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Monday 17 December 2012 4 Safar 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5551 Price: QR2

GCC markets Qatar to host in lacklustre exciting rallying mode next month

Business | 21 Sport | 32

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Heavy rains Heir Apparent meets editors partially disrupt life Call for proper drainage systems

DOHA: Incessant rains yester- hours of rain. A Nissan Patrol hit day partially paralysed life in an electricity pole and turned tur- the city and its outskirts as it tle on the Industrial Area Road led to traffic snarls, accidents late last night when the man and water-logging, especially in behind the steering wheel appar- low-lying areas, as angered civic ently tried to avoid a water logged The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with editors and journalists participating in the first annual Conference of Strategic and leaders called for proper drain- stretch. Policy Studies Research Centres in the Arab World held in Doha. age systems. An eye witness told this news- “We have asked the municipal paper it appeared to be a serious ministry and the Public Works accident as he could see a lot of Authority to put proper drainage blood on the spot of the mishap. New Doha airport to systems in place soon. Pumping There were traffic snarls as the Fire alarm stirs panic at Villaggio out logged water during the police cordoned off the area. rains is not a lasting solution,” The eye witness added he was open in April 2013 said the chairman of the Central surprised to see people driving in BY FAZEENA SALEEM told The Peninsula that it was new fire safety systems complying DOHA: The New Doha Municipal Council (CMC), Saud the same way as they did on nor- smoke, not fire, that set off the with safety rules. International Airport Al Hanzab. mal days. DOHA: A fire alarm at the alarm. The minor fire was caused Civil Defence sources told Al (NDIA) will be opened in Some vehicles skid and some “One must drive carefully when Villaggio Mall, which was the by a short circuit in the restau- Sharq that the smoke was caused April next year, the Qatar met serious accidents when it rains,” he said. scene of a devastating blaze late rant, he said. by burning coal that was being Civil Aviation Authority motorists tried to avoid water THE PENINSULA last May, caused panic yester- Captain Hamad Al Kuwari said used to barbeque chicken. (QCAA) announced puddles on the roads caused by Continued on page 8 day, making people run helter- the restaurant was closed down But Captain Al Kuwari insisted yesterday. skelter. The alarm was set off temporarily and would reopen in remarks to this newspaper that Airline firms will start around 5.45pm by smoke from soon after the short circuit is fixed. he had completed investigations shifting its offices to the new the kitchen of a restaurant in The Ministry of Interior, mean- and experts need not carry out any airport from April, Abdul Ezdan to build 50,000 housing units by 2014 the food court. while, said on its Twitter account further inspection. “It was a minor Aziz Al Nuaimi, Chairman of DOHA: Ezdan Holding Group signed an agreement with the No casualties or damage were that it was a false alarm as there incident, but people panicked and QCAA, told media persons on government to build 50,000 residential units by 2014 in a bid to reported. Normalcy soon returned was no fire or smoke. Sources said vacated the place.” the sideline of a metrologi- provide enough accommodation for the giant sport event -- Fifa to the place although there was a the new fire safety system installed A team of police and Civil cal conference held in Doha. World Cup 2022. partial evacuation at the sprawl- at the mall after the tragic May 28 Defence officials rushed to the Some 95.5 percent of the work The Group is currently working on several projects. At least 12 ing shopping complex. More than inferno which claimed 19 lives — 13 mall after being alerted about the of the new airport has been projects are expected to be completed in 2014, and another 31 will the evacuation by the mall man- of them children — was so sen- fire. They inspected the restaurant completed and the remaining be completed by 2018, said Ali Al Obaydali, Chief Executive Officer agement or the authorities, people sitive that it sets off even at the and recorded statements from will be finished before April, (CEO) of the Group, Al Sharq reported. Recently 45 new housing themselves ran out of the mall in slightest hint of smoke. employees for nearly two hours. Al Sharq reported yesterday. projects have been implemented, said Obaydali. THE PENINSULA panic. The mall reopened on September THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA A senior policeman at the scene 20 after its management installed Continued on page 8

MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Global amateur radio fest begins BY RAYNALD C RIVERA

DOHA: H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority, stressed the significant role amateur radio plays in the soci- ety during the opening of the Qatar international amateur radio festival yesterday at the Al Rayyan Theatre in Souq Waqif. Al Attiyah, who is also the Chairman of the Qatar Amateur Radio Society (QARS), who are hosting the event for the first time in the Middle East addressed hundreds in the audience com- prising officials of various ama- teur radio societies around the H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah receiving a sword from Dr Ahmed Al world and secondary students and Muhannadi, Vice-President of Qatar Amateur Radio Society (QARS), at Al boy scouts from Qatar. Rayyan Theatre yesterday. Sabaan Misma Al Jassim, General Secretay, “For developing countries ama- QARS, was also present. (KAMMUTTY VP) teur radio societies can promote technical expertise to help out in that more people are joining ama- around the world, using different the local communities,” he said, teur radio societies around the frequencies to cover all conti- adding amateur radio as a hobby world with an increasing number nents. There will also be a mobile has provided platform for train- of people seeking licences. station on the Corniche for ama- ing in electronics, broadcasting “That is why we as concerned teur radio to communicate to the theories, and telecommunication bodies are giving support to fur- world Qatar National Day and techniques. ther promote this hobby under the reflect the country’s achievements Al Attiyah also underscored the International Telecommunication in various sectors that have been importance of amateur radio for Union,” he said. realised under the leadership of A view of the artworks displayed at the exhibition. special needs persons, giving them This festival coincides during the the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin a good chance to keep in touch National Day and as part of its par- Khalifa Al Thani. with the world. ticipation to this important celebra- The call sign assigned specially UN rights centre hosts exhibition “Amateur radio also responds tion QARS will set up five stations for the National Day is A71QND. very quickly in times of crisis and in the Corniche area the celebration Members of the QARS Board and emergencies and provide support will take place in addition to special some guests will also take part DOHA: The UN Human Rights at Lusail Street Number 66, West representatives. The art exhibi- for telecom when ordinary chan- stations at the QARS headquarters during the festival. Training and Documentation Bay. tion not only included literature nels of communications are not for sending and receiving message Yesterday’s opening event also Centre for South-West Asia and The expo entitled registra- but also placards, pictures, ceram- functional,” he said. throughout the festival. featured presentations by experts the Arab Region held an arts tion and right to participate in ics, stone-sculptures, glasses, It is not surprising, he said, in The stations are set to com- which introduced amateur radio and photography exhibition to the public life depicting directly metals and wood made arts, jew- an era of advanced technology municate National Day message as a hobby and discussed the joint mark the International Human the Articles 19-21 of the dec- ellery, stitched and weaved items, programme for international Rights Day on December 10. laration of the International said a press release. amateur radio societies and The exhibition was held at Human Rights. Themes of the The event was an open exhibi- how to further strengthen the headquarters of the UN photography freedom of speech, tion to display the masterpieces their relations, among Human Rights Training and freedom for staging rallies and of all artists, professionals and others. Documentation Centre for South- rights to participate in govern- photographers. THE PENINSULA West Asia and the Arab Region ment directly or by being elected THE PENINSULA

Greetings sent to Bahrain King

DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has sent a cable of greetings to H M King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa of Bahrain on the occasion of his coun- try’s National Day. The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has sent a cable of greetings to King Hamad on the occasion. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani has sent a cable of congratulations to the King of Bahrain. Kazakh president greeted

DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has sent a cable of greetings to the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the occasion of his country’s National Day. The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has also sent a cable of congratu- lations to President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the occasion. The Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Thani has sent a similar cable to the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan on the same occasion. QNA

MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar airways offers National Day fares Airline lines up slew of activities

DOHA: As Gold Sponsor of Kuala Lumpur, Barcelona, Vienna, National Day celebrations, Zagreb, Warsaw, Kilimanjaro, Qatar Airways is working Phuket, Singapore and many closely with the National Day more. Organising Committee for a In addition to the sale, there series of activities at Doha will also be an incentive for International Airport, includ- Privilege Club cardholders, the ing a traditional Qatari tent by airline’s frequent flyer pro- Qatar Tourism Authority, flow- gramme, to earn double Qmiles ers, henna painting, falconry and be eligible for one 25 percent with traditional Qatari fixtures redemption offer. on display. The airline is extending the sale Qatar Airways has also been and the Privilege Club offer for distributing scarves to custom- the third year running in celebra- ers that feature Qatari flags and tion of Qatar National Day. imagery distinctly proud of Qatar Qatar Airways Chief Executive and its heritage at all its offices in Officer Akbar Al Baker said: Doha. The airline also held a scarf “Qatar Airways takes the opportu- competition in which residents nity on the nation’s Independence were encouraged to design their Day to wish all residents of Qatar own Qatari scarf design. a happy National Day. In celebration of the special “Qatar Airways is always proud day, the airline will be extend- to be a key supporter in the com- The Corniche road wears a festive look as the decorative lighting was switched on last night as part of the National Day celebrations. (ABDUL BASIT) ing a 24-hour offer on tickets for munity here in our home coun- residents of Qatar from midnight try. For many years, we have been today. sponsors of all key events around A slice of Qatari culture at QSTP traditional tent Customers who book on www. the country and we will continue qatarairways.com/nationalday or to play an active role in commu- at any Qatar Airways’ sales offices nity initiatives. DOHA: Qatar Science & everyone can get a glimpse of the culture, and network for business environment and it does bring or their preferred travel agencies “With Qatar Airways’ latest Technology Park (QSTP) cel- culture. The National Day cel- in the process,” says Hamad Al people from all backgrounds in Doha, will be eligible to receive promotion, it provides residents ebrated Qatar National Day at ebrations come within QSTP’s Kuwari, MD QSTP. working inside QSTP to get to up to 40 percent off on Economy, with the opportunity to plan its headquarters with staff and internal communications strat- QSTP-member companies got know each other. It is certainly an Business and First Class tickets a holiday or visit loved ones at member-companies yesterday. egy to enhance relations with its to enjoy delicious Qatari bread, appreciated effort,” says Ghada P. for the lowest applicable market very attractive rates to a host of Hamad Al Kuwari, Managing member-companies, ensuring tasted some traditional Halwa El-Rassi, Deputy CEO, MEEZA. fare valid for a travel period from exciting destinations, so we hope Director, along with a number of their experience within QSTP is (sweets), and sipped famous aro- Dr Samer Adham, Managing December 25 to March 31, 2013. National Day is as memorable for QSTP officials, inaugurated the most rewarding on a business and matic Arabic coffee. Others held Director, ConocoPhillips Water Qatar Airways features most you as it is for us.” traditional tent, which was set social front. a falcon for the first time in their Technology, said “It’s lovely to be of its entire route network in More information about the up to commemorate this festive “QSTP is a home for almost 46 life, while women decorated their able to participate in the National the special sale, including excit- offer and all terms and conditions occasion. international companies; we are hands with Henna in traditional Day celebrations. The work done ing destinations for a short city can be found on qatarairways. The tent features a number of quite a big community now. We design patterns, they also had here is excellent, and we are break or longer holiday, such as com/nationalday authentic Qatari traditions, which need to use opportunities such their pictures taken in tradition- happy QSTP has taken this ini- the Seychelles, Maldives, London, THE PENINSULA some of the international commu- as the National Day to bring eve- ally embroidered dresses. tiative. It is also particularly good nities operating inside QSTP were ryone together. It integrates well “This is great. We are happy for all new comers to Qatar, who getting to know for the first time. with our role as facilitators to QSTP team has organized such not only need to expand their net- The tent will continue to be there offer chances of the sort for our an event for its member compa- work, but also want to understand Arrivals terminal visitors advised for all the companies operating members to get together, enjoy nies. Opportunities like this are more about the culture.” to use shuttle bus service within QSTP until tomorrow, so their time, see some aspects of our very good for a healthy working THE PENINSULA DOHA: Access to arrivals terminal at the Doha International Qtel launches National Day social media contest Airport will be affected tomorrow from 3am to 1pm due to traffic restrictions on the Corniche and the C-Ring road for the National Day parade, the airport said yesterday. DOHA: Qtel has launched week-long social Qtel has more than 184,000 fans on scratch card, by direct top-up at any of the People visiting the arrivals terminal during this time have been advised media contests on Qatar’s rich history and its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ more than 200 Self Service Machines, or by to use the shuttle bus service between the departures and arrivals ter- heritage, to join the festivities for Qatar QtelQatar and more than 27,000 followers on eTop-Up at www.qtel.qa. minals. The shuttle bus stop is located at the temporary parking area in National Day. its Twitter account @QtelQatar. The 1878 units will be available for three front of the departures terminal. The buses depart every 10 minutes with Until Thursday, Qtel will post one question Meanwhile, Qtel is offering 1878 free units days starting today until Wednesday midnight. the journey to the arrivals terminal taking approximately 10 minutes. every day on Facebook and Twitter and will for local minutes and SMS from today until Qtel is also giving back to the community Passengers have also been advised to allow extra time for their randomly reward three Facebook fans and Wednesday to all Hala and Shahry customers. by decorating shops and offices, and is plan- journey and parking at the airport, due to an expected increase of three Twitter followers who give the correct Shahry and Shahry Pack customers will ning more exciting events for this important vehicle traffic both on the way to Doha International Airport and at answer, . automatically receive the free units that can occasion. At the Landmark Mall starting the airport parking facilities at Departures and Arrivals. One lucky winner will receive the grand be used either for calling minutes or SMS. December 14, Qtel hosts a stage featuring Passengers arriving at Doha International Airport should also prize of an iPad 3 tablet, while the grand One unit is equivalent to a one-minute local traditional shows and contests for children, expect delays in taxi availability. The taxi rank at arrivals is located prize will be an Apple MacBook Pro laptop call or one standard 160 character local SMS. and the “Zayinha” event in the mall’s parking parallel to the terminal. on December 18. The second place prize will Hala customers can take advantage of the lot where volunteers will decorate cars with THE PENINSULA be a Samsung Galaxy S3 smartphone and the offer by topping-up with QR50 and above from Qtel accessories. third place prize is a BlackBerry Bold 9790. December 17 to 19. They can top up by a Hala THE PENINSULA QMA launches photo Bangladesh Victory Day contest on Instagram

DOHA: Qatar Museums Travel” exhibition illus- Authority (QMA), the trates the importance of Orientalist Museum European-Ottoman rela- and Qatar Airways have tions throughout the 16th launched a photo contest century. on Instagram for the pub- A greatly expanded and lic as part of “The Art reimagined version of the of Travel: Bartholomäus original Polish exhibi- Schachman (1559-1614)” tion, “The Art of Travel: exhibition being held at Bartholomäus Schachman AlRiwaq exhibition space. (1559-1614)”, takes visitors Participants in this on an epic journey back in contest have to share time. their travel photos on To enter “The Art of Instagram, tagging them Travel” Instagram con- with the #ArtOfTravel test, contestants should hashtag. QMA will post their best travel pho- repost the best photos on tos on Instagram, add the the (Qatar_Museums_ #ArtOfTravel hashtag, Authority) Instagram and caption the image. account where the public Every day QMA will can vote for their favourite repost the five best photos. images to the (Qatar_ The photo with the most Museums_Authority) ‘likes’ will win two round- Instagram account and trip tickets to any of Qatar invite the public to ‘like’ Airways’ over 120 world- their favourites. The most wide destinations. popular photo at the end On view till February 11, of the month-long con- 2013, “The Art of Travel” test will win 2 round-trip exhibition introduces visitors economy tickets to any of to the story of Bartholomäus Qatar Airways 120 world- Schachman – a Polish mayor wide destinations. who travelled throughout The contest is open to the Ottoman Empire dur- international audience and ing its peak. will run until January 10, Curated by Dr Olga 2013. For full terms and Mohammad Nasir Uddin, Counsellor and Charge d’Affaires at Bangladesh Nefedova, Collections conditions visit aot.qma. Embassy in Doha hoisting his country’s national flag on the 41st Victory Director of the Orientalist org.qa Day at the embassy yesterday. (ABDUL BASIT) Museum, “The Art of THE PENINSULA MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Aspire Zone launches Step Into Health programme Free pedometer, online assistance offered to members

BY FAZEENA SALEEM

DOHA: A new health pro- gramme was introduced by Aspire Zone Foundation yester- day to help people improve their lifestyle habits. The ‘Step Into Health Programme’ is designed to engage the people of Qatar in a self man- aged lifelong programme based on a moderate amount of daily healthy activity. The aim of the programme is to walk at least 10,000 steps a day in a non competitive, recreational and social way, and is designed for everyone aged 16 years and up and of all fitness levels. A total of 10,000 steps per day is equivalent to five miles. “Step into health is not a quick fix solution, it is a lifestyle change. By working the programme into your daily routine, you will find that walking those extra steps as day comes naturally to you,” said Dr Mohammed Ghaith Al Kuwari, Director of Hleathy Lifestyle pro- gramme at Aspetar. Anyone who register via Step into Health website will be pro- Dr Khalifa Jeham Al Kuwari and Abdulla Al Raisi at the signing ceremony vided with information regarding yesterday. the collection points of the mem- bership package. “Once the indi- have low physical activity, with Torch Doha Hotel Staircase Run. viduals are registered online, they women as the most sedentary Throughout the programme, will be given a free pedometer to with 54 percent against 37 per- Aspire Zone will host a multitude keep count of their daily steps,” cent men, according information of fun and enjoyable activities for said Dr Al Kuwari. issued by the Supreme Council of the whole family all over Doha, A media campaign for the ini- Health (SCH). including the malls and parks and tiative will begin next week and A partnership agreement was gardens. on January 12 an activity will be also signed yesterday for the pro- Aspire will provide free online held for all registered members. gram by Aspire Zone Foundation assistance to members of the pro- The new initiative was launched and Commercialbank. grammes. In addition, the website as nearly half of the Qatari popu- Khalifa Jeham Al Kuwari, CEO will provide links to information lation has three out of five of the Aspetar, and Abdulla Al Raisi, on healthy eating, upcoming risk factors that can lead to life- Deputy CEO of Commercialbank events and activities. style diseases as diabetes. Qatar signed the agreement at Registered members are eli- Obesity is on the rise among the the Aspire Academy auditorium. gible to benefit from free health Qatari population with 70 percent Aspire Zone has walking and checks, which include measur- overweight, out of whom 41.4 running trails, indoor venues and ing Body Mass Index and blood percent are obese, 16.4 percent can provide special access to nov- pressure. smoke, 45.9 percent are found to elty events, such as the recent THE PENINSULA MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Local produce pushes vegetable prices down Drastic fall in prices of imported vegetables

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB Bangladeshi trader who gave his The comparison of prices of name as Khairul Islam. vegetables is a bit tiresome and DOHA: With the arrival of Local vegetables, being more arbitrary, given they are sold in local produce at the Central green and fresh, are costlier than a boxes. However, a box (six- Fruit and Vegetable Market, the the imported ones, but not expen- seven kg) of local tomatoes was prices of imported vegetables sive enough to deter customers being sold at QR22-23, while the have come down considerably. A from buying them. Their fresh- same box of tomatoes from Saudi large number of people, including ness and better taste attract large Arabia is available at QR10-12 Qataris, were seen rushing to the number of retail customers from The local vegetables are sold at market to buy more green and far off places. a separate platform at the mar- fresh vegetables directly coming “We have got bored of eating ket to differentiate them from the from the local farms. meat, fish and stale vegetables… I imported ones. The area selling The prices of many imported know fresh vegetables are a little local produce was more crowded vegetables that are also grown expensive, but here in Qatar, we with retail customers. While most locally, during winter season, such rarely get a chance to buy them. So of retail traders were seen buying as cucumber, okra (lady’s finger), this is a golden opportunity,” said imported vegetables being cheap. egg plant (brinjal), bitter gourd, Farooq Ahmed, an Indian expatri- “Prices have come down sub- pumpkin, beans, tomatoes, cab- ate who came to the central mar- stantially in the recent past few Vehicles negotiating the rain-lashed Shamal-Doha road yesterday. (SALIM MATRAMKOT) bage, cauliflower and green chillies ket all the way from Bin Mahmood. weeks. But this is a normal phe- and green leaves like spinach and Local vegetables are about 20-30 nomenon for us. Every year, with coriander have gone down by 30-40 percent more expensive than the the arrival of winter season the No rain forecast for National Day percent in the wholesale market. imported ones. But a comparative market gets flooded with local “There is a stiff competition analysis of the prices of some veg- supply pushing the prices of which has further narrowed etables reveals that not all kinds almost all the green vegetables DOHA: The rains that lashed (Monday). There are no chances prevailed over the country since down our profit margins. Due to of the local produce are expen- down”, a Bangladeshi vendor told the country yesterday are likely of rains on the National Day,” a early morning, bringing in the first the arrival of local produce, we sive. For instance a box (4-5kg) this newspaper yesterday. to continue until the early forecaster at the department told cold spell of the season. Most parts are forced to sell the vegetables, of cucumber (both local as well So with the arrival local pro- hours of today. However, no fur- this daily last evening. of the country received light rains imported from Saudi Arabia and as imported) is sold at QR7-QR8. duce one can expect the prices of ther rains are expected in the Temperature in most parts of the since morning, gathering momen- other neighbouring states, at Similarly, a box of local and vegetables to stabilise further in remaining part of the day and country fell up to 15 degrees Celsius tum in the latter parts of day. much cheaper rates than what imported brinjal (4-5kg) is avail- the days to come. tomorrow, the National Day, last night and it could plummet fur- Motorists had a hard time we sold a few weeks ago,” said a able at QR10. THE PENINSULA according to the Meteorology ther reaching 14 degrees in the wee negotiating through the water- Department. hours of today, he added. logged streets and roundabouts All parts of the country received However, slight rise in tem- as the showers flooded many low- light to moderate rains yesterday, perature is expected tomorrow, lying areas by evening. Bahrain National Day celebration causing a sudden dip in temper- probably settling at 15/17 degrees Although the rains could stop ature, marking the beginning of Celsius at the minimum and 23/25 this morning, the strong north- winter. The showers accompanied degrees at the maximum. westerly winds would continue by strong northwesterly winds The northern parts of the today and tomorrow. The winds are described an extension of the country, especially Al Shamal, are expected to blow art speeds Siberian High, that brought the Al Khor and Ruwais received ranging from 05 to 15 knots Gulf region under the impact of the highest rains yesterday, said inshore and 15 to 25 knots off- a “deep low pressure on the upper the forecaster, adding that data shore today. Temperature in air.” about the rainfall were not read- Doha would hover between 16 to “We are expecting the rains ily available. 21 degrees Celsius. to continue until 6am tomorrow A cloudy and windy weather THE PENINSULA

Katara to launch HMC ties up with IAEA new website today DOHA: Katara the Cultural for radio physicists Village would launch a new web- site design and image tonight in DOHA: The Hamad Medical director told the media, on the celebration of Qatar National Corporation (HMC) has tied up sidelines of the workshop. Day tomorrow. with the International Atomic He said there are international The new look and feel is aimed Bahrain Ambassador Waheed Mubarak Sayyar (third left) and Dr Hamad Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister Energy Agency (IAEA) to guidelines and protocols to be fol- at increasing and enhancing com- of Culture, Arts and Heritage (second left) cutting a cake to mark the National Day celebrations of Bahrain upgrade the skills of radio phys- lowed in radio therapy. However, munication with the public as well at St Regis Doha yesterday. H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatar’s Minister of Municipality & icists in the region to reduce application of such guidelines as providing easier navigation for Urban Planning (second right); Ali S Al Haifi, Kuwait Ambassador (right), and Ibrahim Y Fakhroo, Director of medical mistakes in treatment depends a lot on the competency online users. Protocol, Qatar( left) are also seen. (KAMMUTTY VP) of cancer. of the physicist. That is why edu- Commenting on the launch, About twenty medical profes- cation and training is extremely Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, sionals in radio therapy from important in this field. General Manager of Katara said: MoI warning on Lebanon, Yemen, Iraq, Jordan, He said HMC was selected by “Looking at how we can further Oman and the UAE attended a the IAEA to conduct the regional evolve our offering is something four-day training course which workshop as a recognition of the we are always keen on at Katara. highway driving concluded at the Wyndham state-of-the-art radio therapy We are committed to providing Regency hotel yesterday. The department at NCCCR. a platform for world renowned Continued from page 1 course was conducted by the “This is the first course of its arts and culture events and a The Ministry of Interior, National Center for Cancer Care kind in the region and we are fundamental part of this is ensur- meanwhile, asked motorists and Research (NCCCR) at HMC planning to conduct more train- ing that all our communications using highways to avoid get- in collaboration with IAEA. ing sessions in the coming years. platforms reveal that. In this way ting closer to heavy vehicles “The main task of the workshop The participants underwent both we convey our brand’s attributes and not apply sudden brakes. was to educate the participants practical and theoretical training. while constantly enhancing our “Maintain enough distance on how to accurately calibrate The practical training included a solid, leading position across from the vehicle in front,” the the machine. The physicist could visit to the radio therapy unit at Qatar and the Arab region.” Ministry said on the Twitter make mistakes if they are not NCCCR where they had hands- The new website will include key cautioning motorists. adequately trained in the use of on experience on using the information about Katara’s offer- The CMC severely the equipment and delivering a most advanced equipment,” said ings. The new look represents the criticised the Ministry of wrong dose could be dangerous Hammoud. stability and strength on which Municipality and Urban to the patient, and even cause He said the unit at NCCCR Katara has been built on, yet also Planning for not being pre- death. Such incidents are fre- treats 50 to 60 cases daily, with encompasses the innovation that pared for the emergency. quently reported in the Western about 50 per cent of them breast is fast becoming a trademark of “We witness rains every countries, but they mostly go cancer. The remaining include Katara. The new website can be year and people face similar unreported in the Middle East,” head and neck, pelvic and cervi- accessed through www.katara.net problems and the Ministry Rabih Hammoud, chief of Medical cal cancers, among others. THE PENINSULA is caught off guard. This has Physics at NCCCR and course THE PENINSULA become an annual ritual,” Al Restaurant to Hanzab told The Peninsula. He said the problem was reopen soon made worse because there are no proper drainage systems. “The thing is that Xpress Money offers free Continued from page 1 the planned drainage sys- However, a supervisor of the tems are part of the overall restaurant claimed the incident infrastructure projects, so remittance to Palestine was minor and they will re-open we have asked the ministry immediately. “Nothing happened; and Ashghal (the Public DOHA: Xpress Money, global Xpress Money, adding that “the we need to do some cleaning work Works Authority) to has- money transfer brand, yesterday gesture has been conceived in the and will reopen,” he said. ten up the work. announced a free remittance drive wake of the untold sufferings faced News of a blaze in the Villaggio “How long can you to Palestine from the Middle East, by innocent Palestinians in the cur- spread like wild fire with com- expect the civic authori- expressing its solidarity with the rent scenario of aggression.” mentators on local social net- ties to resort to temporary people of Palestine suffering from “As a community-focused working sites giving details. “My measures like pumping out the Gaza strife. entity, our corporate philosophy husband was there at the time water from water-logged In a statement, Xpress Money is to extend a helping hand wher- the alarm set off. People were areas and roads during said that the free remittance ever we can to ensure the social running here and there as it was rains like this?,” he asked. drive will help members of the and financial security of millions being announced that they should The CMC chief said there Palestinian diaspora spread of people including families and immediately vacate the place,” were many residential local- across the region, and well wish- children. The free remittance said a woman commentator. ities in low-lying areas so ers transfer funds to kith and drive to Palestine has been con- It was a false alarm, suggested the plight of their residents kin in Palestine free of cost for a ceived in this spirit,” he said. another, while yet another com- could be very well imagined. month starting from November Xpress Money has 34 agent mentator said he could see a large Then, there were traffic 24th 2012 till December 25 2012. locations in Palestine, a promi- number of women braving the jams due to water logging. “There will be no charges or nent receive market, which allows rains after evacuating from the “We hope to see an end to commissions at the send and easy access for Palestinians to mall. “The place seems jinxed,” said this problem, the sooner the receive end of the money transfer claim funds sent by their bread- still another commentator, refer- better,” said Al Hanzab. chain,” said Sudhesh Giriyan – winners abroad. ring to the devastating May 28 fire. THE PENINSULA Vice President & Business Head, THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Narrow win for Islamists in Egyptian referendum Second round to be held on Saturday; Parliamentary election to follow if constitution passed

CAIRO: Egyptians voted in late, officials telling people how voting said. The Brotherhood favour of a constitution shaped to vote and bribery. They also and its party had representatives by Islamists but opposed by other criticised widespread religious at polling stations across the 10 groups who fear it will divide campaigning which portrayed areas, including Cairo, in this the Arab world’s biggest nation, “no” voters as heretics. A joint round. The official, who asked not officials in rival camps said yes- statement by seven human rights to be identified, said the tally was terday after the first round of a groups urged the referendum’s based on counts from more than two-stage referendum. organisers “to avoid these mis- 99 percent of polling stations. Next Saturdaya’s second round takes in the second stage of the One opposition official said the is likely to give another “yes” referendum and to restage the vote appeared to have gone in vote as it includes districts seen first phase again”. favour of Islamists who backed as more sympathetic towards Mursi and his backers say the constitution. The opposition Islamists, analysts say, mean- the constitution is vital to move initially said its exit polls indi- ing the constitution would be Egypt’s democratic transition for- cated the “no” camp would win approved. But the narrow win ward. Opponents say the basic law comfortably, but officials changed so far gives Islamist President is too Islamist and tramples on tack during the night. One oppo- Mohammed Mursi only limited minority rights, including those of sition official said in the early grounds for celebration by show- Christians who make up 10 per- hours of Sunday that it would ing the wide rifts in a country cent of the population. be “very close”. A narrow loss where he needs to build a consen- The build-up to Saturday’s vote could still hearten leftists, social- sus for tough economic reforms. was marred by deadly protests. ists, Christians and more liberal- The Muslim Brotherhood’s party, Demonstrations erupted when minded Muslims who make up the which propelled Mursi to office in Mursi awarded himself extra disparate opposition, which has a June election, said 56.5 percent powers on November 22 and been beaten in two elections since backed the text. Official results then fast-tracked the constitution Hosni Mubarak was overthrown are not expected until after the through an assembly dominated last year. They were drawn next round. While an opposition by his Islamist allies. together to oppose what they saw official conceded the “yes” camp However, the vote passed off Riot police stand guard in front of the presidential palace in Cairo, yesterday. as a power grab by Mursi as he appeared to have won the first calmly with long queues in Cairo pushed through the constitution. round, the opposition National and several other places, though the vote should not have been the state it is - blood and kill- Wafd party, part of the opposition The National Salvation Front Salvation Front said in a state- unofficial tallies indicated turn- held given the violent protests. ings, and no security,” said Emad National Salvation Front coalition includes prominent figures such ment that voting abuses meant out was around a third of the Foreign governments are watch- Sobhy, a voter who lives in Cairo. that pushed for a “no” vote. as ElBaradei, former Arab League a rerun was needed - although it 26 million people eligible to vote ing closely how the Islamists, long “Holding a referendum with the “The referendum was 56.5 chief Amr Moussa and firebrand did not explicitly challenge the this time. The vote was staggered viewed warily in the West, handle country as it is cannot give you percent for the ‘yes’ vote,” a sen- leftist Hamdeen Sabahy. Brotherhood’s vote tally. because many judges needed to themselves in power. a proper result.” As polls closed, ior official in the Brotherhood’s If the constitution is approved, Rights groups reported abuses oversee polling staged a boycott in “It’s wrong to have a vote or Islamists attacked the offices Freedom and Justice Party oper- a parliamentary election will fol- such as polling stations opening protest. The opposition had said referendum with the country in of the newspaper of the liberal ations room set up to monitor low early next year. REUTERS Lieberman resignation a gamble, says Israeli media JERUSALEM: Avigdor leader with fraud and breach of bring him back into the cabinet prevent him from returning to government. For now, Lieberman 38 of the Knesset’s 120 seats. Lieberman is hoping for a quick trust offences. within a few months, where he parliament. “Lieberman is not remains head of the rightwing “The ideal situation for him is return to government after But he did not surrender his will choose whatever portfolio he worried about a conviction, but Yisrael Beitenu party, which he is to put an end to this entire affair resigning as Israel’s foreign parliamentary seat, and is still desires - defence, foreign affairs the severity and type of moral expected to continue to lead. The before the elections on January minister over graft charges, expected to stand in a snap or finance,” the left-leaning turpitude that might be attached faction is running on a joint list 22,” wrote commentator Shalom but his bid for a quick plea deal January 22 general election, pav- Haaretz newspaper wrote in an to it,” the editorial said. with the Likud party of Prime Yerushalmi in the Maariv daily. could be a gamble, Israeli media ing the way a return to govern- editorial. Israeli legal precedent means Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in “To wit, to lift his immunity, said yesterday. ment if he can quickly resolve the The daily pointed out that that a person convicted of a the election. Polls put the joint to sign a convenient plea bar- Lieberman announced he was case against him. Lieberman’s main concern will crime with a finding of “moral list far ahead of the opposition, gain agreement, to take a light stepping down on Friday, a day “He is seeking a quick and easy be to avoid a conviction with turpitude” attached to it, as well with the latest numbers taken sentence and to start over as a after the attorney general decided plea bargain that would let him a finding of “moral turpitude” as a prison sentence, must wait before Lieberman’s resignation relatively clean foreign minister.” to charge the ultranationalist off with almost nothing and would and imprisonment, which could seven years before returning to showing them garnering around AFP MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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CHAIRMAN: SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: KHALID AL SAYED Abe again E-MAIL: [email protected] ACTING MANAGING EDITOR: HUSSAIN AHMAD E-MAIL: [email protected] Japan’s new prime minister faces EDITORIAL: TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 tough challenges ahead. FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR. E-MAIL: [email protected]

ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 HE Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide victory in Japanese The new premier has the mandate and the opportunity to show his polls, which returned Shinzo Abe to the prime minister’s post mettle and face the tough challenges. But the success of his actions will CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] Twhich he abruptly left in 2007, wasn’t surprising because the depend on his ability to take tough decisions which are unpopular with SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY voters were disillusioned with the government of Prime Minister the public. For example, measures to arrest a decline in population Yoshihiko Noda of Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ). At the same growth and financial slowdown may have to include social security TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 time, as the voter turnout in the election was at a record low, with overhaul, including cuts in healthcare and pensions, and opening E-MAIL: [email protected] people complaining of no real choice, Abe cannot claim to have come Japan to foreign goods, workers and investment. Japanese are not SUBSCRIPTION RATES to power on a popular wave. open to reforms on all these fronts. ANNUAL Abe will have to grapple with a number of issues and his perform- At the same time, a failure to produce results can consign the QR 675 ance will be watched keenly by his people. The most important and country to a prolonged period of uncertainty and hopelessness. A 6 MONTHS QR 340 difficult task is economic revival. He has already won over the finan- resurgent Japan will help not only Asia, but the entire world. cial markets with a revival plan, which involves printing more money, Unfortunately, Abe has advocated a hawkish security agenda and but he will have to prove if easy money alone can fix the country’s that is not good for relations with its giant neighbour China. He must economic ills. But his promise to boost spending on infrastructure at realise that an increase in tensions with Beijing on the disputed a time when much of the tsunami-wrecked northeast remains a shell islands will not be in the interests of his country when it is fighting for of its former self is a bold move. an economic revival. He should work to reduce tensions with China The greying population and population decline is another issue because a policy of pragmatism and coolheadedness will be far better PUBLICATION that will need his immediate attention. In just three decades, Japan than jingoism and listening to the voices from the street. Japan cannot has become the world’s oldest society, with those 65 or above making afford its revival to be bogged down by tensions with neighbours and up nearly a quarter of a population. the new prime minister will have to convey this message to his people.

With every passing day the political and military The other side solutions are becoming more distant. We should be in a position defending the Quote of existence of Syria. Moscow finally faces facts the day Syrian Vice President HE Kremlin has finally taken its head out of the Syrian sand. Farouq Al Sharaa It has admitted for the first time that there is a real possibility Tthat its longtime ally, the Assad family, is likely to be driven from power by the rebels. Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov noted dourly yesterday that the regime was losing more and more control and territory to the Free Syrian Army, and that “facts had to be faced.” He said that plans were being completed to evacuate several thousand Russians who have been working in Syria. He said nothing about the future of the Kremlin’s naval base at Tartus. Indeed, it seems probable that the facility, Russia’s only military port on the Mediterranean, will be used as a gathering and evacuation point for Russian citizens, assuming that they can reach it. If they are trapped by rebel action, it may be that helicopters will be sent from the Tartus base to pick them up. Thereafter, they will be sailed back to Russia. It is not yet entirely clear if Bogdanov was speaking with the knowledge of the Putin administration or had let government thinking slip by mistake or was stating his own opinion. Whichever, the Russians’ encounter with reality is long overdue. The question is, what, apart from preparing to evacuate its own people from the country, is Russia going to do next ? If Moscow is finally persuaded that the opposition forces stand on the brink of victory, will it see any point in perpetuating the violence? At the very least, will the Russians give up the supply of arms and ammunition, which has been playing such an important role in keeping the Assad regime on its feet and fighting? There is no question that they will ever be paid for what they have supplied in recent months. As with Libya’s Muammar Qaddafi, the Kremlin has been guilty of serious political miscalculation and backed the wrong horse. Bogdanov sought to soften the bitter confession that Bashar Assad was losing, by repeating yet again Russian calls for talks, warning that unless they took place, tens of thousands more lives could be lost before the conflict came to an end. However, the deputy Foreign Ministry did not signal any change in the Russian and Chinese support for those talks, which is that they should begin without preconditions, and thus without Bashar Assad first standing down from the presi- dency. Thoughtful though those words may perhaps still sound to the Kremlin, they were empty when they were first voiced at the start of the uprising, and they have become progressively meaningless as the conflict has spread. ARAB NEWS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Never has London seemed more like a city state apart

BY CATHERINE BENNETT murder rate, more Michelin- the cleaners, tahlink, take him to London, the streets are left ung- his useless family dependents, Ken many privileged Londoners move starred restaurants in London the cleaners in London. Because ritted, saving money and, in this Livingstone had joked about the in circles that are quite as white- ONCLUDING a year of than in Paris. But it cannot be London cleaners will be grateful picturesque condition, assisting case for separatism. “Having been British as Budleigh Salterton, and exceptional London tri- denied, as Johnson told the CBI for your business.” keen skiers and sledgers. Admire to Singapore,” he said in 2006, “and much less so than those in Boston, Cumphalism, the mayor of conference, that just as New York As for libel suits. “I would never the way London’s abject arrange- seen how successful it was I think Lincolnshire. London, Boris Johnson, has been is the go-to megacity for cock- encourage anyone to sue,” Johnson ments for cycling keep all but the anything short of a fully independ- Rather, the census figures pro- swanking, pretty much non stop, roaches, London can claim to be said, “but if one oligarch feels bravest off their bikes, thus boost- ent city state is a lost opportunity, vide yet another pretext, along about the capital’s superiority the world’s premier venue for rich defamed by another oligarch, it is ing public transport revenue and with its own foreign and defence with developments in London edu- to everywhere else, including its litigants. No self-respecting for- London’s lawyers who apply the helping nervous drivers. policies thrown in.” cation, London housing, London host country. Speaking recently at eign gangster or oligarch would necessary balm to the ego. And Visit its hard-working estate Since when, the widening of budget cuts, London arts, London the CBI, he claimed for London, think of suing anywhere else. it is those rouble-fuelled refresh- agents, and see how grateful economic and cultural differences policing, for a London-based politi- rather than Britain, the success of It is just another sign of Johnson’s ers and retainers that find their they are for London’s flourishing between the capital and the rest of cal and media class to continue to the jubilee, at which Prince Philip originality that, where others way into the pockets of chefs and house prices, which at an aver- the country would have ensured, dwell on local, occasionally paro- contracted cystitis in the rain. might see only a minute group waiters and doormen and janitors age £444,393 ensure that poorer even without the Johnson line in chial stories that may be irrele- London, not Britain, hosted the of interdependent shysters who and nannies and tutors and actors provincials will never be tempted PR, that the interests of Londoners vant to millions of non-Londoners. Olympics; London, not Britain, is shovel money from one hiding place and aromatherapists – and keep to add to the colourful rush-hour looked more and remote to fellow- The strain posed by immigra- “the world centre of banking and to another, at the same time that the wheels of the economy turn- congestion. Applaud the way lax Britons, and closer and closer to tion on London’s social services finance”. Given a chance, he will they help push London property ing, and put bread on the tables of banking regulation has helped the preoccupations of fellow city- will appear as far more pressing even boast about London’s falling prices to levels of undreamed-of some of the poorest and hardest make London great. Actually, he state residents from New York to than the strain on Hartlepool of murder rate. inaccessibility, Johnson recog- working families in the city.” has already done that one: “We Rio de Janeiro. having no jobs. The loss of one Although, to his great credit, nises a precious income stream of We look forward then, to many can’t solve the banking crisis by The evidence of the new census, London library will look infinitely Johnson does not use the word which some minute fraction can- further London panegyrics in imposing more regulations than showing that white ethnic British more serious, to judge by the “buzz”, that famous but hard-to- not but end up as minimum wages which Johnson shows how the cap- our rivals in other European are now outnumbered in London, national coverage, than the loss pin-down London phenomenon for Londoners. Even the meanest ital’s most despised characteris- jurisdictions.” is unlikely to assist understand- of over 30 in Yorkshire. And the which is apt to have evaporated A-list litigants, he suspects, do not tics can be re-invented as peerless Even before Boris Johnson ing. Not necessarily because this more, as they must, most journal- by the time you reach journey’s wash their own underwear. assets. Take London pigeons, and became a full-time London is a ratio that would feel unu- ists and MPs come from London end in, say, Edgware, some of his “I have no shame”, Johnson the way these vermin reduce the supremacist, with a tendency to sual in many other regions and and the south-east, the more claims to London’s pre-eminence declared, “in saying to the injured burden on the health service by depict the relationship between outlandish in some: the ostensi- unobjectionable such assessments are contested. There are not, pos- spouses of the world’s billion- giving old bird-women a reason to the capital and its country as that ble London melting pot obscures will seem. sibly because of the high oligarch aires if you want to take him to live. Notice, how, when it snows in between a mighty benefactor and social divisions which ensure that THE GUARDIAN MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Americans may resist call to tighten gun laws Given the US’s rooted gun culture, ‘meaningful action’ on gun control is a daunting task.

BY LUCINDA ROY gun control. He’s likely to call popular characters in American for a reinstatement of the ban drama, the co-stars of almost OON after the shoot- on assault weapons and to push every blockbuster action movie. ing rampage here at for comprehensive background Those who wield the largest guns, Virginia Tech in 2007, checks on all gun purchases, be they heroic protagonists or a friend told me how thus closing the infamous gun- disturbed antagonists, become angry some of her show loophole. To those in other larger than life, omnipotent. Sneighbours were about what had parts of the world, these seem We underestimate the fascina- happened. She lives in a rural like modest proposals. But in tion guns hold for young people. region some miles from where the America, they’re incendiary. We fail to appreciate how they campus is located. Their anger, To understand why this is such can become the catalyst for a she explained, stemmed not from a contentious issue, we have to chilling metamorphosis. the killings themselves but from understand the gun culture, par- Cho was the most silent stu- the threat the attack posed to ticularly in the South. In addi- dent I have worked with in 30 their right to bear arms. tion, we have to understand the years. His silence seemed at times “They’re furious with us,” she emphasis placed on individual to be full of menace. Suffering told me. “They think we should freedom in the US, even when from selective mutism (a condi- have found a way to prevent it.” that freedom may pose a threat tion that left him virtually silent I wasn’t particularly surprised to the community. since the age of three, and which by her neighbours’ resentment. In No Right to Remain Silent, does not indicate a predisposition I have lived in the American a book I wrote about what we towards violence), he broke that South for three decades, longer can learn from the tragedy at silence in the most appalling way than I lived in the UK, where I Virginia Tech, one of the things I when he attacked the campus in was brought up; I have taught examined was the role guns play April 2007. creative writing at Virginia Tech in American culture. Several Yet, the vast majority of gun- for over 25 years. I have grown friends warned me against tying owners in America are law- to love this country very much. guns to school shootings, saying abiding citizens, many of whom But America’s unhealthy obses- the backlash could be extreme. view guns as a natural feature of US President Barack Obama wipes a tear as he speaks about the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in sion with guns threatens to tear But I had worked with the the American landscape. Guns Newtown, Connecticut, during a press briefing at the White House in Washington on December 14. it apart. perpetrator Seung-Hui Cho two are handed down from father to This week, only three days years before the tragedy, and son; around here, boys and girls after the Oregon mall shootings tried, unsuccessfully, to get help learn to hunt with them even Wild West, the gun is a symbol arsenals and who seem eager to When Obama took office, a in which two people were killed, for him. before they’ve learned, at 15, of the power of the individual, draw upon their strategic rage line was drawn in the sand by the Sandy Hook elementary school How could I ignore the fact how to drive. Learning to handle an extension of the arm of the reserves. Since a biracial presi- NRA and the gun manufactur- in Newtown, Connecticut became that he’d used a 9mm Glock and a weapon responsibly is part of law and the outlaw – a kind of dent took office, we routinely have ers who fund that organisation. I the latest target. This time, 28 a .22-calibre Walther to carry the coming-of-age ritual in the bionic, Borg-like addition to the a shortage of guns and ammo at think President Obama will dare people were killed, 20 of whom out his execution-style murders? South. American hero. sporting goods stores. to cross that line. were little children. Or that he’d fired 174 rounds of There are about 300 million But law-abiding gun-owners Self-aggrandizing rightwing If he does, those of us who care It has fallen to US President ammunition in 11 minutes? With guns in the country. People living are not the ones the president celebrities like Donald Trump about genuine liberty in America Obama – a man already targeted his guns, Cho didn’t have to play in remote areas where the likeli- needs to worry about. In fact, and radio jockey Rush Limbaugh must stand shoulder to shoulder by the NRA as un-American – the role of the silent, strug- hood of getting a police response I’m glad to say that many of them fuel white southern resentment with him. Our voices must be to tackle this issue. After hear- gling student anymore; he could within a reasonable amount of voted for him. with lies about a biracial presi- more persuasive than they have ing the president speak about become a scourge. time is almost zero, vigorously What is worrying me as I con- dent’s illegitimacy. ever been – more persuasive these horrific shootings, I have Semi-automatic handguns, defend their right to bear arms. template the coming struggle I am biracial myself. I know than rage, more persuasive than little doubt that he’s determined high-powered rifles, and assault Fused to the American psyche around gun control are the radi- that racism is a spontaneously money, more persuasive, even, to open the Pandora’s Box of weapons are some of the most through the mythology of the cals who have amassed personal combustible form of hatred. than guns. THE GUARDIAN Sudan peace talks in a ‘Catch-22’ N Korea never seems BY HARRIET MARTIN SPLM N.” But if President Kiir to follow the rules can’t do it, if he is unable to effec- ONG-running talks tively pull rank over his generals BY BLAINE HARDEN Eun might move in a more mod- in Addis Ababa, the who don’t want to implement this erate direction. Unlike his father Ethiopian capital, demilitarised zone nor abandon s a rule, nothing greases and grandfather, he had lived in Lbetween the ministers their former comrades, what are reform like the death of the West. of defence from South Sudan the alternatives? a dictator. After Joseph He reportedly spent a few and Sudan are set to begin again, Those involved in trying to AStalin, the gulag faded teenage years in a private Swiss despite previous failures to imple- resolve this impasse see the away. After Mao Zedong, policies school, where he played basket- ment peace plans on the ground. answer as a political solution to that starved millions were aban- ball, wore expensive sneakers and The key for current talks is the the conflict between the SPLM doned. So when North Korean admired Michael Jordan. He was implementation of a demilitarised N and the Sudanese government. leader Kim Jong il died a year untested and seemed callow to zone on their common border. If “If there were a political proc- ago, there was reason to expect outsiders looking in, but after his they can come to an agreement, ess that stopped the fighting in meaningful change. father died, he proved with sur- the long-time rivals will establish Southern Kordofan and Blue Nile, Yet North Korea, the world’s prising speed that he was not a the key principle of the extensive that too would alleviate that prob- longest-lived totalitarian state, puppet of scheming relatives and peace agreement they signed in lem,” Ambassador Lyman said. never seems to follow the rules. headstrong generals. As surpris- September. Getting a border zone in place When its founding dictator, Kim ing, he emerged in the first half Analysts agree that it is in their Presidents Omar Hassan Al Bashir and Salva Kiir. would be the other key factor, in Il Sung, died in 1994, the state of this year as a chubbily charis- mutual interest - politically and his view. stumbled, but it did not collapse matic agent of change. economically - to put down their of where there is most discontent which these repeated talks have But the Sudanese government and it did not reform. For the He sacked generals, sent weapons and start cooperating. - its army. been held, was supposed to stop has publicly stated it is not cur- first time in history, power in a bureaucrats to China to study But no one is holding their breath This turn of events was self- this. It involves monitors and veri- rently prepared to negotiate. Vice communist state shifted from capitalism and talked openly of for a breakthrough. inflicted, critics say. A year ago fication of any cross-border activ- President Dr Al Haj Adam Youssif father to son, from Great Leader using economic reform to improve Last week they met in South Sudan was a pre-industrial ity. But this is no longer enough ruled out talking to the SPLM N to Dear Leader. And Kim Jong Il the lives of ordinary North Khartoum, Sudan’s capital, for economy with a sugar daddy called for Khartoum and it is making until there was clear evidence that was no reformer. He turned out Koreans. His father had never barely 24 hours in what was sup- oil. Now it is just a pre-industrial new demands. their ties to Juba had been cut. to be even more repressive than talked this way. Indeed, his father posed to be a two-day meeting economy. Back in January, South Sudan’s President Omar Hassan “They have to come to us as his father was. had never delivered a speech in with no progress made. Sudan’s leadership turned off its Al Bashir now wants South Sudanese, not representing the Now, the third generation of public. Kim the younger smiled Before that, in November, in entire oil production in a fit of Sudan’s army, which is still called South Sudanese army,” he said. the Kim family dynasty, in the often (also unlike his dad) and Juba, South Sudan’s capital, two anger with Sudan. the Sudan People’s Liberation The reason why it is so diffi- person of Kim Jong Eun, who seemed YouTube-savvy. As state days of talking ended in not much Sudan controls the pipelines to Army, to actively disengage from cult now for talks to publicly take is not yet 30, has cemented his television followed him around, more than the agenda being dis- the sea and it had started help- the Sudan People’s Liberation place for Khartoum, is that like its absolute control by doing what he embraced small children, cussed. Some of the Southern ing itself to some of the oil in Movement North (SPLM N), Juba counterpart, it has its own daddy and granddaddy could not attended a “Mickey Mouse” per- Sudan People’s Liberation Army lieu of unpaid transit fees after pull back its weaponry and sup- domestic issues. do: His engineers sent the payload formance and won global atten- (SPLA) generals simply refused months of failed negotiations over plies from South Kordofan and Not only is the economy steadily of a three-stage rocket into orbit, tion by showing off an attractive to be associated with the Addis the rate. There is now a signed Blue Nile, and expel any SPLM diving and inflation rising - there defying U.N. Security Council res- and well-dressed woman who agreement. They said they never agreement on this issue, but like N members from Juba. are also political tremors. Last olutions and unnerving the world. turned out to be his wife. He signed it and want nothing to other key parts of September’s The US Special Envoy, month, several prominent insid- His government is believed to allowed her to touch his arm in do with it, according to multi- agreement, it has yet to be imple- Princeton Lyman, told a press ers were arrested for allegedly be trying to develop a nuclear public — a stunning change from ple sources with knowledge of mented. Meanwhile, the South has conference in Juba on Friday plotting a coup, and over the past warhead small enough to fit atop the crabby behavior of his father, the meeting. Attempts to get no income. he finds these new demands week in Khartoum and elsewhere a missile capable of striking the whose many wives were always the South’s civilian leadership Getting the oil flowing is the “troubling”. there have been daily protests at United States. To that end, Kim hidden. to pull rank failed. Efforts to get one hope for improving the cur- President Kiir, who officially universities about the mysterious Jong Eun’s government completed Still, Kim Jong Eun’s image- President Salva Kiir to intervene rently grim outlook in Sudan and denies supporting these rebels deaths of three Darfuri students. a new tunnel this year for the test making and his reformist rhetoric came to nothing, sources said. South Sudan. Paul Jenkins, head across the border, has dismissed In this environment, it is hard detonation of what would be the have done little to change what Why? Well, things are not so of the International Monetary this as an “impossible mission”. to see the Sudanese government North’s third plutonium device his government actually does. easy in Juba right now. A few Fund in Sudan, said: “The recent Many would question whether producing a deal with the SPLM and possibly for a bomb made North Korea’s treatment of its weeks ago President Kiir publicly oil agreement is very much a win- or not the SPLA and SPLM N N without being eaten alive by from highly enriched uranium, people remains singularly oppres- ticked off potential coup plotters win for both parties, and it’s in the are really foreign armies to one hardliners who believe the gov- according to an August report sive, and a third of the population in the military, warning them economic interests of both sides another. Until July 2011, what is ernment has already given too in the Bulletin of the Atomic is chronically malnourished. This no one in the international com- to implement as soon as possible.” now called the SPLM North was much away: not only has it lost the Scientists. fall, the United Nations found “no munity would recognise them if While Sudan needs the dollars actually the ninth and tenth divi- South, but if the African Union The young leader has also spent indications of any improvement” they took over. He is not gener- it will get from transit fees - its sion of the SPLA - South Sudan’s proposal goes ahead, it’s in danger lavishly this year on the family in the country’s wretched human ally known for forcing showdowns economy is in a parlous state, after army. For President Kiir’s gener- of losing the disputed territory of cult, funding $40m worth of stat- rights record. On the contrary, its with political rivals. losing 75 percent of oil production als they are not rebels: they are Abyei too. ues and paintings of his father human rights rapporteur found “The problem is he doesn’t have when the South split - it is not as former comrades, and ideologi- The one thing that would and grandfather, according to a information that “authorities the type of personality that will bad as its southern neighbour. cally many of them continue to strengthen Sudan’s hand against recent South Korean government had detained officials suspected take people on, and deal head on Khartoum has exploited this support the aim of regime change its critics right now is to get the report. Notably, imports of liquor, of potentially challenging or with these kind of problems,” con- difference in desperation over oil in Khartoum. oil turned back on. This would luxury cars and foreign appliances questioning a smooth leadership fided one western diplomat who to try to get something it wants One source close to the ease political pressure, and stab- have spiked since 2009, when it transition.” rated Kiir’s current chances of even more: to stop Juba support- Sudanese government believes a lise the economy. became clear Kim Jong Eun was Without trial, North Korea remaining in power as 50/50. ing a rebellion on its border states face-saving formula will be found But to do that Juba must stop his father’s favored son, according continues to imprison an esti- Even the toughest of presidents of South Kordofan and Blue Nile. at the current talks. “There are supporting the SPLA N. And Juba to a South Korean parliamentary mated 150,000 of its perceived would be struggling right now in Unless it gets this, Sudan has long ways of appeasing these [SPLA] is in no position to do that because report in October. political enemies in a 50-year- South Sudan. It has no money to made clear in this negotiation, the generals. Maybe it can’t be done its civilian leadership cannot take In the months after his father old gulag of labour camps that is pay its civil servants, its police oil will not flow. publicly, but for its own legitimacy, on its generals. died of a heart attack, there were clearly visible on Google Earth. and most importantly - in view The demilitarised zone, over Juba needs to be seen to drop the ALJAZEERA tantalising hints that Kim Jong WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST 25 killed as Syrian jets bomb Palestinian camp Rebels will not win in Syria: Hezbollah chief

BEIRUT/DAMASCUS: air strikes on Palestinian refu- “The best defence against Syrian fighter jets bombed the gee camps and said the regime of extremism is the Syrian National Palestinian Yarmouk camp in Assad was nearing its end. Coalition,” Fabius said, welcom- Damascus yesterday, killing at “It’s a scandalous attack,” the ing the move last week by Arab least 25 people sheltering in a foreign minister told French tel- and Western states to recognise mosque in an area where rebels evision, accusing Assad wanting the National Coalition as the sole have been trying to advance to “inflame the situation”. representative of Syrians. into the capital, opposition “We must do everything to Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, activists said. avoid anything that could lead to leader of the Lebanese Shia The attack was part of a month- a regional flare-up,” Fabius said. movement Hezbollah, said yes- old campaign by President Bashar “I think the end is approaching terday the rebels in Syria could Al Assad’s forces to eject rebels for Bashar Al Assad,” he added. not emerge victorious from the Damaged buildings are seen after a Syrian Air Force fighter jet fired missiles on Homs, yesterday. fighting to overthrow him from “You have seen, even if it’s con- 21-month-long uprising against positions hemming in Damascus. troversial, even the Russians see President Bashar Al Assad. Yarmouk, on the southern fringes it coming,” Fabius told TV5 and Nasrallah, a staunch ally of group of sending fighters to neigh- an armed insurgency largely in about “uncalculated” results. of the Syrian capital, falls within a Radio France Internationale. Assad, said: “The situation in bouring Syria to help Assad over- response to heavy crackdown and “The deployment of Patriot mis- swathe of territory running from Referring to the issue of Syria is getting more complicated come the largely Sunni Muslim attacks by Assad forces. siles will achieve nothing but to the east to southwest of the city Islamist extremists fighting in (but) anyone who thinks the revolt. Hezbollah denies these Meanwhile, Iran’s foreign min- provoke and, God forbid, result in from where rebels hope to storm Syria against the Damascus armed opposition can settle the accusations. ister said yesterday that planned being forced into an uncalculated into the main redoubt of Assad. regime, Fabius stressed that situation on the ground is very The uprising started as peace- deployment of US-made Patriot action,” Ali Akbar Salehi said in French Foreign Minister the “longer the war goes on, the very very mistaken.” ful demonstrations calling for missiles in Turkey was a “provoc- remarks reported by the official Laurent Fabius condemned the greater the risks of extremism.” Syrian rebels accuse the Shia greater freedoms but turned into ative” action which could bring Irna news agency. AFP

Four policemen Kuwait emir warns critics as die in Benghazi protest-hit parliament opens station attack

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s The Emir H H Sheikh Sabah them said. Khaled Al Deyain, BENGHAZI: Four policemen ruler opened a new parlia- Al Ahmad Al Sabah told the Hamad Derbas and Anwar Al in the eastern Libyan city of ment yesterday in the face of new lawmakers yesterday that Fikr were detained outside the Benghazi were killed when a months of street protests and he supported freedom of expres- main court building, writer police compound was attacked political unrest, saying he sion and constructive criticism, and activist Ahmed Al Deyain yesterday, a security official welcomed constructive criti- but recent events had shown told journalists. He said he did said, in the latest violence to cism but would not accept “aspects of chaos, breaching of not know why the three, mem- plague the cradle of Libya’s lawless behaviour and chaos the law and unguided political bers of the leftist Progressive uprising. on the streets. discourse”. Current opposition group, had The attack is believed to be Security forces had set up “Why have we flung the door been arrested. linked to the recent detention barriers that stopped several open to allow the ill-intended Kuwait has the most open of two men in connection with hundred opposition activists - a and the sly to harm the security political system in the Gulf several assassinations of security small crowd by Kuwaiti stand- of our nation and its capabili- Arab region with its 50-mem- officials in the city, as the assault ards - approaching the build- ties?” he asked in a frank public ber National Assembly that has happened next door to a police ing overnight to continue their address. legislative powers and can ques- station where they were being demonstrations against what He called on the new law- tion government ministers over held. they see as a rubber-stamp makers to avoid “unfruitful policy. Unknown assailants fired a assembly. debate”, to respect the bounda- But the Al Sabah family, rocket-propelled grenade at the The parliament in the ries of power and to cooperate which has ruled Kuwait for compound, which houses patrol US-allied, oil-producing Gulf with the government. more than 250 years, holds cars, damaging an office and kill- state was elected on December The most recent unrest important levers of power. The ing one policeman, police spokes- 1 amid mass street rallies and erupted when the emir used emir selects a prime minister man Khaled Hidar said. an opposition boycott over a emergency laws in October to who in turn forms a cabinet, A gun battle then followed change to the voting laws that cut the number of votes per with the top portfolios such as and three of the police reinforce- activists said favoured pro- citizen to one from four. He said the interior, defence and for- ments who arrived at the scene government candidates. A it would fix a flawed system and eign ministries held by ruling were killed. “It was a long bat- long-running power struggle ensure security. family members. tle. Three other policemen were between members of Kuwait’s Members of Kuwait’s dispa- The new National Assembly severely injured,” Hidar said. elected parliament and its rate opposition said it would includes 17 MPs from the coun- He said two men recently appointed cabinet has held up undermine their ability to try’s minority Shia community detained in connection with a reforms, stalled investment and encourage supporters to cast and three women. More than series of assassinations in the sunk a series of assemblies. additional votes for allies and half of the lawmakers are new- city, including that of Benghazi The last opposition-domi- form political relationships in comers to parliamentary poli- police chief Faraj al-Deirsy last nated parliament was dissolved a country that does not allow tics. Prominent Shia MP Saleh month, were being held in the in June after just four months political parties. Ashour said he would monitor police station next door. Deirsy in power and this month’s Kuwaiti authorities arrested the government’s work and give was killed in front of his home election was the fifth since three opposition activists yes- it six months to prove itself. last month. mid-2006. terday, the father of one of REUTERS REUTERS

Israeli PM steps in to rescue debt-ridden Channel 10 TV JERUSALEM: Israel’s parliament is to meet in spe- cial session despite a pre-election recess, in a last-ditch attempt to stave off the closure of a debt-ridden com- mercial TV station, the government said yesterday. A statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said that he had agreed with Speaker Reuven Rivlin that the Knesset would reconvene “within the coming days to debate a proposed arrangement for the continued operation of Channel 10.” The move came hours after the station, one of only two commercial television channels in Israel, said that its management had decided to fire its 500 staff and close at the end of the year. Directors, however, voted at a meeting late on Saturday night to wait 48 hours before sending out dismissal notices, in the hope of prodding the Knesset into action at the last minute, the Channel 10 website said. The station’s broadcast licence expires at the end of December but it says that its executives and treasury officials had previously hammered out an agreement under which it would clear its debts and its licence would be extended for two years. Set up a decade ago, Channel 10, one of only two commercial television channels in Israel, is heavily in debt to the state, with around 60m shekels ($15.8m) in unpaid bills. String of attacks in Iraq kill 12

BAGHDAD: Attacks in Iraq including a string of bombings against Shia places of worship and a car bomb at a Kurdish political office killed at least 12 peo- ple and wounded at least 75 yesterday, officials said. Two car bombs and seven roadside bombs targeted two Shia places of worship, known as husseiniyahs, in the north Iraq city of Kirkuk, one in the city’s north and another in its south, a senior police officer said. Doctor Jassem Abed from Kirkuk General Hospital said the blasts killed eight people - four women, two children and two men - and wounded 55. Oil-rich and ethnically mixed Kirkuk is part of a swathe of territory in north Iraq that the autonomous Kurdistan region wants to incorporate, over the strong objections of Baghdad. AFP MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Venezuelans vote in state Mayor presses Washington on gun laws NEWTOWN, of this really requires action in Newtown, where had come to close look at the impact that is said yesterday she would intro- elections CONNECTICUT: The mayor of by our central government in pay his respects to families of the having on our society.” duce a bill banning assault weap- Connecticut’s capital city, whose Washington.” dead. He added, there remains Segarra, 53, a Democrat born in ons as soon as the new Congress CARACAS: Venezuelans vote own father was killed with a “And as long as we don’t have among Americans “an incredible Puerto Rico who grew up in inner- convenes in January in the wake yesterday in state elections that gun, urged Washington yester- those efforts, some degree of deci- appetite” for guns, with the fed- city New York, said he has never of the deadly school shooting in will define the future of oppo- day to take the lead in curbing sive intervention, it’s very difficult eral Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco personally owned a gun -- for a Connecticut. “I’m going to intro- sition leader Henrique Capriles “an incredible appetite” among for states to do it on their own.” and Firearms processing two reason. He said he was only a year duce in the Senate, and the same and test political forces ahead Americans for guns. Segarra recalled a successful million gun permit applications old when his father was shot and bill will be introduced in the of a possible new presidential Speaking two days after the pre-Christmas firearms amnesty in November alone. “What are we killed. “I never got to have a father,” house, a bill to ban assault weap- vote if Hugo Chavez is incapaci- massacre of 20 first-grade pupils scheme that his city ran for a doing to feed that appetite?” It’s he said. He also recalled the gun ons,” Senator Dianne Feinstein tated by cancer. and six adults in Newtown, Pedro few hours on a single day three not just any one thing,” he asked. deaths of two close friends while said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” The vote for 23 state gover- Segarra said Connecticut citizens weeks ago. “We were buying back, “We really need to have a more growing up in the South Bronx - Friday’s shooting at the Sandy norships, seven of which are are “very supportive of demilita- or having people turn in, about global strategy. The commerciali- they were aged 14 and 13. “I have no Hook Elementary School in currently controlled by the oppo- rizing our community and getting one weapon per minute,” he told sation of violence through ... the desire to own a gun. They’ve only Newtown killed 20 children aged sition, has been overshadowed by these weapons off the streets.” reporters during an impromptu arts, music, video games and all meant not-so-great things.” either six or seven and six adults. the president’s battle to recover But the mayor added: “A lot interview on a downtown street that -- we really need to take a Meanwhile, a top US Democrat AFP from cancer surgery in Cuba. Capriles, 40, needs to hold on to the governorship of Miranda state to remain the opposition’s presidential candidate-in-waiting, while both sides will want a good Second peace rally in Belfast showing to create momentum in case of a new showdown over who BELFAST: About 1,200 peace replaces Chavez. campaigners gathered in Belfast “This is the best indication of yesterday for the second rally how well the opposition will fare in as many days against a wave in an upcoming contest for the of street violence in the city, presidency between Henrique Northern Ireland’s police said. Capriles and designated Chavez “The peaceful silent majority dauphin Vice President Nicolas need to be heard too,” said organ- Maduro,” said Russell Dallen of iser Paul Currie, after the hour- Caracas-based BBO Financial long event at the gates of Belfast Services. Turnout was thin in city hall. early voting across the country, in Participants waved banners contrast to the long lines for the and played drums but were told presidential ballot two months not to bring any flags, after nights ago, which handed Chavez a third of rioting following the city coun- term. cil’s decision on December 3 to “I’m surprised. In the presiden- limit the number of days it flies tial election I got here at 3 a.m. the British Union flag. and there were a lot of people in Pro-British loyalists have line. Today I got here at 5 a.m. been outraged by the decision, and I was the first person,” said which they see as another con- Nathaly Betancourt, who was vot- cession to republicans who want ing in the western city of Punto Northern Ireland to unite with Fijo. Opposition sympathizers Ireland, although police have complained via Twitter that cent- said the violence was fuelled by ers in affluent anti-Chavez sec- paramilitaries. tors of Caracas that are crucial Politicians from both sides of for Capriles were notably empty. the government in Belfast, where The South American OPEC former republican and loyalist nation appears more focused on foes share power, have condemned Chavez’s recovery in Havana from the violence and said there will be A demonstrator holds a placard during a peace rally outside Belfast Tuesday’s operation, the socialist no return to the sectarian unrest City Hall in Belfast, Northern Ireland, yesterday. leader’s fourth since he was diag- of the past. nosed with cancer in his pelvic “This was a call for a legal gath- and the world once and for Northern Ireland has moved region in mid-2011. ering of the people of Northern all that we are not about two on,” Currie said. REUTERS Ireland to show our neighbours communities at war, but that AFP MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Berlusconi’s bid in doubt as party backs Monti Thirty percent of Italians back Mario Monti’s candidacy: Poll ROME: Silvio Berlusconi’s re- have interpreted well the idea of political observers have said he possibility that Monti himself has November 2011 following a par- youth division, said she opposed election bid was thrown into the common good.” “I hope they may be looking for a way out. so far declined to comment on. liamentary revolt from within both Berlusconi and Monti. fresh doubt yesterday as his will continue interpreting it in Thirty percent of Italians are in Monti’s supporters tended to be his own party, as well as a wave “We choose a different centre- support among party stalwarts the next parliament not because favour of Prime Minister Mario middle-aged and with higher edu- of panic on the financial markets right because the one we have is and a right-wing splinter group other European countries want Monti running in the upcoming cation, while opponents tended to and a surge of sex scandals. no good and we don’t want to set- eroded ahead of a campaign for this but because Italians need it.” general election but only three to be younger and more likely to be Monti, a former top European tle for it!” Meloni said to cheers February elections in Italy. The 76-year-old Berlusconi has five percent would actually vote from southern Italy. The poll had commissioner and a respected from her supporters. “Monti Just over a week after the three- himself sown confusion by saying for him, a poll published yesterday 800 respondents and a margin of economics professor, was voted for us is not the horizon, and a time prime minister announced he is willing to drop his candidacy showed. error of 3.5 percent. in by parliament as Berlusconi’s Berlusconi candidacy would be a his candidacy, his People of if Monti runs, adding to domestic Another eight to 10 percent Monti, who replaced Silvio replacement at the head of an mistake,” said Meloni, who put Freedom (PDL) party’s national and international pressure on the of respondents said they would Berlusconi in November 2011 at unelected, technocratic govern- her name forward as a candidate secretary Angelino Alfano told a technocrat prime minister to spell “seriously consider” voting for the head of a technocratic cabi- ment charged with saving Italy for primaries to pick the nominee convention in Rome that a run by out his intentions. him if he was in the running, net charged with saving Italy from the brink of bankruptcy. that have since been cancelled. outgoing Prime Minister Mario Berlusconi reiterated his offer according to the poll carried out from bankruptcy, has come Monti has governed for the past The PDL has been riven by Monti would avoid “handing the yesterday, saying in a note to his last week by the Ispo institute for under growing domestic and year with cross-party support in infighting ever since Berlusconi country back to the left and drag- supporters that Monti “shares the Corriere della Sera daily. international pressure to run in parliament, but that came to an stepped down, and the party’s ging Italy backwards”. my, your and our ideals” and call- “In the past, some leaders have February’s elections. end earlier this month when the lawmakers have been targeted by Roberto Formigoni, governor of ing for an end to “sterile disputes” been able to build a vast following The current favourite is centre- PDL withdrew its backing, bring- a series of inquiries into fraud and the wealthy northern Lombardy within his own party. Recent polls even starting with limited sup- left Democratic Party leader Pier ing forward to February elections waste of public funds. region, said: “Today we are all for have shown that what would be port,” said Renato Mannheimer, Luigi Bersani, a cigar-chomping that had been expected in March Yesterday Monti held closed- Monti to be candidate for prime Berlusconi’s sixth election cam- head of the polling group. ex-communist who has promised or April. door talks with President Giorgio minister.” Former foreign minis- paign in two decades would end Sixty-one percent of respond- to follow Monti’s reforms but also Meanwhile at another congress Napolitano ahead of what could be ter Franco Frattini said: “Mario in a crushing defeat at the hands ents said they were against do more for “jobs and equity”. in Rome, Giorgia Meloni, a leader a decisive week for Italy’s political Monti and the Monti agenda of a resurgent centre-left, and the idea of Monti running - a Berlusconi was forced out in of the PDL’s more right-wing calendar. AFP

Protest in Madrid Hungarian far-right Russian police MP burns Israeli flag BUDAPEST: A far-right Hungarian member of parlia- ment was arrested for set- free anti-Putin ting fire to an Israeli flag at an anti-Jewish demonstration reportedly involving around 100 people, police said. protesters “Police arrested the independ- ent MP Balazs Lenhardt for burning an Israeli flag at a pro- MOSCOW: Russian police said the square, many of them with test on Friday evening” in cen- yesterday they had released flowers they laid at a monument tral Budapest, police said in a some 40 people detained dur- to victims of Stalin-era purges. statement. ing a banned protest against Udaltsov said some 5,000 were The demonstration attracted Vladimir Putin, including oppo- in attendance. Observers say the around 100 people, some of whom sition leader Alexei Navalny. opposition movement is strug- shouted anti-Semitic slogans such Braving freezing cold and the gling to maintain momentum in as “Dirty Jews, send the Jews to threat of heavy fines, hundreds the face of the authorities’ tough Auschwitz” as the flag burned, of people defied the authorities on crackdown on dissenters since several media reports said. Saturday to gather at Moscow’s Putin’s return to the Kremlin The Hungarian foreign min- Lubyanka Square, the seat of the in May and internal divisions istry condemned Lenhardt’s FSB security services, to mark between liberals, leftists and “unacceptable” actions, say- one year since the start of unprec- nationalists. ing they were an incitement to edented anti-Putin protests Opposition leaders say they will racial hatred. The Israeli embassy triggered by fraud-tainted par- press ahead with a campaign of called on the government of liamentary polls last December. public rallies against President Prime Minister Viktor Orban Police said around 40 people Vladimir Putin despite a modest Thousands of Spanish health workers, patients and supporters protesting in Madrid yesterday against budget to “take all necessary measures” had been detained at the rally, turnout at one weekend protest cuts they say will affect the quality of health care. to put an end to such “hostile, including star anti-corruption in Moscow. offensive” actions. Lenhardt until blogger Navalny; Sergei Udaltsov, “Mass action every two to three recently was a member of the far- the leader of leftist group the months is necessary,” Udaltsov right Jobbik party but left because Left Front; Ksenia Sobchak, the was quoted as saying by Interfax. he said they were too moder- daughter of Putin’s late mentor “I think that next time - ate. Another Jobbik MP, Marton Anatoly Sobchak; and well-known towards the spring - very pow- Ex-chancellor Schroeder’s Gyongyosi, sparked outrage in late activist Ilya Yashin. erful preparation for action is November by calling in parliament “All those detained have been needed.” for a “survey” in Hungary to iden- released,” a Moscow police spokes- Up to 120,000 people gathered tify “how many are of Jewish ori- man said yesterday, declining to near the Kremlin walls at the wife entering German politics gin and present a certain national provide any other details. peak of the protests last winter. security risk to Hungary.” The opposition had originally While some observers said BERLIN: Former Chancellor Clinton served as a role model. raising their children, is a state Orban, who condemned planned a march through the Saturday’s rally proved that Gerhard Schroeder’s wife said The wife of former President assembly candidate for the centre- Gyongyosi’s comments, has nev- city centre, but for the first time many people were undeterred by she is entering German poli- Bill Clinton was first elected as a left Social Democrats (SPD) in the ertheless been accused of presid- since the start of the anti-Putin the threat of heavy fines, others tics and wants to win a regional senator from New York state in Jan. 20 election in Lower Saxony. ing over a rise in anti-Semitism protests, organisers were una- called it a disappointment and a state assembly seat next month 2000, just before he left the White She said the SPD candidate for in the European Union member ble to get permission from city blow to the opposition movement. to fight for pay equality but House at the end of his second state premier, Hanover Mayor state. In May, Nobel laureate and authorities. “The rally was an absolute insisted she has no higher polit- and final term. Stephan Weil, had asked her to Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel On the eve of the planned mistake,” political observer Yulia ical aspirations. “I do know what it means to run for a state assembly seat. She returned Hungary’s highest state event, they urged their supporters Latynina said on Echo of Moscow Coming out of the shadows be chancellor,” said Schroeder- also said her husband, 68, was honour because of what he called to simply show up at Lubyanka radio. The opposition, she said, of her husband, who was chan- Koepf, who was a journalist before taking over more of the parent- a “whitewashing” of history. Square. Authorities said that had taken unnecessary risks by cellor from 1998 to 2005, Doris marrying Schroeder in 1997. ing duties now. because the rally was unauthor- urging people to show up at the Schroeder-Koepf told Der Spiegel “From a physical point of view Schroeder-Koepf said she ised its participants would face unauthorised rally and was for- news magazine that she also I just couldn’t do it. You need to wants to fight for gender equality. Toll in Greece boat the threat of jail or fines of up tunate that the protest had not wanted to focus on improving the be more robust than I am. These “There can’t be a pay gap to 300,000 rubles ($9,700, ¤7,400), ended in violent clashes. integration of foreigners in her marathon meetings through the between men and women any- disaster rises to 21 nearly equal to the annual average Scores of activists are facing state of Lower Saxony. night, never getting enough sleep, more,” she said. “It’s absurd that salary in Russia. jail time for taking part in May “One chancellor in the fam- the trips across so many time there’s a 25 percent pay gap. That ATHENS: The death toll in According to police, 700 people 6 protests on the eve of Putin’s ily is enough,” Schroeder-Koepf, zones. I’m just not built for that.” must be changed in wage talks the sinking of a makeshift showed up, over 300 of them jour- inauguration for his third term 49, said in the interview pub- Schroeder-Koepf, a soft-spoken and by political leaders. Equal pay boat carrying migrants off a nalists and bloggers. Participants as president. lished yesterday when asked if woman who largely avoided the for equal work. It’s so obvious and Greek island near the Turkish say a few thousand poured into AFP/REUTERS US Secretary of State Hillary public spotlight until now while needs to happen.” REUTERS coast rose to 21 yesterday after another body was found on a beach, police said. Six people are still missing, a press officer with ANC conference the Lesbos island police said. The latest victim, a man, was Mali’s new PM unveils found on the island’s Thermi beach like all others before him. Police continued to search for those missing yesterday. Rescuers unity government on Saturday had found the bodies of 20 other men on the northern BAMAKO: Mali’s newly April but retained a strong say Lesbos beach, but their age was appointed prime minister has in Mali’s politics. Military figures not given. Only one 20-year-old unveiled a unity government viewed Diarra as an “obstacle” to survivor has been plucked out of with representatives from all reaching consensus. the water and was hospitalised in regions, including the Islamist- But Diarra was also a staunch the island capital Mytilene. He told controlled north, but the leaders advocate of French-backed investigators all those on board the of the March coup that divided plans to send in a West African boat which also carried women and the country maintain a strong intervention force to drive out children were from Afghanistan. influence. extremists in the north who have Greek public television Net said After four days of talks, Prime imposed a brutal interpretation of two women and two children had Minister Diango Cissoko, named Islamic sharia law. Such foreign been among the passengers. his new “representative” gov- intervention is fiercely opposed The group set sail from the ernment late Saturday, as had by Sanogo. western coast of Turkey on been demanded by the interna- In the new line-up three key Thursday but ran into bad tional community irked over the ministers - Economy Minister weather that sank their boat dur- forced departure of his predeces- Tienan Coulibaly, Defence ing the night, about two miles off sor Cheick Modibo Diarra on Minister Colonel Yamoussa Lesbos.The island is one of sev- December 11. Diarra had quit Camara and Foreign Minister eral in the eastern Aegean that South African President Jacob Zuma speaks during the 53rd ANC national conference held in Mangaung, under pressure from former Tieman Hubert Coulibaly - will lie near mainland Turkey and are South Africa, yesterday. The conference, held every five years, will decide the leader of the party. Jacob Zuma putschists led by Captain Amadou keep their jobs, while all of Mali’s frequent targets for migrants try- is facing a challenge to his leadership from deputy president Kgalema Motlanthe. Haya Sanogo, who handed power political groups will be repre- ing to reach Western Europe. to a transitional government in sented. AFP AGENCIES MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Southern Philippine typhoon death toll tops 1,000

MANILA: The death toll from “The death toll will go higher. centres were destroyed by the “It has been 12 days already so because many transients, who on finding new crops to replace a typhoon that devastated the We found a lot of bodies yester- typhoon. it looks like (survival chances) are pass through the town of work those destroyed by the typhoon. southern Philippines earlier day, buried under fallen logs and More than 27,000 people remain doubtful,” he said. on small-scale mines and plan- The storm has caused mas- this month has topped 1,000 as debris,” he said. in such centres almost two weeks Among the casualties were tations, do not even register as sive damage to infrastructure hundreds more remain missing, He added the toll from Bopha, after Bopha hit as the search for seven soldiers who were killed and residents. With no one to report and agriculture, destroying large the government said yesterday. the worst natural disaster to the dead and missing continues, four who remain missing after them missing, their deaths may tracts of coconut and banana Typhoon Bopha killed 1,020 hit the country this year, would the civil defence office said. they were hit by flash floods while go unnoticed, he said. trees. people, mostly on the southern exceed the 1,268 confirmed dead Colonel Lyndon Paniza, spokes- doing relief work, he said. The situation in the town, The National Disaster Risk island of Mindanao where floods after Typhoon Washi struck the man of the military forces in the In the southern town of New which was largely flattened by the Reduction and Management and landslides caused major dam- southern Philippines in December worst-affected region, was less Bataan, which suffered over 500 typhoon, had improved slightly as Council initially estimated dam- age on December 4, civil defence 2011. optimistic of finding any survi- dead, including 235 bodies that more relief aid was reaching the age to crops and public infra- chief Benito Ramos said. “We prepared. We were just vors. “We are on (body) retrieval are still unidentified, people still area. structure at P7.16bn ($174m). A total of 844 people remain simply overwhelmed,” said Ramos. mode already. We are done with struggled to recover, building Trucks from government and The Philippines is hit by about missing, about half of them fish- “They did not expect this inten- search and rescue,” he said. makeshift shelters out of scrap private relief agencies were seen 20 major storms or typhoons each ermen who ventured out to sea sity. The last time (this part of Paniza, who oversees the hard- wood and rags. entering New Bataan, handing year that occur mainly during the before Bopha hit, Ramos said, the country) got hit by a strong est-hit regions which suffered Town Mayor Lorenzo Balbin out much-needed food to villagers rainy season between June and adding he feared many of the storm was 1912,” he added. over 960 dead, said he expected said the toll of the dead may even still stunned by the storm’s fury. October. Bopha was the strongest missing were dead. He added that many evacuation the death toll to rise further. be larger than the official lists Balbin said the focus now was typhoon to strike this year. AFP Japan’s LDP in landslide win Abe seeks radical monetary easing, big spending for economy

TOKYO: Japan’s conserva- Sea, although some experts and tive Liberal Democratic Party party insiders say he may tem- (LDP) surged back to power per his hard line with pragma- in an election yesterday just tism once in office. three years after a devastat- “The Senkaku islands are ing defeat, giving ex-Prime inherently Japanese territory,” Minister Shinzo Abe a chance Abe said, referring to the islands to push his hawkish security that China calls the Diaoyu. “I agenda and radical economic want to show my strong deter- recipe. mination to prevent this from An LDP win will usher in changing.” a government committed to a But he also said he had no tough stance in a territorial intention of worsening relations North Korean officials attend a memorial service for former leader Kim Jong-il in row with China, a pro-nuclear with China. Pyongyang yesterday. energy policy despite last year’s The soft-spoken grandson of Fukushima disaster and a a prime minister, who would potentially risky prescription become Japan’s seventh premier for hyper-easy monetary policy in six years, Abe also wants to First anniversary of late ruler’s and big fiscal spending to beat loosen the limits of a 1947 paci- deflation and tame a strong yen. fist constitution on the military, A TV Asahi projection based so Japan can play a bigger global death marked in Pyongyang on counted votes gave the LDP security role. at least 291 seats in parliament’s China’s official Xinhua news SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim more than six decades with an iron 480-member lower house, and agency, noting the deterioration Jong-un led thousands of officials fist and a pervasive personality cult. together with its small ally, in relations with Japan, warned yesterday in a memorial ceremony Officials in black suits and uni- the New Komeito party, a it not to strain ties further. for his late father and ex-ruler formed military leaders convened in two-thirds majority needed to “An economically weak and Kim Jong-il, days after a successful a cavernous stadium in the capital override, on most matters, the politically angry Japan will not long-range rocket launch. Pyongyang yesterday morning for the upper house, where no party only hurt the country, but also The ceremony followed a mass rally hour-long memorial event, which was has majority. That would help Shinzo Abe, President of Liberal Democratic Party of Japan, during the hurt the region and the world two days earlier hailing the launch of televised live on state TV. break a policy deadlock that has ballot counting ceremony in Tokyo yesterday. at large,” Xinhua said. “Japan, the three-stage rocket, a move which Jong-un, stone-faced and clad in a plagued the world’s third biggest which brought great harm and was condemned by the UN Security black Mao suit, sat on stage with doz- economy since 2007. devastation to other Asian Council and seen by many countries ens of other top officials against the “We have promised to pull right-leaning party that was set during more than half a century countries in World War Two, as a disguised ballistic missile test. backdrop of a giant red flag featur- Japan out of deflation and cor- to pick up at least 52 seats. of almost unbroken LDP rule. will raise further suspicions Kim Jong-il, who ruled the com- ing a large portrait of a smiling Kim rect a strong yen,” Abe said on “I think there is room to Many voters had said the DPJ among its neighbours if the cur- munist state for 17 years, died of a Jong-il. “The heart of the great leader live television. “We need to do do this in the area of national failed to meet election pledges rent political trend of turning heart attack on December 17 last stopped beating but Comrade Kim this. The same goes for national defence,” he said. The New as it struggled to govern and right is not stopped in time.” year. Jong-il lives with us forever... to give security and diplomacy.” Komeito is more moderate than cope with last year’s huge earth- The LDP, which promoted His youngest son Jong-un immedi- blessings for the bright future of our Parliament is expected to the LDP on security issues. quake, tsunami and nuclear nuclear energy during its dec- ately took over, the second dynastic people,” the ceremonial head of state vote Abe in as prime minister Projections showed Prime disaster, and pushed through ades-long reign, is expected to succession by the Kim dynasty which Kim Yong-Nam said in a speech. on December 26. Minister Yoshihiko Noda’s an unpopular sales tax increase be friendly to power utilities, has ruled the isolated country for AFP Analysts said that while mar- Democratic Party of Japan win- with LDP help. although public safety concerns kets had already pushed the yen ning at least 56 seats, less than Voter distaste for both major remain a barrier to business-as- lower and share prices higher in a fifth of its tally in 2009. Noda parties has spawned a clutch of usual for the industry. anticipation of an LDP victory, said he was stepping down as new parties including the Japan Abe has called for “unlimited” stocks could rise and the yen party leader after the defeat, Restoration Party, founded by monetary easing and big spend- weaken further in response to in which several party heavy- popular Osaka Mayor Toru ing on public works to rescue “super majority.” weights lost their seats. Hashimoto. the economy from its fourth While LDP and New Komeito The Democrats swept to LDP leader Abe, 58, who recession since 2000. Such poli- officials confirmed they would power in 2009 promising to pay quit as premier in 2007 citing cies, a centrepiece of the LDP’s form a coalition, LDP Secretary- more heed to consumers and ill health after a troubled year platform for decades, have been General Shigeru Ishiba did not break up the “iron triangle” in office, has been talking tough criticised by many as wasteful rule out cooperation with the of the powerful bureaucracy, in a row with China over unin- pork-barrel politics. Japan Restoration Party, a new business and politicians formed habited isles in the East China REUTERS

Philippines may give Asian migrant workers push for nod for Reproductive better conditions in Hong Kong Health bill today MANILA: Congress is seen to HONG KONG: About a thou- pass the Reproductive Health sand migrant domestic work- (RH) bill by a narrow margin ers from Southeast Asia rallied as the two chambers tackle the in Hong Kong yesterday to Palace-certified measure today. mark International Migrants Senate President Juan Ponce Day and push for better work- Enrile sees a close vote once ing conditions and higher the Senate goes into the final wages. amendment to be presented by The atmosphere was festive Senate Majority Leader Vicente as the protesters, mostly from Sotto III today. Indonesia and the Philippines, Barely four days before the sang and shouted slogans at the Christmas break, Enrile admit- government headquarters. ted yesterday seeing the RH bill The march coincided with getting the nod of the majority International Migrants Day set of senators. Albay Rep Edcel by the United Nations General Lagman, principal author of Assembly in 2000 when it the RH bill at the House of adopted a resolution protecting Representatives, said anti-RH the rights of migrant workers lawmakers and their supporters and family members. Migrant workers from Southeast Asia hold placards as they attend a from the Catholic Church would “The government is try- workers rights rally in Hong Kong yesterday. be defeated in the final voting ing very hard to exclude Asian today. migrant workers from equal for 12 years as a maid. United court overturned a landmark House Bill 4244 is set to be benefits,” Eni Lestari from Filipinos chairperson Dolores ruling that opened the door for voted on third and final reading Indonesia, a spokeswoman Balladares said the minimum thousands of foreign maids to this afternoon with its propo- for the rally organisers Asia monthly wage for foreign domes- claim permanent residency in nents expecting a wider margin Migrants Coordinating Body tic workers had increased by just the southern Chinese city. and its opponents vowing to over- said. Foreign domestic work- HK$60 ($7.7) in the past 13 years There are more than 300,000 turn the voting in their favour. ers, who usually live with their to HK$3,920, far from keeping foreign domestic helpers in Hong “The writing on the wall spell- employers, do not have standard up with the rising cost of living. Kong, mainly from Indonesia and ing the defeat of anti-RH critics employment hours and can work Participants also protested the Philippines but also from is verily patent, which even the up to 20 hours a day, said Lestari, about the issue of right of abode Thailand, Sri Lanka and Nepal. blind can perceive,” Lagman said. who has worked in Hong Kong in the city. In March, a local AFP THE PHILIPPINE STAR MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN

US intends to Police battle provide $135m to counter IEDs ISLAMABAD: The United militants after States intends to spend almost $135m this year to sup- port Pakistan in countering Improvised Explosive Devices airport raid (IEDs) in its troubled areas. This money will be taken from the Pakistan Counterinsurgency Capability Fund (PCCF) to Six killed in Peshawar firing train its security forces as well as deliver forensic and detection PESHAWAR: Six people were information minister Mian kits, jammers, and mine resistant killed yesterday as police and Iftikhar Hussain. vehicles. troops battled militants armed In the subsequent shootout Since 2009, the State with automatic weapons, gre- three militants and a policemen Department and the Department nades and mortars in north- were killed, police said, while two of Defence have provided around west Pakistan’s Peshawar, a day other officers were wounded. $113m in PCCF to help Pakistan after a deadly Taliban raid on The clashes ended after six counter IEDs, said Jonathan the city’s airport. hours when the two remaining Carpenter, Senior Economic Fierce firing broke out after militants detonated their suicide Adviser, Office of the Special police acting on an intelligence vests inside the building, another Representative for Afghanistan report stormed a building near senior police officer, Imtiaz and Pakistan on Thursday at the the airport, where a suicide and Altaf, said. “All five militants are hearing arranged by the Senate rocket attack on Saturday killed dead now and the area has been Foreign Relations subcommittee five civilians and five attackers cleared,” Altaf said. on Near Eastern and South and and wounded 50 other people. “All of them were wearing sui- Central Asian Affairs. The assault late Saturday, claimed cide jackets. Three were killed in He said that among the by the Pakistani Taliban, sparked a shootout with police, while two Pakistani soldiers run towards a gun battle scene with Taliban militants near Peshawar’s airport yesterday. obstructions to implementation prolonged gunfire and forced others blew themselves up in the were the lack of capacity, equip- authorities to close the airport, a under-construction building.” military-civilian facility. Civil base and effectively repulsed the and soon we will target them ment and training, for which the commercial hub and Pakistan Air A PAF statement said five Aviation Authority spokesman attack,” the air force said. again,” he said by telephone from US was ready to boost the efforts. Force (PAF) base in Peshawar on attackers were killed on Saturday Pervez George said the passen- Television pictures showed a an undisclosed location. He said that IEDs would continue the edge of the tribal belt. and no damage was done to air ger side had reopened after an vehicle with a smashed wind- The armed forces have been to remain a top threat even after It was the second Islamist force personnel or equipment, 18-hour closure and there was no screen, another damaged car, waging a bloody campaign against the 2014 transition period. militant attack in four months though Taliban spokesman damage to the terminals. bushes on fire and what appeared the Taliban in the northwest in Carpenter told the audience on a military air base in nuclear- Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed the The air force said Saturday’s to be a large breach in a wall. recent years and militants fre- at the hearing that Pakistan’s armed Pakistan. In August 11 assault had damaged “several attackers used two vehicles loaded Five nearby houses were quently attack military targets. efforts to combat IEDs remain people were killed when heavily- helicopters and aircraft”. with explosives, hand grenades, destroyed after rockets landed In May 2011 it took 17 hours incomplete. armed insurgents wearing suicide Doctor Umar Ayub, chief of rocket-propelled grenades and on them and several other houses to quell an assault claimed by the “The strategy that was dis- vests stormed a facility in the Khyber Teaching Hospital near automatic weapons. One vehicle developed cracks, while the bomb Taliban on an air base in Karachi. cussed here in this committee northwestern town of Kamra. the airport, said five civilians was destroyed and the second squad detonated five out of eight Pakistan says more than 35,000 more than two years ago has not Police backed by troops had also been killed and some 50 badly damaged. bombs found near the base after people have been killed as a result been fully implemented, nor incor- launched a raid early yesterday wounded. “The base is in total Security forces found three the attack. of terrorism in the country since porated into legislation,” he added, on a building under construc- control and normal operations suicide jackets near one of the Taliban spokesman Ehsan said the 9/11 attacks on the United but at the same time appreciated tion near the airport following have resumed. The security alert vehicles, it said. “Security forces the target was not the civilian air- States. Its forces have for years Pakistan’s stance on the issue. reports that five militants who was also raised on other PAF air consisting of Pakistan Air Force port but the military. been battling homegrown mili- Highlighting the efforts he fled after the airport attack had bases as well,” the air force added. and Army personnel who were “Our target was jet fighter tants in the northwest. said that the Pakistani military taken refuge there, said provincial Peshawar airport is a joint on full alert, cordoned off the planes and gunship helicopters AFP has conducted eight operations against suspected IED manufac- turing facilities along the border this year. “There have been nota- ble seizures of IED precursors in January, May and December of Musharraf, Altaf fail to appear despite court summons this year,” he said. He added that his department has also worked closely with ISLAMABAD: Nearly three connection with the May 12, 2007, for the metropolitan. On August violence that had rocked Karachi Iqbal Kazmi, who had taken the the Department of Agriculture years and four months after violent clashes in Karachi. 20, 2009, the two-member SHC in May 12, 2007 — the day when stance that the May 12, 2007, car- to expand certain Agriculture the Sindh High Court (SHC) The fresh notice has been bench, comprising Justice Mushir Chief Justice Iftikhar Muhammad nage had occurred on the directives Extension programmes related of Pakistan had summoned issued to 59 years old Altaf Alam and Justice Muhammad Chaudhry had visited the port city of the then president, Musharraf. to soil fertility in Pakistan. MQM Chief Altaf Hussain, the Hussain under Article 204 of the Athar Saeed, had also summoned in a deposed state, but could not The complainant had stated in “There has, and must continue Supreme Court has asked the Constitution and Section 3 of the former President General Pervez step out of the airport due to the his petitions that around 55 per- to be, a great deal of attention exiled political leader to appear Contempt of Court Law, just days Musharraf to appear before it on blood being shed unabated in the sons, including his relatives, had paid to Calcium Ammonium before the court in person on after he had termed the judges’ August 31, 2009, but neither Altaf streets of country’s largest city. lost their lives in the May 12 inci- Nitrate, or CAN, a fertilizer January 7, 2012, in a contempt remarks as ‘unconstitutional’ and nor Musharraf had turned up in Former provincial Home dent, contending further that on produced in Pakistan and used of court notice. ‘undemocratic,’ airing further line with the directives. Minister and another MQM leader the very same day former President legally for agricultural purposes A two-member division bench that the court’s observations were At that time, the SHC was Wasim Akhtar was also summoned Musharraf had addressed a mam- in Pakistan. Afghanistan, as this of the SHC on August 20, 2009 contempt for the mandate given hearing a petition that had asked in the SHC on August 20, 2009. moth rally, calling it as a ‘show of committee knows, outlawed CAN had directing Altaf to appear by the people of Karachi and were for General Musharraf to be The three miscellaneous petitions muscle’ in Karachi. in January 2010,” he said. before it on August 31, 2009, in nothing short of an ‘open enmity’ made a respondent, on account of in this context were filed by lawyer INTERNEWS INTERNEWS Govt decides to scrap accountability bureau

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan People’s leaders. Well-placed parliamentary sources the sheet-anchor role in the NA standing Party-led ruling alliance has given the revealed yesterday that the major opposition committee for the Law and Justice Affairs final go-ahead for scrapping the National party, the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz Ministry, have written their dissenting Accountability Bureau (NAB), and, for the (PML-N), has also sought guidance from its notes to attach to the bill when it is tabled purpose, legislation for the establishment leader Nawaz Sharif to put up resistance in in the House, the sources said. of a National Accountability Commission the way of its adoption. The opposition has also established contact (NAC) would be undertaken next week. Leader of the Opposition in the National with the Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) Parliamentarians belonging to the ruling Assembly Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan has to secure Maulana Fazl’s support for opposing alliance are being asked by their leadership been given a free hand by the PML-N the bill so that a unified position is taken in the to ensure their presence during the ses- leadership to deal with the situation but House pertaining to the bill that the opposition sion as federal Law and Justice Minister it is understood that the opposition would has been terming as legislation for the protec- Farooq H Naek has given his nod to the exploit every tactic of filibustering to stall tion of corruption. Some members belonging to draft of the bill for bringing about major the passage so that it should not become the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (Fata) changes in the accountability laws of the part of the statute book. are also inclined to support the opposition in country which had throughout been the MNAs Zahid Hamid and Anusha opposing the bill, the sources added. centre of controversy among the political Rehman Khan advocates, who are playing INTERNEWS

MFN status to India may raise Falcon trapping for smuggling surges trade to $6bn ISLAMABAD: Because of the rising demand falcons into a special plane.” The haul was an eye- for hunting falcons from the Gulf countries, the opener for the authorities too as it proved that KARACHI: With the Most trapping of Saker and Peregrine falcons has the smugglers were using smaller airports and Favoured Nation (MFN) status become a booming business across Pakistan. isolated locations for the flight of these endan- likely to be granted to India and Experts have expressed the fear that if timely gered hunting birds. phasing out of the negative list steps are not taken to control the illegal business, The previous preferred location was the from 1,209 items in near future, smuggling of threatened birds would further go Islamabad airport but due strict monitoring the bilateral trade between up. and presence of too many security departments India and Pakistan is expected “A couple of years back, rich people in the UAE here, the smuggling has become difficult from to touch $6bn in next three had invested heavily on establishment of a falcon- this location. years from the present level of breeding farm in their country with the help of The federal government imposed a total ban around $2bn. a European firm,” said an official of the Punjab on trapping and trading of falcons in 2005, as This was stated by Rafeeque wildlife department. these birds had been declared endangered and Ahmed, President of the Federation “But the project failed because though the protected under several international conventions of Indian Export Organisations farm-bred falcons were healthy, beautiful and to which Islamabad is a signatory. (FIEO) who is going to lead a obedient, they lacked the killing skills of the The birds caught in the haul by the authorities 65-member delegation of Indian hunter.” in Faisalabad have already been released in the business community to Karachi As a result, the hunters in the Gulf states have Kalar Kahar Salt Range. from December 21-23. again turned towards the smugglers and trappers. Most of the birds recovered from the smugglers Ahmed said FIEO in associa- The Punjab wildlife department this year are released in Kalar Kahar because the area has tion with the Karachi Chamber of caught and released 164 falcons but the haul rugged terrain and the presence of many secu- Commerce and Industry (KCCI) is included 105 falcons apprehended from one opera- rity areas in the Chakwal and Khushab districts organising India Expo at the Karachi tion from Faisalabad in November. makes trapping and hunting difficult in these Expo Centre to provide a platform to “Our staff noticed boxes being unloaded from districts. “Apart from being a safe area, Kalar businessmen of two sides to explore an ambulance near the VIP area of Faisalabad air- Kahar also falls on the migratory route of these business opportunities. port,” said an official of the department, adding: falcons,” said an official of the department. INTERNEWS “They were planning to load the illegally-trapped INTERNEWS MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 Non-state actors behind 26/11 attack, says Malik Pakistan interior minister invites BJP leader to visit his country

NEW DELHI: Pakistan Pakistan court trying the cases. that there was “no mass migra- Interior Minister Rehman Malik said an advance delega- tion” of Hindus from the country. Malik yesterday blamed non- tion from India can set the terms He said the government was state actors for the Mumbai for the visit of the second judicial determined to take action against terror attack of 2008 that killed commission that will cross-exam- any case of forceful conversion 166 people and stoked a con- ine witnesses. The first judicial of minorities. Asked about the troversy by stating that Abu commission came to India in response to his renewed invita- Jundal, an accused in the case, March this year and recorded tion to Manmohan Singh to visit “worked as a source for (an) statements of witnesses. Pakistan, Malik said the prime elite agency of India”. “Once the procedure is com- minister wanted effective action At an interaction organ- pleted, we will be able to get con- against those involved in the 26/11 ised by the Observer Research viction,” Malik said. Mumbai terror attack. Foundation here, Malik said About Saeed against whom He said once the judicial com- Pakistan is awaiting “substan- India has been pressing for action, mission is able to cross-examine The children of Jacintha Saldanha, son Junal (right) and daughter Lisha (left), arrive at the airport in Mangalore, tial evidence” from India to act Malik said his country required witnesses, “we will be able to sat- yesterday. against Lashkar-e-Taiba founder evidence and the information isfy him”. and Mumbai terror attack mas- provided by India was not found He said a perception has been termind Hafiz Saeed. sufficient by the court as it relied created about the Pakistan gov- Malik, who concluded his on a statement of Ajmal Kasab. ernment not doing enough to Body of nurse Jacintha arrives three-day visit to India yesterday, Kasab, the lone terrorist caught bring to book those involved in said Prime Minister Manmohan during the Mumbai attack, was the Mumbai attack and the prime MANGALORE: The body of accompanied her body to India at 4pm and the burial ceremony. Singh wants “effective action” hanged on November 21. minister wanted to show progress an Indian-born nurse who was along with their son, 16, and C Mutthiah, deputy commissioner against those involved in the 26/11 “We need substantial evidence in the case. found hanged after taking a daughter, 14. “Jacintha and her of police in Mangalore, confirmed conspiracy before undertaking a ... still waiting for that,” Malik Malik pointed to the role of hoax call to the hospital treating family were working in the UK the body had landed in Mangalore, visit to Pakistan. In his freewheel- said adding that Pakistan can David Coleman Headley, Abu Prince William’s wife arrived in to earn their daily bread,” Stany while a family source said that it ing speech, Malik spoke on a wide act against Saeed only if India’s Jundal, S A Ansari and Iliyas Mangalore yesterday following a Tauro, priest of the Our Lady of would be kept in a mortuary over- range of issues including threats evidence can stand up in court. Kashmiri in the 26/11 strike and memorial mass in London. Health Church in Shirva said. night and taken to Shirva today. of terrorism faced by Pakistan. “We are determined to arrest said it was carried out by non- Jacintha Saldanha, 46, appar- “The community is sad over the Saldanha’s frail mother lives Malik said a proposed visit by him but with evidence ... you need state actors. “We have non- ently committed suicide after death.” with her other daughter and a Pakistan’s judicial commission to more physical evidence” Malik state actors, you have non-state answering the prank telephone He said locals were proud that son in Mangalore, 360km from India to cross-examine witnesses said. Referring to India’s con- actors,” he said and added it call from two Australian radio DJs she had been a successful nurse Bangalore in the western state will help expedite conviction cern about cross-LOC infiltration, was important to state the truth to the hospital where Catherine who worked in a hospital where of Karnataka.“I feel very sorry of the seven people arrested in Malik said the Pakistan govern- “so that we find a way forward”. was admitted during the early the British royal family were that those two kids, they lost their Pakistan in connection with the ment had no hand in it. Malik said he had shared infor- stages of her pregnancy. treated, but many were shocked mother’s love and affection,” said Mumbai terror attack. Malik said he had invited mation concerning terrorism Her funeral is expected to at the tragedy. local politician D V Sadananda He said the authorities had Bharatiya Janata Party leader with National Security Advisor take place today near Mangalore Tauro said residents would be Gowda after visiting a family produced “irrefutable evidence” Sushma Swaraj, whom he met on Shivshankar Menon during their in Shirva, the home town of her able to pay final respects to the relative. against the accused in the Saturday, to visit Pakistan and see meeting Friday. AFP husband Benedict Barboza. He body before the mass scheduled AFP

6 soldiers killed, one missing Delhi’s clout in question as regional troubles mount NEW DELHI: India is a world cancelled its $511m deal to run has deteriorated steadily over Male and now offers a richer and influence in the Indian Ocean. in Siachen power, so allies in the West the airport, thumbing its nose at the last few years. Clashes over more generous alternative to “We know how to resolve our would like to believe, but recent Indian threats to cut off aid. “The Rajapakse’s treatment of ethnic India for investment and infra- disputes with all the countries in SRINAGAR: Six soldiers were developments in its own back- Maldives deal collapse can be con- Tamils, a politically important structure funding. the region. It is a slow-moving killed and one was missing after yard reveal the limits of the sidered as an isolated event, but group in India, as well as the India’s new foreign minister, process but we are moving in their post was buried under an country’s influence and still it does cast a shadow over India’s arrests of Indian fishermen have Salman Khurshid, acknowledged the right direction,” Indian for- avalanche in Siachen Glacier weak diplomatic force, said ability to take care of its economic raised tensions. as much last week when he said eign ministry spokesman Syed area of Ladakh region yester- analysts. Even in the histori- interests in the region,” said Wilson New Delhi has also been that New Delhi would have to Akbaruddin said. “You see, we day, army officials said here. “In cally favourable parts of its vola- John, who heads the Observer angered by huge duties imposed “accept the new reality of China’s cannot send our troops to resolve a tragic incident, six jawans were tile neighbourhood, New Delhi Research Foundation think-tank on imported cars. Leading Indian presence in many areas that we them.” killed and one jawan of 1 Assam has suffered reversals in recent in New Delhi. business group CII believes Sri consider an exclusive playground In its northeastern neighbour Regiment is missing when they weeks, particularly in a high- The alliance with Maldivian Lankan tariffs of up to 200 per- for India”. This signalled a more Myanmar, India trails far behind were buried under an avalanche profile spat with the Maldives, President Mohamed Waheed cent could hit 15 percent of India’s pragmatic approach than his pred- China as the army-ruled country in sub-sector Hanif, Turtuk a tiny nation of 300,000 people. appears to be heading the way of car exports. In the Maldives and ecessor, S M Krishna and others opens up to investment, and crit- area of the Siachen Glacier in Earlier this month, the ties with counterpart Mahinda Sri Lanka, some see the hand of in the Indian security establish- ics say New Delhi has been slow Jammu and Kashmir today,” Maldives kicked out Indian Rajapakse in neighbouring Sri China, which has forged ties with ment, who are alarmed by China’s to react to recent pro-democracy Lt Col J S Brar, spokesman of infrastructure firm GMR and Lanka, a relationship which the governments in Colombo and maritime strength and growing changes. AFP army’s Srinagar based 15 Corps, said. “At 6.15 am today our posts at a height of over 17,000 feet came under an avalanche. Immediately avalanche rescue teams along with avalanche rescue dogs were pressed into rescue operation.“Six jawans have unfortunately lost their lives. Their mortal remains have been recovered. One jawan is still missing. Unfortunately, the rescue had to be halted due to adverse weather conditions,” the spokesman said. Explosives seized in Jharkhand, three arrested

RANCHI: A huge quantity of explosives was seized from a car and three people arrested in Jharkhand’s Sahebganj dis- trict yesterday, police said. A policeman stands guard inside a room where election materiala are kept for distribution ahead of the Police stopped a Santro car near second phase of state elections in Ahmedabad, the main city of Gujarat, yesterday. Maharajpur, 500km from here and recovered 1,600 pieces of detonators and gelatin sticks. All Gujarat’s final round polling today the three people travelling in the car were taken into custody. The explosives are used to blast hills AHMEDABAD: Gujarat vote in this phase too,” asserted Samaj Party (BSP) and 284 in the mining areas. The arrested is set for today’s second and BJP Rajya Sabha member Independents. A total of 49 people are being interrogated by final round of polling to decide Natuji Thakor. “North Gujarat women candidates are also police. Jharkhand is infested with if Chief Minister Narendra is Narendrabhai’s (Modi) area. in the fray. There are 10.3 Maoist insurgents, who also use Modi can get another five- He is the son of the soil. People million male and 9.5 million such explosives to target security year term or the Congress will vote overwhelmingly for female voters. Himmatnagar personnel and their vehicles. can bounce back to power in him and the BJP.” in Sabarkantha district has the state assembly. He added: “We are expecting the maximum number of 18 An estimated 19.8 million more votes in central Gujarat candidates while Fatepura in 8 killed as bus falls voters are eligible to take part than last time.” Senior Congress Dahod district has just three - in the nine-hour balloting in 95 leader Shaktisinh Gohil was the least number. into gorge in Jammu of the 182 constituencies. Voting equally confident. The Election Commission JAMMU: At least eight peo- took place in the first round “I think we will see a heavy said 23,318 electronic voting ple were killed when a minibus Thursday in 87 constituencies. turnout in this phase as well,” machines will be used in as in which they were travelling Both the ruling Bharatiya Gohil said. “People will vote in many polling stations, with skidded off a road and fell into Janata Party (BJP) and the favour of the Congress, given 10,126 of them dubbed “criti- a gorge near Bhaderwah, about Congress have interpreted the the anti-incumbency.” cal” - an official euphemism to 200km north-east of Jammu, heavy polling in the first phase The BJP is contesting all mean they could witness dis- last evening. Police said the to claim they were poised to win 95 seats, the Congress 92 and turbances or violence. Abdasa is minibus was on its way from the Gujarat battle for ballot. the Gujarat Parivartan Party the largest assembly constitu- Bhaderwah to Doda. One of the The regions going to the polls (GPP) of former BJP chief min- ency (area wise) with 6,278 sq passengers was critically injured include Kutch, north Gujarat ister Keshubhai Patel 84. km territory and Ghatlodia and was admitted to Bhaderwah and central Gujarat. Also in the fray are 84 has the most number of voters hospital. AGENCIES “More than 70 percent will candidates of the Bahujan (285,998). IANS

Monday 17 December 2012 4 Safar 1434 Volume 17 Number 5551 Price: QR2

Qatari bourse index rises; Egypt climbs

Business | 23

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QCB Governor to address opening GCC markets in lacklustre mode ceremony of Qatar Project-2013

DOHA: The Governor of Qatar Central Bank (QCB), H E QE index shed 1.71 percent in November, says GIC monthly report Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani, will address the opening ceremony of the Qatar Project-2013 (Middle East Economic DOHA: Despite global markets sentiment through the month, fail- modest gains. In the UAE, Dubai’s the Banking sector. The BSE index Digest (MEED) event) slated to be held here in February. The registering progressive gains ing to be enthused by the bounce in DFM and Abu Dhabi’s ADSM continues to be the worst-perform- Governor will speak on the initiatives of Qatar government to during November, Qatar’s Oil prices from a recent low, Gulf indices closed with slightly differ- ing sector in the GCC this year, support the required projects and long term economy goal, Al equity market, along with other Investment Corporation’s (GIC) ent outcomes, as the ADSM index with YTD losses of 8.30 percent. Sharq reported. GCC markets, carried its lack- monthly GCC report noted. managed a marginal gain of 0.08 “During November, the GCC The four-day conference will start from February 17, 2012. The wave lustre sentiment through the The Saudi bourse remained percent, helped by a late resur- markets remained disconnected of new projects to be awarded will be comprehensively discussed at month. Qatar Exchange (QE) under pressure during most of gence in the banking sector. from developments in global mar- the Qatar Projects 2013 conference organised by MEED Events and index shed 1.71 percent for the the month. The Real-Estate and However, the large-cap banking kets, failing to react to a recovery supported by the Ministry of Business and Trade. month, as the services and bank- Insurance sectors were the lest- and real estate sectors were net in major equity indices and a rally Highlights of the premiere gathering of projects industry stakehold- ing sectors were under pressure, performing during the month, losers for the month. Meanwhile, in oil prices. The markets have ers from across the region include announcements of new tenders, with the banking sector remain- while the frontline Banking and the DFM index closed with a net suffered from a lack in direction bidding and awards, which are expected to reach $30bn a year from ing the least-performing sector in Petrochemical sectors fared only loss of 0.72 percent, as the key and dearth of catalysts since the 2013- 2014; as well as a comprehensive discussion of the solutions to Qatar this year. marginally better. Real Estate and Services sectors announcement of unimpressive Q3 the massive challenges currently faced by project owners, developers Fixated on the outcome of dis- Kuwait’s KWSE (Weighted) notched up losses for the month. results”, the report said. and contractors in Doha. cussions on the US fiscal cliff and index emerged the best-perform- Oman’s MSM 30 index declined Overall, GCC markets were the Euro-area debt crisis during ing during the month, adding a net 2.23 percent as losses were regis- flat in terms of Credit Markets most of the month, positive devel- +4.18 percent, driven by expecta- tered across the board, with the in November. However, Primary QE to be closed on Qatar National Day opments prompted a late-month tions of political stability follow- Banking sector emerging as the Market was very active, and all the rally in US and European equities. ing the elections. The Consumer least-performing for the month. issues were oversubscribed several DOHA: Qatar Exchange has announced that Tuesday (December Asian markets also registered pro- Services and Telecom sectors In Bahrain, the BSE index suc- times, signalling a good appetite 18, 2012) will be a holiday for the bourse on account of Qatar gressive gains during the month. were the best-performing, while cumbed to losses in the Services for quality issuers. QNB was first National Day. Trading will resume on Wednesday (December 19, However, in the absence of any sig- the Financial Services remained and Industries sectors and edged to hit the market with $1bn issue 2012). QE wished all its investors, dealers, listed companies and nificant catalysts, the GCC equity under pressure, and the Banks down by 0.86 percent for the maturing in 2018. brokerage firms a Happy National Day. markets carried its lackluster and Real Estate sectors managed month, despite some traction in THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS GCC continues Al Sada meets Deputy PM of Belgium to propel KPMG’s growth Record revenues for KPMG International

DOHA: KPMG International of KPMG International, said: (KPMG) has announced “2012 was a year of two distinct record-high combined rev- halves; with growth strongest at enues of $23.03bn for the fis- 6.4 percent in the first six months cal year ending September 30, of the year and relatively weaker 2012, representing a 4.4 percent growth of 2.1 percent in the six increase over the previous year. months to September. The Europe, Middle East and “Growing our business against Africa (EMA) region reported such a challenging economic increased revenues of 4 percent backdrop is testament to the across the region, despite the quality of our people and the ongoing economic uncertainty strength of their relationships caused by the Eurozone crisis. with clients.” The Asia Pacific region reported KPMG recorded increased rev- revenue growth of 1.1 percent, enues across all functions with reflecting subdued growth in particularly strong growth gen- North Asia. At a regional level, erated in financial services, indus- the Americas delivered strong trial markets and infrastructure, H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Minister of Energy & Industry and Chairman and Managing Director of Qatar Petroleum, met with Didier growth for the year, with rev- government and health care. Reynders, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Belgium, and the delegation accompanying him in his office at enues rising by 7 percent. Advisory revenues grew by 8.3 QP’s headquarters yesterday. The Belgian delegation is on an official visit to the country. The meeting was attended by Herman Sercus, Ambassador Jamal Fakhro, Managing part- percent, to $7.86bn. Tax revenues of Belgium to Doha, and members of senior management from Qatar Petroleum, and Qatar Petroleum International. ner, KPMG in Qatar, said: “One grew by 6.3 percent, to $4.86bn; of KPMG’s core global strategies and Audit revenues grew by 0.9 is to help build our market pres- percent to $10.31bn. ence in developing economies, “The growth in Advisory and including the high growth GCC Tax underlines the strength of economies.” client demand for professional Iran oil revenues “The GCC continues to be services,” said Michael. UAE central bank delays a beacon of growth and pros- “On the Audit side, the market down by half this perity and KPMG in Qatar is has never been more competitive well-placed to take advantage of and we are focused on continuing year, says report this growth and to leverage the to improve audit quality, as evi- exposure, liquidity rules thought leadership and resources denced by our significant invest- DUBAI: Iran’s oil revenues of the broader firm.” ments in our global audit platform have been cut in half this year “Despite tough competition and that surpassed $50m, in addition ABU DHABI: The central bank largest UAE lenders were believed are not highly developed, it was compared with last year, a challenging market conditions, to the $100m invested over the of the United Arab Emirates to remain well over the limit. hard for some banks to meet the newspaper quoted Iran’s eco- the firm achieved solid revenue past several years. KPMG mem- has postponed introducing Some, such as National Bank of 10 percent requirement; the UAE nomic minister as saying, growth in Qatar,” said Mr Fakhro. ber firms are also actively engaged restrictions on commercial Abu Dhabi and Emirates NBD, has not even begun issuing federal an admission of how deeply “We also continued to enhance with their regulators around the banks’ exposure to state-linked held private discussions on the government bonds. Western sanctions are cutting our service offering by recruiting world in constructive dialogue, debt and requirements for them issue with the central bank. The central bank’s statement Tehran’s chief source of funds. subject matter experts and devel- with the goal of continuing to to hold liquid assets, after com- Any rush to cut exposure to did not elaborate on when its reg- “Because of the sanctions, rev- oping our internal capabilities.” improve audit quality.” plaints from the banks. state debt in the UAE, where many ulations were now expected to be enues collected from the country’s Michael J. Andrew, Chairman THE PENINSULA “The Central Bank board of development projects are spear- implemented, or how they might oil have dropped by 50 percent,” directors reviewed banks’ feedback headed by state-linked firms, could be revised. Commercial bankers, Economic Minister Shamseddin on the amendments to the large have hurt economic growth in addi- who declined to be named because Hosseini was quoted as saying by exposures regulation and decided tion to damaging profitability in the of the sensitivity of the issue, wel- economic daily Donya-e-Eqtesad. to postpone implementation of banking system. Meanwhile, the comed the decision and said they “By managing our resources the regulation until all items of central bank also said that after hoped the central bank would and revenues, there will be no the regulation are reviewed with receiving feedback from banks, it coordinate closely with them problem in paying salaries until • Bullion - Mumbai banks,” the central bank said. had decided to postpone imple- before introducing any new rules. the end of this year,” he added, Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 31115.00 As part of efforts to reduce mentation of a new liquidity rule “The time limit given was too referring to Iran’s calendar year Silver (1 kg) Rs. 62290 risk for banks and prevent any “until details of the requirements short and it was unrealistic to which ends on March 20, 2013. repeat of Dubai’s 2009-2010 cor- of the regulation are agreed”. expect banks to reduce their Hosseini had made the com- • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.77 porate debt crisis, the central In July, the central bank exposures so fast,” an executive ments in an interview on state • Sensex bank announced in April this year announced banks in the UAE would of an Abu Dhabi-based bank said television on Saturday and they BSE 19229.26 that from Sept. 30, banks would have to hold high-quality liquid of the loan exposure limit. Some were published by the newspaper NSE 5851.50 have to restrict their lending to assets equal to 10 percent of their banks had begun to implement the yesterday. • LIC (International) launches New Gold Investment Plan ‘GOLD PLUS’ – state-linked entities. liabilities from January 1, 2013. This liquidity rule but they had run into Iranian legislators had pre- which provides an opportunity to invest in GOLD ETF & GOLD SPOT, PAN Any bank’s lending to the gov- aimed to prepare the sector to com- difficulties and the process threat- viously hinted at the country’s Card/Demat Account not required. ernments of the seven-member ply with Basel III banking standards ened to hurt their operations, said budget woes as a result of sanc- • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return UAE federation and related that will be phased in around the another Abu Dhabi-based banker. tions and officials have said the entities would be capped at 100 world in the next few years. “The liquid assets that qualified government should depend less on p.a. (in dollar) percent of its capital base, with The central bank said physical are very restrictive - only cash, oil revenues and more on taxation • Housing loan from HDFC LTD lending to a single borrower lim- cash, reserve requirements, cen- bonds and CDs with central bank. to fill its coffers. Iranian President • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, ited to 25 percent. But banks tral bank instruments and UAE There should be a more interac- Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is due to Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. complained they were not given federal government bonds would tive approach with banks before present the 2013-2014 budget to Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] enough time to meet the deadline qualify as such assets. But because any such rules are implemented.” Parliament for approval. and when it passed, many of the the country’s financial markets REUTERS REUTERS Cuba presses drive to strike black gold

HAVANA: Cuba is moving fast to try to tap subsea oil wealth, and will start work in “days” with Russia’s Zarubezhneft, drilling this country’s deepest offshore well yet, state oil firm Cubapet said. “Cubapetroleo reports that (Norwegian-owned) semi- submersible platform Songa Mercur has arrived offshore off the north-central coast to continue in a matter of days offshore exploratory well-drilling work,” said a statement in Granma, the Communist Party of Cuba’s newspaper. The Norwegian-owned machinery run in partner- ship with the Russian company will tap exploratory well L-01X, down to 6,500 metres (21,325 feet), the deepest drilled to date in Cuba. Work is expected to go on for about six months, the statement added. Songa Mercur is replacing the Italian-owned Scarabeo 9, which was used but failed to strike usable crude three times. The nearby United States voiced concerns about potential for catastrophic environmental damage in the event of an accident, in Cuba’s still untested industry. Energy is Cuba’s Achilles heel, and it relies heavily on close ally Venezuela and its Socialist President Hugo Chavez for its cut-rate supplies. With Chavez, 58, recover- ing from more cancer surgery here, Cuba has never been in as big a hurry to try to achieve energy independence. Some studies estimate the 112,000-square-kilometre area has probable reserves of between five and nine billion barrels of crude oil, though Cuban authorities say there could be as many as 20 billion barrels. Cuba produces oil from wells on land and in shallow water, but they are reaching their capacity limits. It also imports 100,000 barrels of oil a day from Venezuela, which supplies oil to Cuba on easy terms. If it finally accesses its suspected oil assets, Cuba— which is larger than Portugal and has just 11 million people—could go from a dirt-poor Communist Cinderella to an oil-rich Caribbean power almost overnight. But sudden oil wealth almost certainly would stabilise and fund the current regime well into the future, much to the chagrin of the United States, which also is missing out on energy and environmental partnerships. AFP MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Qatari bourse GM unveils new pick-up truck index rises; Egypt climbs Dubai index slips to 11-week low

DOHA: Qatar Exchange ended in Shares in National Societe the green yesterday adding 4.34 Generale Bank fell 3.4 percent in points (or 0.05 percent) to advance a volatile trading session. Parent to 8,335.48 points from 8,331.14 on company Societe Generale on Thursday. Among the top gainers Wednesday agreed to sell its 77 were Commercial Bank of Qatar percent stake to Qatar National which was up 1 percent to QR70.80, Bank. The deal values NSGB at Qatar Insurance rose 1.19 percent 35.56 pounds per share. QNB to QR67.90, Qatar Telecom gained has to offer to buy the remaining 1.19 percent to QR101.70 and Gulf stock for the same price under International was up by 0.67 per- Egyptian stock market rules. cent to QR29.90. The banking and In Saudi Arabia, the bourse financial sector index dropped climbed 0.4 percent to its highest 3.89 points, the consumer goods close since November 11. Investors and services sector index gained are accumulating shares ahead 10.27 points, the industrial sector of year-end earnings, which are rose 4.50 points while the insur- expected to be better than the pre- General Motors displays its 2014 Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up truck and the 2014 GMC Sierra full-size pick-up in Pontiac, Michigan. General ance sector added 34.02 points. vious quarter’s numbers, analysts Motors Co is counting on muscled up, more refined versions of its lucrative Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra full-size pickup trucks to show inves- Meanwhile, Egypt’s bourse ral- say. Petrochemical shares gained, tors and car buyers that the No. 1 US automaker is back on track. lied to a fresh three-week high with the index advancing 0.9 per- yesterday as foreign investors cent. Saudi Kayan Petrochemical bought into risk but Egyptians added 2.9 percent and Rabigh were net sellers after a vote tally Refining and Petrochemical showed a narrow favour for a con- climbed 2.6 percent. Renault taps Logan creator for $5,500 India car stitution shaped by Islamists. Elsewhere, Dubai’s bourse Cairo’s benchmark index rose slipped to an 11-week closing 2.7 percent to its highest close low as investors find little reason PARIS: Renault’s move into said in a recent interview during $5,500 (¤4,300) bracket would then then CEO, asked him to set up the since November 22. All stocks, to add risk amid a lack of posi- low-cost cars, which has kept a return visit to Paris. “We’ve put provide the blueprint for an assault group’s low-cost car programme except two, gained on the bourse. tive regional catalysts. Emaar the French auto maker afloat together a new team, so of course on the lower ends of markets such three years later. Palm Hills Development climbed Properties and Dubai Investments as mass-market peers drown in there are people from all over.” as Brazil and Russia, outflank- Logan-derived models such as 5.4 percent, Orascom Telecom and weighed, falling 1.9 and 1.3 per- European losses, may soon help Set firmly in Chief Executive ing offerings from Volkswagen, the Duster SUV and Lodgy mini- El Saeed Contracting added 0.8 cent respectively. Dubai’s index it sink competitors beyond the Ghosn’s sights is a major auto General Motors and others. van have since become an earn- and 5.1 percent respectively. The shed 0.5 percent, trimming year- old continent. market combining the promise of “India is the only country where ings mainstay, helping Renault trio were the most actively traded to-date gains to 16.6 percent. That is the long game for breakneck growth with implau- you begin to see modern cars at this to avoid the kind of job cuts and stocks on the EGX30 index. “There aren’t any regional cata- Gerard Detourbet, the man sibly low prices. Suzuki Motor kind of price,” Detourbet said. “Once plant closures announced by PSA Egyptians voted narrowly in lysts until Q4 earnings... but there’s behind the no-frills Logan and Corp holds sway in India with you’ve done battle with the world’s Peugeot Citroen and Ford. favour of a constitution shaped room for valuations to go up fur- other “Entry” models, who has models from its Maruti subsidi- best cheap car manufacturer, you Thanks largely to the 12,000- by Islamists but opposed by other ther looking into 2013,” said Amer a new mission: to devise an even ary starting below Rs250,000 can go into another country where euro Duster, Renault recorded groups who fear it will deepen divi- Khan, fund manager at Shuaa Asset cheaper vehicle programme for ($5,600, ¤3,550) and account- there isn’t a Maruti Suzuki and be a modest auto division profit in sions, officials in rival camps said Management. “This is especially true India that can compete with such ing for 1 million registrations a relatively comfortable.” January-June, with almost half its after the first round of a two-stage for banking names. Many of them champions of frugality as Maruti year in a market of 2.6 million. While most French auto execu- global deliveries outside Europe. referendum. Next week’s second are trading at a very significant dis- Suzuki and Hyundai. Hyundai has also made dramatic tives come from applied science Peugeot, which still depends on the round is likely to give another count to others in the region.” If he pulls off the challenge set by inroads of late with its Eon mini, backgrounds or hothouse business region for 61 percent of sales, lost “yes” vote as it includes districts Shares in telecoms operator Renault-Nissan boss Carlos Ghosn, priced closer to Rs300,000. schools, Detourbet left behind a ¤662m. But the success of low-end seen as more sympathetic towards du slipped 0.9 percent, extending it could then give his carmaking Renault’s new “sub-entry” promising career as a university Renault models - built in Romania Islamists, analysts say, meaning the losses to 11.9 percent since the gov- alliance a new weapon with which architecture will offer roomier mathematician. Admirers includ- and Morocco and sold under the constitution would be approved. ernment announced new taxes or to undercut rivals in emerging cars for a similar price tag and ing Arnaud Deboeuf, his successor Dacia brand in Europe - has also “Some investors are taking the royalties fees. The operator signed markets around the globe. spawn at least one additional on the Entry programme, say his proved controversial as France fact that a constitution voting is a $100m three-year loan facility Detourbet, 66, moved to model for Nissan, Detourbet said. approach is refreshing. struggles to defend industrial jobs happening as a potential for stabil- with Singapore’s DBS Bank, it Chennai early this year and has Renault and its 43.4 percent- “With Gerard, it’s an inno- and the carmaker presses unions to ity on the long-term,” said Marwan said yesterday. Small-caps Gulf been quietly building an Indian owned Japanese affiliate, which vation a minute,” Deboeuf said. give ground on pay and conditions. Shurrab, vice-president and chief Navigation and Ajman Bank rose supplier network and crack share Ghosn as CEO, already “He’s not your typical auto engi- “The money invested in Dacia trader at Gulfmena Investments. 3.7 and 6.2 percent respectively, in team of local executives, includ- make costlier vehicles such as the neer.” After joining Renault in could have been spent on develop- “But as long as there is a lot of what traders say was speculative ing several lured away from the Pulse and Micra subcompacts at 1971 as an IT specialist, Detourbet ing the new mainstream Renault tension with no clarity on stability, trading. These stocks tend to be competition. “We don’t set out to their Chennai factory, claiming a rose steadily through the ranks to models that are seriously lacking Egypt will be a high-risk market. favoured by retail investors looking poach people, but it happens that combined 3 percent Indian mar- become senior vice president in today,” said Patrick Biau, an offi- Investors are mostly very short- for short-term gains. they sometimes come to us from ket share for April-November. charge of gearboxes and transmis- cial at the Force Ouvriere union. term due to the political condition.” REUTERS Suzuki and Hyundai,” Detourbet Producing a car in the Eon’s sions in 1997. Louis Schweitzer, REUTERS Russia faces economic trap: EBRD MOSCOW: Russia, the world’s largest Russia’s government doesn’t publish its small and medium-sized businesses — these energy exporter, is becoming increasingly own estimate of oil reserves, which are con- are key issues,” Putin said. “I am sure that dependent on commodities and failing to sidered a state secret. The EBRD cited BP at the center of the new economic model prepare for falling oil output in 20 years, data in its calculations. should be economic freedom, private prop- the European Bank for Reconstruction Russian crude oil and condensate pro- erty and non-state capitalism.” and Development said. duction climbed to a post-Soviet record of Russian’s investment in promoting Corruption, poor education, immigra- 10.503 million barrels a day in November, high-tech industries — with public money tion barriers and state dominance in the a post-Soviet high, according to prelimi- accounting for 75 percent of research and economy, which curbs private innovation, nary estimates from the Energy Ministry’s development funding — has yielded only all hinder diversification, which is Russia’s CDU-TEK unit. limited results, the EBRD said. key challenge, the London-based EBRD said “The problem of being a petro-state is While China and India have both “dra- in a report published on Friday. that natural resource trends corrupt the matically” increased the percentage of Oil and natural gas account for almost institutions,” Sergei Guriev, rector of the exports of goods and services accounted for 70 percent of exports and about half of New Economic School in Moscow and a by information and communications tech- budget revenue. The economy’s depend- government adviser who contributed to the nology, Russia still has barely 20 percent ence on energy is greater today than in the EBRD report, said in an interview. of manufacturing exports with a high skill mid-1990s, when it represented less than “This is what is called the resource content, the bank said. half of exports, according to the EBRD. curse. This is a trap, where democratic A survey carried out by the EBRD and The non-commodity share of exports fell political and economic institutions do not the World Bank in 2011-2012 in 37 of to as little as 8 percent in 2011 from 15 develop because rents coming from natural Russia’s 83 regions found that most of percent in 1997. resources provide incentives to the elite not the 4,000 manufacturing and services “If you look at all the talk, all the to develop institutions.” companies that took part saw corrup- effort, over the last 10 years, very little Russia’s economy grew at 7 percent a year tion, skilled-labor shortages and a lack has happened and you can argue that it on average during Putin’s 2000-2008 presi- of funding as the main obstacles to doing has got worse,” Erik Berglof, the EBRD’s dencies then contracted almost 8 percent business. Only 3 percent of Russian com- chief economist, said at a presentation in in 2009 after crude prices plunged to $34 a panies exported in 2008-2009, compared Moscow. barrel from $147. with 15 percent to 17 percent in France “Even Brezhnev talked about the need The current resource-based economy and the U.S. to diversify,” he said, referring to Soviet can’t deliver the growth rate of 5 per- “Non-resource sectors need property- leader Leonid Brezhnev, who led the Soviet cent to 6 percent that Russia needs over rights protection, courts and good financial Union from 1964 until his death in 1982, a the next few decades, Putin said in his markets,” said Guriev. “All of those require period characterized as an era of stagna- December 12 address. good political institutions and so it’s a tion that paved the way for the country’s vicious circle.” 1991 collapse. SLOWING GROWTH State-owned companies account for about President Vladimir Putin, who extended Russia is facing a fourth-straight half of Russia’s economic output, or $1.14 his 12-year rule this year after enduring quarter of slowing growth as weakening trillion, according to BNP Paribas SA’s the biggest unrest since he came to power, demand from China and Europe hurts Moscow unit. That’s up from about 42 per- said in his annual state-of-the-nation exports and a surge in inflation saps con- cent in 2008 and 38 percent in 2006 and address on December 12 that Russia sumer purchasing power. doesn’t take into account state-run OAO needs to reduce its vulnerability to sud- Gross domestic product will advance 3.5 Rosneft’s acquisition of TNK-BP, BP’s ven- den swings in commodity prices. percent in 2012, according to the govern- ture with a group of billionaires, BNP said Under current estimates, Russia’s known ment, slowing from last year’s 4.3 percent in an October 22 research note. oil reserves, including fields in the Arctic, expansion. GDP will expand 3.5 percent The EBRD, owned by 63 countries and are enough to sustain the current rate of next year, according to the median esti- two intergovernmental institutions, was production for just 20 years, according to mates of 35 economists in a Bloomberg created in 1991 to invest in former com- the EBRD. Kazakhstan, by comparison, survey last month. munist countries and help them transform can sustain current output for 60 years, “A real change in the structure of the their economies. It’s expanding its scope Saudi Arabia for more than 70 years and economy, the creation of new industrial to promoting market economies in North the United Arab Emirates for more than sectors and the restoration of our leader- Africa, the Middle East and Turkey. 90 years, the EBRD said. ship in traditional ones, the development of WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

A fiscal cliffhanger? Of Unity of the EU block is course, it’s in our nature

BY REBECCA D COSTA

ET’s face it, we love a good cliffhanger. Our hearts pound, about to be tested our bodies flood with chemicals, and within seconds we’re ready to flee or fight. It doesn’t matter if it’s a snake in BY BARRY EICHENGREEN Would the European Union survive? The services, or for harmonizing regulation and Lour path or a dangerous “fiscal cliff” — we’re hard-wired answer depends on what one means by the removing trade barriers behind the border. to take action when a threat is near. UROPE’s crisis has entered a EU. If one means its political organs – the Free trade in goods and free movement of But what about threats farther down the road? Say, nuclear quiet phase, which is no acci- European commission, the European parlia- capital and labour would not survive the proliferation? Climate change? Pandemic viruses, overpopulation dent. The current period of ment, and the European Court of Justice, euro’s collapse, these diehard Europhiles and an unstoppable demand for energy? Is there some reason relative calm coincides with the then the answer is yes. These institutions warn. We may yet find out if they are right. we continue driving toward these cliffs, even though we know approach of Germany’s federal are now a half-century old; they are not And what about the acquis communau- what’s coming? Eelection in 2013, in which the incumbent going away. taire, the body of law that enshrines mem- It turns out, the answer was staring me in the face as I sat chancellor, Angela Merkel, will be running As for the single market, the EU’s land- ber states’ obligations not just in terms down with my 20-something son for a birds-and-bees chat about as the woman who saved the euro. mark achievement, there is no question that of economic policies, but also in terms of his financial future. With no assets to speak of, he’s strapped with But the crisis will be back, if not before a eurozone breakup would severely disrupt democracy, the rule of law, and funda- a student loan that may dog him until he retires. He has years of Germany’s upcoming election, then after. its operation in the short run. Trucks would mental human rights? The intent of the payments remaining on his car, and if financial institutions keep Southern Europe has not done enough to be halted at national borders. Banking and acquis is not simply to make Europe more bombarding him with “free” credit cards at 29 percent annual enhance its competitiveness, while north- financial systems would be balkanised. prosperous, but to make it more civilized. interest rates — well, you can see where all of this is heading and ern Europe has not done enough to boost Workers would be prevented from moving. Spain, Portugal, and Greece had to estab- why a parent might worry. demand. Debt burdens remain crushing, But what would happen then? There has lish functioning democracies before applying Yet, when I tallied up all the risks of living on borrowed money, and Europe’s economy remains unable to always been a debate about whether it is for EU membership. Even now, Hungary my son didn’t seem bothered. Maybe I didn’t make the conse- grow. Across the continent, political divi- possible to have a single market without and Romania feel peer pressure and face quences clear enough. Maybe the “cliff” needs to be taller, more sions are deepening. For all of these reasons, a single currency. Critics of the euro have sanctions from their EU partners when frightening, more something. the spectre of a eurozone collapse has not always asked: why not? they engage in dubious electoral practices, So I tried again, conjuring up former Treasury secretary Paul been dispatched. Under this scenario, the Single European compromise their courts’ independence, or O’Neill’s warning a decade ago that if the George W Bush adminis- The consequences of a collapse would not Act, signed in 1986, would remain in place. discriminate against minorities. tration stuck to its plan to extend its tax cuts, the nation’s annual be pretty. Whichever country precipitated Member states would be obliged to restore The co-operation needed to make that deficit would climb to $500bn ($1,000bn wasn’t on the radar then), it – Germany by threatening to abandon free movement of goods, capital, services, peer pressure effective might conceivably and every American would face the equivalent of a 66 percent the euro, or Greece or Spain by actually and people – the EU’s “four freedoms” – as survive the euro’s collapse. But finger-point- income tax increase to close the budget gap. doing so – would trigger economic chaos quickly as possible. Given the clear benefits ing about which country was responsible What did O’Neill’s report get him? An invitation from Bush and incur its neighbours’ wrath. To protect that Europe has derived from the single for Europe’s damaging financial disruption and Vice President Dick Cheney to step down. themselves from the financial fallout, gov- market, they would have every incentive would make it difficult for the members to I’m a sociobiologist, so whenever I see irrational behaviour, I ernments would invoke obscure clauses in to do so. maintain a common front. It seems likely reflexively look to our prehistoric history for an explanation. And EU treaties in order to slap temporary con- Proponents of the single currency object that the acquis would lose much of its force. when it comes to the fiscal cliff and other cliffs like it, I don’t trols on capital flows and ring-fence their that if Europe has separate national curren- A final way of thinking about the EU have to look far. banking systems. They would close their cies, it will have separate banking systems, is as the “ever closer union” referred to We are, by virtue of nature’s roll of the dice, an organism at borders to stem capital flight. It would be each with its own lender of last resort. So in the Treaty of Rome and echoed in the war with itself. The vestiges of ancient genetic imperatives — ter- each country for itself. much, then, for a single market in financial Maastricht Treaty. THE GUARDIAN ritoriality, dominance, hoarding, fight and flight — clash with our ability to look ahead and take action to avert calamity. What? You thought our problems were political? Rooted in economics? Caused by inept leadership? Welcome to the club. Somewhere along the line, talking heads, politicians and experts decided that every problem we face is caused by politics and economics. So the only solutions we hear about are along these lines. In other words, a kind of narrowing has taken place: We blame our government, we blame the economy, we blame foreign competition, we blame Wall Street and big business. But consider this: Every country in the world is struggling with a similar list of problems — job creation, wild fluctuations in financial markets, climate change, clean water, terrorism and so on. And yet, they each have their own political and economic systems, as well as vastly different cultures. At some point, a light bulb ought to go off. The reason the cliffs keep looming, one after the other, isn’t just politics or economics. What we have is a species-wide problem. So, for the sake of science, let’s put what we know on the table. Long before we developed a frontal cortex — the CEO of our brain, which enables us to generate accurate scenarios, priori- tise them in order of likelihood and circumvent dangerous long- term outcomes — we, like other creatures, survived by relying on embedded instincts, such as fight or flight. As best we can tell, our frontal cortex began expanding 3 to 4 million years ago, around the time we became bipedal. It grew so fast that it now occupies about a third of our gray matter, equipping us with foresight and ingenuity that no other species on Earth comes close to. And it is this remarkable asset — the ability to pre-empt danger — that has been largely responsible for catapulting humans to the top of the living world. Yet, time and time again, we surrender to the lowest instru- ments of our genetic inheritance. Instead of applying rational thinking, which has been millions of years in the making, we sur- render to bickering, blaming and boasting as we sail toward the edge of this, or some other, cliff. In the words of famed sociobiol- ogist Edward O. Wilson, “We have Paleolithic emotions, medieval institutions and God-like technology.” He concluded his 2009 Harvard lecture by remarking: “And it is terrifically dangerous.” Wilson is right. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Crude in 2013: Brent boxed into price range of $90 to $125 RENT Crude oil has, especially the Libyan civil war in they currently hold nearly 700 mil- spikes during periods of supply despite times of elevated early 2011 and the announcement Weekly Commodity Update lion barrels, according to the US disruptions. uncertainty, been trading of Iran sanctions due to uncertain- Department of Energy. Although While global oil prices continue within a relative stable ties over its nuclear intentions in the release in June 2011 - due to to be exposed to sudden sharp B BY OLE HANSEN trading range during the last cou- early 2012. Minor disruptions to the loss of Libyan production - had moves, primarily to the upside, ple of years, especially compared production in Sudan, Nigeria, Syria (Head of Commodity Strategy, a limited longer term impact, the caused by supply disruptions, with previous years where extreme and the North Sea also helped to Saxo Bank) threat of a release is sometimes the recent changes especially in peaks and troughs appeared. support the price. enough to deter speculative inves- new production methods should Looking ahead to 2013, we believe Up against these fears of supply tors from getting too involved, leave the market in better and that this range trading will con- disruptions, the global economy such as hedge funds and trad- As the Kingdom is one the world’s thereby preventing the price from less volatile place than in previ- tinue, as Brent Crude is currently has been bumping along at a rela- ers. Speculative traders react to largest producer of oil and the only moving even higher. ous years. While the worry about sandwiched between several equal tive slow pace, resulting in only a market movements by either by one with any available spare capac- Outside OPEC the main growth peak oil may not have gone away, important factors, the combined small increase in global demand adding or reducing exposure and ity, the world take notice when he in production in 2013 will come it has at least been postponed for a sum of which should keep the price for oil. At times worries about the two peaks in oil price were speaks. from US shale. This growth has number of years. This will buy the boxed in between $90 and $125 recession, now realised in Europe, both followed by one minor and a Following the embargo on already resulted in a dramatic world additional time to continue during the next couple of years. and other regions of the world major sell-off as they were forced Iranian oil they increased their reduction in net crude oil imports to improve production methods During these past two years has helped offset the above men- to reduce loss making positions . production close to 10 million bar- over the last five years. through new technology. This will Brent Crude Oil has become the tioned supply worries, resulting in During such times of long liquida- rels per day in order to make good The US Energy Information increase the demand for natural global benchmark for a majority minor (and a few major) downside tion we often find that the move on his intention to help bring the Administration (EIA) in their gas – and the world has plenty of of physical oil transactions, and corrections. gets extended much beyond what price of oil back towards 100 USD/ Annual Energy Outlook 2013 said natural gas. also increasingly the preferred As a result the average price of is warranted by the underlying barrel, a level which is acceptable that “The advent and continuing Meanwhile, the automobile crude oil commodity in investment Brent Crude has remained almost fundamentals. to both producer and consumer. improvement of advanced crude oil industry will continue to improve portfolios. Just recently we have unchanged for the past two years Now that we have determined With the global economy still in production technologies continued the effectiveness of engines, some- seen two of the world’s most fol- at 110.75 $/barrel in 2011 and 111.70 two of the major drivers behind the a fragile state of recovery high to lift projected domestic supply” thing that is already making an lowed commodity indices, the S&P $/barrel so far in 2012. Almost price of oil, geopolitical concerns oil prices act as a deterrent for and they see production reaching impact on US gasoline consump- GSCI and DJ-UBS, both announce nine percent of all volume dur- and speculative investment flows, growth and thereby demand. 7.5 million barrel per day by 2019. tion. It’s truly a paradigm shift another percentage point weight ing the last two years has taken let us take a look at some of the Rising prices due to geopoliti- This paradigm shift in global and one we feel will be the biggest increase of Brent in their portfo- place between 110 and 111 while 54 other reasons why we believe that cal tensions also carries the risk of oil markets over the coming dec- positive input to growth and mar- lio for 2013 at the expense of WTI percent of all traded volume has the price of oil will remain range OECD nations stepping in to calm ade could eventually, according to kets over the next ten years. The Crude, which still carries the high- occurred within a narrow $9 range bound for the foreseeable future. markets by releasing oil or prod- the International Energy Agency, fact that one of the byproducts is est weight but is sharply reduced between $106 and $115. During the early parts of 2012 ucts from its Strategic Reserves. see US production surpass Saudi reduced carbon footprint does not from previous years. The downside tail, as also seen when the price of Brent Crude Members of the International Arabia. make this a less appealing case. The major spikes in Brent Crude below, is somewhat longer than was elevated we often heard verbal Energy Agency are obligated to Such an increase should help We see the price of Brent Crude during 2010 and 2011 were prima- the upside one. This can among intervention from Saudi Arabia’s hold an emergency reserve that increase the buffer between remaining within the $90 to $125 rily triggered by both major and other things be explained by the Minister of Petroleum Al-Naimi would cover 90 days of imports and demand and available supply, range in 2013 with an average price minor fears of supply disruptions, presence of speculative investors in order to bring the price lower. with the US the largest consumer, thereby reducing the risk of price around $111. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

QE Indices Summary QE Index 8,335.48 4.34 WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 11,280.92 5.88 QE All Share Index 2,004.19 1.49 RATE INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 1,962.69 3.89 GOLD Buying Selling QE All Share Industrials 2,582.08 4.50 All Ordinaries 4592.942 1.1 0.02 4608.8 4033.4 QR198.6551 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 1,336.62 1.15 Cac 40 Index/D 3643.92 -2.74 -0.08 3652.04 2922.26 QE All Share Real Estate 1,581.43 2.55 SILVER UK ...... QR 5.8519 QR 5.9228 QE All Share Insurance 1,920.28 34.02 Dj Indu Average 13245.45 -2.99 -0.02 13661.87 11735.19 QR 3.8401 Euro ...... QR 4.7498 QR 4.8387 QE All Share Telecoms 1,044 8.56 CA$ ...... QR 3.6614 QR 3.7318 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 4,678.13 10.27 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.9274 QR 4.0030 Hang Seng Inde/D 22445.58 -57.77 -0.26 22508.01 18056.4 Yen ...... QR 0.0431 QR 0.0441 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.8019 QR 3.8984 Iseq Overall/D 3328.46 -14.02 -0.42 3382.77 2882.71 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0659 QR 0.0674 16-12-2012 13-12-2012 Karachi 100 In/D 16806.58 61.98 0.37 16903.46 10771.13 Index 8,335.48 8,331.14 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0370 QR 0.0378 Change 4.34 14.83 Nikkei 225 Index 9742.73 161.27 1.68 10255.15 8238.96 Peso ...... QR 0.0871 QR 0.0898 % 0.05 0.18 $ 108.08 SL Re ...... QR 0.0281 QR 0.0287 YTD% 5.05 5.10 S&P 500 Index/D 1428.48 0.64 0.04 1474.51 1202.37 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0443 QR 0.0455 Volume 1,513,653 2,988,371 Straits Times/D 3156.55 14.98 0.48 3145 2657.77 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0416 QR 0.0424 Value (QAR) 80,424,703.11 180,118,769.21 $ 105.18 Trades 1,640 2,237 SA Rand ...... QR 0.4175 QR 0.4258 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 17 | Down 15 | Unchanged 05

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 16-12-2012

Weakening dollar, with fiscal cliff frustration

ARKETS started the endured a positive week. Cable program by automobiles jumped in December, surpassing trend could grow next year. Sir week with a relatively opened the week at 1.6040, only to buying $45 bil- rebounded and all expectations, on speculation Mervyn King outlined the exter- Mstronger US Dollar, surge on Tuesday to reach 1.6120, lion a month of holiday shop- Europe’s largest economy will nal threats facing the struggling ahead of the Federal Open Market after Italy’s Prime Minister said Treasury secu- pers snapped up gather momentum next year. UK economy, including the euro Committee. Uncertainty over- he intends to resign, boosting rities starting in electronics and The ZEW index climbed to 6.9 zone crisis and the US “fiscal whelmed the greenback in the FX demand for the safety of UK January to spur Weekly Money Market Review clothes. The 0.3 from -15.7 in November, against cliff”. markets. The lack of progress on assets. The Sterling Pound then the economy. percent gain fol- a forecasted -11.5. Claimant Count Change averting the “fiscal cliff” of steep dropped to 1.6085 after a report Rates will stay low “at least as lowed a 0.3 percent decrease in German Flash UK jobless claims unexpect- tax hikes and spending cuts have showed that a majority of UK long” as unemployment remains October. The expected strength- Manufacturing PMI edly fell in November and a weighed on the US Dollar and the manufacturers are still seeing above 6.5 percent, and if the infla- ening in retail sales growth was German Flash Manufacturing wider measure of unemployment US economy. The negotiations a decline of orders. Cable fol- tion is to be no more than 2.5 largely informed by indications (PMI) continued to decline dur- dropped the most in 11 years, have hit a wall as US House of lowed suit with the Euro, hiking percent. The thresholds replace of a sharp recovery in auto sales ing the latest survey period and underlining the flexibility of the Representatives Speaker John on Friday to close at 1.6174. The the Fed’s earlier view that rates that was expected to send sales at at a faster pace than in the pre- labor market in the face of a weak Boehner and President Barack Japanese Yen opened the week at would stay near zero at least dealerships up 4.0 percent after vious month, it dropped to 46.3 recovery. Unemployment benefit Obama met on Thursday to dis- 82.49, weakening against the US through the middle of 2015. Hurricane Sandy sent sales down from 46.8 in November. The fall claims dropped in November by cuss the unsettling problem, with Dollar throughout the week, to Unemployment Claims 1.9 percent in October. reflected client uncertainty about 3,000 to 1.58 million. The unex- both sides voicing frustration touch a high of 83.96 on Friday as Fewer Americans than fore- Europe the direction of the economy pected drop signaled that the over the situation. prospects of more easing by the casted filed for first-time claims Greece Approved for and a desire to keep stocks to a economy is doing better after it The Euro started the week at BOJ appear in the markets. The for unemployment last week, Payout minimum. emerged from the recession dur- 1.2891. The single currency then Japanese Yen closed the week at indicating that demand is still Greece drew enough bonds United Kingdom ing the third quarter. advanced against the US Dollar 83.52. The Swiss Franc opened resilient enough to maintain cur- to its sovereign debt buyback to Governor King Speaks Japan throughout the week, as frustra- the week at 0.9345, only to rent employment levels. Jobless meet the International Monetary Bank of England Governor Core Machinery Orders tion and uncertainty emerged in strengthen against the US Dollar, claims dropped 29,000 from Fund’s target to qualify for aid. Mervyn King said last Monday Machine orders rose in Japan the US over the “Fiscal Cliff” as investors seek the safety of the 372,000, down to 343,000, beating European Governments have that he was concerned that coun- for the first time in three months, gridlock. The EUR rose steadily Swiss Franc from global easing the forecast of 369,000. The pace agreed to provide the extra aid tries will increasingly resort to which added to signs that against its American counter- programs and political uncer- of dismissals may indicate that for Greece, approving a payout of “actively managed exchange Japanese companies boosted their part, after the FOMC statement, tainties. The CHF closed the companies are poised to boost EUR 49.1 billion of loans through rates” next year, in place of confidence, where it is highly breaking the 1.3050 levels. The week at 0.9178. hiring should the economy avert March 2013. The EU ministers domestic monetary policies, if expected that Japanese economy Euro continued its rise on FOMC damage should US lawmakers have also stated that they are the global economy remains will back to growth track in 2013. Thursday, after EU ministers In the FOMC meeting this find a way to resolve the fiscal willing to take “additional meas- unbalanced. Orders index reading recorded an agreed to for a USD 64 billion week and for the first time, the cliff of tax increase and spending ures” incase Greece’s debt reduc- The BoE Governor warned actual of 2.6 percent, compared payout for debt-stricken Greece. committee linked the outlook for cuts at the beginning of next year. tion change course. that too many countries were with market expectations of 3.0 The single currency hiked until its main interest rate to unem- Retail Sales Rise German ZEW Economic trying to weaken their curren- percent, while the previous read- the end of the week, to close ployment and inflation, and said Retail sales in the US rose Sentiment cies to offset the impact of the ing recorded -4.3 percent. at 1.3163. The Sterling Pound it will expand its asset purchase in November as demand for German investor confidence slow global economy and the THE PENINSULA MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT World champs Kiwis dominate 2012 All Blacks in good shape to continue impressive form in 2013 despite loss to England

PARIS: New Zealand moved smoothly from winning the World Cup on home soil to dom- inate 2012 despite a blip in their final match against England that will give the rest of the rugby world a glimmer of hope. Led magnificently by inde- fatigable captain Richie McCaw, who is now to take a sabbatical to recharge his batteries, the All Blacks won the newly-launched Rugby Championship that included Australia, South African and newcomers Argentina. The side went undefeated, with their final match against Australia an 18-18 draw. The performances of fly-half Dan Carter ensured he was named the International Rugby Board player of the year for a second time (after 2005). The Championship’s inclusion of Argentina was a particular success, and the Pumas’ exposure to that level of rugby can only bode well for the sport in South America as a whole. New Zealand All Blacks’ Richie McCaw holds the Cup after beating Ireland in their rugby Test match in Christchurch, New Zealand in this June 2012 file photo. RIGHT: Leinster rugby team The All Blacks moved on from of Ireland, celebrate their Heineken Cup victory, after beating Ireland’s Ulstar at Twickenham Stadium, in this May 2012 file photo. their three-Test summer series victory over Ireland and their successful Championship to claim that’s probably not a bad thing to The string of seven successive nine-game schedule of the British to one thrashing. Veteran France from time to end his stellar com- three straightforward wins over have next year.” defeats meant Wales fell out of the and Irish Lions Tour to Australia scrum-half Dimitri Yachvili petitive club career with a 31-30 Scotland, Italy and Wales in their Another team to deliver on top eight in the IRB rankings and in June. kicked all of his side’s points win over Leinster to claim the autumn Tests. their World Cup promise, at were drawn alongside England Australian teams will take a as Biarritz beat French rivals Celtic League title. But they finally came acrop- least until March, were Wales, and Australia for the 2015 Rugby break from Super Rugby when Toulon 21-18 to win the second Toulouse were crowned French per in their final match of the who produced a third Six Nations World Cup in England. the Wallabies play the Lions in tier European Challenge Cup. champions for the 19th time after calendar year, England ending Grand Slam in eight years. This means one of the sport’s three Tests on June 22, June 29 In South Africa, fly-half battling to a hard-fought, try- the world champions’ 20-Test The Welsh team saw off France traditional powers will be knocked and July 6. Demetri Catrakilis kicked nine less 18-12 victory over Toulon winning sequence with a famous 16-9 in their final match of a gen- out before the quarter-finals, with Similarly, there will be stag- unanswered final-quarter points in the Top 14 final at the Stade 38-21 victory at Twickenham -- it erally poor championship to add only the top two teams from each gered rest periods for teams from to guide Western Province to de France, ex-All Black Luke was also the Kiwis’ first loss on to victories over Ireland (23-21), of the four pools going through to South Africa and New Zealand. a shock 25-18 victory over the McAlister getting all the winning their end-of-year northern tour Scotland (27-13), England (19-12) the knockout stages. European club competition saw Sharks to win the Currie Cup points. in a decade. and Italy (24-3). In the southern hemisphere’s Irish province Leinster claim a final. The IRB’s World Sevens Series “All the boys will take a wee But that success did not last elite franchise competition, the second successive European Cup Domestically, league table top- was claimed by New Zealand for while to get over it but they will long after a losing three-Test Waikato Chiefs downed South title. pers Harlequins won the English the 10th time in 13 seasons, the come back next year and this series in Australia in the summer Africa’s Coastal Sharks 37-6 to Leinster, with full-back Rob Premiership with a 30-23 victory season’s top scorer and All Black (defeat) will remind them what followed by losses in the autumn win the Super 15, the schedule Kearney named as European over Leicester for a first ever title. playmaker Tomasi Cama taking it’s all about,” said skipper McCaw. to Argentina, Samoa, New of which has been altered for the player of the year, outscored Irish Welsh rugby great Shane the player-of-the-year award. “If there’s a positive out of it, Zealand and again the Wallabies. 2013 season to accommodate the rivals Ulster 42-14 in a five tries Williams scored a try two minutes AFP Bangladesh School wins U-14 event Stage set for final day of DOHA: Bangladesh M.H.M School and College won the Qatar National U-14 Boy’s School tournament by defeating Ideal Indian School by 7 wickets in the final match. Day cricket Jaberul of Bangladesh School was named Man-of-the-Match tournament with four wickets. Bangladesh School defeated Birla Public School in the first DOHA: Three matches will be semi-final match, whereas Ideal played on the final day of the Indian School defeated Pakistan Qatar National Day Cricket Education Centre (PEC) in the Tournament tomorrow, the second semi-final match Qatar Cricket Association Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) announced. (QCA) conducted an Under-14 Sri Lanka Expatriates XI will School cricket tournament which take on Qatar XI in one of the started on October 20 and ended three matches at the newly-built New York Knicks center Tyson Chandler reacts after being fouled by earlier this month. cricket stadium, that begins Cleveland Cavaliers center Tyler Zeller (40) in the fourth quarter of their A total of 10 school teams par- Qatar Cricket Association’s General Secretary Manzoor Ahmad (centre) at 7:00am, the QCA said in a NBA basketball game at Madison Square Garden in New York, yesterday. ticipated who were divided into presents the trophy to the winning captain of Bangaldesh School, who statement. two groups. won the U-14 Boy’s School tournament. In the second match, the win- The winner’s trophy was pre- ner from Sri Lanka-Qatar match sented by Manzoor Ahmad, will take on the Bangladesh General Secretary of QCA to the Expatriates XI that begins at Spurs thrash Celtics Bangladesh School Captain. and College, the Cambridge Dukhan English Speaking School, 10:15am. The winner of the second Other QCA officials were also School, Birla Public School, Doha Ideal Indian School, Bangladesh match will clash against Pakistan SAN ANTONIO: The San an impressive 72-12 record in the present in the ceremony. Modern Indian School - DMIS, M.H.M. School and College, and Expatriates XI in the final that Antonio Spurs broke out of a regular season since the start of The teams participated were: Pakistan Education Centre. DPS Modern Indian School. begins at 1:15pm. two-game losing streak in style, the 2010-11 campaign, including a (Group A) Pak Shamaa School (Group B): MES Indian School, THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA demolishing the Boston Celtics 8-2 mark this season. 103-88 yesterday to claw closer “The home court advantage to Oklahoma City’s Western played big for us today, especially Savoy Global Badminton tournament Conference lead. with Boston coming off a game The Spurs (19-6) surged ahead last night,” Neal added. in the final quarter courtesy “It’s always an advantage to of Tony Parker’s 22 points and play at home. When you make Gary Neal’s 20, to close in on the your shots the crowd gets involved Thunder’s Western Conference- and you get your adrenaline going. leading 19-4 record. “For the most part we fed off Kevin Garnett (13), Courtney the way we all played. When you Lee (11), Jeff Green (10) also make the shots the energy just put up double builds on its own figures on the and that’s what scoreboard in NBA results happened today.” a solid team Golden State 115 Atlanta 93 The victory effort. NY Knicks 103 Cleveland 102 came despite “We were Miami 102 Washington 72 Spurs’ guard Manu able to just Indiana 88 Detroit 77 Ginobli leaving keep the tempo Orlando 107 Charlotte 98 the game in the going,” Neal Chicago 83 Brooklyn 82 first quarter with told reporters. heavy bruising on San Antonio 103 Boston 88 “I think our his thigh. legs were a lit- Meanwhile, tle fresher and we were able to With star forward Carmelo keep the tempo pushing forward Anthony sidelined by a left ankle and knock down some shots.” sprain, the New York Knicks Starting forward Paul Pierce held off a late rally to defeat the and bench player Jason Terry Cleveland Cavaliers 103-102 in an contributed 18 points each for NBA game. the Celtics (12-11), but they fell Raymond Felton led New York FROM LEFT: Praseej VR and Ajith Kumar from Qatar Insurance Company, Men’s Doubles Winner, Silva Jose from AXA Insurance Gulf, Men’s Singles short of claiming a sixth succes- with 25 points, Tyson Chandler Runner-Up, George Antony from SEIB Insurance, Chief Guest, Jerry Basheer from Savoy Insurance, Men’s Singles Winner and Mixed Doubles Winner, sive victory in San Antonio. The added 23 points and J.R. Smith Swapna Ibrahim from Savoy Insurance, Mixed Doubles Winner, Ashok Eapen from Savoy Insurance – Men’s Doubles Runner-Up, Garima Gupta Celtics have been the only visiting came off the bench to contribute and Ligish Karaparambil from Q Life & Medical Insurance Company, Mixed Doubles Runner-up, pose of a picture. The tournament consisted of 49 team to do well in San Antonio 16. Felton led the Knicks with 10 matches, held at Qatar Badminton Club. against a Spurs team boasting rebounds. AGENCIES MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29 Schwartzel Dominant Popovic romps to 12-shot win claims PGA title MALELANE, South Africa: Charl Schwartzel was a runa- way winner for the second The Australian wins by four shots in Coolum straight week, coasting to a 12-shot victory yesterday at the Alfred Dunhill Championship COOLUM, AUSTRALIA: on the European Tour. Rookie Australian Daniel The 2011 Masters cham- Popovic completed a golfing pion finished with a total score fairytale yesterday, leading of 24-under 264 - the lowest at from start to finish to claim the Leopard Creek Country Club. Australian PGA by four shots. He won by 11 strokes in Popovic held his nerve over the Thailand last weekend. Schwartzel closing holes as fellow Australian was three shots off Tiger Woods’ Rod Pampling imploded with record for the biggest victory bogeys on 16 and 17 and a double margin on the European Tour. The participants of the sixth fundraising golf tournament for “Seeing is bogey on 18 to drop four shots and Woods won the US Open in 2000 Believing” are seen at Doha Golf Club. surrender the lead after a late by 15 shots. charge. Schwartzel won for the eighth Pampling finished tied for time on the European Tour. second with another Australian The South African also cap- Standard Chartered Anthony Brown, one shot clear tured this tournament in 2004, of former US Open winner Geoff his first title on the tour. Ogilvy and Brad Kennedy. He entered the final round with The 26-year-old Popovic won a 10-shot lead and closed with a hosts fund-raising golf the Australian qualifying school 69. last December but took time away The runner-up was Sweden’s from golf after his father was Kristoffer Broberg, who finished tournament in Doha diagnosed with cancer. at 12 under. But his dad urged him to First-round leader Gregory DOHA: Standard Chartered the auction, donated by Liverpool return to golf during the year and Bourdy shared third with Scott Bank recently hosted its FC Foundation. he repaid that faith with a superb Jamieson, Garth Mulroy and annual gold tournament, which The funds raised went to pro- performance over the four days, Andy Sullivan - 13 shots behind attracted 176 players at Doha vide restorative eye surgery in shooting eight under on the open- Schwartzel. Golf Club (DGC). cases of avoidable blindness such ing day and following that with Schwartzel was surprised that The event was aimed to raise as cataract operations, training of three more sub-par rounds for a he won by such lopsided margins funds for “Seeing is Believing”, eye care doctors, building training dominant victory. in consecutive weeks. Standard Chartered’s flagship facilities and vision centres. “2013 is going to be completely “That doesn’t happen often,’’ project to restore sight to under- Charles Carlson, Chief different to what I had planned he said. ‘’Normally after a win privileged people suffering from Executive Officer for Standard two weeks ago,” a delighted by such a big margin, it’s hard to avoidable blindness around the Chartered Bank in Qatar said: Popovic, who is now guaran- put up the same show the next world. “We are overwhelmed by the teed a start in the Bridgestone week. It’s satisfying to continue In previous years, the tour- generosity and support of our International on the US PGA that form and play the same sort nament and auction at DGC sponsors. The tournament has tour, said. of golf. I keep talking about con- attracts a large number of corpo- provided an opportunity to rally “Two weeks ago I entered Q Australian golfer Daniel Popovic kisses the Kirkwood Cup after winning sistency, and mine is back where rate sponsorships each year with golfers and the community to School for Australia again and the Australian PGA Championships at the Palmer Resort in Coolum on the I like it to be.’’ institutions like Al Fardan, Qatar raise funds for a common goal to was thinking I would just play Sunshine Coast, Australia, yesterday. The only thing that slowed Airways, Oryx Rotana Hotel, help eradicate avoidable blindness one tour next year because of my Schwartzel on the final day was Conoco Philips, Milaha, Qatar and make a socio-economic differ- father’s illness. a brief weather delay. Building Company and Midmac ence to the community.” “But now next year is going to when he birdied his first six holes “I hit a great tee shot down the This was his first title on the Contracting being major sponsors He added: “Standard Chartered be bigger and better, and hope- to move to 15 under the card. 18th and then I heard the cheers European Tour since his Masters this year. Bank will match every dollar that fully he keeps pushing on as well.” Popovic got the outright lead and I knew Daniel had made victory two years ago. For the first time this year, is raised. As a result of the gen- Popovic looked composed back when he got to 16-under, but birdie,” he said. His win in Thailand was his Standard Chartered had two erosity of our sponsors and after throughout his final round at the then double bogeyed the par three “That double bogey at the end first title on any tour since Liverpool FC legends, Jason the Bank matching the funds, we Palmer Coolum Resort, defying eighth when he put his tee shot was the result of me trying to be Augusta. McAteer and Gary Gillespie who will be able to restore the eyesight predictions that he would crack into the bushes to the left of the aggressive. It wasn’t a great shot Schwartzel finished with four competed in the event for a day of nearly 2400 people.” under the pressure. green. to hit (when he put his second birdies and a bogey to win with of golf. Carlson also paid tribute to “I knew if I had the same men- Pampling birdied the 12th to into the water), but I had to try scores of 67, 64, 64, 69. The auction memorabilia DGC. He said: “I would also like tality that I had the other three open a two shot lead and looked in and make birdie to put some pres- He overtook Jamieson at the included Roger Federer’s auto- to recognise the support of the days that I was going to be fine,” control until his spectacular melt- sure on him.” top of the tour’s Race to Dubai graphed tennis racket, signed Doha Golf Club who has provided he said. “And I did, I turned up down over the final three holes. Last week’s Australian Open money list after the opening two photos of rugby star Dan Carter, us the course and facilities at no today and was more confident Playing in the group ahead of winner Peter Senior, playing in events of the season. retired Formula One star Michael cost in order to host these tour- than any of the other days.” Popovic, Pampling said he knew the last group with Popovic and Sweden’s Magnus Carlsson had Schumacher and former golf naments each year. They have Two-time US PGA tour winner his younger rival had birdied the Brown, faded badly on the final the third hole-in-one in three world number Tiger Woods. been outstanding in their sup- Pampling, who started the round 17th by the cheers of the crowd, day as he shot a five-over 77 to days on the par-3 No. 12. Also among the items was a port towards Seeing is Believing four shots behind Popovic, had so he had to go for it on the dif- finish in 27th place at Sunshine Keith Horne aced the hole signed Liverpool team 2012 jersey and Standard Chartered Bank.” looked to be heading for victory ficult 18th. Coast. AFP Friday and Saturday. AGENCIES and autographed football towards THE PENINSULA Australian PGA Final Round Scores Australian golfers COOLUM, Australia: Scores Geoff Ogilvy and after the final round of the Robert Allenby OneAsia co-sanctioned $1.25m (right) speak with a Australian PGA at the par-72 rules official during Palmer Coolum Resort course play on the seventh yesterday hole during the 272 Daniel Popovic 64-70-69-69 final round of the 276 Rod Pampling 71-67-69-69, Anthony Australian PGA Brown 73-68-64-71 Championship at 277 Geoff Ogilvy 67-69-72-69, Brad the Palmer Resort Kennedy 69-68-70-70 in Coolum on the 278 Richard Green 71-68-70-69, Nathan Sunshine Coast, Green 72-71-66-69 Australia, yesterday. 279 Marc Leishman 69-70-73-67, Steven Bowditch 70-67-74-68, Darren Clarke (NIR) 70-69-72-68, John Senden 73-69-69-68, James Nitties 70-72-68-69, Michael Wright 70- 73-66-70, Stephen Dartnall 68-72- 68-71, Mathew Goggin 71-66-70-72, BMW Golf Cup International Matthew Griffin 69-67-70-73

Alfred Dunhill Championship Final Round Scores MALELANE, South Africa: Leading scores after the final round of the Alfred Dunhill Championship yesterday 264 Charl Schwartzel (RSA) 67-64-64-69 276 Kristoffer Broberg (SWE) 70-69-67- 70 277 Scott Jamieson (SCO) 70-68-71-68, Garth Mulroy (RSA) 71-68-70-68, Andy Sullivan (ENG) 73-71-64-69, Gregory Bourdy (FRA) 66-65-74-72 278 Richard Sterne (RSA) 70-68-70-70, Keith Horne (RSA) 70-69-68-71, Steve Webster (ENG) 67-69-70-72 279 George Coetzee (RSA) 71-70-73-65, Richard Bland (ENG) 67-73-71-68 The participants of the BMW Golf Cup in Qatar pose for a picture. More than 150 players took part 280 David Howell (ENG) 70-73-70-67, in the 18-hole individual stableford event with golfers falling into three categories: Men’s Category A Tyrone van Aswegen (RSA) 70-68-71- (Handicap 1-12), Men’s Category B (Handicap between 12 to 28) and Ladies Category with a Handicap 71, Branden Grace (RSA) 68-71-67- of up to 36. 74 MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Boxing: Khan Trott defies Indian bowlers outclasses Molina to Nagpur Test: Another day of slow batting from England’s top order register NAGPUR: Jonathan Trott joint highest wicket-taker in the scored an unbeaten 66 yesterday series with 20 wickets. comeback to help England reach 161 for Ravindra Jadeja accounted for three at stumps on the fourth the dangerous Pietersen. The day of the fourth cricket Test, South African-born batsman victory making it difficult for India to failed to read the line of the ball force a result in the game and and was castled by the left-arm LOS ANGELES: Britain’s level the series. spinner. There were a few close Amir Khan returned to win- It seemed India would take shouts for the English batsman ning ways after two tough control of the match after Kevin but Trott and Bell soon settled defeats with a comprehensive Pietersen (6) departed with the down taking away any momentum 10th round stoppage of previ- score 94 for three but Trott and the Indian bowlers had built. ously unbeaten American Carlos Ian Bell (24) put on an unbeaten Earlier, India, who resumed Molina in a light-welterweight 67-run stand to help their team the day at 297/8, put on another contest on Saturday night. gain a 165-run lead. 29 runs in the first hour of the Khan (27-3, 19 KOs) dominated Earlier, India had declared at morning session before skipper every round and after telling 326 for nine after batting for an Mahendra Singh Dhoni called Molina he was close to stopping hour in the morning. in Ashwin (29 not out) and the bout after the ninth, referee With England opening up a Ishant Sharma (2 not out) to the Jack Reiss waved off the fight sizeable lead, the match looks to pavilion. at the end of the 10th following be headed for a stalemate which Ojha (3) was the only wicket to another one-sided round. is bad news for the hosts who are fall in the morning when he was Before the bout, the Bolton trailing the four-match series 1-2. clean bowled by left-arm spin- fighter suggested he may adopt England captain Alastair Cook ner Monty Panesar, who picked a more conservative style under (13) failed to fire for the second up his first wicket of the match new trainer Virgil Hunter after innings running, caught behind after bowling 50 overs. an overly aggressive approach off Ravichandran Ashwin. Virat Kohli (103) and Dhoni led to a stunning knockout at the Nick Compton (34) failed to (99) took India out of a critical hands of American Danny Garcia take advantage of a good start and position on Saturday to bring the in July. was trapped leg before wicket by hosts at par with England. However, it was business as Pragyan Ojha, who became the IANS usual at the Memorial Sports ABOVE: India’s Virat Arena for the Olympic silver med- Kohli (right right) allist and former world champion from the opening bell, as Khan exchanges words peppered Molina (17-1-1, 7 KOs) England (I innings)): ...... 330 Bowling: James Anderson 32-5-81-4; Tim with England’s India (I innings): Bresnan 26-5-69-0; Monty Panesar 52-15-81- with his trademark blistering Jonathan Trott on combinations. G Gambhir c Prior b Anderson ...... 37 1; Graeme Swann 31-10-76-3; Jonathan Trott the fourth day of V Sehwag b Anderson ...... 0 1-0-2-0; Joe Root 1-0-5-0. Occasionally, Khan lingered the fourth and final C Pujara c Bell b Swann ...... 26 England ((II innings): too long after landing a flurry of Test in Nagpur S Tendulkar b Anderson ...... 2 A Cook c Dhoni b Ashwin ...... 13 punches and Molina was able to Virat Kohli lbw b Swann ...... 103 N Compton lbw Ojha ...... 34 yesterday. LEFT: land a hard counter punch but the M S Dhoni (run out-Cook) ...... 99 J Trott (batting) ...... 66 India’s Ravindra Briton shook off everything his R Jadeja lbw Anderson ...... 12 K Pietersen b Jadeja ...... 6 Jadeja celebrates opponent threw at him and went R Ashwin (not out) ...... 29 I Bell (batting) ...... 24 removing England’s straight back to work. P Chawla b Swann ...... 1 Extras (B-8, LB-6, NB-4) ...... 18 Kevin Pietersen By the fifth round, Khan, sens- P Ojha b Panesar ...... 3 Total (for 3 wkts) ...... 161 yesterday. RIGHT: ing he had the fight under con- I Sharma (not out) ...... 2 Bowling: Ishant Sharma 12-3-27-0; Pragyan Trott celebrates his trol, relaxed and worked more Extras (B-5, LB-7) ...... 12 Ojha 23-10-39-1; Ravichandran Ashwin 18-9- half century. efficiently and effectively behind Total (for 9 wkts decl) ...... 326 34-1; Piyush Chawla 10-2-20-0; Ravindra the jab, which he used to back Fall of wickets: 1-1, 2-59, 3-64, 4-71, 5-269, Jadeja 16-9-27-1. his opponent towards the ropes 6-288, 7-295, 8-297, 9-317. England lead by 165 runs with 7 wkts in hand before following up with solid combinations. “I thought I stuck to my game plan, which meant sticking to my jab,” Khan told reporters. “Carlos took some really good shots and Dilshan smashes century in Hobart was still coming forward, and that’s when I thought to myself I’d better stick to this game plan.” HOBART: Tillakaratne tomorrow, obviously it’s going to When the end came, Molina Dilshan led a fighting counter- be hard to start tomorrow morn- Australia had asked the referee to allow attack with an gutsy century as ing for the batters, but they’ll dig the fight to continue and sounded Sri Lanka trailed Australia by in and we’ve just got to play it stunned in defeat. 141 runs with two days to play in from there and see how we go and quick “I don’t know what happened,” the first Hobart Test yesterday. see what target we can go with,” the Californian said. “I wanted Dilshan batted for almost seven Siddle said. to pull the trigger but for some hours for his 147 and shared in Dilshan’s innings-saving effort Hilfenhaus reason I couldn’t get my hands a record Sri Lanka stand in came to an end when he was to go. He was fast in his jab and I Australia with Angelo Mathews yorked by Mitchell Starc in the unlikely to was hesitant in trying to get in.” to get the tourists within 114 runs 98th over some 30 minutes after After picking up a much- of the home side’s first innings of tea. needed win, an ebullient Khan 450 for five declared. The 36-year-old right-hander bowl in Test turned his attention towards set- The Australians tightened their hit 21 boundaries off 273 balls and ting up a rematch against the last grip on the match reaching third was primarily responsible for get- HOBART: Australia paceman man to beat him, who was sitting day stumps at 27 without loss ting Sri Lanka past the 251 fol- Ben Hilfenhaus has a side strain ringside. and were in the box seat to press low on after the tourists were in and is not expected to bowl “In that fight, he caught me on for their first victory of the strife at 87 for four at stumps on again in the first Hobart Test with a good shot but I’ll fight domestic summer after losing the Saturday. against Sri Lanka, team phsyio Danny Garcia again, anytime recent three-Test series to South It was Dilshan’s second century Alex Kountouris said yesterday. anywhere,” he said. REUTERS Africa. against Australia following his 104 The Tasmanian swing bowler “It is very satisfying, especially at Galle in 2004. left the field after delivering just as it was against a great bowl- He shared in a record 161-run two balls of his 13th over in the ing attack and in Australia with stand with vica captain Mathews opening hour of the third day’s the extra bounce in the wicket,” for the fifth wicket that took play in Hobart and later was taken Dilshan said of his first century the momentum away from the to hospital for scans. Kountouris in Australia. Australians for a large part of said Hilfenhaus’s injury was on “I always try to score runs and the third day. the mild side but he could still I’ve always been positive through- It eclipsed Aravinda de Silva miss the second Test, starting in out my career. I just go for it first and Ravi Ratnayeke’s previous Melbourne on Boxing Day. ball.” best stand for Sri Lanka down “Ben’s got a side injury. It’s a At the close, Ed Cowan was on under of 144 for the seventh typical fast bowler’s injury where 16 with David Warner not out on wicket at Brisbane in 1989. they get these side strains,” eight. Siddle triggered a late wicket Kountouris said. Sri Lanka, boosted by Dilshan’s collapse, trapping Prasanna “It’s not too bad at the moment, 15th Test century and good play Jayawardene and Rangana Herath but it’s bad enough for him not to from Mathews (75) and Prasanna (0) both leg before wicket, before take the field and we’ll see what Jayawardene (40), were bowled Nuwan Kulasekara was caught in he’s like tomorrow in terms of his out for 336. the deep by substitute Jordan Silk participation in the match, but it’s Peter Siddle, leading the off Nathan Lyon for 23. looking doubtful that he will bowl Australian attack in the absence Siddle mopped up the innings again in the game.” of injured Ben Hilfenhaus, with the wicket of Chanaka Kountouris said the side injury knocked over the Sri Lankan tail Welegedara for a duck, snapped was not as serious as the one that to finish with five for 54 off 25.3 up at gully by Mike Hussey leav- has sidelined fellow paceman overs. ing the Australians 14 overs to James Pattinson for the rest of “It’s about pressing forward negotiate to stumps. REUTERS the Test season. “They’re are completely dif- Scoreboard ferent injuries, I call them side strains because they are in the Australia (I innings): ...... 450/5 decl Total (all out) ...... 336 same region but they are com- Sri Lanka (I innings): Fall of wickets: 1-25, 2-42, 3-70, 4-87, pletely different injuries,” he said. D Karunaratne c Wade b Hilfenhaus ...... 14 5-248, 6-289, 7-316, 8-320, 9-336, 10-336. He added there was now a T Dilshan b Starc ...... 147 Bowling: Starc 24-3-104-1; Hilfenhaus 12.2- question mark over whether K Sangakkara c Hussey b Siddle ...... 4 3-30-1; Lyon 25-8-76-2; Siddle 25.3-11-54-5 Hilfenhaus would play in the sec- M Jayawardene lbw b Watson ...... 12 (1nb); Watson 20.4-5-55-1; Clarke 2-0-9-0. ond Test. The setback to Hilfenhaus is T Samaraweera c Wade b Lyon ...... 7 Australia (II innings): Amir Khan of Great Britain A Mathews lbw Siddle ...... 75 E Cowan (batting) ...... 16 the latest injury to hit Australia’s diminishing reserves of fast celebrates his victory over Carlos P Jayawardene lbw Siddle ...... 40 D Warner (batting) ...... 8 Molina following their vacant N Kulasekara c (sub-Silk) b Lyon ...... 23 Extras (LB-1, NB-2) ...... 3 bowlers this season. Australia’s WBC Silver Super Lightweight R Herath lbw Siddle ...... 0 Total (for no loss) ...... 27 fast bowling stocks are already title fight at Los Angeles Sports S Eranga (not out) ...... 5 Bowling: Kulasekara 6-3-10-0 (1nb), Weleg- Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan leaps in the air after reaching the century- depleted with Pattinson (side), C Welegedara c Hussey b Siddle ...... 0 edara 5-1-10-0 (1nb), Dilshan 2-0-2-0, Eranga mark against Australia on the third day of the first cricket Test match in Patrick Cummins (back) and Josh Arena in Los Angeles, California, Extras (B-2, LB-6, NB-1) ...... 9 1-0-4-0. Hobart yesterday. Hazlewood (foot) all out of action. on Saturday night. REUTERS MONDAY 17 DECEMBER 2012 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31 Vertonghen saves the day for Tottenham Hotspur West Brom held at home by West Ham in 0-0 draw

LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur rekindled their push for Champions League qualification by overcoming Swansea City 1-0 yesterday to return to the Premier League’s top four. Jan Vertonghen claimed the game’s only goal with 15 minutes remaining at White Hart Lane, Corinthians’ midfielder Paulinho (right) and forward Emerson pose with crisply dispatching a free-kick the trophy as they celebrate after winning the FIFA Club World Cup from Kyle Walker to register his 2012 final against Chelsea FC at Yokohama International Stadium in first goal in the English top flight. Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. BOTTOM: (From left), Walker had come closest to Chelsea FC’s David Luiz (silver), Corinthians’ goalkeeper Cassio (gold), breaking the deadlock in the first and Peruvian striker Paolo Guerrero (bronze), hold their respective Best half, only for his rasping 25-yard Players of the Year awards after the FIFA Club World Cup 2012 final, drive to be parried by visiting yesterday. goalkeeper Gerhard Tremmel. Tremmel also denied Jermain Defoe in the closing stages, while injury time saw England mid- fielder Scott Parker make his first Spurs appearance of the season after a spell on the sidelines with an Achilles problem. Spurs had slipped out of the top four after shipping two late goals in a 2-1 loss at Everton last weekend, and Vertonghen said he was relieved that his side had held firm in the closing stages on this occasion. “(The goal) was at the perfect time,” the Belgian centre-back told Sky Sports. “Swansea play good football, but I think we made lots of chances today. We were strong to the end, Tottenham Hotspur’s Jan Vertonghen (second left) celebrates his goal against Swansea City with Aaron Lennon because we know what’s happened (second right) during their English Premier League match at White Hart Lane in London, yesterday. Chelsea boss Benitez in six or seven other games.” There were worrying scenes for Swansea in stoppage time when return to the fray, but visiting because I wanted a free-kick or a struggled to break them down.” top scorer Michu was pole-axed in coach Michael Laudrup criticised red card for Lloris, or a penalty, Injuries meant that West Ham rues missed chances a collision with Spurs goalkeeper referee Mike Dean for not bring- or whatever, but there is a debate manager Sam Allardyce was only Hugo Lloris. ing play to a halt. -- should we kick the ball out?” able to name six substitutes at YOKOHAMA, Japan: Interim defender Gary Cahill also went The Spaniard was able to “I was very angry and it wasn’t he said. The Hawthorns, and the draw Chelsea coach Rafael Benitez close. “I watched it afterwards on the prevented his side from climbing was left to rue a number of Benitez, who became the first television and when it happened, into the top half of the table. missed chances as Chelsea coach to manage three differ- when Michu is going down to the Leaders Manchester United lost 1-0 to South American ent teams at a Club World Cup ground, the referee is watching preserved their six-point lead at champions Corinthians in the final, hinted that he felt his team them, the linesman is watching the top on Saturday, seeing off Club World Cup final in Japan were out-muscled by the Copa them, and still they let the game Sunderland 3-1 at Old Trafford yesterday. Libertadores winners during go on. after second-place Manchester Centre-forward Paolo Guerrero spells of the match. “It is such a poor decision, and City had won by the same score- got the goal on 69 minutes but “They were very physical from dangerous as well.” line at Newcastle United. Benitez felt it was a string of the first minute, in every chal- West Bromwich Albion remain Today’s match sees Arsenal saves from goalkeeper Cassio, lenge, every ball,” the Spaniard in sixth place, two points below travel to Reading, in a repeat later named player of the tour- said. Spurs, after a 0-0 draw at home of the League Cup encounter nament, that made the difference. “In possession they had some to West Ham United extended the between the sides that finished “We knew it would be a tough quality. Once they scored, they Baggies’ run of matches without 7-5 to the London club in October. game against a good team,” were keeping the ball, they were victory to four. Victory for the visitors would Benitez said. passing the ball, and it was dif- West Brom midfielder James take Arsene Wenger’s side up to “I think they had one (clear ficult to regain.” Morrison twice hit the woodwork fifth. AFP cut) chance and they scored and Benitez also suggested that in the second period for the hosts, we didn’t take our chances. That Chelsea were at a disadvantage while Winston Reid, Gary O’Neil was the difference. to Corinthians, who won the Club and Joey O’Brien all narrowly English Premier “We had four very clear World Championship in 2000, failed to find the target for the chances. Their goalkeeper was because they were competing for visitors. League Results man of the match (sic) and for the first time at the interconti- “We created half-chances, but me that means a lot.” nental tournament. West Ham United’s Carlton Cole (centre) shoots past West Bromwich they didn’t fall for us,” Morrison Yesterday’s Results Striker Fernando Torres “Every second they were Albion’s Billy Jones (right) and Jonas Olsson during their English Premier told Sky Sports. Tottenham 1 (Vertonghen 75) Swansea 0 missed three good opportunities, around the referee... doing well, League match at the Hawthorns in West Bromwich, England, yesterday. “West Ham deserve some credit West Brom 0 West Ham 0 including one from close range and wasting time at the end,” as they frustrated us and we with just four minutes to go, while Benitez said. AFP Malaga tighten grip on Juve coach Conte plays Wilshere down Drogba reports ready to sign new contract fourth spot with win MILAN: Juventus coach “We won’t be signing any top Antonio Conte (pictured) has players because we’re not in a rubbished claims the Serie A position to. Neither us, nor other LONDON: Jack Wilshere has MADRID: Malaga moved clear from the middle and the Malaga champions are on the verge of top teams in the Italian league.” given Arsenal a timely boost in fourth place in La Liga late Spanish League defence was stretched as another signing former Chelsea striker A report in yesterday’s Gazzetta by revealing that he is in talks on Saturday with a 2-0 win chance went begging with Diego Didier Drogba. dello Sport newspaper claimed about signing a new contract over 10-man Sevilla who were Results Perotti hitting the side netting. Juve extended their lead over Juve had made “significant with the club. left to rue a first half of wasted Sevilla were forcing a high title challengers Inter Milan to progress” in their bid to sign The London side were elimi- chances. Saturday’s Results tempo but they were nearly seven points yesterday Drogba, who the nated from the League Cup by It was Malaga’s first away win Getafe 1 (Diego Castro 90pen) Osasuna 1 caught out at the other end when thanks to a 3-0 rout of report claimed has fourth-tier Bradford City on since the beginning of September (Echaide 84) Roque Santa Cruz, surprisingly Atalanta. agreed in principle Tuesday and have fallen well off and it appeared far from likely Real Mallorca 0 Athletic Bilbao 1 (Aduriz 11) playing ahead of Javier Saviola, But despite to an 18-month deal the pace in the Premier League as Sevilla dominated the first 45 Granada 0 Real Sociedad 0 headed just past the post with reports claiming the to join the Serie A ahead of today’s trip to bottom minutes but failed to make the still less than quarter of an hour Bianconeri have been champions. club Reading. most of a hatful of opportunities Sevilla 0 Malaga 2 (Demichelis 49, Eliseu played. in talks with Drogba’s Yesterday’s report Wilshere’s return from long- with Alvaro Negredo the most 70-pen) Malaga keeper Willy Caballero representatives, Conte said both parties had term injury has been a rare bright guilty. came to the rescue as he parried said Juventus - and agreed “in principle” spot in a testing season and he Martin Demichelis headed gave them too much space and a Negredo shot from point-blank indeed other major to an 18-month con- says he is on the verge of extend- alaga into the lead after 49 min- we didn’t defend well although we range and the follow-up from clubs in Italy - are in tract but had yet to ing his commitment to the club. utes and then Eliseu Pereira improved later. Jesus Navas was blocked by Jesus no financial position to negotiate and agree “I am talking to the club and I sealed the win with a penalty “We have qualified for the next Gamez. sign top players. financial terms. probably will be committing my which had also seen the dismissal round in two competitions (the Malaga were struggling to Asked if Drogba While Juventus future to the club in the next cou- of defender Federico Fazio for a King’s Cup and the Champions get the ball off Sevilla with Isco would fit Juve’s search president Beppe ple of weeks,” he said. foul on Joaquin Sanchez. League) and after virtually every Alcarcon and Joaquin isolated. for a top striker, Conte Moratta is reported “I know the team are going Malaga are now three points match we have been among the After the break, though, Malaga was unequivocal. to have offered Drogba 3.5m euros through a bad stage at the ahead of fifth-placed Betis who European places in the league so came out with more attacking “Transfer talk seems disre- plus bonuses per season the strik- moment, but that is like any face Celta Vigo today. that speaks for itself.” intent and quickly went ahead spectful to the players in my team, er’s demands hover around the team.” “To win in Sevilla’s stadium is Sevilla were without Hedwiges through Demichelis who headed especially at the current moment,” five million mark, plus bonuses. Arsenal’s on-pitch travails worth double and we have main- Maduro as well as long-term in a Joaquin corner from the far said Conte, who returned to the Drogba headed the equaliser have seen manager Arsene tained our high standards,” said injury victim Piotr Trochowski in post. touchline last week following a and scored the winning penalty Wenger come under scrutiny, but Malaga coach Manuel Pellegrini. midfield, but still took the game to Rakitic went off injured and four-month ban from the sport in the Champions League final Wilshere believes it is too soon “They let us off with three or Malaga and Negredo should have then Fazio was sent off for upend- for his role in a match-fixing victory over Bayern Munich last to write the season off before the four chances at the start of the given them the lead within three ing Joaquin in the box and Eliseu affair. season. year has ended. game but in the second half we minutes. converted the penalty. Speaking to Sky Italia, Conte Juventus routed Chelsea 3-0 “We can still realistically had control, we created chances He rounded the keeper but hit Earlier a controversial Diego added: “It’s a critical time as far in Turin recently on their way to win everything we are in,” said and we won. the post with his weaker right foot Castro penalty gave Getafe a 1-1 as the economy is concerned and qualification for the last 16 of the Wilshere, who was speaking at a “Sevilla are a rivals for a with the goal gaping. draw with 10-man Osasuna. it’s the same for several other Champions League, as the Blues promotional event for the FIFA Champions League place. We Ivan Rakitic was dictating play AFP teams. exited the tournament. AFP 13 video game. AFP Monday 17 December 2012 4 Safar 1434 Volume 17 Number 5551 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Field Hockey: Top stars set Corinthians win Club Cup for big pay The Brazilian football club edges English giants Chelsea in Yokohama day in India NEW DELHI: A financial YOKOHAMA: Brazilian giants windfall awaits the world’s lead- Corinthians won the Club World ing field hockey stars when they Cup in Japan yesterday, over- play in a new Indian tourna- coming European champions ment next month on the lines of Chelsea 1-0 in a closely-fought cricket’s popular Indian Premier encounter. League. Striker Guerrero got the goal The Hockey India League as the Sao Paulo club secured (HIL), sanctioned by the sport’s their second intercontinental title world governing body, will have -- they won the FIFA Club World the top stars turn out for five Championship in 2000. franchised-based teams from Interim Chelsea boss Rafael January 17-February 17, organis- Benitez made three changes to ers said yesterday. the team that thrashed Mexican Indian captain Sardar Singh side Monterrey 3-1 in the semi- was picked up by the Delhi Wave final -- replacing Oscar, John Obi Riders franchise for an annual Mikel and Cesar Azpilicueta with salary of $78,000 at an auction Frank Lampard, Ramires and that began in New Delhi yester- Victor Moses. day and was expected to continue Corinthians coach Tite changed late into the night. just one player from the side that Moritz Fuerste, named the scraped to a 1-0 last-four win over International Hockey Federation’s Egypt’s Al Ahly, bringing in Jorge (FIH) Player of the Year for 2012 Henrique for Douglas. after helping Germany win two The match at the 68,000-capac- successive Olympic gold medals ity International Stadium in in Beijing and London, went to Yokohama was frenetic right from Ranchi Rhinos for $75,000. the first whistle with both sides Dutch veteran Teun de Nooijer, creating several chances as play 36, was sold to the Uttar Pradesh swung from end to end. Wizards for $66,000, while Punjab Chelsea came closest to taking Warriors bought influential the lead after eight minutes when Australian striker Jamie Dwyer Corinthians goalkeeper Cassio for $60,000. fumbled a Gary Cahill effort Among other early gainers were from a corner, before gathering Indian penalty corner specialist the ball just short of the goal-line V R Raghunath ($76,000), Dutch as Victor Moses looked to pounce. goalkeeper Jaap Stockmann On 25 minutes the referee ($68,000) and Australian mid- waved away a penalty appeal by fielder Eddie Ockenden ($65,000). Corinthians when centre-forward Mumbai Magicians was the Guerrero went down softly under Brazil’s Corinthians officials and players pose during a photo session during the awarding ceremony of the 2012 Club World Cup in Yokohama as they fifth franchise in the fray. a challenge by Cahill. celebrate their 1-0 victory against English Premier League (EPL) team Chelsea yesterday. The money paled in compari- Emerson should have scored son to what cricketers make in three minutes later after Cahill the five-year-old IPL -- where top let the ball slip under his foot. But expertly controlling a long-range The Corinthians goalkeeper wide on 64 minutes. There was only four minutes to go. Cahill players earn around $2m a year the Corinthians forward blazed pass from Lampard that split was proving tough to beat, holding finally a breakthrough five min- was sent off shortly afterwards. -- but was still a financial bonanza his shot over the bar from the the Corinthians’ defence. But a onto a long-range shot from Juan utes later when Guerrero headed Torres had the ball in the net in for the hockey stars. edge of the penalty box with just weak shot at Cassio meant the Mata shortly afterwards, and the in from close range after Danilo’s injury time, but it was ruled off- Each of the five squads will have Petr Cech to beat. Brazilians breathed a sigh of teams entered the break goalless. shot was blocked. side and Corinthians held on. 10 foreign and 14 Indian players Guerrero then had a shot relief. The second half started as Benitez brought Oscar on for CONCACAF champions for the televised tournament blocked shortly afterwards before Moses did better two minutes quick as the first, with Eden Moses almost straightaway. But Monterrey took third place ear- described by HIL boss Narinder striker Fernando Torres was sim- later, cutting in from the left and Hazard causing problems for the it was Torres who missed the best lier yesterday, defeating Al Ahly Batra as a “game changer” in the ilarly denied at the other end. curling a shot which Cassio did Corinthians defence before mid- chance to equalise when he shot 2-0 through goals from Jesus world of hockey. The Spaniard should have done well to tip round his left-hand fielder Paulinho gave Cech a fright straight at the goalkeeper from Corona and Cesar Delgado. “The tournament not only pro- better on 37 minutes however, post. with a shot that narrowly went the edge of the six-yard box with REUTERS vides players a great platform to showcase their skills, but also helps them gain financial rewards and raises the profile of hockey in India and across the world,” said Batra. Among the renowned coaches Qatar International Rally next month signed up by the franchises, owned by Indian business houses, DOHA: The Qatar International were Ric Charlesworth and Barry Rally will open the curtains to Dancer of Australia, and Roelant an exciting new season of Middle Oltmans of the Netherlands. East rallying, when the Doha- A file picture of Hockey, often regarded as based event gets the FIA Middle Qatar’s Nasser India’s national sport despite the East Rally Championship under Saleh Al Attiyah country’s obsession with cricket, way on January 24 to 26, 2013. in action during has been relegated to the back- The Qatar Motor and one of the races ground in recent years due to Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) in the 2012 FIA the team’s poor showing in major will be the first club to host an Middle East events. India, who won the last event where no less than five Championship. of their eight Olympic gold med- championships will be run in Al Attiyah is als at the Western-boycotted unison, following the FIA World expected to Moscow Games in 1980, failed to Motor Sport Council’s decision to take part in qualify for the Beijing Games in rubberstamp exciting new regu- the 2013 Qatar 2008 and finished last in London. lations at a meeting in Istanbul International The HIL follows the launch last last week. Rally to be held year of the unsanctioned World The Qatar International next month. Series Hockey, another big-money Rally will begin the usual rally event organised by the rebel series - which is also fought out Indian Hockey Federation that over events in Kuwait, Jordan, opposes Hockey India. Lebanon, Cyprus and Dubai - but With ESPN STAR Sports will also play guinea pig to the introduction of the new rules and has been the traditional open- and the first international rally assistance package to interna- to broadcast the event for the introduction of separate champi- new championships,” enthused ing round of the regional series victory for Prodrive’s Mini S2000. tional entrants. Crews will be first five years and International onships for Group N cars, young Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah for many years and the QMMF Al Kuwari is sure to be one of sev- offered six nights’ free accom- Hockey Federation (FIH) provid- drivers, two-wheel drive vehicles (pictured above), President of is delighted to announce a new eral Qatari drivers keen to win modation for the driver and co- ing a window for the League in and a new T3 category for two the QMMF. headquarters at the Swiss-bel the 2013 event and begin what driver (room and breakfast) at its calendar, the HIL has a firm and four-wheel drive Buggies. “Our event is one of the most Hotel in Doha, although the promises to be a thrilling season the Swiss-bel hotel, the event’s ground to build its launchpad on. Drivers born after November 1st, popular and best supported desert action will be fought out with a maximum haul of 25 cham- new headquarters in Doha. REUTERS 1987 will be eligible for the young rounds of the championship and over special stages to the south pionship points. For further information about driver series. we are delighted to get the new of Doha with clerk of the course His victory in 2012 brought to the 2013 Qatar International Rally, “The FIA Middle East Rally season underway and look for- Elie Semaan at the helm of the an end a nine-year Qatar Rally contact Marie-Lou Cruz, on the The Five franchises Championship has needed a ward to welcoming many new hands-on organising team. winning streak by defending following numbers: Tel: + 974 437 1. Lucknow; 2. Punjab; 3. revamp and a way of encourag- faces to Qatar next month,” he Last year’s event marked the regional champion Nasser Saleh 9884/9885, Fax: + 974 437 9761, Ranchi; 4. Delhi; 5. Mumbai; ing new drivers for several years said. first career MERC victory for Al Attiyah. E-mail: [email protected]. 6. Bangalore (unsold). and we give our full backing to the The Qatar International Rally Abdulaziz and Nasser Al Kuwari The QMMF is offering an qa. THE PENINSULA