ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER

Tuesday 24 December 2013 20 Safar 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5923 Price: QR2

Nakilat signs Qatar eye $160m deals 2015 Asian with Al Khaliji Championship

Business | 17 Sport | 25

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Upgrade skills or quit, PM receives message from Guinea Bissau doctors, nurses told Continuous education to be made mandatory

DOHA: Doctors, nurses and and CPD programmes, including claim CME/CPD credit units (CUs) other healthcare practition- online training modules that the designated for each module. This ers in Qatar who don’t upgrade practitioners can choose from. will help healthcare practitioners themselves through continu- Qatar University is one of the not only to cover the gaps in their ous education and training accredited CMC/CPD centres in knowledge and skills but also to be would fail to get their licences Qatar,” Dr Jamal Rashid Al Khanji, trained on how to plan for, grant, renewed. Acting Chief Executive Officer of fulfil and keep sufficient CPD In two years, the Supreme QCHP told this daily yesterday. credit units that will be mandated Council of Health (SCH) will QCHP is responsible for licens- by the year 2016, for their annual be making it mandatory for all ing all healthcare practitioners re-licensing and recertification in healthcare practitioners, work- in the country in the private and Qatar,” said the statement. ing in the public and private sec- public sectors. The department has introduced tors to go through internationally As a pilot project to help the a national CME/CPD accreditation The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani received a written accepted training programmes practitioners use the online framework with the aim of devel- message from Prime Minister of the Republic of Guinea Bissau Rui Duarte Barros dealing with bilateral relations. and obtain a minimum required CME modules, the Accreditation oping and implementing an inter- Special Adviser to the Prime Minister of Guinea Bissau Roberto Antonio Vieira delivered the message yesterday. score every year as a condition for Department is providing free nationally-recognisable system for renewing their licence. access to the internationally rec- accreditation of health professional The Accreditation Department ognised BMJ Online Learning education in the country. This at the Qatar Council for website for all practitioners, for would help in promoting knowl- Detained Qatari’s son held in UAE Healthcare Practitioners (QCHP) three months. edge, competence and perform- is the sole regulator of the inter- During the trial phase, the ance of healthcare practitioners national training programmes in online training modules will be and improve the quality of patient DOHA: A son of a Qatari medi- attending the hearing in their people are trying to suggest that Qatar that are known as CME accessible to doctors and nurses care, the SCH said. cal doctor, who is being tried by father’s case. the incident took place inside the (continuous medical education) at the Al Ahli and Al Emadi hospi- The CME/CPD system encour- a UAE court for alleged links However, some tweeters, court premises. This is not true. and CPD (continuous professional tals but later they will be extended ages healthcare practitioners to to a banned social organisa- apparently from the UAE, said The incident took place outside development). to all healthcare practitioners in pursue a variety of educational tion there, has been arrested Abdul Rahman was arrested the court”. By 2016, all healthcare practi- all sectors, the SCH said in a sepa- activities and resources appropriate while attending a court hearing after he assaulted a secu- Yet another tweet message said tioners will be required to keep rate statement yesterday. to their practice available in face to against his father yesterday, Al rity official outside the court that security officials of the court sufficient CPD credits to get their The BMJ website provides an face and online formats and with Sharq reports. premises. had earlier complained about the annual licences renewed, the SCH opportunity for healthcare prac- set requirements from the QCHP. Hassan, the son of Dr Mahmoud “Abdul Rahman broke one of behaviour of Abdul Rahman so said. “This is an important move titioners to develop their skills A commonly used resource for Al Jaidah who was detained by the fingers of the officer,” said one when he came into the court to improve the quality of health- through several educational mod- CME/CPD, that is yet to be intro- the UAE police late last February tweeter. “He became emotional premises, a security official asked care in the country by forcing ules including clinical and non- duced to Qatar, is the accredited in Dubai while he was on his way and began screaming while secu- him to accompany him for ques- the practitioners to continuously clinical healthcare related skills. online CME libraries, added the to Doha from Bangkok, told the rity officials tried to calm him tioning him. This might have upgrade their skills and knowl- “Completing online modules in statement. daily his brother Abdul Rahman down.” infuriated him. edge. There are a variety of CMC this trial will entitle participants to THE PENINSULA had been taken into custody while Another tweeter said: “Some THE PENINSULA

Qatar gives $10m Qatari activist ‘targeted’ for exposing US drone strikes to Arab League DOHA: A prominent Geneva-based He has been accused of providing money Asked about the death toll so far in licence in Geneva. Plus, the fact remains Qatari human rights activist who has and material support and having communi- the drone attacks, he told The Peninsula that it is a good place to work for human CAIRO: Qatar handed over been accused by the US Treasury cation with Al Qaeda and its affiliates in Iraq, he couldn’t cite a figure offhand. “But I rights since there are a lot of UN and other a cheque worth $10m to Arab Department of financing Al Qaeda has Syria, Somalia and Yemen. “The fact is that remember that in one attack, for example, international organisations.” League yesterday as contribu- rubbished the allegations and said they I have never set foot on the soil of Iraq or 45 civilians were killed, in another some “Geneva provides a very good work tion to the pension fund for were totally baseless. Syria. Yes, I have been to Yemen but that was 25 people, and still another drone attack environment to document human rights the employees of the Arab Abdul Rahman bin Umair Al Nuaimi in connection with my work (of documenting claimed a dozen lives.” violations.” League. told The Peninsula yesterday that on the human rights violations),” Al Nuaimi said. Drone attacks mainly target marriage His organisation Alkarama, he said, docu- Qatar’s Ambassador to Egypt contrary media organs of some Al Qaeda He earlier told a news conference the US parties and family get-togethers, he said. ments human rights violations in the Arab and its Permanent Representative affiliates have been dubbing him as an agent Treasury Department might have targeted “My Geneva-based organisation has world. Al Nuaimi also heads an Arab Studies to the Arab League Saif bin of the west and a backer of Arab regimes. him because his Geneva-based human rights also documented the killings by the state Centre in Doha. It specialises in studying Muqaddam Al Buainain handed “I have never ever met an Al Qaeda organisation, Alkarama, has extensively doc- security forces in Egypt after the military social and political affairs in the Arab world over the cheque to Arab League operative or leader,” Al Nuaimi said on umented drone attacks in Yemen in which takeover. The toll is over a 1,000.” and has published several booklets. He said Secretary-General Dr Nabil Al the phone. so many innocent civilians have been killed. Asked why he chose Geneva, and not the listing by the US Treasury Department Arabi in Cairo. He is one of the two men listed (the “My organisation even once honoured a an Arab city, as the venue to set up his is an administrative decision, and not a Dr Al Arabi expressed his sin- other being a Yemeni national) as global journalist, Abdul Ilah Shaya, for exposing human rights organisation, Al Nuaimi said judicial one, and can thus be revoked. cere appreciation and thanks to terrorists by the US Treasury Department the extent of killings of innocent civilians Arab countries do not provide licence to THE PENINSULA the State of Qatar and the Emir last Wednesday. in drone attacks in Yemen.” such human rights organisations. “I got the Continued on page 5 H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He lauded the proposal of the Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani BA flight wing clips building to establish a pension fund for employees of the Arab League made during the 24th Arab League Storms batter UK, Summit, held in Doha in March. QNA leaving two dead Salva Kiir says LONDON: Storm winds and Agency has issued a severe flood ready for talks torrential rain have swept warning in the south west, saying Britain, leaving two people “extremely dangerous” conditions WASHINGTON: South dead, thousands of homes with- posed a danger to life. Sudan’s President Salva Kiir out power, and wreaking havoc The agency also issued 34 flood said yesterday he is committed on the great Christmas getaway. warnings, of which 19 were in the to beginning talks with rebel Festive travellers were bracing south-west, and warned a further leader Riek Machar, the coun- themselves for another day of chaos 200 regions to be on alert for iso- try’s former vice-president, to today as fallen debris cluttered lated floods. end violence, a senior US official roads and rails across the country. As travellers planned to make said after meeting Kiir in the As the brunt of the storm drove their last-minute Christmas geta- capital Juba. in from the Atlantic, huge waves way forecasters warned that the “President Kiir committed and gales of up to 80mph crashed worst of the weather may not have to me that he was ready to into the south coast of England passed. “A rapidly deepening area begin talks with Riek Machar and Aberystwyth, in west Wales. of low pressure is developing to the to end the crisis without pre- In Cumbria and north Wales west of Ireland and is forecast to conditions as soon as his coun- the bodies of a man and a woman pass just to the north-west of the terpart is willing,” US special were separately pulled from swol- UK overnight and on Tuesday,” said envoy to South Sudan, Donald len rivers hit by heavy downpours. Andy Page, the Met Office chief Booth, told a conference call The wing of a British Airways 747 is clipping a building at O R Tambo International airport in Johannesburg in There were few reports of flooded forecaster. “This brings the poten- with reporters. this picture released yesterday. A British Airways plane bound for London clipped its wing on a nearby build- homes, but severe gales brought tial for possible disruption to trans- It was not immediately clear ing as it was preparing to take off from Johannesburg on Sunday, South Africa’s airports authority said. The down cables, cutting off power to port because of the strong winds how soon a meeting could be Boeing 747-400 carrying about 180 passengers was taxiing when its wing hit the building. 9,000 homes in Berkshire and 3,000 and also flooding in some areas.” arranged. in Cornwall. The Environment THE GUARDIAN REUTERS TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Run The World Festival attracts 120,000 visitors An unforgettable experience for youth in Mena region

DOHA: More than 120,000 visitors attended the third annual Run The World Festival (RTWF) last week at Katara Beach. The count for the three-day event, organised by The Youth Company in partnership with Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum, under Qatar Museums Authority, was more than three times the predicted footfall, and engaged over 800 volunteers and 70 organ- isers, and collaborated with over 50 partners, sponsors, exhibitors and associations. Rashed Al Qurese, QTA Director of Marketing and Promotions, addressing the workshop. The regional youth sports fes- tival was by far the most enter- taining, engaging, and enriching edition and an unforgettable expe- rience for youth in the Middle QTA shares tourism initiatives for East and North Africa region, as well as internationally, featuring exciting programmes and activi- 2014 with global stakeholders ties in a vast open space. RTWF 2013 was divided into DOHA: Qatar Tourism that the people representing heritage of Qatar, its traditions, three days of activities at three Authority (QTA) convened its Qatar abroad are aware of devel- tourism products, hotels and designated spaces — RTW Sports, international representation opments and plans for the year reception facilities. RTW Street and RTW Village. offices and local tourism and ahead, as well as hear first-hand Participants praised QTA’s col- A highlight of the event was the hospitality sector stakehold- from local stakeholders on their laborative approach in working ‘Youth Got Talent’ contest which ers recently for a Framework new products, services and plans together with local tourism and saw 50 finalists in vocals, instru- Workshop on Strategic Tourism for 2014. hospitality industry stakeholders ments, rapping, beatboxing, dance Marketing Initiatives for 2014 “In this way we enter the New to give them insights into plans and more. It also included special and beyond. Year with everyone aligned and through the workshop which activities such as Zumba dance, The two-day workshop at pushing in the same direction allowed them the opportunity to cultural shows and welcomed The Ritz-Carlton Doha aimed to support the promotion of the hear and see first-hand the strat- guest performers and judges, at updating source market rep- tourism industry in Qatar, at egy for 2014. including beatboxer Ahmed Aba resentation and providing the home and abroad.” Promotion of Qatar as a tour- Zaid and Qatari musician Dana opportunity to share the Tourism QTA is expanding its network ism destination saw increased Al Fardan. Marketing Plan for 2014. of representation offices, open- efforts in 2013, with QTA and “Having been part of each Rashed Al Qurese, QTA ing its second location in Europe stakeholder delegations present RTW edition since 2011, to see Director of Marketing and earlier this year in Paris. Other at regional and global MICE and it grow to such a scope as it is Promotions, said, “The workshop offices are scheduled to launch in leisure tourism exhibitions and today is an indescribable feel- One of the activities in progress in the RTW Sports area. is an opportunity to convene 2014 and beyond in line with the conferences around the world, ing. The astounding number of QTA’s international and local Qatar National Tourism Sector including EIBTM in Barcelona, visitors we have attracted in the community in Qatar,” said Aya that made RTW a completely new tourism sector stakeholders and Strategy 2030. Arabian Travel Market in Dubai, past few days shows how TYC, Abu Issa, CEO, TYC. experience for youth. With this prepare for the year ahead in a The representative offices are World Travel Market in London, as a monopoly for youth empow- “However, none of this would incredible success, we look for- strategic and coordinated way. essential conduits to national and ITB Asia in Singapore, among erment in the region, holds the have been possible without the ward to expanding and growing “As Qatar’s tourism sector is markets as they are charged with others. power to leave such a substantial support of our sponsors and part- to new levels and prospects in the developing rapidly, it is critical highlighting the rich cultural THE PENINSULA and positive mark on the young ners, volunteers, and the team future.” THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Ooredoo backs sporting Clinical nurse specialists to hero Nasser Al Attiyah DOHA: Ooredoo yesterday and powerboats will carry the announced it would sponsor all Ooredoo logo. endeavours of Qatari sporting The bullets he uses in shooting boost cancer care at HMC hero Nasser Al Attiyah in 2014. contests will be called “Ooredoo”. Next year, Al Attiyah will take Ooredoo will also sponsor the part in motor races around the racing jumpsuits and brand a Team of seven to provide support, coordinate services and advise patients world, including the Dakar Rally special eco-friendly car as part off-road race and the World Cup of its support. Rally, in countries as diverse as Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Russia, Morocco and in Qatar. Thani, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar, said: He is the only Arab to have “All of Qatar is proud of Nasser won the Dakar Rally, and is eager Al Attiyah, and Ooredoo is proud to extend his dominance in the to support him in his most chal- sport of rally-driving. lenging year of sport. We want The Olympic medal-winner to use our partnership to inspire will also compete in World Cup more young people to get involved shooting contests and take part in sport, and to recognise that – in the 2014 Asian Games in if they set for themselves a goal Incheon, South Korea, in August, and work to achieve it – they can as he continues to prepare for the reach incredible heights.” 2016 Olympics. Ooredoo and Al Attiyah have Eager to conquer new fields, Al a long track record of working Attiyah will take to the waves in together, and the new agreement the World Cup Powerboat Race is designed to take the partner- in April 2014. ship to new levels. “I love the challenge of com- In October 2013, Al Attiyah petitive sport and I love repre- was present for the opening of senting my country. Ooredoo’s Ooredoo’s new HQ2 and the com- support means a lot to me, mercial upgrade of Ooredoo’s because it provides me with 4G service, which provides the resources I need to take part in fastest mobile broadband serv- so many events, and because it ice in Qatar. Ooredoo will also will hopefully inspire more peo- look at working with Al Attiyah ple to get involved in sport and on sports education activities in healthy activity,” said Al Attiyah. Qatar to encourage more young Under a sponsorship agree- people to take up a sport. The CNSs are key members of the multi-disciplinary team for breast, urology, haematology-oncology and gastrointestinal cancers and palliative care. ment, Al Attiyah’s racing cars THE PENINSULA

DOHA: Hamad Medical Consultant Physician, Assistant in cancer care to provide techni- of CNSs has been directly linked Corporation (HMC) has intro- Chairman, Department of cal and emotional support, coor- to improving patient involve- duced seven clinical nurse spe- Haematology and Oncology, dinate care services and inform ment in the treatment decisions, cialists (CNS) in the cancer National Center for Cancer Care and advise patients on clinical and enhanced pain management care pathway. and Research, (NCCCR), HMC, practical issues. practices, increased patient sat- The CNSs are key members said: “The role of CNSs in ensur- They also support education isfaction with nursing care, and of the multi-disciplinary team ing cancer patients receive high and development of nurses work- lower complications in hospital- for breast, urology, haematology- quality care, based on the best and ing in wards and outpatient areas ised patients. oncology and gastrointestinal most recent research evidence, is which leads to positive patient “Given this strong correla- cancers and palliative care. There instrumental. The CNSs are key outcome. tion to patient safety, we hope is also a CNS for pain manage- members of the multi-disciplinary Professor Alex Knuth, Medical to expand the use of CNSs and ment who works across all types team, providing direct patient Director for the NCCCR and engage these clinical experts to a of cancer. The presence of CNSs care with a focus on outcome. As Chairman of Cancer Services greater extent throughout all dis- at HMC represents a significant the demand for healthcare grows, for HMC said: “Research done ciplines. As a result, we are work- step forward for cancer nursing we anticipate that CNSs will be with people living with a cancer ing with the University of Calgary in Qatar and the region. increasingly important in provid- diagnosis shows a strong correla- Qatar to train local nurses as the Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, CEO, Ooredoo Qatar, (left) with Nasser On the role of the CNSs, Dr ing the best care for our patients.” tion between CNS interventions CNS workforce of the future” Al Attiyah at the signing of the agreement. Al Hareth Al Khater, Senior CNSs use skills and expertise and safe patient care. The role THE PENINSULA Artist Al Mutawa brings Qatari maritime tradition alive at expo

Officials view some of the artworks after the inauguration of the exhibition at Katara yesterday.

DOHA: More than 45 works by important part of our heritage Al Mutawa said, “My rela- Qatari artist Abdul Rahman Al which is the Qatari maritime tra- tionship with the sea began in Mutawa are on display at ‘The dition inherited generation after my childhood… I was passionate language of water and stone generation, showing the youth the about the sea and old tales about of Qatari islands’ expo which beauty of the past and present the sea as told by my ancestors opened yesterday at Building 22 image of Qatar, he said. in the past centuries, whether on at Katara. “Katara is dedicated to be a gaining livelihood or their work The artworks are diverse rang- forum for creators and intellec- as pearl divers.” ing from video art and installation tuals, as it contributes to the dis- Since he was a child, the artist to sculpture and lithography. semination of cultural awareness had been fascinated with dhows Opening the exhibition, Dr by promoting and highlighting and their sails so he studied their Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, creative energies of Qatar, and types looking at dhows at Doha Katara General Manager, praised the development of the art and port and Qatari museums learn- Qatari innovators and their works culture climate by involving art- ing about old stories in a period he that enrich the fine art scene. ists in the development process,” wished he had witnessed. The exhibition covers an he said. “I started preparing for the exhibition in January 2013. I made great research efforts as I did not live in that period. I collected information and depicted them through my artworks,” he said. He also immersed himself through maritime cruises on a weekly basis to explore the life in the sea and explored old plays and films that dealt with this vital aspect of Qatari maritime heritage. Al Mutawa said the book Pearl Diving released by Katara was one of his important sources, including historical information on maritime heritage and sail- ors. These information are also embodied in the exhibition. The expo is open for the public One of the artworks on display. from 10am to 10pm. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Students make films on water conservation ‘Water, Camera, Action!’ contest attracts 17 entries

DOHA: A pilot Junior motivational and inspirational ConocoPhillips, and Gary Sykes, Environmental Filmmaker elements, production quality, President, ConocoPhillips Qatar. competition by ConocoPhillips’ overall delivery and effort. Al Mutawa said, “I really Global Water Sustainability The panel comprised key fig- enjoyed watching the films pro- Centre (GWSC) has received 17 ures in the environment field duced by the students. They found short films from schools. in Qatar, including Somaya Al unique and creative ways to raise The competition ‘Water, Mutawa, Head of Community awareness about water conserva- Camera, Action!’ called for short Awareness and Development at tion and highlighted the extent films on water sustainability in Qatar General Electricity and of work and effort Qatar’s next Qatar, highlighting the impor- Water Corporation (Kahramaa); generation is prepared to dedi- tance of water and raising aware- Abdulla Al Hajjaj, Environment cate to worthwhile initiatives that ness about water conservation. Specialist at Qatar Foundation; address the country’s future.” The top three films will be Rand Agha, Corporate Since its inception, GWSC screened at an awards ceremony Citizenship Officer at Qatargas; hosted over 3,000 students from with each member of the winning Sadiq Gholoum Mohammed, Head schools all around Qatar to pro- teams receiving a special gift and of Environmental Assessment mote water conservation in a their schools a trophy. Project at Qatar Petroleum; unique and compelling way. The winning videos will also be Abdulrahman Al Abduljabbar, To maintain and pursue this featured at the 2014 Environment Environment Adviser at the goal of promoting water conser- Fair. Ministry of Environment; vation and raising awareness of A judging panel reviewed and Dr Samer Adham, Managing GWSC on the community level, evaluated the short films, scoring Director of Global Water the competition was created as each based on the theme, crea- Sustainability Center (GWSC); one of the initiatives that are tivity, originality, presentation, Salem Al Halbadi, Director ongoing. The judging panel at the event. impact and strength of message, of Government Affairs at THE PENINSULA

Over 120 enrol for HMC internship DOHA: Hamad Medical event HMC recorded over 120 make an important contribution Corporation (HMC) regis- contacts; we are following up to building their country’s future,” tered over 120 people during on the applicants,” said Fatima added Haider. the eighth Sponsorship and Haider, HMC’s Human Resources HMC also piloted a new evalu- Internship Career Forum at Executive Director. ation scheme, asking students Qatar University’s College of HMC offered students with the who visited its booth to complete Business and Economics. opportunity to ask questions and a short written questionnaire on The event connected students seek advice about sponsorship, how they view HMC and what with some of Qatar’s top com- internship, training and future motivates their career choices. panies, fostering discussions employment opportunities with Students who completed the on sponsorship and internship HMC. “At HMC there are many questionnaire were invited to opportunities. areas of specialisations on offer enter a draw to win one of two “The forum was an impor- for job-seekers. Employment at prize packages. The winners tant platform that connected HMC provides young graduates received their prize at HMC’s Qatari students, job-seekers and with a secure future and valuable Human Resources offices earlier employers. During the four-day work experience and helps them this month. THE PENINSULA

Fishing on Corniche

Participants at last year’s festival ... a huge draw Registration for falcon festival from Jan 1 DOHA: Registration for the fifth Qatar international participants and hobbyists, and International Falcons and Hunting Festival encourages Arab citizens from neighbouring coun- starts on January 1, organisers announced tries to participate and win prizes in various cat- yesterday. egories of the competition. Registration will continue until January 5, from “International participation is beneficial for us 4pm to 8pm at Al Gannas Association headquarters, in sharing experiences and disseminating this vital Building 33, Katara. aspect of our culture among a large number of par- Being held under the patronage of H E Sheikh ticipants from the region,” he said. Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the festival showcases He said this edition of the festival focuses more a significant aspect of Qatari heritage and that is on tourism, providing participants and visitors with why organisers are keen to present it at the regional requirements for their comfort, including health and international level. The festival has become one facilities and family areas. of the key Qatari traditional events that promote Festival events will be held for almost one month the country’s tourism sector, said association and and will include falcon and saluki competitions in festival Chairman Ali bin Khatim Al Muhashadi. various categories, in Sabkath Marma in Sealine. A man fishing on the Corniche where fishing is banned. Riding cycles is also banned in the area which is des- He said the festival is also a platform for THE PENINSULA ignated for families. V P KAMMUTTY Al Khaliji supports Filipino victims

Al Khaliji Group CEO, Robin McCall, presents the cheque to Qatar Red Crescent officials.

DOHA: Al Khalij Commercial Bank (al khaliji) has launched an aid fund to support the rehabilitation of the victims of exceptionally powerful typhoon Haiyan that devastated portions of Southeast Asia, particu- larly the Philippines, in November. The voluntary donations which were made by al khaliji employees to the fund were matched by the Bank, with an aim to help in the long-term recovery efforts in the aftermath of the natural disaster. Al Khaliji Group CEO, Robin McCall presented the donation cheque to the Qatar Red Crescent Society in the presence of the Philippine Ambassador to Qatar, Crescente R Relacion. “The disaster has brought unprecedented devastation and damage to the people in the Philippines. Our hearts go out to all those who were impacted by this storm. We hope that our contribution will help the people who have been displaced to rebuild their homes and lives. This small gesture demonstrates al khaliji’s on-going commitment to helping communities suffering from disasters”, said a press statement issued by the bank yesterday. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

FM receives new envoy Emir, PM greet QF, Rand to complete Japan emperor DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of congratula- tions to the Emperor of Japan, 10-year agreement Akihito, on his country’s National Day. The Prime Minister and Rand Qatar Policy Institute major outcome of deal Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa DOHA: Qatar Foundation and worked together in Doha. Michael Rich, President and CEO Al Thani sent a similar cable. Rand Corporation, a US-based “Qatar Foundation remains of Rand Corporation. non-profit institution, will committed to building upon its “Rand’s work has helped the Cyber crimes draft complete a 10-year agreement academic and research excel- leadership of Qatar make numer- which has resulted in the estab- lence by forging partnerships that ous, major changes in the way law reviewed lishment of Rand Qatar Policy allow it to assist in the nation’s that it plans, organises and deliv- DOHA: The Advisory Institute (RQPI) in Doha. journey towards a knowledge ers social services. We hope that Council’s Internal and Foreign Qatar Foundation and Rand economy,” said Engineer Saad Al through our current and future Affairs Committee convened signed the agreement in 2003 Muhannadi, President of Qatar projects in Qatar we can continue its first regular session yes- with the aim of studying the most Foundation. to have a positive impact.” terday. It unanimously re- pivotal issues facing the region by “We would like to thank Rand Rand, a non-profit, nonpartisan elected Mohammed Abdullah harnessing the skills of hundreds for their work over the last research organisation, continues Al Sulaiti as rapporteur for the of research experts. decade.” to provide analytical support to current session. The agreement between Qatar “RQPI has been a unique col- policymakers across the Middle It also examined a draft law Foundation and Rand included laboration with a dual focus on East, including the Kurdistan on combating cyber crimes and the support of RQPI’s full-time performing policy analysis and region of Iraq, Oman, Qatar, and decided to submit a report to the The Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah received yes- workforce of both expatriate and building the policy research Saudi Arabia, among others. council. terday the new Moldovan Ambassador, Valerio Thunov, who presented Qatari research associates, who capacity of talented Qataris,” said THE PENINSULA Meanwhile, the council held copy of credentials. Al Attiyah wished him success in his mission and its weekly session, chaired by bilateral relations further progress. the Speaker, Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi. The coun- cil’s Secretary-General Fahd bin Mubarak Al Khayareen read out the agenda while the coun- QRC hosts workshop on Mena humanitarian response cil approved the minutes of its previous session. DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent It discussed a report by the (QRC) held a regional workshop services and public utilities com- on strengthening the facilitation mittee on a draft law amending and regulation of international some provisions of Law No. 4 of humanitarian response in the 1985 on building regulations and Middle East and North Africa decided to send it to the com- (Mena) Region. mittee to study it further and The two-day workshop was submit a report. held in coordination with the International Federation of Red Qatar, Senegal Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the participation of sign agreement representatives from the UN DOHA: Qatar and Senegal Office for the Coordination of have signed an agreement Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), regulating the employment the General Secretariat of the of Senegalese workers in Participants in the workshop. League of Arab States, and Qatar. national societies across the The deal was signed by the region. humanitarian response. develop the global or regional legal years and years are not aware of about what were their experiences Minister of Labour and Social The workshop focused on the The participants discussed areas framework. “It is a very important existing particularly international in handling big disasters in light of Affairs H E Dr Abdullah Saleh importance of supporting efforts of concern in potential future cri- workshop for us. QRC has been rules that are out there, or even a lot of international actors com- Mubarak Al Khulaifi and the aimed at facilitating and regu- ses in addition to the weakest very active in providing us with their own national laws,” David ing in. We found that there are a Senegalese Minister of Public lating international relief in the aspects of the global and regional advice in how to develop this area Fisher, Coordinator, International lot of the same kinds of barriers Service, Labour, Social Dialogue MENA region and discussing the legal frameworks. They also evalu- of law. It is something that really Disaster Response Laws, IFRC, such as visas, customs, tax, trans- and Professional Organisations, most important challenges that ated how well do legal frameworks new to many people, even people said. “We spent five years in con- port permissions, registration and Mansour Sy. They reviewed are usually encountered with connect with each other as well who have been working in the sultation and research. We did bank accounts.” cooperation, especially in the regulatory issues in international as the potential need to further field of disaster management for case studies in several countries THE PENINSULA field of labour and workers. QNA Rowhani eyes rebuilding US relations Strike shuts Yemen airports for hours SANA’A: Air traffic in Yemen $50m from the funds of the authority, BERLIN: Iran wants to “We want to rebuild and Iran cannot forget everything emphasised the call was to sup- stopped for hours yesterday as channelling them in public financ- improve bilateral rela- improve our relations to that has affected relations with port a diplomatic resolution of staff went on strike over a financial ing,” a union member said. tions with the United States European and North American the United States over the last Iran’s nuclear programme and dispute with the government. The strike ended with Transport and other Western powers, countries on a basis of mutual 60 years, he said, but added: “We did not concern direct bilateral Five flights scheduled to leave Minister Waed Abdallah Badhib President Hassan Rowhani respect,” he wrote in a con- must now concentrate on the ties. Two months later Iran and Sana’a International Airport in the promising workers the amount would said in an editorial published tribution for the Sueddeutsche present and orientate ourselves world powers signed an interim morning were grounded, the airport’s be refunded by Wednesday, follow- in a German newspaper yes- Zeitung newspaper. towards the future.” deal to curb part of Iran’s director general Khaled Ahmed Al ing orders by President Abdrabuh terday, broaching an issue he “We are striving to avoid new Rowhani’s diplomatic prag- nuclear activities in return for Shayef said, as traffic at other air- Mansur Hadi. has so far avoided since he burdens on relations between matism has already resulted in some sanctions relief. ports also came to a halt. “It has been agreed to suspend the took office. Iran and the United States and significant progress. While in Rowhani, a former nuclear The civil aviation union protested strike till Wednesday,” the minister Rowhani won a landslide elec- also to remove the tensions New York for the United Nations negotiator, said he was doing after the “finance minister withdrew said. AFP tion victory in June promising a that we have inherited,” said General Assembly in September, whatever he could to end ten- policy of engagement with the Rowhani, who has promised to Rowhani held an historic tele- sions over nuclear activities, West and has had regular diplo- reduce Tehran’s isolation and to phone call with Barack Obama, which have raised concerns in matic contacts with the United win an easing of sanctions. the first time the presidents of the West that Iran is seeking States, but they have been Tehran and Washington sev- the two nations have spoken in to develop an atomic weapons limited to negotiations over ered relations after Iran’s 1979 more than three decades. capability. Tehran’s nuclear programme. Islamic revolution. Iranian officials subsequently REUTERS

Government support sought Libya congress extends its Continued from page 1 “Our lawyers in the US are already working on it, and I have mandate until end-2014 also requested the Qatari govern- ment for support.” TRIPOLI: Libya’s General sustainable institutions to face Meanwhile, three Libyan He said at the news briefing National Congress, the coun- the chronic insecurity plaguing tribesman were killed in fight- that allegations that he acted try’s highest political author- the country. ing that grew out of disputes as a middleman between donors ity, extended its mandate Preparations for elections for between army units under in Doha and Al Qaeda affiliates yesterday until the end of the body charged with drafting conflicting orders over who in Iraq, Somalia and Syria were next year, a GNC spokesman a new constitution also seem controls key resources in the entirely baseless. said. to be making little headway, country’s east, officials said “Donations for social causes are The GNC had accepted the and Libyans have shown little Monday. collected by authorized charitable “principle... to fix the end of enthusiasm for signing up. Another five people were bodies in Qatar and those collec- the mandate for December 24, Faced with the public’s luke- wounded in the fighting tions are in the knowledge of the 2014 to hand over power to warm interest in the talks, between Toubou and Zuwayya Qatari government.” another legislative body,” Omar the electoral commission has tribesmen on Sunday night About allegations that he pro- Hmeidan said. pushed back the end date for in Ajdabiya, 160km south of vided $250,000 to Somalia’s Al In July 2012, after more than voter registration several times, Benghazi. Shabab, he said his Arab Studies 40 years under the rule of dic- most recently until December The clashes were sparked Centre once held a meeting for a tator Muammar Gaddafi, Libya 31. by fighting on Friday between political dialogue to help end the chose the GNC in its first ever The constitutional commis- one unit made up of Zuwayya, Somali crisis. “At the time the US elections. sion is due to be made up of 60 under the orders of the general government was actively involved The body was given 18 members equally represent- staff, and a Toubou unit that with the Somali government months to steer the country ing Libya’s three regions -- takes its orders directly from and its representatives actually through the political transition Cyrenaica in the east, Fezzan the defence ministry, an official attended this meeting.” towards general elections, after in the south and Tripolitania explained. Asked if he feared arrest when a constitution was adopted. in the west. Five soldiers were killed in he travelled abroad, Al Nuaimi Under that timetable, the The text of the new char- the fighting on Friday, and said the possibility could not be GNC’s mandate was due to ter is due to tackle key ques- clashes broke out between ruled out. “But as long as I am in expire in February. tions about the future of Libya, Zuwayya and Toubou in Doha, our government here will The political class is opposed including the system of govern- Ajdabiya the following day after protect me. I feel safe here,” he to any extension, deeming ment, the rights of minorities the soldiers’ burial that spilled said in remarks to this newspaper. it necessary to push ahead and the role of Shariah (Islamic over into Sunday. THE PENINSULA with the transition to build law). AGENCIES TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST S Sudan rebel leader sets terms for talks Govt rejects Machar’s demand to free detained allies

JUBA: South Sudan rebel president until Kiir sacked him “President Kiir committed to leader Riek Machar said yes- in July. “There is no way we will me that he was ready to begin terday he was ready to negoti- release anybody who is accused of talks with Riek Machar to end ate with President Salva Kiir a coup d’etat,” Makuei said. the crisis without preconditions to bring an end to the nine-day Makuei also dismissed Machar’s as soon as his counterpart is will- conflict if Kiir first released his claims that his rebels have taken ing,” Booth told reporters. detained political allies. over all the major oil fields in Western powers and east The US special envoy to South Unity and Upper Nile states as African states, which want to Sudan, Donald Booth, said Kiir “wishful thinking”. prevent the fighting from desta- was committed to opening talks Hours before meeting bilising a fragile African region, with Machar. Ambassador Booth, Kiir vowed have tried to mediate between Information Minister Michael to attack rebel-held Jonglei State Machar, who hails from the Nuer Makuei immediately dismissed capital Bor amid deepening fears tribe, and Kiir, a Dinka. the demands made by Machar, that the conflict is provoking But so far their efforts have who was South Sudan’s vice broader ethnic bloodletting. been fruitless as clashes which started in Juba on December 15 Families displaced by recent fighting in South Sudan, camp in a warehouse inside the United Nations Mission in entered their second week, reach- Sudan (UNAMIS) facility in Jabel, on the outskirts of capital Juba, yesterday. ing the country’s vital oil fields Army readies to hit back at and destabilising a state which because these are the people who sheltering about 42,000 civilians compounds say the conflict is cer- won independence from Sudan would (handle) dialogue,” he said across South Sudan and would tainly ethnically based. rebels, says President Kiir only in 2011. by telephone. not leave the country despite “We still don’t feel secure, but Hundreds of people have been Among those Machar listed worsening security situation. it is definitely safer here,” said JUBA: South Sudan’s army was poised for a major offensive killed, with reports of summary should be released were Pagan “For those elements who are Deng, a man who saw several against rebel forces, the president said yesterday, as the country executions and ethnically-tar- Amum — chief negotiator dur- trying to intimidate us or who dead bodies lying face down as slid towards civil war despite international peace efforts. geted killings. ing the recent oil shutdown with have attacked us, the message he took his frightened family to Expectations of a major upsurge in fighting came as the United Diplomats said the UN Security Sudan, which hosts the sole oil is loud and clear: we are here a UN base in Juba. Nations warned that the situation in the world’s youngest nation was Council is likely to approve UN export pipeline; and Rebecca to serve the people of South The US said it is repositioning fast unravelling, with hundreds of thousands of civilians now at risk. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s de Mabior, the widow of former Sudan and we are not leaving its forces in Africa as the US mili- Fighting has gripped South Sudan for more than a week, after request for another 5,000 peace- South Sudanese leader John the country under any circum- tary prepares for the possibility President Salva Kiir accused his former deputy Riek Machar, who keepers to be sent to the world’s Garang. stances,” Contreras said. Two of further evacuations of US and was fired from the government in July, of attempting a coup. newest country. “They are criminals who must Indian peacekeepers and at least other citizens from South Sudan. Machar denied the claim and accused Kiir of carrying out a Speaking from “the bush”, be brought to the books, so there 11 Dinka civilians were killed last US Ambassador Booth, who vicious purge of his rivals. Vowing to oust Kiir, his forces have since rebel leader Machar said he had is no way we can negotiate with week in an attack by about 2,000 met Kiir in Juba, said the duo seized the town of Bor, capital of the powder-keg eastern Jonglei spoken to US National Security (Machar). We are only ready to armed youths from another eth- had very frank and open dialogue state and located just 200km north of Juba, as well as the town of Adviser Susan Rice and UN envoy negotiate with him uncondition- nic group on a U.N. peacekeeping about the problems facing South Bentiu, capital of crucial oil-producing Unity state. Hilde Johnson about trying to end ally,” Makuei added. base in Jonglei state. Sudan and discussed ways the US The army is “now ready to move to Bor,” Kiir told parliament, add- fighting that has killed hundreds He also dismissed Machar’s Both Machar and Kiir have and the international community ing that the counter-attack was delayed until US citizens had been of people and driven thousands suggestion for the peace talks to denied opposing claims that they can bring the country “back from airlifted out. The comments came despite days of shuttle diplomacy from their homes. be held in Ethiopian capital Addis are stoking ethnic tensions in a the precipice”. “We notice that by African nations and calls from the United States, Britain and the “My message was let Salva Kiir Ababa, insisting they should be country boasting many tribes but the African Union has said there United Nations for the fighting to stop in the country, which won release my comrades who are held in Juba. where the Nuer, and in particular is Christmas season upon us, independence from Sudan just two and a half years ago, in July 2011. under detention and let them be Joe Contreras, the United the Dinka, are dominant. and called for all parties to cease AFP evacuated to Addis Ababa and we Nations spokesman in South But many of the people seek- hostilities. We support that call,” can start dialogue straightaway, Sudan, said the UN was now ing shelter inside sprawling U.N. Booth said. REUTERS

Saudi Shia jailed for 30 years Kuwait court rejects petitions Palestinians rule out RIYADH: A Shia citizen of mainly Sunni Saudi Arabia has to dissolve parliament extending peace talks been sentenced to 30 years in jail for violence and protesting against Riyadh’s 2011 interven- KUWAIT CITY: The consti- RAMALLAH: Palestinian tion in neighbouring Bahrain, tutional court in Kuwait yes- leaders have ruled out the pos- Gaza rocket hits media reported yesterday. terday rejected two petitions sibility of extending peace talks The defendant, whose name demanding that July parlia- with Israel beyond their nine- Israel, no injuries was not given, was found guilty mentary polls be nullified and month timeframe, chief negotia- of taking part in protests in Qatif the house dissolved because of tor Saeb Erakat said yesterday. JERUSALEM: A rocket in Eastern Province and calling procedural flaws. “We turn down any exten- fired from the Hamas-ruled for the withdrawal of Saudi forces “The court rejects the peti- sion,” Erakat told the official Gaza Strip in the early hours sent to Bahrain. tions,” said judge Yussef Al Voice of Palestine radio station, of yesterday hit a southern Saudis helped Bahraini secu- Mutawa, head of the constitu- adding that some of his recent Israel community without rity forces to crush a Shiite-led tional court, in a brief hearing. remarks about the matter had causing damage or injuries, uprising demanding democratic He did not explain the legal been misinterpreted. Israeli police said. reforms in Sunni-ruled but Shia- grounds for rejecting the two “I said that if we reach an Bomb disposal experts majority Bahrain in March 2011. petitions. Details of the judge- agreement on all final status found the “rocket fired from The defendant was charged ment are expected to be released issues, we could continue to dis- the Gaza Strip” in a commu- with throwing petrol bombs at later. cuss the details,” he said. nity near the city of Ashkelon, security forces who intervened One petition challenged that At a dinner with journalists on according to police spokesman to disperse protests in Qatif, Al the procedures of the polls were Wednesday, Erakat had raised the Micky Rosenfeld. Police said Hayat newspaper reported. in violation of the constitution possibility of talks being prolonged the projectile hit near a school It said both the accused and the and demanded that the elec- for up to a year if parties agree on bus stop. AFP prosecutor, who had demanded tion be nullified and parliament key issues by the time the current the death penalty, will appeal. dissolved. talks wrap up on April 29. Protests first erupted in The second petition argued The US State Department wel- to the Palestinian position,” the Eastern Province, where the that the controversial electoral comed his statement, while say- Palestinian negotiator told the majority of the kingdom’s two constituency law enacted unilat- ing the nine-month schedule still radio station on the phone from million Shias are concentrated, erally by the government over a remained in place. Qatar. in March 2011. Ten people were year ago was not in line with the Kuwaiti Shia MP Abdulhameed Dashti flashes victory sign as he leaves the At an Arab League meeting in Outgoing Palestinian negotia- killed in a series of clashes with constitution and as a result the constitutional court in Kuwait City, yesterday. The court nullified the election Cairo on Saturday, Palestinian tor Mohammad Shtayyeh said on security forces, and the fighting election should be declared illegal of two MPs and declared two candidates, Dashti and Nabil Al Fadel in the president Mahmoud Abbas Thursday that the talks “are not intensified after the arrest in July and parliament dissolved. July polls as winners. “stressed his rejection of all par- going to take us anywhere”. last year of Sheikh Nimr Al Nimr, The law had reduced the tial and temporary solutions and “The Israelis want to replace considered to be a driving force number of candidates a Kuwaiti protests by the opposition that The court also nullified the that the solution should resolve occupation by force with occupa- behind the protests. However, can vote for from four to just one occasionally turned violent. election of two MPs and declared all final status issues, within tion by an invitation, with our sig- tensions eased when seven Shia and as a result the opposition The same court had nullified two candidates in the July polls nine months which cannot be nature, and it will never happen,” dignitaries from Qatif hailed a boycotted parliamentary polls in parliamentary polls in June this winners. The court justified its extended, expiring April 29,” said he added, calling on the interna- call by the King for the creation December last year and again in year and June 2012, citing proce- action by citing mistakes in the Erakat. tional community to intensify of a centre for Sunni-Shia inter- July. dural flaws. It ordered parliament counting of votes, which is carried During this meeting, the pan- pressure on Israel. faith dialogue. AFP The law also led to street dissolved on both occasions. out manually in Kuwait. AFP Arab bloc gave “its full support AFP Mother of slain journalist forgives killer

BAGHDAD: The mother of a and kissed his He was identified by Nuaimi’s “We are stunned by this latest young Iraqi television presenter forehead. family and witnesses, Fraiji said. murder and by the failure of the (pictured), who was shot dead The bereaved Nuaimi, who was born in local and national authorities to in the northern city of Mosul mother was 1994, was the fifth journalist to respond to the deadly campaign met and forgave her killer, say- later shown be killed in Mosul in less than against journalists in Iraq,” ing he sent her daughter to in her daugh- three months, while seven more media rights watchdog Reporters paradise. ter’s bedroom, were killed elsewhere in Iraq Without Borders said in a state- Al Mosuliyah television chan- holding a during the same period. Mosul, ment on the killing of Nuaimi. nel, for which Nawras Al Nuaimi blood-stained where most residents are Sunni “The continuing violence and worked before she was gunned book titled Arabs, is one of the most danger- the impunity enjoyed by those down during a robbery near her Introduction to Human Rights, ous cities in Iraq, with militants responsible constitute a major home on December 15, broadcast which she was carrying when frequently carrying out attacks threat to freedom of informa- a report on her killing and her she was killed. and reportedly extorting money tion,” it said. murderer’s arrest. Iraqi army Staff Major General from shopkeepers. Violence in Iraq has reached a An image from a video uploaded on YouTube shows the mother of During the broadcast, Nuaimi’s Ali Al Fraiji said Nuaimi’s killer Iraq has come in for repeated level not seen since 2008, when murdered female Iraqi TV presenter Nawras Al Nuaimi meeting the alleged mother met the man who killed was among a group that was criticism over the lack of media the country was just emerging killer of her daughter Saif Al Mawlah, at her home in Mosul, where he was her daughter, telling him that he arrested during an attempted freedom and the number of from a brutal period of sectarian brought by the police at the scene of his crime. “sent her as a bride to paradise,” attack on security forces. unsolved killings of journalists. killings. AFP TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Assad forces kill hundreds ahead of talks Eight-day bombing campaign by warplanes in Aleppo kills over 300 including 87 children

BEIRUT: Syrian warplanes have killed more than 300 peo- Carter calls for polls, peacekeepers ple, including 87 children, in an eight-day bombing campaign WASHINGTON: Former US president in the second city of Aleppo a Jimmy Carter (pictured), yesterday month before planned peace proposed three principles as a basis for talks. Syria peace talks in Geneva: Free elec- The vicious air campaign has tions, respect for their results and the seen regime aircraft drop barrels deployment of peacekeepers. of TNT onto rebel-held neigh- Syria peace talks are set to begin in bourhoods — a tactic widely con- Switzerland on January 22, though the full demned as unlawful — flooding list of participants is still unclear. hospitals with victims, according The talks have gone nowhere up to now to activists, medics and others. because each belligerent “has been allowed The attacks come as President to define the preconditions for negotia- Bashar Al Assad’s forces have tions,” Carter, who won the 2002 Nobel advanced on several fronts in Peace Prize, wrote in an opinion piece in the Washington Post. recent weeks while Western “No one can win this war,” argued Carter in an article co-written nations have been preoccupied with American University professor Robert Pastor. with Syria’s chemical disarma- “It is clear that the parties think they cannot afford to lose ment and preparing for January because they fear annihilation and this explains why the war will peace talks. keep going unless the international community imposes a legitimate “From December 15 to 22, 301 alternative.” AFP people have been killed, includ- ing 87 children, 30 women and 30 rebels,” said the Syrian them against the insurgents. “Until Assad’s warplanes are Observatory for Human Rights, A security source said the army stopped, the humanitarian dis- which relies on a network of activ- had adopted the tactic because aster, regional instability and ists and witnesses on the ground. of a lack of ground forces, and the rise of extremism will only It later said five more people, argued the heavy civilian toll was continue to get worse,” said including three children, were because the rebels — branded Munzer Aqbiq, an adviser to the killed in a new attack on Marjeh, “terrorists” by the regime — are Coalition’s president. in southeastern Aleppo. based in residential areas. The government has advanced Activists released what they Aleppo, the former commer- on several fronts in recent People inspecting a site damaged by an air raid by forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Al Assad, in Aleppo’s said was footage of a school tar- cial hub, has been split between weeks in an apparent attempt to Al Marja district, yesterday. geted in the village of Marea near opposition and government forces strengthen its hand ahead of the Aleppo. Children can be seen run- since a massive rebel assault in talks to be held in Switzerland US President Barack Obama’s saying there is an “element of But the increasingly fractured ning from the school and scream- July 2012. Human Rights Watch next month. failure to act after Assad alleg- vengeance” in the Aleppo bomb- opposition has said Assad must ing as loud explosions rumble in has accused the government The UN-backed initiative is edly crossed his “red line” against ings. “Any credible use of force step down as part of any deal, the background. forces of using weapons and aimed at building on the momen- using chemical weapons, while the was taken off the table by Obama which Damascus rejects. Inside, men pull children from tactics that fail to distinguish tum of a deal to eradicate Syria’s chemical arms accord has made and the international community.” And several powerful rebel the rubble, their faces caked in between civilians and combatants, vast chemical arsenal by mid- Assad a vital partner in his own The so-called Geneva 2 talks groups have rejected the peace dust and blood. It was not possible making such strikes “unlawful.” 2014, which averted punitive US disarmament. are intended to get an agreement talks altogether, raising concerns to verify the footage. The main opposition National strikes after an August gas attack “There are no more red lines, on a political transition to end the that even if the two sides reach an Assad’s opponents say the Coalition has called on Western near Damascus killed hundreds there is a green light,” Salman war, which has claimed an esti- agreement the opposition would bombing is aimed at demoralis- states to impose a no-fly zone to of people. But analysts argue the Shaikh, the director of the mated 126,000 lives since March be unable to enforce it on the ing their supporters and turning halt the attacks. regime has been emboldened by Brookings Doha Center, said, 2011 and displaced millions. ground. AFP

Turkish PM, cleric in war Hundreds protest of words over in Cairo against graft scandal ISTANBUL: A war of words jailing of activists escalated between Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan and a cleric with powerful influ- CAIRO: Several hundreds of after their jail terms end. ence in the police and judiciary, Egyptians protested in central “Why is this government so worsening political turmoil Cairo yesterday against a court scared of us? Down, down with unleashed by a corruption scan- ruling that sent three leading the military rule,” their support- dal. Turkey has been increas- secular pro-democracy cam- ers chanted during Monday’s ingly polarised since the arrest paigners to jail, witnesses said. march, which the police took no on graft charges last week of Raising a banner reading action to prevent. the head of state-run lender “Freedom for all detainees”, the One of the demonstrators, Halkbank and the sons of two protesters chanted against the Louai Mohamed, said the march government ministers. military-backed government, was in response to the jailing of Erdogan answered the arrests calling army chief General Abdel the activists. “We will continue by sacking or reassigning the Fattah Al Sisi “a dog”. our protests and the revolution Istanbul police chief and some 70 On Sunday a court handed will continue,” he said. other police officers. out three-year jail terms for Sisi, who overthrew Mursi fol- The scandal and the govern- Ahmed Maher, Ahmed Douma lowing mass protests against his ment’s response have added to and Mohamed Adel, symbols rule, still enjoys wide public sup- a febrile political atmosphere in of the uprising that toppled port, but his fierce crackdown on the country, which saw unprec- President Hosni Mubarak in Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood and Protesters demand the release of political prisoners, outside the Cairo Opera House yesterday. edented mass protests against 2011, for protesting without now the punishment of his secular Erdogan’s rule earlier this year. permission and assaulting the critics has eroded his popularity The government is pursuing a include a mid-January vote on presidential and parliamentary The lira currency hovered near police. somewhat. political transition plan that will a new constitution, followed by elections. REUTERS a record low yesterday, ham- The European Union urged mered by the domestic political Egypt yesterday to reconsider the tension as well as the US Federal jail sentences. Reserve’s decision to cut back The government passed a monetary stimulus. law last month banning pro- Brotherhood prisoners on hunger strike In the latest rift, the gov- tests not authorised by police ernment attracted unprec- in an attempt to end demon- CAIRO: More than 450 imprisoned the entire top leadership of Mursi’s Muslim the wealthy financier and onetime presiden- edented, open condemnation strations by Islamists demand- Muslim Brotherhood members launched Brotherhood, since he was deposed on July 3. tial hopeful Khairat Al Shater, senior official from Fethullah Gulen, whose ing the reinstatement of elected a hunger strike yesterday over “inhuman The 85-year-old political and social move- Essam Al Erian, former legislator Mohamed Hizmet movement claims at President Mohamed Mursi, who treatment” after being jailed following the ment prevailed in a series of polls following Beltagi and Essam Al Haddad, an adviser to least a million followers, includ- was removed by the army in military’s overthrow of Egyptian president the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, Mursi during his presidency. ing senior police and judges, and July. Mohamed Mursi, the group said. and Mursi became the country’s first freely It did not say whether Mursi himself or the runs schools and charities across But the new law prompted A Twitter account operated by the elected leader after winning elections last Brotherhood’s Supreme Guide Mohammed Turkey and abroad. more protests led by liberal activ- Brotherhood, which has largely been driven year. But his turbulent year-long rule was Badie were also taking part in the hunger Gulen lashed out against the ists including Maher, Adel and underground by a massive crackdown, said deeply polarising, and the military forced him strike. Earlier this month Human Rights government by praying that Douma. prisoners have been “banned from family vis- from power after massive protests in which Watch said Egypt’s military-installed author- “God bring fire to their houses”. The court ruling on Sunday its, legal counselling, medical care and (live demonstrators accused him of betraying the ities had detained five Mursi aides for nearly Erdogan shot back with remarks also fined the three 50,000 in) overcrowded and unhygienic cells.” 2011 “revolution.” five months without disclosing their wherea- that, while not naming Gulen Egyptian pounds ($7,200) each Egyptian security forces have arrested The Brotherhood said several senior fig- bouts, saying it amounted to an “enforced directly, accused unnamed out- and ordered them to be put under thousands of Islamists, including virtually ures were taking part in the strike, including disappearance.” AFP siders of “setting wicked and dark police supervision for three years traps in our country, using their local pawns to disrupt Turkey’s unity and integrity.” “We will go into (their) lairs and ... expose those organisations within the state,” Erdogan said. Tunisia parties agree on Jan 14 handover to new govt Yesterday Gulen made clear he saw the prime minister’s remarks as an attack on his movement. TUNIS: Tunisia’s ruling a new prime minister to lead a for the new administration. uprisings elsewhere, Tunisia is industry minister, as new prime “Those who call Muslims Islamists and opposition par- temporary non-political cabinet, “We have agreed the new gov- close to ending a crisis over the minister after weeks of delays and ‘gangs’, ‘bandits’, ‘network’ and ties agreed yesterday to finish which will govern until elections ernment, the election date and role of Islam in politics that has wrangling. see them as gorillas, monkeys their handover to a caretaker next year to finish its transition the new constitution will be threatened to delay its last steps Tunisia, whose strong secu- that have taken shelter in lairs — government by January 14, the to democracy. ready by Jan. 13 so we celebrate to democracy. lar tradition clashed with rise of these are nothing but a reflection third anniversary of the fall As part of their deal, political on January 14, the third anni- After months of demonstra- Ennahda and the ambitions of of decayed thinking and no wrong of autocratic leader Zine Al leaders must finish the country’s versary of the revolution,” said tions, Ennahda party earlier this Islamist militants, has not suf- can be made right with them,” Abidine Ben Ali. constitution, agree on an elec- Maghreb Republican party leader, year agreed to resign to ease the fered the violence seen in Egypt, Gulen said in an audio recording After months of crisis, tion date, and name an electoral Boussairi Bou Abdeli. turmoil. But Islamists and secu- Yemen and Libya in their transi- posted on the Internet. “God sees Tunisia’s Islamist party Ennahda council to oversee the vote before Three years after its protests lar opposition parties only named tions after the 2011 Arab Spring who is in a lair.” REUTERS and opponents last week named Ennahda steps down to make way against Ben Ali inspired Arab Mehdi Jomaa, an engineer and revolutions. REUTERS TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF KHALID AL SAYED [email protected]

ACTING MANAGING EDITOR HUSSAIN AHMAD [email protected]

EDITORIAL TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR E-MAIL: [email protected]

ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected]

SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial

Not the only purge Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

AYS after North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un had his uncle executed for what was considered a purge against a challenge to his power, comes the revelation Dthat Jang Song-Thaek met his fate as he was purportedly involved in the country’s lucrative coal business. It’s not racist to be anxious over Devoid of any semblance of democracy, the opaque North Korean state is considered one of the most corrupt. The reclusive society of the backward country is seen to large-scale immigration be in a state of ferment as the deprived population comes to know more about the vast world through leaks and limited interaction with the outside world. HIS weekend the president and clouded by the hysterical claims or any more prejudiced than anyone Thaek’s execution has reverberated across the world with of Bulgaria, in the midst of made by parts of the rightwing press, else — but because human beings like speculation rife that Kim got the most powerful power centre an increasingly heated debate and the UK Independence party — one a measure of certainty and stability. after him exterminated by accusing him of corruption. South Tabout the imminent lifting of of whose leaflets in this year’s Eastleigh Further, it barely needs pointing out Korea’s spy chief told lawmakers yesterday that the veteran restrictions on migration from his coun- byelection stated that “the EU will allow that immigration tends to impact places politician got his hands dirty in the coal export business. try to the UK, said: “Politicians should 29 million Bulgarians and Romanians where certainty and stability are thin on be ready to say the inconvenient truth.” to come to the UK”. That number was the ground. If you pinball between part- Intelligence reports from South Korea, which is always in a They should endure short-term unpop- derived by simply adding together the time work and jobseeker’s allowance and state of alert because of its mercurial northern neighbour, say ularity, Rosen Plevneliev suggests, “pre- two countries’ populations. feel about two pay cheques away from that Kim didn’t have a threat from any quarter and firmly serve our values” and “keep the history The Tories are clearly panicked. destitution, the idea that your mea- holds the reins of power. of our proud tolerant nations as they Consequently, as of last week, the gre chunk of the rock may be about to What does the North’s latest predicament says about the are”. Given that his words were aimed Conservative position on EU enlarge- shrink yet further will not go down well. controversial country and its ruler? Reclusive and solitary as it at a Conservative party now zooming ment (long seen by the Tories as the Statistics, unfortunately, have precious into pre-election mode under the super- best bulwark against political union) little to do with this: there may be an is, the country’s young leader Kim has been a disappointment vision of Lynton Crosby, they read like began to shift. David Cameron is now argument that, viewed from a macro after he took control of the country following his father Kim subtle satire. seemingly pledged to veto the accession level, immigration does not drag down Jong il’s death. The senior Kim’s passing away had become And on the same theme, Nick Clegg of such countries as Serbia and Albania, wages, but it seems to have an appreci- an object of interest for the world asked: “What would happen if tonight unless there are new restrictions on the able effect towards the bottom of the not only because of perceived every European living in the UK free movement of labour. Conservative labour market — and besides, if you live After getting his boarded a ship or high-ups are said to be considering an in a constant state of anxiety, even the uncertainty in the Communist uncle executed, plane and went annual cap of 75,000 migrants from the suggestion that it might will be enough. regime but also due to the way the home? Are we EU — a move that, as business minis- Millions of people understand all this, the North entire population went into a ‘fit of really that keen ter Vince Cable pointed out on Sunday, as a matter of day-to-day experience. Korean leader is mourning,’ which appeared largely to see the back of would probably be “illegal and impossi- In Peterborough, employment agencies orchestrated. One recent poll German lawyers, ble to implement”, and has much more are stuffed with young eastern European likely to crack North Korea has been trying by ComRes Dutch account- to do with moronic electioneering than men being packed off to do temporary ants, or Finnish serious politics. Meanwhile, the liberal work, and locals swear blind their down on his to assert itself in the wake of — admittedly engineers?” Full left is reprising its mantra: migration is sons and daughters either do not get a coterie and order the West trying to raise the heat commissioned by marks for his good for us, new migrants from the EU look-in or are caught in a grim race to on the regime to make it come an anti-EU outfit usual high-mind- pay about a third more in taxes than the bottom. more purges. out of isolation. The obfuscation edness, but the they cost in public services and benefits, In Boston, north-east England, a with which North Korea operates called Get Britain contributions Britain has a long tradition of tolerance byword for tensions around immigration, makes it hard for world powers made by such and openness, etc. people say that local market gardening Out — found that professionals are Yet something is unavoidably up. businesses seized on newly arrived people to penetrate the aggression and hubris which Pyongyang 79pc of people only a fraction According to YouGov, in 2005 Britons who were prepared to live and work in has built around itself over the years. The expectation of the opposed the lifting of the issue: the supported “the right of people in EU the most abject of circumstances, and international community from the young Kim has been belied truth is that the countries to live and work wherever thereby cut the town in two. and he is being perceived as a leader who is not much different of the restrictions British economy they want” by a ratio of two to one. Throw in former council houses now from his father. The North Korean leader tries his best to on new arrivals would be in a Today, we oppose free movement pulled into the most disreputable end much more par- by 49pc to 38pc. One recent poll by of the buy-to-let market (as has hap- tell the world that all is fine with the country and Western from Bulgaria lous state if it lost ComRes — admittedly commissioned pened in the areas of Sheffield that have sanctions can hardly harm its interests. Pyongyang strives to and Romania. the low-paid Poles by an anti-EU outfit called Get Britain attracted newly arrived Roma people), face the headwinds of sanctions by putting up a brave front. cleaning hotels, Out — found that 79pc of people opposed and you have even bigger problems. It often leans on China, much to the consternation of western the Czechs serv- the lifting of the restrictions on new And none of these tensions have any- powers. Getting his hands messy in the minerals business ing cappuccinos, arrivals from Bulgaria and Romania. thing to do with “health tourism”, the led to Jang being executed. Related departments of the state and the Latvians and Lithuanians work- All this cannot solely be traced to the non-problem of EU migrants claiming ing as security guards. screams of rightwing papers and the benefits, or any of the other issues being started complaining about Jang’s interference. Kim ordered What a mess all this is. Next week, rise of Ukip’s Nigel Farage, let alone played up by the Tories: instead they remedial measures but Jang’s coterie did not let this happen. A on January 1, seven years after their some metro-left fantasy that outside are reducible to the ideas embedded by furious Kim is known to have then ordered the execution. countries joined the European Union, the London area simple bigotry runs the Conservatives in the 80s and 90s, The story doesn’t end with Jang’s purge. Officials close to restrictions will be lifted on the number rampant. largely sustained during the Blair and him are being probed and more purges are likely to be ordered of Bulgarians and Romanians who can The point is, millions of people will Brown years, and now being taken to by Kim who wants to make sure that he is seen as a strong live and work in the UK. Exactly how always be uneasy about large-scale new extremes by Cameron et al. many will go there is inevitably unclear, change. Not because they are racist, THE GUARDIAN leader who will permit no dissent • The other side Quote of Treasure the progress so far the day

HE principles of mutual respect earlier this month. In response, Iran have said they are also deeply worried. both the US and Iran, and also the and reciprocity should prevail declared it would withdraw from the Not to mention that there are gray rest of the international community. when the parties negotiating talks. areas in the deal, which leave room To continue to push for talks, both Ton the Iranian nuclear issue Fortunately, Iran later said it would for reinterpretation. Such ambiguity Washington and Teheran need to push for substantial results, a People’s continue to attend the expert-level has created conditions for the parties show a strong political will and sin- Given the close Daily editorial said on Friday. talks on implementing the earlier- concerned to strike a deal but it will cerity and properly cope with the Iran and the P5+1 group of coun- reached nuclear deal. also add new uncertainties for follow- obstacles ahead. relations between tries (China, France, Russia, the Such a setback should not have up actions. As a member of the P5+1, China United Kingdom, the United States been unexpected. The US and Iran But dangerous political moves, will continue to push for dialogue and the United States and Germany) struck a deal in Geneva are both facing mounting pressures such as the episode earlier this month, negotiation and play a constructive on November 24, in which Iran agreed from those at home and abroad who if not skillfully handled, will harm the role in pushing for a comprehensive, and Israel, there are to freeze part of its nuclear program oppose any deal. Political forces in hard-won atmosphere for talks. proper solution to the Iranian nuclear things we cannot in exchange for a limited easing of Washington and Teheran, unsatis- The preliminary deal is an impor- issue. All parties concerned should sanctions. This good momentum fied with the deal, have tried to block tant step in resolving the Iranian continue to build on the good momen- do, and that is was nearly throttled at birth when further talks. Israel has explicitly nuclear issue through diplomatic tum and push for the talks to yield unacceptable for us. the United States announced new expressed its opposition to the prelim- means. Seeking a peaceful resolu- substantial results at an early date. Benjamin Netanyahu sanctions against the Islamic republic inary deal, while some Arab countries tion to the issue is in the interests of China Daily Israeli Prime Minister TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 US has options even if troops leave Kabul Without outside help, the Afghanistan government will likely lack means to pay police and soldiers, encouraging a fracturing of its military along ethnic or regional lines.

BY MISSY RYAN last-minute demands and sign the pact well before Afghan elections in April. S officials have warned of the They say they have not begun to plan potential for catastrophe if for a full withdrawal or a possible post- Afghan President Hamid withdrawal mission in earnest. Karzai fails to sign a secu- But General Joseph Dunford, who rity pact to permit foreign commands international forces in Uforces to stay in Afghanistan beyond 2014. Afghanistan, told reporters in Kabul Unless a deal is reached to enable a recently that, “If there’s not an answer modest US force of perhaps 8,000 to stay in December, I expect that we’ll begin to in the country, the Taliban might stage a do some more detailed planning about major comeback, Al Qaeda might regain some other eventuality besides the (post- safe havens and Afghan forces might find 2014) mission.” themselves starved of funding, the offi- To understand what options the US cials say. might have in Afghanistan following a full The post-2014 US force envisioned withdrawal, “you can look to places where would train and assist Afghan sol- we are already active countering terror- diers and go after the most dangerous ism, like Iraq, Libya, Somalia,” another militants. US defence official said. But even if the Obama administra- tion abruptly pulls out its entire force TARGETED MISSIONS US Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel laughs with service members during a visit to the Military Training Centre in Kabul. of 43,000 a year from now, it would Even if all foreign troops do withdraw still retain a handful of limited security from Afghanistan, the US might still send in Yemen, defence officials have said, the full departure of foreign troops limits However, the lack of a sizeable US options in Afghanistan. small numbers of special forces, such as as the Obama administration seeks to lawmakers’ ability to track US aid. troop presence in Afghanistan could While US officials have not discussed a Green Berets, to do limited, short-term weaken Al Qaeda and other militants in The administration would also have mean that drones become one of the few possible post-withdrawal scenario in pub- training missions at the request of the Arabian Peninsula. to rethink much of its development aid remaining tools the US has against mili- lic, the US might still, even under those Afghan officials. They might also launch as well as its diplomatic strategy if US tant groups in the region. circumstances, continue to provide small- occasional raids against militants, as they LIGHT FOOTPRINT troops depart. Without outside help, Micah Zenko, a fellow at the Council scale support to local forces, mount some have in Libya or Somalia. Robert Grenier, a former director Afghanistan’s central government will on Foreign Relations think tank, said it special forces missions, and use drones “This is a model that’s used around the of the Central Intelligence Agency’s likely lack the means to pay police and would be very difficult to continue the to counter Al Qaeda and help keep the world,” the first defence official said. Counterterrorism Center, said that if soldiers, encouraging a fracturing of its drone programme if Karzai’s successors Taliban at bay. In October, US forces seized Abu Anas withdrawal of the main US force from military along ethnic or regional lines. decide against allowing launches from A narrowed security mission would Al Liby, a suspect in the 1998 bombings of Afghanistan becomes necessary, the “The biggest risk if we go to the zero Afghan soil after foreign troops withdraw. in many ways track a decade-long shift two US embassies, in Tripoli, Libya. It is US should consider putting some spe- option is that the Afghan military falls Central Asian nations that might allow in US strategy, away from the coun- unclear what sort of authority it received cial forces under CIA authority to train apart, and then the Afghan state falls such flights are too distant from likely ter-insurgency campaigns of the 2000s from the Libyan government. The same local forces or perform limited counter- apart,” said retired Lieutenant General target areas, while the US military cur- toward the Obama administration’s pref- weekend, US special forces launched an terrorism activities, possibly along with David Barno, who commanded US rently has only limited ability to oper- erence for low-profile support to local operation against an Al Shabaab militant some members of the CIA’s small para- and Nato forces in Afghanistan from ate drones from ships in the Arabian forces combined with occasional targeted in Somalia but failed to capture him, US military force. 2003-2005. Sea or elsewhere. “Short of receiv- operations. officials said. “The US footprint would be much ing basing access from a neighbouring Even so, full withdrawal of the main In Iraq, following the US military smaller, and we would have many fewer WHITHER DRONES state, and overt overflight support from US force would make it more difficult withdrawal in 2011, the US set up a large capabilities. But it might not be a bad The US would likely seek approval Afghanistan and Pakistan, it would be to prevent Al Qaeda militants regroup- security office attached to its embassy thing,” Grenier said. A light US footprint from future Afghan leaders for most or a very difficult operational risk to con- ing along the wild Afghanistan-Pakistan in Baghdad to oversee military sales and would give Afghan forces more of a lead- all of post-withdrawal training activi- duct drone strikes into Afghanistan or border and to stop the Taliban from provide limited support and advising to ership role in pursuing militants than ties and counter-terrorism activities Pakistan,” Zenko said. solidifying control of its southern Afghan the Iraqi government. they have had in the past, he said. - possibly including the use of drones, In 2011, Pakistan’s then-defence minis- heartland. “We have a lot of capabili- US special forces have also been invited Retaining even a very narrow ability which have been a defining feature of the ter, Chaudhry Ahmed Mukhtar, said his ties, but without the (Bilateral Security to return to Iraq to provide counterter- to support elite Afghan soldiers could be Obama administration security strategy government had asked the US to vacate Agreement), we are very limited,” a US rorism and intelligence support to Iraqi especially important if plans for a larger in far-flung places. an air base in southwest Pakistan he defence official said on condition of ano- forces, the general who headed that office training mission collapse along with US President Barack Obama said in said was used to launch US drone flights. nymity, referring to the bilateral pact the said last year, according to a report in the efforts to finalise the security pact. Top May that he hoped progress against Al Grenier said Pakistan might be willing to US is seeking with Karzai. New York Times. US officials have warned that the $4bn a Qaeda and other militants would “reduce allow future drone launches, provided it For now, US officials remain hopeful - The US military also is providing some year in outside aid promised for Afghan the need for unmanned strikes” in the was given substantial control over drone in public at least - that Karzai will drop training and equipment to security forces forces would be less likely to materialise if Afghan war theatre by next year. activities and targets. REUTERS China and the freedom of the press A struggle for moral

been taken on before. The radical- President Xi’s response is to require ism of 3rd plenum in November authority in Ukraine took many China watchers by every Chinese journalist to take an surprise, but the party is in the BY JIM HOAGLAND last chance saloon. The moves to give rights to tens of millions ound Two of the strategic tug-of-war between the European ideology exam early next year. of migrant workers, lift the one- Union and Russia over Ukraine has gone to the Kremlin. But child policy, reform state-owned the political struggle at Europe’s eastern gates is not over. BY WILL HUTTON the flow of information is more “ enterprises and phase out labour REurope must renew its support for Ukraine’s democratic orderly”. He is creating “cyber- camps were aimed at making forces not only for their sake but also to revitalise the European Union’s he year began with space with Chinese characteris- the party more people-friendly. own flagging sense of purpose. journalists from China’s tics”, he helpfully explains. This is the new “ line to follow” The 28-nation union has been on a high-speed roller coaster, plung- Southern Weekly striking Every journalist in China for Chinese journalists, coupled ing from a peak of self-congratulatory smugness over its successful Tbecause their paper had knows what that means. Overstep with ever more hysterical attacks political integration into a trough of economic turmoil and disunity. spiked a leader calling for consti- the mark and you can, like on “constitutionalism”, the uni- Political leaders and economists at a high-level conference here last tutional protections for individual Reuters’ Paul Mooney, simply versalism of human rights and weekend agreed that Europe is emerging from the worst of the financial liberty at the behest of the local have a request to have your visa Japan’s alleged expansionism. No turmoil, with the euro surprisingly strong. But, they acknowledged, the propaganda chief – and replaced renewed turned down. Mooney scrutiny of the fortunes of the recovery is moving at an agonisingly slow, uneven pace. This uncer- it with an article praising the had dared to be too critical. For elite is to be permitted. tainty accounts in part for the caution that European capitals have Communist party. It ends with the Chinese journalists, the penalties Chinese President Xi Jinping The plenum did not go far shown toward the popular uprising against Ukrainian President Viktor New York Times and Bloomberg, are more dramatic. You can lose enough; the entire Chinese struc- Yanukovych and his decision to defer closer links to the EU in favour of having dared to publish details of your job or you can be arrested to take an ideology exam early ture, with a bankrupt banking accepting greater cooperation with (and a $15bn subsidy from) Russia. the stunning family wealth of the and only released once you have next year in order to qualify for system, is buckling. The party The White House, intent on pursuing arms control and other deals country’s outgoing prime minister made a confession of your wrongs. their press cards. The manual on will sacrifice any freedom to try with Russia, has also been careful not to cross the Kremlin on Ukraine. and incoming president, fearing According to Wang Qinlei, a which the exam is based insists to save itself, yet it is with this No such inhibitions trouble Russian President Vladimir Putin, who that the one-year ban on new former producer at China Central that journalists must not deviate anti-freedom, stricken China that sees Ukraine as the last existential battle of the Cold War. As he did journalist visas to both organisa- TV’s top political programmes, from the party line and that the the Tory party is now embark- in 2004, when the Orange Revolution seemed on the verge of bring- tions may be continued. who was fired a few weeks ago for relationship between the party ing on a love-in, driven in part by ing a Western-style democracy to power in Kiev, Putin has fought in This is life in a one-party publicly criticising its coverage of and news media is “one of leader its near crazed Euroscepticism. Ukraine to secure the survival of his own counterrevolutionary regime state, a running battle between the concocted attacks on a famous and the led”. David Cameron dropped any in Moscow. Four decades after the domino theory was discredited for a party apparatus fearful for its social blogger, political influence is This intensified drive to con- vestige of dignity in his recent Americans in the rice paddies of Southeast Asia, it is alive and well legitimacy and journalists whose everywhere. His blog was deleted trol the media has been accom- commercial trip, shrugging off at the Kremlin. Ukrainians themselves are split over the sacrifices craft necessarily involves disclos- almost instantly. “In the space panied by the arrest, detention the Global Times editorial that involved in giving up Russian markets and financial aid to gamble on ing information that the party of a year, we get upwards of a and interrogation over the last Britain “is just an old European moving into the European Union’s modern economic superstate. But would rather nobody knew. The thousand propaganda orders,” he two months of up to 300 law- country apt for travel and study. the protesters who have braved freezing weather and police intimida- practice of journalism in China, wrote. “How many of these orders yers and human rights activists, This has gradually become the tion in Kiev and elsewhere understand that theirs is, above all, a strug- a country where 30 practition- were issued in the national inter- including Xu Zhiyong, associated habitual thought of the Chinese gle about moral authority. For all of their problems, the rules-based EU ers are in prison, has never been est and how many were issued to with the movement to expose the people.” societies are a magnet for Ukrainians disgusted with the corruption easy. During 2013, it has become serve the political and economic dazzling family wealth of the elite Perhaps Cameron and Xi have and lawlessness of their leaders and Russia’s. Formal association with a great deal harder. interests of some individual, group who run China. After all, it was more in common than they declare. Europe would help establish the rule of law and limit the government’s A new anti-rumour law makes or leader? And how often did we Bloomberg’s and the New York After all, Cameron leads a party, a power to abuse and neglect its own citizens. spreading “defamatory” informa- castrate ourselves as a result of Times’ exposures of Xi’s family large part of which wants to leave No wonder Putin does not want to see a functioning, European- tion on the Internet that “harms trying to fathom the attitudes of wealth that got them into such the European court of human style democracy on his western frontier. Conversely, European and the national interest” punishable high officials? Our leaders should trouble. Xi and his circle are rights and criticises the Guardian’s American leaders must entrench this moral authority in their support with three years’ imprisonment understand that if the amount keenly aware that the party is exposure of industrial-scale state of Ukrainian people power and do nothing to diminish it by seeming if there are more than 500 re- of news you can’t report climbs in danger of toppling into a spi- surveillance, as would the Chinese to condone or ignore Putin’s meddling. Helping Ukraine escape the posts or 5,000 Internet viewers. too high, people won’t believe the ral of delegitimacy with this as Communist party. God knows, the clutches of its own and neighbouring despots is a big challenge, one Ren Xianliang, vice-minister of news you can report – because a touchstone issue, hence the US has many warts, but on these worthy of the creative spirit that European leaders demonstrated in the State Internet Information it’s propaganda chosen with a extraordinary arrest last week for issues at least it is prepared to founding their union half a century ago. They were given essential Office, declares that the control of purpose.” corruption of a former member challenge China. Britain should support in that task by wise American leaders who did not see US “rumours” has been “quite effec- President Xi’s response is to of the politburo, Zhou Yongkang. unambiguously be on the same leadership in global affairs as a glass half-empty, as it seems this White tive”, “slander” is in decline and require every Chinese journalist Nobody this powerful has ever side. THE GUARDIAN House often does. WP-BLOOMBERG TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL

Germany weighs Peacekeepers Russia ties after ‘coup’ of fire on Bangui freed tycoon BERLIN: The release of Kremlin critic Mikhail Khodorkovsky represents a resounding victory for German protesters diplomacy just as the coun- try is reassessing its complex ties with Russia, analysts said One demonstrator killed, 40 hurt yesterday. Veteran top German diplo- BANGUI: African peacekeep- Djotodia has officially disbanded mat Hans-Dietrich Genscher ers fired into a crowd of protest- Seleka but some of its members worked in secret for more than ers in the capital of the Central went rogue, leading to months of two years to win the release of African Republic yesterday, killing, raping and pillaging—and Khodorkovsky, once Russia’s rich- killing one person and injuring prompting Christians to form est man and a political threat around 40 more, in a shooting vigilante groups in response. to Russian President Vladimir set to escalate tensions in the Chadian and Sudanese merce- Putin. strife-torn country. naries within Seleka are blamed With the explicit support The Chadian soldiers, part of a for many of the worst crimes of Chancellor Angela Merkel, UN-mandated force, opened fire against the population. Genscher, 86, who served as on stone-throwing protesters out- “We ask for our rights and we foreign minister for nearly two side Bangui airport who accused get killed. There are too many decades during the Cold War, them of complicity with rebels abuses, we can’t take it any more,” managed to keep a lid on his deal- who have been terrorising the charged one demonstrator after ings even as he held two separate population, according to report- the incident. “The Chadians are personal meetings with Putin, in ers on the scene. terrorists. They are killing us like A protestor reads a newspaper in the protest camp set up by the opposition at Independence Square in Kiev, Berlin and Moscow, in 2012 and Several hundred Christian dem- animals,” said another distraught yesterday. 2013. onstrators had massed to call for young woman. “We don’t want Khodorkovsky himself, whisked the departure of President Michel these Chadian MISCA troops.” to Berlin on a German business- Djotodia, a former rebel who In Paris the foreign ministry man’s private jet on Friday upon became the first Muslim leader of called for light to be shed on the Ukraine opposition in disarray his shock release after a decade the majority Christian nation after shooting, while calling Deby “an behind bars, started a news con- a March coup that unleashed the essential partner” who “has the KIEV: Ukraine’s opposition is political research centre. weapon to mobilise supporters. ference on Sunday by thanking current wave of sectarian violence. full confidence of France.” in disarray after failing to offer The protesters have occupied “There is no leader, no per- Merkel and Genscher for their They were also demanding “France hopes that light will be a clear agenda to their support- Independence Square — known sonification of the Maidan,” said crucial help, indicating he had “no the departure of Chadian troops shed on the conditions of the use ers in response to the signing by in Kiev as the Maidan—since late Ukrainian political analyst Vadym idea” of Germany’s efforts while within the 3,700-strong African of force against demonstrators,” President Viktor Yanukovych November and erected barricades Karasev, adding the trio are also he was still in prison. Union’s MISCA force that, along- said the ministry’s deputy spokes- of a bailout deal with Russia, to prevent security forces from riven by internal divisions. The Kremlin for its part side French forces, is battling to man Vincent Floreani. analysts say. entering the area. Their demands to punish remained tight-lipped restore order in the CAR. But France’s own 1,600 troops While the protests against the Several police attempts to shift policemen who beat up students about Berlin’s part in the Demonstrators started throw- in the country were under the authorities’ decision to scrap an the protest camp ended in failure during an early bid to disperse the Khodorkovsky saga. “Merkel ing rocks at two 4X4 vehicles spotlight after a weekend incident integration pact with the EU and provoked outrage inside and protests on November 30 and the will probably talk about her role with AU troops from Chad, who in which three former rebels were under Kremlin pressure have outside Ukraine over the use of resignation of the current govern- herself, if there was any,” presi- responded by firing their weapons shot dead in the capital. continued in the streets of Kiev, force against peaceful protesters. ment are still unanswered. dential aide Yury Ushakov told in the air and towards the crowd, The French army said its opposition leaders appear unable While it seemed in early “Only Klitschko wants early Interfax yesterday. shooting one person dead, accord- troops opened fire in Bangui on to harness this support in an December that Yanukovych presidential elections, but there Merkel had on Friday hailed ing to reporters. Sunday against “a group of half- effective way. might not be able to withstand is no support from others,” said the success of Germany’s “behind French troops quickly inter- a-dozen people suspected of being Last week Russian President the protests, the Moscow agree- Karasev, saying the three oppo- the scenes” negotiations, which vened to evacuate the victims. ex-Seleka” and who “were pre- Vladimir Putin agreed to buy ment could be a turning point as sition leaders had presidential German media noted were a low- Around 40 injured — three in paring to use their weapons”. $15bn of Ukraine’s debt in the authorities seek to gain the ambitions with no desire to yield risk, high-pay-off endeavour. a serious condition — were trans- But the CAR presidency said on eurobonds and slash its gas bill upper hand. to the other. “Unofficial contacts, such as ferred to an emergency hospital Monday that the three were “mem- by a third to preserve Kremlin ‘There is no leader’ Having missed the chance to those of Jimmy Carter or Bill facility set up by Medecins sans bers of the presidential guard”, influence in its neighbour. The three main opposition shake Yanukovych from his perch, Clinton in North Korea or oth- Frontieres at the airport, said whose shooting was unprovoked. Tens of thousands rallied on leaders — world boxing cham- each of the opposition leaders may ers in Iran or those of Hans- the aid group’s on-site coordina- “They were killed in cold blood Sunday for the latest major week- pion Vitali Klitschko, Arseniy have already begun his campaign Dietrich Genscher in Russia can tor Lindis Hurum. “I came to see by members of Sangaris,” presi- end protest against Yanukovych Yatsenyuk who heads the faction for the next presidential polls to always be presented as non-com- the demonstration and I got shot dential spokesman Guy Simplice but the turnout was the lowest of jailed former prime minister be held in March 2015. mittal talks where there can be in the leg,” said one of the injured, Kodegue said using the codename since the mass protests started Yulia Tymoshenko and nationalist Experts believe that the oppo- an exchange of views but never who gave his name as Ludovic. of the French force. on November 24. Oleg Tyagnybok — have appeared sition should have been more failure because there is no official Many in mostly-Christian “This was not a disarmament “It is clear that Yanukovych at a loss over how to respond. convincing in its closed-door pedigree to them,” Berlin daily Bangui accuse Chad — whose operation and no shots were fired, has retained his standing The three were taken aback negotiations with Ukraine’s Der Tagesspiegel noted. President Idriss Deby Itno has contrary to what was reported in and received an additional by the lack of concessions offered oligarchs, who control a lot of “And where there can be long been kingmaker in the CAR certain French media,” Kodegue resource in the form of the deal in public by Yanukovych to the pro-government members of no failure, there can be no — of masterminding the Seleka added. with Russia,” said Volodymyr Kremlin for the help, which would parliament. embarrassment.” rebellion behind the March coup. AFP Fesenko, director of the Penta have provided them with a major AFP AFP Rifle designer Kalashnikov dies aged 94 Freed punk band MOSCOW: Mikhail in Izhevsk, the capital of the more sophisticated weapons such struggles is enshrined on the flag Kalashnikov, whose work as a Udmurtia republic where he lived, as the US M-16. of Mozambique. weapons designer for the Soviet said Viktor Chulkov, a spokes- “During the Vietnam war, Kalashnikov, born into a peas- pair criticises Putin Union is immortalised in the man for the republic’s president. American soldiers would throw ant family in Siberia, began his name of the world’s most popu- He did not give a cause of death. away their M-16s to grab AK-47s working life as a railway clerk. KRASNOYARSK/NIZHNY: that the Russian state is humane. lar firearm, died yesterday at Kalashnikov had been hospi- and bullets for it from dead After he joined the Red Army in Two members of Russian punk However, the measure will not the age of 94. talised for the past month with Vietnamese soldiers,” Kalashnikov 1938, he began to show mechani- protest band Pussy Riot were benefit opposition leader Alexei Kalashnikov once aspired to unspecified health problems. said in July 2007 at a ceremony cal flair by inventing several mod- freed from prison yesterday, Navalny, a vocal Putin foe who design farm equipment. But even The AK-47 — “Avtomat marking the rifle’s 60th anniversary. ifications for Soviet tanks. deriding President Vladimir will be kept out of elections for though his most famous invention Kalashnikov” and the year it went The weapon’s suitability for The moment that firmly set his Putin’s amnesty that led to years by a conviction and five- — the AK-47 assault rifle — sowed into production — is the world’s jungle and desert fighting made course was in the 1941 battle of their early release as a propa- year suspended sentence on a havoc instead of crops, he often most popular firearm, favoured by it nearly ideal for the Third World Bryansk against Nazi forces, when a ganda stunt and promising to theft charge he says was Kremlin said he felt personally untroubled guerrillas, terrorists and the soldiers insurgents backed by the Soviet shell hit his tank. Recovering from fight for human rights. revenge for his activism. Putin, in by his contribution to bloodshed. of many armies. An estimated 100 Union, and Moscow not only dis- wounds in the hospital, Kalashnikov Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 24, power since 2000, has not ruled “I sleep well. It’s the politicians million guns are spread worldwide. tributed the AK-47 widely but brooded about the superior auto- shouted “Russia without Putin” out seeking another six-year term who are to blame for failing to Though it isn’t especially accu- also licensed its production in matic rifles he’d seen the Nazis following her release from a in 2018. come to an agreement and resort- rate, its ruggedness and simplic- some 30 other countries. deploy; his rough ideas and revi- Siberian prison, hours after band Alyokhina echoed critics who ing to violence,” he said in 2007. ity are exemplary: it performs in The gun’s status among revolu- sions bore fruit five years later. mate Maria Alyokhina, 25, was said the amnesty was far too nar- Kalashnikov died in a hospital sandy or wet conditions that jam tionaries and national-liberation AP freed from jail in the Volga River row and aimed at deflecting criti- city of Nizhny Novgorod. cism over human rights before the They walked free days after Olympics in the Black Sea city of former oil tycoon Mikhail Sochi on Feb. 7-23. German minister visits Afghanistan Khodorkovsky was released “I do not think it is a humani- Italy PM pledges under a pardon from Putin tarian act, I think it is a PR after more than 10 years in jail, stunt,” she said by telephone reform pact in a move widely seen as intended in comments to the Russian to improve Russia’s image before Internet and TV channel Dozhd. January it hosts the Winter Olympics in “My attitude to the president has February. not changed.” ROME: Prime Minister “The border between being Tolokonnikova, who staged a Enrico Letta promised yester- free and not free is very thin hunger strike earlier this year day to include a swift reform of in Russia, a totalitarian state,” and drew attention to stark Italy’s widely criticised electoral Tolokonnikova, looking relaxed conditions and long hours of law and cuts to bureaucracy and and smiling in a black jacket and mandatory labour in the jail taxes in a new coalition pact to chequered shirt, told reporters where she was previously held, be worked out in January. outside prison in Krasnoyarsk. said she would fight for prison- Letta, who is 47, said that 2014 Tolokonnikova and Alyokhina ers’ rights. would be a year in which a new were sentenced to two years in “Everything is just starting, so generation of leaders would be prison for a profanity-laced pro- fasten your seat belts,” she said, able to begin reforms to pull Italy test against Putin in a Russian suggesting Pussy Riot - jailed out of two decades of stagnation. Orthodox church in 2012 after a for a “punk prayer” in the main “I have been part of this trial Kremlin critics said was part cathedral of Russia’s dominant change and I feel the full weight of a clampdown on dissent in his faith - would continue to use of responsibility. This genera- third presidential term. attention-grabbing protests to tion will have the opportunity of The case caused an outcry in make their point. changing Italy and I am convinced the West, but there was much less “I think we will unite our efforts it can do it.” He dismissed sug- sympathy for the women at home in our human rights activity ... the gestions that his authority could than abroad. methods which we will use will be undermined by the election of They had been due for release remain the same,” Alyokhina said Matteo Renzi as head of his cen- Newly appointed German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen (centre) talks with German troops in Mazar- in early March. Putin, who denies in Nizhny Novgorod. “We will try tre-left Democratic Party. i-Sharif, Afghanistan, yesterday jailing people for political reasons, to sing our the song to the end.” REUTERS has said the amnesty would show REUTERS TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Ex-UK minister gets 6 months’ jail for forgery MacShane gave 19 fake invoices

LONDON: Former done any work Labour MP Denis and the money MacShane was went straight to jailed for six MacShane. months yesterday However, the for false account- court heard that ing after admit- MacShane had paid ting making bogus other third parties parliamentary to do some work to expenses claims help in his role as worth nearly an MP, but that he £13,000. had not kept the MacShane, who receipts. served as Europe Instead, minister for three MacShane tried to years under Tony estimate the cost of Blair, submitted Denis MacShane the genuine work 19 fake invoices and then reclaimed between 2005 and the expenses 2008 while he was the member through the EPI. of parliament for Rotherham in Prosecutors said they accepted northern England, the Old Bailey MacShane’s argument that he had heard. submitted false invoices to recoup The 65-year-old was the fifth expenses he genuinely incurred as MP to be jailed in relation to an MP. They also accepted that the 2009 expenses scandal that he had not intended to profit angered the public and damaged personally and said his “chaotic” trust in parliament. record-keeping had contributed The system was reformed after to the confusion. The money was US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama with their daughter attend a basketball game between Oregon State and the University of disclosures that some MPs had paid back. Hawaii in Honolulu yesterday. Michelle’s brother Craig Robinson coaches the Oregon State University team. claimed expenses for everything The judge said MacShane’s case from pornographic films and ten- was different from those of the nis court repairs to moat-cleaning other four MPs jailed for false and a bath plug. expenses claims. Obamacare deadline extended by one day Sentencing MacShane, judge “Each of the others was sen- Nigel Sweeney said the former tenced upon the basis that his MP’s dishonesty amounted to a claims were wholly false, whereas WASHINGTON: As received 1 million visits over the also wound up apologising for uninsured and underinsured “flagrant breach of trust” that you must be sentenced upon Americans scrambled to beat weekend while a call centre took promising that everyone who Americans to enroll in Obamacare had undermined public confidence the basis that there were other a deadline to sign up for insur- 200,000 calls from those seeking liked their existing insurance by midnight but acknowledged in parliament. genuine expenses that you had ance under President Barack insurance under the Affordable could keep it under Obamacare. that those who sign up before “You deliberately created mis- incurred and paid in broadly the Obama’s new healthcare law, Care Act, known as Obamacare. The backlash has torpe- Christmas Day would be eligible leading and deceptive invoices and same sums and which you could the White House gave con- The hustle to sign up by the doed Obama’s approval ratings, for coverage starting January 1. then used them in order to pro- have reclaimed legitimately,” sumers shopping on the pro- deadline for January 1 coverage — alarmed congressional Democrats “If you are aiming to get cover- cure payments of public money,” Sweeney said. gramme’s website an extra which already had been extended facing re-election in 2014 and age January 1, you should try to Sweeney told the court. “The “However ... the dishonesty day, until December 24, to pick once — seemed to be a positive given a boost to Republicans sign up” on Monday, Julie Bataille, deception used was calculated and involved was considerable and plans for coverage that starts sign for the Obama adminis- opposed to the healthcare law. a spokeswoman for the Centers designed to avoid suspicion falling was repeated many times over a on January 1. tration as it tries to patch up a The administration instituted for Medicare and Medicaid on your claims.” long period.” The last-minute move by the botched rollout of the president’s a series of “fixes,” but the result- Services, said in a statement. The court heard how MacShane MacShane, an Oxford-educated Obama administration came on top domestic policy achieve- ing patchwork of exceptions and However, she said, “anticipat- claimed bogus expenses to pay for former BBC journalist, resigned a day when officials reported ment — the law that requires deadlines has upset insurance ing high demand and the fact research and translation work as an MP in November 2012 after record traffic on HealthCare.gov, Americans to get health insur- companies that fear the mixed that consumers may be enrolling supposedly done by an organisa- a parliamentary investigation into the enrolment website that strug- ance or face fines. messages could threaten the del- from multiple time zones, we have tion called the European Policy his expenses. gled with glitches after its launch Obama was embarrassed that icate financial formula around taken steps to make sure that Institute (EPI), a research body He had served as MP for in October. HealthCare.gov did not work for which Obamacare is designed. those who select a plan through he had set up in 1992. Rotherham for 18 years. The website has been repaired most people shopping for insur- Yesterday, administration tomorrow will get coverage for In fact, the EPI had not REUTERS and officials said yesterday that it ance for its first two months. He officials continued to encourage January 1.” REUTERS

Report on CIA killing Farc Rough weather hits rebels could hit Christmas travel peace: Correa TORONTO: Extraordinary win- DC experienced unseasonably ter weather was causing chaos in mild weather, with temperatures QUITO: Ecuador’s President the run-up to Christmas, bring- hitting record lows in those cities Rafael Correa warned yes- ing deadly ice storms, flooding on Sunday, Detroit and Toronto terday that reports US intel- and tornadoes to the mid-United were hit by freezing rain that ligence played a role in a States and south-east Canada. turned into an ice blanket. 2008 Colombian attack on Almost a million were without A woman was killed when FARC rebels in his country power and 15 people were killed. a rare winter tornado zipped could threaten regional peace Almost two inches of ice coated through Arkansas with 130mph efforts. Toronto and plunged hundreds of winds. Five were killed in flooding Over the weekend, the thousands into darkness and cold in Kentucky, with three killed in Washington Post reported that at the weekend after a fierce ice traffic accidents in Oklahoma and a secret Central Intelligence storm hit the city and brought six perishing on icy roads as the Agency programme had helped trees down onto power lines. ice storm hit Ontario. Colombia kill at least two dozen A bitterly cold air system from Hospitals in Toronto, Canada’s leftist guerrilla leaders. the west smashed into an unsea- largest city, are currently oper- And, according to the report, sonably warm bubble of air mov- ating on emergency power gen- it was thanks to US intelligence ing up the Atlantic coast, creating eration. Energy companies are that the FARC number two, Raul a swath of dangerous storms from struggling to bring power back Reyes, was found and killed in a north Texas, across the prairie, to the hospitals first and hope cross-border attack on Ecuador up through the Great Lakes and to have ordinary households in 2008 that left 24 dead. across eastern Canada as far as restored with heat and light in Ecuador temporarily broke dip- Nova Scotia. While residents of time for Christmas. lomatic relations with its Andean Pedestrians at the Terrasse Dufferin during a snowstorm in Quebec City, Canada, yesterday. New York City and Washington THE GUARDIAN neighbour following the incident. On his Twitter account, Correa wondered if these “very serious” revelations and other recent disagreements between his gov- ernment and Washington were simply coincidence. Will accept Brazil asylum if offered: Snowden He speculated that the report was an attempt to affect Ecuador’s BRASÏLIA: US leaker Edward Nevertheless he acknowledged NSA contractor Snowden to The information for an asylum. said he had started working for a relations with the United States Snowden said in a TV interview that the panel represented an Guardian newspaper and other Snowden’s charm offensive major website to earn some money and Colombia and “above all, the here that he would accept asy- important first step in reining media outlets have detailed the with the Brazilian government after running out of cash. peace process” under way between lum in Brazil if offered, but not in the massive US surveillance nature of the agency’s hitherto and people may mean he is hoping Snowden’s leaks exposed a Colombia and the FARC. if it were in exchange for infor- programmes. The interview was shadowy activities. On Tuesday, for a fresh look from President massive US government surveil- “At this point, I don’t believe in mation about US intelligence. conducted via email through the Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper Dilma Rousseff’s government — lance effort that included spying ‘coincidences.’ Colombia and the Snowden, in an interview an attorney in New York, and ran “an open letter to the Brazilian perhaps for asylum or a humani- on state leaders such as Rousseff international extreme right are broadcast late on Sunday on the Snowden’s answers were broad- people” signed by Snowden in tarian visa. and German Chancellor Angela capable of anything!” he wrote. news show Fantastico on Globo TV cast in Portuguese. which he said he stood ready to In July the rogue intelligence Merkel. NSA snooping in Brazil According to the Post, a secret network, also criticised the panel The US panel recommended help the Brazilian Senate’s inves- analyst unsuccessfully sought asy- included surveillance of Rousseff’s CIA programme in Colombia was that is reviewing US intelligence curbing the powers of the National tigation of US eavesdropping on lum in Brazil, as well as in other communications and those of initially authorised by president gathering, pointing out that it was Security Agency, warning that its Brazilian targets. countries. Snowden was granted state-run oil giant Petrobras, George W Bush around 2000 and hand-picked by the White House sweeps in the war on terror have But in the interview broadcast one-year asylum status by Russia as well as of telephone calls and has been continued under his suc- and that the changes it called for gone too far. Tens of thousands on Sunday, Snowden clarified and is living in an undisclosed loca- emails from millions of Brazilians. cessor Barack Obama. AFP were cosmetic. of documents leaked by former that he was not offering to swap tion. Recently, his Russian lawyer AFP TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

Politician blocks Nepali Congress to stake claim to new govt runway in air Party decides to intensify discussions with other political parties rage outburst

KATHMANDU: With more this regard with other parties — constitute a consensual govern- give priority to statute-formation Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal JAKARTA: An Indonesian than a month having passed since the Communist Party of Nepal- ment bringing all political parties rather than government-forma- Dahal alias Prachanda’s proposal district chief got revenge on an the November 19 Constituent Unified Marxist Leninist, the on board but said the party should tion, said Chandra Bhandari, to head the high-level political airline that refused to let him Assembly elections in Nepal and Prachanda-led United Communist initiate the constitution drafting member of the NC Central committee mechanism perma- board a full flight by sending yet no government in sight, the Party of Nepal-Maoist and other process by forming a majority- Working Committee. nently until the final promul- officials to block the runway and Nepali Congress, the single larg- regional parties. based government if there was Another party leader, Gagan gation of the constitution has stop the plane landing, authori- est party in the new House, has The Nepali Congress is cur- a delay in reaching a consensus. Thapa also said that the party made the political situation more ties said yesterday. formally decided to take leader- rently having power-sharing “The main agenda of constitution has decided to focus on the con- complicated with the other par- Marianus Sae, head of Ngada ship in government-formation. talks with CPN-UML, the second writing will be further pushed stitution-writing process than on ties having serious reservations district in the eastern island The NC has decided to inten- largest party in the newly-elected back if there is a delay in gov- forming the government and in against it. of Flores, wanted to get home sify its discussions in this regard assembly. “Being the largest party ernment-formation. So, this issue power politics. “We outrightly reject the prop- quickly to Ngada from the city of with other political parties — in the Constituent Assembly, it needs to be sorted out as early as Kathmandu is unlikely to see osition,” said CPN-UML leader Kupang on Timor island so that without naming its prime minis- has the mandate to lead both possible by intensifying talks with a new government anytime soon Raghu Pant. The Maoist party’s he could attend a meeting. terial candidate. the government and constitution other parties,” the CWC said. because several rounds of inter- demands of seeking a big role in But state-owned Merpati The first meeting of the par- drafting process and deliver the As the previous Constituent party talks didn’t yield any results the constitution-drafting process Nusantara airlines refused to sell ty’s Central Working Committee constitution within a year,” the Assembly was dissolved without as the Maoists continue driving a has made it difficult to strike a him a ticket for a flight to Turelelo on Sunday decided to lead the CWC said. it delivering a constitution, the hard bargain over the constitu- political deal in Nepal. Soa airport early on Saturday government and to hold talks in The party has also decided to Nepali Congress has decided to tion-drafting process. IANS because it was full. “It is outra- geous,” Sae was quoted as saying by the Jakarta Globe newspaper. “I begged for a ticket for five hours to Birthday celebrations fly to Ngada and their answer was: ‘The flight is full’.” Thai protesters attempt to The infuriated district chief ordered public order officers — who have more limited powers block poll registrations than police — to drive cars onto the runway and stop the plane BANGKOK: Thai opposition confidence that the parties would landing, media reports said. protesters yesterday stepped be able to register in time. The handful of staff at the air- up their campaign to disrupt “For those parties that cannot port could not stop the blockade upcoming elections, trying to enter the stadium we will contact and the airport remained shut block candidate registrations as them and made appointments for several hours, officials said. part of efforts to banish Prime for them to submit documents,” Merpati spokesman Riswanto Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Election Commissioner Dhirawat Chendra Putra confirmed the and her family from politics. Dhirarojvit said. plane was forced to turn back due The main opposition Democrat Puea Thai party said that to the blockade. Party, which has not won an Yingluck was on top of the par- However he added that two of elected majority in parliament in ty’s list of candidates — a position the plane’s 56 seats had become about two decades, has vowed to that would usually make her Puea available at the last minute — but boycott the February 2 polls called Thai’s pick for prime minister if by then Sae had already bought a by Yingluck following weeks of it wins the polls. Her candidacy is ticket to travel with another air- street rallies by her opponents. certain to anger the demonstra- line.Transport ministry spokes- It is the latest chapter in a tors, who want to rid Thai poli- man Bambang Ervan said the years-old political crisis which tics of the influence of her brother district chief had “tarnished the broadly pits a Bangkok-based Thaksin — a billionaire tycoon reputation of the aviation indus- elite against mostly rural and turned premier whom protesters try”. But he said the ministry poor supporters of Yingluck and accuse of controlling the govern- had no plans to take legal action, her brother Thaksin Shinawatra, ment from his home in Dubai. adding such matters were the a divisive former premier who was At least 150,000 people joined Well-wishers cross a bridge outside the Imperial Palace as they make their way to attend an event to celebrate responsibility of the police. ousted in a coup in 2006. the latest anti-Thaksin mass Japan’s Emperor Akihito’s 80th birthday, in Tokyo, yesterday. AFP Hundreds of demonstrators on protest in the capital on Sunday, Monday surrounded a stadium in according to an estimate from Bangkok where representatives National Security Council of political parties were trying to chief Paradorn Pattanatabut. register to run in the polls ahead Organisers said the turnout was of the December 27 deadline. much higher. Nine parties, including Protest leader Suthep Caps, sunglasses banned in Manila malls Yingluck’s Puea Thai, managed Thaugsuban has vowed to “shut to enter although officials were the country down” to prevent MANILA: Police in the popular suburban Manila shop- identity by wearing caps and even lookout for those flouting the ban. unable to fully complete their reg- people voting. The demonstra- Philippine capital have banned ping mall on December 15. The dark sunglasses,” said Carmelo Police have proposed similar istration, according to the coun- tors’ self-proclaimed People’s the wearing of caps and sun- suspects are believed to have Valmoria, head of police forces in precautions for banks and pawn try’s Election Commission. Democratic Reform Committee is glasses in shopping malls to used baseball caps to hide their the capital which is home to 11 shops. Malls are packed dur- About two dozen parties calling for an unelected “people’s stop criminals concealing identities. million people. ing the Christmas season and filed complaints with the police council” to be installed to over- their identity from security “These criminal elements know “Besides, why will you wear sun- the jewellery store robbery had because they were prevented from see sweeping but loosely-defined cameras. about the presence of (closed cir- glasses inside (a) mall?” He said panicked thousands of shoppers, entering. But it appeared to be reforms before new elections in The ban was imposed after a cuit TVs) in commercial estab- those wearing caps and sunglasses drawing the attention even of only a temporary setback with the around a year to 18 months. gang of hammer-wielding rob- lishments like malls. That’s why will not be allowed into malls and President Benigno Aquino. election authorities expressing AFP bers looted a jewellery store at a they are trying to hide their security guards will be on the AFP China tells its Bangla factory owner to plead innocent media to cover DHAKA: The owner of a supervisors ordered workers back will try to prove it when the trial Bangladesh garment factory to their stations even as an alarm begins.” The charges against the 13 positive stories that was destroyed in a deadly rang and smoke rose through an included breaching construction fire last year said yesterday that internal staircase. rules and building design faults BEIJING: China’s ruling he was “saddened and aston- Hossain was absolved of blame such as the failure to provide two Communist Party told the ished” that he had been charged earlier this year in a report emergency exits, an investigat- already tightly monitored with culpable homicide for the by the Bangladesh Garment ing officer said. If convicted the state media yesterday that death of 112 workers and would Manufacturers and Exporters accused face a maximum sentence they should not be reporting plead innocent in court. Association on the incident. of life imprisonment. on “wrong points of view” The police on Sunday laid “It saddened and astonished me The Tazreen fire tragedy put a and instead cover positive charges against Delwar Hossain, to see that both my wife and I spotlight on global retailers that stories that promote “social- his wife and 11 employees of are the main accused,” Hossain source clothes from Bangladesh. ist values”. Tazreen Fashions, a rare step in told Reuters by telephone, adding Hossain was held captive in his Traditionally, Chinese state a country where critics complain that supervisors who had alleg- office by angry workers at another media has been the key vehi- that powerful garment industry edly blocked workers trying to of his factories for more than 18 cle for party propaganda. But bosses too often avoid blame for escape from the burning factory hours in October until he paid a reforms over the past decade the many factory accidents. were still on the run. promised bonus, just one incident that have allowed greater Many of those who died in the “I have the full respect for the in a long-running confrontation media commercialisation and blaze at the multi-storey build- law, and because of that I did not this year between management some increase in editorial ing on the outskirts of Dhaka in try to flee the country though I and workers over pay. independence, combined with November 2012 perished because had a US visa. I am not guilty and REUTERS the rise of social media, have weakened government control, according to academics. However, since Xi Jinping Aceh tsunami museum became party chief and then Japanese dies national president, he has overseen a media crackdown after setting self to bring newspapers in par- ticular back in line. and son alight Under new guidelines to enforce “core socialist values”, TOKYO: A man died after the media must “steadfastly setting fire to himself and his uphold the correct guidance nine-year-old son at a school of public opinion”. playground in the Japanese “Strengthen the manage- capital Tokyo yesterday in what ment of the media, do not police suspect was a murder-sui- provide channels for the prop- cide bid, a report said. agation of the wrong points The boy suffered serious injuries of view,” read the guidelines, and remains unconscious in hos- which were published by the pital. The 49-year-old father took official Xinhua news agency. the boy away from a baseball game “News and publishing with other elementary schoolchil- organs and those who work in dren and their parents, and poured the industry must strengthen Visitors inside the Tsunami Museum which was built after the 2004 liquid on himself and his son before self-regulation, and ear- tsunami and illustrates the tsunami history, in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, setting them on fire. nestly increase their sense yesterday. Nine years after the tsunami, Aceh province has turned The man, who has not been of responsibility and ability named, died in hospital. Police into a bustling city with few reminders of the devastation such as the to promote core socialist val- found a lighter and a can which tsunami museum and a large ship pushed inland by the waves. ues,” it added. appeared to have contained kero- REUTERS sene at the school. AFP TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Army accused of Patrolling in Karachi killing 70 civilians Waziristan elders, troops convene jirga to end hostilities ISLAMABAD: Residents a statement. “The Pakistan mili- attack. Resident Muhammed of Pakistan’s ethnic Pashtun tary spokesman reiterated that Tayyab said he lost three of his chil- region of North Waziristan the military action against the dren and his wife in the shelling. accused government troops yes- terrorists in North Waziristan “On the first day of the attack an terday of killing at least 70 civil- on December 19 was in response artillery shell hit the room where ians during a military operation to an attempt by terrorists to my kids and wife were sleeping,” against Taliban insurgents. ambush a military convoy. Tayyab said by telephone. “The The operation started just “The intelligence-based sting government has put them to sleep after a December 18 suicide bomb military operation later was spe- forever.” Residents put the civilian attack on a checkpoint in North cifically targeted against foreign death toll at several dozen. Waziristan, a stronghold for Al terrorists holed up in a nearby “From the first day of the Qaeda-linked Taliban militants compound.” Foreign militants attack until now 70 civilians have on Pakistan’s mountainous border from various places including cen- been killed,” said a tribal elder in with Afghanistan. tral Asia have long been known to Mir Ali who declined to be identi- Speculation that the army might be based in the region. fied for fear of state reprisals. launch a major offensive in the The army in its statement did “Some truck drivers and frontier tribal areas has been build- not say anything about residents’ hotel and shop keepers were ing as the government’s attempts accusations of civilian casualties. shot directly, and dozens were to engage the Pakistani Taliban The military’s media wing could killed by gunships, mortars, and in peace talks have floundered in not be immediately reached for artillery shelling on the civilian recent months. Military officials comment. Pakistani authorities population.” said more than 30 militants, most imposed a curfew and residents A North Waziristan adminis- of them ethnic Uzbeks, had been said many people had fled from tration official said tribal elders killed in the operation. their homes after days of shelling and army representatives were “Security forces exercised and raids by helicopter gunships convening a jirga, or meeting to utmost restraint to avoid any col- in the Mir Ali region of North try to find a negotiated end to Soldiers on armoured vehicles patrol a street ahead of Shia processions in Karachi yesterday. Security has been lateral damage,” the army said in Waziristan following the suicide hostilities. REUTERS beefed up throughout Pakistan to avoid sectarian violence on the 40th day of mourning after the anniversary of the death of Imam Hussain, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Polio volunteers pull out Half of Pakistani lawmakers do not pay tax: Report

ISLAMABAD: Nearly half Commission, which publishes one of the world’s lowest. Fewer they just increase indirect taxes after attacks in Pakistan Pakistan’s lawmakers reported financial declarations of political than one percent of citizens file which shifts the burden onto the PESHAWAR: Volunteer polio According to Afridi, volunteers’ they paid no taxes, according to candidates and their statements income tax returns. poor and lets the rich off again,” vaccinators have backed away pulling out midway through the a study released yesterday, find- from the tax authority. Legislators have a tiny amount Cheema said. from the next immunisation anti-polio drive would mean ings that may endanger billions Tariq Azeem, a spokesman for deducted from their official sala- Nearly half of all national and drive in Pakistan’s northwest- thousands of children would not of dollars in IMF and other Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s ries but almost all of them have provincial legislators did not ern tribal region of Khyber be immunised against polio in loans and aid that shore up a ruling party, said the tax authori- lucrative second careers. declare paying any taxes, Cheema Agency after the murder of Khyber Agency. faltering economy. ties and the Election Commission The average net worth said in his report. More than one anti-polio campaign supervi- Ghilaf was the fourth polio Cracking down on rampant tax used different forms to gather tax of a legislator in 2010 was in 10 legislators had never even sor Ghilaf Khan on Saturday in volunteer targeted in the evasion is a main condition of a data. He said that may explain the $800,000, according to a study registered with tax authorities. Jamrud. Without their assist- month of December in Khyber- $6.7bn International Monetary discrepancies. of their asset declarations by the Of those who paid, a third had ance, thousands of children will Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Federally Fund programme aimed at sta- Asked why some legislators Pakistan Institute of Legislative discrepancies between income remain unprotected against the Administered Tribal Areas bilising the nuclear-armed US appeared never to have registered Development and Transparency. and tax declarations and data crippling virus. (Fata). The official said while the ally of 180 million people. Big with tax authorities, Azeem said: “I More recent figures are not avail- provided by tax authorities. Volunteers and Expanded department faced mounting pres- donours such as Britain, which don’t know.” Spokesmen for other able. “If politicians don’t pay taxes Many legislators reported paying Programme on Immunisation sure from the government, the has committed more than $1bn political parties said they had not themselves, they have lost the minuscule amounts of tax. Many (EPI) staff have been gripped by militants - on the flip side - were to Pakistani education, are con- read the report and could not com- moral authority to impose taxes paid less than $100, while some fear after Ghilaf was targeted, taking it out on polio teams, one sidering slashing aid unless more ment. None of the politicians the on others,” said Umar Cheema, paid as little as $17. said Dr Usman Afridi, field super- worker at a time. rich Pakistanis pay tax. report identified as tax evaders was the author of the report. There was even a discrepancy visory medical officer for the EPI. Without resolving security The report, which identifies available for comment. The Finance Ministry said in the record of Prime Minister He said 328 mobile teams - each issues, poliovirus cannot be some ministers among lawmak- Pakistan’s public schools and December tax collection was up Sharif, according to the report. comprising 2 volunteers - were eradicated from Pakistan, stated ers who pay no tax, was drawn hospitals are starved of revenue by about a quarter compared with Sharif, who came to power in a meant to be part of the polio cam- the official. According to an EPI up by the Centre for Investigative while riots over poor public serv- last year. Cheema said nearly 80 May election, declared he paid paign in the agency. “But after the official, Pakistan has recorded 77 Reporting in Pakistan, an inde- ices are frequent. Militant groups percent of that was through indi- $26,000 in income tax last year incident on Saturday, the volun- polio cases in 2013, compared to pendent research group. The capitalise on anger to build support. rect taxes on items like fuel. although the Federal Board of teers have quit, saying their lives 58 in 2012. group based its report on Pakistan has a nine percent tax “Whenever there is pres- Revenue said he paid $22,000. are at risk,” he said. INTERNEWS documents from the Election to gross domestic product ratio, sure from the donor agencies, REUTERS

Court unable to lift Musharraf’s travel ban

KARACHI: A Pakistani court returning from self-imposed exile Musharraf’s name on the ECL,” Taliban insurgents to his life. yesterday said it was unable to in March but there have been AQ Halipota said. Last month the government lift a travel ban on former mili- rumours a deal would be struck He said the court asked the announced it would put him on tary ruler Pervez Musharraf, a to let him leave the country, to petitioner to contact the appro- trial for treason and he has been day before his trial for treason avoid the all-powerful military priate forum -- the government. ordered to appear before a special was due to start. being embarrassed by having its Musharraf has faced criminal court on December 24. It will be Musharraf’s lawyer peti- former chief tried by civilians. cases dating back to his 1999- the first time in Pakistan’s his- tioned the Sindh High Court Musharraf lawyer A Q 2008 rule since returning to tory that a former military ruler last month to remove the Hallipota said the Sindh court Pakistan, including the murder will face a treason trial. retired general’s name from an in Karachi had ruled that as the of former prime minister Benazir Speaking publicly last week “exit control list” (ECL) so he government imposed the travel Bhutto. He was granted bail in for the first time since being could leave the country to visit ban, it must decide on whether the four main cases against put under house arrest in April, his sick mother in Dubai. or not to lift it. “A two-member him but remains under guard Musharraf vowed to face justice The 70-year-old has faced bench of the Sindh High Court at his farmhouse on the edge of and not flee the country. a range of criminal cases since has ruled that it did not put Islamabad because of threats by AFP

Afghan asylum-seekers camp out for Belgium PM BRUSSELS: Some 200 legally stay in Belgium. The Afghan asylum-seekers and archbishop of Mechelen- their supporters set up camp Brussels, Andre Leonard, late on Sunday in Belgium’s has lent his support to their western town of Mons, campaign. demanding to see Belgian While Di Rupo has Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo expressed some sympathy for to press for residency papers. their plight, his state secretary The demonstrators had for asylum, Maggie De Block, marched 70 kilometres (40 has taken a harder line, saying miles) from Brussels to see the Afghans’ requests would Di Rupo, who is also mayor of be processed as for any other Mons. would-be refugee. After learning the prime In 2012 Afghanistan was minister was on a trip abroad the biggest source country and would not return until of refugees (a position it has yesterday, they vowed to camp held for 32 years) with one out out in Mons’s main square -- of every four refugees in the decked out in Christmas deco- world being an Afghan. rations and vendors -- until At the end of 2012 the they could see him. United Nations Refugee The Afghans had been Agency (UNHCR) reported Asylum-seekers from Afghanistan rub a fellow protester’s feet as they gather occupying a Brussels church that there were 15.4 million at the ‘Grand Place’ in Mons, Belgium, yesterday. for four months in a protest refugees worldwide. demanding permission to AFP TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Foggy weather Raj Thackeray, Over 32 million Bachchan bury past bitterness cases still MUMBAI: Bonhomie was evi- dent at the much-awaited meet- ing between Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan and MNS await justice chief Raj Thackeray as they shared the dais at a programme here yesterday after five years. Burying past bitterness, a Staff crunch hits fast track courts relaxed and smiling Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Thackeray NEW DELHI: The country’s Justice S N Dhingra said the virtually forgave Bachchan who over 1,000 fast track courts, set government must “appoint more had accepted the brand ambassa- up for moving the wheels of jus- judges” to try the pending cases. dorship of Uttar Pradesh in 2008, tice faster, have decided more Dhingra said that such courts which started the fracas. than 3.2 million cases in the were established for “clearing the “I have always felt that in the past 11 years, but a whopping 32 massive backlog in court cases on past 100 years, there has not been million cases are still pending, a priority basis”. an actor as big as Bachchan. He according to official data. “Fast track courts, which are is the brand ambassador of the Law and Justice Minister Kapil meant to expeditiously clear the People ride bicycles as they cross a pontoon bridge during a foggy day in Allahabad yesterday. Northern whole nation, and not just any Sibal said in the Lok Sabha that a colossal scale of pendency in the India continues to face below average temperatures with dense fog affecting flights and trains. state,” Thackeray said in a rich total of 3,292,785 cases were dis- district and subordinate courts in compliment to the actor, who was posed of by the 1,192 Fast Track a time-bound manner, are suffer- seen smiling. Courts (FTCs) till March 2011. ing due to staff crunch,” he added. He warmly urged the people He said there are more than 32 For speedy disposal of cases, the to forget whatever happened in million pending cases in high central government had released the past and that “it has been courts and subordinate courts funds directly to state govern- Pranab urged to keep Andhra united immersed in the Ganga river”, across the country. ments. An amount of Rs870 crore amidst a loud round of applause. Leading the chart of cases was allocated to state governments Thackeray said people like tackled, Gujarat’s 61 fast track from 2000-01 to 2010-11, Sibal said. HYDERABAD: The demand for also met the President and sub- Meanwhile, chief minister’s office Bachchan and Lata Mangeshkar courts disposed of 434,296 cases, The highest funding was keeping Andhra Pradesh united mitted a memorandum. The min- has termed the report in a section are sent by God and cannot be followed by 153 courts in Uttar granted to Uttar Pradesh, at echoed at a meeting attended by ister said the interests of Telugu of media as ‘baseless’ that Chief restricted to any particular region Pradesh which decided 411,658 Rs136 crore while Bihar was given President Pranab Mukherjee in people could be protected only if Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy as they belong to everybody. cases. Maharashtra’s 51 courts Rs93 crore. The funds were sanc- Anantapur town when a state the state remains united. discussed Telangana issue with the Reciprocating warmly, concluded hearing of 381,619 cases tioned to states as “upgradation minister urged him to ensure Elsewhere in the town, President during his meeting on Bachchan lauded the MNS while 84 courts in Madhya Pradesh grant for judicial administration” that Andhra is not divided. police arrested students of S K Sunday. The CMO clarified that it Chitrapat Sena, which celebrated decided 317,363 cases and 49 courts for the 11-year period. Primary Education Minister University as they were plan- was only a courtesy call. its seventh anniversary yesterday, of Tamil Nadu heard 371,336 cases. Senior advocate Sushil Kumar S Sailajanath appealed to the ning to take out a rally to meet The President on December 12 for taking up the cause of the peo- During the time of central feels that one of the reasons for president at a public meeting President Mukherjee and sub- sent the bill for formation of a sep- ple behind the scenes and stand- funding of fast-track courts, high pendency is “public prosecu- to respect the sentiments of the mit a memorandum to oppose arate Telangana state to Andhra ing behind them. between 2000 to 2011, Bihar ran tors are overburdened”. With too majority of Telugu people by keep- proposed bifurcation. They Pradesh assembly for its views. The “Not many are aware that those the maximum number of such many cases one cannot give suf- ing the state united. were denied permission by the assembly is likely to debate the bill behind the scenes in the mak- courts, 179. This also resulted in ficient time to every case, Kumar Amid loud cheers by the audi- authorities. from January 3 and send its views ing of a movie need to be recog- the disposal of a large number said and recommended that the ence, he told the President that Elaborate security arrange- to the President by January 23. nised... And in the celluloid world, of pending cases in the state — government appoint more public he is the hope of Telugu people. ments were made in the town in Leaders of parties demanding and it is important that the financial 159,105 cases till March 2011. prosecutors. He said most of the The minister made the appeal view of the protests planned by opposing separate Telangana state future of these invisible artistes is Sibal told the Lok Sabha that cases are progressing at a snail’s in his speech in Mukherjee’s the students and other groups. were meeting Mukherjee here and secured,” Bachchan said, round- FTCs were set up to handle long pace for want of public prosecutors. presence at the concluding pro- Hundreds of policemen were arguing their case. ing off his speech with a recital pending cases on the recommen- A total of 701 fast track courts gramme of the birth centenary deployed around Sanjeeva Reddy Seemandhra legislators of from his father Harivansh Rai dation of the Eleventh Finance are working under the funds celebrations of former president stadium, where the President Telugu Desam Party on Sunday Bachchan’s poem Agneepath. Commission from year 2000. As per released by state governments, Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy. attended the meeting. urged the President to recall the Later, along with actor Sachin December 2012, there are at least while 183 courts are functioning Sailajanath, who heads the Revenue Minister Raghuveera bill, while leaders of Telangana Pilgaonkar, Bachchan distrib- 27.6 million cases pending in subor- in Bihar and 100 courts are work- group of ministers and Congress Reddy said united Andhra activ- Rashtra Samithi (TRS) requested uted insurance policies to junior dinate courts while 4.4 million are ing in Maharashtra (till December leaders from Seemandhra ists could meet the President in him to ensure that the process for artistes and stunt-persons who pending in various high courts. 2012), law ministry said. (Rayalaseema and coastal Hyderabad, where he is on south- formation of Telangana state is risk their lives for dangerous acts. Retired Delhi High Court judge IANS Andhra) opposing the bifurcation, ern sojourn. expedited. IANS IANS

Hands of two labourers chopped off in money row NEW DELHI: Police have arrested eight people after the hands of two labourers were chopped off in a dispute over money, an officer said yesterday, with the victims in serious con- dition in hospital. Two labourers were admit- ted to a hospital in remote and impoverished Kalahandi district of Orissa state last week after they were discovered bleeding with their hands chopped off, the officer said. Police arrested and charged eight people over the gruesome incident allegedly carried out as punishment after the labourers fled with an advance on their wages, superintendent Sarthak Sarangi from Kalahandi district said. “We have solved the case by identifying and arresting five contractors and three middlemen. We are now keeping a vigil (for other cases),” Sarangi said. The eight have been charged with a range of offences includ- ing attempted murder, extortion and confinement he said. The The Agni-III missile lifting off into the sky from Inner Wheeler Island, off the pair were among 12 labourers Orissa coast, yesterday. who fled with their advance after initially agreeing to travel with the contractors to neighbouring Agni-III missile tested Andhra Pradesh state to work at a brick kiln, only to learn they were being taken to Chhattisgarh BHUBANESWAR: India yes- and naval ships from its launch state, police have said. terday successfully test-fired its till the missile hit the target area The two labourers, who were nuclear-capable Agni-III ballis- with pin-point accuracy,” Defence each given Rs12,000 ($193) in tic missile, with a range of over Research and Development wages, were tracked down and 3,000km, from a base in Odisha, Organisation spokesperson Ravi attacked, while most of the rest defence officials said. Kumar Gupta said. “Such suc- of the group that fled were still The surface-to-surface missile cessful training launches clearly in hiding, Sarangi said. “There is was fired from a launching com- indicate our operational readiness still apprehension and only two of plex at the Inner Wheeler Island to meet any eventuality as also the 10 who escaped the contrac- off the coast of Dhamra in Bhadrak establishes the reliability of this tors before the attack have come district, about 200km from here. deterrent component of India’s back (to their villages),” he said. “The test was carried out by the strategic arsenal,” he said. The pair who lost their hands Strategic Forces Command. It was Agni-III is capable of carry- were still in a serious condition a user trial,” test range director M ing warheads weighing up to 1.5 and will remain in hospital for V K V Prasad said. “It was tested tonnes. It is 16 metres in length another week, a senior investi- for full range. The test was success- and weighs 48 tonnes. The missile gating officer in the case said. ful. It met all mission parameters,” has a two-stage solid propellant Thousands of men and women he added. system. It can re-enter the atmos- flock to neighbouring states and “The trajectory of the trial was phere at a very high velocity. Agni- urban areas to work in industries tracked by a battery of sophisti- III is a rail mobile system capable such as brick kilns, construction cated radars, telemetry observation missile and can be launched from and farming. IANS stations, electro-optic instruments anywhere in India. IANS TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

‘Dead’ woman With Kejriwal resurfaces; ‘killer’ husband in jail RANCHI: A “dead” woman was found to be living with her boyfriend, now her hus- at helm, AAP band, in Varanasi while the first husband is languishing in jail for “murdering” her, police said. Five other people arrested in connection with to rule Delhi the murder are out on bail. The woman, Pinki, was pro- duced yesterday in a court in Leader turns down security cover Giridih, 300km from here. In 2010, Pinki’s first marriage NEW DELHI: AAP leader to seek people’s views on whether was solemnised with Arun Arvind Kejriwal is set to be or not it should take support from Kumar. On June 20, 2011 Delhi’s seventh chief minister a party it fought against in the Pinki and Arun were headed after staking claim yesterday to election. to Bilaspur when she went take power with Congress back- That led to a unique five-day missing. It later came to light ing — amid vocal doubts about referendum where people were that she eloped with her boy- the government’s stability. asked to say ‘yes’ or ‘no’. Kejriwal friend, Nitesh Ram, and tied After a fortnight of deadlock declared yesterday that a “major- the knot. Pinki’s parents had that followed a hung verdict, ity ... wanted us to form the lodged an FIR against Arun, Kejriwal, 45, announced after government”. alleging that she was killed meeting Lt Governor Najeeb Jung Even as the first steps of gov- by her in-laws. Six people, that he and his ministers would ernment formation were taken, including Arun, were jailed. take oath at the Ramlila Maidan around 1,000 Congress activists Arun’s family members found but didn’t give a date. protested against their party’s Pinki leading a married life Without acknowledging the decision to support the AAP Arvind Kejriwal, leader of the Aam Aadmi Party, waves after his meeting with Lieutenant Governor Najeeb Jung with her second husband and support of Congress’ eight legis- government. in New Delhi yesterday. a two-and-a-half-year child lators, a visibly confident Kejriwal To add to the confusion, AAP from the first marriage, in asserted that the Aam Aadmi leader Kumar Vishwas made Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Party, which has 28 seats in the light of the Congress support but They then informed the 70-member assembly, had the admitted that running the gov- Are AAP’s promises practical? police and she was arrested. majority to rule Delhi. ernment amid uncertainty would “We are in a majority and we be a “challenge”. NEW DELHI: Slashed power the AAP sustainable “unsus- Water was another poll plank Indians advised will form the government,” he An engineer by training and a bills, a daily supply of 700 litres tainable”. “It is Delhi Electricity which the AAP tried to cash said. “Let the opposition pass a former Indian Revenue Service of water to every household and Regulatory Commission which in on against the Congress. to leave S Sudan no confidence motion.” officer whose social activism regularising unauthorised colo- determines tariffs. The Delhi According to Census 2011, about NEW DELHI: India has Among his first acts, Kejriwal won him the Ramon Magsaysay nies were arguably the three poll government can only issue direc- a quarter of the city’s 17-18 mil- advised its nationals in South quickly held a “training session” award, Kejriwal didn’t say who promises by the Aam Aadmi tion. The only way it can reduce lion population does not get Sudan to leave the troubled for his 27 legislators, most of will be the new chief minister. But Party (AAP) that caught the power bills is by giving subsidy to treated piped water. African nation and most whom are first timers in electoral his colleague Manish Sisodia said people’s imagination and helped the people,” Sinha said. He said The party has promised to Indians have already left or politics. Kejriwal would hold the top post. it reach a position from where it, that subsidising power bills across provide 700 litres of water daily are in the process of leaving. Later, the activist-turned-pol- “We fought the elections under somewhat unexpectedly, stands the board will cost a whopping to every household in Delhi. “Most Indian nationals in itician who had vowed to end the his leadership, and all the MLAs to form the government in Delhi. Rs5,000 crore to the Delhi gov- Himanshu Thakkar, an expert on South Sudan have already left VIP culture in Delhi, told police had selected him as the chief Fulfilling these promises — ernment exchequer. water issues, finds it “feasible”. or are in the process of leav- that he needed no security cover. minister candidate,” said Sisodia, which affect the average citizen Anil Razdan, former secretary Delhi needs around 1,100 million ing following advice by India’s Delhi’s former chief minister who is widely tipped to become a of Delhi the most — is certainly in the union power ministry, also gallons of water a day. Officially, Embassy in Juba,” ministry of Sheila Dikshit, who Kejriwal minister. The BJP accused AAP not going to be a cakewalk for the wondered how AAP would keep the supply is falling short by 50 external affairs spokesperson defeated by over 25,000 votes, gave of joining hands with the “corrupt year-old AAP. This litmus test its tall poll promises of 50 per- million gallons but some say the Syed Akabaruddin tweeted. her “best wishes” to the AAP but Congress”. will measure the gap between cent reduction in power bills for shortage is much more. The advisory was issued after said the Congress support would Party leader Harsh Vardhan, promise and performance. the average consumer. He said he Regularising unauthorised fighting spread through South be “conditional”. who could have been the chief “Inflated” power bills was one would like to see the AAP govern- colonies, which allegedly mush- Sudan following a reported She gently mocked at the minister had the party formed issue on which the upstart party ment’s “concrete plan of action” roomed under the patronage of coup attempt in Juba last AAP’s promise to drastically cut a government, said: “This is a immediately managed to strike on this issue and wondered if only politicians, will be another daunt- week. According to sources, power tariff and provide 700 litres betrayal of the wishes of the peo- a chord with the people and “arm twisting” of power distri- ing task for the AAP. there are 250-300 Indian of water daily to all households. ple of Delhi. promised a 50 percent reduc- bution companies can help AAP The inhabitants of these unau- nationals in South Sudan. The AAP was invited to form “The AAP fought the election tion in their monthly electricity achieve its target. thorised colonies, which were once a government after the Bharatiya on the anti-corruption plank, and bills, since power tariffs had gone In the run up to the polls, the the stronghold of the Congress, Illayaraja suffers Janata Party, which finished with now they have taken support from up significantly in the last two AAP had gone hammer and tongs turned the tables against the 31 seats, declined to do so. a party that has been completely years and were burning a hole in at the Congress-led Delhi govern- party which had promised to mild heart attack The Congress then announced rejected by the people of Delhi. domestic budgets. ment, accusing it of being in col- regularise over 1,600 of them — a CHENNAI: Music maes- that its eight legislators would This proves that AAP is hungry Former Delhi principal secre- lusion with power distribution plan which still hangs fire. tro Illayaraja suffered a mild prop up the AAP, which decided for power,” he said. IANS tary (power) Shakti Sinha finds companies. IANS heart attack yesterday. He was rushed to a hospital and is out of danger, said his man- ager. “He was admitted to Rescue drill Apollo Hospital after he com- plained of some chest pain Diplomat exempted from at his residence. The doctors confirmed that it was a mild attack, but have ascertained appearing in US court that he is absolutely fine,” the agent said. Illayaraja, 70, NEW DELHI: Indian diplo- Sources said the US embassy has composed music for over mat Devyani Khobragade, who has sought extension of yester- 900 films across several lan- was arrested and underwent day’s deadline to give details guages. His latest film was a humiliating strip and cavity of the salaries paid to Indian Tamil drama Thalaimuraigal. search, has been exempted from staff employed in US consu- Some of his best albums personally appearing in a New lates, including those working as include Thalapathi, Thevar York Court hearing visa fraud domestic help with the families of Magan, Mounaragam and charges against her. She has American officials. Nayagan. also got accreditation to the UN The Indian government had headquarters, sources said here. also asked for salary details of Tarun Tejpal’s Khobragade, who was arrested teachers at US schools here to on December 12 in New York, was see if they are paying tax. remand extended shifted by the Indian government Khobragade was charged with PANAJI: Tehelka editor-in- to its Permanent Mission to the paying lower salary — in compari- chief Tarun Tejpal, who has UN, a step that gave her full dip- son to US standards — to the Indian been accused of assault of a lomatic immunity. Sources said help she had taken along. She was junior colleague, will spend her exemption from personal accused by Manhattan’s Indian the Christmas and New Year’s appearance in court was an American US attorney Preet eve in a prison cell. A magis- important step towards resolving Bharara of visa fraud and exploit- trate here yesterday extended the standoff between India and ing her babysitter and housekeeper. Tejpal’s remand for 12 days US over the issue. She was handcuffed in public by up to January 4. Tejpal was India has asked for an uncon- law enforcement authorities in arrested on November 30 after ditional apology and also that New York while she was dropping a junior colleague accused him A student lies on a stretcher tied with ropes as he is “evacuated” by fire service personnel during a rescue charges against the deputy consul her daughter at school. of sexual assault during a con- operation drill in Agartala yesterday. general in New York be dropped. IANS ference held at a Goa resort. Cashless cancer treatment CHANDIGARH: Giving a major relief to cancer patients Law school trashes Supreme Court ruling on 377 across Punjab, Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal Monday BANGALORE: By its ruling on gay sex, certain consensual sexual behaviour that is had refused to appeal the decision of the non-consensual or underage sexual infrac- announced a new scheme the Supreme Court has refused to engage classified as against the ‘order of nature’,” Delhi High Court in Naz Foundation v. NCT tions and yet has refused to read a require- that will provide cashless with Babasaheb Ambedkar’s notion of the NLSIU Bar Association said. of Delhi in 2009, and urged the Supreme ment of either minority or a lack of consent treatment to cancer patients. ‘constitutional morality’ that restrains This judgement is notably at variation Court to consider changing values of society into the penal provision. Finally, the court Badal said that under the new the majority from imposing its notions of with the Supreme Court’s own jurispru- as opposed to Victorian notions of morality. has failed to substantially engage with the scheme, there would be no morality on the minority, the country’s dence giving a liberal construction to Despite this, the court has relied on a pre- right to privacy, which is an integral facet need for getting prior sanc- premier law school here has noted. the fundamental rights enshrined in the sumption of constitutionality and claimed of Article 21 of the Constitution, it said. tion of officers for availing Expressing deep disappointment at the Constitution, it said. that 200 prosecutions under this section are The Delhi High Court judgement, it treatment for cancer. Badal ruling, the Student Bar Association of the The judgement, it said, is problematic on “not enough” to declare the provision uncon- pointed out, has been considered to be a said the scheme would prove National Law School of India University several counts. The apex court has failed stitutional, the association said. landmark in India as well as around the to be a big help for cancer said that the judgement also clearly vio- to show any rational nexus between the It said the court also does not acknowl- world for its furtherance of the rights of patients as under it the entire lates the principle of inclusiveness which classification of certain sexual behaviour as edge the blackmail and harassment that is the LGBTQ community and human rights expenditure would be borne has been articulated by Jawaharlal Nehru “unnatural” and the legislative object that legitimised by Section 377, claiming that in general. Over the last four years, it by the government. Punjab as “the heart of Indian Constitution”. would justify criminalising such behaviour. mere abuse of discretionary power does has made a remarkable difference in the has seen an increase in the “We believe that the Supreme Court, the The court has also overlooked the fact that not make the power itself unconstitutional. acceptance and main-streaming of queer number of cancer patients in guardian of our fundamental rights, has Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code was Moreover, the ambiguity of the impugned sexualities throughout the country. recent years, especially in the given a retrograde judgement by denying introduced by the British and not the Indian section, which is responsible in part for the In contrast, the Supreme Court judge- southwest Malwa region, due members of the LGBTQ community their people, over 153 years ago. It is to be noted abuse of power, has not been sufficiently ment has been condemned around the world, to excessive use of pesticides rights as guaranteed by the Constitution of that Britain decriminalised homosexuality 46 dealt with by the court. including by the UN High Commissioner for and insecticides in farming. India. The judgement has implications for years ago, in 1967, the statement said. The bench cited a long line of judi- Human Rights, who referred to it as a “sig- AGENCIES heterosexuals as well as it would criminalise The government of India, it pointed out, cial precedents that clearly involved nificant step backward for India”. IANS TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Ice sculpture

Fajr (Dawn) 4:55 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:17 Zuhr (Noon) 11:34 Asr (Afternoon) 2:31 Maghrib (Sunset) 4:52 Isha (Night) 6:22

WEATHER

Today Wednesday Weather Thursday Conditions: Partly cloudy Clear Clear Partly cloudy with chance for scattered High: 22° High: 23° High: 22° Low: 15° Low: 16° Low: 16° rain.

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA

SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:17 16:52 09:00 & 22:00 01:15 & 16:45 05-15 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER An ice made horse drawn carriage is displayed with LED illuminations in a garden in Tokyo yesterday.

MUSCAT 23/17 Chance of rain 21/16 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 19/09 Clear 17/09 Clear BAHRAIN 21/16 Clear 20/15 Partly cloudy SANAA 20/01 Partly cloudy 19/02 Partly cloudy RIYADH 18/07 Clear 19/08 Clear DUBAI 22/16 Chance of rain 23/16 Partly cloudy Let there be light, on the moon! BAGHDAD 16/03 Clear 15/03 Clear NEW YORK: As India gears by the Chinese rover that recently The first system consists of generated converts the liquid THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW up to send Chandrayaan 2, its landed on the moon. modifying fragments of regolith, into a gas, which in turn heats second lunar exploration mis- The lunar night lasts approxi- or lunar soil, incorporating ele- the thermal mass. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER sion to the moon, in the near mately 14 days, during which tem- ments such as aluminium, for Afterwards, during the long future, there is some hearten- peratures as low as -150ºC have example, such that it becomes a lunar night, the heat is trans- ATHENS 13/11 Cloudy 13/09 Chance of rain ing news for those manning our been recorded. This complicates a thermal mass. ferred to a Stirling engine to pro- WASHINGTON 07/-2 Chance of rain 04/-1 Partly cloudy Moon Mission. rover’s movement and equipment “When the sun’s rays hit the duce electricity. SYDNEY 25/19 Chance of rain 29/16 Partly cloudy Scientists have proposed a sys- functioning on the lunar surface, surface, a system of mirrors “This system is better equipped LONDON 07/02 Chance of rain 06/00 Partly cloudy tem of mirrors, processed lunar requiring heavy batteries from reflects the light to heat the than the previous model for lunar PARIS 13/08 Rain 11/06 Chance of rain soil and a heat engine to provide earth or the use of nuclear energy. thermal mass, which later can projects with greater energy ISTANBUL 10/06 Mostly cloudy 10/06 Mostly cloudy energy to rovers and crew during A team of researchers from the transmit heat during the night needs, such as a manned mission MANILA 31/24 Partly cloudy 32/24 Partly cloudy the lunar night. Polytechnic University of Catalonia, to rovers,” said Ricard Gonzalez- spending the night on the moon,” DHAKA 26/15 Partly cloudy 25/14 Clear The invention also means that along with collaborators from the Cinca, co-author of the study. added Gonzalez-Cinca. The find- DELHI 17/09 Clear 18/08 Clear during the lunar night, there US, have studied two options for The second system has a more ings of the study were published ISLAMABAD 18/01 Clear 19/01 Clear would be no need for batteries storing energy on the Moon during sophisticated series of mirrors in the journal Acta Astronautica. and nuclear power sources used the day for use at night. and a heat engine. The heat IANS

Enjoyable work, not perks, motivate workers: Survey NEW YORK: What do you expect most from your job? A handsome pay packet, most would say. No? Strangely, in a new study by the Pew Research Centre, money doesn’t necessarily buy happiness for most employees. Nearly 45 percent of surveyed people across the job spectrum in the US said the greatest pro- fessional priority for them is to do the work they enjoy the most while one-third considered job security, work-life balance and Decorations outside a shopping mall in Hong Kong. good benefits equally valuable. Employees in the first dec- ades of their working lives place Battle of festive decorations more importance on opportuni- ties for growth than do employ- ees at or near the peak of their at shopping malls in HK careers, the study, published in BusinessNewsDaily, added. HONG KONG: In the race to The IFC Mall, located in the “Younger workers, who are at extract cash from Christmas city’s Central financial district, the time of their lives when most shoppers, Hong Kong’s myriad has set up decorations inspired people marry and start raising shopping malls have taken to by New York City’s Central Park, a family, are also more likely to heart the maxim that you must with grassy knolls and stationary place a greater priority on values spend money to make money bicycles that light up when shop- related to family and children,” when it comes to decorations pers climb on and pedal. said Pew researchers. this festive season. APM in east Kowloon has The study, carried on 2,000 From two-storey-high polar constructed a whacky Christmas participants, also found that bears to giant Disney charac- town featuring the Bear Dog there are more gender differences ters, the southern Chinese city is characters from Japanese among men and women regarding awash with increasingly elaborate designer Shiro Nakano, as well as their desires to be in charge. displays as luxury outlets bid to Warhol-esque soup cans topped Specifically, 52 percent of outdo each other and get wealthy with colourful Christmas trees. men, compared to 38 percent of mainlanders through the door. Malls have kept their holiday women, aspire to be a boss one The competition between shop- designs — and their budgets — a day. ping malls is “very fierce”, said closely guarded secret until the The study revealed a simi- Karen Tam, assistant general man- last possible minute, adding to the lar pattern emerges when chil- ager for marketing at the Harbour pressure on those responsible for dren are considered. Fathers are City shopping mall located on the the over-the-top displays. “We more likely than mothers to seek bustling Kowloon waterfront. had tried to check what the other a top executive job, regardless Harbour City spent more than malls are doing for the season, but of whether they have children HK$5m ($645,000) this year on a everyone keeps it all very confi- younger than age 18, the study display that includes Disney char- dential,” said Rebecca Woo, head said. The study also discovered acters from popular movies such of marketing at K11 Art Mall. that baby boomers are the least as Toy Story and Lilo and Stitch K11, which doubles as a shop- likely generation interested in placed among huge Christmas ping mall and an art gallery in the being managers. decorations. Tam said the mall’s tourist hotspot of Tsim Sha Tsui, IANS budget will only increase in com- had an environmental twist on this ing years, as it vies with its rivals year’s festive installation which was to boost Christmas footfall and six months in the planning and snare as many local and tourist costing HK$4m ($516,000). shoppers as possible. The mall opted for a two-storey “The budget for Christmas tall polar bear made of steel pipes, decorations has to go up because accentuated with multi-coloured it is really serious competition in lights and fake foam snow, which Hong Kong and China,” Tam said. Woo said was designed to raise “We have to be creative, we have awareness of the impact of human to bring in new elements, we have activities on the environment. to attract people’s eyeballs.” AFP Tuesday 24 December 2013 20 Safar 1435 Volume 18 Number 5923 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Major boost to ‘Fuwairit’ delivers first cargo to India DOHA: RasGas successfully delivered its first cargo aboard the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) tanker ‘Fuwairit’ to the merchandise Kochi LNG Receiving Terminal in India on November 15. This was the second cargo sup- plied by RasGas for Kochi, the first commissioning cargo, also trade balance loaded at Ras Laffan, was trans- ported to Kochi by Petronet, the largest single importer of LNG to Imports of food and beverages India, in August this year, a press statement said yesterday. Petronet was formed by the reached QR8.2bn last year government of India to set up LNG terminals to import gas DOHA: Qatar’s merchandise Imports of food and beverages in the country. It is a joint ven- trade balance — the difference tripled and reached QR8.2bn in ture company promoted by the between exports and imports — 2012. Gas Authority of India Limited increased sixfold from QR64.1bn Imports of crude materials (GAIL), Oil and Natural Gas to QR392.2bn during 2006-2012. except fuels, such as iron ores, Corporation Limited (ONGC) and Total exports, including re- aluminium oxide, pebbles and other state-backed oil companies. exports, quadrupled to reach crushed stone, natural bitumen Kochi LNG Terminal is located QR484.1bn in 2012. Imports, on and asphalt increased fourfold in Puthuvypeen, in the southern the other hand, increased by 53 during 2006-2012 recording Indian state of Kerala. It is the percent from QR59.8bn in 2006 QR5.5bn in 2012. second terminal operated by to QR91.8bn in 2012, the Ministry Miscellaneous manufactured Petronet, with the capacity to of Development Planning and articles such as jewellery, watches receive 5 million tonnes of LNG Statistics revealed yesterday. and paintings, almost doubled per annum. It set up its first LNG Throughout 2006-2012, the during 2012 and amounted to terminal at Dahej in Gujarat with majority of exports were destined QR10.8bn, the document noted. the capacity of 10 million metric to Asia. Japan, South Korea, India During 2006-2012, imports tonnes per year. and China were the main mar- from Asia and the European Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, RasGas’ Liquefied Natural Gas tanker ‘Fuwairit’ berthed at the Kochi LNG Receiving Terminal in India. kets. In 2012, exports to these Union accounted for more than CEO of RasGas said: “This suc- countries accounted for 28 per- 60 percent of imported goods, cessful delivery is a reflection also a demonstration of RasGas’ is a gateway for receiving LNG RasGas entered into a 25 year cent, 19 percent, 11 percent and 5 but the share of imports of these of RasGas’ commitment to our capability to reliably supply LNG to serve the huge markets and 7.5 MTA Sale and Purchase percent of total exports respec- regions decreased gradually. long-term customer, Petronet. around the world.” businesses in southern India. Agreement with Petronet and has tively, the ministry document Among Asia, Japan and China The supply to the Kochi LNG Speaking on the occasion, Dr The quick implementation of gas been supplying the Indian market Window on Economic Statistics of accounted for more than half of terminal is an indication of the A K Balyan, Managing Director pipelines by Gas Authority of since 2004, making RasGas the Qatar said. the transactions, while Germany, strength of our relationship and and CEO of Petronet said: “We India Limited (GAIL) will help largest and only existing long- Exports to Asia were domi- Italy, and the UK were the main the importance we place on India are proud of our relationship receipt of gas to various consum- term LNG supplier in the coun- nated by liquefied natural gas sources of the EU goods. as a strategic LNG market. It is with RasGas. This LNG terminal ing sectors.” try. THE PENINSULA (LNG), crude oil, condensates, Imports from the Gulf coun- propane and butane, polyethylene tries increased in share from 13 and naphtha. percent in 2006 to 16 percent in In 2012, the EU was the sec- 2012. ond destination of the exports Among GCC countries, the and accounted for 10 percent of UAE was the most significant Nakilat signs $160m financing deals with Al Khaliji total exports, up from 4 percent trading partner accounting for registered in 2006. Exports to the 62 percent of imports from this DOHA: Al Khalij Commercial $120m to N-KOM and $40m to and Chairman of N-KOM and the success of the Emir’s vision EU were mainly LNG, kerosene, region in 2012. Bank (al khaliji) has financed a NDSQ. NDSQ Abdullah Fadhalah Al for a world-class marine industry polyethylene, halogenated olefins, Imports from this economic total of $160m for two Nakilat Signing for the financing was Sulaiti said: “This agreement within Qatar.” and urea. area comprised pebbles, gravel, shipyard joint ventures, held at Nakilat’s headquarters on is a clear demonstration of the al khaliji’s Group Chief broken or crushed stone. The Nakilat-Keppel Offshore & December 17 and was attended strength of our businesses at Executive Officer Robin McCall GCC EXPORTS STABLE share of the US in the imports Marine (N-KOM) and Nakilat by senior management of Nakilat, Erhama bin Jaber Al Jalahma commented on the financing remained virtually unchanged Damen Shipyards Qatar N-KOM, NDSQ and al khaliji. Shipyard. N-KOM’s and NDSQ’s agreement: “The financing of Exports to the Gulf countries, during 2006-12. (NDSQ). The bank would fund Managing Director of Nakilat track records are testament to Nakilat’s on-shore assets con- third economic area of impor- In 2012, the US was the main solidates al khaliji’s position as tance in Qatar exports, remained country of origin of imports (11 a major player in the marine stable during 2006-2012 at around percent), followed by China (10 industry backed by our contin- 6 percent of total exports. percent), Japan (8 percent) and ued growth, our internationally Among Gulf countries, the UAE (8 percent). recognized credit rating, and the UAE was the first destination of During 2006-12, other coun- trust our clients have placed in the exports to the region, but its tries, such as Egypt, Brazil, us to continue to deliver innova- participation decreased from 79 Mexico, Canada, Switzerland, tive financing solutions. Nakilat percent in 2006 to 68 percent in and Norway, increased its share continues to play an instrumental 2012. in total imports from 8 percent in role in establishing the State of Exports to this economic area 2006 to 14 percent in 2012. Qatar’s marine industry and has comprised principally LNG, kero- In Q2 2013, Qatar’s total built a strategic relationship with sene, aluminium alloys, natural exports amounted to QR123.2bn, al khaliji.” gas and iron bars and rods. an increase of QR3.2bn or 2.7 per- “As Qatar continues to gen- An analysis of imports dur- cent compared to Q2 2012. erate steady revenues from the ing the six-year period shows In Q2 2013, the main coun- hydrocarbon sector to support its machinery and transport equip- tries of destination of Qatar plans of diversifying the economy, ment accounted for 44 percent exports were Japan, South Korea al khaliji will continue to play an and amounted to QR40.9bn. and India. Imports recorded a important role in financing Oil & Machinery and transport equip- QR23.9bn in Q2 2013, an increase Gas and Marine Industry projects ment include import of vehicles, of QR1bn or 4.2 percent compared The Managing Director of Nakilat and Chairman of N-KOM and NDSQ, Abdullah Fadhalah Al Sulaiti (second left), and supporting the country’s solid parts of aeroplanes, mechanical to Q22012. growth and progress.” and Al Khaliji’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Robin McCall (second right), signing the agreements. and electricity machinery. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

QIC to set up department for corporate social responsibility programmes

DOHA: Qatar Insurance of QIC said: “This will eventu- 2.5 percent of its annual net prof- sponsoring cultural events such as cultural activities emanating from Company (QIC) is planning to ally lead to the support of our its to participate in community seminars, conferences and meet- the Qatar Foundation for Science set up a special department efforts to achieve our goals with activities. ings as well as contributing to the and Community Development, for corporate social responsi- social dimensions and enhance “By the end of last year, we development of private educa- and specialised research centres, bility programmes in the near our position as one of the largest have allocated QR10.3m from tional institutions and providing contributing to the activities of future in its efforts to give spe- businesses committed to the local the net profit generated by the computers to some schools. education, traffic, and fire fight- cial attention to its community- community development.” company’s activity in Qatar to the With regard to sports, QIC is ing, and also contributing to the based endeavours. “QIC considers social responsi- fund allocated for this purpose,” considered one of the most promi- beautification of cities,” he said. QIC has introduced a series of bility as a form of good citizenship, he said. nent sponsors of sporting events On special focus on youth, initiatives and development pro- belonging to the community, and The company’s main focus area in the country, including the $1m Al Sub’ie said: “The category of grammes to serve the community melting with it. We also believe is the health field. It has built an award to the Ethiopian hero, Hale students and graduates is one of with an extensive attention to the that social responsibility pro- integrated modern physiotherapy Jabr Silas, winner of the Qatar the most important societal seg- sectors of health, education, youth grammes provide real opportu- centre and provided ambulances marathon in 2002. ments given special attention by training and sports. nity to build strong relationships to Hamad Hospital. It has also The company also provided the company. In this area, the In an interview in The White between private sector companies contributed to the blood donation financial support to various sports company is working on sending Book, Best CSR Practises in Qatar, and the local community,” said Al campaigns. clubs and federations. many Qatari nationals abroad for 2013, an annual book published Sub’ie. Al Sub’ie also explained vari- “In the area of social activity, obtaining advanced courses as The chief executive officer of QIC by Dar Al Sharq, Khalifa Al QIC was the first national com- ous activities in the cultural field. the company has actively con- well as completing their higher Khalifa Al Sub’ie Sub’ie, the chief executive officer pany that allocated a permanent He said that QIC is focusing on tinued its support to social and studies.” THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Drake & Scull wins QR400m mall deal Qatar plans to DOHA: Drake & Scull Qatar is slated for completion in June (DSI Qatar), a wholly-owned 2015. subsidiary of Drake & Scull Karem Akawi, Area General International PJSC (DSI), has Manager of Drake & Scull Qatar invest $200m in won a mechanical, electrical said: “The Mall of Qatar is a very and plumbing (MEP) contract prestigious project award for DSI for QR400m for the upcoming and will build upon the rich expe- Mall of Qatar in Al Rayyan. rience we have in Mega Retail This is the latest in a series projects. Indian property of multi-million commercial and “DSI Qatar’s MEP division is residential deals signed by the a market leader and is currently company this year. executing projects across district ‘Time ideal to invest in the country’ UrbanCon Trading and cooling, hospitality and residential Development are the main con- sectors.” MUMBAI: Qatar Investment seek investment opportunities tractors on this commercial Earlier this year, Drake & Scull Authority (QIA), the sover- in the country, said the timing development. Qatar was awarded a QR304m eign wealth fund, is in talks to invest in Indian property was DSI Qatar will execute the contract for a mixed-use real to invest $200m in residential ideal. “If you have a long-term installation of electromechanical estate development project in property in India, a source perspective and you believe that works on the three-storey mall Doha and a second residential with direct knowledge of the the need for capital in a coun- which will feature a hypermar- project worth QR180m. matter said. try is quite high, which it is, and ket, a multiplex, five department DSI Qatar has also been asso- QIA is holding “conversations” the supply is limited right now stores and at least 20 restaurants. ciated with several prestigious with Kotak Realty Fund, run because people are not invest- In addition to the car parking projects since the early 2006 such by Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd, ing, then this is the best time to accommodating 7,000 cars, the as the Four Seasons Hotel, the which would manage the invest- invest,” he said. mall will also have its own metro Qtel Tower and the Doha Land ments on behalf of the fund, said In November, CPPIB said station. DSI Qatar is scheduled project and has a healthy backlog the source, who asked not to be it would invest $200m to buy to start work on site in the first and a history of consistent profit- A computer rendition of the Mall of Qatar. named because the deal has not leased, income-producing office quarter of 2014 and the project ability. THE PENINSULA been finalised. buildings in a joint venture with Kotak would also make a small Indian construction company, investment and plans to focus Shapoorji Pallonji Group, which on residential property devel- will invest $50m. opments in major cities across QIA’s investment comes after Asia’s third-largest economy the Abu Dhabi Investment Public sector deposits retreat by 5pc in Nov: QNB for QIA, the source said. Kotak Authority in July also appointed declined to comment. Kotak to invest $200m in Indian Sovereign wealth funds and real estate on its behalf, sources DOHA: Public sector deposits On the private sector front, the Our assumption is based on the Deposits also dipped by 0.2 other long-term investors are told said at the time. retreated by 5 percent month- consumer segment expanded by expected uptick in project mobi- percent MoM (+16.4% YTD) in eyeing opportunities in India’s Also in July, Singapore’s GIC on-month in November, but 6.1 percent MoM (+23.0% YTD) lisations in the coming months,” November 2013. Going forward, real estate sector, betting that Pte Ltd, Temasek Holdings and up 28.1 percent year-to-date, and the companies and institu- QNB noted. QNB expects activity in the bank- property prices are bottoming Oman’s State General Reserve while private sector deposits tions segment ticked up by 1.2 Private sector loans inched ing sector to pick up in the com- out after slumping this year on Fund committed to investing a gained by 3.7 percent MoM and percent MoM (+7.5% YTD). up by 0.9 percent MoM (+12.2% ing months. the back of the slowest economic combined $200m in a real estate grew 15.1 percent YTD, QNB’s The overall loan book exhibited YTD). The Services segment The banking sector’s loan-to- growth in a decade. fund run by Indian mortgage monthly banking sector update flattish performance in the month posted the biggest growth, up deposit ratio (LDR) remained House sales in major Indian lender HDFC Ltd. noted yesterday. of November. Total domestic pub- 9.9 percent MoM (+43.6% YTD), at 107 percent at the end of cities, including Mumbai and The investments are a shot The government institutions lic sector loans declined by 1.1 while the Real Estate loan book November 2013 vs 107 percent in Delhi, fell 22 percent in the quar- in the arm for India’s prop- segment ticked up by 1.4 percent percent MoM after a robust per- retreated by 1.2 percent MoM October 2013. ter ended September 30. erty developers, many of whom (+27.6% YTD) vs a 4.9 percent formance in October. On a YTD (down 3.1% YTD). Consumption Going forward, some banks House prices grew by 9 per- are burdened with debt that is decline in the previous month. basis, public sector loans are up and others declined 1.5 percent will be issuing Tier I bonds. cent over the same period com- expensive to service at steep However, the government 8.8 percent. The government seg- MoM (+13.5% YTD). Commercial Bank of Qatar pared with double digit increases interest rates. segment retracted its positive ment loan book contracted by 7.6 Specific loan-loss provisioning (CBQK) and Doha Bank (DHBK) in the year-ago quarter, accord- Banks are also reluctant to momentum, contracting by 16.4 percent MoM (+6.3% YTD). stood at 1.4 percent of average announced that they will be rais- ing to property data firm Liases lend because of fears of defaults, percent MoM but it was still up The government institutions’ trailing 12-months loans vs 1.4 ing QR2bn each in Tier 1 bonds Foras. while private equity funds, which 44.1 percent YTD. The semi-gov- segment inched up by only 0.8 percent in October 2013. to improve their capital adequacy Vikram Gandhi, founder poured in billions of dollars at ernment institutions segment percent MoM (+12.1% YTD). Loans and deposits growth was ratios (CARs) as well as provide of Delhi-based VSG Capital the height of the property mar- followed in the footsteps of the “We believe public sector loan flat in November. Loans declined additional funds aiding loan book Advisers, which has been ket in 2007, have turned cautious government segment slipping by growth will be the primary driver by 0.1 percent MoM but are up growth. retained by Canada Pension Plan after project delays impacted 4.2 percent MoM (+7.4% YTD). of the overall loan book in 2014. 11.9 percent YTD. THE PENINSULA Investment Board (CPPIB) to returns and exits. REUTERS Qatari bourse recovers from two-week low; region mixed

DOHA/DUBAI: Qatar on Sunday. The volume of the QR355,388,168.76 on Sunday. Exchange ended in the green shares traded up to 14,952,892 Among the top gainers were area yesterday adding 50.38 from 9,234,843 on Sunday and Electricity and Water which points (0.50 percent) advance to the value of shares increased was up 2.08 percent to QR171.50, 10,453.15 points from 10,402.77 to QR594,953,713.75 from Doha Bank gained 1.05 percent to QR58, Islamic Insurance added 1.40 percent to QR58 and Gulf International up by 0.99 percent to QR61. The Banking and Financial sector index added 0.02 points while the Consumer Goods and Services sector index lost 0.20 points. The industrial sector gained 0.99 points while the Insurance sector was down 0.28 points. Elsewhere, Saudi Arabia’s benchmark climbed 0.1 per- cent to a new five-year high after trading flat for most of the session. Petrochemical shares supported the mar- ket with the sector’s index up 0.2 percent. The market showed little reaction to the announce- ment of the 2014 state budget, which projected spending would rise a modest 4.3 percent from this year’s plan, Kuwait’s index also climbed 0.1 per- cent. After the close, the Constitutional Court ruled that parliamentary elections held earlier this year were legal, rejecting suits that could have caused the dis- solution of parliament and fresh elections. Later in the day, Kuwait’s cabinet ministers submitted their resignations, a move that could pave the way for a cabinet reshuffle. The market has become accustomed to political instability and is unlikely to react to any moderate reshuffle. UAE markets edged up but small caps led trading. Dubai’s index climbed 0.4 percent, leaving it fewer than 10 points away from Thursday’s five-year closing high. QNA/REUTERS TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Gold edges lower, on course for largest annual loss in 32 years

LONDON: Gold edged lower towards gold for now as there is on Friday at $1,185.10 an ounce, by the US central bank’s taper, around 40 percent of total ETF last week but not to the same yesterday, on course for its larg- no more uncertainty around the closing in on a 3-1/2-year low which will raise the opportunity holdings, saw a record outflow level seen during earlier price est annual loss in 32 years, as Fed taper,” MKS SA vice presi- touched earlier that month, after cost of holding non-yielding gold. of more than 450 tonnes in 2013 drops this year. thin pre-holiday trade and signs dent Bernard Sin said. Spot gold the Federal Reserve’s first step The metal has fallen nearly 30 to the lowest level in nearly five Volumes traded on the of an improving US economy fell 0.3 percent to $1,198.50 an away from ultra-loose monetary percent this year, putting an end years. Outflows from the top eight Shanghai Gold Exchange for the kept investors fretting over the ounce by 1456 GMT, while US gold policy further undermined the to 12 straight years of growth and gold ETFs have totalled about 720 99.99 percent purity gold contract impact of the Federal Reserve’s futures for February delivery was investor case for holding bullion. reflecting expectations that eco- tonnes as investors channelled were lower than Thursday’s two- stimulus tapering. down $5.90 at $1,197.70.. The Fed said last week that the nomic recovery would bring an more money to riskier assets such month peak. Premiums edged up The metal posted its biggest “I would argue that there is US economy was strong enough end to quantitative easing. as equities. $2 to $18 an ounce from Friday. weekly loss in a month after the support at $1,190 ... but there may for its bond-buying scheme to be Holdings of SPDR Gold Trust, Hedge fund managers cut their Silver rose 0.4 percent to $19.42 Fed’s decision last week to start be more downside as it doesn’t scaled back, winding down an era the world’s largest gold-backed bullish bets on gold only modestly an ounce. Spot platinum was scaling back its bond-buying take much to move the market in of easy money that saw gold rally exchange-traded fund, rose 5.40 in the week to December 17, data down 0.3 percent at $1,324.00 an stimulus, which was followed by thin holiday trading,” VTB Capital to an all-time high of $1,920.30 an tonnes to 814.12 tonnes on Friday released on Friday showed. ounce, while spot palladium fell upbeat GDP data. analyst Andrey Kryuchenkov ounce in 2011. Gold was the major — the first inflow since November Physical demand picked up in 0.2 percent to $694.33 an ounce. “Investors remain negative said. Gold hit its lowest since June financial benchmark hardest hit 5. The fund, which accounts for Asia as prices fell towards $1,200 REUTERS

Philippine economy rallies Saudi unveils record $228bn budget IMF expects economy to grow by 3.6pc this year

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia yester- per day of oil, and has a capacity revenue often turn out to be much day announced a record budget to produce more than 12 million larger than its projections, with of $228bn for next year, slightly bpd. the kingdom posting big budget up from $218.7bn set aside for The Opec kingpin’s economy is surpluses, as oil prices generally this year. expected to grow 3.8 percent this come in higher than its conserva- The world’s largest oil exporter year, according to the statement. tive assumptions. said it also expected to conclude The International Monetary Nevertheless, the 2014 budget this year with a budget surplus of Fund is expecting the Arab suggests Riyadh has decided to SR206bn ($54.9bn), after budget- world’s largest economy to grow rein in fiscal policy after massive ing for a surplus of around $613m. by 3.6 percent and 4.4 percent in expansion driven partly by the Revenues in 2013 were expected 2013 and 2014 respectively, after 2011 uprisings in the Arab world. An aerial view of Manila yesterday. The Philippine economy should grow 7 percent this year, and between 6.5 and to reach SR1.131trn compared expanding by 5.1 percent last year. Saudi Arabia escaped major 7.5 percent next year, despite the devastation caused by a typhoon and an earthquake, the government said. with expenditure of SR925bn, Saudi Arabia has been using unrest but boosted welfare spend- according to a government part of its large windfalls of oil ing sharply to buy social peace. statement. revenues to repay its public debt, “The Saudi government has The kingdom had budgeted for which has dropped to SR75.1bn been spending generously to deal revenues of $221bn in 2013, and ($20bn), or 2.7 percent of its gross with the financial crisis, unem- Turkish lira near record low on graft probe an expenditure of $218.7bn. domestic product, according to ployment and housing problems. For 2014, Saudi Arabia is the statement. Now there is a need to press on ISTANBUL: Turkey’s lira central bank’s announcement of of dollars that has boosted global expecting a balanced budget of Public debt stood at SR98.8bn the brakes,” said Saudi economist hovered near a record low yes- its 2014 monetary and exchange emerging markets, the lira was SR855bn ($228bn), said the state- ($26.3bn) at the end of last year. Abdulwahab Abu Dahesh. terday, hammered by domestic rate policy report due today, in further beaten down by a police ment carried by SPA state news “I think they are demon- Next year’s 4.3 percent rise in political tensions and the US which it will provide guidance investigation in which dozens of agency. strating that there is discipline planned spending is far smaller Federal Reserve’s decision to after the Fed decision. senior businessmen and people A quarter of the budget is ear- and commitment to a sustain- than the 19 percent leap envis- start trimming its monetary Already under pressure this with links to the government marked for education and train- able fiscal expansion,” said John aged by the 2013 budget plan, and stimulus programme. year by expectations that the were detained last week. ing, including building 465 schools Sfakianakis, chief investment the lowest increase since 3.5 per- The market also awaited the Fed would begin to stem a flood REUTERS and revamping 1,500 others. strategist at MASIC, a Saudi cent in 2003, calculations showed. The government will also spend investment company. IMF told Saudi Arabia this SR22bn in 2014 on 185,000 Saudis “Both budgeted spending next year it was spending more than already on scholarships to study year and actual spending this year it should if it wanted to preserve abroad. The health sector will get have a smaller increase than in oil wealth for future generations, SR108bn. previous years. Although they are and that its state budget could fall Oil continues to contribute the still overspending, they’re over- into deficit by 2016 if expenditure bulk of revenues for Saudi Arabia, spending by less.” continued rising fast. which pumps 9.7 million barrels Actual expenditure and AFP/REUTERS

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Egypt ready Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 101.38 0.25 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.00 1.46 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.38 2.61 % Aa2 AA to pay $1.5bn Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 112.13 3.05 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 106.25 3.60 % Aa2 AA to oil firms Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 153.50 4.96 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 114.50 5.36 % Aa2 AA CAIRO: Egypt will complete Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 105.50 5.37 % Aa2 AA payment this week of $1.5bn of the $6.3bn it says it owes oil Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.00 0.94 % Aa2 AA firms, a state executive said Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 109.63 3.36 % Aa2 AA yesterday, in line with a plan Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.63 1.18 % A1 A- aimed at restoring confidence in Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 103.88 2.15 % A1 A- an economy hit by nearly three QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.13 1.51 % NR NR years of political turmoil. QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.75 1.12 % Aa3 A+ “Today we are reimbursing QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 103.75 2.14 % Aa3 A+ $1bn to the foreign partners and the rest during this week,” the Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.00 2.21 % A2 A- chairman of state-run Egyptian Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.25 1.46 % A2 A General Petroleum Corporation Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 122.88 3.27 % A2 A (EGPC), Tarek El Molla said. Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 105.50 3.86 % A2 A Approval of the $1.5bn payment Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 99.75 5.03 % A2 A was announced by the govern- Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.50 0.95 % Aa3 A ment on December 4. The govern- Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.63 3.30 % Aa3 A ment said the next day it would Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.50 4.02 % Aa3 A repay a further $3bn in monthly instalments until the end of 2017, SOVEREIGNS hoping this will encourage needed Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P investment in the energy sector. Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 101.38 0.56 % Aa2 AA Molla said $1.2bn of the initial Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 122.00 2.31 % Aa2 AA tranche is being paid in US dol- lars and the remaining $300m Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.25 1.92 % NR NR in Egyptian pounds, as officials Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 106.50 2.86 % NR NR had indicated. Molla had previ- Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 119.75 4.35 % NR NR ously told that “satisfying” foreign Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 111.63 4.75 % NR NR partners was essential to the gov- Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.50 0.87 % Aa2 AA ernment’s strategy of encourag- Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 113.25 3.33 % NR BBB ing foreign oil companies in the Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 103.25 4.89 % NR BBB country to increase exploration and production in exchange for Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 96.00 6.53 % Caa1 B- a more rapid repayment of the Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 101.88 4.18 % NR BBB- money it owes them. *Periodic Distribution Amount IMPORTANT NOTE: Financial disclosures by firms Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which including BP, BG Group , Edison is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services SpA, TransGlobe Energy, Eni and Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary Dana Gas show Egypt owed them data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising more than $5.2bn at the end of out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds 2012. Industry sources have indi- can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant cated the total sum owed is likely liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not to be much higher. a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and Egypt has been delaying pay- consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. ments to firms because political upheaval since the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak in 2011, frighten- ing away tourists and investors, and cutting into tax revenues. REUTERS TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Morgan Stanley Apple deal lifts Wall Street to new high to sell mutual Technology giant signs long-awaited agreement with China Mobile Ltd to sell iPhones funds assets in

NEW YORK: US stocks rose 0.36 percent, at 16,279.71. The India to HDFC yesterday, advancing to all-time Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was MUMBAI: Morgan Stanley is highs as Apple Inc surged on up 7.27 points, or 0.40 percent, at selling its Indian mutual fund a distribution deal with China 1,825.59. The Nasdaq Composite assets to a joint venture between Mobile. Index was up 24.29 points, or 0.59 India’s HDFC and Britain’s Activity is expected to be thin percent, at 4,129.03. Standard Life, becoming the this week, with many market par- Both the Dow and S&P were at latest foreign asset manager to ticipants out for the Christmas all-time highs, extending sharp quit India. holiday. Equity markets will close gains from last week, the strong- HDFC Asset Management early today and will be closed all est for major indexes in months. Company Ltd, India’s biggest fund of tomorrow. The light volume The rally was fuelled by strong manager in terms of assets, said could amplify market volatility. economic data and a US Federal it will acquire Morgan Stanley Tech titan Apple said on Sunday Reserve decision to begin trim- Investment Management’s eight it had signed a long-awaited ming its stimulus programme, mutual funds, with a combined agreement with China Mobile which removed a major source of Rs32.9bn ($529m) under manage- Ltd to sell iPhones through the uncertainty for the market. The ment, for an undisclosed sum. world’s biggest network of mobile Fed also said its key interest rate The sale comes after Morgan phone users, a deal that could add would stay at rock-bottom longer Stanley sold its Indian private billions of dollars to its revenue. than previously promised. wealth management business “This is just good news, and a The S&P has soared about 28 to Standard Chartered in May. much bigger strategic deal than percent this year, thanks largely No Morgan Stanley spokesman had been forecast,” said Oliver to the Fed’s stimulus, and is on was immediately available for Pursche, president of the Suffern, track for its best year since 1997. comment. New York-based Gary Goldberg In the latest economic data, The sale of the fund assets Financial Services, which owns a survey showed that consumer marks the latest exit from India the stock. sentiment rose to its strongest by a foreign player. Japan’s Daiwa “Apple is incredibly underval- in five months in December as Asset Management offloaded its ued at this stage, and this deal Americans’ outlook on the econ- mutual fund schemes this year can help it trade well beyond $600 omy and job prospects improved. and Fidelity Worldwide exited early in 2014.” However, the read was slightly A man uses an Apple iPhone in front of China Mobile banners at one of its branches in Beijing yesterday. last year. Shares of Apple jumped 3.3 below expectations. Equity redemptions have percent to $567.13 and the stock’s Separately, a report showed the final shopping days leading up “We’re a little nervous about trouble in the wake of a massive reached $5.75bn over the past massive market capitalisation November personal income rose to Christmas. In a sign that this the holiday season,” said Pursche. data breach. The Wall Street five years because of volatile mar- helped lift both the S&P 500 and 0.2 percent while spending rose season may be a difficult one for “Sales have been strong, but there Journal reported that the retailer kets, taking a toll on management Nasdaq. 0.5 percent. Analysts expected the sector, US consumers shopped has been significant discounting suffered reduced customer traffic fees. On top of that the industry US-listed shares of China both to have risen 0.5 percent. less during the final weekend going on, especially in the middle- over the weekend, which is one of is struggling with rising regula- Mobile rose 2 percent to $52.67. The market wasn’t impacted by before Christmas despite deeper end section. That could hurt the the busiest of the year. Shares fell tory costs. The Dow Jones industrial the data. discounts, according to analytics bottom line.” 1.1 percent to $6.182. “HDFC Mutual Fund has average was up 58.57 points, or Retail stocks will be in focus in firm RetailNext. Target Corp may see particular REUTERS acquired a portfolio of strong performing domestic mutual fund schemes from Morgan Stanley and this acquisition is another step towards expanding our mutual fund customer base,” Hyundai to sell financial units Milind Barve, managing director Winter storms dampen UK’s of HDFC Asset Management said SEOUL: South Korea’s Hyundai group has announced a restructuring in a statement. plan to sell off financial units for more than $3bn in an effort to reduce its HDFC Asset Management debt and focus on shipping, logistics and elevator-machinery businesses. is owned by India’s Housing The firm has put up for sale Hyundai Securities, Hyundai Asset Management high street shopping rush Development Finance Corp and and Hyundai Savings Bank as well as other assets including a luxury hotel. Britain’s Standard Life PLC. The group said in a statement published on Sunday that the sale would LONDON: British retail- REUTERS help it raise up to won3.3trn ($3.1bn) and improve its liquidity. ers risked missing out on It promised to concentrate its resources on three main businesses — the traditional pre-Christ- Hyundai Merchant Marine, Hyundai Elevator and Hyundai Logistics. mas rush yesterday as dire The debt ratio for the three main units stood at 493 percent in the third weather hit the country, Taiwan’s Acer quarter of this year. The group plans to lower that to about 200 percent. potentially putting off mil- Hyundai Merchant will borrow money overseas, while Hyundai Elevator lions of shoppers holding out names new CEO will float new shares and Hyundai Logistics will be listed on the Seoul stock for last-minute discounts. exchange. Despite huge red signs after 3Q losses In the wake of the 1997-98 economic crisis, Hyundai Group became a minor announcing sales of up to 70 conglomerate after it spun off its lucrative auto-making unit, Hyundai Motor. percent, many of the stores on TAIPEI: Taiwan’s struggling Hyundai Engineering and Construction also left the group and came under London’s Oxford Street were personal computer maker Acer creditors’ control in 2001 as part of a bailout package. quiet yesterday, with many yesterday named a new chief Hyundai Heavy Industries, the world’s largest shipbuilder, had been spun shoppers heeding the advice of executive officer following losses off earlier. The Hyundai group has been in trouble since former chairman the national weather service to of hundreds of millions of dol- Chung Mong-Hun committed suicide in 2003. AFP stay at home. lars in the third quarter. “With the weather, well, it’s Jason Chen, who takes over really quiet,” shopper Betty as both CEO and president from Sanger said in the Marks & January 1, is currently sen- Spencer’s Oxford Street store, ior vice president of worldwide having snapped up discounted sales and marketing at Taiwan toiletries. “A few years ago you Semiconductor Manufacturing wouldn’t have been able to get Co, the world’s leading contract in here.” microchip maker. Some indoor malls, how- Acer chairman Stan Shih said ever, were likely to benefit. in a statement that Chen, who The Waitrose department also worked at Intel and IBM, store-supermarket in London’s was “the ideal executive to lead Canary Wharf had long lines our transformation”. waiting at tills. The board had last month Despite tentative signs of named 69-year-old Acer founder recovery in Britain’s econ- Shih as chairman and interim omy, consumers are nonethe- president, replacing two top exec- less feeling the pinch as wages utives who quit in the space of less have failed to keep pace with than a month over the firm’s poor inflation. performance. Shoppers have also learnt Acer posted a worse-than- from experience that the expected net loss of Tw$13.1bn longer they leave it to buy Shoppers on Oxford Street — Britain’s busiest shopping street — in ($442.2m) in the three months Christmas gifts, the more London’s West End yesterday. to September. shops will slash prices to The company has said this was tempt them. shoppers off from buying win- spending,” said Gerard Lane, due to a rise in inventory levels “Do you reckon this is ter clothes. Department stores equity strategist at Shore and one-time compensation pay- going to go on sale soon?” one are also seeing sales seep away Capital. ments related to longstanding shopper was heard asking a to the Internet, official data Omar Deedat, aged 29, and litigation. sales assistant last week in a last week showed, while a pick shopping on London’s Oxford But it has forecast that ship- London fashion store. up in the housing market has Street said he had a lot to buy ments of Acer’s notebooks, tablet “We’re not allowed to know,” meant that many Britons are yesterday. PCs and Chromebooks will fall was the response, adding with spending what money they “I was here on Saturday and 10 percent in the fourth quarter a smile the customer should have on their homes, and not it was horrific, especially with compared to the third quarter. try again. on what they wear. the rain,” he said. “A lot of dis- In the face of the tough out- Clothing retailers have “I think the consumer has counts are on. I bought a pair look, Acer has set up a business endured a particularly tough got used to the idea that there of Kurt Geiger boots for £85 restructuring group led by Shih autumn, with the milder-than- will be a last-minute price cut ($140), reduced from £195.” and co-founder George Huang. expected weather putting and so may have held off their REUTERS AFP

Takeover activity buoys European stock markets LONDON: European shares by 0.4 percent to 3,060.26 points, group Bureau Veritas also that the European and other rose for the fourth consecu- while Germany’s DAX rose 0.8 rose 3.8 percent to the top of economies are slowly recovering tive session yesterday, buoyed percent to a record intraday the FTSEurofirst 300’s leader- from the after effects of the 2008 by corporate takeover activ- high of 9,471.76 points. board as traders welcomed its financial crisis and the eurozone’s ity and by gains on Germany’s Signs of a revival of merger move to buy Maxxam Analytics sovereign debt crisis. DAX stock market, which hit and acquisition (M&A) activity International Corporation. In the latest example of a a record high. supported the gains. “Whenever you see some strengthening economic envi- The pan-European German broadcaster M&A, you have to buy the mar- ronment, the International FTSEurofirst 300 index rose ProSiebenSat1 rose 1.2 per- ket,” Toby Campbell-Gray, head Monetary Fund predicted on 0.4 percent to 1,292.78 points. cent as it agreed to sell its east of trading at Tavira Securities, Sunday that the US economy The euro zone’s blue-chip Euro European TV and radio stations. said. Europe’s stock markets have would expand at a faster pace STOXX 50 index also advanced Testing and inspection benefited this year from signs in 2014. REUTERS TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Wrongs and rights of Social deprivation? It’s euro banking union BY GEORGE HAY not parents but poverty BY BOB HOLMAN he eurozone banking union was always going to have “simply did not have enough money to pay Unable to pay her gas bill, she took a £50 a difficult birth. European governments finally agreed for the bare essentials of rent, food, clothing, loan from a high-street shark and had to on December 18 the second of three key milestones – a n 1943, during the second world war, fires, light and cleaning materials”. pay back £75. She has no savings and cannot Tresolution directive establishing a common approach for the Women’s Group on Public Welfare The authors argued that the extensive afford shoes and clothes. dealing with struggling lenders. As with most EU compromises, it published Our Towns: A Close-Up. social deprivation was not down to inad- Easterhouse Baptist Church has started is an imperfect reform. It was criticized by European Central Bank Written by eight women who were equate parents but poverty. a cafe one day a week. Tea and coffee is officials, including President Mario Draghi, and doubts remain. all active in health visiting, teach- They made radical proposals for nursery free, as is fruit for children, and hot snacks But the eurozone at least has the beginning of a banking union. Iing or voluntary bodies, it was set to influ- schools, better housing, a minimum wage, are cheap. The most important consideration when winding down a bank ence social reform. The original aim was children’s allowances, price control of basic A widow with three children stays the is speed – to avoid depositors panicking. That’s why in most cases to examine the enormous number of com- commodities, and a national medical service. whole time, because the cafe is warm. A the decision has to happen over a weekend. plaints made about working-class evacuees They added: “Trade and industry must middle-aged man paying the wretched The Brussels version is complex and could prove cumbersome sent from areas likely to be bombed, to safer, take their place as servants not masters of bedroom tax comes in once a fortnight. He in the most difficult cases. A group of five permanent members often more prosperous places. the community, recognising a duty not only cannot afford even the cheap snacks on a will sit on the executive session of a so-called Single Resolution Many children were accused of being economic but moral.” weekly basis. Board, joined by the regulators of the countries affected by the verminous, enuretic, lacking clothing, and They recognised the positives: most poor Recently, a man walked into the church bank’s demise. badly behaved. Mothers who accompanied parents did care about their children, they not having eaten for three days. We shared That would work in most cases, but things could get messy if younger children were said to be “given to insisted: “The majority of the working class our sandwiches. the Commission opposes the decision. It can ask the European drinking and frequenting public houses, and have both character and intelligence, and It’s time for another Our Towns, and I Union council of ministers to rule – then representatives from loose in their morals”. the manner in which they faced the hard nominate these eight women to write it: all 28 member states would vote via a simple majority. Instead of An evacuee myself, I recall lining up with days of unemployment was heroic.” Josephine Feaney, children’s writer and swift, decisive action, there could then be delays and horse-trading. my sister to have our hair examined before But they required a better environment carer for a young woman with severe But the compromise on the knotty question of who will pay being selected by a host. to flourish. learning difficulties; Loretta Gaffney of to recapitalise the bank is equally questionable. From 2016 on, My mum missed us so much she later The book was a sell-out and twice the Easterhouse Citizens Advice; Audrey European taxpayers will have some protection following a reform joined us. Yes, she did go the pub, she did reprinted. It received wide press coverage Flannagan, who runs a food bank; TUC agreed last week on the “bail-in” of bank creditors and unsecured chat with PoWs working in the fields, but and helped secure middle-class support for leader Francis O’Grady; Karen Postle, a depositors. Once the bank has burnt through its bail-inable debt she was a great mum. better welfare services later brought about social worker who focuses on the poor; and liabilities, it can tap a €55bn resolution fund, to be built up The writers decided to study the areas by the postwar Labour government. Jo Tunnard, who specialises in prevent- via bank levies and gradually mutualised over ten years. If that from which the children came. They stated: Today, 70 years later, the welfare state ing poor children going into care; Tricia is not enough the eurozone’s European Stability Mechanism, the “Evacuation became a window through is being destroyed by the coalition govern- Zippel, a long-serving community worker; €500bn bailout fund, could be solicited – but probably only via a which English town life was suddenly and ment. In the east end of Glasgow where I and Sally Young of the Newcastle Council Spain-style loan to the government rather than direct to the bank. vividly seen from a new angle.” live and work, I meet people in dire material for Voluntary Service. The new agreement doesn’t make things simple. No more than They found that massive overcrowding, need. One woman was forced to stop work As well as visiting areas of social depri- 10 percent of the resolution fund can be used immediately for shared toilets and no hot water were com- by severe angina. vation, they should go to places where the recapitalisations, or more than 5 percent in a single year. mon. No wonder many had lice, dirty faces During the tests introduced by the richest dwell. It’s easy to see how this compromise was reached. Germany and ill-health. Department of Work and Pensions, she Now, just as it was 70 years ago, some fears that weak southern banks could use up all of the resolution Up to 30 percent of children were below missed a medical appointment and was fined live in poverty because others live in luxury. fund and then monopolise large parts of the ESM, to which it is the poverty line so that a typical mother a week’s benefits. THE GUARDIAN the largest contributor. The fear of handing over something for nothing is why the final leg of a banking union, a mutual deposit guarantee scheme, is a pipe dream – and why Germans have successfully demanded such stringent checks and balances in the SRM. Yes, but perhaps not in financial stability terms. For one-off busts, the government would be able to tap the resolution fund and ESM resources if bail-in isn’t sufficient. And resolution systems Apple signs deal with China Mobile to sell iPhones aren’t supposed to prevent systemic collapses: the United States has had one for years, but threw the rule book away in 2008 when China Mobile, the world’s biggest mobile phone user network, will start taking orders for iPhones from December 25. it had to rescue all the big banks at once. The bigger worry is that the new system could cement the CHINA Q3 SMARTPHONE MARKET CHINA MOBILE’S SUBSCRIBERS balkanisation of European banks. The new European resolution Percent, estimated market share Million subscribers 3G Non-3G doctrine already created risks to that effect: bail-ins of domesti- cally-held bonds in weaker economies like Spain or Italy could hurt 800 their economies. Since the costs of bank resolution will be borne by domestic creditors, depositors, or governments, peripheral bank and sovereign funding costs could stay elevated. Peripheral banks will keep gorging on their own sovereign’s high-yielding debt, and Samsung 21.2% will have less incentive to expand beyond national borders. That 600 will undermine the single market – the very opposite of what banking union intends. Other Still, the resolution agreement enables banking union to remain 35.2% on the right track. The really important objective in 2014 is to rigorously check European bank asset quality and stress test their Lenovo capital positions, which in any case increased by €80bn between 12.5% 400 December 2011 and June 2013, according to the European Banking Authority. More importantly, greater political consensus could mean fewer barriers to the ECB solving one of the biggest headaches Yulong in European banking: small Spanish and Italian companies’ sky- 11.1% 200 high borrowing costs. Even though peripheral banks are staying Xiaomi Huawei afloat on cheap ECB liquidity, they are too worried about hurting 4.7% 9.1% their capital to lend to risky firms. Apple To break this, the ECB needs to do something unconventional 6.2% – perhaps cheap funding for lending to small firms, or even direct 0 purchases of securitised small business debt. So far the same Q3 shipments ≈ 100 million units J F M A M J J A S O N German and internal distaste for indirect banking subsidies to 2013 the periphery has stopped the ECB from taking these steps. But once the ECB starts regulating all banks next year, these Sources: Canalys; China Mobile. political barriers could subside. If an embarrassingly dysfunctional C. Chan 23/12/2013 resolution regime is the price for keeping the banking union on track, it’s a price worth paying. REUTERS Have markets finally received Bernanke’s taper message? BY ANATOLE KALETSKY concluded, as I suggested at the Which brings us to the implica- now made absolutely clear and with the past four years’ 2.4 per- several years. Even though a large time, that no significant changes tions of this week’s momentous unambiguous the two key mes- cent average growth rate. But part of the upward adjustment hanks goodness it’s over. in US monetary policy were likely events in Washington for eco- sages that Bernanke spent this actually 3.5 to 4 percent growth in long-term interest rates has Financial market behav- until the end of 2013. nomic and financial prospects. year trying to explain to the mar- is a very modest objective. In fact, probably already happened, bonds iour ahead of last night’s Stock markets around the For the US economy, the combi- kets. First, that a gradual slow- the US private sector, excluding and other fixed-interest securities Tannouncement by Ben world would have enjoyed their nation of Fed tapering and over- down in the Fed’s asset purchases the effects of government spend- are likely to suffer to some extent Bernanke on a gradual reduction strongest year for a decade with- whelming support in both houses does not imply any chance in the ing cuts, has already been grow- as the economy accelerates. This in US monetary stimulus has out the trauma of the spring and of Congress for the budget deal outlook for interest rates and the ing by an average of 3.4 percent will create something of a head- been tedious and irritating, rather summer “taper tantrum.” Nobody is unambiguously good news. The Fed will ensure that short-term since late 2009. Total GDP growth wind for equities and property like listening to whining children would have been shocked or uncertainties over monetary and rates remain firmly anchored has been a full percentage point prices, although history shows in the back of the car on a long embarrassed by the “September fiscal policy that have dominated near zero. Second, that US inter- lower because of the effect of gov- that during economic upswings, journey: “Daddy, are we there surprise,” when the Fed very sen- business, consumer and financial est rates will only start to rise ernment spending cuts. But with the benefit to equity prices from yet?” In fact, impatient whining sibly decided to keep up the pace sentiment since the 2008 finan- after the US economy has been the political clamour for public stronger economic activity and about when the Fed might start of monetary stimulus in the face cial crisis are now essentially restored to something approach- spending cuts now subsiding, revenue growth normally out- to “taper” has spoiled for many of lackluster economic figures, resolved. The budget deal virtu- ing full employment — and given even within the Tea Party, US weighs the pressure from rising investors what should have been despite the howls of indignation ally guarantees stability in both the millions of discouraged workers fiscal policy has shifted into neu- long-term interest rates. one of the most enjoyable financial from analysts who were wrong- taxes and public spending until who have recently dropped out of tral — and fiscal neutrality brings A second challenge for finan- journeys of all time, scaling pre- footed by their own unsubstanti- at least 2015 and probably until the labour force, the restoration of 3.5 to 4 percent GDP growth well cial markets is that Wall Street, viously unexplored market peaks ated predictions of early tapering. the next president is inaugurated full employment is likely to require within reach. the most obvious beneficiary of and passing through unprec- Finally, investors would have been in January 2017. Meanwhile, the several years of rapid growth, at For US economic activity and stronger US economic activity, is edented monetary vistas. fully prepared for the Fed’s deci- addendum to the Fed’s tapering well above the US economy’s long- employment, therefore, the com- now the world’s most expensive Imagine if everyone had simply sion to go ahead with tapering announcement, which prom- term trend growth rate. bination of Fed tapering, budget stock market. Because accelerat- taken Ben Bernanke at his word this week. After all, the recent ised to maintain interest rates Thus US monetary conditions stability and the Fed’s unambigu- ing US growth is likely to rein- when he said in May that the Fed strong run of US employment, at their present level until “well are now virtually guaranteed ous commitment to zero interest force a global economic recovery, would continue buying bonds at housing and production data past the time that unemployment to remain extremely stimula- rates looks like very good news. equities in Europe and Asia, the rate of $85bn every month provided exactly the sort of declines below 6.5 percent,” vir- tive until after the economy has For financial markets, there is many of which are still priced for until it was absolutely confident strong economic background that tually excludes any possibility of achieved a long period of above- more ambiguity, as always, even economic stagnation, could well that unemployment was on the Bernanke had posited all along as monetary tightening until well trend growth. This means that, if the US economy accelerates as outperform Wall Street, where a way to 6.5 percent and that the the necessary condition for taper- into 2015 and represents a much before the Fed even starts to described. fairly strong economic recovery scale of these purchases would ing, especially in conjunction with stronger and clearer commitment think about an increase in inter- Stronger US growth will put may already be “in the price.” If only be increased or diminished the Congressional budget deal to near-zero interest rates than est rates, US GDP will have to upward pressure on long-term this happens, then the Fed will be if and when a change was clearly that was ratified by the Senate anything previously heard from grow by around 3.5 to 4 percent interest rates, even if the Fed confirmed yet again as the world’s warranted by economic statis- at the same moment Bernanke the Fed. for at least a year or two. This may keeps its promise to anchor short central bank. tics. Investors would then have as spoke across town. Most importantly, the Fed has sound wildly ambitious, compared rates at or near zero for the next REUTERS TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary EXCHANGE QE Index 10,453.15 0.48 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER QE Total Return Index 14,935.15 0.48 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,065.16 0.59 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,601.12 0.27 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,474.76 0.02 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5291.533 29.988 0.57 5453.1 4610.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,940.87 0.20 % QR140.8055 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4189.55 -4.22 -0.1 4356.28 3575.17 QE All Share Industrials 3,464.94 0.99 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.9256 QR 6.0089 QE All Share Insurance 2,329.44 0.28 % Dj Indu Average 16221.14 42.06 0.26 16287.8 12883.9 Euro ...... QR 4.9793 QR 5.0485 QE All Share Real Estate 1,975.2 0.80 % QR 2.2886 CA$ ...... QR 3.4079 QR 3.4760 QE All Share Telecoms 1,459.6 0.51 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,908.56 0.19 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0465 QR 4.1047 Hang Seng Inde/D 22921.56 109.38 0.48 24111.55 19426.36 Yen ...... QR 0.0348 QR 0.0355 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2190 QR 3.2829 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4480.11 -12.79 -0.28 4527.83 3396.67 CRUDE OIL 23-12-2013 22-12-2013 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0584 QR 0.0595 Index 10,453.15 10,402.77 Karachi 100 In/D 25417.63 -161.7 -0.63 25711.23 16036.31 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0341 QR 0.0348 Change 50.38 65.82 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 15870.42 11.2 0.07 15942.6 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0812 QR 0.0829 % 0.48 0.63 $ 111.56 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0281 YTD% 25.05 24.45 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1823.75 1398.11 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0474 Volume 14,952,892 9,234,843 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0366 QR 0.0373 Value (QAR) 594,953,713.75 355,388,168.76 Straits Times/D 3116.22 21.74 0.7 3464.79 2990.68 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3493 QR 0.3563 Trades 6,990 5,365 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 107.24 Up 19 | Down 20 | Unchanged 02

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 23-12-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A B G Infra-B/D 41.55 -2.15 2699 Castrol Ind-A/D 305.45 1.5 40649 Goodricke-B/D 146.15 0.25 12140 Jmc Projects-B/D 79.2 -0.45 2041 Orchid Chem-B/D 62.2 -0.1 312158 Kingfisher/D 384.8384 -0.2 812592 A C C-A/D 1100.35 3.75 8075 Century Enka-B/D 146.65 2.55 11029 Goodyear I -B/D 358.75 1.2 2840 Kabra Extr-B/D 32.65 3.05 11650 Orient.Carb.-B/D 128 0.5 1066 Land Secs Grou/D 955 6 310594 Aarti Drugs-B/D 202.75 2.2 3230 Century Text-A/D 267.1 7.8 194768 Hcl Infosys-B/D 19.9 0.3 73781 Kajaria Cer-B/D 296 3.2 15035 Radico Khait-B/D 138.5 -0.45 30916 Legal & Genera/D 220.6 2.6 1735224 Aban Offs-B/D 340.1 0.2 200001 Chambal Fert-B/D 39.1 0.2 214580 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 7.73 0 130743 Kalpat Power-B/D 87.45 -1.85 28359 Rallis India-B/D 171.25 -5.7 31318 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 77.644 0.33 26293752 Ador Welding-B/D 133.3 1.95 4120 Cipla-A/D 405.25 3.65 130472 Himat Seide-B/D 47.75 -0.5 49739 Kalyani Stel-B/D 57 2.4 121605 Reliance Indus/D 375.2 12.4 277440 Marks & Sp./D 442.0648 -3.1 1173418 Aegis Logis-B/D 161 3.25 19569 City Union Bk-/D 50.1 1.75 121689 Hind Motors-B/D 7.58 0.08 42050 Kanoria Chem-B/D 22.95 0.2 8910 Ruchi Soya-B/D 31 0.4 23675 Next/D 5435 60 112329 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 104.4 2.15 2142 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1504.7 -27.8 10113 Hind Org Chem-/D 11.27 0.08 3487 Kg Denim-B/D 14.27 0.09 9325 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 320 5.35 3060 Pearson/D 1314.84 6 151677 Alembic-B/D 14.81 -0.02 97700 Colgate-A/D 1310.45 9.7 18191 Hind Unilever-/D 565.45 -2.5 70691 Kinetic Eng-B/D 40.25 1.9 1790 Salora Inter-B/D 15 0 6399 Prudential/D 1321 9 579408 Alkyl Amines-B/D 238.5 -12.5 1160 Container Cor-/D 717.05 17 4656 Hind.Petrol-A/D 230.5 1.05 93219 Klg Systel-T/D 3.36 0.16 1304 Thirumalai-B/D 104 3.25 16783 Rank Group/D 129.083 -2.5 84479 Alok Indus-B/D 7.6 0.15 439002 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 51 1 1500 Hindalco-A/D 123.5 4.4 966980 Kopran-B/D 22 0.05 32534 Timexgroup-B/D 11 0.3 6925 Rentokil Initi/D 113.7 -0.3 618870 Andhra Paper-B/D 274.5 13.2 38538 Dhampur Sugar-/D 35.1 -1.05 10321 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 790.35 -9.75 68051 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2808.15 49.15 2124 Tinplate-T/D 48.3 0.2 13633 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1242.05 0 1456191 Apollo Tyre-A/D 93.45 0.9 1436996 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2515.25 6.45 9492 I F C I-A/D 24.55 0.4 949004 Lloyd Metal-B/D 9.33 -0.47 5901 Ucal Fuel-T/D 46.35 1.1 3389 Rsa Insrance G/D 92.1 1 3959005 Asahi I Glass-/D 46.35 -0.7 15208 E I H-B/D 55.45 1.4 34105 Idbi-A/D 64.85 0.7 252744 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 15.15 0.5 19367 Ultramarine-B/D 41.15 -0.55 6902 Sainsbury(J)/D 370.4 0.3 1288735 Ashok Leyland-/D 16.2 0.45 4801675 E.I.D Parry-B/D 141.2 -2.8 5709 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 78.2 6.2 35667 Lupin-A/D 912.55 -7.5 52887 Unitech P -A/D 15.8 0.5 6313815 Schroders/D 2536 33 40135 Bajaj Hold-A/D 901.9 1.1 1208 Eicher Motor-A/D 4982.8 -84.75 3753 India Cement-B/D 59 1.4 203132 Mah.Seamless-B/D 166.95 -0.35 3618 Severn Trent/D 1671 10 198022 Ballarpur In-B/D 12.64 0.13 177577 Electrosteel-B/D 14.85 0.35 80854 India Glycol-B/D 93.05 0.9 15143 Maral Overs-B/D 18.35 0.35 9168 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 858 3.5 217064 Banaras Bead-B/D 28.5 1.35 2185 Emco-B/D 23.25 3.15 284557 Indian Card-B/D 83 0 2552 Mastek-B/D 152.55 -2.7 119765 Smiths Group/D 1448.3 -2 136043 Bannari Aman-B/D 725 0 15724 Escorts Fin-B/D 3.09 0.14 110989 Indian Hotel-A/D 58.35 0.45 168069 Max India L-A/D 200.65 1 10887 3I Group/D 383.95 3.8 189479 Standrd Chart /D 1337.5 18.5 1005518 Bata India-A/D 1050.9 24.75 26980 Escorts-B/D 139.25 2.25 666253 Indo-Bcount-B/D 37.65 0.85 13898 Mrpl-A/D 41.6 -0.3 50194 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2433 8 85172 Tate & Lyle/D 795 4.5 137057 Beml Ltd-B/D 233.95 24 583556 Essar Oil-A/D 52.25 0.95 490682 Indusind-A/D 430.5 5.65 287367 Nahar Spg.-B/D 115.85 1.45 21708 B Sky B/D 804 10 754304 Tesco/D 332.1 -0.1 3215720 Bh Electronic-/D 993.4 -3.55 9381 Eveready Indu-/D 34.25 0 73537 J.B.Chemical-B/D 130.7 3.15 270475 Nation Alum -A/D 38.4 0.95 122547 Barclays/D 264.132 4.4 8980895 Unilever/D 2418 -9 460512 Bharat Bijle-B/D 358.8 9.15 1239 F D C-B/D 119.8 4.7 252338 Jagatjit Ind-B/D 42 0.7 2050 Navneet Edu-B/D 54.95 0.7 3274 Bg Group/D 1255 7.5 423637 United Util Gr/D 660.2313 8.5 639599 Bharatgears-B/D 43 1 1510 Federal Bank-A/D 83.5 4.05 345237 Jbf Indu-B/D 76.8 0.8 15076 Nepc India-B/D 1.76 0.11 93113 Bp/D 480.718 3.2 3949741 Vodafone Group/D 235.95 1.25 11393168 Bhartiya Int-B/D 179.7 0 3063 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.41 0.06 34405 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.4 0.01 27003 Neuland Lab-B/D 342 -9.85 8033 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3199.5 24 399636 Whitbread/D 3676.1553 26 33277 Bhel-A/D 169.15 3.6 628547 Finolex-B/D 165.25 2.15 23919 Jct Ltd-B/D 2.12 0.03 75369 Nrb Bearings-B/D 36 -0.05 5484 Bt Group/D 375.142 -1.6 2625374 Bom.Burmah-B/D 112.15 -1.95 16937 Gail-A/D 341.9 2.2 21485 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.6 0.35 18515 O N G C-A/D 288.55 4.2 173431 Centrica/D 341.788 1.4 2398956 Bombay Dyeing-/D 69.25 -0.7 195998 Gammon India-B/D 13.8 0.38 114434 Jik Indust-T/D 0.63 0.03 19698 Ocl India-B/D 154.6 0.15 2095 Gkn/D 371.3 3.2 433757 Cable Corp.-B/D 17.85 0.05 3500 Garden P -B/D 37.45 0.95 16288 Jindal Drill-B/D 185.1 1.75 1137 Oil Country-B/D 34.9 0.35 2015 Hsbc Holdings/D 658.088 6.1 6726071 Canfin Homes-B/D 167.15 10.2 18846 Godfrey Phil-B/D 2540.5 -21.25 1682 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 153.4 2.7 239511 Onward Tech-T/D 50 -0.35 2704 Imperial Tobac/D 2302.64 0 245372 TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Raptors upset Thunder to seize lead; Pacers win Lowry dazzles in upset of Oklahoma City; triple double for Stephenson

OKLAHOMA CITY: Kyle missed 3-pointers in the final Lowry scored 22 points and seconds and the Raptors sank passed off a game-high nine late free throws to complete the assists yesterday to spark the upset. Toronto Raptors to a 104-98 Paul George scored 24 points NBA upset of the Oklahoma and Roy Hibbert added 15 points City Thunder. and 12 rebounds yesterday to The Thunder entered with the power the Indiana Pacers to a NBA’s best record but slid to 22-5, 106-79 NBA rout of the Boston falling behind Portland (23-5) Celtics. Minnesota for the league’s top mark, while Indiana’s Lance Stephenson Timberwolves’ the Raptors improved to 11-14 achieved his third “triple double” point guard Ricky and jumped ahead of the Boston of the season with 12 points, 10 Rubio (right) from Celtics for the Atlantic Division rebounds and 10 assists. Spain tries to lead. No other NBA player has more Chris Froome get around Los Amir Johnson had 17 points and than one game with double digits Angeles Clippers’ a game-high 13 rebounds for the in three statistical categories this signs on for point guard Chris Raptors, while DeMar DeRozan season. Paul in the sec- added 17 points. The Pacers, with the best ond half of their John Salmons came off record in the Eastern Conference Team Sky NBA game at the the bench to score 14, while at 22-5, also has 12 points off the Lithuanian big man Jonas bench from Danny Granger, who Staples Center Valanciunas contributed 13 made his season debut Friday in Los Angeles, again in 2014 points. against Houston due to patellar California, USA, Russell Westbrook scored 27 tendinosis that limited him to LONDON: Chris Froome (pic- yesterday. The points and Kevin Durant added only five games last season. tured) has signed a new con- Clippers won the 24 points for Oklahoma City, but The Celtics, who fell to 12-17, tract with Team Sky for 2014 game in overtime. none of their other team-mates lost their third game in a row and will have the nucleus of the managed 10 points and Toronto despite 13 points from Avery team which helped him win the outscored the Thunder 29-14 in Bradley and 11 each from Jeff Tour de France at his side again. the fourth quarter. Green and Courtney Lee. Froome heads a list of 10 riders Durant and Reggie Jackson The Pacers broke open a dead- who have signed on again, includ- locked game with a 19-3 run mid- ing Peter Kennaugh, David Lopez way into the second quarter for and Ian Stannard, who were part NBA Results a 42-26 edge. Granger hit two of the line-up that helped him suc- Indiana 106 Boston 79 3-pointers in the spurt and the ceed Bradley Wiggins as Britain’s Toronto 104 Oklahoma City 98 Celtics never came so close again. second winner of the Tour. LA Clippers 120 Minnesota 116 AGENCIES They have also put pen to paper along with Luke Rowe, Salvatore Puccio, Sergio Henao, Chris Sutton, Danny Pate and Xabier Zandio. Wiggins, on the other hand, is heading into the final year of his NHL: Rangers rally for win over Wild contract with the team. Two of Froome’s key support NEW YORK: The New York Jason Pominville scored for riders, Richie Porte and Geraint Rangers were running out of Minnesota, and Niklas Backstrom Thomas, extended their deals time to make anything out of Ryan Kesler stopped 32 shots. mid-season. the longest homestand in team (17) of the He made his second straight Froome said on teamsky.com history. Vancouver start in place of Josh Harding, on Monday: “This has been an The first seven games of the Canucks who is out while adjustments are incredible year for me and I’m nine-game Madison Square crashes on the made to medication for multiple delighted to finish it off by signing Garden stay produced one win net looking sclerosis. a new contract with Team Sky. and only four of a possible 14 for a rebound Minnesota, which has lost four I’ve been with this team since the points for the Rangers, who seem- after goalie of six, has netted only 13 goals in start and I know this is the right ingly lost their way in front of Ondrej Pavelec eight games. place for me to continue to grow goalie Henrik Lundqvist. (31) of the “When you put yourself in as a rider. Enter backup Cam Talbot, who Winnipeg Jets a hole, it’s hard to get out of it “It’s impossible to win races got the rare start and kept all but made a save when goals have been tough to without the right team beside one puck out. during their come by and overall you’re just you so I’d like to thank everyone Carl Hagelin and Mats NHL game at not feeling good about the way at the team for their continued Zuccarello scored second-period Rogers Arena we’ve been playing,” forward Zach support. It’s an honour to be a goals, and Talbot made 24 saves in Parise said. Team Sky rider and I hope to play in Vancouver, the Rangers’ 4-1 victory over the “It’s just been a frustrating a big part of its success for years British Minnesota Wild yesterday. stretch for us. to come.” Talbot allowed the first goal but Columbia, “We’ve got to find a way to Performance manager Rod was steady the rest of the way in Canada, score. That’s the bottom line. Ellingworth hailed his group of relief of the struggling Lundqvist, yesterday. We’re not scoring. We’re not giv- riders as “the most talented team who started the previous eight ing ourselves a chance.” in the world”. games and allowed at least three New York took control dur- He said: “Everyone is excited goals in the last seven outings. really produced for them.” Benoit “We definitely needed one Rangers coach Alain Vigneault ing a dominant second period in to kick things off again in 2014. “We owed the fans this one,” Pouliot tied it in the first period, of these just to feel good about said he decided on his starting which the Rangers outscored the We’ve consolidated what is an Talbot said. Chris Kreider added a goal in the ourselves.” goalie for today, but didn’t reveal Wild 2-0 and outshot them 17-5 incredibly strong group of guys “They’ve been supporting us third, and Derick Brassard had New York improved to 2-4-2 his choice. to take a 3-1 lead and a 29-16 edge over the winter. The team’s core quite a bit lately, and we haven’t two assists. Kreider made it 4-1 on the homestand that concludes He’s a young kid that’s learning in shots. remains intact and that’s impor- with 7:14 remaining. against Toronto. the NHL game,” Vigneault said “Our compete level, especially tant going forward. “Probably our best game all “There is not a whole lot of time of the 26-year-old rookie Talbot. in the second period, was proba- “Everyone is committed to keep NHL Results year when it comes to playing a to think about it,” Talbot said. “He came in here and did what bly our best four-line, six-defense improving and we always look to NY Rangers 4 Minnesota 1 full 60 minutes and everyone con- “Just go out there and try to we expect of our goalies and gave pairing in a long time,” Vigneault provide the best environment for Vancouver 2 Winnipeg 1 tributing,” Hagelin said. carry this game into tomorrow.” us a chance to win.” said. AGENCIES riders to do that.” AFP Manchester Grammar School win Qatar-UK Challenge Trophy

DOHA: Manchester of Mission, British Embassy and countries the opportunity to meet, Grammar School (MGS) won a host of officials were presetn compete and learn from each other the International Hadaf foot- for the closing ceremony at the – deepening athletic and cultural ball tournament to clinch the Aspire Dome. ties between the two nations for Qatar-UK Challenge Trophy. The UK school team coach was years to come,” Hope said. In the final match Manchester delighted on the success of his “We are absolutely delighted Grammar School defeat QUESS boys in Qatar. to be able to support this schools 6-1. “Congratulations to all the par- football tournament at the Aspire Three UK school teams com- ticipating teams. It has been a Academy. International sport- peted with local youth teams in unique experience and a very well ing events like this provide an the under-17 competition, which organized tournament with great ideal opportunity for young peo- Manchester took place at Aspire Zone from facilities and one that Manchester ple from across the world to make Grammar School December 13 to 17 and formed Grammar School will never for- new friendships, learn about dif- (MGS), winners of part of the Qatar-UK Year of get. Besides exchanging a shared ferent cultures and gives them the International Culture 2013. passion between young people positive life experiences we hope Hadaf football tour- The participating teams from from around the world, the tour- they never forget. The Qatar-UK nament and the Qatar were Evolution Soccer, nament allowed for a unique cul- Year of Culture has given us the Qatar-UK Challenge the American School of Doha, tural exchange that I believe they kick-start required to make this Trophy. and QUESS. The UK teams will never forget,” Mark Facchini, important event happen and we were represented by Manchester coach of MGS said. hope that it becomes an annual Grammar School, Shrewsbury Martin Hope, Director of the event,” Christopher Earle, Director School, and Oldham Hulme British Council, said Football is of Sport at Aspire Academy for Grammar School. a shared passion in Qatar and in Sporting Excellence, said. The tournament was organ- the UK, creating leaders on and The Qatar-UK Challenge ized in partnership with Aspire off the pitch, showcasing talent Trophy follows the successful Logistics and Evolution Sports and encouraging healthy lifestyles. Premier Skills programme that Academy. “This tournament offered tal- took place earlier this year. Cecille Elbeleidi, Deputy Head ented young athletes from both THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Panthers, Bengals qualify Manning sets NFL record for TD passes; first home loss for Seahawks

WASHINGTON: The Carolina throwing four touchdown passes Panthers, New England Patriots as the Broncos (12-3) tamed the Manning stays and Cincinnati Bengals all Texans 37-13 nailing down a third clinched play-off spots as the consecutive AFC West division National Football League play- title and a first round bye after grounded off picture came into sharper the Chiefs (11-4) were surprised focus yesterday. 23-7 by the Colts (10-5). despite feat In the AFC, the post-season Manning’s four touchdown puzzle is nearly complete with strikes gave him 51 for the season the Patriots, Bengals, Denver eclipsing the record of 50 set by WASHINGTON: Peyton Broncos and Indianapolis Colts all the Patriots’ Tom Brady in 2007. Manning broke the sin- confirmed as division champions The San Diego Chargers gle season NFL record for and the Kansas City Chiefs having remained in the AFC play-off touchdown passes yesterday also secured a playoff berth. hunt with a 26-13 win over the but the modest quarterback New Zealand With just one week remain- Oakland Raiders was more comfortable dis- ing on the regular season sched- The Seahawks entered yester- cussing his team’s perform- teen star Lydia ule, the Miami Dolphins (8-7), day with the NFL’s best record ance later. Baltimore Ravens (8-7), San Diego and unbeaten at home for two “I really feel like it’s a team Ko sacks coach Chargers (8-7) and Pittsburgh seasons but fell to 12-3 after being accomplishment, certainly an Steelers (7-8) will battle for the upset by the surprising Arizona offensive accomplishment,” the AFC’s final wildcard spot. Cardinals (10-5), who kept their Denver Broncos quarterback WELLINGTON: Teen sen- Things are not as clear in the own play-off dreams alive with a said after throwing his 51st sation Lydia Ko (pictured) NFC, where all four division gritty 17-10 victory. touchdown pass. said yesterday she had sacked crowns are still up for grabs and Cardinals quarterback Carson “But a lot of people played coach Guy Wilson after 11 only the Seahawks and Panthers Palmer threw four interceptions roles in this. I think it’s a years together because he could have locked up playoff positions. but the Arizona defense could unique thing to be a part of not devote enough time to her In Houston, Peyton Manning not be breached as Seattle failed NFL history, even though it career on the professional tour. enjoyed a record smashing day to secure the NFC West division may be temporary... (Tom) Wilson, who has coached the crown and home field advantage Brady will probably break it world number four since she was throughout the play-offs after next year and the year after, just five years old, said he was NFL Results suffering their first home defeat so we’ll enjoy it for as long as “incredibly disappointed” at the NY Jets 24 Cleveland 13 since Dec. 24, 2011. it lasts.” split, which comes less than two Indianapolis 23 Kansas City 7 After the Detroit Lions’ (7-8) Manning started yes- weeks after Ko signed with man- Cincinnati 42 Minnesota 14 playoff hopes disappeared in a terday’s game against the agement giant IMG. 23-20 overtime loss to the New Houston Texans with 47 TDs Ko, 16, said she remained Denver 37 Houston 13 York Giants and the Green Bay in 14 games this season, adding friends with Wilson but her long- Tennessee 20 Jacksonville 16 Packers (7-7-1) fell 38-31 to the four more to regain the record time coach had commitments in Buffalo 19 Miami 0 Steelers on the Frozen Tundra at he held for three years before New Zealand that would limit his Carolina 17 New Orleans 13 snowy Lambeau Field, the door Brady broke it in 2007. chances to travel on tour with her Dallas 24 Washington 23 was left wide open for the Chicago The New England quar- next year following her decision St Louis 23 Tampa Bay 13 Bears (8-7) to close out yester- terback threw 50 passes that to turn pro. day action by locking up the NFC year, after Manning connected “That means I’d only see him Arizona 17 Seattle 10 North. with 49 in 2004. like 10 times a year and to me NY Giants 23 Detroit 20 But the sleepy Bears were Manning described 2004 as that kind of situation didn’t work San Diego 26 Oakland 13 demolished 54-11 by the Denver Broncos’ quarterback Peyton Manning (18) congratulates wide a “unique chase” because he out, so that’s why I thought it Pittsburgh 38 Green Bay 31 Philadelphia Eagles (8-7) set- receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) after Thomas scores a touchdown dur- was chasing Dan Marino’s two might be better to have a coach New England 41 Baltimore 7 ting up a pair of winner-take-all ing the second quarter against the Houston Texans at Reliant Stadium, decades-old record. based somewhere in the (United) Philadelphia 54 Chicago 11 matchups in next weekend’s regu- yesterday. REUTERS States,” she told One News. lar season finales. REUTERS Wilson said he wished her the best in “what I’m sure will be a hugely successful golfing career”. “When I first met her the golf clubs were taller than she was and she didn’t know the first thing about a driver or a putter, WAFF Championship gets Qatargas boost but now she has one of the most envied swings of the women’s golf DOHA: Qatar Football championship include hosts Football Association in ensuring Qatargas’ corporate social respon- world,” he said in a statement. Association (QFA) and West Qatar, as well as Bahrain, Iraq, that this championship is organ- sibility programme in the field of He added: “While I’m incred- Asian Football Federation Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, ised to the highest level of stand- sports, in full alignment with the ibly disappointed that our 11-year (WAFF) announced yester- Palestine, and Saudi Arabia. ards,” he added. Qatar National Vision 2030. We partnership is over, I respect day that Qatargas is support- Commenting on the occasion, Commenting on Qatargas’ are also delighted to cooperate Lydia and her team’s decision.” ing the much-anticipated 8th Saoud Al Mohannadi, CEO of the support to the champion- with Qatar Football Association South Korean-born Ko won West Asian Football Federation championship said: “We thank shipGhanim Mohammed Al in successfully organising this her first event as a professional in Championship for Men by spon- Qatargas for their immense con- Kuwari, Chief Operating Officer championship on Qatar’s soil and Taiwan this month after a stellar soring the prize money for the tribution to this key champion- – Administration, Qatargas said: we hope that our cooperation with amateur career, which included first, second and third place ship. This demonstrates that “We are extremely happy to be QFA will continue to grow in the becoming the youngest player to winning teams. Qatargas and QFA focus signifi- involved withthe 8th WAFF years to come.” win a pro tournament, at just 14. Winners of the tournament cantly on the development of the Football Championship which The value of the prize money She will reportedly work with will receive $300,000 in prize football scene in Qatar. Qatargas’ brings together nine national in the last edition of the cham- British coach David Leadbetter, money, while the runners-up will support for the championship is teams from the WAFF member pionship was $100,000, thus, this who also has Ko’s IMG stablemate get $200,000, and the third-place greatly valued and it showcases countries. Qatargas’ contribution year’s grand increase to $600,000 Michelle Wie on his books. winners will be awarded $100,000, that QFA and Qatargas are con- “We extremely thank Qatargas by sponsoring the championship’s is considered unique across all Ko’s success has generated it was announced. stantly seeking ways to build on for their support in sponsoring prize money demonstrates our championships taking place in a wave of hype that has seen With the participation of nine the strong existing relationship the awards of the 8th WAFF commitment to encourage sports Asia region. Time magazine name her as one national teams, this major football through collaboration and sup- Championship for Men. This and be part of the State of Qatar’s Since the year 2000, WAFF is of the world’s most influential championship is set to kick-start port of different tournaments in illustrates how Qatargas val- efforts to be one of the world’s the first ever regional federation teens, although pundits have also tomorrow and run until January Qatar.” ues the importance of this key leading sports destinations. Our in Asia to provide prize money for praised her grounded attitude, 7, 2014. Fadi Zuraikat (pictured), regional championship. association with the game of the first three teams. attributing it partly to the team Participating teams in the General-Secretary of WAFF said: “We must also thank the Qatar football in Qatar forms part of THE PENINSULA around her. AFP Qatar Volleyball Association League: Al Rayyan maintain winning streak QFA School League to kick off today

DOHA: The Qatar Football QFA official said here yesterday. Association (QFA) School Rabeea Mohammed Al Kaabi, League in which 20 schools will the Under Secretary of the compete will kick off today. Ministry of Education and Higher Announced on October 10, Education said: “We are very the School League is organised excited to kick-start the tourna- by QFA in collaboration with ment as it is an excellent opportu- Supreme Education Council nity to unite football and education (SEC), and Qatar School Sports in a tournament that will benefit Association (QSSA) and spon- the students by developing their sored by Qatar 2022 Supreme passion for the game and allowing Committee. them to display their talents.” The participating 20 schools The participating schools are have been divided into four dif- as follow: Al Shamal High School, ferent groups. Doha High School, Hamad bin The tournament will run until Abdullah High School, Nasser bin the end of March next year Abdulla Al Attiyah, Al Zubara and will be held in the training High School, Omar bin Abdul fields of Umm Salal, Al Gharafa, Aziz, Mohammed bin Abdul Aziz Muaither, Al Sadd, Al Arabi, Al Manna, Ibn Taaymiya High Al Kharaitiyat, and Mesaimeer School, Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Stadium. Thani, Al Shahaniya High School, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Mohammed bin Abdul Wahab Ahmed Al Thani, President of High School, Tariq bin Zeyad, QFA said the School League will Al Sayliya High School, Jassim help the Association spot new bin Hamad High School, Qatar talent. Independent Technical School, “We have formed a committee Ahmed bin Hanbal High School, that focuses on the development Abdullah bin Ali Al Misnad, An Al Rayyan player spikes during their Qatar Volleyball Association League match against Al Gharafa at Al Arabi Indoor Stadium in Doha yesterday. of the School League. The School Secondary School of Commerce, Al Rayyan won 3-1 to maintian their winning streak in the league. RIGHT: The players of Police team celebrate on their 3-1 win against Eljaish. In League plays an important role in Mousab bin Omair School and Al another match, Al Sadd defeated Al Wakra 3-0. PICTURES BY: VP KAMMUTTY allowing us to discover new raw Wakrah High School. talent at the school level,” the THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Australia vow no Qatar Basketball League: Al Gharafa win mercy for England Borthwick, Tredwell added to Ashes squad

SYDNEY: Australia are vow- Swann pointed to internal “Our point of view is to play the ing no let-up as they chase an problems, saying: “Some people brand of cricket to win us cricket Ashes clean sweep against trou- playing the game at the minute games and obviously it has been bled England, who have been have no idea how far up their own quite aggressive out there from forced to re-jig their line-up backsides they are. both sides. It’s good, hard Ashes after the shock retirement of “It will bite them on the arse cricket.” Graeme Swann just days before one day and when it does I hope Left-arm spinner Monty the fourth Test in Melbourne. they look back and are embar- Panesar is expected to replace The off-spinner -- sixth on rassed about how they carry on.” Swann for the Melbourne Test, England’s all-time list of Test England are battling to avoid in front of an anticipated world wicket-takers -- on Sunday a repeat of the 5-0 Ashes white- record first-day crowd. The cur- dropped a bombshell when he wash in Australia in 2006/07 fol- rent record of 90,800 was set in announced his immediate depar- lowing heavy losses in the first the 1961 Test between Australia ture from international and first- three Tests in Brisbane, Adelaide and the West Indies. class cricket, with the home side and Perth. Panesar suffered in the second 3-0 up in the five-match series. Darren Lehmann, who has Test in Adelaide, where England Action from the Qatar Basketball League match between Qatar SC and Al Gharafa at Al Gharafa Indoor Stadium Little has gone right for masterminded Australia’s dra- played two spinners, returning yesterday. Al Gharafa won 94-77. RIGHT: Action from the match between Eljaish and Al Khor. Eljaish won 85-73. England Down Under. The tour- matic turnaround after their combined figures of two for 198 PICTURES BY: WASFY ists arrived in Australia as favour- defeat in England in July and and he will come under pressure ites just months after winning August, wants his team to go for from the Australian batsmen the Ashes 3-0 on home soil but the jugular in the match starting keen to get on top and dictate. lost them inside 14 playing days on Thursday. Seamer Tim Bresnan, who took -- stunned by the home side’s “I only worry about us. That’s six wickets in the correspond- aggressive approach. how we deal with it and that’s ing Test on the 2010/11 tour as Asada and Takahashi Swann’s abrupt exit follows all we can do,” Lehmann said. England retained the Ashes, batsman Jonathan Trott’s return “I’m sure they weren’t worried admitted it will be tough halting home with a stress-related ill- about us last time either (when Australia’s momentum. ness after the first Test and major Australia lost in England). “As soon as a side gets in questions hang over the form of “They have a good coach and front there’s virtually no way book Olympic tickets senior players -- captain Alastair good support staff -- I’m sure back,” he said. “We have pulled Cook, Kevin Pietersen, Jimmy they’ll work through all those off some special comebacks over SAITAMA, Japan: Japan’s “I still have about one month world record, after finishing sec- Anderson and Matt Prior. issues. the years but against this team former world figure skating to go. I will work harder still to ond behind him at Skate Canada right now, they’re going for the champions and Olympic med- perform my best,” said Asada, and the Trophee Eric Bompard jugular straight away, which was allists Mao Asada and Daisuke who won the Grand Prix Final in Paris. England cricket captain Alastair what we were doing (to them) last Takahashi booked tickets to women’s title after sweeping two According to criteria set in Cook takes a break during the summer.” the Sochi Olympics yesterday, events: Skate America and home advance by the federation, the side’s training session at the Meanwhile, Leg-spinner Scott despite their disappointing per- event, the NHK Trophy. men’s and women’s national MCG in Melbourne, Australia, Borthwick and off-spinner James formances at the national cham- Takahashi, 27, who took the champions are given automatic Tredwell have been added to pionships over the weekend. Olympic men’s bronze medal and qualification to Sochi. the England Test squad for the Asada, the 2008 and 2010 world the world title in 2010, finished The remaining places are remainder of the Ashes series fol- women’s champion who was sec- fifth overalll in the men’s com- worked out on the basis of fac- lowing Swann’s surprise retire- ond to South Korea’s Kim Yu-Na petition on Sunday but the fed- tors including Grand Prix Final ment, the country’s cricket board at the Vancouver Olympics, eration gave him one of the three results, world rankings and per- said yesterday. botched her trademark triple axel tickets for Japanese men. sonal best scores. Durham leg-spinner Borthwick, attempt twice in the free skate to Men’s Grand Prix Final cham- Takahashi finished fourth in 23, arrived in Melbourne yester- finish third overall behind Akiko pion Yuzuru Hanyu, 19, retained the season-opening Grand Prix, day and will be available for selec- Suzuki and Kanako Murakami his national men’s title with Skate America, but won the NHK tion for the Boxing Day Test, the at the Super Arena in Saitama, Tatsuki Machida, who won two Trophy, while Kozuka had no tro- England and Wales Cricket Board north of Tokyo. Grand Prix events this season, phy to show this season. said in a statement. The Japan Skating Federation second and Takahiko Kozuka Japan will also send Narumi The 31-year-old Tredwell, decided to give the trio the third. Takahashi and Ryuichi Kihara who played his only Test for three berths alloted to Japanese The other two men’s tickets to the pairs event and Japanese England in March 2010 against women in the Sochi figure skating went to Hanyu and Machida, with American siblings Cathy Reed Bangladesh, will join the squad competition. Kozuka made a reserve skater in and Chris Reed to the ice dance during the fourth Test and will “I feel totally disappointed the team bound for Sochi. in Sochi. be available for selection for the today,” said Asada, who will Hanyu beat three-time world The same line-up of skaters fifth and final match in Sydney, retire from competition after this champion Patrick Chan in the will represent Japan at the world starting on January 3. Olympic season along with Kim, Grand Prix Final, breaking the championships to be held at the AGENCIES a fellow 23-year-old. Canadian’s short programme same arena in March. AFP Weightlifting: Qatar eye 2015 Asian Championship

DOHA: Qatar will bid to host the 2015 Asian Weightlifting Championship, an official of Qatar Weightlifting and Bodybuilding Federation (QWBF) said here yesterday. “We aim to host the 2015 Asian Weightlifting Championship for both men and women,” Ibrahim Mohamed Kafoud, General- Secretary of QWBF told report- ers on the sidelines of the twin events, Qatar International Cup and the GCC Championship for Men, Women and Youth, which kicked off in Doha on Saturday and which will end today. “We (Qatar) have hosted the Asian Championship some five years back,” recalled Kafoud. The QWBF official said the Qatar International Cup and the GCC Championship has helped the local weightlifters to gain valuable experience. Kafoud disclosed that the fed- eration aims to launch a pro- gramme, in coordination with schools of Qatar, which will spot and nurture talent in the country. “The programme will target some ten schools in Qatar. The Khalil Ibrahim Al Hamkan of Saudi selected school students will Arabia, winner in the 85kg snatch undergo training. The programme category successfully lifts 140kgs details are been finalised,” he during the Qatar Cup Championship added. at Marriott Hotel in Doha yester- “The weightlifters and offi- cials taking part in the Qatar day. RIGHT: Ali Hassan Al Baloushi International Cup and the GCC of Kuwait fails in his attempt to Championship have praised the lift 91kgs in the 85kg snatch cat- organisation of the twin champi- egory. TOP: Ibrahim Mohamed onship,” Kafoud. Kafoud (third right), General- The four-day championship has Secretary of Qatar Weightlifting and been able to draw some of the top Bodybuilding Federation (QWBF) eightlifters from the GCC region and Zaid Mubarak Alkharain (centre), in both the men’s and women’s Executive Director at QWBF pose event. for a picture along with officials of “Some of the top women weigh- Asian Weightlifting Federation and lifters from the region are here, Arab Weightlifting Federation. including the Egyptians,” he PICTURES BY: SHAIVAL DALAL added. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Lille battle PSG to capital draw PSG’s Ibrahimovic takes his league tally to 15 goals from 19 matches

PARIS: Ligue 1 leaders Paris Salomon Kalou then stunned the Saint-Germain were held to a capital club when he cooly slot- 2-2 draw at home by Lille yes- ted home his 53rd-minute pen- terday after a late own goal alty after a foul by PSG left-back handed Laurent Blanc’s side a Lucas Digne just inside the box. deserved draw at the Parc des However, a botched clearance Princes. from a PSG corner with 18 min- Zlatan Ibrahimovic took his utes left forced Marko Basa to league leading tally to 15 goals steer the ball into his own goal to from 19 matches with a deflected hand Blanc’s men a point which free-kick on 36 minutes that left pushes them three points clear of Lille’s Nigerian ‘keeper Vincent Monaco with Lille a further point Enyeama stranded to put the back in third. home side in front. “I am disappointed with the However, a lapse of concentra- result but Lille, and before them tion on the stroke of half-time led Monaco, put in fine perform- to the Lille equaliser. ances at the Parc des Princes,” A teasing cross from the right said Blanc. ran into the path of Lille skip- “But I have seen the statistics per Rio Mavuba who slotted the and PSG did not deserve to lose.” ball past PSG’s Italian ‘keeper Lille coach Rene Girard added: Salvatore Sirigu as the teams “It’s a bit of a shame but they went in at the interval on level pushed really hard in the second terms. half although we proved we’re not Ivory Coast international in this position by luck.” “For us, this is like a victory.” Second placed Monaco suffered French Ligue 1 a shock 2-1 home defeat at the Results hands of struggling Valenciennes on Friday, with Radamel Falcao PARIS: French Ligue 1 results after missing a penalty in his first Sunday’s matches: appearance after almost a month Paris Saint-Germain 2 (Ibrahimovic 36, Basa on the sidelines. 72-og Lille 2 (Mavuba 44, Kalou 53-pen) Earlier yesterday, for the sec- Marseille 2 (Romao 73, Gignac 74) ond week running, Marseille Bordeaux 2 (Jussie 34, Maurice-Belay 66) fought back from two goals Lorient 2 (Aboubakar 59, A. Traore 90+3) down to draw 2-2, sharing the Lyon 2 (Grenier 21, B. Gomis 49) spoils with Bordeaux in an Lille’s Nigerian goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama (second left), looks on as Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic (centre) vies for Played on Saturday engaging contest at the Stade the ball with Lille’s Czech defender David Rozehnal during the French L1 match in Paris, yesterday. Saint-Etienne 2 (Corgnet 24, Erding 83-pen) Velodrome. Nantes 0 It was Bordeaux who seized Bastia 0 Montpellier 0 the lead 11 minutes before the point, Bordeaux seemed set holders are fourth, a point clear Clement Grenier and Bafetimbi them ninth. “I’m really angry,” interval when Brazilian forward for a fifth successive win, but of Saint-Etienne and two ahead of Gomis gave Lyon a 2-0 lead only said Lyon coach Remi Garde after Nice 3 (Bauthéac 60, 69, Bosetti 86) Evian Jussie headed in from Ludovic Marseille got a goal back in the Marseille, who lie in sixth place. for Lorient to strike back with his side threw away two crucial 1 (Mongongu 27-pen) Obraniak’s corner. 73rd minute, Alaixys Romao “I have mixed feelings after this two late goals, including an injury points. Reims 4 (Charbonnier 59, 62, Atar 73, Ayité It was Jussie’s third goal in scrambling the ball over the line match,” said Anigo. time equaliser in a 2-2 draw in “I cannot explain how we lost 77) Ajaccio 1 (Eduardo 74) as many games but he went off after Carrasso had pushed away a “We conceded the first goal Brittany. these points. I’m not sure we Sochaux 2 (Bakambu 18-pen, 70) Rennes 1 injured at half-time. Florian Thauvin free-kick. from a set-piece when we knew Vincent Aboubakar cut the respected the match for 90 min- (Alessandrini 41-pen) Nevertheless, the visitors went And the equaliser followed that could happen against deficit with Lorient’s first goal utes and when you don’t respect Toulouse 0 Guingamp 0 on to increase their lead on 66 immediately after, Benjamin Bordeaux, and the second goal... with 31 minutes left before Alain the match, you get punished. On Friday minutes when Kassim Abdallah Mendy lifting the ball into the it’s Christmas, the time for gifts, Traore scored with virtually the “The second half really sticks in Monaco 1 (James Rodriguez 84) Valenciennes failed to cut out a cross at the box for Andre-Pierre Gignac to and we gave them one. And then last kick of the match to snatch my throat and we took the result 2 (Abidal og-30, Ducourtioux 58) back post and Nicolas Maurice- convert despite the presence of we score twice but take just a a valuable point for Christian for granted,” he added. Belay pounced to score. At that two defenders. The French Cup point.” Gourcuff’s men, which keeps AFP

Schalke 04 Real maintain chase of Barcelona keep Keller as

MADRID: Real Madrid diminutive Piatti found space “He has a great attitude, he coach for 2014 shrugged off the loss of the inside the area to head home never gives up and he under- injured Gareth Bale as they beat Juan Bernat’s cross. stands that he is an important BERLIN: Schalke 04 confirmed Valencia 3-2 yesterday to move Madrid were back in front player, even if he does play in an that coach Jens Keller will back to within five points of six minutes later in somewhat area of the field where Barcelona remain in charge of the Royal Barcelona and Atletico Madrid controversial circumstances as have other great players.” Blues going into 2014, despite a at the top of La Liga. Ronaldo’s goal was allowed to The Barca revival began 10 string of erratic results. Barcelona were also victors as stand despite the Portuguese minutes before half-time when “All topics have been discussed an eight-minute hat-trick from appearing to be slightly offside Fabregas released Pedro in behind constructively and openly with Pedro Rodriguez helped them as Di Maria delivered a free-kick the defence and his chipped finish a clear analysis of what must come from 2-0 down to win 5-2 from wide on the right. had just enough elevation to take be improved,” said the club in a away at Getafe. The hosts were level once again, it past Miguel Angel Moya. statement. Bale’s replacement Angel di though, just after the hour mark Pedro then curled home into “All this Jens Keller and his Maria put Madrid in front with when Mathieu outjumped Sergio the top corner from the edge of coaching team will work on a fine left-footed drive on 28 Ramos to flick home Parejo’s the area and pounced on a defen- when the preparations for the minutes, but Pablo Piatti headed corner. sive error by Juan Valera to give second part of the season begin home an equaliser for the hosts However, Madrid found the his side the lead at half-time. on January 3.” six minutes later. goal they desperately needed to Fabregas made the game safe The 43-year-old Keller was Cristiano Ronaldo then keep their title hopes alive as 22 minutes from time when forced to watch Saturday’s goal- headed home Di Maria’s free- Luka Modric picked out Jese he finished off a wonderful less draw at Nuremberg on televi- kick to put Madrid back in front inside the area and his fiercely team move involving Pedro and sion at home after suffering with five minutes before half-time, driven effort slipped through the Sergio Busquets. Pedro was also a stomach virus. only for Valencia to level once grasp of Guaita. involved in Barca’s fifth as was The result left Schalke sev- more when Jeremy Mathieu met Barcelona were also made clipped inside the area by Borja enth in the table — 16 points Dani Parejo’s corner. to work for their victory as Fernandez and Fabregas sent behind leaders Bayern Munich However, Madrid were not goals from Sergio Escudero and Moya the wrong way from the — after suffering five league to be denied as substitute Jese Lisandro Lopez had given Getafe resultant spot-kick. AFP defeats in the first half of the Rodriguez grabbed the win- a 2-0 lead inside 14 minutes. season. ner with a low drive that beat However, the Catalans Although Keller has earned a Vicente Guaita at his near post responded like champions as Spanish League reprieve from Schalke’s advisory 10 minutes from time to condemn Pedro scored three times in quick board, only improved results after Nico Estevez to defeat in his first succession before the break. Results the winter break, which started league game in temporary charge Cesc Fabregas then gave Barca MADRID: Spanish league results on Sunday: yesterday, will safe-guard his of Valencia. breathing space when he vol- Espanyol 4 (Sergio Garcia 5-pen, Stuani 37, future. “When a team changes its leyed home Pedro’s cross and the 70, Sanchez 68) Valladolid 2 (Javi Guerra Although they have already coach they always play with a former Arsenal captain doubled 75, Perez 88) been knocked out of the German lot of desire so it was a difficult his tally from the penalty spot Getafe 2 (Escudero 10, Lisandro 14) Cup, Schalke have reached the game,” said Madrid boss Carlo moments later. Barcelona 5 (Pedro 35, 41, 43, Fabregas last 16 of the Champions League Ancelotti. “I am just happy for the victory, 68, 72-pen) where they will meet Real “In general I thought we did the goals and to help the team,” Athletic Bilbao 2 (San Jose 33, Mikel Rico Madrid. very well. We maybe needed to said Pedro, who also overtook 66) Rayo Vallecano 1 (Bueno 61) Having taken charge in maintain a higher tempo after the Lionel Messi and Alexis Sanchez Valencia 2 (Piatti 34, Mathieu 62) Real December 2012, the 43-year- first goal, but we had the will to to become Barca’s top scorer in Madrid 3 (Di Maria 28, Ronaldo 40, Jese 82) old Keller has fallen some way win until the last minute and the La Liga with 10. “It was impor- short of the club’s pre-season Celta Vigo 1 (Fernandez 34) Osasuna 1 result is a very important one.” tant to finish the year well. It is target of challenging for the (Armenteros 17) With Bale sidelined for a sec- always difficult coming here due league title. ond consecutive game by a calf to the way they play, the pitch and On Saturday “Overall, it’s been a turbulent injury, Di Maria made his pres- the fans. Villarreal 1 (Perbet 88-pen) Sevilla 2 (Cala half a year,” Schalke’s director of ence felt in style as he controlled “We didn’t start how we would 24, Bacca 71) sport Horst Heldt told Sky Sports. Marcelo’s cross-field pass before have hoped, but we turned the Real Betis 0 Almeria 1 (Azeez 4) “There have been situations firing past Guaita into the far game around which is the most Real Madrid’s Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after Atletico Madrid 3 (Godin 30, Diego Costa that we’ve not been so happy corner. important thing.” scoring against Valencia CF during the Spanish Primera Division match 47, 77-pen) Levante 2 (Ivanschitz 2, Pedro with.” Valencia, buoyed by the Without the suspended Neymar at Mestalla Stadium, in Valencia, Spain, yesterday. Rios 57) But while Keller, who is under news earlier in the day that and injured Messi, the spotlight Granada 1 (Piti 37) Real Sociedad 3 (Vela contract until June 2015, can Singaporean businessman Peter was on the Catalans’ fringe play- 29, 64, Griezmann 42) breath a little easier, there is no Lim may be on the verge of tak- ers in attack to make their claim hailed Pedro’s impact having “Pedro has a great eye for goal, such peace of mind for Hanover’s On Friday ing over the club, responded for a regular starting spot. previously seen his opportunities everyone in Spain knows that,” Mirko Slomka over the festive Elche 0 Malaga 1 (Camacho 6) almost immediately as the Barca boss Gerardo Martino limited this season. said the coach. period. AFP TUESDAY 24 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Newcastle boosted by the Palacio late show helps power of three LONDON: Newcastle United trio Alan Pardew, Mike Ashley and Joe Kinnear have been the target of much criticism in the last 12 months but the manager, Inter stun Milan in derby owner and director of football can look forward to Christmas having steered the club into an Inter reclaim fifth spot in the third Champions League qualifying place unlikely title race. Newcastle made it six wins from eight with a comprehen- MILAN: A cheeky back- beyond the reach of Milan ‘keeper sive 3-0 victory at Crystal Palace heel from Argentinian striker Christian Abbiati in the 86th on Saturday to move within six Rodrigo Palacio four minutes minute the Rossoneri were left points of Premier League leaders from time secured a 1-0 win lamenting their earlier misses. Liverpool. for Inter against Milan in the Milan coach Massimiliano Flying high in sixth, it is a far ‘Derby della Madonnina’ in Allegri said: “I can’t blame the cry from 12 months ago when the Italy’s Serie A yesterday. lads’ effort. They gave it every- club were mired in a relegation Inter had dropped to sixth thing. Inter had a solid game and dogfight after a 7-3 hammering after Verona’s 4-1 win ear- they made the difference in the by Arsenal which they eventually lier but reclaimed fifth spot to last 20 minutes.” survived to finish a dismal cam- sit five points off Napoli in the In what was the 159th derby paign in 16th. third Champions League qualify- between the sides -- being That was followed by the left- ing place and 15 behind leaders watched by new Inter owner, field appointment of Kinnear in Juventus. Sitting in 13th place Indonesian Erick Thohir -- Inter June with the Irishman mocked and 17 points behind third place, now boast 60 wins for 50 draws. after a series of gaffes in a radio struggling Milan had plenty of “It was one of the best goals interview where he mispro- incentive and enjoyed the lion’s I’ve seen all season,” said Thohir, nounced the names of Newcastle share of chances and possession who completed his takeover of players and officials and took throughout. the club last month. Inter coach credit for a signing someone else It took Inter until the final 20 Walter Mazzarri had been looking had made. Pardew, though, said minutes to pile on some pressure for Inter to end a mediocre run the current run of results proved and when Palacio sent a backheel of results and admitted: “There things were working well. were periods in which Milan had “We’re in a good place as a club,” a lot of possession and space, but the manager said in quotes car- Italian Serie A I liked the way we came back into ried by British media yesterday. Results the game. “I know we’ve had some strange “The lads showed a lot of opinions about us from outside MILAN: Italian Serie A results on Sunday: character. It was the derby, and but we’re working well together. Bologna 1 (Diamanti 57) Genoa 0 it could have gone either way “The owner is really pleased, Atalanta 1 (Moralez 15) Juventus 4 (Tevez but I think we deserved the win I’m really pleased and, more 6, Pogba 46, Llorente 75, Vidal 79) tonight. It would have been a AC Milan’s goalkeeper Christian Abbiati (left) reacts after Inter Milan’s Rodrigo Palacio (8) shoot to score dur- importantly, the players are Verona 4 (Toni 5, 78, Iturbe 44, Romulo 63) pity not to take the three points ing their Italian Serie A match at San Siro Stadium in Milan. really pleased because if they are Lazio 1 (Biglia 27) tonight.” not you can’t get those sort of Roma 4 (Benatia 18, 59, Destro 55, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari on 40 minutes when claims for best chances of the half and just Fernando Llorente and Arturo performances.” Gervinho 80) Catania 0 was among the crowd and is likely a penalty went unheard after when a draw looked to be on the Vidal all hit the net in a 4-1 win Pardew was named manager Sampdoria 1 (Eder 44) Parma 1 (Lucarelli 64) to have been buoyed by Kaka’s Palacio tumbled under pressure cards, Inter stepped up the tempo. away to Atalanta. of the month for November after performance as the forward con- from Cristian Zapata. Mazzarri In the final 10 minutes Abbiati Roma had no trouble dispos- his side picked up impressive wins Sassuolo 0 Fiorentina 1 (Rossi 82) tinues his quest to secure a World added: “We shouldn’t have to rely pulled off a superb save down ing of basement side Catania, with over Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Torino 4 (Immobile 45+2, 65, Vives 80, Cup place. Despite Milan’s domi- on penalties, because we don’t low after Palacio had turned and Mehdi Benatia hitting a brace and Norwich City and West Bromwich Cerci 90+3) Chievo 1 (Thereau 9) nance, the visitors lacked the decide them. But for me it was a shot from six metres, but the vet- Mattia Destro and Gervinho add- Albion after an indifferent start Inter 1 (Palacio 86) Milan 0 slice of luck that could have made clear penalty.” eran ‘keeper could do little when ing one apiece in a 4-0 win at the to the campaign. On Saturday all the difference with Mario Milan resumed in similar Palacio connected with Guarin’s Olympic Stadium. Juventus’s 15th They followed that up with a Livorno 1 (Siligardi 32) Udinese 2 (Nico Balotelli and Kaka both coming fashion after the restart, with pass in the 86th minute. win in 17 games means Antonio disappointing 3-0 loss at Swansea Lopez 10, Heurtaux 65) close in an enterprising first half. Balotelli coming close twice in the Earlier, Juventus conceded Conte’s men will enjoy a five- City before recording a first win Cagliari 1 (Nene 9) Napoli 1 (Higuain 19-pen) Inter had struggled to find space of a few minutes. their first goal in nine games but point lead over Roma during the over Manchester United at Old any rhythm and were in uproar But those proved to be Milan’s saw Carlos Tevez, Paul Pogba, Christmas break. AFP Trafford since 1972. REUTERS Tuesday 24 December 2013 20 Safar 1435 Volume 18 Number 5923 Sport Price: QR2

LATEST NEWS UPDATES FROM PHILIPPINPHILIPPINES Raptors upset NHL: Panthers, AVAILABLE Thunder to Bengals qualify AT ALL LEADING BOOK STORES / SUPERMARKETS seize lead for play-offs IN QATAR

FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: TEL: 4465 0600 EMAIL: [email protected] Sport | 23 Sport | 24

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Mourinho plans 12-year Chelsea stay

LONDON: Chelsea Manager I would prefer the Portuguese (offered to me) who could be Jose Mourinho plans to stick national team. England second successful immediately in my with the English Premier (choice).” hands,” Mourinho said. League club for 12 seasons Mourinho has never com- “I had Real Madrid. I left them despite accepting his ‘worst pleted four seasons with a club in because I wanted to, not because contract’ in six years. his highly successful career that they wanted me to. I had other The Portuguese rejoined the has brought seven league cham- clubs in other countries where it Chelsea Manager Jose London outfit, with whom he pionships across Europe and two would be easier to go and find an Mourinho reacts dur- won league titles in 2005 and Champions League titles. easy job immediately. ing the English Premier 2006, in June after trophy-laden He left Porto after winning “If I was here for financial rea- League match against years spent in Italy and Spain the Champions League in 2004 sons, I wouldn’t be here getting a Manchester United at Old with Inter Milan and Real to join Chelsea where he left in lot less money than I had at Real Trafford, Manchester, in Madrid. September 2007, the start of his Madrid, where I had three more this file picture of August He will take his title-chasing fourth season, following a break- years on my contract. 28, 2013. Chelsea side across London to down of relations with the club “I didn’t come here because face Arsenal, managed for the and a falling out with billionaire the job was easy, or because I had last 17 years by Arsene Wenger, owner Roman Abramovich. a team ready to attack the title, where victory could send them He then joined Inter in 2008, or because I was coming here for level on points with leaders lifting five trophies before the best contract of my life. Liverpool. departing to Spain in 2010 as he “It’s the worst of my last six “Realistically I hope at the ended Barcelona’s run of league years. I’m here because I love the end of those four years we championships before departing club, I love the project. It’s a dif- sit, analyse the situation and last May amid dressing room ferent project.” reign at Stamford Bridge. The wonder the Portuguese pushed owners and board and, after that, that will be the point where divisions. The project involves tighten- Portuguese said Chelsea would for patience. the manager. we both - club and me - are He had been tipped to ing a leaky defence and finding have a ‘phenomenal team’ next “The best way to (run a club) “The second line of the hierar- happy to carry on or happy to replace Alex Ferguson, who a formula to attain more goals season with the arrival of some is to do it with stability. For the chy. That stability is very impor- separate,” British media quoted stepped down after 26 years at from his struggling strikers. marquee signings to go along players, if you want to help them tant. You look, for example, to Mourinho as saying of his con- Manchester United in May, but He also needs to help bring with his development of the cur- grow up, you do that much better Manchester United and every- tract yesterday. Mourinho plumped for a return through a talented pool of young- rent crop - if he is provided time. with stability. In ideas, philoso- body feels David (Moyes) will “But I would like, say, 12 years. to Chelsea, where he remains sters to replace an ageing gener- Abramovich has employed phy, model of play, style of leader- have his time to do his work in a I’m 51 next month. I’d say 12 revered for bringing them a first ation in John Terry, Ashley Cole seven permanent or interim ship,” he said. calm way. I think that’s fantas- years, and then two to go to a title in 50 years. and Frank Lampard - all key ele- managers in between Mourinho’s “This all comes from stabil- tic.” World Cup with a national team. “There were a lot of teams ments of his team during his first two spells in charge, little ity at the highest level, with the REUTERS