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Monday 11 February 2013 1 Rabial II 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5607 Price: QR2

Al Jazeera National Sport Finance inks Day mascots $95m facility named

Business | 17 Sport | 28

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 State plans two Heir Apparent meets French Defence Minister mega firms for investment IPOs likely to be launched

DOHA: With more than $150bn prominent stock and financial expected to be spent on infra- analyst. structure development in the Qatar News Agency (QNA) country over the next 10 years, reported yesterday that the Emir, the government is all set to H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa launch a publicly-traded mega Al Thani, chaired a meeting of the infrastructure investment com- Supreme Council for Economic pany to ensure that Qatari peo- Affairs and Investment where the ple and businesses are directly above decisions were made. involved in the development According to Al Kahloot, process and benefit from it the proposed companies would financially as well. ensure a gush of liquidity Another similar initiative is into the local stock market. being launched whereby citi- “The market is currently hav- zens and private companies will ing liquidity-related woes.” The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian at the Emiri Diwan yesterday. The become direct stakeholders in the Presently, it is the Qatari Diar Minister handed to the Heir Apparent a written message for the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani from French President Francois Hollande wealth that gas-rich Qatar regu- which is making investments pertaining to bilateral relations and issues of mutual concern. larly invests abroad for strategic in infrastructure, both locally long-term gains. and overseas, he said talking of The state yesterday announced the Infrastructure Investment the above two initiatives, namely, Company. The infrastructure Infrastructure Investment company might do mega devel- Company and Doha Global opment projects like schools, Investment Company, and said the hospitals, roads and sewage, Al Illegal visa trade being monitored two mega companies will be listed Kahloot added. on Qatar Exchange. Prominent businessman, Although no further details Ahmed Al Khalaf, while lauding DOHA: The agency responsible The objective of the Foundation offices in the court premises The government is quite flex- were given, businessmen and ana- the announcement, said there is for fighting human trafficking behind setting up branch offices for help. “We then coordinate ible in this regard and actively lysts believe the capital of the two huge wealth in Qatar but there is says it is monitoring at least 60 at the courts is to know such with the Ministry of Labor and cooperates in such cases. Some mega entities would be in billions a flight of capital since there is a cases that have been filed in the cases and interact with the vic- the Ministry of Interior to find a of the victims prefer to return of riyals and at least 30 percent lack of investment avenues here. courts against companies that tims of the thriving visa trade and solution to a victim’s woes,” said a home while others are helped to of the shares could be open for The two companies would trade in work visas. provide them legal assistance in senior Foundation official, Ashraf find sponsors and jobs. subscription to the Qatari people make sure that large parts of The visas are genuine but the fighting the court cases. Mahfooz. The challenge is to make sure and businesses via initial public the Qatari capital that is parked companies that have sold the A vast majority of the hapless Those workers who don’t have that the stay and work of the offerings (IPOs). abroad, would come back, said visas don’t have jobs and accom- victims are low-income workers accommodation are helped by victims are legal in the coun- “The proposed firms might Al Khalaf. modation for their victims, many and it has been found that invari- the Foundation. “We have, thus, try, said the official. He said the be like when the state launched Details are not available, but it of whom have gone to court ably in each case they have been been able to earn the trust of the Foundation had set up the branch Industries Qatar (IQ) early last is understood that the two com- demanding justice. cheated by people from their own cheated workers and we are glad offices at the courts last year. decade by clubbing four state- panies would make investments The Qatar Foundation for nationality. that we are helping them.” He added that the companies owned companies together and locally as well as overseas, he said. Combating Human Trafficking has A senior Foundation offi- The victims should not be left and individuals responsible for putting them under this holding “People are happy as the ordinary set up offices at the Preliminary cial said that when the vic- without sponsors, or they might visa trade and for cheating hap- company and launching a mega Qatari investor would benefit Court, as also at the Labour Court, tims realize after landing here be led to seek revenge, posing a less workers are being taken IPO to ensure that citizens had a immensely from the IPOs.” to keep a close track on the cases that they have been cheated grave danger to social stability to task. “They are being made direct stake in big state-held busi- THE PENINSULA that are filed by the victims of the they either go to court or and security in the country, the accountable,” Mahfooz said. nesses,” said Yusuf Al Kahloot, a Continued on page 4 illegal visa trade. approach the Foundation’s official added. THE PENINSULA

Bahrain, opposition hold Syria rebels in north ready for dialogue first reconciliation talks AMMAN: Syrian National Coalition leader Moaz Alkhatib MANAMA: Bahrain’s govern- has commanded nearly half the said yesterday that he was will- ment and opposition held rec- electorate in past parliamen- ing to hold talks with Bashar Al onciliation talks yesterday for tary votes but the government Assad’s representatives in rebel- the first time since July 2011 to has refused to budge on opposi- held areas in northern Syria. The try to end two years of political tion demands to give the elected talks’ objective would be to find deadlock in the kingdom. chamber of parliament the power a way for Assad to leave power While opposition members to form cabinets. with the “minimum of bloodshed have expressed very cautious opti- Justice Minister Sheikh Khaled and destruction,” Alkhatib said mism that the talks represent a bin Ali Al Khalifa said that the in a statement published on his meaningful step forward, they session had been a positive start. Facebook page. See also page 9 have also voiced concerns that the The opposition walked away from agenda remains unclear. reconciliation talks in July 2011, 17 jailed activists on Negotiators for the six opposition saying they were not carried out parties said as they were leaving fairly. Yesterday’s dialogue session hunger strike in Oman yesterday’s session that they would included the justice minister, the The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud witnessing continue the dialogue, at least until education minister and the works MUSCAT: Seventeen jailed the signing of a ceasefire agreement between the Sudan government and the Justice and Equality Movement the next meeting on Wednesday, minister. Omani cyber activists have (JEM) in Doha yesterday. but that they would meet today to Of the 24 other participants, begun a hunger strike in protest discuss the way forward. eight are from the opposition, against delays in their appeals. The sides have still to agree on eight from pro-government par- The activists in Samayl central Sudan govt, JEM sign truce deal the agenda and schedule, although ties and eight from Bahrain’s prison launched a hunger strike they have decided to limit the national assembly, made up of the on Friday “to protest against scope of discussions to resolving appointed Shura Council and an what they claimed to be a delay DOHA: The Sudan government agreed upon by the two parties present at the signing ceremony. political differences, and to meet elected chamber. in reviewing their appeal by the and the Justice and Equality on January 24, 2013. The two parties agreed to twice a week while talks continue. “The issue in this country is Supreme Court,” Times of Oman Movement (JEM) of Sudan Dr Amin Hassan Omer, immediately commence nego- Opposition negotiator Abdulnabi between the government and quoted their lawyer Yaqoob Al signed a ceasefire agreement Minister of State in the tiations on the remaining files Salman, from the Democratic the opposition. They are the real Harthi as saying. here yesterday. The ceasefire Presidency and Head of the included the agenda with a view Progressive Tribune group, said stakeholders. But there are lots came into force as of 23:59 hours Darfur Follow-up Office, who to achieving a comprehensive after the session: “So far so good, of others who will sit around the Argo wins BAFTA Sudan local time yesterday. is heading a delegation of the and final settlement of the con- and we will continue for the next table,” said Jasim Husain, a former The agreement comes as Sudanese government and flict in Darfur. session, but there is no guarantee Wefaq member of parliament. award for best film part of the ongoing peace talks Bashar Ahmed, JEM President Ahmed bin Abdullah Al that we will continue forever.” The opposition has said that its LONDON: Ben Affleck’s Argo between the two parties on the signed the agreement. Mahmoud described the agree- Asked if he thought government main conditions for continuing the won the BAFTA award for best basis of the Doha Document for H E Ahmed bin Abdullah ment as an important step to negotiators had showed they were talks are that ruling family mem- film yesterday. Argo, a drama Peace in Darfur and in accord- Al Mahmoud, Deputy Prime achieve peace in Darfur. He said serious, Salman said: “Not yet. For bers attend, that the talks bring about the rescue of American ance with the Declaration issued Minister and Minister of State for that the ceasefire is crucial for me they didn’t show us that ... But about decisions rather than recom- hostages in Iran in 1979, had on October 24, 2012 on the ces- Cabinet Affairs, and Aichatou S realizing peace, safety, security they showed us that they can listen mendations, and that the result is already won best movie drama sation of hostilities and com- Mindaoudou, Acting AU/UN Joint and development in Darfur. to us, which is a positive step.” put to a public referendum. at the Golden Globes and several mitment to the peace process Chief Mediator for Darfur, were THE PENINSULA The opposition Wefaq movement REUTERS other US trophies. AGENCIES MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Arab Youth Venture HMC ties up with IHI for patient safety introduces STEaM Educator Training Partnership to reduce hospital readmission and mortality ratios and establish programmes DOHA: Arab Youth Venture Foundation (AYVF) introduced DOHA: The Hamad Medical its innovative STEaM (science, Corporation (HMC) has signed technology, engineering, math a strategic agreement with plus ‘a’ for aerospace) Educator the Institute for Healthcare Training in Qatar recently. Improvement (IHI) to improve American and European space patient safety and the quality of education experts conducted services at HMC facilities. interactive activities using Nasa- The partnership is expected to created educational content in result in reducing hospital read- high-energy and interactive ses- mission and mortality ratios and sions for teachers to open up new establishing Patient Safety Officer frontiers and add dynamic dimen- programmes and employer-based sions to extra-curricular class- health management programmes. room lessons and after-school IHI is an independent not-for- learning. profit organisation that works AYVF’s newest GCC alliance with healthcare providers and partner, The Youth Company, leaders throughout the world to operated by enthusiastic youth improve the safety and quality of under the leadership of its healthcare services dynamic founder, Mohamed The IHI faculty will work in Farid, facilitated the programme collaboration with HMC staff, by gathering educators for the particularly HMC’s Center for Qatar sessions. Healthcare Improvement. Joint Being a social enterprise efforts include examining new and for youth development, The innovative ways to achieve the Youth Company believes in the safest and most effective quality importance of unconventional of healthcare in the region and approach to education and is enhance patients’ experience proud to support initiatives, at HMC, said a press statement which enhance curiosity and yesterday. imagination of young people, a “Our staff and our patients will press release said yesterday. see real and lasting benefits from The sessions developed for the close interaction with IHI in 75 qualified Doha pre-school to the field of quality improvement,” Grade 12 math, science and ICT said Hanan Al Kuwari, Managing educators were sponsored by the Director of HMC. Boeing International Corp. “At IHI we are motivated by a “Education that includes vision of a future in which every- inspirational and alluring space- one has the best care and health related projects and exercises possible and we have worked for that stimulate a student’s over 25 years to fulfil this vision curiosity and imagination are by assembling a unique team extremely effective towards the that works in collaboration with retention of lessons while allow- our partners,” said Maureen ing students to interact and learn Bisognano, President and CEO in a fun, practical environment of IHI. and find solutions to real-world The collaboration with IHI will FROM LEFT: Professor Mike Richmond, Jesse McCall, Sheila Leatherman, Rachel Harvey, Dr Hanan Al Kuwari, Frank Federico, Dr Kedar Mate, Juanita challenges using math and sci- include a focus on understanding Romans and Gary Needle. ence,” according to Lisa LaBonte, HMC’s current patient safety CEO of AYVF. culture and review how teams Middle East Forum on Quality the premier gathering of people forum is access to the IHI Open The partnership will also enable AYVF’s next training is a one- within the organisation can work Improvement in Healthcare from committed to improving quality School, which is an online tool HMC staff and other forum dele- week intensive US-based Space together to improve the quality May 17 to 19 in Doha. and patient safety in healthcare for healthcare quality improve- gates to tap into the rich learning Education Training for K-12 of care. The forum will provide a glob- in the Arab region. ment learning designed to help available through expert training Educators in March and April at The agreement also includes ally recognised platform, help Another key benefit for health- cultivate the next generation of modules. two Nasa centres. IHI’s support to host the build momentum and facilitate care professionals attending the improvers. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Chinese New Year celebrations

FROM LEFT: Sheikh Khalid bin Salman Al Thani, Gao Youzhen, Chinese Ambassador, and Ibrahim Fakroo from the Protocol Department cut a cake to mark the Chinese Spring Festival, at the Sheraton Doha on Thursday evening. BELOW: Wok Mee Noodle House at Movenpick Tower and Suites yesterday celebrated the Chinese New Year of the Water Snake with a performance by My Beautiful Land Folk Music Ensemble. This group was founded in 2002 by several folk musical instrument players of the Chongqing Opera House. It mixed Chinese traditional folk instruments like Erhu, lute, flute and cymbalo with different skills and traditional and classical music with modern and diversified styles. (SHAIVAL DALAL) MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Construction Iran National Day celebration site accidents on the rise Injuries from falls reach 1,000 a year

BY FAZEENA SALEEM

DOHA: Injuries caused by falling from heights are on the rise in Qatar due to a failure of employers to provide required safety measures at work sites, says an expert at the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). The Trauma Care Centre at the HMC has seen a significant increase in the number of peo- ple treated for injuries caused by fall from heights, Dr Ahmed Zarour (pictured), Director, Trauma Intensive Care Unit at HMC, said yesterday. this group of patients, especially The majority of such cases when they sustain severe injuries. could be prevented with proper Traumatic brain injuries can be safety measures, he added. severe enough to cause death or “Injuries due to falling from total incapacity. heights at work sites have reached People falling from heights are more than 1,000 per year which also at the risk of having severe was at an average 600 in 2008,” Dr disabilities. These could be neu- Zarour told The Peninsula. rological disabilities, inability to The Assistant Minister for International Cooperation H E Sheikh Ahmad bin Mohammed Al Thani (left) and Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Javad Falling from heights is the sec- work or paralysis. Asayesh Zarchi cutting a cake to mark the 34th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Iran, at the Diplomatic Club yesterday. Also seen is Ibrahim ond major cause of serious injuries “Ten percent of the victims Y Fakhroo, Director of Protocols Department. (KAMMUTTY VP) in Qatar, traffic accidents being become disabled. the first. “It has a major impact on the “They (fall from heights) are community, families and the econ- more over equal or second to inju- omy in terms of their rehabilita- ries caused by road accidents,” tion and lose of working days,” ibq signs up as gold sponsor for career fair said Dr Zarour. said Dr Zarour. There are several measures to Based at Hamad General prevent falls from heights, includ- Hospital, the Trauma Care Centre DOHA: International Bank careers in the banking and finance intent of our country and its lead- Development Programme which ing taking adequate safety pre- receives more than 5,000 patients of Qatar (ibq) yesterday industry. The team will also dis- ers to build a pool of talented pro- has been running for over five years cautions, he said. every year on an average, includ- announced its gold sponsorship cuss opportunities for professional fessionals and create a wealth of and has seen scores of academic “Companies should take more ing 300 children. Nearly half of of the upcoming Qatar Career growth within ibq with visitors and career opportunities in the pri- scholarships granted to Qatari interest in the safety of their them are admitted to the hospital Fair 2013 which will be held at promote the bank’s customised in- vate and the public sectors. The students. workers. for treatment. the Qatar National Convention house learning and development recently announced recruitment In 2012, ibq put together a tailor- “The authorities must be strict With its upgraded medical Centre in the first week of April. programmes. and Qatarisation policies which made workshop, ITQAN, a leader- on rules and regulations to force facilities, the duration of stay in The ibq pavilion will be operated Saleh Al Kuwari, Head of relate to privately-held organisa- ship initiative which consolidated these companies to take all safety the hospital for trauma patients by a team of company profession- Human Resources at ibq, said: “At tions are a solid testament to this the importance the bank places measures and make it obliga- in general has decreased from an als whose responsibility will be ibq, we believe that at the core of intent.” on providing training and devel- tory at all construction sites,” he average of 12 days in 2007 to 5.5 to provide sound, real-life advice our success lies a highly trained ibq has continuously been at opment opportunities for Qatari added. in 2012. and recommendations to Qatari and ambitious national workforce. the forefront of Qatarisation ini- nationals. Mortality rate is significant in THE PENINSULA nationals looking to build bright This is our pledge to support the tiatives through its ongoing Qatari THE PENINSULA MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Attiyah leaves for 3rd Safe Spring Tokyo forum on Qatari projects DOHA: The Chairman of celebrations the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, left Doha yesterday for Tokyo to take part in the end in Al Khor Qatari Infrastructure Projects in Japan Forum which will start tomorrow. A high-level offi- cial delegation is accompany- MoI departments hold exhibition ing Al Attiyah. The forum aims to develop bilateral relations in DOHA: Community Policing exhibition and were excited at the various fields. A similar forum Section at North Security potentials of the air ambulance of was organised in Doha last year Department organised the third the Hamad Medical Corporation and received considerable atten- ‘For a Safe Spring’ programme (HMC). tion by businessmen from both at Al Khor corniche on Friday. Shows by the Training sides. It aimed to raise security Department of Internal Security awareness, promote the culture Force (Lekhwiya) and parachute Medical camp for of preserving property and the landing by Qatar Committee for environment and prevent mis- Air Sports were main attractions Syrian refugees takes during the camping season. of the exhibition. The programme was inaugu- A dog show by the canine DOHA: Qatar conducted a med- rated by the Assistant Director of section at Criminal Evidences Officials and guests at the opening of the exhibition. ical camp for the treatment of the North Security Department and Information Department wounded and sick Syrian people. Colonel Mohammed Abdullah attracted adults and children and Borders Department, products made by their staff. Section of Qatar Charity, Social An official source at the Ministry Al Shahwani, in the presence of alike. It highlighted capabilities of Drugs Prevention Department, The HMC Ambulance Service, Development Centre, Qatar Air of Foreign Affairs told Qatar Lieutenant Colonel Ahmed Zayed the dog squad in combating drug Permanent Committee for Drugs Lekhwiya, Qatar National Anti- Sports Committee, Seashore News Agency that the initia- Al Muhannadi, head of Community trafficking, pursuing culprits and and Alcohol Affairs and Police Doping Centre, Qatar Foundation Company, Naqilat Company, Al tive comes as part of a series of Policing Section. finding them out. Training Institute from the for Women and Children Zakheera Youth Centre, Qatari humanitarian and relief efforts Several officers from the sec- The Public Relations Ministry of Interior participated Protection, Qatar Foundation for Social and Cultural Centre for by Qatar to alleviate suffering of tion, guests and a large number of Department, Correctional and in the exhibition. They displayed Combating Human Trafficking, the Deaf, Al Qannas Society the Syrian people. people attend the ceremony. Penal Institutions Department, safety and security materials and Arshidnee Centre under Eid and Community Reach out This campaign, which headed The police band attracted a Traffic Department, Police distributed booklets. Some depart- Charity, Family Counselling Programme Office also took part to Turkish territory, and will huge audience from Shamal. Dog Section, Rescue Police ments screened safety and secu- Centre, Red Crescent Al Khor in the exhibition. be run in coordination between Participants toured an Department (Al Fazaa), Coasts rity awareness films and displayed Branch, Social Development THE PENINSULA the Qatari and the Turkish Red Crescent associations, includes medical teams of different spe- cialities and large shipments of medicines, medical supplies and surgical requirements, according Art of Travel contest to the source. MoI official’s talk winner announced on Urdu radio

DOHA: Qatar Museums once she saw it, and even more DOHA: As part of coopera- Authority, Qatar Airways, after you guys picked it to enter tion between the Ministry of and the Orientalist Museum the contest,” said the winner. Interior (MoI) and Qatar Radio have announced the winner of Mohamed visited ‘The Art of Corporation to raise security ‘The Art of Travel’ Instagram Travel’ exhibition last week to and safety awareness among Contest. Local resident meet members of the Orientalist the speakers of Urdu language, Mohamed Ihab is the recipi- Museum and representatives the Urdu radio 107 FM will host ent of two round-trip flights from Qatar Airways. The exhi- L ie ut en a nt A b du l l a h Dh a m i n A l to any of Qatar Airways 120 bition is open until today and Muhannadi from the Criminal plus international destinations. introduces visitors to the story Information Department today His Instagram photo beat over of Bartholomus Schachman — from 8pm until 9pm. 6,000 entries and was voted a Polish mayor who travelled He will talk about differ- most popular by the public. throughout the Ottoman Empire ent kinds of crimes committed Inspired by ‘The Art of Travel’ during its peak. by expatriates and preventive exhibition at Alriwaq Doha, the Over 100 water-colour mini- measures that should be taken as competition asked people to atures painted during his trav- participation in the security main- upload their best travel pictures els take visitors on a journey tainance process in the country. and add the #ArtOfTravel hash- through 16th century Europe, Lieutenant Al Muhannadi will tag. The entries received from North Africa and the Middle also talk about crime scene pres- around the world were narrowed East, highlighting people, places ervation methods which should be down to 68 finalists, and opened and customs he encountered. used by witnesses. to the public for voting. Curated by Dr Olga Nefedova, MoI will offer cash prizes for The winning photo featured a Director of the Orientalist three winners of a quiz pro- cat looking out at the West Bay Museum, ‘The Art of Travel’ gramme that will be held after skyline from MIA Park. Although exhibition illustrates the impor- the talk. it won over the international tance of European-Ottoman The quiz, based on the points audience, Mohamed explained relations throughout the 16th discussed during the talk, will be that his wife was initially scepti- century. A greatly expanded and conducted by the programme pre- cal about the image. reimagined version of the origi- senter, Obeid Tahir, from 8.30pm “She was making fun of me for nal Polish exhibition, ‘The Art of and the public is urged to listen to lying on the grass just to take a Travel: Bartholomus Schachman the programme and participate in photo of a cat that is not even (1559-1614)’, takes visitors on an the quiz by contacting the studio looking towards us. She started to epic journey back in time. on 44894440, 44894503. The winning picture shot by Mohamed Ihab. change her mind about the photo THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA Nationals to benefit from new companies continued from page 1 Asked if construction and contracting companies would be fearing competition from the infrastructure investment firm, Al Khalaf said that on the contrary the private sector would get a great opportunity to invest in infrastructure. “The main beneficiaries of the two com- panies would be ordinary Qatari investors.” The infrastructure investment company might do projects like power and water generation, aside from setting up industrial areas, schools and hospitals, said Al Khalaf. “People have pots of money so they would invest in the two companies.” Meanwhile, an analyst not wanting his name in print said that it would not be advisable if the infrastructure investment firm launches sub-contracting companies for each sector — such as for schools, hospitals, sewage sys- tems — separately. “It would be unwise to do that because sub-contracting firms always delay a project,” said the analyst. “This will be the first major infrastructure invest- ment firm in Qatar.” “People would financially benefit from the mega development projects in the country,” he added. THE PENINSULA

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Tension in Tunisia Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE transition to democracy is proving to be excruciatingly painful for Arab Spring countries. But Tunisia was touted as an exception because it didn’t The high seas are too precious to Twitness the kind of mayhem and uncertainty witnessed in other Spring countries. But in the past few days, Tunis too has been causing concern. The country is lurching from crisis to crisis with no signs of an immediate solution. be left to plunderers, polluters Tunisia’s transitional coalition government is hanging in the balance after President Moncef Marzouki’s secular party, BY CALLUM ROBERTS the Congress for the Republic (CPR), said its ministers would Fishing began in earnest in the 1950s such as tuna. The best of them are withdraw. This is a continuation of the crisis which started as long-line and drift-net fleets sought sleeping on the job; the worst, as with with the murder of Chokri Belaid, a left-leaning lawyer and HE oceans are changing faster profit in open ocean species such as the “management” of the endangered critic of the government. Choki’s killing shocked the country today and in more ways than at tuna, swordfish, marlin and shark. By Atlantic bluefin tuna, make decisions Tany time in human history. We the 1980s, they were everywhere. The in the full knowledge that what they and revealed the chilling truth that Tunisia is far away from are the cause. Which is why I wel- huge collateral damage done by these are doing is destroying what they are stabilizing itself after the overthrow of the dictatorial regime of come the launch of the Global Ocean fisheries soon caused alarm. Drift nets supposed to protect. Ben Ali. Commission, dedicated to ending the spread lethal curtains tens of miles long Fishing is not the only problem. The CPR’s threat follows Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali’s neglect, in international affairs, of the killing indiscriminately, taking turtles, Remote as they seem, the high seas are gamble on forming a new cabinet in defiance of his Islamist high seas. These seas lie far beyond the whales and dolphins alongside the target no further than anywhere else from the horizon – 200 nautical miles offshore to fish. They were banned by the UN in inescapable influence of climate change, party. On Saturday, the prime minister, a moderate within his be precise – and begin where sovereign 1992 but long lines studded with tens of nor are they beyond the reach of pol- Ennahda party, threatened to quit and warned of chaos unless national waters give way to the global thousands of hooks continue the mas- lution. Mercury and industrial emis- key ministries held by fellow Islamists go to independents in commons, owned by none, shared by all. sacre. Enough long lines are set every sions from power plants and industry a new government of non-partisan technocrats. Ennahda has There was a time when foreign travel night to wrap around the globe 500 shed their toxic loads far out to sea. warned it will take to the streets to insist on its right to govern gave many people a familiarity with the times. Chemicals concentrate in the surface following its October 2011 election high seas. Rather than a few hours in In a separate development, from layer that separates air from water and a plane, “long haul” often meant days the 1960s, Soviet and European ves- can quickly leapfrog across thousands of triumph. or weeks spent staring at an endless sels began to probe deeper in response miles of ocean in wind-whipped aerosols. Divisions are Tunisia has been projected as a canvas of sea to the decline of their shallow water Circulating currents gather the float- deepening model because of the relative calm with and sky. Today, fish stocks. They found riches on the ing refuse of modern society into enor- which it managed its affairs after Ben few of us know Atlantic frontier, where continental mous regions that have been dubbed the in Tunisia, much about what shelves fall away into the deep, and “great ocean garbage patches”. Over the Ali. But if the current crisis persists, Only now with causing great it faces the threat of instability and happens beyond around the summits of submerged years, drifting plastics fragment into the launch of the the horizon and offshore mountains. But these fisher- ever-smaller particles that pick up and concern. turmoil which can undo all gains. The still fewer care. ies have proved highly vulnerable to concentrate chemical pollutants such as assassination of Chokri proves that Global Ocean Like all common overexploitation. Within the space of a mercury and DDT. Small fish mistake Islamic extremists pose a real threat Commission spaces, the high few decades, species such as the round- plastics for food and pass chemicals up and unless countered immediately, can become unmanageable. are we finally seas are vulnera- nose grenadier and orange roughy have the food chain until they reach the flesh Tunisia is known for its liberal attitudes and tolerance and ble to misuse and become so depleted they are considered of animals we eat, like tuna and sharks. addressing the abuse. Our indif- threatened with extinction. What goes around comes around. Islamists, which some are calling Salafists, should not be allowed ference is costing Deep sea fisheries carry another high If this were all we had to fix, it would to tarnish this image. ravages of the the world dear for cost in loss of coral forests and sponge be challenge enough. But there is more. After taking power, Moncef Marzouki said that Salafists are oceans. the high seas are groves. Life is glacial in the frigid inki- Climate change is enlarging the deserts a tiny minority within a tiny minority. “They don’t represent being plundered. ness of the deep, so these habitats have of the sea as surely as it is doing so on society or the state. They cannot be a real danger to society or For most of our developed over thousands of years, sus- land. Surface waters of the open ocean government, but they can be very harmful to the image of the maritime history, the open oceans have tained by table scraps sinking from a have all the light but few nutrients, been seen as dangerous places to be tra- narrow surface layer where sunlight which severely limits productivity. Most government,” he added. versed as quickly as possible. Remote fuels plant growth. The bottom trawls of the time, upward mixing of nutrients But last week’s killing has proved him wrong. Jebali claims and enduring, they were home to giant that are used to catch fish cut down is inhibited by a density barrier between that his proposed reshuffle towards a non-political, caretaker fish and whales; seabirds wandered their animals that are hundreds or even thou- the warm and light surface layer and government until elections was the only way to bring an end featureless expanses and ancient cor- sands of years old. cold, dense water below. Global warm- to the unrest or the country risked “a swing into chaos”. als grew in the eternal darkness of the Without ever making a conscious ing is heating the surface ocean, making Jebali’s emergency proposal to dissolve government and replace abyss. decision to do it, we are losing unseen it even harder to cross between these Whalers were first to spot the high habitats whose equals on land would layers. This in turn is starving deeper politicians with technocrats has sparked tensions within seas’ potential as a source of wealth, include the giant redwood glades waters of oxygen that has to mix down- Ennahda. slaughtering their way through the of North America, the baobabs of wards from the atmosphere and surface It’s time for anti-extremist forces to unite and save the 19th and 20th centuries until the great Madagascar and Amazon rainforest. plants. The living space in the oceans country from turmoil. For this, all parties need to make whales were a few breaths from extinc- Where are the regulators in all of is shrinking. There is one final blow to compromises and refrain from unilateral decisions that would tion. Ocean-going seabirds such as alba- this? Many high seas fisheries have lit- the integrity of the oceans that may yet tross and petrels were also early victims tle or no protection. Regional fisheries prove the heaviest of all. Carbon dioxide undermine unity. Even if the prime minister’s proposal is good, of exploitation due to the vulnerability management organisations, where they from fossil fuels is building up in the sea it has to be the result of a consensus. A dispute over the issue of coastal nesting sites. But commercial exist, have been charged by the United as well as the atmosphere. and violent demonstrations can undo the gains expected from it. fishing was a relative latecomer. Nations with management of fish stocks THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of The President’s climate commitment the day S President Obama will deliver heat-trapping greenhouse gases into the Anything like carbon pricing must get electricity come from sources cleaner his 2013 State of the Union atmosphere every second. There is still lawmakers’ approval, though, which is than coal, the top climate villain. Sen. address on Tuesday, and uncertainty about exactly how sensitive the first reason Mr. Obama should make Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, the Energy Uexpectations are high that he the climate system is to a given increase reaching out to them on climate policy a Committee’s lead Republican and a I tried to leave him will devote significant time to climate in carbon dioxide concentrations — but priority. True, a coalition of anti-regulation voice of reason within her party, just hundreds of times, change. We hope that he adopts a not enough uncertainty to justify ignoring Republicans and coal-state Democrats released a 121-page plan with other different approach to explaining the the risks of rising temperatures. killed the last major effort to price emis- ideas that could serve as a basis for but he wouldn’t let need for action than he did in much of Putting a slowly rising, significant sions, a 2010 cap-and-trade bill. But, in some congressional action, such as his first term. In past addresses, talking price on carbon emissions would the big budget reform politicians have paying for energy technology research, me … Even though about green jobs didn’t work, nor did encourage people to burn less fossil fuel been promising, they will need new reforming subsidies for green power, talking about energy independence. The without micromanaging by Congress or revenue from somewhere. A carbon advancing hydropower and promoting life with Arafat had credible way to justify fighting climate the Energy Department. This approach tax would be an ideal source. energy efficiency. The president should been difficult, my change is to discuss the science, the real would enlist market forces to green the Even second- and third-best also remind Congress that, without reason to cut carbon emissions. There is energy sector. It would also allow for alternatives would need Congress’s ambitious action from lawmakers, the life without him is overwhelming evidence that the planet similar policies in other nations to con- say-so. These include establishing a Environmental Protection Agency can even harder. is warming. The widespread burning nect with America’s, creating a bigger, national clean energy standard requir- and will act on its own. Suha Arafat of fossil fuels, meanwhile, pumps global market for carbon. ing that a defined and rising amount of THE WASHINGTON POST Yasser Arafat’s widow MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Iran N-fuel move may avert crisis

run jointly by the five permanent A fuller picture members of the Security Council plus Germany — known as the P5+1. These are expected to make at best limited progress is unlikely until a in a meeting with Iran due in Kazakhstan on February 26. new IAEA report “It has been obvious for years that Iran would only move on this issue in the con- text of a direct dialogue with the US,” on Iran’s nuclear said one former senior diplomat who has negotiated with Iran. activity, due “Before that, it will continue to be a managed exercise in futility on the part of Iran waiting for this to happen, while by late February. mastering the technology in the process.” Taking the two together, the shift- But the question ing diplomatic approach and advancing Iranian engineering, there would be a short window of time after June for any is crucial in US-Iran talks to produce results. After that, the progress of Iran’s tech- determining nology could hit new Western red lines, including reaching a perceived “break- out” capacity, where it could move from the size of its the ability to make a weapon to actu- ally building a bomb fast enough to avoid detection. stockpiles and How then, is Israel’s red line to be post- poned enough to allow time for diplomacy how close in the second half of the year? Iran has shown no sign of slowing down the rate at which it enriches uranium to these are to 20 percent in a plant at Fordow, diplo- mats say, though, perhaps significantly, Israel’s red line. it has not so far put into operation some new machinery — two cascades of inter- BY MYRA MACDONALD & connected centrifuges which could have FREDRIK DAHL rapidly expanded that programme. Based on data reported by the IAEA, the UN nuclear agency, Iran will hit ran appears to have resumed con- Netanyahu’s red line in May or June verting small amounts of its higher- unless it converts more of its stockpiles grade enriched uranium into reactor into fuel, or slows enrichment. Ifuel, diplomats say, a process which An alternative scenario would be for if expanded could buy time for negotia- Israel to blur the definition of its red line, tions between Washington and Tehran on given enough reassurance that its key ally its disputed nuclear programme. the United States would be ready to stop The possibility of Iran converting Iran gaining nuclear weapons through enriched uranium into fuel — slowing Iranian demonstrators hold anti-US slogans and portraits of Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during a rally in Tehran’s Azadi Square diplomatic or military means. a growth in stockpiles of material that (Freedom Square) to mark the 34th anniversary of the Islamic revolution, yesterday. Having lost seats in a parliamentary could be used to make weapons — is one election last month at which many vot- of the few ways in which the nuclear ers indicated they did not fully share his dispute could avoid hitting a crisis by not let Iran acquire enough material for deliberately keeping below the threshold is seen as unlikely to want to make any anxiety about Iran, Netanyahu may also the summer. a bomb; enriching uranium raises the less for potential weapons-grade material set concessions until he has a firmer grip be ready to bide his time. Tehran could otherwise have amassed than one percent of fissile isotope U-235 by Israel, while still advancing its nuclear on the warring factions vying for power With US President Barack Obama sufficient stock by June to hit a “red line” found in mined metal to higher concen- technology. It is not believed to have beneath him after the presidential elec- due to visit Israel in March on a trip set by Israel after which it has indicated trations: about 4 percent for reactor fuel, enriched uranium beyond 20 percent. tion in June. Netanyahu says will focus on Iran, Syria it could attack to prevent Iran acquir- up to 90 percent for a bomb. Iran, a signatory to the Non- “I think, until we get a clearer sense of and the Palestinians, there are tentative ing enough fissile material for a nuclear While scientists differ about how much Proliferation Treaty, denies seeking how that plays out, that the Iranians are signs Israel might give some space to the weapon. Yet few expect progress in talks uranium is needed to have the ability nuclear weapons, saying its aim is electric going to be basically in a holding pattern,” United States to pursue its diplomacy — until after the Iranian presidential elec- quickly to make a bomb, analysts say the power and some higher-grade enriched said Shannon Kile, a nuclear proliferation though not necessarily on the issue of tion in June — a formula for a potentially Israeli figure is believed to be 240 kg of uranium for medical purposes. It says expert at the Stockholm International highly enriched uranium stockpiles. explosive clash of timetables. uranium enriched to 20 percent; at that non-signatory Israel, assumed to have Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). “It is notable that, recently, there have Diplomats accredited to the concentration, the material is nine tenths nuclear arms, is a threat. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad been no new assassinations of Iranian International Atomic Energy Agency of the way to the weapons-grade of about Last year’s fuel conversion only said yesterday Iran would not negotiate scientists, no prominent covert action or (IAEA) in Vienna told Reuters that 90 percent, since most of the unwanted slowed Iran’s accumulation of 20 percent under pressure but would talk if others explosions, and broad Israeli restraint on Iran had apparently resumed converting isotopes have been separated out by then. enriched uranium and was stopped. As stopped “pointing the gun”. At odds with statements of military intent,” said Joshi into fuel small amounts of higher-grade “Israeli officials, in private, widely use it continues to produce fresh supplies — Khamenei, Ahmadinejad will step down at RUSI in London, referring to a widely enriched uranium — thereby reducing the the 240kg figure,” said Shashank Joshi, diplomats believe it is adding 14 to 15 kg in June but appears to manoeuvring to assumed covert campaign against Iran’s amount potentially available for nuclear a Research Fellow at Britain’s Royal a month — stockpiles are rising quickly maintain influence. nuclear programme. weapons — though they had few details United Services Institute (RUSI). “The and they calculate Iran will hit the Israeli At the same time, there appears to be a “They are conceding US leadership and one told Reuters that “very, very lit- figure is so specific and so widely used red line by May or June, unless it again growing recognition among world powers on this issue — whether by choice or tle had been done” so far. that they must understand the implica- expands fuel conversions or slows its rate that using economic sanctions to force American design.” Former Israeli army A fuller picture is unlikely until a new tions of drawing this red line: that Iran of enrichment. Tehran to curb its nuclear programme intelligence chief Amos Yadlin said it was IAEA report on Iran’s nuclear activity, is free to produce anything up to that It is here that the complex calcula- are unlikely to succeed without a broader in Israel’s interest that Washington or due by late February. But the question amount, but that producing any more tions of nuclear experts and international political dialogue between the United the P5+1 reach an agreement with Iran. is crucial in determining the size of its would force Israel to choose between diplomacy collide. States and Iran to ease acrimony dating Writing in a report by the Institute for stockpiles and how close these are to humiliation or war.” The Iranian nuclear programme is back to the 1979 Iranian revolution. National Security Studies in Tel Aviv, he Israel’s red line. “We will all be doing the Iran averted a potential crisis last controlled by Supreme Leader Ayatollah US Vice President Joe Biden repeated said: “Such a solution is preferable to a mathematics soon,” said one diplomat. year by converting around 100 kg of its Ali Khamenei — who last week publicly an offer for direct talks at a conference strategy with two exclusive alternatives In September, Israeli Prime Minister 20-percent enriched uranium into fuel — rebuffed US overtures for direct talks. in Munich early this month. of ‘an Iranian bomb’ or ‘the bombing Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would prompting some analysts to believe it was While he is not facing voters himself, he Negotiations with Tehran are currently of Iran’.” REUTERS Increased vigilance behind fewer pirate attacks The last merchant ship to be success- floors above the sea. The liner is fast, advice to British shipping in the area. As “This is an important year,” says When ships do fully hijacked, naval officers monitoring hard to board and — on this passage at pirate attacks soared in the second half of Lieutenant Commander Jacqueline piracy say, was at least nine months ago. least — moderately well armed. the last decade, it found itself coordinat- Sheriff, spokeswoman for EU Navfor. “We come under attack, It’s a far cry from the height of the piracy Like many merchant vessels, the ing international shipping across much of will find out whether this fall in piracy is epidemic two years ago, when several QM2 now carries armed private con- the Indian Ocean. really sustainable.” ships might be taken in a single week to tractors when passing through areas of Most vessels passing through the area Sea-borne attacks off West Africa, the first phone to be traded for airdropped multi-million pirate risk. — container ships, tankers, cruise lin- however, appear to be on the rise in dollar ransoms. Cunard will not discuss precise secu- ers and dhows — now register daily with what some analysts believe is a sign that ring is usually in a But as the Queen Mary 2, one of the rity arrangements. But contractors on UKMTO. If they believe they are in dan- Nigerian and other criminal gangs may world’s most recognisable ocean lin- other vessels routinely carry M-16-type ger, they will contact the British team to be tempted by the Somali pirate model. ers, passes through the Red Sea, Indian assault rifles and sometimes belt-fed request military support. Exactly what is behind the fall in nondescript white Ocean and out towards Dubai, its owners machine guns, often picked up from ships “We’ve had calls when you could hear Somali piracy is a matter of debate. and crew are taking few chances. acting as floating offshore armouries near gunfire and rocket propelled grenades Perhaps unsurprisingly, the navies bungalow in the “The pirates have weapons and are Djibouti and Sri Lanka. in the background,” says Lieutenant patrolling the Indian Ocean say the not afraid to use them,” Lieutenant Additional lookouts from the ship’s Commander Simon Goodes, the current numbers show they are finally having an Commander Ollie Hutchinson, the regular onboard security force — officer in charge. “But lately, the phones impact. Since piracy first grabbed global gardens of the British Royal Navy liaison officer aboard mostly Filipinos — are also posted on are ringing much less.” attention in 2008, a number of nations the liner for its trip through the Indian the main deck to give warning of any The only confirmed attack this year, have sent ships to the region. British Embassy Ocean, tells a briefing of passengers in suspicious craft. Goodes said, was on a merchant vessel Sailing through the Internationally the ship’s theatre. “Once the pirates have “Depending on what happens with in early January as it sailed towards the Registered Transit Corridor, a protected identified their target, they will try what- attacks, I’m hopeful we may be able to Kenyan port of Mombasa. On-board pri- route between Somalia and Yemen, the in Dubai. ever means they can to get on board.” reduce our security measures when we vate security guards repelled the assault QM2 passed warships from the United To underline his point, he displays a pass through the same waters next year,” after a 30 minute firefight. States, France, India and Australia. BY PETER APPS, POLITICAL picture of an Italian helicopter hit by says Commodore Christopher Rynd, sen- According to the European Union anti- As well as the EU force, there are RISK CORRESPONDENT small arms fire from a pirate dhow late ior captain of the British-based Cunard piracy task force EU Navfor, 2012 saw separate flotillas from Nato and US-led last year followed by assorted images of line and current master of the QM2. “But only 36 confirmed attacks and a further coalition forces that often include Asian osted between septuagenarian pas- gunmen holding AK-47 assault rifles and that’s not a decision we will be making 73 “suspicious events” — incidents in vessels. Several other nations includ- sengers in deck chairs, lookouts rocket propelled grenades. at this stage.” which a crew report a suspicious craft ing China and Russia also keep ships Pstand watch over the Gulf of Aden, In truth, the Queen Mary 2 — carry- When ships do come under attack, the that might be pirate but could also be there, running convoys through the scanning the horizon for pirates. ing 2,500 passengers and 1,300 crew from first phone to ring is usually in a nonde- simply an innocent fishing boat. That “high-risk zone”. After more than half a decade of Southampton to Dubai on the first leg script white bungalow in the gardens of itself was a substantial fall from 2011, In May last year, EU Navfor launched Somali men attacking Indian Ocean ship- of a world cruise — is not particularly the British Embassy in Dubai. with 176 attacks and 166 “suspicious its first onshore raid, targetting a sus- ping from small speedboats with AK-47s, at risk. The UK Marine Transport Operation events”. pected pirate group on the beach as it grappling hooks and ladders, the number Some 345 metres long and 14 stories (UKMTO) was set up shortly after the Only five ships were captured in 2012, prepared to head to sea with helicopter of attacks is falling fast. high, even its promenade deck is seven Sept 11, 2001 attacks to provide security down from 25 in 2011 and 27 in 2010. and small arms fire. REUTERS MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Aspire Zone to host array of Sport Day activities Participants to light up The Torch Doha Hotel; DFI to screen two sport documentaries at Katara

DOHA: Aspire Zone well as Qatar Public Prosecution, Foundation (AZF), the ultimate and Qatar Airways teams at the sporting destination, is host- Markhiya Sports Club. ing a wide range of activities Ahmed Nasser Sraiya Al Kaabi, celebrating the second annual Managing Director and Chief National Sport Day. Executive Officer of Mawashi, This year, an array of different said: “We at Mawashi are keen sporting activities catering to all to take part in key activities for fitness levels will be held through- this wonderful occasion, following out Aspire Zone tomorrow to help the vision of the Heir Apparent H advance the country’s national H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin sports strategy and inspire the Khalifa Al Thani in order to build community to adopt a healthy a nation that encourages sports. lifestyle. Our participation at National “This year, we can promise eve- Sport Day strongly reinforces ryone a fun National Sport Day, our commitment to the welfare filled with activities that are open and well-being of our community.” to everyone regardless of their age and fitness levels,” said Hamad ADLQ Buhindi, AZF Public Relations Anti-Doping Laboratory Qatar and Media Manager. (ADLQ) has prepared so many “All of AZF’s facilities will be activities to entertain the differ- bustling with events whether in the ent age groups of the crowd in Ladies Sports Club, Aspire Active, Katara. Aspire Academy’s outdoor foot- The activities will include foot- ball fields, or Aspire Park. We will ball scoring goals and colouring also be reviving last year’s ‘A Walk and drawing competitions for the to Remember’ with this year’s ‘A younger ones. Journey to Remember’ and will be There will also be a BMI com- lighting up The Torch-Doha Hotel petition where measurements of with help of the participants them- the participants will be taken on selves,” he added. Several other the day and after three months to institutions too have organised compare results of weight, water several activities for the day. retention and fat versus muscles. A scene from the documentary Town of Runners. ADLQ staff and families will go Ernst & Young through a simple programme of Institute (DFI) will present a to encourage employees to Qtel Ernst & Young have ensured exercise and competition and will free screening of two compelling embrace a healthy and active Qtel will host several events at HMC units to work that their employees will have the be participating in the colouring sports documentaries, which lifestyle in the spirit of the Qatar the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) opportunity to be fully involved and football competitions. had their Mena premieres at National Sport Day. Park tomorrow, as the coun- as normal in the fun and activities by part- Doha Tribeca Film Festival A professional fitness consul- try joins together to celebrate nering with Qsports Leagues to Injaz (DTFF) 2012 at Katara DFI tancy firm was engaged by QFIB National Sport Day. on Sport Day deliver a tailor-made event for Injaz Qatar has entered into Cinema. to develop a tailor-made wellness Team and individual sport their staff and families. an exclusive partnership with The screenings will include, the programme which comprised a events are being organised on the DOHA: Inpatient and emergency QSports have worked with Qatar Olympic Committee’s documentary Town of Runners, series of activities including a MIA Park for the event, which services at all hospitals of Hamad Ernst & Young to develop a Schools Olympic Programme on which focuses on two champion- weight loss challenge, a weekly will take place from 9am to 6pm Medical Corporation (HMC) unique action packed day — with the occasion. ship hopefuls in long-distance outdoor fitness activity and and is free-of-charge for entry. will operate as normal on the the Al Wakra Sports Stadium Aysha Al Mudahka, Executive running, who move away from nutritional and health awareness There will be a special VIP open- National Sport Day tomorrow. playing host to a range of sports Director, Injaz Qatar, said: “We their small hometown in the seminar. ing at 10am. HMC’s ambulance services will and fun activities for their staff. are honoured to partner with Ethiopian highlands in their quest Encouraging a commitment to Fatima Al Kuwari, Director of also run at full capacity tomor- The day will conclude with the Qatar Olympic Committee for Olympic gold. health and sports among employ- Public Relations at Qtel, said: “We row and the ambulance teams famous Qsports Tug of War com- through the Schools Olympic The second film, Venus and ees, Emad Mansour, CEO, QFIB, have brought together an incred- will be on duty around the coun- petition — an event that always Programme for this year’s Serena, uncovers the fascinating said: “We join the nation in cele- ible selection of sports in the MIA try to support National Sport Day provokes great rivalry and enter- National Sport Day. The event lives of Venus and Serena Williams, brating the annual Qatar National Park, so that people can take part events and activities. tainment amongst the staff along serves as a platform to showcase two of the greatest tennis players Sport Day as well as the conclu- in the sport that suits them best. Patients having appointments with the Ernst & Young Partners the outstanding entrepreneurial the world has ever known. sion of our Corporate Wellness We would like to thank Qatar for tomorrow at Hamad General playing a friendly football game skills of students enrolled in our The screenings are free to the Programme. The concept of Museums Authority for their Hospital’s outpatient clinics against the Ernst & Young Soccer company programme and to share public with limited capacity, on National Sport Day inspired us support and we hope to see a big as well as HGM’s Outpatient Champions. Hiba Abboud, Ernst various innovative business games a first-come first-serve basis, so to develop our internal Corporate turn-out from the community on Department Annex and The & Young HR Manager, said: “It and sports-themed activities don’t miss out and join Katara Wellness Programme. Tuesday.” Cuban Hospital should attend as is great that we have been able developed by Injaz Qatar.” and DFI in their support for the “The aim of this month-long Among the events featured scheduled, HMC said yesterday. to organise this for our staff. Injaz Qatar is expected to National Sports Day. Town of initiative was to encourage our for the day will be an incredible People who are not sure about National Sport Day is a unique organise two distinct events Runners will be screened at 4pm employees to adopt a healthy range of sports, from the tradi- an appointment for tomorrow occasion and it’s a great chance as part of the activities on the followed by Venus and Serena at lifestyle that combines a bal- tional — such as football and vol- have been advised to call Hamad for our employees to bond and Corniche. Injaz’s Business and 6pm. anced diet and regular exer- leyball — to the more creative for General Hospital appointment call teambuild in a setting away from Sports Games Fair, which will cise. Studies have proven that younger people, including games centre on 4439 5777 or 4015 7777 the work environment.” take place between Tuesday and QFIB regular physical activity can of Giant Bowling, Giant Baseball for The Cuban Hospital. Thursday, is expected to feature a Qatar First Investment Bank increase motivation and improve and a unique game of American Outpatient clinics in all other Mawashi variety of stimulating and active (QFIB), Qatar’s first independent productivity.” football. HMC hospitals — Rumailah Mawashi together with Qatar business and sports games on a Shariah-compliant bank author- To mark the day, QFIB will host Qatar Children’s Museum will Hospital, Women’s Hospital, Charity will launch exciting daily basis. ised by the QFC Regulatory an outdoor family event that will organise a range of energetic and National Center for Cancer Care sports activities for the day. Authority, organised a month- involve a series of sports activities entertaining children’s activities and Research, Al Khor Hospital, Mawashi’s football team will be DFI and Katara long corporate wellness pro- including a mini-Olympics, fitness throughout the day in the special Heart Hospital and Al Wakra playing a friendly tournament To celebrate the day, Katara gramme for its employees. challenge competitions, and lei- ‘Kid’s Area.’ Hospital — will be closed. against Qatar Charity team as Cultural Village and Doha Film The programme was launched sure games. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Mada exhibition features eye-gaze paintings BlackBerry 10 launch

DOHA: Mada (Qatar Assistive Technology Centre) yester- day launched an art exhibition with the theme ‘Art, Disability, and Technology’ at the Katara Art Centre. The exhibition fea- tures works by Sarah Ezekiel, a British artist who uses a technology that enables her to control painting software with just the movement of her eyes. By using a Tobii Eyegaze solu- tion, Sarah can overcome her physical disability to pursue her artistic career. Through the use of assistive technology, Sarah can merely use the movement of her eyes to paint elaborate creations, and has seen her work exhibited at several exhibits throughout the UK. This is her first exhibit outside the UK. “By featuring the works of an artist with a disability who uses assistive technology to paint, Mada highlights the remark- able ability of assistive technol- ogy to empower someone with Sarah’s challenges to pursue their dreams,” said David Banes, CEO of Mada. Although Sarah was unable to attend the opening in Doha, Visitors looking at a work displayed at the exhibition. she spoke to the crowd through a video call to explain the impor- tance of assistive technology in different needs, the opportunity to at display in building No. 5 in we want to explore themes of her life and to encourage its use have a greater impact on the lives Katara until Thursday, will go technology and art, particularly throughout Qatar. of a greater number of people,” to the charity set up to fund the as they relate to enabling people “Having a centre like Mada said Hector Minto, co- founder of provision of similar devices for to break physical barriers to cre- available to the disabled commu- EyeGazeArtists, who has worked people with disabilities who need ate art,” said Mayssa Fattouh, nity in Qatar enables a company closely with Sarah to establish the it wherever they may be. Artistic Director and Curator at Ahmad Olaywan, BlackBerry Middle East Manager, speaking at the such as ours, which is committed EyeGazeArtists charity. “Not only are we interested in Katara Art Center. launch of BlackBerry 10 at the Museum of Islamic Art yesterday. to using eye-gaze technology to The proceeds from the sale different communities engaging THE PENINSULA (QASSIM RAHMATULLAH) support the needs of people with of Sarah’s works, which will be with our gallery space, but also MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

Court suspends prison terms of President’s party quits Tunisia govt Kuwait ex-MPs KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s Withdrawal not connected to Prime Minister’s decision to form non-partisan government appeals court yesterday sus- pended the implementation of TUNIS: Tunisian President A senior Ennahda official, who first major shake-up in the gov- a three-year jail term for three Moncef Marzouki’s secular asked not to be named, said the ernment set up in December 2011 former opposition MPs sen- party withdrew yesterday from National Constituent Assembly after an election for a National tenced last week for insulting an Islamist-led government would have the final say, but Constituent Assembly to draft a the emir, their lawyer said. already reeling from last week’s added: “We see that it will be new constitution. “The court set them free until assassination of secular opposi- possible to form a government of The CPR came a distant second their case has been settled,” tion leader Chokri Belaid. technocrats that includes political in the election, winning 29 of the Mohammad Al Jumia wrote on Belaid’s killing on Wednesday parties.” assembly’s 217 seats to Ennahda’s his Twitter account. — Tunisia’s first such political Ben Amor said Marzouki’s CPR 89, but Marzouki was elected When the lower court handed assassination in decades — has would formally submit the resig- interim president by the assembly down the jail term on Tuesday, thrown the government and the nation of its three ministers to in a show of unity and his party it ordered that the three politi- country into turmoil, widen- Jebali on Monday. entered a coalition government cians be jailed immediately, but ing rifts between the dominant Political analyst Youssef Ouslati led by Ennahda. police did not arrest them and Islamist Ennahda party and its said the party was “trying to jump Marzouki had opposed former the appeals court agreed to set secular-minded foes. out of a sinking ship”, but that President Zine Al Abidine Ben a quick date to review their case. “We have been saying for a its decision had no great weight Ali from exile until a popular The three former lawmakers week that if the foreign and jus- because Jebali was now the cen- uprising swept the long serving attended yesterday’s court hear- tice ministers were not changed, tral player. Tunisian leader from power in ing at which the judge detained we would withdraw from the gov- He said that if political uncer- January 2011. them briefly before issuing the ernment,” Samir Ben Amor, an tainty continued, “the street will Since then Islamists and ruling. However, the court asked official of Marzouki’s Congress for be the crucial element”. their opponents have tussled the three — Khaled Al Tahus, the Republic Party (CPR), told French far-left Parti de Gauche (PG) leader, Jean-Luc Melenchon (third Belaid’s funeral drew tens of over the role of Islam in poli- Falah Al Sawwagh and Bader Al Reuters. left) holds his fist up at the grave of assassinated opposition leader Chokri thousands of mourners in Tunis tics, society and the constitu- Dahum — to pay bail of $17,850 The CPR has criticised the per- Belaid in the El-Jellaz cemetery in the capital Tunis, yesterday. and other cities on Friday in tion, while economic grievances each and set March 10 for the formance of the two ministers, what turned into mass political that helped drive the revolt next hearing. The former MPs one of whom, Foreign Minister announced after Belaid was killed, coalition partners, had criticised protests against Ennahda and the against Ben Ali have gone largely were charged with undermining Rafik Abdessalem, is the son- to form a non-partisan govern- Jebali’s proposal, saying he had government it dominates. unaddressed. the status of the emir during an in-law of Ennahda party leader ment of technocrats to run the failed to consult them first. About 6,000 Ennahda support- Belaid’s killing, for which no address at a public gathering on Rachid Ghannouchi. country until elections can be Jebali said on Saturday he ers took to the streets of the capi- one has claimed responsibility, October 10 in which they warned Ben Amor said the CPR’s with- held later in the year. would unveil his new cabinet this tal on Saturday in a peaceful show shocked the nation of nearly 11 that any amendment to the elec- drawal was unconnected to Prime Senior politicians in Ennahda, week, but would resign if political of strength. million. toral law could lead to street pro- Minister Hamadi Jebali’s decision, as well as in its two non-Islamist parties did not support it. The CPR’s departure is the REUTERS tests. AFP

Saudi set to buy German Syrian rebels launch fresh patrol boats attacks on Assad troops BERLIN: Saudi Arabia BEIRUT: Syrian rebels is looking into buy- launched fierce assaults on ing patrol boats worth regime troops in several parts ¤1.5bn ($2bn) from of the country yesterday, includ- a German firm, and ing near Deir Ezzor where appears to have won they used tanks to shell an the Berlin government’s army brigade, a watchdog and approval despite wide- activists said. spread public criticism of The rebels used tanks to shell arms deals, a newspaper Brigade 113 just north of the east- reported yesterday. ern city of Deir Ezzor, which they The Arab kingdom was have surrounded for weeks, the exploring a deal to buy Syrian Observatory for Human the ships, each costing Rights said. between ¤10 and ¤25m, Brigade 113 and the besieged from Bremen-based dock- military airport of Deir Ezzor yard Luerssen, Bild am are some of the last regime hold- Sonntag newspaper said. outs in the city, whose province is Arms exports are a sen- largely held by the rebel fighters. sitive issue in Germany One rebel died in the attack on given the country’s Nazi the garrison, as clashes raged in past and the role arms the city, the Britain-based watch- makers like Krupp played dog said. in fuelling numerous 19th The opposition Deir Ezzor and 20th century wars. press network, a grassroots group Germany’s national of activists said that the humani- security council, which tarian conditions in the province Turkish paramedics check X-ray films of injured Syrians outside a Turkish includes Chancellor were dire. ambulance on the Syrian-Turkish border in Oncupinar, yesterday. Angela Merkel and the “The western countryside is out ministers of defence, of water and electricity supplies city to the Iraqi border, including assault on Wadi Deif military development, economy and for the eleventh day in a row due the border town of Albu Kamal base, a major regime holdout in foreign affairs, had already to the indiscriminate shelling by and its small military airbase. the largely rebel-held northwest given the deal a prelimi- the regime forces,” it said. In the northeast province of province of Idlib, while the army nary nod, according to the Two weeks ago, the rebels cap- Raqa yesterday, fighters from retaliated shelling the nearby newspaper. tured the vital Siyasiyeh suspen- the jihadist Al-Nusra Front and town of Maaret Al Numan. The council has to sion bridge that straddles the other rebel battalions took over In the northern province of approve such deals in Euphrates river in Deir Ezzor, an army company in Tabqa along Aleppo four soldiers were killed Germany but its deci- cutting off the main regime sup- the Euphrates river, securing and more than 20 wounded in a sions are not made pub- ply route to the adjoining province a major cache of artillery and bombing by Al Nusra Front tar- lic. A spokeswoman for of Hasakeh. ammunition and taking control geting a military building, the the economy ministry, Regime troops have already of a key checkpoint in the town, Observatory said without offer- which oversees such deals, been forced from the vast terri- the Observatory said. ing other details. declined to comment. tory stretching from Deir Ezzor Rebels also continued their AFP No one at Luerssen was immediately available for comment. The newspa- per did not say why Saudi Arabia might be seeking the vessels. REUTERS Egypt detainees treated well: UAE ABU DHABI: Egyptian detainees held in the UAE over suspected links with President Mohammed Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood are being treated “well” in the Gulf country, Cairo’s envoy said yesterday. “The Egyptian detain- ees are being treated well in accordance with the UAE laws,” Emirati state news agency WAM quoted Egypt’s ambassador to Abu Dhabi Tamer Mansur as saying. “None of the detainees who are being interro- gated has been subjected to any psychological or physical pressure,” he added. Last month, local media reported that UAE authorities had arrested 11 Egyptians residing in the country. AFP MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST No talks at gunpoint, says Ahmadinejad Iranian president strikes a more conciliatory tone on Revolution anniversary than Supreme leader Khamenei

DUBAI: Iranian President Mahmoud addressing myriad sources of mutual Larijani, traded public accusations of cor- Ahmadinejad said yesterday Tehran mistrust and hostility lingering since ruption, an outbreak of infighting that would not negotiate about its disputed the 1979 Islamic Revolution and hostage is expected to grow more vicious as the nuclear programme under pressure, crisis at the US embassy in Tehran. country approaches presidential elections but would talk to its adversaries if they Tehran wants sanctions lifted that slated for June. stopped “pointing the gun”. have slashed oil exports and helped cut The parliament is dominated by a In a speech to mark the 34th anniver- the value of the Iranian rial, raising infla- faction loyal to Khamenei and hostile sary of the Islamic revolution, he struck tion and weakening purchasing power for to Ahmadinejad, who cannot stand for a more conciliatory tone than Supreme ordinary Iranians. reelection. Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who on People held banners saying “Down Khamenei, Iran’s unelected leader, has February 7 rebuffed a US call for direct With USA” at state-organised demon- struggled to suppress rows among offi- negotiations between the two countries. strations in Tehran and other cities to cials which have broken out into the open Ahmadinejad does not have the author- mark the anniversary of the ousting of despite warning that such public spats ity to authorise talks over the nuclear a Western-friendly monarchy in favour were a betrayal of the country. programme, which lies with Khamenei. of clerical leadership under Ayatollah The last presidential election in 2009 Iran has already agreed to a new round Ruhollah Khomeini. set off mass protests at Ahmadinejad’s of talks with world powers, but not direct Ahmadinejad did not address specif- victory, which opponents called fraud- US talks, in Kazakhstan on February 26. ics of the planned talks in Kazakhstan. ulent. Ahmadinejad is believed to have “You cannot point a gun at the Iranian He said Iran would counter sanctions by since lost Khamenei’s backing. nation and then expect them to have boosting non-oil exports and weaning In January, Khamenei’s representative negotiations with you,” Ahmadinejad told itself off crude oil revenues. to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary a crowd gathered in the capital Tehran’s “Enemies are trying their utmost to Guard Corps, Ali Saeedi, said it was part Azadi (Freedom) Square. put pressure on the Iranian nation to of the role of the Guards to “engineer” His speech was carried live on state stop its progress but they will not suc- the elections. television. ceed,” he said. Ahmadinejad, who is believed to want “Talks should not be used as a lever to Khamenei on Thursday rejected a US to maintain influence after stepping impose one’s opinions ... If you stop point- offer of direct talks, saying talks and down, possibly by backing an ally as a ing the gun at the Iranian nation, I will pressure were incompatible. candidate, appeared to warn against negotiate (with you) myself,” he added. He was believed to have been replying such efforts yesterday. “Some people say The United States and some of its allies to remarks by Vice President Joe Biden, they want to engineer and manage the suspect Iran may be trying to develop who said on February 2 the United States election,” Ahmadinejad said. “The great atomic weapons capability under the was ready for direct talks if Iran was Iranian nation knows which path to take cover of a civilian nuclear energy pro- serious about negotiations. ... some must not speak or act in such a gramme, a charge Iran has denied. The national celebrations are taking way so as to play into the hands of Iran’s Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad speaks at Azadi Square (Freedom Square) on Many experts believe any nuclear deal place a week after Ahmadinejad and his deceitful enemies.” the 34th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution in Tehran, yesterday. needs a US-Iranian thaw and direct talks political rival, parliamentary speaker Ali REUTERS

Iran, Palestine and Syria top Sudan must act against abuses by security service: UN KHARTOUM: Khartoum activists said in January, add- non-governmental agencies dur- Obama’s agenda must act on allegations of ing to concerns over freedom of ing assessments in Khartoum and human rights abuses by the Over 100 killed in cattle raid expression. the Darfur region, where a rebel- on Israel visit country’s state security service, The government says it is keen lion has continued for 10 years. the UN’s independent expert JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN: incident and said some 500 peo- for NGOs to help people as long Authorities did not grant the JERUSALEM: Iran’s nuclear on human rights in Sudan said Heavily armed rebels have ple remained missing. He was as they do not follow a political expert a travel permit for Darfur ambitions, the civil war in Syria yesterday after a visit to the killed more than 100 people, not able to confirm the mili- agenda. Baderin, whose mandate on his earlier mission. This time and stalled Israeli-Palestinian country. including women and chil- tary casualties. Akobo County comes under the UN’s Human he was able to visit the North peace efforts will top the “I must emphasise that vio- dren, in a cattle raid in South Commissioner Goi Jooyul Rights Council, also called on the Darfur state capital El Fasher agenda of US President Barack lations of human rights by the Sudan’s troubled Jonglei state, issued a statement confirm- government “to respect the right and a camp for some of the more Obama’s visit to Israel, Prime NISS has been raised consist- local officials said yesterday. ing the deaths of the 14 troops to freedom of assembly, the free- than one million people displaced Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ently by most stakeholders I met The people of Walgak in and quoted survivors as saying dom of expression, press freedom” by the Darfur conflict. said yesterday. during this visit and I urged the Akobo County were migrating the assailants were armed with and to allow for open political dis- While the security and human “It is a very important visit government to take this mat- north on Friday to the wetlands everything from rocket-pro- course as the country develops a rights situation remains dire, that will emphasise the strong ter seriously,” Mashood Adebayo with cattle “and were being pelled grenades to spears and new constitution. “there has been some relative alliance between Israel and the Baderin, speaking in English, told escorted by an army platoon machetes. He said he was concerned about improvement over the years” in United States,” Netanyahu, who reporters. when they came under attack His statement also confirmed the “detention of political opposi- Darfur, said Baderin. has had a testy relationship with He was referring to the pow- by a huge force using automatic “hundreds of families” were still tion figures and other individuals” The rebellion has been com- Obama, told his cabinet. erful National Intelligence and weapons,” Jonglei governor Kuol missing. “The attackers left with by the security service. pounded by inter-Arab violence, The White House announced Security Service. Manyang said. He said 103 peo- cattle and hundreds of chil- “I have been informed that banditry and tribal fighting in the on Tuesday that Obama plans to “NISS has clamped down on ple were killed, including 14 dren and women who have not some of the detainees have far-west region. visit Israel, the West Bank and some civil society organisations soldiers from the platoon, while reported back to the village,” he health problems and are in need Baderin said his next visit Jordan this spring, raising pros- and prevented them from submit- the rest were civilians, mostly said, explaining that some 3,000 of urgent medical attention. I will focus on another part of the pects of a new US push to restart ting a complaint to the National women and children. people in all had been moving urged the government to release country, South Kordofan and Blue Israeli-Palestinian peace efforts Commission on Human Rights in Deputy military spokesman with their cattle when they or promptly charge them with Nile. An estimated 900,000 peo- frozen for the past two years. Khartoum,” Baderin said after an Kella Kueth confirmed the came under attack. AFP recognisable offences and bring ple have been affected by fighting The White House gave no exact eight-day mission, his second to them before a court of law,” in the two states, where rebel- dates for the trip, Obama’s first to Sudan since last June. which recommended the govern- Three Sudanese human rights he said. lions broke out in 2011, the UN Israel since taking office. Israel’s The clampdown occurred ment create an environment con- and cultural groups have been Baderin met with government has said. Channel 10 television station cited despite Baderin’s last report ducive to civil society. banned or suspended, local officials, United Nations staff and AFP unnamed sources in Washington last week saying the visit to Israel would start on March 20. In public remarks at the cabi- AP photographer detained net session, Netanyahu put Iran at the top of his list of talking Yemen wants Tehran points with Obama and referred only in general terms to peace efforts with the Palestinians, stopping short of setting a revival explain arms shipment of bilateral negotiations as a spe- cific goal of the visit. SANA’A: Yemen yesterday authorities in Sana’a say came “The president and I spoke demanded an explanation from from Iran, although Tehran about this visit and agreed that we Tehran over an Iran-linked denies any involvement. would discuss three main issues ... arms shipment seized last Yemen is still investigating the Iran’s attempt to arm itself with month and rejected interfer- shipment whose eight-strong nuclear weapons, the unstable sit- ence in its internal affairs, state Yemeni crew are being questioned. uation in Syria ... and the efforts news agency Saba reported. A security official last week to advance the diplomatic process “The Yemeni government will said the vessel came from Iran of peace between the Palestinians not allow interference in its inter- and that the arms “were destined and us,” Netanyahu said. nal affairs from any party, or for for the Huthi rebels in Saada,” US-hosted negotiations between its territories to become a site for the stronghold of Shia fighters in Israel and the Palestinians col- proxy wars,” Foreign Minister Abu northern Yemen. United Nations lapsed in September 2010 in a Bakr Al Qirbi told Iran’s ambas- sanctions experts are investigat- dispute over Israeli settlement- sador to Sana’a, Mahmud Hassan ing Sana’a’s claims, according to building in the occupied West Zada. The foreign minister also New York-based diplomats. In Bank, land captured in a 1967 war “demanded an explanation from Washington, State Department and which Palestinians seek as Iran on the vessel,” intercepted by spokeswoman Victoria Nuland part of a future state that includes Yemeni coast guard in coordination has praised the Yemeni govern- Gaza and East Jerusalem. with the US navy on January 23 in ment for its “successful and sig- Obama and Netanyahu dis- the Arabian Sea. nificant interdiction” of the vessel cussed the coming trip in a Members of Israeli security forces detain Associated Press photographer Nasser Shiyoukhi (centre) during a The Jihan II was carrying and its decision to alert the UN January 28 telephone call. Palestinian protest in Yatta, south of the West Bank city of Hebron. Soldiers dismantled tents that were being rockets and explosives, which Security Council. AFP The visit will take place only erected in two areas near the town of Yatta, and forced activists to leave, Palestinian witnesses said. after Netanyahu puts together a new governing coalition following his narrower-than-expected vic- tory in Israel’s January 22 elec- tion. Netanyahu, who heads the King Abdullah of Jordan seeks consensus on premier right-wing Likud party, has begun talks with prospective political partners and still has up to five AMMAN: King Abdullah II government’s formation with the forces as he selects his cabinet, the king said. Prime Minister enjoys the support of the house’s weeks to complete the process. yesterday told newly elected Lower House and parliamentary seeking confidence “based on a Abdullah Nsur submitted his cab- majority emerges, the consul- Citing the dangers Israel faces MPs that he seeks to reach blocs as they take shape, in order policy statement resulting from inet’s resignation to the king on tation and government forma- from the “earthquake that is hap- “consensus” with them before to reach consensus that leads the consultation process, and on January 29, six days after tribal tion processes will be quick and pening around us”, a reference to naming a prime minister, and to the designation of a prime four-year programmes.” leaders, pro-regime loyalists and smooth,” the king said. “In the Arab upheaval in the region and hailed the “historic transfor- minister,” he told the opening of “You are also expected to shoul- independent businessmen swept a absence of a majority coalition, on the prospect of a nuclear-armed mation” towards parliamentary parliament. der your responsibility towards general election boycotted by the the other hand, this process will Iran, Netanyahu said Obama’s government in Jordan. King Abdullah said the pre- the success of this historic trans- opposition Muslim Brotherhood take more time and effort. This is visit now was particularly “We will start... this new mier should in turn consult formation towards parliamentary and others. a fundamental fact of parliamen- important. REUTERS approach by consulting over the parliamentary blocs and other government and its development,” “If a coalition of blocs that tary democracy.” AFP MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 US tax rules sour life for Americans abroad Growing number of expats opting to give up their citizenship over intricate tax filing requirements

GENEVA: Scott Schmith is a patriot aimed at fighting offshore tax evasion, small minority of those affected fall into Fearing the workload of ensuring citizens’ attempts to do business in other and a US military veteran but he is no the implications for him — a “squeaky- that category. compliance with FATCA and especially countries, observers say. longer a US citizen: Sick of complex tax clean” law-abiding citizen — became too An estimated four to seven million the consequences if they slip up, “banks John for instance said he had long rules making his life in Switzerland overwhelming, he said. “I just got more Americans live outside the country, have been actively eliminating American wanted to go into business with a good miserable he recently handed back his and more anxious about my ability to ranging from US military personnel, clients,” Bugnion said, lamenting that Swiss friend, but “every time we got passport. protect myself and my family from the diplomats and others on temporary Americans often “can no longer get close to a deal, my citizenship became a “It was a pretty big decision and there administrative overhead of the US gov- assignments, to so-called “accidental” mortgages, and are being told their bank huge stumbling block.” According to US was a bit of anxiety,” said the 50-year- ernment,” said John, who has been based Americans who happened to be born in don’t want their business”. law, any business anywhere in the world old photographer who served in the in Switzerland since 2002. the United States to foreign parents and While this is happening all over the which is more than 10-percent owned or 1990-91 Gulf war and has been living in Six European countries, including dual citizens who may have lived most or world, Americans are especially feeling controlled by American citizens or inter- Switzerland since 1993. Switzerland, have recently agreed to com- all of their lives abroad. the heat in Switzerland — the main tar- ests must file its annual balance sheet to But once he received his Swiss pass- ply with the 2010 US Foreign Account According to observers, most of these get of a US campaign to track down insti- US tax authorities. port and handed back his US one last Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), requiring people don’t owe any taxes to the United tutions and individual bankers who help Bugnion said she had spoken with people September, “it was like a load of weight banks to report all holdings by their US States, but they still have to go through US clients open secret accounts overseas. who had been forced to shut down busi- off my shoulders.” Schmith is one of a clients to the Internal Revenue Service. the process of filing complex IRS returns Switzerland’s largest bank UBS, nesses, while John said he knew people growing number of American expats “Offshore tax evasion costs the US each year. “Over the past 10 years, I have for instance sent out letters to all its who had lost their jobs because companies who are opting to give up their citizen- jobs and billions of dollars each year, and paid more to tax preparers than I have in American clients late last year telling didn’t want to put up with the hassel and ship rather than deal with the increasing it puts an unfair burden on the aver- tax,” John said, insisting his decision to them to prove compliance with US tax cost of employing an American. difficulties imposed on them by US tax age American taxpayer to make up the give up his US passport had nothing to rules or to take their business elsewhere. There are some signs that relief authorities, observers say. difference,” Senator Max Baucus, who do with the amount of tax he was being That letter came as a shock to many, could be on the way. A Senate Finance John, a 60-year-old business strategy chairs the Senate Finance Committee asked to pay, but rather the filing burden Bugnion said, adding that she had been Committee aid said that chairman Baucus specialist who asked that his last name and sponsored the legislation, told the and fear of penalties if he messed up. receiving desperate calls from people who was preparing proposals that might affect not be used, said he had decided to give New York Times last year to explain why The United States is the only country had spent their entire careers abroad and the taxation of US citizens abroad. up his US passport after losing sleep for FATCA was needed. in the world besides Eritrea that taxes had never realised before they were sup- Schmith, meanwhile, insisted he didn’t years over the intricate tax filing require- Jackie Bugnion, a Geneva-based tax people based on citizenship rather than posed to file US tax returns. “Suddenly regret becoming Swiss, but said he would ments Washington places on all US citi- expert working for the American Citizens on residence or the source of revenue, they realise their entire life’s savings have preferred to also hold onto the pass- zens, regardless of where they live in the Abroad lobby group, however said that Bugnion said. This also means that any- could be at risk,” she said. port of the country he once fought for. “If world and where they make their money. while the aim in theory is to “go after one who happens to have a US passport In addition to making it difficult for it hadn’t been for the US micromanaging, When the United States recently the wealthy resident in the United States falls under the new FATCA rules, regard- Americans to simply open bank accounts I would still be an American,” he said. began pushing through regulations who is hiding money overseas,” only a less of their background or fortune. abroad, the US tax rules also trip up US AFP

Republican vows French retailers recall to block defence products; UK rules out and CIA picks WASHINGTON: A Republican lawmaker threatened yesterday EU meat import ban to block the confirmations of US President Barack Obama’s PARIS: The Europe-wide Comigel and its suppliers. “This nominees for defence secretary scandal over horsemeat sold as is a breach of contract and fraud,” and CIA director over the deadly beef spread yesterday as leading said the head of Findus Nordic, attack on the US consulate in French retailers pulled products Jari Latvanen. “Such behaviour Libya. Senator Lindsay Graham from their shelves and France on the part of a supplier is unac- said he would put a “hold” on the promised to have the results of ceptable,” he added, saying the nominations of Chuck Hagel and an inquiry within days. meat in its products was supposed John Brennan until the White As the Nordic branch of frozen to be beef of French, German or House provided more informa- food giant Findus said it planned Austrian origin. tion about the president’s actions to sue a French producer and In Britain, where tests found during the September 11, 2012, its suppliers over the scandal, that some frozen ready meals attack in Benghazi. “I want to Britain ruled out imposing a ban produced in mainland Europe and know what our president did. on importing meat from EU coun- labelled as processed beef actu- What did he do as commander tries despite a call from a senior ally contained up to 100 percent in chief? Did he ever pick up lawmaker. horsemeat, Food Minister Owen the phone and call anybody? I Several ranges of prepared food Paterson dismissed calls for a ban think this is the stuff the coun- have been withdrawn in Britain, on EU meat imports. try needs to know,” Graham said France and Sweden after it “Arbitrary measures like that on CBS’ Face the Nation. Under emerged that frozen food com- are not actually going to help. parliamentary rules, a single panies had been using horsemeat Firstly we are bound by the rules senator can stop their nomina- instead of beef in making lasagnes of the European market,” he said tion from coming to a vote of the Passersby help push a taxi out of a snow drift in New York. The US Northeast started digging itself out after a and other pasta dishes, shepherd’s on Sky News television, describing full Senate. blizzard dumped up to 40 inches of snow with hurricane force winds, killing at least nine people. pies and moussakas. the idea as a “panic measure”. But Highlighting the complexity of he warned that the government Special drone court European food supply chains, the would not hesitate to impose a meat has been traced back from ban if public health was at risk. needed: Gates France through Cyprus and the Paterson said he feared there New storm brews in US Plains WASHINGTON: Former US Netherlands to Romanian abat- could be a “criminal conspiracy” defence secretary Robert Gates toirs. Romanian officials have also afoot, while the British press BOSTON/NEW YORK: The Administration. Rare travel bans Connecticut, had 40 inches and yesterday endorsed the idea of announced an urgent inquiry. was full of lurid speculation that US Northeast started dig- in Connecticut and Massachusetts nearby Milford 38 inches, the having a special court review French retailers Auchan, organised crime groups were at ging itself out after a blizzard were lifted but roads throughout National Weather Service said. drone strikes as a check against Casino, Carrefour, Cora, Monoprix the root of the scandal. dumped up to 40 inches of snow the region remained treacherous, The storm contributed to at a president’s power to, in effect, and Picard announced yester- The scandal has had particu- with hurricane force winds, according to state transportation least five deaths in Connecticut execute Americans. Gates, a day that they were withdrawing lar resonance in Britain, where killing at least nine people and departments. and two each in New York state former CIA director who served products provided by Findus and eating horsemeat is considered leaving hundreds of thousands As the region recovered, and Boston, authorities said. A as defence secretary under both French producer Comigel over taboo. British authorities have without power. another large winter storm build- motorist in New Hampshire also Obama and former president the horsemeat concerns. The also said they are testing to see By early yesterday, utility com- ing across the Northern Plains died when he went off a road but George W Bush, said the rules retailers said the withdrawal was whether the horsemeat contains a panies were reporting roughly was expected to leave a foot of authorities said his health may followed by the Obama admin- the result of “labelling non-com- veterinary drug that can be dan- 350,000 customers still without snow and bring high winds from have been a factor in the crash. istration “are quite stringent pliance in regards to the nature of gerous to humans. electricity across a nine-state Colorado to central Minnesota The two deaths in Boston were and are not being abused”. “But the meat” in the products. The Findus meals were assem- region after the wet, heavy snow into Monday, the National separate incidents of carbon mon- who is to say about a future Consumer Affairs Minister bled by Comigel using meat that brought down tree branches and Weather Service said. oxide poisoning in cars, an 11-year- president?” he said in an inter- Benoit Hamon said French author- was provided by Spanghero, a power lines. About half a million South Dakota was expected old boy and a man in his early 20s. view with CNN’s State of the ities would have the preliminary meat-processing company also had been down as of late Saturday. to be hardest hit, with winds The boy had climbed into the Union. “I just think some check results of their inquiry into the based in France. Comigel sup- Air traffic began to return to reaching 50 miles per hour, cre- family car to keep warm while his on the ability of a president to scandal by Wednesday. Hamon plies products to companies in 16 normal after some 5,800 flights ating white-out conditions. The father cleared snow. The engine do this has merit as we look to also told Le Parisien newspaper European countries. Spanghero were canceled on Friday and storm was expected to reach was running but the exhaust was the longer-term future,” he said. that the authorities “will not hesi- in turn is said to have obtained Saturday, according to Flightaware, parts of Nebraska, North Dakota, blocked, said authorities. tate” to take legal action if there the meat from Romania via a a flight tracking service. Bradley Wyoming and Wisconsin. There were also road rescues Three North Korean is evidence that companies were Cypriot dealer who had subcon- International Airport in Windsor Friday and Saturday’s mam- along the Long Island Expressway knowingly duping consumers. tracted the deal to a trader in The Locks, Connecticut, and Long moth storm stretched from the from Friday night to Saturday doctors slain in Nigeria Findus has said it will lodge a Netherlands. Island MacArthur Airport reo- Great Lakes to the Atlantic morning, some using snowmo- KANO: Men armed with knives legal complaint in France after A Romanian food industry offi- pened yesterday morning. Both and covered several spots in the biles. A baby girl was delivered slit the throats of three North evidence showed the presence of cial pointed the finger of blame were closed on Saturday. Northeast with more than 3 feet early on Saturday by emergency Korean doctors in a pre-dawn horsemeat in its supply chain “was at the French importer, saying it Boston’s Logan International of snow. Connecticut, Rhode services personnel in Worcester, attack yesterday in a volatile not accidental” and its Nordic was up to that company to verify Airport reopened on Saturday, Island and Massachusetts took Massachusetts. town in northeastern Nigeria branch said it planned to sue the quality of the meat. AFP according to the Federal Aviation the brunt of the blizzard. Hamden, REUTERS in the latest in a spate of such killings in recent months, police said. The attack in Potiskum also came just two days after gunmen killed at least 10 peo- ple in horrifying attacks on two Nigerian polio clinics. British premier urges Scots not to break up nation Gun battle rocks Gao GAO: Northern Mali’s largest city LONDON: British Prime Minister David Scotland would not prosper as an inde- for Scotland to stay in the United Kingdom, decide. But the answer matters to all of was rocked by a second suicide Cameron yesterday urged Scotland to pendent country, saying “I have no time while the Scottish National Party based in our United Kingdom. Scotland is better bombing and rebels clashed with avoid breaking the nation apart, saying for those who say there is no way Scotland Edinburgh wants it to become independent. off in Britain. We’re all better off together Malian troops yesterday as mili- that it had the best of both worlds as could go it alone. Cameron said it was “wrong” of the and poorer apart,” Cameron wrote. The tants defied a security lock-down things are. “I know first-hand the contribution devolved Scottish government, led by referendum is due in 2014 but a date has on territory reclaimed by French- In his latest attempt to convince Scots Scotland and Scots make to Britain’s suc- the SNP, to have revealed last week its not yet been set. led forces. A gun battle between ahead of a referendum on independence cess — so for me there’s no question about plans for a transition to a new nation A poll reported last month in the Malian soldiers and suspected next year, Cameron said splitting the more whether Scotland could be an independ- within a year and a half of a ‘yes’ vote. Scotsman newspaper found that only 23 Islamists erupted in the streets of than 300-year-old union of the two nations ent nation. “It’s like fast-forwarding to the closing percent of people in Scotland support inde- central Gao near the main police would leave them “poorer apart.” “The real question is whether it should credits before you’ve been allowed to see pendence, down nine points on the previous station, witnesses said. The clash, “Put simply: Britain works. Britain — whether Scotland is stronger, safer, the movie,” he said. year, with 61 percent backing continued which sent residents running for works well. Why break it?” he said in com- richer and fairer within our United The British premier said the analysis devolution in the UK. cover, came after a bomber blew ments released ahead of the publication on Kingdom or outside it. And here, I believe, being published Monday made sure the ref- The vote has also raised the question himself up at the same army Monday of a British government analysis the answer is clear.” erendum would “not be a leap in the dark, of Scotland’s status within the current checkpoint where the first such of Scotland’s role in the United Kingdom. London’s political parties including but a decision made in the light of day”. 27-member EU if it decides to split. attack in Mali occurred on Friday. Cameron played down arguments that Cameron’s Conservatives are campaigning “This big question is for Scotland to AFP AGENCIES MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

Commonwealth pushes Sri Bangladesh Lanka on judicial to amend war independence COLOMBO: The Commonwealth Secretary- General opened talks with Sri Lanka yesterday by pushing for judicial independence on the crimes law island, as Canada renewed calls to boycott the bloc’s summit in Colombo later this year. Tough penalties plea provision on way Secretary-General Kamalesh Sharma is holding talks with Sri DHAKA: Bangladesh is plan- cabinet today for approval, and Lankan leaders in Colombo on ning to amend a law to allow would then go to parliament for the rule of law and the separa- the government to appeal for ratification. tion of powers after the island tougher penalties for war crim- The amendment would give defied international appeals and inals, the law minister said both sides the right to appeal sacked its chief justice in January, yesterday, the sixth day of pro- against any conviction including the bloc said. tests since a convicted Islamist inadequate sentence or acquittal. Sharma’s four-day visit to leader got a sentence many peo- Under the law now, the prosecu- Sri Lanka came as Ottawa ple think was too light. tion can appeal only against an urged others in the 54-member The war crimes tribunal sen- order of acquittal. grouping to stay away from the tenced the Islamic party leader, “The amendment will be passed November Commonwealth Heads Abdul Quader Mollah, to life in in the current parliament ses- of Government Meeting hosted prison on Tuesday on charges sion,” Ahmed said. by Colombo. including murder, rape and tor- Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Canada had reported Sri Lanka ture, the second verdict in trials set up the tribunal in 2010 to People walk under a massive national flag of Bangladesh as they attend a mass demonstration at Shahbagh to the Commonwealth over the that have reopened wounds from investigate abuses during the intersection, demanding capital punishment for Jamaat-e-Islami senior leader Abdul Quader Mollah, in Dhaka, alleged violation of the organi- Bangladesh’s 1971 war of inde- nine-month war in 1971. yesterday. sation’s democratic values by pendence from Pakistan. It delivered its first judgment ignoring two court rulings and The sentence sparked protests last month, sentencing a former Jamaat-e-Islami — the country’s that the tribunal is biased but it nationalists, backed by India, and sacking Chief Justice Shirani by Mollah’s supporters, who say Jamaat-e-Islami and popular biggest Islamist party. has been criticised by human Pakistani forces. Bandaranayake last month. his conviction was politically Islamic preacher, Abul Kalam The main opposition rights groups for failing to adhere Some factions in what was She had given rulings which motivated, but also counter- Azad, to death on similar charges Bangladesh Nationalist Party to standards of international law. then East Pakistan opposed the were thought unfavourable to protests by many Bangladeshis to the ones Mollah faced. Azad (BNP) of Hasina’s arch rival, Eight other Jamaat leaders break with Pakistan, and abuses President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s who think his sentence was too was tried in absentia as he fled former premier Begum Khaleda along with two from the BNP also were committed during the nine- regime which is also accused of lenient and he should have been the country in April. Zia, and its ally Jamaat-e-Islami, face charges in the tribunal. month war. The Jamaat denies failing to probe war crimes allega- sentenced to death. Most Bangladeshis had also say the prime minister is using Bangladesh became part of accusations that it opposed tions against Sri Lankan troops Law Minister Shafique Ahmed expected the death sentence to the tribunal as a political weapon Pakistan at the end of British rule independence and helped the which defeated Tamil rebels in said proposal to amend the law be handed down to Mollah, 64, against them. in 1947 but broke away in 1971 Pakistani army. 2009. would be placed before the Assistant Secretary-General of Hasina has rejected accusations after a war between Bangladeshi REUTERS “Sharma is expected to dis- cuss, among other issues, options for advancing Commonwealth values and principles, including the independence of the judici- ary and the separation of pow- MNLF chairman justifies offensive against Abu Sayyaf ers,” the Commonwealth said in a statement. The statement said the secre- MANILA: Moro National meeting with the Organisation of Forces of the Philippines or the Development and Strategic He said there were no viola- tary-general was also discussing Liberation Front (MNLF) Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Cairo, Philippine government (to deal Planning Office Secretary Ricky tions to the 1996 peace agreement arrangements for the November Chairman Nur Misuari yes- said the MNLF wanted to restore with the problem of Abu Sayyaf),” Carandang said President Aquino with the government because the summit which is going ahead terday justified the offen- order in Sulu and neutralise the he said. did not sanction the MNLF operation was internal as their despite Canadian objections. sives against Abu Sayyaf criminal elements in the region. Misuari said the MNLF will actions against the Abu Sayyaf. targets were former MNLF guer- Canadian Prime Minister bandits in Sulu, saying their “Sulu is becoming the haven for take the initiative to restore A senior MNLF official, on the rillas who joined the bandits. Stephen Harper has warned that illegal activities had become criminal activities victimising not peace. “We will restore peace in other hand, called on Malacanang “We would like to call on the he may refuse to attend the sum- “intolerable.” only locals and foreigners who are our homeland with or without the to stop pointing to violations com- authority of Malacanang that mit unless Sri Lanka addresses “Kidnapping of people and sell- coming to our area and they are Philippine government, we will do mitted by the MNLF in going (this offensive against the Abu allegations of atrocities during the ing them like cows are intolerable making profits out of it, and they it ourselves,” he said. after the Abu Sayyaf. Sayyaf) is an internal problem closing battles of the war against and this could not be accepted,” go as far as Tawi-Tawi looking for “We will wipe out all traces of “We are helping the govern- of the MNLF. Internal, notwith- separatist Tamil rebels in 2009. Misuari told a news conference their next victim,” he said. kidnapping in our area. The govern- ment and now they are putting standing the fact that we fought Sharma in September asked at the Ninoy Aquino International Misuari alleged that the gov- ment spent billions of pesos to stop the blame on the MNLF,” against our former comrades who the two countries to resolve their Airport. ernment has created a monster this but nothing happens,” he added. said Habib Mudjahab Hashim, joined the Abu Sayyaf. They are differences and ensure the smooth “We don’t like to harbour in the Abu Sayyaf in collaboration Malacanang on Friday said the Chairman of the MNLF’s Islamic Muslims also,” Hashim said. conduct of the summit. criminal activities in our home- with the Malaysian government. MNLF has to explain its actions Command Council. According to Hashim, the prob- Sri Lanka has denied allega- land because it is against the law “(This is) according to my against the Abu Sayyaf and Hashim said the government lem with the Abu Sayyaf has not tions from international rights of God, against the laws of Islam, information,” he said. warned that the government will should instead look at the posi- been addressed since the adminis- groups that government troops and against the Holy Quran,” he “Our people in the MNLF had enforce the law once civilians are tive side of their operation to get tration of former President Fidel killed up to 40,000 civilians during said. been waiting for years for possible affected by the fighting. rid of the Abu Sayyaf and stop its Ramos. the civil war. Misuari, who arrived from a action on the part of the Armed Presidential Communications kidnappings in Sulu. THE PHILIPPINE STAR AFP Moro Islamic China ships enter disputed waters chief to get TOKYO: Four Chinese ships were spotted to the incident, which occurred late January, PhilHealth card yesterday in disputed East China Sea waters, after Chinese authorities flatly denied Tokyo’s Japanese officials said, as Tokyo considered accusation. MANILA: Moro Islamic disclosing video footage and pictures as evi- Japan’s Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said Liberation Front (MILF) dence of a Chinese frigate’s alleged radar-lock on Fuji TV yesterday that Tokyo was carefully Chairman Al Haj Murad incident. studying whether or how to disclose military data Ebrahim will get a PhilHealth For the first time after Tokyo made the allega- as evidence. insurance card as a symbol tion last week, China sent maritime surveillance However he also said he did not think China of basic social services that vessels near Japanese-controlled islands in the would “admit to it even if Japan discloses a vari- members of the former seces- East China Sea, known as Senkaku in Tokyo and ety of evidence, because it is trying to protect its sionist movement will enjoy Diaoyu by Beijing, which also claims them. national interest”. ahead of the signing of the They were seen sailing in the contiguous waters Onodera on Saturday told the Yomiuri Shimbun final peace agreement with the near one of the outcrops as of 0000 GMT, the newspaper that Tokyo had “evidence to show the government. Japan Coast Guard said. fire-control radar chased after the ship (of Japan’s The ceremonial turnover of Tokyo accused a Chinese frigate of locking its Self-Defence Forces) for some time. The visual health cards to Ebrahim and weapons-tracking radar on a Japanese destroyer evidence would convince many of those who watch his men is part of the project — the first time the two nations’ navies have it”. “Sajahatra Bangsamoro” that will locked horns in the territorial dispute that has The long-running row over the islands intensi- be launched at the Bangsamoro provoked fears of armed conflict breaking out fied in September when Tokyo nationalised part Leadership and Management between the two. of the chain, triggering fury in Beijing and huge Institute compound in Sultan Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on anti-Japan demonstrations across China. Kudarat, Maguindanao. Friday demanded Beijing apologise and admit AFP “It’s all systems go now for the event,” Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Abigail Valte said in an interview over radio New Year dance dzRB. “So far, only little details are still being fixed, but it looks like the government’s launching (of the project) will push through,” Valte said. She said the event would usher the provision of basic services to MILF communities. “This is a socioeconomic initia- tive of the Office of the President.” “This is continuous. I under- stand that the programme will run for at least a year to a year and a half. The target is really to deliver the basic social services that the members of the MILF did not access when they were actively pursuing their cause,” Valte said. “So now, again, as part of just and lasting peace that we are hop- ing for, these social services will Dancers reflected in a mirror as they perform a dragon dance inside a gold centre in celebration of the continue,” Valte said. Lunar New Year in Manila’s Chinatown, yesterday. THE PHILIPPINE STAR MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Dunford at Nato helm in Afghanistan Marine general takes charge from John Allen ahead of troop withdrawal from the country next year

KABUL: US General Joseph Dunford Allen was the fourth Isaf commander assumed command of Nato forces in under US President Barack Obama, and Afghanistan yesterday, taking over his 19-month tenure was punctuated by a from General John Allen as the coali- series of crises, from the accidental burn- tion prepares to withdraw the bulk of ing of the copies of the Holy Quran at a its combat troops by next year. US base to images of US soldiers urinat- Marine General Dunford will likely be ing on the bodies of Taliban fighters. the last commander of the United States’ There was also controversy about longest war, tasked with bringing forces Allen’s own conduct after he became home after more than 11 years and over- embroiled in the sex scandal that seeing the transfer of Afghan security brought down David Petraeus, the CIA duties to local forces. director — and Allen’s predecessor as Despite the persistence of the Taliban’s Isaf chief. bloody insurgency against President The Pentagon exonerated Allen last Hamid Karzai’s government and Nato month over emails he sent to a woman forces, Allen, who leaves to become the tied to the Petraeus affair, which defence alliance’s supreme commander in Europe, officials had said were potentially said: “We will be victorious.” “inappropriate”. Dunford, a Marine general like Allen But perhaps the most difficult aspect of who earned the nickname “Fighting Allen’s time at the head of Isaf has been Joe” for his leadership in Iraq, took the surge in so-called “green on blue” command of the International Security insider attacks, in which Afghan secu- Assistance Force (Isaf) in a ceremony at rity forces turn their weapons on their the group’s headquarters in Kabul amid Nato allies. tight security. The attacks have risen sharply in the Allen said victory over the insur- last year, with more than 60 foreign sol- gency led by the Taliban would “never diers killed in 2012, breeding mistrust be marked by a date, a point in time between Afghan and Nato troops and in the calendar” but insisted the effort threatening to derail their mission to would prevail. train local forces to take over security “The insurgency will be defeated over duties. time by legitimate and well-trained Afghan soldiers and police are taking Afghan forces,” he said. on responsibility for battling the mili- “Afghan forces defending Afghan peo- tants from Nato’s 100,000 troops who will ple and enabling the government of this leave by the end of next year — more than Outgoing International Security Assistance Force (Isaf) commander General John Allen (left) hands over a flag to US General Joseph country to serve its citizens — this is vic- a decade after a US-led invasion brought Dunford (centre) during a change of command ceremony at the Isaf headquarters in Kabul, yesterday. tory, this is what winning looks like.” down the Taliban regime. Dunford, a 35-year veteran of the US It is still unclear how many troops Marine Corps, said his assumption of Washington will leave behind in between 3,000 and 9,000 troops would in Afghanistan. 150,000. Of those, 66,000 are US command meant continuity not change, Afghanistan beyond 2014. stay to focus on preventing Al Qaeda, The number of foreign soldiers bat- troops, down from a maximum of about and insisted “what has not changed is the Reports last month citing the US which was sheltered by the 1996-2001 tling the Taliban-led insurgency has 100,000. inevitability of our success”. Defence Department suggested that Taliban regime, from regaining a foothold already fallen to 100,000 from about AFP

‘Business shifting Switzerland won’t reopen graft probe against Zardari from Karachi’ ISLAMABAD: Swiss authori- “They (the Swiss) sent a let- president Pervez Musharraf The current prime minister, ties will not reopen a corruption ter saying he has immunity under passed an amnesty law that Raja Pervez Ashraf, wrote the KARACHI: As against small probe into the Pakistani presi- international law,” said Fawad threw out thousands of corrup- letter in November after being traders’ claim that some 30,000 dent, officials said yesterday, Chowdhry, a member of the ruling tion cases as part of the prepara- directed to do so by the court. businessmen have shifted to laying to rest a case that cost party’s legal team. “If they take tion for returning to civilian rule. Many citizens see the long- the Punjab due to poor law and one Pakistani prime minister it up after he leaves it could be The Supreme Court ruled the law running saga as a sideshow in a order in Karachi, industrial- his job and inflamed tensions time-barred.” illegal two years later. country that suffers from daily ists’ representatives said that between Pakistan’s executive Swiss authorities were not The Supreme Court also ruled power cuts, inflation and attacks some major units have relocated and judiciary. immediately available for the previous prime minister, from the Taliban insurgency. to other countries, instead of Switzerland began investigat- comment. Yousuf Raza Gilani, was in con- But others say many of the shifting to the Punjab. ing allegations in the late 1990s The case has fuelled tensions in tempt of court in June for refus- country’s ills stem from fail- They said that businessmen and that Zardari and his late wife, a long-running standoff between ing to write a letter to the Swiss ing to pursue corruption cases industrialists were going mainly former prime minister Benazir a government that many citizens authorities demanding that the that might hold the powerful to to Bangladesh and Sri Lanka or Bhutto, had taken $12m in kick- see as corrupt and lethargic and case to be reopened. The court account. were exploring options to set up backs from Swiss cargo inspection a judiciary that is often accused also declared him unfit to be Zardari has said corruption their businesses in Vietnam or President Asif Ali Zardari companies and stashed the money of overreach. prime minister and disqualified cases against him are politically other African countries. in Swiss accounts. In 2007, former military him from the post. motivated. REUTERS INTERNEWS Major bus service opens in Lahore LAHORE, PAKISTAN: Authorities in Pakistan yesterday launched a “Metro Bus” system in the second largest city, Lahore, opening the restive country’s first major urban public transport scheme. The Rs30bn ($300m) project, completed in collaboration with Turkish company Al-Buraq, will ferry up to 12,000 passen- gers an hour along a dedicated 29-kilometre roadway from the suburbs to the city centre, officials said. Thousands of well-wishers lined the way as Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Turkish deputy prime minister Bekir Bozdag launched the service by riding the 27-station route, which was decorated with Turkish and Pakistani flags. A general election is due in the coming months and the opposition Pakistan Muslim League-N, led by Sharif’s brother Nawaz, will hope the new scheme gives them a boost going into polls, as well as easing traffic on Lahore’s busy roads. Commuters in Pakistan’s other major cities without their own cars rely on an ad-hoc network of privately-run buses, minibuses, taxis and motorised rickshaws to get around. A policeman stands guard as a new bus drives to the launch ceremony of the Metro Bus system The design of the new bus stations is in Lahore, yesterday. BELOW: Former Pakistani premier Nawaz Sharif (left) and his brother and similar to the Metrobus service run by Punjab province Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif at the ceremony. Al-Buraq in Istanbul, with the addition of a nine-kilometre elevated roadway through Iftikhar Ahmed, 45, a government the centre of Lahore to avoid the city’s con- employee, said the new system — which will gested streets. be free for the first month — would make Building work was completed in under commuting much easier. a year and Sharif hailed the Turkish “Earlier we had to change two to three cooperation. buses to reach our office, now we will be at “Turkey gave us lot of concessions in our destination on time,” he told AFP. materialising this project. Had we contacted The Lahore scheme is not the first trans- any other country they would have charged port operation to be run in Pakistan by a millions of dollars,” he said in his inaugural foreign company. South Korea’s Daewoo has speech. “This is a clean and dedicated trans- a network of bus routes including a popu- port system which will be equally used by lar express service between Lahore and the rich and the poor.” Islamabad noted for its reliability. Ahad Khan Cheema of Lahore Student Mohammad Arsalan, 23, said Development Authority (LDA) told AFP he was pleased the Turkish company was that 25,000 workers toiled round the clock involved. “It is good that the project will be to complete the scheme in under a year and run by a foreign company and we can expect said the system had the capacity to carry a proper mechanism to avoid any delays,” up to 12,000 people an hour. he said. AFP MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA 10 killed in Allahabad stampede Railing of station bridge collapses

ALLAHABAD: At least 10 Pradesh government requested the people were killed and over a railways to shift some trains from dozen injured when the railing the busy Allahabad station to the of an overbridge at Allahabad Prayag station on the outskirts of railway station collapsed yes- the city, 200km from state capital terday due to the Kumbh Mela Lucknow, an official said. rush, state government officials “Our senior officials have and Railway Minister Pawan reached the spot and are plan- Kumar Bansal said. A probe has ning to send 50 special trains been ordered. besides the 112 trains that pass “As many as 10 people have through the section daily so that been killed ... around 12 or 13 per- the large number of passengers sons who were injured have been can reach their destinations moved to hospital. We have set safely,” Bansal said. up a helpline at Delhi railway sta- Prime Minister Manmohan tion,” Bansal said in Delhi. Singh condoled the death of Though the minister did not pilgrims in the stampede and Passengers at one of the platforms of Allahabad railway station, yesterday. specify the cause of the accident, directed central ministries, he denied the claim of state gov- including the railways, to extend Akhilesh Yadav, condoling the loss and take passengers to New duty and police urged pilgrims confluence of the rivers Ganges, ernment officials and said the all possible help to the state gov- of life, ordered a probe. “A commit- Delhi, Indore, Kanpur, Varanasi, to take one short bath and then Yamuna and Saraswati. Devotees railing of the over bridge did not ernment in relief operations. tee, headed by the chairman of the Ahmedabad and other places, said leave the waters to make space for believe entering the water break. “As per my information, Some witnesses said people revenue board, has been formed by a railway official. the flow of humanity behind them cleanses them of sin and frees the railing did not break ... we are were cane-charged by police just the chief minister to look into the He said most people at the which stretched for kilometres. them from the cycle of rebirth. trying to verify this,” Bansal said. before the incident as the crowd reasons leading to the tragedy,” an Allahabad railway station were The Kumbh Mela, which began Despite the hardships of wak- Uttar Pradesh home depart- was becoming unruly and plying official said. headed to Fatehpur, Etawah, last month and ends in March, ing early, plunging into the pol- ment sources said the death toll of trains had come to a halt. As The state government also asked Tundla, Shikohabad, Firozabad, takes place every 12 years in luted water and the relentless could mount to 12. A cane charge- soon as the bridge’s railing broke, the railway ministry to ply more Aligarh, Khurja and Manikpur the northern city of Allahabad. crush of the crowds, pilgrims prompted stampede preceded the there was a stampede, another special trains so that the crowd stations and hence the crowd Smaller, similar events are held described feeling spiritually tragedy at 7.15pm on platform witness said. in Allahabad could ease. While became unmanageable and every three years in other loca- uplifted and amazed by the scale numbers 5 and 6 of the railway Abhijeet Das, a passenger on north central railways (NCR) ran swelled to unexpected numbers. tions around India. This year’s of the event. station in the city which hosted platform number 6, accused the 17 special trains for the ‘Mauni The tragedy came at the end Mela is big even by previous More than 7,000 policemen over three crore devotees at the police of cane-charge and said Amavasya’, arrangements turned of a day which organisers had standards, with astrologers saying were deployed to oversee bath- Kumbh Mela during the biggest that it led to the stampede. “Many out to be insufficient. earlier declared a success after a a planetary alignment seen once ing yesterday along with 30,000 bathing day ‘Mauni Amavasya’, people have died and their bod- “We made elaborate arrange- record number had taken a bath every 147 years made it particu- volunteers to guard against stam- district officials said. ies were still lying there. Medical ments but there has been an unfor- in the holy waters of the Ganges, larly auspicious for some pilgrims. pedes. Most devotees dunk their The tragedy occurred on the help did not arrive for over two tunate incident. Our first priority which is said to cleanse pilgrims “This is a rare combination of heads under the water, some drink foot overbridge between platforms hours,” he said. is to attend to the injured,” said of their sins. “By afternoon over planets which would bring in good it and others bottle it and take 5 and 6 when the railing collapsed Police cordoned off the area Sandeep Mathur, chief public rela- 20 million people had taken the times for some zodiac signs and it home as gifts. Management of due to overcrowding. Several peo- and closed entry into the station. tions officer of NCR. holy dip and by evening the num- adverse effects for others,” said the festival requires a monumen- ple fell on the tracks and down Trains coming to Sangam city The trains were meant to aug- bers crossed 30 million,” top local Amarpal Sharma, a local astrol- tal effort — and a budget of Rs16 the stairs, the officials said. were halted at Prayag railway sta- ment the crowds returning after official Devesh Chaturvedi said. oger. The bathing takes place trillion ($290m). After the deaths, the Uttar tion. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister a holy dip at the Kumbh Mela Thousands of volunteers on at an area called Sangam, the IANS/AFP

Folk dancers Day after Afzal’s execution, Congress rules Delhi is still on alert out early

NEW DELHI: A day after to the Special Cell offices in New general polls Afzal Guru was hanged, Delhi Friends Colony,” Geelani said. continued to be on alert yester- Delhi Police claimed they did HYDERABAD: The Congress day while Delhi University lec- not detain Geelani. However, yesterday ruled out early gen- turer S A R Geelani, who was police sources admitted that some eral elections saying the United allegedly detained, said he had people were being “monitored” as Progressive Alliance (UPA) been advised to stay home. a preventive measure. government would complete its “Delhi continues to be on alert Geelani said that he had been five-year term. Information and and Quick Reaction Teams have let off at 10pm on Saturday and Broadcasting Minister Manish been asked to be prepared for any has been “advised” not to go out Tewari said that elections would untoward incident or protests,” of his house. “Even today, I have be held in 2014 and that the said a senior Delhi Police officer. been advised to stay home. It’s like Congress-led UPA government He said the alert will continue for home arrest,” Geelani said. would complete its term. next two-three days depending Police also detained Hurriyat Tewari, who is also the spokes- upon the situation. leaders Syed Ali Shah Geelani, person of the party, was replying Geelani, who teaches at Zakir Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and jour- to a query about BJP leader M. Hussain College, Delhi University, nalist Iftikhar Gilani in Delhi. Venkaiah Naidu’s claim that the was allegedly picked up by Delhi Iftikar Gilani was released on ruling coalition was hinting at Police’s Special Cell Saturday. Saturday afternoon, after media early elections. He said the inter- Some other leaders from Kashmir persons arrived at the scene and nal security situation today was were also detained. protested his detention. better than what the UPA inher- Geelani was arrested on Afzal Guru, convicted in the ited from the BJP-led National December 2001 for his alleged 2001 parliament attack, was Democratic Alliance (NDA). He involvement in the parliament hanged in Tihar Jail on Saturday. claimed that the UPA strength- attack of December 13, 2001. He He was buried inside the jail, even ened communal harmony. was acquitted by the Supreme as his family sought permission Tewari said the government did Court in 2003. “They (police) did from the jail authorities to per- not hesitate to take tough decisions not want me to speak to the media, form his last rites in accordance on national security. “During the Folk dancers from Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, apply lipstick before performing a folk dance during the so they detained me. They took me with religious traditions. IANS last three months, some tough annual function of Garhwali Yuva Bhrati Mandal in Amritsar, yesterday decisions were taken and the main aim was to enforce rule of law and give a clear message that if anybody tries to challenge India’s unity and integrity, he would be dealt with Protests and sand, but no steel: Posco’s fading India dream firmly,” he said. On a separate Telangana state in Andhra Pradesh, he said the GOBINDPUR, INDIA: A few weather- farmers off their land. Prime Minister and commitment” to the project in a state- The company has already scaled down government was trying to find a beaten shipping containers, a swathe of Manmohan Singh has repeatedly vowed ment on Friday. But analysts say the com- the project because of the protests. The solution and appealed to people to sand and a bitterly divided village: That to change the snail-like progress of India’s pany may think again if a pending Supreme project has split coastal communities be patient. “There is a need to be is all South Korea’s Posco has to show biggest industrial developments and end Court decision on preferential access to a in Odisha. One group of 52 families, for patient. There is a need to engage. seven years after it announced plans for delays to road building and power stations, local iron ore mine goes against it. instance, says they were driven from their We understand sensitivities of all a $12bn steel mill on a fertile strip of the blamed for dragging economic growth and “They didn’t come here because of their village by protesters after they criticised sides. Emotions are raw. These are country’s east coast. fuelling inflation. love of India,” said Rakesh Arora, a metals the movement’s Communist leaders. decisions of great political impor- Last week, the project took a step for- But the issues refuse to go away. “Police expert and head of research at Macquarie The state of Odisha owns the sandy land tance and they require sensitive ward as land was taken over from farmers out! Death to Posco!” a hundred or so villag- Capital Securities (India). “Without the for the steel plant by the Bay of Bengal, handling,” he said after a section of for the first time since 2011, and yet Posco ers and Communist Party activists shouted iron ore it would be cheaper to set up in but farmers have cultivated betel there for Congress leaders from Telangana is still a long way from its goal of forging at a group of policemen who set up camp China, where the capital costs are lower.” years. Posco is paying $21,500 per acre for region met him and called for an steel there. Despite the years of protests in the village of Gobindpur last week, the A court in the state of Odisha has already the land and a small monthly allowance to early decision on the issue. and battles over environmental clearances, first police presence there since protesters ruled against Posco on guaranteed supplies farmers until the plant opens, when they They also apprised the central Posco insists it is not about to throw in the rose up against the project in 2006. from the Kandahar iron ore reserve. Last are promised jobs. leader of the suicides by the youths towel. However, if a court ruling on access A few kilometres away, Posco has built month, the Supreme Court asked the cen- Odisha straddles India’s mining belt in Telangana over the delay in to local iron ore goes against it, that could a site office in nine shipping containers. tral government for its opinion and it is and holds a third of the country’s iron statehood to the region. “I appeal to push it over the edge. Along with a generator, a flimsy barbed- expected to rule on the case this year. ore reserves, a quarter of its coal, half its all, especially to my young friends, The fiasco over what was billed as India’s wire fence and a couple of signs, this is all Two senior sources at the Posco project bauxite and more than 90 percent of its that everybody needs to be patient single largest planned foreign investment the work that has been done on the 2,000 said the company would for now wait out nickel and chromite. The state accounted and needs to understand that the epitomises the slow pace of industrialisa- acres (809 hectares) set aside. They need the problems and it did not want to upset for about a fifth of all industrial investment government is trying to work its tion in a densely populated country where another 700 acres before work can begin. India, which it sees as an important long- proposals in India in the last four years. way through various arguments,” almost every major project involves moving Posco India reiterated its “strong resolve term market. REUTERS he said. IANS

MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Make your own chocolate face

Fajr (Dawn) 4:54 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:12 Zuhr (Noon) 11:48 Asr (Afternoon) 3:01 Maghrib (Sunset) 5:26 Isha (Night) 6:56

WEATHER

Today Tuesday Wednesday Weather Conditions: Mostly sunny Clear Clear Misty to foggy at places at first with High: 27° High: 28° High: 25° some clouds and Low: 18° Low: 18° Low: 16° hazy later.

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA

SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:12 | 17:26 05:45 / 17:45 12:30 / 23:30 05-12/18 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW A girl holds a piece of chocolate made in the shape of her face at a workshop in Tokyo recently. A chocolate making workshop by KS Design Lab HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER offers classes for making personalised gifts, by turning one’s face into a chocolate treat for their significant other. Participants in the workshop first scan their faces and edit the data using a computer software. The data is then sent to a 3D printer to produce silicon moulds which chocolate is MUSCAT 26/19 Clear 26/19 Mostly sunny eventually poured into. The free workshop attracted about 20 participants. MAKKAH 30/21 Mostly sunny 30/22 Mostly sunny KUWAIT 23/16 Clear 25/14 Mostly sunny BAHRAIN 28/15 Mostly sunny 27/14 Clear SANAA 24/07 Mostly sunny 26/08 Mostly sunny RIYADH 29/14 Mostly sunny 30/11 Mostly sunny In Istanbul, tourists seek their dream moustache DUBAI 26/17 Clear 29/19 Mostly sunny BAGHDAD 21/13 Mostly sunny 18/09 Clear ISTANBUL: Already known practice that once specialised or of Kurds,” said anthropologist for hair. In Istanbul alone, around the world over for its baths, cof- in hair transplants but has been Benoit Fliche from the French 250 clinics or private practices are THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW fee and sweet Turkish delights, adapted to cater to the increas- Institute of Anatolian Studies in locked in fierce competition to sell Turkey is on the road to add- ing demand for moustaches. “I’ve Istanbul. “When neater, like that their services, with promotions HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER ing another item to its roster of been doing moustache implants for of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip galore. The most competitive offer specialities: The moustache. around three years now,” he said. Erdogan, it becomes religious package deals start at $2,700. ATHENS 14/10 Clear 16/14 Mostly sunny Lip whiskers remain a highly Moustaches have long been con- and conservative.” “And when it Hair tourism is thus in full WASHINGTON 15/04 Rain 10/01 Mostly sunny sought-after mark of manliness in sidered a serious matter in Turkey, shoots down on both sides of the swing, fuelled by a constant SYDNEY 22/18 Rain 22/17 Chance of rain Turkey and the Middle East to the with a popular saying stating that mouth like fangs, it’s a mark of uptick in the number of foreign- LONDON 03/00 Snow 02/-3 Mostly sunny point that the naturally less hairy “a man without a moustache is like the extreme right,” he added. ers visiting Turkey. “Every week, PARIS 06/01 Chance of rain 02/-2 Partly sunny are increasingly seeking out mous- a house without a balcony”. The A moustache and beard remain we welcome 50 to 60 patients for ISTANBUL 08/04 Rain 09/05 Mostly sunny tache transplants at the hands of shape of the specimen even holds a must for men from Arab coun- a hair transplant and five to six MANILA 32/23 Clear 31/23 Thunderstorms Turkish cosmetic surgeons. political meaning. tries or the Turkic republics of for a moustache transplant,” DHAKA 29/15 Clear 30/19 Mostly sunny Among them is Selahattin “The bushy style, like Stalin’s, Central Asia, who journey over Istanbul Hair Centre surgeon DELHI 23/10 Mostly sunny 22/11 Mostly sunny Tulunay, head of a thriving private is more the prerogative of the left to Istanbul to satisfy their need Meral Tala said. AFP ISLAMABAD 21/06 Mostly sunny 22/06 Mostly sunny Celebrations as Asia greets Year of Snake

BEIJING: A billion-plus Asians evil spirits — a scene repeated — featuring a gamut of iconic of wisdom, wealth and longevity, ushered in the Year of the Snake across China. stars including Celine Dion who but it is considered less auspi- yesterday with a cacophony of But the capital’s streets were sang in Mandarin. cious than other animals in the fireworks, after a Chinese tel- eerily quiet, with nine million out Dion performed the classic 12-year Chinese Zodiac such as evised gala featuring megastars of 20 million residents returning Chinese folk song Jasmine Flower the Dragon. including Celine Dion kicked off to their ancestral homes for the in a duet with local idol Song Children in the North Korean a week of festivities. festival, according to the state- Zuying, before launching into her capital Pyongyang celebrated the From Australia to South Korea, run China Daily. global hit My Heart Will Go On new year with kite-flying and millions of people travelled huge More than 260,000 boxes of from the Hollywood blockbuster other competitions, the official distances to reunite with their fireworks were sold in the city in Titanic. news agency reported. families for Lunar New Year — the days leading up to the New Celebrations were also reported Displayed on most kites were the most important holiday of the Year, a 37 percent drop compared aboard Chinese patrol ships in messages such as “Our satellite” year for many in Asia — indulging to last year’s sales, after the smog waters surrounding East China and “Satellite launch”, it said— in feasts and celebrations. left citizens “worried”, the Beijing Sea islands known as Senkaku in a reference to the country’s As the clock struck midnight, News reported. State broadcaster Japan and Diaoyu in China, which December rocket launch which Beijing’s skyline lit up with col- CCTV aired its annual gala vari- are at the centre of a bitter ter- put a satellite into orbit. our as residents braved freezing ety show during the countdown ritorial row with Japan. In Taiwan, shrines were temperatures to set off fireworks, to the New Year — which rakes In China the snake has tra- thronged with the faithful seek- traditionally believed to ward off in hundreds of millions of viewers ditionally been seen as a symbol ing blessings, with President Ma Ying-jeou seen handing out tradi- tional “red envelopes” with money (a token Tw$1) to well-wishers in Taipei. People also rushed to lotto booths to buy special Lunar New Year lottery tickets with a jackpot of Tw$200m ($6.89m). Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong used the occasion to FROM LEFT: Chilean actors Sergio Hernandez and Paulina Garcia with Gloria exhort his compatriots to extend a Director Sebastian Lelio at a photocall for the Chilean movie during baby boom in the just-passed Year the 63rd annual Berlin International Film Festival, yesterday. of the Dragon, which saw a 7.4 rise in the birth-rate amid rising com- plaints over the number of foreign Gloria brings cheers to Berlin workers. “We gladly welcomed more babies during the Dragon BERLIN: There were cheers intrude, in what critics saw as a Year and hope that this continues for Chilean drama Gloria at the metaphor for Chile as it emerges into the Year of the Snake,” he said. Berlin film festival yesterday, from the dictatorship under In the semi-autonomous south- partly out of relief as the annual Augusto Pinochet. Director ern Chinese city of Hong Kong, cinema showcase finally got its Sebastian Lelio’s inspiration was thousands of people are expected first hit after a series of critical his mother and her generation, to watch the annual night parade, misses. which is rarely tackled in an at which illuminated floats will The touching story of a mid- industry obsessed with youth. be showcased in a giant out- dle aged woman’s quest for love “I would say that we are all door party with the city’s iconic and adventure in modern-day facing what Gloria is facing, but Victoria Harbour as the backdrop. Santiago drew comparisons to it just happens to some peo- In Sydney, fireworks overnight Woody Allen for the intimacy of ple sooner than others,” he told welcomed the Lunar New Year the relationships and to Meryl reporters in Berlin, where Gloria though the city’s major event, the Streep for the arresting perform- is one of 19 movies in the main annual Twilight Parade featuring ance of actress Paulina Garcia. competition lineup and the most some 3,500 performers, will not be Garcia plays Gloria, a bespec- popular so far. “We all face cross- held until next weekend. tacled 58-year-old divorcee roads in our lives where we can Prime Minister Julia Gillard whose children have left home retreat into ourselves or we can wished the country’s 900,000 and who goes out to singles hit the dancefloor.” people of Chinese ancestry a night discos, where she dances He likened Gloria to the movie “healthy and prosperous Year of and flirts and refuses to retreat character Rocky Balboa. “The the Snake” on Twitter. quietly into the old age. world strikes at her and beats her The New Year typically marks There she meets Rodolfo, a down, but she manages to get up the largest annual movement of charming but complex former once more and carry on forward, people as millions of people across naval officer in his 60s, who sweeps holding her head up high.” Lelio China and other Asian countries her off her feet in a whirlwind is unflinching in his portrayal of Performers hold a dragon during a parade as they celebrate Chinese New Year in Paris, yesterday. RIGHT: A squeeze into packed trains and romance that Gloria believes may the romance between Gloria and performer entertains local crowds at the Dongyue Temple fair marking the first day of the Lunar New Year or buses to journey home to spend turn into something permanent. Rodolfo, which includes passion- Spring Festival in Beijing. the season with their families. As they try to forge a lasting ate sex scenes normally reserved AFP bond, their past lives constantly for younger actors. AFP Monday 11 February 2013 1 Rabial II 1434 Volume 17 Number 5607 Price: QR2

Minister opens Gazprom office in Doha

Business | 18

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Al Jazeera Finance inks $95m syndicated facility QInvest acting as sole bookrunner and structuring adviser

DOHA: Al Jazeera Finance (AJF) Qatar. The activities of AJF are to pur- reaching out to a wider group of bank- has signed a $95m (QR345.8m) 3-year sue consumer financing opportunities in ing relationships. dual currency Murabaha facility with Qatar, including providing car financing, “We are pleased to be working with a syndicate of banks from the GCC, its mortgages, retail and corporate financ- such strong and committed banking first syndicated financing transaction. ing, designed to improve the access to partners. The signing of this transac- QInvest acted as sole bookrunner finance for retail customers, and to sup- tion is a testimony to the confidence of and structuring adviser to AJF. Qatar port the business growth of corporate the GCC financial markets in Qatar and Islamic Bank took the Mandate Lead clients, in particular small-to-medium- AJF”, he added. Arranger (MLA) role and is also act- enterprises (SMEs), be it for business Tamim Hamad Al Kawari, Chief ing as the Investment Agent. Ahli expansion purposes, the acquisition of a Executive Officer of QInvest, com- United Bank, First Gulf Bank UAE car, a house, consumer durables or addi- mented: “The success of this deal is a and QInvest were the Lead Arrangers. tional funds for personal spending. testament to the efforts of all teams Backed by major shareholders Speaking on the occasion of the sign- involved. QInvest has advised and is cur- including Qatar National Bank, Qatar ing ceremony, Amer Al Jabri, Chief rently advising AJF and its shareholders Insurance Company and its two founding Executive Officer of AJF commented: on a number of initiatives and we are shareholders Qatar Islamic Bank and “We are pleased to announce this pleased with the partnerships that have Ministry of Endowment and Islamic transaction as the agreement today is been formed to successfully complete Affairs, AJF is today the oldest and an important stepping stone towards this milestone transaction”. Amer Al Jabri, Chief Executive Officer of AJF, and Tamim Hamad Al Kawari, Chief Executive largest consumer finance company in diversifying our funding sources, and THE PENINSULA Officer of QInvest signing the agreement. QNB Group ranked among world’s top 500 banking brands

DOHA: QNB Group, the lead- survey carried out by ‘Brand prominent role and outstanding process of banking brands on classification differs from ratings Bank was listed among the world’s ing financial institution in Finance’ and published by The performance in the Mena region. Brand Finance’s ranking depends issued by credit rating agencies safest 50 banks. The Bank has also Qatar and the Middle East and Banker magazine, an affiliate to The ranking revealed that out on strict standards, taking into as Brand Finance classification won the ‘Best Bank in the Middle North Africa (Mena) region, the widely circulated Financial of five Mena banking brands on account the bank’s size, geograph- represents the health and future East’ Award by ‘The Banker’ as well has achieved an increase in the Times newspaper. the list only QNB Group’s brand ical presence, global and regional growth potentials of the brand as the ‘Bank of the Year – Qatar’ value of its brand to $1.31bn and QNB brand was among the had achieved gains in its value. reputation, and its brand’s based on the brand’s value and award in 2012 by Euromoney maga- was ranked 120 on the list of the world’s top 500 banking brands QNB’s brand value rose to $1.31bn classification. other indicators. zine, the ninth time QNB Group world’s top 500 banking brands for the second consecutive year, a in 2013, up from $1.26bn in 2012. QNB Group’s brand is clas- In recognition of QNB Group’s received this prestigious award. in 2013, according to an annual further accolade to QNB Group’s The value assessment sified as an AA brand. This distinguished performance, the THE PENINSULA MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Credit Suisse’s Qatar investment head quits Swiss lender plans to beef up Doha operations: Report

DUBAI: Credit Suisse’s top The Swiss bank’s Qatar opera- Middle East, left the bank late investment banker for Qatar tions are headed by Aladdin in 2012. has resigned, three banking Hangari, who also runs an asset Kazmi, who worked at the bank sources said, in a move that management venture with the since 2001, was named M&A head comes as the Swiss bank tries Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund. for the region in 2011. to bolster operations in the Gulf Like its peers, Credit Suisse is Michael Katounas, another state, home to its second-largest cutting back on riskier assets and Dubai-based investment bank- shareholder. reducing costs to meet tougher ing director, who joined Credit Rami Touma, a director at the regulations aimed at preventing a Suisse in 2005, has resigned and bank, has been running Credit repeat of the 2008 financial crisis. will leave the bank shortly. Suisse’s Qatar investment bank- The Zurich-based bank The departures follow that of ing business since 2007. Touma planned to trim its investment senior banker Bassam Yammine’s handled relationships with key banking team in Dubai and move resignation last October. clients, primarily the Qatar some of its staff to Qatar, as part Yammine was co-head of Middle Investment Authority (QIA), the of efforts to cut costs and focus East investment banking and Gulf state’s sovereign wealth fund, on niche markets, sources said in co-chief executive for the bank’s one of the banking sources said. September last year. operations in the region. Credit Suisse was not immedi- “I am not sure how well that Last week, the bank said it ately available to comment. The plan is working, at least on the would cut costs by 4.4bn francs by sources, who are familiar with investment banking side. They the end of 2015, up from a previ- the matter, spoke on condition of haven’t been able to move any ous 4bn target, by folding its asset anonymity due to sensitivity of of the senior bankers to Doha so management unit into its private the matter. far,” a second banking source said bank and by moving some jobs QIA owns a 6.2-percent stake in late last week. offshore. Credit Suisse cut 2,300 Credit Suisse through its invest- Other senior bankers have left jobs in 2012. The Minister for Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada cutting the ribbon to open the Gazprom ment arm Qatar Holding, making the bank’s Dubai office in recent Weak results at its invest- Representative Office with Victor Zubkov (second right), Chairman, Board of Director of Gazprom in Doha, yesterday. it the second-largest shareholder months, the three sources said. ment bank led to the bank miss- after Saudi Arabia’s Olayan Mumtaz Kazmi, a director and ing fourth-quarter estimates, it Group, which has a 6.6 percent head of the bank’s mergers and reported last week. stake, according to Reuters data. acquisitions business for the REUTERS Qatar ready for joint ventures Aviation trade show with potential partners: Minister DOHA: The Minister of Energy Leonid Bokhanovsky, Secretary government agencies, and other and Industry and Chairman General of the GECF; Dmitry strategic energy partners and & Managing Director of Trofimov, Charge d’Affaires government agencies within the Qatar Petroleum (QP) H E Dr of the Russian Federation in Gulf region. Its activities are Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Qatar; and Pavel Oderov, Head focused on collaborating with has said Qatar is keen on joint of the International Business such strategic energy partners ventures in the hydrocarbon Department of Gazprom. to identify and evaluate mutually sector with any potential global Also present during the event beneficial business opportunities partners. were senior officials from QP and within the region. “Qatar is always looking for major companies in the Qatar’s The Office will help coordinate opportunities to cooperate, espe- energy sector as well as members the efforts of Gazprom’s subsidi- cially for investment through- of the media. ary companies to transact directly out the world,” Dr Al Sada told Victor said the opening of the with these strategic energy part- reporters after the formal open- Doha office is an important step ners, and it will also represent ing the Representative office of to push the existing relations Gazprom in the GECF, which is the Russian gas-export monopoly between Gazprom and Qatar headquartered in Doha. Gazprom, here yesterday. Petroleum. It is a positive step The official opening of the The inauguration ceremony for the development of new rela- Gazprom Representative Office was attended by Victor Zubkov, tions between Qatari companies in Qatar marks a crucial step Chairman of the Board of such as Qatargas and RasGas, in towards building long-term rela- Directors of Gazprom and Special addition to other companies in tionships with the company’s Representative of the President the region. strategic energy partners, focused of Russia for cooperation with The Gazprom Representative on developing synergies, improv- Visitors look at scaled down models of Indian armed forces helicopters at a stall on the fifth and final day of Gas Exporting Countries Forum Office is responsible for growing ing communication and boosting Aero India 2013 at Yelahanka Air Force station in Bangalore, yesterday. India, the world’s leading importer of (GECF); Pavel Fedorov, Deputy the company’s relationships with regional cooperation in the energy weaponry, opened one of Asia’s biggest aviation trade shows on Wednesday with Western suppliers eyeing Minister of Energy of Russia; QP, Qatargas, RasGas, Qatari sector. THE PENINSULA lucrative deals and a Chinese delegation attending for the first time. RasGas first firm in Mideast permitted to train solicitors Social and Services sector

DOHA: The Solicitors this, RasGas is contributing to the the training criteria set by the regular feedback and appraisals Regulatory Authority (SRA) development of legal training and SRA. All trainee solicitors work- throughout their training and contribution to GDP up has authorised RasGas practice in Qatar to international ing with RasGas must satisfy be allowed paid study-leave to Company Limited (RasGas) as standards in global commerce,” the following key training cri- attend SRA prescribed courses. DOHA: The contribution of Social and Personal Services sector to a training establishment for said Dr Marwan Musleh, RasGas teria: Gain practical experi- Under the terms of the author- Qatar’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) grew by 7.5 percent (nominal trainee solicitors in the laws of General Counsel and Board ence in at least three distinct isation, RasGas will be monitored values) at QR7bn in 2011 compared with the previous year, according England and Wales. This makes Secretary. areas of English law; be given by the SRA to ensure that the to latest figures released by Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA). RasGas the first company in the The SRA determines the opportunities to develop the training RasGas provides is of the The gross value added (GVA) generated reached QR4.4bn. The net Middle East to be permitted to standards that must be met by skills they will need in practice appropriate quality and standard. value added (after eliminating depreciation) amounted to QR3.8bn. train trainee solicitors in the trainees and the organisations to meet the appropriate skills In addition, RasGas is permitted Gross value added (GVA) per employee was QR93. 700. The percent- laws of England and Wales. that train them. Organisations standards; maintain a training to admit two trainee solicitors age of intermediate goods to gross output was 14.4 percent, while the “RasGas is delighted to be able intending to provide training record whereby they link the each year under the overall super- percentage of intermediate services to gross output was 22.9 percent. to build upon its existing train- must agree to meet the manda- experience gained to the skills vision of Flynn Jennings, RasGas’ QSA regularly conduct comprehensive annual economic surveys to ing scheme for graduates in tory standards before they are they have developed; be closely Head of Legal (Operations, collect aggregate and detailed data on the different types of economic Qatari law by offering training authorised by the SRA as train- supervised by qualified solicitors Compliance and Commercial), activities practiced in the country. The surveys are prepared following to the standards and in the laws ing establishments. or others in appropriate expe- who will act as training principal. international recommendations, concepts, and definitions. of England and Wales. Through RasGas was able to satisfy rience in English law; receive THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Renault to recall over Emaar surges to four-year high; Gulf markets upbeat 60,000 cars in China

DUBAI: Dubai’s Emaar overweight rating. “We continue investors abroad, bringing in new from the United Arab Emirates has cooled and shares have ral- BEIJING: French carmaker Properties surged to a four- to be surprised by the strength cash to our market.” in particular. “This will be the lied, helped by equity buying by Renault has started to recall year high yesterday as upbeat in the Dubai property market, on Dubai’s index climbed 2.2 per- main theme in the coming days,” state-linked institutions. more than 60,000 cars exported research reports from interna- the residential, hotel, and retail cent to its highest finish since said Henin. “We’re starting to see DUBAI to China over problems with tional banks bolstered demand side,” HSBC wrote. “Supply addi- November 30, 2009 and up 17.1 sector rotation towards banks — * The index climbed 2.2 percent their fuel level sensors, China’s from local and foreign inves- tions are still a concern but not as percent this year. results were pretty good and their to 1,900 points. consumer quality watchdog tors, while oil price gains helped much as in the past.” The benchmark now has a rela- dividend yields are extremely ABU DHABI said.Renault’s Chinese sub- lift most Middle East markets. Traders say these reports have tive strength index reading of 75.2 attractive in the current world * The index fell 0.5 percent to sidiary began recalling 61,508 Emaar, the Dubai Financial buoyed sentiment for Emaar, with — a value above 70 typically indi- of low interest rates.” 2,894 points. Koleos sport utility vehicles pro- Market’s largest listed com- property prices also bottoming cates it is overbought — and it fol- In Kuwait, late buying helped KUWAIT duced between December 2008 pany, climbed 5.7 percent to out and even increasing in some lowed a similar pattern last year the main price index rise 0.07 * The index edged up 0.07 per- and July 2012. IANS 5.01 dirhams, its highest finish districts after declines of about when an early-year surge petered percent, nearing Tuesday’s nine- cent to 6,293 points. since November 2008. Since that 60 percent from their 2008 peaks. out from early March. month peak. SAUDI ARABIA peak, Dubai property prices have Investors also seem to have Yet 2013’s rally appears more “Speculation is the driving * The index rose 0.2 percent to SIIL General Assembly slumped, ravaging the sector and shrugged off Emaar’s 28 percent convincing, said Sebastien Henin, force behind the appreciation in 7,012 points. leading to a slew of cancelled or drop in fourth-quarter profit. portfolio manager at The National stock prices,” said Naser al-Nafisi, QATAR on March 27 postponed projects. “The market saw a lot of insti- Investor in Abu Dhabi. general manager for Al Joman * The index rose 0.1 percent to DOHA: The Board of Directors Emaar has sought to offset this tutional interest in Emaar today, “It’s very different from last Center for Economic Consultancy 8,770 points. (BOD) of Salam International slump by diversifying into retail which is mainly due to its poten- year, which was extremely spec- in Kuwait. OMAN Investment Limited (SIIL) has and hospitality and its shares are tial upside in revenue in 2013 and ulative with movement in penny The market slumped to an The index advanced 0.2 percent decided to hold the General up 34 percent in 2013. expectations for high dividend stocks and high-beta names — eight-year low in November as to 5,862 points. Assembly on March 27. SIIL’s In a February 4 report, Bank yields,” said Marwan Shurrab, this time it’s mainly driven by Kuwaitis took to the streets to BAHRAIN ordinary meeting decided to hold of America Merrill Lynch gave vice-president at Gulfmena bluechip stocks,” he said. Oil demonstrate against changes to * The index slipped 0.2 percent its next sitting on March 3 to dis- Emaar a buy rating and a target Investments. “We’ve been seeing price gains — Brent crude hit electoral rules that opponents to 1,086 points. cuss and approve the final finan- price of 5.3 dirhams, while HSBC’s a lot of (analyst) upgrades from a nine-month high on Friday - said would benefit the govern- EGYPT cial statements for the full year February 7 report set the devel- major houses and that’s helping have underpinned foreign inter- ment and sideline critics. Since * The index climbed 0.2 percent 2012, and to announce financial oper a target price of Dh6 and an raise interest from institutional est in regional equities and stocks then, the political temperature to 5,713 points. REUTERS results. THE PENINSULA

MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Misys offers banks new processing Tight regulations hit growth: Expert solutions

DOHA: Misys, a leading finan- Delayed projects and increased price competition also cause slower growth of Qatari banks cial services software solu- tions provider, has announced BY SATISH KANADY plans to start offering banks in the Middle East region DOHA: Increased price Global Processing as part of competition, tighter its renowned trade finance regulations and delayed processing solution, TI Plus, a infrastructure projects press statement said yesterday. have all contributed to The Global Processing func- the slower growth that tionality within TI Plus enables Qatar’s listed banks banks to gain a competitive edge have experienced in over other trade finance special- 2012. Nevertheless, the ists through improved customer combined effect of a service levels, reduced costs and mediocre increase in net more efficient operational struc- interest income from tures across their regional or glo- financing activities and bal trade finance business. investment income did Banks today are under increas- still result in all but one ing pressure to offer high cus- of the banks reporting a tomer service levels and deliver growth in net profit as standardised trade services compared the prior year, regardless of location. The Misys a top financial analyst Global Processing functional- has said. ity has already been licensed by Listed banks in Qatar five leading banks in the region have delivered a steady including ING, National Bank of set of results for the year 2012, despite Citing KPMG’s snapshot results for a sturdy performance by 2014-2015. The “When you compare these results with Abu Dhabi and Qatar National growth not being at the levels many had Qatar’s listed banks in 2012, shared exclu- year 2015 is expected to see a lot of positive the region or with the rest of the world it Bank (QNB), amongst others. predicted. Though the combined net sively to The Peninsula, Omar said the col- impacts with the government spending will is a very good results. But when you look The Solution works by cen- profitability has increased by 7.1 percent lective total asset base of all banks has really start kick-in”, he said. at it historically, it may not be as good. tralising disjointed local systems, from the previous year, it is lower than increased by 18 percent in 2012, up by The listed banks impairment charges However, 2013 will be important for the offering an integrated stand- the growth witnessed in previous years, QR111.4bn, though once again lower than have increased by 5 percent compared to banking sector“ ardised platform that allows and not at the levels expected by many the growth in the prior year The total last year, the increase mainly came from Lots of banks will be realigning their the retention of local customer analysts, Omar Mahmood, (pictured) assets were up by QR133bn. impairment on investments. Islamic bank strategies this year. Some of the banks services yet provides central Partner, KPMG Qatar, told The Peninsula The listed banks have also managed to share prices have on average declined by will be winding down their retail windows. management of trade business; yesterday. grow their deposits by 30 percent mainly 8.57 percent. The conventional banks The focus will be on corporate investment improving visibility and speeding Many of Qatar’s flagship projects, which through increased marketing and attrac- share prices have even declined by 18.74 banking, hopefully taking benefits of the up the roll out of new services. It were expected to take off in full blast during tive pricing to absorb excess liquidity in the percent. infrastructure projects. reduces pressure across regional 2011-2012, didn’t happen. In fact, the much market, and to further shore up their bal- The overall average market ROA (return Debt markets are also likely to be deep- teams and enables banks to offer pronounced $100bn hasn’t really trickled ance sheets in advance of future expected on assets) and ROE (return on equity)have ened further and lot of products are to be a superior service to customers down to the local economy in 2012. There infrastructure boom. both declined as compared to the corre- launched. Qatar Exchange will also see globally, such as round-the-clock were large expectations in the equity mar- “The snapshot shows the banks have sponding year mainly due to asset growth new entrants coming to the market in processing of their trade services ket, which were also less than expected, done broadly well, though not as well as and higher equity balance, which have both 2013. transactions. Omar noted. expected. But the banking sector expects outpaced the growth profitability. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA Barclays to close Emirates sees new 777 model in six to nine months DUBAI: Emirates expects a revamped version of Boeing’s tax advisory unit 777 airliner to be available to customers in six to nine months, the carrier’s president said, add- LONDON: British bank last week lawmakers had been ing technical issues affecting Barclays is to close a profitable told privately that SCM made Dreamliner jets will not affect but controversial tax advisory annual profits in the “high hun- progress. business, it said on Sunday, as dreds of millions” of pounds and “The engagement on 777X con- part of an attempt by its new sometimes 1 billion. But Barclays tinues. I believe it will be launched chief executive to clean up the chairman David Walker told him and we’ll see that in six to nine bank’s image. the scale of the business was months,” Tim Clark told reporters Antony Jenkins will say on “much smaller than suggested”. in Dubai yesterday. Tuesday the bank is closing the Jenkins is expected to say on Boeing appears to be at least a Structured Capital Markets Tuesday that many of the bank’s year away from offering a new ver- (SCM) business unit, the bank tax services are not controversial sion of the 777, Reuters reported said. He had already indicated it and it will continue those. in November, quoting people would go or be scaled back as he “However, there are some areas familiar with talks between the ends activities that could cause that relied on sophisticated and aircraft maker and its customers. reputational damage. complex structures, where trans- Emirates, Boeing’s biggest cus- “The old ways weren’t the right actions were carried out with the tomer, has said it will need to way to behave nor did they deliver primary objective of accessing replace its old 777s from 2017, the right results - for banks the tax benefits,” he is quoted as which is prompting the push for a themselves or for wider society saying. new version. The airline has been Emirates Airlines aircraft at the Emirates Terminal at Dubai International Airport, yesterday. ... banks that fail to change will Although these transactions pressing for the 777X to come out become failing banks,” Jenkins were legal, they are incompatible sooner rather than later. The 777 expressed confidence that the Clark also said he was not the fiscal year ending 2012-2013 says in the draft of a speech due with new tax principles which the is one of the most successful jets of company would address it. worried about a potential tie- to grow between 18 percent to 20 to be delivered on Tuesday laying bank will publish, he says. all time in terms of sales, and air- “The problem is extremely up between Abu Dhabi’s Etihad percent and expects profits to rise out his future strategy. Jenkins is also expected on lines are eager for a version that challenging for the planemaker Airways and India’s Jet Airways . over the previous year, he said, Extracts of the text were pro- Tuesday to unveil plans to boost can go farther on less fuel with and its customers but Boeing will Etihad is close to taking a stake in without giving details. vided by the bank on Sunday. profitability by cutting some more passengers. sort it out. It will get worse before India’s Jet, the Abu Dhabi airline “There will be an increase in SCM has long been controver- operations and slashing costs, Clark said problems arising getting better. They’ll overcome said last week after reporting a net earnings but that will not be sial, but has delivered hundreds of which could see 2,000 investment out of a series of battery-related it,” Clark said. tripling in profits for last year. without difficulties,” he said, add- million of pounds in profits. bank jobs axed. A large part of issues that led to grounding of The groundings have cost air- “I am more threatened by the ing that revenue would grow at an Nigel Lawson, the former his speech is expected to be about Boeing’s 50 Dreamliner aircraft lines tens of millions of dollars, fact that we have not got more annual rate of 18 to 20 percent as Conservative finance minister improving standards and culture in commercial service in the last with no solution in sight. Emirates seats. They are already full and we it has almost every year for the and member of a current par- after a series of scandals at the three to four weeks is likely to does not own any Dreamliners and need some more,” he said. airline. liamentary banking inquiry said bank. REUTERS worsen in the short-term but he it has no orders for it. Emirates expects revenue for REUTERS

HSBC launches payments service Saudi Arabia keen to invest in India on mobile banking for corporates

HYDERABAD: Saudi Arabia leaders on Friday, he highlighted Custodian of the Two Holy cities with investments of $50bn DOHA: HSBC has enhanced its mobile bank- is keen to promote commerce the investment opportunities in Mosques King Abdullah bin and employing 300,000 people. ing offering in its continued commitment to help and investment with India, his country. He said Indian com- Abdulaziz Al Saud’s visit to India He said other avenue of invest- businesses streamline their banking needs. The especially in Andhra Pradesh, panies evinced interest in the in 2006 and Prime Minister ment for Indian investors was eco- new offering will allow customers to initiate pay- Ambassador Saud Mohammed opportunities the kingdom offered. Manmohan Singh’s visit to the nomic cities under Saudi Arabian ments to existing beneficiaries across the world. Al Sati said, saying the oil-rich During the visit, the ambas- kingdom in 2010 laid the foun- General Investment Authority The facility adds to the extended suite of mobile kingdom was “investing heavily” sador met Andhra Pradesh Chief dation and vision for strong and (SAGIA). SAGIA was established solutions the Bank already offers its customers. abroad. Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, close relations. While inviting in 2000 as a vehicle for investment Commenting on the HSBCnet Mobile Banking After a two-day visit to Governor E S L Narasimhan, people to invest in Saudi Arabia, in Saudi Arabia for sustaining offer, Natasha Patel (pictured), Regional Head of Hyderabad, Al Sati said in an among others. he explained the initiatives taken economic growth. Global Payments and Cash Managements for HSBC interview: “Hyderabad is hub of “The purpose of the visit was to by the oil-rich country to boost The envoy also explored Middle East and North Africa, said: “As electronic innovation, information technol- reach out to business communi- development. Hyderabad, which has historic banking continues to revolutionise business, banking and payment ogy, biotechnology, engineering ties, friends of Saudi Arabia and “The kingdom is investing ties with the Arab nation. He systems are also rapidly changing. Corporations in the Middle East and pharmaceuticals. We can Saudi citizens and students in heavily. The size of investment is visited the 105-year-old Osmania increasingly have to adapt to this changing environment and as a result, explore the opportunities for Hyderabad, to strengthen bonds unprecedented in infrastructure, University, which edits and pub- need to have access to the most advanced electronic platforms available. partnerships.” between the two friendly coun- transport, health sector, renew- lishes rare Arabic manuscripts. “The launch of our HSBCnet mobile banking option in 2011 is a He added that opportunities tries and serving the interests of able energy, airports and sea He offered Friday prayers at strong example of this. $10bn payments have been authorised globally for partnership with Andhra Saudi citizens and students,” Al ports. I told this to friends of the Mecca Masjid, the 17th century since its launch and over $393m payments were authorised in 2012 in Pradesh in various sectors could Sati said. kingdom and to people from all mosque. “I learnt about the very the Middle East and North Africa region. We intend to continue adapt- be explored. “I learnt about oppor- “I discussed with the chief walks of life and invited them to rich history of India, diversity of ing these services which will result in the provision of an even wider tunities here in all sectors of minister and the governor ways come and see the programme for its culture and its people,” said Al range of banking services for customers on-the-go. Launching the abil- the economy. I would like to see to strengthen relations, especially themselves,” the envoy said. Sati, who has visited Lucknow and ity to initiate payments will allow customers to leverage the scale of the more Saudi companies investing in commerce, joint ventures and The Saudi Industrial Property Hyderabad in the past since tak- bank by conducting transactions in countries across the world from the in India, especially in Andhra investments and to inform busi- Authority (MODON) was estab- ing over as the Saudi envoy. palm of their hands.” In addition to the new payments facility, corporate Pradesh,” he said. ness communities, chambers of lished in 2001 for the development He also called on Director treasurers can also use the application to check account balances and Al Sati also invited businessmen commerce and industrialists about of industrial cities with integrated General of Police V Dinesh Reddy statements, authorise payment instructions and receive payment alerts and industrialists from the state the business opportunities in the infrastructure and services. Under to discuss the interests of 300 using smartphones. It is a free, value-added service to customers, without to invest in Saudi Arabia. During kingdom,” he said. MODON, more than 3,000 facto- Saudi nationals in the city. the need for a cumbersome or resource-intensive installation. an interaction with business He pointed out that the ries have come up in industrial IANS THE PENINSULA MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

QE Indices Summary QE Index 8,769.97 0.14 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 11,945.8 0.14 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,573.32 0.29 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,112.08 0.10 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,026.26 0.07 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 4940.517 37.93 0.77 4971.4 4664.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 4,864.68 0.45 % QR196.0731 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 3673.41 -21.29 -0.58 3793.26 3654.32 UK ...... QR 5.7180 QR 5.8016 QE All Share Industrials 2,802.66 0.00 % SILVER QE All Share Insurance 1,908.89 0.27 % Dj Indu Average 13979.3 99.22 0.71 14019.8 12035.1 QR 3.7204 Euro ...... QR 4.8229 QR 4.9787 QE All Share Real Estate 1,623.97 0.04 % CA$ ...... QR 3.5986 QR 3.6752 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Telecoms 1,184.85 0.08 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.9292 QR 4.0187 QE All Share Transportation 1,404.64 0.52 % Hang Seng Inde/D 23256.93 108.4 0.47 23944.74 22860.25 Yen ...... QR 0.0380 QR 0.0398 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.7146 QR 3.8089 Iseq Overall/D 3587.78 57.78 1.64 3615.73 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0671 QR 0.0686 10-02-2013 07-02-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 17408.52 120.45 0.7 17312.15 16036.31 Index 8,769.97 8,769.20 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0369 QR 0.0377 Change 12.38 11.61 Nikkei 225 Index 11463.75 416.83 3.77 11285.49 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0880 QR 0.0907 % 0.14 0.13 $ 116.78 SL Re ...... QR 0.0285 QR 0.0291 YTD% 4.92 4.77 S&P 500 Index/D 1511.29 15.58 1.04 1514.96 1266.74 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0458 QR 0.0466 Volume 5,038,947 6,988,984 Straits Times/D 3276.53 3.87 0.12 3319.19 3160.83 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0426 QR 0.0434 Value (QAR) 176,894,357.22 201,706,733.56 $ 114.36 Trades 2,974 3,458 SA Rand ...... QR 0.4040 QR 0.4142 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 24 | Down 16 | Unchanged 02

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 10-02-2013

Brent’s ascent towards $120/barrel raises growth worries again

OMMODITIES were gen- West will not go away. Gold trad- a record net-long position. This for this to happen, such as lack erally lower during the ers, meanwhile, took comfort in Weekly Commodity Update position, measured as a per- of inflationary pressures despite Cpast week as the strong the fact that a key support level centage of total open interest, is massive amounts of monetary January rally gave way to an ele- withstood any downside selling approaching levels which both in stimulus being applied. Fears of BY OLE HANSEN ment of caution as the need for attempts over several days. The (Head of Commodity Strategy, 2011 and 2012 proved unsustain- quantitative easing in the US consolidation had been building. spread between high and low qual- Saxo Bank) able and led to major corrections. being scaled back earlier than Economic data, especially from ity coffee narrowed to a four-year Momentum on stock markets expected also need to be allayed China, continue to support the low as they went their separate has also been slowing and with for an uptrend to resume. On a, growth story but the re-emer- ways due to a monster Arabica the heightened geopolitical risk almost 22 dollars from a recent the potential trouble brewing in positive note, we have seen gold gence of political risk associated crop in Brazil and Columbia pres- because of the situation in Syria low at just 15 dollars. The fact Southern Europe, the question is remain stable despite the dol- with Spain’s potential political suring its price while demand and Iran means that the direc- that geopolitical risk is primarily how much further this rally will lar rally which followed Mario scandal and upcoming Italian for the cheaper blend supported tion of least resistance has so priced into Brent crude because go before the urge to take some Draghi’s comments on Thursday election together with the talk Robusta. Platinum reached its far been up. A continued rally of its role as global benchmark profit exceeds hopes for addi- and this points towards continued of a currency war helped slow highest level since September towards $120/barrel once again further underscores WTI’s under tional gains. resilience among investors look- progress. 2011 on supply concerns while carries the risk of upsetting the performance. Technically WTI crude has ing to buy on dips. On the issue of currency war, sugar fell to near its lowest since rising growth expectations and Saudi Arabia has been cutting formed support at $95/barrel Technically, gold has now attention turned to the ECB August 2010 as a global supply verbal intervention from either production over the last couple of while a mini correction in Brent stayed within the boundaries President and his attitude to glut is likely to occur for a third the IEA or Saudi Arabia could months, most likely in response crude was met with support at determined by its 55-day and the current strength of the euro, year in a row. soon be heard. to reduced domestic demand. USD115/barrel before it contin- 200-day moving averages for especially against the yen. At Brent continues higher while WTI crude oil failed to keep This is being viewed by many as ued its ascent, Brent now has eight days. his bi-weekly press conference, WTI is left behind up with the rally in Brent crude bullish for oil prices as less sup- the potential of challenging the This raises the likelihood of a Mario Draghi did not disappoint Brent crude oil, which has ral- as bottlenecks in the domestic ply could help drive the price of psychological level of $120/barrel. price extension once that range, as he managed to send the euro lied non-stop over the last three transportation system still pro- oil even higher. However, with Gold range bound as the trig- which is currently between 1664 lower by saying that a strong weeks, reached and breached hibit oil from flowing freely from Saudi Arabia’s stated preference ger remains elusive and 1681, gets broken. As the euro could lead to lower inflation the September high at $117.95/ the producing regions, both in for a price closer to 100 dollars Gold has remained range markets in China and across the which the market interpreted barrel on a wave of continued the US and Canada. The focus per barrel rather than the $ 120/ bound for the past couple of Far East close down for their could result in lower rates and investor buying as momentum here is obviously Cushing in barrel we are now approaching, weeks, not swaying too far away Lunar New Year celebrations, less support for the euro. remained strong. The early-2013 Oklahoma which, despite seeing we believe that the Kingdom’s from its 200-day moving average, activity over the coming week The stronger dollar helped rally (a copy of what happened a small reduction in storage lev- response to demand and its as seen in the chart below. The will be much reduced leaving the trigger some additional profit- in the previous two years) has els this week, continues to have increase in spare capacity will down trend, which has existed for gold and other markets exposed taking in commodities with Brent mainly been led by expectations a large overhang of supply. This help as buffers against potential four months, is currently offer- to choppy price action. A break crude especially being one of the of increased demand as the glo- is preventing WTI crude, which supply disruptions elsewhere. ing resistance at 1690 dollars per out of the above mentioned range exceptions. Geopolitical worries bal economy puts in a tenta- is delivered into Cushing, from The biggest near-term threat ounce and this is the level which should trigger a move to 1690 continued to support the global tive recovery, particularly the following Brent crude higher and to Brent crude’s continued move needs to be breached before any ahead of 1710 or down to 1652 oil benchmark as focus on the world’s two largest consumers – as a consequence the discount to higher is the speculative commu- uptrend can resume. Several ahead of 1626. tensions between Iran and the the US and China. In addition, Brent crude has risen back to nity itself which has accumulated headwinds need to be negotiated THE PENINSULA MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Pebble Beach National Pro-Am Snedeker, Hahn tied at top Scores Leading scores yesterday after the third round of the US PGA The duo takes slender lead; defending champ Mickelson makes exit Tour’s $6.5m Pebble Beach National Pro-Am on the par- 72 Pebble Beach Golf Links, PEBBLE BEACH, California: at 11, Snedeker parred his way to the bar high for a repeat dance par-70 Monterey Peninsula Brandt Snedeker, runner-up to the clubhouse. show at Pebble Beach but said, Country Club, par-72 Spyglass Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson “Only giving away one bogey “Maybe a winning putt on 18 Hill Country Club (USA unless in the past two weeks, fired a coming in out here was a help,” might do a little something.” noted): four-under par 68 yesterday to Snedeker said. Hahn might have the chance 202 Brandt Snedeker 66-68-68, James Hahn share the lead after 54 holes Hahn fired a bogey-free 66, to make one in the final group 71-65-66 at the Pebble Beach National six-under par, at Spyglass Hill to with Snedeker, who leads the US 203 Chris Kirk 71-68-64 Pro-Am. match Snedeker at the top. PGA Tour in scoring average and 204 Patrick Reed 68-69-67 Snedeker, a 32-year-old Starting on the back nine, birdies but hopes not to settle for 205 Richard Lee 68-71-66 American who won last year’s Hahn birdied the par-5 11th and another second-best showing. Brandt 206 Retief Goosen (RSA) 71-68-67, Robert PGA play-off crown, stood along- 14th holes, added another at the “I’ve got to take advantage of Snedeker Garrigus 71-69-66, Jason Day (AUS) side Korean-American PGA par-4 17th and then closed the the opportunities I didn’t today plays a 68-68-70, James Driscoll 72-67-67, rookie James Hahn on 12-under round with three birdies in a row (yesterday),” Snedeker said. “In pitch shot Jimmy Walker 68-71-67 202 through three rounds in quest to grab a share of the lead. my view I saved them all up for on the of a $1.15m top prize at the $6.5m “My attitude (was great),” tomorrow. You have to make those 207 Sean O’Hair 70-67-70, Luke Guthrie second event. Hahn said. “I started off well, told chances if you are going to win.” 68-70-69, Kevin Stadler 69-69-69, Webb Simpson 71-71-65, Ted Potter hole during “It was a fun day. I played great myself I was going to give myself a Chris Kirk, whose lone PGA 67-67-73, Fredrik Jacobson (SWE) the third start to finish,” Snedeker said. “I lot of looks, 10 to 15 feet, and you title came at the 2011 Viking 71-66-70 round of had a couple hiccups in there but have to make those putts.” Classic, fired a six-under 64 at the the AT&T overall I played well. I’ve putted Hahn, who played college Monterey Peninsula Shore course Pebble well the past two days. Left me a golf at the nearby University of to stand third, one stroke off. Beach little bit today but hopefully it will California, said that today’s round, Kirk, who began his third Joburg Scores National be back tomorrow (today).” the most important of his career round on the back nine, birdied Pro-Am Pros played alongside ama- to date, will be “just another day the par-5 12th to start a run of Leading scores after final round at Pebble teurs, many of them celebrities in the office for me. I’m just going four birdies in five holes. He had of Joburg Open over the par- 72, 6942-metre east course Beach in entertainment and sports, over to go out and have fun.” back-to-back birdies at the sec- at Royal Johannesburg and three courses during the first Hahn admitted he will feel the ond and third then answered a Golf Links Kensington Golf Club yesterday three rounds before the cut ahead nerves, even with his brother bogey at the par-3 seventh. in Pebble (RSA unless noted): Beach, of today’s finish at Pebble Beach. serving as his caddie. Defending champion Phil California, Snedeker, playing at Pebble “Nervous means I care a lot,” Mickelson slipped on wet rocks 260 Richard Sterne 63-65-68-64 yesterday. Beach, birdied the par-5 second Hahn said. “I’m more excited than and fell on his rear at the 18th 267 Charl Schwartzel 68-65-68-66 and answered a bogey at the par-3 anything.” hole at Pebble Beach on his way fifth by finishing the front nine The 31-year-old, who was born to a triple-bogey 8 that dropped 268 Felipe Aguilar (CHI) 67-66-68-67, with four birdies in a row. in Seoul, did a “Gangnam-style” him out of contention. George Coetzee 67-64-70-67, Ricardo “I hit my irons really close on celebration dance last week after “I got lucky I didn’t get hurt,” Santos (POR) 70-65-69-64 the front,” Snedeker said. “I had making a 20-foot, final-round Mickelson said. “To finish with a 269 Thomas Aiken 67-70-66-66, Trevor 6- to 8-footers for birdies on the birdie at Phoenix’s rowdy 16th triple, it didn’t feel great. It was Fisher jnr 66-62-68-73, Keith Horne front. On the back I had birdie hole, adopting the moves that a fun day to play golf. I just wish I 67-66-71-65 chances but couldn’t convert made Korean performer Psy a could have played better. That tri- them.” YouTube smash. ple really just took me out of it.” 270 Lorenzo Gagli (ITA) 67-68-68-67, Garth Mulroy 70-68-65-67 After a bogey at 10 and birdie Hahn was saying he had pushed REUTERS Ko, 15, wins Espach and Fowler win QGL tournament historic title in Sterne cruises to Christchurch Joburg Open title

CHRISTCHURCH: Teenager JOHANNESBURG: South West Course (on Thursday) and Lydia Ko became the youngest African Richard Sterne took having won here before I felt winner of a women’s European charge of yesterday’s fourth comfortable.” Tour golf event when she took round to coast to victory in Sterne went into the final victory at the New Zealand the Joburg Open, his first win round tied on 19 under par with Women’s Open in Christchurch on golf’s European Tour since compatriot Trevor Fisher Jnr, but yesterday. 2008. the latter carded a disappointing The New Zealander cried with Sterne carded an eight-under- 73 to finish in tied-sixth position. joy after winning her third pro- par 64 for a tournament total of Schwartzel birdied 17 and 18 fessional title from 12 events at 260, seven shots ahead of second- to card a 66 to take second place the age of 15 years, eight months placed Charl Schwartzel. with a 20-under-par tournament and 17 days. After finishing second in the total of 267. That took him ahead “I didn’t cry at the Canadian Dubai Desert Classic last week- of Portugal’s Ricardo Santos, Open so I don’t know why I cried end, Sterne got his reward for who matched Sterne’s round on here,” Ko said. “I guess it meant some consistent golf that featured Sunday with a 64 to finish his more. It is our national open so to just one dropped shot in his four tournament on 19 under par and win means a lot.” rounds at the Royal Johannesburg tied third with George Coetzee Ko made a three-foot putt on and Kensington Golf Club. (67) and Chilean Filipe Aguilar. the final hole to finish on 206, one “It was a pretty special day, I The 2013 Joburg Open is ahead of American Amelia Lewis. played really good golf all week,” Sterne’s sixth European Tour vic- Ko became the third amateur Sterne said at the presentation of tory and moves him into the top to win on the women’s European the trophy. “I only had one bogey 60 in the world rankings ahead of The participants who took part in the Qatar Golf Lovers (QGL) competition at Doha Golf Club pose for a picture. Tour, after Gillian Stewart, at the all week and that was key to scor- the WGC-Accenture Match Play DeWet Espach and David Fowler won Flight A and B categories in the golf tournament organised by QGL. Jeff 1984 European Open, and Yang. ing well. championship in Arizona starting Manel won the second prize in Flight A while Jasjit Butalia was the runner-up in Flight B of the competition “It means a lot and makes it “It’s quite tough coming from on February 20. which was participated by 68 golfers. Ken MacLeod won the ‘longest putt’, Johan Joubert triumphed in the more special to be the first New a good week into another week, It is the second time he has won ‘closest to pin’ category, Adam Neave won the ‘longest drive’ and Waneta MacNeil finished first in the ‘clos- Zealander to win the women’s you do expect to play well. I got the tournament, having claimed est to rope’ category. Open,” the schoolgirl said. AFP off to such a good start on the the trophy in 2008. REUTERS NHL: Canucks Doha Dash organisers Nuggets extend win streak rally to defeat CLEVELAND, OHIO: Danilo Gallinari scored 19 points and Flames 5-1 promise unforgettable the Denver Nuggets stretched their NBA win streak to nine games with a 111-103 victory VA NCOU V ER: The Vancouver day for participants over the Cleveland Cavaliers Canucks started slowly but yesterday. roared into life in the second DOHA: The first ever Dolphin Dolphin Energy, title sponsor The Italian playmaker, who also period to claim a fifth straight Energy Doha Dash running of the event, will have a range of grabbed nine rebounds, led eight victory with a thumping 5-1 event organisers have prom- exciting activities in their pit- double-figure scorers among the home win over the Calgary ised an unforgettable day for lane garage including a special nine players who took the court Flames yesterday. the family tomorrow at Losail children’s WiiSport area, mobile for the Nuggets, who improved Lee Stempniak had opened the International Circuit. phone charging exercise bikes, to 33-18 to remain fourth in the scoring for the Flames late in the The event, which is the first of massage chairs and the chance Western Conference. first period before the Canucks its kind to be held at the motor to race against event ambassador Kenneth Faried added 17 points (7-2-2) bagged two goals in a racing track, will welcome Qatar Samuel Francis in a 20m ‘Shadow and grabbed seven rebounds 27-second span midway through residents to the Circuit to cel- Runner’ sprint. while Andre Iguodala added 14 the second. Alexandre Burrows ebrate National Sport Day. There will also be prize draws points and seven assists for the scored before Jordan Schroeder The event will feature four throughout the day. Nuggets, who stayed poised to claimed his first ever goal to put categories; 5km and 3km races, Adel Ahmed Albuainain, hold off a Cavaliers rally in the the Canucks ahead. With Canucks plus a 1km Mini Doha Dash for General Manager, Dolphin final minutes. Richard Jefferson (44) of the Golden State Warriors is fouled by Vince leading 3-1, Chris Higgins and children and a 1km ladies’ walk. Energy, Qatar said: “Following “Very important for us,” Faried Carter (25) of the Dallas Mavericks at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Schroeder made it 5-1. REUTERS The Circuit, located on the months of preparation we’re very said. “People say we’re not going Texas, yesterday. North Relief Road (road to Al happy that the day has arrived to have that focus and same Khor), will be open from 7.30am for the first ever Dolphin Energy energy on the road that we have NHL Results when runners can collect their Doha Dash.” had winning at home. Tonight we Ty Lawson contributed 11 points the first three quarters against New Jersey 3 Pittsburgh 1 rack-packs including bib-number, “We have received an excel- proved that wrong.” and Kosta Koufos, Andre Miller Denver as the Nuggets led 84-73 Philadelphia 4 Carolina 3 exclusive Dolphin Energy Doha lent response for this event from JaVale McGee added 13 points and Corey Brewer each added 10 entering the fourth quarter. Dash t-shirt and goodie-bag of Qatari nationals and expatriates, Winnipeg 1 Ottawa 0 off the bench for Denver while points for the Nuggets. A Gallinari 3-pointer put gifts from event sponsors. and we are confident that this Kyrie Irving scored 26 points Denver ahead 105-93 but Irving Detroit 2 Edmonton 1 The first race will start at will be one of the most exciting and Alonzo Gee added 20 for the answered with back-to-back bas- Phoenix 1 San Jose 0 9.15am when runners in the 3km events taking place in the city for NBA Results Cavaliers, who fell to 16-35 and kets and reserve Wayne Ellington Toronto 6 Montreal 0 race will set off around the motor Qatar National Sport Day 2013. I Denver 111 Cleveland 103 saw a three-game win streak made two free throws to pull the Buffalo 3 NY Islanders 2 track. would like to extend a personal Philadelphia 87 Charlotte 76 snapped. Cavaliers within 105-99. Washington 5 Florida 0 Beforehand, and throughout invitation to spectators to join us Detroit 105 Milwaukee 100 A Cleveland team that gave Gallinari answered with two Anaheim 6 St Louis 5 the day, participants and their in the Dolphin Energy pit-garages away only 12 turnovers in their free throws and Faried followed families are invited to enjoy the on the day and enjoy the fun,” he Dallas 116 Golden State 91 Minnesota 2 Nashville 1 past two games turned the ball with a slam dunk to put Cleveland festival atmosphere in the Race added in a statement. Sacramento 120 Utah 109 over just as many times in only back in a 10-point hole. AFP Vancouver 5 Calgary 1 Village. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Voges hammers century as Australia seal whitewash The hosts beat West Indies by 17 runs at the MCG in final ODI match

MELBOURNE: Australia Deonarine was out for four, bowled out West Indies for 257 caught Haddin bowled Cutting. to secure a 17-run victory and a Devon Thomas smashed 19 off 18 5-0 whitewash in their one-day balls but was run out by Shaun The international series yesterday Marsh. Australian thanks to a century from stand- Big-hitting Kieron Pollard, cricket team in Adam Voges. who made a century in Sydney players West Indies had looked on on Friday, holed out for 45, caught celebrate Ireland’s Rob Kearney (top) is target to chase down a 275-run by Finch at long on off Faulkner. after winning tackled by England’s Ben Youngs target at the MCG when Johnson Voges, batting at number the match during their Six Nations rugby Charles struck his maiden cen- five, had earlier steadied the and series match at the Aviva Stadium in tury to match Voges, who scored Australian innings after a disas- against the Dublin, yesterday. a magnificent unbeaten 112. trous start and went on to com- West Indies The West Indian opener struck plete his ton off 98 balls. in their a boundary to bring up his 100 The 33-year-old was only fifth ODI off 120 balls including eight fours drafted into the side on Friday to match at the Farrell leads and a six. replace the injured George Bailey, But he fell next ball, caught by but he played the star role despite Melbourne Ben Cutting at square leg playing being a fringe player in the six Cricket England past a poor shot to Clint McKay. He years since he made his debut. Ground, in had ridden his luck, surviving two West Indies had the home side Australia, dropped catches and two televi- at 2 for 2 wickets as Tino Best yesterday. hosts Ireland sion reviews. cleaned up the openers, but they After that West Indian wickets let Australia off the hook and DUBLIN: England won a Six fell regularly as the required run went for 100 runs in the final 10 Nations match in Dublin for the rate soared and they were forced overs. first time in ten years yesterday to hit out. When Voges came to the wicket control in the opening stages Scoreboard when Owen Farrell kicked them Captain Darren Sammy had a they were three for 63 and a high when Best bowled replacement to a 12-6 victory to become the late chance to guide the tourists total looked unlikely with skip- captain Shane Watson first ball. AUSTRALIA D J Bravo b Johnson ...... 13 only team capable of winning to the target but he was caught per Michael Clarke also on the Finch then top-edged a Best S Watson b Best ...... 0 K Pollard c Finch b Faulkner ...... 45 a Grand Slam after just two behind by Brad Hadddin off injured list following more ham- bouncer to Narine at fine leg on A Finch c Narine b Best ...... 1 N Deonarine c Haddin b Cutting ...... 4 rounds of matches. McKay for 23 off 18 balls. string trouble. But only two more the boundary in the third over for P Hughes c Pollard b D J Bravo ...... 29 D Thomas (run out-Marsh)...... 19 Ireland, who lost flyhalf West Indies still needed 18 wickets fell. just one run. S Marsh c Thomas b D J Bravo ...... 40 D Sammy c Haddin b McKay...... 23 Jonathan Sexton and wing Simon runs off five balls and it proved Voges showed his domestic Shaun Marsh, in for Clarke, A Voges (not out) ...... 112 S Narine b Johnson ...... 0 Zebo to injury in a first half in too much. high-scoring feats were no fluke, found the first boundary in the B Haddin c Powell b Roach ...... 43 K Roach (not out) ...... 2 which the host’s handling was Opener Kieran Powell had cracking a six to bring up a 100 fifth over. J Faulkner (not out) ...... 31 T Best c (sub-Coulter-Nile) b McKay ...... 0 simply abysmal, trailed 6-0 at the been the first to go, caught in the partnership with fellow veteran Phillip Hughes patiently built Extras (LB-9, W-7, NB-1, B-1) ...... 18 Extras (LB-6, W-9, B-1) ...... 16 break thanks to the ever-reliable slips by Aaron Finch off paceman Brad Haddin. a partnership of 61 with Marsh Total (for 5 five in 50 overs) ...... 274 Total (all out in 49.5 overs) ...... 257 boot of flyhalf Farrell. Mitchell Johnson for just two. Haddin skied a top edge off before Dwayne Bravo had him Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-2, 3-63, 4-82, 5-193. Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-113, 3-129, 4-182, England, whose last champion- Darren Bravo managed 33 Kemar Roach to Kieran Powell caught for 29 off 61 balls. Bowling: Best 10-1-71-2 (6w); Sammy 10-1- 5-186, 6-228, 7-234, 8-246, 9-257, 10-257. ship victory in Ireland also coin- in a partnership of 106 with in the deep when he had made 43 Pollard look the freak leaping 37-0; Roach 10-0-52-1 (1nb); Narine 10-1- Bowling: McKay 9.5-0-52-3 (3w); Johnson cided with their last Grand Slam Charles before all-rounder James off 45 balls out of a partnership of catch at backward point, knock- 27-0; D.J Bravo 8-0-62-2 (1w); Pollard 2-0- 10-1-50-3 (2w); Cutting 10-0-53-1 (1w); win, were pegged back thanks to Faulkner held a fine low catch off 111 with Voges. ing the ball into the air with an 15-0. Faulkner 10-0-47-1 (2w); Doherty 9-0-46-1 two penalties from replacement Xavier Doherty’s finger spin. Faulkner accompanied Voges outstretched left hand and hold- WEST INDIES (1w); Finch 1-0-2-0. flyhalf Ronan O’Gara, but Farrell Brother Dwayne had made 13 through the final overs, adding a ing it easily at second bite. J Charles c Cutting b McKay ...... 100 Result: Australia won by 17 runs. restored their six-point lead just when Johnson clean-bowled him quickfire 31 off 24 balls. The pair Keeper Devon Thomas snapped K Powell c Finch b Johnson ...... 2 Series: Australia won 5-match series 5-0 after the hour. with a late inswinger. put on 81 runs from 51 balls. up Marsh, who had reached 40 off D M Bravo c Faulkner b Doherty ...... 33 Man-of-the-Match: A Voges (AUS). Both flyhalves missed a further After Charles went, Narsingh West Indies had looked in 58 balls. AFP shot each at goal in the closing minutes as England, who next host a French team already vir- tually out of the championship following two losses, comfortably Bolt beaten in season opener saw the victory out. REUTERS KINGSTON: Jamaican “I didn’t matter about the “Training is going really... you Sailing Arabia: Olympic sprint champion Usain time, I just wanted to complete know, I’m confident, I have the Bolt was beaten in his first race this race, I know I may have one world championships to defend The Tour gets of the 2013 season on Saturday, more for the season, maybe two my title and coach (Glen) Mills finishing third in a low-key 400 depending on what the coach is just working on the different under way metre event in his hometown of wants.” parts of my race and I’m feeling Kingston. Weir, who finished third behind good.” The triple gold medallist from Bolt and Blake in the 200m final Meanwhile, Bolt is getting MANAMA, Bahrain: EFG both the 2008 Beijing and 2012 at London last year, won in a per- to ready to show them he can Bank Sailing Arabia: The Tour, London Olympics easily won sonal best time of 46.21 seconds. jump as well when he appears at the region’s only long distance his heat in 46.71 seconds at the Blake, racing in the same heat the NBA’s All-Star weekend in offshore sailing race started Camperdown Classic. as Weir, stopped the clock at 46.64 Houston. yesterday with nine world-class But he had to settle for third after fading in the final straight Bolt was invited to play in crews including a host of elite place overall after his training following a blistering start. the Celebrity Game, featuring sailors from the Middle East partners Warren Weir and Yohan “I feel strong, I tested myself a mixture of well-known people taking on the unique sailing Blake both posted faster times. in the first part of the race, that from all walks of life, including challenge and endurance race FROM LEFT: Jamaican runners Usain Bolt, Yohan Blake and Warren “I’m happy, I’ve never been is what got the better of me in some former NBA players at the between Bahrain and Muscat. Weir talk after running in the Men’s 400m race of the Camperdown so nervous running a 400m but the home straight, but I’m feeling showcase weekend from February Inspired by organisers Oman Classic, in Kingston on Saturday. The Jamaican sprinters took a clean overall I’m happy. Physically I felt pretty good,” said Blake, who won 15-17. Sail to encourage one of the sweep in the Men’s 200m at the 2012 Olympic Games in July. Bolt good, not as good as I normally the 100m world championship in “I’m very excited, you know,” region’s fastest growing sports clinched gold, Blake took silver, and Weir grabbed bronze. would, but overall I feel good,” 2011 when Bolt was disqualified Bolt said after opening his track and reignite the rich maritime said Bolt. for a false start. and field season. REUTERS heritage of the Gulf, the third edi- tion of the showcase sailing event was officially launched at Amwaj Marina ahead of 15 days fierce competition around the coastline of four different countries cover- Junior Hydro racers take to the water in Doha ing 760 nautical miles. The opening ceremony, held DOHA: Sheikh Nawaf bin H1 Unlimited,” he added yester- under the patronage of Sheikh Hassan Al Thani, the 12-year- day. The J Stock Hydro category Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, old son of Qatar Marine Sports has been a traditional starting Supreme Council for Youth and Federation (QMSF) president point for many renowned power- Sports and the President of Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al boat racers. Bahrain Olympic Committee, was Thani, led 14 other junior racers Top H1 Unlimited driver J attended by Sailing Federation at Doha Bay for the first official Michael Kelly cut his teeth rac- dignitaries from GCC nations, practice session in their new J ing in this discipline and former race officials, sponsors, skippers Stock Hydro boats yesterday. H1 racer JW Myers has also used and crew of the boats competing Sheikh Hassan is keen to see them to his advantage. for the EFG Bank Sailing Arabia youngsters graduating through The six boats present in Qatar – The Tour 2013 trophy. the ranks of power boating and have been built in the USA by Speaking at the start of the it was an emotional moment for Myers. The youngsters are being race, Khalifa Abdulla Al Khalifa, the reigning Key West World led into action by Sheikh Nawaf Chairman of Bahrain Maritime Champion to see his son lead a bin Hassan Al Thani and his two Sports Association said: “Bahrain group of young racing rivals out cousins Sheikh Jassim bin Jabor is extremely proud to host the to test their J Stock Hydros on a bin Yousef Al Thani and Sheikh opening ceremony and first leg of short Doha Bay course. Ali bin Mohammed Al Thani. the EFG Bank Sailing Arabia – “It is vital that we continue Also taking part for Qatar The Tour. Thanks to the inspiring to nurture and encourage young are Tameem Saed El Kouwary, vision of Oman Sail a world-class drivers to take up the sport of Abdelrahman Khaled Al Kouwary, event has been established that power boat racing,” said Sheikh Abdelrahman Khalifa El Khlefe, unites the region through sailing Hassan. Mohammed Khalifa El Khlefe and while also promoting the sport to “This concept will go a long way Ahmed Khalifa El Khlefe. Junior Hydro racers, Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) President Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani (back a new generation. As the crews to getting the wheels in motion. Young Egyptians Ammar row, right) and JW Myers (back row, left) pose for a picture. PICTURE BY: BILL OSBORNE set sail for Qatar on the first leg We have this training school now Abdul Montaleb and Tariq Amed we wish all involved a thrilling for our youngsters and it is a Sayed, Canadian Yazan Deeb, race from start to finish.” fantastic opportunity for them the Jordanian trio of Kinan impressive young driver line-up. support to the young debutants. H1 Unlimited heats and the Oryx This season promises to be the to race here in full view of the Ahmed Qassem, Ali Mohammed England’s rising junior star The youngsters will complete Cup UIM World Championship best yet, with some of the world’s media and all the drivers and offi- Qassem and Yamen Bilal Safadi Ben Jelf, a four-time RYA British their first-ever racing pro- final, which take place in the best sailors competing in the ideal cials who are visiting us from the and Palestine’s Firas Kousay champion, was also on hand to gramme on tomorrow morning afternoon at Doha Bay. sailing conditions of the Gulf. world of hydroplane racing and Abouyoussef complete the pass on any needed advice and before the staging of the fourth THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Tournament Facts NAME: Qatar Total Open 2012 CATEGORY: Premier 5 2013 Qatar Open: Serena’s START DATE: 11 February 2013 END DATE: 17 February 2013 VENUE: International Tennis and Squash Complex DRAW SIZE: 56 Main Draw/32 chance to reclaim top spot qualifiers/16 Doubles PRIZE MONEY: $2,369,000 The American can become No.1 with title win at Khalifa Tennis Complex Past Champions 2012 Victoria Azarenka Liezel Huber/Lisa Raymond DOHA: Serena Williams will 2011 Vera Zvonareva Kveta complete another remarkable Peschke/Katarina Srebotnik achievement if she can regain 2008 Maria Sharapova Kveta the world number one rank- Peschke/Rennae Stubbs ing at the Qatar Open starting 2007 Justine Henin Martina today. Hingis/Maria Kirilenko The holder of 15 Grand Slam titles has not occupied the top 2006 Nadia Petrova Daniela spot for more than two and a World number one Victoria Hantuchova/Ai Sugiyama half years after a series of inju- Azarenka of Belarus arrives 2005 Maria Sharapova Alicia ries during 2010 and 2011 plunged at the Doha International Molik/Francesca Schiavone her below the top 100, bringing Airport yesterday. Azarenka, 2004 Anastasia Myskina predictions of a career end. who won the Australian Svetlana Kuznetsova/Elena However, Williams was clearly Open last month, is the Likhovtseva the world’s best player again dur- defending champion at this 2003 Anastasia Myskina Janet ing the second half of last year week’s Qatar Total Open. Lee/Wynne Prakusya when she won the Wimbledon, 2002 Monica Seles Olympic, US Open and WTA Azarenka is the top seed at Janette Husarova/Arantxa Championship season-end titles. the $2,369,000 event. RIGHT: Sanchez-Vicario The pinnacle seemed within Serena Williams of the US reach until she was struck by poses with a young Qatari 2001 Martina Hingis Sandrine multiple setbacks during last girl at the Doha International Testud/Roberta Vinci month’s Australian Open. Airport. Serena can become Williams turned her right the world number one if she Ticket sales ankle in her opening round, hurt wins the title at the Khalifa Tickets to the Qatar Total Open her back while running for a Tennis Complex this week. 2013 are available on the QTF drop shot during her second, and Serena has 15 Grand Slam website and at Lagoona, City exited in the quarter-finals after titles under her belt whereas Center, Landmark, and the one of the most startling defeats Azarenka has won two Khalifa International Tennis & of her career, to Sloane Stephens, Australian Open trophies Squash Complex. then outside the top 30. in her career. Serena is For more information about the It was Williams’ first ever loss the second seed in Doha. tournament and tickets, visit to a younger American and also, PICTURES: SYED OMAR http://www.qatartennis.org. she asserted, her “worst two weeks.” Fun for the whole family: The It will have made her keener Qatar Total Open 2013 show- than ever to return to something cases entertainment for the nearer her true self during the entire family with its Public $2,369,000 event in Doha, her first and VIP Villages, Kids Zone, outing since that debacle. and Traditional Souq. Players, She is seeded second, and could sponsors and fans have grown have a semi-final with Maria accustomed to the warmth and Sharapova, the French Open accessibility the event offers. champion who gave her a very offered leapfrogging opportuni- damage it could make it hard to Serena has two weapons which Venus, so long her faithful sup- hard final in their last encoun- ties by the 900 points which are perform at her best. But if she seem unaffected by the passing porter. The elder sister’s with- ter, at the WTA Championships awarded to the winner. does she will quickly become the of time -- her service, with its drawal from Doha was caused by Today’s Order of Play in Istanbul three months ago. Much will depend on the extent unofficial favourite. If she doesn’t, smoothly economical action, per- a lower back injury. China’s Li Na Sharapova has a particularly of Williams’ physical recovery. it may bring further suggestions haps the best of any woman’s in is also an absentee with an ankle CENTRE COURT tough quarter, which contains two She reckoned her condition that a changing of the guard is the history of the game, and her injury suffered in her Australian Start 3:30 pm former Grand Slam winners -- was the worst it had ever been not far away, the surprising con- motivation. Open final loss to Azarenka. J Zheng (CHN) vs (Q) A Rodionova (AUS) Samantha Stosur of Australia and in a Grand Slam last month, and clusion of a few commentators This, as her racket-smashing Stephens has recovered from Svetlana Kuznetsova of Russia, she will want to show that she is last month -- apparently even of in Melbourne suggested, remains the abdominal strain which Not Before 5:30 PM and a former world number one, not facing another injury-ravaged Chris Evert, her fellow American. fierce. caused her withdrawal from the (10) C Wozniacki (DEN) vs Jelena Jankovic, of Serbia. sequence. “I thought it would happen, but Williams is also keen to carry Fed Cup at the weekend, and she (LL) M Jugic-Salkic (BIH) A further incentive is that Her swollen ankle looked not in this match,” the 18 times on to emulate Evert’s Grand Slam will play her first tournament as Williams is only 355 ranking frighteningly large by the end of former Grand Slam champion total even though this may mean a top 20 player in Doha. She could T Paszek (AUT) vs (13) points behind Victoria Azarenka, the tournament and if Williams said of Stephens’ shock victory competing increasingly often have a last 16 with Sharapova. A Ivanovic (SRB) the world number one, and is has inhibitions about further over the 31-year-old. However without the company of her sister AFP Not Before 8:00 PM S Kuznetsova (RUS) vs (Q) The battle for the B Mattek-Sands (USA) ‘Diamond Ball’ COURT 1 DOHA: The Qatar Total Open Start 3:30 pm 2013 could be the event where M Barthel (GER) vs (Q) two players have the possibil- Y Putintseva (KAZ) ity of lifting the ‘Diamond Ball’ trophy in addition to the tour- (Q) C Garcia (FRA) vs nament trophy. (WC) F Al Nabhani (OMA) The Qatar Tennis Federation S Halep (ROU) vs O Govortsova (BLR) (QTF) will present the ‘Diamond Ball’ trophy to the player who V Dushevina (RUS) / J Jankovic (SRB) vs has won the tournament three (WC) C Garcia (FRA) / C Mchale (USA) times – Maria Sharapova and Nadia Petrova, both from Russia, COURT 2 have the opportunity to lift this Start 3:30 pm trophy. A Medina Garrigues (ESP) vs (LL) D Sharapova has won the title Gavrilova (RUS) in Doha in both of her previous appearances in Qatar, once in Nadia Petrova of Russia poses with the ‘Diamond Ball’ at the Khalifa Tennis N Grandin (RSA) / V Uhlirova (CZE) vs J 2005 and then in 2008. Complex in Doha yesterday. Petrova will be competing for the unique Husarova (SVK) / S Zhang (CHN) Petrova won the Qatar Total trophy with compatriot Maria Sharapova. Both are two-time Qatar Open Open title twice in the same year, champions. If either of the two players wins the title for the third time this in two different cities. In 2006, week, they stand to win the ‘Diamond Ball’, QTF said yesterday. Petrova won the Doha event and Federer lands then in Berlin, a event owned by Sharapova and Nadia Petrova – With the talented players in the QTF. are possible candidates to win the draw, it is a very competitive field in Rotterdam Nasser bin Ghanim Al Khelaifi, the Qatar Tennis Federation (QTF) President, QTF President, Nasser ‘Diamond Ball’ trophy. It would and will be an exciting week of shakes hands with Stephane Michel, Managing Director of Total E&P Qatar, Ghanim Al-Khelaifi said: “It is be an incredible achievement by tennis to see if someone will be ROTTERDAM, Netherlands: in Doha yesterday. This week’s Qatar Open will be sponsored by Total E&P very exciting to know that two either player to win the Qatar able to claim the ‘Diamond Ball’ Roger Federer launches the Qatar. The seven-day event begins today. players in the field – Maria Total Open title three times. trophy.” THE PENINSULA defence of his title against a posse of French challengers as the Rotterdam World Tennis tournament begins today. The indoor event at the Ahoy stadium marked a comeback for Nadal reaches final of comeback event the Swiss a year ago when he played here for the first time since VINA DEL MAR, CHILE: So I cannot ask for anything game to maintain his advantage. doing during this tournament 2005. Rafael Nadal (pictured) looked more. I will try to play better and He broke Chardy for a 5-2 lead and that my physical condition He is lined up for a potential sharp yesterday as he booked better every day.” and took the contest with an ace remains good.” re-match of that 2012 final, with a finals berth in an ATP South Former world number one on his second match point to book Zeballos, ranked 73rd in the last year’s runner-up Juan Martin American clay court tourna- Nadal, currently ranked fifth, a title clash with Argentinian world, reached the second ATP del Potro seeded second. ment, his first event back from raced to a 4-0 lead before Chardy Horacio Zeballos. final of his career with a 6-3, 7-6 Lying in wait are a group of a seven-month injury absence. was finally able to hold serve. “I played well today, better than (7/4) victory over eighth-seeded eager French challengers, includ- Nadal, seeded number one as a Nadal closed out the opening the days before, which is impor- compatriot Carlos Berlocq. ing third-seed Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, wildcard in the $410,200 tourna- set after little more than half an tant,” Nadal said. “I won’t com- Nadal and Zeballos have met number four Richard Gasquet, ment, needed just 64 minutes to hour, pulling Chardy wide with a pare myself to seven months ago, once before. Nadal, 26, plans to fifth seed Gilles Simon plus wild defeat third-seeded Frenchman deep ball to the corner then blast- it’s just the first week of competi- compete in claycourt events in card Gael Monfils, who tackles Jeremy Chardy 6-2, 6-2. ing an overhead winner into the tion. It’s a great feeling to be in Brazil and Mexico before playing Del Potro in the first round. Nadal, eager to get in as many open court to end the rally on set a final match after so much time ATP Masters hardcourt events at Federer’s last appearance was matches as possible, is also slated point. without playing. Indian Wells and Miami and then in the Australian Open semi- to contest the doubles final today. He broke Chardy at love in the “Tomorrow, it will be a tough heading to Europe for clay events finals where he lost to Andy “I’m really happy with what I’ve third game of the second set to match against Horacio, who is in Monte Carlo, Barcelona and Murray, with the Swiss playing a been doing this week,” he said. “I gain the upper hand, then saved playing great tennis. I hope to Rome ahead of the French Open. carefully programmed schedule in have a good feeling on the court. three break points in the sixth keep enjoying myself like I’ve been REUTERS 2013. REUTERS MONDAY 11 FEBRUARY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Real Madrid Messi strikes again as ready for Man United MADRID: Real Madrid assist- ant manager Aitor Karanka believes his side are hitting form at the right time as they swept Barca crush Getafe 6-1 aside Sevilla 4-1 thanks to a Cristiano Ronaldo hat-trick. The Spanish champions take on La Liga: The Argentinian is one of six Barca players on the scoresheet Manchester United on Wednesday in the first-leg of their Champions League last-16 tie and Karanka MADRID: Lionel Messi is hoping Ronaldo can carry his notched up his 35th league recent form into the clash against goal of the season as an under- Barcelona’s Lionel his former club. strength Barcelona strolled to a Messi shoots the “Cristiano has had the love of crushing 6-1 home win against ball next to Getafe’s the crowd here for some time. Getafe that put them 12 points The important thing though is Lopo Garcia during clear at the top of La Liga for the team to have a player like their La Liga match at yesterday. Cristiano in this form heading Alexis Sanchez and David Villa Camp Nou stadium in into the period we now have,” he made the most of a rare place in Barcelona yesterday. said. the starting lineup with goals Barcelona won 6-1. Coach Jose Mourinho had taken either side of Messi’s strike and RIGHT: Real Madrid’s the chance to rest a few impor- Andres Iniesta, Cristian Tello Portuguese manager tant players with Wednesday’s and Gerard Pique were also on Jose Mourinho game in mind, but it mattered the scoresheet as Barca racked gestures from the little as Karim Benzema put the up a 20th victory in 23 matches stands before the hosts in front from barely a yard to move on to 62 points. EPL match between on 17 minutes before Ronaldo Atletico Madrid have 50 points Manchester United fired a fierce drive past Beto in in second place ahead of their and Everton at Old the Sevilla goal eight minutes game at Rayo Vallecano later on Trafford, Manchester, later. Sunday (2000 GMT), four ahead yesterday. The Portuguese captain of third-placed Real Madrid, rounded off his 20th hat-trick in a who thrashed Sevilla 4-1 at the Madrid jersey with two goals in 14 Bernabeu on Saturday. minutes after half-time before a “We are not going to repeat red card for Gonzalo Higuain and all the praise we have showered Busquets. Unusually, Barca had Manu del Moral’s late consolation on him (Messi),” Barca sporting been handed the midday kickoff soured an otherwise comfortable director Andoni Zubizarreta said slot but the unfamiliar starting night for Mourinho’s men. in an interview with Spanish TV time failed to dampen the play- Thoughts now turn to their broadcaster Canal Plus. ers’ hunger for victory in front of attempt at a 10th European crown “Alexis and Villa gave us a lot more than 85,000 fans thronging and Karanka is hopeful that play- of speed and created spaces and the giant arena and enjoying the ing 18 hours ahead of United this showed they are also capable of sunshine. weekend could make a difference. putting the ball away,” the former Alexis struck in the sixth “You notice a day extra rest Barca and Spain goalkeeper minute, Messi made it 2-0 seven and it has been good with the added. “Some of the players who minutes later and Villa put the changes we made to also give a don’t feature so often were very game well beyond Getafe, with a rest to some important players. impressive.” third just before the hour. We will see what players they play Barca’s interim coach Jordi As Getafe started to wilt, Messi tomorrow,” said Karanka, a refer- Roura, standing in for Tito surged forward and laid the ball ence to United’s league clash with Vilanova who is recovering from off for substitute Tello to curl in Everton yesterday. throat surgery, rested several key a fourth 11 minutes from time Sevilla boss Unai Emery was players for Getafe’s visit to the before a mistake from Jordi Alba far more concerned at what he Nou Camp, including Spain trio let in Alvaro Vazquez to pull a goal saw as his side making things easy Pedro, Cesc Fabregas and Sergio ack for the visitors. REUTERS for Madrid. “We have made things too easy ABOVE: A combination of for them. In the first 25 minutes I didn’t recognise my team,” he three pictures made on said. Saturday shows Real Madrid’s ‘Gascoigne in intensive care’ “We didn’t have the perse- Portuguese forward Cristiano verance that we’ve had in other LONDON: Former England star Paul arriving at the airport bar in Arizona, has Ronaldo celebrating (From) games. We saw Real Madrid win Gascoigne (pictured) is in intensive care been in hospital for the past four days with his respectively his three goals easily. in the United States after being diagnosed condition deteriorating markedly on Saturday. during the La Liga match “My intention was that we as not well enough to begin his treatment Gascoigne has also received the support between Real Madrid CF and would have much more presence for alcoholism it was reported by The Mail both personally and financially from present Sevilla FC at the Santiago on the pitch. We need to demand yesterday. England players such as Wayen Rooney and Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. more and work hard because the The 45-year-old - capped 57 times but who captain Steven Gerrard. Real Madrid won 4-1. BELOW: team hasn’t been at the level we has battled alcoholism for years and was sec- Rooney said things could have worked AC Milan’s French forward expected.” tioned under the Mental Health Act in 2008 out differently for Gascoigne had he been M’Baye Niang reacts during the Malaga maintained their place - had been due to receive treatment at a reha- at Manchester United and taken care of by Serie A match against Cagliari at in fourth after they came from bilitation clinic in Arizona at a cost of around manager Alex Ferguson, who has aside from Is Arenas Stadium yesterday. behind to beat Levante 2-1 thanks $30,000 for a two month stay there. winning endless titles also gained credit for to two goals from Isco. However, according to the Mail on Sunday handling players personal problems. Valencia, who have a Champions he became seriously ill on Saturday and doc- “You never know what would have hap- League date against Paris Saint- tors had him moved from his hospital room pened but I know Alex Ferguson is the best in Germain on Tuesday, remain to intensive care, although now it is believed looking after his players and making sure his just two points adrift of the his life is not in danger. players are doing the right thing,” the United Andalusians as Nelson Valdez’s Former England and Spurs team-mate forward told Daily Star Sunday. stoppage time header handed Gary Lineker - who along with other friends World Cup finals where England reached the “I’m sure he would at least have tried to help them a 1-0 away win at Celta Vigo. of Gascoigne have helped pay for the cost of semi-finals although he was suspended for the him. It’s a shame what’s happening to Gazza. Mallorca began life under the clinic as the former footballer is virtually match, agreed to seek help after video footage He was a hero of mine growing up. I’m sure Gregorio Manzano with a 1-1 draw penniless - said that his friend is ‘struggling’. emerged of a shambling public appearance he everyone, every England fan and every Paul against Osasuna but Deportivo ‘Gazza is struggling, Let’s hope he can hang made at a charity event. Gascoigne fan wishes him the best of luck. It’s La Coruna lost 3-0 at home to on in there,’ tweeted Lineker. However, Gascoigne, who was pictured a sad time for him just now and I wish him all Granada to remain bottom. Gascoigne, whose talent shone at the 1990 drinking a pint of beer immediately after the best.” REUTERS REUTERS Soria sparkles as Lekhwiya win

DOHA: A hat-trick by national found the equaliser through reli- LEFT: Qatar team striker Sebastian Soria able Cabore who scored in the Sports Club yesterday helped Qatar Stars 76th minute. striker Bakari League (QSL) champions In an earlier game, hosts Qatar Kone tackles Lekhwiya thrash Al Wakra 4-0 SC drew 1-1 with struggling Al Al Wakra’s Mohammed in their round 15 clash. Arabi at Suheim Bin Hamad Mohammad Soria struck three times (52, 56 Stadium. Malala of Al Sulaity and 70) as Lekhwiya posted their Striker Mohammed Razzaq Al Arabi (blue) and during their fourth successive win. opened the scoring for Qatar SC The fourth goal was scored by while Wanderley Santos found the Lekhwiya’s QSL match Youssef Msakni who found the net equaliser for Al Arabi. Youssef at Suheim in the 28th minute. In the day’s other matches Msakni vie Bin Hamad The match was played at Al today, Eljaish play Al Gharafa for the ball Stadium Wakra Stadium. while Al Rayyan host Al Khor. during their yesterday. With their timely win yester- THE PENINSULA QSL clash The match day, Lekhwiya have closed gap on at Al Wakra ended in a current points leaders Al Sadd Stadium 1-1 draw. who have a tally of 37 from 14 Yesterday’s yesterday. LEFT, rounds. Lekhwiya (BELOW): Lekhwiya have a tally of 34 Results won 4-0. Adan Ali of points from 15 matches. Qatar SC 1 Al Arabi 1 PICTURE: In third position are Al Rayyan Umm Salal Umm Salal 1 Al Kharaitiyat 1 ABDUL BASIT (orange) vies with 26 points. Al Wakra 0 Lekhwiya 4 for the ball Al Saddd take on Al Sailiyah with Alain in their round 15 match at Jassim Dioko of Al Bin Hamad Stadium today. Today’s Fixtures In another game yesterday, Kharaitiyat. Eljaish vs Al Ghafara at Qatar Sports Club Umm Salal and Al Kharaitiyat The match Stadium, 4:30pm played out a 1-1 draw. ended in a Aziz Ansari scored for Al Al Rayyan vs Al Khor at Al Rayyan, 6:30pm 1-1 draw. Kharaitiyat in the 47th minute. Al Sadd vs Al Sailiyah at Al Sadd Stadium, In the second half, Umm Salal 6:30pm Monday 11 February 2013 1 Rabial II Safar 1434 Volume 17 Number 5607 Sport Price: QR2 %-%!%&.-"&/0"/,#"%-1&,23!"!,*!04-%35,# *.$")"*6 LATEST NEWS UPDATES IN TAMIL Snedeker, Voges hits ton TAMIL TIMES WEEKLY NEWSPAPER Middle East Edition Hahn tied at as Australia

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Harbhajan United increase lead at top recalled for Aussie Tests, The Red Devils beat Everton 2-0; Villa claim vital win over West Ham Gambhir axed

LONDON: Ryan Giggs dem- MUMBAI: India’s cricket onstrated his enduring value selectors dropped out-of-form to Manchester United with the Gautam Gambhir and included opening goal in a 2-0 home win off-spinner Harbhajan Singh for over Everton yesterday that put the first two Test of the four- his side almost out of sight in match series against Australia the title race. starting later this month. The 39-year-old Welshman The Sandip Patil-headed selec- slotted his side in front after 13 tion committee, that met at the minutes to continue his extraor- Cricket Centre here yesterday, dinary feat of having scored in also included two opening bats- every Premier League season men Murali Vijay and Shikhar since its inception 21 years ago. Dhawan, who were impressive for Robin van Persie was also on Rest of India against Mumbai in target for United before halftime the Irani Cup. as the leaders took full advantage Vijay was part of the Test of champions Manchester City’s squad against England while shock 3-1 defeat at Southampton Dhawan was selected ahead of on Saturday. veteran Mumbai opener Wasim With 12 games remaining Alex Jaffer, who has been in good form Ferguson’s side have 65 points, 12 this season. more than City, and are closing in Harbhajan was dropped from on a 20th league title. the squad for the fourth Test A remarkable 4-4 draw with against England but has come Everton in the final weeks of back after a strong performance the title race last season proved in the Ranji Trophy. Harbhajan, United’s undoing as City pipped who replaces Piyush Chawla, will them on the final day of the sea- Everton’s South African midfielder Steven Pienaar (left) challenges Manchester United’s Welsh midfielder Ryan Giggs during the English Premier League be third spinner in the side along son on goal difference. (EPL) match at Old Trafford, Manchester, North West England, yesterday. Giggs has scored in every EPL season since making his debut in 1991. RIGHT: with Ravichandran Ashwin and This time, however, there were Manchester United fans support a huge banner to commemorate the 1958 Munich Air Disaster, in which eight Manchester United players, three members Pragyan Ojha. no slip-ups from Ferguson’s side of the club’s staff and a number of journalists died. “Relieved at getting selected,” as they recorded a 10th consecu- Harbhajan said after Rest of India tive home league win. won the Irani Cup on first-innings Despite the proximity of With Madrid manager Jose long for their opener. Van Persie again rounded Howard before Chris Smalling allowed Nikica lead. Wednesday’s Champions League Mourinho watching from the picked out Giggs with a pull back shooting into the empty net Jelavic a rare sight of goal. “This was a big match. I bowled last- 16 tie against Real Madrid, stands, United produced a clinical and he steadied himself before despite Johnny Heitinga’s desper- Meanwhile, a penalty from really well. And got the opportu- Ferguson resisted any tempta- performance, even if Van Persie curling a precise shot in off the ate attempt to keep the ball out Christian Benteke and a Charles nity to pay against Australia, my tion to rest key players - a mark was guilty of an astonishing miss post. of the net. N’Zogbia free kick earned Aston favourite team,” he added. of respect for an Everton side early on when he took the ball Everton briefly enjoyed some United never lost control and Villa a vital 2-1 victory against Meanwhile, Gambhir tweeted: themselves chasing a top-four past Everton keeper Tim Howard possession but on the stroke comfortably contained Everton West Ham United yesterday “No sympathies plz. Lookin for- finish and who beat United on but blasted his shot against the of halftime right back Rafael after the break, although David to lift them out of the Premier ward to training n then d india the opening day of the season on post. released Van Persie with a clever De Gea was required to make a League bottom three. a game. Chin up guys, its time to Merseyside. But United did not have to wait reverse pass and the Dutchman fine low save after sloppy play by The home side endured a nerv- show some steel. Come on. ous final few minutes after Ashley “Had my bak to d wall in d past Westwood’s 87th-minute own 2, dis is no difrent. Will fight. Very goal but they held on to climb hapy 4 vijay n shikhar. Want India above Reading in the relegation to win @ all costs, wid or widou Nigeria crowned African champions dogfight. me” Benteke was the calmest per- Among the pacers, JOHANNESBURG: Nigeria goalkeeper Daouda Diakite’s net son in the stadium as he rolled his Bhuvneshwar Kumar retained ended a 19-year wait to regain for a contender for goal of the spot kick into the net in the 74th his place in the side following a the African Nations Cup after tournament. minute after Mark Noble was strong performance in the ODIs a stunning goal from winger Underdogs Burkina Faso, adjudged to have fouled N’Zogbia. against Pakistan and England. Sunday Mba gave them a in the final for the first time, Five minutes later N’Zogbia Ishant Sharma and Ashok Dinda deserved 1-0 win over Burkina seemed over-awed by the occa- sent a sweetly-struck free kick are the other fast bowlers while Faso in the final at Soccer City sion, which was played out in curling past Jaaskelainen to give Parwinder Awana, who was in the yesterday. front of a near 90,000 capacity Villa breathing space later in the side during Tests against England, The 24-year-old, who also crowd, until the last 20 minutes game. REUTERS faced the axe. scored the winner in the 2-1 when they threw everything for- Another opening batsman quarter-final win over Ivory ward in search of an equaliser. Ajinkya Rahane, who scored 83 in Coast, struck after 40 minutes The victory meant Nigerian English Premier the first innings of the Irani Cup when the ball bounced off a coach Stephen Keshi became match, also managed to retain defender and into his path as he only the second man to win the League Results his place in the squad but Suresh advanced on goal. tournament as player and coach. Raina, who struck a century and Mba flicked it over defender It was a third African title for Aston Villa 2 (Benteke 74-pen, N’Zogbia 78) a fifty in both the innings, failed West Ham 1 (Westwood 87-og) Mohamed Koffi then reacted Nigeria and their first since Nigeria players celebrate winning the African Nations Cup title after to attract the attention of the quickest to score with his other Keshi captained them to victory beating against Burkina Faso in the final in Johannesburg, yesterday. Manchester United 2 (Giggs 13, Van Persie selectors. foot low into the corner of in 1994. REUTERS 45) Everton 0 Dhawan was rewarded for his consistent performance in the domestic circuit. The Delhi boy has scored 833 first-class runs this season at an average of 55.53, including four hundreds and three fifties. He has scored 524 runs, includ- NSD mascots ‘ready to inspire thousands’ ing two hundreds and two fifties, at an average of 47.63 from eight DOHA: Khazaz and Odaynah sport – and the health benefits it Ranji Trophy matches. have been named as the two produces - to be a vehicle for a He also struck 110 for Delhi new mascots of National Sport peaceful world and a prosperous against England XI in a warm- Day (NSD) that will take place community. up fixture ahead of the five-match tomorrow. The mascots will play an active ODI series that was won by India. Young, healthy and sporty, they role during the events and are Board secretary Sanjay Jagdale are ready to inspire all Qataris to sure to be a hit with kids. They in a statement said Gambhir jump into action. will also be featured in a kids col- replaces Dhawan in the India A Khazaz and Odaynah, whose ouring books and magazines, and side that will play a three-day names are references to the proud will continue to promote Sports warm-up game against Australia Qatari tradition, are a male and for All in the future as well. February 16-18. Gambhir will lead female wild desert hare. NSD is celebrated every sec- India A. Both embody the spirit of the ond Tuesday of February and is Indian squad: Mahendra country and its customs. They an initiative adopted by the Heir Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender are also sport lovers, and they Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Sehwag, Shikhar Dhawan, will invite all NSD participants Hamad Al Thani. Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin to join them in running, jumping, Tomorrow, across the country, Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ravindra walking and playing sports. ministries, government depart- Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Khazaz is 13 years old and has ments, public and private sector Ravichandran Ashwin, Pragyan an ambitious, curious and viva- organisations and sports clubs Ojha, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, cious personality that leads him will be organising sporting activi- Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda, to a desire to learn through sport. ties for all. National Sport Day officials pose for a picture after a press conference at Qatar Olympic Committee headquar- Murali Vijay and Ishant Sharma Odaynah is 15 years old and wants THE PENINSULA ters in Doha yesterday. AGENCIES