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Sunday 4 November 2012 19 Dhul-Hijja 1433 - Volume 17 Number 5508 Price: QR2

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Business | 17 Sport | 28

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Kuwait may Syrian rebels call in army to quell protest to forge unity KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait may call in the army to help secu- rity forces stop a march called by the opposition today after the government vowed to use at Doha meet force if necessary, the emirate’s Al-Anbaa newspaper reported. The move came after security forces used tear gas to disperse Plans to form govt-in-exile a demonstration by thousands of protesters on Wednesday, injur- AMMAN: Details emerged the overhaul is aimed at building ing more than 30 and drawing yesterday of plans to reshape an opposition that would be will- condemnation from international Syria’s opposition into a repre- ing to negotiate with Assad. human rights watchdogs. sentative government-in-exile, “Assad and his entourage leav- “The interior ministry will use on the eve of key talks between ing power is a non-negotiable pre- all means necessary to prevent regime opponents. condition for any dialogue aimed illegal processions,” Al-Anbaa The talks starting today in at finding a non-military solution, quoted a security source as say- Doha come amid US criticism of if that is still possible,” the state- ing yesterday. the main exiled opposition group, ment said. “The army and national guard the Syrian National Council The Amman meeting also may be called in if needed to deal (SNC), which Secretary of State came out in support of “efforts with any breach of public order,” Hillary Clinton said this week was under way to put in place a uni- the source added. not representative. fied political body for the whole of The opposition has called the Reports have emerged that the opposition,” according to the march in Kuwait City to protest Washington is pressing for an statement. against an amendment to the overhaul of the opposition, with It examined “the means to electoral law ordered by Emir long-time dissident Riad Seif unify the opposition in a way wor- H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad touted as the potential head of a thy of the sacrifices on the ground Al Sabah last month ahead of a new government-in-exile dubbed and to secure the international, snap December 1 parliamentary the Syrian National Initiative. regional and Arab support needed Syrian rebel fighters set up a home-made rocket in Aleppo’s northern Izaa quarter, yesterday. Rebels said they election. Almost all opposition Seif and about two dozen other to overthrow the regime.” had launched a major assault on a northern air base used to deploy regime air power. groups have said they will boycott leading opposition figures gath- The group backed the rebel the poll in protest at what they ered in Jordan’s capital Amman “Free Syrian Army and the move- representatives of on-the-ground idea of a political leadership to the overhaul. Clinton had voiced see as a bid to create a rubber this week and came up with pro- ments behind the revolution on activists and fighters, longstand- bring together the opposition” frustration with the SNC, say- stamp assembly. The opposition, posals for a new body to represent the ground as legitimate means to ing dissidents and religious including the SNC. ing it was not representative of made up of Islamists, nationalists the disparate groups opposing topple the criminal regime.” leaders. But he said the Brotherhood on-the-ground opposition forces and liberals, won a February gen- President Bashar Al Assad. Hijab’s spokesman, Mohammed “It remains to be decided supported maintaining the SNC, and that it “can no longer be eral election but the constitutonal Among those in attendance Al Otri, said the group was pro- whether this body will replace in which it holds significant influ- viewed as the visible leader of court quashed the vote in June were some SNC members, former posing “the creation of a new the SNC or will constitute a new ence, and “not replacing it with a the opposition.” and reinstated the previous pro- premier Riad Hijab, who defected political organ of the opposi- coalition,” Otri said, adding that new body.” Washington denied it was try- government parliament. in August, Ali Sadreddin Bayanuni tion, representing all of its the creation of the group “will The SNC lashed out on ing to interfere with the oppo- Kuwait introduced parlia- of the Muslim Brotherhood and components.” certainly lead to the formation of Friday at alleged US interfer- sition, insisting it was simply mentary elections as long ago as Kurdish and tribal representa- He said the new body would a government” in exile. ence with the opposition, accus- seeking to ensure that more 1962, but the Emir and the ruling tives, participants said. include the 14 members of the In a separate statement, ing Washington of undermining voices were heard. Al Sabah family continue to hold In a statement yesterday, par- SNC executive, three members Bayanuni underlined the the country’s revolt and “sowing AFP all key cabinet posts and retain ticipants sought to quell concerns of the Kurdish National Council, Brotherhood’s support for “the the seeds of division” by seeking See also page 8 enormous powers. AFP

Asian club handball Dar Al Sharq Lions and tigers as pets in turns 25 DOHA: Qatar’s leading print- villas terrify neighbours ing and publishing company Dar Al Sharq is all set to mark DOHA: Some people have big at the intriguing large and pow- might open the cage and forget its silver jubilee celebrations cats like lions and tigers in erful carnivores,” the citizen was to close it,” said the complainant. with a series of events to take their homes as pets in flagrant quoted as saying. “This is indeed When told about it, lawyer off tomorrow. violation of the country’s laws a very dangerous thing.” Mohasin Thiyab Al Suwaidi said Dar Al Sharq runs the and without realising the threat Complainants have expressed it is a punishable offence under Al Sharq daily, established in 1986, these predators pose to them fear that even if these dangerous Qatar’s laws to keep dangerous along with The Peninsula, which and their neighbours who live in predators are kept securely caged animals as pets and anyone who was launched on March 10, 1996. constant fear and are exposed inside residential compounds a knows about places other than a It also distributes and prints to severe health hazards. typical stench hangs in the air in licenced zoo that have such ani- a number of international news- A number of nationals have the entire area all the time which mals must immediately inform papers such as Al Sharq Al been complaining that some fami- poses a severe health hazard. the Interior Ministry. “Keeping Awsat, the International Herald lies living in their neighbourhood And who knows how securely dangerous animals at home as Tribune, Varthamanam, Rajdhani, have tigers and lions as domesti- these animals are kept or caged by pets is more severe an offence Lankadeepa, Ngayon and Siyasat. cated animals. their so-called lovers. The beasts than having unlicenced arms,” he As part of the celebrations, Al A citizen has claimed in could break free and escape and told The Peninsula. Sharq will organise a series of remarks to Al Sharq that he knew seriously threaten people’s lives. In case such a pet is let loose seminars on the Syrian crisis, for a fellow citizen who had allocated “I don’t think people having such and attacks a person, its owner is which the newspaper has invited rooms in his spacious residential dangerous domesticated animals to be held accountable. “Qatar’s delegates from Syria to present compound for tigers which he had are equipped properly to take care laws are clear on this,” said the their accounts of daily life as well been raising as pets. of them. Most of these pets actually lawyer. The law allows such ani- as the challenges faced under the “Not only that, the man keeps live in neglect,” said a complainant. mals to be killed because their current regime. The seminars will Hassan Aljanbi (centre) of Saudi Arabia’s Mudhar tries to score next the main gate of his large resi- “These animals are predators presence in residential areas begin from tomorrow at the Doha to Hassan Ahmed (left) and Husain Ahmed of Bahrain’s Al-Ahly dence open all the time so chil- and even at play their huge size poses severe threat to life and Exhibition Centre. during the Asian Handball Club Championship in Doha yesterday. dren living in the vicinity keep and strength make them a threat, property. See also page 5 frequenting the place just to look and who knows a careless owner THE PENINSULA See also page 27 Summer school break from June 26 DOHA: The next summer holi- As job ads go online, many sites weave web of deceit days for private and Independent schools in Qatar will be from June 26 to September 9, the BY AZMAT HAROON based outside of Qatar and not people into various scams. unknown numbers. I was shocked “It is illegal to ask job-seekers Supreme Education Council required to register with Qtel, Several cases have been to find out that the operator for money in Qatar. Companies (SEC) has said. DOHA: Reliance on web portals there is no way to ensure whether reported where people were asked knew everything about me,” said have to pay recruitment agencies The SEC has asked all schools for finding jobs has increased in they at all forward CVs to actual to pay amounts from QR50 to Mohammad Hamad. for finding workers,” Afifi said. to schedule their academic cal- Qatar but very few manage to companies,” a local web admin- QR100 through telephone calls or Call centres also make money if Young job-seekers, especially endar accordingly in line with an get employed through them. IT istrator, who did not want to be emails, with claims that jobs have people call back on their numbers, Arabs, have completely lost their earlier decision to unify school experts here say most of these identified, said. been found for them. It is through say IT experts. confidence in finding jobs online, vacations in the country. The websites mislead people and Dependency on these websites employment websites that fraud- There are some small compa- says Hatim Al Mir. “We are in a mid-term holidays will begin some go as far as selling per- is a risky business since many sters obtain such personal details. nies that even charge people for fix now because companies tell us on February 10 and last until sonal information to call centres have been found to sell personal “I submitted my CV to one of finding jobs, but such activities to submit our CVs online but we February 21, Al Sharq reported in different parts of the world. data like telephone numbers to these websites and after a few are illegal, said Ali Afifi, who runs don’t get a response.” yesterday. See also page 2 “Because these websites are call centres, which in turn lure weeks I began receiving calls from a local recruitment agency. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

SEC fixes summer holidays for schools from June 26 to Sept 9

DOHA: The next sum- until February 21, Al Sharq schools had been following more at least in the case of the winter unification of holidays was in the The first internal examination mer holidays for private reported yesterday. or less similar schedule for sum- holidays. interest of the parents, teachers will start on December 23 while and Independent schools in More than 200,000 students mer holidays last year. However, Independent schools have a and administrative staff of the the second is scheduled to begin Qatar will be from June 26 from 358 schools will resume the mid-term holidays differed two-week mid-term holidays in schools. The decision was made in on April 14, next year. The final to September 9, the Supreme classes today after the ten-day between different schools, with February, while several Asian response to repeated complaints examinations will be held begin- Education Council (SEC) has Eid Al Adha holidays. These most Asian community schools community school have month- from parents about the difficul- ning May 22. said. include 177 Independent schools having their winter holidays in long winter holidays in December. ties they faced due to variations All Independent schools have The SEC has asked all schools and 118 private schools and December. The early announcement of in the school holidays. been asked to teach a foreign lan- to schedule their academic cal- kindergartens. Sources from schools follow- the summer holiday this year Meanwhile, the SEC has guage as an optional subject. The endar accordingly in line with an The early announcement of the ing a different academic calen- indicate that all the private and decided to reduce the number SEC has sought support from earlier decision to unify school holidays will help private schools dar from that of the Independent community schools will be asked of internal examinations in embassies of different countries vacations in the country. to plan their vacation well in schools and the international to unify their summer holidays, Independent schools from three in this respect, in training teach- The mid-term holidays will advance in compliance with the schools say that they are likely in line with the SEC guidelines. to two, as part of a new academic ers and formulating the curricula. begin on February 10 and last SEC guidelines. Most private to be exempted from the rule, The SEC said that the policy, the daily said. THE PENINSULA NU-Q, DFI join hands to support media at DTFF University to co-host opening night of ‘Made in Qatar’ series

DOHA: Northwestern people in Qatar to get involved in red carpet screening of “Lyrics University in Qatar (NU-Q) media will inspire a generation Revolt.” The film, produced by and Doha Film Institute (DFI) that will go on to lead a prosper- NU-Q alumni Ashlene Ramadan, announced yesterday that they ous creative industry in Qatar,” Rana Khaled, Melanie Fridgant, will partner to help bring local NU-Q dean and CEO Everette and Shannon Farhoud, portrays film and media work front and Dennis said. how Arab hip-hop gave voice to center at the fourth edition of At DTFF Family Days on youth-led movements for change Doha Tribeca Film Festival November 23 and 24, NU-Q will across the region. (DTFF). give young people and their par- DTFF has selected three other The two organisations agreed ents the opportunity to try pre- films that began as student work to a collaboration last week that senting news from the festival in at NU-Q, which include Amna allows for a variety of activities a simulated television studio on Saleh Al Khalaf’s Brains of to support local media producers, Katara’s Corniche. Empowerment, an experimental advance media literacy, and pro- “Media and creative industries film about the empowerment mote Qatar’s emerging film and are one of the fastest growing sec- of women in the Middle East, media industry, crowned by a co- tors globally, and in the Middle Ghazil – The Story of Rashed Abdulaziz Al Khater (right), CEO of Doha Film Institute (DFI), with Everette Dennis, Dean and CEO of Northwestern hosted opening night for the ‘Made East alone is growing at an annual and Jawaher, a family drama by University in Qatar (NU-Q). in Qatar’ series on November 18. rate of five percent. DFI is com- Sarah Al Derham, and a film by DTFF recently announced that mitted to supporting the growth Sara Al Saadi, Latifa Abdulla Al Change” will be led by Joe Khalil, issue in light of events in the Assistant Professor of Journalism this year’s edition of DTFF will of these industries in line with Darwish, and Maaria Assami, an Associate Professor in NU-Q’s Arab World over the past two Justin Martin, on the portrayal showcase the largest number of Qatar’s national vision of devel- titled Bader. The short docu- Communication programme, and years. of Arabs in western media (fol- ‘Made in Qatar’ films yet, includ- oping a strong knowledge backed mentary follows a young Qatari will examine the role of films and Other NU-Q faculty lead- lowing the November 22 screen- ing 15 world premieres. country,” Abdulaziz Al Khater, boy who uses poetry to help him filmmakers during times of social ing discussions at the festival ing of “Valentino’s Ghost”); and “We are enthusiastic about the CEO of DFI, said. overcome distractions and other change. include Tim Wilkerson, award- Scott Curtis, Associate Professor growing number of films featuring NU-Q is also celebrating the challenges in a local Doha school. Regionally known Arab film- winning filmmaker and Assistant of Communication and film histo- in ‘Made in Qatar’, and we hope selection of its students’ works NU-Q faculty will share their makers and artists from differ- Professor at NU-Q, on films about rian, on the hit Iranian film “No that shining a joint spotlight on for screening in ‘Made in Qatar’ expertise in a series of DTFF ent generations and backgrounds Algerian independence; Professor Entry for Men.” this talent and encouraging young series, which will open with a panels. “Emerging Cinema of will join the panel to address this in Residence Khaled Hroub and THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Industrial growth poses safety risks International seminar discusses safe carriage of various dangerous goods by road DOHA: The rapid industrial expansion in Qatar has created a high demand for hazardous goods, doubling the numbers of trucks carrying such sub- stances and posing higher risks with regard to public safety, a seminar here was told. Over 60 delegates from com- panies and organisations involved in the transport of dangerous goods in Qatar participated in the International Seminar on Road Transport Capacity Building and Professional Training organ- ised by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) Academy, in cooperation with Mowasalat and the Arab Union of Land Transport (AULT). This seminar, which focused on the transport of dangerous goods by road (ADR), falls under a regional project for the League of Arab States countries aimed at improving road safety and road transport efficiency in the region. It was supported by the Islamic Development Bank. In his inaugural address, Nasser Al Khanji, Mowasalat’s Panellists at the International Seminar on Road Transport Capacity Building and Professional Training, organised by the International Road Transport Union (IRU) Academy, in cooperation Business Development and with Mowasalat and the Arab Union of Land Transport (AULT), in Doha yesterday. Strategy Director said that Mowasalat has developed the bases the transportation of dangerous international rules and legisla- dangerous goods by road; enhance transport of dangerous goods, He pointed out that the human of integrated training, in collabo- goods by road is increasing due tions related to the safe trans- the mechanisms for compliance particularly the conditions factor is the most crucial ele- ration with the IRU Academy, to to the rich natural resources, the port of dangerous goods by road with such bases and methods; and related to loading, unloading and ment in achieving safe trans- build up efficient training capaci- strong demand for transport and everywhere, including the Arab boost awareness of the importance handling of the related trans- port, which requires compulsory ties and to attain global leadership economic growth. countries. of observing them to avoid acci- port equipment; improving road appropriate professional train- in this area. The strict compliance with the Robert Makondo, Mowasalat’s dents involving high-scale danger safety; and developing profes- ing of truck drivers in line with Jassem Saif Al Sulaiti, international regulations of the Training Manager, said that for both humans and machinery, sional training on land transport ADR Agreement and the IRU Mowasalat’s Chairman and carriage of dangerous goods by training materials included many particularly in high-density roads, to avoid human, environmental Academy international training Managing Director, said the sem- road in increasing being an essen- of the approved fundamentals for and preserve national resources and economic damage caused by standards. inar assumes great significance tial requirement and a significant transporting hazardous goods and and economy.” accidents involving heavy com- This requires continuing the for the safety of people, vehicles factor in ensuring the safety of reducing their danger in cases of Dr Mahmoud Abdallatt, AULT mercial vehicles carrying danger- efforts to develop necessary and road users resulting from drivers, vehicles and road users accidents. Secretary-General, stressed the ous goods. regional transport infrastruc- the transportation of dangerous and benefiting the community as “We have developed a course, necessity of conducting high- Haydar Ozkan, IRU General ture plans of the regional trans- goods, including fuels, flammable a whole. including such materials and ways level professional training for Delegate to the IRU Permanent port activities, allowing greater materials, chemicals and radioac- In this regard, the UN of handling them in various cases managers and drivers involved Delegation to the Middle East and international mobility of goods tive material. Convention on International and thorough information on road in the transport of dangerous the region, welcomed the efforts and people, including greater Ahmed Bu Sherbak Al Transport of Dangerous Goods safety. The workshop’s aim was goods by road in the Arab world and decisions of many countries transport of dangerous goods Mansouri, Mowasala’s by Road stands as the strong- to identify the bases and meth- and effectively implementing in relation to accessing the ADR by road. Executive Director, said that est multilateral framework for ods of the safe carriage of various the conditions related to the Agreement. THE PENINSULA

H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, with senior officials from Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Petroleum International, RasGas and Qatargas, at ExxonMobil Corporation’s headquarters in Irving, Texas. ExxonMobil hosts Energy Minister in Texas

DOHA: The Minister of industry is unmistakable, and we on the success we have created Energy and Industry H E look to build our business, both in together, our work in Qatar is not Dr Mohammed bin Saleh al Qatar and internationally, culti- finished,” said Cahir. “With an eye Sada, along with senior offi- vating mutually beneficial part- to sustainable, safe, reliable, and cials from Qatar Petroleum, nerships will only become more efficient operations, ExxonMobil Qatar Petroleum International, important.” will continue to support Qatar RasGas Company Limited and Andy Swiger, senior vice presi- Petroleum and our joint ventures, Qatargas Operating Company dent, Exxon Mobil Corporation, Qatargas and RasGas, to ensure Limited, visited ExxonMobil hosted the delegation and the right elements are in place to Corporation’s headquarters in stressed that the historic part- protect the long-term viability of Irving, Texas. ExxonMobil exec- nership between ExxonMobil these assets.” utives welcomed the Minister and the State of Qatar and Qatar The delegation included and the visiting group at the Petroleum is truly remarkable. Mohamed Al Rumaihi, Qatar headquarters. “ExxonMobil’s strengths comple- Ambassador to the US; Nasser During the course of visit, the ment those of Qatar Petroleum Khalil Al Jaidah, Chief Executive group participated in business and our partnership is a model Officer of Qatar Petroleum reviews which highlighted the for national and international International; Hamad Rashid success of strategic partnerships companies everywhere. Working Al Mohannadi, Chief Executive in developing Qatar’s natural together we have devised, devel- Officer of RasGas; Saad Al Kaabi, resources and supporting Qatar’s oped and implemented solutions Director of Oil and Gas Ventures industry-leading performance that neither side could have for Qatar Petroleum; Sheikh through project and operational accomplished alone.” Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chief excellence. Bart Cahir, president and Executive Officer of Qatargas, and “Given the significance of our general manager of ExxonMobil other senior members of Qatar’s partnership with ExxonMobil, Qatar Inc., reinforced the impor- oil and gas industry. we are very pleased to once again tance of having a strong partner- Rex W Tillerson, chairman visit with senior members of the ship with Qatar Petroleum and and chief executive officer, Exxon company at its headquarters in employing unique technologies in Mobil Corporation, hosted a din- Texas,” said Dr Al Sada. “Qatar’s developing the North Field. ner in honour of the Minister. importance in the global energy “While we reflect proudly THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME ibq marks 56 years Started operation as Ottoman Bank in 1956

DOHA: The International Today, ibq operates a growing inception, ibq has significantly Bank of Qatar (ibq) marks this network of nine branches and contributed to the Qatari econ- month its 56th anniversary, service centres and 35 ATMs in omy by providing continued finan- commemorating five decades strategic locations throughout cial stability through its robust of steadfast commitment to Qatar alongside its international and unparalleled performance providing the country and its network through the National and annual results. ibq has also community with excellence in Bank of Kuwait (NBK), which been ideally placed to finance key service and innovation in bank- offers clients access to greater projects in Qatar and extending ing and finance. The milestone resources and a wide range of glo- support and advice to the both strongly underlines the bank’s bal services. Owing to its world- international and local business remarkable track record ear- class services and customised entities here in the country.” marked with year-on-year solutions, ibq was recognised with The award-winning bank has growth, unparalleled leadership major industry accolades that fur- become a preferred partner for and a superb line-up of financial ther attest to the bank’s image as many offering an all-encompass- solutions. the Bank of Choice. ing range of premium, smart, Started as the Ottoman Bank Jabra Ghandour, Managing tailor-made and convenient in 1956 and serving Qatar ever Director of ibq, said: “We’re banking and financial solutions, since, ibq is one of the oldest extremely proud to celebrate all managed and delivered by banks in the country which played this illustrious milestone and to a pool of the highest standing Sheikh Khalid Abdulla M A Al Thani (right), Chief Operations Officer, Engineering & Ventures at Qatargas, receiving a significant role in building the be part of Qatar’s most estab- professionals. the award in London. fundamentals of the industry. lished banking institutions. Since “Our partnership with NBK allowed us to further expand our offerings to our clients with expo- sure to a host of international, Qatargas wins World Bank’s first-class services. We will con- tinue to build on our existing, long-standing legacy to firmly cement our image as a leading global environmental award financial institution not only in Qatar but also in the wider Mena DOHA: Qatargas has been adherence to operational excel- Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) region”, added Jabra. awarded the prestigious “Award lence and high environmental ship loading at Ras Laffan Port. In June 2009, ibq was recog- for Excellence in Flaring performance and stewardship. It The $800m Jetty Boil-Off Gas nised as “the fastest moving bank” Reduction” by the World shows our approach to flare man- (JBOG) Recovery Project will in the Middle East and North Bank led Global Gas Flaring agement is seen internationally enable boil-off gas to be collected Africa region and the 26th fast- Reduction Partnership (GGFR) as being in the top category of from LNG ships and compressed est mover globally in The Banker at a high-profile gala ceremony performance and is particularly at a central facility. The com- magazine’s Top 1,000 World Bank in London. relevant as Qatar will shortly be pressed gas will then be sent to survey 2009. The World Bank led initiative, hosting the international climate the LNG producers to be con- The bank’s commitment to the GGFR, is a globally recog- negotiations, the Conference of sumed as fuel or converted back customer relationships and best nized flare mitigation program the Parties (COP18).” into LNG.” practice is reflected in the numer- within the oil and gas industry. It Sheikh Khalid Abdulla M A Al “The JBOG Project is a corner- ous awards won by the bank, brings together representatives of Thani, Chief Operations Officer stone of Qatargas’ overall flare including “Best Private Banking governments, state-owned com- Engineering & Ventures at management and reduction strat- Services in Qatar” award for 2012 panies and major international Qatargas, who collected the award egy and will be instrumental in by Euromoney Magazine, “Best companies so they can overcome on behalf of Qatargas, continued: our drive to reduce and maintain Credit Card in Qatar Award the barriers to reducing gas flar- “Our key drivers to mini- total flaring at regulatory target from the Banker ME Magazine, ing by sharing global best practice mise flaring include our desire levels in the long-term to protect “Best Retail Bank in Qatar 2011” and implement country specific to reduce carbon footprint and the environment. The project will from Arabian Business and “Best programs. also achieve operational excel- recover enough natural gas per Customer Service in the Middle Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa Al lence. We are currently lead- year to power the equivalent of East” award for four consecu- Thani, Chief Executive Officer at ing one of the largest entirely more than 40,000 homes,” con- tive years 2008, 2009, 2010 and Qatargas, said: “We are delighted environmentally-friendly based cluded Sheikh Khalid Abdulla M 2011 from Banker Middle East to win this prestigious award projects in the world to recover A Al Thani. Magazine. THE PENINSULA which bears testimony to our gas being flared during the THE PENINSULA

‘My Homeland is My Identity’ expo from Wednesday

DOHA: The Qatar Center for will highlight the significance achievements of their ancestors, Heritage and Identity (QCHI) will of the national cultural heritage a matter that will entrench their organise an exhibition under the as well as awareness about the sense of national belonging, patri- title ‘My Homeland is My Identity’ importance of heritage and iden- otism and pride. The three-day from November 7 at the Doha tity values. He also said that the exhibition is also intended to dis- International Exhibition Center. expo seeks to instill heritage and cover emerging talents, encour- QCHI Chairman Khalid Al values in the future generations age creativity among Qataris in Mulla said that the exhibition as well as introduce them to the various fields. QNA SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Women’s OPD at Dar Al Sharq to celebrate silver jubilee DOHA: Dar Al Sharq, lead- Public Relations, Gulf Chapter, conference on Wednesday at advertising and printing tech- ing printing and publish- the newspaper has organised 5:30 pm. “This celebration is nology exhibition, under the ing company in Qatar, is all workshops on public relations going to be an important event patronage of H E Abdullah bin set to mark its silver jubilee and media. One of these will in which leading media person- Hamad Al Attiyah, Chairman Wakra Hospital celebrations with a series be led by Dr Ibrahim Mustafa nel of the region will partici- of the Administrative Control of events that will take off Al Qaradawi, the public rela- pate,” Jaber Al Harami, Editor and Transparency Authority. tomorrow. Dar Al Sharq runs tions consultant at World in chief of Al Sharq said. The three-day exhibition, the Al Sharq daily, estab- Health Organisation (WHO), The Dar Al Sharq silver which begins tomorrow, will lished in 1986, along with on Tuesday at 5:30 pm. On jubilee celebrations come at be held at the Doha Exhibition The Peninsula, which was the last day of the sympo- the same time as the Media Centre from 10 am to 7pm to open soon launched on March 10, 1996. sium, a media seminar will Expo 2012, the second media, daily. THE PENINSULA It also distributes and prints be held in col- a number of international laboration with Delivery care to start later newspapers such as Al Sharq the Al Jazeera Al Awsat, The International network, DOHA: The women’s outpatient buildings has six floors. Herald Tribune, Varthamanam, under the title clinics at the Wakra Hospital will The hospital has 321 beds for inpa- Rajdhani, Lankadeepa, Ngayon ‘Traditional open soon. In the first phase the clinic tients and its parking lot has space for and Siyasat. As part of the cel- media and social will conduct only medical check-ups 1,000 cars. There are eight gates for ebrations, Al Sharq will organ- media.. conflict for visitors. Hospital admission and entry into the hospital premises. ise a series of seminars on the or integration.’ delivery care will be available at a later Recently, the Dental Department of Syrian crisis, for which the Popular phase, Al Sharq reported yesterday. Hamad Medical Corporation announced newspaper has invited delegates media expert The outpatient clinics of the hospi- plans to open ten clinics in Wakra from Syria to present their and presenter tal started functioning in April. The Hopital to ease the stress on the clinics accounts of daily life as well as on Al Jazeera QR1.85bn hospital will be the largest at HMC the challenges faced under the of the show healthcare facility in the country. Meanwhile, the Hamad International current regime. The seminars ‘Al Etejah Of the total 321 beds, 150 beds were Training Center at the Hamad Medical will begin from tomorrow at the Al Muakis’, to be be ready in the initial phase. This Corporation (HMC) is all set to open its Doha Exhibition Centre. Dr Faisal includes 25 beds each for internal dis- branches at different HMC hospitals. In collaboration with the Al Qassim, eases, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and The center provides training to the International Association for will lead the gynaecology and 50 beds for intensive staff to improve the quality of the serv- care, according to earier reports. ices. Quoting Dr Khalid Abdul Noor, The hsoptial has separate buildings director of the center the daily said in for women’s healthcare and emergency, two branches will soon be opened at the operation theatres and intensive care Al Khor and Wakra hospitals. units. Each of the three main hospital THE PENINSULA

Digital media expert to lead workshop

DOHA: British Prime Minister David Cameron’s former head of Digital Communications, Rishi Saha, will present the latest trends in social media and digital communications at an interactive workshop here on November 7. The event at the Millennium Hotel is being organised by the Middle East Public Relations Association (MEPRA). Designed to raise awareness and deepen understanding of social media amongst PR professionals, the workshop will address five areas including building the internal business case and strategy for digital communi- cations; creating sophisticated social media experiences to engage citizens and residents; managing social media crises and reputational risks; setting up and managing a digital team; and measurement frameworks, analytics and setting realistic key progress indicators (KPIs). “The current vogue for social media in Government circles, especially here in the GCC, is a welcome addition to the public realm. Used wisely, social media can enhance the quality of relationship between the people and their governing institutions. Individuals and corporations interested in participating can register by sending an email to admin@ mepra.org. Participation fee for MEPRA members is QR200, while non-member guests can participate at a charge of QR250. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 06 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Editorial

ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN: SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: KHALID AL SAYED Seeking stability E-MAIL: [email protected] ACTING MANAGING EDITOR: HUSSAIN AHMAD Presidential elections in Afghanistan, E-MAIL: [email protected] to be held in 2014, will be crucial to the EDITORIAL: TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR. country’s security and stability. E-MAIL: [email protected] RESIDENTIAL elections will be held in Afghanistan in April a key condition for the delivery of more than $16bn in aid pledged ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 2014. The announcement of the date by the election commission during an international donor conference held in Tokyo last May. Phas set at rest concerns that President Hamid Karzai, who is The international community is pinning its hopes on the elections, CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] not allowed to run for a third term, might delay the polls. Elections especially the US and Nato, because the gains made in the country SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY are seen as crucial to Afghanistan’s security and stability and if in security and stability face the risk of fizzling out if the new govern- held freely and fairly, the new government which will take charge in ment is either weak or lacks legitimacy. With $13m pledged by the TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 Kabul will be able to face the challenges arising from the planned international community so far to help Afghans prepare for the elec- E-MAIL: [email protected] withdrawal of US troops from the country. tions, the government of Karzai has a duty to deliver on the promises The decision to hold elections in 2014 provides a golden opportunity he made to the people as well as his donors. SUBSCRIPTION RATES to Afghan leaders, both in the ruling party and the opposition, to pre- The last presidential elections were marred by allegations of huge ANNUAL QR 675 pare the country for the post-withdrawal period. For the same reason, fraud and vote rigging. More than one million of the 5.5 million votes 6 MONTHS QR 340 if there are any flaws in the conduct of the elections, or allegations of cast were ruled invalid, while only 33 percent of the country’s voters vote-rigging or any incident which causes suspicion about it fairness, turned out for the poll. A repetition of these mistakes will be suicidal it can wreck the country’s transition to self-rule and strengthen the for Afghanistan and the international community needs to exert hands of Taliban who are working to overthrow the government in pressure on Karzai to ensure fairness of the election process. Kabul. Afghan leaders must realise that the election provides them Many observers -- both inside the country and outside --were wor- an opportunity to defeat Taliban and other insurgents and it’s their ried Karzai wants to remain in power or appoint a proxy from his duty to make sure that the leaders who are elected are true repre- family circle to be a candidate in the elections. His family is thought PUBLICATION sentatives of the people. The previous presidential elections, held in to have benefited immensely from his position as president although late 2009, were marred by allegations of widespread fraud. these charges have never been proven. In the coming months, Karzai’s Free and fair elections are important for another reason – it’s actions will be scrutinised for his sincerity and commitment.

The other side Palestine for me now is ‘67 borders with east Jerusalem as its capital. Quote of Mahmoud Abbas A security breakdown in Benghazi the day Palestinian President EWS reporting about the September 11 assault on the US mission in Benghazi, Libya, has moved from the political and Nmostly pointless issue of when the Obama administration had publicly acknowledged that a terrorist attack had taken place to more essential questions: Why was there a security failure at the consulate, and how did US forces in Libya and outside the country respond to the emergency? The result is a host of unanswered questions. Following a single background briefing, the State Department has mostly refused to respond to inquiries about Benghazi, citing an ongoing investigation by a review board. But considerable evidence has emerged that Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who died in the attack, and his security staff were deeply concerned about what they considered to be inadequate security. Fox News reported this week that a secret cable described an August 15 “emergency meeting” at the consulate, at which the State Department’s regional security officer “expressed concerns with the ability to defend Post in the event of a coordinated attack due to limited manpower, security measures, weapons capabilities, host nation support and the overall size of the compound.” Fox reported that the cable, dispatched to Washington, said the emergency meeting included a briefing about Al Qaeda training camps in the Benghazi area and Islamist militias, including those that allegedly carried out the September 11 attack. In another cable on September 11, hours before the attack, Stevens described “growing problems with security” in Benghazi and “growing frustration” with the local militias and police, to which the State Department had entrusted the con- sulate’s defence. Separately, according to a report on ForeignPolicy. com, Stevens may have dispatched a letter to Benghazi authorities, complaining that a policeman assigned to guard the consulate was photographing it on the morning of September 11. Fox’s aggressive reporting, though undercut by blustery and often scurrilous commentary, nevertheless seems to have prompted the CIA and Pentagon to provide reporters with their accounts of September 11 — even as the State Department and the White House insist that all should await the official investigation results. From these, and a report Friday by the Wall Street Journal, it emerges that the CIA mission in Benghazi was considerably larger than the consulate and may have been partly responsible for its defense. According to the CIA account, on the night of September 11 a six-member paramilitary force set out to rescue consulate personnel, arriving some 50 minutes after the attack began. THE WASHINGTON POST Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Breaking two-party stranglehold that is killing US democracy

BY GARY JOHNSON a Republican and a Democrat, voters themselves decided that parties offer? Vague assurances administrations that seem to with no other real option. And the media, two massively well- that they will balance the budget have little or no disagreements ITH the election only why shouldn’t they? The debates funded political parties or any- someday, years or even decades on foreign policy. Likewise, the days away, it is a fair they have seen only included the one else should “preselect” their from now, quibbling over minor truly alarming erosion of our civil Wquestion to ask how Republican and the Democrat. choices for them. adjustments to a fundamentally liberties by the federal govern- many American voters are about The hundreds of millions of dol- In Tuesday’s election, the siz- flawed and corrupt tax system. ment has been an entirely bipar- to cast their votes for a candidate lars’ worth of TV ads they have able portion of the American And neither offers any real com- tisan effort. Americans who doesn’t really reflect their seen are all about the Republican electorate that believes the mitment to challenge monetary Americans deserve the oppor- views? Why would they do that? and the Democrat. And the news time is past when our troops policies that are devaluing our tunity to vote for a third choice: have the power The answer is complex – and media? Well, they have bought should have been brought home currency by the day. a candidate who is neither a simple. The Republicans and into the whole scheme, with cov- from Afghanistan doesn’t have Where is the choice on elec- product nor a proponent of a to end this Democrats have spent dec- erage that overwhelmingly por- a “major-party” candidate who tion day for a candidate who will status quo that is clearly not ades trading power back and trays a two-party race. agrees with them. The millions balance the budget now and pro- working. My candidacy, the forth between themselves, and There’s a problem, though. who believe government is far too pose the first substantial reform thousands of volunteer hours dysfunctional, in doing so, have managed to This duopoly leaves tens of mil- large and intrusive will be look- of the entire tax code in decades spent overcoming obstacles to install a two-party duopoly that lions of Americans essentially ing at major-party options that – scrapping taxes on income and ballot access, and the deter- corrupting completely controls America’s disenfranchised. Polling shows both support the Patriot Act and replacing them with a single con- mination of our campaign to political process. This duopoly that roughly one third of vot- a National Defense Authorization sumption tax that will create “crash the party” are all driven duopoly of runs everything from how can- ers doesn’t necessarily con- Act, which inexplicably legal- millions of jobs? by the desire and, I believe, the didates qualify to get on the sider themselves Democrats or izes the indefinite detention of Giving the American people imperative to break the two- Democrats and ballot, to who is invited to the Republicans. Every election, they American citizens. And for those these choices is what my cam- party stranglehold. only debates aired on national end up making a choice between who care deeply about marriage paign for president is all about. It will not happen in one Republicans. television, to, yes, the special- what some would call the “lesser equality, they won’t see a major- Of our $16tn debt, almost equal election. But like all significant interest money that fuels their of two evils”. party candidate who believes amounts have been racked movements in American history, billion-dollar campaigns. Where is it written that vot- marriage discrimination violates up under Republicans and it can start with one election if Vote with me. The consequences of this ers’ choices should be so limited? basic constitutional rights. Democrats. Our chronic involve- the disenfranchised “waste their insider game? Too many vot- Certainly not in the US consti- On the most compelling issue ment in costly and unneces- votes” in significant enough num- ers approach Tuesday’s election tution. Certainly not in the law. of all in these difficult times, the sary wars has come through bers to become franchised again. believing their choice is between And certainly not because the economy, what do the two major a progression of major-party THE GUARDIAN SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Separatists gaining ground in Europe

proposed lowering the age of government Viewed from pensions for laid-off workers, while De Wever insisted the best solution was to afar, the nations attract business investment to create other jobs for them. Otherwise, he added, Flanders would end up “Walloon-ized” by of Europe seem welfare payments. Philippe Juliam, a secondary school ethics teacher enjoying a beer and a fat to have such a Havana in one of Antwerp’s countless wood-paneled cafes, said De Wever’s timeless history, cause is gaining adherents not only because of the crisis but also because it responds to a growing feeling that in fact under kings, prime the country is already divided along lin- guistic and many other lines. ministers and “We are two different nations, with dif- ferent cultures, different economies and different languages,” he said, puffing on presidents, that no his Bolivar. Scottish independence activists have one would think of long said similar things, although they speak the same language as the English. But it was only last year that the Scottish pulling out of the National Party gained a majority in the regional parliament and Oct. 15 when country in favour of its leader, First Minister Alex Salmond, signed the referendum agreement with Prime Minister David Cameron in regional separatism. London. As opposed to other European inde- pendence movements, the Scottish BY EDWARD CODY separatists have been hampered by the economic crisis that has slowed activity s debt-burdened European across the continent since 2008. Rather governments struggle to than blaming the London government, overcome the disparities in many Scots have expressed fear that their still-imperfect union, things would only get worse if Scotland old demons of regional were to go it on its own, leading to polls Aseparatism have surged anew in recent that show the nationalists would lose if months, raising another unwelcome the referendum were held today. challenge to the continent’s traditional The economic argument has boosted nation-states. separatist hopes strongly in Catalonia, Separatist movements have dramati- however, drawing in many people who cally reinforced their positions here in previously would not have envisaged life Belgium’s prosperous Flanders region, outside Spain. Oriol Pujol, a leader of the where the independence-minded New Protesters wave Catalan flags during a march in September. ruling regional party, Convergence and Flemish Alliance captured Antwerp’s Union, estimated in a recent interview 16th-century City Hall on Octobeer 14 French island of Corsica, where Mafia- some have suggested they could be for local independence more attractive to that more than 8 percent of Catalonia’s and, under its populist leader Bart De style crime has eclipsed the nationalist tempted to violate constitutional law if ordinary people who feel they are over- $260 billion economy goes off to Madrid Wever, is heading into national elections movement, and in industrialised north- their demands are not met. But even taxed for social welfare programmes that in taxes and never returns to help the in 2014 with new wind in its sails. ern Italy, where scandal has set back the if the separatists remain peaceful, the transfer wealth to other regions. region. “There is an outcry in Flanders for Northern League, forcing it to temper resurgence of regional nationalists has De Wever rose to notoriety in 2005 by Mas, the regional president, recently change,” declared Danny Pieters, vice its complaints about paying high taxes created another debilitating struggle for leading a convoy of 12 trucks loaded with set new elections for Nov. 25 and pledged president of the Belgian Senate and a to compensate for lazy and larcenous leaders already trying to hold together a more than ¤200m in fake 50-euro bills that, if he gains a reinforced majority as senior Flemish alliance leader. Sicilians. European Union undermined by punish- that were transported from Flanders in expected, he will organize a referendum Independence-minded nationalists Viewed from afar, the nations of ing debts and divergent economies. the north to Wallonia in the south, dram- on a greater independence — greater but also have made recent gains in Spain’s Europe seem to have such a timeless his- Ironically, the regional separatists atising his message that relatively well off carefully undefined. He decided to act, Basque Country, returning to power in tory, under kings, prime ministers and have benefited from the success of the Flemish-speaking taxpayers were financ- officials in Barcelona said, after failing the regional government after a four- presidents, that no one would think of European Union over the last half-cen- ing a costly welfare system for French- to win concessions from Madrid on new year pause, and in Catalonia, where sepa- pulling out of the country in favour of tury and the ideal of seeing, one day, a speaking Walloons. The Bank of Belgium fiscal arrangements that would allow the ratists running the regional government regional separatism. But struggles for United States of Europe in which the estimated that in that year the transfers region to keep more of its tax money. have threatened to hold a referendum regional cultural and political independ- role of national governments would amounted to ¤5.8bn. The long-restive Basque Country, on whether to remain part of Spain. In ence — the Basque ETA set off bombs diminish. Artur Mas, the Catalonian Conversations in the elegant streets of where polls show 40 percent of the pop- Scotland, which has been part of Great for decades — have long burned under nationalist leader, and De Wever, his Antwerp indicated that many people sup- ulation favors independence, has long Britain for 300 years, such a referendum the surface, a permanent part of the counterpart here in Antwerp, both have port De Wever and his Flemish alliance been the scene of Europe’s best-known has already been scheduled for autumn European landscape. spoken lyrically of seeing their regions not because they want to break away regional movement, largely because of 2014 — on the anniversary of a battle in In the Balkans, the death of Marshal as independent nations within such a from Belgium, but because they want terrorist strikes by the ETA that have which Scotsmen defeated the British. Tito set off bloody regional wars in the federated Europe. change from crisis-driven economic poli- killed more than 800 people over sev- “Secessionist temptations are legion 1990s that resulted in the breakup of In most instances, breakaway lead- cies handed down from Socialist Party- eral decades. The ETA, Basque-language on our continent these days,” Daniel Yugoslavia into half a dozen new states. ers have strengthened their positions led national government in Brussels. initials for Basque Country and Liberty, Cohn-Bendit, a Green representative in Czechoslovakia also spilt after the fall of recently because they found it easier to A key indicator of what they object to, announced a permanent cease-fire the European Parliament, warned in a the Soviet Union, but peacefully, into the broaden their support in the context of observers here said, was the recent clo- late last year, halting attacks, but the recent column. Czech Republic and Slovakia. Europe’s relentless financial crisis. By sure of a nearby Ford auto plant, which Spanish government insisted it must On the other side of the ledger, two Western Europe’s recently successful forcing central governments to enact resulted in the loss of 400 jobs directly turn over its arms and dissolve before long-term separatist strains have separatist leaders have shown no clear painful tax increases and spending cuts, and another 600 in parts and supply arrests will stop. receded, at least for the moment: on the inclination for such violence, although the crisis has made the perennial quests companies. The national government WP-BLOOMBERG Arab Spring jitters complicate British-Gulf relations

rights record and that they would the rights of migrant workers. and its Gulf Arab allies would perceived British criticism of the and accused the government of Any strains be “re-evaluating their country’s More recently, Gulf states have have geostrategic and commercial Gulf is not helping the sales pitch. being “inconsistent” in its treat- historic relations with Britain” in been criticised for their response implications. “A significant section of the ment of Bahrain compared to between Britain response. to Arab Spring protests: Sunni Bahrain, home of the US NGOs (non-governmental other countries. The United Arab Emirates’ Muslim monarchy Saudi Arabia navy’s Fifth Fleet, is an impor- organisations) .... are deliber- Gulf officials could not be Minister of State for Foreign has cracked down on Shia and tant Western ally in keeping the ately provoking parliamentarians reached for comment. However, and its Gulf Arab Affairs Anwar Gargash rubbished other activists, and Sunni-ruled oil shipping route of the Strait into taking positions which are diplomats and sources close to an October editorial in Britain’s Bahrain crushed protests by its of Hormuz open in the face of unnecessarily unsympathetic to Gulf authorities said British criti- allies would have Guardian newspaper describing Shia majority. threats of an Iranian blockade. the conditions on the ground in cism could be seen as naive, hypo- the UAE as an “authoritarian Top oil producer Saudi Arabia the Middle East, which does real critical and dangerous. regime”, accusing the paper of SHIA UNREST is also an important British ally in damage to our arms exports,” said Pointing to the Iraq war, Gulf geostrategic knowing “very little with their Gulf countries fear powerful counter-terrorism efforts. British lawmaker Peter Luff. officials say that attempts to condescending view”. Shia neighbour Iran will exploit More generally, Britain has Luff, who until a September fast-track democracy can back- and commercial Although the parliamentary the Shia unrest to destabilise gov- deep ties with Gulf Arab states, cabinet reshuffle was defence fire, and the West often does not inquiry carries no legislative ernments, which are unsettled by many of them former British equipment minister, said Gulf understand the region’s complex implications. weight and the Guardian does not the West’s speedy withdrawal of protectorates, whose citizens allies don’t always understand sectarian and tribal mix. speak for the British government, support from former Middle East have long come to Britain to buy why “Britain is so keen to shoot Gulf countries have made small the criticism nonetheless stung. allies in the face of pro-democracy homes, shop and study. itself in the foot”. steps towards greater openness BY MOHAMMED ABBAS “There’s huge nervousness demonstrations. Britain’s Foreign Office says “I’m not condoning human in recent years, but warn that across the region, and that nerv- Bahrain this week banned all about 160,000 Britons work in the rights abuses, of course not, but changing too rapidly will risk ith billions of dollars ousness is caused by a number of protests, a move Britain called Gulf, and exports to the region are .... sometimes you have to be prag- further destabilising an already worth of deals and unresolved crises, the tensions “excessive” which it “hoped” worth £17bn ($27.44bn), on a par matic,” he added. volatile region. vital geostrategic with Iran and of course the Arab would be rescinded. with China and India combined. In August, Gulf and industry “The people in the Gulf will Winterests at stake, uprisings,” said Chris Doyle of But while British criticism sources said British oil major BP say, ‘you of all people should Britain can ill afford to upset its Caabu, a group set up to advance may sometimes go too far in the ARMS CONTRACTS had likely been sidelined from understand why evolutionary Gulf allies, yet signs are emerging Arab-British ties. eyes of the Gulf, it has not gone Gulf investment in Britain was bidding to run UAE oil fields in change is better than revolu- of growing Arab irritation over “This has made keeping rela- far enough in the eyes of rights worth some $2.25bn last year, part due to “tensions” stoked by tionary change’,” said William the issue of human rights. tions on a smooth and even keel groups and some lawmakers, the Foreign Office said, includ- Britain’s support for the Arab Patey, a former British ambas- The Arab Spring has ratcheted very difficult for the British gov- highlighting Britain’s dilemma. ing interests in some of Britain’s Spring, and a BBC Arabic report sador to Saudi Arabia, refer- up sensitivity in the Gulf region ernment, because whilst it is not “We feel the UK has a marked highest profile buildings, shops on a government crackdown on ring to Europe’s long history of over perceived criticism of how responsible for what is written tendency to pull its punches over and sports venues. Islamists. revolutions. it deals with dissent, making in the media, it is often seen as human rights with Gulf countries,” British defence giant BAE The Foreign Office says it pro- Gerald Howarth, who up until Britain’s efforts to balance its responsible, whether it likes it or said Amnesty International UK’s Systems says its chances of deliv- motes human rights consistently, the September reshuffle was push for rights and democracy not,” Doyle added. head of Policy and Government ering profit growth this year including in the Gulf, “based on minister for international secu- with other interests increasingly Gulf states are regularly criti- Affairs Allan Hogarth. “Bahrain’s hinge on talks to finalise a fighter what is practical, realistic and rity strategy and had close deal- tricky. cised by rights groups, who accuse swingeing attack on freedom of jet deal with Saudi Arabia, and achievable”. ings with Gulf allies, compared Saudi officials told the BBC last them of a heavy-handed response speech and freedom of assem- the company is lobbying hard to Parliament’s foreign affairs Bahrain’s unrest to Britain’s month they were “insulted” by a to dissent, an opaque legal system, bly deserved a much stronger agree a big sale of fighter jets to committee says strategic consid- struggle with Northern Ireland’s parliamentary inquiry expected a lack of democracy and a poor response.” the UAE. erations should not colour assess- sectarian troubles. to look into the country’s human record on women’s freedoms and Any strains between Britain Unfortunately for BAE, ments of human rights violations, REUTERS SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST

‘Militia attack’ Syrian rebels kills 13 in North Darfur KHARTOUM: Militia in launch assault Sudan’s North Darfur state attacked a village and killed 13 people, a local source said yews- terday, adding to an upsurge of on key air base deadly violence in the area. The attack on Friday targeted Sigili village, about 30km south- east of the state capital El Fasher, Video shows soldiers abusing prisoners said the source, who cannot be further identified for security DAMASCUS: Syrian rebels He said regime forces appeared reasons. said yesterday they had to be concentrating their efforts in “Basically it was a tribal launched a major assault on a the region on defending embattled clash between local militia and northern air base used to deploy commercial hub Aleppo, which Zaghawa,” the source said, add- regime air power, on the eve of rebel advances in the past month ing that five people were also a crucial meeting to decide the have cut off from Damascus and reported missing. future of the opposition. the Mediterranean coast. Since July, civilians have been The attack on the Taftanaz “The problem with this strat- increasingly at risk from inter- base, from where helicopter gun- egy is that the Aleppo garrisons communal fighting, harassment ships raid opposition positions are now largely isolated. It is by militia groups, and sporadic and rebel-held areas, comes after likely they will fall in the months clashes between rebel and gov- regime forces this week launched to come,” he said. ernment troops, particularly an unprecedented wave of air Reports have emerged that in North Darfur, UN chief Ban strikes in a bid to reverse rebel Washington will press for an Ki-moon said in a three-monthly gains. overhaul of the opposition and its report issued on October 16. A video posted on the Internet main body, the Syrian National Smoke rises after a Syrian Air Force fighter jet fired missiles at Marat Al Numan, near the northern province of Disputes between farmers and said eight battalions were taking Council (SNC), with long-time Idlib, yesterday. pastoralists over land use trig- part in the attack, including the dissident Riad Seif touted as the gered most of the inter-communal radical Islamist Al Nusra Front, potential head of a new govern- violence, he said. and showed a missile launcher ment-in-exile dubbed the Syrian Washington of undermining the “These videos were provided by The UN human rights body said mounted on the back of a pick-up National Initiative. country’s revolt and “sowing the activists following the broadcast the video appeared to show a war Three policemen truck firing on regime positions. In a statement from Amman, a seeds of division” by seeking the the day before yesterday of a video crime and warned that “accountabil- The Syrian Revolution General group of opposition figures includ- overhaul. showing atrocities committed by ity will follow” for those who commit shot dead in Sinai Commission, a network of activ- ing Seif sought to quell concerns US Secretary of State Hillary the rebels,” the Observatory’s atrocities, while London, Paris and ists on the ground, said an oper- the overhaul is aimed at building Clinton this week voiced frus- director, Rami Abdel Rahman, Washington raised concerns. CAIRO: Gunmen killed three ation had begun “to liberate the an opposition that would be will- tration with the SNC, saying it said. One of the two new videos Egyptian policemen and seri- Taftanaz airbase.” ing to negotiate with President was not representative of on-the- “The regime has committed released on Saturday, reportedly ously wounded a fourth yes- The Syrian Observatory for Bashar al-Assad. ground opposition forces and that war crimes and crimes against filmed in July in the northwest- terday in El Arish, in the Sinai Human Rights, a Britain-based “Assad and his entourage leav- it “can no longer be viewed as the humanity since the first day of ern Latakia region, shows a man Peninsula, state television said. watchdog, said “heavy fighting” ing power is a non-negotiable pre- visible leader of the opposition.” the revolution, but these crimes in military fatigues brandishing a “Armed men who might belong had broken out near the base in condition for any dialogue aimed The Observatory, meanwhile, cannot in any way justify crimes severed ear and a knife, laughing to a jihadist group attacked a Idlib province, where rebels have at finding a non-military solution, released new videos of pro-regime by the other side,” he said. at the camera. police vehicle and fired on its pas- seized new ground this week. if that is still possible,” the group fighters apparently killing pris- One video, which Abdel “Here is the ear of a dog — we sengers before fleeing,” a security Analysts said the assault came said after talks in the Jordanian oners and cutting ears from bod- Rahman said was filmed in July in will teach them a lesson,” he says, source said. as rebel forces clearly have the capital. ies, after footage showing rebels the northwestern Latakia region, referring to the rebels. The dead and wounded were momentum in the battle for The Amman meeting also executing soldiers raised interna- shows a man in military fatigues The other, reportedly filmed in taken to the general hospital in Syria’s northwest. came out in support of “efforts tional concerns. brandishing a severed ear and a February in the southern Daraa El Arish, where one of the police- “The rebels’ gains in the north underway to put in place a unified The purported video of the knife, laughing at the camera. province, shows fighters using men died from serious wounds,” seem irreversible,” said Thomas political body for the whole of the rebels — also released by the “Here is the ear of a dog—we automatic weapons to execute a medic said. A civilian was also Pierret, a Syria expert at the opposition.” Observatory — showed about 10 will teach them a lesson,” the man a group of rebels lying on the wounded. Security forces threw University of Edinburgh’s Islamic The SNC lashed out at alleged soldiers being beaten, then lined says, referring to the rebels bat- ground. The authenticity of the up a cordon around the city in an and Middle Eastern Studies US interference with the oppo- up on the ground and executed tling against President Bashar videos could not be verified. attempt to capture the gunmen. department. sition on Friday, accusing with automatic rifles. al-Assad’s regime. AGENCIES Weapons found in Yemen biscuit boxes

SANA’A: A cargo of weapons Turkish PM warns hunger strikers against ‘blackmail’ originating in Turkey was seized by Yemeni authorities yesterday in the southern port of Aden, ANKARA: Turkish Prime Police, meanwhile, fired tear gas said a reporter at the scene. In language restrictions. The Turkish government is the defence ministry Internet Minister Tayyip Erdogan yes- and water cannon to drive back Ankara, a group of protesters Ocalan was captured by under increasing pressure over website 26sep.net reported. terday warned hunger strik- several groups of Kurdish dem- made up of relatives of Kurdish Turkish agents in Nairobi, how to tackle the hunger strike Citing security sources, the ers demanding the release of onstrators throwing firebombs prisoners walked to the prime brought back to Turkey and sen- by around 700 detainees at report said the arms had been an imprisoned Kurdish rebel and stones during a protest in minister’s office calling for a tenced to death in 1999. more than 50 prisons across the found in boxes used for biscuits, leader against “blackmail”, as southeastern Kurdish-majority negotiated solution to the prob- His death penalty was lifted as country. in a container dispatched from police fired tear gas and water Diyarbakir in support of the hun- lem, reported the private NTV part of Turkey’s campaign to join “Right now a lot of people say Turkey. cannon at protesters in the ger strikers. television. the European Union and com- in public surveys that capital An investigation has been southeast. The clashes were sparked by Several dozen Kurdish detain- muted to life in prison. Since then, punishment should be reintro- opened into the discovery of “Don’t turn this (strike) into local authorities’ refusal to allow ees began the hunger strike on he has been serving a life sentence duced because the relatives of weapons “destined to harm a blackmail,” Erdogan said at the pro-Kurdish Democracy and September 12, the anniversary of in a remote island prison. the dead get hurt while others the security and stability” an annual meeting of his ruling Peace Party (BDP) to stage a a military coup in 1980, with a “We will not release the ter- enjoy themselves at kebab par- of Yemen, the ministry said, Justice and Development Party demonstration in a show of sup- host of demands including the rorist chief just because you say ties,” said Erdogan, referring to without identifying either the (AKP), referring to the 53-day port for the strikers. release of Kurdistan Workers’ so or resort to such an action,” Kurdish rebel leadership and its sender or intended recipient of prison hunger strike by hundreds At least 20 protesters were Party (PKK) leader Abdullah added Erdogan, referring to hun- followers. the cargo. of inmates nationwide. detained during the clashes, Ocalan and an end to Kurdish ger strikers. AFP AGENCIES

Barak disavows aide’s comments Bombers attack Somali on Egypt leader restaurant, one killed JERUSALEM: Defence Minister Ehud Barak disa- MOGADISHU: Two suicide large explosions. vowed yesterday comments by bombers attacked a restaurant “I’m not far away from the a top aide who said he doubted in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu place and I can see people injured there would be any dialogue yesterday, wounding several and the severed dead bodies of the between Israeli leaders and people, police said, and kill- suicide bombers,” Husien said. Egypt’s President Mohammed ing one victim, according to a The Village is owned by a res- Mursi. witness. taurateur of Somali origin who “The comments by (policy “There were two suicide bomb- recently relocated to Mogadishu department chief) Amos Gilad ers who attacked the Village res- from London, where he trained do not reflect the policy of the taurant. The two of them have died as a chef. defence ministry,” Barak said in a and other people who stayed in the In September another of his statement quoted by public radio. place were injured. We are still restaurants, also named the “Amos Gilad did not intend investigating the casualties,” said Village and located in Mogadishu, to interfere in Egypt’s internal Abdi Adan, a Somali police officer. was hit by a suicide attack that affairs but was merely express- A witness to the attack, Ahmed killed 18 people, including three ing his concern about possible Salad Ibrahim, said a security journalists. upheaval in the Middle East.” guard at the restaurant had been The restaurants have been Gilad has long served as the killed in the blast—a report police mentioned several times recently defence ministry’s pointman with said they could not immediately in the international press as a Egypt, visiting frequently for talks confirm. “I was sitting inside the symbol of a nascent return to with military commanders both restaurant premises when gun- normal life in Mogadishu after before and after the overthrow of fire started at the gate. We stood more than 20 years of civil war veteran strongman Hosni Mubarak and rushed to find out what was and violence. in February last year. In comments happening and I saw the secu- The urban warfare that had broadcast by public radio on Friday, rity guard at the gate holding gripped the Somali capital has he said there had been no dialogue the bomber before he detonated,” stopped since the country’s Al between Israeli leaders and Morsi Ibrahim said. Qaeda-linked Shebab insurgents since the Egyptian president took “As I was shocked with smoke were chased from the city in office in June and doubted whether and dust covering the whole area, August 2011 by Somalia’s rudimen- there would be. another suicide bomber detonated tary army and the 17,000-strong “There is no dialogue between himself outside,” he added. African Union force Amisom. our top political echelon and this “The guard and the two bomb- The Shebab, who were long president, and in my opinion there’s ers died while many other civil- active mainly in southern and not going to be,” Gilad said, adding ians were injured, but I cannot say central Somalia, have increas- he was worried about the growing exactly how many were injured.” ingly switched to guerrilla tactics power of the Muslim Brotherhood, Another witness, Idle Husien, after abandoning fixed positions from which Mursi emanated. said there had been a “heavy in Mogadishu. AFP Police officers and journalists gather at the scene of a suicide bomb attack in Mogadishu yesterday. exchange” of gunfire followed by AFP SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

One dead as UK politician train crashes, derails in dragged into Australia SYDNEY: One man died and about a dozen others were injured yesterday when a pas- abuse scandal senger train smashed into a truck and derailed in the south- ern Australian state of Victoria, Two men allege abuse by politician authorities said. The accident happened when LONDON: Internet specula- late Savile, one of its top present- the rear trailer of a truck tion was circulating yesterday ers from the 1960s to the 1980s, attempting to drive across a level after a BBC news programme abused hundreds of youngsters, crossing in the Melbourne suburb embroiled in the Jimmy Savile with Scotland Yard considering of Dandenong South was struck sex abuse scandal aired a report him one of Britain’s most prolific by the passenger train, police in which two men claimed sex offenders. investigators have been told. they had been abused by a top An independent review is tak- “There was this massive sonic, politician. ing place at the BBC into the the factory was shaking. You The report on Newsnight did decision last December to drop could just hear the train derail- not name the man but said he was a Newsnight item on Savile con- ing and going through the gravel,” a leading Conservative politician taining allegations of abuse. said Angelo Galluccio, a local from Margaret Thatcher’s time as The review will look at whether business owner. prime minister, from 1979 to 1990. there were any management fail- “I just couldn’t believe what The claims centred around ings surrounding the decision to had happened. I’ve never seen abuse at children’s homes in north axe the probe. Britain’s Prince Charles (second right) and wife Camilla (right) are greeted by Papua New Guinea’s Governor anything like it, you only see it Wales, which was the subject of an Meanwhile The Sun newspa- General, Sir Michael Ogio (left) and Lady Ogio (second left) in Port Moresby yesterday. on the movies,” he told The Age inquiry in 2000. per’s front page yesterday claimed newspaper. Steve Meesham, who claimed that three BBC staff tried to rape Television images of the crash he was repeatedly attacked dur- an 18-year-old male television showed crumpled train carriages ing his time in care, was asked extra as a popular comedy actor, lying smashed into each other how many times he was abused who died in the 1980s. Charles, Camilla on PNG visit across the tracks after one car- by the politician. The alleged victim has given a riage tipped over and three others “Off my head I wouldn’t give an statement to the police. PORT MORESBY: Britain’s PNG in the 1960s when he was an the arrival of Prince Charles, then derailed on impact. exact number because obviously “The BBC cannot comment Prince Charles and wife Camilla exchange student in Australia and we can do it and face the conse- “You couldn’t even recog- I’m going back many years but on individual cases. It will help arrived in Papua New Guinea stayed at the Martyrs’ Memorial quences,” their spokesman Kila Joe nise the front of the train,” Ian certainly more than a dozen,” he the police in any way it can in (PNG) yesterday where they Anglican School for boys in Gabutu had said last week. Atkinson, who rushed to the scene told Newsnight. the course of any investigation,” were welcomed with a 21-gun Northern Province. Instead, a joyous crowd of sev- from his workplace, told the ABC. “Cars would pull up outside the a spokesman for the corporation salute and traditional songs and “The prince did not stay with eral thousand people cheered the Emergency workers freed the home and you were taken.” said. dances as a threatened protest the school principal,” it said. “He couple, earning the smiles and train driver after more than an It was alleged that the abuse Savile, who died last year aged failed to materialise. stayed with the boys at Sefoa waves of the prince and duchess. hour and he is reportedly in a took place in the late 1970s. 84, has been accused of abusing Several thousand well-wish- Garden House, slept with them, PNG’s Prime Minister Peter critical condition with injuries Another alleged victim, who around 300 victims over a 40-year ers had earlier gathered at Port ate kaukau (yams) and bananas O’Neill had encouraged his peo- to the lower half of his body. The was not named, did not appear period at a number of institutions, Moresby’s Jackson’s International and did what they did.” ple to welcome the British visitors driver of the truck did not require on camera and whose words were including the BBC and three Airport to catch a glimpse of the Charles has been back to the whose trip follows that of Prince hospital treatment. spoken by an actor, said that he hospitals. royal couple who are on a tour from Pacific nation twice since, but it William and his wife Catherine to The bulk of the dozen or so was abused by the same politician, The scandal has snowballed November 3-16 which includes is the first visit for Camilla, who the Pacific states of the Solomon injured passengers received who took him out in his car and a since claims that Savile molested Australia and New Zealand. has reportedly been on a private Islands and Tuvalu. “Their Royal mostly minor injuries. sex act took place. underage girls were broadcast Among those greeting the royal holiday at a holistic health retreat Highnesses are honoured guests Police said the man who died, The politician was described in an ITV television documen- visitors were scores of school chil- in India ahead of their arrival. and their visit reflects the strong thought to be aged in his 30s, was as a shadowy figure of high pub- tary screened last month that dren as well as young dancers Britain proclaimed a protector- relationship between PNG, Her found in the rubble but could not lic standing but the Newsnight picked up on Newsnight’s dropped daubed in body paint and wear- ate over what became known as Majesty The Queen, our Head be saved. report said there was simply not investigations. ing traditional dress. British New Guinea in the late of State, and the Royal Family,” “Emergency workers located a enough to go on “to name names”. The revelations have triggered Anticipation for the visit, 1800s. Australia later took over O’Neill said ahead of the visit. man in cardiac arrest near the The unidentified politician told turmoil at the BBC. which is part of Queen Elizabeth’s but Papua New Guinea proceeded While in PNG, Charles and train cabin. Despite attempts by The Daily Telegraph newspaper Jonathan Dimbleby, one of Diamond Jubilee celebrations, to full independence in 1975. Camilla are due to visit the capi- paramedics to treat the man, he that the allegations were “totally Britain’s most respected broad- had been building in impover- The royals touched down as tal Port Moresby and also Boera died at the scene,” they said in a untrue” and he had threatened casters, told The Times newspaper: ished PNG, with the Post-Courier scheduled at 6pm (0800 GMT), village, where locals are restoring statement. legal action if his name appeared “It’s disgracefully and horribly out newspaper on Friday declaring: untroubled by disgruntled local coastal mangroves. Traditional Authorities said only about in the story. of proportion to hound everyone at “Welcome to Papua New Guinea, landowners who had threatened to sing-sings will be on the agenda, 30 people were on the train at “The BBC isn’t what it used to the BBC in a way that is unwar- Your Royal Highnesses Prince disrupt the arrival, claiming they are where tribes or villages gather to the time of the accident and the be,” he added. “I’ve never been to ranted and lacks perspective when Charles and Duchess Camilla!” still owed some 4.5m kina ($2.1m) in show off their distinct culture, impact would have been much this children’s home.” the real focus should be on what The paper said the visit would compensation for the land on which dance and music, dressing in worse had it not been on the The BBC has been plunged into Savile did wrong. be like a “home-coming” for Port Moresby’s airport is built. “If it elaborate costumes and war paint. weekend. crisis over allegations that the AFP Charles who first travelled to means shutting down the airport on AFP AFP

Boozy birds pay the price Five aid workers kidnapped in Niger freed; one killed NIAMEY: Five African aid kidnapping was carried out by the The freed workers will meet countries’ border. The kidnap- groups, Mali’s neighbours and for flying high workers who were abducted in armed Islamist group Movement with Niger President Mahamadou pers had been targeting an Italian the West are keen to drive the Niger in mid-October have been for Oneness and Jihad in West Issoufou at his residence in anthropologist who was working Islamists out. PARIS: A bizarre spate of freed alive, while a sixth has Africa (MUJAO), one of the Al Niamey around 1600 GMT, a for aid group Doctors Without In Mali, experts from the young blackbird deaths at a died after being shot by the Al Qaeda-backed groups that have source at the presidency said. Borders (MSF), a local official African Union, European Union school in England was likely Qaeda-linked kidnappers, the seized control of the north in The workers were kidnapped in the Niger town of Dakoro said and west African bloc Ecowas caused by the feathered teens workers and their employers neighbouring Mali. by gunmen on October 14 in shortly after the abduction. are holding a one-week confer- getting drunk on fermented said yesterday. “We were kidnapped by people southeast Niger. Mali was plunged into chaos ence to plan a military inter- berries, crashing mid-air and Five Niger nationals “were from MUJAO. They thought there The aid groups said Soulembaye by a March 22 coup that ousted vention aimed at reclaiming the falling from the sky, vets said freed today and are currently in was a white person with us,” the had been shot by the kidnappers president Amadou Toumani north. yesterday. Niger,” while their colleague Aime freed hostage said by phone from during the abduction. Toure, creating a power vacuum Ecowas wants to deploy a Police and animal experts Soulembaye from Chad has “died the Niger-Mali border. His death is “an unjustifiable that enabled several Al Qaeda- regional force of over 3,000 troops were called in after more than a from his wounds,” Niger’s Befen “We were released not far from and incomprehensible tragedy for linked groups including MUJAO to Mali. The UN Security Council dozen birds were found dead at a and Chad’s Alerte-Sante aid the border, and we walked,” he the humanitarian world”, they to seize control of the country’s adopted a resolution on October primary school in Cumbria last agencies said in a statement. added. said. vast desert north. 12 preparing for the deployment August — many of them sporting The groups did not specify how “Our Chadian friend died from Security sources in Niger and Concerned that the desert area and giving Ecowas 45 days to firm serious injuries. the aid workers were freed. his wounds. He was in a very bad Mali confirmed the five hos- the size of France could become up its plans. One of the juvenile blackbirds One of the hostages said the condition.” tages had been freed at the two a safe haven for Al Qaeda-linked AFP was found alive but appeared “drunk”, pressing its wings into the ground to steady itself and trying to stay upright by leaning Kosovo Albanians protest against the walls of the enclosure it was taken to. Mali Islamists to cut Foul play was initially sus- pected, but post-mortem exami- nations ruled out a murder spree or diseases like bird flu. Qaeda ties: Report Instead, the examiners found berries in the birds’ stomachs ALGIERS: Malian Islamist that caused a coup earlier this year. that had a smell of fermentation, group Ansar Dine has said it is The group destroyed ancient said a report in the BMJ Group prepared to distance itself from shrines in Timbuktu and has journal Veterinary Record. Al Qaeda’s North Africa branch, applied brutal interpretations of Further toxicological test found a newspaper said yesterday, a Islamic law in the areas under high levels of pure alcohol or etha- day after sending a delegation its control. A source close to nol in the liver of one of the birds. to Algiers for peace talks. the extremists said on Friday “Some of the birds had died Ansar Dine’s leader Iyad Ag Ansar Dine had sent a delega- from traumatic injury, pos- Ghaly “would be ready to officially tion to Algiers and another to sibly related to in-flight colli- distance himself from AQIM (Al Ouagadougou. sions secondary to intoxication,” Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb) “We are in favour of peace, and wrote investigators from the and play the ‘democracy’ game,” dialogue is necessary for peace. Animal Health and Veterinary El Watan reported, citing an That is why we have sent these Laboratories Agency. Algerian official. delegations,” he said. The envoys “Unsteadiness on the feet, a A statement from Ghaly could may also make a stop in Nigeria, tendency to fall over and losing be expected in “the next few days,” another source within Ansar Dine the ability to steer is consider- the “credible” source added, say- said. ably more of a problem when life ing that the Islamist leader would The UN Security Council on is normally spent in trees or in cut ties with AQIM and instead October 12 approved a resolution the air,” added a media statement. support international dialogue on urging a joint African union military The lone survivor made a full the Mali issue. force to speed up preparations for a recovery and was released back Ansar Dine is one of the radical force of more than 3,000 troops that into the wild after sleeping off its A Kosovo Albanian man holding a picture of his son missing since the end of the Kosovo conflict, takes part Islamist groups controlling north- would attempt to help recapture the hangover. in a demonstration yesterday to protest the re-launch of EU-brokered talks between Kosovo and Serbia. ern Mali, having hijacked a separa- occupied Malian north. AFP tist rebellion by the secular Tuareg AFP SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Romney, Obama in final push to win over voters Race remains tight, says survey

NEWINGTON: Republican daily tracking poll released on Mitt Romney and President Saturday showed Obama leading Barack Obama hop-scotched Romney by a statistically mean- across the country yesterday in ingless margin of one percentage a final push to squeeze out vic- point, 47 percent to 46 percent. tory from the handful of states Neither candidate has held a that will decide Tuesday’s presi- clear lead since early October. dential election. But in the nine or so states that “Three more days! Three more remain truly competitive, Obama days!” chanted a crowd of roughly holds a slight edge. 2,000 at an early-morning rally in The narrow scope of the race New Hampshire, where Romney has been evident for months but urged supporters to try to sway it was shown vividly on Saturday, neighbours who have Obama signs when Obama and Romney were in their yards to change their scheduled to hold rallies six hours minds. apart in the Iowa river city of In an op-ed in The Wall Street Dubuque. Journal, Romney argued that Romney was also scheduled he would do a better job than to campaign in Colorado before Obama at overcoming partisan returning to Des Moines. Obama divisions in Washington. “After planned to visit Wisconsin and four years of disappointments, fix- Virginia. Romney has tried to ing America’s problems requires a expand the battlefield over the new direction,” he wrote. past week to states that had been Obama, who has spent much considered beyond his reach. of the week overseeing efforts to His vice presidential running help northeastern coastal states mate Paul Ryan was headed to recover from devastating storm Pennsylvania later in the day, and Emilio Langilotti of Staten Island, New York, which was hit hard by Hurricane Sandy, carries food from a FEMA and American Red Cross aid and disaster Sandy, received a briefing at the Romney himself is due to speak relief station in Staten Island, yesterday. federal government’s disaster-relief there on Sunday. headquarters in Washington before Obama officials say Romney is returning to the campaign trail. campaigning there out of despera- “There’s nothing more impor- tion because he has been unable Power returns to Manhattan, but many waiting tant than getting this right,” to establish a clear lead in states Obama said of the disaster relief like Ohio that are crucial to his before flying to Ohio for a cam- prospects. NEW YORK: The lower region choked with storm debris Romney. The US death toll hit street and get rid of that movie paign rally. A variety of state polls show Manhattan skyline lit up early and long gas lines reminiscent of 102 on Friday, after Sandy killed set look as if were in some kind The storm has afforded the Obama holds a narrow advan- yesterday morning for the first the 1970s-era US fuel shortage. 69 people as a hurricane in the of ghost town or horror movie,” Democrat an opportunity to rise tage in Ohio, Iowa, Nevada and time since superstorm Sandy Angry storm victims wondered Caribbean. It struck the New Con Ed spokesman Bob McGee above the fray of campaigning. Wisconsin, which would allow him slammed into the US Northeast when their lives would return to Jersey coast on Monday as a told NY1 television. But it has also raised the stakes to eke out a narrow victory on while thousands of storm vic- normal. rare hybrid after the hurricane In New Jersey, the utility for him to show his administra- Tuesday, barring any surprises tims in New Jersey and else- President Barack Obama merged with a powerful storm PSE&G said 612,000 customers tion can respond quickly and elsewhere. where remained in the dark and won early praise for the federal system in the north Atlantic. were still without lights after effectively in a crisis, as residents Nevertheless, the Obama cam- awaiting disaster relief. response to Sandy, which ham- Power utility Consolidated power to 1 million had been of New York and New Jersey vent paign is dispatching Vice President The power restoration came as mered the US northeast coast on Edison, battling what it called the restored. frustration at power outages and Joe Biden’s wife, Jill Biden, to petrol supplies headed to coastal Monday with 130kph winds and worst natural disaster in the com- Con Ed said it had restored gasoline shortages. Pennsylvania and former President zones devastated by the record a record surge of seawater that pany’s 180-year history, restored power to 70 percent of the 916,000 “He’s focused on it every Bill Clinton to Minnesota. storm surge and to motorists swamped homes in New Jersey electricity to neighbourhoods customers in the New York City moment he’s not speaking on the Romney is within striking whose patience has been tested and flooded streets and subway such as Wall Street, Chinatown area who were cut off. The com- stage,” Obama campaign spokes- distance in four other battle- by gasoline rationing during the tunnels in New York City. and Greenwich Village in the pre- pany was still busy assisting tens woman Jen Psaki told reporters ground states - Florida, Virginia, painstaking effort to rebuild. But continued television and dawn hours, leaving 11,000 cus- of thousands more without power aboard Air Force One. Colorado and New Hampshire, With the US presidential elec- newspaper images of upset storm tomers in Manhattan without in New York City’s outer bor- The race for the White House and he appears to hold a clear tion just three days away, about victims could hurt the Democrat, service. oughs, where some people com- remains effectively tied at a advantage in North Carolina. 3 million homes and business who is locked in a virtual draw “There’s enough light and activ- plained of being ignored. national level. A Reuters/Ipsos REUTERS remained without power in a with Republican challenger Mitt ity to get a lot of people on the REUTERS

No ‘red tape’ in storm response, Officials fret about polling sites in storm-ravaged states NEW YORK: Officials in New of New York City and New Jersey Power companies have been The scanning machines can site, you don’t want to move it too says president York, New Jersey and other that remain crippled from Sandy, asked to prioritise getting elec- operate on battery power. If far because you don’t want to dis- states hit hard by the power- which ravaged parts of the north- tricity back to election sites after that runs out, the ballots could enfranchise people,” Conklin said. WASHINGTON: President ful storm Sandy are anxiously eastern United States tomorrow first restoring power to crucial be placed in a locked box and at William Biamonte, the Barack Obama told emergency waiting to see when power night. places like hospitals. the end of the voting day could be Democratic commissioner for the response officials yesterday to will be restored in darkened Much of the lower half of Election officials in New York, transported to a site with elec- Nassau County Board of Elections cut through government “red areas and whether polling sites Manhattan is still without power. New Jersey and Connecticut are tricity and run through the scan- on New York’s Long Island, said tape” and work without delay to may need to be moved for next Nearby areas, including the New evaluating polling sites to see if ner to be counted, officials said. he is worried about equipment, help areas ravaged by monster Tuesday’s presidential election. York City borough of Staten the buildings are safe and if they Inaccessible polling sites may poll workers and votes. storm Sandy to return to nor- “We’re open for business Island, the New Jersey shore are accessible to the public as need to be consolidated or moved “I think it’s going to affect voter mal as quickly as possible. November 6. That will be Election and the city of Hoboken, New well as to the election boards that to other nearby locations. In some turnout no matter,” Biamonte “There’s nothing more impor- Day,” said John Conklin, spokes- Jersey, are struggling to recover must deliver voting machines. areas, like in the New York City said. “Peoples’ homes were tant than getting this right,” man for the New York state Board from flooding and storm-related Voting in New York and borough of Queens where fire destroyed.” the president said at a briefing of Elections. “We’re doing every- damage. Connecticut could take place destroyed many buildings, a tent Of the county’s 375 polling with officials from the Federal thing we can to make sure that Conklin said the local election without electricity if necessary. may need to be set up as a tempo- sites, less than half are ready to Emergency Management everyone who goes to the polls will boards in the areas hit hardest They both use “optical scan” bal- rary voting location, Conklin said. go, Biamonte said, and others are Administration, the Department have a poll site to go to.” by the storm are assessing all lots that are filled out by hand and Conklin said polling sites may either without power, operating of Homeland Security, and state That is the big question — their polling sites to decide which then scanned through a machine not be open in every voting pre- on generators or have not been and local governments. where the voters will go to cast ones will be up and running by to get counted, election officials cinct but will be open in as many in contact. With the presidential elec- their ballots, particularly in parts Tuesday’s election. said. as possible. “If you have to move a REUTERS tion four days away, the destruc- tive storm has shifted some of the focus away from Obama’s tight race with Republican Mitt Campaign pitch Romney. While the natural dis- aster has afforded the president Jury awards troops $85m an opportunity to rise above the fray of campaigning, it has also raised the stakes for him to show over Iraq chemical exposure his administration can respond quickly and effectively in a crisis. PORTLAND, Oregon: An The Oregon Guardsmen were Obama spoke by video con- Oregon jury awarded 12 Army providing security for civilian ference with the governors National Guardsmen $85m in workers restoring an oil industry of New York, New Jersey and damages from defence contrac- water plant in 2003 in southern Connecticut and municipal offi- tor KBR after finding that the Iraq after the US-led invasion cials to discuss efforts to help company failed to protect them that ousted Saddam Hussein. The the East Coast states reel- from exposure to cancer-caus- plant water was used to push oil ing from Monday’s storm that ing chemicals when they served to the surface. left 110 dead, millions without in Iraq. The plant was contaminated power, and whole neighborhoods Each Guard soldier was with sodium dichromate, a destroyed by flooding. awarded $850,000 in non-eco- chemical used to fight corrosion. “We still have a long way to go nomic damages and another Sodium dichromate contains to make sure that the people of $6.25m in punitive damages for hexavalent chromium, the toxic New Jersey, Connecticut, New “reckless and outrageous indiffer- chemical made famous in the film York and some of the surround- ence” to their health in the trial “Erin Brockovich” starring Julia ing areas get their basic needs in US District Court in Portland. Roberts. taken care of,” the president told “Justice was definitely served The chemical was blow- reporters. for the 12 of us,” Guardsman ing around the plant known as Obama said people working on Rocky Bixby said, adding that Qarmat Ali, the soldiers’ lawyers rescue and relief efforts are mak- two of his children were about told the court. ing a “120 percent” effort, but to enter the military. “It wasn’t Geoffrey Harrison, lead trial urged those providing disaster Members of the conservative group, American Majority Action, Matt Batzel (left) and Kayla Gabrielse (centre) about the money, it was about attorney for KBR, said the con- relief to work without delay. talk to Mary Vanpietersom, an undecided voter, as they canvas in Port Washington, Wisconsin, yesterday. them never doing this again to tractor would appeal. REUTERS another soldier.” REUTERS

SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

Aquino to name Chinese act independent justice for SC 15 undergo screening by JBC

MANILA: Philippine President energy secretary Raphael Lotilla, Benigno Aquino will make sure De La Salle University law dean the Supreme Court (SC) jus- Jose Manuel Diokno, Securities tice he will appoint to fill the and Exchange Commission chair slot vacated by Chief Justice Teresita Herbosa, former Ateneo Ma Lourdes Sereno will be law dean Cesar Villanueva, and for- independent as required by the mer University of the Philippines Constitution, Malacanang said. law dean and government peace “The President will appoint panel chairman Marvic Leonen. based on his constitutional man- Malacanang, however, cannot date and based on the charac- tell for now if it is ready to let go teristics that are put out by the of Leonen, who heads the govern- Constitution – mainly indepen- ment peace panel negotiating with dence, integrity, probity, com- the Moro Islamic Liberation Front petence,” deputy presidential (MILF). “(That is) hypothetical. spokesperson Abigail Valte said. We’ll not answer first,” Valte said Aquino has until November 22 to when asked whether Leonen would name the justice who will fill in the be allowed to move to the judiciary slot vacated by Sereno, who assumed while the government is still talk- the top SC post last August. ing to the MILF. Sereno’s appointment has stirred “Let us wait for the shortlist controversy, with some sectors to be decided on by the JBC and Actors dressed in Chinese traditional costumes take part in a performance of the ‘The Defence of Yan’an’, a re-enactment of the 1947 Chinese civil believing that she would be sub- then for it to be given to the Office war between the communists and nationalists in Yan’an, Shaanxi Province of China, yesterday. Tourists are able to dress up as red army soldiers servient to Aquino, who promoted of the president,” she added. and participate in the show for an extra 50RMB on top of the 150RMB entrance ticket. her following the Palace-backed Valte could not say whether impeachment of Renato Corona. the peace process with the MILF Militant groups also questioned would be finalised by the time Sereno’s independence, saying Aquino appoints a new justice. she was appointed to protect She said they do not want to pres- Robredo plane crash blamed on faulty engine the Aquino family’s interests in sure the government panel, which Hacienda Luisita. Malacanang is now crafting the annexes to the has repeatedly denied the allega- Bangsamoro framework agree- MANILA: A combination aircraft in abnormal situations. “Twenty-four seconds later appeared to be flying normally tions and is confident that Sereno ment signed last month. of pilot error and a defective The report said that five min- the aircraft was still at 3,900 feet even on one engine. He texted a would remain independent while The 15 candidates underwent engine caused the crash of a utes after take-off, the pilot altitude with a speed of 80 knots. staff of Robredo requesting for undertaking judicial reforms. screening by the JBC composed Piper Seneca aircraft carrying sought permission from air traffic This time the aircraft was 33.7km airline booking for the secretary A total of 15 nominees are of Sereno, Jose Mejia, Justice Interior and Local Government control to climb to 6,500 feet but from Masbate and 91.1km from and himself for the next available vying for the post of SC justice Secretary Leila de Lima, Senate Secretary Jesse Robredo off was instructed to remain at 2,500 Mactan. Seconds later the air- flight to Manila. and the Judicial and Bar Council justice committee chair Francis Masbate last August 18, inves- feet until 20 miles out. craft was monitored at 3,900 feet “Later he (Abrasado ) sensed (JBC) is expected to vote on the Escudero, House justice com- tigators said. Four minutes later the pilot with speed of 70 knots and head- that the plane was changing direc- shortlist this week. mittee chair and Iloilo Rep. Niel Killed with Robredo in the reported the aircraft was at 2,300 ing 345 degrees. This was the last tion and at the same time noticed Nine of the 15 aspirants are Tupas Jr, lawyer Milagros Fernan- crash were pilot Jessup Bahinting feet. That was the last recorded data picked up by MACC before an orange indicator on the instru- from the judiciary, namely Court Cayosa from the Integrated Bar of and student pilot Nepalese communication of the plane with the aircraft disappeared from the ment panel, initially blinking of Appeals (CA) Presiding Justice the Philippines, retired SC Justice Khshitiz Chand. Robredo’s aide the Mactan air traffic control. radar display,” the report said. slowly, and later increasingly faster. Andres Reyes Jr and CA Associate Regino Hermosisima, and retired Police Senior Inspector Jun Data gathered by the Manila At 4.25pm, the aircraft was Suddenly, he heard a noise and saw Justices Ramon Bato Jr, Rosmari CA justice Aurora Lagman. Abrasado survived the crash. Area Control Center (MACC) reported to have crashed in the the right hand propeller stop, at Carandang, Magdangal de Leon, The public interviews were The plane was en route to showed that the Piper Seneca waters some 1.1km from the the same time the orange indicator Isaias Dicdican, Jose Reyes Jr conducted last October 23 and 25. Naga City from the Mactan aircraft or flight X4431 was at Masbate airport runway 21. steadily lit,” the report said. and Noel Tijam; Sandiganbayan Under the Constitution, a jus- International Airport in Cebu 4,000 feet heading 353 degrees at Based on Abrasado’s account, When Abrasado asked if they Associate Justice Ma Cristina tice of the high court should be when it went down off Masbate. 407pm. After eight seconds it was the pilot informed them of engine were returning to Cebu he was Cornejo; and former regional a natural-born citizen, at least A 14-page draft report of a still at the same altitude, moving trouble 23 minutes after takeoff at told by Bahinting that they were trial court Judge Adoracion Cruz- 40 years old, and should have five-man investigating body cre- 340 degrees. 3.07pm. “Our propellers might not proceeding to Masbate. The cap- Avisado. The other six are outsid- 15 years or more experience as ated by former Transportation The aircraft disappeared from be able to make it to Naga. Let’s go tain reportedly told them of his ers, namely former University of a judge of a lower court or have and Communications Secretary the radar screen for a few seconds back to Cebu,” the pilot was quoted three failed attempts to restart Perpetual Help System law dean engaged in law practice in the Manuel Roxas II said the pilot and reappeared at an altitude of as telling his passengers. the engine. Jose-Santos Bisquera, former Philippines. THE PHILIPPINE lacked proficiency in handling 3,900 feet at 010 degrees. But Abrasado said the plane THE PHILIPPINE STAR

Manila shoppers warned of ‘toxic’ coffee mugs Communism camp for

MANILA: Environmentalist coordinator of the EcoWaste or discount stores. Fifteen of limit for lead in paint. “Studies group EcoWaste Coalition cau- Coalition’s Project Protect, said. the samples were obtained from have associated exposure to lead future China leaders tioned shoppers against buying “As consumers, we have the a single vendor in Villalobos to serious health problems, includ- coffee mugs bearing Christmas right to seek truthful informa- Street, Quiapo, Manila, the ing developmental delays, learning JINGGANGSHAN: In the manager of the major port in the symbols as these may contain tion about chemicals in products other bought from bargain shops disabilities, behavioral problems, remote Jinggang mountains, northern city of Tianjin. lead and other toxic chemicals. and to be protected against health in Mandaluyong City; Sta Cruz, decreased intelligence, birth abnor- China’s future communist “Mao left the Chinese people, This developed after the group hazards,” he added. Manila; Alabang, Muntinlupa malities, and damage to the brain elite are being trained in Mao including me, a very precious her- analysed 35 samples of Christmas The mugs have Christmas bell, City, and Cubao, Quezon City. and the central nervous system Zedong’s former guerrilla base, itage,” he added. mugs for heavy metals like anti- candy cane, evergreen tree, gin- When subjected to a handheld and kidneys,” he added. an effort to buttress the revolu- Mao remains both venerated mony, arsenic, cadmium, chro- gerbread man, mistletoe and holly, x-ray fluorescence (XRF) chemi- Arsenic, a known human car- tionary roots of a regime striv- and feared — his successor Deng mium, lead and mercury. Santa Claus and his reindeers, cals analyser on October 31, all cinogen, and cadmium, a probable ing to maintain its legitimacy. Xiaoping appraised his perform- “As the gift-giving season comes snowflakes star, stocking, wreath 35 samples were found to contain carcinogen, were detected in 35 The Communist Party’s ance as “70 percent good, 30 closer, we advise the public to be and other symbols of the season one or more heavy metals above and 31 samples, respectively, while embrace of state-directed capi- percent bad”. His giant portrait on guard against products like painted on them. allowable levels. another possible human carcino- talism has utterly transformed continues to hang over Beijing’s ‘dirty’ Christmas mugs laced with Worth 20 pesos to 85 pesos per Dizon said 29 of the samples gen, antimony, was found in 33 China since Mao died in 1976. Tiananmen Square, and his toxic chemicals that are harm- piece, the mugs were purchased were found to contain lead above samples. But heading into a once-a-dec- embalmed body rests in perpetu- ful to the health,” Thony Dizon, by the group from five bargain the 90 parts per million (ppm) US THE PHILIPPINE STAR ade power shift next week, it ity in a mausoleum at the opposite still plays a balancing act with end of the square. its founding ideology. “The Cultural Revolution is a At the Jinggangshan leadership very sad page in history. Many academy, high-ranking officials of people, including my parents, Indonesian police the party gather round on stools were attacked. It was a tragedy,” for lessons intended to deepen said Liu, referring to the chaotic shoot dead their understanding of the revo- and bloody era spanning 1966-76 lutionary communism espoused when Mao encouraged fanati- suspected militant by Mao, who founded Red China cal followers to purge China of in 1949. “impure” elements. POSO, Indonesia: Indonesian “Many cadres, after hearing Seared by that experience, and police yesterday shot dead a stories about the martyrs of the by the folk memory of Mao-era suspected militant and seized revolution, they ask themselves famines linked to disastrous eco- bombs during a raid in a district questions. They want to work nomic policies, today’s leaders that has been at the centre of more in order to better serve the crave stability above all else. an anti-terror crackdown in the people,” said Yao Yuzhen, a teacher Helping cadres keep the faith is past week, a spokesman said. at the institute and grandson of a seen as vital for the long-run future The raid on a house was con- Mao-era army veteran. of the Communist Party. Despite ducted by local police and the Since 2005, trainees have having 82 million members and anti-terror unit at sunrise in been attending courses for days drawing popular support from dec- Kayamaya village in Sulawesi or weeks at the institute in the ades of economic growth, the party island’s central district of Poso. central Chinese town of Ciping, a has disenchanted many Chinese. “One suspect was killed in the hotspot for “red tourism” honour- Widespread corruption and a raid and another has been arrested ing Mao, the architect of collectiv- year of scandal surrounding dis- and taken to police headquarters ism and state control. graced regional boss Bo Xilai leaves in the city of Palu,” national police In the 1930s some of Mao’s revo- China’s new crop of leaders — who spokesman Boy Rafli Amar told lutionary fighting force set off from are set to be named at the party’s reporters. “The suspects resisted the remote, mountainous area on 18th congress starting Thursday — arrest and began throwing explo- the Long March that kept alive facing an identity crisis. sives toward the police, who opened their struggle to take over China, Bo, who will go on trial for cor- fire in response.” Amar said police and the teachings aim to inspire ruption and other crimes, had led had seized several assembled future leaders with their ideology. a Mao revival in the megacity of bombs and other materials from “It is here that the system of Chongqing with the singing of the home. Witnesses said the men Maoist thought took form. For “red songs” and building of statues were shot outside a school as they every Chinese, for party members of the “Great Helmsman”, strik- tried to run from the house. Indonesian officers escort a relative of a terrorist suspect during the raid at a house in Kayamaya village in Poso and leaders, it is a sacred place,” ing a chord with many Chinese. AF[ district, Central Sulawesi, yesterday. said Liu Fusheng, a trainee and AFP SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Suicide attack No ordinary ordnance kills six near Peshawar Local Peace Committee head dead

PESHAWAR, PAKISTAN: picturesque Swat valley, which A suicide bomber in northwest fell to Taliban militants in 2009. Pakistan yesterday killed the The army declared the region, head of a local peace commit- once known as the “Switzerland of tee, three of his guards and two Pakistan”, back under control in others, police said. July 2009 after defeating radical The bomber struck as Fateh cleric Maulana Fazlullah and the Khan, whose committee opposes Taliban fighters who had waged a Islamist militants, left a pet- two-year campaign of terror. rol station in the city of Buner, The operation won praise in the 150km northeast of Peshawar, United States and was arguably the capital of the northwestern Pakistan’s most successful offen- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. sive to date against homegrown “The suicide bomber blew him- insurgents. self up in front of Fateh Khan’s The region, however, is once vehicle. Three guards boarding again gripped by fear. Fifteen- the vehicle and two passersby year-old child rights campaigner were also killed in the attack,” Malala Yousafzai was shot in the Jehanzeb Khan, the district police head by the Taliban last month chief, said adding that up to five and was sent to a UK hospital for people had also been injured. treatment. Another senior police official Washington considers confirmed the death toll. Pakistan’s semi-autonomous “We can confirm the death of northwestern tribal region, which six people from the suicide attack includes North Waziristan, as the in the Buner district including the main hub of Taliban and Al Qaeda head of a local peace commit- militants plotting attacks on the Former Taliban fighters display their weapons after they joined Afghan government forces during a ceremony in Herat yesterday. The foreign combat tee Fateh Khan,” Akhter Hayat West and in Afghanistan. troops are due to withdraw by the end of 2014 and there are fears that the Taliban will extend their activities across wider swathes of the country Khan, a senior police official in The Al Qaeda-linked Haqqani against ill-prepared Afghan forces. Malakand division, said. network in North Waziristan, The police officials said Khan blamed for some of the deadliest was actively opposed to Islamist attacks in Afghanistan, is one militants and played a leading role of the thorniest issues in rela- in forcing them out of the region tions between Islamabad and Court stops transfer of militants to Afghan jails in 2009. He was also an active dis- Washington. Washington has trict level political leader. long demanded that Pakistan Suicide and bomb attacks take action against the Haqqanis, LONDON: A determined with the NDS: it is to the NDS Afghan security services after Dinah Rose, QC for Mohammed, blamed on Islamist insurgents which the United States blames attempt by the British Ministry that insurgents are transferred. being transferred to their custody repeatedly described the head have killed more than 5,200 peo- for attacking the US embassy in of Defence (MoD) to transfer Therefore, it is obvious that what- by UK forces. of the NDS as “Mr Khalid the ple since July 2007 across nuclear- Kabul last year and acting like a insurgents to Afghan jails was ever the truth of the allegations, Following Mohamed’s allega- Torturer”. Warsi must have armed Pakistan. “veritable arm” of the Pakistani blocked by the high court in the government engages with the tions, the government placed a received a Foreign Office briefing Buner neighbours Pakistan’s intelligence service. AFP London on Friday after it heard body it engages with.” Khalid is moratorium in 2010 on all trans- before meeting him, she told the evidence that they would be reported to be a close aide of the fers of prisoners to the NDS. court: “Baroness Warsi shook his handed over to a notorious tor- Afghan president, Hamid Karzai. The MoD now wants to lift that hand, and I hope she washed her turer and alleged killer. Lord Justice Moses intervened moratorium. Eadie argued there hands well afterwards.” The court heard how the to say Warsi had done a deal with was a “pressing need” for British Eadie suggested two whips Foreign Office Minister Lady a man responsible for prisons forces to transfer detainees to the found at Lashkar Gah jail last Warsi — the former Conservative where there were “very live con- Afghan prison at Lashkar Gah, year were insufficient evidence Party co-chair — had failed to cerns”. Eadie accepted the point. the capital of Helmand Province. for a reasonable prospect of suc- question assurances by Asadullah The court heard that a senior From there, they might be trans- cess at a full court hearing into Khalid, the head of the Afghan Canadian diplomat in Afghanistan ferred to jails in Kandahar and the matter scheduled for later National Directorate of Security had made public allegations that Kabul, where prisoners had also this month. (NDS), even though he was alleged the head of the NDS “was known been tortured, the court heard. Two suspicious lengths of to be widely known to have been to personally torture people” in a Eadie said delays in transfer- hose pipe had also been found in personally involved in torture. “dungeon under his guest house”, ring the prisoners to what he interrogation rooms when MoD An urgent hearing was “had people killed who got in his called “a sovereign state’s criminal inspectors visited on two occa- requested by lawyers acting for way” and was “running a narcot- justice system” could damage the sions earlier last year, the court an Afghan prisoner tortured in ics operation”. Khalid has previ- UK’s relations with the Afghan heard. Moses said this “spoke to breach of assurances made to ously denied the allegations. government. Some detainees a culture” of abuse. Documents British officials. James Eadie QC, The court hearing — in a case might have to be released if they disclosed to the court showed for the MoD, told the hearing: of the kind likely to be heard in could not be handed over to an Britain’s deputy ambassador to “Both the secretary of state for secret if the government’s jus- Afghan jail, thereby endangering Afghanistan, Catherine Royle, defence [Philip Hammond] and tice and security bill is passed the lives of British soldiers and met officials from the UN assist- the baroness [Warsi] were briefed — was requested by the law firm the local population. Safeguards, ance mission in Afghanistan in Pakistani security officials inspect the site of a suicide bombing targeting on the allegations. But the fact of Leigh Day and the legal char- including monitoring of Afghan June and asked them to name the vehicle of local anti-Taliban peace force leader in Daggar, the capital the matter is, he is head of the ity Reprieve, acting for Serdar jails by UK officials, had been put Khalid as a torturer in a report. of Buner district in Pakistan, yesterday. NDS.” He added: “We have to deal Mohammed, tortured by the in place, Eadie said. GUARDIAN NEWS

Sifting nuts Saudi Arabia funding $100m Court rejects bail for man in mosque in Afghanistan blasphemy row

KABUL: Saudi Arabia is funding a gym and dormitories for 5,000 students will LAHORE: A Pakistani court $100m mosque and Islamic education sit on a hill overlooking Kabul, next to the yesterday refused bail to the centre in Kabul that will teach thousands tomb of the last Afghan king, Mohammed headteacher of a school caught of students a year and help bolster Saudi Zahir Shah. The nearby mosque will hold in a blasphemy row over a piece influence in Afghanistan as the west up to 15,000 worshippers, making it one of of homework allegedly contain- withdraws. the largest in the country. ing derogatory references to the Work on the sprawling 30-hectare hill- Saudi Arabia has been one of the key play- Prophet Mohammed (PBUH). top complex is due to be completed by early ers in the turbulent decades since the Soviet Asim Farooqi, 77, was remanded 2016, when Afghan security forces will likely invasion at the end of 1979, influencing both in custody for 14 days on charges be trying to hold off the Taliban with little religion and politics in Afghanistan. of blasphemy — which can attract Nato support. The Saudis were a major funder of muja- the death penalty — despite “This Islamic centre has several aims, hideen in Afghanistan, sending millions of arguing he had no direct part in one is to ensure good relations between dollars to Pakistan-based groups to pay for the case. One of his teachers, Arfa Afghanistan and Saudi Arabia,” said the weapons and other supplies. When civil war Iftikhar, was forced into hiding acting Saudi minister of Haj and Islamic broke out it helped sponsor a peace deal, after a furious mob stormed Affairs, Dr Dayi Al Haq Abed. even bringing top Afghan commanders to Farooqi Girls’ High School in the Afghanistan’s neighbours and allies have Makkah to swear they would respect the eastern city of Lahore over a piece been jostling for power in the country for agreement — although it fell apart almost of homework she set. years; spending millions of dollars on aid, immediately. Blasphemy is an extremely education, TV and radio channels. After the rise of the Taliban, Saudi Arabia sensitive issue in Pakistan, where Efforts to secure a stake in Afghanistan’s was one of only three countries to recog- 97 percent of the population is future are intensifying with the 2014 Nato nise the hardline regime, but since its fall Muslim, and allegations of insult- withdrawal deadline looming, and a presi- in 2001 it has remained a generous donor to ing Islam can prompt violent dential election to chose the first new leader the western-backed government of Hamid outbursts of public anger, even in more than a decade set for April that Karzai. More recently it helped lay the when unproven. “The bail peti- year. groundwork for efforts to negotiate an end tion is dismissed,” Judge Anjum But Abed said the centre was a decade- to the war. Saudi diplomats have kept a Raza announced after hearing old project conceived by Saudi Arabia’s late lower profile than others though. arguments from Farooqi’s law- King Fahd, not a hasty effort to bolster the The new centre will likely have a large yer. The lawyer, Jawad Ashraf, Gulf state’s role in Afghan affairs. pool of applicants. Religious schools mostly had asked for bail on the grounds “It’s not a political centre, its an inde- funded by private individuals and Saudi the headteacher had no role in the pendent centre,” he said. “This centre institutions have spread the country’s incident. will never try to work against the inter- Wahhabi branch of Islam inside Afghanistan A Pakistani vendor prepares peanuts on a roadside in Peshawar, Pakistan, yesterday. After “The principal of the school can ests of Afghanistan or Saudi Arabia. It is and Pakistan — and all Afghans hope to a good rainy season, sales of dry fruits is flourishing. Tourists from all over Pakistan come only be held responsible for negli- firstly a place for prayer and secondly for travel there on the Haj pilgrimage at least to Peshawar to purchase dry fruits along with other items because of price differences gence and has no direct role in the education.” once in their lifetime. in different parts of the country. blasphemy incident, he should be A university with a library, lecture halls, GUARDIAN NEWS released,” he told the court. AFP SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA PM, Sonia to Solidarity with Malala push reforms at mega rally Strategy meeting on November 9

NEW DELHI: Seeking to to be able to return to the Lok push the ruling UPA’s eco- Sabha, than by those in the Rajya nomic reforms agenda amid Sabha. a slew of corruption allega- The Congress has maintained tions, the Congress’ top leader- that FDI in retail would help ship, including Prime Minister farmers and consumers and result Manmohan Singh and party in job creation for the youth - the chief Sonia Gandhi, will address constituencies it would like to a mega rally of party workers at address. the Ramlila ground here today. The Congress leadership is also According to informed sources, expected to attack the BJP and the Congress leadership, including India Against Corruption leader General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Arvind Kejriwal over the cor- is expected to explain the govern- ruption charges they have been ment’s recent moves to open the hurling at the party and the economy, especially allowing for- government. eign equity in retail despite intense The rally, being seen in politi- opposition to the move. cal circles as a massive show of The Congress Working strength, would be attended by Committee, the party’s high- all Congress chief ministers, state est decision making body, had unit chiefs, heads of block and dis- Sand sculptor Sudarshan Pattanayak gives finishing touches to a sand sculpture dedicated to Pakistani school student and education activist Malala also endorsed FDI in retail in trict units, MPs, legislators and Yousafzai during a workshop in Kolkata yesterday. The workshop was organised to create awareness of this art form. September while highlight- office bearers of the party’s fron- ing the need for social welfare tal organisations. schemes. The rally would be followed Hit by a series of corruption by an informal review-cum- allegations over the past one year strategy meet on November Swamy to seek derecognition of Congress and an economic slowdown, the 9 at Surajkund, near Delhi, at Congress is expected to flag the which the party’s top leadership, need for high economic growth Congress Working Committee NEW DELHI: The politi- “This loan is in violation of the therefore must decide under “The BJP clearly demands that in turn will fund its social members, general secretar- cal row over defunct National guidelines and rules that has to be Paragraph 16A of the said an inquiry into the matter, and welfare agenda, according to ies in charge of states, cabinet Herald escalated yester- mandatorily followed by political Symbol Order to de-recognise demands that the Congress face sources. ministers and ministers of state day with Janata Party chief parties for registration as well as the All India Congress Party,” the truth and answer questions, Ahead of the next general with independent charge will Subramanian Swamy urging recognition. it said. rather than running away for elections, scheduled in 2014 participate. the Election Commission to de- Section 29A to C of the RPA Congress general secretary the ninth or tenth time on major but not ruled out in 2013, the The meet will discuss the recognise the Congress for pro- (1951) and Section 13A of IT Act Janardan Dwivedi hit back, say- critical issues of corruption,” Congress, which has preferred a current political situation viding an interest-free loan to (1961) do not make any provision ing reviving the National Herald, said BJP spokesperson Nirmala socialist cloak over the past dec- and economic challenges fac- publisher Associated Journals for a political party to extend founded by Jawaharlal Nehru, was Sitharaman. ades, wants to convey a message ing the country and review Ltd and the party saying reviv- loans to companies, with or with- an emotional issue for it and no “The issue needs to be probed,” that good economic policies could the implementation thus far ing the newspaper was an emo- out interest.” commercial profit accrued to the said Kejriwal. fetch rich political dividends at of the Congress’ 2009 election tional issue for it. “The Congress party has party from the loan. Swamy Thursday alleged the hustings. manifesto. The move, said party Both the BJP and India prima facie committed an “The Congress has done “wrongdoing” by Congress presi- How important the economic sources, is meant to identify the Against Corruption leader offence under the electoral law its duty in supporting The dent Sonia Gandhi and party reforms are politically to the gaps in governance and present Arvind Kejriwal demanded a as well as the Income-Tax law Associated Journals Ltd to help general secretary Rahul Gandhi Congress is evident from the fact a roadmap for the new-look probe into the issue. for which it is necessary for you initiate a process to bring the which he said had led to the that the move is receiving greater cabinet, which was rejigged last A day after the Congress to hold hearings,” Swamy’s peti- newspaper back to health,” takeover of the Herald House support from leaders who will Sunday. admitted it gave the loan Swamy’s tion said. Dwivedi said. in Delhi. have to face elections, in order THE PENINSULA petition to the poll panel said: “The Election Commission The BJP demanded an enquiry. THE PENINSULA

Ship abandoned due to nature’s fury, fear of capsizing: Official 12th Plan will triple spending CHENNAI: Nature’s fury and ship has to go to a dry dock before “The master tried to turn the once the low tide sets in at around order for abandoning the ship was panic among the crew that the the certificate is renewed. Efforts ship to the left as it was going par- 4pm, the listing would increase to already given and a lifeboat was low- on health, says Pratibha Cauvery was likely to are on to salvage the ship,” he allel to the coast. The master was 14 degrees, he said. ered and it got capsized and the crew capsize led the captain to aban- said. asked to lower the two anchors Fearing that the vessel was was literally at sea. don the oil tanker as cyclone The cyclone was set to cross one by one, which was done. The likely to capsize, panic gripped When queried that insurers Manmohan Nilam hit the Tamil Nadu coast the coast near here on Wednesday increasing wind speed and high them and the captain gave the did not provide risk cover for ves- on October 31, an official said afternoon when the tanker was tide beached the ship,” he said. order to abandon ship, not know- sels over 25 years and Pratibha NEW DELHI: Prime Minister yesterday, adding that the ship’s anchored outside the Chennai “The captain called the Chennai ing the impending tragedy. Shipping was 31 years old, Mohan Manmohan Singh yesterday papers were all valid. Port area. The ship ran aground Port asking for boats for disem- Twenty-two crew members got said: “That is true of single hull said the 12th Five Year Plan “The ship has valid insurance as the cyclone hit the coast. barkment. The officials in turn into a lifeboat. Hit by giant waves, ships. Pratibha Cauvery is a dou- will enhance spending on health cover from New India (New India Describing the sequence of asked the captain to use lifeboats in the boat capsized and five went ble hull ship. It has valid insur- up to three times and that Assurance Company) and its the events on the fateful on the ship as the weather was rough missing while 17 were rescued. ance cover from New India.” more medical and nursing col- other certificates are also valid as Wednesday afternoon, Mohan to send their boats,” Mohan said. One of them was brought dead Questioned about the charges leges were needed to overcome per regulations,” Avinash Mohan, said the ship’s master started On being informed about the to the hospital. that the ship’s generator was not a shortage of trained human marine manager at Pratibha the engine at around 11am but the ship getting beached, Mohan told For quite sometime, Pratibha working for want of diesel, Mohan resources in the sector. Shipping Company Ltd said. ship managed a speed of only one the captain to remain calm and Shipping and Chennai Port offi- said Pratibha Cauvery’s gen- Speaking at the founda- “The ship’s seaworthiness certif- knot per hour at 60 revolutions balance the ballast. cials lost contact with the ship. erators and other systems were tion stone laying of the Lady icate, valid for five years, expired per minute (RPM). When the At around 1.30pm the 37 crew According to Mohan, when con- working before it got beached Hardinge Medical College on October 1 while it was on the engine’s RPM was increased, the members noticed that the ship tact with the captain was re-estab- pushed by strong cyclonic winds. project here, the prime minis- high sea. As per regulations, the ship’s speed was just five knots. was listing at six degrees and lished, they were informed that the IANS ter also said that health indica- tors reflected a country’s overall well-being. “Recognising the need to pro- Kumbh Mela preparation vide for the complex challenges in the health sector, the alloca- Hundreds pay tearful tion for health has been enhanced three times in the 12th Plan as compared with the 11th Plan allo- homage to Yerran Naidu cation,” he said. He said the government was paying more attention to medi- HYDERABAD: Hundreds of of Srikakulam and surround- cal education. In the last three people paid their last respects ing districts descended on years, the number of MBBS to Telugu Desam Party (TDP) the village, about 30km from seats in medical colleges rose by leader and former union min- Srikakulam town, to pay their over 30 percent and the seats for ister K Yerran Naidu, who last respects. post-graduate programmes by 51 was cremated in his native The 55-year-old leader was percent. Srikakulam district yesterday. killed in the early hours of Friday “However, the availability of The last rites of Naidu, who when the car in which he was trained human resources remains died in a road accident on Friday, travelling hit an oil tanker near a challenge. We need to set up were performed with state hon- Ranasthalam on Visakhapatnam- more nursing and medical colleges uors at his Nimmada village in Srikakulam highway. Four others to increase both undergraduate Srikakulam district of north including the driver were injured. and postgraduate seats in the 12th coastal Andhra, about 700km Health Minister D L Ravindra Plan,” he said from here. Reddy told reporters in The prime minister said that Yerran Naidu’s son K Hyderabad that the preliminary nutrition, drinking water, sani- Rammohan lit the funeral pyre, investigations revealed that 108 tation, housing and education, while the police presented a ambulance that carried Naidu to particularly of the girl child, gun-salute. hospital had no oxygen facility. were increasingly being under- TDP chief N Chandrababu The health authorities have lined as the social determinants Naidu, his son N Lokesh, TDP come under criticism from TDP of health. founder NTR’s sons Harikrishna, leaders, who alleged that Naidu He added that generic drugs Balakrishna, top leaders of the could not be saved as the ambu- would be made available free in party and scores of activists bid lance which shifted him from all public hospitals across the Power Department workers make adjustments to electrical power lines during preparations for the Maha Kumbh tearful adieu to Yerran Naidu, accident scene to the hospital country to help the poor reduce festival 2012-13 at Sangam in Allahabad yesterday. The Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering of people for a who was politburo member of in Srikakulam had no oxygen or their out of pocket expenditure religious purpose in the world and millions of people gather for this auspicious occasion. the party. ventilator facility. on health. People from various parts IANS IANS SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

German minister’s visit Albanian woman 459 candidates found dead in Delhi hotel in Himachal NEW DELHI: The body of a 29-year-old Albanian woman was found hanging from a ceil- ing fan in a hotel room here, police said yesterday. election fray Gledia Duro’s body was detected in the hotel in south Delhi’s Greater Kailash-I on Friday evening, police said. Cong, BJP in tight race; voting today A nylon belt was tied around her neck and the belt’s other end SHIMLA: Himachal Pradesh independents in the fray. was hanging from the fan, police is all set to vote yesterday to The Election Commission said. elect a new 68-member assem- has set up 7,253 polling stations She had arrived here on bly, with a close contest in for 46,08,359 electors, including October 27 on a tourist visa with the offing between arch rivals 23,76,587 men. her 57-year-old Czech boyfriend Congress and the ruling BJP. Of these, 767 have been declared Simon Spitz. A record number of 459 candi- hypersensitive, an official euphe- They came to Delhi from dates, including 27 women, are in mism to indicate possible trouble Chennai on Friday afternoon and the fray, an election official said spots. The maximum numbers of around 3.30pm they moved into yesterday. hypersensitive stations are 197 in the hotel. Officials are expecting heavy Kangra District. After checking-in, Simon had polling as the weather is expected As many as 9,191 electronic vot- gone out of the hotel alone around to be clear and sunny. The polling ing machines will be deployed. 4pm to eat. starts at 8am and ends at 5pm. The Hikkam polling station, “The incident came to light According to NGO National at an altitude of 14,567 feet in when Simon returned to the Election Watch, eight candidates Lahaul-Spiti, is the highest poll- room around 6pm. He raised an hold doctorate degrees. Besides ing station. It has 344 voters. alarm after Duro did not respond four doctors, almost a dozen engi- Chief Electoral Officer to his knocks on the door. Hotel neers, two ex-bureaucrats, two Narinder Chauhan said the state authorities later broke open the university teachers and a host of has 9,997 electors above the age door and recovered Duro’s hang- lawyers and MBAs are contesting of 89 years, while in the age of ing body,” said a police officer. the elections. 90 years there are 1,642 electors. The officer informed that no Sixteen candidates have stud- He said 8,355 electors were suicide note was recovered. Police ied till Class 10 and half-a-dozen above the age of 90 years. have ruled out any foul play. have an educational qualification The Sullah assembly constitu- Prima facie, it appears that the less than that, the NGO said. ency in Kangra district has high- deceased committed suicide, said The Himachal Lok Morcha est 89,293 electors in the state, the officer. (HLM), an alliance of Himachal while Lahaul-Spiti assembly Lokhit Party, formed under the lead- constituency has the minimum Ex-Maoists meet ership of BJP rebel and four-time of 22,344 electors. Chauhan said former MP Maheshwar Singh, and 109,115 voters are between the age Mamata, demand the Left are contesting 58 seats. group of 18 and 19 and 1,154,162 The HLP is contesting on 36 voters are in the age of 30 and 39. rehab package seats, the CPM 15 and the CPI He said Shyam Saran, 95, from seven, making the contest trian- Kalpa in Kinnaur district is the KOLKATA: Two former gular in more than five seats. oldest voter in the state. He was Maoist guerrillas, who were The Bahajun Samaj Party, among the first to vote after detained yesterday for wander- which won one seat in 2007, has country’s independence in the ing near Chief Minister Mamata fielded 66 candidates, followed by 1951 elections. Banerjee’s residence, later met the Trinamool Congress (25), Lok The Ka polling station of her and complained that they Janshakti Party (17), Swabhiman Kinnaur has the lowest number were yet to get the promised Party (16), Nationalist Congress of 18 electors. More than 60 rehabilitation package. Party (NCP) 13, Samajwadi Party companies of central paramili- The duo were detained after (14) and Shiv Sena (4). tary forces, including the ITBP they were found wandering near The NCP and the Trinamool and CRPF, have been deployed to Banerjee’s house in Bhowanipore. Congress are a first-time entrant ensure free and fair elections. German Economics Minister Philipp Roesler (centre) with Jyoti Sharma (right), president and founder of the They were trying to meet Banerjee. in the hill state. There are 106 IANS NGO Force and Regina Dube (left), responsible for sanitation and water at GIZ in India, during a visit to Rangpuri The two were brought to the Paharati slum in New Delhi, yesterday. state secretariat — the Writers’ Buildings — where they finally met the chief minister. “Chiranjeet Saha and Sukhdeb Mahato met the CM (chief min- Revision ister) complaining that they are Flood situation in Andhra Pradesh grim yet to get the entire rehabilitation of Tripura package they are entitled to on HYDERABAD: Floods in Visakhapatnam, Vijaynagaram, Krishna district in south Eluru town in West Godavari surrendering,” Home Secretary electoral rolls Andhra Pradesh triggered by Khammam and Adilabad districts coastal region received 22cm rain- district is facing flooding from Basudeb Banerjee said. cyclone ‘Nilam’ and north-west received heavy rains. fall during last 24 hours. Several Tammileru River. At least 40 vil- “They even went to her resi- monsoon inundated villages and After crossing the coast near places in the affected districts lages in the district were cut off dence but could not meet. Later rescheduled caused widespread damage to Chennai on Wednesday, the received over 10cm rainfall, offi- due to floods. they were brought to the secre- crops yesterday, officials said. cyclone left a trail of destruction. cials said. District Collector G. tariat where the CM after meet- AGARTALA: The Election Over 100 villages were cut The death toll rose to eight There was extensive damage Vanimohan said rescue teams ing them assured that they will Commission has rescheduled off and A few towns including yesterday with three people in to paddy crop in East and West of the Eastern Naval Command get all the rehabilitation benefits the ongoing revision of electoral Vijayawada faced inundation Khammam district and one in Godavari districts, the rice bowl of at Visakhapatnam and National as soon as possible,” he said. rolls in the Left-ruled Tripura as heavy rains continue to lash Krishna district drowning while the state. Cotton and groundnut Disaster Response Force The Trinamool Congress-led following a complaint by the coastal Andhra Pradesh and parts crossing overflowing streams. crops were damaged in Guntur, (NDRF) were reaching the government had revised the sur- Congress about alleged irregu- of Telangana region for the fourth Vijayawada in Krishna dis- Khammam and other districts. district. render-cum-rehabilitation pack- larities, an official said here consecutive day. trict is facing inundation as the Revenue Minister Raghuveera Some colonies in Rajhamundry age for the guerrillas providing a Saturday, sparking a protest Rivulets, tanks and reser- Budameru stream, which passes Reddy Friday said rains damaged town were inundated. All gates monthly stipend of Rs2,000 for a from the CPM. voirs were overflowing in eight through the town, is in spate. crops over 77,000 hectares but the of Pampa reservoir, an irriga- period of three years, along with Tripura’s Chief Electoral Officer districts, where normal life was With water levels rising extent of damage is likely to over tion project in the district, were a fixed deposit of Rs1.5 lakh. Ashutosh Jindal said: “The Election hit. Rains claimed eight lives and sharply in Prakasam Barrage 300,000 hectares. opened due to heavy inflows from The surrendering rebels are also Commission has extended the damaged crops over 77,000 hec- across Krishna river, the officials Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar upstream. Low-lying areas were entitled to receive between Rs25,000 schedule of receiving claims and tares during last four days. opened all its 70 gates. Vijayawada Reddy directed officials to moni- inundated in Amlapuram town in and Rs2 lakh depending on the type objection from November 2 to Krishna, Guntur, Prakasam, railway division cancelled and tor the situation and take neces- East Godavari district. of weapon they laid down. November 14 in connection with East Godavari, West Godavari, diverted several trains. sary steps to evacuate people. IANS IANS the on-going special summary revi- sion of the electoral rolls.” The move comes following a Congress delegation led by party general secretary and in-charge of northeastern states Luizinho Faleiro meeting the poll panel officials in Northern states seek investment from NRIs New Delhi on Thursday and com- plaining about alleged wrongdoing in OT only are the northern local and regional economies. At Aditya Birla Group Chairman The package may address the revision of the voters’ list states of India now send- a recent global investors’ meet, THE NR EYE Kumar Mangalam Birla said pressing issues of Punjabi NRIs Assembly elections in three Ning more workers abroad, the sprawling state of Madhya that Rs16,000 crore investment such as illegal occupation of northeastern states — Meghalaya, but the governments of states Pradesh announced the formation Moiz Mannan has already been made in the property, illegal migration of Nagaland, Tripura — which have like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and of a dedicated body to facilitate state in which seven thousand youth and fraudulent marriages, 60 seats each is scheduled to be Punjab are now adopting methods investments in the state by its resources and infrastructure. persons have got jobs. He prom- besides measures to facilitate NRI held in February next year. similar to those used by south- people living abroad. The government has passed ised to make a further invest- investment. Criticising the change of the ern provinces such as Kerala and This body, known as the Investment Facilitation Act 2008 ment of Rs20,000 crore in solar Meanwhile, the Bihar gov- schedule of the revision of the Andhra Pradesh to attract invest- Madhya Pradesh Global to assist investors in getting energy, textile and cement sec- ernment was busy organising a electoral list, ruling Communist ments from their diaspora abroad. Foundation, will open contact their clearances under a Single tors. Subrat Roy of Sahara Group road show at the sixth Regional Party of India Marxist (CPM) Some recent statistics released offices across 20 nations. Media Window scheme. The state is promised another Rs20,000 crore Pravasi Bharatiya Divas con- alleged that the opposition by the Ministry of Overseas reports quoted Industry Minister looking for economic develop- in the dairy sector. Essel Group vention in Mauritius. The road Congress is conspiring to dislodge Indians Affairs (MOIA) showed Kailash Vijayavergiya as saying ment through investment in Chairman Subhash Chandra show was aimed at highlighting the Left-Front government in that whereas the numbers of that a dedicated website for busi- agriculture, industry, infrastruc- spoke about the development of the ‘Know Your Roots’ cam- Tripura, as it did in 1988. outbound migrant workers from ness networking, being set up by ture and services sector. Ernst & a residential township in Chambal paign for the people of Indian “The Congress becomes fright- Kerala and Tamil Nadu have the Foundation, would facilitate Young through FICCI has pre- area at a cost of Rs35,000 crore. origin (PIO). According to one ened to face the assembly election actually declined in the past five investments from non-residents. pared a report on possibilities According to reports from report, some 70 percent of the as it would suffer a humiliating to six years, those from states like Madhya Pradesh Government of various sectors of investment Indore, on the very first day of Mauritius population is of Indian defeat in the ensuing assembly polls Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have has been trying for a few years to be promoted for investment the event, 113 MoUs worth Rs670 origin and almost 50 percent of in Tripura. That’s why the party more than doubled during this now to attract investment in in Madhya Pradesh. Sector-wise crore were inked with MSMEs Indians hail from Bihar. Nearly wants to come to power through period. India and abroad by organising reports have also been prepared and 107 Expression of Interest 40 percent of the foreign direct back door like 1988,” CPM state Generally termed as backward investors meet at the national and for mining, food processing, IT & (EOI) worth Rs1,128 crore were investment into India is routed secretary Bijon Dhar said. in terms of development, some international level. The state is ITS, energy, warehousing, forests drafted between the state govern- through Mauritius. He said that the Congress- of the northern states are now the fourth largest producer of and infrastructure. ment and investors. The India business roundtable government in New Delhi led by gearing up to boost their econ- agricultural products in India Madhya Pradesh’s strategic On its part, the Punjab govern- organised by the Overseas Indian then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi omies with the help of invest- with lowest consumption of fer- location has also led to its emer- ment is preparing a “comprehen- Facilitation Centre (OIFC) and had promulgated ‘disturb areas ments from non-resident Indians tilizer per hectare. More than 40 gence as an important destination sive package” for NRI Punjabis the Indian high commission in act’ in Tripura after a series of (NRIs). As mentioned earlier, per cent of cultivable land out of for automobile and auto compo- settled in various countries. Mauritius showcased the free “pre-planned terrorist violence” they have the examples of Kerala, total cultivable land is irrigated. nent as well as the pharmaceuti- The new measures are likely services that the Indian diaspora in its bid to install his party into Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat to It is considered to be attractive cal industries with major players to be announced at a three-day can leverage to increase their eco- power in the state. see how win-win partnerships for investment due to its strate- entering in a big way. NRI convention to be held here nomic engagement with India. IANS with NRIs can change the face of gic central location, availability of At last week’s investors’ meet, January 3-5 next year. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Courtney Love News in Numbers COMPANY PROFILE scotches Cobain QATAR ELECTRICITY AND Fajr (Dawn) 4:25 musical rumour WATER COMPANY Shorook (Sunrise) 5:43 LONDON: He is revered as the Zuhr (Noon) 11:17 last true rock legend and his band, Nirvana, created the soundtrack Asr (Afternoon) 2:28 for the alienated grunge genera- Maghrib (Sunset) 4:52 tion. So now, nearly two decades after Kurt Cobain’s death in Isha (Night) 6:22 April 1994 at the age of 27, is it time for “Kurt: The Musical”? Certainly not, according Doha-based Qatar Electricity and Water Company (QEWC) is an electricity to Cobain’s combative widow, and water company. Established in 1990, the company owns and manages WEATHER Courtney Love. Suggestions that power generation plants and water desalination stations to provide electricity a Nirvana musical could be in the and water in the State of Qatar. The Qatari government owns a 43% stake Weather works - masterminded by Love’s in the company, while the remaining is held by institutions and private Today Monday Tuesday Conditions: sometime co-manager, Sam Lufti, individuals. Currently, QEWC’s operations are limited to Qatar, however, the and going ahead with her blessing Clear Clear Mostly sunny company intends to extend its footprint in other regional markets. - have led the singer-actress to Relatively humid come out swinging. “There will be and hazy at first ( QRm unless otherwise mentioned ) no musical,” she said. “Sometimes Company Financials becoming realatively High: 32° High: 31° High: 32° it’s best just to leave things alone.” Low: 25° Low: 24° Low: 24° hot with scattered Y-O-Y CAGR (%) Rumours that Lufti was working clouds and chance Particulars 2008 2009 2010 9M-11 (%) ( 08 - 10 ) on a Broadway musical which would of scattered rain tell the story of Love’s life with offshore. Revenue 2,272.9 2,650.9 3,430.2 3,209.3 53.1 22.8 Cobain have coincided with reports DOHA - SUN & SEA of a new CBS sitcom entitled Smells Total Assets 13,587.6 18,048.0 22,123.4 21,816.9 13.6 27.6 SUN TIDE SEA Like Teen Spirit, and the auction- 1,307.6 3,589.7 3,938.4 3,717.1 42.7 73.5 ing of a smashed bass guitar from Shareholder’s Equity SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND the original Smells Like Teen Spirit Total Debt 8,289.9 12,054.8 14,416.7 14,229.1 8.2 31.9 05:43 | 16:52 08:15 & 18:45 00:15 & 16:15 08-16 KT video. Love, and many Nirvana fans, fear the commercialisation of Cobain Cash & Cash Equivalents 1,614.9 2,307.0 2,074.2 2,185.6 -9.5 13.3 THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW may be getting out of hand. Net Operating The temperamental Love - who 33.4 35.9 40.0 44.8 - - HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER had grunge hits with Doll Parts Margin () and Celebrity Skin and starred ROE () 30.2 38.6 31.6 45.8 - - MUSCAT 31/22 Mostly sunny 31/22 Mostly sunny in Milos Forman’s The People vs. MAKKAH 39/25 Clear 38/25 Mostly sunny Larry Flynt - says that while she ROA () 6.6 6.0 5.8 6.6 - - KUWAIT 32/18 Mostly sunny 33/19 Clear has been in discussions with the EPS (QR) 7.6 9.5 11.6 10.0 48.8 23.9 BAHRAIN 30/25 Clear 30/25 Clear director of The Kid Stays In the SANAA 22/07 Clear 23/07 Mostly sunny Picture, Brett Morgan, over a film Book Value 13.1 35.9 37.6 34.8 37.9 69.6 RIYADH 29/14 Mostly sunny 30/14 Mostly sunny looking at her life since Cobain, Per Share (QR) DUBAI 32/24 Clear 31/24 Clear she is opposed to commerical Dividend Per 4.5 5.0 6.0 6.0 20.0 15.5 BAGHDAD 32/21 Mostly sunny 32/19 Clear exploitation of his legacy. Share (QR) Love recently gave up some THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW rights to Cobain’s likeness and Shareholding Pattern Segmental Revenues in 2010 Nirvana’s publishing but, con- HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER trary to recent reports, the singer says she has not ceded control of ATHENS 22/17 Mostly sunny 22/19 Mostly sunny rights to their daughter, Frances Govt. of Qatar 43% WASHINGTON 10/02 Mostly sunny 10/00 Clear Lease Income 15% Bean, saying: “She doesn’t have QP 11% SYDNEY 24/18 Mostly sunny 28/19 Cloudy anything to do with it.” QNB 6% Electricity 53% LONDON 10/03 Rain 08/03 Mostly sunny Nirvana may now be a distant QIC 1% Water 32% PARIS 12/08 Chance of rain 12/05 Chance of rain and glorious rock memory, said Public 39% ISTANBUL 22/14 Mostly sunny 23/16 Mostly sunny Love. But that does not mean the MANILA 33/23 Mostly sunny 33/23 Mostly sunny authenticity and rebel spirit of the DHAKA 27/21 Rain 27/22 Chance of rain man and the band are now fair DELHI 28/17 Clear 27/17 Clear game for profit-making schemes. ISLAMABAD 28/14 Mostly sunny 27/13 Mostly sunny THE PENINSULA Source : http://www.cbq.com.qa/ The man who would stop hurricanes with tyres

LONDON: Devastating tropi- Research into hurricane suppression is 5-7 NOV 2012 cal storms of the kind that bat- tered the US last week could considered urgent by the US government be weakened and rendered less deadly using a simple and because seven of the 10 costliest hurricanes to cheap technology based on a Sponsored By surprising component - old car hit the United States have struck since 2004. tyres. One of Britain’s leading marine on hurricane suppression. It had “miscalculated” by a factor engineers, Stephen Salter, emer- was picked up and developed by of 10 the estimated cost of energy itus professor of engineering Intellectual Ventures, a Seattle- production, possibly setting back design at Edinburgh university based new tech company run by British wave energy research by and a global pioneer of wave Myhrvold and backed by Gates 20 years. power research, has patented which buys and licenses patents Salter, with John Lathan with Microsoft billionaires Bill and inventions. of the US National Centre for Gates and Nathan Myhrvold the “The Salter Sink concept is Atmospheric Research, has also idea of using thousands of tyres delightfully simple and singu- developed the idea of using hun- lashed together to support giant larly gargantuan,” the company dreds of ships spraying very fine PHOTOGRAPHY COMPETITION plastic tubes which extend 100m said in a statement posted on its seawater droplets high into the deep into the ocean. website yesterday. sky to reflect sunlight and thus Wave action on the ocean “It has captured our imagi- counter global warming and surface would force warm sur- nation here in the lab. We have suppress hurricanes. The UK face water down into the deeper done some experiments and government was asked to assess ocean. If non-return valves were computational modelling work the technology research, but used, he says, the result would to validate this idea, but a lot declined to back it financially. be to mix the waters and cool more research needs to be done Hurricane suppression ideas the surface temperature of the by experts in related fields such go back more than 100 years but ocean to under 26.5C, the critical as climate science and oceanog- attempts have mostly proved temperature at which hurricanes raphy, and we need partners to tragicomic, said Jim Fleming, Use Your Camera or mobile to form. pursue the project further.” author of a new history of geo- According to Salter, who has Research into hurricane engineering. Ideas have included written to the government’s chief suppression is considered setting up rows of cannon on SHOOT YOUR FAVOURITE PHOTO FROM scientific officer setting out his urgent by the US government the Florida coast to shoot them scheme, harnessing energy from because seven of the 10 costli- down; using laser beams from the waves to cool the surface est hurricanes to hit the United space; and “seeding” them with temperature of the ocean makes States have struck since 2004. silver iodide. ecological sense. The naturally Hurricane Sandy has caused The results have proved at working pumps would be located approximately $30bn of damage, best uncertain. One hurricane in “hurricane alley”, the warm taking the economic costs of hur- “manipulated” by the US gov- 6/ 11 / 2012, 10:00 pm corridor in the Atlantic through ricanes in the US and Caribbean ernment in the 1940s veered off which the most damaging storms since 2002 to more than $200bn. course and struck Georgia, caus- typically develop and pass. Salter’s research is unlikely to ing $20m of damage and killing Salter claims that the hydro- be funded by the British govern- two people. In 1962, just after the logical problems have been ment, which is traditionally shy Cuban missile crisis, Fidel Castro solved but that research funding of paying for “blue sky” marine complained that the US had & WIN FIRST PRIZE QR 8,000 is urgently needed. “If you can technologies, and Salter’s own “modified” a hurricane which, cool the sea surface, you would wave devices in particular. remarkably, lingered over the calm the hurricanes. I estimate In 1982 Salter invented the island for four days after exer- EXCITING CASH SECOND PRIZE QR 4,000 you would need about 150-450 idea of a mechanical “duck” cising a U-turn. of these structures. They would which bobbed on the ocean and Many countries, including the THIRD PRIZE QR 3,000 drift around and send out radar generated electricity. But the US and Russia, have tried to mil- PRIZES! signals so that no one would col- government shut down the UK itarise weather research, trying lide with them,” he said. Wave Energy programme, argu- to divert hurricanes and storms The idea of what is now known ing that his invention would be into the path of their enemies. mail your entries (Maximum 3 Photos) to: [email protected] as the “Salter Sink” was first too expensive to develop further. Salter was inspired to invent presented to the US govern- It emerged later that civil serv- his device after seeing the dam- or urther inormaon Please call: ment in 2007 at a post-Katrina ants in the nuclear power divi- age wrought by Katrina. US Homeland Security meeting sion of the energy department THE GUARDIAN Sunday 4 November 2012 19 Dhul-Hijja 1433 Volume 17 Number 5508 Price: QR2

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135,463 9.00 632,875 26.40 347,980 152.00146,909 15.49 77,125 76.70 170,324 28.80 86,553 24.70 89,949 71.90 6,384 52.00 European bank lending in Qatar falls 19pc QNB provides 4.5pc for land financing with no BY SATISH KANADY of European banks from the GCC is of Bahrain’s borrowing from foreign large presence in Qatar and UAE., likely to affect long maturity syndi- banks is directed to the non-bank while French bank lending dominated payments for 6 months DOHA: The lending from European cated loans since they require more sector, reflecting dominant size of its in Saudi Arabia. banks is falling significantly in expensive long-term funding sources. off-shore banking industry. The UAE accounted for the largest DOHA: QNB, the leading financial institution in Qatar and in other GCC countries Given the recent increases in infra- In comparison, foreign bank lend- increase in borrowings from foreign Qatar, and the Mena region, has announced the launch as well. Qatar saw a 19 percent drop structure spending in the region and ing to Qatar and the UAE amount banks while Saudi Arabia accounted of a new campaign in which the bank will provide an in lending from euro area banks high demand for project financing, to about 40 and 30 percent of GDP, for the largest increase in lending to interest rate of 4. 5 percent, the lowest in Qatar, for between 2011:Q1 and 2012:Q1. such funding pressure would come respectively, with over half of the foreign banks. As the global financial Qatari nationals who apply for land financing. An IMF research note, dis- at an inopportune moment for some inflows going to the non-bank sector crisis spread to the GCC, however, QNB will offer this competitive financing rate, along cussed at the annual meeting of GCC economies. in each country. flows to and from global banks came with no payments and no interest for 6 months, to Ministers of Finance and Central Linkages with global banks vary Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are con- to a standstill or reversed. existing or new customers whose salaries are or will Bank Governors in Saudi Arabia across the GCC both in terms of size siderably less dependent on foreign Despite the recovery in oil prices be transferred to QNB. Additionally, individuals who in October, cited signs of regional and by sector. Total foreign bank bank financing, but have sizable out- in 2010-11 and the strengthening are self-employed or have sources of income other retrenchment by European Banks claims on the GCC amounted to ward exposure to foreign banks. of GCC economic indicators, for- than a salary are also eligible for this offer. have emerged with the debt crisis $328bn in the first quarter of 2012, On the share of foreign liabili- eign bank lending to the GCC has Customers can visit QNB’s dedicated Mortgage worsening in the Euro area. while funds provided to global banks ties in total liabilities of commercial on aggregate declined by 5 percent Loan Centre, located at the QNB C-Ring Road branch, Qatar, Bahrain and UAE are the by the GCC amounted to $462bn. banks, another key measure of foreign since September 2008. to be detailed on the offer’s benefits and to apply. The three countries in the region with The UAE is the main destination financing exposure, the report noted Foreign claims on Kuwait and centre is staffed by specialised advisers who will work the highest dependence of European for foreign bank lending-40 percent Bahrain is again an outlier at over 40 Bahrain have fallen over 55 per- with customers and guide them from the initial appli- financing. The UAE and Qatar saw a of total foreign bank claims- while percent followed by Qatar 29 percent cent and 25 percent, respectively. cation step until the process is completed. 23 and 19 percent drop, respectively, Saudi Arabia is the largest creditor and the UAE 17 percent. In contrast, foreign bank liabilities QNB, is always keen to position itself as the best in lending from euro area banks in to global banks lending-47 percent of European banks account for the to the GCC have recently regained banking choice, providing the latest and most spe- Q1 2012. total foreign bank liabilities. majority of outstanding claims on momentum as higher oil prices have cial offers and products to benefit its customers. The report cautioned that further Bahrain has the highest exposure to the GCC. European bank claims on strengthened external balances. Qatar Customers can call the bank’s customer service centre deleveraging and retrenchment of foreign banks with claims and liabili- GCC economies amounted to $220bn stands out with a tripling of claims on at 4440 7777 or visit the QNB Mortgage Loan Centre European banks could lead to liquid- ties exceeding well over 100 percent of in the first quarter of 2012-65 percent foreign banks since September 2008. in order to get an idea of their eligibility. ity pressures. A sharper scaling back GDP. However, only about 10 percent of total claims, with the UK having THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Commodity prices diverge on Sandy, US jobs data Brent North Sea crude slides to $106.49 a barrel; gold drops to $1,685 an ounce; key industrial metals rise

LONDON: Commodity prices OIL: Oil prices dropped as a said. Data showed an expanding London Platinum and Palladium $15,972 a tonne from $16,180. $518.30 a tonne Thursday on diverged this week with mar- stronger dollar caused by the pos- manufacturing sector in China, Market, platinum dipped to $1,552 Three-month zinc increased to expectations of ample Brazilian kets impacted by superstorm itive US jobs data offset disrup- the world’s biggest energy con- an ounce from $1,572. Palladium $1,873.75 a tonne from $1,839. supplies. By Friday on LIFFE, the Sandy and strong Chinese and tions to energy supplies caused sumer, for the first time in three nudged higher to $608 an ounce COCOA: Prices rebounded price of a tonne of white sugar for US economic data ahead of next by Sandy and a surprising drop months. By Friday on the New from $605. on data showing tighter sup- delivery in December dropped to week’s presidential elections in in US crude inventories, trad- York Mercantile Exchange, West BASE METALS: Base or plies in leading producer Ivory $520 from $531 a week earlier. the United States. ers said. A stronger dollar makes Texas Intermediate (WTI) or industrial metals mostly rose in Coast, analysts said. By Friday On NYBOT-ICE, the price of Wall Street shut for two days commodities priced in the US light sweet crude for December a volatile week’s trading, having on LIFFE, London’s futures unrefined sugar for March slipped at the start of the week as Sandy unit more expensive for holders of dipped to $85.32 a barrel from fallen early on before rebound- exchange, cocoa for delivery in to 19.41 US cents a pound from bore down on the US east coast, rival currencies, denting demand $85.81 a week earlier. ing late in the week on positive March stood at £1,573 a tonne 19.56 cents the previous week. leaving parts of New York flooded and eventually prices. On London’s Intercontinental Chinese and US economic data. compared with £1,547 for the GRAINS AND SOYA: Maize, and millions without power. In the United States, the Exchange, Brent North Sea crude “There are increasing signs December contract a week ear- wheat and soya prices fell, At least 92 people have now world’s largest consumer of oil, for delivery in December slid to of the Chinese economy gath- lier. On New York’s NYBOT-ICE hit by a recovering dollar. By been reported dead across the the Department of Energy on $106.49 a barrel from $108.81 a ering pace again,” said analysts exchange, cocoa for December Friday on the Chicago Board 15 states hit by Monday night’s Thursday said that crude inven- week earlier. at Commerzbank. “More robust climbed to $2,435 a tonne from of Trade, maize for delivery in unprecedented storm, including tories had fallen by 2.0 million PRECIOUS METALS: Gold economic growth again, supported $2,391. December dropped to $7.38 a 40 in New York City, while some barrels last week, while analysts prices retreated under $1,700 an among other things by numerous COFFEE: Coffee prices hit bushel from $7.43 a week ear- economists have estimated the had forecast a rise. US energy ounce, with the safe haven yellow infrastructural projects, is likely multi-month lows as an ample lier. November-dated soya- disaster will cost up to $50bn. stockpiles could meanwhile drop metal losing some shine on the to spark solid demand for com- supply backdrop offset worries bean meal — used in animal In better news for the world’s further owing to severe refinery back of positive economic data. modities in general and for metals earlier in the week that Sandy feed — retreated to $15.33 a biggest economy, the United States disruption caused by Sandy. “Capital continues to rotate out in particular.” would damage warehouses bushel from $15.58. Wheat for on Friday said that it had added Two US refineries with a com- of the traditional safe haven play By late Friday on the London stocking beans, analysts said. By December decreased to $8.62 a 171,000 jobs in October, far more bined crude processing capacity of as US economic data continues to Metal Exchange, copper for deliv- Friday on NYBOT-ICE, Arabica bushel from $8.76. than expected, while the unemploy- 308,000 barrels a day, which closed point to some form of recovery, ery in three months dropped to for delivery in December fell to RUBBER: Prices fell further ment rate edged up to 7.9 percent. when Sandy hit on Monday, were albeit a weak one,” said Michael $7,687.50 a tonne from $7,817 a 154.10 US cents a pound from on growing fears that a global The encouraging jobs report pro- awaiting post-storm assessments Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets week earlier. Three-month alu- 160.50 a week earlier. On LIFFE, economic slowdown would curb vided a final snapshot of a slowly before reopening, reports said. trading group. minium edged up $1,938 a tonne Robusta for January stood at demand for the commodity. The improving economy as President Oil prices on Thursday won By late Friday on the London from $1,936. Three-month lead $1,973 a tonne compared with Malaysian Rubber Board’s bench- Barack Obama battles for re- support from improved US eco- Bullion Market, gold dropped to grew to $2,099 a tonne from $2,048 for the November con- mark SMR20 ended the week at election next Tuesday in a neck- nomic data, a surprise drop in $1,685 an ounce from $1,716 a $2,012. Three-month tin increased tract a week earlier. 283.55 US cents a kilo, down from and-neck race against Republican crude supplies and a rebound in week earlier. Silver rose to $31.92 to $20,200 a tonne from $19,990. SUGAR: White sugar hit a 286.05 cents the previous week. challenger Mitt Romney. Chinese manufacturing, traders an ounce from $31.67. On the Three-month nickel slipped to fresh 26-month low point at AFP

Vale partner Shanghai, Beijing says Guinea lure investors seeks to seize SHANGHAI: Real estate debt crisis crimped exports and iron ore rights investors and developers are the government’s property crack- abandoning a two-year foray down cooled domestic demand. DAKAR/LONDON: The min- into China’s provincial cities The capital Beijing, the finan- ing arm of Israeli billionaire Beny and switching back to Shanghai cial center of Shanghai and the Steinmetz’s business empire and Beijing, where offices are two southern business centers has accused the government of fuller, rents are higher and of Shenzhen and Guangzhou Guinea of seeking to “illegally home prices are stabilising. are ranked as first-tier cities, seize” its assets through a probe Of the $34bn of direct invest- according to the National Bureau into how it won rights to mine ment in commercial real estate in of Statistics. The second tier part of a major iron ore deposit. 2010 and 2011 combined, 20 per- includes provincial capitals, while Privately owned BSG Resources, cent went to China’s 50 biggest the third includes smaller cities. which has been working in the second-tier cities, according to In the wake of the 2008 credit West African country with Jones Lang LaSalle Inc, up from crisis, developers and investors Brazilian mining major Vale , con- 5 percent in the prior two years. were lured to inland cities by firmed it had received a letter from That percentage for second-tier cheaper land and rising incomes. a government commission alleging cities may decline in the “immedi- China’s Premier Wen Jiabao, improper behaviour and graft in its ate future,” according to Michael who is set to hand over power in winning of rights to develop blocks Klibaner, China head of research March after a once-in-a-decade in the Simandou region. for the world’s second-biggest leadership transition that begins The Financial Times reported commercial realtor. next month, has sought to curb yesterday that a government A three-year building boom, property speculation in Shanghai committee backed by philanthro- fuelled by government stimu- and Beijing. That encouraged pist George Soros had launched a lus, has pushed up office vacancy developers to seek opportunities corruption probe into the award rates in second-tier cities such as elsewhere, where property poli- process for the blocks in 2008 and Chongqing and Chengdu to almost cies were more relaxed. A construction site in Beijing. Real estate investors are returning to Shanghai and Beijing after two years in which sent the letter to BSG including a 40 percent, while rising land prices China has over the past two they concentrated on provincial cities. range of charges. have squeezed homebuilders’ profit years raised down-payment and The blocks were stripped from margins. Investors and develop- mortgage requirements for home eastern Jiangsu province, which is Fantasia plans to expand to 150,000 square metres of prime Anglo-Australian miner Rio Tinto ers are refocusing on Beijing and buyers, imposed a property tax the most expensive among China’s first-tier cities such as Beijing and office space stemmed from the and the licenses passed to BSGR Shanghai, where prime offices are for the first time in Shanghai and second-tier cities, according to Shanghai, Lam said, citing better central government’s 4 trillion in 2008, under a previous admin- close to full occupancy and rents Chongqing, increased building of the broker. One square metre prospects for commercial proper- yuan stimulus programme in 2008 istration. Simandou, in Guinea’s are on par with cities such as New low-cost social housing and placed equals about 10.8 square feet. ties in the biggest cities. to revive the country’s economy. hilly and forested southeast, is York and Sydney, according to home-purchase restrictions in Fantasia Holdings Group Co, In the western city of Today, about 85 percent of that estimated to hold what could be Cushman & Wakefield Inc. about 40 cities. Home prices have a Shenzhen-based developer, Chongqing, four largely empty office space is empty. the world’s largest unexploited “In a world of uncertainties, the risen about 155 percent nationwide paid about 779m yuan to buy office towers bearing names of “Once the expectation of iron ore reserves. best investment is the one that since reforms that privatized the Huawanli Investment, which the country’s biggest financial healthier market conditions take produces stable rents,” said Albert country’s housing market in 1998. holds a 17,138-square-metre site institutions, including China Life hold in the second-tier cities, ‘CLUMSY ATTEMPT’ Lau, head of China at property Monthly prime office rents in in Beijing’s central business dis- Insurance Co, the biggest insur- you’ll see more interest in those “This is the fifth and most broker Savills. Beijing and Shanghai are 690 yuan trict, according to a statement to ance company, stand side-by-side assets,” Jones Lang LaSalle’s clumsy attempt by an already dis- China’s economy expanded 7.4 ($110) and 563 yuan per square the Hong Kong Stock exchange. It along the Yangtze River. Klibaner said. “The fundamental credited Government of Guinea in percent in the third quarter from metre, according to Cushman & plans to develop a business com- Completed last year to anchor of the markets is more attractive an ongoing campaign to illegally a year earlier, a seventh-straight Wakefield. That compares with plex on the land, executive direc- the city’s new Jiangbeizui busi- in tier-one cities now.” seize BSGR’s assets,” BSGR said quarterly slowdown, as Europe’s 284 yuan in Nanjing, the capital of tor Lam Kam Tong said by e-mail. ness district, the skyscrapers with WP-BLOOMBERG in a statement. It said the letter made “ridicu- lous” allegations accusing BSGR of making payments and offer- ing gifts including a diamond- encrusted gold watch to the country’s last president. Spurt in Iraq oil exports buoys government bonds A spokesman for Guinea’s gov- ernment confirmed it was review- DUBAI: Iraqi bond yields fell more than said. “The security environment has not Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Affairs Prime Minister Nuri Al Maliki and his oppo- ing BSG Resources’ contract, but three times as much as the average on improved. But recent numbers show that Hussain Al Shahristani, said on October 24. nents, and a possible spill-over of the war in said it was part of the country’s Middle Eastern debt as Opec’s second- while this will clearly hurt the non-oil sec- Iraq expects to pump as much as 6 million neighbouring Syria pose additional “daunting broader review of resource agree- biggest producer pumped the most oil tor, investor confidence and quality of life barrels a day by 2015, Shahristani said. challenges,” said Stuart Bowen, the special ments and that it was not target- in 33 years and agreed to restore crude in general, it does not have to hinder oil Crude exports, which generate 95 cents US inspector general for Iraq reconstruction. ing BSG Resources in particular. exports from its Kurdish region. production volumes being ramped up.” of every dollar in official revenue, rose 22 Even so, Bowen sees progress in Iraq’s record “Our role is to protect the The rate on 5.8 percent dollar-denom- The spread between Iraqi sovereign percent from January to September as the electricity production and highest crude out- interests of the Guinean people,” inated Iraqi government bonds maturing bonds and US Treasuries has narrowed government eased bottlenecks to shipments put since 1990, he said. said Damantang Albert Camara. in January 2028 has dropped by 216 basis by 281 basis points since peaking this year from southern fields where energy compa- Maliki’s central government and Kurdish “BSGR should react by answer- points from June 1 and stood at 6.48 per- at 757 on June 1, JPMorgan Chase & Co.’s nies are making most of their investments, authorities agreed last month to resume ing our questions. We have no cent on October 31, according to data com- EMBIG Sovereign Spread Iraq index shows. according to the Oil Ministry. Two offshore crude exports following a halt of about four intention of seizing the licenses piled by Bloomberg. That compares with The spread was 476 basis points on October mooring facilities for supertankers began months amid a dispute over oil revenue and of a company that has acquired a decline of 67 basis points in the aver- 29. The cost of insuring Iraq’s bonds for five operating this year, each adding about contract terms with foreign companies. The them legally.” age yield on regional debt over the same years fell 50 basis points from an August 800,000 barrels in daily export capacity. two sides have yet to agree on an energy law BSG Resources said its licences period, the HSBC/Nasdaq Dubai Middle 6 peak to 450 basis points ob October 29, The IMF forecasts Iraq’s economy to that would help resolve their differences. were issued “through due legal East Conventional Sovereign U.S. Dollar according to data provider CMA, which is grow 10.2 percent this year and 14.7 percent Iraq’s cabinet approved a $118.5bn budget and transparent processes” and Bond Index shows. owned by McGraw-Hill Cos. and compiles in 2013. Of 20 countries in the Middle East for 2013, 18 percent larger than this year, as had been judged legal by an inter- Iraq, which overtook Iran in June as the prices quoted by dealers in the privately and North Africa, only Libya is poised to the nation strives to rebuild roads, airports, national law firm working for the largest producer behind Saudi Arabia in negotiated market. expand at a faster pace, according to the and industries following decades of war and government. the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting “Iraq bonds have performed very well in IMF. “Capacity to repay is not an issue,” sanctions. The Oil Ministry has signed 19 Camara would not confirm Countries, is reviving its energy industry the last few months,” Gabriel Sterne, senior said Sterne of Exotix. “Investor concern is contracts with ExxonMobil, Total SA and details of the letter BSG said it nine years after the U.S.-led invasion that economist in London at Exotix, an invest- 95 percent politics and governance.” other international oil companies since had received from the govern- toppled Saddam Hussein. Royal Dutch ment bank, said by phone Tuesday. “Since Resurgent violence could threaten further 2003. It plans to complete three additional ment or any charges made by the Shell, OAO Lukoil and other investors are June 1, its spreads have performed in the improvements in this nation of 33 million contracts next week. committee. helping to boost output at southern oil top four of frontier economies we monitor.” people. Attacks in Iraq have escalated since “Iraq’s bonds will continue to improve BSG said the government had fields, and the government sees exports ris- Iraq holds the world’s fifth-largest crude the US withdrew its last combat troops in and become more and more attractive been in possession of all the doc- ing since it ended an impasse with north- reserves, according to BP Plc, and is devel- December, leaving 3,036 civilians dead in the because the country’s economy is growing umentation it was now request- ern Iraq’s self-ruled Kurds. oping them ahead of schedule. It raised out- first eight months of this year compared with fast regardless of the violence,” Mudher ing for 12 months, but that it “That is a really positive signal for Iraq’s put capacity to 3.4 million barrels a day 2,695 in the same period in 2011, according Saleh, deputy governor of the country’s would resubmit all requested creditworthiness,” Liz Martins, senior in September, four months faster than to the Iraq Body Count website. central bank, said recently. information. economist at HSBC Holdings in Dubai, planned, Abdel Ilah Qassem, adviser to Corruption, a political deadlock between WP-BLOOMBERG REUTERS SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Guinea, UAE Jewels expo Qatar plans $30bn sign bauxite supply deal

tenders in 2013-14 DUBAI: Compagnie des Bauxites de Guinee (CBG) signed a long-term supply MEED to host Qatar Projects 2013 conference agreement with the United Arab Emirates for bauxite, the DOHA: Qatar will see an $30bn a year from 2013- 2014; as that will enable them to secure a main raw material in alumin- upsurge in project tenders and well as a comprehensive discus- piece of the nearly $60bn worth ium, the Gulf country’s state awards in the next two years, sion of the solutions to the mas- of contracts up for grabs,” said news agency reported. as the country enters the next sive challenges currently faced by Edmund O’ Sullivan, Chairman, The Emirates News Agency crucial phase of its prepara- project owners, developers and MEED Events. did not report the duration or tions for the FIFA World Cup contractors in Doha. In addition to discussing the value of the contract, which was 2022 and its bid for the Summer The last two years, for most play- development and delivery of concluded between CBG and Olympics in 2020. ers, was a time of preparation; set- Qatar’s infrastructure projects in the Emirates’ investment fund The wave of new projects to be ting up new partners and securing the lead up to World Cup 2022, Mubadala Development Co. awarded will be comprehensively financing. This year, as the Qatar other important discussions But Guinean Mines Minister discussed at the Qatar Projects Projects conference celebrates 10 include assessing the investments Mohamed Lamine Fofana was Gold jewellery is seen at the international jewels exposition in Valenza, 2013 conference organised by years, it will set the industry abuzz required and the overall outlook for quoted as saying at a signing northern Italy. Italy has lost its position as the world’s premier gold MEED Events and supported with new project announcements. project financing in the next two to ceremony in Abu Dhabi that the jewellery exporter, overtaken by India and the United States, and risks by the Ministry of Business and “The next five years will show- five years. deal would add $500m to Guinea’s slipping further due to its high cost base. Trade. Highlights of the premiere case the critical developments that Qatar Projects 2013 will provide gross domestic product. gathering of projects industry will transform Qatar as it steps up not just insights and information “The agreement with Mubadala stakeholders from across the to deliver on mega, medium and about the projects industry in will make a significant contri- region include announcements of small size projects. Qatar Projects is Qatar, but important networking bution to Guinea’s economy by new tenders, bidding and awards, a must-attend event as it provides opportunities for all participants. enabling the expansion of CBG which are expected to reach stakeholders access to information THE PENINSULA to more than 20 million met- Hindujas near $1.1bn deal ric tonnes of bauxite per year,” Fofana was quoted as saying by the news agency late on Friday. to buy US chemical firm Indonesia inflation Guinea’s government said in a separate press release that NEW DELHI: India’s Hinduja Standard. The Hinduja group Jet Airways Mubadala had said it needs 5 Group is close to acquiring is one of India’s biggest indus- billion tonnes of bauxite by 2017. US oils and chemicals firm trial houses with interests from The Guinean company CBG Houghton for $1.1bn as the fam- banking to chemicals while the quarterly - a joint venture between the ily-owned conglomerate seeks Hinduja brothers, who steer the Guinean state and a consortium a tie-up for its lubricants busi- group, are based in London and losses narrow of companies including Halco ness, a report said yesterday. Indian financial hub Mumbai. Mining Inc, Alcoa, Rio Tinto, and Pennsylvania-based Houghton A spokesman for the group MUMBAI: India’s second-big- Dadco - has an annual produc- International, owned by private — run by chairman Srichand gest private airline Jet Airways tion of 13.5 million tonnes. A CBG equity firm AEA Investors, is Hinduja, with the help of his has reported its quarterly loss official in Conakry said it would among the world’s biggest manu- brothers, Gopichand, Prakash narrowed by 86 percent from take the company at least three or facturers of hydraulic fuels, rust and Ashok—could not be imme- a year ago as it benefited from four years to raise production to preventatives and lubricants for diately reached for comment. The troubles roiling rival Kingfisher 20 million tonnes per year. the automotive and steel sec- purchase of Houghton, which has Airlines. “We can’t do it right away,” he tors. The deal is expected to be manufacturing plants throughout Jet announced late on Friday said, asking not to be named. “We announced soon as most of the the world, would mark the biggest a net loss of Rs997m ($18.5m) in will definitely need to proceed terms have been agreed, the foreign acquisition by an Indian the second quarter, down sharply with an expansion project first.” Business Standard newspaper company this year and would be from a Rs7.13bn loss posted in In March, Fofana said Guinea had quoted a senior unnamed Hinduja Hindujas’ largest ever abroad, the same period a year earlier, as started negotiations for Mubadala official as saying. Business Standard said. operating income surged. to take a stake in CBG. But Guinea “We are awaiting an announce- The Hindujas have a presence The results surprised aviation said the supply deal did not result ment as some last-minute around the globe, employing over analysts who expected the air- in Mubadala taking a stake. negotiations are going on,” the 40,000 people, according to the Traders selling potatoes wait for customers in a vegetable and fruit line to post a Rs2.6bn loss for the REUTERS official said, according to Business group’s website. AFP market in Jakarta. Inflation in Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s biggest three months to September. “An economy, picked up in October to 4.61 percent from a year ago, the improvement in yields has helped country’s statistics bureau said. the group to post an operating profit,” Jet chief executive Nikos Kardassis said. But he added an industry wide “slowdown in passenger traffic due to a weakened economic sce- Debt crisis to overshadow nario and high fuel prices” pushed the carrier into the red. The airline owned by Indian Asem summit in Laos tycoon Naresh Goyal — a former travel agent — posted its first BANGKOK: Debt-laden Euro- French Labour Minister Michel profit in 18 months in the April- pean nations will lobby Asia’s Sapin said ahead of the summit. to-June quarter. Jet is among economic dynamos for help to “We have to show the world the carriers which have gained calm the crisis raging in the that Europe is not going back- passengers from cash-strapped eurozone at a major summit next wards but is moving forward,” he Kingfisher Airlines owned by liq- week in communist Laos, one of said on a recent trip to Vietnam. uor baron Vijay Mallya that until the world’s poorest countries. About 50 leaders or their repre- last year was India’s second-larg- A heavyweight contingent sentatives are expected to stream est airline but now is its smallest. including French President into the normally sleepy Laos The airline industry’s regula- Francois Hollande and Italian capital Vientiane to attend the tor last month suspended debt- Prime Minister Mario Monti is gathering, which comes against laden Kingfisher’s licence until it due at the two-day meeting that a backdrop of improving ties came up with a “viable” revival opens tomorrow, underscoring between Europe and Southeast plan. Jet’s income from operations Europe’s growing engagement Asia thanks to a series of dra- climbed 20 percent year-on-year with Asia’s rising stars. matic political reforms by former to Rs37.5bn while overall revenues The Europeans “are aware pariah Myanmar. European Union jumped 25 percent to Rs41.37bn. of Asia’s growing importance president Herman Van Rompuy Sale and leaseback of aircraft as an engine of global economic and European Commission chief and scrapping money-losing growth”, said a Southeast Asian Jose Manuel Barroso are among routes helped buttress perform- diplomat. “They will take this those set to jet into Laos. ance, the carrier said. Jet is the chance at the summit level to Asia’s economies have not been second-biggest private airline in assure Asia that although there’s immune to the fallout from the India by the number of passengers no immediate solution to the debt debt crisis lashing Europe, with carried with a near 24 percent crisis, the monetary union is not China and other exporters suffer- share of the market. going to break up,” he said. ing from weaker demand for their All of India’s airlines bar- The Asia-Europe Meeting products in key Western markets. ring two — low-cost IndiGo and (Asem), held every two years Beijing has repeatedly expressed SpiceJet — are losing money and since 1996, will provide a platform concern about the EU slowdown struggling to cope with heavy for Europe’s leaders to strengthen and offered help in resolving the debt, intense competition and trade and investment links at a debt crisis, but at the same time hefty fuel prices. The government crucial juncture for their crisis- has been increasingly forced to recently cleared a $5.75bn bailout hit region. “When Europe is in take costly stimulus steps of its package for Air India, which has trouble, global concern sets in,” own to sustain growth. AFP debts of $8.3bn. AFP Croatia pipeline woe ZAGREB: Croatian President Ivo Josipovic yesterday voiced regret that Gazprom’s South • Bullion - Mumbai Stream pipeline, an investment Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 31145.00 worth several hundred million Silver (1 kg) Rs. 60850.00 euros, would not pass through • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.66 his country but Hungary instead. “It is bad news,” Josipovic told • Sensex HRT national television. He BSE 18755.45 blamed Croatia’s lack of “energy NSE 5697.70 policy” and failure to “plan for the • LIC (International) launches New Gold Investment Plan ‘GOLD PLUS’ – future” on energy issues. which provides an opportunity to invest in GOLD ETF & GOLD SPOT, PAN “I hope that it will push us Card/Demat Account not required. to start thinking strategically,” • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return Josipovic added. Josipovic also said p.a. (in dollar) that the decision not to include Croatia in the South Stream pipe- • Housing loan from HDFC LTD line could possibly be traced back • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, to Zagreb’s mistrust of Russian Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. investors in the past. Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] AFP SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Wall Street: Obama’s shoes Does rise of US shale mean hard to fill, even for himself BY RODRIGO CAMPOS cheap global oil by 2020? EGARDLESS of the results of Tuesday’s US presidential election, the next four years will be a tough act to fol- BY CLAIRE MILHENCH forecasters. Normally focused on a year or 2020, forecasting that over the next three low from Wall Street’s vantage point. The benchmark & ALICE BAGHDJIAN two ahead, a debate has started about where years shale oil will reach just 3.2 percent of RStandard & Poor’s 500 Index has rallied 66 percent since prices are heading over the next eight years global supply from 1.5 percent now. President Barack Obama took office - one of the most impressive OES the rise of US shale oil to the end of the decade. “While it is true that shale oil has rein- runs ever for stocks under a single president. Admittedly, the mean fuel buyers can look A request by Reuters for forecasts of 2020 vigorated US production, this new supply timing of his inauguration - just before the market hit a nadir in forward to a multi-year prices drew 20 responses from consultants, remains too small, even when combined March 2009 - is part of the reason. period of crude price decline? banks and energy analysts. The poll pro- with Canadian oil sands, to flood the glo- The national polls show a tight race between Obama and his Or is oil destined for new duced a mean average of $118 a barrel for bal market,” Bernstein said in the most challenger, Republican candidate Mitt Romney, but leaning record highs above $150 a North Sea Brent, suggesting little change substantial piece of research yet published toward a win by the president. “The market might like the fact Dbarrel? The question is dividing energy ana- from the current level around $110. on the issue. of an Obama win since it would mean less uncertainty,” said Ryan lysts who are split on whether or not shale But only five of the 20 are actually predict- JBC Energy’s Michael Dei-Michei who Detrick, senior technical strategist at Schaeffer’s Investment and other predominantly North American ing prices anywhere near the mean average. forecasts Brent at $148.20, is also scepti- Research, in Cincinnati. “unconventional” supply like Canadian oil The real story is in the division between the cal that shale will do enough to push down Strategists have said the market’s pattern of late also suggests sands will be enough to comfortably meet two camps. Setting aside the demand side prices. “While the boom in US and Canadian status quo - an Obama win. A “Romney rally” is a 1-in-3 possibil- an increase in global fuel demand led by of the debate, the argument about supply oil production is a great thing for North ity, taken betting site InTrade’s odds of an Obama win at about emerging markets to 2020. is simple. One camp argues that the upside America, we have seen that the rest of the 67 percent right now. Other prognosticators put his chances of That is a shift from the anguished debate from shale oil supplies will be more than non-Opec countries have clearly underper- re-election even higher. The most recent Reuters/Ipsos tracking back in 2008, the $147-a-barrel high water- enough to meet demand growth. The other formed, and output is lower than expected,” poll shows both candidates garnering 46 percent of the vote - but mark for oil prices, about whether “peak oil” disputes that, saying the likely impact from he said, citing Brazil and Kazakhstan as polling averages show Obama with small but critical leads in swing - the limit of global oil output - had arrived. shale is being exaggerated. examples. states Ohio, Virginia and Iowa. “Peak oilers have become almost Victor Shum at IHS Purvin and Gertz For now, the market is on the side of the There’s a conventional line that says a victory by longtime extinct, destroyed by the arrival of new says that while prices need to be high bears. Volumes are thin, but the Brent mar- businessman Romney would be better for the equity market, technologies with the US leading the oil enough to bring on new production, shale ket is already trading out to December 2019 given his predilection for fewer regulations and lower corporate supply change,” said David Hufton of oil oil “changes the supply side of the equa- where it is currently priced at $91 a barrel, tax rates. Still, any move in the market, no matter the outcome, brokerage PVM. tion”. “In 2020 we expect the world to be That’s roughly the estimate many give for is likely to be limited. “The country with the world’s highest oil awash with oil as a result of booming supply the commercial cost of production for mar- “I think the market has priced in an Obama victory, but demand, both volumetrically and per cap- and sluggish demand,” said Julian Jessop of ginal output at new frontiers like shale and no matter what, any knee-jerk reaction after the election ita, now finds itself in the position where Capital Economics, also a bear on oil prices ultra deepwater. will unwind over the next few days,” said Joseph Tanious, a domestic supply growth far exceeds demand in the short-term. It’s also in line with the change in for- global market strategist at J P Morgan Funds, in New York. growth with every indication that this is a Among seven analysts predicting sub- ward pricing that occurred over the past “The fiscal cliff is also on everyone’s mind, but that will really long term phenomenon. It is a major game $100 a barrel, Capital is the most bearish at 18 months as traders became aware of the take hold after the election, since the winner could indicate changer, not just within the US, for the glo- just $70, which would be substantially lower rise in US shale oil output. what happens.” bal oil and geopolitical balance.” in 2012 prices allowing for inflation by 2020. From close to parity with $105 spot Strategists at LPL Financial have been tracking two baskets Back in 2004, as commodity markets The top bull is Barclays Capital, $24 clear Brent in mid-2011, 5-year forward prices of stocks to judge whether the market believes Obama or his began their long ascent and crude waved of its nearest rival with a $184 forecast for have fallen, barely reacting even when spot challenger Romney will emerge with a win. The “Obama” stocks farewell to $20 a barrel, no-one came close Brent. Barcap heads a group of six that put prices hit $125 this spring. 5-year forward include health care facilities companies, food and staples, utilities, to predicting oil would swiftly top $100. Brent at $140 a barrel or higher. Bernstein crude is now valued just below $90 a barrel. construction companies and homebuilders. The “Romney” stocks The lesson has not been lost on oil Research sees Brent at $158 a barrel by REUTERS include financials, coal stocks, oil and gas drillers, telecom, and specialty retail names. The Obama index peaked in early October, before the first debate, largely seen as being won by Romney. Yet in terms of “relative strength,” the index still modestly favours the president.

CHANGE AT THE FED? The move in the market during Obama’s administration was in part due to timing as the US economy started to recover from the deepest recession since the Great Depression. The US Federal Reserve has used three rounds of asset purchases, one of which is under way, as a way to keep interest rates low and stimulate the economy as the recovery from the 2007-2009 recession has been painfully slow. Romney has criticised the Fed’s policy and is seen replacing Chairman Ben Bernanke with someone more likely to tighten monetary policy. “With Romney, we’d expect a little more weak- ness off the gate. He might want to put a stop to the Fed’s stimulus. That’s where that uncertainty comes in,” Detrick said. The Fed’s current policy stance is seen as helping Obama. Consumer confidence recently rose to a more than 4-year high, and housing prices are rising again. However, unemployment remains at 7.9 percent nationwide, and the lack of good jobs is constraining growth. Regardless of the winner in Tuesday’s election, the market will have one less uncertainty to deal with. It will shift its focus to the roughly $600bn in mandated spending cuts and tax increases that could kick in next year and send the US economy reeling - if a deal to prevent it is not reached. The possibility of a new recession - if Congress fails to agree on how to avoid the cliff - has many market participants counting on resolution, with the election as a variable in terms of when any legislation will pass - not if it will happen. The end result in both an Obama or a Romney presidency would be a deal. But the status quo would probably mean a more protracted solution and market volatility, according to Brian Jacobsen, chief portfolio strategist at Wells Fargo Funds Management, in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin. “From an investing standpoint, what I care more about is the likelihood of getting some sort of deal to avoid the tax increases and spending cuts at the end of the year,” he said. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate GM badly lags Ford in Europe restructuring BY LAURENCE FROST & in the media and has shown the and two smaller factories, start- and “poor relations” with German profit decline, weighed down by per-vehicle margins. DEEPA SEETHARAMAN door to all but a handful of its top ing next year. Ford will shutter a unions. “It’s still bloody out there, European losses of $478m, GM said Ford’s $468m quarterly loss in executives. British van factory and associated but we’re making some progress,” new models would improve Opel’s the region was drowned by a North ORD Motor Co, which More than anything, however, stamping plant in 2013, with the he told analysts. “Small wins lead situation next year, even as the American earnings surge that clung to the road with a the cost of making cars is simply bigger site in Genk, Belgium to to big wins.” GM has repeatedly European market shrinks a further reflected its earlier turnaround at timely swerve before the too high, with too many work- close the following year. changed tack over Opel since an 4-5 percent by the company’s own home - now cited by executives as F2009 crisis that bank- ers still on the payroll given sag- More cuts may follow if these abortive attempt to sell it in 2009 estimates. Like Ford, it pledged to a blueprint for Europe. rupted General Motors Co, may ging demand in most of western prove insufficient to achieve to a Russian-backed coalition. break even by around 2015. In 2006, two years before the now be pulling a similar stunt in Europe. Opel is lagging Ford in regional profitability by mid-dec- The carmaker declined to The GM plan “allows investors Lehman Brothers collapse ush- Europe. Europe because it “totally missed ade and a 6-8 percent operating comment on a Financial Times to at least stop obsessing over ered in the global financial crisis, The Dearborn, Michigan-based the golden opportunity” to make margin in the longer term, the Deutschland report that it is hir- Europe and refocus attention Ford stepped up a restructur- automaker is scrapping three deeper cuts during the last cri- company added. ing Volkswagen executive Karl- on North America”, said Jeffries ing effort in North America that European plants and thousands sis, said Mirko Mikelic, portfolio GM, by contrast, has been pre- Thomas Neumann to take over analyst Peter Nesvold. scrapped tens of thousands of jobs of jobs while its rival appears to manager at Fifth Third Bank, who occupied with forging an alliance as Opel CEO in mid-2013. The job The European cutbacks at Ford and several plants. By 2009, the be stuck on the starting grid. oversees assets including GM pre- with struggling French auto- has already been vacant for more are expected to generate savings company was solid enough to stay The speed of Ford’s restructuring ferred shares and Ford debt. “Most maker PSA Peugeot Citroen that than three months since the last of $500m annually by 2015, com- afloat as GM took a government plan - and the comparatively slow investors would like to see some likely will not generate significant incumbent was sacked. pared with a cumulative $500 bailout and Chrysler was sold to pace of GM’s - has become more capacity cuts” at GM, he said. “It gains before 2016. Opel is also The 2009 crisis forced GM to million in cost savings pledged for Fiat - both through Chapter 11 important during a protracted doesn’t necessarily have to be the mired in union negotiations to close a factory the following year Opel in 2013-2015. But Ford says bankruptcy proceedings. slump in Europe’s auto market, same timing as Ford ... but we hope close a plant in Bochum, Germany in Antwerp, Belgium, and the structural costs also will increase Beyond the disposals, Ford seeks with sales down another 7.2 per- GM will take similar steps.” - but not until the following year. company is trimming more jobs over the next several years as it more gains by building future cars cent so far this year. The eurozone crisis has exacer- The latest Opel talks dead- through buyouts and early retire- broadens its product range in and trucks from just five basic plat- Both companies unveiled hefty bated the auto sector’s overcapac- line expired as GM published its ments expected to yield 2,600 Europe to include more expensive, forms, compared with nine distinct third-quarter losses in the region ity, locking companies into paying quarterly results on Wednesday. departures this year. Opel employs higher-margin vehicles. vehicle architectures currently and warned they could lose a high fixed costs to build fewer Unions announced earlier in the about 40,000 European workers Ford’s European recovery plan deployed. The push to consolidate combined $6bn or more in Europe vehicles. GM and Ford plants week that negotiations had been to Ford’s 47,000, excluding joint aims to boost its sagging 7.8 per- underlying technologies — led in 2012-13. The bad news weighs in Europe operate at less than extended and may continue into ventures. “Despite the terrible cent market share, while GM’s by rivals VW and Hyundai — is heavily on GM’s troubled Opel 75 percent of installed capacity, 2013, with no new date set for economic environment in Europe, outlook is premised on sustain- already lifting earnings at home. unit, which has lost billions of analysts say. their conclusion. we’re not sitting still,” Girsky said ing its current 8.6 percent share. Ford’s North American operating dollars over the past decade, has Unlike Opel, Ford of Europe now “We know we are behind,” said this week on a conference call. Executives at both firms say profit amounted to 12 percent of a long history of ill will with its has a clearer path to recovery after Steve Girsky, GM vice chairman “There are some green shoots they also are focused on reduc- third-quarter sales, pulling further labor unions, has seen its prod- announcing 6,200 job cuts with the and interim Opel chief, citing sprouting at Opel, in the mud.” ing stocks of unsold cars, while ahead of GM’s 7.8 percent margin. ucts and brand image pummelled closure of a major assembly plant Opel’s deteriorating brand image Unveiling a 15 percent quarterly trimming variable costs to lift REUTERS SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 GECM & TENDERS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every Sunday UK output won’t return to 2008 Flow of European investment to China level until 2014, economist warns continues to decline Data shows weakening in Euro Zone BEIJING: China’s economic slowdown and LONDON: It could be two more years economy the sovereign debt crisis have taken a toll US unemployment rises to 7.9 before the UK recovers from the slump BERLIN: Germany’s chancellor and the leaders on bilateral investment between China and percent; Employers add 171,000 jobs caused by the global financial crisis of five international economic organizations Europe, recent data shows. Foreign direct Japan’s economy struggles and returns to the level of economic WASHINGTON: The US unemployment rate called on government leaders Tuesday to take investment from the European Union to as overseas demand wanes output seen in 2008, former HSBC rose slightly last month, but remained “decisive action” to help spur growth in the China declined 6.3 percent year-on-year TOKYO: The Japanese chief economist Dennis Turner has below 8 percent, as US employers added 17 euro zone countries and elsewhere in the from January to September to $4.83 billion government released a slew of warned. He said this will be driven jobs for the 25th consecutive month, global economy. The chancellor, Angela Merkel, (3.7 billion euros), according to the Chinese macroeconomic data Tuesday by improved business investment said the officials, during two hours of talks signs of a slow but steadily advancing Ministry of Commerce. suggesting the world’s third and increased trade with emerging in Berlin, focused on strategies that included recovery just days before voters head largest economy is struggling to the polls in a election that has hinged markets to offset the decline in economic policy overhauls and investment in under increasing pressure from on their views of the economy.In its last consumer spending and government education and infrastructure. the global economic slowdown, report before the election, the Labor cutbacks. a strong yen and slumping Department estimated the unemployment production and exports. rate at 7.9 percent, up from 7.8 percent in published Friday. September, and employers added 171,000 jobs Slowing economy to hit jobs: Firstnaukri predicts 50pc drop in hiring for freshers in 2013 Slower growth predicted for South NEW DELHI: After a bleak hiring Argentine bonds post biggest two- scenario in 2012, the job market for day tumble since October 2008 Africa freshers is likely to become worse BUENOS AIRES: Argentine bonds JOHANNESBURG: “Global conditions are next year. 56 percent of recruiters posted their biggest two-day plunge in shaping South Africa’s economy,” said Chris surveyed by Firstnaukri.com, a job four years as JPMorgan Chase & Co., Loewald, the Reserve Bank’s senior deputy portal for freshers, have said they will Bank of America Corp., and Barclays Plc head of research, at the bank’s monetary hire lesser number of students from cut their recommendations on the debt policy forum in Pretoria. Household spending campus placements in 2013. Around NAB posts first profit fall since GFC following a US court decision favoring had declined, and was expected to diminish 125 companies were surveyed across further in the third and fourth quarters SYDNEY: National Australia Bank (NAB) shares holders of defaulted securities. The different sectors regarding entry-level have fallen after it posted a 22 per cent drop government’s bonds due 2033 sank of the year. despite the softer economy, hiring. The global economic crisis and deterioration in South Africa’s gross domestic in full-year profit, its first decline since the 1.5 cents to 68.5 cents on the dollar a general slowdown in India that has global financial crisis (GFC). NAB’s net profit product (GDP) had been mild so far this today, pushing yields to 12.85 percent, led to low investment has hurt hiring of $4.08 billion in the 12 months to September year, although forecasts could be revised in after sinking a record 10 cents on Oct. across sectors. 30 was down from $5.22 billion in the November when the bank’s Monetary Policy 26, according to pricing provided by previous year, and included almost $1 billion JPMorgan. Committee met. in bad debt, restructure and impairment costs in its United Kingdom business.

TENDERS

TENDER TENDER CLOSING TENDER TENDER CLOSING No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT BOND FEES DATE BOND FEES DATE Epic feed stream integration and Supply, installation commissioning 21 GT12113600 QR 4,000,000 QR 500 9/12/2012 Qatar Media installation of fiscal meter 1 8/2012-2013 of QMC broadcasting project for QR 54,321 QR 500 20/11/2012 Corporation QBS Radio ECS for emergency egpmt storage 22 LT12113400 QR 112,000 QR 200 2/12/2012 facility in Dukhan

Supply of mineral water, packaged Inland transportation, customs juices and consumable items clearance, freight forwarding and 2 60/2012-2013 QR 300,000 QR 750 12/11/2012 23 Nakilat SAP-4600000293 QR 75,000 QR 500 20/11/2012 (Sugar, tea, Nescafe, Tang, coffee- shipment of household efffects Ministry of beans, etc) services Interior Symantec entreprise vault Email 04/11/2012 24 GT12MT0062 archive software with E-discovery QR 175,000 QR 1,000 Supply of primary, secondary 4/11/2012 (12:00hrs) advanced edition module 3 LTC/608/2012 injection test sets and 3 phase QR 20,000 QR 500 (before 12 automated test set noon) Fire fighting vehicles-[Aerial form fire fighting vehicle (1No.), 25/11/2012 Call-off contract for the supply, 25 GT12MT0068 QR 700,000 QR 1,000 11/11/2012 Turntable ladder truck (1 No.) & (12:00hrs) installation and connection of 4 LTC 609/2012 QR 40,000 QR 500 before 12:000 Aerial ladder platform truck 1 No.] Energy meters, servcie cabinets noon Supply of PCs, Workstations, and cutouts 26 QMA-2012-91 QR 96,000 QR 500 15/11/2012 notebooks, LCD monitors..etc Inspection and attending to defects in OLTC for transformers 04/11/2012 5 LTC 468/2011 QR 45,000 QR 500 Suppply and install new porta at Muntazah substation and 12:00 noon 27 QMA-2012-95 QR 23,000 QR 500 18/11/2012 associated works cabin

11/11/2012 Supply of 250 & 150 KVA diesel Qatar Museum Work for Al Zubara site 6 LTC 615/2012 QR 20,000 QR 500 (before 12 generators Authority (maintain/repair porta cabin noon) including construct septic tanks, 28 QMA-2012-97 QR 14,000 QR 500 18/11/2012 underground water tank and all related work at site plan as per attached sheets). 53 7 Craft simulator training system QR 25,000 QR 250 12/11/2012 Construction of praying hall at 2012-2013 PWA/ITC/020/12- Ministry of 29 Dahl Al Hammam Park. BA/11- QR 50,000 QR 750 18/11/2012 13 Interior 12/C/058/I Maintenance of traffic signs and PWA/ITC/023/12- 30 safety devices throughout Qatar, QR 90,000 QR 750 4/11/2012 13 contract (2). AA-R/12-13/OM/044/I Construction of Masjids, Quran Design and quantity surveying PWA/GTC/025/ teaching centres and Imam houses 8 QR 3,100,000 QR 4,000 6/11/2012 services for 4 new Quran 12-13 at various locations (package A) PWA/ITC/024/12- 31 memorization centers at various QR 70,000 QR 750 4/11/2012 BA/12-13/C/028/G 13 locations BA/12- 13/D/019/I Maintenance of traffic signs and PWA/ITC/025/12- 12/11/2012 32 safety devices throughout Qatar, QR 90,000 QR 750 4/11/2012 9 ST12MT0321 Lamp crusher QR 15,000 QR 100 13 (12:00hrs) Contract (1). AA-R/12-13/OM/054/I Construction of masjids, Quran PWA/GTC/027/12- teaching centres and Imam houses Three(3) years call-off contract for 33 QR 2,300.00 QR 3,000 6/11/2012 Thursday 13 at various locations (page B) skilled and unskilled manpower 10 GTC 477/2012 QR 1,000,000 QR 5,000 15/11/2012 at BA/12-13/C/029/G supply for water transmission and 12:00 hrs distribution Provision of fabricated, maintenace 12/11/2012 ( 11 LT12113200 QR 220,000 QR 200 25/11/2012 34 MTOC-A14/778772 5 ton capacity diesel fork-lift QR 5,000 QR 100 & repair var. drilling workshop items 12:00 hrs) C maint. Of waste cargo/skips, 12 LT12112700 QR 90,000 QR 200 11/11/2012 cargo containers/Pallets etc. 6/11/2012 Facilities management consultancy TAC/CW/G/07- Construction of 2 buildings ((E- 13 GT12112700 QR 500,000 N/A 23/12/2012 35 QR 170,000 QR 3,000 before 12 services for QP district 2012-2013 314-01) noon ECS for preparation of 14 GT12111900 QR 200,000 QR 500 21/11/2012 transporation master plan for mic 06/11/2012 Symantec maintenance and TAC/CW/ Construction of 2 buildings (F- 15 GT12112900 QR 250,000 N/A 18/11/2012 36 QR 200,000 QR 3,000 before 12 support services G/03/2012-2013 311-01) noon Software and services for basin 16 GT12112800 QR 300,000 N/A 18/11/2012 modelling software Ministry of 6/11/2012 Foam fire fighting vehicles 6 x 4 Defence TAC/CW/ 11 / 11 / 2 0 12 37 Construction of building (F-309-01) QR 110,000 QR 3,000 before 12 17 GT12MT0059 ( 2 Nos.) Foam/water fire fighting QR 500,000 QR 1,000 G/04/2012-2013 (12:00hrs) noon vehicles 4x2 (2 Nos.)

Epic of central traffic enforcement 6/11/2012 18 GT12113700 QR 200,000 QR 500 25/11/2012 TAC/CW/ system at MIC 38 Construction of building (F-308-01) QR 105,000 QR 3,000 before 12 G/05/2012-2013 Field trail of hydrocyclone noon 19 LT12112600 QR 50,000 QR 200 11/11/2012 technologies in Dukhan 06/11/2012 TAC/CW/ Epic falre monitoring and recording 39 Construction of hall (V-401-01) QR 80,000 QR 2,000 before 12 20 LT12113300 QR 70,000 QR 200 25/11/2012 G/06/2012-2013 system (phase 1) at RLC noon SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT I’m world’s happiest man: Games chief PARIS: Being in charge of better life in society. There are “This has been a very per- purify the city. It is very exciting organising an Olympic Games new attitudes towards them, sonal project for President and I am very proud of what we is normally akin to a night- first in changing the mentality Putin. He was actively involved have achieved so far. For me this mare but the head of the of the Russian people by getting in the bid (he gave a star turn at is nearly 10 years of my life and 2014 Games in Sochi Dmitry them to recognise in giving them the final presentation before the a once in a lifetime opportunity, Chernyshenko goes against the (people with a disability) equal vote surprising many by deliv- he said in an internview. grain by admitting he is the opportunities. ering it in impeccable English) “It is extra special for me as happiest man in the world. “Secondly it has also created a and he saw it as a way of chang- my parents live in Sochi. The former advertising mogul better environment for them in ing life in Russia. “Every bridge that goes up, - who was the driving force of terms of facilities as now there “To create a blueprint in the every sporting facility that is the successful bid to give Russia are ramps and traffic lights with region and now we have also finished makes me very proud. their first Winter Olympic audible signals.” in Russia the World Cup finals “Sochi according to Forbes Games when they stunned Chernyshenko added the (2018), the Formula One Grand magazine is the number one favourites Pyeongchang in the Sochi project would give people Prix. city in Russia in terms of vote in Guatemala City in 2007 outside Russia a different and “Our government recognises investment. - added that part of the reason more positive view of the coun- that we can redevelop the infra- “The level of unemployment for his happiness was the way try which has been bedevilled structure and concentrate our is close to 0 per cent and we attitudes had changed towards by negative headlines this year efforts in creating confidence have created 560,000 jobs. those less fortunate in life. over their support of the Syrian and engaging the nation.” “Our intention is to become “I have no regrets about tak- regime, the Pussy Riot trial and Chernyshenko, who says he the cultural, sporting and pleas- ing this job,” he said while trav- President Vladimir Putin’s sup- does not even think about life ure capital of Russia.” elling back from a trip to Sochi pression of any public criticism. post the Games and being able Chernyshenko may even avail with Deputy Prime Minister “Sochi will be the gate- to devote himself to his family himself of trying out one of the Dmitry Kozak. way for the new Russia,” said once again, said that the peo- venues - the bobsleigh run. “I am the happiest man in the Chernyshenko on the eve of This file photo in Guatemala City shows the president of the Russian Olympic ple of Sochi has shown great “I did the Cresta Run in St world. It is a very interesting job. the first of 22 international test Committee for Sochi 2014, Dmitry Chernyshenko, speaking at a press patience with the enormous Moritz once. I was the meat in It is because the rewards go far events to be held at Sochi in the conference. Being in charge of organising an Olympic Games is normally amount of disruption to their the sandwich!” he laughed. beyond the creation of the ven- winter sports season. a nightmare but the head of the 2014 Games in Sochi, Chernyshenko goes lives with the amount of con- “I have been speaking to ues and the roads, it is that we “It will be the model city for against the grain by admitting he is the happiest man in the world. struction work but added they Prince Albert of Monaco this are creating an historical legacy the rest of Russia.” would reap the benefits. week and we have agreed to do for the country. On that note the urbane and “It is probably the biggest the run in Sochi. He will be the “We are creating a new acces- charismatic Chernyshenko said there - had been crucial in keep- an Olympic Games needs high construction site in the world pilot and I once again will be the sible environment for people that Putin’s personal support ing the project on time and on level support from a government,” with 60,000 workers and 3,000 meat in the sandwich,” he added with disabilities. giving them a of the Games - he has a dacha budget. “Every country preparing he said. huge trucks as they beautify and yesterday. AFP Anthony dazzles as Knicks crush defending champs Heat The American scores 30 points to help hosts win 104-84

NEW YORK: Carmelo Anthony helped lead the New York Knicks to a rousing 104-84 win over the NBA champions Miami Heat yesterday in New York City’s first sporting event since the devastating impact of A worker removes the signs at the finish line of the New York City Marathon the powerful superstorm Sandy. after the annual race was called off yesterday. The marathon was cancelled Anthony topped all scorers amid controversy that it would divert police and resources away from the with 30 points and hauled in a areas that are still reeling from the damages brought on by Hurricane Sandy. team-high 10 rebounds, while long-range shooter Steve Novak had 17 points in New York’s sea- son opener. LeBron James scored 23 points New York marathon to pace Miami, who dropped to 1-1 after an opening win against the Boston Celtics. It was the Knicks’ first home cancellation is ‘best game since last season’s open- ing-round playoff series against the Heat, which they lost in five games. The Heat also beat New thing’: Organisers York three times during the reg- ular season, so the Knicks had NEW YORK: Organisers, earlier that he thought it was a something to prove. police and even athletes called bad idea to stage the marathon so “You always want to have good yesterday cancellation of the soon after the storm had caused game, now matter what,” said New York Marathon the cor- flooding, major property damage Knicks point guard Raymond, rect decision in the wake of the and nearly 100 deaths in the New who scored 14 points and had a devastation caused by killer York area, more than 40 in the game-high nine assists. “But it’s superstorm Sandy. city alone. always good to beat the defending Carmelo Anthony (left) of the New York Knicks gestures to Dwyane Wade of the Miami Heat at Madison Square Mayor Michael Bloomberg axed Much of the damage was champs.” Garden in New York City, yesterday. what would have been the 43rd located on Staten Island, where After a moment of silence to annual race after complaints over runners would have made the show support for victims of the the timing and the notion of stag- traditional start to the 26.2-mile storm, the Knicks came out command in what the New were never seriously challenged. thanked the fans for turning out ing the event today while many (42.2km) event today as it wound firing, relying on their three- Yorkers viewed as a measuring New York shot a blistering after all the hardships caused by people in the area remain without its way through all five boroughs point sharp-shooting and some stick game. 19-for-36 from three-point range the storm that hit the New York electricity or shelter. of New York. defensive tenacity to take quick New York used a 10-0 run from as the penetration of their point City area on Monday. “The best thing for New York Wade donated his $210,000 7-6 and later in the first quarter guards created wide open oppor- “We gave them a good show and the best thing for the mara- game check for the night to storm NBA results scored 11 points in a row to turn a tunities from long range. tonight,” he said after the victory. thon for the future is unfortu- relief efforts. Charlotte 90 Indiana 89 19-12 advantage into a 30-12 cush- The Knicks were supposed to “That was the least we could do.” nately to move on. This isn’t the The marathon typically brings ion to the delight of the roaring open their season against the Dwyane Wade, who scored year or the time to run it,” said the city $340m but much of that Orlando 102 Denver 89 Garden crowd. Nets on Thursday in their new 15 points for Miami on 7-for-10 Mary Wittenberg, president of would have been lost, organizers Milwaukee 99 Boston 88 The Knicks led 33-17 after a home in Brooklyn, but the game shooting, said the host Knicks the organising group, the New said, because as many as 10,000 of Houston 109 Atlanta 102 first quarter in which they shot 60 was postponed because of the rose to the occasion. York Road Runners. the field of nearly 45,000 runners Chicago 115 Cleveland 86 percent from the floor, including crippled state of the city’s mass “They played with a lot of “It’s crushing and it’s really would not have come this year Ny Knicks 104 Miami 84 a red-hot, 5-of-8 from beyond the transit system. energy, they played with the difficult. It’s one of the toughest because of the damage. arc as Anthony notched 16 points. “We were kind of excited about crowd behind them, a lot of emo- decisions we ever made, but we Kenyans Wilson Kipsang, third New Orleans 88 Utah 86 Miami cut the lead down to the start of the season after miss- tion,” Wade said after yesterday’s really believe it’s the right thing at the London Olympics, and Oklahoma City 106 Portland 92 11 at 55-44 by halftime but New ing last night,” said Anthony. “We match in New York City. for New York.” Moses Mosop, last year’s Chicago Minnesota 92 Sacramento 80 York came out with renewed fire were excited to come out on the “They played a very good game, Patrick Lynch, president of the Marathon champion, would have Phoenix 92 Detroit 89 in the third quarter, extending basketball court and see where the kind of game you expected largest city police union, called been men’s favorites along with La Clippers 105 LA Lakers 95 the lead to 23 points, boosted by we were at as a team.” Anthony them to play. We just wish we had the decision “a wise choice”. 2010 New York Marathon winner two three-pointers from crowd took a microphone before the played a little better,” he added. Dwyane Wade, a star guard for Gebre Gebremariam of Ethiopia. Memphis 104 Golden State 94 favorite Novak and the Knicks game and on behalf of the players REUTERS the NBA’s Miami Heat, had said AFP NHL cancels 2013 Winter Classic match in Michigan TORONTO: The Winter Classic But with negotiations on a new col- since the league locked out players on revenue. In their last offer the NHL pre- the NHL’s flagship property and prime became the latest casualty in a bit- lective bargaining agreement at a stand- September 15. sented a six-year proposal to the NHL marketing tool. ter labour dispute between National still, NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly The regular-season was originally set Players’ Association that called for an The NHL had grand plans this year of Hockey League owners and players made the announcement that the game to start on October 11 and a week ago equal split of hockey-related revenue. turning the annual outdoor game into a yesterday, when the league cancelled was off. the league scrapped all games up until The union offered three counter- two-week festival with multiple venues, the showcase event with negotiations “The logistical demands for staging November 30 raising the prospect that proposals on October 18 that the league including another rink at Comerica Park stalled. events of this magnitude made today’s the entire season could be lost. quickly shot down, saying later that all home of the Detroit Tigers, where alumni The New Year’s day extravaganza fea- decision unavoidable. We simply are out It is the fifth time in 20 years that the failed to approach a 50-50 revenue split. and minor league games would be played. turing Original Six rivals the Toronto of time,” Daly said. NHL has been stopped because of labour There have been no official talks since. In just five years, the Winter Classic Maple Leafs and Detroit Red Wings was “We are extremely disappointed, for dispute. The last was in 2004-05, when While there remains hope of salvaging has gone from a one off novelty to the scheduled to be played at the University our fans and for all those affected, to the entire season was wiped out. a shortened season, the Winter Classic NHL’s signature event. of Michigan’s football stadium in Ann have to cancel the Winter Classic and The current lockout was imposed after could not be saved because of the mas- What began as a tribute to hockey’s Arbor, attracting a potential NHL record Hockeytown Winter Festival events.” team owners and players were unable to sive logistics, resources, manpower and outdoor roots has quickly grown into a crowd of over 110,000 fans to the venue The Winter Classic joined hundreds of reach a deal on a new CBA with both financial guarantees that go into stag- marketing colossus that has been a high- known as the Big House. regular season games already cancelled sides at odds over how to split $3.3bn in ing the one off event that has become light in the sport calendar. REUTERS SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Top five results SS1 Super Special Stage - 3.2km Qatar’s Al Attiyah races 1 A Mikkelsen 2:48.6 2 J Nikara J 2:53.0 3 N Al Attiyah 2:54.3 4 T Arai . 2:54.3 5 S Wiegand 2:55.3 into lead at Cyprus Rally SS2 Koilinia 23.97km 1 N Al Attiyah 20:43.4 Al Attiyah holds off IRC champion Mikkelsen in yesterday’s seven stages 2 Y Al Rajhi 21:01.2 3 S Wiegand 21:34.5 CYPRUS: Qatar’s Nasser Al 4 J Nikara 21:35.2 Attiyah showed winning form in the eastern Mediterranean 5 T Arai 21:36.7 today, to take a one minute 30.2 SS3 Salamiou 1 - 12.43km secs overnight lead at the 2012 Cyprus Rally. 1 A Mikkelsen 8:38.0 The final round of the 2012 2 N Al Attiyah 8:39.4 Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) and the penultimate round 3 S Wiegand 8:51.4 of this year’s FIA Middle East 4 A Alkuwari 9:00.9 Rally Championship (MERC), the event delivered its usual wealth of 5 J Nikara 9:04.8 action and drama as the world’s SS4 Panayia 30.41km best drivers battle it out under the Cyprus sun. 1 A Mikkelsen 30:03.1 Defending IRC champ Andreas Mikkelsen took the early lead on 2 N Al Attiyah 30:21.8 Friday in his Skoda Fabia S2000, 3 T Arai 30:53.5 winning the thrilling Super Special Stage in downtown Pafos 4 S Wiegand 31:15.8 to get the event underway in 5 J Nikara 31:20.4 dramatic style. A confident drive by the Norwegian saw him set a SS5 Kolinia 2 - 23.49 km winning time of just 2m 48.6secs 1 A Mikkelsen 20:15.4 on the all-tarmac LTV Super Special Stage - 4.4s faster than 2 N Al Attiyah 20:26.7 the Subaru Impreza of second Qatari rally driver Nasser Al Attiyah competes in the first stage of the Cyprus Rally. RIGHT: Al Attiyah drives into a lake during a competition stage. The 3 S Wiegand 21:10.5 placed Jarkko Nikara of Finland. 2012 Cyprus Rally is the final round of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge and the penultimate round of this year’s FIA Middle East Championship. Al Yesterday, Mikkelsen had bad Attiyah leads the Cyprus Rally after seven stages. Today’s race will consist of six stages. 4 J Nikara J 21:35.2 luck with puncture woes slowing the driver on the first stage of Day 5 T Arai 21:35.7 1 - SS2 – Koilinia, which consists restart today. Mikkelsen’s punc- stages and despite reports of than Al Attiyah to make it four proved disastrous for Wiegand, SS6 Salamiou 2 - 12.43km of mostly gravel stage. ture dropped him to eighth over- ongoing suspension problems, stage wins out of five. who exited with reported broken This provided the perfect all but the Norwegian fought back Mikkelsen powered through in an The Qatari’s pace was enough steering. 1 A Mikkelsen 8:25.6 opportunity to allow Al Attiyah hard on the next stage of the impressive time of 30m 03.1 secs. for him to retain his overall lead Al Attiyah’s drive was enough 2 N Al Attiyah 8:29.2 to charge to the head of the field competition, the SS3 - Salamiou, Al Attiyah, slowed by drive- into the SS6 - Salamiou stage, to give a 1m 30.2secs overnight in his Ford Fiesta RRC. which consists of 57 percent shaft and alternator issues, lost but Mikkelsen once again set the lead in the event, with Mikkelsen 3 S Wiegand 8:47.6 The Qatari’s performance was tarmac. ground but still made it through fastest time, 3.6 secs faster than in second place and Qatar’s 4 A Alkuwari 8:58.8 more than enough to see him take The Norweigian driver sprinted the stage a creditable 18.7 seconds Al Attiyah. Abdulaziz Al Kuwari in third the overall event lead, with Saudi through the mixed surface stage behind the Norwegian. Al Attiyah showed all signs place in his MINI JCW. 5 J Nikara 9:03.4 Arabia’s Yazeed Al Rajhi in sec- in a time of 8m 38.0 secs. Al Attiyah’s battling drive of not only being comfortable Al Kuwari entered the Cyprus SS7 Panayia 2 - 30.41km ond place. By the end of the SS3 stage, was enough to see him head into with the lead he has built over event as MERC leader with The drama continued in the Al Attiyah continued to lead the service with an overall lunchtime Mikkelsen, but of wanting to 52 points, with Al Attiyah and 1 N Al Attiyah 29:24.7 next stage - SS2, with Austria’s event overall, with first-time lead of 1:33.6 over Mikkelsen, who extend it even further in the SS7 Roger Feghali trailing. Both have Andreas Aigner, one of the Cyprus entrant Sepp Wiegand of was helped into second place by a -Panayia stage. 43 points. Overnight, Al Kuwari 2 A Mikkelsen 29:36.2 main contenders for the IRC Germany sitting in second in his costly Wiegand spin. The Qatari blasted through the trails Al Attiyah by 6mins 0.7 3 T Arai 30:36.4 Production Cup – stopping in Skoda Fabia S2000. In a repeat loop of the morning last stage of the day a full 11.5 seconds. the stage with brake failure on In the SS4 Panayia) stage, that stages, Mikkelsen continued to set secs faster than his Norwegian Today six special stages will 4 A Alkuwari 31:14.2 his Subaru. consists of 100 per cent gravel – a blistering pace, taking the SS5 rival, who suffered further punc- take place amounting to 100.32km. 5 A Hunt 32:01.1 Aigner said he planned to was the longest of the morning (Koilinia) stage 11.5secs faster ture problems. The stage also THE PENINSULA Al Arabi, Al Sadd register wins in QBF Men’s League

DOHA: Al Arabi banked on the game-long brilliance of ace point guard Mohammed Abdullah Jalloh to register a convinc- ing 88-68 victory over a fight- ing Qatar SC in the opening day of the Qatar Men’s League at the Al Rayyan Sports Club, yesterday. Qatar took command from the first whistle. With the score at 12-8, their big players dominated the shaded lane but the Emir Cup champions grabbed the upper hand to lead 25-18 at the end of the first quarter. Al Arabi led 45-37 at the half and 61-50 at the third session. Jalloh capped his sterling per- formance with a 39 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Alvin Mofunaya contributed 18 while William Byrd added 16 to Al Arabi’s first win. Qatar was led by Leslie La mont who finished with 22 points and 6 rebounds. In the curtain-raiser, Al Sadd spoiled the league debut of Al Shamal Sports Club with a 91-43 scoreline. Daoud Mousa led his team with 23 points as Michael Benjamin Qatar SC’s Leslie La Mont (right) holds off Al Arabi’s William Byrd to try and score a point in the Men’s League of the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) at Al Rayyan Sports Club yesterday. Southall helped with 17 points and Al Arabi won 88-68. CENTRE: Saad Abdulrahman (left) goes past his opposing player in his team’s match against Al Shamal at the same venue. Al Sadd won 91-43. RIGHT: QBF’s President 12 rebounds. THE PENINSULA Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (right), and Secretary-General Ahmad Ali Al Mawlawi (centre) watch the matches. Today, Al Gharafa will play Al Wakrah and Eljiaish face Al Ahli. Qatar’s Al Heidus, Al Sharshani shine at Jet Ski Championship in Doha

DOHA: Qatar’s Waleed Mahmoud Al Sharshani, Qatar’s Al Sharshani qualified in fourth in yes- Mohammed Abdullah Al Heidus, American-based terday’s race. Ludovic Caumont, Saudi Arabia’s Hesham Sami Caumont went on to win the 12-lap race in a time Baksh and won their respective Ski Stock (F1 of 19min 42.83secs. Division), Runabout Super Stock, Runabout Stock Qatar’s Khamis Sbeit Al Hosni qualified on pole (beginner class) and Runabout Stock categories for the Runabout Super Stock race, with compatriot at the second round of the Qatar International Mohamed Abdullah Al Heidus. Jet Ski Championship at Katara, Qatar’s cultural Al Heidus managed to win the 14-lap race by a village, yesterday. little over 11 seconds from runner-up Khamis Sbeit Seven riders took part in qualifying for the Ski Al Hosni. The participants of the Qatar International Jet Ski Championship in action at Katara yesterday. The two riders Stock (F1 Division) category and Rashid Al Owais Al Sharshani set the pace in qualifying for the that represented Qatar yesterday were Waleed Mahmoud Al Sharshani and Mohammed Abdullah Al Heidus who led the group with a best time of 1m 19.34s. Runabout Stock category and controlled the 11-lap won their respective races. Caumont qualified in second, with Kuwait’s race and finished six seconds in front of runner-up Abdulwahab Suhail Issa in third. Al Heidus. THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Bo-Mee Westwood shares WGC lead surges ahead in Japan The Englishman in front with overnight leader South Africa’s Oosthuizen SHIMA, Japan: Lee Bo-Mee of South Korea hit an excel- DONGGUAN, China: Lee WGC-HSBC Champions scores me going and the hole started to lent bogey-free round with eight Westwood shot up the score- Leading third-round scores at the $7m look bigger.” birdies for a 64 to take a com- board with 11-under-par 61 to WGC-HSBC Champions on the Olazabal Snedeker was playing in the fortable four-stroke lead in the erase Louis Oosthuizen’s five- Course (par-72) at Mission Hills in southern day’s first group after mod- USLPGA Tour Mizuno Classic stroke lead on a day of ultra-low est rounds of 72 and 71, but he tournament yesterday. China yesterday: rounds at the $7m WGC-HSBC quickly set the course alight with The 24-year-old Korean, the Champions yesterday. 198 Lee Westwood (ENG) 70-67-61, Louis four birdies through his first four winner at the PRGR Ladies Cup The Englishman’s 11-birdie Oosthuizen (RSA) 65-63-70 holes before turning at six under. Lee this season on the Japan Tour, blitz put him at 18-under-par 201 Phil Mickelson (USA) 66-69-66 Another birdie on 10 was fol- Westwood now has a two-round total of 198 through three rounds, level 202 Ernie Els (RSA) 70-63-69, Ian Poulter lowed by a “fluke”, 75-foot birdie of England 10-under-par 134 in the $1.2m with overnight leader Oosthuizen (ENG) 69-68-65, Bill Haas (USA) 69- on the par-three 13th. Snedeker acknowledges tournament. who battled to a 70 on the par- 67-66 went eagle, birdie on 15 and 16, spectators Japan’s Rikako Morita trailed 72 Olazabal Course at southern and then rolled in a 25-footer on on the 18th Lee on 138 after hitting one 203 Brandt Snedeker (USA) 72-71-60 China’s Mission Hills. 17 to raise hopes of a magical 59 green at eagle and five birdies against On a day of red numbers at 204 Adam Scott (AUS) 65-68-71, Martin -- but his birdie putt on 18 crept the end of three bogeys on the Kashikojima Dongguan, even Westwood’s Kaymer (GER) 68-69-67, Gaganjeet just wide. the third Country Club course. AFP brilliant round was eclipsed by Bhullar (IND) 73-68-63, Scott Piercy “I’d love to have that putt day of the America’s Brandt Snedeker, who (USA) 68-68-68, Carl Pettersson again,” he said. “I hit a great putt WGC-HSBC Mizuno Classic scores shot a course-record 60 -- and (SWE) 70-68-66 and it stinks not doing it (59) Champions Leading second-round scores in the USLPGA only narrowly missed a birdie putt but it’s still a great round and I Tournament Tour $1.2m Mizuno Classic tournament on 18 for a magical score of 59. double-bogey on the par-five 15th. got back in the golf tournament, at Mission yesterday (Japanese unless stated): Westwood and Oosthuizen Snedeker was five off the pace which is nice.” 134 Lee Bo-Mee (KOR) 70-64 will go into the last round three after his astonishing 60, which With Oosthuizen and Els Hills in the 138 Rikako Morita 70-68 strokes ahead of America’s Phil was all but matched by Westwood locked in a dogfight in the final southern Mickelson, a double WGC-HSBC as the former world number one group, Westwood was tearing up Chinese city 140 Jenny Shin (KOR) 71-69, Karine Icher Champions winner and four-time started the day nine shots adrift the course as he played along- of Dongguan, (FRA) 71-69, Choi Na-Yeon (KOR) Major champion, who blazed back and finished with the joint lead. side his Ryder Cup team-mates yesterday. 69-71, Angela Stanford (USA) 69-71, into contention with a 66. “I just wanted to come out fast Poulter and Martin Kaymer, the Ayako Uehara 68-72 Ian Poulter and Bill Haas and try to get some momentum. defending champion. 141 Ilhee Lee (KOR) 73-68, Junko Omote were four shots off the lead That’s been missing from my His triple-birdie start was fol- 73-68, Ji Eun-Hee (KOR) 71-70, along with Ernie Els, who whit- game the last couple of weeks,” lowed by three more by the half- Stacy Lewis (USA) 71-70, Yani Tseng tled down fellow South African said Westwood. way mark, another on 11 and then (TPE) 71-70, Yumiko Yoshida 70-71, Oosthuizen’s overnight advantage “I came out as quick as you like four in a row from 14 to 17, aided Momoko Ueda 69-72, Shin Ji-Yai before imploding with a watery with three birdies, and that got by a red-hot putter. AFP (KOR) 68-72 Al Sadd march on; Al Rayyan lose ground in QSL

DOHA: A four-star perform- pointed out without giving names. ance on Friday from Qatar “We had better determination Stars Leaue (QSL) giants Al and our confidence is high. Sadd helped the points leaders “Our set-piece football was bet- maintain their top billing on a ter than theirs. We exploited the day when arch-rivals Al Wakra chances we got to score at will. choked against Umm Salal. It was a morale boosting win, I Foreign imports Raul of Spain would say. and Lee Jung-Soo of Korea scored “We can’t say we will keep on key goals as Al Sadd hammered winning. Every game is different Al Rayyan 4-1 to increase the gap and we have to plan accordingly. between them and second-placed We are just trying to maintain Al Wakra. our focus and play with serious- Al Wakra, despite a superb race ness and determination that you from high-scoring Iraqi striker all saw in the first six matches. Younis Mahmood, lost to Umm “I did not expect such a big Salal 3-2 at Suheim Bin Hamad win but my players were really Stadium. strong,” he added. For Hussein Amute’s side, week “Before every game, I ask my six was just as satisfying as the players to play as if this is their previous five rounds. last match of the season and that On Friday, Al Sadd dominated we want to win the match. And play, thanks to brilliant perform- I believe this is the secret of our ances from captain Raul and success that we are very focused. Jung-Soo in front of a large crowd Al Rayyan coach Diego Aguirre Al Arabi’s Mohammed Malalla Al Kubaisi (right) fights for the ball with Al Sailiyah’s Barro Babo Seddiqi during their Qatar Stars League (QSL) match in in attendance for the ‘El Clasico’ admitted it was a tough match. Doha on Thursday. The match finished 2-2. RIGHT: Al Sadd’s striker Raul celebrates after scoring a goal against Al Rayyan during the QSL match on at Al Rayyan Stadium. “We were guilty of far too many Friday. Al Sadd won 4-1 to keep their 100 percent record in QSL. Despite the crushing win, Al errors,” Aguirre said after the 4-1 Sadd coach Hussein Amute was loss. “We lost but that does not the dip in form in the last three While Al Sadd are unbeaten in Mohuiddin in the 73rd minute. In fourth place are Lekhwiya modest in praising his side but did mean we played bad. We fought matches,” the coach added. the current season, Al Wakra on For Al Rayyan, the last two who edged past former champi- not forget to applaud his rivals Al hard. This is football. Sometimes “We are still competing for the Friday lost their first match of weeks have been nothing short ons Al Gharafa 1-0 on Thursday. Rayyan. you play well and yet end up on title. We have to address a few the season against Al Kharaitiyat of a misery. Lekhwiya, the defending cham- “My players played well,” Amute the losing side. issues. We have had few injuries who were powered home by Al Rayyan, who won the Heir pions, also have 10 points from 6 said. “It was a tough match and “We will continue to work hard but hopefully, we will come out Maher Yusuf’s brace. Apparent Cup last season, have matches. the result does not show that we in the coming weeks,” Aguirre fighting again. Yusuf scored two goals, one in lost to Al Sailiyah and Al Sadd by QSL action will resume on dominated the match. Actually Al added. “There are many reasons for the 87th minute, to help his side identical margins to lose ground November 18 after the teams Rayyan played well. We just cre- “We have to correct our mis- our poor results (in the last three pick up three key points. against Al Sadd. reassemble following QNB Qatar ated a lot of pressure,” he added. takes and restore the confidence matches) but there are positives Earlier Yusuf found the net Al Rayyan, who are in third Stars Cup matches in the next “Some of my players were really in our players. This requires more as well. Al Rayyan will return in the 33rd minute which was spot, have 11 points from 6 two weeks. efficient on the pitch,” Amute hard work. I am surprised at stronger,” the coach added. followed by a goal from Walid matches. THE PENINSULA Qatar begin preparations for key World Cup qualifier DOHA: The Qatar national in the 1-0 win with a well-taken team yesterday began their goal. preparations for their FIFA A few days later, Qatar stunned 2014 World Cup qualifier against hosts Iran with a brave show to Lebanon on November 14. walk off Azadi Stadium with a Qatar coach, Paulo Autuori yes- goalless draw. terday launched the proceedings The goalless draw came after a with a detailed lecture inside the 4-1 thrashing by Korea Republic gym at state-of-the-art Aspire in Doha on June 8. Academy where the national Qatar sit in fourth spot in team usually camps for training Group A, three points behind purposes. leaders Korea and Iran. There were no absentees yes- The Asian Zone, Group A, terday as the Qatar players clash will take place at Jassim assembled following the sixth bin Hamad Stadium, kicking off round of action in the Qatar Stars at 5.45pm Doha time. League (QSL). Coach: Paulo Autuori The sixth round of QSL action Squad: Qasim Burhan, Baba ended with Al Sadd’s win over Al Malick, Rajab Hamzeh, Ahmed Rayyan on Friday. Sufyan, Mesaad Al Hamad, Team manager Abdulrehman Hamed Ismail, Mohammed Mahmood was also present at the Kasola, Taher Zakaria, Khaled team gathering inside the gym. Saleh, Ibrahim Maged, Ibrahim Last month, hosts Qatar lost Al Ghanem, Marconi, Khaled their crucial Asian Zone qualifier Muftah, Wisam Rizq, Younes Ali, against Uzbekistan at Jassim Bin Talal Albloushi, Magid Siddiq, Hamad Stadium. Abdulla Taleb Afifa, Hussain Autuori must win this home Ali, Abdulaziz Hatem, Lawrence match against Lebanon to Quaye, Adel Lamy, Fabioa increase their chances of reach- Cesar, Khalfan Ibrahim, Hassan ing the next round of qualifying. Alhaydous, Mohammed Alsayed Qatar picked up their first Jeddou, Maged Mohammed, points of the campaign beating Mohammed Razak, Sebastian Coach Paulo Autuori addresses his Qatari players at the Aspire Academy gym in Doha yesterday. Qatar have begun preparations for the FIFA World Lebanon in their away game in Soria, Jarralah Al Marri and Cup 2014 qualifier against Lebanon on November 14. The match takes place at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium at 5.45pm. Qatar are in fourth place with June this year. Yusef Ahmed. four points in Group A. Striker Sebastian Soria scored THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Abu Dhabi GP starting grid Starting grid from the Formula One Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit today 1 Lewis Hamilton (Britain) McLaren Hamilton on Abu Dhabi pole 2 Mark Webber (Australia) RedBull - Renault 3 Sebastian Vettel (Germany) RedBull - Renault Championship leader Vettel demoted to back of grid for fuel irregularity 4 Pastor Maldonado (Venezuela) Williams - Renault 5 Kimi Raikkonen (Finland) Lotus - ABU DHABI: A happy and Vettel heads into the race with may be made in cases of force Renault supremely-dominant Lewis a 13-point lead over the Spaniard majeure. 6 Jenson Button (Britain) McLaren Hamilton crushed all his rivals after winning the last four races. Yesterday, Hamilton’s best lap, 7 Fernando Alonso (Spain) Ferrari yesterday as he set up a Red The decision gives Alonso a clocked on his first run in the top Bull party-wrecking race in golden opportunity to make up ten shootout, was good enough to 8 Nico Rosberg (Germany) Mercedes today’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix some of the ground he has lost leave him three-tenths of a sec- 9 Felipe Massa (Brazil) Ferrari by taking his sixth pole position in the championship following a ond clear of Vettel’s teammate 10 Romain Grosjean (France) Lotus - of the season. major step forward in perform- Mark Webber who will share the Renault The 27-year-old Briton was ance made by Red Bull since the front row with him for today’s 11 Nico Huelkenberg (Germany) Force India simply untouchable as he steered Singapore Grand Prix at the end 55-laps race at the 5.554 kms Yas - Mercedes his car to the fastest time in all of September. Marina Circuit. 12 Sergio Perez (Mexico) Sauber - Ferrari three parts of the session, finish- When Hamilton started at the Hamilton’s pole was his sixth 13 Paul Di Resta (Britain) Force India - ing with an outstanding best time back at the Spanish Grand Prix, this year and the 25th of his Mercedes of one minute and 40.630 seconds. after qualifying on pole by more career on a circuit that he clearly 14 Michael Schumacher (Germany) His dazzling display ended Red than half a second, he made it responds to with great elan. Mercedes Bull’s run of three consecutive back up to eighth by the end of Hamilton, whose father 15 Bruno Senna (Brazil) Williams - Renault races in which they dominated the race. Anthony has been with him in the 16 Kamui Kobayashi (Japan) Sauber - qualifying and produced front Hamilton starts from pole posi- paddock, said: “I’m very excited. Ferrari row lockouts. tion, ahead of Red Bull’s Mark It’s the first time for a long time 17 Daniel Ricciardo (Australia) Toro Rosso - Meanwhile, Red Bull’s Webber. to be ahead of the Red Bulls and Ferrari Sebastian Vettel has been dis- Williams’s Pastor Maldonado starting at the front. 18 Jean-Eric Vergne (France) Toro Rosso - qualified from qualifying and will will start third, ahead of “It’s going to be tough in the Ferrari start from the back of the field. Lotus driver Kimi Raikkonen, race and I hope we are strong 19 Heikki Kovalainen (Finland) Caterham - The title leader, who had quali- McLaren’s Jenson Button and enough to fight them once again. Renault fied third, did not have enough Alonso. The car’s felt beautiful all week- fuel in his car for a fuel sample The F1 rules require the car to end but we’ve not made any 20 Charles Pic (France) Marussia - Cosworth to be taken. return to the pits with at least improvement since last weekend Vettel stopped his car out on one litre of fuel on board - run- so I guess it just likes the track 21 Vitaly Petrov (Russia) Caterham - the track on his way back to the ning less fuel gives a performance and hopefully it will continue to Renault pits at the end of the session, as advantage. like it tomorrow.” 22 Timo Glock (Germany) Marussia - Hamilton had done in Spain in The rule - article 6.6.2 of the Also on the second row is Cosworth May. technical regulations - dictates Williams’ Pastor Maldonado 23 Pedro de la Rosa (Spain) HRT - It promotes his title rival that cars must make their way who won his maiden F1 race at McLaren Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton of Britain celebrates after Cosworth Fernando Alonso of Ferrari to back to the pits under their own the Spanish Grand Prix earlier taking pole position in the qualifying session of the Abu Dhabi F1 Grand 24 Narain Karthikeyan (India) HRT - sixth on the grid. power but says that exceptions in the season. AGENCIES Prix at the Yas Marina Circuit on Yas Island yesterday. Cosworth Whatmore Australia face Watson denies asking for Hafeez’s scare ahead of first Test BRISBANE, Australia: out for season with a stress back removal Talismanic allrounder Shane complaint. Watson, 31, stopped Watson has become Australia’s short after bowling his sixth ball KARACHI,Pakistan: latest injury scare ahead of next and then held a lengthy conver- Pakistan’s head coach Dav week’s Test against South Africa sation with NSW and Test cap- Whatmore (pictured) yester- after pulling up with a sore calf tain Michael Clarke. He stayed on day strongly denied wanting during a Sheffield Shield clash. the field for the following over but Twenty20 captain Mohammad Watson left the field after bowl- later left the ground to return to Hafeez replaced, branding such ing his first over of the day for his team’s dressing room. reports as an attempt to demor- New South Wales in their match Medical staff reported Watson alise the team before its tour of with Queensland in Brisbane suffered calf soreness and would India. yesterday. continue to be assessed during the Local media this week reported On Friday, former Test skip- second day’s play. Australia’s vice- that Whatmore has suggested the per Ricky Ponting was withdrawn captain has had problems with his Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) from Tasmania’s Shield match troublesome calf in the past five should replace Hafeez, who took against South Australia with months and was sent home from South African head coach Gary Kirsten (left) and bowling coach Allan Donald over as Twenty20 captain in May. hamstring soreness, while pace England during the one-day series watch the progress of their team against Australia ‘A’ during their three-day “I wish to clarify that I am Ashraf this week confirmed hope Pat Cummins was ruled loss in July. AFP cricket tour match at the Sydney Cricket Ground, yesterday. currently not in Pakistan and Hafeez was being retained as have not given any interview or Twenty20 captain for the series statement to any media. Neither against India. have I submitted or discussed Whatmore, who coached Sri Bairstow hits ton in India tour match any such suggestion to the PCB,” Lanka to World Cup victory in Whatmore was quoted as saying 1996, said such reports were in a PCB release. aimed at demoralising the team. MUMBAI: Jonny Bairstow hit the aid of 14 boundaries to put Strauss did not make any head- series starting at Ahmedabad on Pakistan reached the semi- “The news item is totally a century to spare England’s himself in contention for the way as both Nick Compton and November 15. However, England final of the World Twenty20 incorrect and based on wrong blushes yesterday, after a dra- first Test against India starting Joe Root fell cheaply. appear to be optimistic about held in Sri Lanka last month but intentions. It is an attempt to matic collapse on the opening in Ahmedabad on November 15. Meanwhile, Surrey paceman the Middlesex quick’s prospects Hafeez’s captaincy was criticised demoralise the team when they day of the three-day tour match Bairstow put on 156 for the Stuart Meaker has been called up as yesterday’s statement said by former players and the media, are preparing for the all-impor- against Mumbai ‘A’. fifth wicket with Eoin Morgan into England’s squad for the tour Meaker would return to the sec- who blamed him for making arbi- tant Indian tour,” said Whatmore. The tourists slipped to 66-4 in (76) and 107 for the sixth with of India as cover for injured fast ond-string England Performance trary decisions. Pakistan are due to tour India the first session after electing to Samit Patel, who followed his cen- bowler Steven Finn, the England Programme “once Finn is avail- Team-mate Abdul Razzaq also for two Twenty20 and three one- bat, before Bairstow’s rescue act tury in the tour opener against and Wales Cricket Board said. able for selection”. lashed out at Hafeez for dropping day internationals in December steered them to 338 for six by India ‘A’ with an unbeaten 59. Finn suffered a thigh injury Brief scores: England 338-6 him from the semi-final line-up and January -- the first bilateral stumps at the DY Patil stadium England’s search for an opening while bowling in England’s tour (Jonny Bairstow 118, Eoin Morgan against Sri Lanka. series between the two countries on the outskirts of Mumbai. partner for skipper Alastair Cook opener against India A and is now 76, Samit Patel 59 not out) vs However, PCB chairman Zaka in five years. AFP The 23-year-old made 118 with after the retirement of Andrew doubtful for the first of a four-Test Mumbai ‘A’. AGENCIES

Asian Handball Club Championship: Al Rayyan win thriller against Muscat

Action from the 15th Asian Handball Club Championship Group B match between Qatar’s Al Rayyan and Muscat of Oman at Al Gharafa Stadium, yesterday. Al Rayyan won 23-21. In another Group B match, Al Noor of Saudi Arabia defeated Al Jazera of UAE 28-22. The Group C match between Al Arabi Kuwait and Samen Al Hojaj of Iran ended in an exciting 23-all draw. The Championship is contested by 13 Asian clubs who are split into three groups. Qatar’s Eljaish are in Group A along with Al Ahli (UAE), Kuwait SC (Kuwait) and Al Sadd (Lebanon). Defending champions Mudhar (KSA) are in Group C along with Samen Al Hojaj (Iran), Al Arabi (Kuwait) Al Ahly, (Bahrain) and Jiangsu (China). Four matches will be played today: Al Sadd (Lebanon) vs Al Ahli (UAE), 1.00pm, Al Arabi (Kuwait) vs Al Ahli (Bahrain), 3.00pm, Samen Al Hojaj (Iran) vs Jiangsu (China), 5:00pm and Eljaish (Qatar) vs Al Kuwait SC (Kuwait) 7:00pm. PICTURES BY: ABDUL BASIT Sunday 4 November 2012 19 Dhul-Hijja 1433 Volume 17 Number 5508 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Van the hero as Man United beat Arsenal Chelsea held 1-1 at Swansea; Spurs upset by Wigan

LONDON: Robin van Persie appearances. Evra did make it 2-0 piled on the misery for former when he headed in a Rooney cross club Arsenal as Manchester following a short corner. United went top of the Premier Cazorla pulled a goal back for League with a 2-1 victory at Old Arsenal with virtually the last Trafford yesterday. kick of the match, but defeat Victory in this early kick-off meant the Gunners were left match saw United replace Chelsea nine points off the summit just in first place and that is where 10 games into the season. they stayed after the European After a goalless first half, Jerzy Janowicz of Poland is overwhelmed with emotion after winning his champions were held to a 1-1 draw Nigeria winger Victor Moses gave Paris Masters semi-final match against Frenchman Gilles Simon in Paris, at Swansea. Chelsea a 61st minute lead at the yesterday. Janowicz defeated Simon 6-4, 7-5 to advance to the final. RIGHT: In Manchester, van Persie Liberty Stadium with a flick-on Petra Kvitova of Czech Republic serves the ball to Jelena Jankovic of Serbia needed fewer than three minutes following Gary Cahill’s header during their Tennis Fed Cup match in Prague, Czech Republic, yesterday. to put United in front before from an Eden Hazard corner. Patrice Evra doubled their lead But Pablo Hernandez’s equal- in the 67th minute. iser two minutes from time saw Premier League title hold- the points shared. Janowicz to Czechs close ers Manchester City could have Belgium midfielder Marouane drawn level at the summit with Fellaini scored twice as Everton United but instead were left two replaced Tottenham Hotspur in meet Ferrer to retaining points adrift of their local rivals fourth place on goal difference following a goalless draw away to with a 2-2 draw at Fulham. West Ham. Fulham took a seventh minute in Paris final Fed Cup title Arsenal’s day got worse when lead when Bryan Ruiz’s 25-yard midfielder Jack Wilshere, in only free-kick went in off a combina- PARIS: Jerzy Janowicz is a PRAGUE: The Czech Republic his second game back following a tion of post and Everton keeper self-confessed baby, yet he con- cruised to a 2-0 lead after the long injury lay-off, was sent off for Tim Howard. tinued to be a thorn on the side opening singles of the Fed Cup a second bookable offence after he However, Everton equalised of higher ranked opponents as final against Serbia yesterday, caught Evra on the ankle. through Fellaini in the 55th he reached the Paris Masters putting them well on course to Van Persie struck in the third minute and 17 minutes later he final with a 6-4, 7-5 win over successfully defend their title. minute when, after Thomas struck a low shot past Australia local favourite Gilles Simon Petra Kvitova shrugged off a Vermaelen failed to clear a Rafael goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer. yesterday. cold that forced her to retire from cross from the right, he shot into Steve Sidwell though rescued Polish qualifier Janowicz, who the WTA championships last the bottom corner of the net from a point for Fulham with a late beat US Open champion Andy week, beating Jelena Jankovic 6-4 the edge of the penalty area. strike. Murray in the third round, used 6-1 in the second singles rubber to It was the 29-year-old van Wigan won 1-0 away to his big serve and his magic touch leave the hosts needing just one Persie’s 10th goal in 13 United Tottenham with Ben Watson to see off Simon and set up today’s win from today’s reverse singles English Premier League scoring the only goal when he shot meeting with Spanish fourth seed or doubles match. home from close range following David Ferrer. World number eight Kvitova Fulham 2 Everton 2 a 56th minute corner. Ferrer, who is looking to clinch looked wobbly early on, going Man Utd 2 Arsenal 1 Elsewhere, Gabriel Agbonlahor his maiden Masters title, dis- down 4-2, but she found her form Norwich 1 Stoke 0 scored for the first time in 29 missed France’s Michael Llodra to take the first set before rattling Sunderland 0 Aston Villa 1 league games as Aston Villa pulled 7-5, 6-3 in the other semi-final through the second. Manchester United’s English forward Wayne Rooney celebrates after Dutch Swansea 1 Chelsea 1 clear of the relegation zone with a after saving 10 break points in “I did not know what to expect 1-0 win against a Sunderland side team-mate Robin van Persie scored against Arsenal during their English the opening set. really at the beginning. I had a Tottenham 0 Wigan 1 managed by former boss Martin Premier League match at Old Trafford in Manchester, northwest England, Wildcard Llodra, who had won little trouble breathing, towards West Ham 0 Man City 0 O’Neill. AFP yesterday. Manchester United won 2-1. his 43 service games in the tour- the end my legs were weakening nament heading into yesterday’s and I had a headache, so I wished clash, took a medical timeout to for the game to be over,” Kvitova Hibs go top in have his back massaged while told reporters. trailing 3-0 in the second set. “Jankovic played very well at Scotland as Record-breaking Barca Ferrer wrapped it up with a the beginning, I knew I had to crosscourt forehand winner after wait for her mistakes. I did not Gers win in Cup one hour 50 minutes. try to go for it from the start, not Earlier, world number 69 to make mistakes myself.” Janowicz claimed his fifth top 20 Earlier Lucie Safarova, the GLASGOW, Scotland: Leigh trounce Celta in La Liga scalp in Bercy. world number 17, took the ini- Griffiths scored a double as The achievement has yet to tiative to break Serbia’s Ana Hibernian came from behind MADRID: Barcelona beat La Liga results The celebrations had barely fin- sink in. Ivanovic for a 2-1 lead in the first to defeat 10-man St Mirren Celta Vigo 3-1 to set a new club ished though before Celta were “For me this is still like I can- set of the opening rubber. Barcelona 3 Celta Vigo 1 and move top of the Scottish record start to the season and level. The Barca defence was not believe this actually. How is Ivanovic fought back to level Premier League. go eleven points clear of bitter Malaga 1 Rayo Vallecano 2 split wide open by a pass for Alex this possible?,” Janowicz told a at 2-2 but Safarova won another Kenny McLean had put St rivals Real Madrid. Lopez who exposed Busquets lack news conference. break in the seventh game and Mirren ahead on the half hour Adriano Correia put the Fabregas, Xavi Hernandez and of pace and, although Valdes saved “I came here just to play quali- went on to take the first set. mark with a sensational strike Catalan side ahead after 21 min- Andres Iniesta in the middle. In his shot, Bermejo was on hand to fications and suddenly after few “I tried to play into her back- before in-form striker Griffiths utes and while Mario Bermejo attack, Villa’s rich vein of form slot in the rebound. days I’m in the final. I don’t know hand, taking advantage of my left- grabbed an equaliser five minutes momentarily brought Celta level earned him a starting place. Barca restored their advantage how I did this but tomorrow the handed play, then opening room later. minutes later, David Villa quickly Celta are a side which likes with a delightful move as Villa final is waiting for me. Wow.” on the forehand side. That is my The on-loan Wolves forward’s restored the lead while Jordi Alba to pass the ball around but they back-heeled the ball to Iniesta Janowicz, who did not face favourite scenario,” Safarova said. long range drive put Hibernian secured the win in the second found themselves penned in while who got to the deadball line and a single break point, broke the “I was really nervous at the in front in the second half before half. Barca probed looking for an open- pulled it back for Villa once again 20th ranked Simon in the fifth beginning but that is part of huge St Mirren skipper Jim Goodwin Barca have now nine wins and a ing and as so often at the Camp to score. game with a booming service matches like this, it went away.” saw red for his second bookable draw so far which beats the previ- Nou it seemed simply a ques- Messi selfishly went on his return winner and comfortably Ivanovic, who had lost her offence. The win puts Pat Fenlon’s ous best start by Louis van Gaal’s tion of when they would get the own and was crowded out when held serve to claim the opening previous three encounters with side top of the table a point ahead 1997-98 side. breakthrough. he could have set up Villa and set with a forehand winner. Safarova, looked shaky going into of Celtic, who face Dundee United Ahead of the game Lionel Messi Iniesta fired over from 20 yards the first half ended on a bad note The Pole, who missed only three the second set and lost her initial at Tannadice today. showed off his Golden Boot trophy and Barca were finding space for Barca with Adriano going off first serves in the first set, was serve. Safarova broke the world Meanwhile, fallen Glasgow which he was presented this week behind the full-backs with Villa injured. less dominant in the second set. number 12 again for 4-2 before giants Rangers cruised into the after scoring 73 goals last season, on the left in particular. Right after the restart Aspas Simon, however, fell 0-40 down claiming victory. fourth round of the Scottish Cup while he was also the focus fol- Messi had the first clear chance had a shot which went inches in the 11th game and Janowicz “The score was in two sets but as they claimed an emphatic 7-0 lowing the birth of his first child after 18 minutes which keeper Javi wide from a tight angle but Alba sealed the decisive break with a the game was a lot closer than win against Second Division Alloa Thiago on Friday. Varas was equal to and the open increased Barca’s lead after dropshot winner. REUTERS that,” said Ivanovic. at Ibrox Stadium. AFP The pressure is on Madrid, nature of the game was shown as 60 minutes. Villa flicked on an “I was not as aggressive, and who are only now finding their immediately the ball went to the Iniesta pass to the full-back who Paris Masters these are the little details that Scottish Premier League Results form after a poor start to the other end, where Iago Aspas was did well to round the keeper and Results on the sixth day of the Paris Masters make the difference, she used Dundee 1 Hearts 0 campaign. denied by Victor Valdes. finish but replays showed he was yesterday (x denotes seeding): them better than me. Barca were still without Gerard Adriano Correia, joining the clearly off-side. Semi-finals: “In the second set I was coming Hibernian 2 St Mirren 1 Pique and Carles Puyol at centre attack, put Barca ahead. Pedro Earlier, Malaga crashed 2-1 at back and we had huge game at David Ferrer (ESP x4) bt half and this time Sergio Busquets Rodriguez got in front of full-back home against an attack-minded 4-3. She played well to save some Kilmarnock 1 Inverness CT 2 Michael Llodra (FRA) 7-5, 6-3 was chosen to play alongside Roberto Iago on the right and Rayo Vallecano with a double break points, if I won that game Ross County 2 Aberdeen 1 Javier Mascherano so they lacked crossed for the Brazilian to knock from Francisco Medina ‘Piti’. Jerzy Janowicz (POL) bt it could have gone either way.” Gilles Simon (FRA) 6-4, 7-5 St Johnstone 1 Motherwell 3 a holding midfielder with Cesc the ball home from close range. AFP REUTERS