Governmental work, Work Visa, Family Visa, Salwa Road, Qatar Decoration R/A. AL MASA DENTAL COMPLEX Tel: 44689897 Resident Permits and many more. Email: [email protected] DR. Mohammed Naveed Yawar Tel: 44675502, Fax: 4467-5503 Website: deltaqatar.com GB, General Scope Dentist (Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences). Opposite Villagio. Tel: 44513289 Fax: 44693086 BLASTING AND PAINTING LIVE, WORK & STUDY IN CANADA/AUSTRALIA Work Permit Visas for: Hotel Staff, Administrators, Sales Associates, M. PALLONJI QATAR ENTERPRISE TELEPHONY AND Male & Female Cooks, Light & Heavy Drivers + Mechanics and more.. P.O. BOX: 23933. E-mail: [email protected] SECURITY SOLUTIONS E-mail: [email protected] - www.dubaimcs.com Tel: 44606822 Fax: 44606977 GSM:55879234 IMPORT SERVICES BICYCLES & WATER SPORTS IMPORT FROM CHINA/INDIA NURSERY SKATE SHACK Building Materials/Industrial Items/Steel/Aluminium Sections/ Al Ain # 3, Salwa Road, Panels, etc. 18 year old Indian Company having China Office. For Direction call: Tel: 446-92532 GSM: 33391248, [email protected] THE LITTLE HANDS NURSERY GSM: 552-47885/779-36152 - www.skate-shack.com Age group 2 months to 4 years. Separate classes for babies, toddlers & students with spacious play area. British Management & Camera Protection. Location: New Salata, 137 Al Maahed Street, (at the back of Birla Public School) GSM: 55312803 CURTAINS JEWELLERY INTN’L TRDG. & TECHNICAL SVCS. CO. (INTER-TECH) HELLO BABY NURSERY (ABU HAMOUR & KHARTIYAT) CANARA JEWELLERY AL SHARK EXHIBITION Planning, Design, Engineering, Supply, Installation, Testing, Commissioning, Multi System We start registration for September 2012. Al Mansoura, Bin Dirham Street. Bin Mehmoud - Integration, Maintenance in Telecommunication, Electronics, Power, Security & Cabling. We follow English Curriculum. Tel: 44422071, 44357283 E-mail: [email protected] Tel./Fax: 44422906 Tel: 44416556 Fax: 44416410 - [email protected] Abu Hamour: 77759789 Al Khartiyat: 33000819 [email protected] - www.4422071.com AL JAWHAR CURTAINS & FURNITURE Salwa Road, Qatar Decoration Roundabout. Tel: 44689897 ERP SOFTWARE METAL REPAIRS OPTICS For advertisements, call: AL HAWAL GROUP APOLLO ENTERPRISES MODERN GULF OPTICS Job Card, Job Order, Job Bill, Project Costing, Sales, Inventory, Belzona Polymerics - Tel: 44426664 Please visit for all types of Eye Glasses, Sun Glasses, Contact Purchase, Sales, Payroll & Accounts, Only QR.2,500. GSM: 55871914/55524897 E-mail: [email protected] Lenses, Eye Test for Driving License and Industrial Safety 44557857 Tel: 44311705 GSM: 55231633 [email protected] Glasses. Near Crazy Signal. Tel: 44310768 FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com CLASSIFIEDS

SERVICES FOR RENT SITUATIONS VACANT

OFFICE INTERIORS/FIT-OUT REQUIRED CONTRACTOR RENT A CAR APOLLO REAL ESTATE Doha’s leading Real Estate Agency can offer you a wide selection of available OFFICE EXPERTS Salesmen - 4 Nos. A cost effective office service provider: Office Interior, Office properties. Apartment to compounds and office space. Give us your requirements and let us find Stationery & Supplies, Office Space, Office Services - An you a place that fits. With over 30 years experience in Doha, we know the market. • Indian - 2 Nos. initiative of Sama Group W.L.L. T: 44447705 - F: 44447709 - Qatar’s first Real Estate Company under British Management • Sri Lankan - 2 Nos. E: fi[email protected] W: www.samagroup.me Call: Office: 44689522, Maureen 55864352 Must have experience in Media Production & Abubakar 55850815, Peter 55506803, Dexter 55872145 Printing Press. PORTABLE/CHEMICAL TOILETS www.apollopropertiesonline.com Please contact: BEAM CONSTRUCTION FOR RENT GSM: 55842937 Near Al Saliya Sports Stadium. Tel: 44901760 Fax: 44901566 GSM: 33138018 E-mail: [email protected] Fully Furnished Wanted for a company located in Industrial Area: PARTY ITEMS & 1. Drivers (Heavy & Light) BALLOON DECORATION 2-BHK Apartments 2. Helpers AL DAR CAR RENTAL for rent in Al Sadd and Old Airport Area. PARTY KINGDOM 24 Hours. Bin Omran, Ahmed Bin Ali St., PO Box 24816 3. Merchandisers Near Jaidah Flyover, Nasrallah Centre. Tel: 44877789 GSM: 55599972/55732070, Fax: 44866637 Please contact: 4. Billing Clerk Tel: 44353501/ 44366431 [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] GSM: 55825464/44881719 5. Female Cashiers 6. Warehouse Manager (Min. 5 years Exp.) REGENCY FLEETS (A Regency Group Co.) PEST CONTROL & CLEANING Special Corporate leasing and Rental rates. Price includes Comprehensive Insurance, Transferable visa is a must PRODUCTS Maintenance, Replacement Vehicle etc. Driven by Values. E-mail: info@regencyfleets. SITUATION WANTED Send your CVs at: com Tel: 44433822/44554046 Fax: 44554047 Branches: Airport - Tel.: 44153086 Fax: 44685687 - Email: [email protected] TRADE CHEM LTD. Beverly Hills - Tel.: 44122131 Movenpick Tower & Suites: Tel.: 44966107/30122300 P O Box: 21748 - Tel: +974 44278006 Fax: +974 44278007 E-mail: [email protected] COUNTRY RENT A CAR - BARWA AL WAKRA SRI LANKAN DRIVER REQUIRED A car has a choice of vehicles to suit your needs. Special cost provide nice service to our customer. With more than 18 years driving experience PEST CONTROL & CLEANING What’s more? Comprehensive, Maintenances & Replacement Vehicle. Come to you at affordable (3 years in Doha), can speak Arabic and English, DRIVER rates, etc. Tel.: 44154467 GSM: 55440424 E-mail: [email protected] with transferable visa, is looking for a job. for a family. DOHA PEST CONTROL & CLEANING CO. W.L.L. Please contact: 55762644 Must know around Doha. More than 40 years old. For Pest Control & Cleaning Services - Fax: 44360838. Sponsorship change is a must. Indian, Sri Lankan or Email: [email protected] GSM: 55513862/55814832/ SAFETY TRAINING Nepalese national preferred. 55514709 Tel:44360901/902 Web: www.dohapest.com SRI LANKAN ACCOUNTANT With certificate in Business Accounting (CIMA - UK), Call: 55842937 QATAR PEST CONTROL COMPANY W.L.L. diploma in Computerised Accounting, with more than 3 years Email: [email protected] experience in Accounts, is looking for a job. web: www.qatarpest.com GSM: 55517254/66590617 Please contact: 77292268 Tel: 44222888 Fax: 44368727 FOR SALE E-mail: [email protected]

REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL SCIENCE TEACHER AUDI Q7 With good experience and special skills in teaching English, AL MUFTAH SERVICES & RENT A CAR WLL Science, Physics and Chemistry, is looking for a placement in Model 2011. Grey colour. Automatic. C Ring Road Main Office Tel: 44328100/44442003, an institution. Done 43,500 kms. Fax: 44414339 - Musherib Branch Office: Tel: 44326840/ 44426649, Fax: 44312899 E Mail: [email protected] Website: www.racqatar.com Please contact: 77577859 In very good condition and with warranty. Please contact: ADAM REAL ESTATE COMPANY MECHANICAL ENGINEER GSM: 55553736 Al Kuwari Blgd., 8th Floor, Al Sadd, Near Sebstain Rest. Indian youth, Mechanical Engineer, with one year experience Tel: 44366932 Fax: 44366931 GSM: 55500789 / 55803731 in MEP, with Certificate of B-Tech Mechanical Engineering, professional training on HVAC, Process Piping Design & ANNOUNCEMENTS APOLLO REAL ESTATE Engineering as per ASME B -31.3 and NDT as per ASNT Level Salwa Road. GSM: 55864352/55506803/ 55872145 II, is looking for a suitable placement. Tel: 44689522 www.apollopropertiesonline.com Please contact: 33566594 E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected] BUYING We buy all kinds of used household RENT A CAR INDIAN MALE ACCOUNTANT items. Office Furniture, Electric and With more than 3 years GCC experience, B.Com electronics items.. Fridge, A/Cs, AVIS RENT A CAR graduate, had worked in UAE, Kuwait as Purchase Assistant, Freezer, TV & Computers. Main Office at Daihatsu Showroom Complex on Accountant, is looking for a job in Qatar ‘C’ Ring Road. Tel: 44667744 / 44622180 Fax: 44657626 Please contact: 33771602 Call: 55505773 E-mail: [email protected] BUDGET RENT A CAR The Best Car Rental Service in Qatar. Head Office - 44310411 Airport Arrival - 44153048 NOTICE Airport Departure - 44622678/55808638 (24 Hrs) SERVICES

AL MUFTAH RENT A CAR WLL MR. AMJAD NAWAB HO, D’ Ring Road -Tel: 44328100, 44634444 - Branches: Airport TOURS IN QATAR PAKISTANI NATIONAL, PASSPORT NO.KH187518 44634433, C’ Ring Road -Tel: 44442003, Grand Hamad QATAR ID NO. 28758600778 Avenue - 44326840, Ras Lafffan: Tel.: 44748840 The above said person is leaving Qatar for E Mail: [email protected] Website: www.rentacardoha.com QATAR INTERNATIONAL TOURS STATIONERY & OFFICE Tel: 44551141/44552242 GSM: 55010137/55864568 vacation. Anybody who has any claim against Fax: 44653461 E-mail: [email protected] - Website: www.qittour.com AL SULAIMAN RENT A CAR SUPPLIES him should contact us on the following numbers Main Office D’ Ring Road. Tel: 44911711/44911710 Fax: 44911699. within 3 days from the date of this advertise- E-mail: [email protected] Musherib: 44355477/44440702/44315616 OFFICE EXPERTS Fax: 44355466. Al Wakra: 44646775/44649153 Fax: 44646773 A cost effective office service provider: Office Stationery & WEBSITE ment. We will not be responsible for any claim Al Khor: 44796677/44725378 Fax: 44796633 Supplies, Office Interior, Office Space, Office Services - An whatsoever after the above said date. initiative of Sama Group W.L.L. T: 44447705 - F: 44447709 - E: [email protected] W: www.samagroup.me EUROPCAR GSM: 55456226 You rent A lot more than a car. Opp. Al Sharq Bldg., D-Ring TRIOS - OFFICE & PROJECT SUPPLIES Road. Tel: 44660677 Fax: 44662677 Airport: 44621188 Stationary, Computer Supplies, Gift Items, Cad Plotting & MR. LAHIRU JAYAMAL BANDARA SRI LANKAN NATIONAL, PASSPORT NO. N2629046 BASE RENT A CAR Digital Printing. Tel: 44919114-15 Fax: 44919116 [email protected] - www.triosqatar.com Cars that fits your Needs & Budget. E-mail: QATAR ID NO. 28814405859 We Deliver & Pickup. The above said person is leaving Qatar for good. Call for a quote 24 Hours @ 55206569 SCAFFOLDING Anybody who has any claim against him should contact us on the following numbers within 3 OASiS RENT A CAR AND TRANSPORTATION APOLLO ENTERPRISES SCAFFOLDING DIVISION days from the date of this advertisement. We YOU RENT MORE THAN A CAR WITH OASiS. Fax: 44130033 Contract/Hire/Sale - Salwa Road. Tel: 44693334 Tel: 44130011/44130022 GSM: 55157587 (Rental)/ 55129615 Fax: 44416274 GSM: 55521089/55560246/55536285 will not be responsible for any claim whatsoever (Transportation) [email protected] - OasisCars.com www.apollo-qatar.net - E-mail: [email protected] after the above said date. AL HAWAL GROUP Tel: 44366001 Fax: 44366004 NICE RENT A CAR COSMOS TOOLS & INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES CO. W.L.L Website Designing, Statics & Dynamic, Web Portal, Online Solution for Transport & Leasing all types of vehicle & Heavy Equiment. Scaffolding & Ladders. Tel: 44151824 (3 Lines), 44315500 Fax: 44151825/ Store Online Booking, Online Appointment, Starting only Tel: 44413392 GSM: 55514223 Fax: 44317896 Website: niceqatar.com 44214809 GSM: 55898593 E-mail: [email protected] QR.1,000. Tel: 44311705 GSM: 55231633 E-mail: [email protected]/ [email protected] Main Showroom: Beside Doha Stadium, near to Clock R/A. Branch: Barwa Village, Bldg. No.2, Shop 8 & 10

THE OWNERS RENT A CAR + LIMOUSINE SERVICE TRANSLATION SERVICES WATER TANK CLEANING 24 Hrs Service! Tel: 44515515 GSM: 55149555 Fax: 44515155 Contact Mr. Anjum Malik E-mail: [email protected] AL MUTWASSIT CLEANING & PEST CONTROL Kharaba st, Behind white Mosque. JABRCO RENT A CAR Fax: 443679 99 GSM. 55875920/55860432 We have many vehicles like 2009, 2010 & 2011 models for rent with a comfortable price on daily/weekly and monthly. Main office: 44663933 GSM: 33131241 - Branch CAPITAL CLEANING COMPANY Barwa Village: 44152020 GSM: 33640652 E-mail: [email protected] Cleaning Water Tanks & Pest Control. Fax: 44582529 GSM: 55565328/33189899 Tel: 44582257/44582546 E2E FLEETS E-mail: [email protected]/[email protected] 15/26/30/55/60/65 Seated Buses with or without Driver Excellent Service & Competitive rates - Tel: 4460 5291 Email: fl[email protected] - Mobile: 3307 4056 YOGA SERVICES

GO RENT A CAR YOGASHA Competitive Rates for Car Rental & Leasing. First time in Qatar. Counselling and Yoga Services. Tel: 44325500 Fax: 44375753 GSM: 33697075/66983107 Almajaz Builiding Office 3, Al Kharatiat. Tel: 44422052 E-mail: [email protected] GSM: 55264002 - www.yogasha.com FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 BREAK TIME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 CINEMA LISTINGS TV LISTINGS

Karma Yodha (Malayalam) 1 SHOWING AT VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER GULF – 2.30, 5.30, 8.30 & 11.30pm TEL: 444933989 444517001 CINEMA Dabangg 2 (2D/Hindi) 2 15:05 Auction 14:15 Bondi Vet – 2.30, 5.30, 8.30 & 11.30pm Hunters 14:45 Animal Cops Rise of the Guardians 15:30 Ultimate South Africa (3D/Animation) – 2.30pm Survival 15:40 Daniel And Our 1 16:25 Overhaulin’ Cats My Boss (Malayalam) 17:20 River Monsters 17:00 The Really Wild – 4.30, 7.30 & 10.30pm 18:15 Mythbusters Show Abdo Mota (Arabic/2D) 19:10 How Stuff’s 17:30 Bad Dog – 3.00, 5.00, 7.00 & 9.00pm Made 18:25 Baby Planet 2 Jack Reacher (2D) (Action) 19:40 How It’s Made 19:20 Cats 101 MALL – 11.00pm 20:05 Border Security 20:15 Monkey Life 20:35 GI Dough 20:40 Bondi Vet CINEMA Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away 21:00 Auction 21:10 Call Of The (3D/Fantasy) – 2.30pm Hunters Wildman Code Name: Geronimo 21:30 American 21:35 Cheetah (2D/Action) – 4.15pm Chopper Kingdom 3 Life Of Pi (3D/Action) 22:25 American 22:05 Saba And The – 6.00 & 8.30pm Chopper Rhino’s Secret 23:20 Wheeler 23:00 Shark Fight Truth Or Dare (2D/Horror) – 11.00pm Abdo Mota (Arabic/2D) – 2.30, 4.30 & 6.30pm

1 Life Of Pi (3D/Action) – 8.30pm 13:00 Great Migrations 18:25 The Amazing 14:00 Kingdom of The World Of Seven Psychopaths Oceans Gumball (2D/Comedy) – 11.00pm 17:00 World’s Deadliest 18:50 Johnny Test GPU 19:25 The Powerpuff ROYAL Vamps (Comedy) – 2.30pm 18:00 Crimes Against Girls PLAZA 2 Nature 19:40 Regular Show Jack Reacher (2D) (Action) 19:00 Great Migrations 20:05 Green Lantern: – 4.00, 6.30, 9.00 & 11.15pm 20:00 Animal The Animated Paranorman (Animation) Intervention Series – 3.00 & 5.00pm 06:30 Basketball Nba 08:00 News 21:00 Bonecrusher 20:30 Ben 10: 3 The Hobbit: An Expected Boston 2 La Clippers 09:00 Al Jazeera World Queens Omniverse Journey (Adventure) 08:30 Liga World 10:00 News 22:00 Jaguar: Catching 20:55 Generator Rex – 7.30 & 10.30pm 10:00 Best Of +3 League 10:30 Inside Story the Cat (aka 21:20 Cartoon Network Abdo Mota (Arabic/2D) Cup Final Cardiff 11:00 News Hunt for the Dance Club – 3.00, 5.00, 7.00 & 9.00pm City V Liverpool 11:30 The Stream Shadow 21:30 Batman 1 12:30 The Serie A Show 12:00 News Truth Or Dare (2D/Horror) 13:00 Messi Tribute 12:30 101 East – 11.00pm 14:00 English Sports News 13:00 NEWSHOUR Cirque Du Soleil: Worlds Away 14:15 Stars Lineker 14:00 News (3D/Fantasy) – 2.30 & 4.30pm 15:15 Stars Falcao 14:30 Inside Story Life Of Pi (3D/Action) 15:30 The Symphony 15:00 Empire 10:00 It’s Kind Of A 11:30 Robots 2 – 6.30 & 9.00pm 16:00 Basketbal Nba 16:00 NEWSHOUR Funny Story- 13:00 Princess Lillifee- Boston @ La Clippers 17:00 News PG15 FAM LANDMARK Storage 24 (2D/Action) – 11.30pm 18:00 English Sports News 17:30 The Stream 12:00 Morning Glory- 14:15 Snow Day 18:15 Stars Lampard 18:00 NEWSHOUR PG15 16:00 Battle For Terra- Playing For Keeps (Comedy) 18:30 Total Italian Football 19:00 News 14:00 Scooby-Doo PG – 2.30pm 19:00 Best Of Plus 3 19:30 Fault Lines 16:00 It’s Kind Of A 18:00 A Monster In Code Name: Geronimo Review Of 2012 20:00 News Funny Story- Paris (2D/Action) – 5.00 & 7.00pm 20:00 Tennis Masters 20:30 Inside Story PG15 20:00 Cheaper By The 3 Highlights Rome 21:00 NEWSHOUR 18:00 Zookeeper Dozen Storage 24 (2D/Action) – 9.00pm 21:00 Best Of Plus 3 Euro 22:00 News 20:00 Paul 22:00 Princess Lillifee 2012 Final Spain V Italy 22:30 South2North 22:00 The Switch 23:30 Battle For Terra Seven Psychopaths 23:00 Football Asia 23:00 The Frost Interview (2D/Comedy) – 11.15pm 23:30 The Symphony

HYPER C RSO S W O RD

1234 56789 1011121314151617 122 What some titles are 52 Shiny fabrics written in, briefly 18 19 20 21 53 Small-time tyrants 123 Standing need 54 Mexican Mrs. 22 23 24 25 124 Signed 56 Others 26 27 28 29 125 “Zorba the Greek” setting 57 In the know, in old slang 30 31 32 33 34 35 126 Smooth 58 Counting everything

36 37 38 39 40 41 62 Put new turf on DOWN 64 Improvisatory piece of 42 43 44 1 Region in ancient Asia Minor classical music 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 2 With a smile 65 “Enchanted” girl of 55 56 57 58 59 3 Most promising children’s lit 69 “Southland” airer 60 61 62 63 64 65 4 Certain soldiers 5 “Law & Order” spinoff, for 70 Shows near the front? 66 67 68 69 70 71 short 72 Target for certain athletes 72 73 74 75 76 77 6 Draw of some bars 73 Actor Burton 78 79 80 81 82 83 7 Being punished, military- 75 They’re nuts style 84 85 86 87 88 89 77 Scientist with multiple Emmys 8 “O.K., captain!” 80 Rash soother Yesterday’s answer 90 91 92 93 94 9 Not ecclesiastical 81 Rash soother How to play Hyper Sudoku: 95 96 97 98 99 100 101 102 10 Inspired by 83 Fertilizer ingredient A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper 103 104 105 106 11 Deep-sea predator 85 Biochemical sugar

Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all 107 108 109 110 111 112 113 114 12 Spoken 86 Sign regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like 13 Usual 87 Gets through slowly 115 116 117 118 a normal Sudoku. 14 Woolly one 91 Kissed noisily 119 120 121 122 15 In truth, in Shakespeare 93 “Honest!” 123 124 125 126 16 Peter with four Golden Globes 94 Neighbor of Montana How to play Kakuro: 17 Claim in a cigarette ad 95 Very sorry The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any 18 Latte topper 96 Green, say size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells ACROSS 66 Out of concern that 23 Juilliard’s focus 97 18-wheeler like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, 1 City SE of New Delhi 67 Little argument 25 Hockey goalie’s area 98 Real brat some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some 5 “To your health!” 68 Accusatory words 28 Scout’s job, briefly 100 Sea between Italy and 10 Cumberland Gap explorer 71 ___ Kalugin, former K.G.B. general cells will contain two numbers. 32 Hasty signatures Greece 15 iPod control: Abbr. with the 1994 book “Spymaster” However, in a crossword the numbers reference 34 Entertain 101 Protect clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! 18 Supermax resident 72 Vivacious person 35 To-do 102 Long lock They denote the total of the digits in the row or 19 Chekhov’s “Uncle ___” 74 Annual foursome 37 Use as a resource 108 Monopoly token column referenced by the number. 20 Instructional tool 76 Opponent of Pericles 39 Nutritional stds. 109 Gooey dirt Within each 21 W.W. II command 78 Santa ___ 40 Word of warning 110 Workout aftereffect collection of cells 22 With 24-Across, two things that are 79 ___ de malaise 41 Ending with proto- 112 Arrived - called a run - any stuffed 82 With 95-Across, two things that are 43 Like some metal toys 114 She threw the apple of of the numbers 1 24 With 36-Across, two things on a farm sticky 45 Many times, in verse discord to 9 may be used 26 Getting up there in years 84 Admonishment 46 Studio that produced the 116 Not quite quadri- but, like sudoku, 27 Tests for college credit, briefly 87 Egg cream component Austin Powers movies 117 XXX x X each number may 28 Domain 88 Argentine aunt 47 Source of some resins 118 Letters in an old date only be used once. 29 Laugh ___ 89 Edinburgh-to-London dir. 50 American sports car, for short 30 Word game component, sometimes 90 Second track on “Beatles ’65” Yesterday’s 31 Tijuana “that” 92 “No Escape” star, 1994 answer 33 Seeing red 95 With 99-Across, two things with GRAB DOBBS DA I S 35 Guy brushes AIDA ENOLA EMMA 36 With 38-Across, two things 99 With 115-Across, two things with BOOS BESOM LOON associated with needles ladders KN I GHTSGO I NG 103 Bargaining group 38 With 55-Across, two things that spin STEED OUR Sherman’s Lagoon by Jim Toomey 104 Church recess 42 Like some roofs and roads CONTACTLANCES 44 Balloonists’ baskets 105 Noted period ADD KORAN KATES 45 Que. neighbor 106 1922 Physics Nobelist 48 Fund-raising grp. 107 Physics units RIAS MILER NOAH 49 Scientist Pavlov 108 Certain Apples FELLA BAYED OSO 51 Some poetic feet 111 HDTV brand L ISTSWEFORGET 55 With 82-Across, two things at an 113 Adjective for a bikini, in a 1960 song PIA WEEDS 115 With 117-Across, two things that are amusement park JOUSTKIDDING 58 Believers red ETCH ENRON AXEL 59 “Hair” song with the lyric “Hello, 117 With 22-Across, two things carbon monoxide” associated with Thanksgiving STLO INURE LOVE 60 Many a Miley Cyrus fan 119 Wire service inits. TOAD TOMES EXES 61 Speaker’s spot 120 Drug company behind Valium ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 63 Sicilian tourist attraction 121 “Pearls Before Swine,” e.g. FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

New website Brewer dazzles as Nuggets launched for National Sport Day end Lakers’ winning streak DOHA: The new National Sport Day (NSD) web- site was officially launched Spurs defeat Raptors 100-80 at home; Hawks edge Pistons 126-119 recently, as Qatar gears up to mark NSD. The new website can be DENVER, Colorado: Corey Faried’s three-point play accessed at www.sportday.qa Brewer came off the bench and sparked the surge, and Danilo and is available in English and drained six three-pointers yes- Gallinari capped it with a three- Arabic languages. terday as the Denver Nuggets pointer that made it 73-60 with The new website represents defeated Los Angeles 126-114 7:51 remaining in the third an interface containing all the and snapped the Lakers’ NBA quarter. events and activities scheduled winning streak at five games. Gallinari finished the game for the event. Brewer led the Nuggets with with 19 points and Andre Iguodala The website features new 27 points. Kenneth Faried added added 17 points, 11 rebounds, information, photographs and 21 points and 15 rebounds and Ty seven assists and three steals for reports about the significance Lawson chipped in 17 points and Denver. of this occasion, as Qatar is one 14 assists for the Nuggets, who The Lakers answered with a of the few countries worldwide bounced back from a 112-100 12-5 run to trim the deficit to to dedicate a specific day for Christmas Day loss to the Los six points, but Howard’s ejection sport and allocated an official Angeles Clippers. inspired Denver to a 6-0 spurt. public holiday for this reason. To do so, the Nuggets had to The Lakers pulled within Many government and non- overcome 40 points from Lakers four points late in the third, but government organisations, superstar Kobe Bryant. Denver scored the final five points along with private sector Pau Gasol added 19 points for of the period -- including Brewer’s institutions, sport clubs and the Lakers -- who were coming three-pointer as the quarter federations have pledged their off a 100-94 victory over the New ended -- to take a 96-87 lead into support to multiple-sporting York Knicks in Los Angeles on the fourth. activities for nationals and Tuesday. Brewer drained another three- residents during NSD. Dwight Howard scored pointer early in the fourth to With NSD scheduled for 12 points and grabbed seven stretch Denver’s lead to 14 points, February 12, 2013, the sports rebounds for the Lakers before and the Lakers didn’t get closer governing bodies, in close co- he was ejected in the third quar- than seven the rest of the way operation with all sport clubs ter when he was whistled for a as Denver posted their seventh and federations will open their flagrant foul after making contact straight win at home. doors for the public (men, with the head of a driving Faried. Lakers coach Mike D’Antoni women, children and persons Howard clearly felt the ejection was reluctant to call the defeat a Corey Brewer (13) of the Denver Nuggets drives with the ball against Kobe Bryant (24) of the Los Angeles Lakers, with disabilities) to participate was an over-reaction. setback for a team that had point as Kosta Koufos (41) of the Denver Nuggets and Pau Gasol (16) of the Los Angeles Lakers look on at the Pepsi in several sporting activities. “It was a hard foul, that’s all guard Steve Nash back for just Center in Denver, Colorado, yesterday. The Nuggets defeated the Lakers 126-114. NSD is an national event I know,” Howard said. “I’ve been the third game since he missed 24 upon a Supreme Decree fouled harder than that before contests with a broken leg. issued by the Heir Apparent and nobody ever got kicked out of But Gasol, who was sidelined attack, with all 12 of their play- “You never know. Maybe he just aggressive (in the second half) and President of the Qatar the game for it, but I get penalized himself for several games with ers registering points, to system- had one of those nights where he and realised we didn’t play well in Olympic Committee, for fouling people hard.” tendinitis in his knees, admit- atically break down the visiting wasn’t feeling it, but it’s better the first half,” Ginobili said. “We H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Leading by just one point early ted the loss was “a little bit of a Raptors and ended Toronto’s than the 25 he usually scores on were a little flat and we needed Al Thani. in the second half, Denver used setback” for a Lakers team that longest winning run of the season. us,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich to pick it up.” The NSD activities will a 14-2 scoring run to establish a had appeared to be rounding into Tim Duncan led the way with told reporters. “We’re thrilled The victory was the second take place at several locations double-digit lead. form after the slow start to the 15 points, Manu Ginobili added with that.” straight blowout for the Spurs, in Doha and other locations season that lead to the departure 14 off the bench and the Spurs The Raptors had managed to who routed Dallas 129-91 on around Qatar. This includes NBA results of former coach Mike Brown. (22-8) stretched their Southwest string together a succession of Sunday. the Cornish, Aspire Zone, Cleveland 87 Washington 84 “We’ve got to think about the Division lead to two games over victories prior to yesterday’s game This time, San Antonio barely Al Rafe street and Barzan Miami 105 Charlotte 92 next one, which is Portland on Memphis. despite missing center Jonas had to exert themselves as they Olympic Park. Friday, and go from there,” Gasol None of Toronto’s (9-20) five Valanciunas, who broke his fin- utilised the complete roster, and These activities will reflect New Orleans 97 Orlando 94 said. “We have to analyze our starters reached double-figures, ger last week, guard Kyle Lowry while Tony Parker registered 13 the importance of sports in the Atlanta 126 Detroit 119 losses and understand why it hap- although reserves Amir Johnson and forward Andrea Bargnani points and seven assists, it was daily life of citizens and will Milwaukee 108 Brooklyn 93 pened so we can prevent it from and Alan Anderson each fin- through injury. the 45 points from the bench that have great role in promoting a Philadelphia 99 Memphis 89 happening again.” ished with 12 points to pace the Toronto managed to stay pretty made the difference. healthy lifestyle. Houston 87 Minnesota 84 Meanwhile, the San Antonio Raptors. close to the Spurs until the lat- Elsewhere, Josh Smith scored Many sectors in Qatar have San Antonio 100 Toronto 80 Spurs took advantage of Toronto’s DeMar DeRozan had enjoyed ter stages of the third quarter, 31 points and Al Horford added 22 pledged their support for NSD Denver 126 LA Lakers 114 injury woes to snap the Raptors’ strong performances against where San Antonio broke free yesterday as the Atlanta Hawks and they have formed specific five-game winning streak with a San Antonio in the past but only with a 13-2 run that put them held on for a 126-119 double- committees to steer and super- Golden State 94 Utah 83 100-80 home victory. managed eight points in the latest 70-55 ahead. overtime NBA victory over the vise the activities and events NY Knicks 99 Phoenix 97 San Antonio used a balanced encounter. “We just came out more Detroit Pistons. AGENCIES for the day on February 12, 2013. NSD is an annual sport event held in Qatar and takes Cameron Davis place on Tuesday in the second (19) and Jahleel week of February. NFL announces Pro Bowl squad THE PENINSULA Addae (4) of the Central TORONTO: Michigan The San Francisco starter for the game that will be closing in the single season rush- 49ers and the Houston Texans played in Honolulu on January 27, ing record will share the running University dominated the National a week before the Super Bowl. back duties with San Francisco’s Boston Red Chippewas Football League Pro Bowl selec- Rodgers, named the NFC Frank Gore and Seattle’s hold the Little tions yesterday, sending nine starter for the second con- Marshawn Lynch. Sox announce Caesars and eight players respectively secutive year, will be backed up The AFC will be led by Denver Pizza Bowl to the game. Washington Redskins rookie Broncos quarterback Peyton Hanrahan deal Championship Six of the 49ers named to the Robert Griffin III and the Atlanta Manning, who was named to his Trophy after the NFC squad were on defence, Falcons’ Matt Ryan. 12th Pro Bowl team. victory against including linebackers Aldon The Detroit Lions’ Calvin The four-time NFL most val- BOSTON: The Boston Red Sox the Western Smith, NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Johnson, who has already broken uable player leads the AFC in landed closer Joel Hanrahan Kentucky Willis along with strong safety the single season receiving record, touchdown passes (34) and passer in a six-player trade with the University Donte Whitner and free safety headlines a receiving corps that rating (103.7) and will be backed Pittsburgh Pirates yesterday. Hilltoppers Dashon Goldson. Lineman Justin includes Atlanta’s Julio Jones, the up by the New England Patriots The Red Sox sent outfield- at Ford Field Smith is the other defensive New York Giants’ Victor Cruz Tom Brady and the Houston ers Mark Melancon and Stolmy in Detroit, player from the San Francisco and the Chicago Bears’ Brandon Texans Matt Schaub. Pimentel along with infielders Michigan, team selected. Marshall. Players from teams that make Ivan De Jesus and Jerry Sands yesterday. Green Bay Packers quarter- Minnesota Vikings running the Super Bowl will drop out of to the Pirates in exchange for back Aaron Rodgers was named back Adrian Peterson, who is the Pro Bowl. REUTERS Brock Holt and Hanrahan, who they immediately announced as the team’s new closer. La Hoor wins Local Bred Pure Arabian Three-Year-Old Derby race The 31-year-old has complied 76 saves over the last two seasons, and was named an All Star in each year, and is the centerpiece of the deal. “His stuff is right at the top of the scale,” assistant general manager Brian O’Halloran told the team’s website (boston.redsox. mlb.com). “He’s got a fastball in the upper 90s (mph), and when he’s right, his slider is as good as anybody’s in baseball.” Hanrahan’s presence will push Boston reliever Andrew Bailey out of the closer spot and into a setup role. The Red Sox are coming off a disaster season that saw them fin- ish last in the American League East, make major trades and fire manager Bobby Valentine. Meanwhile Japanese base- ball club Rakuten Eagles, who recently signed former US major league star Andruw Jones, said Jockey Mark Lawson (third right) along with Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani (centre) and former AFC President Mohamed bin Hammam, yesterday they had no plans along with officials pose for a picture after La Hoor won the Local Bred Pure Arabian Three-Year-Old Derby by a margin of 17 lengths. The 1,600-metre race was won in a time of 1:45.49. to cancel the deal after he was RIGHT: Bin Hammam (left) receives a momento from Sheikh Mohammed. PICTURES BY: JUHAIM arrested on suspicion of battering his wife. AGENCIES FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Australian batsmen with most runs in a Clarke hammers Sri Lanka calendar year Michael Clarke (2012) 1,595 runs in 18 innings Ricky Ponting (2005) Australia take control with 284-run lead on day two of the second Test 1,544 runs in 28 innings Ricky Ponting (2003) 1,503 runs in 18 innings MELBOURNE: Michael Scoreboard Justin Langer (2004) Clarke struck a sublime century 1,481 runs in 27 innings to become his country’s high- Sri Lanka (I innings) ...... 156 N Lyon (batting) ...... 0 Matthew Hayden (2001) est Test run-scorer in a calen- Australia (I innings) Extras (B-9, LB-5 W-6, NB-2) ...... 22 dar year as Australia marched 1,391 runs in 25 innings D Warner c Prasad b Mathews ...... 62 Total (eight wkts, 129 overs) ...... 440 to an imperious 284-run lead at the close of day two of the E Cowan c M Jayawardene b Prasad ...... 36 Still to bat: J Bird second Test against Sri Lanka P Hughes run out ...... 10 Fall of wickets: 1-95, 2-117, 3-117, 4-311, Former players yesterday. S Watson c Samaraweera b Prasad ...... 83 5-313, 6-315, 7-376, 8-434 The Australia skipper, enjoy- M Clarke c M Jayawardene b Eranga ...... 106 Bowling: C Welegedara 14.4-6-38-0, S Eran- say Indo-Pak ing an inspired 2012, surpassed M Hussey b Dilshan c Herath ...... 34 ga 26.2-2-106-2 (nb-2, w-5), D Prasad 24-2- the 1,544 runs Ricky Ponting M Wade c Eranga b Prasad ...... 1 102-3 (w-1), A Mathews 13-3-47-1, R Herath amassed in 2005 during his M Johnson (batting) ...... 73 39-7-95-0, T Dilshan 12-1-38-1 games deserve innings of 106, before tail-ender P Siddle c M Jayawardene ...... 13 Third test January 3-7 Sydney Cricket Ground Mitchell Johnson rubbed salt iconic status into Sri Lanka’s wounds with an unbeaten 73. put to the sword by Clarke and dismissal, slashing a Shaminda KARACHI: Former Pakistan Paceman Johnson strode off Shane Watson, who composed a Eranga delivery to his counter- captains Rashid Latif and Moin at stumps with Nathan Lyon yet record-breaking fourth-wicket part Mahela Jayawardene in the Khan yesterday urged the ICC to score, with Australia having stand of 194 against Sri Lanka at slips, broke his perfect record of A combination to give India-Pakistan series the added 108 runs in the session the MCG. Clarke’s fifth Test ton scoring at least a double-century of four iconic status. after tea to drive their total to an of the year, the 22nd of his career, once he surpassed 100 in 2012. photographs “The response to this ongoing imposing 440-8 at the Melbourne propelled him to 1,595 runs for the It also sparked a mini-collapse shows Sri short series and the way the peo- Cricket Ground. year and fourth on the all-time as Watson (83) and Matthew Lanka’s ple followed the first T20 match in “As many runs tomorrow list behind Mohammad Yousuf Wade (1) fell in quick succession Rangana Bangalore, it is a clear indication would be very handy,” Clarke (1,788), Viv Richards (1,710) and to ill-conceived hook-shots, both Herath that the ICC needs to give iconic told reporters after celebrating Graeme Smith (1,656). caught in the deep before tea. reaching to status to Indo-Pak matches,” his first ton at the MCG. Clarke’s selection appeared Watson’s half-century was his take a catch Latif told PTI. “I would love to see Mitchell a gamble after he sustained a first in eight innings and a wel- to dismiss “The ICC needs to keep a win- get his second Test hundred and hamstring injury in the first-test come return to form, but the bar- Australia’s dow open for Indo-Pak series in then we’ll be back out there bowl- victory in Hobart, and pundits rel-chested all-rounder will rue its FTP with special status after Michael ing and hopefully we can bowl Sri complained that it was a case of another lost chance to score his taking both Boards into confi- Hussey for 34 Lanka out.” double standards given injury- third Test century. dence. That is the only way cricket Sri Lanka, skittled for 156 on free seamer Mitchell Starc was Watson had more bad news runs during relations between Pakistan and day one, had only a six-run lead left out as part of the team’s con- in store for him when Cricket the second India will not be affected by the to protect at the start of the day’s troversial rotation policy. Australia said in a statement late day of the political scenario,” Latif told PTI play and their hopes of restricting Few would be arguing after yesterday that he had suffered a second cricket yesterday. the hosts diminished with a ham- yesterday, with Clarke’s 14-bound- left calf injury while bowling on Test at the Moin argued that the Indo-Pak string injury to seamer Chanaka ary knock confounding the Sri the first day of the match. Melbourne matches are bigger than even the Welegedera in the morning Lankans for more than four “He was able to get though the Cricket traditional Ashes contests. session. hours and putting Australia in batting innings today and is likely Ground “The huge interest around the The remaining bowlers had lit- the box seat to take a winning to field on day three,” physiother- yesterday. world when Pakistan and India tle assistance from a flattening 2-0 series lead before the final apist Alex Kountouris said. Yesterday play against each other is enough pitch on a gusty day and were Test in Sydney. The 31-year-old’s REUTERS Michael to convince the ICC that iconic Clarke struck status must be given to such a sublime series,” Moin said. century to Moin said the quality of cricket become his produced in Indo-Pak matches Hafeez says Pakistan country’s was also very high because play- highest Test ers from both sides put in their run-scorer in a best to win matches. calendar year The two former captains also as Australia urged the Pakistan and Indian can win T20 series marched to an Boards to schedule a Test series imperious 284- next year. AHMEDABAD: Pakistan entire series. We are united (as a run lead at the “Two T20 and three ODI skipper Mohammed Hafeez team) in this series and we want close of play matches is enjoyable but not yesterday said the way his side to play good cricket,” he added. in Melbourne. enough to whet the appetite of clawed its way back in the first “I will give credit to the bowlers cricket fans who want to watch Twenty20 match against India, and fielders. They (India) were Tests between the two nations,” he has no doubts that his side 70 for no loss and after that we Moin said. “I hope that things will go on to win the series by came back. Bowling has always move on from this series and we winning the second match here been our strength and in the last can have a proper Test series today. match even after a bad start, the soon,” he added. Pakistan thumped India by comeback was outstanding. As a Latif said there was no better five wickets in the Bangalore T20 captain I am very pleased with advertisement for the sport than match two days ago. that,” he said. a Indo-Pak series. “The way we played the last “Most of our players have “Obviously there is lot of pres- match, our morale is quite high. proved at the international level sure involved in such matches and The way the entire team bounced that they are match winners. at times it becomes more than a back in both batting and bowling, Shahid Afridi, Saeed Ajmal, cricket contest but once we have that was morale boosting for us Umar Gul, recently included frequent series than these prob- and we will try to continue that Mohammad Irfan. Shoaib Malik lems will go away,” he said. tomorrow as well,” Hafeez said. is the only one who hasn’t bowled He also insisted that the clash “We have the opportunity to but he is good enough to play his between Kamran Akmal and India’s Yuvraj Singh during a training win the series. We are all ready role. We have got enough experi- Ishant Sharma was not unusual session in Ahmedabad yesterday. for this. Not just tomorrow’s ence. We can dominate with our in the first T20 at Bangalore. match, we are positive about the bowling.” AGENCIES AGENCIES

Lara Lynn, Stage set for Qatar who will be riding a KTM bike in the E1 category of the third International Enduro round of Qatar DOHA: The third round of Qatar International after the end of each race. There are 3 different cat- International Enduro will be held across the Sealine Beach egories for motorcycles: E1, E2 and E3 and one cat- Enduro, Resort area today, bringing to close an entertain- egory for quad bikes. In the E1 category, the leader is seen ing season of car and bike races. of the championship is Abdulla at QMMF The Qatar Motor and Al Shaiti from Kuwait with 114 headquarters Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) points. in Doha. yesterday conducted the documen- Al Shaiti’s compatriot Moaz Al PICTURES: tation and scrutineering drill at its Ansari is second with 102 points. FEISAL headquarters. French rider Yannic Le AHMED Besides Qatar, riders from Gourvenec is leading the E2 cat- Kuwait, the UAE, France, egory with 112 points and UAE Australia, Great Britain, Iran and rider Jassim Nasser Al Ali is in Jordan will be seen in action in the second place with 87 points. last round of ‘desert fun’. In the E3 category, Khalid A QMMF Today, motor sport fans can turn Kamis Mubarak from UAE is the official seen up at the Sealine Beach Resort leader with 60 points while Obaid inspecting area at around 8:00am when the Al Kitbe, also from the UAE, is a bike warm-up sessions take place. leading the quad category with 90 during the “This is a very popular event points. on the Qatar motor sports calen- Last week, the QMMF staged scrutineering dar,” QMMF President Nasser bin the first round of the Qatar drill in Doha Khalifa Al Attiyah (pictured) said International Road Raching yesterday. yesterday. Championship (QIRRC). The third “We have a strong field as off- At the end of November, Losail round of road racing is popular among the International Circuit hosted the the Qatar motor sport fans,” Al Attiyah , who sixth and final round of Asian International is also the vice president of FIM, added yesterday. Road Racing Championship (ARRC). Enduro will A file photo of UAE rider Jassim Race One will kick-off at 10:00am, a QMMF state- The next motor sport activity for QMMF will be be held Nasser in action during one of ment said yesterday. the first round of the cars championship (QIRRC) today. the Enduro rounds held in Qatar. The second race of the day will be held at 1:30pm. to be held at Losail Circuit on January 11 and 12. Podium ceremonies for both the races will be held THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Qatar national team train ahead of Egypt friendly match today

Qatar national team squad train at Aspire Academy yesterday. Sebastian Soria (23), Younes Ali (20), Khaled Al Zakiba (13) are also seen. CENTRE: Striker Jarella Al Marri looks up to a camera before giving a television interview yesterday. RIGHT: Qatar coach Paulo Autouri (in grey) addresses his players during a training session. Qatar will play Egypt today in a friendly at Al Gharafa Stadium at 7:30pm. The match is in preparation for the 2013 Gulf Cup to be held in Bahrain from January 5 to 18. PICTURES BY: FADI Al ASSAAD Ferguson avoids punishment from Walters double inspires the English FA

LONDON: Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson will not be punished for his confronta- tion with the officials during his Stoke to comeback victory side’s 4-3 win over Newcastle United, the Football Association said yesterday. Liverpool defender Jose Enrique admits team needs more self-belief Ferguson berated referee Mike Dean and two of his assist- ants at half-time of Wednesday’s LONDON: Jonathan Walters met in the Premier League, the ball and turn before volleying past game, after being angered that scored twice as Stoke beat games ended goalless so it would Reina who could not keep it out. Newcastle’s second goal -- a Jonny Liverpool 3-1 in an entertain- not have been pessimistic to The Stoke fans sang “3-1 to the Evans own goal -- was given ing affair under the lights at believe before this it could be dull rugby team” as Liverpool pressed despite Papiss Cisse being in an the Britannia Stadium late on again but that was proved wrong forward desperately trying to get offside position. Wednesday. as Jones made it three goals in 12 back into the game with Suarez Ferguson felt Dean should not Steven Gerrard put Liverpool minutes. getting booked for a high chal- have over-ruled his assistant, into an early lead from the spot The Stoke striker rose to head lenge on Begovic on the hour Jake Collin, who initially raised but Walters replied almost imme- home Glenn Whelan’s corner and mark. Suarez did have the ball in his flag for offside, and berated diately before Kenwyne Jones send the home fans wild before the net soon after but it was ruled both men, as well as fourth offi- headed the hosts in front. Matthew Etherington made out as Jordan Henderson handled cial Neil Swarbrick, as the teams After the break Walters made Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina in the build up. re-emerged for the second half at it 3-1 with a superb finish and pull off a stunning save after 21 Gerrard tested Begovic but Old Trafford. despite some late pressure, Stoke minutes. Stoke held on. The FA said no action would be held on for a more-than deserved The midfielder fired high but Meanwhile, Liverpool defender taken against the United manager win. the Spaniard stretched to tip the Jose Enrique admits the side need because Dean made no reference Luis Suarez was booed when ball over after a neat cutback to have more self-belief. to the confrontation in his report the announcer read out his name by Steven Nzonzi to set up the He said: ““We have to get a win- on the match. AFP as the home faithful did not for- chance. ning mentality going and we have get the dive that the Uruguayan Liverpool came into this game to show what we are all about,” pulled off at Anfield in the on the back of a 4-0 demolition Enrique said on the club’s website Blackburn sack October meeting between these of Fulham at the weekend that (www.liverpoolfc.com). two. proved they were still in with a “We need more experience and manager Berg While Suarez did not get any- chance of a top-four place, but need to show more character in thing for that then, Stoke man- they knew away at Stoke would these type of games. You can see LONDON: Norwegian man- ager Tony Pulis was livid he was be a much sterner test. we have quality players and we ager Henning Berg has been not punished but it was hard to Especially since they have not have a good squad, but we need to sacked as coach of Blackburn argue against Howard Webb’s won on the four visits to the fight for every point we play for Rovers after only 57 days in the decision to hand Liverpool a pen- ground in Premier League his- if we want to be in the top four.” job, the Indian-owned English alty in the second minute of this tory but Gerrard had a chance to Meanwhile, Rodgers said that Championship club announced clash. level the game up moments later Liverpool needs show some con- yesterday. Ryan Shawcross tugged but he hit a tame effort wide with sistency if they are going to chal- Berg signed a three-year con- Suarez’s shirt in the area and the Asmir Begovic, the Stoke goal- lenge for the top four. tract but he guided Blackburn to Reds striker went down before keeper, seemingly beaten. He said: “Our inconsistency is just one victory in his 10 matches Gerrard calmly slotted home the Raheem Sterling came on for the biggest thing, we were terrific at the helm and Wednesday’s 1-0 penalty. Suso at the break and the winger against Fulham. But you have to loss at Middlesbrough was the However, just three minutes almost made an instant impact put a run together, otherwise team’s fifth defeat in six matches. later Shawcross helped Stoke with a cross for Suarez but the you’re taking two steps forward “Blackburn Rovers FC has grabbed what many will say is a Uruguayan fluffed his effort well and one back. announced the departure of trademark goal as he launched wide. “You have to earn the right to manager Henning Berg, assist- a long ball forward that Jones Andy Wilkinson’s long throw in play, especially at Stoke, you know ant manager Eric Black, first nodded on to Walters and the the 49th minute made it 3-1 as he you’ll get pressed. We have to find Stoke City’s Kenwyne Jones (right) celebrates after scoring during their team coach Iain Brunskill and Republic of Ireland international found Jones who nodded on again it otherwise we’ll never progress, English Premier League match against Liverpool at the Britannia stadium goalkeeping coach Bobby Mimms raced through before firing home. for Walters. but this was just too easy.” in Stoke-on-Trent, northern England, late on Wednesday. with immediate effect,” read a The last two times these sides This time he rose to chest the AGENCIES statement. AFP Table Tennis: Al Sadd win League title Cricket: Qatar officials join coaching course

Table Tennis players of Al Sadd pose for a picture after winning the Professional League title recently. Al Sadd Students of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) 0 Level Coaching Course pose for a picture with Qatar Cricket beat Qatar Sports Club 5-2 in the final that was held at the Indoor Hall of Qatar Table Tennis Federation’s Association (QCA) President M A Shahid and other officials in Doha. The course was conducted by ACC quali- headquarters. The title was the second in the club’s history. Al Arabi finished third, Al Rayyan grabbed fourth fied coach Shahsi Patria, who is also a coach for QCA. Two Qatari nationals were among those who attended spot and Al Khor finished in fifth place. the course that was held in Doha, and all received a certificate. FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Pakistan crowned Asian champs Defending champions India go down fighting in 5-4 loss at Al Rayyan Stadium

BY ARMSTRONG VAS “Words fail me. If I wish to sum up the whole situation, I would DOHA: Pakistan defeated say it was disgraceful umpiring defending champions India 5-4 which robbed the classic match in a high-scoring final to win its golden moments. The umpiring the Asian Champions Trophy panel throughout the tournament hockey tournament at Al was substandard,” said Nobbs. Rayyan Stadium yesterday. “I give full credit for Pakistan Sans experienced players, a for the victory and for my boys young Indian outfit put up a brave for handling the pressure,” added fight before surrendering before Nobbs. It was a neck-and-neck bat- their much-experienced oppo- tle between the two sub-continent nents, whom they had defeated hockey giants as both the teams 2-1 in the round robin stages of scored goals at will before Pakistan the tournament. used their experience to good effect The controversy-ridden final to emerge as the winners. which saw the teams playing fast A brace from Muhammad attacking hockey was marred by Waqas (8th and 56th minute) a late decision which took some and goals from Shafqat Rasool glitter away from the nine-goal (42) Rashid Mehmood (48) and thriller. Korean umpire Yun Shin Muhammad Ateeq (64) helped Dong decision to first award a Pakistan to avenge their loss to penalty stroke to India and then India in the first edition of the reverse the decision after consult- championship held in China. ing the third umpire raised a few India’s goals came from SV eyebrows. Sunil (9), VR Raghunath (20), The decision which came with Gurwinder Chandi (55) and three minutes left for the final Rupinder Pal Singh (59). hooter did not go well with the The match started on a fast Indian team which walked away, paced note with both the teams but returned after spending two going for attack from the onset. minutes on the bench to play the However, it was Pakistan remaining minutes of the match. who took the lead when Waqas Pakistan stood their ground to deflected home from their first repulse the Indian attacks in the penalty corner in the eight last two minutes, after the inter- minute. But the lead was short ruption to win the title much to lived as Sunil equalised through a India’s SV Sunil (left) tries to dribble past a Pakistan player during their Asian Champions Trophy final match at Al Rayyan Stadium yesterday. Pakistan the delight of the large number of field effort, one minute later. won 5-4. RIGHT: India’s Kotjajit Khadangbam (left) is challenged by Pakistan’s Muhammad Rizwan Sr. BOTTOM LEFT: Pakistan captain Muhammad Pakistan fans. Raghunath rose to the occa- Pakistan captain Muhammad sion and beautifully converted a Imran (left) receives the trophy from the Qatar Hockey Federation President Hassan Al Qadi. BOTTOM RIGHT: Indian hockey players are seen after Imran was delighted with win. penalty corner in the 21st minute their 5-4 defeat. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT “The final was a best adver- to see India go into the breather tisement for Asian hockey. There with a 2-1 lead. were lot of goals and a packed sta- But Pakistan came out all dium, what more we could have guns blazing in the second period asked for. We lived up to the bill- and restored parity in the 42nd ing as the higher ranked team in minute when Rasool scored from the competition by winning the a field effort. Pegged by the goal, Asian tournament,” said Imran. Pakistan went all out attacking His counterpart Sardar Singh and their efforts bore fruit when said the decision to award the Rashid scored to make it 3-2 in penalty stroke to his team and favour of Pakistan. then change it at the last minute Chandi brought India back into was one of the absurd decisions the match in the 55th minute to on the part of the umpire. restore parity. But two minutes “You give a penalty stroke and later Waqas restored Pakistan’s you rely on a third umpire who is lead with his second goal of the 50 metres away from the action match before Rupinder equalised is one of the funniest thing. The for India. However, the joy was umpire who gave the decision short-lived for the Indians as was close to the action, some five Ateeq converted a short corner yards, yet he choose to rely on the to score the winner for Pakistan. judgement of a person far away.” Thereafter, the Indians pressed Indian coach Michael Nobbs hard for the equaliser but it was said the umpiring in the not be as Pakistan defended stub- entire tournament has been bornly to deny Indian any inroads. ‘substandard’. THE PENINSULA

Tsonga eyes Abu Dhabi exhibition tournament Serena and Jeremy Chardy arrives in Doha Grand Slam Sharapova win for 2013 set to be fit

PERTH, Australia: With a for Brisbane new coach in his corner, French star Jo-Wilfried Tsonga heads into a new year believing his BRISBANE: Maria Sharapova maiden Grand Slam title is and Serena Williams will be within reach. fit to play at the Brisbane Ranked eighth in the world, International, which begins this the flamboyant Tsonga finds his weekend, after injury scares, path to Grand Slam glory blocked organisers said yesterday. by three of the best players of all French Open champion time in Novak Djokovic, Roger Sharapova pulled out of an exhi- Federer and Rafael Nadal, as bition match against Caroline well as US Open champion Andy Wozniacki scheduled for Friday in Murray. Seoul because of a sore collarbone. It is an imposing quartet to But the Russian, along with overcome for a title the 27-year- Spain’s David Ferrer returns the ball to Czech Republic’s Tomas Berdych Williams one of the biggest draws old, an Australian Open finalist in during their Mubadala World Tennis Championship match in the Emirati in women’s tennis, is due to arrive 2008 and a semi-finalist at three capital Abu Dhabi, yesterday. Ferrer won 6-2, 6-4. Ferrer will face world for the December. 30-January 6 other Grand Slams, desperately number one Novak Djokovic today for a place in tomorrow’s final. tournament tomorrow. craves. BOTTOM: Serbia’s Janko Tipsarevic serves to Britain’s Andy Murray Sharapova withdrew from the Speaking in Perth as he pre- Australian Open warm-up event during their Mubadala World Tennis Championship match at the same pared for the Hopman Cup, last year. venue. Tipsarevic won 6-3, 6-4. Tipsarevic, the world number nine, will Tsonga admitted the road to his Williams, who won a fifth first major title was a tough one. now face Spain’s Nicolas Almagro today. Wimbledon title, Olympic singles However, he said his goals were gold and US Open crown in 2012, higher than ever heading into also pulled out of an exhibition 2013. against China’s Li Na in Thailan/ “To reach the sun, you have to However, the American has pass the moon,” he said. been given the green light to par- “It feels like they are far away ticipate in Brisbane following toe at the moment, but I feel like I surgery. have a lot of energy. “It’s great that they’re both “I will do my best to join them. going to be fit to play the first This year I want to win a Grand tournament of the year,” tourna- Slam.” ment organiser Cameron Pearson His best effort in the majors told Australian media. this year was at Wimbledon, Eight of the world’s top 10 Jeremy Chardy (right) of France shakes hands with a Qatar Tennis where he lost to Murray in four women are scheduled to play in Federation official at Doha International Airport yesterday. Chardy will sets in the semis. Brisbane including number one compete at the Qatar Open tennis tournament which is set to begin But he failed to notch a sin- Victoria Azarenka of Belarus. on December 31. In September, the Frenchman was ranked 30th in gle win over any of the afore- Azarenka and Sharapova will the world rankings which was a career-high for the 6 foot 2 inch star. mentioned quartet, apart from a both receive first-round byes, as PICTURE BY: SYED OMAR walkover victory against Federer do the top four seeds in the men’s in Doha in January. AFP draw. REUTERS FRIDAY 28 DECEMBER 2012 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Covered with snow

Fajr (Dawn) 4:56 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:18 Zuhr (Noon) 11:35 Asr (Afternoon) 2:33 Maghrib (Sunset) 4:53 Isha (Night) 6:23

WEATHER

Today Saturday Sunday Weather Conditions: Mostly sunny Mostly sunny Mostly sunny Partly cloudy to cloudy with High: 23° High: 23° High: 23° slight dust and Low: 17° Low: 17° Low: 17° chance of light rain at places.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:19 16:53 05:30 & 16:00 12:45 & 22:15 18-25 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER The snow-covered roads and mountains in Tulufan, northwest China’s Xinjiang province. A fresh cold snap is hitting most parts of China, according MUSCAT 22/16 Mostly sunny 21/15 Mostly sunny to the National Meteorological Center’s forecast, yesterday. MAKKAH 30/20 Mostly sunny 30/20 Mostly sunny KUWAIT 19/12 Clear 16/11 Partly sunny BAHRAIN 22/18 Chance of rain 22/17 Chance of rain SANAA 22/08 Chance of rain 23/05 Clear RIYADH 16/07 Mostly sunny 19/10 Mostly sunny DUBAI 23/16 Clear 23/16 Clear 2012 a deadly year for BAGHDAD 17/08 Clear 17/05 Mostly sunny

THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER Africa’s rhinos, elephants

ATHENS 17/13 Mostly sunny 16/11 Chance of rain JOHANNESBURG: Africa’s about 28 tonnes has reportedly organised crime and in some that examines the international WASHINGTON 04/02 Partly sunny 05/00 Rain biggest animals were poached been seized but the number is cases well armed rebel militias,” rhino horn trade. SYDNEY 25/18 Mostly sunny 22/18 Mostly sunny in near record numbers in expected to climb as more data the Convention on International “You have very advanced inter- LONDON 13/10 Rain 12/06 Rain 2012, with surging demand for comes in. Trade in Endangered Species of national syndicates run like busi- PARIS 12/09 Rain 12/06 Partly sunny horn and ivory from Asia driv- “The last four years since 2009 Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) ness operations that are very ISTANBUL 12/07 Rain 10/04 Rain ing the slaughter of rhinos and are four of our five highest volume said in a statement this week. good at getting horn out of here,” MANILA 31/24 Chance of rain 32/24 Mostly sunny elephants. years in illegal ivory trade,” said “In Bouba N’Djida National he said. Rademeyer expects the DHAKA 24/13 Clear 24/14 Clear By mid-December, poachers Milliken. Park, in northern Cameroon, up number of rhino killings to rise DELHI 20/08 Clear 20/08 Clear had killed 633 rhinos in South Demand for ivory as ornamen- to 450 elephants were allegedly even higher next year, pushing ISLAMABAD 17/08 Chance of rain 16/07 Chance of rain Africa, according to environment tal items is rising fast in Asia, in killed by groups from Chad and the population closer to a tipping ministry figures. tandem with growing Chinese the Sudan early this year,” said point that leads to its decline. That marks a new annual peak influence and investment in CITES, which is an international South Africa has deployed its in the country that is home to Africa, which has opened the door agreement that oversees trade in military to patrol Kruger while most of the continent’s rhinos, wider for illicit trade in elephants wildlife. its tax agency SARS and police and a sharp rise from the record and other animals. In the case of rhino horn, have stepped up the fight. ‘Dolphin therapy’ 448 poached last year and the Rhino horn has been used for demand has also been growing in But it also lost ground in 2012 mere handful of deaths recorded centuries in Chinese medicine, Vietnam, where a newly affluent due to a two-month strike by a decade ago. where it was ground into pow- class has been buying it to treat National Park workers and cor- for Chinese kids Elsewhere in Africa, the der to treat a range of maladies ailments ranging from hangovers ruption within the ranks of the slaughter of elephants contin- including rheumatism, gout and to cancer. park service that undermined its BEIJING: Dolphin therapy, a technique that helps treat chil- ued unabated, with mass kill- even possession by devils. The claims have no basis in sci- anti-poaching efforts. dren with mental disabilities, is gaining ground in China, a report ings reported in Cameroon and ence but demand has pushed the South Africa hosts virtually the said yesterday. The technique is already popular in some western Democratic Republic of Congo. WAR AND ORGANISED CRIME price of the horn up to $65,000 entire population of white rhino countries. Fifteen sessions with a pair of bottle-nosed dolphins at According to conservation Ivory smuggling has also been a kilogramme on the streets of - 18,800 head or 93 percent - and Hangzhou Polar Ocean Park have helped a five-year-old autistic group TRAFFIC, which moni- linked to conflict, and last week Hanoi, making it more expensive about 40 percent of Africa’s much boy become “aware” and “alert”, China Daily reported. tors global trade in animals and the United Nations Security than gold. Most of the rhino kill- rarer black rhino. Zheng Jun, the boy’s father, believes the dolphin-assisted therapy plants, the amount of ivory seized Council called for an investigation ings take place in South Africa’s Africa’s elephant population is more effective than any other treatment. will likely drop from 2011, when a into the alleged involvement in Kruger National Park. varies. Estimates for the num- Zheng became a believer of the technique after he visited a record number of big hauls were the trade of the Lord’s Resistance Gangs armed with firearms and bers in Botswana are as high as dolphin-swim programme in Australia. He then took his son to made globally. But the trend Army (LRA) in Uganda. night-vision goggles enter from 150,000 but in parts of central and Hangzhou Polar Ocean Park in Zhejiang province. remains grim. Led by warlord Joseph Kony, neighbouring Mozambique, from west Africa the animal is highly More than 80 parents of children with mental disabilities have “It looks like 2012 is another who is being hunted by an African where observers say the horn is endangered. already booked next year’s sessions at Hangzhou park, the daily said. bumper year for trade in illegal Union and US-backed military often smuggled out through the “Central Africa has been bleed- Newcomers now have to wait until 2014, said Liu Quansheng, ivory though it is unlikely to top force, the LRA is accused of ter- same routes used to bring illegal ing ivory but for the last few years manager of the park. 2011,” said Tom Milliken, who rorising the country’s north for drugs from Southeast Asia into there has also been an upsurge in “People with mental disabilities often have short attention spans. manages TRAFFIC’s Elephant over 20 years through the abduc- Africa. poaching in Kenya, Tanzania and Swimming with dolphins helps them relax and focus,” Liu said. Trade Information System. tion of children to use as fighters “Kruger is a national park the Mozambique,” said Milliken. “Dolphin therapy is effective because these animals hold the kids’ In 2011, an estimated 40 tonnes and sex slaves. size of Israel and it is incredibly Trade in rhino horn is strictly attention better than even the most engaging human therapist,” he of illegal ivory was seized world- “The illegal killings of large difficult to police,” said Julian prohibited under CITES while added. IANS wide, representing thousands of number of elephants for their Rademeyer, author of ‘Killing for that for ivory is mostly illegal. dead elephants. So far this year ivory are increasingly involving Profit’, a book published this year REUTERS Film explores Afro-Americans’ unhealthy soul food habit NEW YORK: After interviewing food his father was diagnosed in 2006. the Hog: A Culinary Journey from Africa historians, scholars, cooks, doctors, He delves into his family history, as to America, Harris said the prevalence of activists and consumers for his new film well as slavery, the African diaspora overprocessed foods, low-quality meats, “Soul Food Junkies,” filmmaker Byron and the black power movement in the and second- or third-rate produce in Hurt (pictured), concluded that an film and provides photographs, draw- minority neighborhoods amounts to “culi- addiction to soul food is killing African- ings, historic film footage and maps. nary apartheid.” Americans at an alarming rate. In Jackson, Mississippi, Hurt joined In the film, Marc Lamont Hill, an The movie, which will premiere on football fans for ribs and corn cooked associate professor of English education January. 14 on US public broadcasting with pigs’ feet and turkey necks. He also at Columbia University in New York, television, examines how black cultural visited Peaches Restaurant, founded described minority health problems identity is linked to high-calorie, high- in 1961, where freedom riders and civil related to poor diet as “21st-century fat food such as fried chicken and bar- rights activists including Martin Luther genocide.” becued ribs and how eating habits may King Jr. ate. Hurt says the government can help by be changing. Hurt, whose family came from increasing urban access to quality food In the deeply personal film, Hurt Milledgeville, Georgia, grew up on a diet and requiring calorie counts to be dis- details his father’s fight and eventual of fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, played on restaurant menus. death from pancreatic cancer. A high-fat potatoes and gravy, barbecued ribs, sweet Nonprofit organizations such as diet is a risk factor for the illness, accord- potato pie, collard greens, ham hocks and Growing Power Inc., which runs urban ing to researchers at Duke University in black-eyed peas. farms in Chicago and Milwaukee, pro- North Carolina. “The history of Southern food is com- power movements of the 1960s, accord- the US Centers for Disease Control and vide fresh vegetables to minority neigh- “I never questioned what we ate or plex,” he said. “In many ways, the term ing to Hurt. Prevention. Besides tradition and habit, borhoods. Brian Ellis, 21, said all he ate how much,” 42-year-old New Jersey- soul food is a reduction of our culinary “There’s an emotional connection poverty and neighborhoods without was fast food when he started working at based Hurt says in the film that trav- foodways.” and cultural pride in what they see as good supermarkets also contribute to an one of Growing Power’s urban farms in els from New Jersey and New York to The origins of the diet lie in the history the food their population survived on in unhealthy diet, Hurt said. Chicago when he was 14. Virginia, Georgia, Mississippi, Louisiana of American slavery, according to food difficult times,” he said. But Hurt said “Low-income communities of colour “Then I started eating food I’d never and Chicago. historian Jessica B Harris, who appears African-Americans are being devastated lack access to vegetables and have an seen before like Swiss chard,” said Ellis, “My father went from being young and in the film. Slaves ate a high-fat, high- by nutrition-related diseases. overabundance of fast food and highly who appears in the film. “I never knew fit to twice his size.” calorie diet that would allow them to Black adults have the highest rates processed foods that are high in calories what beets were. I’d never seen sprouts Hurt, who also made Hip-Hop: Beyond burn 3,000 calories a day working, she of obesity and a higher prevalence of and fats. I always know when I’m in a before. I’m not that big of a beet fan, Beats and Rhymes, decided to examine explained. diabetes than whites, and are twice as community of color because I see ... very, but I love sprouts. I could eat sprouts the link between calorie-loaded soul Southern food began to be called soul likely to die of stroke before age 75 than very few supermarkets and health food all day.” food and illnesses among blacks after food during the civil rights and black other population groups, according to stores,” he added. In her book, High on REUTERS