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Monday 4 February 2013 23 Rabial I 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5600 Price: QR2

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Emir meets UN official Initial nod Coca-Cola ad for 76 new private sparks heated schools DOHA: The Supreme Education Council (SEC) has given the ini- debate in Qatar tial approval for opening 76 new private schools and kindergar- tens in the country, a senior SEC official said. Call for boycott of American drink Hamad Mohammed Al Ghali Al Merri, director of Private Schools DOHA: The controversial always paint Arabs in bad light Office at SEC said that the new Coca-Cola Super Bowl adver- and portray them as uncivilised applicants have been given time tisement that many here see as and as terrorists. “And you feel till June this year to complete for- painting Arabs in a bad light that you are being looked down malities involving other govern- has triggered a heated debate upon and discriminated against ment bodies. in the Qatari community, with when you are in the US as a stu- “Until now, we have received some calling for a boycott of the dent or as a medical tourist,” said 76 applications from citizens to popular American drink. a commentator. open new private schools and kin- Several commentators tak- The Americans think Arabs dergartens and we have given ini- ing part in the debate that was still live in deserts and ride cam- tial approval. We have also given raging on local social network- els, was how yet another com- them time until next June to set- ing sites have expressed anger mentator reacted, taking part tle their status with other bodies over the ad that shows an Arab in the debate over the Coca-Cola The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with the United Nations Special Adviser on Yemen, Jamal concerned including Civil Defence walking through a desert pulling ad. “Thank God, they didn’t insult bin Omar. Talks dealt with the latest developments in Yemen. and the health authorities. If they a camel, as cowboys, Las Vegas Muslims and Islam,” said yet don’t fulfill these requirements girls and others race by him to another commentator. by June, the initial approval will reach a gigantic bottle of coke. This is racism. The ad makes a be automatically revoked,” said The Arab man is out of the com- mockery of Arabs, said some oth- Al Merri, in an interview with petition from the beginning since ers. “Yes, this is an act of racism Security Council should act Al Sharq. his camel refuses to budge. and discrimination, for everyone He said 38 private schools have The ad was first put on was taking part in the race to sought permission to hike their Cola-Cola’s website and was to be reach the gigantic Coke bottle fees from the next academic year. aired from yesterday coinciding except the Arab,” was the opinion to prevent massacres: PM The deadline for receiving appli- with the start of the Super Bowl, of still others. cations ended last month. the US National Football League However, there were some who MUNICH: Qatar’s Prime from around the world. turn the Middle East region into a “No school is permitted to championship. said there was no need to take the Minister and Foreign Minister Qatar realises the indivisible volcano of war and turmoil.” hike the fees without a writ- The ad first created a contro- ad seriously. “The idea is good and H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem character of global security, he What we have seen in Lebanon, ten approval from the SEC. versy in the US with American- after all it is an ad, so we must bin Jabor Al Thani has said that said, adding that intertwined and what we’re seeing in Iraq Submitting an application does Arabs objecting to it. What seems take it sportingly,” said one par- global security will be at risk as issues require all states to work are the direct and indirect not mean it has been accepted,” to have additionally irked them, as ticipant. What might presumably long as the UN Security Council together hard in a responsible effects of this ongoing conflict, said Al Merri. He said there is a well as some citizens here, is that turn the debate more heated is the fails to issue a resolution to pre- and transparent manner aimed the Prime Minister and Foreign set of criteria for granting per- it asks viewers which characters fact that at least one commenta- vent massacres committed by at promoting security and stabil- Minister said. mission and no school will be should win the race in an online tor hinted he agreed with the ad dictatorships. These massa- ity, and preventing crisis. He pointed to his efforts as allowed to raise the fees by more vote. The contest does not allow a and said: “This is a fact. Muslims cres, he added, blatantly violate Perusing diplomacy and dia- the head of the Arab Ministerial than 10 percent. The schools are vote for the Arab character. and Arabs are consumers and they international law and conven- logue and forging relations based Committee on Syria, which required to submit details about The best way out is for all the never take part in competitions”. tions, and are an attempt by on equality between the states included direct talks with the all types of fees charged over the Arab countries to ban Coca-Cola, What was wrong with the ad, dictators to retain power. are needed to achieve this vision, Syrian government at the begin- past three years. He said the new said a commentator. “If Arab wondered another man, say- The premier was speaking he said. ning of the crisis, a call to start law on private schools which is in countries ban or even threaten ing it was natural for them to at the 49th Munich Security The Premier warned the inter- dialogue with the opposition, the making will take into consid- to ban the drink, the company show an Arab in a desert with a Conference (MSC), an annual national community of the risk of and two visits to Damascus to eration the feedback from private would immediately issue an apol- camel. “This is our natural envi- high-level security meeting, that “prolonging the Syrian crisis by meet President Bashar Al Assad. schools. “We expect the law to be ogy,” said another. ronment,” he said, adding fuel to brings together decision makers hesitating and procrastinating to QNA issued soon,” said Al Merri. The Americans in their media the fire. THE PENINSULA on foreign affairs and defence achieve narrow self-interests will Continued on page 9 THE PENINSULA

Tour of Qatar Israel waging state terrorism: Turkey Mobile app to locate ISTANBUL/MUNICH: Turkish Prime Minister Recep health facilities soon Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel yesterday of waging “state ter- rorism” as he condemned the DOHA: The Supreme Council of at SCH told The Peninsula air strike on Syria as an unac- Health (SCH) will soon develop yesterday. ceptable violation of interna- a new smartphone application “The next and more important tional law. that will help users locate all phase of this project is to develop “Those who have been treat- public and private healthcare a smartphone application giving ing Israel like a spoilt child should facilities in the country. information about all healthcare expect anything from them, at The SCH has just published a facilities in the country. Once this any time,” said Erdogan, a harsh map showing the location of hos- is ready, the users will be able to critic of the Jewish state. pitals, clinics and primary health search and locate any facility “As I say time and again, Israel centres in the country. A senior using their smartphones,” said Al has a mentality of waging state SCH official said yesterday that Khanji. For instance, if a person terrorism. the mobile application is the next has a toothache while driving, the Right now, there is no telling phase of this project. new application will assist him in what it might do and where it The map in the form of a folder locating the facility in a few sec- might do it,” he said. will soon be made available at the onds, he added. The app can be Full report on page 13 airport and other points of entry, used by all smartphones includ- hotels, shopping malls and other ing the iPhone, Android-based Iran open to direct US rider Brent Bookwalter of the BMC Racing team exults after winning the first stage of the Tour of Qatar public places, Dr Jamal Rashid phones and the BlackBerry. between Katara Cultural Village and Dukhan beach, yesterday. (SALIM MATRAMKOT) Al Khanji, director of the Health THE PENINSULA talks with US SEE ALSO PAGE 30 Quality Management Department Continued on page 4 MUNICH: Iran said yesterday that it was open to a US offer of direct talks on its nuclear programme and that six world powers had suggested a new round of nuclear negotiations Qtel, Vodafone ring in mobile number portability this month, but without com- mitting itself to either proposal. DOHA: Qatar’s two tel- service provider. Following the All 21 Qtel retail outlets in the of subscribers wanting to retain said Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, Diplomatic efforts to resolve a ecom service providers yes- MNP announcement by the country are now supporting MNP, their number and switch to Qtel, Director of Public Relations, Qtel. dispute over Iran’s nuclear pro- terday announced that they Supreme Council of Information while Vodafone is providing it at the company said in a statement. ictQatar earlier said that MNP gramme, which Tehran says is have started Mobile Number and Communication Technology its outlets at City Center and “We have seen an immedi- officially began here on January peaceful but the West suspects is Portability (MNP) in the (ictQatar), the country’s tel- Landmark malls. ate response to the availability 31. Both Qtel and Vodafone intended to give Iran the capability country. ecom sector regulator, Qtel and Qtel retail outlets at City of Mobile Number Portability worked with the telecom sector to build a nuclear bomb, have been This will allow customers to Vodafone-Qatar said that they Center and Landmark malls in Qatar, with many custom- regulator to develop the new plan. all but deadlocked for years. retain their mobile phone num- are welcoming new consumers to were the first two to offer MNP ers opting to switch to Qtel on THE PENINSULA Full report on page 12 bers when switching to a different their networks. and both shops saw long queues multiple lines since the launch,” Continued on page 4

MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME PM to open Global Geospatial Information Management forum today

DOHA: The Prime Minister and the United Nations Statistics It also seeks to promote be able to control it and reduce integrating geospatial and sta- to strengthen capabilities of the and Foreign Minister H E Division. greater scientific usage of expected damage. tistical information in related entities that use such systems, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin The forum will bring together growing sources of geospatial The important interna- data to advance the process including QSA, the Ministry of Jabor Al Thani will inaugurate senior government representa- information. tional event comes as a result of data analysis and results to Municipality and Urban Planning, the second High Level Forum on tives from United Nations mem- The forum aims to find the of fruitful cooperation between achieve the state’s comprehen- the Ministry of Interior, Qtel and Global Geospatial Information ber states as well as interested right techniques to create a QSA, Geographic Information sive development and National others. Management, at Qatar National stakeholders from non-govern- database on the geography of the Systems Center of the Ministry of Vision 2030 goals. This will have the greatest Convention Center, today. mental organisations, academia world’s countries, in accordance Municipality and Urban Planning, In this forum, Qatari officials impact on improving the perform- Qatar Statistics Authority is and the private sector to address with internationally adopted and all bodies associated with the and international experts will ance and supporting the applica- holding the three-day event in and discuss critical and cutting- standards. national network of geographic exchange experiences and identify tion of these technologies in a more collaboration with the Ministry of edge issues on global geospatial The forum will refer to the information systems. the latest geographic informa- organised way. Municipality and Urban Planning information management. database in case of emergency to They cooperated on tion systems of worldwide scope THE PENINSULA

PDF version of health map ‘Need more experts in Continued from page 1 “This project was proposed some time ago but the implemen- tation has been delayed because we couldn’t find a company that communication sector’ has the expertise to develop this application. We will soon issue a tender inviting bids from poten- Northwestern University to introduce more programmes tial companies,” said Al Khanji. The application will also allow BY FAZEENA SALEEM the Education City and plan- the users to store their medical ning collaborative work with data in phones and get alerts DOHA: Demand for com- Georgetown University in Qatar. about medicines they might be munication specialists has We will focus on media and poli- using. “If you add a new prescrip- increased within the growing tics, may be also look for oppor- tion and if it does not match with media sector in Qatar, says an tunities with Hamad bin Khalifa the medicines you had been taking expert. University,” he said. earlier, the application will give you As many sectors in Qatar “We are in the process of an automatic alert,” said Al Khanji. have started new institutions developing several other minors He said SCH will provide a PDF during the past years, the need which will be announced in the version of the just launched “health for communication specialists next few months with other map” on its website if there is a is higher than before, said Dr universities,” he added. demand from the public. Everette E Dennis (pictured), Northwestern University Dean and CEO of Northwestern in Qatar recently announced University Qatar. region. new appointments that add Mobile portability New institutions are coming “We keep adding new international talent to its Continued from page 1 up, for example, the cultural courses, expand courses in administrative ranks, aimed “At Vodafone, we understand sector like museums need com- Middle Eastern studies and at unifying and strengthening that mobile numbers are very munication specialists, he told Middle Eastern media and we its programmes in journalism, important for the people living The Peninsula. have strengthened our film communication and liberal arts. here, and for that we have been To meet these needs, the offering,” he added. The campus has a student working for many months with Northwestern University in Some of the minors to be population of 160, with 40 ictQATAR and Qtel to make Qatar has introduced some introduced at the university percent Qataris, and plans to MNP available. minors and would bring in some would be taught in collaboration increase the number of stu- Mobile Number Portability will other new subjects in the near with other campuses within the dents to about 250, when it enable more customers to expe- future. “To do a better job we Education City. Those minors moves to a new building within rience the choice and diversity assess the media in this region are likely to be media and polices the Education City. of telecommunication services and other kind of issues that and health-related reporting. “We want to maintain quality that are available in Qatar,” said will help our students calibrate “We are also building more control,” Dr Dennis added. Mohammed Al Yami, Director their work to the needs of the links with other schools within THE PENINSULA of External Affairs at Vodafone Qatar. To start the process, customers will have to complete applications at either Qtel or Vodafone retail shops, and then send an SMS with the words “SWITCH” or “???” to 151, which would cost 1 dirham. They would have to bring the ID they used for service on their existing service provider when visiting the shop. Postpaid customers will need to settle any issued bills with their current service provider. Once the request is approved by the cur- rent service provider, the switchover process should take one business day. THE PENINSULA

Workshop on disaster management

DOHA: The Permanent Emergency Committee, jointly with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), yesterday started a workshop on the man- agement of emergencies, with the participation of 27 delegates from con- cerned government bod- ies, besides two delegates from Kuwait and Oman. Experts in the field of crisis management and emergency will deliver lectures at the workshop that will continue until February 12. The workshop aims to identify key aspects of emergencies whether natural disasters or not, and educate participants about international humanitarian law, inter- national protection, prin- ciples and mechanisms of protection in cases of emergency, implementa- tion of standards and key indicators of emergency, in addition to managing personal preparations for deployment during emergencies. QNA

MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Best Buddies activities draw huge response Eighty percent of universities and colleges in Qatar helping people with special needs BY RAYNALD C RIVERA

DOHA: Eighty percent of uni- versities and colleges in Qatar are currently involved actively in Best Buddies, an interna- tional non-profit organisation aimed at integrating people with intellectual disabilities into society. “Best Buddies Qatar started in 2008 and since then we have established clubs in 80 percent of all universities in the country,” said Rania Abou Ghaida, College Programme Coordinator, Best Buddies Qatar. Launched under the umbrella of Shafallah Centre for Children with Special Needs, Best Buddies Qatar has been playing an important role integrating spe- cial needs people through pro- grammes which enhance their lives through one-to-one friend- ship and employment. “We have five programmes — Best Buddies High School, College,

Students taking part in two of the activities organised at the Aspire Dome, yesterday. QASSIM RAHMATULLAH

Citizens, Jobs and e-Buddies — all week and an event at the Qatar yesterday’s event saw Best Buddies aimed to socially integrate people University (QU) on National members from Shafallah, QU, with intellectual disabilities,” said Sport Day. Global Academy International Abou Ghaida. The Best Buddies jobs pro- Qatar and SUQ interact in vari- Under the programme, a per- gramme helps those who have ous activities such as ceramics son with intellectual disability graduated from Shafallah Centre painting, sports competitions, creates friendship with a person find employment, she stressed. face painting, henna and puppet with such disability. Among the universities Best theatre, among others. enhancing our social events. Twenty SUQ students organ- “The peer buddies speak every Buddies have presence include The event was part of SUQ’s That’s why we have chosen Best ised the event from concept, plan- week, go out together once a College of the North Atlantic study module for students of Buddies to give our students and ning and marketing to finding month and attend all activities Qatar (CNAQ), QU, most of event management in which they society more awareness about sponsors and executing the event, that we do inside and outside Qatar Foundation universities organise a main activity them- Shafallah Centre and their stu- she added. Stenden University our organisation throughout the and Stenden University Qatar selves in the second semester, dents,” said Arnheiter. Qatar has 480 students of 42 year,” she said, adding among the (SUQ), the latter organised an said Simone Arnheiter, Head of Arnheiter said it was also part nationalities, over 50 percent of upcoming events are participa- event yesterday at Aspire Dome. Marketing at SUQ. of the school’s corporate social whom are Qataris. Rania Abou Ghaida tion at the Message of HOPE this Called ‘Together We Care’, “This year the focus is on responsibility programme. THE PENINSULA

Qatar Airways HMC ambulance team launches mobile member honoured apps for iPhone, BlackBerry DOHA: A member of the ambu- part of quality initiatives at the lance team at Hamad Medical Ambulance Service, for nine DOHA: Qatar Airways has Corporation (HMC) has been months in a row. launched a new mobile applica- honoured with a prestigious IAED covers more than 3,100 tion for BlackBerry, Android, award for his efforts in guid- emergency centres across the iPhone handsets and introduced ing a man to assist his pregnant world and its members annu- a new mobile website. wife deliver their baby. ally receive more than 70 million Through ease and convenience Abdul Hamid Mohamed emergency calls. It also offers of using their mobile devices, cus- Ameen, Emergency Medical internationally accredited train- tomers can search for and book Dispatcher (EMD), won ing courses for dispatchers and flights, check their flight status ‘Dispatcher of the Year’ awarded other emergency professionals. and follow travel alerts. In addi- by the International Academy of Rashid Andaila, Director of tion, members of the airline’s Emergency Dispatch’s (IAED) Public Relations at Ambulance Privilege Card frequent flyer annual Middle East Navigators Services, said the organisa- programme can fast-track their conference in Doha recently. tion works tirelessly to deliver bookings by logging in with their Ameen won the award for his a timely response in all emer- membership number. efforts in helping a man assist his gency cases and the case involv- The new line of services being pregnant wife deliver their baby ing Ameen highlights the critical offered is part of the Doha-based by walking him through the cru- role the community can play in carrier’s commitment to continue cial instructions during an emer- an emergency. FROM LEFT: Ramil Mariano, Ala Aeldien Mohamed, Mohamed Abu-Mussa, Abdul Hameed Mohammad Ameen, providing customers with a Five- gency call. “It is important when calling Star service with added value Rashid Andaila, Mounir Fahmi, Abdulrahman Al Bakri, Roberto Perez and Abdalla Abdelgadir at the event. Fellow dispatcher Mohamed 999 to give as much information benefits. Customers can down- Abu Mussa was also lauded for as possible, including a detailed load the application at qatarai- his excellence and commitment location and other crucial details you as soon as possible. You must 999 immediately in case of an the critical role the Ambulance rways.com/mobile and follow the to his job, having scored the high- to our medical dispatchers to help us help you,” he said. emergency as part of HMC’s new Service plays in the community. links to the iPhone, BlackBerry est compliance scores, which are enable them to get assistance to People are being urged to dial campaign to raise awareness of THE PENINSULA or Android smartphone app store. In addition, the mobile web- site can be accessed by entering qatarairways.com directly into the browser of any smartphone or tablet. Qtel team visits Dhreima Qatar Airways Chief Executive Officer Akbar Al Baker said: “We are continually looking for ways DOHA: A Qtel delegation by Fatima Sultan Al Kuwari, to bring new and exciting services recently visited the Qatar Director of Public Relations, and to our customers. Orphan Foundation Dhreima Dr Ahmed Al Qassas, Senior “Mobility is high on the list of to show support for the founda- Services and Operations Manager, our customers to have access to tion’s work and offer presents in addition to a team from the important travel and flight infor- to children living there. public relations and customer mation when and where they Dhreima, which was founded care departments, were received want it, so we have now given in 2003 under the auspices of H by Khaled Kamal, Director of them a new service that meets H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Dhreima, and Fatima Al Mulla, that demand. As our customers’ provides an integrated Islamic Head of Public Relations. needs evolve, so will the services system of care and shelter for After visiting the founda- and products that we offer.” orphans in Qatar, to bolster fam- tion’s facilities and having Participants with officials during the event. ily and social solidarity. been briefed on its mission and The foundation provides resi- activities, Fatima Al Kuwari Monthly talk dential care for children, attend- expressed her appreciation for DOHA: Archaeologist Dr SCH holds training for healthcare providers ing to their needs in addition to efforts being exerted by Dhreima Richard Cuttler, Director of non-residential services, such to house orphaned children and the Qatar National Historic DOHA: The Supreme Council uniform code for a range of serv- training sessions on the new cod- as conducting field visits to the offer them all the care they need. Environment Record, will give of Health (SCH) organised a ices provided to patients. In turn, ing structure,” explained Husein homes of families seeking to adopt The Qtel delegation offered an illustrated presentation on training session for health- this allows for a coherent struc- Reka, SCH Health Insurance a child. gifts to children. The gifts were recent works, including exca- care providers on a formalised ture of fees for the healthcare Programme Manager. The idea for the visit came provided by Qtel’s Customer Care vations on prehistoric sites in coding structure for the sys- system. “The coding structure is cru- from Qtel’s Call Centre team, and Public Relations team follow- Qatar, at Qatar Natural History tem as part of plans to launch Participants included repre- cial to the upcoming National who heard about the work of the ing a campaign. Group’s monthly talk. the National Health Insurance sentatives from some of the major Health Insurance framework orphanage through their daily During the campaign, members It will be held on Wednesday, Scheme. public and private healthcare pro- because it provides a uniform sys- communication with members of of the people raised funds for chil- 7pm, at the Doha English The coding system ICD-10-AM viders in Qatar. tem for labelling and categorising the public. dren. Speaking School. allows the providers to use a “This is the second of a series of services patients receive.” QNA The Qtel delegation, led THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME QACC awarded QR330m Msheireb contract Deal covers restoration of four historical buildings at Heritage Quarter of Downtown Doha development

DOHA: Msheireb Properties, — will be the centrepiece of the the culture and diversity that what will be the world’s larg- Qatar’s leading sustainable real quarter, creating an important define the Msheireb project while est sustainable community on estate developer, has appointed cultural destination within the emphasising its sustainability completion.” Qatari Arabian Construction Msheireb project. credentials. Msheireb Downtown Doha is Co WLL (QACC) as the main The four courtyard houses, “We are looking forward to a mixed-use development com- building contractor responsible including the family house of working with Qatari Arabian prising residential, retail and for a key section of the master Mohammed bin Jassim, son of the Construction Co WLL in the real- commercial buildings, as well as plan of Msheireb Downtown founder of modern Qatar, will be isation of the Msheireb project’s hospitality, cultural and commu- Doha development. converted into museums, cultural unique architectural language, nity destinations. Under the terms of the agree- centres and exhibition buildings. which combines advanced tech- Built on a 31-hectare site, it ment, valued at QR330m, QACC In the process, they will bring nologies with traditional building will revive the old commercial will undertake restoration and back significant aspects of Qatar’s practices.” centre of Qatar’s capital, using construction work in the Heritage history and shared memories. Christopher Blair, Executive advanced technologies and proc- Quarter within Phase 1A of the The renovation and con- Manager, Qatari Arabian esses in sustainable development project. struction contract also includes Construction Company WLL said: and traditional building practices The contract involves restoring landscaping and paving works “We’re delighted to join the team and architectural designs. four historical houses, known as throughout the Heritage Quarter, behind this landmark project and Described as the world’s first the ‘Heritage Houses’, renovat- located in the northeast section of committed to realising the high- sustainable regeneration of a ing the Eid Prayer Ground and Msheireb Downtown Doha. The proposed Heritage Houses. est standards of sustainable urban downtown area in a major city, building the Juma Masjid dating Covering 110,000 square metres development. the project will comprise an back to the first decade of the last of gross floor area, Phase 1A also component of the regenera- Msheireb Properties’ efforts to “QACC is a local Qatari com- integrated master plan of resi- century. incorporates the Diwan Amiri tion of downtown Doha,” said conserve buildings of historical pany and a subsidiary of ACC. dential, commercial, hospitality The restored Heritage Houses Quarter, the Amiri Guard resi- Mohammad Al Marri, Chief value and maintain an emotional “We’re committed to the high- and leisure attractions aimed at — Jalmood House, Company dences and the Qatar National Officer for Design and Delivery connection with the country’s est standards and to delivering a local residents and the growing House, Mohamed Bin Jassim Archive. at Msheireb Properties. past. project that matches the expecta- number of international visitors House and Al Radwani House “This contract is a major “At the same time, it highlights “It will bring to life much of tions of everyone connected with to Qatar. THE PENINSULA

Emir receives Hamas chief

DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani met at the Emiri Diwan yesterday Chief of the Political Bureau of the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in Palestine, Khaled Meshaal. They discussed latest developments in Palestine. Chief of Staff meets US Air Force official

DOHA: The Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces Major General H E Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah met his US Air Force counterpart Gen Mark A Welsh III. They discussed ways of bolstering cooperation, particularly in military affairs. QNA

A performer enthralling visitors during last year’s Wheels ‘n’ Heels Family Fun Day. Around 10,000 likely to attend Wheels ‘n’ Heels Family Fun Day

DOHA: Around 10,000 people are expected to attend the 6th Wheels ‘n’ Heels Family Fun Day, being organ- ised by Reach Out To Asia (Rota) this Friday, at 2pm at the Museum of Islamic Art Park. With the theme ‘Reach Out By Having Fun’, the annual event, which promises six hours of exciting activities for the family, has Commercialbank Qatar as the Leadership Sponsor and Maersk Oil Qatar as Flagship Sponsor. “It is with great pleasure that we participate as a leadership sponsor of this much anticipated community event,” said Abdulla Saleh Al Raisi, Commercial Bank Deputy CEO. Wheels ‘n’ Heels has become such an important event for so many people and Commercialbank is delighted to help Rota draw the community’s attention to the life-long benefits of nutrition and exercise,” he added. Since its inauguration in 2006, Wheels ‘n’ Heels has raised funds to support Rota’s education and humanitar- ian projects, a fantastic achievement made possible by invaluable assistance of sponsors and partners such as Commercialbank. Sports fans can join Tour of Qatar sports champions at Wheels ‘n’ Heels circuit, while young ones will enjoy meeting popular Aljazeera Children’s Channel present- ers Ibrahim Al Beshri and Eman Al Mograbi, Masters of Ceremony of the event. “On behalf of Reach Out To Asia, I would like to thank Commercialbank for its very generous support of Wheels ‘n’ Heels 2013,” says Rota Executive Director Essa Al Mannai. “Wheels ‘n’ Heels is about bringing families from all communities together and, in partnership with Commercialbank, we are delighted to promote health, harmony and happiness in the communities of Qatar.” THE PENINSULA MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Prime Minister blames Security Council

Continued from page 1 SCH holds drill on All these efforts were in vain due to the regime’s intransigence and refusal to address public demands, H E Sheikh Hamad bin food poisoning today Jassem told the Munich Security Conference. “However, we contin- ued our efforts over the past two years and gave all kinds of sup- Exercise to ensure preparedness of healthcare system port and backing to the former UN-Arab League envoy Kofi DOHA: The Supreme Council concerned in dealing with a pos- divided into different groups and Annan and then to his successor of Health (SCH) is conduct- sible food poisoning outbreak and each team will visit the different Lakhdar Brahimi, but also to no ing a mock drill today to check identify the weaknesses. This will places covered by the mock drill. avail.” He blamed the Security the readiness of the healthcare help in formulating future plans “Food poisoning outbreaks occur in Council for failing to issue a reso- system to deal with a possible and improving performance,” Qatar very rarely, although there lution that stems the bloodshed food poisoning outbreak in the Wassan Al Baker, director of the are individual incidents. The main and achieves the aspirations of country. Food Safety and Environmental causes behind food poisoning here the Syrian people. The exercise is part of a train- Health Department at SCH said are poor personal hygiene and The prime minister also spoke ing programme on food poison- yesterday, on the sidelines of the improper handling of food,” said of the crisis in Mali and stressed ing which began at the SCH workshop. Al Khatib. that poverty, marginalization premises yesterday. The three- She said a school has been Dr Hamad Al Rumaihi, a sen- and lack of development fueled day workshop is being organised selected for the drill because it ior official of the CDC said the it, adding that effective solutions by the SCH in collaboration with represents a mass gathering department is participating in are needed before the world sees the Hamad Medical Corporation and children are more vulner- the training programme because the crisis spill into other regions. (HMC) and rmk, a private com- able to food poisoning. Some 20 it will help in dealing with dis- He stressed that Qatar sup- pany providing consultation in experts and specialists from HMC, eases spreading through food. ports Mali’s unity, wants equal food poisoning. Communicable Diseases Control The mock drill will also help in rights and duties for all seg- The mock drill will take place Department,Environmental assessing the preparedness of the ments of the country, and backs at the American School of Doha Health Department, medical labo- health care system in dealing with the fight against international (ASD), Emergency Department ratory and food laboratory at SCH a communicable disease outbreak. terrorism, whether in Mali or in at HMC and the laboratories at are attending the training pro- A questionnaire will be distrib- other regions, noting that politi- SCH. A hypothetical situation gramme. Dr Rafiq Al Khatib, man- uted among students and teachers cal dialogue is the only way out will be created in which a group aging director of rmk said that this of the school as part of the drill of the crisis. of ASD students will fall victims was the first workshop of its kind to identify the source of the hypo- The prime minister left to food poisoning. The scene will organised by SCH in collaboration thetical food poisoning. The data Munich yesterday afternoon then shift to the Emergency with the UAE-based company. collected through this question- after taking part in the confer- Department and the laboratories “The theory part of the work- naire and the results of the mock ence. The premier and the accom- where water and food tests will be shop was conducted earlier and laboratory tests will be analysed at panying delegation were seen conducted to identify the source during this three-day training the workshop on the last day. Based off upon departure at Munich of the poisoning. we are focusing on the practi- on this, the workshop will reach International Airport by Qatar’s “The scene has been set in a cal side. The mock drill is part into a conclusion on the cause of Ambassador Abdul Rahman bin good way. The aim of the exer- of the practical training,” Al the poisoning and come out with Mohammed Al Khulaifi. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem cise is to assess the prepared- Khatib told The Peninsula. He recommendations to deal with the QNA bin Jabor Al Thani. ness of all health departments said the participants have been situation. THE PENINSULA Survey on South Security Department services begins

DOHA: The Strategic Planning back on quality of the services Planning Col Abdul Rahman of different social groups and take Department at the Ministry of rendered. Majid Al Sulaiti said that the their views into account in deci- Interior has launched a com- The survey will continue ministry gives prime importance sion-making process. prehensive field survey on the for one week where the sur- to opinion surveys, because of Further, it is also considered services rendered by the South vey team will distribute survey its vital role in supporting the to be one of the most important Security Department. forms that focus on three point; decision-making process. tools to know the efficiency of The survey will measure reception service, procedures He added that the survey will services provided to the public the satisfaction of those who of the required service, work provide important information thus enhancing the efficiency and visit the Department for vari- environment. that enables decision makers to quality of these services. ous services and their feed- The Director of Strategic identify the opinions and trends QNA Officials during the survey. MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Israeli aggression Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

ORMALLY, an Israeli strike on an Arab country would trigger a volley of condemnation and outrage. So it was surprising that the air strike on Syria last Nweek by Tel Aviv went largely unnoticed in Arab Obama’s secret assassins capitals. It’s true that there is a revolution going on against BY NAOMI WOLF President Bashar Al Assad, which has made him a persona non and intelligence backup of our full state Fourteen women and 21 children were grata, and Syria is in tatters, both economically and politically, resources. The Hill reports that JSoc is killed. “Whether anyone actually active HE film Secret Wars, which now seeking more “flexibility” to expand in Al Qaida was killed remains hotly but that should not be used as an excuse by a foreign country to premiered at Sundance, can be its operations globally. contested.” Shortly afterwards, Shaye abuse its sovereignty and therefore the Israeli aggression needs Tviewed, as Amy Goodman sees it, JSoc operates outside the traditional was kidnapped and beaten by Yemeni to be condemned in the strongest terms. as an important narrative of excesses chain of command; it reports directly to security forces. In a trial that was According to a US official, Wednesday’s air strike targeted in the global “war on terror”. It is also a the president of the United States. In criticized internationally by reporters’ surface-to-air missiles and an adjacent military complex record of something scary for those of the words of Wired magazine: groups and human rights organizations, believed to house chemical agents. Israeli Defence Minister us at home – and uncovers the biggest “JSoc operates with practically no he was accused of terrorism. Shaye is story, I would say, in our nation’s con- accountability.” currently serving a five-year sentence. Ehud Barak confirmed in Munich that it has carried out the temporary history. Scahill calls JSoc the president’s “par- Scahill and Rowley got to the bars of raid, and commented arrogantly at a security conference that Though they wisely refrain from amilitary”. Its budget, which may be in Shaye’s cell to interview him, before the the raid was “another proof that when we say something we drawing inferences, Scahill and Rowley the billions, is secret. camera goes dark (in almost every scene, mean it.” have uncovered the facts of a new unac- What does it means for the president they put their lives at risk). This might Israel and the US are worried that the chaos in Syria would countable power in America and the to have an unaccountable paramilitary also bring to mind the fates of Sami world that has the potential to shape force, which can assassinate anyone any- Al Haj of Al Jazeera, also kidnapped, allow Lebanon’s Hezbollah to obtain sophisticated weapons domestic and international events in where in the world? JSoc has already and sent to Guantánamo, and of Julian from Damascus. That worry is likely to morph into a reality an unprecedented way. The film tracks been sent to kill at least one US citizen – Assange, trapped in asylum in Ecuador’s only when Assad loses control, and the country plunges the Joint Special Operations Command one who had been indicted for no crime, London embassy. into absolute lawlessness. Assad is still in control and the (JSoc), a network of highly-trained, but was condemned for propagandizing President Obama thus helped put a revolution is showing no signs of an early end. And it’s too completely unaccountable US assassins, for Al Qaida. Anwar Al Awlaki, on JSoc’s respected reporter in prison for report- early for him to do anything that armed with ever-expanding “kill lists”. It “kill list” since 2010, was killed by CIA- ing critically on JSoc’s activities. The was JSoc that ran the operation behind controlled drone attack in September most disturbing issue of all, however, desperate dictators do when they the Navy Seal team six that killed bin 2011; his teenage son, Abdulrahman Al is the documentation of the “secret The air strike lose power. Laden. Awlaki – also a US citizen – was killed laws” now facilitating these abuses of Predictably, Assad has lashed Scahill and by a US drone two weeks later. American power: Scahill succeeds in on a Syrian out at the strike and accused Rowley track This arrangement – where death getting Senator Ron Wyden, who sits military complex Israel of trying to destabilise this new model of squads roam under the sole control of on the Senate intelligence commit- the country and threatened to The president US warfare that the executive – is one definition of dic- tee, to confirm the fact that there are by Israeli jets strikes at civilians tatorship. It now has the potential to secret legal opinions governing the use retaliate. That threat is unlikely has a clandestine and insurgents threaten critics of the US anywhere in of drones in targeted assassinations that, is a violation of to materialise because his army is alike – in 70 coun- the world. he says, Americans would be “very sur- international law. busy killing his own people, and he network targeting tries. They inter- The film reveals some of these dan- prised” to know about. This is not the just can’t afford to open another a US ‘kill list’ view former JSoc gers: Scahill, writing in the Nation, first time Wyden has issued this warn- front which could threaten his assassins, who are reported that President Obama called ing. In 2011, Wyden sought an amend- justified by secret shell-shocked at Yemen’s President Saleh in 2011 to ment to the USA Patriot Act titled survival and expedite the exit from power. how the “kill lists” express “concern” about jailed reporter requiring the US government “to end Amid the deafening silence about the Israeli aggression, one laws. How is that they are given Abdulelah Haider Shaye. US spokespeo- practice of secretly interpreting law”. voice has been loud and clear: that Turkey. The government different than a keep expand- ple have confirmed the US interest in Wyden warns that there is now a system of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan reacted boldly by ing, even as they keeping him in prison. of law beneath or behind the law that we speaking the truth. Erdogan accused Ankara of waging state death squad? eliminate more Shaye, a Yemeni journalist based in can see and debate. terrorism and called the strike an unacceptable violation of and more people. Sana’a, had a reputation for independent “It is impossible for Congress to hold Our conven- journalism through his neutral inter- an informed public debate on the Patriot international law. He also lambasted the immunity granted tional forces are subject to international viewing of Al Qaida operatives, and of Act when there is a significant gap to Israel by the international community, adding that “those laws of war: they are accountable for critics of US policy such as Anwar Al between what most Americans believe who have been treating Israel like a spoilt child should crimes in courts martial; and they run Awlaki. Journalist colleagues in Yemen the law says and what the government expect anything from them, at any time”. Ankara has been according to a clear chain of command. dismiss the notion of any terrorist is using the law to do. In fact, I believe supporting the revolution against Assad and has been an As much as the US military may fall affiliation: Shaye had worked for the many members of Congress who have avowed critic of the Syrian leader, but that hasn’t prevented short of these standards at times, it is a Washington Post, ABC news, Al Jazeera, voted on this issue would be stunned to model of lawfulness compared with JSoc, and other major media outlets. know how the Patriot Act is being inter- it from looking at the Israel aggression impartially. Arab which has far greater scope to undertake Shaye went to Al Majala in Yemen, preted and applied. countries too need to shed their inhibitions and criticise the the commission of extra-legal operations where a missile strike had killed a group “Even secret operations need to be Israeli action. Not that Israel will feel disheartened or will – and unimaginable crimes. that the US had called “Al Qaida”. “What conducted within the bounds of estab- think before launching another strike, such reactions help to JSoc morphs the secretive, unac- he discovered,” reports Scahill, “were lished, publicly understood law. Any time clarify the positions of countries and will also to prevent the countable mercenary model of private the remnants of Tomahawk cruise mis- there is a gap between what the public military contracting, which Scahill siles and cluster bombs … some of them thinks the law says and what the gov- situation in Syria from worsening. identified in Blackwater: The Rise of bearing the label ‘Made in the USA’, and ernment secretly thinks the law says, I Even rebels in Syria would not like to see Israeli missiles the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary distributed the photos to international believe you have a serious problem.” falling in their midst. Army, into a hybrid with the firepower media outlets.” THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of Europe’s respite the day uess where the world’s United States and the world economy that the ECB, backed ultimately by resolution authority are moving ahead hot money is flowing these — and which many experts consid- financially solid Germany, will pay them but still far from finished. And the conti- days? The correct answer, ered unlikely or impossible as recently back if all else fails. Indeed, the ECB nent lacks another hallmark of a working Gbelieve it or not, is Portugal, as a few months ago — belongs to has not actually had to buy any bonds; currency union, namely a single system Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain — the Mario Draghi, the ECB president. He its promise was confidence-builder of bank deposit insurance. notoriously indebted “PIIGS” — which announced a plan to backstop govern- enough. But no one should confuse this The euro zone’s main piece of unfin- Those who have received a net $127 billion in new ment debt in September, essentially respite in Europe’s crisis with a solution ished business is a broader economic loans and investments during the by offering to buy unlimited quantities to it. Unemployment in the euro zone — restructuring that will reduce the imbal- been treating Israel last quarter of 2012. Government of distressed countries’ bonds — in the 17-nation group that uses the com- ance between its super-competitive borrowing costs are coming down, return for their commitment to structural mon European currency — averaged members, such as Germany, and the like a spoilt child and some major banks are beginning reforms. Also crucial was the support of 11.7 percent in December, and youth laggards, such as the PIIGS. That’s should expect to repay crisis loans from the German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who unemployment was double that. The going to take not just the admittedly European Central Bank (ECB). quietly acquiesced in Draghi’s proposal International Monetary Fund expects necessary reforms in the debtor coun- anything from Europe is not headed for economic despite its deviation from German eco- the euro-zone economy to contract tries that Germany has demanded in calamity or, worse, a political crack-up, nomic orthodoxy. slightly overall this year, with the PIIGS return for its money but also reform on them, at any time. anytime soon. The credit for this salutary Those investors getting back into the experiencing the worst negative growth. Germany’s side of the equation. Recep Tayyip Erdogan turn of events, which hugely benefits the market are doing so on the assumption Plans for a unified bank supervision and THE WASHINGTON POST Turkish Prime Minister MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Pakistan army battles Taliban with ‘WHAM’ BY MEHREEN ZAHRA-MALIK Government-appointed political N A Pakistan army base high in the mountains on agents rule through the Pashtun the Afghan frontier, a gen- eral explains a strategy for fighting the Taliban he calls tribes and collect and distribute Isimply “WHAM”. The name has a distinctly bel- revenue with little oversight. The licose ring. But the soldiers are learning to fight a new kind of war in a region US President people have limited rights. Barack Obama has called the most dangerous on Earth. The goal won’t be any easier is safe for them to return. “WHAM, winning hearts and in South Waziristan. The area But after having spent close to minds,” explains the straight- forms one-fifth of Pakistan’s three years in camps, only 41,000 talking General Nazir Butt, in Federally Administered Tribal refugees have come back. charge of converting the army’s Areas which are roughly the size “The people can only feel fully gains on the battlefield into dura- of Belgium and governed under secure if there is social and eco- ble security. “The plan is to turn a system inherited from British nomic uplift,” said a brigadier who militant sanctuaries into safe colonialists. commands a cliff-side compound havens for the people.” Government-appointed politi- near Wana, the main town in The term WHAM has been cal agents rule through the South Waziristan. “It took some used before, but the focus this Pashtun tribes and collect and time but we know now that 1,000 time is South Waziristan, an distribute revenue with little bullets can’t do the work of one An army instructor teaches students at a technical class in the Waziristan Institute of Technical Education in enclave on the Afghan border oversight. The people have lim- school.” Spinkai in South Waziristan tribal region, bordering Afghanistan. once the epicentre of a spread- ited rights. Many of the refugees have ing Pakistan Taliban insurgency While the Pakistani army resettled in Chagmalai, a village terrain to build a road, which will graduated from the Rs11m by phone from Tank, a town to that shocked the country with its backed the Taliban in Afghanistan close to Jandola, where the army connect the isolated region with ($110,000) Waziristan Institute of the east of South Waziristan. challenge to the authority of the in the 1990s, and supported mili- is headquartered in a fort built the northwest city of Peshawar, Technical Education in December Only on Saturday, more than 30 nuclear-armed state. tants fighting Indian rule in the by the British in the nineteenth the nearest economic hub. The with diplomas in auto-mechanics, people were killed in an attack on According to the army nar- disputed Kashmir region, in century — a reminder of a centu- US government has contributed carpentry and IT. Nearby, a cadet a military checkpost next to South rative, the campaign includes South Waziristan it found itself ries-old policy of ruling the area $170m for the 287km road. college has been built at a cost of Waziristan which the Taliban said winning over the region’s ethnic under attack. through a mix of intimidation and Agricultural land and poul- Rs500. was revenge for a drone strike Pashtun tribes through dialogue, Decades of resentment felt by armed intervention. try farms line the sides of the In the college computer lab, that killed two commanders in creating commercial opportuni- the population and the US bomb- A small, colourful marketplace highway, which zips through a Shamsullah, 15, learnt word- North Waziristan last month. ties and providing education in ing campaign on the Afghan bor- was inaugurated last year and breathtaking chasm of mountains processing. A poor teenager whose Many of the boys playing new schools and colleges. der following the September 11, the green-and-white Pakistani and cliffs, its dual-lanes in bet- uncle was a militant commander cricket close to the market During a three-day trip with 2001, attacks on the United States flag was painted on the shutters ter shape than many of those in killed in a US drone strike, declined to answer when asked the army, Reuters got a rare spawned a generation of Pakistani of shops given to traders for a Pakistani cities. Shamsullah could have been a about army assurances of a better glimpse not just into the scale of militants who used South nominal fee. In a courtyard next “The road has made it so much ready Taliban recruit. Instead, he life. But referring to militants and the army’s state-building project Waziristan to launch assaults door, army officers and govern- easier to move flocks, feed and just wants to study. “I have noth- the military, one said: “They’re all in South Waziristan, but also the against the Pakistani state and ment officials teach people how to medicines,” said Hamid Jan who ing to do with militancy,” he said. the same.” challenges that lurk in the inhos- US-led forces in Afghanistan. raise poultry and set up bee farms. runs a poultry farm. “I’ve never “Ask me about my books.” Some army officers accept such pitable territory. Unsure how to respond, But despite the development, earned this much money before.” But for all the high hopes, enthu- criticism as valid, admitting to However well-meaning the new Pakistan see-sawed between brief Chagmalai still resembles a ghost The army believes it can cre- siastic students, freshly plastered the state’s decades-old heavy- approach, there are problems military campaigns and appeas- town, a collection of ruined houses ate goodwill by encouraging com- classrooms and tarmac roads, there handedness in the region. that won’t go away — threats of ing the militants with short- and abandoned clinics and schools merce and, more importantly, is little sign of a credible civilian “The budget for my brigade retaliation by the Al Qaeda-linked lived peace deals. Then, in 2009, with falling plaster and bullet- education. Officers say 33 schools administration taking root. alone could take care of the edu- militants, a lack of effective civil- Pakistan’s army chief ordered pocked walls. The army says it have been restored and 4,000 stu- The highest political officer in cation of all of South Waziristan,” ian administration and endemic the biggest offensive yet, pour- wants to turn the secluded land- dents enrolled, 200 of them girls, the area, the political agent, does said General Butt. “We have made corruption. ing 40,000 troops into South scape into a new home for those who but verifying such data is difficult. not even live in South Waziristan many mistakes. And we don’t And the campaign to win Waziristan in a bid to tip the have found the courage to return. The Taliban oppose girls’ edu- out of fear of being killed by the deny it any more.” hearts and minds has an igno- balance. Ashraf Khan is a recently cation and in October shot a Taliban, who have murdered hun- But while Butt insists that the ble track record in other conflict The 2009 offensive displaced widowed farmer who has just 15-year-old Pakistani girl, Malala dreds of leaders in the tribal belt militants are no longer a force zones which serve as a reality almost half a million people as returned from the Jandola fort Yousafzai, for advocating school- in recent years. to be reckoned with in South check for even the most optimis- homes, schools and hospitals were where he asked the commanding ing for girls. Pashtun elders said official Waziristan, many people are less tic Pakistani officials. turned into hideouts by militants officer for a loan. But the army says it will power records showed that school teach- optimistic. “The army has blocked In Iraq and Afghanistan, and meagre civic amenities were “My wife used to gather fire- on. Having previously served ers absent for months were still them for now but the Taliban can Western nations poured in mil- destroyed. wood and collect water,” he said. in the disputed border region drawing salaries while the admin- return,” said a shop-keeper. lions of dollars to rebuild militant Today, a combination of “Now I need to buy a donkey. I’m between Pakistan and India, istration took no action. A tribal elder whose family has strongholds and win affection. the offensive and US drones hoping the soldiers will keep their Colonel Asim Iqbal now shows off But political agent Shahidullah moved away and is too afraid to Results have been limited: many has helped drive the Pakistan promise to help.” a flagship technical institute and Khan said he was doing the best return, asked: “If the Taliban are residents view the armies as Taliban leadership out of South A few kilometres away, con- cadet college built as part of the he could. “There is only so much really gone for good, why doesn’t occupiers and militants remain Waziristan and the army is look- struction workers and army engi- WHAM initiative. I can do when I can’t even travel the army also leave?” a danger. ing for ways to convince people it neers have dug through rugged Seventy-five students outside the army camp,” he said REUTERS

Some in Russia see volunteerism as threat Washington should think

meals for hospitals. Volunteers the Levada Centre in Moscow. evenings, she gets together with The rapid use rubles and hammers to reno- The legislation reflects “an a dozen or so other women and positively about world vate shelters for battered women, absolute lack of understanding of cooks hearty meals for a chil- emergence of teenage orphans and abandoned the whole nature of the social phe- dren’s hospital, which Volunteers BY PETER J MUNSON nobility and dedication of the men pets. nomenon,” said Yevgeny Grekov, on Wheels deliver. and women I had seen and served And here in Itomlya, a decay- who helps run a drivers’ group “We’re people who love cook- WEEK before I deployed with in Afghanistan. volunteer efforts, ing farm village a five-hour drive called Volunteers on Wheels. It’s a ing,” she said. “We want to do this. to Afghanistan in 2010, Over time, as I listened to the west of Moscow, a group of young Facebook community where peo- So we do — together.” A my wife and I volunteered squabbling, I realised that about fuelled in large men led by Dmitry Aleshkovsky, a ple with needs and drivers who There’s a tension, though, that for a few hours at our daughter’s the only thing Americans agree former news photographer, is try- want to help can find each other. won’t go away. “Why should we do elementary school. As we left, her on these days is gratitude border- ing to help save a 15-bed hospital. “They want volunteers to be the state’s job for it?” Prikhodko teacher told the students that I ing on reverence for our military. part by social “If I can help, it will show peo- walking in columns and support asked. “On the other hand, why was an officer in the Marine It troubled me that the sum total ple they can help, too — that it’s the authorities,” Grekov said. “But should our children suffer? It’s a Corps about to leave on deploy- of consensus in our discourse is media, coincides time to stop sitting around and programs such as ours have no constant debate, and we’re always ment. “A nation does not survive,” deference toward the defenders doing nothing,” he said. “I put my lists. If you want to help, well, help.” on the edge.” he said, “without men like that.” of our nation. little brick in the wall.” The drivers help all kinds of Aleshkovsky, the former news It was a heartfelt statement. Eventually, it dawned on me with the eruption The rapid emergence of volun- people. Say a group has gath- photographer, heard about the I thought of it often while in that the focus on defence was the teer efforts, fuelled in large part ered toys and equipment for an hospital in Itomlya from friends of Afghanistan; it felt most poignant root of our problem. of public political by social media, coincides with the orphanage but has no transporta- friends. The Health Ministry plans when my detachment of transport After the September 11, 2001, eruption of public political protest tion. Volunteers deliver the items. to downgrade it to a recovery cen- aircraft flew each one of the 119 attacks, the US sent its military protest. — and that’s not by happenstance. Periodically, someone will drive tre, where no treatment could be bodies out of Helmand province off to war and fretted about post- There is an overlap between the a doctor to Kaluga, three hours offered. The hospital serves a dis- between June and December 2010 traumatic stress disorder — but political opposition and those who south of Moscow, to see a patient trict of 112 villages, or about 3,000 to make their final trip home. paid little attention to the fact BY WILL ENGLUND and have become fed up with a cor- who requires a specialist’s atten- residents. The next-nearest hos- Near the end of our deployment, I that America itself was trauma- KATHY LALLY rupt government that delivers lit- tion. A babushka has to come to pital is 30 miles away, in the city asked my fellow Marines to always tised. Americans became angry tle and who have decided to take Moscow for surgery: They’ll pick of Rzhev. A bus goes there — on remember the fallen. I asked the and withdrawn. We are fearful COUNTRY doctor, a tiny, matters into their own hands. her up at the airport or train sta- Saturdays and Sundays. living to honour the sacrifices of and paranoid because after a dilapidated village hospi- Legislation to regulate vol- tion. Actors need scenery trans- Sergei Vishnyakov, 55, has their dead. Not by mourning for- strike on our nation we chose to Atal, an indifferent health unteers has been introduced in ported for a charity performance. been the sole doctor in Itomlya ever, nor by seeking vengeance, but focus on defence rather than the bureaucracy — and now, coming the State Duma, or lower house “This is our theory of small since 1981, when he was assigned by honouring their comrades’ sac- resilience and vitality that made to the rescue, volunteers from dis- of parliament, by President deeds,” Grekov said. “I’m really there fresh out of medical school. rifices in the choices and actions America great. In our defen- tant Moscow, bringing furniture, Vladimir Putin’s United Russia in love with this project. It’s pure Although the hospital has an of their own lives. I asked them, in sive mindset, we bristle at every equipment, money and, maybe party. Backers say it will ensure human energy.” annual budget of about $25,000, the words of Oliver Stone’s movie change in a world undergoing an most important, good cheer. that volunteer activity conforms A volunteer group called which includes his salary, about another war, to find a mean- epochal transformation. In the background, though, is to the government’s priorities Tugeza, which is an approxima- Vishnyakov has come to love his ing and goodness in this life. We have little reason to be so the parliament — weighing a law and doesn’t conflict with Kremlin tion in Russian of the English work. He knows all the families Since I returned home, a dark- negative. Certainly the rest of the to bring any volunteer activity policy. word “together,” has grown in two in Itomlya and supplements his ness has grown in me as both I and world is gaining on us, but this under the purview of the state, on Officials aren’t the only ones years to include 3,000 members pay with home-grown potatoes, our nation have failed to live up to represents the success of explicit the theory that people who organ- hostile to volunteerism. Russia’s on Facebook. Oksana Prikhodko pickles and about 20 chickens. the sacrifices of these young men US policies. After the Second ise themselves to do good work Soviet past, when the govern- first got involved in volunteer The hospital was set up in Soviet and women. I had no expectation World War, the US sought to cre- are a threat to the state’s power. ment controlled all aspects of work with cystic fibrosis patients, times to serve the huge collective of “victory” in Afghanistan or ate a world of economic interde- The past year or so has seen life, has left it with a population because her daughter has the dis- farm that included Itomlya and Iraq, whatever that would mean. pendence and prosperity, hoping an upwelling of a trend unprec- accustomed to the idea that the ease. She found she liked help- the surrounding district. Workers Nor did I expect some epiphany of to banish the malaise that helped edented in Russia — people get- government should provide for ing people so much that she has grew flax here, but the farm has strategic insight or remorse from precipitate a global conflict. We ting together on their own to help its citizens and suspicious of vol- moved on to other causes. closed, the fields now full of sap- the nation’s brain trust. were confident and focused on others in need. Personal initiative, unteer organisations. A 2012 poll She has worked on a sup- lings. Most of the men who haven’t I just found that I could not the positive tasks of expanding always suspect here, is suddenly found that more than half the port group for a teenage shel- taken up illegal logging have drifted square the negativity, pettiness our economy rather than fearing taking off. Drivers deliver medi- population disapproves of them, ter in Pskov, nearly 500 miles to Moscow in search of work. and paranoia in the discourse change. cine to shut-ins. Women cook said Boris Dubin, a sociologist with from Moscow. And, most Friday WP-BLOOMBERG of our country’s elders with the WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST

Palestinian woes Libyan TV crew Iran open to US beaten up in parliament offer of direct TRIPOLI: Security guards at Libya’s parliament have beaten up a crew of Alassema, an inde- pendent television network, the channel said yesterday. talks on N-plan “A team from (Alassema TV) went to cover a meeting of the national assembly on Friday, Six powers suggest dialogue on Feb 25 entering as they were permit- ted to,” the channel’s press office MUNICH: Iran said yesterday on NBC’s programme “Meet the director Fethi Ben Aissa said. that it was open to a US offer Press,” speaking alongside outgoing “After interviewing an MP, of direct talks on its nuclear defence secretary Leon Panetta. the team was assaulted by plain programme and that six world Panetta said current US intelli- clothes guards of the General powers had suggested a new gence indicated that Iranian lead- National Congress,” he said, add- round of nuclear negotiations ers have not made a decision to ing that “the public prosecutor this month, but without com- proceed with the development of has decided to open an inquiry mitting itself to either proposal. a nuclear weapon. into the incident”. A video posted Diplomatic efforts to resolve a “But every indication is they on the Internet, purportedly of dispute over Iran’s nuclear pro- want to continue to increase their the same incident, showed a cam- gramme, which Tehran says is nuclear capability,” he said. “And eraman being pushed and hit by peaceful but the West suspects is that’s a concern. And that’s what men in civilian clothing, provok- intended to give Iran the capability we’re asking them to stop doing.” ing an online uproar. to build a nuclear bomb, have been The new US Secretary of State, A joint statement by dozens all but deadlocked for years, while John Kerry, has said he will give of journalists said “this act of Iran has continued to announce diplomacy every chance of solving aggression essentially constitutes advances in the programme. the Iran standoff. an attack against freedom of the Iranian Foreign Minister Ali With six-power talks mak- media and is a return to the era Akbar Salehi said a suggestion on ing little progress, some experts of the stifling of the press.” Saturday by US Vice President say talks between Tehran and It called for “the creation of a Joe Biden that Washington was Washington could be the best journalist union ... to ensure the ready for direct talks with Iran if chance, perhaps after Iran has defence of people’s rights to obtain Tehran was serious about negotia- elected a new president in June. correct and timely information tions was a “step forward”. Negotiations between Iran and from different media outlets.” “We take these statements with the six powers — Russia, China, Under the regime of slain dictator positive consideration. I think this the United States, Britain, France Muammar Gaddafi, independent is a step forward but ... each time and Germany — have been dead- A Palestinian farmer inspects the damage to an olive tree grove after Jewish settlers allegedly cut down his trees media outlets and any criticism of we have come and negotiated it locked since a meeting last June. in the village of Burin, near the settlement of Yitzhar, in the West Bank City Of Nablus, yesterday. Reports said government were banned. AFP was the other side unfortunately EU officials have accused Iran farmers lost 62 of their olive trees after they were chopped down by Israelis from the nearby Yitzhar settlement. who did not heed ... its commit- of dragging its feet in weeks of ment,” Salehi said at the Munich haggling over the date and venue Security Conference where Biden for new talks. Salehi said he had made his overture a day earlier. “good news”, having heard that He also complained to Iran’s the six powers would meet in Egypt beating victim accuses police in about-face English-language Press TV of “other Kazakhstan on February 25. contradictory signals”, pointing to A spokesman for EU foreign the rhetoric of “keeping all options policy chief Catherine Ashton, CAIRO: A man whose beating being coerced, when prosecutors young man killed on Friday, and Clashes over the past week on the table” used by US officials who coordinates the efforts of was broadcast on live television, showed him the video footage, they chanted “Leave!” and “The have widened the gap between to indicate they are willing to use the six powers, confirmed that she enraging the Egyptian opposi- the official MENA news agency people want the regime to fall!” the presidency and the opposition. force to keep Iran from obtaining had proposed talks in the week of tion, yesterday blamed police reported. The footage confronted — slogans used two years earlier The Freedom and Justice and a nuclear weapon. “This does not February 25 but noted that Iran for the abuse after initially Islamist President Mohammed during the uprising that over- Party, political arm of the Muslim go along with this gesture (of talks) had not yet accepted. Kazakhstan having claimed they saved him Mursi, whose movement was threw Mubarak. Brotherhood movement from so we will have to wait a little bit said it was ready to host the talks from protesters. banned under ousted leader Hosni The main opposition National which Mursi hails, accused the longer and see if they are really in either Astana or Almaty. The presidency described the Mubarak, with uncomfortable par- Salvation Front (NSF) has called NSF, led by failed presidential faithful this time,” Salehi said. Salehi said Iran had “never footage of police dragging and allels with the old regime. for the resignation of Interior candidates, of trying to take the Iran is under a tightening pulled back” from the stuttering abusing the naked man dur- His office said it deplored the Minister Mohammed Ibrahim presidency by force. “Being a wit- web of sanctions. Israel has also negotiations with the six powers. ing deadly clashes outside the incident but described it as an “iso- over Saber’s beating. The beating ness to violence and the armed mili- hinted it may strike if diplomacy “We still are very hopeful. There presidential palace on Friday as lated act.” It also outraged Mursi’s was “an inhumane spectacle... no tias of the NSF, people now know and international sanctions fail to are two packages, one package “shocking” and prompted the critics who compared the incident less ugly than the killings of mar- the assailants are trying to take over curb Iran’s nuclear drive. from Iran with five steps and the interior ministry to order a rare with police abuses under Mubarak. tyrs, which is considered a con- the presidency by force after being In Washington, Army General other package from the (six pow- investigation. Two people were killed in clashes tinuation of the security force’s defeated in the vote,” wrote a com- Martin Dempsey, the top military ers) with three steps.” But in a series of twists since, on Friday, including a man who programme of excessive force,” mentator in the party’s newspaper. officer, said yesterday that the Iran raised international 50-year-old Hamada Saber first succumbed to gunshot injuries the opposition bloc said. Egypt’s top court the Supreme United States has the capability concern last week by announc- insisted in interviews from his yesterday, a hospital official said. Ibrahim ordered a probe into Constitutional Court yesterday to stop any Iranian effort to build ing plans to install and operate police hospital bed that police had Protesters again clashed spo- the incident and said he would postponed until March 3 a rul- nuclear weapons, but Iranian advanced uranium enrichment saved him from protesters who radically with police outside the resign if “that’s what the people ing on the legality of the Islamist- “intentions have to be influenced machines. The EU said the move beat and stripped him. palace overnight on Saturday, want,” his office said. Prosecutors dominated commission that drafted through other means”. could deepen doubts about the Saber then changed his account, without reports of casualties. had earlier said Saber, a 50-year- a contested new constitution for Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear which was bitterly contested One of the protesters said they old construction painter, was Egypt, state media reported. Chiefs of Staff, made his comments programme. REUTERS by relatives who said he was were there to pay homage to a found carrying petrol bombs. AFP

Yemen says seized ship carried rockets from Iran

SANA’A: A ship loaded with rockets and explo- sives which Yemen said it had intercepted last month came from Iran and the arms were destined for Shia rebels, a security official said yesterday. “The boat was head- ing towards the (Red Sea) port of Al Mukha” and the arms “were destined for the Huthi rebels in Saada,” the northern stronghold of the Shia fighters, the Yemeni security official said. Yemeni coast guard in Iraqi firefighters and security forces inspect the damage after a car bombing followed by an assault by grenade- coordination with the US throwing gunmen on the police headquarters in the northern city of Kirkuk, yesterday. navy last month inter- cepted the ship in the Arabian Sea, authorities Attack on north Iraq police HQ kills 30 have said. The vessel “came from Iran and was carry- KIRKUK: A suicide car bomb attack. The initial suicide car and the police started checking it,” ing arms and explosives followed by an assault by gre- bomb was set off during morn- said Kosrat Hassan Karim, who among them surface-to-air nade-throwing gunmen on the ing rush hour, and was quickly was nearby when the attack took missiles SAM-2 and SAM- police headquarters in a disputed followed by at least three gun- place. “Suddenly, a loud explosion 3,” state news agency Saba ethnically mixed city in north men dressed in police uniforms, happened, it was terrifying. reported yesterday, add- Iraq killed 30 people yesterday. armed with hand grenades and “I saw many people killed inside ing that the crew of eight The vehicle that was deto- suicide vests, bursting through their cars — I have never seen Yemeni nationals were nated in central Kirkuk had the main gate of the Kirkuk police such a big explosion in my life.” being questioned. been painted to make it look like compound in the direction of the In addition to the casualties, the The ship was stopped on a police car, and the militants headquarters building. attack caused massive damage to January 23 in Yemeni terri- who sought to seize the compound They threw multiple grenades nearby buildings and shops. The torial waters and flew several were dressed as policemen, wit- as they sought to reach the build- massive explosion also killed people fake flags, authorities have nesses said. ing, but were killed before they in nearby buildings. Mohammed said. An offshoot of Shia The attack shattered a rela- could get there, witnesses said. Aziz, who works in an office build- Islam, Zaidis are a minor- tive calm in Iraq, which has been Brigadier General Natah ing adjacent to the police head- ity in mainly Sunni Yemen grappling with a political crisis Mohammed Sabr, the head of quarters, said at least two of his but form the majority in the pitting Prime Minister Nouri Al Kirkuk city’s emergency serv- colleagues died in the blast. mountainous north. Maliki against his erstwhile gov- ices, put the toll at 30 dead and 70 Police largely cut off traffic From 2004 the Huthis ernment partners amid weeks of wounded. Among those hurt was in the city centre and evacuated fought six wars with cen- ongoing protests calling for him to Brigadier General Sarhad Qader, offices and businesses in the area. tral government forces resign, all less than three months commander of police forces for They managed to defuse one of the before signing a truce in before key provincial elections. areas surrounding the city. attackers’ suicide vests, but were February 2010. No organisation immediately “I saw a vehicle stop at the still working to disarm two more. AFP claimed responsibility for the checkpoint at the main entrance, AFP MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Ahmadinejad Erdogan flays Israel over Syria raid accuses House Tel Aviv mulls post-Assad security zone Speaker’s kin

ISTANBUL/MUNICH: and an adjacent military complex of corruption Turkish Prime Minister Recep believed to house chemical agents, Tayyip Erdogan accused Israel according to a US official. DUBAI: Iranian President yesterday of waging “state ter- Barak told a security confer- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad yes- rorism” as he condemned the air ence in Munich: “I cannot add terday accused the parliament strike on Syria as an unaccepta- anything to what you have read speaker’s family of corruption, ble violation of international law. in the newspapers about what during an angry debate reflect- “Those who have been treating happened in Syria several days ing a struggle between the Israel like a spoilt child should ago. But I keep telling frankly Iranian leader and rival factions expect anything from them, at that we said, and that is another in his final months in power. any time,” said Erdogan, a harsh proof that when we say something The president used a speech critic of the Jewish state. we mean it. We say that we don’t defending a minister against “As I say time and again, Israel think it should be allowable to impeachment to levy accusations has a mentality of waging state bring advanced weapons systems of corruption against the family of terrorism. Right now, there is into Lebanon.” speaker Ali Larijani, in a session no telling what it might do and Until Barak’s comment, Israel marked by jeering and shouting. where it might do it,” he said. had maintained silence over the The legislature voted 192 to 56 to Erdogan was speaking after attack, as it did in 2007 when remove labour minister Abdolreza Israel’s outgoing Defence Minister it bombed a suspected Syrian Sheikholeslami over what lawmak- Ehud Barak implicitly confirmed nuclear site — an attack that ers said was the illegal appoint- that it had staged Wednesday’s passed without Syrian military ment of Saeed Mortazavi, a former bombing raid which Damascus retaliation. prosecutor accused of links to the said targeted a military complex Syria’s ambassador to Lebanon A man holds gas mask kits at a distribution location in the Pizgat Ze’ev Mall in East Jerusalem, Israel, yesterday. deaths of prisoners. near the capital. warned on Thursday that his Israel is on high alert after its air force reportedly struck a convoy carrying weapons from Syria to Lebanon on Ahmadinejad said he had a tape “We cannot regard a violation county could take “a surprise January 30. of a private conversation between of air space as acceptable. What decision to respond”, but gave Fazel Larijani, the Speaker’s Israel does is completely against no details. Damascus protested confront “current threats ... and On the ground, at least 15 peo- too close to its territory when the brother, and Mortazavi, that international law... it is beyond to the United Nations, saying it aggression” against it. ple, including five children and a embattled Damascus regime top- proved the family had used the offi- condemnation,” Erdogan said. considered the raid a violation Assad made the remarks in a woman, were killed in a missile ples, security sources said. “There’s cial prominence of the five Larijani “I am worried that in a situ- of a 1974 military disengagement meeting with Saeed Jalili, Iran’s attack by the army on a rebel- a plan in the military’s north- brothers for economic gain. ation like this, any scenario can agreement which followed the last National Security Council secre- held area of the northern city of ern command for the ‘day after’ The president played a portion play out in the future.” major Israeli-Syrian war. tary, who pledged Tehran’s “full Aleppo, according to the Syrian according to which, when Bashar of the tape but it could not be He said Israel was using claims In his first reported response support for the Syrian people ... Observatory for Human Rights. Assad is no longer president of heard clearly in the chamber, so he about weapons being moved into to the attack, President Bashar facing the Zionist aggression, and In a related development, Israel Syria, there’s a fear that terror read what he said was a summary Lebanon to justify its action as “an Al Assad accused Israel yester- its continued coordination to con- intends to declare a buffer zone elements will try to approach the of the conversations. He claimed excuse.” Wednesday’s air strike day of seeking to destabilise Syria front the conspiracies and foreign inside the Syrian border to pre- fence,” the sources said. Fazel Larijani had implied in a targeted surface-to-air missiles and said Damascus was able to projects”. vent radical groups from getting AFP/REUTERS meeting with Mortazavi that he could use his brothers’ influence to remove obstacles for private firms, in return for involvement in their projects. 11 held for US woman’s murder in Turkey Ali Larijani fired back at Netanyahu urges unity government Ahmadinejad, saying the presi- ISTANBUL: Turkish police have arrested 11 people over the mur- dent’s accusations had noth- JERUSALEM: Israel’s main facing key diplomatic and for- The incoming government der of an American woman who disappeared while visiting Istanbul ing to do with Sheikholeslami’s political parties began intensive eign policy issues. Netanyahu will also have to deal renewed last month, police said yesterday. impeachment, and denying the coalition talks yesterday, a day called on the parties to join him diplomatic pressure over the The body of 33-year-old Sarai Sierra, a mother of two, was found on charge of corruption. “Our prob- after Prime Minister Benjamin in forming the “broadest possi- frozen peace process with the Saturday near Istanbul’s ancient city walls with fatal head wounds, the lem is that our president does Netanyahu was formally tasked ble national unity government” Palestinians. Radikal daily reported. “We have confirmed that she was murdered by not observe the basics of proper with forming a new government to lead the country through “a And it will also face pressing way of impacts on her head,” Istanbul police chief Huseyin Capkin said. behaviour,” Larijani said. “Why following last month’s election. decisive period” of its history. domestic challenges, with a larger The Milliyet newspaper said she was also stabbed several times in her did you discuss this issue here?” Netanyahu, whose rightwing “The most important mission than forecast deficit paving the abdomen, but there was no sign of rape or theft and she was still wear- Larijani continued: “Actually it’s a Likud-Beitenu list won a narrow facing a national unity govern- way for an austerity budget likely ing jewellery when police found her. Turkish police had been searching good thing ... that you played this victory with 31 of the Knesset’s ment is stopping the nuclear arm- to ignite simmering public anger for Sierra after her family reported that they had lost touch with her on tape today, so that the people bet- 120 seats, now has 28 days to ing of Iran,” he told ministers in over the rising cost of living. January 21. The Hurriyet newspaper reported that Istanbul police have ter understand your character.” piece together a government his outgoing cabinet. AFP arrested 11 suspects but gave no further details. AFP REUTERS MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Famed ‘American sniper’ killed at Texas shooting range WASHINGTON: The man a raging debate in the United A suspect has been arrested, The foundation he led, which hailed as the deadliest military States over gun violence, espe- and was identified as 25-year-old said Kyle was survived by a wife sniper in US history has been cially perpetrated by those suf- Eddie Routh. WFAA-TV quoted and two young children, vowed to shot to death at a Texas firing fering from mental or emotional investigators as saying Routh is a would continue his work to help range, allegedly by a former sol- illness, after a series of high pro- former Marine who is believed to soldiers left emotionally and psy- dier with post-traumatic stress file shootings. suffer from PTSD. chologically scarred by combat. disorder (PTSD). The effort to ban assault The Dallas Morning News wrote “The Fitco Cares Foundation The death of former Navy SEAL rifles and high capacity maga- that Kyle was awarded two Silver will always carry the torch to help Chris Kyle, 38, was confirmed yes- zines has become a centrepiece Stars and five Bronze Stars with our brave men and women who terday by Fitco Cares, a foundation of President Barack Obamas’s Valor for his military service. The have survived combat but are still he helped start that worked with second term agenda after a dis- marksman wrote in American fighting to survive post traumatic returning soldiers to help them turbed young man gunned down Sniper that his accurarcy as a stress disorder,” it said. cope with PTSD — the same ail- 20 children and six adults on sniper was so deadly that Iraqi But it said the group first ment that the alleged shooter is December 14 in the once quiet insurgents put a price on his head. would have to grieve the loss of said to have suffered from. town of Newtown, Connecticut, Kyle said in an interview with its founder. “My heart is break- Kyle was also the author of in one of the most notorious of the daily that he was born for the ing,” said Travis Cox, Director at a best-selling book released the recent shootings. work of a military marksman. Fitco Cares. last year, American Sniper: The Kyle was a former US Navy “When I grew up, I only had two “Our foundation, Fitco Cares, Autobiography of the Most Lethal SEAL sniper credited with kill- dreams,” he told the Dallas Morning this country and most impor- Sniper in US Military History. ing more than 150 insurgents in News about a year ago. “One was to tantly, his wife Taya and their “Chris Kyle helped establish Iraq, during four tours of duty, be a cowboy and another was to be children, lost a dedicated father this foundation and we are com- from 1999 to 2009. He died on in the military. I grew up extremely and husband, a lifelong patriot mitted to make sure his memory Saturday at a firing range in Glen patriotic,” he said. and an American hero.” he said. lives on forever,” Fitco said in a Rose, Texas, while helping a sol- “By the time I was 24, I decided “Chris died doing what he filled eulogy to Kyle posted on its web- dier recovering from the condi- it was time to go into the military his heart with passion — serving site. “Please pray for all those who tion, an ABC affiliate in Dallas, and try it out. It wasn’t exactly soldiers struggling with the fight loved Chris. He will be forever WFAA-TV, reported. A neighbour the SEALs I was looking for at to overcome PTSD. His service, missed.” of Kyle reportedly was also was the time. I just wanted to go into life and premature death will The shooting comes amid killed. the military and be the best.” never be in vain.” AFP

Plane blown off course in Rome UK now home Former Italian to 2.6 million Muslims PM promises LONDON: The UK Office for National Statistics has revealed that the number of neighbour- hoods which have a majority of Muslim residents has nearly to cut taxes doubled over the past decade. There are now 38 wards in England and Wales where Muslim Political funding to go: Berlusconi residents make up more than 50 percent – up from 20 wards on ROME: Italy’s former prime myself,” said Berlusconi, 76, one 2001. In the past seven years the minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy’s richest men. “I want to number of Muslims in the UK has announced his “last great elec- fight one last great electoral and risen by 37 percent to 2.6million. toral and political battle” yes- political battle.” He took simulta- And there are five wards where terday with a sweeping promise neous swipes at both Monti’s cen- more than 75 percent of residents to cut taxes and the cost of trist coalition and the centre-left, are Muslim, three of them in the government if his centre-right saying: “I want to help Italy get North West. wins elections this month. out of this dark atmosphere that The ward with the highest pro- In a passionate and much the technical tax men have put it, portion is Bastwell in Blackburn, anticipated speech to support- and in which the tax men of the Lancs, at 85 percent, the Daily Star ers in Milan, the city where he left will leave it mired.” said. Seventeen of the 38 wards built his fortune, he said only his Italy is mired in recession. Last where more than 50 percent of centre-right could lift Italy out month the central bank forecast the residents are Muslim are in of the dark fog of recession and that GDP will fall by 1.0 per- the North West. The ethnic mix re-establish trust between gov- cent this year rather than the of some areas has changed too. ernment and citizens. previously forecast 0.2 percent. A total of 34 wards in England His political opponents were Unemployment is seen climbing and Wales have more than 50 quick to deride him. Caretaker from 8.4 percent in 2011 to 12 per- percent Indian or Pakistani resi- Prime Minister Mario Monti said cent by 2014. A two-way composite picture shows the ATR-72 turboprop plane of Romania’s Carpatair airline (operating for dents, up from 19 wards in 2001. Berlusconi “has never kept any of One candidate running for Alitalia), after it was blown off course while landing late on Saturday (top) and yesterday without the Alitalia logo Meanwhile, the ward with the his promises” and one centre-left Monti’s centrist group called the (below) at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci airport, Italy. Flights operated by Carpatair on domestic Italian routes were highest proportion of Indian and parliamentarian called the speech speech tantamount to “vote buy- suspended after one of its planes was blown off course while landing at Rome’s main airport. At least 16 people Pakistani people is Latimer in “a laundry list of stupidities”. ing”, and Rosy Bindi, president of were injured and two were in serious condition, after the turbo-propelled Pisa-Rome flight got into trouble. Leicester at 81 percent. The centrepiece of Berlusconi’s the centre-left Democratic Party, Ten of the 34 wards where fiery speech was the unveiling of slammed it as “dangerous elec- more than 50 percent of the res- what he had billed beforehand as toral propaganda”. idents are Indian and Pakistani a “shock proposal” — a promise Berlusconi said revenue to are in the North West, seven are to reimburse Italian families for a cover the elimination of the real in Yorkshire and Humberside and much-hated tax on their primary estate tax on primary residences Oppn tells Spanish PM to resign another seven in London. residences. would come in part from strik- There are four wards where That tax, known as IMU, was ing a deal with Switzerland to MADRID: Spain’s opposition yet another problem,” Socialist The United Left Party, on 15.3 more than 75 percent of residents imposed last year by Monti’s tax financial activities there by Socialist Party called for the leader Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, percent in the poll, double its level are Indian or Pakistani. There technocrat government to help Italian citizens. He also prom- resignation of Prime Minister who served as deputy PM under of support at the last election in are more than 8,000 wards in with Italy’s financial crisis, after ised a number of measures to cut Mariano Rajoy over a corrup- the Socialist government which late 2011, has also urged Rajoy to England and Wales so the propor- it had been abolished in 2008 by the cost of government, to halve tion scandal yesterday as a lost a landslide election in 2011, resign. But the PP’s parliamen- tion of wards where over 50 per- Berlusconi. The master commu- the number of parliamentarians, poll showed the lowest support told a news conference. tary majority so far rules out any cent of the population is Muslim nicator peppered his speech with to cut government waste, and on record for his centre-right An opinion poll published in the chance of a vote of no confidence. or Indian/Pakistani is small. repetitions of the words “tax” to eliminate public financing of People’s Party (PP). country’s biggest-selling newspaper The survey showed 77 percent QNA “taxpayer” and “tax man” along political parties. Media reports over the past El Pais yesterday showed neither disapproved of Rajoy as head of with references to “the anxiety Most opinion polls indicate that two weeks alleged at least a dozen of the two big parties could win a government, and 85 percent had French warplanes of families”. the centre-left coalition, headed senior PP officials, including clear majority in an election. little or no faith in him. Eighty He said he would scrap the tax by Democratic Party secretary Rajoy, received payments from a The Metroscopia poll showed percent said PP leaders named by bomb Islamist at the first cabinet meeting and Pier Luigi Bersani, will win the slush fund operated by its former 23.9 percent support for the PP the media as alleged recipients of refund payments already made. February 24-25 election. But the treasurer. — the lowest on record and down kickbacks should resign. targets in Mali He also promised that a centre- gap between the centre-left and the Rajoy denies wrongdoing, but from 29.8 percent in the same Almost all respondents — right government would eliminate centre-right has been narrowing the scandal has provoked fury survey last month. The PSOE 96 percent — said corruption TIMBUKTU: France said it a regional tax on businesses over steadily since Berlusconi returned among Spaniards already disen- was little changed at 23.5 percent. was widespread and not ade- carried out major air strikes the course of five years, would to active politics. Yesterday even chanted by deep recession and Spain has suffered five years of quately punished, according to yesterday near Kidal, the last not increase VAT and would not La Repubblica, a left-leaning high unemployment, as support recession or economic stagnation the survey which was carried bastion of armed extremists impose a so-called “wealth tax” paper, ran an editorial called “If for the two biggest parties slumps. and unemployment — already the out between January 30 and chased from Mali’s desert north on higher earners. Berlusconi’s horse win the race”. “Rather than the solution for highest in the European Union at February 1 and interviewed 1,000 in a lightning French-led offen- “I have nothing to ask for REUTERS this country, Rajoy has become 26 percent — continues to grow. people across Spain. AFP sive, after a whirlwind visit by President Francois Hollande. An army spokesman said 30 warplanes had bombed train- ing and logistics centres run by Islamist extremists overnight in US faces construction quandary at ageing Gitmo camp the Tessalit area north of Kidal, where French troops took the airport on Wednesday and have GUANTANAMO BAY: The US fail- after the September 11, 2001, attacks and temporary thing?” said Nettleton, a Navy operation shut down within a year. Many been working to secure the ure to shut down the detention camp at costs $114 million a year to operate. It is pilot who has been the base commander Americans balked because of security town itself. Guantanamo has Captain John Nettleton run by a military joint task force that is since June 2012. He would like to build per- concerns and Congress passed laws mak- Residents said French and in a predicament. considered a tenant on the Navy base, manent barracks for the guards, who are ing it harder to transfer prisoners out, Chadian soldiers had patrolled the As commander of the Guantanamo Bay which the United States opened in 1903 strewn in housing all over the base, many even though about half of them have been northeastern town for the first Naval Base in eastern Cuba, he is in charge as a coaling station. in beige metal trailers that look from the cleared for release. time on Saturday as the rest of the of making sure the prisoners and the troops Many of the buildings that house and outside like self-storage lockers. Obama signed a defence budget bill country feted Hollande on his tour, and contractors who work at the camp have feed the 1,800-member task force are “There’s a lot of projects we’d like to extending those restrictions last month, a victory lap that came three weeks proper facilities. The problem is that he has structures built to last five years and show do that involve making life better for the despite insisting Congress had no author- into a campaign, so far successful, no idea how long they will be staying. signs of wear after standing for a decade in soldiers and sailors that are over there,” ity to exert “unwarranted interference” to oust the Islamists who occupied “I haven’t gotten any guidance on it the salt air and broiling tropical sun. Nettleton said. But without knowing when in decisions traditionally made by mili- northern Mali for 10 months. whatsoever, so everything I’m doing right Nettleton wants to replace the Seaside the mission will end, “it doesn’t make a lot tary commanders and national security The French-led forces have now is kind of just speculating on what’s Galley, a Quonset-hut-like structure that of sense to ask for permanent buildings if professionals. met little resistance, with officials going on,” Nettleton said. “From a resourc- serves as a cafeteria for the guards, inter- they’re going to be gone.” “When does it Obama said he remained committed to saying many Islamists have likely ing standpoint, it’s kind of frustrating to preters, and other government employees quit being a temporary place?” he asked. shutting down the detention camp that fled to the mountainous terrain not know if they’re going to be permanent and contractors working at the camp. “That’s the million-dollar question.” “weakens our national security by wasting around Kidal. The area targeted residents or not.” “We have to build a new galley but are The message from Washington has been resources, damaging our relationships with in yesterday’s air strikes is near The prison camp holds 166 men cap- we going to build it as a permanent galley mixed. On taking office in 2009, President key allies and strengthening our enemies.” the border with Algeria. tured in counterterrorism operations or are we going to replace it with another Barack Obama ordered the detention REUTERS AFP MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Colombo slams Sayyaf militants foreign lawyers over impeachment free two Filipino investigation COLOMBO: Sri Lanka yes- terday accused a London-based group of lawyers of undermin- ing Colombo’s sovereignty and television crew said a four-member team prob- ing judicial independence was barred from entering the island. The external affairs ministry No word on fate of Jordanian scribe said it revoked visas issued to members of the International Bar MANILA: Abu Sayyaf mili- we would make it out alive,” Association (IBA) because they tants have freed two Filipino Gabor quoted the two as saying “misrepresented” the objective of television crew members seized as they were fed bread and water. their visit to Sri Lanka. along with a Jordanian journal- He described the pair as very The ministry in a statement ist nearly eight months ago in emotional, and said they emerged said the four-member mission the southern Philippines, police from the jungle looking thin and was going to undertake “activ- said yesterday. with unkempt hair and beards. ity surreptitiously which is of an Looking frail and gaunt, audio “They were a bit confused. intrusive nature to the sover- technician Roland “Buboy” They said they were just told to eignty of Sri Lanka”. Letriro and cameraman Ramil leave the hostage lair,” Gabor said. The IBA on Saturday expressed Vela walked free on Saturday on He said the two related that “serious concern” over the with- Jolo island where they had been they were separated from Atyani drawal of visas for lawyers from held since June last year, regional on the fifth day of their captivity, its Human Rights Institute who police chief Noel delos Reyes said. and that they had not seen him were due to visit Colombo for 10 Delos Reyes said there was “no since. days starting Friday. word” on the fate or exact where- The gunmen gave them a horse The panel was going to study abouts of the Jordanian journalist, because Vela could not walk due Freed Philippine hostages, cameraman Ramil Vela (in bed) and his colleague, audio technician Roland “Buboy” Sri Lanka’s sacking of chief jus- Bakr Atyani, of the Dubai-based to a swollen leg, and both left the Letriro (left), are treated at the provincial hospital in Jolo, Sulu province, Mindanao, yesterday. tice Shirani Bandaranayake, the Al Arabiya network. jungle hideout unescorted until first woman to hold the nation’s “Shortly after they were freed they reached a highway. They went missing a day after US special forces have Bob Carr last month welcomed highest judicial office. they called their families from a They then rode a tricycle to they arrived, and police subse- been rotating in the southern news that Warren Rodwell, 54, The government dismissed hotel room in Jolo,” delos Reyes Jolo’s main port where went to quently said the trio were held Philippine for over a decade to was alive after being held hostage Bandaranayake despite two Sri said. “They were then taken by a hotel and sought help, Gabor captive by the Abu Sayyaf — a train local troops in crushing Abu for more than a year, but said his Lankan court rulings that the authorities to the provincial hos- said, adding that they would soon group of self-styled militants Sayyaf which is on Washington’s prolonged captivity was a “major impeachment was illegal and pital to be checked up.” fly back to Manila to be reunited blamed for the country’s worst list of wanted foreign terrorist concern”. unconstitutional. Sri Lanka insists As they lay on their hospital with their families. terrorist attacks as well as other organisations. European birdwatchers, it followed proper legal procedures beds, the two tearfully recounted Delos Reyes denied a ransom kidnappings. At least four other foreign hos- Dutchman Ewold Horn, 52, in firing Bandaranayake, 54, on their ordeal in the hands of the was paid for their release. The group was founded with tages are believed still held in the and Swiss national Lorenzo charges of professional and per- militants in Jolo’s harsh jungle The two travelled with Atyani seed money from Osama bin south by Abu Sayyaf and other Vinciguerra, 47, were kidnapped sonal misconduct. terrain, according to Jolo deputy to Jolo island in June of last year Laden’s Al Qaeda network to fight militant outfits — a Dutchman, a in February last year. The Bandaranayake was dismissed provincial police chief Roy Gabor. after they were locally hired in for an independent Islamic state, Swiss national, an Australian and Japanese man, Toshio Ito, was by President Mahinda Rajapakse “We went through so much dif- Manila by the Jordanian to film though it later degenerated into a Japanese man. seized in July 2010. on January 13, two days after ficulty. We didn’t know whether the militants. a criminal gang. Australian Foreign Minister AFP parliament voted to impeach her, despite a chorus of international criticism. The US has led international calls objecting to the impeach- ment as an assault on judicial Sri Lanka rescues 138 stranded on sinking boat independence and rule of law in the island. Bandaranayake has been replaced by former attorney COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s Police said 14 were Myanmar supervision. In the meantime, the for a place on trawlers run by described by the UN as one of the general Mohan Peiris who had navy yesterday rescued 138 nationals while the others were authorities at Oluvil fishing har- people-smugglers. world’s most persecuted groups — been serving as the government’s Bangladeshis and Myanmar Bangladeshis. bour were giving them shelter. Warnakulasuriya said the pas- who had fled Myanmar. chief legal adviser. nationals from a sinking fishing Fifteen of the survivors, includ- “We are certain that they were sengers rescued on Sunday iden- An explosion of tensions The impeachment process was vessel off the island’s east coast, ing two women and two children, not trying to enter Sri Lanka, but tified themselves as Bangladeshi between Buddhist and Muslim launched in November after court officials said. were hospitalised with acute their boat developed trouble in and Myanmar nationals but it communities in Myanmar’s west- decisions went against the regime One passenger was found dead dehydration, police said in a mid-sea and they drifted close to was not yet known where they ern state of Rakhine since June of Rajapakse, who has tightened while many of the 138 plucked statement. our shores,” Jayakody said. came from or were headed. 2012 has triggered an seaborne his hold on power since crushing from the boat were dehydrated, “We have difficulty in com- The early-morning rescue Reports from local fishermen exodus of Rohingya. Tamil Tiger rebels in May 2009 said navy spokesman Kosala municating with the survivors so came amid stepped up naval alerted fishing authorities who Thailand’s navy blocked more to end a decades-long ethnic war. Warnakulasuriya, adding that the we have asked the two embassies patrols to deter Sri Lankan fish- in turn asked for help from the than 200 Rohingya boat peo- Lawmakers found Bandaranayake vessel had been adrift for 10 days to send us translators,” police ing boats from taking would-be navy which mounted a 20-hour ple from entering the kingdom guilty of tampering with a case before it sank yesterday. spokesman Prishantha Jayakody illegal immigrants to Australia. search and rescue operation, offi- late last month as part of a new involving a firm from which her sis- “We sent three ships for the said. Authorities arrested more cials said. policy, under which they will be ter bought an apartment, of failing rescue at a location 80km off the He said statements of survi- than 1,200 people trying to leave They said it was unclear if those given food and water but barred to declare dormant bank accounts eastern coast of Akkaraipattu,” vors would be recorded and they the island illegally last year. identified as Myanmar nation- from landing if their boat is and of staying in office while her Warnakulasuriya said. “Some have would be moved to a temporary Many of those who make the als were Rohingya — members seaworthy. husband faced a bribery charge. been admitted to a local hospital.” shelter in Colombo under judicial perilous journey pay up to $3,000 of a stateless Muslim minority AFP AFP Another donor quits Bangladesh bridge project

DHAKA: A Japanese aid agency has Development Bank told Dhaka on Friday it The World Bank cancelled its loan in June withdrawn its offer to lend Bangladesh would not be able to lend the $615m it com- but Bangladesh had asked it to reconsider. $430m to help build the country’s biggest mitted for the project. Late on Saturday the However, on January 23 Hasina said her bridge after the project was dogged by Japan International Cooperation Agency, an government would construct the Padma allegations of corruption. independent government aid organisation, bridge with funds from alternative sources The move came as Bangladesh withdrew became the latest lender to pull out. unless the bank made a decision on financ- its request for $1.2bn in World Bank financ- “As a co-financier, we are unable to con- ing by the end of that month. ing for the Padma Bridge, months after the tinue our commitment under the current Construction of the bridge in the south- lender cancelled the loan due to claims of framework,” it said in a statement. west of the country was supposed to begin graft involving senior public officials. “Our policy is to require the highest in the second half of 2010. Traffic currently Bangladesh had hoped to retain commit- standard of ethics,” it said, adding that it crosses the Padma river — the local name ments by other lenders in its efforts to build hoped Bangladesh’s anti-graft body would for the Ganges — by slow ferries. the 6.2km bridge at a cost of $3bn, a major “continue a full and fair investigation into A World Bank study said the bridge could election pledge of Prime Minister Sheikh the alleged corruption”. have a long-lasting impact on the impov- Hasina. After the pullouts the Saudi Arabia-based erished southwest by improving transport But in a further embarrassment to her Islamic Development Bank is the only for- links to the capital Dhaka. government, key co-financier the Asian eign donor to the project. AFP

Myanmar to hold fresh talks with Japan releases Chinese fishermen Kachin rebels BEIJING: Japan yesterday released the cap- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe toured the tain and crew of a Chinese boat who had been southern region of Okinawa near the disputed YANGON: Myanmar will hold detained on suspicion of illegal fishing, Chinese islands in the East China Sea, where he vowed another round of talks with state media reported amid a festering territo- to defend Japan against “provocations”. Kachin rebels today in a bid rial row between the neighbours. Abe’s comments came in the same week that to end a conflict raging in the The 100-tonne coral fishing boat with a crew of his government approved a rise in defence spend- country’s far north, a federation 13 was stopped on Saturday by a Japanese coast- ing for the first time in over a decade, explicitly of ethnic minority groups said. guard patrol in waters some 45km northeast of aimed at beefing up defence of the contested The two sides will attend an Miyako island in the southern Okinawan chain. island chain. “emergency meeting” in the The skipper and all his crew were released Chinese government ships have routinely cir- Chinese border town of Ruili to after the Chinese consulate general in Fukuoka cled the islands since September, when Tokyo seek a breakthrough in the bloody submitted a bail guarantee, Xinhua news agency nationalised some of them. conflict, Khun Okker, a spokes- said, quoting the consulate general. Chinese planes have also sporadically breached man for the United Nationalities The fishing boat and all its crew departed the airspace over them, stoking the long-running Federal Council, said yesterday. Miyako for China late yesterday, it said. sovereignty row. “China arranged it,” he said. The Japanese coastguard said on Saturday that It was the first time that the captain of a “They (China) might want to the captain had been arrested on suspicion of Chinese fishing boat was detained in waters in give their views to both the KIA fishing in the exclusive maritime zone without the Okinawa region since September 2010 when (Kachin Independence Army) and permission from Japan. Japan arrested a Chinese trawler captain after he the Myanmar government.” The incident occurred amid a simmering rammed his vessel against two coastguard patrol But he said the rebels “have not dispute over the Tokyo-administered Senkaku boats in waters around the disputed islands, had much time to prepare” and islands, which China also claims and calls the Kyodo news agency said. the problem was unlikely to be Diaoyus. The arrest sparked off a fierce diplomatic pro- resolved without political dialogue Miyako is about 210km off the biggest Senkaku test from Beijing and Tokyo released the captain at meetings in the future. isle. weeks later without prosecuting him. AFP The arrest was made on the same day that AFP MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Afghan commander warns Thunderstorms likely against troops withdrawal UK premier holds talks with Karzai and Zardari today

LONDON/KABUL: have the quantity, but we need Withdrawing British troops Bombs kill Afghan the quality. We need more pro- from Afghanistan will spark a fessional and better trained “global jihad” and allow Al Qaeda family, policemen commanders.” and the Taliban to seize power, a KANDAHAR: Taliban “Do the British want top Afghan army commander roadside bombs killed five Afghanistan to return to being a has said. British Prime Minister civilians, including a family Taliban state? That is the pros- David Cameron is hosting a sum- of four, and two police offic- pect,” he said. Jan blamed the mit to discuss plans to combat ers in the country’s troubled situation on Pakistan. terrorist threats after American south at the weekend, offi- “Pakistan is at the root of the and British troops pull out in cials said yesterday. problem. I know what is hap- 2014, the Daily Mail reported. The family — mother, father pening there because I live on Col Amin Jan of the Afghan and two daughters aged eight the border of Afghanistan and National Army said that Afghan and nine — died along with Pakistan,” he told the daily. troops are “not good enough” to their driver in Helmand prov- “Pakistan is training the Taliban defeat the militants. ince’s Khanishin district when over the border and giving homes An umbrella-toting pedestrian helps push a stalled car with others during a downpour in Islamabad, yesterday. Jan is the deputy commander their vehicle hit an improvised to their commanders. The inter- Pakistan’s Meteorological Department has forecast thunderstorms and rain with snowfall in most parts of the of a brigade of 4,500 soldiers in bomb late Saturday. national community needs to put country for the next three to four days. Helmand province. He accused Two police officers were more pressure on Pakistan to stop politicians of making misleading killed on the same day in a sim- this before it is too late. We know assessments of Afghan troops’ ilar bomb attack in Musa Qala that Iran is involved as well.” capabilities to justify their deci- district, another restive part Cameron initiated the meet- Gas project deal to be signed today sion to accelerate the pull-out of Helmand where insurgents ings with Karzai and Zardari last of international forces. Cameron have an active presence, the year, aiming to boost cooperation will meet Pakistani President Asif local district governor Nemat between the countries and pro- ISLAMABAD: After the meeting, Okayed a waiver of the pipeline,” a senior government Zardari and Afghan President Khan said. The officers were mote regional stability. cabinet’s go-ahead for the con- Public Procurement Regulatory official said. Hamid Karzai today. Asked if 2014 on a routine patrol when their The talks are expected to struction of the Iran-Pakistan Authority rules in order to award Pakistani public sector firm was the right time for a handover, pick-up truck was blown up. focus on preventing a Taliban (IP) gas pipeline project, set- the contract directly to the Interstate Gas Systems and pri- Jan said: “No, I would say that it AFP resurgence in Afghanistan when ting aside pressure from the Iranian firm. The agreement will vate Iranian firm Tadbir Energy is too early, because the situation British and other Nato troops US, Pakistan and Iran look set be signed in Islamabad today. will sign the contract. Iran has will not have ended.” withdraw from the country next to finally ink an agreement for “After Russia and China designated a clean private com- “If the British leave, the jihad- Taliban without international year. Downing Street says the the award of contract to a pri- backed out of the project due pany to sign a direct contract ists will see it as a good sign. A help, he said: “Our leaders might trilateral meeting will include vate Iranian firm which will to US pressure, Pakistan has under the Iran-Pakistan gas sup- worldwide jihad will take place. say we are able to do the task, but Afghan and Pakistani army and lay Pakistan’s portion of the decided to avail Iran’s offer ply project, for which Tehran is That is my view.” Asked if the it will be difficult.” intelligence chiefs for the first pipeline. for financing and construct- also extending a $500m loan. Afghan army could defeat the “We have enough soldiers, we time. AGENCIES The cabinet, in a recent ing Pakistan’s portion of the INTERNEWS

600 official files go Pakistani Taliban condemn ‘ideological war’ in Mali missing in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Around 600 PESHAWAR: The Pakistani now wage a guerrilla campaign Muslims to come together. “If strongholds. In December TTP agreements, even agreements we documents related to state and Taliban urged the Muslim from the sparsely populated America is supporting France on leader Hakimullah Mehsud, who made with politicians,” Ehsan said public property have been lost world to unite in a video mes- north. In a video message handed an ideological basis then in same has a $5m US government bounty in the seven-and-a-half minute by the Pakistani capital’s civic sage released yesterday as they out to journalists in northwest way all Muslims should unite and on his head, said the group was video, in which he appeared authority in the last four years, condemned the French military Pakistan, Tehreek-e-Taliban support one another.” open to peace talks but poured flanked by armed masked men. a media report said. intervention in Mali as an “ide- Pakistan (TTP) spokesman The TTP has waged a bloody scorn on the idea of his men giv- “We need solid guarantors who The files of the Capital ological war”. Ehsanullah Ehsan condemned the campaign against the Pakistani ing up their weapons. can assure us about the army, Development Authority (CDA) French President Francois French intervention, which has state in recent years and the last Ehsan repeated the condi- because the army is the real were from different departments Hollande visited Mali on Saturday had logistical support from other two months have seen a notable tional offer of negotiations with power in Pakistan.” like planning, administration, and vowed his troops would stay Western countries. increase in attacks on military Islamabad. He said the TTP needed assur- engineering and the estate office, as long as necessary to continue “The French government has posts and personnel. But he said they could only ances from Nawaz and the leaders Dawn News reported. the fight against Islamist rebels attacked mujahedeen in Mali The group claimed respon- go ahead if certain politicians, of the two largest religious par- Some missing files were related who had taken control of the and America has also agreed to sibility for a suicide attack on including Nawaz Sharif, who ties — Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl, to new plans and approval for country’s north for 10 months. support France. I ask the whole Saturday that killed at least 24 leads leader of the main opposi- led by Pro-Taliban cleric Maulana projects, an official said. An offensive led by French Muslim world to unite because it people at a military checkpost tion party, the PML-N, acted as Fazlur Rehman and Jamaat- The CDA management is now troops has driven rebels from all is an ideological war,” Ehsan said. near Pakistan’s semi-autono- guarantors. e-Islami, headed by Munawar in a fix and unable to decide but one of Mali’s major towns, but He said the forces of “non- mous northwestern tribal belt “We do not trust the Pakistan Hassan. whom to approach for recovery there are fears the Islamists will believers” were united and urged where militants have carved out army, it has always broken past REUTERS of the records, he said. The report said some files carried “disagreement notes” of senior officials relating to com- mercial buildings. Malala undergoes successful Fire at military barracks in Karachi skull surgery in UK hospital ISLAMABAD: A fire broke out yesterday in a vacant mili- LONDON: A Pakistani skull with a titanium plate, and “She is awake and talking to tary barracks in Pakistan’s schoolgirl shot in the head a cochlear implant designed staff and members of her fam- port city Karachi but was soon by the Taliban for advocating to restore hearing on her left ily,” it added. The attack on brought under control, a media girls’ education has under- side, which was damaged in the Yousufzai, who was shot in the report said. gone successful surgery at attack. head at point blank range as The incident took place in a British hospital to recon- “Both operations were a she left school in the Swat val- Shahrae Faisal area, Dawn News struct her skull and help success and Malala is now ley, drew widespread interna- reported. restore lost hearing. recovering in hospital,” said a tional condemnation. The barracks was unoccupied A team of doctors carried statement yesterday from the She has become an interna- when it caught fire and no inju- out a five-hour operation on Queen Elizabeth Hospital in tional symbol of resistance to ries were reported, the Pakistani Saturday on 15-year-old Malala Birmingham, central England, the Taliban’s efforts to deny military’s media wing said. Yousufzai, who was shot in where she is being treated. women education and other The fire appeared to have been October and brought to Britain The girl’s condition was rights, and more than 250,000 caused by an electrical short for treatment. described as stable and the people have signed online peti- circuit. The procedures carried out statement said her medical tions calling for her to be nomi- Fire-fighting teams and emer- were cranial reconstruction, team were very pleased with nated for a Nobel Peace Prize. gency teams of the Pakistan Navy aimed at mending parts of her the progress she has made. REUTERS reached the spot and brought the fire under control in three hours. Kashmir solidarity Proposed province may have two high courts ISLAMABAD: The people living in areas proposed to be the part of Bahawalpur South Punjab (BSP), the proposed new province in Pakistan, will have a unique opportunity to approach two separate high courts to resolve their legal disputes if the report of the controversial parliamentary commission is adopted by par- liament as it is. The draft of the constitutional amendment bill attached to the report of the commission laid before the National Assembly on Friday shows a lacuna-the omis- sion of an important article about functioning of provincial high courts which requires an amend- Supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami take part in a rally to mark Kashmir Solidarity Day, near the Line of Control ment to give effect to the proposal in Chakothi, about 58km south of Muzffarabad, capital of Pakistan-administrated Kashmir, yesterday. of creating a new province. AGENCIES MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 Mass marriage President’s nod to sex crime ordinance Women plan protest over ‘big joke’

NEW DELHI: President Pranab the ordinance”. Mukherjee yesterday gave his “An ordinance is issued in a state approval to an ordinance that of emergency. Where was the emer- awards stricter punishment for gency? They basically wanted to sexual crimes against women, sideline the recommendations of including death sentence in rare the Justice Verma panel,” Krishnan instances. Women’s groups are, told IANS. however, planning a protest against “Every single recommendation has the ordinance, which they term been rejected,” she added. as a “big joke”. According to provisions of the The Criminal Law (Amendment) ordinance, it has kept the perpetra- Ordinance, 2013, was passed by the tor of rape as gender neutral, which cabinet on Friday. It is based largely is not what the women’s groups on former Supreme Court Chief and the panel had recommended, Justice J S Verma’s 631-page report. said Krishnan. Women’s rights activists have The ordinance has also crimi- slammed the ordinance as a mock- nalised consensual sexual rela- ery of the Verma Committee rec- tions of those between 16-18 years, ommendations and lashed out at unless they are married. “This gives the government for quietly passing legal backing to moral policing... it the ordinance without a debate or is appalling and will interfere in discussion. relations between a boy and girl in On Saturday, they urged the presi- inter-caste and inter-religious cases,” dent not to sign the ordinance, saying she added. it lacks teeth to fight sexual crimes The ordinance also exempts mari- against women. tal rape. “The woman loses the right With the presidential assent, the to say yes or no,” said Krishnan. A couple sits beside gifts during a mass marriage ceremony in Haripal, some 70km from Kolkata, yesterday. Some 108 couples from Hindu, ordinance comes into effect immedi- “It also leaves out automatic Muslim and tribal communities got married at the event organised by a charitable trust. ately. It has to be passed by parlia- prosecution of judges, magistrates ment within six months. and army officers in cases of sexual The government on Saturday crimes. said the ordinance would be open “There will be no automatic pros- to review when it is brought before ecution — one will have to seek parliament. sanction for it. It is not just about Man killed, girlfriend shot at in Delhi Women’s groups said they would the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special stage a protest here today against the Powers Act), the judge, magistrate NEW DELHI: A 20-year- Tomar’s family has accused saw his daughter lying injured However, he told police he ordinance. and army officer retain impunity old man was shot dead while the girl’s kin of murdering on the stairs inside their house did not know Tomar. The Verma panel was set up by under the ordinance,” she said. his teenage girlfriend is bat- their son. around 4.45am. He claimed she “It is too early to say any- the government last month to review Krishnan termed the Verma panel tling for life after being “We found a country made told him someone had shot her. thing about the case. All the laws to provide speedier justice and recommendations as “path-breaking”. shot here yesterday in what pistol lying near Tomar’s body,” “We rushed her to the hospi- suspects are being interrogated enhanced punishment in cases of She was also critical of the provi- police suspect to be a case of said a police officer. tal,” Yadav told police. and the probe is on,” added the aggravated sexual assault. sion for death penalty in rarest of honour killing. The man’s uncle, Sanjeev “Someone might have officer. This followed the countrywide out- rare cases, saying “with the clause Jitendra Tomar was found Tomar, told police that Jitendra climbed into the house and Investigators are trying to rage over the brutal gang-rape of a why will the perpetrator leave the dead around 7am with a bul- got a call on his mobile early shot at her and then fled from ascertain the circumstances 23-year-old woman on December 16. victim alive to testify against him?” let in his chest in north Delhi’s yesterday morning and he left the spot,” Virendra told police. under which the two were shot. The victim died in a Singapore hos- Lawyer Rebecca John termed the Chauhanpur area, while his the house. In the rear of the house, Besides the angle of honour pital 13 days later. ordinance a “bit of a joke”. friend, Jugnu Singh Yadav, 16, “He told me that there was police found a rope hanging killing, police are also probing The panel submitted its volu- “I don’t understand why the gov- was found shot in her chest nothing to worry and he would from the roof of the house. whether the youth shot the girl minous report to the government ernment was in a tearing hurry to inside her home in east Delhi’s return in half an hour,” said Jugnu has been admitted to before killing himself. “It is a last week. bring this ordinance. Karawal Nagar area around Sanjeev. Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital matter of investigation whether Activist Kavita Krishnan, secre- “These are historic moments and 4.45am, police said. The uncle alleged that where she is battling for life. the youth first shot at the girl tary of All India Progressive Women’s opinions of people have to be consid- The two lived in adjacent the girl’s family killed his Police informed Yadav about at her house and then killed Association said the president “could ered. Moreover, they (government) colonies and were reported nephew. Tomar’s death and that his himself or some others plotted have listened to the pleas of women’s have instituted the Verma committee to be in a relationship, said a However, Jugnu’s father body was found a few metres to eliminate both of them,” said groups” and not signed the ordinance. and should have deliberated upon its police official. Virendra Singh Yadav said he away from their house. the officer. IANS She wondered why the govern- recommendations,” John said. ment was “in such a hurry to issue IANS

Show of strength Restaurants in Fashion show Kerala to stop stopped after serving chicken protests from Thursday HYDERABAD: Following protests by KOCHI: Restaurateurs in women’s and some right- Kerala yesterday announced wing groups, police in they would not sell food items Visakhapatnam yes- made from chicken as it was not terday stopped the profitable, a claim rejected by Kingfisher Fashion Week. the suppliers who described the While women and stu- move as a ploy to raise prices. dents demanded a halt to From Thursday, restaurants the event to stop indecent in the state would not be sell- portrayal of women, some ing chicken-based food items right-wing groups pro- due to high-cost of raw chicken, tested the display of Hindu Jose Mohan, general secretary gods on the clothes of a few of Kerala Hotel and Restaurant models. Association, told reporters here. The three-day event was “Four months back the price stopped by police on the of chicken was Rs40 a kg and second day when Vishwa today it stands at Rs130 a kg and Hindu Parishad (VHP) we have no other option than to lodged a complaint that boycott chicken,” Mohan claimed. the dress of a model hurt Kerala as a consumer state gets the religious sentiments of a lion’s share of chickens from Hindus. Tamil Nadu through agents and A police officer said they middlemen. had booked a case against Rejecting their claim, V T A man lifts a plough with his mouth on the last day of the Kila Raipur the organisers and stopped Babu, office bearer of the Poultry Games, also known as the Rural Olympics, some 20km from Ludhiana the show. IANS Growers Association in the state, in Punjab, yesterday. said this is nothing but a “ploy on the part of the hoteliers to increase the price of their prod- ucts by blaming us”. “Today the cost for us for a Suryanelli scandal occupies small screen kilogramme of chicken is Rs85 KOCHI: With six full- 35 accused. The pitch of the near the residence of the victim and we take a margin of just Rs10 fledged 24X7 news and four discussions reached a crescendo near Kottayam. The victim and per kg of chicken...The wholesale other channels that beam when the name of Rajya Sabha her parents frequently feature price of chicken which we sup- news for long spells every Deputy Chairman P J Kurien in TV debates. ply is around Rs92 to Rs95. They day, the most sought-after surfaced in reports after the “Yes, yes, Kurien exploited are taking the people for a ride,” topic these days on TV in victim and her parents alleged me. Despite the fact that I said Babu. Kerala is the Suryanelli that he was let off because he brought the matter to the Most of the Kerala poultry sex case. was a powerful Congressman, notice of the police probe team, farms get their supply of chicks TV discussions have been and a minister of state in the Kurien was not included in the from Tamil Nadu at around Rs36 heated since the apex court central government at the list of accused. I don’t want to per bird and they sell these after ordered a re-trial of the case time when the high court pro- see him again. I wish to see him around 40 days, a poultry farm on January 31, setting aside the nounced its judgment. in court,” the victim stated on owner said. acquittal in 2005 by the Kerala News channels have teams TV, her face masked. IANS High Court of all but one of the of staff now constantly present IANS MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Supreme Court Giant art lashes out at delayed justice Arise, awake, court tells judiciary

NEW DELHI: Frowning upon for the restoration of the dis- routine adjournments, the missed appeal. This was allowed Supreme Court has said that on January 9, 2006. speedy disposal of cases was the “As the order sheet would “primary morality of justice and reflect, this time it got comatosed ethical fulcrum of the judiciary”. for more than six years and even- “The foundation of justice, tually ministerial order of resto- apart from other things, rests on ration was recorded on 11.5.2010,” the speedy delineation of the list the apex court noted. (of cases) pending in courts,” said The apex court said: “The pro- the apex court bench of judges ceedings in the second appeal K S Radhakrishnan and Dipak before the high court, if we allow Misra, in a recent verdict. ourselves to say so, epitomises “It would not be an exaggera- the corrosive effect that adjourn- tion to state that (speedy justice) ments can have on a litigation and is the primary morality of justice how a list can get entangled in the and ethical fulcrum of the judici- tentacles of an octopus. ary,” the two judges said. “It is also astonishing that the “Its profundity lies in not lawyers sought adjournments in allowing anything to cripple the a routine manner and the court same or to do any act which would acceded to such prayers...” freeze it or make it suffer from The judges observed that impotency,” Justice Misra said, “unfortunate characteristics of An artist touches up an image of Shiva at the Maha Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, yesterday. speaking for the bench. endemic delays have to be avoided Holding that the “virtues of at any cost. adjudication cannot be allowed “One has to bear in mind that to be paralysed by adjournments this is the day, this is the hour and non-demonstration of due and this is the moment when all Three N-E diligence to deal with the matter”, soldiers of law fight from the path. Wrong to stop Rushdie: Amartya he said: “One cannot be oblivi- One has to remind oneself of the ous to the feeling necessities of great saying, “Awake, Arise, ‘O’ state borders KOLKATA: Noted economist said at the Kolkata Literary Meet. they face,” Sen said, replying to the time. Partha”.” Amartya Sen yesterday criti- “Here, I’m not only speaking a query on the Rushdie episode. “It is devastating to expect infi- Referring to its earlier judg- cised Muslim groups for the about the Scheduled Castes and Rushdie, who has been at the nite patience. Change of attitude ments, Justice Misra said: “This to be sealed hue and cry over writer Salman Scheduled Tribes but add to the centre of storm for decades over is the warrant and command of (apex) court, in different con- Rushdie’s plan to visit the city, fact that even in West Bengal, The Satanic Verses, a novel per- the day.” texts, had dealt with the malady for elections saying it amounted to distract- if you look at Muslim groups in ceived as anti-Islamic, cancelled The court said this while tak- of adjournment and expressed ing attention from the com- terms of the even-handedness of his visit to Kolkata at the last ing note of 10 years taken by the its agony and anguish. Whatever AGARTALA: The interna- munity’s real issues and was progress, they have not been as moment. Rajasthan High Court in deciding may be the nature of litigation, tional and national borders of against Indian tradition of con- privileged,” he said. He alleged he was forced to call whether an appeal in a civil mat- speedy and appropriate deline- three northeastern states which structive argument. “To subvert that issue into a off his trip to Kolkata because ter pertaining to a piece of land ation is fundamental to judicial will see elections will be sealed “Lot of people, who are enor- completely different kind of issue West Bengal Chief Minister involved a substantial question duty.” to check the smuggling of arms, mously disadvantaged, have enor- and getting offended about some- Mamata Banerjee had ordered of law. Noting that in a democratic officials said yesterday. mous reasons to complain about thing else is distracting attention the police to block his arrival. The case was instituted in 1990. set up, “intrinsic and embedded The Election Commission has other things,” the Nobel laureate from the real disadvantage that IANS On September 12, 1997, the civil faith in the adjudicatory system told the authorities to beef up bor- judge (junior division) of Nohar is of seminal and pivotal concern”, der checks in Tripura, Meghalaya in Hanumangarh dismissed the the judges said: “Delay gradually and Nagaland. suit and decreed in favour of Noor declines the citizenry faith in the “The Commission has directed Mohammad. system.” all concerned to take all possible The additional district judge of Holding that the access to steps to seal the international Nohar on July 10, 2001 dismissed speedy justice was a human borders besides deploying addi- an appeal against the lower court right, the court said: “It is faith tional BSF and Assam Rifles order by appellant Jethanand. and faith alone that keeps the troopers,” a poll panel official told This was challenged in the high system alive. It provides oxy- IANS. court on July 27, 2001. The appeal gen. Fragmentation of faith has Four northeastern states — was dismissed as no one appeared the effect of bringing in a state Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram on behalf of Jethanand. of cataclysm where justice may and Assam — share a 1,880- The apex court noted that in become a casualty.” km border with Bangladesh. 2004 an application was moved IANS Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh share a 1,640- km border with Myanmar. Most of the international bor- Canine skill der is unfenced and runs through dense forests and mountainous, making it porous, vulnerable and advantageous for terrorists and others. Tripura will elect a new assem- bly on February 14. Meghalaya and Nagaland will see elections on February 23. Tripura (856km) and Meghalaya (443km) border Bangladesh. Nagaland has a 215- km border with Myanmar. The EC official said: “The bor- ders of Tripura, Meghalaya and Nagaland with other northeast- ern states would also be sealed to prevent interstate movement of criminals, militants and other armed goons. The poll panel has also formed flying squads to check illegal arms and distribution of A dog performs at a dog show organised by the People for Animals money to woo voters. IANS in Siliguri, yesterday. ‘Sonia at the door, a dream’

NEW DELHI: “I thought I was about 5.15pm... Some 45 minutes brutally gang-raped in a moving seeing a dream!” This was how later, there was a knock at the bus on December 16. The incident the Delhi gang-rape victim’s door. When we opened it, we saw triggered unprecedented street father felt when he s aw Con g r e s s Soniaji, Rahulji and Renukaji protests here and across India. chief Sonia Gandhi and her son (Renuka Chowdhury).” The young trainee physiother- Rahul at his doorstep. “I thought I was seeing a apist finally passed away in a The 53-year-old recalled yes- dream,” the man said, adding Singapore hospital after 13 ago- terday that Congress MP Mahabal he could not believe that the nising days. All six accused are Mishra repeatedly telephoned Congress president had actu- under arrest, with five of them him on Saturday evening to say ally come to meet the devastated possibly set to face death sen- “a very big leader” was planning family. tence. The sixth is a minor. to visit his house. Eventually, the Gandhis ended Congress spokeswoman Renuka When the first of the telephone up spending more than an hour Chowdhury on Saturday gave a calls came, the father, a porter in the crammed two-room detailed account of the Gandhis’ at the domestic terminal of the house, located in an area with visit. Yesterday, members of the Indira Gandhi International narrow streets that can’t take family told IANS that Sonia Airport, had gone to a hospital large vehicles. Gandhi promised to do her best to because he had fever. The mother-son duo spoke get them an MIG (Middle Income But he got no clue as to who the at length, and sympathetically, Group) flat in Dwarka area, not “very big leader” could be. with the still grieving parents of far from their present house. “I returned to my house at the 23-year-old woman who was IANS

MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME News in Numbers QATAR CENTRAL BANK Monthly Monetary Bulletin

Fajr (Dawn) 4:57 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:16 Main Indicators of the Banking Sector Zuhr (Noon) 11:48 FIRST TIME Asr (Afternoon) 2:57 IN QATAR Maghrib (Sunset) 5:21 Isha (Night) 6:51 READ MOBILE WEATHER EDITION Today Tuesday Wednesday Weather Conditions: Clear Clear Clear  Moderate QRm temperature by High: 24° High: 21° High: 21° the day with slight Low: 16° Low: 14° Low: 14° dust and some clouds, cold by night.

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SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:16 | 17:21 09:30 17:00 20-30 KT

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MUSCAT 22/15 Mostly sunny 23/15 Clear MAKKAH 32/23 Clear 31/23 Clear KUWAIT 19/11 Clear 20/13 Clear www.penmob.com BAHRAIN 19/15 Clear 20/15 Clear SANAA 20/06 Chance of rain 22/05 Mostly sunny Log on to www.penmob.com RIYADH 18/05 Clear 19/07 Clear to read The Peninsula DUBAI 27/15 Clear 24/15 Clear newspaper through BAGHDAD 17/07 Clear 18/11 Mostly sunny your mobile Commercial Banks THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW Total Deposits 341,807.5 407,569.2 65,761.7 19.2 BlackBerry users can HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER download The peninsula icon Private Sector Deposits 224,209.6 240,927.2 16,717.6 7.5 Private Deposits in ATHENS 17/19 Chance of rain 15/08 Mostly sunny Foreign Currencies 31,474.2 38,548.7 7,074.5 22.5 WASHINGTON 03/-1 Chance of snow 06/-2 Chance of snow  Send your BlackBerry Total Domestic Credit 361,120.9 452,692.5 91,571.6 25.4 SYDNEY 23/17 Chance of rain 27/16 Mostly sunny pincode to 21A8A4A8 LONDON 10/04 Mostly sunny 07/04 Mostly sunny to get the latest news Private Sector Credit 220,866.6 251,259.6 30,393.0 13.8 PARIS 11/07 Chance of rain 08/05 Chance of rain on your BlackBerry mobile ISTANBUL 13/08 Chance of rain 13/07 Partly sunny Foreign Assets ( Net ) -36,049.5 -63,028.6 -26,979.1 74.8 MANILA 28/16 Clear 29/16 Clear Own Resources 103,665.5 110,064.4 6,398.9 6.2 DHAKA 28/16 Mostly sunny 29/16 Mostly sunny DELHI 21/14 Chance of rain 20/13 Chance of rain Ownership Rights 88,028.7 102,250.9 14,222.2 16.2 ISLAMABAD 14/09 Chance of rain 16/07 Chance of rain Source : http://www.qcb.gov.qa/ Monday 4 February 2013 23 Rabial I 1434 Volume 17 Number 5600 Price: QR2

Non-oil sector to perform better: D&B

Business | 22

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 No takers for up to Dubai hopes sukuk standards QR800m dividends will make it a global player DUBAI: Dubai aims to become March and then issue the final Those standards focus largely a top global centre for Islamic version of the standards later on classifying various types of Listed companies fail to trace claimants bonds by introducing more that month. sukuk, rather than clarifying detailed standards that ensure That schedule is lightning-fast whether they conform to reli- DOHA: Listed companies the money is pledged to charity. amounts for the years 2002 and issuance and trading obey not compared with the slow pace of gious principles, he said. have an estimated between But such system does not exist 2003 for those shareholders who only the letter but also the discussions on reform in most of For example, sukuk based on QR600m ($164.3m) and QR800m with the companies listed on the local had been eventually contacted. spirit of Islamic rules, a securi- the Islamic finance industry — a tawarruq would be automati- ($219.17m) in unclaimed divi- equity market, Qatar Exchange (QE), One way for the listed com- ties market official said. sign that Dubai sees a business cally excluded from Dubai’s new dends that have accrued over the as a result of which they must retain panies and banks is to publicly The emirate hopes the new opportunity in the strong growth standard, he said. Tawarruq, in years as their owners could not these funds until a law is enforced announce the names of the standards will reduce disputes of the global sukuk market. which one party buys an asset be traced. guiding them how to deal with it. untraceable shareholders and between scholars, issuers and New issues of sukuk, which from a vendor with payment The sums are lying with the The bourse introduced a sys- depositors so either they or their investors over what types of under religious principles are deferred and sells it to a third companies frozen and unused. tem recently whereby shareholder legal heirs could collect the sums. debt structures are permissible structured to avoid the pay- party for cash, has been criti- Companies attribute their failure dividends are credited directly But the firms and banks are and attract more business to its ment of interest, jumped to cised by some Islamic scholars to pay the dividends due to their into their bank accounts. reluctant to resort to such a market. about $121bn worldwide in 2012, because of its weak link to real legitimate owners to a mix of fac- However, it is understood that measure because people usually do Mabid Ali Al Jarhi, a member according to Thomson Reuters economic activity. tors that include deaths of some, many shareholders might not have not prefer that details about their of the board overseeing Islamic data, from around $85bn in 2011. Since Islam prohibits interest change of address and phone num- provided their bank details due to investments are made public. business at Dubai Financial Kuala Lumpur and London are payments, sukuk investors earn bers of many, while the others hav- various reasons, including death There are many stock inves- Market (DFM), said the rules major trading centres. their returns from real assets. ing left the country for good. and absence from the country or tors and bank depositors who do would provide assurances for Early last month, Dubai’s ruler Jarhi said Dubai’s standards But this is not the only money might have simply ignored a com- not even inform their close family sukuk holders and traders. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid would insist that there was a that is piling up due to the failure pany’s instructions to the effect members of their investments, and “In this manner, Dubai and Al Maktoum said he was launch- “true sale” of these assets - a real to trace their owners. Banks also due to their small shareholding, that is why their money remains DFM will set the tone for finan- ing a drive to develop the emir- transfer of title to them. This face this problem as they have so their dividends remain unpaid. unclaimed if they die or leave the cial instruments’ standards all ate’s Islamic business sector. would prohibit practices such as unclaimed deposits running into An official from a listed firm country for good or choose to ignore. over the world,” Jarhi said in an Jarhi said other sukuk securitising assets which could millions of riyals and whose own- told the daily the company has Listed companies say a new interview via email late last week. standards, such as those of not be sold. ers cannot be found. launched a website exclusively commercial companies’ law whose Last month DFM, which the Bahrain-based Accounting In these areas, Dubai is offer- A banking industry insider told dedicated to contacting untraced draft has recently been made public runs Dubai’s securities markets, and Auditing Organisation for ing a solution to some of the local Arabic daily Al Raya that shareholders so they could be con- for a review should take into con- published a draft of its propos- Islamic Financial Institutions thorny doctrinal disputes that banks do have a system to dis- tacted and paid dividends. sideration the issue of unclaimed als and gave the industry until (AAOIFI), were issued when the have plagued the industry for pose of such funds, as, if a deposit The company said they had suc- dividends and should guide them February 28 to comment. DFM global market had not built up the past few years. remains unclaimed by its owner or ceeded to some extent and were on how to deal with such money. plans to hold a hearing in early much experience. REUTERS his legal heirs for 10 years in a row issuing cheques for the dividend THE PENINSULA MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

QFIB acquires Non-hydrocarbon sector to perform better majority stake Transport, communication, hospitality and manufacturing sectors to beat oil: D&B survey in Al Wasita

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB sector have remained almost the Emirates same (as the previous quarter). DOHA: The non-hydrocarbon The composite score for the DOHA: Qatar First Investment sector that holds the key to hydrocarbon sector for Q1 2013 Bank (QFIB) announced the Qatar’s economic diversifica- stands at 15 versus 17 in Q4 acquisition of a majority stake tion effort has been forecast to 2012. The BOI for the net profits in Al Wasita Emirates for perform better than the energy parameter has declined to 20 in Services & Catering (WES), the sector in the current quarter Q1 2013 from 48 in the previous UAE-based total support serv- (Q1 of 2013). quarter while that for the level of ices management firm. A prominent Dubai-based mar- selling prices has gained 22 points The acquisition, in the form ket research body, in its quarterly to 12 in Q1 2013. of a management buyout, marks business optimism index survey The BOI for the number of QFIB’s third deal in the indus- on Qatar, says transport and employees parameter stands at trial sector and reaffirms the communications on one hand, 15 from 40 in Q4 2012. While the bank’s investment strategy which and trade hospitality and man- index for the non-hydrocarbon focuses on sectorial and geo- ufacturing sectors on the other sector stands at 45, which is seven graphic diversification. might take the cake this quarter points higher compared with the The acquisition makes WES in performance. value in Q4 2012. the first Shariah compliant serv- Dun & Bradstreet South Asia The BOI index survey find- ice management company in the Middle East Ltd (D&B), in asso- ings for Q1 2013 were released UAE. ciation with the Qatar Financial in a press conference hosted Abdulla bin Fahad bin Ghorab Centre Authority (QFCA) yes- in partnership with the Qatari Al Marri, QFIB Chairman, said: terday released the Business Businessmen’s Association “This is our fourth venture in the Optimism Index (BOI) Survey (QBA). The survey results indi- UAE market. We are pleased to on Qatar for Q1 of 2013. cate that the Qatari business add Al Wasita Emirates to our “As observed in the past two community remains cautiously portfolio of companies. As the quarters, we continue to see high optimistic despite global economic Mena region continues its rapid optimism (particularly) among uncertainties. development, without any doubt businesses in transport and com- “The hydrocarbon sector opti- there will be a huge demand for munications,” Prashant Kumar, mism index stands at 15 compared the type of services Al Wasita Associate Director D&B, told to 17 in Q4 2012. On the other Emirates offers”. reporters. hand, non-hydrocarbon sector FROM LEFT: Sheikh Mohamed bin Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Yousuf Al Jaida and Prashant Kumar at a press Emad Mansour, CEO of QFIB Releasing the findings of the optimism has improved in Q1 2013 conference at the Qatar Businessmen’s Association office yesterday. (ABDUL BASIT) said, “Al Wasita Emirates has a survey, he added: “It also reflects from the previous quarter. As unique business model with posi- rising optimism levels in trade observed in the last two quarters, Strategic Development at QFCA Sheikh Mohmad bin Faisal the stable measures and steps tive growth prospects. Over the and hospitality as well as the we continue to see high optimism said: “Despite the challenging glo- bin Qassim Al Thani, mem- that Qatar is directed towards, years it has managed to signifi- manufacturing sectors.” among businesses in transport bal economic environment, Qatari ber of Qatari Businessmen’s aiming at diversifying the income cantly grow its share in the UAE Kumar pointed out that busi- and communications. The survey businesses sentiment is generally Association, said: “Qatar’s busi- resources and realising the vision market by offering a suite of sup- ness sentiments in the non- also reflects rising optimism levels optimistic for the first quarter ness community is delighted of the Emir, H H Sheikh Hamad port services targeting a range hydrocarbons sector units had in Trade and Hospitality as well of 2013. The Business Optimism to see continuous optimism in bin Khalifa Al Thani, and main- of sectors. Our aim is to drive improved in Q1 of this year over as the Manufacturing sectors,” Index captures four points growth Qatar’s growth. This growth spe- taining a sustainable growth in the growth of the company and the previous quarter while sen- added Kumar. in optimism in the financial serv- cifically in the private sector and the long run.” increase its geographical reach timents for the hydrocarbons Yousuf Al Jaida, Director, ices sector.” non-hydrocarbon sectors reflect THE PENINSULA by leveraging on our network of contacts in the Mena region and Turkey.” Raed Yaghanm, CEO of Al Wasita Emirates, said:“We are pleased to welcome QFIB as an Qatar ranks second in 2012 M&A deals: Ernst & Young equity partner and are proud of the fact that we are now the first Shari’ah compliant service man- DOHA: Qatar saw the second other hand fell by four percent, In the domestic space, Egypt volumes in Q4 2012 declined by lower. Additionally, many busi- agement company in the UAE and largest number of announced from 416 in 2011 to 398 in 2012. and the UAE saw the highest 17 percent to 107 deals from 129 nesses who restructured their probably in the region. Our part- acquisitions in the Mena region “From an acquirer’s perspec- activity in terms of target coun- deals in Q4 2011. capital back in 2011 left them- nership with QFIB has come at in 2012 with 48 deals. The total tive, countries that ranked high- try focus of announced domestic In comparison to the previous selves well placed to finance an opportune time as the MENA deals ware valued $11.2bn. est in terms of announced deal deals, with 36 and 33 deals respec- quarter, total announced deal val- and close deals in 2012. As 2013 region enters into a new phase of Of the top 10 announced deals value were UAE at $13.5bn, fol- tively in 2012. The countries with ues rose from $9.9bn in Q3 2012 unfolds there is an anticipa- development. by value in Mena in 2012, four lowed by Qatar at $11.2bn and the highest deal values for tar- to $13.3bn in Q4 2012, a jump of tion that the improvement in “With more projects emerging of the deals were acquired by Kuwait with $3.9bn. Of the top get country focus of announced 35 percent. deal activity in 2012 will fur- in neighboring countries there is Qatar and three were acquired 10 announced deals by value in domestic deals in Mena were Phil Gandier, Mena head of ther improve as we start to see a definite need for qualified and by the UAE, according to Ernst Mena in 2012, four of the deals Kuwait at $4.9bn and Egypt at Transaction Advisory Services, market conditions continually experienced total support provid- & Young’s 2012 year-end Mena were acquired by Qatar and three $3.4bn. Ernst & Young, said: “The 42 improving despite the unpredict- ers. We are confident that with merger & acquisitions (M&A) of the deals were acquired by the The fourth quarter saw sig- percent increase in announced able macroeconomic landscape.” the guidance of our chairman and update. UAE,” the report said. nificantly higher deal values yet deal values in 2012 suggest that Oil & Gas, Professional Firms & QFIB’s support we will be able The Ernst & Young noted the The countries that saw the lower deal activity in 2012 com- there may be an improvement in Services and Consumer Products to expand WES’s footprint in announced deal values in the largest number of announced pared to the same period in 2011. the valuation gap amongst buyer sectors were the most active in the region and contribute to the region rose from $31.6bn in 2011 acquisitions in 2012 were the UAE Announced deal values increased and sellers in the market in com- terms of the number of announced further success of the Al Wasita to $44.8bn in 2012, an increase of (77 deals), Qatar (48 deals), and by 84 percent from $7.2bn in Q4 parison to last year where total inbound deals. Brand.” 42 percent. Deal volume on the Saudi Arabia (33 deals). 2011 to $13.3bn in Q4 2012. Deal deal values were considerably THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA S&P sees pickup GCC completed construction in acquisitions projects worth $68.7bn in ’12

by Gulf banks DOHA: Building projects worth over market share of 38 percent. DOHA: Banks in the the Gulf Cooperation $68.7bn were completed in the GCC Commercial projects will remain the Council (GCC) countries are becoming active in 2012 according to an in-depth sec- second largest real estate sector with buyers again of stakes in banks in the Middle tor report. The report, commissioned 17 percent but educational is set to East and North Africa (Mena) and even far- by dmg: events, the organising team overtake the hospitality construction ther afield, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) said behind INDEX, and conducted by segment and claim third place with an yesterday. Ventures ME, forecasts a 19 percent 11 percent of the market share against As acquirers in Mena, Gulf banks are taking sector growth this year, with com- hospitality’s market share of nine the place of European banks that are shoring pleted construction projects set to percent. up their balance sheets in the aftermath of the reach $81.6bn. Frederique Maurell, Event Director for financial and sovereign crises. The value of new construction projects the INDEX and Office Exhibitions, who “Banks in the Gulf have capital to spare, and in the GCC is also expected to rise in supervised the compilation of the report, are literally capitalising on their traditional 2013, with projects valued at $64.5bn set said: “A number of construction projects strengths such as strong capital positions, to be awarded to contractors over the that had been on hold resumed in 2012, as healthy liquidity, and supportive shareholders to coming 12 months. This figure shows a the region’s oversupply concerns were dis- pursue acquisitions in Mena emerging-market sharp increase, up by a third (33 percent) pelled by a rise in demand due to growth countries, where opportunities for long-term on the value of projects awarded in 2012 of the population and disposable incomes. growth exist,” said S&’s Credit Analyst Timucin ($48.4bn). Governments have initiated construc- Engin. In 2012, residential, commercial and tion across key sectors to cater to this The S&P Ratings Services has noted a sharp hospitality sectors led the GCC projects demand.” rebound in acquisitions by Gulf banks in 2012, market; with $29.4bn, $12.2bn and $5.5bn Despite being lower than previously especially in Turkey and Egypt, in a report pub- worth of projects completed respectively. forecast, the value of the GCC interior lished yesterday, “Exit European Banks, Enter Education, medical and retail sectors were contracting and fit-out market in 2012 Gulf Banks as Major Acquirers in the Region’s other significant contributors, with com- was $7.86bn – an increase of 56 per Emerging Markets”. pleted projects worth $5.2bn, $3.3bn and cent against the 2011 figure of $5.04bn “Looking at the prices of the announced and $2.4bn respectively. and is expected to rise by 17 percent realised deals, we observe that the price of a In 2013, a two-paced growth is likely in 2013. controlling stake in a financial institution is with residential, retail and commercial In 2012, the UAE was once again the significantly lower than before the crisis, cre- sector construction projects growing at largest interiors and fit-out market in the ating affordable access for long-term business slower rates of 4.4 percent, four percent GCC and, at $2.83bn. It was followed by operators. and 13 percent to $30.7bn, $2.5bn and Saudi Arabia and Qatar which were valued “We look at the potential impact on the rat- $13.8bn respectively. at $2.6bn and $1.49bn respectively. Kuwait ings of issuers on a case by case basis. Potential However, hospitality, educational and interiors and fit-out market was valued at rating movements depend on a conflux of fac- medical projects will grow at faster $472m, Oman’s at $314m and Bahrain’s tors, such as how well capitalised the acquir- rates of 27 percent, 69 percent and 79 at $157m. ers will be post-acquisition, how well they will percent respectively to $27bn, $8.8bn The residential sector continues to com- manage the credit exposures arising from these and $5.9bn. mand the largest market share of the GCC expansions, and whether they will be able to The hospitality and educational sectors interior contracting and fit-out market reap potential benefits of diversification,” said of the GCC building construction industry with a 41 percent share of the overall mar- Engin. will see their market share by value of ket value in 2012 ($3.24bn). Growth into higher economic risk coun- projects completed in 2013 grow tremen- While the residential sector is expected tries could boost a bank’s risk-adjusted capital dously by 137 percent (from 3.8 percent to remain the largest sector of the interior requirements, lowering our assessment of its to nine percent) and 134 percent (4.7 per contracting and fit-out market in 2013 and capital adequacy. However, Gulf banks gener- cent to 11 percent) respectively. increase in value by five percent, it will see ally have supportive shareholders and strong Residential building projects will its market share reduce slightly to 37 per internal capital generation which might serve remain the largest segment of the real cent ($3.4bn) as other sectors grow at a as a cushion. estate market in terms of projects faster rate. THE PENINSULA expected to complete in 2013 with a THE PENINSULA MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Egypt central bank Foreign buyers to announce forex auctions today snap up most of CAIRO: Egypt’s central bank cancelled an auction of for- eign currency yesterday and said it would announce details of upcoming auctions today, Asiacell shares signalling a possible change to a system of currency sales brought in to stem a decline in Qtel main acquirer, says broker foreign reserves. In a brief statement, the cen- BAGHDAD: Foreign investors of Asiacell before the sale, was tral bank did not say why it had bought more than two-thirds of expected to increase its hold- cancelled yesterday’s auction — Iraqi mobile operator Asiacell’s ing, Layth Sulaiman, head of the one of three it had been holding $1.35bn share sale, with parent exchange’s board of governors, each week for the last few weeks. Qatar Telecom (Qtel) expected said last week. The new central bank Governor, to have increased its stake. Ali Al Mukhtar, a local broker, Hisham Ramez, was due to take The share offer was one of the yesterday said most buyers were up his post yesterday. Middle East’s biggest in the last foreigners, with Qtel the main The central bank has been auc- few years, and was seen as a test acquirer. Qtel was not immedi- tioning US dollars to banks on of investor confidence for future ately available to comment. Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays deals as Iraq recovers from years Qtel in June agreed to pay as part of the new system brought of war, political instability and $1.5bn to raise its stake in Asiacell in to brake the drawdown on its financial sanctions. to 60 percent from 30 percent, foreign reserves caused by a run Domestic rivals Zain Iraq, a with the remaining 6.1 percent Investors monitor stock information on an electronic board at the Iraq Stock Exchange in Baghdad, yesterday. on the Egyptian pound amid subsidiary of Kuwait’s Zain , and pending regulatory approval. political uncertainty. France Telecom affiliate Korek Firas Mechael, a member of with Asiacell having earlier com- start on the exchange yesterday, was more wary. “I feel afraid to It has held 16 auctions in are also required to sell shares the ISX board of governors, said pleted a nominal IPO so that it but it will now begin today, ISX buy, its price is too high — it could total since the first auction on under the terms of their licences, foreign investors placed orders for could convert to a joint stock com- officials said. Investors on the trad- go down in tomorrow’s session,” December 30. having missed an August 2011 more than 47 billion shares, with pany as required under Iraqi law to ing floor of the Baghdad bourse, said Jassim. “Even my colleagues The value of the Egyptian deadline, along with Asiacell. Iraqis accounting for the rest. In be able to list on the local bourse. which has a daily turnover of about in the market did not buy.” pound has weakened steadily Taha Abdulsalam, Chief total, there were 2,900 separate As a secondary offering, some $4.9m, gave a mixed reaction. Banking and financial compa- since then, losing nearly eight Executive of the Iraq Stock orders. The shares were sold at 22 shareholders offloaded their Some cheered and congratu- nies make up most of the 85 stocks percent of its value on the inter- Exchange (ISX), said yesterday Iraqi dinars ($0.02) each. shares — Faruk Group Holding, lated each other. Yaseen Al quoted on the ISX. Asiacell’s list- bank market and taking its losses it had received orders for all 67.5 A breakdown of purchases owner of an estimated 40 percent, Dulaimi, a local investor who ing values the telecom operator at against the dollar to 13.4 percent billion Asiacell shares on sale, by foreign investors was not stake was thought to be a main had bought 10 million shares, $5.4bn and will more than double since the 2011 uprising against comprising 25 percent of the com- available. seller — and they will receive the said he expects the share price the bourse’s market capitalisation Hosni Mubarak. pany’s share capital. The share sale is technically not proceeds, rather than Asiacell. to rise when trading starts on when it starts trading. The pound has weakened fur- Qtel, which owned 53.9 percent an initial public offering (IPO), Trading had been expected to Monday, but Ammar Jassim, 32, REUTERS ther amid off-exchange currency trading that has become more prevalent as the supply of dollars has dried up. Two separate dealers were prepared to offer several piastres Qatar Exchange index adds 1.55 points; Emaar drags down Dubai more for dollars than the official buy rate as posted on the boards DOHA: Qatar Exchange Rayan which was up 0.58 percent The industrial sector dropped 0.15 but are still up 25 percent in 2013. saw in January, the stock has of their offices on Saturday. One index added 1.55 points (0.02 to QR25.95, Doha Bank which points while insurance sector was The stock had rallied ahead of to take a breather,” said Reda offered 6.76 pounds to the dollar, percent) yesterday to reach rose 0.53 percent to QR56.70. down 0.64 points. earnings on investor optimism Gomaa, portfolio manager at compared to the official rate of 8,726.32 points from 8,724.77 on While Al Khalij Commercial Meanwhile, Shares in Dubai’s about a recovery in Dubai’s belea- Mashreq. “Revenues are strong 6.71. Another offered 6.75 pounds Thursday. Bank gained 0.47 percent to Emaar Properties dropped nearly guered property sector. but margins were significantly to the dollar. The volume of shares traded QR17.18, Doha Insurance rose by four percent yesterday after its The developer posted a 28-per- lower.” The central bank warned that fell to 4,330,104 from 4,513,173 on 0.69 percent to QR29. fourth quarter earnings results cent drop in fourth-quarter profit Gomaa said the stock is Egypt’s foreign currency reserves Thursday, and the value of shares The banking and financial missed analysts’ estimates, drag- as costs soared amid the revival unlikely to see any major further had fallen to a critical level when decreased to QR188,690,847.83 sector index was up 0.31 points ging down the emirate’s bourse of stalled projects in the emirate. gains until Emaar announces its announcing the new auction from QR232,324,890.25. while consumer goods and serv- from a 37-month peak. “Emaar is still cheap in my dividend later in the quarter. system. Among the top gainers were ices sector index lost 0.24 points. Emaar shares fell 3.7 percent view but after the rally we AGENCIES REUTERS Ahli Bank records QR465.2m profit

DOHA: Ahli Bank reported of a 30 percent cash dividend its highest ever net profit of (QR3 per share), subject to QR465.2m for the year 2012, the approval of Qatar Central registering a growth of 5.2 per- Bank and the general assembly cent compared with QR442.2m meeting. in the previous year. The capital adequacy ratio Commenting on the per- stood at 20.8 percent and formance, Sheikh Faisal bin Tier I Capital at 18.5 percent, Abdulaziz Al Thani (pictured), including the effect of dividend Chairman of the bank, said: “We distribution. have delivered another year of Ahli Bank’s long-term credit consistent performance and ratings were all affirmed by record profits. Fitch and Capital Intelligence at “Total Assets stood at a A- with a ‘stable’ outlook. The record QR20,606m for the affirmation of rating reflects first time in the history of the the bank’s solid profitability, bank, driven by growth in loans adequate liquidity, and strong and advances and financial capitalisation. investments.” Sheikh Faisal bin Abdulaziz He added that “during the year, said: “The performance was the bank issued bonus shares of very encouraging and the gov- QR420.4m as a part of the 2011 ernment’s budget spending for dividend distribution and success- the fiscal year 2013 undoubt- fully completed a rights issue to edly provides optimism in the Qatari shareholders amounting to economy and opens many invest- QR448.5m in Q4 2012. ment opportunities in the local Despite the increased equity, Operating expenses increased market. Return on average equity by six percent to QR213.8m, but “We look forward to 2013 remained strong at 16.4 percent cost to income ratio was con- with optimism based on Qatar’s and earnings per share stood at tained at 31.3 percent. impressive economic per- QR3.88.” Loans and advances stood formance. We are focused on Gross operating income stood at QR13,813m compared to meeting customer needs, and at QR690.5m, despite reduction QR12,155 m in 2011 showing a delivering outstanding share- in margins due to lower lending healthy growth of 13.6 percent. holder value.” rates during the year. The non- Investments increased by 56 per- These results are based on interest income grew by 19 per- cent to reach QR4,119m. Return the audited financial statements, cent to QR154m. The growth in on average assets was at 2.5 which are subject to approval the non-interest income driven by percent. by Qatar Central Bank and the increase in fee, investment income The bank’s Board of Directors shareholders. and gains on foreign exchange. have recommended distribution THE PENINSULA Fiat boss sees Chrysler merger ROME: Fiat boss Sergio • Bullion - Mumbai Marchionne said yesterday that Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 30335 he expected the merger of the Silver (1 kg) Rs. 59000 Italian car giant and its US part- • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.51 ner Chrysler will take place in • Sensex 2014. “We will succeed in doing it,” he BSE 19781.19 said in an interview with the edi- NSE 5998.90 tor of the Repubblica newspaper. • LIC (International) launches New Gold Investment Plan ‘GOLD PLUS’ – “We and VEBA (the United Auto which provides an opportunity to invest in GOLD ETF & GOLD SPOT, PAN Workers pension fund, a Chrysler Card/Demat Account not required. shareholder) have different opin- • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return ions on the value of Chrysler but we p.a. (in dollar) will resolve the problem in 2014.” • Housing loan from HDFC LTD Macchione, who heads both companies, had said that the • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, ties between the two were Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. “irreversible”. Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] AFP MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

Reshaping Panama Canal trade China oil giants take a means boom in US gas to Asia

BY MICHELLE WIESE BOCKMANN

IX years after the Panama Canal began a $5.25bn expansion choke-hold on power to capture shipments of Asian-made goods to the East Coast Sof the US, the flow of liquefied natural gas in the opposite HE search for culprits behind the emissions contribute as much as a quarter reluctance by CNPC and Sinopec to supply direction promises to be a better bet. rancid haze enveloping China’s of the most dangerous particles in Beijing’s the fuel that would cost more to produce. Shipments of the fuel, along with rising commodity and energy capital has turned a spotlight air. “If the sulphur content in your oil is too cargoes between the US, Latin America and Asia, are likely to on the country’s two largest oil To supply cleaner diesel, the oil firms high and does not meet the standards, and provide the largest sources of demand growth when the project companies and their resistance must invest tens of billions of yuan to if cars break down, it’ll be your responsi- is complete in June 2015, Administrator Jorge Luis Quijano said Tto tougher fuel standards. remove the sulphur content, said Xiaoyi Mu, bility. The environment ministry will have in an interview. Shipping containerised goods, which generate Bureaucratic fighting between the envi- a senior lecturer in energy economics at the nothing to do with it,” Zhang said, accord- most business for the 50-mile link, has yet to return to the same ronment ministry on the one hand and University of Dundee in Scotland. ing to Tang Dagang, director of the Vehicle level as 2007, two years before the global economy had its worst China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) and PetroChina, the listed arm of CNPC, said Emission Control Center, who was present recession since the Second World War. Sinopec Group on the other has thwarted in a statement that all automotive diesel at the meeting. The shift shows how rising US shale-gas output is reshaping stricter emission standards for diesel trucks produced by PetroChina in 2012 met exist- The officials from the oil companies global energy markets. The Panama Canal enlargement is central and buses — a main cause of air pollution ing Chinese emissions standards. responded by promising to supply the cleaner to the change because the route cuts voyages by more than 7,500 blanketing dozens of China’s cities. It added PetroChina would “push forward fuel after the Lunar New Year in 2012, a nautical miles (8,500 miles) to Asia, where fuel demand is growing To be sure, many sources contribute to air upgrading of fuel quality, and supply clean, traditional holiday that fell in January that fastest. The waterway, handling five percent of world trade and pollution levels that hit records in January, good quality and diversified products”. year. But a few months later, a spot check by shipping 333 million metric tonnes in the year to September 30, is but analysts say the oil companies’ foot- Sinopec did not respond to repeated the environment ministry showed the com- used by as many as 14,000 ships a year, connecting 160 countries dragging and disregard of environmental phone calls from Reuters seeking comment. panies were still supplying ordinary diesel, and 1,700 ports, according to its website. regulations underscore a critical challenge Sinopec Chairman Fu Chengyu, quoted said Tang, whose policy research group is “This could be a significant boon to our business,” Quijano said facing a toothless environment ministry in in state news agency Xinhua last week, affiliated with the ministry. in the telephone interview on January 17 from Balboa. “There’s its mission to curb air pollution. acknowledged that China’s refineries are With media focusing on a sudden wors- been a lot of interest in going through the expanded Panama Canal With widespread and rising public anger one of the main parties that should bear ening of the air quality in Beijing at the with LNG cargo from the Atlantic going to Asia.” changing the political calculus, it also poses responsibility for air pollution. Even so, he start of 2013 — 21 days in January recorded The original plans for a third set of locks at each entrance of a broader question of whether the incoming added that was not because fuel failed to “heavily polluted” levels or worse — urban the 99-year-old canal were based on capturing extra traffic from administration led by Communist Party chief Xi meet standards but rather because fuel residents are increasingly impatient with larger container ships to grow routes to the East Coast from Asia, Jinping will stand up to powerful vested inter- standards were not sufficient. the political wrangling. Quijano said. Traffic on the route represents 43 percent of the ests in a country where state-owned enterprises The bureaucratic tug-of-war has been Excessive pollution levels have already canal’s transport, up from 11 percent in 2000, Monica Martinez, have long trumped certain ministries in the going on for years. prompted the Beijing government to roll out a canal spokeswoman, said in an e-mailed response to questions. quest for economic growth at all costs. Frustrated by the repeated delays in a series of temporary emergency measures What the canal didn’t foresee when it planned the expansion “I think the Communist Party’s new gov- enforcing existing environmental stand- such as shutting down 103 heavily polluting was the rise of shale gas, produced from hydraulic fracturing ernment should weaken CNPC and Sinopec,” ards, China’s deputy environment minister, factories and taking 30 percent of govern- of rocks, Quijano said. The extraction method boosted US gas said Wang Yukai, a professor from the Zhang Lijun, called a meeting in late 2011 ment vehicles off roads, but the capital’s air output by 30 percent in the past five years and so-called tight-oil National School of Administration. “These with officials from the country’s two biggest has remained hazardous. production by 20 percent, according to BP’s Energy Outlook 2020, interest groups have too much power.” oil companies. The problem for oil firms such as PetroChina, released this month. The nation will become a net exporter in 2017, Delays in implementing stricter emission In unequivocal statements, he sought to the listed arm of CNPC, and Sinopec is that according to Europe’s second-biggest oil company. Liquefaction standards are rooted in money — chiefly, lay down the law: The ministry was not going central planners set prices at the pump, even chills the fuel into a liquid for transport by sea. who should pay for the price of refining to further delay the cleaner China IV emis- when global energy costs remain high. The US may boost LNG output to 50 million tonnes annually by cleaner fuels? By some estimates, auto sion standard for trucks and buses, despite REUTERS the end of the decade, from zero this year, according to Morgan Stanley. That would make the nation the world’s third-largest producer, after Australia and Qatar, the bank estimated in a January 28 report. The US, which currently has one LNG export terminal, in Alaska, will probably permit additional overseas sales because the price of natural gas in the country is cheaper than the cost of producing shale gas, Sverre Bjorn Svenning, a shipping analyst at Fearnley Consultants, said in a January 29 phone interview from Oslo. The Oslo-based unit of ship broker Fearnley worked as consultants to the canal 10 years ago on projected demand for liquefied bulk cargoes. A US Energy Department-sponsored study in December supported LNG exports. “The Panama Canal is definitely good news for east Asia, and it’s where the highest global prices for LNG are,” Svenning said. His company is putting together deals to build vessels to ship the fuel that are based on using the canal for long-term charters, he said. While the US will probably allow exports of LNG, it’s also pos- sible the country will limit overseas sales to curb domestic energy costs, according to Hartland Shipping Services Ltd, a London- based shipping consultant. That could result in a higher propor- tion of Asian demand being met by Asian suppliers, Hartland said in a January 11 report. The expansion project is running late. The completion date of June 2015 is six months later than originally planned when the project was approved in December 2006, Quijano said. While growth in containerised cargo shipments through the canal slowed last year, the global economy is still expanding. World trade will quicken to 3.8 percent in the current 12 months from 2.8 percent in 2012, according to the International Monetary Fund. Locks that are 66 percent wider and 43 percent deeper will be able to accommodate about another 2,600 dry-bulk ships, oil tank- ers and LNG carriers, according to fleet data from IHS Fairplay compiled by Bloomberg. About 80 percent of the world fleet of 369 LNG carriers fit the new locks’ dimensions, from less than 10 percent today, the data show. The new dimensions will also allow another 650 container ships in addition to the 3,994 that already fit. While a further 1,697 bulk carriers, hauling coal, iron ore and grains, can also use them, the largest Capesize vessels won’t be able to transit fully laden because they will sit too deep in the water, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Large swings in currency markets

HE US Federal Reserve week. Cable opened the week investment, only particular, their missing the forecast of 161,000 of cash in the economy, slowed Bank kept its monthly at 1.5800, only to drop to 1.5676 rose a 0.2 per- financial situ- while unemployment rate rose to annual growth of 3.3 percent $85bn bond-buying after disappointing economic cent despite mar- ation after the by 0.1 percent to read 7.9 per- in December from 3.8 percent in stimulus plan, and data, The Sterling Pound then ket uncertainty latest increase cent. The report also showed an November. repeated a pledge to recovered to 1.5878 only to lose over the fiscal in the payroll increase in hourly earnings and a Spain’s recession deepened in Weekly Money Market Review Tkeep purchasing securities until steam and closed for the week cliff, which had tax. solid gain in retail and construc- the fourth quarter, as its auster- the US employment levels improve at 1.5693 level. The Japanese yen been scheduled Gross domes- tion employment. ity programme hammered pub- significantly. It also kept overnight opened the week at 90.90 weaken- to kick on January 2013. The US tic product dropped at a 0.1 per- lic spending and weak domestic interest rates near zero since the ing against the dollar throughout Congress ultimately struck a last- cent annual rate, weaker than any Europe demand exerted pressure on the financial crisis started and tripled the week, to touch a two and a minute deal to avoid or postpone economist forecast and the worst Loans to households and compa- country to seek international aid. its balance sheet to about $3 tril- half year high of 92.96. The yen’s most of the austerity measures. performance since the economy nies in the 17-Nation Euro Region Spain’s GDP fell 1.8 percent in the lion through bond-buying pro- weakness was supported by the The US Pending Home Sales emerged from recession in 2009, contracted for the eighth month fourth quarter from a year earlier, gramme, under which it currently Bank of Japan’s big fiscal spending Index, based on contracts signed but analysts said there was no rea- running in December. European the data came worse than econo- purchases $45bn of longer-dated and open-ended monetary easing last month, fell 4.3 percent to son for panic given that business Central Bank data showed that mists’ forecasts for a fall of 1.7 per- Treasuries and $40bn of mortgage- policy that would be in effect from 101.7 in December from 106.3 investment and consumer spend- loans to the private sector fell cent. Also on a quarterly basis the backed bonds a month. The Fed’s January 2014, aiming at doubling in November but is 6.9 percent ing and picked up. The large drop 0.7 percent from the same month economy contracted by 0.7 percent commitment to loose monetary Japans inflation target to two per- higher than December 2011 when in the gross domestic product was a year ago after dropping and down from 0.3 percent in the previ- policy pushed the dollar to a one- cent. The Swiss Franc opened the it was 95.1. The drop was attrib- due to slower inventory growth annual 0.8 percent in November. ous quarter, also below economists’ year low against the euro reaching week at 0.9274, only to strengthen uted to supply limitation, as it and the largest drop in defence Lending remains weak, in spite the forecast for a drop of 0.6 percent. a high of 1.3711, alongside the Feds against a weakening dollar reach- appears to be the main factor spending in 40 years, other than fact that the ECB has cut inter- Germany’s unemployment unex- Loose policy the euro maintains its ing a high of 0.9019, The Swiss holding back contract signing in that the economy would have est rates to a record low of 0.75 pectedly declined in January. It fell strength supported by last month’s franc closed the week at 0.9077. the past month. Market analysts grown at a reasonable 2.5 per- percent and pumped more than by 16,000, taking the jobless rate ECB President Mario Draghi’s The US Commerce Department are expecting that the housing cent rate. In addition, analyst said ¤1 into the banking sector. The down to 6.8 percent, not far from upbeat assessment of the eurozone announced last week that overall market will remain the economy’s Superstorm Sandy that struck cheap funds the ECB is pump- a post-reunification low. However, health that has dampened hopes orders for durable goods increased bright spot, and is it expected to the east coast in late October ing through the monetary system the positive development of the for any further interest rate cuts. 4.6 percent in December com- support growth this year. might have reduced the index by are not reaching businesses and labour market was over shadowed The euro started the week at pared with November. The gains The US Consumer Confidence 0.5 a basis point. Economist say households evenly across the euro- by the retail sales that had dropped 1.3460. The single currency then were led by a 56.4 percent increase Index fell in January to 58.6 a growth pace in excess of three zone, market data showed that the by its largest amount in over three advanced against the US dol- in military aircraft orders and a from an upwardly revised 66.7 in percent would be needed over a private sector lending in Spain years in December and a new fore- lar reaching a 15-month high of 10.1 percent increase in commer- December, erasing all of the gains sustained period to significantly dropped by ¤22bn also in Portugal cast by the HDE retail association 1.3711 before settling down and cial aircraft orders. Yet orders for made through 2012. Consumers lower high unemployment. it fell by ¤2.6bn, while on the other showing it expects sales to fall in closing for the week at 1.3640. The core capital goods, a key meas- are more pessimistic about the The non-farm payroll numbers hand Italy posted a rise of ¤12.6bn. real terms in 2013. sterling pound endured a volatile ure of private-sector business ongoing economic outlook and, in for January came out at 157,000, Eurozone M3, a general measure THE PENINSULA MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

QE Indices Summary QE Index 8,726.32 0.02 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 11,886.33 0.02 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,547.18 0.01 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,106.1 0.02 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,043.82 0.31 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 4919.053 8.205 0.17 4919.053 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 4,798.93 0.45 % QR195.4135 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 3783.31 -2.51 -0.07 3789.92 3680.61 SILVER UK ...... QR 5.6800 QR 5.7488 QE All Share Industrials 2,784.87 0.15 % Euro ...... QR 4.9221 QR 5.0143 QE All Share Insurance 1,911.46 0.64 % Dj Indu Average 13954.42 72.49 0.52 13970 12035.1 QR 3.6829 QE All Share Real Estate 1,605.69 0.19 % CA$ ...... QR 3.6204 QR 3.6900 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Telecoms 1,139.08 0.02 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.9696 QR 4.0459 QE All Share Transportation 1,391.66 0.24 % Hang Seng Inde/D 23822.06 166.89 0.71 23736.02 22860.25 Yen ...... QR 0.0388 QR 0.0397 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.7458 QR 3.8408 Iseq Overall/D 3550.83 -5.18 -0.15 3569.51 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0675 QR 0.0690 03-02-2013 31-01-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 17205.27 33.23 0.19 17180.04 16036.31 Index 8,726.32 8,724.77 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0370 QR 0.0376 Change 1.55 3.06 Nikkei 225 Index 11113.95 247.23 2.28 11002.86 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0888 QR 0.0908 % 0.02 0.04 $ 116.76 SL Re ...... QR 0.0285 QR 0.0291 YTD% 4.40 4.38 S&P 500 Index/D 1507.84 7.66 0.51 1509.35 1266.74 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0452 QR 0.0464 Volume 4,330,104 4,513,173 Straits Times/D 3285.9 26.15 0.8 3281.46 3160.83 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0423 QR 0.0432 Value (QAR) 188,690,847.83 232,324,890.25 $ 114.32 Trades 2,801 3,287 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3988 QR 0.4067 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 12 | Down 14 | Unchanged 13

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 03-02-2013

Strong January for commodities led by energy; gold needs a catalyst

ost of the major global However, as long as some or all winter temperatures once more the demand for sugar. commodities have begun of these drivers remain in play Weekly Commodity Update were milder than seasonal aver- Gold succumbs to US data M2013 with solid gains commodity investors sees little ages. This reduces demand and watching with both the major indexes show- reason to reduce an overall long the speed at which inventory The lack of investor conviction BY OLE HANSEN ing strong returns, especially the exposure. This will obviously carry (Head of Commodity Strategy, levels are drawn, thereby raising currently seen in gold has resulted energy-heavy S&P GSCI index the risk that some of these mar- Saxo Bank) the spectre of once again having in traders swinging from hot to due to strong performances in kets will overextend themselves too much gas in storage once the cold depending on which piece of gasoline and crude oil. The drivers and subsequently run into profit- injection season begins inside a economic news has emerged from were numerous and the main ones taking but such a scenario could Another strong performer the Northern Hemisphere the few weeks. the US. The chart below gives a were increased economic growth still be weeks away if the previous was Cotton due to the outlook focus has switched to weather Sugar has been the worst per- clear picture of what has been expectations, reduced political three years are anything to go by. for lower supply from the US developments in South America former as large harvests in Brazil driving markets this past week risk premiums, and continued The average return for February - the world’s largest exporter - where wet conditions in Brazil and India have kept a lid on any and it shows how obsessed the aggressive monetary policies and, on the broader based DJ-UBS this summer as farmers switch has stalled the soybean harvest attempt to follow other commodi- market has become in trying to not least, a weaker dollar against commodity index has been 2.6 to more profitable crops. The while dry weather has negatively ties higher because of expectations guesstimate the thinking proc- most currencies apart from the percent from 2010 to 2012. demand side has been kept up by impacted corn and soybeans crops for a global surplus in 2012/13. ess within the walls of the US JPY which weakened dramati- RBOB Gasoline was a strong Chinas National Cotton Reserve in Argentina. Should this dryness Near-term we see the potential Federal Reserve. While we wait cally during January. performer during January mainly Corporation (NCRC) which persist both crops could see higher for some support returning to for a convincing catalyst to drive Some rotation out of bonds because of technical reasons on through massive purchases has prices over the coming weeks as sugar despite the headwinds cre- this market higher (still our pre- and gold concerns that inventories on the reached an inventory level from speculative investors will continue ated by the large harvest. A bot- ferred direction of gold) there is a Increased growth (both real- US East Coast would dwindle where it can influence domestic to rebuilt net-long positions after tom on the chart could be forming danger that opportunistic sellers ised and expected) will naturally from already low levels during prices. At recent auctions, the having reduced them dramatically within a descending wedge on may succeed at times in driving spur expectations about a change the coming weeks as refineries price at which the NCRC sold during the last quarter of 2012. the NYB-ICE sugar futures for it lower which invariably triggers in the loose monetary policies swing into their annual mainte- cotton back into the market has This past week we saw the down- March delivery and this, together renewed long liquidation. currently being applied by some nance and repair season. During been at a sufficiently high level trends from last year’s highs being with a switch to positive momen- The US job report on Friday of major economies, especially the previous couple of years, to make US export profitable - broken on both crops which could tum (also seen this past week) was a tad weaker than expected the US. Such a change - when very high refinery margins due hence the rise in prices during signal further gains ahead. March has the potential of trigger- but still showed that job crea- it happens - could prompt some to the availability of cheap WTI January. soybeans could be targeting $15/ ing some short covering among tion continues at a good pace. uncertainty among investors. crude oil which could be refined The prices of key crops such bushel while March corn could money managers holding the big- The unemployment rate move Some bond markets and possibly into products priced on the back as corn and soybeans began to be heading towards $7.62/bushel. gest net-short in more than five higher and away from the Federal gold have already seen an impact of more expensive Brent crude, climb in January following a dra- January proved another dis- years. The Brazilian government Reserve’s target and this gave from such forward expectations meant that many refineries kept matic sell off during the second appointing month for investors has announced that it will allow gold and especially silver a lift on as some investors have rotated up production eventually cul- half of 2012 as the supply outlook in natural gas as the price once the ethanol content in gasoline to the assumption that loose mon- out of bonds and gold and into minating in an urgent need for improved. While we wait for the again, just like last year, suc- rise to 25 percent from 20 percent etary policies would not go away equities during the past month. maintenance this year. new planting season to begin on cumbed to selling pressure as US starting 1 May which could add to anytime soon. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Russia’s Gallacher clinches Syreva gets two-year ban Dubai Desert win for doping MOSCOW: European indoor silver medallist Olesya Syreva has been banned for two years The Scot ends nine-year title drought for breaking anti-doping regula- tions, the Russian athletics fed- eration (VFLA) said yesterday. DUBAI: In a tournament in when he won the Dunhill Links The 29-year-old middle- which he could do no wrong, Championship. Sterne (71) had a Dubai Desert distance runner had shown an Stephen Gallacher of Scotland back nine wobble and was second “abnormal haemoglobin profile fired a timely eagle two on the at 19-under par 269, while Chile’s Classic Scores in her biological passport”, the par-4 16th hole and comfortably Felipe Aguilar (69) and Denmark’s DUBAI: Scores in the $2.5m VFLA said on its website (rusa- won the $2.5m Omega Dubai Thorbjorn Olesen (71) were tied Omega Dubai Desert Classic thletics.com). Desert Classic in the end by third at 17-under par 271. yesterday at the par-72 Majlis Marathon runner Mikhail three shots. World No.8 Lee Westwood (68) course of Emirates Golf Club: Lemaev, who finished 45th in the On a difficult day at the Majlis of England looked good to create men’s marathon at the 2009 world 266 Stephen Gallacher (SCO) 63-70-62- course of Emirates Golf Club, some drama, but after reaching championships in Berlin, was also 71 Gallacher battled it out gamely 17-under par with four holes to given a two-year ban for the same 269 Richard Sterne (RSA) 62-70-66-71 against South Africa’s Richard play, he missed a birdie chance offence, the VFLA said. Sterne before the magic second from five feet and made two 271 Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 68-68-66-69, Syreva’s ban began on Friday shot with a sandwedge from bogeys and a birdie to finish tied Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 67-66-67-71 and all her results since March 3, 115 yard changed the complex- fifth at 272 alongside Australian 272 Marcus Fraser (AUS) 67-69-69-67, 2011 had been annulled, the VFLA ion of the tournament. It was Marcus Fraser (67). Lee Westwood (ENG) 67-71-66-68, added. Gallacher’s fifth eagle of the tour- “I knew it was going to be a dif- 273 Ricardo Santos (POR) 66-71-69-67, The Russian, who finished nament and it helped him close ficult day given the gusty wind and Robert Rock (ENG) 70-68-67-68, behind Britain’s Helen Clitheroe the tournament with a one-under I knew I just had to stay patient Steve Webster (ENG) 69-69-65-70, in the women’s 3,000 metres at par 71 round. throughout. Anything could have 274 Jeev Milkha Singh (IND) 68-67-67-72, the European indoor champion- That gave him a four-day tally happened out there if you caught Tommy Fleetwood (ENG) 65-68-69- ships in Paris in March 2011, will of 22-under par 266, matching a bit of wind,” said Gallacher, who 72 now lose her medal. the all-time lowest winning total is expected to rise to No. 60 in the 275 Matteo Manassero (ITA) 66-71-70- The suspensions were the lat- in the history of the tournament world from his present ranking of 68, Andy Sullivan (ENG) 69-67-69- est in a series of doping offences (Thomas Bjorn in 2001). 111. 70, Gareth Maybin (NIR) 69-67-69- by Russian athletes in recent The victory was only the sec- “I didn’t realise it is 201 tour- 70, months. ond European Tour win for the naments since my last win, but In December, 2012 Olympic 276 Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 68-71-69-68, 38-year-old Scotsman. His last win now that I have got it, it is even Stephen Gallacher of Scotland poses with the trophy after winning the discus silver medallist Darya Garth Mulroy (RSA) 71-70-66-69, came way back in October 2004 sweeter.” AFP Dubai Desert Classic in Dubai, yesterday. Pishchalnikova and Russian ham- mer champion Kirill Ikonnikov, who finished fifth at the London Webb wins Games, were temporarily sus- pended while Olympic 2004 ham- Mickelson storms to Phoenix lead Australian mer champion Olga Kuzenkova was placed under investigation by SCOTTSDALE, Arizona: Phil “You need to shoot pretty low if the world governing body IAAF Mickelson birdied the last four Phoenix Open Scores you want to catch Phil,” Snedeker Ladies Masters for failing drugs tests. holes to fire a seven-under 64 SCOTTSDALE, Arizona: said. Also in December, the yesterday, grabbing a six-stroke Leading scores after the third If Mickelson can fire another GOLD COAST, Australia: International Olympic Committee lead at the the Phoenix Open round of the US PGA $6.2m 64 or lower at TPC Scottsdale, he Australia’s Karrie Webb over- (IOC) stripped shot putter with the second-lowest 54-hole Phoenix Open (USA unless will break the record for the low- hauled the overnight leaders to Svetlana Krivelyova of her bronze score in US PGA Tour history. noted, par-71): est 72-hole score in PGA history, win a record eighth Australian medal from the 2004 Athens Mickelson, who flirted with a 189 Phil Mickelson 60-65-64 the 26-under par 254 by Tommy Ladies Masters title at Royal Games. 59 before settling for a first-round Armour III at the 2003 Texas Pines yesterday. Krivelyova, 43 and long retired 195 Brandt Snedeker 64-66-65 60 and carded a second-round Open. Webb, 38, swept home on the from the sport, tested positive for 65 that was marred by a double 197 Padraig Harrington (IRL) 64-70-63, The only lower 54-hole score back of four birdies in her clos- anabolic steroids after her sam- bogey at 18, had no late lapse in Ryan Moore 66-66-65 in PGA history was the 188 ing six holes to win the 54-hole ples from eight years ago were Saturday’s third round of the $6.2 198 Troy Matteson 67-65-66 produced by American Steve event by two shots. Webb carded re-tested. REUTERS million event. 199 Brendan Steele 69-65-65, Bill Haas Stricker at the 2010 John Deere a final round of five-under 67 for After two birdies on the front 65-64-70 Classic. 13-under 203 to beat overnight nine, he added another at the 200 Scott Piercy 70-66-64, Brendon The 42-year-old left-hander, a leaders, Australia’s Oh Su-Hyun NBA: Deng 13th, then stormed in with four de Jonge (ZIM) 66-67-67, Gary winner of 40 career PGA titles (70-64-71) and Thailand’s Ariya birdies, one by going up and down Woodland 67-66-67, Roberto Castro including three Masters green Jutanugarn (69-65-71). at the par-5 15th and another on 65-68-67 jackets, seeks his first title since South Korea’s Chella Choi also powers Bulls the stadium-like par-3 16th with a last year’s Pebble Beach National finished joint second after rounds tee shot less than three feet from His 24-under par total of 189 Pro-Am, a crown he will defend of 69-67-69.Webb’s finish gave her the cup. matched the 54-hole tournament next week. a winning start to 2013 after her over Hawks “Your adrenaline is going there record set by Mark Calcavecchia Mickelson was well left off the first-ever winless calender year Phil Mickelson autographs a blue so I always take five yards off the in 2001 and put him six strokes in tee at the 18th but with a clear in 2012. Webb won the first of her ATLANTA, Georgia: Britain’s KPMG hat for a fan after the third distance and I just hit a hard front of fellow American Brandt line to the green and landed his eight titles in 1998 with her other Luol Deng scored 25 points round of the Phoenix Open in 9-iron,” Mickelson said. Snedeker, who had six birdies in approach 15 feet from the cup victories coming in 1999, 2000, and grabbed 14 rebounds to Scottsdale, Arizona, yesterday. “It turned out pretty good.” firing a 65 to stand second. then sank his birdie putt. AFP 2001, 2005, 2007 and 2010. AFP help power the injury-depleted Chicago Bulls to a 93-76 rout of the Atlanta Hawks in an NBA game yesterday. Chicago’s defense kept the Qatar gear up for 2015 Asian Cup qualifier Hawks to only 16 points in each Peterson bags top of the final two quarters, Atlanta hitting only 39 percent from the field, as the Bulls improved to 29-18 and remained ahead of awards for 2012 Indiana atop the Central division. Nate Robinson contributed NEW ORLEANS: Minnesota winning Comeback Player of the 20 points and a game-high eight Vikings running back Adrian Year honors. Former Indianapolis assists while Taj Gibson, starting Peterson carried off two top Colts leader Manning missed the in place of injured Carlos Boozer, awards, including Most Valuable entire 2011 season after under- scored 19 points and grabbed a Player honours, at the National going a series of neck surgeries career-high 19 rebounds while Football League awards show and returned to the field with the Jimmy Butler contributed 16 yesterday. Broncos, leading them to the play- points and 10 rebounds. Peterson, who overcame a offs as top seed in the American Robinson was starting for career-threatening injury to lead Football Conference. guard Kirk Hinrich, who has an the Vikings into the playoffs, was “I really did not know what to infected right elbow. Boozer is also named Offensive Player of expect,” Manning said about his sidelined with a sore right ham- the Year after coming within nine return. “I had the double variables string while standout Joakim yards of setting a single season of coming off an injury, not play- Noah has been sidelined with a NFL rushing record. ing for a year and joining a new sore right foot. AFP While pleased to have won team, a new system, new team recognition for his performance, mates. Peterson told reporters he was “That certainly added a lot to NBA Results disappointed to have fallen short my plate. So it was hard knowing Chicago 93 Atlanta 76 of his ultimate goal. what to expect.” NY Knicks 120 Sacramento 81 “I was definitely hoping to Quarterback Robert Griffin get to the Super Bowl. That III, whose strong arm and run- Cleveland 115 Oklahoma City 110 was my goal,” said the 27-year- ning prowess led the Washington Houston 109 Charlotte 95 old Peterson, whose 2011 season Redskins to a 10-6 record and Minnesota 115 New Orleans 86 ended when he tore ligaments in their first NFC East title since Milwaukee 107 Orlando 98 his knee. “Come back, lead my 1999, was named the Offensive San Antonio 96 Washington 86 team and help my team get to the Rookie of the Year. Portland 105 Utah 99 Super Bowl. Linebacker Luke Kuechly, who “Unfortunately, that didn’t led the NFL in tackles (164) for Golden State 113 Phoenix 93 happen. But I played my heart out the Carolina Panthers, grabbed every opportunity I had ... (and) the award for defensive rookies. I got a couple of good pieces of Coach of the Year was Bruce NHL Results hardware to bring back and stack Arians, who stepped in to lead Pittsburgh 5 New Jersey 1 in my statue area. the Colts after Chuck Pagano Montreal 6 Buffalo 1 “So it feels good.” was diagnosed with leukemia Colorado 3 Edmonton 1 The Houston Texans’ JJ Watt and steered them into the play- Boston 1 Toronto 0 won the Defensive Player of the offs with an 11-5 record after the Year award. team had gone 2-14 in 2011. Philadelphia 5 Carolina 3 “I can get a lot better, I’m only Arians will be coaching the NY Rangers 3 Tampa Bay 2 23,” Watt said. “I’m still growing Arizona Cardinals next sea- Columbus 4 Detroit 2 as a human being, and as a person son with Pagano returning to Phoenix 2 Dallas 0 and as a player.” Denver Broncos the Colts sideline.Winners were Chicago 3 Calgary 2 quarterback Peyton Manning selected by panel of football writ- The members of the Qatar football team during a training session at Aspire Academy yesterday. Qatar will play Anaheim 7 Los Angeles 4 denied Peterson a clean sweep ers conducted by the Associated Malaysia in the 2015 Asian Cup qualifier on February 6. of awards available to him by Press. AFP Nashville 2 San Jose 1 MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29

Francis and Murray to Starc, Bailey sink Windies be brand Bailey scores maiden century in Australia’s 54-run victory at the WACA ambassadors

PERTH, Australia: A maiden for Doha Dash century from George Bailey and IPL 6 – Player Auction 2013 another inspired bowling per- NEW DELHI: Here’s a list of players that were sold during the DOHA: Qatari sprinter Samuel 2013 IPL auction that took place yesterday. formance from the emerging Francis and British Olympic sil- Player Country IPL Team Cost in $ Mitchell Starc helped Australia ver medallist Samantha Murray beat the West Indies by 54 runs Ricky Ponting Australia Mumbai Indians 400,000 have been named as the brand in the second one-day interna- RP Singh India Royal Challengers Bangalore 400,000 ambassadors for the Dolphin tional at the WACA Ground Johan Botha South Africa Delhi Daredevils 450,000 Energy Doha Dash. yesterday. Michael Clarke Australia Pune Warriors 400,000 The event which takes Set 267 to win after Bailey’s Luke Pomersbach Australia Kings XI Punjab 300,000 place on February 12 at Losail unbeaten 125 rescued the Phillip Hughes Australia Mumbai Indians 100,000 International Circuit, will include Australian innings, the West James Faulkner Australia Rajasthan Royals 400,000 a 5km and 3km timed race as well Indies were cruising at 159 for Glenn Maxwell Australia Mumbai Indians 1,000,000 as 1km ladies’ walk and a mini three in the run chase, before Moises Henriques Australia Royal Challengers Bangalore 300,000 Doha Dash, in celebration of the return of Starc to the attack Abhishek Nayar India Pune Warriors 675,000 Qatar National Sport Day. turned the match again as the Thisara Perera Sri Lanka Sunrisers Hyderabad 675,000 Francis, who has been com- tourists were bowled out 212 in Jesse Ryder New Zealand Delhi Daredevils 260,000 peting on an international level the 39th over. Darren Sammy West Indies Sunrisers Hyderabad 425,000 for Qatar since 2007, specialises Starc (5-32) had claimed the Jaydev Unadkat India Royal Challengers Bangalore 525,000 in the 100m and hold as personal first three wickets in the West best time record of 9.99 seconds. Pankaj Singh India Royal Challengers Bangalore 150,000 Indian innings, all lbw, to have Australia’s batsman George Bailey (right) is congratulated by team- He is the current Asian record Ravi Rampaul West Indies Royal Challengers Bangalore 290,000 them reeling at 33 for three, mate Mitchell Johnson (left) after scoring a century during the One-Day holder. He was also a finalist in Manpreet Gony India Kings XI Punjab 500,000 but when he came back into International match against West Indies at the WACA Ground in Perth, the World Indoor Championship the attack the Australians were yesterday. Fidel Edwards West Indies Rajasthan Royals 210,000 held in Doha in 2010 and a struggling, with opener Kieran Sudeep Tyagi India Sunrisers Hyderabad 100,000 semi-finalist in the 2008 Beijing Powell and Dwayne Bravo putting Scoreboard Dirk Nannes Australia Chennai Super Kings 600,000 Olympics. on a century partnership for the Nathan McCullum New Zealand Sunrisers Hyderabad 100,000 Speaking of his role as brand fourth wicket. AUSTRALIA K Powell lbw Starc ...... 83 Ajantha Mendis Sri Lanka Pune Warriors 725,000 ambassador, he said: “I am However, the left-armer, who A Finch c D M Bravo b Holder ...... 11 R Sarwan lbw Starc...... 0 Jeevan Mendis Sri Lanka Delhi Daredevils 50,000 delighted to be an official ambas- took 5-20 as the Australians U Khawaja c Powell b Roach ...... 3 D M Bravo lbw Starc ...... 14 Chris Morris South Africa Chennai Super Kings 625,000 sador of the Dolphin Energy Doha routed the West Indies for 70 in P Hughes c D M Bravo b Sammy...... 21 D J Bravo c Wade b Maxwell ...... 45 Sachithra Senanayake Sri Lanka Kolkata Knight Riders 625,000 Dash and can’t wait to meet all Friday’s opening game en route to M Clarke b D J Bravo ...... 16 K Pollard c Finch b Maxwell ...... 1 Christopher Barnwell West Indies Royal Challengers Bangalore 50,000 of the runners and spectators on a nine-wicket victory, struck two G Bailey (not out) ...... 125 D Thomas c Wade b Starc ...... 0 Nathan Coulter-Nile Australia Mumbai Indians 450,000 February 12.” more telling blows. M Wade c Sammy b Narine ...... 16 D Sammy c Faulkner b Maxwell ...... 8 Ben Laughlin Australia Chennai Super Kings 20,000 “It is an exciting event, bring- After spinner Glenn Maxwell G Maxwell b Sammy ...... 0 J Holder (run out) ...... 9 Kane Richardson Australia Pune Warriors 700,000 ing together experienced and ended the Powell and Bravo part- J Faulkner c Powell b Sammy...... 39 S Narine st Wade b Maxwell ...... 24 Jacob Oram New Zealand Mumbai Indians 50,000 amateur runners, and carries nership at 126 runs by having M Johnson (not out) ...... 16 K Roach (not out) ...... 0 Quinton de Kock South Africa Sunrisers Hyderabad 20,000 a significant message about the the latter caught behind for 45, importance of healthy living for Extras (LB-10, W-9) ...... 19 Extras (LB-13, W-11) ...... 24 Dan Christian Australia Royal Challengers Bangalore 100,000 Starc removed Powell and Devon the Qatari and expatriate com- Total (for 7 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 266 Total (all out in 38 1 overs) ...... 212 Akila Dananjaya Sri Lanka Chennai Super Kings 20,000 Thomas (0) in successive balls to Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-25, 3-56, 4-56, 5-93, Fall of wickets: 1-10, 2-10, 3-33, 4-159, munity of Doha,” he added. claim his second five-wicket haul Clint McKay Australia Sunrisers Hyderabad 100,000 Meanwhile, Murray is a world 6-98, 7-198. 5-166, 6-166, 7-168, 8-179, 9-209, 10-212. Jason Holder West Indies Chennai Super Kings 20,000 in as many matches. Bowling: Roach 10-0-51-1; Holder 10-1-56-1 Bowling: McKay 6-0-32-0 (3w); Starc 8-1-32- champion and multiple world Cup Ryan McLaren South Africa Kolkata Knight Riders 50,000 Earlier, brilliant catching by the (5w); Sammy 10-0-48-3 (2w); DJ Bravo 10-0- 5 (4w); Faulkner 7-0-40-0 (1w); Johnson 9-0- medallist. Kushal Perera Sri Lanka Rajasthan Royals 20,000 West Indies had Australia in deep 67-1 (2w); Narine 10-0-34-1. 32-0 (3w); Maxwell 8 1-1-63-4. At the young age of 23, Murray IPL teams in 2013 trouble at 98 for six, before Bailey WEST INDIES Result: Australia won by 54 runs, lead five- has risen quickly through the steered a spirited fightback. C Gayle lbw Starc...... 4 match series 2-0. Chennai Super Kings - Delhi Daredevils - Kings XI Punjab - Kolkata Knight Riders - Mumbai Indians - world rankings and has made a AFP Pune Warriors - Rajasthan Royals - Royal Challengers Bangalore - Sunrisers Hyderabad strong name for herself in the world of athletics. Murray is best known for win- ning a silver medal in the modern pentathlon event of the London Misbah, Shafiq frustrate South Africa 2012 Summer Olympics. Francis will attend the Dolphin JOHANNESBURG: Pakistan and the total was on 155. Shafiq partnership of the match. After Scoreboard Energy Doha Dash as an ambas- batsmen Misbah-ul-Haq and had almost reached the bound- being routed for their all-time sador to promote exercise and Asad Shafiq held up South ary edge when his dressing room low total of 49 in the first innings, South Africa (I innings): ...... 253 healthy living, provide tips and Africa’s push for victory with alerted him to a television replay Pakistan made a more confident Pakistan (I innings): ...... 49 advice and highlight the impor- a defiant fifth wicket partner- which showed that Philander had start to the second innings and South Africa (II innings): tance of Qatar National Sport ship on the third day of the first bowled a no-ball. Mohammad Hafeez was some- A Petersen c Mohd Hafeez b Umar Gul .....27 Day. Test at the Wanderers Stadium Four balls later, Misbah, on what unfortunate to fall to a div- G Smith c S Ahmed b Umar Gul...... 52 Alongside Francis, attendees yesterday. 31, sliced a drive against Jacques ing catch by AB de Villiers when H Amla (not out) ...... 74 of the event will have the oppor- Pakistan were 183 for four at Kallis to backward point, but he glanced Philander to leg. J Kallis c A Shafiq b S Ajmal ...... 7 tunity to meet Olympic modern the close after being set to make Robin Peterson, diving to his Nasir Jamshed and Azhar Ali A de Villiers (not out)...... 103 pentathlete, Murray. an improbable 480 to win. right, could not hold a waist-high put on 57 for the second wicket Extras (LB-4, NB-5, W-3) ...... 12 On becoming a brand ambassa- The match seemed headed for chance. but tight bowling by Dale Steyn Total (for 3 wkts decl) ...... 275 dor for the Dolphin Energy Doha an early finish when the first Before Misbah and Shafiq came and Philander after lunch slowed Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-87, 3-99. Dash this year, Murray said: “I four wickets fell for 82 runs, but together everything had seemed the scoring rate down. Bowling: Umar Gul 14-2-58-2 (3w); Junaid am very excited to be visiting Pakistan captain Misbah (44 to be going South Africa’s way. The left-handed Jamshed, play- Khan 13-1-63-0 (5nb); Rahat Ali 11-1-44-0; Qatar as an ambassador for the not out) and the stocky Shafiq AB de Villiers hurried to a cen- ing in his first Test match, looked Mohammad Hafeez 5-0-32-0; Saeed Ajmal Dolphin Energy Doha Dash and (53 not out) defended grimly for tury before South Africa declared solid before he was out for 46 18-1-74-1; Younis Khan 1-1-0-0. promoting Qatar National Sport more than three hours, adding an on 275 for three, leaving Pakistan when he pulled Steyn tamely to Pakistan (II innings): Day.” unbeaten 101. with an hour’s batting before midwicket. Mohd Hafeez c De Villiers b Philander ...... 2 The Dolphin Energy Doha South Africa remained in a lunch. Azhar followed three overs later Nasir Jamshed c Peterson b Steyn ...... 46 Dash has been created to sup- strong position to take a 1-0 lead De Villiers needed only 33 balls for 18. Having been subjected to Azhar Ali lbw Kallis ...... 18 port the vision behind the Qatar in the three-match series, how- to move from his overnight 63 to some hostile short-pitched bowl- Younis Khan c De Villiers b Morkel ...... 15 National Sport Day, and aims to ever, with a second new ball due 103 not out. He and Hashim Amla ing from Steyn he was trapped Misbah-ul-Haq (batting) ...... 44 promote a healthier lifestyle and after five overs today and only added 68 in nine overs before the in front of his stumps when he Asad Shafiq (batting) ...... 53 raise money for charity. wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed of declaration, which came imme- played across a full delivery from Extras (LB-2, NB-3) ...... 5 The official charity of the the remaining batsmen likely to diately after De Villiers punched Kallis. Total (for 4 wkts) ...... 183 2013 event is Reach Out To Asia offer sustained resistance to the Umar Gul to the cover boundary Morne Morkel took his first Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-64, 3-70, 4-82. (ROTA), which will receive 25 per Pakistani batsman Azhar Ali fends South African fast bowlers. to reach his 15th Test century off wicket of the match when Younis cent of the total registration fee. off a short ball by South African Bowling: Steyn 18-7-26-1; Philander 17-3- Both Misbah and Shafiq had 117 balls. He hit 11 boundaries. Khan was caught behind for 15, 39-1 (1nb); Morkel 18-5-65-1 (2nb); Kallis Participants can visit www.doha- bowler Vernon Philander (not let-offs. Amla was unbeaten on 74 off nibbling at and then attempting 12-3-27-1; Peterson 10-3-24-0. dash.com to register or find out pictured) during the third day of Shafiq edged an outswinger 114 balls with seven fours. The to withdraw his bat from a fast Match situation: Pakistan need 297 to win more about the event. their first Test cricket match in from Vernon Philander to Graeme pair put on an unbeaten 176 for delivery outside his off stump. with six wickets remaining. THE PENINSULA Johannesburg, yesterday. Smith at first slip when he had 40 the fourth wicket, easily the best AFP MENA, ACTAC to hold meeting Italy stun France in thriller in Doha today ROME: Italy produced a stun- with only four minutes gone with by the TMO a minute before. ning all-round performance a spectacular counter-attacking However, Philippe Saint Andre’s DOHA: Around 50 people to shock France 23-18 at the try. team took the lead three minutes from the Middle East and Stadio Olimpico yesterday and The move was started when later, Benjamin Fall taking the North Africa (MENA) and the blast the Six Nations competi- Luke McLean recovered a France ball from Huget and scoring a try Arab Council of Touring and tion wide open. kick and burst through the first under the posts which Michalak France’s fly- Automobile Clubs (ACTAC) will More usually contenders for line of defence. had no problem converting to give half Frederic hold a management meeting the competition’s wooden spoon, The ball was fed to the mag- France a 15-13 halftime lead in Michalak is today. Italy proved their victory over the nificent Orquera, who offloaded yesterday’s match. tackled by The two-day meeting to be held French two seasons ago was no to his captain and then converted Flyhalf Michalak gave France Italy’s winger at Radisson Blu Hotel which con- fluke as they defended well and the try. a five-point advantage with a pen- Luke McLean cludes tomorrow, will work closely took their chances against the France responded with intense alty for collapsed scrum with 50 (left) during the to ensure the unity of the auto- 2011 World Cup runners-up. pressure, and a try bundled over minutes gone. Six Nations mobile movement and assist the Tries from captain the line by Picamoles looked to France looked to be domi- International new motoring clubs in the region Sergio Parisse and Martin have levelled the scores, only nating but a sudden burst of Rugby Union to help them to earn affiliation Castrogiovanni, plus 10 points for Michalak to miss an easy pressure from Italy resulted in to the FIA. match at from Man-of-the-Match Luciano conversion. Castrogiovanni scoring his 12th The goal of ACTAC is to unite the Olympic Orquera and three from substi- Orquera extended Italy’s lead international try on 56 minutes the Arabic speaking FIA clubs of tute Kris Burton led them to vic- to 10-5 with a smart drop goal which was comfortably converted Stadium the region to shape the future of tory, just their third ever over the on the quarter hour and the by Orquera for a 20-18 scoreline. in Rome, motoring throughout the Arab French. number 10 continued his hot form Burton, gave his side a five- yesterday. world. France were far from their three minutes later with a con- point lead 12 minutes later with The meeting is being organ- best and despite tries from Louis verted penalty given for Maxime a deft drop goal. ised in Doha for the first time Picamoles and Benjamin Fall and Mermoz’s offside offence. With a huge crowd roaring and Qatar Motor and Motorcycle eight points from a rejuvenated Italy’s defence did brilliantly Ireland kept their opponents at Federation (QMMF) is involved Frederick Michalak, they were to hold back France’s power- bay for an incredible win and a in the organising of the meeting deservedly beaten by Jacques ful attack in the first half hour, dream start to the Six Nations to promote, develop and expand Brunel’s effervescent side. only conceding a 27th-minute for their French coach Brunel regional road safety and contrib- Italy’s captain Parisse led from Michalak penalty after France against his countrymen. ute to the improvement of the the front, putting his team ahead had a Yoann Huget try denied REUTERS environment. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Tour of Qatar Bookwalter grabs golden 2013: Stages Today - Stage 2: Al Rufaa Street to Al Rufaa Street, 14km TTT Tomorrow - Stage 3: Al Wakra to Mesaieed, 143km jersey after shock win Wednesday, February 6 - Stage 4: Camel Race Track to Al Khor Corniche, 160km I never really expected to win this stage, says the American Thursday, February 7 - Stage 5: Al Zubara Fort to Madinat Al Shamal, 154km BY RIZWAN REHMAT the last 500m. They are my good Friday, February 8 - Stage 6: friends. We go a long way back. Sealine Beach Resort to Doha DUKHAN: American cyclist “I have been working on my Corniche, 116km Brent Bookwalter yesterday strengths,” the American rider produced a shock stage win to said when asked about his prepa- Tour of Qatar 2013 grab the golden and silver jer- ration in the run up to the Tour Mona Barthel of Germany celebrates seys on day one of the Tour of of Qatar. First Stage Results her victory with the trophy after beating Sara Errani of Italy during Qatar. “I have had a decent career so DOHA: Tour of Qatar results their final match at the 21st GDF Bookwalter, who rides for BMC far but it is great to get a good after yesterday’ opening stage: Racing, picked up speed at the start like this,” he added. Suez Tennis Open in Paris, France, 1. Brent Bookwalter (USA/ right time, edging a strong field “My work was cut but the guys yesterday. BMC), 145km in 3hr 28min that included Mark Cavendish to did a great job. We fought back 47sec win the 145km first stage of the after falling a little with the pack. six-day race. So it was all good in the end,” 2. Martin Elmiger (SUI) The American rider, 28, crossed Bookwalter said. 3. Gregory Rast (SUI) Barthel the finish line with a time of three When reminded about today’s 4. Bernhard Eisel (AUT) hours 38mins and seven seconds team trial, Bookwalter said: “We 5. Elia Viviani (ITA) to secure two jerseys. are really excited about the team claims Paris Bookwalter finished the race trial. We’ve been working hard, 6. Mark Cavendish (GBR) ahead of Martin Elmiger (I especially at the training camp.” 7. Matti Breschel (DEN) Open title Am Cycling) and Gregory Rast The American added: “We are 8. Taylor Phinney (USA) (RadioShack Leopard), both from ready for the challenge.” 9. Heinrich Haussler (AUS) Switzerland. Cavendish congratu- PARIS: World number 45 10. Yauheni Hutarovich (BLR) The three riders enjoyed a lated Bookwalter on his Mona Barthel of Germany upset 45-second gap on the rest of the Twitter account, tweeted: the odds to beat top seed Sara riders who eventually caught up “Congratulations to @brent- Errani of Italy 7-5, 7-6 (7/4) with the leaders close to the end bookwalter for the win here today in the final of the Paris Open of the first stage, forcing a tight (yesterday). Takes some guts for yesterday. finish. a breakaway to stay away in this Barthel seemingly had the edge Team Sky rider Bernhard Eisel race!” on several occasions in the French of Austria finished ahead of Tour The Briton had a few words for capital only for seventh-ranked de France sprint giant Cavendish. his team-mates also. He tweeted: Errani to reel her opponent back Italian rider Elia Viviani “1st stage of#TourOfQatar done. US cyclist Brent Bookwalter (left) of the BMC Racing team celebates after in before the German finally (Cannondale) was fifth fastest. It’s like war at this race with the being given the golden jersey by a cycling official during the presentation ended Errani’s dogged resistence Cavendish, leading the Omega crosswind. @opqscyclingteam of the first stage of the Tour of Qatar held between Katara Cultural Village after one hour and 56 minutes. Pharma Quick-Step in the boys looked after me superbly. and Dukhan Beach, yesterday. RIGHT: British rider Mark Cavendish of The title was Barthel’s second absence of defending champion Thanks guys!” the Omega Pharma Quick Step team in action during the first stage. on the WTA Tour following her Tom Boonen, finished sixth- Bookwalter said the team maiden triumph in Hobart a year fastest at 10 seconds adrift of orders were simple prior to the ago. Bookwalter. start of the stage which kicked “It was hard to calculate in the my first stage win outside Europe. Bidding to follow in the foot- “Yes, this is a complete surprise off from Katara Cultural Village end as it was a straight end. I It means so much.” steps of last year’s champion and for me,” Booklwater said. and ended on the beach front in guess nobody knew who was going He added: “It is a combination compatriot Angelique Kerber, “It’s incredible. I never really Dukhan. to be at the end. So maybe we got of so much of hard work, not just Barthel made the first break- expected to win this stage in “We just figured that we needed a little advantage in the end. for me but for everyone involved through at 4-3 in the first set, Qatar,” the exhausted American, to ensure that we don’t get too “At the final 1km mark, I knew with the team.” punishing a weak second serve now into his sixth year as a pro, tired at the end. Basically we were the other two guys were really “Everyone in the team has from Errani on break point, but added. just watching out for each other,” quick. So I tried to keep them on really stood up and supported the German spurned a chance to “I was fortunate to go past Bookwalter said. one side and watch them. It was me in the past few years,” he said. close it out in the following game two really strong guys. My team “I felt really good all day. I was a tight win,” he said. Today’s second stage will be the as Errani broke back immediately. worked well together,” he said. maybe a little nervous at the Winning outside Europe meant team time trial to be held at Al However, the 22-year-old “They didn’t couldn’t get ahead start but felt good overall,” the a lot to Bookwalter. Rufaa Street. earned a second chance at 6-5 as of me so I kept them behind me in American said. He said: “It is exciting as this THE PENINSULA a fizzing backhand down the line brought up two set points with Barthel duly converting as Errani fired long. The pair then exchanged early service breaks in the second before Barthel clawed in front Cyclists during the first again at 4-2. stage of the Tour of A subsequent hold presented Qatar are seen in action the German an opportunity to yesterday. RIGHT: A serve for the championship, but map of today’s second Errani once more refused to sur- stage that will start and render and broke to get back on finish at Al Rufaa Street. serve. PICTURES BY: SALIM With the world number seven MATRAMKOT then serving to extend the con- test and force a tie-break at 5-6, Errani appeared doomed as Barthel carved out two match points only for the Italian to save the first with a swinging volley after a long rally before Barthel misfired with the return on the second. It proved merely a stay of execution for Errani, though, ExxonMobil to sponsor Heir Apparent Sword Race as Barthel clinched victory at the fourth time of asking with a DOHA: ExxonMobil will exclu- thumping forehand winner in the sively sponsor the 2013 The Heir tie-break. AFP Apparent Sword Race that will take place on February 7. Held under the patronage of Berdych sends The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at Czechs into the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), this prominent quarter-finals event will see the best pure Arabians and Thoroughbreds race against one another for top LONDON: Holders Czech honors and a chance to win QR Republic moved into the quar- 800,000 in prize money. ter-finals of the Davis Cup with ExxonMobil’s ongoing spon- Tomas Berdych outlasting Swiss sorship of the pivotal race speaks opponent Stanislas Wawrinka a volumes to its commitment to this day after the pair emerged from historically significant element a marathon doubles encounter. of Qatari heritage, while also Berdych enjoyed a compara- emphasising the important role tively easy 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 vic- equestrian competition continues tory over Wawrinka, to give the to play today in Qatar. Czechs an insurmountable 3-1 Bart Cahir, President and lead, a day after he and partner General Manager of ExxonMobil Lukas Rosol edged a punishing Qatar Inc said in a press confer- seven-hour clash with Wawrinka ence yesterday: “Our sponsor- Bart Cahir (second left) President and General Manager of ExxonMobil Qatar Inc and Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Chairman Sheikh and Marco Chiudinelli 24-22 in ship of His Highness the Heir Mohamed bin Faleh Al Thani (second right) are seen during a press conference at QREC Headquarters yesterday. the final set. Apparent Sword Race is espe- The Czech’s will now travel to cially meaningful to ExxonMobil Kazakhstan in April after the as it is a way for us to support very proud to have been affiliated the Qatari community – a place Al Thani, Chairman of QREC, strengthen and protect a sport former Soviet nation wrapped up this unique aspect of Qatar’s his- with for the past five years.” steeped in culture and traditions expressed his appreciation to the fostered by our forefathers.” a 3-1 victory over Austria. tory - the tradition of equestrian “Making the most of energy – we believe that one of the most deal with ExxonMobil. He added: “It is our hope that The Czechs came into the final excellence.” development is about more important contributions we can Sheikh Mohamed said yester- events like the prestigious His day with a 2-1 advantage and The ExxonMobil President than oil and gas production for make to Qatar and its citizens is day: “ExxonMobil and the Qatar Highness the Heir Apparent Berdych took three hours and 15 added: “The event has become ExxonMobil, the company is also to support events of cultural and Racing and Equestrian Club Sword Race further elevate the minutes to wrap up a four-set win not only a great source of national committed to delivering sustain- traditional significance that high- share a long and fruitful part- status of equestrian excellence over an equally weary Wawrinka, pride, but also a means of show- able, long-term benefits for local light as well as preserve Qatar’s nership. We thank ExxonMobil not only in Qatar, but through- who had defeated Rosol in the sin- casing Qatar’s leadership in communities,” he said. unique heritage,” said Cahir. for its ongoing support for horse out the region and around the gles match on the opening day on equestrian events, which we are “As we deeply value our role in Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh racing in Qatar, which serves to world.” THE PENINSULA Friday. AFP MONDAY 4 FEBRUARY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31

La Liga: Madrid crash to shock Aguero salvages loss to Granada

MADRID: Real Madrid’s dis- mal season went from bad to worse when Cristiano Ronaldo scored an own-goal to hand draw for City relegation-threatened Granada a shock 1-0 win on Saturday night. Bale scores match winner for Spurs Real coach Jose Mourinho had already given up winning the league before Christmas and this LONDON: Manchester City The Hawthorns after appearing latest blow means that Barcelona hit back to draw 2-2 at home English Premier to twist his ankle. can increase their lead over them to Liverpool in a pulsating Tottenham manager Andre to 18 points if they win at Valencia. game yesterday but the result League Results Villas-Boas later revealed that There were doubts over whether left Manchester United with a Man City 2 Liverpool 2 he had been withdrawn from or not Ronaldo would play as he daunting nine-point lead at the England’s squad for their friendly is struggling with an ankle injury W B Albion 0 Tottenham Hotspur 1 top of the Premier League. against Brazil on Wednesday. and his mood didn’t improve when After City old boy Daniel in Sturridge beating Hart with a Spurs were given a helping he headed a Granada corner into Sturridge cancelled out Edin crisp low strike to peg back his hand early in the second half his own goal after 22 minutes. Dzeko’s opener for the hosts, a former club. when West Brom’s Macedonian Real had scored nine goals in 73rd-minute Steven Gerrard Gerrard put Liverpool ahead left-back Goran Popov, on loan their last two league games but thunderbolt gave Liverpool a with the kind of goal upon which from Dynamo Kiev, was shown they lacked the necessary drive glimpse of victory, only for Sergio he has built his reputation, chest- a straight red card for spitting perhaps as a result of a draining Aguero to level moments later. ing down a high ball 30 yards out towards Spurs right-back Kyle El Clasico in midweek where they While City are left to con- and letting rip with a stunning Walker. scraped a 1-1 draw in the first template the unenviable task of half-volley that flashed past Hart The visitors made their numer- Manchester City’s Sergio Aguero stretches for the ball during their leg of their King’s Cup tie with reeling United in, Liverpool can into the bottom-left corner. ical advantage count in the 67th English Premier League match against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium Barcelona. take heart from a bold display It was fitting reward for the minute as Bale took his tally for in Manchester, northern England, yesterday. “It was not a good game and we at the Etihad Stadium that fol- visitors’ enterprise, but a rush of the season to 11 league goals with lost and I am responsible,” said lowed their 2-2 draw at Arsenal blood to the head from Liverpool a vicious strike from just outside Mourinho. in mid-week. goalkeeper Pepe Reina helped the 18-yard area. On playing in a “I didn’t like the first half from Liverpool took the game to City Aguero to equalise just five min- more central role, Bale told Sky Scottish Cup: Celtic the team, it was terrible. We in the early stages, with Pablo utes later. Sports: “I enjoy it. It’s a role that improved after the break and we Zabaleta sliding in to thwart The Spaniard raced out to I’m learning season by season. dominated. We had a chance to Sturridge after he had rounded the left-hand edge of his area “I’ve come in (from the wing) score but if we had taken it then Joe Hart and Luis Suarez shoot- to challenge the City striker but more often than in previous sea- romp into quarters the performance still wouldn’t ing wide, but it was the hosts who Aguero neatly eluded him before sons and I enjoy it. It’s a new have been sufficient. took the lead in the 23rd minute. brilliantly curving a shot into experience for me, a chance to GLASGOW: Celtic scored a spot-kick in the 54th minute “It was a big effort after playing David Silva found James Milner the empty net from a prohibitive improve my game and add a new three second half as they pro- which Commons won and expertly on Wednesday and some teams motoring down the left flank and angle. dimension.” gressed to the quarter-finals of dispatched. have a day longer to recover but his low cross was turned home Earlier, Tottenham Hotspur Victory took Villas-Boas’ side the Scottish Cup with a 3-0 win Substitute Scott Brown missed that is not enough to explain the from close range by Dzeko. lost Jermain Defoe to injury but to within a point of third-placed over First Division Raith Rovers a golden chance to add another display as we needed to respond.” It was the Bosnian striker’s won 1-0 at West Bromwich Albion Chelsea in the Premier League at Starks Park. before fellow sub James Forrest AFP 11th league goal of the campaign through a fine Gareth Bale goal to table, while West Brom stay in The Hoops dominated the first made it 2-0 with a fine finish in but he was to play an unwitting bolster their push for Champions ninth place.West Brom coach half but the closest they came was the 83rd minute. role in Liverpool’s equaliser six League qualification. Steve Clarke said Popov would when Charlie Mulgrew’s inswing- Charlie Mulgrew’s curling Scottish Cup Fifth minutes later. Emmanuel Adebayor’s com- face punishment over his actions. ing corner came crashing off the 86th-minute effort sealed victory Believing he had been fouled by mitments with Togo at the Africa “There are no excuses at all for post. as they made sure there was no Round Results Daniel Agger, Dzeko stayed down Cup of Nations have left Defoe as Goran Popov, he has let everyone After having a series of ear- repeat of last weekend’s shock Dundee 5 Morton 1 on the pitch but play continued Spurs’ only senior striker, but he down,” Clarke told the BBC. lier penalty claims turned down League Cup exit to St Mirren. and a Liverpool attack culminated had to go off in the 39th minute at AFP the Hoops were finally awarded AFP Raith 0 Celtic 3 Alonso out of Spain friendly against Uruguay in Doha

DOHA: Real Madrid midfielder Xabi Alonso has Football Association (QFA) said some of the biggest pulled out of Vicente del Bosque’s squad to play names in world football will be showcasing their Uruguay next week in Doha because of a groin skills on Wednesday. injury, the Spanish football federation (RFEF) Al Kuwari said: “Spain will be coming here with said yesterday. their full squad. All their big stars will be here except He will be replaced by Atletico Madrid’s defensive (Iker) Casillas, who has been injured. Other than midfielder Mario Suarez, a 25-year-old former youth that, all the other teams have their big stars with international who earns his first call up. (Andreas) Iniesta, (Carlos) Puyol, (Diego) Forlan “Alonso finished (Saturday’s) Granada-Real and (Luis) Suraez will all be here.” Madrid game with a problem,” the RFEF state- He added: “This match will have a special flavor as ment said. there will the Confederations Cup in Brazil in July, “This morning, the player has been in contact with where both these teams will also meet.” the federation medical services by telephone and he Eleven kids from local schools, aged between eight has described his physical condition and how it has and nine, who won a competition, organised by the evolved from last night. QFA and Qatar 2022, will be leading a team of play- “Alonso will be checked over by the national team’s ers onto the pitch before kick-off. Eleven kids have medical services as is always the case after a player Nasser Al Khater (left), Communications and Marketing Director of Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee speaking also been chosen from Aspire Academy to escort a is ruled out after being called up.” team onto the pitch at the 43,000 capacity stadium. during a press conference yesterday. Also seen are Khalid Al Kuwari (centre), Marketing Director of Qatar Football The world and European champions play Uruguay Before the match begins, spectators will be able Association (QFA) and Saleh Al Mana, Vice-President and Director of Public and Government Affairs at ExxonMobil. in a friendly in Doha on February 6. to enjoy the Spanish and Uruguayan cultures by Meanwhile match organisers said yesterday that visiting the Fan Zone that will be set up near the around 3,500 tickets are still remaining for the high- been on sale now for three or four weeks. We have at the ticket box offices.” Al Khater added that there stadium from 4.00pm. profile international friendly. been doing very well with the ticket sales. Between have been a ‘significant’ number of ticket sales from Al Kuwari also thanked ExxonMobil, who is the The match to be held at Khalifa International 85 and 90 per cent of the tickets have been sold, and the Gulf countries including Qatar, as well as Europe official sponsor for the match. Stadium has already seen between 85 and 90 per roughly 3,500 tickets still remaining.” and the United States of America. He said: “I would like to thanks ExonMobil for cent of the tickets sold. Al Khater urged the public not to wait until the Tickets for the match that begins at 9.00pm, can supporting this match. ExonMobil has been involved Nasser Al Khater, Communications and Marketing last minute to purchase tickets. be purchased from City Center, Landmark and in supporting many sporting activities and would like Director of Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee said at He said: “We urge people not the buy their ticket Lagoona Mall. to thank for their continous support.” a press conference: “The tickets for the match have last minute as they may be waiting for a long time Khalid Al Kuwari, Marketing Director of Qatar REUTERS/THE PENINSULA QNB Stars Cup: Al Sadd trounce Al Kharaitiyat 3-1 PSG, Fluminense to clash in final of Al Kass Cup

DOHA: Defending cham- pions Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Fluminense quali- fied for the final of the Al Kass International Cup. In the first semi-final, The French side edged past Boca Juniors of Argentina 7-6 in the penalty shoot-out, to qualify for the second successive final in Doha. In the second semi-final, the Brazilian coasted to an easy 3-1 win over Inter Milan. The final will be played on February 7. The winners will receive $75,000, a gold cup and gold medals. The runner-up will get $40000, the third place finisher gets $25000. The other teams taking part in the tournament included: Real Robert Nunes of Brazilian club Fluminense celebrates his team’s win over Madrid, Liverpool, Yokohama Inter Milan in the Al Kass Cup International football tournament semi- final at Aspire Academy yesterday. Fluminense won 3-1. In the final on Al Kharaitiyat SC striker Abdulla Hani Ballan tries to get past Al Sadd SC goalkeeper Mohamed Saqr Ahmed Marinos, Esperance, Al Nasser, Febraury 7, Fluminense will take on Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) of France. during their QNB Stars Cup match at Al Arabi Stadium in Doha, yesterday. Al Sadd won 3-1. In another match, Al Zamalek, Aspire Qatar and Aspire International. PSG defeated Boca Juniors of Argentina 7-6 in the penalty shoot-out, to Al Arabi edged past Qatar Sports Club 3-2. PICTURE BY: KAMMUTTY VP THE PENINSULA qualify for the second successive final in Doha.