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Wednesday 11 December 2013 7 Safar 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5910 Price: QR2

PM calls for Josoor more private Institute sector role launched

Business | 21 Sport | 30

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Emir attends GCC Summit Antarctica spot Project to map coldest on Earth WASHINGTON: The coldest place on Earth is a high ridge on the East Antarctic Plateau where temperatures fell to genetic code a record minus 93.2 degrees Celsius on August 10, 2010, Nasa has said. The previous record was a bracing minus 53.6 degrees of citizens Celsius, set in 1983 at the Russian Vostok Research Station, also in East Antarctica, Nasa said. “We had a suspicion this Sheikha Moza unveils Qatar Genome Antarctic ridge was likely to be extremely cold, and colder than DOHA: H H Sheikha Moza from analysing the personal DNA Vostok because it’s higher up the bint Nasser yesterday launched code of individuals for research hill,” said Ted Scambos, lead scien- Qatar’s human genome project, purposes to clinical applications tist at the National Snow and Ice a groundbreaking initiative to such as treatments tailored to the Data Center in Boulder, Colorado. map the genetic code of citizens genetic make-up of cancers. REUTERS for better diagnoses and treat- Understanding of genetics will ment of various diseases. also allow safer drug prescription, She announced the project, and more effective treatment of Qatar Genome, while addressing diseases and conditions that affect the opening session of the first the patient. Leaders praise World Innovation Summit for Some of the world’s most press- The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with leaders of the other GCC countries during the annual GCC Health (WISH 2013) at Qatar ing healthcare challenges, includ- Summit in Kuwait yesterday. Addressing the summit, the Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Mandela National Convention Centre. ing obesity, mental health, and Al Sabah regretted the failure of the UN Security Council to address the Syrian conflict. Report on page 13 “As a result of the integration road traffic injuries, are the main SOWETO: There were presi- of scientific research and clinical focus of WISH 2013. dents and prime ministers, tens realities, I am pleased to announce “During this conference we of thousands of people and an the project ‘Qatar Genome,’ a aim to provide the ideal environ- endless torrent of words. project that consists of a future ment for intellectual interchange Nearly a hundred heads of state road map for personalised medi- of ideas and to benefit from our Injured boy’s mother to sue circus had travelled from all corners of cine,’’ said Sheikha Moza. shared experiences in the search the world to remember Nelson ‘Qatar Genome’ will be imple- for comprehensive, pioneering DOHA: The mother of the it. “I want all of those who are the very entrance of the circus Mandela, who died last week aged mented in three phases: collecting solutions that cover the neces- Qatari boy who was attacked responsible for the incident (the there was this enclosure where 95, at what had been billed as the samples, analysing them, and then sities of each specialty,’’ Sheikha by a leopard at a circus recently circus, its organisers and the the leopard was.” biggest funeral ever seen. working on tailored medicine. It Moza said. and remains hospitalised, owners of the venue) punished.” It wasn’t a cage. There were See also page 14 will aim at understanding the dis- WISH 2013 has brought has decided to press charges She said she would be petition- iron railings around the animal eases that affect Qataris. together more than 500 global against the circus, its organis- ing that the circus and its crew and they weren’t high enough, Man United win The human genome project health innovators, including heads ers and the owners of the venue not be allowed to leave Doha until she said. There was, however, a MANCHESTER: Manchester internationally serves as a source of state, ministers, senior govern- for negligence and lack of safety the case is decided. Russian woman trainer near the United overcame Shakhtar of detailed information about the ment officials, academics and measures. Umm Khalid said she usually enclosure. Donetsk 1-0 at Old Trafford structure, organisation and func- influential business leaders. Over The mother has appointed a didn’t take her child, Fahad, out, Many children were touching yesterday to secure top spot in tion of the complete set of human two days, these key figures will group of lawyers to prepare a law- but on the fateful day his school- the animal and taking pictures Champions League Group A. genes (genome). This informa- discuss practical, sustainable and suit, local Arabic daily Al Watan mates were going to the circus with it. “The leopard wasn’t United survived near-misses tion is considered the basic set of innovative ways to address some reported yesterday. at Hyatt Plaza so she took him reacting at all as though it were against the Ukrainian champi- “instructions” for the development of the big global health challenges. Umm Khalid, the mother, said there. injected with anaesthetic.” ons before prevailing through a and function of a human being. Continued on page 6 the circus had offered her com- “We reached there at 6pm and Continued on page 8 second-half goal from Phil Jones. Genome studies are moving THE PENINSULA pensation but she had declined the circus was to begin at 6.30. At THE PENINSULA AGENCIES

WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Mercury set to plunge today Qatar, US renew defence pact DOHA: A sudden drop in tem- will be chilly, with the tempera- A senior official from the perature accompanied by strong ture dropping to 16°C. Department of Meteorology said northwesterly winds from chilly Al Wakra and Messaid are to a decrease in temperature was regions of Europe has made the have relatively colder day and expected between December weather colder in Qatar. night with temperatures between 15 and 21, with temperatures Day temperatures could drop 23°C and 14°C. between 17°C and 25°C. to 20 degrees Celsius in places like The wind, with speeds of five This is normally the weather Ruwais today, while the night will to 15 knots, will be northwesterly this time of the year. be the coldest in Al Khor, with but the direction will gradually “You can say this is the onset mercury dipping to 12 degrees C. change to northeasterly. The wind of the winter season,” said the In Doha, the day temperature will, though, lose its intensity official. forecast is 24°C, while the night after dusk. THE PENINSULA

The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with US Secretary of Defence Chuck Hagel at Al Bahr Palace yesterday. Qatar and the US renewed the Defence Cooperation Agreement which governs interactions includ- ing training, exercises and other joint activities, said a statement. Demand for electricity, water rising: Al Sada Urban expansion, Fifa World Cup may put pressure

The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada (left) and Kahramaa President, Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari, during the annual Business Planning Forum of Kahramaa yesterday.

DOHA: The Minister of two-day event is chaired by The Minister hailed the Energy and Industry H E Dr Kahramaa President, Essa bin national campaign for the con- Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada Hilal Al Kuwari, under the theme servation and efficient use of said more efforts should be “Strategic Transformation in water and electricity launched by exerted in terms of strategic Performance”. Kahramaa under the patronage of planning to meet the expected The forum is meant to review the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin increase in demand for elec- department plans from 2014 to Hamad Al Thani. tricity and water arising out of 2018. The forum will set the road Al Kuwari hailed the achieve- the urban expansion as well as map for the next five years for ments and high performance of hosting the World Cup 2022 and electricity, water and customer Kahramaa, where it managed other global events. services sectors in the country. to meet electricity and water Dr Al Sada said this while “This theme is just to the point demand as per the highest inter- inaugurating the annual Business as it reflects Kahramaa interest national quality standards and Planning Forum of Qatar General in Qatar National Vision (QNV). the requirements of GCC inter- Electricity and Water Corporation For the success of this transfor- connection grid. (Kahramaa) yesterday. The mation, Kahramaa mission and “Kahramaa has to be ready to values should be meet the challenges in electricity updated to cope with and water sectors by adopting the the Qatar vision,” strategic planning to achieve the Dr Al Sada said. QNV objectives and Kahramaa The Minister also ambitions,” he said. reviewed perform- Al Kuwari announced the ance indicators of update of mission, objectives, and this year pinpoint- values of Kahramaa, where it will ing the achieve- be officially launched later. ments of electricity The two-day forum hosts and water sectors, Kahramaa directors, managers, saying, “they shows and head of sections to review balanced economic department plans and projects. growth”. THE PENINSULA

Visa exemption for Qataris from Kyrgyzstan DOHA: An official source at the Consular Affairs Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that Kyrgyzstan will exempt Qatari citi- zens of advance visa and allow them to stay for 60 days. In case of they wish to stay for longer, an application should be provided to any of the Kyrgyzstan diplomatic missions abroad or should inform the visa section at Manas International Airport on arrival to get the. They should then report to the consular service department at the Kyrgyzstan Foreign Ministry to get the approval for the required period. QNA

WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME 16.7pc of Qatar adults suffer from diabetes Obesity rate sixth highest in the world

DOHA: Obesity, one of the of obesity among children,” said pressing challenges being dis- Prof Abou-Samra. “Some people cussed at the World Innovation say that this is happening because Summit for Health (WISH) of gene mutation; in my opinion 2013, is raising a lot of concerns it is not our genes that have been as the leading cause of diabetes mutated, it is our lifestyle.” and heart disease, say experts. “If we don’t intervene and Professor Abdul Badi Abou- change the lifestyle habits of the Samra, Chair of the Department country, obesity and diabetes of Internal Medicine at Hamad rates will continue to rise and Medical Corporation (HMC) this can have some very serious said: “The increasing prevalence consequences,” he added. of obesity and diabetes in Qatar Changing lifestyles is however a is very concerning, especially as challenging process, he explained. the rates are already very high.” “To become healthy, people Qatar is thought to have the need to reduce their consumption sixth highest rate of obesity and of calorie-dense food and imbed H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser taking part in a panel session during the opening of WISH 2013 yesterday. AR AL BAKER the fourth highest rate of diabetes physical activity in their daily worldwide. Diabetes is a complex routine, for example by walking condition which can lead to debil- when possible instead of driving.” itating long-term complications There are however simple and and acute illnesses. The disease effective ways to incorporate Top dignitaries share experience at WISH has reached epidemic proportion physical activity into one’s daily in Qatar and it is estimated that routine, even for those with office Continued from page 1 to secure the health we want. uptake of innovative approaches Simon Stevens, president of as many as one third of diabetics jobs. In an opening discussion Better health for all of us, who- for dealing with obesity, men- Global health division at the are not aware of their illness. “Research has shown that Sheikha Moza, Princess Lalla ever we are and wherever we tal health, road traffic injuries, United Health Group delivered “Science has proven the link spending one hour a day stand- Salma of Morocco, the Duke of live. Yet, too often, policy plays accountable care, antimicrobial the keynote address on the between obesity and diabetes. ing while doing office work can York KG, Professor the Lord catch up with innovation rather resistance, end-of-life, patient importance of innovation. Obesity has been found to be a prevent obesity and is healthier Darzi of Denham, the Chairman than supporting and making it. engagement, and big data and WISH will today unveil a major risk factor for Type-2 for the joints and blood circula- for the Institute of Global Health This summit is about getting healthcare. Global Innovation Diffusion diabetes, accelerating its onset tion,” said Prof Abou-amra. Innovation at Imperial College one step ahead. Our ambition is Drawing on the most exciting Study, the first of its kind, to in a person’s life,” said Prof “Taking the stairs instead of London and Executive Chair of to lead our health systems to a innovations in these fields from assess eight countries in terms Abou-Samra. using elevators and choosing a WISH, and Sir Donald Tsang of better future by learning from around the world, the forums of how their systems contribute “Diabetes is a very serious dis- parking spot that is further away Hong Kong shared their expe- each other and by embracing will identify practical options toward transformative change — ease that creates a lot of social from the entrance are also good rience and views on enhancing innovation.” for policymakers which have the whether through innovation in and economic burdens on the tips.” healthcare. The summit’s forums, chaired potential to positively impact technology, processes or business country. Nearly 16.7 percent of In addition to proactively treat- Lord Darzi said, “We must by experts, seek to stimulate upon these pressing challenges models. Qatar’s adult population suffers ing obesity and diabetes, Prof embrace the innovation we need discussion and encourage the and improve healthcare for all. THE PENINSULA from this disease, which is very Abou-Samra also emphasised high compared to the global rate HMC’s commitment to helping of seven percent to eight percent.” reverse the epidemic by actively “We are now also seeing dia- looking at ways to address the betes cases in young children. metabolic problems of the popu- Twenty years ago this was a dis- lation, including obesity, diabetes, ease of the old; the shift is hap- hypertension and dyslipid. pening because of the rising rate THE PENINSULA

Aung San Suu Kyi delivers a keynote speech during the H R H Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco signing the visitor’s book at Qatar Foundation (QF) World Innovation Summit for Health at Qatar National yesterday. A committee led by Engineer Saad Al Muhannadi, President of QF, received Convention Centre in Doha yesterday. The Chair of the Dept of Internal Medicine at HMC, Prof Abdul Badi Abou-Samra the wife of the King of Morocco Mohammed VI, at QF’s Visitors Centre. Help build Myanmar’s healthcare system: Suu Kyi

DOHA: The Myanmarese Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi yesterday urged experts to sup- port re-building her country’s healthcare system. Delivering a keynote speech at the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) 2013 at the Qatar National Convention Centre, Suu Kyi asked the experts present to change the health sector in Myanmar. “I hope those who present in this summit interested support to change healthcare of Myanmar,” she said in her speech, which received a standing ovation by the audiences. She explained that Myanmar inherited healthcare system from colonials who ruled the country for 60 years, and best healthcare was built after independ- ence. But after the military regime came to power in 1960, the healthcare system destroyed and now Myanmar has poor healthcare facilities. However, work to renovate the Yangon General Hospital, the largest healthcare facility in Myanmar, has commenced with the support of Professor the Lord Darzi of Denham, Chairman for the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London and Executive Chair of WISH. “We are working to renovate it, redesign it and turn it as a flagship hospital for people who are struggling to put up life politically, socially and economically,” said Suu Kyi. She also made suggestions on changes which could be introduced for better healthcare systems which could function with a more emphasis on spirituality. With reference to the WISH’s aims on introducing innovation in healthcare she said,” We also need the spiritual balance for a healthy society. The kind of innovative healthcare is one rooted in human values,” “Please look at the spiritual aspect of health, spir- itual health is also important as physical and mental health. This is something all of us can participate,” said Suu Kyi. Making a special reference to public healthcare she said, “Without care, health can be nothing more than a perfunctory system of medicines and treatments.” THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME National Day events at West End Park Thousands of expatriates to converge to express their affinity with Qatar through ‘One Love’ programmes

DOHA: The newly opened West End Park in the Industrial Area Corniche Road to close on is all set to welcome thousands of expatriate workers and fami- lies on National Day - December Saturday for four hours 18 - with a rich mix of cultural, sports and entertainment DOHA: The Corniche Road will be closed for four hours from events. 5am on Saturday for rehersals of the National Day parade. The Committee of Associated Commuters have been advised to take alternative routes. Programmes for Qatar National Some 70 buses will be conducting shuttle services to the Corniche Day is working with a number of on the National Day to transport people attending the day-long cel- expatriate schools and organisa- ebrations, a local Arabic daily reported yesterday, quoting a senior tions to make the celebrations a official of the organising committee. big success. People can catch the buses at parking spots near the Central The programmes themed ‘One Post Office, Qatar Petroleum building, Souq Waqif and the Qatar Love’ will embody the love and Sports Club. affinity of expatriate communi- Special booths have been set up at the venue to provide informa- ties to the country they live in and tion to the public about the National Day programmes. Visitors can its people. also report about their lost items at these booths. A work group meeting was THE PENINSULA held on Monday to assess the preparations in the presence of arrangements, programme sched- A Sri Lankan team will per- the director of Public Relations ules, parking facilities and mecha- form Sinhala, Tamil, English and Department of the Ministry of nisms of controlling the entry and Baila songs and stage dances of Interior Col Abdullah Khalifa exit of the public. Kandyan, Heritage and Malay Al Muftah and Mana Ibrahim Programmes at West End Park styles led by Denu. The sprawling West End Park in the Industrial Area. Al Mana, officials from the will start with the Qatari national The afternoon session will start Committee of Associated anthem at 8am by school students with performances by Indian Programmes. and will be followed by a parade teams including a Bengali Folk Sri Lankan stage dances of herit- (8pm to 11pm) and Philippines donation camp by HMC and Lt Col Sultan Mohammed Al of students from the four partici- dance by Bangiya Parishat, Dasara age style and songs by expatriate musical show on December 19 first aid training by Qatar Red Kaabi, head of community polic- pating schools. The seven-minute festival dance by Karnataka singers. (4pm to 10pm). Entry to the Crescent will also be held. ing section at Rayyan Security parade will highlight Qatari Sangha and Duff muttu – Kerala Apart from songs in Hindi, musical concert is restricted by The venue is provided with pray Department, president of Indian traditions. traditional performance – by Jalil Malayalam, Tamil, Sinhala, tickets. areas, resting areas for families, Cultural Centre Tarun Basu, A music competition and a the- and team .They will be followed by Telugu and English, there will be The West End Park cricket sta- restaurants, emergency medical representative of Sri Lankan matic song competition will be songs by a Sri Lankan troupe in a south Indian fusion dance by dium with 12,000 seating capac- services, community Bazar and community Tariq Kassim, coordi- held between the schools before Sinhala, English and Baila. Indian Culture Center and Odissi ity will witness a cricket match other necessary services for the nators from MES Indian School, different Asian communities start There will be a dance competi- group dance by Utkalika. between Indian, Pakistani, Sri public. Pak Shama, Noble International performing a variety of cultural tion for the participating schools A Harley-Davidson motor bike Lankan and Bangladeshi com- More than 130 volunteers will School and Sri Lankan school and entertainment shows on the followed by a thematic show on show, display of driving simulator munity teams on December 18. work for the smooth running of attended the meeting. stage. Qatar where each school will and seat belt convincer and com- The matches will be managed by the events from 6am to 10pm. A Officers from Internal Security In the morning session, Indian present a 10-minute skit featur- petition focusing on traffic for the Lagan Cricket Club headed by lost-and-found office managed by Force (Lekhwiya), commu- community teams will be show- ing Qatar. public with gifts for winners will Azeem Abbas. Community Policing Section will nity policing section of Rayyan casing their traditional art forms Evening programmes beginning also be part of the celebrations. Free blood and sugar checking distribute tags among the chil- Security Department and Civil such as Melam by Doha KSCA, at 6pm will include songs in dif- The West End Park open thea- will be held in collaboration with dren accompanying the families Defence and representative of Maharasthra folk dance by ferent languages as well as shows tre which can accommodate over the Supreme Council of Health, to help them identify missing Red Crescent and heads of vari- Maharashtra Mandal, Tamil folk such as Maharashtra lejime led by 14,000 will host a Nepalese musi- Hamad Medical Corporation, children. Two hotline numbers ous sub committees were also dance by Varadrajan and team Nayanawagh and team, Oppana — cal show on December 17 (4pm Qatar Red Crescent, Aster (5589 9682/5548 3466) have also present. and songs in Hindi, Kannada, Kerala traditional performance, to 10pm), Indian and Pakistani Medical Centre and Naseem Al been allocated for this purpose. The meeting evaluated the Malayalam and Tamil. Gujarati Garba — Gujarat Samaj, musical show on December 18 Rabeeu Medical Centre. A blood THE PENINSULA

Celebrations Online applications for UK’s E-Visa Waiver from January 1

DOHA: Online application for UK are not allowed to travel with departure from the UK includ- the Electronic Visa Waiver an EVW. ing time, date and plane/train/ (EVW) for citizens of Qatar, An EVW can be completed up ship number. the UAE and Oman intending to three months before the travel The personal details on the to visit the UK can be submit- date and must be completed at EVW form must exactly match ted up to three months before least 48 hours before departure those shown in the passport . travel. to the UK. Each traveller must If the applicant is visiting the The EVW being introduced present a paper copy of their UK as part of a multi-leg trip, he from January 1 allows citizens of EVW at the departure port (air, should include details of the last these countries to travel to the sea or train) and again on arrival leg of the journey to the UK. If the UK for tourism, business or study in the UK. Electronic copies on person leaves the UK and want to purposes without a visa, for up to phones, tablets or personal com- re-enter, he will need a separate six months. puters will not be accepted. Each EVW for that journey. An EVW form can be com- EVW document is only valid for Once an EVW form is suc- pleted online from anywhere in a single entry to the UK. cessfully submitted, the appli- the world. It is free of charge and An EVW form can be filled at cant must complete the signature quicker than applying for a visa. Visa4UK, the country’s online and declaration sections. He will There is no need to provide bio- applications system. The web site receive confirmation that the metric information (photo and provides with an option of apply- form has been submitted by email fingerprints), attend a visa appli- ing for a visa or an EVW if the which contains a link to the EVW cation centre or hand in the pass- applicant is eligible. document. It can be saved and port in advance of travel. The applicant must provide printed immediately or at a later Those intending to study or details on port of departure, date. The EVW document will stay in the UK for more than including time, date and plane/ replace the requirement to com- six months, work, get married or train/ship number; arrival in the plete a landing card on arrival. The Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah register a civil partnership in the UK, including time and date; and THE PENINSULA (centre) cutting the cake with Minister of Environment H E Ahmed Amer Mohamed Al Humaidi (right) and Japanese Ambassador Shingo Tsuda on the 80th birthday of the Emperor of Japan at the Japanese ambas- sador’s residence yesterday. ABDUL BASIT QNRF showcases support for global research DOHA: Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF), show- cased its support for interna- Mother says leopard attack tional research cooperation by hosting the Global Research Council (GRC) regional meet- ing, a two day event which con- cluded on Sunday. damaged child’s windpipe Following a bidding process, QNRF was selected to host the Continued from page 1 but in vain. Two men, a Qatari Umm Khalid said that for the GRC regional meeting by the “My son also wanted to be and an Egyptian, rushed and first five days in the hospital National Science Foundation photographed with the animal, pulled the animal’s jaws apart Fahad was not able to speak. (NSF), a governing board for so I took out my camera. But with force. They eventually suc- “He would simply cry looking GRC. QNRF is a leading fund- the trainer stopped me. She said ceeded in getting my son out of at people. He began speaking only ing agency in the Middle East and I could take pictures with the the animal’s grip.” later.” His condition is now stable North Africa (Mena) region. mobile phone but if I needed to “My son was bleeding profusely. but he hasn’t fully recovered since Representatives from the local use a camera I must pay.” The children standing around the leopard had buried his teeth and international science and “I handed her a QR500 note were shocked and hysterical. I deep in his neck and his windpipe research community from 12 The Executive Director of QNRF Dr Abdul Sattar Al Taie during his address. and asked her to return the was screaming for an ambulance.” is affected, she said. countries attended the productive change.” Even after all this no one She said one of the reasons for sessions, furthering GRC’s objec- The trainer, according to Umm from Hyatt Plaza administration her deciding to file a lawsuit was tive of advancing research and It is a tool that crafts tomorrow’s document will be updated and Khalid, asked her to leave her son turned up. There were no security to make sure that such incidents development excellence by ena- progress. In Qatar, research is addressed at the GRC’s third near the enclosure and go and personnel to be seen anywhere did not occur here in future. bling the exchange of knowledge. essential to achieving the nation’s Annual Meeting which will be occupy her seat in the circus. around, Umm Khalid claimed. Umm Khalid, incidentally, In his opening address, Dr mission and transformation into a held in Beijing, China next year. “However, as soon as I turned “A fellow Qatari woman holds a master’s degree in social Abdul Sattar Al Taie, Executive knowledge based economy.” Dr Graham Harrison, to leave, the leopard attacked my informed the ambulance service science and has written a book, Director of QNRF, said: “At Eminent researchers from Programme Officer in the Office son. I got back instantly and saw but it arrived late. We got in and which has been translated into QNRF, we have always been across the Mena region shed of International and Integrative him lying on the ground and the I asked the driver to speed up French and English. It is part of inspired by the tremendous light on their respective country’s Activities at the NSF, explained animal had buried his teeth in his as my son was bleeding, but the the school curriculum in Lebanon, potential that research has for efforts to address these themes. GRC’s origins, mission and neck.” driver wouldn’t listen. The ambu- said Al Watan. growth, security and prosperity. As a result of the QNRF hosted developments. “I tried to pull the leopard away lance had no siren as well.” THE PENINSULA Research is defining our future. regional discussions, a feedback THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Safety of workers prime concern, says Qatar Rail All employees go through training on simulators

BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB called to inform the media about precautionary measures to ensure the progress on its various worker’s safety, for instance, DOHA: Qatar Railways projects and their importance newly arrived workers are given Company (Qatar Rail) yes- in providing a modern and effi- blue coloured helmets so that terday reiterated that health, cient transportation network in extra care is given to them.” safety and wellbeing of all con- Qatar. Present were several sen- Asked if a worker does not struction workers, associated ior officials of Qatar Rail, includ- find the given working condi- with its different projects, are ing Saad Ahmed Al Muhannadi, tions suitable, what is done in among the top priorities of the CEO and Hamad Ibrahim Al such cases, he said: “They are company. Bishri, Deputy CEO/Acting Chief free to leave the country without Abdulla Abdulaziz Al Subaie, Programme Officer. facing any hassle. The concerned Board Member and Chairman of After the press conference, company will clear his dues and Executive Committee of RAIL members of the media were provide return ticket to his home said: “We have categorically con- taken to the construction sites country.” veyed to all the concerned com- of Lusail Light Rail Transit Qatar Rail is overseeing the panies associated with different (LRT), to show the safety train- construction of integrated rail- projects of Qatar Rail to practice ing facilities and one of the LRT’s way network, including the LRT, One of Lusail Light Rail Transit’s underground stations at Energy City, whose civil work is 100 percent complete highest standards of safety and underground stations located at Doha Metro and Long Distance and ready for mechanical, electrical, and plumbing installations. SHAIVAL DALAL wellbeing for the construction Energy City, whose civil work is Passenger and Freight Rail which workers.” 100 percent complete and ready will be connected to rail networks “We are constantly monitor- for MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, of other GCC countries. metro projects is moving along as the new Hamad International percent of the structure of the ing to ensure that all the labour and Plumbing) installations. According to reports, the esti- scheduled, and that for the LRT Airport, the Education City, and bridge overseeing Al Khor and camps must meet the necessary Speaking about the safety of mated cost of the integrated has reached advanced stages. the West Bay area. the LRT. The project is slated to conditions such as adequate bed construction workers, Al Bishri rail project is nearly $40bn The LRT will work in full inte- With regards to the LRT, Al be officially delivered by 2017. space, dining space, sanitation said: “Every individual worker, (QR145bn). So far Qatar Rail gration to connect Qatar’s key Muhannadi revealed that Qatar The LRT is composed of four and quality food as per the pref- irrespective of his designation has signed several agreements areas with each other and with Rail has finalised the tunnelling lines extending to 30.5km in total, erence of workers,” he said. and previous experience, has to worth over QR32bn ($8.8bn), their vital extensions — whereby works for the project, and com- among which are 19km at ground Al Subaie, who is also the go through necessary trainings to proceed with the preliminary the Doha Metro will link the pleted over 60 percent of the level, 10km underground, and Managing Director of Qatar Rail, on simulators before starting works for the Doha Metro and capital’s inner and outer areas structure for drilling works for 1.5km at grade. was speaking at a press meeting their job… We take all possible the LRT, whereby work for the such as the ambitious Lusail City, its stations, and in addition, 50 THE PENINSULA

Children in Qatar spend most of Katara to host expo on basketball DOHA: An exhibition dedicated to basketball collection as well as the collection of the QOSM will open today at Katara, held in parallel with narrate the history of FIBA and the development the ongoing FIBA 3x3 All Stars event here. of the FIBA World Championships for both men their free time playing: Study On display until Saturday, the “Basketball4all” and women. exhibition is being organised by QMA’s Qatar “We recommend everyone to visit this exhibi- BY RAYNALD C RIVERA Olympic & Sports Museum (QOSM). tion which features a Michael Jordan signed jer- It displays the history of basketball from its sey from the NBA All Star Game 1988 as well as DOHA: Children in Qatar enjoy invention by Canadian American James Naismith documents and trophies highlighting the history most of their free time playing in 1891, when he wrote the first rules for this new of basketball,” said QOSM Director Dr Christian compared to children in other game, and showcases the growing popularity of the Wacker. GCC countries, a recent study game played by millions around the globe today. In addition, one section is dedicated to the FIBA has found. Historical footage and original objects from 3x3 basketball, a version of the game in which the According to a study on play- the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) teams play with one basket. THE PENINSULA ing behaviour of children in the GCC, children in Qatar spend 33 percent of their free time in play-related activities compared to Bahrain (26), the UAE (21) and Oman (21) where the research was done. The Children’s Play Index (CPI) 2013 was announced by Fun Ville, a play area under the Landmark Leisure at a press event yesterday at Ezdan Mall. TNS, a global research organi- sation, conducted the study in September this year in the four GCC countries where Fun Ville is present. “This kind of information was never before available in the region,” Odisseas Trikaliotis, TNS Senior Group Account Director, told The Peninsula after his The Marketing Manager of Landmark Group, Rajgopal R, Marketing Manager presentation. of Fun City, Kunal Harisinghani, and TNS Senior Group Account Director, He revealed the four GCC Odisseas Trikaliotis, after a presentation on GCC Children’s Play Index at countries had a combined index Ezdan Mall yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT score of 25 which means children from these countries appear to have a good balance between play Among the activities children children spend at school. “Fun and other activities during their do during their free time, eating Ville’s Children Play Index is our daily routine spending 25 percent scored the highest at 25 percent effort to bring widespread aware- of their total free time in play- while reading was lowest at 0.5 ness for a well-balanced growth related activities. percent. Qatar had higher than and development of children in The research which focused on the average as children spent 27.7 the region through a fair split of children aged 2 to 12 also found percent of their free time on eat- time spent between academic and close to 40 percent of them pre- ing while least on creative time play related activities during the ferred spending time on games (1.8). The study also found chil- day,” said Silvio Liedtke, Chief played on personal devices. This dren engaged more on passive (14) Operating Officer, Landmark preference was highest in Qatar than active activities (11) and that Leisure. at 50 percent and lowest in Oman mothers (27) were more involved Kunal Harisinghani, Marketing at 29 percent. in their children’s activities than Manager, Fun City said the study In the age group of 9 to 12, fathers (7). would be of great help in schools, this preference increases to 50 Asian children spent less time the government and policymakers percent. Seventy percent of the playing compared to local Arab in Qatar and the entire GCC. parents surveyed depend on these and Western and other expatriate “Many schools are visiting games to keep their children children, the study revealed. our facilities and we are actually entertained. Thirty percent of Fun Ville Children’s Play Index sharing the results with them so them are not aware of the games is a survey conducted among 1,000 they can design their timetables played by their children on these family respondents from different accordingly.” devices. Qatar also scored high on nationalities with children in the Parents can also compute their the average number of electronic four GCC countries. child’s play index using Fun Ville devices owned which was 7 com- The index defines the share of Play Index Calculator available at pared to the UAE (4), Oman (3) playing time among other daily www.funville.ae. and Bahrain (3). activities excluding the time THE PENINSULA

Lulu to mark 11.12.13 with TV promotion DOHA: Lulu is set to make his- are also benefited by adding This promotion is aimed at tory with a highly innovative another 10 percent to their sav- supporting expatriates who are Half Pay Back Promotion on ings if they do their purchase on constrained to remit the customs televisions today, to celebrate Lulu-Doha Bank Credit Card, duty at the airports while carry- the turn of unique calendar day which means that a customer ing televisions for their domestic of 11-12-13. who is buying the television worth use back at home, a press release This unique calendar day will QR1,000 using this credit card from Lulu said yesterday. be repeated only after 90 years. will have a saving of 60 percent. Lulu Hypermarket Group also Customers are entitled to get a Customers who do cash pur- started its Winter Sale of gar- gift voucher worth QR500 on chases of televisions will get a ments yesterday which will con- every purchase of a television direct savings of 50 percent on tinue till December 31. worth QR1,000. The customers their purchase. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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USSIAN President Vladimir Putin has reacted with alacrity after Canada staked a claim on the North Pole. The North Pole has been in the international glare for Ra few years with the Arctic rim nations claiming the riches, mainly oil and gas, under the sea. It is estimated that the How Mandela’s economic North Pole continental shelf has 13 percent of oil reserves and 30 percent of hidden natural gas reserves. Increasing reliance on energy and a projected exponential rise in demand for policies brought change hydrocarbon products have kept the region on tenterhooks for the last few years. Russia’s Gazprom is the Big Brother among the entities exploring the region for the product that is seen to BY JONATHAN POWER When Mandela became president he influence the dynamics of geopolitics and geostrategy. A defiant took over a country that had been bat- Putin yesterday asked his troops to bolster their presence in the N THE days when Mikhail tered by sanctions. The rate of economic Arctic. Weeks ago, Putin had 30 Greenpeace protesters, including Gorbachev was president of the growth for years under white rule had Growing income some journalists, arrested for trying to board an oil platform ISoviet Union, engaged in his policy been mediocre and inflation was a high owned by the energy giant Gazprom. Last year, senior members of of Glasnost and disarmament, for which 14pc a year, the budget deficit was 8pc disparities have worked he won the Nobel Peace Prize, he used to and interest rates were 16pc — busi- the international environmental advocacy group had boarded the have a feisty press secretary who, asked nesses could not afford to borrow. to justify crime. Seeing platform and flown the flag without meeting much resistance. about the deteriorating economic situa- Quite quickly he and his economic or at least knowing about Canada says that an undersea mountain range called the tion, replied that his boss didn’t win the advisers got the economy going. Inflation Lomonosov Ridge is an extension of its territory in the Arctic. Nobel for Economics. fell to 5pc over the next decade. The the lifestyle of the white Russia, it seems, is trying to pre-empt the move by other Pacific Could he have said the same about deficit fell to to 1.5pc and interest rates and black middle class, Rim nations to hover on the strategic wealth of the Arctic. Nelson Mandela? Yes and no. Yes, when dropped to under 9pc. Foreign invest- Mandela first came out of jail, he talked ment rushed in. young men in particular With Ukraine burning in its neighbourhood and the volatile of the need for massive nationalisation Under apartheid, exports had been a work to grab what they Caucuses behaving like quicksand for Russian foreign policy, and forcible wealth redistribution. No, very modest 10pc of total output. They cannot earn. Putin’s move to boost security presence reeks of desperation. when president, having learnt a thing are now up to 25pc. The economy has The Kremlin has not come out of or two about what had been going on doubled in size since the onset of black Canada’s claim the Cold War disposition of asserting in Africa, he began to preach another rule, growing at an average of 3.2pc a middle class life, joining the whites in its presence even in the face of message. He saw year compared with 1.6pc a year in the their posh, well-protected suburbs and to the Arctic has that most of last eighteen years of white government. driving the same luxury cars. Is it sur- excruciatingly difficult circumstances black Africa had Thanks to the pace of economic prising that among the poor there has set the cat among which make its response look adapted “African growth, tax revenues have doubled and developed a “culture of envy”? the pigeons in the preposterous and pugnacious. Putin’s socialism”. This, the Mandela government knew where Growing income disparities have announcement comes in the wake of A majority of together with to spend it. The government went into worked to justify crime. Seeing or at Kremlin, and an the government dissolving the RIA dictatorships and high gear to bring electricity, drinking least knowing about the lifestyle of the workers in maladministra- water, sewerage, primary schools and white and black middle class, young men alarmed Putin is Novosti, the Russian news agency. He jobs have seen tion, had led to health clinics to much of the massive in particular work to grab what they likely to commit declared plans to form a news agency decades of rising shanty town population. The propor- cannot earn. The murder rate shot up. foreign policy called Rossia Segodnaya or Russia their incomes poverty. Even in tion of Africans living on the UN mini- (It is now coming steadily down.) Today, which is to be headed by a and spending Tanzania, where mum income of $2 a day fell from 12pc At the same time, to Mandela’s dis- errors. the benign lead- to 5pc. may, corruption spread its tentacles — notorious news anchor known for his power rise but anti-Western and ership of the But there were a number of impor- too raw a capitalism engenders this. Top workers in the sage-like, incor- tant things that Mandela and his succes- office holders in the ruling party, the non-progressive views. ruptible, Julius sors failed to make much progress on. A African National Congress, have a finger Putin has tried to straddle the Arctic by throwing around the most menial and Nyerere, gave the majority of workers in jobs have seen their in all sorts of scams and deals. weight of the Russian nation or whatever has been left of it. From unskilled jobs country a spirited incomes and spending power rise but Last but not the least of the problems Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, the country of Leo Tolstoy, who wrote have done badly. sense of emanci- workers in the most menial and unskilled is the paucity of progress in land reform. War and Peace, is engaged in an exercise to assert its presence in pation, the econ- jobs have done badly. High youth unem- Given the right backup — as was done the region by means as far from righteousness as can be. omy eventually ployment is the most worrying failure. in Taiwan and South Korea — this could lost momentum A country that long has had one of transform the livelihood of large num- The move to dissolve the news agency smacks of a tendency as Nyerere pushed socialist shibboleths. the world’s worst distributions of equal- bers of rural poor. to engage in propaganda. Similarly, arm-twisting the Caucasus Mandela told the African Union that ity has seen no improvement. Indeed, The South African economy is work nations and virtually coercing Ukraine to join a customs union “the fault lay not in our stars but in some economists say it has worsened. in progress. It is not doing as well as instead of letting it get closer to the European Union are an ourselves”. Now president of a multi- A black elite has been created, partly other African countries, like Tanzania extension of Moscow’s highly flawed policy towards its neighbours. racial state, he realised that old-school, because of Mandela’s policy of “black and Nigeria. It has been hit by trou- top-down socialism could not work if his empowerment”, when the white busi- bles in the mining industry — declining Canada is no Ukraine or Georgia. country was to progress. ness sector was pressured to give a metals’ prices and severe labour unrest. The North American nation belongs to the select club of Around the same time, other African few thousand blacks a cut of its pie, Today, the political leadership is not countries known for its progressive and liberal outlook combined countries got the message too. Today putting them on the board of compa- good. Nevertheless, compared with the with a propensity for welfare measures for its population. In Africa has some of the fastest growing nies and giving them shares at knock pre-Mandela days, an enormous amount taking on Canada, Putin is committing a strategic error for which economies in the world. Mobile phone down prices. Besides that, many blacks, of progress has been made. That is a Russia may have to pay dearly in the long run • sales — a useful indicator — are growing pulling at their own bootstraps, have part of his extraordinary legacy. much faster than in any other continent. heaved themselves into a comfortable THE PENINSULA The other side Quote of The alignment puzzle the day S Vice-President Joe Biden the Chinese air defence zone. Now is in a dilemma as he rubs shoulders until his preconditions are met. and Defence Secretary South Korea has come up with its with the Pakistani authorities. This is All this boils down to an equation Chuck Hagel went out with own expanded air zone boundaries. the first high-profile visit by a senior wherein the US is not in a comfortable Uthe same mission: To convey The response from Tokyo has also not official from the US security establish- position either to commit or retreat There are too many to the allies that Washington was there been one of quiet acquiescence with ment since the last four years. The while responding to the needs and to assist them but was not in a position the government not ready to submit rising political storm in Pakistan over aspirations of its allies. The situation leaders who claim to alter the status quo. That is what meekly to Beijing’s assertiveness. The US drone attacks, which has led to is reminiscent of the Monroe Doctrine, Biden categorically told Tokyo and political and security authorities in the suspension of Nato supplies to wherein the then US president James solidarity with Seoul, advising them not to read too Japan are considering the possibility landlocked Afghanistan via Pakistan, Monroe pledged that the US would much into the new air defence zone of amending the constitution and will not be easy to address until and not interfere in European matters and Madiba’s struggle of China and to keep their cool. At the reviewing the nuclear programme. unless Pentagon officially commits Europe too should not seek to colonise for freedom, but do same time, Washington came down This has put the US in a dilemma, itself to halting the flying sorties. This South or North America. It is anybody’s hard on Beijing, criticising it for opening caught between its allies and China. impasse comes close on the heels guess if Biden and Hagel will bring not tolerate dissent a Pandora’s box by delimiting the skies. There is little that the Americans can of an upset in Kabul where President back a similar message to President Biden, however, was unsuccessful do in terms of limiting Chinese influ- Hamid Karzai is resisting a bilateral Barack Obama. from their own Barack Obama in preventing Seoul from reacting to ence. Similarly, in South Asia, Hagel security arrangement with Washington Khaleej Times people. US President WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 China’s ambition creates holes US can exploit Washington could use the controversy over the air defence zone to press Beijing into agreeing to some form of crisis- management mechanism among four countries in northeast Asia.

BY VICTOR D CHA and agreement on future rules of engage- ment in contested airspace is like telling hina’s not-so-blue skies were a reckless driver to be more careful the the primary topic of conver- next time he is on the road. It is hardly sation during Vice-President a full-throated rejection of China’s uni- Joe Biden’s recent trip to East lateral action. Demanding a retraction of Asia. The issue, of course, was the zone, however, contravenes China’s Cnot climate change but Beijing’s decla- sovereign rights; that Biden’s toughly ration last month of a new air defence worded demarches stopped short of call- identification zone that requires aircraft ing for China’s claims to be rescinded is flying through the area to identify them- tacit acknowledgment of this fact. selves and to file a flight plan. There is no international regulatory Although the declaration of such zones body to submit grievances about such is the sovereign right of states, the inter- identification zones, yet these overlap- national norm is that countries do not ping demarcations are certain to lead unilaterally declare zones that overlap to accidents or miscalculation between with other countries’ airspace and with Chinese, Japanese, South Korean and disputed territory. even US aircraft at some point. In this case, China did both. Half of Chinese actions reflect Beijing’s view its new zone duplicates Japan’s over the that the US must accede to China’s disputed territory of a Japanese-owned expanding sphere of influence in Asia. island chain (which the Japanese call It is hard to see a “win” for Washington US Vice-President Joe Biden (left) with his Chinese counterpart Li Yuanchao at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing last week. Senkakus and the Chinese call Diaoyu). out of this. But the Obama administra- The Chinese also declared control of tion can still make lemonade out of this airspace over a piece of South Korean- lemon. If China’s long-term goal is to The Koreans, for example, are likely to as China makes new claims of airspace in other accidents. The impending creation claimed territory that includes an oceanic delegitimise US leadership in Asia, uni- announce their own newly expanded air the Yellow Sea and the South China Sea, of National Security Council-type deci- research lab. lateral actions such as declaring an air defence identification zone in response the US should maintain, or even increase, sion-making organs in China and Japan Biden’s uncharacteristically stern and defence identification zone only undercut to China’s play, and this is likely to also the tempo of military exercises and oper- — such a body already exists in South sober press availability after his meet- that effort and create greater receptivity overlap with Japan’s airspace. ations in the region, including those with Korea — could further facilitate a mecha- ing with Chinese President Xi Jinping on among Asian nations for sustained US Washington must handle such actions allies, to convey a clear and consistent nism for multilateral crisis management. Wednesday gave a sense of how hard the leadership. in ways that minimise alliance friction message that America still underwrites The recent Chinese muscle-flexing US and Japan have pushed back against To capitalise on this opportunity, the and maximise unity. While each ally has the region’s stability and security. makes the US pivot only more welcome China’s attempt to expand its footprint Obama administration must respond its own airspace grievance with Beijing, Finally, Washington could use the in Asia. in the region. accordingly. no one should cut a side deal to address controversy over the air defence zone China may win the battle over its right That expansion is a challenge to First, Washington should encourage its concerns at the expense of others. to press Beijing into agreeing to some to an air defence identification zone, but President Barack Obama’s “pivot” to a coordinated message with key allies That sort of “divide and conquer” form of crisis-management mechanism if Washington responds shrewdly, Beijing Asia, but it is not clear what the US can affected by Chinese actions, in particular strategy plays right into Beijing’s hands among four countries in northeast Asia. stands to lose the longer-term contest do in response. Asking Beijing for prior Japan and South Korea, whose relation- and may result in China wielding inordi- Currently, there is no established appara- for leadership. consultation before it declares such zones ship has deteriorated over the past year. nate influence in the region. Second, even tus to respond to the collision of planes or WP-BLOOMBERG

Australia not afflicted with human rights law President Obama and Australians should take politics of inequality pride in achievements, BY CHARLES LANE learn from errors, and s a difficult first year of his second term winds down, President Obama is recasting his mission and that of his strive to show the rest party. Increasing inequality and decreasing social mobility, Ahe declared in a December 4 address, present “the defining challenge of our time.” Therefore, “making sure our economy works of the world that bills for every working American” would be a central task of his remaining time in office. and charters of rights The facts underlying the president’s claim are clear enough. According to economist Emmanuel Saez of the University of California at Berkeley, the top 10 percent of US earners claimed about half of all are superfluous. before-tax income in 2012, including capital gains. As the president noted, the top decile’s share has been increasing since the late 1970s; BY MARK FLETCHER it is higher than at any time since just before the Great Depression, Saez’s data show. But it is unclear whether denouncing inequality and uman rights legislation is flourish- promising to do more about it are likely to help Obama and his fellow ing around the world, growing out Democrats win elections. of the fear of unrestrained state Economic populism is the hardy perennial recommendation of liberal Hpower. This expansion is usually pollsters and labour-union political directors. It keeps coming back, celebrated - as it is today, on International even though election results have never quite borne it out. Deeply Human Rights Day. Australia, being the only invested in the individualistic “American dream,” and deeply divided western democracy that lacks rigorous protec- Former Australian premier Julia Gillard speaking during the launch of Australian Multicultural Council. by race, ethnicity and religion, Americans have proven less susceptible tions of individual liberty, provides a clear les- to class-based economic appeals than voters in other nations. son to the rest of the world about the benefits freedom. In Snyder vs Phelps, SCOTUS dis- attorney-general authorised a raid on the Still, with the 2014 elections less than a year away, many Democrats and drawbacks of rights legislation. covered this right protected the Westboro office of a lawyer who was representing a wit- hope that the Great Recession and the prospect of lingering economic When the threat of communism loomed in Baptist church’s right to protests at military ness in the Timorese espionage case against stagnation have changed attitudes. the 1950s, the US saw the rise of McCarthyism. funerals. Australia. There are ongoing debates about the Raising the minimum wage, for example, is a populistic theme The state began a lengthy witch hunt into the Our deficiency has meant Australian courts Queensland government’s legislation which that 76 percent of Americans support, including a solid majority of bureaucracy, unions, and Hollywood. Despite might consider other priorities, such as the inhibits free association. Republicans, a November Gallup poll found. the first amendment expressly protecting free- welfare of children. In a 1978 case called The And governments from both sides of poli- Small wonder that Obama devoted a section of his speech to advo- dom of speech, the supreme court had already Marriage of Paisio, the family court found that tics have restricted asylum seekers’ access cating a higher minimum wage — and condemning Republican resist- found that it didn’t apply to communists. “certain practices, albeit given a veneer of to lawyers. Critics assume that these situa- ance. Labour-backed minimum-wage supporters are promoting ballot It took the better part of a decade before the religious justification, are in fact so positively tions are possible only because we lack a rigid initiatives in Alaska, Arkansas and South Dakota, red states where courts found anti-communist campaigns vio- harmful to the welfare of the children that human rights framework, but the longevity of Democratic Senate seats are at risk, National Journal reported last lated other rights, such as the right to silence. they must be removed from the influence of McCarthyism calls that into question. week. Of course, before it fizzled out, the Occupy movement was In Australia, the government enacted the those who advocate such practices.” When society lost interest in upholding the supposed to revolutionise American politics. But US public opinion Communist Party Dissolution Act, which International Human Rights Day celebrates lofty rhetoric of rights, the First Amendment remains relatively indifferent to income inequality, even after the sought to “provide for the dissolution of the the adoption of the Universal Declaration of didn’t come to the aid of the heretics. A Bill of Great Recession’s harsh lessons for the middle class about economic Australian communist Party and of other Human Rights by the UN in 1948 – it is a good Rights has not stopped the US trying to find insecurity. communist organisations, [and] to disqualify opportunity to challenge the all too common a new definition of pain and suffering in the Fewer than half of Americans (47 percent) consider inequality a “very communists from holding certain offices”. assumption that Australia is in need of a bill belly of offshore detention centres. big” problem, the 2013 Pew Research Survey of Global Attitudes found. Although we lack an explicit freedom of or a charter of rights. Conversely, when the Australian Among developed nations, only Canadians, Japanese and Australians expression in Australia, the act was challenged The University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Government sought a referendum to acquire were less concerned. This contrasts with 65 percent of French respond- the day it received royal assent. Less than five professor Howard Schweber has taken this the power to pass anti-Communist legislation, ents calling inequality a ‘very big’ problem in their society. months later, the high court ruled that the view to the extreme, arguing that Australia’s Australians voted it down. The best rights pro- Obama acknowledged that his crusade against inequality must Commonwealth lacked the power to declare lack of explicit rights guarantees means that tection will always be an engaged and critical account for the fact that Americans “admire folks who start new busi- the guilt of the communist party, rendering Australia does not have a genuine constitution. electorate, not a parliament with rusted on nesses, create jobs and invent the products that enrich our lives. And the act invalid. Australians should not feel ashamed that training wheels. we expect them to be rewarded handsomely for it.” This is less true Our lack of freedom of speech also means we lack cumbersome rights protections. When So let other countries puff their chests with in Europe. Europeans consider health insurance and income support there is nothing preventing the government our constitution was crafted, it was the envy empty slogans about rights. Let them use obvious roles for government, whereas the US welfare state emphasises from enacting legislation like the Tobacco of the world. In 1901, an international com- International Human Rights Day to reaffirm ‘earned’ benefits, such as Social Security and Medicare in retirement, Plain Packaging Act 2011, which bans adver- mentator said it was “more democratic than their ideological commitment to the inalien- health insurance linked to a job, or aid to veterans. tising and promotion on tobacco products. in the US, because there both the states and ability and irrefutability of whichever rights The very aspect of Obamacare that made it such a no-brainer for If the government of Canada pursued a sim- the union are fettered by many constitutional happen to suit them most. liberal Democrats — health care for all, whether or not you “earn” it ilar policy, it would be blocked by the charter restrictions”. Let their restrictions on legislative capabil- — turns out to be one of its political weaknesses. of rights and freedoms. Today, unburdened by archaic, absolutist ity be a testament to their fear that parlia- Still, the populist trend in Democratic ranks is strong, as evidenced In RJR-MacDonald Inc vs Canada, the rights legislation, we can have genuine debates ment is forever tempted to commit atrocities. by such events as Bill DeBlasio’s recent win in the New York mayoral supreme court also found that the charter about rights, tweaking, updating, and refining Instead of trying to emulate these medio- election. What this thinking underestimates is data such as the Pew prevented the government mandating unat- them to achieve the sort of society that we cre, antiquated, constipated ways of other finding that only 17 percent of Americans want the government’s top tributed health warnings on tobacco packag- want – not the sort of society that people who jurisdictions, Australians should take pride priority to be fighting inequality. ing. Without that right existing in Australia, died in the 18th century wanted. in our achievements, learn from our errors, By contrast, 41 percent said that job creation should be priority No. the tobacco industry’s case against the laws This approach doesn’t always succeed and and strive to show the rest of the world that 1 — followed by reducing the national debt (28 percent). was doomed to failure. Australia has a history of failing to uphold the bills and charters of rights are superfluous. Create jobs, slash debt, then worry about equality. Isn’t that the Our constitution also fails to defend religious best political virtues. Last week, Australia’s THE GUARDIAN Republican pitch? WP-BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST

Kidnappers free UN to airlift aid from Iraq to Syria Dutch couple in Yemen Rebel-held town under pressure SANA’A: A Dutch couple kid- napped in Yemen six months GENEVA: The United Nations’ border crossing, a cheaper option, ago have been freed in the capi- first relief airlift to Syria from he said. “As the situation was very tal Sana’a, the two countries Iraq will deliver food and winter complicated, negotiating with announced yesterday. supplies to the mostly Kurdish many factions, we shifted to an The couple, in good health, will northeast this week with the airlift,” Awad said, noting that one be flown back home today, they permission of both govern- main Kurdish group in the area said, without giving details on the ments, the UNHCR refugee was pro-Syrian government and abductors or how the pair’s release agency said yesterday. the other pro-Turkish. was secured. “Dutch journalist The airbridge, using Ilyushin-76 The cities of Hassakeh and Judith Spiegel and her partner commercial cargo planes to Qamishli are to receive food and Boudewijn Berendsen, abducted Hassakeh from Arbil in northern relief items as a harsh winter since June 8, have been freed,” a Iraq, will begin tomorrow. Up to sets in, he said. The cargo will security official said, quoted by 12 flights are scheduled through also include blankets, kitchen Yemen’s state news agency Saba. Sunday, said Amin Awad, direc- sets, plastic tarpaulins for shel- “The kidnappers freed the tor of UNHCR’s Middle East and ter, sleeping mats, and jerry cans. Dutch couple in an area near the North Africa Bureau. “The number of vulnerable embassy of the Netherlands and UN agencies have ferried lim- people in Hassakeh is estimated they are in a good health condi- ited aid supplies into Syria from at 50,000-60,000 but we are still tion,” Saba reported, without giving Iraq and Lebanon, but not via doing assessments. Hassakeh has details. The Dutch ambassador in Turkey because of objections been out of reach for a long time,” Smoke rises while residents run after shelling from forces loyal to President Bashar Al Assad on a fuel vendor in Sanaa, Jeroen Verheul, wrote on from President Bashar Al Assad’s Awad said. Awad said the United Al Shaar area in Aleppo yesterday. Twitter: “Happy to confirm that government. Nations was still “lining up air- Judith and Boudewijn have been “This is the first time aid goes lines that are willing to fly into within Syria and 2.3 million have to the town of Yabrud, the last reportedly in the hands of jihadist released safe and sound.” through Iraq,” Awad said. Syria that part of the country”. sought refuge abroad. “Winter is rebel stronghold in the strategic rebels from Al Nusra Front. gave permission about two weeks Well over 100,000 people have here. This is one of the harshest Qalamoun region near Lebanon’s In Spain, meanwhile, El Mundo ago for the cross-border UN been killed in the conflict in Syria, winters according to any forecast border, after a string of battlefield newspaper announced that Sudan, Egypt, operation from Iraq into Syrian which began with peaceful pro- that you may get hold of, prob- victories. The town is believed to two Spanish journalists, Javier Kurdish areas of Hassakeh prov- tests against Assad in March 2011. ably in the last 100 years,” Awad be where a group of nuns from Espinosa and Ricardo Garcia Ethiopia hold ince, which had initially envisaged The UNHCR says about 6.5 mil- told a news briefing. Meanwhile, the historic Christian hamlet of Vilanova, have gone missing in truck convoys via the Yarubiya lion people have fled their homes army yesterday turned its sights Maalula have been transferred, northern Syria. AFP dam talks

KHARTOUM: Water minis- ters from Addis Ababa, Cairo and Khartoum “successfully” Croatia may held talks on an Ethiopian dam Iran rejects Peres’ offer to meet Rowhani project, Sudan’s minister said, after Egypt’s objections delayed take part in Syria formation of a committee to TEHRAN: Iran yesterday dismissed an country would never recognise the Jewish implement expert advice. arsenal destruction offer from Israel’s president to meet his state or change its stand. “We have addressed a signifi- Iranian counterpart as a propaganda ploy “There has not been nor will there be any cant part of the issues on the fol- ZAGREB: Croatia might take to ease Israeli isolation over a nuclear change on Iran’s stance and views regarding low-up of the implementation of part in Syrian chemical arse- accord between Tehran and world powers. the Zionist regime” in Israel, Afkham said. the recommendations of the inter- nal’s destruction by allowing “This propaganda to help the regime out “Iran does not recognise Israel. Our position national panel of experts,” Sudan’s its Adriatic ports to be used of isolation will prove fruitless,” foreign min- regarding this oppressive and occupationist Water Resources and Electricity to load it onto US ships, Prime istry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham told regime — which is completely illegitimate and Minister, Muattaz Musa Abdallah Minister Zoran Milanovic said reporters. She said President Shimon Peres’s has been created to occupy the lands of the Salim, said in a brief statement yesterday. offer was aimed at helping Iran’s arch-foe Palestinians — is clear,” she added. to reporters after the talks which Milanovic said that Nato and Israel out of its isolation after its outspoken Israel, the sole if undeclared nuclear power lasted several hours. EU member Croatia has been opposition to the nuclear deal clinched last in the Middle East, accuses Iran of working involved in consultations on a month in Geneva. Asked on Sunday about a Shimon Peres Hassan Rowhani to develop a nuclear bomb, a charge denied possible transport of “precur- possible meeting with Iran’s President Hassan by the Islamic republic. Tehran has a long Saudi, Pakistani sors” — ingredients for chemical Rowhani, Peres said: “Why not? I don’t have history of belligerent statements towards weapons — from Syria through enemies. It’s not a question of personalities friends,” said the president, whose role in Israel and supports its foes, the Palestinian beheaded Mediterranean, state news agency but of policies.” Israel is symbolic and ceremonial. But the Islamist movement Hamas and Lebanon’s Hina reported. “The aim is to transform enemies into foreign ministry spokeswoman said her Shia militant group Hezbollah. AFP RIYADH: Saudi authorities AFP yesterday beheaded a man con- victed of incest in the south of the kingdom, the interior min- istry said. Hasan Ghazwani, a Saudi national, was executed in Abu Qatada challenges Precaution the city of Jizan, the ministry said in a statement carried by SPA state news agency. Jordanian court authority It said Ghazwani’s affair had led to a pregnancy but did not AMMAN: Radical Muslim the prosecution arguing he was a disclose their family relationship cleric Abu Qatada told a mentor to jihadist cells in Jordan or whether the woman had deliv- Jordanian court yesterday he while he was in Britain, provid- ered. A Pakistani man was also was not guilty of terrorism ing both spiritual and material executed yesterday for smuggling charges and he challenged its support to a campaign of vio- drugs into the kingdom, it said authority to try him under the lence during the late 1990s inside in a separate statement. He was terms of his deportation from Jordan, whose pro-Western poli- executed in the capital Riyadh. Britain. cies made it an Al Qaeda target. Appearing in court in brown “I have been prevented from prison fatigues, Abu Qatada said defending myself for a long period, Suicide bomber the presence of a military judge and God knows that I am inno- in the panel of three violated cent,” said Abu Qatada, saying kills 11 in Iraq the agreement under which he that the charges against him were was flown back to Jordan in July fabricated. BAGHDAD: A suicide bomber after many years of legal battles “There has been a betrayal of killed 11 people and wounded in Britain. the agreement under which I 20 at a Shia funeral in a city The Islamist cleric had already have come. There is now a mili- northeast of Baghdad yester- been sentenced in absentia by a tary judge...I have come to be tried day. The bombing took place in Jordanian court to life imprison- by civilian judges.” “This court Baquba, 65km from the capital ment for conspiracy to carry out is a betrayal of the agreement at a funeral for a group of Shia Al Qaeda-style attacks against US and I don’t recognise it,” said shepherds who had been killed and other targets inside Jordan. Abu Qatada, whose real name is Fishing boats are being removed from the ancient port of Sidon on the southern coast of Lebanon, 40km by unidentified gunmen outside He is now being retried, with Mahmoud Othman. REUTERS south of the capital Beirut, ahead of a winter storm expected to bring high winds and heavy rain to the east the city. AGENCIES Mediterranean region. Palestinians say US appeasing Israel over Iran at their expense

JERUSALEM: A senior settlements in the West Bank, But Abed Rabbo told Voice of demands in the (Jordan) Valley deal with Iran and achieving a reached in Geneva between Palestinian official said the as well as military control of the Palestine radio that Kerry had under the pretext of security.” fake progress in the Palestinian- world powers and Iran, whereby United States was asking territory’s eastern Jordan Valley plunged the process into crisis US acquiescence to Israel’s Israeli track at our expense”, he it agreed to some curbs on its Palestinians to make security — effectively, the prospective by seeking to “appease Israel security demands was aimed at said. Abed Rabbo was referring to disputed nuclear programme in concessions in peace talks with Palestine’s border with Jordan. through agreeing to its expansion “silencing the Israelis over the the November 24 interim accord exchange for the easing of inter- Israel in order to silence the national sanctions. Jewish state’s criticism of world Dan Shapiro, the US ambas- power diplomacy over Iran’s sador to Israel, said on Monday nuclear program. Kerry jetting back to Israel and West Bank there was no quid pro quo between The accusations by Yasser Abed the Iran and Palestine talks. Rabbo, who joined Palestinian WASHINGTON: Secretary of it was important to return to All sides remained “commit- Obama and Kerry both “These two issues concern both President Mahmoud Abbas in a State John Kerry will return to the region,” State Department ted to a nine-month timeframe” addressed the Saban Forum Israel’s security and our security meeting with US Secretary of Israel and the West Bank this spokeswoman Jen Psaki told set out earlier this year when organised by the Brookings and the interests of all the Middle State John Kerry last week, fur- week just days after his last reporters, adding Kerry would Kerry succeeded in bringing the Institution over the weekend East, that it be a more quiet and ther clouded hopes of achieving visit, a US official said, deny- spend two days in Israel and two sides back to the negotiat- in Washington which gathered stable region. But we do not see a negotiated accord by an April ing he was only focused on an Ramallah for talks. ing table after a three-year stale- some of Israel’s top leaders. any linkage in which we seek to target date. interim Israeli-Palestinian But she denied reports that mate. Kerry will leave today for “It is essential, in my judg- give on one issue and receive on Kerry, who will return to Israel peace deal. Kerry and the administration of his ninth overnight stay in Israel ment, to reach for a full agree- the other,” Shapiro told Israel’s and the Palestinian territories Amid intense diplomatic activ- President Barack Obama were since he became secretary of ment and to have a framework Army Radio. this week, presented both sides ity, Kerry will leave again for seeking some kind of interim state in February, on a trip which within which we can try to work Israeli Prime Minister with suggestions on Thursday Israel today, five days after he framework ahead of a full accord. will also take him to Vietnam and for that,” Kerry told the forum. Benjamin Netanyahu initially about how Israel might fend off landed back from Jerusalem and “Just to be absolutely clear, we the Philippines. Such a “basic framework will condemned Geneva as an “his- future threats from a Palestinian after spending most of the week- are not focused on an interim Psaki refused however to lay have to address all the core issues toric mistake” that risked help- state envisaged in West Bank land end meeting in Washington with deal, we are focused on a final out “all the steps that could be — borders, security, refugees, ing Iran’s limping economy, while it now occupies. Israeli leaders. deal,” Psaki told reporters, while possible to get to a final status Jerusalem, mutual recognition, leaving it with the means to make Israel has long demanded “This is an important time adding “there of course will be a agreement, and I’m not going to and an end of claims. a nuclear bomb. Iran says its that under any eventual accord in the negotiations, and he felt process to getting there.” lay out what the options are.” AFP nuclear drive is peaceful. it retain swathes of Jewish REUTERS WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Hamas says it has resumed Iran ties

GAZA CITY: The Palestinian Iran-backed Shia supporters of Hamas movement has Assad, such as the Lebanese “resumed” relations with Iran movement Hezbollah, led to after a temporary falling out a decrease in crucial Iranian over the Syrian conflict, a funding of Hamas, according to senior member of the Islamist media reports. movement said yesterday. But Zahar denied there had “Relations between Hamas been a complete severing of ties. and Iran have resumed,” “Our relations with Iran were Mahmud Al Zahar told report- not cut, and we don’t wish to cut ers at a news conference in Gaza, ties with any Arab countries the Palestinian enclave ruled by either, even those that are fight- Hamas since 2007. ing against us,” he said in refer- Ties had been “affected by the ence to Egypt, which has taken Syria situation, and Hamas has a hard line against the Islamist withdrawn from Syria so that it group since the military over- can’t be identified with this or throw of president Mohamed that side,” he said. Mursi in July. “We’ve confirmed we are not Hamas is the Palestinian interfering in the Syrian case, affiliate of Mursi’s Muslim or in any other Arab country.” Brotherhood, which has been Iran had long supported the the target of a massive crack- Sunni Hamas against their down in Egypt in recent months shared enemy Israel. that has seen hundreds of Morsi But exiled Hamas chief supporters killed and more than Khaled Meshaal left his base in 2,000 arrested. CLOCK-WISE FROM TOP LEFT: Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, Damascus after the Syrian civil Zahar said there was still The Ruler of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah receives the UAE Vice-President Sheikh Muhammed bin Rashid Al Makthoum, Omani war broke out in 2011, criticis- cooperation with Egypt on get- Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the 34th GCC summit at Al Deputy Premier Fahd bin Mahmud Al Said and the King of Bahrain H M ing President Bashar Al Assad, ting supplies, including fuel, into Bayan Palace in Kuwait City yesterday. Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa at the summit. a key ally of Iran, and moving to the Gaza Strip, but “there is no the Sunni Gulf state of Qatar. political contact, because the Subsequent reports that current (Egyptian) regime is Hamas was supporting the against it.” Sunni-led rebels in Syria against AFP Call to end massacre in Syria Economic cooperation and Iran ties on agenda of two-day GCC summit East Libya separatists set KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s tragedy,” Sheikh Sabah said. GCC states and neighbouring succeed and lead to an everlast- Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al The leaders of the oil-rich Shia Iran have come under the ing agreement that would keep Dec 15 deadline for oil deal Ahmad Al Sabah opened an Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) spotlight after a landmark deal tension away from the region”. annual Gulf summit yesterday states are due to discuss during was reached last month between This year’s summit is being TRIPOLI: Leaders of a movement seeking autonomy for Libya’s with a call for an end to the the two-day summit a range of Tehran and world powers over its staged amid differences over a eastern Cyrenaica region said they could allow oil exports to resume “human catastrophe” in Syria. issues including the situation in disputed nuclear programme. Saudi proposal to upgrade the on December 15 from several ports if Tripoli meets their demands He issued the plea as Ahmad Syria, ties with Iran and boost- Iran’s Foreign Minister GCC into a confederation, a move and allows the region to take its share of crude. Jarba, leader of Syria’s main opo- ing economic cooperation between Mohammad Javad Zarif last week Oman has publicly rejected. The heavily armed tribal movement, which has blocked the ports sition National Coalition, attended their member states. toured four GCC countries, but Omani Foreign Minister Yussef to demand a bigger share of Libya’s oil wealth and autonomy for the opening of the summit and Only three leaders are attend- not Saudi Arabia or Bahrain. bin Alawi threatened at the week- Cyrenaica, will sell crude on its own if the government does not come delivered a speech in which he ing, the rulers of Qatar, Bahrain Zarif tried to assure Gulf states end that Muscat would pull out of through, the leaders said. appealed for urgent help from the and host country Kuwait. the nuclear deal was not at their the loose alliance if a union was There was no immediate reaction from Tripoli, which has so refused wealthy Gulf states. The Saudi crown prince is expense and called for a new announced, while Saudi Arabia, to recognize a self-declared eastern government after the movement “The human catastrophe is representing the ailing King page in relations, although Saudi solidly backed by Bahrain, insisted seized the Es-Sider and Ras Lanuf ports and other facilities in the still ongoing in Syria which calls Abdullah, while Oman is rep- Arabia in particular appears to it was time to move ahead. oil-rich east. The movement is made up of tribesmen and fighters who on us to double efforts and work resented by the deputy premier remain sceptical. Kuwait’s State Minister helped topple Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and now demand a federal with the international commu- and the United Arab Emirates In his speech, Sheikh Sabah said for Cabinet Affairs Sheikh system that would share power between the Cyrenaica, the west and nity, especially the UN Security by its vice-president and prime the Gulf states had “expressed Mohammad Abdullah Al Sabah southern Fezzan similar to the political system in the kingdom before Council which has remained una- minister. their satisfaction with the interim told reporters talks over the Gaddafi. REUTERS ble to put an end to this human Ties between Sunni-ruled Geneva deal... hoping it would union were still ongoing. AFP

Turkish MP takes oath after freed in Rights groups demand Egypt to coup plot case probe killings of Mursi backers ANKARA: Turkish journalist CAIRO: Rights groups urged director at the Egyptian Initiative Cairo Institute for Human Rights Mustafa Balbay took his oath Egypt’s army-backed govern- for Personal Rights. Studies. The government should of office as a member of parlia- ment to investigate mass kill- August 14 marked the bloodi- set up a fact-finding committee ment yesterday after his release ings of protesters by security est day in a state swoop on the as a first step towards account- from nearly five years in prison forces during the dispersal of Muslim Brotherhood following ability, the statement said. on security charges, raising Muslim Brotherhood sit-ins in Mursi’s overthrow on July 3. The Interior Ministry has said hope among other jailed depu- August after Islamist president The alliance of human rights the Brotherhood was storing ties that they could follow in his Mohamed Mursi was deposed. organisations included Amnesty weapons at the protest camps, footsteps. Interim authorities have International and Human Rights something the group denied. An He was among 275 defendants pressed the crackdown on dis- Watch. Their statement was Interior Ministry official said the including an ex-military chief, sent since then, jailing thousands issued to coincide with interna- authorities had not used excessive retired officers, academics, jour- of Mursi supporters and outlaw- tional Human Rights Day. force to scatter the camps and nalists and politicians jailed in ing the Islamist movement that In the run-up to the secu- that Mursi’s supporters fired first, August over an alleged plot to propelled him to power last year rity clampdown, thousands of forcing the police to strike back. overthrow Prime Minister Recep in Egypt’s first freely contested Brotherhood supporters were Besides the August 14 incident, Tayyip Erdogan’s Islamist-rooted presidential election. camped out at the two Cairo sit- the statement listed four other government. The army ousted Mursi after ins. The biggest encampment was mass killings of Mursi support- Balbay, sentenced to almost 35 mass protests against his rule. based around Rabaa Al Adawiya ers following his downfall. It years in prison, was freed pending An alliance of 13 human rights mosque in the northeast of the gave a death toll of 333 in those appeal by an Istanbul court after groups said the state prosecutor city. “A small minority of protest- incidents, saying three members the Constitutional Court ruled had yet to investigate and hold ers used firearms that day, but of the security forces were also his pre-trial detention period of members of the security forces the police responded excessively killed. Police brutality fuelled the more than four years had violated accountable “for excessive and by shooting recklessly, going far 2011 uprising against then-long- his rights. Balbay’s wife and two unjustified use of lethal force” on beyond what is permitted under time President Hosni Mubarak, children, seated in the spectators’ August 14, when the police and international law,” the rights and reform of the security serv- gallery in the parliament, smiled army broke up two Cairo sit-ins groups said in their statement. ices has been a longstanding and clapped as he read the oath. by Mursi supporters. “The killing of seven police demand among activists. “For Many opposition MPs gave Balbay “There can be no hope for the officers during the dispersal of almost three years now, succes- a standing ovation. rule of law and political stability the Rabaa sit-in does not justify sive Egyptian governments have in Egypt ... without accountability the kind of collective punish- ignored calls for justice, as police A tear gas canister flies towards Cairo University students, who are for what may be the single biggest ment of hundreds of protesters brutality and the accompanying Turkey charges supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted Egyptian president incident of mass killing in Egypt’s and disproportionate use of lethal death toll continue to mount with Mohamed Mursi, during a clash with security forces in front of the university, recent history on August 14,” said force that we saw that day,” said each incident,” Abdel-Razek said 255 over protests yesterday. Gasser Abdel-Razek, associate Bahey Al Din Hassan, head of the in the statement. REUTERS

ISTANBUL: Turkish prosecu- tors said they have charged 255 protesters, including seven for- eigners, over mass demonstra- tions that swept the country in June. Those indicted face a Israel passes law to hold illegal African immigrants range of charges including vio- lating laws on demonstrations, JERUSALEM: Israel’s parlia- against during a late-night vote building a hi-tech fence along the public order,” the premier’s office Interior Minister Gideon Saar damaging a place of worship and ment has approved a law which in the 120-member parliament, border with Egypt. said. saying it would “allow us to keep protecting criminals, as well as allows illegal immigrants from or Knesset. On November 24, the cabinet The facility, to be inaugurated illegals away from our cities.” injuring civil servants and hijack- Africa to be detained for up It was the latest in a series of approved measures aimed at on December 12 and run by the And MP Miri Regev said Israel ing public transport vehicles, a to a year without trial, MPs measures aimed at cracking down tackling the question of illegal Israel Prisons Services, will be should “send them all back to statement from the Istanbul pub- announced yesterday. on the numbers of Africans enter- immigrants, including a crack- open during the day but locked their countries.” lic prosecutor’s office said. The government-backed bill ing the country illegally, which down on employers and financial at night, and it will initially house But not everyone welcomed the It did not disclose the nationali- amends earlier legislation from Israel says poses a threat to the incentives for those agreeing to up to 3,300 people, Haaretz news- legislation. ties of the foreigners. At least six 2012 under which illegal immi- state’s Jewish character. return to their country of origin. paper reported. “Would you also have placed people died and 8,000 people were grants could be held for three Last year, Israel launched a It has also invested in the con- It said capacity could be Nelson Mandela in a closed injured in anti-government unrest years without trial that was crackdown on what it said were struction of a sprawling deten- expanded to hold up to 11,000. detention centre?” asked Tamar that posed the biggest challenge overturned by the Supreme 60,000 illegal African immi- tion facility for illegals arriving in Hardliners from Prime Zandberg from the leftwing to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Court in September. The new bill grants, rounding up and deporting Israel and for immigrants already Minister Netanyahu’s Likud party Meretz party. Erdogan’s rule yet. AFP passed by 30 votes in favour to 15 3,920 by the end of the year, and in the country who “disturb the praised the new legislation, with AFP WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL

Putin orders Yanukovych military to boost Arctic presence slams calls for MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin ordered Russia’s military yesterday to step up its pres- ence in the Arctic after Canada signalled it planned to claim the ‘revolution’ North Pole and surrounding waters. The tough and rapid response to Ukraine president holds crisis talks Canada’s announcement reflected Russia’s desire to protect its oil KIEV: President Viktor key political and free trade agree- and natural gas interests in the Yanukovych yesterday held ments today. pristine but energy-rich region talks with his three predeces- He added that Ukraine would amid competing claims there sors and the EU foreign policy seek to decide on the EU deals by countries that also include chief to seek a way out of an by March when it is set to hold a Norway and Denmark. explosive standoff with protest- summit with the bloc. Putin told an expanded defence ers, warning that opposition Yanukovych’s decision to scrap ministry meeting that Russia’s calls for a revolution were a key trade and political agreements national interests and security threat to national security. with the EU under pressure from lay in a bolstered Arctic presence With thousands still defying Russia and police violence against after a brief post-Soviet retreat. sub-freezing temperatures to pro- protesters have plunged the ex- “I would like you to devote test Yanukovych’s rejection of an Soviet country into its most acute special attention to deploying EU pact under Russian pressure, political crisis since the Orange Troops of the multinational African force FOMAC take control of a street in the Combattant neighbourhood of Bangui. infrastructure and military units the president met EU foreign pol- Revolution in 2004. in the Arctic,” the Kremlin chief icy supremo Catherine Ashton in Protests have gone into a third said in televised remarks. Kiev, his office said. week, with both the authorities Canada last week filed a claim “Substantial meeting (with) and the opposition showing few with the UN Commission on the President Yanukovych, all rel- signs of compromise. Violence continues in CAR Limits of the Continental Shelf evant issues discussed,” Ashton’s Police moved protesters away concerning the outer limits of its spokeswoman Maja Kocijancic from government buildings on BANGUI: Crowds attacked Michel Djotodia, rebel leader- disarmed and a fourth killed was a continental shelf in the Atlantic added on Twitter, saying the talks Monday after a weeklong block- a mosque, looted houses and turned interim president, has Muslim whose relatives were part Ocean. lasted three and a half hours but ade but the demonstrators are torched cars in Central African largely lost control of his loose of Seleka,” said Hilaire Ouakanga, Foreign Minister John Baird giving no further details. still occupying Independence Republic’s capital yesterday, band of fighters, which includes a resident of Benz-vi. said the submission included In a sign of Europe’s support Square and the Kiev city hall. hours before French President many gunmen from Sudan and The UN refugee agency Canada’s stake on the North Pole. for the demonstrators, Ashton Yanukovych incensed the oppo- Francois Hollande was due to Chad. UNHCR said about 100,000 peo- Russia has an overlapping later visited the epicentre of the sition further by meeting Russian visit. Christians fled reprisals by ple had fled their homes in Bangui claim to both the North Pole as protests on Independence Square President Vladimir Putin for Two French soldiers were Seleka gunmen following a failed in the past few days, bringing well as large swathes of the Arctic in Kiev. secret talks on Friday. killed overnight in an attack by offensive on Bangui last week but to more than half a million the that the US Geological Survey Yanukovych had earlier con- Opposition leaders said gunmen in the capital, France’s the French move to disarm all number of displaced countrywide thinks could hold 13 percent of vened Ukraine’s ex-leaders Leonid they would not negotiate with first casualties in an operation fighters has subsequently weak- since the crisis began a year ago. the world’s undiscovered oil and Kuchma, Leonid Kravchuk and Yanukovych until he sacked the to restore stability in its former ened Seleka’s influence in the The French presence on up to 30 percent of its hidden Viktor Yushchenko for an unprec- government of Prime Minister colony, which is racked by fighting capital, leading to counterattacks. Bangui’s streets was lighter than natural gas reserves. edented meeting at the presiden- Mykola Azarov, released arrested between Muslims and Christians. In the Fouh neighbourhood yes- on Monday, when disarmament A government-sponsored diving tial administration. demonstrators and punished riot Major gun battes have ended terday, a correspondent saw civil- operations were launched. team in 2007 planted a Russian The meeting with the veteran police accused of crushing a pro- with the French deployment but ians armed with wooden clubs and The 1,600-strong French force flag under the North Pole, and the presidents appeared to yield no test on November 30. French troops have traded gunfire machetes attack a mosque and has exchanged gunfire with gun- Kremlin has long mulled plans to immediate breakthrough, with Ex-presidents Kuchma and with gunmen in the capital, where nearby houses. men several times since Monday deploy a large military presence Yanukovych issuing a warning Kravchuk pointedly noted dur- religious tension is simmering. “We found arms in their when it began an operation to dis- in the region. while also trying to show signs of ing the meeting that prime min- Several lynchings were mosque. We don’t want to see arm rival Muslim and Christian Putin told Tuesday’s defence goodwill to the protestors. isters had stepped down before, reported by residents overnight, Djotodia and his Muslims here fighters, but the deaths over- ministry meeting that “next year, “Calls for a revolution pose and indicated that Azarov could adding to the toll of 465 been any more,” said one man at the night were the first confirmed we have to complete the forma- a threat to national security,” do the same. killed since Thursday. scene, who wielded a large knife casualties. tion of new large units and mili- Yanukovych said in comments “Civil society is now await- The country has been gripped and refused to give his name. The two French soldiers, tary divisions” in the Arctic that broadcast on national television. ing a signal from the presi- by chaos since mainly Muslim At least six people were lynched marine paratroopers from the remain on constant combat alert. “I want that this dark page is dent,” said Kuchma, Ukraine’s Seleka rebels seized power in overnight, mainly during violence 8th Regiment based in Castres, The Kremlin chief added that turned and is never allowed to president between 1994 and March. Months of looting, rap- targeting Muslims, according to died after coming under attack Russia must possess “all the happen again.” 2004. Yanukovych made no pub- ing and killing since has brought residents in Benz-vi and Miskine, at close range from five or six levers necessary for protecting its Yanukovych also said a del- lic comment on the fate of the reprisals by Christian militias and Bangui neighbourhoods. unidentified lightly-armed men, security and national interests” egation would likely be flying to government. allies of ousted President Francois “Three of those stoned to death the army said. in the area. Brussels to renew negotiations on AFP Bozize. were Seleka fighters who had been REUTERS AFP

Snow blankets US East

WASHINGTON: Fresh winter snow moved into the US mid- Obama leads tributes at Mandela memorial Atlantic region yesterday, shutting schools and offices in the nation’s capital and elsewhere as the mid-section of the country SOWETO: US President courage and moral leadership. Sikelel’ iAfrika (God Bless Africa), In his tribute, UN Secretary remained in the grip of Arctic air that showed no signs of easing. Barack Obama led world tributes But it was Obama’s impas- led by a mass choir and picked General Ban Ki-moon noted that From 5.1 cm to 20.3 cm of snow was forecast to fall from north- yesterday to Nelson Mandela, sioned tribute that really galva- up by the rest of the stadium. Mandela had managed to unite ern Virginia, across Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware and into hailing him as “a giant of his- nised the crowd, which at times Some 80,000 had been expected, people in death, much as he had southern New England. tory” at a rain-soaked memorial became impatient with the long but the venue was two-thirds full in life. “Look around this stage Treacherous traffic and power outages forced many government attended by tens of thousands of roster of speakers and a poor as the ceremony got under way ... we see leaders representing offices and schools to close. South Africans united in proud, sound system that dampened the under a curtain of rain. many points of view ... all here, About 1,000 flights were cancelled nationwide yesterday, accord- noisy celebration. spontaneity of the occasion. The mood was upbeat, with peo- all united,” he said. ing to tracking website Flightaware.com. Thousands of homes and Obama was one of nearly 100 The four-hour event began at ple determined to celebrate the Before taking to the lectern, businesses were without power on Monday night. world leaders at the event in midday with a stirring rendition memory of one of the 20th cen- Obama shook hands with Raul Soweto’s World Cup stadium, of the national anthem, Nkosi tury’s towering political figures. Castro, leader of long-time Cold French troops kill 19 Islamists where songs of praise and rebel- War rival Cuba. lion, many harking back to the Mandela’s widow, Graca BAMAKO: French troops killed 19 Islamist militants during an apartheid era that Mandela Machel, received a huge ovation army operation in Mali’s rebel-infested northern desert yester- helped condemn to history, echoed as she took her seat on the main day, a French military source said, as the country prepared to down from the dancing crowds in stage erected at one end of the stage nationwide elections. the stands. pitch. The violence comes with Malians due to vote on Sunday in a sec- “It is hard to eulogise any man In his tribute, Obama took a ond round of parliamentary polls supposed to mark the west African ... how much harder to do so for swipe at authoritarian rulers who nation’s first steps to recovery after it was plunged into chaos by a a giant of history, who moved a spoke of embracing Mandela’s military coup in March last year. nation towards justice,” Obama legacy without acting on it. “The French troops haven’t reported any deaths or injuries. We said, after being introduced to “There are too many lead- are in control of the situation,” a source said, without specifying wild cheers. ers who claim solidarity with which Islamist group the militants were part of. “He showed us the power of Madiba’s struggle for freedom, action, of taking risks on behalf but do not tolerate dissent from Founder of implant firm jailed of our ideals,” Obama said of the their own people,” he said. prisoner-turned-president whose South African President Jacob MARSEILLE: The founder of a French firm whose faulty breast life story earned uncommon uni- Zuma, who was roundly booed by implants sparked a global health scare was sentenced to four versal respect. sections of the crowd in a reflec- years in jail yesterday after being convicted of fraud. In a nod to Mandela’s extraordi- tion of growing public dissatisfac- Four other former executives of the now-defunct Poly Implant nary global reach, popularity and tion with the current generation Prothese (PIP) were also convicted over a scandal that reverberated influence, the Indian, Brazilian, US President Barack Obama addresses the crowd during a memorial service of ANC leaders, hailed Mandela around the world. Cuban and Namibian presidents for Nelson Mandela at FNB Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday. as a “fearless freedom fighter.” PIP was revealed two years ago to have been systematically using all delivered eulogies extolling his AFP industrial-grade rather than medically approved silicone in its breast implants in order to cut costs and boost profits. The Marseille court sentenced PIP founder Jean-Claude Mas to four years in prison, fined him €75,000 and banned him permanently from working in medical services or running a company. The 74-year-old, who says he is insolvent, was also ordered to Canada spies on Writers want limits to state snooping compensate more than 4,000 plaintiffs up to €13,000 each for the anxiety he had caused them and, in some cases, the physical trauma behalf of US LONDON: More than 500 revelations of online eavesdrop- Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk. of having the implants removed. authors, including J M Coetzee ping from fugitive US intelligence It was also signed by Booker MONTREAL: Canada has and Gunter Grass, have signed leaker Edward Snowden. Prize winners Margaret Atwood, Ortega could be in power for years spied abroad on behalf of the a petition to the United Nations The Writers Against Mass Julian Barnes, John Berger, US National Security Agency, published yesterday which Surveillance petition, signed Roddy Doyle, Kazuo Ishiguro, MANAGUA: Nicaragua’s national assembly yesterday approved according to a classified docu- claims mass state surveillance by 562 authors from more than Thomas Keneally, Yann Martel, a constitutional change to remove presidential term limits, which ment cited by public broad- is violating basic freedoms. 80 countries, was published in Ian McEwan, Michael Ondaatje could allow incumbent Daniel Ortega stay in power for years and caster CBC yesterday. The signatories called for a new around 30 newspapers world- and Arundhati Roy. raises concerns about democracy in the country. Ottawa opened espionage posts international bill of digital rights wide, including The Guardian in Others included Peter Hoeg, Approval of the plan put forward last month by Ortega’s ruling overseas at the request of the US to curb what they claimed was Britain. Colm Toibin, Martin Amis, Lionel Sandinista National Liberation Front must now be ratified by the agency, CBC said, citing an NSA the abuse of democracy through The signatories were led by Shriver, Louis de Bernieres and assembly next year before it can take effect. briefing paper leaked by fugitive widespread Internet snooping. five winners of the Nobel Prize Irvine Welsh. The 68-year-old Ortega has yet to say publicly whether he wants former US government contrac- The letter comes the day in Literature: South African “A person under surveillance to run again for the presidency in 2016. Nicaragua’s law had set a tor Edward Snowden. It worked after eight leading US-based writer Coetzee, German novel- is no longer free; a society under two-term limit for presidents but that was overridden by a Supreme with the NSA in “approximately technology companies called on ist Grass, Austrian playwright surveillance is no longer a democ- Court ruling that allowed Ortega to run for office again in 2011. 20 high-priority countries.” Washington to overhaul its sur- Elfriede Jelinek, Swedish poet racy,” the petition said. AGENCIES AFP veillance laws following the recent Tomas Transtroemer and AFP WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 ASIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 N Korea’s reign of terror worries South South-North Korea relations may become more unstable, says Park

SEOUL: North Korea is Un’s power,” Park told a cabinet him being frogmarched by uni- no firm evidence has emerged of engaged in a purge amounting meeting, part of which was broad- formed personnel out of a meeting mass punishments. And they say to a “reign of terror” that has cast on television. of the ruling Workers’ Party. China, North Korea’s only ally, claimed the scalp of the coun- “From now on, South-North South Korean officials dis- generally resists allowing defec- try’s second most powerful Korea relations may become more counted media reports that a tors from the North to seek asy- man and risks further damag- unstable.” close associate of Jang who man- lum elsewhere. ing relations with the South, In her usual carefully scripted aged his funds had requested Members of the South’s par- President Park Geun-hye said manner, the president called for asylum and was under the pro- liament, however, said last week yesterday. vigilance to safeguard the wealthy tection of South Korean officials that Kim Jong Un was resorting Park took office in Seoul ear- South’s achievements. in China. to fear to cement his leadership. lier this year as North Korea “In times like these, I think it “I understand there was “Kim Jong Un is strengthening conducted its third nuclear test, is a nation’s duty and politicians’ no request” Foreign Ministry the reign of terror... Last year 17 enraging world public opinion, and job to keep people safe and free spokesman Cho Tae-young told a people were publicly executed, but threatened to engulf its southern democracy strong,” she told the briefing. The South’s unification this year there were about 40,” neighbour and its ally, the United meeting. minister also told lawmakers no Cho Won-jin told journalists after States, in a war. The isolated state State media said Jang Song- such application had been made. a briefing by the NIS intelligence shelled a South Korean island in Thaek, the uncle of North Korean South Korea’s intelligence serv- agency. It was the NIS that first 2010 and is widely believed to have ruler Kim Jong Un, had been dis- ice last week said two of Jang’s broke news last week that Jang sunk a South Korean naval vessel missed from his posts for “criminal close entourage were executed for had been dismissed. in the same year. acts” ranging from mismanage- corruption and two of his relatives Cho also said authorities were “North Korea is currently ment, corruption and leading a serving in embassies overseas had enforcing harsher rules on vid- carrying out a reign of terror, “dissolute and depraved life.” been recalled. eos being imported illegally into South Korean President Park Geun-hye speaks during a Cabinet meeting undertaking a large-scale purge Television in the tightly control- Although experts expect fur- North Korea. at the Presidential Blue House in Seoul yesterday. in order to strengthen Kim Jong led and impoverished state showed ther reprisals against Jang’s allies, REUTERS

Japan official Riot a wake-up call for Thai PM urges protesters to vote calls for talks BANGKOK: Her eyes swelling “Now that the government has dismissed the charges as politi- with China Singaporean officials with tears, Thai Prime Minister dissolved parliament, I ask that cally motivated. He is widely seen Yingluck Shinawatra pleaded you stop protesting and that all as the power behind Yingluck’s TOKYO: Japan’s Foreign SINGAPORE: Singapore’s prison and caning. They were for anti-government protest- sides work towards elections,” government, sometimes holding Minister Fumio Kishida first major riot in four decades among an estimated 400 people ers to clear the streets after Yingluck told reporters as she meetings with the cabinet by has stressed the need for is forcing the wealthy island to who rampaged after a private she called a snap election, but went into a cabinet meeting held webcam. security talks with China to confront a stubborn but vexing bus fatally struck construction protests leaders said she should at an army club. “I have backed Yingluck had no political expe- avert the risk of an incident question: how to treat low-paid worker Sakthivel Kumaravelu, step down within 24 hours. down to the point where I don’t rience before entering a 2011 in China’s new air defence foreign workers whose muscle 33. The number of arrests could After weeks of sometimes vio- know how to back down any election she won by a landslide identification zone in the underpins much of the economy rise. The government has urged lent street rallies, protesters dis- further.” thanks to votes from the coun- East China Sea. Kishida told but whose presence increasingly people not to jump to conclusions missed her call on Monday for Tears briefly formed in her eyes tryside, where Thaksin built up reporters yesterday Japan riles its citizens. but many Singaporeans blame an a general election and said she as she spoke, before she quickly a devoted following with policies cannot accept China’s uni- Images of rioters overturning overabundance of migrant work- should be replaced by an unelected composed herself - perhaps a to help the poor. lateral attempt to change the police cars, throwing garbage ers and could use the riots to ‘people’s council’, which has stoked glimpse of the emotional toll of Protest leader Suthep status quo, and that it will not bins and burning an ambu- intensify a push for tighter immi- concern that Southeast Asia’s sec- weeks of protests. Thaugsuban gave Yingluck 24 agree to talks premised on the lance in Singapore’s Little India gration curbs - a step that could ond-biggest economy may abandon Aligned with Bangkok’s royalist hours to step down. “We want move, according to Japan’s on Sunday night shocked the hurt the economy. the democratic process. elite, the protesters want to oust the government to step aside to (NHK WORLD) website. But orderly Southeast Asian nation The dominant People’s Action Yingluck insisted she would Yingluck and erase the influence create a power vacuum in order Kishida also noted the impor- and stirred debate over whether Party (PAP) that has ruled not step down and said she would of her brother, former premier to create a people’s council,” said tance of avoiding an unex- foreign workers should be better Singapore for more than half a continue her duties as caretaker Thaksin Shinawatra, Akanat Promphan, a spokesman pected incident. The Japanese integrated or see their numbers century was already facing pres- prime minister until the election, Thaksin was convicted in for the protest group. official called for a resump- reduced. sure over Singapore’s high cost of which is set for February 2. absentia of graft in 2008 but he REUTERS tion of bilateral talks within “This is just a tip of the ice- living and its reliance on foreign existing frameworks of stra- berg,” said Gayathiri, 30, an engi- workers on the island of nearly 5.4 tegic and security discussions neer who lives near the scene of million people. to smooth out communication the riots and goes by one name. Founded by Lee Kuan Yew, the with the Chinese side. “I hope the government will take father of the current prime min- it as a wake-up call. We need for- ister, the PAP is credited with Stuffed toy icon eigners to boost our economy, but transforming Singapore from a not at the expense of our secu- colonial outpost in the 1960s into of protest in HK rity,” she added, echoing a widely a global financial hub with world- held sentiment. class infrastructure, safe streets, HONG KONG: A stuffed Police charged 24 Indian nation- an efficient civil service and the toy wolf has sold out at Hong als with rioting, which carries a world’s highest concentration of Kong’s IKEA stores, the maximum penalty of seven years’ millionaires. REUTERS Swedish furniture giant said yesterday, after it became a symbol of opposition to the Wet Christmas city’s unpopular government. Hundreds of toys, called Lufsig, flew off the shelves within hours on Monday and yesterday, days after a protester threw it at the city’s leader Leung Chun- ying during a public meet- ing. “Lufsig has been sold out at all IKEA stores this morning,” a spokeswoman said, adding that there were queues before the store opened. The innocent-looking toy depicts the wolf in “Little Red Riding Hood”, and can be seen holding a stuffed toy resembling the grandmother. IKEA said owners can use the toy -- which has a Chinese name similar to a profanity in the Cantonese dialect -- to recreate the fairy tale by res- A diver dressed in Santa Claus costume swims with sardines during a cuing the grandmother from promotional event for “Sardines Feeding Show with Santa Claus” at the the wolf’s belly. AGENCIES Coex Aquarium in Seoul yesterday. Cambodians mark Human Rights Day

PHNOM PENH: Thousands proper respect of human rights,” deployed outside Hun Sen’s house of Cambodian opposition sup- Rainsy told the crowd. and at other key locations. porters and activists, includ- Cambodians have lost their Activists say land conflicts are ing Buddhist monks, took to rights due to “corruption and dic- Cambodia’s most pressing human the streets yesterday to mark tatorship”, the opposition leader rights issue. Human Rights Day and call for said, repeating his claim that Hun There have also been a series of improvements in the kingdom’s Sen won July’s national election recent protests by garment work- rights record. due to widespread voting fraud. ers over poor conditions and low Opposition leader Sam Rainsy He raised the recent death of pay in factories, some of which led a crowd of some 6,000 support- South Africa’s anti-apartheid icon have ended in violent crackdowns ers -- many waving Cambodian Nelson Mandela, saying: “We will by security forces. flags and holding banners that walk the same path as Nelson Last month a woman was shot read “Long Live Democracy” -- Mandela and we will be success- dead and several injured after riot through Phnom Penh. ful like him.” police used live ammunition and Chanting the party’s slogan Several hundred land rights tear gas to break up a garment of “Change! Change!” and “Step activists and some Buddhist worker demonstration. Down!” -- a reference to opposi- monks marched to parliament. The government has faced tion demand that Prime Minister Thousands of garment work- mounting criticism from rights Hun Sen resign -- the crowd gath- ers and government officials groups for alleged crackdowns on ered at a park in the city centre. also attended separate rallies to dissidents and protesters, in cases “Now, the state of human rights mark the United Nations-backed that are often linked to high-pro- in our country is going down. We Human Rights Day. file land disputes. must struggle for the full and Hundreds of riot police were AFP WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PHILIPPINES

Human rights protest MNLF chief not Kerry to visit at OIC meeting MANILA: Moro National Liberation Front (MNLF) founding chairman Nur Misuari was not seen yester- areas hit day attending the 40th session of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Conakry, Republic of New Guinea. Department of Foreign Affairs spokesman Raul Hernandez by typhoon responded to questions about Misuari’s supposed attendance at the OIC meeting where the ‘Asia is important to Washington’ Philippine government is rep- resented by officials led by DFA WASHINGTON: U S S e c r e t a r y trade relationship and the empow- Undersecretary Rafael Seguis. of State John Kerry is to make ering role of education.” “I just talked to Usec Seguis his first visit to the Philippines He would also visit the Mekong who is now in Conakry, Guinea since taking office to see first- Delta to show how “Americans attending the OIC meetings. He hand the damage left by last and Vietnamese can work said he and other delegates have month’s typhoon, and will also together on critical issues such not seen Misuari in the meetings, tour Vietnam where he fought as climate change and renewable on its second day now,” Hernandez during the war. energy,” Psaki said. said. Kerry’s next trip from During the war, Kerry served The military said that Misuari December 11 to 18 will start today, with the US Navy as a naval is still hiding somewhere in Sulu. his 70th birthday, when he flies lieutenant and Swift Boat skip- Armed Forces of the Philippines to Israel and Ramallah. But he per patrolling the rivers of the (AFP) public affairs chief Lt Col will then travel to Ho Chi Minh Mekong Delta, for which he was Ramon Zagala issued the state- City and Hanoi, before heading decorated with three Purple ment amid reports that Misuari to Manila, and the storm-hit city Hearts. It was on his return that would attend the OIC meeting in of Tacloban, a US official said Kerry became a fierce campaigner Conakry from December 9 to 11. Monday. against the war. Zagala, however, declined to Since becoming the top US “How do you ask a man to be comment on questions whether diplomat in February, Kerry has the last man to die in Vietnam? the OIC would hand over Misuari dreamed of returning once again How do you ask a man to be the to the Philippine government, to the country where his political last man to die for a mistake?” he Activists burn an effigy of President Benigno Aquino III during a protest marking International Human Rights considering he is a fugitive. activism was forged in the horrors agonized in a 1971 Senate hearing. THE PHILIPPINE STAR Day in Manila yesterday. They called for an end to extra-judicial killings of cause-oriented group leaders, an end of the Vietnam War. He had also Kerry will also hold talks with to police and military harassment of labour unions, and speedy justice for victims of human rights violations. planned to visit the Philippines senior Vietnamese leaders in back in October, but the trip had Hanoi, before travelling on to to be cancelled at the last minute long-time US ally the Philippines, as Tropical Storm Nari bore down still struggling to recover after on the Southeast Asian nation. Typhoon Hiayan hit on November “Within the Asia-Pacific 8. The typhoon swept through the Pop star Bieber brings cheer in Tacloban City rebalance, Southeast Asia holds nation’s central islands, leaving special importance, and the sec- more than 7,500 dead or miss- TACLOBAN: Pop megastar heavily damaged local school amid at an improvised sandlot court message on fund raising website retary’s travel to Vietnam and ing and devastating whole towns Justin Bieber hugged, sang to, tight security. “He sang ‘Holy with some of the young boys, Prizeo.com urging his millions of the Philippines demonstrates including popular hotels, beach danced and played with young Night’ for the children,” said Kate later hugging some of them and fans to donate to the victims of the enduring US commitment... resorts, surfing and dive sites. survivors of the Philippines’ Donovan, a spokeswoman for the posing for photos. “Most touching the typhoon, the strongest to ever to the region,” State Department After talks in Manila, Kerry deadliest typhoon yesterday, United Nations Children’s Fund trip of my life,” the singer said on hit land. spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. plans to tour the storm-hit city bringing cheer to the disas- (Unicef), one of three aid agencies Twitter, also describing the per- “Unicef is very pleased that It will be Kerry’s fourth trip to of Tacloban “to witness first-hand ter zone amid an international expected to benefit from Bieber’s formance as the last stop and “the Justin Bieber wanted to visit Asia while in office. the recovery efforts that are tak- relief effort. charity work. most important one” of his global Tacloban, and stopped by City In Ho Chi Minh, the city once ing place there and discuss how Bieber flew unannounced to the During the performance, a boy “Believe” tour. Central Elementary School known as Saigon which fell to the the United States to continue to central city of Tacloban just over a hopped on the improvised stage “I saw the devastation first which has suffered a great deal communist North Vietnam forces contribute to the relief and recon- month after it was devastated by and danced to the 19-year-old hand today. They need our help,” of structural damage,” UNICEF in April 1975, Kerry will “under- struction work,” Psaki said. Super Typhoon Haiyan and sang Canadian superstar’s lead. he added. Prior to visiting the emergency coordinator Angela score the growth of our bilateral AFP Christmas carols to children at a Bieber also played basketball Philippines, Bieber had posted a Kearney said. AFP Supreme Court fast-tracks Maguindanao massacre trial

MANILA: The Philippine members are on trial for the The Supreme Court said it Supreme Court announced November 2009 murder of 58 will also assign a third “assist- steps yesterday to speed up the victims -- 32 journalists as ing judge” on top of two others trial of members of a powerful well as relatives of their local appointed earlier this year, so that clan accused of murdering 58 political rival. The Muslim clan presiding judge, Jocelyn Reyes, people in the country’s worst allegedly ordered the massa- can concentrate on hearing the political massacre. cre to stop its political rival, evidence. It said the third assist- Four years after the shoot- Esmael Mangudadatu, from ing judge will be instructed to ings in the southern province of running against one of its mem- handle a raft of motions, mainly Maguindanao, there are concerns bers for the governorship of filed by the defendants according that it could take years to finish Maguindanao, a poor farming to the lower court. the trial of 108 detained suspects province. Andres, the private prosecutor, led by senior members of the A Supreme Court resolution said these motions had burdened Ampatuan political clan. yesterday said it will now allow Reyes and impeded her from Another 88 suspects are still state witnesses to submit writ- hearing the actual murder cases. at large. ten testimony to the lower court Marlo Guillano, the officer-in- “At the rate we were going it handling the case, so that they charge of Judge Reyes’ adminis- would have taken 16 years to fully will only have to take the stand trative office, said 104 of the 108 hear the Maguindanao massacre to answer questions by defence detained massacre suspects are case,” Gilbert Andres, a lawyer for lawyers. It will also instruct the now on trial. a group of victims’ relatives said, lower court to pass verdicts on State prosecutors are still pre- welcoming the Supreme Court each defendant once all the evi- senting their witnesses in twice- announcement. dence against him has been heard, weekly hearings on the case, with Maguindanao’s provincial instead of waiting for all the evi- a third day each week devoted to kingpin, Andal Ampatuan Snr, dence against all the accused to hearing motions and petitions. two sons and several family be presented. AFP

Tributes to Mandela Congress revives budget oversight

MANILA: Lawmakers may have lost their discretion over billions of pesos in lump sum public funds, but they will con- tinue to have a big say in the utilization of people’s money. The Senate and the House of Representatives have revived the joint congressional oversight com- mittee on government expenditures to monitor disbursements from the P2.268tr 2014 national budget. Davao City Rep Isidro Ungab, chairman of the House appropria- tions committee, said the panel was revived after the Supreme Court declared the Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) or pork barrel unconstitutional. “It’s clear: the executive branch implements A Filipina lights a candle after putting flowers in front of a portrait of former the law, the legislative branch leg- South African president Nelson Mandela at the lobby of the South African islates and conducts oversight,” Embassy in Manila yesterday. People gathered in cities and South African Ungab said. THE PHILIPPINE STAR embassies around the world to pay tributes to him. WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 PAKISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 Karzai rebuffs US pressure to sign deal Without agreement there will be no peace: US envoy

PARIS: Afghan President during a recent visit to Kabul heard in the past is classic colo- Hamid Karzai has criticised that without a security agreement nial exploitation,” Karzai added. what he said was pressure from there would be no peace. “Afghans will not submit, they the United States to accept a Karzai said that could be inter- have already fought colonial mas- security agreement, accusing preted as meaning: “If you don’t ters, they don’t accept it.” Washington of behaving like a sign the agreement, we will pro- United States troops first colonial power. voke fighting in your country, we went into Afghanistan after the Karzai has thrown the pact will cause trouble.” September 11, 2001, attacks on the shaping the US military presence In the absence of a deal, US to oust the Taliban government, post-2014 into doubt in the past Washington says it will consider which provided refuge to Osama by saying that he would only sign pulling its entire military pres- bin Laden. Twelve years later, if new conditions were met and ence out of Afghanistan, which 47,000 US troops are still there. then only after elections in April. remains gripped by the Islamist The United States has been in In an interview with French Taliban’s insurgency. discussions with Afghan officials newspaper Le Monde, Karzai said “Even if they are serious, they about keeping a residual force of the special United States envoy to can’t push us up against the about 8,000 troops after the end Afghanistan and Pakistan, James wall,” Karzai said. “What I’ve of the Nato combat mission next Dobbins, had effectively told him been hearing in recent days and year. REUTERS

Father of Taliban backs Woman rescued from stoning KABUL: Police in a remote polio vaccine in Pakistan northern Afghan village res- cued a woman from being PESHAWAR: A radical in polio cases in Pakistan that stoned to death after she was Pakistani religious scholar threatens worldwide efforts to condemned by the Taliban for known as the ‘Father of the eradicate the infectious crippling allegedly cheating on her hus- Taliban’ has issued a fatwa urg- disease. band, officials said yesterday. ing parents to immunise their Taliban fighters have launched Taliban militants, who often children against polio and other regular attacks on medical work- run informal justice systems in fatal diseases, adding that vac- ers and security personnel result- rural Afghanistan, handed down cinations comply with Islamic ing in at least 25 deaths since the the death penalty on the woman law. June 2012 prohibition on inocula- after her husband accused her of The edict by Maulana Sami-ul- tion. But according to a statement having an affair. Haq, who heads the hardline Dar- signed by Haq and dated October “When police rescued her, she ul-Uloom Haqqania seminary, 30, parents should disregard the was locked in a room in a com- comes more than a year after militants’ warnings. pound that was used as a Taliban the Pakistani Taliban banned “According to Sharia there is base,” Sayed Sarwar Hussaini, polio immunisation following a no harm in using vaccines which police spokesman for Kunduz fake CIA vaccination programme medical experts recommend to province said. meant to help track Al Qaeda save children against deadly dis- The husband handed her over chief Osama bin Laden. eases,” the statement seen yes- to the militants on Friday. The ban has led to a surge terday said. AFP AFP WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Protest for pension LPG cylinder BJP ready for price hiked by Rs3.46 fresh polls; NEW DELHI: The govern- ment yesterday announced a Rs3.46 hike in the price of a 14.2kg domestic cook- ing gas (LPG) cylinder after it increased the com- AAP defiant mission paid to dealers by a like amount. “The com- mission paid to dealers has Cong hints may back AAP in Delhi been increased by Rs3.46 per 14.2kg cylinder to Rs40.71. NEW DELHI: The Congress Consequently, the retail sell- yesterday indicated that it might Vasundhara to take ing price of domestic LPG give unconditional support to oath on Friday cylinder has been increased the Aam Adami Party (AAP) to by the same amount,” a form a government in Delhi even JAIPUR: Vasundhara Raje, petroleum ministry offi- as the AAP pledged to neither the BJP’s chief minister-elect cial said here. The increase, give nor take legislative backing in Rajasthan, will be sworn- effective immediately, means from anyone and the BJP said it in on December 13. She met that the 14.2kg LPG cylin- was ready for fresh elections. Governor Margaret Alva der will now be available at As uncertainty over govern- yesterday and staked claim Rs413.96 as against the pre- ment formation continued after to form the government in vious Rs410.50. The dealer’s elections threw up a hung assem- the state. This would be sec- An elderly man takes part in a protest for a universal old age monthly pension of Rs2,000 for people over 60, commission on a 5kg LPG bly, the Congress — which won ond time that Raje is to be the in New Delhi yesterday. According to the current government outline, people aged over 60 receive Rs200 per bottle has been increased by only eight seats — appeared wary chief minister of the state. month. Pension Parishad and 150 other organisations have given support to the protesters. Rs1.73 to Rs20.36. The 5kg of another election which could Her first chief ministerial bottle presently costs Rs353 devastate it further in the city. stint in the desert state was in Delhi. LPG prices were In contrast, the Bharatiya from 2003 to 2008. IANS last revised in October 2012. Janata Party, the single largest group in the 70-seat house with Mysore Wodeyar 31 members, and the AAP, which to form the government,” his col- won 28 seats in its very first elec- league Manish Sisodia said. Red beacons only for holders prince no more tion, remained defiant, refusing to With indications that this situ- BANGALORE: Srikanta- form a government. ation could lead to another elec- datta Narasimharaja Wode- “Considering the present situ- tion, Congress general secretary yar, the 60-year-old last prince ation, we are not in a position Shakeel Ahmad said: “There is a of high statutory offices: SC of Mysore’s Wodeyar dynasty, to form the government. We feeling in the party in Delhi to died yesterday following a are ready for re-election,” BJP’s extend support unconditionally to NEW DELHI: The Supreme may be fitted with red light with vehicles with red lights on their cardiac arrest at a private chief ministerial candidate Harsh AAP. “But we need to take the Court yesterday said that red or without flashers which would top, the court said that “a large hospital, an official said. The Vardhan said. A party source said: opinion of (our) MLAs in Delhi beacon lights with or without be used only while the specified number of persons are using red scion was rushed to the hos- “Even the possibility of forming a and then we will approach the flashers would be used only on high dignitary is on duty and not lights on their vehicles for com- pital around 2pm in a critical minority government seems bleak.” party high command.” He said the vehicles of high constitu- otherwise, the order said. mitting crimes in different parts condition when he collapsed Former BJP president Nitin the reason for this was that the tional dignitaries and blue or The court however stressed of the country and they do so with after lunch in his sprawl- Gadkari told the newly-elected Congress wanted to keep “com- multi-coloured beacon lights that the “use of red lights on the impunity because the police offi- ing Bangalore Palace in the legislators to prepare for fresh munal forces at bay”. will be used only on emergency vehicles carrying the holders of cials are mostly scared of check- city centre. The prince leaves polls, party sources said. Delhi Haryana Chief Minister services and police vehicles. constitutional posts will in no ing vehicles with red lights, what behind his widow Pramoda BJP president Vijay Goel added: Bhupinder Singh Hooda said that The Court said that though manner compromise with the to say of imposing fine or penalty”. Devi and two elder sisters, “Instead of trying form a coali- the Congress should give “uncon- the use of signs and symbols of dignity of other citizens and indi- The court further said that who stay in the Bangalore pal- tion, we would rather sit in the ditional support” to the AAP to authority such as red lights, etc., viduals or embolden them (consti- multi-toned horns would only be ace with their families. The opposition.” form a government in Delhi. is contrary to the constitutional tutional authorities) to think that used on the emergency services young prince succeeded as AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal Meanwhile, a snap poll said ethos and the basic feature of they are superior to other people, ambulances and fire tenders and the head of royal dynasty in made it clear that his party most people in Delhi want the republicanism, but it felt that more so, because this distinction police vehicles. No motor vehicles September 1974 following his won’t prop up the BJP in Delhi. one-year-old AAP, which took it was not for it to exclude the would be available to them only except ambulances, fire-fighting father’s death. Speaking a day after senior col- birth following the anti-corrup- constitutional functionaries from while on duty and would be co- vehicles, those engaged in sal- league Prashant Bhushan sug- tion campaign of Gandhian Anna the ambit of “high dignitaries” as terminus with their tenure”. vage operation, operators of con- Hazare launches gested giving issue-based support Hazare, to form a government. framers of the constitution felt so. Pronouncing the order, Justice struction equipment vehicles or to the BJP, Kejriwal said: “Neither Of the 600 people polled, A bench of Justice G S Singhvi Singhvi said: “The contemptuous those used by police and officials indefinite fast we will take support nor give the ABP News-Ipsos Snap Poll and Justice C Nagappan said: “The disregard to the prohibition by of Motor Vehicles Department RALEGAN-SIDDHI: support (to form a government). showed that 66 percent favour term ‘high dignitaries’ used in people in power, holders of public would be fitted with multi-toned Veteran activist Anna Hazare There is no question.” AAP in power although it is only proviso (iii) to Rule 108(1) of the offices, civil servants and even ordi- horns, the court ordered. launched an indefinite hun- Kejriwal instead advised the BJP the second largest group in the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 nary citizens is again reflective of The court said that all the vehi- ger strike in his village here to take the help of the Congress to assembly. Only 29 percent felt takes within its fold the holders of ‘Raj Mentality’ and is antithesis of cles which are not permitted to to press for the passage of form a government. “Let the BJP the same way for the BJP. At the various posts, positions and offices the concept of a republic.” have multi-toned horns under the Jan Lokpal Bill by parlia- and Congress join hands... Both same time, 64 percent people in specified in the Constitution.” Pointing out that there was the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, ment. In the chilly 6 degree indulge in corruption.” Delhi “are open to another elec- The motor vehicles carrying an “abysmal failure on the part 1989, “shall, within a period of one Celsius temperature sweeping “AAP would neither support tion as no party has got a com- “high dignitaries” specified by the of the concerned authorities and month from today, remove the Maharashtra’s Ahmednagar nor take support from any party plete majority”. IANS central and state governments agencies” to check misuse of the multi-toned horns”. IANS district, Hazare went on his usual morning walk and then started his hunger strike near the Yadavbaba temple in the PETA initiative village, under the banner of his Kerala police team new organisation, Jantantra Chaos in House saves govt Morcha. The Jan Lokpal Bill, probing prisoners’ also referred to as the Citizen’s Ombudsman Bill, is an anti- role on Facebook from no-trust motion corruption legislation drafted by civil society activists, seek- THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: NEW DELHI: The govern- for a no-confidence motion. ing appointment of an inde- A police team is actively work- ment got temporary relief While the Bharatiya Janata pendent panel to investigate ing to get to the bottom of how yesterday as a no-confidence Party (BJP) said it was too cases of corruption. three under-trial prisoners motion by six Congress and four early to comment on the issue, lodged in Kozhikode jail became TDP lawmakers against crea- the Communist Party of India- 7-year-old girl very active on social network- tion of a separate Telangana Marxist (CPI-M) said the notice ing site (Facebook), said Kerala state could not be taken up in was not required. “It is early to stabbed to death Home Minister Thiruvanchoor the Lok Sabha due to chaos in comment, let the motion come. HYDERABAD: A seven- Radhakrishnan yesterday. the house. Certain majority is needed even year-old girl was yester- Speaking to the media here, The six Congress and four for introducing the no-confidence day stabbed to death by a Radhakrishnan said: “You please Telugu Desam Party (TDP) mem- motion,” said BJP leader Ravi youth described as a maniac wait a little more when the entire bers on Monday gave separate Shankar Prasad. by police at Secunderabad details of the use of mobile phones notices to Lok Sabha Speaker All the six Congress MPs are Railway Station here. The by those active on Facebook would Meira Kumar for a no-trust from Seemandhra region, com- shocking incident took place come out. Nothing will be left to motion over the government’s prising the coastal Andhra and on platform number 10 when chance as the team will come out move to carve out Telangana from Rayalaseema areas of the state. Priyadarshini, along with with what has happened inside Andhra Pradesh. Home Minister Sushilkumar her father and grandmother, the jail.” The Speaker told the House Shinde the MPs could face disci- was waiting to board a train The first fallout of this serious that she had received the notices. plinary action. to Maharashtra’s Solapur to lapse was that Alexander Jacob, She was about to give her ruling The union cabinet has already attend a marriage. As her director general of police (jails), during zero hour but could not do approved the bifurcation of father Srinivas went to buy was moved out from his post last so as chaos broke out in the house. Andhra Pradesh. The motion for the tickets, a youth appeared week for his remarks on the T P The speaker adjourned the Lok this is expected to be sent soon and attacked the girl with Chandrasekheran murder, that A supporter of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Sabha for the day after treasury for the consideration of the state the knife. Passengers caught took place last year. wearing an elephant costume, protesting against maltreatment of ani- benches raised a ruckus when she assembly by President Pranab hold of the youth, thrashed The three, whose pictures mals in circuses, outside the Great Apollo Circus, in Amritsar yesterday. said she has received the notices Mukherjee. IANS him before handing him over appeared on TV channels, are the to railway police. IANS prime accused in the high profile murder case as the victim was a firebrand CPI-M leader who was expelled from the party a few years back. “See, he (Jacob), War of words between Speaker, BJP over 2G JPC report in his letter to me, admitted he committed a mistake through his statement at a press conference,” NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha Speaker available before the house for a discussion “The committee adopted the report The Lok Sabha on Monday adopted the said Radhakrishnan. Meira Kumar yesterday refuted media unless it is presented to the house,” it said. by a 16-11 majority in a meeting held on JPC report on 2G scam exonerating Prime The minister also said that reports which quoted BJP’s Yashwant The Speaker had rejected notices for September 27 in which Sinha was also Minister Manmohan Singh and Finance what occurred in the jail has been Sinha as saying that she did not allow debate by Sinha and CPI-M’s Basudeb present,” it said. According to the state- Minister P Chidambaram of any wrongdo- a lesson learnt and from now on him to discuss the report of the Joint Acharia. “Speaker did not allow us to raise ment, Sinha, in a letter dated December ing, while blaming former telecom minister there will be very strict checks Parliamentary Committee on 2G spec- points of order. MPs have rights to raise 6, requested the Speaker to permit him to A Raja for the faulty allocation of spectrum. and balances as far as prisons are trum before it was presented to the house points of order under specific rules but she raise objections before the presentation of The report disagreed with the Comptroller concerned. by committee chairman P.C. Chacko. overruled it. It was unprecedented. The the report to the house in regard to viola- and Auditor General’s finding the 2G scam “More CCTVs will be installed “There is no rule allowing any discussion manner in which the report was finalised tion of certain rules during deliberations caused a loss of Rs1.76 lakh crore to the and there would be frequent or raising of objections before presentation of was in violation of rules and norms of the in the committee. exchequer. It also charged the BJP-led checks by various agencies in jails,” the report. It is mandatory for the chairman house,” Sinha said on Monday. The Lok Sabha secretariat said the deci- National Democratic Alliance government said Radhakrishnan. Meanwhile, to present duly adopted report to the house According to the statement from the Lok sion of the Speaker cannot be challenged. (1998-2004) of causing losses worth of seven mobile phones were recov- as per the terms of reference of the JPC,” Sabha secretariat: “Once the report has “No point of order can be raised after the Rs40,000 crore because of the telecom policy ered from the Kozhikode jail yes- said a statement from the Speaker’s office. been duly adopted, it has to be presented Speaker has given a ruling on a subject as it pursued while allocating spectrum. terday. IANS “It is clarified a report is not actually to the house.” every ruling is final in the matter,” it said. IANS WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Pranab: We will cherish Mandela’s friendship Anti-apartheid icon ‘a venerated elder, a great soul’

JOHANNESBERG: For India, the passing away of former South African presi- dent and anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela represents the departure of a venerated elder and a great soul, India’s President Pranab Mukherjee said yesterday. “For India, the passing of Nelson Mandela represents the departure of a venerated elder, a great soul. We pray for his eternal peace,” the President said here. He was speaking at a memo- rial service organised at the jam- packed FNB Stadium at Soweto for the former South African president and global statesman who died on December 6 at the age of 95. Mandela, fondly called Madiba, his Xhosa clan name, A screen grab taken from the South African Broadcasting Corporation live was admired in India, said the feed shows President Pranab Mukherjee delivering a speech during the President. memorial service for the late South African president Nelson Mandela at “Madiba lived a life of sacrifice Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg yesterday. and privation as he pursued a seemingly impossible goal for his towering personality of great its highest civilian honour Bharat people — and the world is richer compassion and wisdom”. Ratna on Mandela, Mukherjee for his legacy. We, in India, have “Indeed, his life and struggles — said. “It was an honour for Indians long admired him — and all that which represented ‘hope’ for the to confer upon Madiba our high- he stood for — and we will always downtrodden in South Africa and est civilian award, the Bharat cherish his friendship and love for all over the world — remind us Ratna when he visited India in our people,” Mukherjee said. of the principles that the Father 1990,” he said. Noting that Mandela was a of our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, “In 1995, when Mandela vis- visionary, the President said stood for,” he said. ited India as the first president he inspired all. “To us, Nelson According to the President, in of post-apartheid South Africa, Mandela was a visionary. He epit- the face of the severest persecu- he visited Gandhiji’s Sabarmati omised an uncommon humane- tion, punishment and relentless Ashram and said that it was for ness that inspired all of mankind. oppression, Mandela continued him a homecoming, a pilgrimage,” He was an icon of irreversible his non-violent struggle “with Mukherjee recalled. social and economic change - the dignity and pride, refusing to be “We, on our part, associate kind of transformation and eman- intimidated”. South Africa with the first chap- cipation that his people had only “He never diminished his com- ter of Mahatma Gandhi’s freedom dreamt of,” he said. mitment to his kind of satyagraha movement. Gandhiji had staked “He guided his nation, bruised against injustice and inequality. his career as a budding lawyer by decades of apartheid and vio- His stoic determination, patience in South Africa to resist segre- lence, to embrace his simple mes- and magnanimity reminded us, in gation and inequality — before sage of tolerance and harmonious India, of the revolutionary meth- he embarked for India and took co-existence,” the president said ods of Mahatma Gandhi,” he said. up, in India, the same cause,” the while terming Mandela as “a India was honoured to confer Indian president said. IANS

Wednesday 11 December 2013 7 Safar 1435 Volume 18 Number 5910 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 PM calls for more private sector role Euromoney Qatar Conference begins

DOHA: The Prime Minister sustainable development in the and Interior Minister H E country. Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa The Prime Minister’s state- Al Thani has called for an active ment was reinforced by H E Ali participation of private sector Sherif Al Emadi, Minister of in Qatar’s ongoing economic Finance, who spoke on the role diversification process. of the financial sector in sup- After taking effective action porting stability and ensuring during the global economic crisis the achievement of the Qatar to ensure stability and sustain- National Vision 2030. able development, Qatar is now “Financial stability requires embarking on a new phase of sus- sound fiscal policies and the tainable development. The focus development of a financial sys- of this new phase is the diversi- tem that can cope with risks and fication of the national economy boost the capacity of the national and expansion of non-oil and gas economic system to absorb risks. sectors. We are looking for the The next phase of development in active participation of the pri- Qatar will be driven by large-scale vate sector to encourage positive infrastructure projects, which will FROM LEFT: The Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdulla bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Minister of Finance, H E Ali Shareef Al competition and to support the require the input and support Emadi and Governor of Qatar Central Bank, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud Al Thani, arrive for the 2nd Euromoney Qatar Conference at Ritz Carlton employment, training and devel- of the private sector, and which yesterday. (SHAIVAL DALAL) opment of young people, he said will deliver a major contribution while opening the two-day “The to the welfare of the citizens of Euromoney Qatar Conference” Qatar,” he said. Strengthening local talent key for Qatar: IMF here yesterday. H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saoud The Prime Minister reiterated Al Thani, Governor of the Qatar Qatar’s commitment to continue Central Bank, highlighted the DOHA: Getting away with vacancies. In 2012 non-hydrocar- Qatar’s capital market is the development process to trans- measures taken by the bank to hydrocarbon sector and groom- bon sector accounted for 42 per- expected to attract huge liquidity. fer the state into a modern state date, and also indicated the strong ing local talents are the twin cent of the total GDP. By 2015, The Emerging Market status will and enabling it to interact posi- plans in place to ensure long-term challenges that Qatar face in non-hydrocarbon sector would give the market more depth. The tively with the requirements of sustainable development. its long-term sustainable devel- contribute nearly half of Qatar’s move to Emerging Market will have the times . “Qatar Central Bank has opment journey, a top IMF total GDP. huge implication on longer term for The state enters a new stage launched initiatives to promote Executive said here yesterday. Addressing various sessions, Qatar capital market, he said. of the comprehensive develop- the effectiveness of the finance Attending a panel discus- experts noted that Qatar would On the IPO drought in the ment process aiming at building sector in reducing risk, developing sion on the opening day of “The emerge as a financial hub, despite region, he said there are huge institutions based on the latest capital markets, and increasing Euromoney Qatar Conference”, the strong presence of Dubai. Of prospects for IPO in the pipeline. effective methods for admin- the stability of financial processes. Ananthakrishnan Prasad (pic- course, Dubai is an interesting IPO activities will pick up in the istering resources. The oil and Just recently, we have launched a tured), Deputy Division Chief, place in terms of connectivity. But next couple of years. “Government gas sector has been the main strategy for the development of Middle East and Central Asia the fund companies in Europe and must actively encourage IPOs. It driver of Qatari economy for capital markets with other minis- Department, IMF, said Qatar Asia are increasingly looking for should actively encourage family long. The new phase requires tries, based on the Qatar National should empower its own people pools of liquidity in Qatar. Qatar businesses and state businesses the government to focus more Vision 2030,” he said. instead of attracting foreign tal- can be a major financial hub. The too to go for IPO, he said. Partner, Latham & Watkins LLP on diversification of the sources The Governor noted the com- ents and avoid the demographic liquidity in the market is pretty Nicholas noted that there is a said Qatar’s legal infrastructure of the economy supporting the bined assets of Qatar’s commer- imbalance. Strengthening of local good. The regulations are improv- huge room for fund expansion in in terms of financial regulations development and expansion in cial banks grew by 10 percent talents is key for Qatar. “For ing. The unification of regulation Qatar. The market sentiments are of Islamic Finance are not quite non-oil sectors. to QR898.5bn in November 2013, Qatar, economic diversification makes added sense, they said. strong in terms of capital raise as strong.. There are gaps in the Sheikh Abdullah noted that compared to QR817bn at the end means nothing but reducing its Qatar Exchange has been an estimated $243bn worth infra- laws, it should be looked into. the government is working to of 2012. The deposit to the com- reliance on hydrocarbon and how growing leaps and bounds since structure project is going to effect “The regulations have still prepare citizens to participate mercial banks grew 20.8 per- to empower its youth by creating 2007. With more foreign insti- the economy. He said the fund problems in supporting the effectively in the production and cent to QR504bn in November jobs”, he emphasised. tutions expected to come in, companies in Europe and Asia are growth in Islamic Finance. There development process by provid- 2013, compared to QR417bn in Joannes Mongardini, Head QE will become a “jewel in the increasingly looking for pools of has to be a collective will to regu- ing the educational and health December 2012. The loan book of Economics, Qatar National Emerging Market Crown”, said liquidity in Qatar. The regulations late this sector in a better way services in the state , which grew 10.6 percent in November Bank said Qatar is expected to Nicholas Wilson, Chairman, are improving. The unification of for the overall growth of Qatari are considered the best way 2013 reaching QR527.4bn. receive 300,000 people in the next Qatar Investment Fund, earlier regulation makes added sense economy”. to achieve comprehensive and THE PENINSULA few years to fill up 250,000 new in the day in an interview. However, Ahmad Anani, THE PENINSULA

EADS on collision course with unions Oil back to $110 after biggest fall No plan to issue debt in in five weeks foreign markets: Minister LONDON: Brent crude oil rose to around $110 a barrel yester- DOHA: Qatar has no plans to build-ups of excess liquidity as day, recouping some of the pre- issue debt on international mar- well as a recent fall in demand vious session’s sharp losses as kets next year and will adjust as linked to geopolitical tensions the US dollar weakened. necessary its hitherto fixed offer- over a civil war in Syria. The US currency hit a six-week ings of local currency debt, the In March, the central bank low against the euro, increasing the finance minister said yesterday. launched debt sales worth a total purchasing power for European Asked if Qatar planned to issue QR4bn in three- and five-year consumers who have to buy oil in debt on the international markets local currency government bonds dollars on international markets. next year, H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi and sukuk in quarterly issues Brent for January was up 80 said on the sidelines of a financial allocated directly to banks. cents at $110.19 a barrel by 1210 conference in Doha: “No, nothing.” But Emadi said the volumes GMT, having risen briefly by more “We are going to focus on the drained from the market through than $1 to a high of $110.45. Brent local market and it will be used local debt issues may be changed dropped two percent on Monday, for monetary purposes. It is only flexibly in the coming months, ech- its biggest loss in five weeks, fol- for monetary and liquidity man- oing April remarks by Central Bank lowing mixed economic data from agement. That’s about it,” he said Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Germany. in his first public comments since Saoud Al Thani. “We are very much US crude oil futures, were up his appointment in June. dynamic, comparing the models. We $1.11 at $98.45 a barrel, their The Opec member last came to always look at the market and if it highest in six weeks, after their the international market with a is required we will be flexible when first decline in seven sessions on $4bn three-tranche sukuk issue in we need to,” he said. Monday. “The poor day yesterday July 2012, which attracted an order Qatar may need more active (for Brent) was (due to) the mixed book worth more than $25bn. liquidity management in coming German data, which called into Engineers work in the Avionic Bay of an Eurofighter Typhoon while setting up all component parts of an Its central bank has conducted years as it plans to spend some question the European recovery,” Eurofighter at the headquarters of Military Air Systems Centre Cassidian in Manching near Ingolstadt, south- monthly auctions of 91-, 182- $140bn on infrastructure building, said Gareth Lewis-Davies, senior ern Germany. Airbus parent EADS risked a collision with unions and European politicians by unveiling plans and 273-day T-bills since 2011, partly in preparation for hosting energy strategist at BNP Paribas. yesterday to cut defence and space jobs. consistently draining the same the 2022 World Cup. REUTERS amount of QR4bn ($1.1bn) despite REUTERS WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Poland seeks QDB to launch investments from Qatar

DOHA: Qatar and Poland programme to yesterday explored opportuni- ties to continue cooperation in various areas and boost bilat- eral trade ties between the two boost exports countries. Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski, who was on a two- day visit to Qatar, met with Tasdeer hosts AMAN Union Meeting officials from Qatar Chamber yesterday along with repre- BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB sentatives of the Polish business delegation. DOHA: Qatar Development The president also called Bank (QDB) yesterday said that Qatar’s businessmen to invest in it will launch a tailor-made pro- his country, Europe’s sixth largest gramme to promote exports of economy. He said Poland is expe- Qatari goods, in second quarter riencing an annual growth rate of 2014. The programme intends of three percent after emerging to help improve the quality and from the slowdown triggered by competitive advantage of local the global financial crisis. products (non-hydrocarbon) export capabilities through partic- The Polish delegation is explor- produced by export-oriented ipating in a wide range of events ing business partnerships in small and mid-sized companies. and activities across the world. Qatar particularly in sports infra- Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al Khalifa The event has brought together structure for the 2022 World Cup. (pictured), CEO of QDB, said: “We AMAN Union members and Komorowski highlighted are in the process of developing a experts from a number of related his country’s experience in programmes in cooperation with sectors, including credit and Officials during a discussion at the 2nd Annual Middle East Smart Cities Summit yesterday. organizing sports events such Qatar Chamber to raise the qual- political risk insurance, reinsur- as the 2012 UEFA European ity standards of Qatari products ance, banking and credit infor- Championship. which will help promote exports.” mation, to discuss the importance The President also said that “We will provide all need- of promoting and developing the 150 delegates attend Middle Poland would start the process ful supports and training serv- credit and political risks insur- of importing natural gas from ices to local entrepreneurs and ance industry through the export Qatar. This would balance its employees of Qatari companies so development processes. energy needs and open doors for that they can enhance the com- It also witnessed the launch of East Smart Cities Summit more cooperation between the petitiveness of their products in the AMAN Union Database, the two countries, which have become international market. first of its kind, established for the stronger in the recent times. “We are focusing at micro-level benefit of national export credit DOHA: The 2nd Annual Middle (GORD) and supported by Qatar Province, Saudi Arabia, who The chamber has assured to build a cluster of non-hydro- insurance agencies in the Arab East Smart Cities Summit, Rail Company and the National spoke about ‘Smart Cities and assistance for the delegation to carbon companies with high com- and Islamic Countries. which was organised under the Transport Authority (NTA), the Strategic Challenges’. provide them with suitable part- petitive advantage. This is in line The Database will enable the theme ‘Gateway to a Smart and United Arab Emirates. Daniel Leckel, Chief Technical ners and investment opportuni- of Qatar National Vision 2030 subscribers to share and purchase Sustainable Future’, came to a “These past two days have Officer from Qatar Rail presented ties in both countries. aiming at achieving economic credit information reports, credit close yesterday as around 150 proven to be extremely informative the Smart City planning for Doha diversification... I have found opinions on entities worldwide and delegates and participants from even for acknowledged experts in Metro in line with the Qatar’s Michel named that most of the export-oriented to exchange their underwriting across the region attended the this field,” said Dr Yousef Al Horr, National Vision 2030. Qatari companies are in a good experience on buyers and banks. two-day session. Founding Chairman, GORD. “With “Qatar has been at the forefront Total’s Mideast position,” he said. Dr Abdel Rahman EI Tayeb The summit saw discussions and our aim of coming up with the most of sustainable development with He was speaking to The Peninsula Taha, Secretary General of the exchange of information on the viable, cost-efficient yet most effec- the Lusail City project – Qatar’s E&P president on the sidelines of 4th Annual Union and also the CEO of Islamic latest advancements in methods, tive solutions of achieving regional first sustainable city and largest AMAN Union Meeting hosted by Corporation for the insurance of systems and technologies related and even global sustainable devel- sustainable development in the DOHA: QDB’s export arm, Tasdeer. The Investment and Export Credit to sustainable developments for a opment objectives, the discussions region,” said Hussain Naimi, CEO‘s Total, one of three-day meeting opened here Insurance (lClEC), said: “We are Smart City transformation. have undoubtedly contributed in an Advisor for Smart City, Lusail Real the largest yesterday at Renaissance Doha happy that Qatar witnesses the The summit was organised by extremely positive way towards our Estate Development Company. integrated City Centre Hotel. official launching of the AMAN Fleming Gulf, one of the leading journey to such goals. The summit main sponsors oil and gas Tasdeer provides private sector Union Database, which we are providers of business intelligence The summit also witnessed and partners included Vodafone companies exporters with financial solutions, confident that it will help solving through industry specific confer- an keynote presentations by Qatar, Huawei, COBA Middle in the world, credit insurances and advisory the issue of reliability of credit ences, and was held in associa- Dr Abdul Aziz Abdullah Al East, PwC Qatar and Qatar appointed services, in addition to support- information in the region.” tion with the Gulf Organisation Khudairi, Deputy Governor Project Management. Stephane ing businesses in developing their THE PENINSULA for Research & Development and Undersecretary, Makkah THE PENINSULA Michel (pic- tured) as President, Middle East, Exploration & Production IMF chief in Brussels (E&P) Division. The appoint- ment is effective from January Iran, India meeting to 1, 2014. Michel has been the Managing Director of Total, E&P, Qatar since mid-2011. He will report to discuss oil exports Arnaud Breuillac, President, E&P at Total. NEW DELHI: Indian and with high inflation and a weak- Michel was the Managing Iranian officials are meeting ened currency since being cut off Director of Total E&P Libye after this week to discuss how to from the global financial system being responsible for Total E&P unlock the first oil payments to after sanctions were imposed in Qatar joint venture and business Iran since the United States and 2012. development from 2008 to 2010. other world powers eased sanc- The West believes Iran is try- He joined the Total Group in tions last month in exchange ing to make a nuclear bomb, while 2005 as Business Development for curbs to Tehran’s nuclear the Middle Eastern nation says its Manager for Total Dowstream programme. nuclear programme is for power Asia, based in Singapore. He was Last month six world powers generation. energy advisor to the French and Tehran reached an interim India and Iran are to discuss Finance Minister between 2002 deal that provided limited relief how to restart oil payments in and 2004. to Iran from economic sanctions, foreign currencies, including a A graduate of Ecole opening the way for some oil pay- plan to process partial payments Polytechnique (1994) and Ecole ments to resume. for oil in euros through a Turkish des Mines de Paris (1997), Michel International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde (centre) arrives for a debate of the European The deal is a chance for bank, two government sources is an Engineer of the Corps des Economic and Social Committee at the EU Parliament in Brussels. Iran’s new leadership to revive said. Mines. the country’s economy, plagued REUTERS THE PENINSULA

Masraf Al Rayan sponsors Euromoney Alitalia secures emergency Qatar Conference cash, heads to union meeting DOHA: Masraf Al Rayan (MAR) announced its sponsorship of MILAN: Alitalia finally secured restructuring of the airline’s debt. the two days Euromoney Qatar the ¤300m ($412m) it needs to The source said Italy’s state- Conference 2013, which opened keep flying over Christmas, a owned postal service, which at the Ritz Carlton Hotel in Doha source said yesterday, conclud- had been lined up to commit up yester under the patronage of H ing a drawn-out capital raising to ¤75m for any unsubscribed E Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa that showed how much work the shares, had to participate in the Al Thani, Prime Minister Interior airline has to convince investors cash call in the end, although to Minister, in the presence of H E it can survive. what extent was not yet known. Ali Sharif Al Emadi, the Minister Italy’s national carrier, having “Including subscriptions by of Finance, and H E Sheikh pocketed cash that analysts esti- existing shareholders, new inves- Abdullah bin Saoud Al Thani, mate will last it six months, now tors and the investment by the Qatar’s Central Bank Governor. goes straight to its next challenge: postal service, the 300 million The conference, which is held in A meeting with unions where euro target has been reached,” collaboration with the QCB, will sources said it will try to persuade the source said. focus on financing fair sustained them to sign up to thousands of At the same time, Alitalia’s growth, and also on the impending job cuts. management is due to meet role of financial markets and tradi- The cash call was part of a big- trade unions to present details of tional Islamic capital in the process. ger government-engineered res- a revised industrial plan, which Dr Hussain Al Abdulla, cue to keep Alitalia going while sources said could include up to Chairman and Managing Director it searches for a new partner 2,600 job cuts out of the airline’s at Masraf Al Rayan, said “I hope willing to invest in revamping total workforce of 14,000 people. that this congregation of great its fleet and making it profitable Unions say they are gearing up professionals and experts will out- in the longer term. The scale of for a battle should layoffs at the line future strategies to develop that task was illustrated by the airline be announced. Any tough effective solutions to key issues airline’s difficulty in persuad- restructuring of the airline to facing the global economy and ing shareholders to sign up for suit a foreign investor would also strengthen the role of Islamic fresh investment — many aired weigh on the already fragile coali- banks in the economic process.” doubts over its proposed business tion government of Enrico Letta. THE PENINSULA plan or wanted to see tougher REUTERS WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Valiant first Indonesian car market Swiss bank to agree US deal Deadline for tax deal is year-end

ZURICH: Valiant has become banks, said they would come clean the first Swiss firm to agree on any past transgressions and to crack down on wealthy face up to fines. Americans evading taxes and as The fines are scaled to reflect many as a third of the country’s how egregiously the banks acted banks are expected to follow in in their dealings with US custom- the latest step in a long-running ers. Fines would have to be dis- dispute with the United States. closed to investors because they The deal between the United could have an impact on share States and Switzerland, agreed in prices. August, is part of a US drive to A third — Zurich-based private lift the veil of Swiss bank secrecy. bank and securities firm Vontobel In 2009, this led to UBS paying Holding AG — said it would also $780m in a settlement where the participate, but declared itself bank agreed to hand over US free of hidden US client funds. client names with secret Swiss The bank began transferring accounts. business with wealthy Americans The US pursuit of tax dollars into an entity registered with sheltered in offshore accounts has the Securities and Exchange piled pressure on Switzerland, the Commission in 2008, when the world’s largest offshore finance crackdown on Switzerland’s centre with more than $2 trillion banks intensified. in assets. How many of Switzerland’s 300- An employee works on a Chevrolet Spin MPV at a General Motors plant in Bekasi, on the outskirts of Jakarta. General Motors Co, the world’s The Swiss government in June plus private banks come forward second-biggest car maker, is trying to break the Japanese stranglehold of the popular family car market in Indonesia. bowed to repeated attacks on under the programme is also key banking secrecy, deeply embedded for banks facing criminal inves- in the country’s culture, and will tigations, which includes some of share data on foreign depositors Switzerland’s biggest banks such if a global standard is established. as Credit Suisse and Julius Baer Portugal central Under the latest US deal, Swiss and Pictet & Cie. IMF cuts Russia growth forecast banks were given until Monday A host of listed private banks bank expects by their regulator to say whether such as EFG International and MOSCOW: The International “Structural reforms should be had initially sought five-percent they would take part in the gov- Banque Cantonale de Geneve said Monetary Fund slashed a critical element of any plan to growth for the year that would return to ernment-brokered programme they had yet to make a decision. Russia’s 2014 growth forecast enhance Russia’s growth poten- mark another step in Russia’s open to a host of second-tier St. Galler Kantonalbank, which yesterday while warning that tial,” the IMF team said in a state- comeback from an economic growth in 2014 Swiss banks. owns private bank Hyposwiss, faster expansion would be hard ment. “Inadequate infrastructure, implosion suffered during the The programme, which lapses said it had informed the Swiss to achieve without a change in constraints on access to finance 2008-2009 global financial crisis. at year-end, requires the banks to regulator of intention, but would the energy-rich country’s eco- for many firms — especially The government has since con- LISBON: Portugal should hand out some previously hidden only tell investors what it had nomic model. small- and medium-sized enter- ceded that Russia was on track return to growth next year, information and face penalties of decided when it had been formal- An IMF team said after con- prises — and skill mismatches in for its worst economic perform- following more than two years up to 50 percent of assets they ised by its board. cluding a regular mission to the labour market appear as key ance in four years. The economy of recession, with the recovery managed on behalf of wealthy These publicly-listed banks, Moscow that it was cutting its obstacles.” ministry last month further pulled by exports, the Bank of Americans. If the banks shun the which are subject to disclosure 2014 growth forecast to two per- The fund in October encour- warned that negligible growth Portugal said yesterday. US offer, individual firms and sen- rules, give the first indication of cent from the three percent last aged Russia “to embrace a new was likely for many years to come. The country is due to exit next ior staff risk criminal prosecution. how many firms will cooperate expected in October. growth model” that relied less on The IMF also said that infla- year from a ¤78bn ($107bn) eco- The regulator FINMA said yes- with the US authorities under It added that growth was its oil and natural gas exports. tion was running above target and nomic bailout by the International terday that most had done so, and the plan. likely to reach 1.5 percent this Russia’s slowdown has sur- urged against monetary easing Monetary Fund and European that it expected several more to But most Switzerland’s private year — slightly higher than prised both the government and steps because they were both dan- Union granted it in 2011 and begin do so shortly, without disclosing banks are not listed and under no the 1.4 percent expansion rate economists who have been forced gerous and could prove ineffective to finance itself on the markets, what the banks had decided. obligation to make their decision Russian Economy Minister Alexei to lower their projections for the since the economy was operating but despite reforms has yet to Valiant Holding and Berner public. Ulyukayev predicted at the start year several times. “close to its full capacity”. plug its deficit and growth has Kantonalbank, two mainly retail REUTERS of the month. President Vladimir Putin AFP been weak. Portugal emerged from a two- and-a-half-year recession in the second quarter of 2013, but for the year as a whole the Bank of Portugal expects the economy to ‘Warp speed’ risk for UK house price, rate hike off radar contract by 1.5 percent. Over the period of crisis (2011- 2013) the country’s economy con- LONDON: Expectations of prices would rise over the next speed to warp speed and under- in the same period of 2012. will return to historically normal tracted by six percent, according future British house price rises three months, the highest reading writing standards slipping. So we But RICS warned again of a levels any time soon,” Carney said. to the central bank’s calculations. have hit a 14-year high just as since September 1999. want to avoid that,” Carney said. lack of homes available to buy. “This prospect puts a premium For 2015, the Bank of Portugal central bank chief Mark Carney Speaking in New York ahead of The RICS measure of house “If there is not a meaningful on macro-prudential policies and sees growth picking up to 1.3 per- signalled monetary policy would the survey, Carney signalled that prices hit +58 in November, edg- increase in new homes, the like- financial reforms to manage the cent due to increases in exports remain exceptionally loose monetary policy was not about to ing up from October to an 11-year lihood is that prices, and for that associated risks without aban- and a recovery in domestic despite the potential for them be tightened even though there high as government incentives matter rents, will continue to doning the need to keep interest demand after years in which to jump at ‘warp speed’. were potential dangers in the and more optimism on the econ- push upwards, making the cost of rates in line with the equilibrium households have cut back on Britain is growing faster than housing market. omy helped spur demand. shelter ever more unaffordable,” level.” consumption. many other big rich economies “We’re concerned about poten- Economists in a poll had pre- said Simon Rubinsohn, RICS’s The Bank of England has held The central bank empha- although it has still not passed tial developments in the housing dicted the price index would rise chief economist. interest rates at 0.5 percent since sised the importance of exports its pre-crisis peak. There are market,” Carney said. He said to +60. Positive readings mean In an upbeat message before 2009, bought 375 billion pounds’ to recovery, but data released some concerns, however, that it activity in the housing sector more members reported price the Christmas season, Carney worth of government debt and Tuesday by the national statistics is a housing-led recovery - and was lower than before the finan- rises rather than falls in the pre- said Britain’s recovery was show- undertaken other stimulus meas- institute INE showed that export a potential bubble - spurred by cial crisis, and bank underwriting ceding three months. ing signs it can reach self-sustain- ures to spur the recovery. growth slowed in October. government stimulus. standards had been “substantially Prices rose for a second con- ing momentum but no tightening RICS forecast house prices Exports rose by 4.6 percent The Royal Institution of transformed”. secutive month in every area of was on the horizon. would increase by 3 percent next in October to ¤4.21bn after Chartered Surveyors (RICS) “But there is a history of things Britain, while the average number “The Ghost of Christmas Yet to year and by almost 5 percent a having grown by 9.9 percent in said yesterday that 59 percent of shifting in the UK and the hous- of homes sold per chartered sur- Come suggests that it is unlikely year over the next five years. September, said INE. surveyors in November forecast ing market of moving from stall veyor grew to 20.6, up from 15.9 that equilibrium interest rates REUTERS AFP

China industrial output slows down

BEIJING: China’s indus- and others wrote in a report. government to maintain neutral trial production growth slowed They added the figures might monetary and fiscal policies in in November but retail sales raise expectations for stronger the next couple of quarters expanded at a faster pace, official growth in the current fourth while increasing their efforts figures showed yesterday, sug- quarter, while “the structure on drafting and carrying out gesting a mixed picture for the of the economy seems to be structural reforms,” the Bank of world’s second-largest economy. improved towards consumption”. America Merrill Lynch econo- Industrial output, which The data for November came mists wrote. measures production at facto- after strong export and benign China’s ruling party vowed ries, workshops and mines, rose inflation figures for the month as last month to pursue a range of 10 percent in November year- China’s economy shows signs of reforms, including encouraging a on-year, the National Bureau of strength after a slump in the first bigger role for the private sector, Statistics (NBS) announced. half of the year. further interest rate liberalisation That was a slowdown from the Gross domestic product (GDP) and loosened currency controls. 10.3 percent expansion recorded in expanded 7.8 percent in July- On Sunday, the General October, but matched the median September, snapping a two-quar- Administration of Customs said forecast of 11 economists surveyed ter slowdown, with data for the exports accelerated 12.7 percent by Dow Jones Newswires. final three months of the year so year-on-year in November while Retail sales, a key indicator far suggesting a steady outlook. import growth weakened, fuelling of consumer spending, rose 13.7 Figures on Monday showed the country’s biggest trade sur- percent in November from the Chinese inflation slowed to three plus in nearly five years. year before — an acceleration percent in November, after two But the strong export figure from the 13.3 percent registered months of acceleration in consumer led some economists to won- in October. prices, well under the government’s der whether companies had “Today’s data could be either target for the year of 3.5 percent. returned to over-invoicing their market neutral or slightly positive,” “With a muted inflation and a overseas sales to camouflage S hoppers standing by decorations for the upcoming festivals in Beijing. Chinese inflation slowed to three percent Bank of America Merrill Lynch pace of GDP growth in line with capital flows. in November. economists Lu Ting, Zhi Xiaojia China’s potential, we expect the AFP WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

German boat show Mary Barra to Industries push be first female CEO of General QE index up Motors

NEW YORK: General Motors yesterday announced that 62.79 points company veteran Mary Barra would succeed Dan Akerson as chief executive, becoming the first woman to lead the largest Saudi rallies ahead of budget US automaker. Barra, 51, currently executive DOHA: Qatar Exchange index chief investment strategist at vice president for global product gained 62.79 points, or 0.60 per- Saudi investment firm MASIC. development, purchasing and cent, yesterday to advance to “Also, Q4 profits are in inves- supply chain, will assume the post 10,496.89 points from 10,434.10 tors’ minds and that seems to be on January 15. on Monday. a positive driver for the market.” The announcement came just The volume of the shares Saudi Arabia tends to set one day after the US Treasury traded was up at 16,944,431 record budgets every year, which sold its last shares in General from 15,203,063 on Monday and are conservative numbers com- Motors, closing the books on a the value of shares increased pared to actual spending. The 2008 bailout executed amid the to QR672,204,715.85 from announcement is expected in the financial crisis. GM and fellow US QR517,661,189.35 on Monday. second half of December. automakers Ford and Chrysler Among the top gainers were Petrochemical shares gained have gained on surging auto sales Qatar National Bank which was as oil prices recovered recent The sailing yacht ‘Oyster 575’ is lifted out of the Rhine in Duesseldorf, Germany, yesterday. The British yacht throughout 2013. up 1.69 percent to QR174.30, losses. Brent crude climbed 0.8 - 18 metres long - will be shown on the boat fair ‘Boot’ from January 18 to 26. Barra has worked at GM for Commercial Bank of Qatar percent to $110.23 per barrel at 33 years, rising through a series gained 1.57 percent to QR71.10, 1215 GMT. Saudi Basic Industries of manufacturing, engineering Industries Qatar added 1.15 per- Corp (Sabic) added 1.1 percent and senior staff positions. GM, cent to QR167.80 and Vodafone and National Industrialisation in a statement, called her “a Qatar up by 0.87 percent to (Tasnee) rose 1.6 percent. Greece’s creditors to return today leader in the company’s ongoing QR11.60. Saudi petrochemical stocks turnaround.” The Banking and Financial sec- tend to track oil prices, with An engineer by training, Barra tor index added 0.76 points while crude impacting their bottom ATHENS: International audi- January, “after the authorities the talks before it assumes has also served as vice-president Consumer Goods and Services line. Oil is also seen as a proxy tors are due back in Athens have made further progress in the rotating EU presidency in of global human resources, where sector index lost 0.04 points. for global economic activity and this week to assess Greece’s implementation” of reforms. January. she was credited with shaking The Industrial sector gained 0.92 therefore demand for petrochem- progress in implementing Stournaras described this The international creditors and up a corporate culture that had points while insurance sector rose ical products. reforms in exchange for loans, announcement as “unfortunate” Athens disagree on the level of a depressed profits and innovation. 0.04 points. Elsewhere, Cairo’s benchmark a Greek official said yesterday, during a meeting of eurozone forecasted financing gap for 2014 Her GM-heavy background con- Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia’s index slipped 0.1 percent, its sec- clearing up earlier confusion finance ministers in Brussels late and the measures that need to be trasts with Akerson, who joined bourse rose for a fifth consecutive ond decline since Sunday’s 18-day over their return. Monday. taken to cover it. GM as chief executive in 2010 after session yesterday and approached high. “The auditors will meet with the He also insisted that officials The troika predicts the 2014 working on buyouts for investment the year’s peak as investors The market was little moved finance minister on Wednesday would work with the troika mis- financing gap will exceed ¤1.5bn, firm The Carlyle Group. bought shares ahead of the 2014 after a government minister said afternoon,” said a source at the sion chiefs to close as many pend- while the Greek government esti- Yesterday’s announcement budget announcement expected a referendum on a new constitu- office of Finance Minister Yannis ing issues as possible before the mates the sum to be slightly more unveiled a series of other signifi- later this month. Regional shares tion would be held in mid-January. Stournaras. Christmas break. than ¤500bn. cant executive changes, includ- were mixed with few catalysts. “People were expecting the vote The meeting is expected to be An agreement with the troika Discussions are reportedly ing news that board member Saudi Arabia’s index climbed to be held in early January but closely watched for any hints of is necessary to unblock a tranche stumbling on the issue of a new Theodore Solso would succeed 0.5 percent to 8,399 points, its it was slightly delayed - the ref- disagreements between the Greek of financial aid worth one-billion- property tax, debtor property Akerson as chairman. highest since November 18’s 2013 erendum was mostly priced in,” government and the country’s so- euro ($1.4 billion) pending since auctions, layoffs in the state Dan Ammann, currently exec- intraday peak of 8,425. said Islam Batrawy, a Cairo-based called troika of creditors — the June. sector and the slow pace of utive vice president and chief “The market has to break with trader. European Union, International It is believed that the two sides privatisation. financial officer, will become pres- confidence the 8,400 area on good Heavyweight Commercial Monetary Fund and the European will aim to at least reach agree- Athens yesterday also raised ident and assume responsiblity turnover and it could very well International Bank declined 0.7 Central Bank. ment over the privatisation of ¤1.625bn ($2.23bn) in six-month for regional operations around do it as we are gearing up for the percent, its second loss since On Saturday, the European troubled Greek defence contrac- treasury bills at a steady interest the world. The global Chevrolet budget announcement later in the Sunday’s all-time high. Commission said the creditors tor EAS. rate of 4.15 percent. and Cadillac brands will report to month,” said John Sfakianakis, AGENCIES would delay their next visit until Athens has been keen to wrap AFP him. A replacement as CFO will be named later. Akerson, 65, accelerated the succession plan by several months Turkey grows 4.4pc in Q3 after his wife was recently diag- nosed with “an advanced stage of cancer,” the company said. ANKARA: The Turkish econ- figures showed the government GM shares were off 0.4 percent omy grew by a stronger-than- would easily achieve its growth in early trade. Shares have risen expected 4.4 percent in the forecasts. steadily over the last 12 months. third quarter of 2013, official AFP AFP data showed yesterday. The figure, which compares with the same quarter of 2012, QATARI MARKET was higher than the market con- Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P sensus of around four percent. Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 101.50 0.48 % Aa2 AA Growth for the first nine Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 104.88 1.51 % Aa2 AA months of the year was four per- cent which the government said Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.25 2.65 % Aa2 AA was “in line with its growth pre- Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 112.00 3.08 % Aa2 AA dictions for 2013”. The govern- Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 106.00 3.64 % Aa2 AA ment is forecasting growth of Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 152.50 5.03 % Aa2 AA just 3.6 percent for this year and Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 113.50 5.43 % Aa2 AA four percent for 2014, down from Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 104.38 5.44 % Aa2 AA a peak of 8.9 percent in 2010. Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.13 0.92 % Aa2 AA Turkey along with other emerging economies has been Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 110.00 3.30 % Aa2 AA buffeted by market turmoil in Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.63 1.07 % A1 A- anticipation of a withdrawal of US Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 103.63 2.24 % A1 A- monetary stimulus, which saw the QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.13 1.55 % NR NR local currency take a tumble in QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.50 1.29 % Aa3 A+ the summer, and effective official QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 103.88 2.11 % Aa3 A+ interest rates rise sharply. Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.00 2.22 % A2 A- William Jackson, emerging Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.00 1.57 % A2 A markets economist at Capital Economics in London, said that Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 123.50 3.18 % A2 A growth of Turkish gross domestic Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 105.50 3.86 % A2 A product had held up “relatively Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 100.13 4.98 % A2 A well” in the third quarter in spite Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.63 0.92 % Aa3 A of the turmoil in the financial Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.75 3.29 % Aa3 A markets and a substantial tight- Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.38 4.05 % Aa3 A ening of monetary policy. But he said this was made pos- SOVEREIGNS sible by a rapid expansion of credit Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P and coincided with a renewed Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 101.63 0.40 % Aa2 AA widening of the current account Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 122.63 2.22 % Aa2 AA deficit, which makes the economy Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.50 1.92 % NR NR vulnerable to external risks. “Looking further ahead, given Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 106.50 2.88 % NR NR the country’s external vulnerabili- Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 119.63 4.39 % NR NR ties and the risks stemming from Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 111.50 4.77 % NR NR the recent credit boom, we think Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.50 0.81 % Aa2 AA growth is likely to be more volatile Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 113.13 3.37 % NR BBB and weaker than most expect over Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 102.88 4.96 % NR BBB the next year or so,” Jackson said. Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 93.50 7.03 % Caa1 B- Gokce Celik, an economist at Finansbank in Istanbul, also Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 102.13 4.14 % NR BBB- *Periodic Distribution Amount suggested that costlier external IMPORTANT NOTE: finance would “pose the main Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which downside risk on next year’s is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services growth outlook”, predicting 3.7 Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary percent growth for next year. data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not But the government dismissed take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds the concerns, with Finance can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant Minister Mehmet Simsek talk- liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not ing of “balanced and moderate” a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and growth in 2013. consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. Simsek told the parliament that the Turkish economy “performed well given the global conjecture and a tightening in financial con- ditions”, adding that the latest WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Materialism eats Let’s admit it: Britain is us from inside out now a developing country BY GEORGE MONBIOT BY ADITYA CHAKRABORTTY funnelled a few tens of millions into our tax officials. An Africa specialist could hat they are crass, brash and trashy goes without saying. research on the substance. It’s the kind of look at the City and recognise in it a 21st But there is something in the pictures posted on Rich lite economic debate boils down public-sector kickstart that might work -century version of a resource curse: some- Kids of Instagram that inspires more than the usual to this: a man in a tie stands at a in a manufacturing economy such as thing generating oodles of money for a tiny Trevulsion towards crude displays of opulence. There is a dispatch box and reads out some Germany – but which in Britain, with its group of people, often foreign, yet whose shadow in these photos – photos of a young man wearing all four numbers for the years ahead, hollowed-out industry and busted supply demands distort the rest of the economy. of his Rolex watches, a youth posing in front of his helicopter, along with a few micro-measures chains, has proved the equivalent of pour- Sure, Britain has iPads and broadband – but endless pictures of cars, yachts, shoes, mansions, swimming pools Ehe’ll take to improve those projections. His ing money down a hole. One university it also has oversubscribed foodbanks. And and spoilt white boys throwing gangster poses in private jets – of opposite number scoffs at the forecasts and physicist described how this was part of a the concept of the working poor that has something worse: something that, after you have seen a few dozen, promises his tweaks would be far superior. familiar pattern of generating innovations dominated political debate since the crash becomes disorienting, even distressing. For a few hours, perhaps even a couple of for the rest of the world to capitalise on, is also something straight out of develop- The pictures are, of course, intended to incite envy. They reek days, afterwards, commentators discuss then sighed: “One day, we’ll stop thinking ment textbooks. instead of desperation. The young men and women seem lost in What It All Means. of ourselves as a major economic power, and When it comes to social mobility, Britain their designer clothes, dwarfed and dehumanised by their pos- Whether Blair or Brown or Cameron, realise we’re more like South Korea in the now has the worst record of all advanced sessions, as if ownership has gone into reverse. successive prime ministers and their chan- early 60s.” South Korea, by way of compari- countries – and will soon be overtaken by Perhaps I’m projecting my prejudices. But an impressive body cellors pretend that progress is largely a son, has already put in over 20 times as the newly rich countries of east Asia. of psychological research seems to support these feelings. It sug- matter of trims and tweaks – of capping many graphene patents as the country that And it’s when wealth is concentrated in gests that materialism, a trait that can afflict both rich and poor, business rates and funding the A14 to discovered it. too few hands that the forces of law and and which the researchers define as “a value system that is pre- Felixstowe. Yet those Treasury supplemen- How can any nation that came up with order get used as a militia for the elite – occupied with possessions and the social image they project”, is tary tables and fan charts are no match for the BBC and the NHS be considered in the and peaceful dissent gets stamped upon. both socially destructive and self-destructive. There has long been the mass of inconvenient facts provided by same breath as India or China? Let me refer That’s why police are now a presence on a correlation observed between materialism, a lack of empathy the Organisation for Economic Co-operation you to one of the first lines of The Great our business-friendly university campuses; and engagement with others, and unhappiness. But research and Development, the WEF or simply by Indian Novel by Shashi Tharoor, in which a it also explains why Theresa May had the conducted over the past few years seems to show causation. going for a wander. Sift through the evi- wise old man warns International Monetary front to try to deport Trenton Oldfield for In one study, the researchers tested a group of 18-year-olds, dence and a different picture emerges: Fund officials and foreign dignitaries: “India disrupting a student rowing competition then re-tested them 12 years later. They were asked to rank the Britain’s economy is no longer zooming is not, as people keep calling it, an underde- (sorry, the Boat Race). importance of different goals – jobs, money and status on one side, along unchallenged in the fast lane, but an veloped country, but rather, in the context This isn’t a sub-Rhodesian moan about and self-acceptance, fellow feeling and belonging on the other. increasingly clapped-out motor regularly of its history and cultural heritage, a highly Britain going to the dogs. But as my col- They were then given a standard diagnostic test to identify men- overtaken by Asian Tigers such as South developed one in an advanced state of decay.” league Larry Elliott said in his most recent tal health problems. At the ages of both 18 and 30, materialistic Korea and Taiwan. Stop thinking of development as a proc- book, Going South, the sooner we puncture people were more susceptible to disorders. But if in that period Gender equality? The WEF ranks us ess that only goes in one direction, or which our own complacency at having created a they became less materialistic, they became happier. behind Nicaragua and Lesotho. Investment affects a nation’s people equally, and it rich economy for the few, and think of our- In another study, the psychologists followed Icelanders weather- by business? The Economist thinks we are becomes much easier to see how Britain is selves as in dire need of a proper economic ing their country’s economic collapse. Some people became more struggling to keep up with Mali. going backwards. development plan, the better. focused on materialism, in the hope of regaining lost ground. Let me put it more broadly, Britain is a In Britain, we have become used to hav- Otherwise, we’re well set to corner the Others responded by becoming less interested in money and turn- rich country accruing many of the stere- ing our resources skimmed off by a small world market in pig semen. The United ing their attention to family and community life. The first group otypical bad habits of a developing country. cadre of the international elite, who often Kingdom of spoink. reported lower levels of wellbeing, the second group higher levels. Briefly, the story goes like this: Osborne don’t feel obliged to leave much behind for THE GUARDIAN These studies, while suggestive, demonstrate only correlation. But the researchers then put a group of adolescents through a church programme designed to steer children away from spending and towards sharing and saving. The self-esteem of materialistic children on the programme rose significantly, while that of mate- rialistic children in the control group fell. Another paper, published in Psychological Science, found that people in a controlled experiment who were repeatedly exposed to images of luxury goods, to messages that cast them as consum- ers rather than citizens and to words associated with material- ism, experienced immediate but temporary increases in material aspirations, anxiety and depression. A third paper, published in the Journal of Consumer Research, studied 2,500 people for six years. It found a two-way relationship between materialism and loneliness: materialism fosters social isolation; isolation fosters materialism. The two varieties of materialism that have this effect – using possessions as a yardstick of success and seeking happiness through acquisition – are the varieties that seem to be on display on Rich Kids of Instagram. It was only after reading this paper that I understood why those photos distressed me: they look like a kind of social self-mutilation. Perhaps this is one of the reasons an economic model based on perpetual growth continues on its own terms to succeed, though it may leave a trail of unpayable debts, mental illness and smashed relationships. Social atomisation may be the best sales strategy ever devised, and continuous marketing looks like an unbeatable programme for atomisation. Materialism forces us into compari- son with the possessions of others, a race both cruelly illustrated and crudely propelled by that toxic website. There is no end to it. If you have four Rolexes while another has five, you are a Rolex short of contentment. The material pursuit of self-esteem reduces your self-esteem. I should emphasise that this is not about differences between rich and poor: the poor can be as susceptible to materialism as the rich. It is a general social affliction, visited upon us by government policy, corporate strategy, the collapse of communities and civic life, and our acquiescence in a system that is eating us from the inside out. This is the dreadful mistake we are making: allowing ourselves to believe that having more money and more stuff enhances our wellbeing, a belief possessed not only by those poor deluded people in the pictures, but by almost every member of almost every gov- ernment. Worldly ambition, material aspiration, perpetual growth: these are a formula for mass unhappiness. THE GUARDIAN Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Iran a decade or more from becoming major gas exporter

BY DANIEL FINEREN domestic demand for power generation production and around 35 percent of increases of 8bcm-9bcm every year over millions of dollars on building a 22bcm/ and industry and for re-injection into Iran’s. the next five years. That would take Iran’s year pipeline, and the two countries say he world’s largest gas reserves ageing oilfields to maintain production, An abundance of condensate and natu- gas consumption to around 200bcm/year they will redouble efforts to finish the may tempt some energy com- Ruseckas said. ral gas liquids in the field means it can in 2018, not counting its rising use for long-delayed project soon. panies back to Iran if sanctions Oilfield re-injection is a higher-value produce enough income to cover drilling re-injection. Iran has also agreed to pipe around Tare lifted, but Tehran is unlikely use for gas than exports, because oil sells costs before pumping out gas. Iran has been a net importer for most 10bcm/year to Oman within a few years to become a significant gas supplier to for much more on the global market and That makes Iranian LNG export of the past decade, and this year asked and has built a pipeline to the United Europe or Asia for at least a decade. does not require billions of dollars in capi- projects potentially highly competitive, Turkmenistan for more supplies to help Arab Emirates designed to carry 10bcm/ European companies with the technol- tal investment in gas export projects that even as supply swells due to US shale gas ease shortages that are forcing Iranian year. ogy to fully exploit Iran’s vast South Pars take years to pay back. and big finds off East Africa. power plants to burn billions of dollars of “Iran could export some more gas by field under the Gulf abandoned it in the Over 1 trillion cubic feet (tcf), or over Phase 12 of the South Pars develop- pricey and polluting oil products. 2025 but will not export in the range of late 2000s, under US pressure, dashing 28 billion cubic metres (bcm), of gas was ment, which is expected to start up next Iran faces a 30bcm shortfall in supplies 50bcm/year before at least the 2030s,” its hopes of following Qatar’s meteoric re-injected to help boost oil production year, could boost supplies by as much as this year and serious supply shortfalls David Ramin Jalilvand said in a study rise up the global gas exporters’ league. in 2011, according to the US Energy 28bcm/year when it is fully operational. over the next two years because South published by the Oxford Institute for Last month’s nuclear deal between the Information Administration, and some According to figures from the Pars Oil Pars has not been developed quickly Energy Studies in June. Iran is already West and the new Iranian government estimates indicate that over 8bcf/d and Gas Company, which manages the enough. courting European energy giants in the has ignited hopes that its oil produc- (around 83bcm/year) will be needed whole project, phases 13 to 24 could add Iranian gas projects have a record of hope they will swoop back in as soon as tion could bounce back if Washington within a decade. up to 142bcm/year of capacity by 2019, if falling far behind schedule. bans on investment are lifted. and the European Union relax controls Iran’s marketed gas production, completed on time. Phase 13 suffered a big setback when Three large Gulf gas discoveries on exports. But Iran has little chance of excluding flared and reinjected gas, has Iran already produces more gas than one of its offshore platforms sank to the announced by Iran in 2011 - Kayyam, becoming a significant gas exporter for at more than doubled to 160.5bcm in 2012 Qatar. The difference is that Qatar, with bottom of the Gulf during an installation Farouz and Madar - are potential least a decade because of high domestic from 75bcm in 2002. a population of less than 2 million, uses attempt in January. Compressor prob- projects, and their exploitation could be demand and internal obstacles to devel- But Tehran has looked on while Qatar just 26bcm of it, leaving 125bcm free for lems with phases 17 and 18 might need a big boost to Iran’s export hopes. oping reserves, which were a problem has become one of the world’s richest export, according to data from BP. the expertise of foreign companies to fix, But building big LNG plants that take long before sanctions forced foreigners countries after western energy compa- Iran has used nearly all the gas it pro- Iranian news agency Shana reported last years to complete in a country that has out. nies built multi-billion-dollar plants over duces to supply its 77 million people with week. had a tense relationship with the West The lifting of sanctions on Iran “could the last decade that turned the tiny Gulf heat, electricity and fuel. The head of Iran’s gas export company for decades will be a daunting prospect potentially have a huge impact on exports state into the world’s largest liquefied Domestic demand has risen to 156bcm said over the weekend that it would pipe for many energy companies, particularly over the longer term, but it will take natural gas (LNG) exporter. in 2012 from 79bcm in 2002, according to around 7mcm/day to Iraq from next July, at a time that the US shale gas boom years for things to get moving,” Laurent The two countries share the world’s BP figures, which exclude gas used for with flows rising to 25mcm/day in 2015 allows them to be picky over projects. Ruseckas, senior adviser on the Global largest gas field, which Iran calls South re-injection. and 40mcm/day by the early 2020s. “There is something between zero to Gas team at consultants IHS, said. Pars and Qatar the North Field. It Even if its domestic consumption If sanctions are lifted, Pakistan would no chance of us going back into Iran,” a In the short term, it makes more eco- straddles their offshore Gulf border and rises at only the half annual growth rate probably be next in line for any spare western energy company executive said of nomic sense for Iran to use gas to satisfy accounts for nearly all of Qatar’s gas seen over the past decade, that implies gas, because Iran has spent hundreds of Iran’s gas sector. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 10,496.89 0.60 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 14,997.65 0.60 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,066.14 0.01 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,609.86 0.61 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,494.22 0.76 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5146.195 -2.23 -0.04 5453.1 4610.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,955.93 0.04 % QR146.6748 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4129.83 -4.27 -0.1 4356.28 3575.17 QE All Share Industrials 3,419.22 0.92 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.9502 QR 6.0335 QE All Share Insurance 2,377.86 0.04 % Dj Indu Average 16025.53 5.33 0.03 16174.5 12883.9 Euro ...... QR 4.9750 QR 5.0448 QE All Share Real Estate 2,010.05 0.54 % QR 2.3649 CA$ ...... QR 3.3878 QR 3.4548 QE All Share Telecoms 1,473.17 0.69 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,931.43 0.39 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0665 QR 4.1250 Hang Seng Inde/D 23744.19 -66.98 -0.28 24111.55 19426.36 Yen ...... QR 0.0351 QR 0.0358 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2909 QR 3.3565 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4409.38 1.9 0.04 4527.83 3396.67 CRUDE OIL 10-12-2013 09-12-2013 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0592 QR 0.0603 Index 10,496.89 10,434.10 Karachi 100 In/D 24878.68 -120.21 -0.48 25125.81 16036.31 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0333 QR 0.0339 Change 62.79 2.42 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 15611.31 -38.9 -0.25 15942.6 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0816 QR 0.0832 % 0.60 0.02 $ 109.96 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0281 YTD% 25.58 24.83 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1813.55 1398.11 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0474 Volume 16,944,431 15,203,063 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0364 QR 0.0371 Value (QAR) 672,204,715.85 517,661,189.35 Straits Times/D 3081.72 -31.92 -1.03 3464.79 2990.68 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3501 QR 0.3571 Trades 6,466 6,219 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 107.11 Up 20 | Down 18 | Unchanged 03

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 10-12-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1150.75 -14.85 35527 Cimmco-T/D 19.3 -0.9 7096 Hind Unilever-/D 564.35 4.25 652013 Klg Systel-T/D 4.08 -0.12 5870 Radico Khait-B/D 136.45 -1.1 13350 Kingfisher/D 368.8 3.4 7937650 Aban Offs-B/D 364.35 -5.2 399075 Cipla-A/D 388 2.65 69278 Hind.Petrol-A/D 230.05 -4.35 91974 Kopran-B/D 19.9 -1.35 47127 Rallis India-B/D 161.9 -6.6 37409 Land Secs Grou/D 944.3044 -3.5 196167 Ador Welding-B/D 127 -2.55 5347 City Union Bk-/D 48.3 -1.25 45961 Hindalco-A/D 125.05 1.15 1040730 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2629.4 129.6 7118 Rallis India-B/D 161.9 -6.6 37409 Legal & Genera/D 206.4 -0.1 4352199 Aegis Logis-B/D 165.4 -2.15 20155 Colgate-A/D 1280 2.65 4438 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 808.35 -11.7 58538 Lloyd Metal-B/D 9 -0.06 1381 Reliance Indus/D 365 -8.55 70846 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 78.56 0.36 35777434 Alembic-B/D 14.3 -0.29 51284 Dhampur Sugar-/D 33.9 -0.9 15702 I F C I-A/D 25.25 -0.35 812121 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 14.8 -0.21 12695 Ruchi Soya-B/D 32.95 2.1 331934 Marks & Sp./D 459.9 -1.1 1171726 Alkyl Amines-B/D 260 -2.05 1650 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2455.25 5.75 5132 Idbi-A/D 65.15 -1.75 216084 Lupin-A/D 872.45 19.65 99550 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 320 0.25 3290 Next/D 5460 10 33673 Alok Indus-B/D 7.48 -0.08 935343 E I H-B/D 54.45 0.5 36669 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 73.4 1.4 16868 Lyka Labs-B/D 9.4 -0.14 4556 Tanfac Indust-/D 7.5 -0.26 3450 Pearson/D 1283 -3 323462 Andhra Paper-B/D 255.75 -4.6 26455 E.I.D Parry-B/D 141 2.35 108244 India Cement-B/D 61 -0.35 730768 Mah.Seamless-B/D 165.55 -5.1 1427 Til Ltd.-B/D 146.75 -9.2 18691 Prudential/D 1286 20 1286229 Apollo Tyre-A/D 81.35 -0.05 845662 Eicher Motor-A/D 4700 16.15 1975 India Glycol-B/D 91.95 -2.7 19139 Mangalam Cem-B/D 109.45 -2.85 27860 Timexgroup-B/D 11.25 -0.45 9538 Rank Group/D 135.9 0 2524 Asahi I Glass-/D 43.8 -0.55 7319 Electrosteel-B/D 15.2 -0.2 26147 Indian Hotel-A/D 55.1 2.65 454129 Maral Overs-B/D 19.5 -0.85 2163 Tinplate-T/D 47.55 1.5 29872 Rentokil Initi/D 111.1 1.3 1185364 Ashok Leyland-/D 16.7 0.2 532642 Emco-B/D 17.7 -0.7 22582 Indo-Bcount-B/D 38.3 -0.05 6509 Mastek-B/D 139.15 0 10106 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.6 -1 2049 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1200 -6 890923 Bajaj Hold-A/D 879.7 2.6 1632 Escorts-B/D 129.55 -1.6 492076 Indusind-A/D 453.05 -13.9 160678 Max India L-A/D 206.9 2.65 31877 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.6 -1 2049 Rsa Insrance G/D 101.8 1.3 2512097 Ballarpur In-B/D 12.98 -0.38 157440 Essar Oil-A/D 53.85 -1.7 182670 J.B.Chemical-B/D 109.05 -1.9 31970 Mrpl-A/D 40.9 -1.1 83629 Ultramarine-B/D 42 0.8 2540 Sainsbury(J)/D 388.22 2.2 3462077 Bata India-A/D 1015.05 -13.05 22046 Eveready Indu-/D 36 0.35 667200 Jagson Phar-B/D 9.02 -0.22 24759 Nahar Spg.-B/D 110.1 0.2 12072 Unitech P -A/D 15.8 -0.2 3157712 Schroders/D 2466 25 46975 Bayer Crop-B/D 1700 55.9 2302 F D C-B/D 105.35 -1.6 16142 Jamnaauto-B/D 60 0 1300 Nation Alum -A/D 38.35 1.3 173531 Severn Trent/D 1689 24 289602 Beml Ltd-B/D 209.25 -5.4 61369 Federal Bank-A/D 80.2 -2.35 209339 Jbf Indu-B/D 76.75 -2.55 8985 Navneet Edu-B/D 55.2 -0.55 13399 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 851.5 1.5 902932 Bharat Bijle-B/D 353.45 2.45 2190 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.15 -0.03 13053 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.47 0.01 18446 Nepc India-B/D 1.7 -0.08 13753 Smiths Group/D 1400 22 397430 Bharatgears-B/D 41.25 -0.75 1561 Finolex-B/D 153.9 -0.5 26953 Jct Ltd-B/D 2.22 -0.08 66966 Neuland Lab-B/D 263.5 1.3 1113 3I Group/D 369.8 -0.4 704509 Standrd Chart /D 1295.5 -18.5 2619080 Bhartiya Int-B/D 181.45 -1.6 2424 Forbes-B/D 536 -10.5 1628 Jik Indust-T/D 0.6 0 19236 Nrb Bearings-B/D 34.25 -0.95 2309 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2270.3505 6 103041 Tate & Lyle/D 778.5 -1 272632 Bhel-A/D 165.65 -6.05 1116730 Gail-A/D 350 -2.55 63632 Jindal Drill-B/D 189.85 -3.25 1509 O N G C-A/D 297.95 -6.9 184735 B Sky B/D 798 -2 729073 Tesco/D 334.2167 0.55 3774116 Bom.Burmah-B/D 113.35 0.1 17592 Gammon India-B/D 13.75 -0.23 19841 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 163.55 -0.6 148561 Ocl India-B/D 157 -0.9 13922 Barclays/D 267.2 0 9403669 Unilever/D 2469 -6 407809 Bombay Dyeing-/D 69.75 0.2 138490 Garden P -B/D 38.5 0.05 1119 Jmc Projects-B/D 82 3.25 4378 Oil Country-B/D 34.3 -0.5 3155 Bg Group/D 1242.5 5 2345812 United Util Gr/D 646.975 0 465275 Cable Corp.-B/D 18.1 -0.05 17291 Goodricke-B/D 128.5 -0.9 1931 Kabra Extr-B/D 29.5 0.2 34756 Onward Tech-T/D 52.05 -0.15 17861 Bp/D 475.55 -1.25 5882693 Vodafone Group/D 233.5 0.05 22944676 Canfin Homes-B/D 151.45 1.4 1040 Goodyear I -B/D 364.75 -11.25 8782 Kajaria Cer-B/D 278.7 9.8 45260 Orchid Chem-B/D 50.7 -1.05 103864 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3179 -2.5 863996 Whitbread/D 3497.8 -27 276360 Castrol Ind-A/D 303.65 0.55 14395 Hcl Infosys-B/D 21.25 -0.2 56191 Kalpat Power-B/D 92.2 -0.65 67057 Orient Hotel-B/D 16.2 0.25 9330 Bt Group/D 369.6 -1.6 2508447 Century Enka-B/D 146 -1.8 10908 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.16 -0.04 276805 Kalyani Stel-B/D 55.55 -1.1 52896 Orient.Carb.-B/D 118 -0.05 1875 Centrica/D 326.3 -1.2 2457263 Century Text-A/D 273.8 -6.4 108528 Himat Seide-B/D 48.5 -1.5 94159 Kanoria Chem-B/D 23.85 -0.1 5333 Orient.Carb.-B/D 118 -0.05 1875 Gkn/D 363.8 -0.2 756553 Chambal Fert-B/D 38.7 0.35 259902 Hind Motors-B/D 7.72 -0.02 70328 Kg Denim-B/D 14.11 -0.32 4242 Oudh Sugar-B/D 17.6 -0.4 5143 Hsbc Holdings/D 654.2 -3.5 9006696 Chola Invest-B/D 255 4.4 1231 Hind Org Chem-/D 11.3 -0.05 1947 Kilburnengg-B/D 14.5 1.25 6306 Patspin India-/D 6.82 0.32 1851 Imperial Tobac/D 2273 -2 187761 WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 McCown Pakistan captain Hafeez shines as Bears maul Cowboys CHICAGO: Chicago quar- eyes Twenty20 top spot terback Josh McCown made a strong case to become the team’s permanent starter after Sri Lanka to take on Pakistan in first T20 match in Dubai today he dominated Dallas in a 45-28 win yesterday that vaulted the Bears into joint first place in DUBAI: Sri Lanka and various other things,” said coach the NFC North. Pakistan will use their two- Graham Ford. Making his fourth straight match series in Dubai start- Sri Lanka are hoping their bat- start in place of the injured Jay ing today to size each other up ting will see them through with England need greatest Cutler, McCown warmed up the ahead of the World Twenty20 in the experienced Tillakaratne home crowd in freezing condi- three months’ time. Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara tions by passing for 348 yards, Pakistan, fourth in the providing a contrast to Pakistan’s four touchdowns and running for Twenty20 rankings, are also aim- fragile and unpredictable another score. ing to topple Sri Lanka from the batsmen. fightback ever: Prior The 34-year-old McCown has top of the standings by winning Ajantha Mendis and Sachithra been stellar all season and now both matches, the second of which Senanayake are the two specialist SYDNEY: England are “in has 13 touchdown passes and just takes place on Friday. spinners in the bowling depart- a dark place” after two “hor- one interception. His latest out- “Sri Lanka are a top side so ment which is spearheaded by rendous” Ashes thrashings but put helped Chicago (7-6) tie with this is in itself a motivation to paceman Lasith Malinga. are capable of achieving one of Detroit (7-6) in the divisional beat the number one Pakistan finished the greatest fightbacks ever, race. side and if we win both runners-up in the first wicketkeeper Matt Prior said. But despite McCown’s strong it will lift us to the top World Twenty20 held After losing to Australia by form, Cutler is expected to return of the world,” Pakistan in South Africa in 2007 218 runs in Adelaide to slip 2-0 England’s Matt Prior from injury soon and regain his captain Mohammad before winning the title behind in the five-match series, walks off the field place. Hafeez (pictured) said. in England two years a performance Prior labelled after his dismissal “There’s no change in the plan. If the series is a 1-1 later. “embarrassing”, England’s during the fifth day’s We’ll see where Jay is this week,” draw the teams will Pakistan defeated Sri chances of retaining the Ashes play in the second Bears coach Marc Trestman told maintain their current Lanka in the final at are fading fast. Ashes Test against reporters of the stated plan to rankings while a 2-0 Lord’s -- a defeat which With team manager Andy Australia at the start Cutler when he’s cleared loss would push Hafeez’s Sri Lanka avenged by Flower calling for the squad’s Adelaide Oval on medically. team down to fifth. winning the semi-final senior players to stand up, Prior December 9. “I thought (McCown) played an Pakistan go into the in Colombo on their way said this week’s third Test in excellent game.” matches well prepared to finishing runners-up Perth will be the ultimate test Matt Forte rushed for 99 yards after playing four in the fourth edition last of their resolve. and added 73 receiving yards and Twenty20 games against South year. “How tough are we?” Prior a score for the Bears in a shoot- Africa last month. The fifth edition will be held said in his column in the Daily out victory that did not include a They also overcame tough in Bangladesh from March 16 to Telegraph yesterday. “We always turnover by either team. resistance from minnows April 6. ask those questions in the dress- Dallas (7-6) fell one game Afghanistan by six wickets in a Pakistan’s selectors added ing room and in meetings. this dressing room has been in a “We’ve been outplayed in these behind first-place Philadelphia last ball thriller in Sharjah on 19 year-old left-arm paceman “Now we have to prove it in dark place and knows the feeling two Tests, very obviously, and (8-5) in the NFC East with the Sunday -- the first Twenty20 Usman Shinwari to the squad the real world. We cannot run of walking out to bat thinking: the Australians have outplayed loss. between the two countries. after his impressive performance away from what is ahead of us. ‘I don’t know what is going on’. us in all three facets,” Flower The Cowboys managed to keep Pakistan will be at full strength at domestic level. “We know what we are up But you have to work hard and said of the crushing defeats pace early and tied the game 14-14 and boosted by the return of magi- Shinwari took 5-9 in National against. We like doing it the have faith it will change around.” in Brisbane and Adelaide. We late in the second quarter, but cian off-spinner Saeed Ajmal, who Twenty20 championship final on hard way and it does not come Prior’s fighting 69 and Kevin haven’t been skilful enough for McCown caught fire and never skipped Sunday’s game to rest December 3 in Lahore, which any harder for an English crick- Pietersen’s 53 in the second long enough to get into better looked back. back home. also included Pakistan’s one-day eter than having to go to Perth innings at Adelaide were the positions in the matches. That’s Chicago’s backup quarterback “We leaked quite a few runs and Test captain Misbah-ul Haq’s and win. But if we manage to kind of performances Flower the crux there.” led two quick drives just before against Afghanistan so we will scalp. come back it will be one of the wants more of from his senior England need a quick response halftime, resulting in a field goal have to be at our best to beat Teams (from): Sri Lanka: best fightbacks ever.” players. in Perth where Australian pace- and a 25-yard touchdown pass to Sri Lanka and Ajmal’s return Dinesh Chandimal (captain), Prior said some of the flak “In these sorts of contests man Mitchell Johnson will again Alshon Jeffery as the Bears scored will help that,” said Hafeez, who Lasith Malinga, Tillakaratne flying England’s way has been and series where the intensity be the dangerman, having ripped 28 points without reply to put the was Man-of-the-Match against Dilshan, Kusal Perera, Kumar hurtful, but admitted it was levels are high, you do need England’s batting apart so far. game out of reach. Afghanistan for his 42 not out. Sangakkara, Angelo Mathews, justified. your more experienced players, “I wouldn’t say scared,” Flower McCown’s pass to Jeffery fea- Sri Lanka, led by Dinesh Lahiru Thirimanne, Kithuruwan “People are questioning our players who have been through told reporters when asked tured a spectacular grab in the Chandimal, will have to over- Vithanage, Thisara Perera, desire and hunger and that similar situations in the past, about the effect that Johnson back corner of the end zone come rustiness after most of their Nuwan Kulasekara, Seekkuge really hurts because it means to come through tough periods has had on the batsmen’s where the receiver leaped above recent matches at home were Prasanna, Suranga Lakmal, we have been giving the wrong and play match-defining innings minds. a defender. ruined by rain. Sachithra Senanayake, Ajantha impression but nobody wants to or produce pressure to create Spinner Swann said Johnson “You want to put a ball where Last month they beat New Mendis, Ramith Rambukwella. win the Ashes more than us,” chances with the ball,” Flower had been the main difference a guy can catch it but not put Zealand 1-0 with the other match Pakistan: Mohammad Hafeez he said. told reporters in Adelaide. between the sides so far. the ball in jeopardy, so to speak,” abandoned because of inclement (captain), Ahmed Shehzad, “The first innings collapse at Joe Root, who will turn 23 at “He has struck a purple patch McCown said. “My part was rela- weather. Sharjeel Khan, Sohaib Maqsood, Adelaide was as embarrassing a the end of this month, currently and is bowling very fast,” Swann tively easy. His part was unreal.” “The advantage Pakistan’s got Umar Amin, Umar Akmal, Shahid performance I’ve been involved averages the highest among told The Sun. “He might not be Dallas tallied two fourth-quar- is that they have played a lot of Afridi, Zulfiqar Babar, Bilawal in with England. batsmen while senior bowlers the most skilful bowler with ter touchdowns to trim the final international cricket in the last Bhatti, Junaid Khan, Sohail “We were horrendous and James Anderson and Graeme what he does with the ball but he deficit. six-eight months, whereas, unfor- Tanvir, Anwar Ali, Saeed Ajmal, there have been honest chats Swann have been largely off- has that raw pace and is causing Cowboys quarterback Tony tunately we haven’t played nearly Haris Sohail, Usman Shinwari. and words spoken. Everyone in colour in the first two Tests. us problems.” REUTERS Romo threw for three scores as much because of weather and AFP but only 104 yards while running back DeMarco Murray picked up West Indies 146 yards on the ground. Aussie media write off REUTERS keen to bowl NHL Results England ahead of Perth Ottawa 5 Philadelphia 4 first on green Pittsburgh 2 Columbus 1 Basin pitch SYDNEY: Australia’s media revelled in their team’s humbling of Vancouver 2 Carolina 0 West Indies’ Kieran hapless England yesterday, writing off the tourists ahead of the Anaheim 5 NY Islanders 2 Powell is seen on a third Test in Perth where the Ashes could be decided. WELLINGTON: West Indies segway during practice Australia took a 2-0 lead in the five-Test series with a 218-run captain Darren Sammy had lit- ahead of the second Test trouncing of England in the Adelaide Test on Monday and will retrieve NBA Results tle hesitation in asking Brendon match today. the urn they lost to their arch rivals in 2009 if they win in Perth. Charlotte 115 Golden State 111 McCullum to bat in the first The Sydney Morning Herald splashed a picture of a gravestone on its LA Clippers 94 Philadelphia 83 Test in Dunedin and would back page, looking ahead to the game that begins Friday and suggesting waste even less time in insert- that England are dead and buried. Denver 75 Washington 74 ing New Zealand if he wins the “In Affectionate Remembrance of English Cricket, which died at the Memphis 94 Orlando 85 toss for the second Test at the WACA on 17th December, 2013. RIP,” the inscription read, referring to Portland 105 Utah 94 Basin Reserve. the Perth ground and the date the third Test is due to end. “I thought it was like the The newspaper’s chief sports writer Andrew Webster Sacramento 112 Dallas 97 indoors here actually,” Sammy said England’s dismal performance in the Ashes so far was said yesterday, pointing to the surprising. vibrant green matting in the “Notwithstanding the very fact that Australia might have regained Boxing: British indoor nets at the Basin Reserve given West Indies had been forced 32.5 overs. “We try to support our the urn by this time next week, what astonishes most about this Ashes in central Wellington. to follow on and after some stoic players ... the first Test match he series is how meekly England seem prepared to hand it back,” he wrote. travel ban “I don’t think the guys have second innings batting managed did look rusty but chances are we The Sydney Daily Telegraph rubbed salt into English wounds, running played on a surface so green to draw, albeit with the help of will back him up again and give a picture of a laughing Michael Clarke jokingly asking Shane Watson: floors Tyson before,” he added of a pitch that the rain. him some confidence, especially “Hey Watto, did you hear the one about the Englishmen who have to is expected to favour the quick “I think we left Dunedin with a if what we see out there in the face Mitch Johnson at the WACA?” LONDON: Former world heav- bowlers following today’s toss. bit of confidence behind us know- middle,” Sammy said of Gabriel’s “It’s about to get a whole lot worse for the struggling Poms,” the yweight champion boxer Mike “If you look at a wicket like ing that we didn’t play our best likely inclusion. tabloid said. Tyson has been forced to can- that, 99 percent of the time you cricket but we still salvaged a The only likely change would be “Down 2-0 in the Ashes series after yesterday’s capitulation in cel appearances in London after will bowl, so I hope it doesn’t trick draw,” Sammy said. whether they added an additional Adelaide, they must now face Aussie firebrand Mitchell Johnson on discovering he is banned from us. “It gave the individual play- bowler after Sammy was injured his blisteringly fast home track in Perth.” entering Britain. “And hopefully I win the toss,” ers a lot of confidence that they in the first test. After England convincingly won the Ashes series 3-0 on home soil Tyson, a convicted rapist, had he added laughing. had been put under some serious The 29-year-old did not bowl earlier this year, Telegraph columnist Richard Hinds said hubris is the been scheduled to be in London Sammy’s bowlers wasted first pressure. in the second innings and was only explanation for the side’s catastrophic decline. this week as he continues a pro- use of a green pitch at University “We were always under pres- limping while batting after he “The hard work and pursuit of excellence that had created a mini motional tour for his new autobi- Oval in Dunedin, bowling too sure and we have managed to suffered a strain at the top of his golden age was lost in transit, while arrogance and entitlement clearly ography Undisputed Truth, which short and not allowing the ball to come through it and gives us con- hamstring. made it through customs,” he said. AFP included a photocall with journal- swing or seam and the home side fidence coming into the his test Sammy had a fitness test ists and a book signing. racked up 609 for nine declared. match. yesterday and will test the His publishers Waterstone said New Zealand were poised to “We are looking to improve on injury while bowling in the England Squad for Australia series recent changes to British immi- win the game before rain inter- the last performance.” nets. ODI squad: Alastair Cook (captain), Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny gration laws meant he was unable vened on the final day, with the Sammy expected to make few, “I am feeling very confident to travel to the country and has Briggs, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Michael Carberry, Steven Finn, Chris Jordan, Eoin Morgan, hosts 33 runs short of their if any, changes from their first about it,” he said. been re-routed to Paris instead. first Test victory under captain Test line-up though question “Everything is good. It’s Boyd Rankin, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Tredwell. Tweets posted on 47-year-old McCullum. marks surround right arm fast probably just bowling out T20 squad: Stuart Broad (captain), Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler, Jade Tyson’s official Twitter account Sammy was keen to emphasise bowler Shannon Gabriel, who there in the middle and the Dernbach, Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Boyd Rankin, Joe Root, Ben as recently as Friday suggest the that his side had taken more out finished the match in Dunedin nets. Everything looks pretty boxer was unaware he would be Stokes, James Tredwell, Luke Wright. of the first Test than McCullum’s, with figures of none for 164 from good.” REUTERS hit by the changes. AFP WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Vettel slams Doha Team, FC Barcelona new double points rule

BERLIN: Red Bull’s four-times world champion Sebastian Vettel has branded as ‘absurd’ to clash today at Katara a rule change to award double points at the final race of the Formula One season from next The two teams to play exhibition match ahead of 3x3 All Stars event year. The 26-year-old, winner of the last four championships, told DOHA: An exhibition match and will begin broadcasting at Germany’s Sport Bild yester- between Doha Team and FC 3.30pm. QBF signs deals with Al Kass, Gulf Crafts day that he saw no merit in the Barcelona will take place today Besides the Al Kass deal, QBF change. as Qatar prepare to host the also joined hands with Gulf “You can hardly imagine that on FIBA 3x3 All Stars competition Crafts, who have made the win- the last match of the Bundesliga tomorrow. ning trophy. season, (soccer) matches are The match will take place at Vikain Demirjyan, General suddenly worth twice as many 4.00pm at Katara Beach, with Manager, said the winning tro- points,” said the German. the hosts being represented by phy is made of gold and copper “It’s absurd and it punishes the Khalid Suliman Abdi, Mohammed and symbolises the sport. drivers who have worked hard Seleem Abdulla, Yaseen Musa and Demirjyan said: “We are very through the whole season. I value Boney Watson. The Spanish squad happy to do this project with the old traditions in Formula One consists of Manel Bosch Rodrigo, Qatar Basketball Federation. and don’t understand this rule,” De La Fuente, Roger Esteller and We as a company can offer any he was quoted as saying. Ferran Martinez. material and can make any type The controversial change, Today’s exhibition match, of trophy. The trophy is made announced by the International including the matches tomorrow, with some elements of gold and Automobile Federation (FIA) on will be shown live on Al Kass, copper.” Monday after a meeting with the who signed a deal with Qatar Saadoun Al Kuwari, the sport’s new F1 strategy group Basketball Federation (QBF) yes- Tournament Director, explained that is made up of six teams terday. The channel is set to have the reasons why QBF wanted a including champions Red Bull, 10 cameras installed at the venue particular trophy design. has been roundly criticised by to offer the best possible coverage. Al Kuwari said: “The theme fans on social media. Speaking of the deal with is a change. The trophy has a “F1 demeans itself with dou- QBF, Al Kass Sports Channel ring, a net, and ball which are ble points gimmick,” declared a Programme Director Abdulla important parts of basketball. headline on the F1 Fanatic web- Muairfi said: “We are are very It is totally different and Gulf site, whose poll of more than glad to have signed this deal with Crafts will produce all trophies FROM LEFT: Saadoun Al Kuwari, Executive Director of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) and Tournament 700 members showed 90 percent Qatar Basketball Federation. We for Qatar Basketball Federation Director of 3x3 All Stars competition, Mohammed Ali Al Hobash, Secretary-General of QBF, Vikain Demirjyan, opposed to the idea. enjoy having this long-term part- (QBF) competitions. General Manager of Gulf Crafts and Ammar Zaghal, Director of Gulf Crafts pose with the 3x3 All Stars tourna- Sport Bild quoted Red Bull nership and we are ready to sup- Ahead of the exhibition match, ment trophy after a press conference at Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) headquarters in Doha, yesterday. motorsport consultant Helmut port Qatar Basketball Federation Doha Team and FC Barcelona will QBF signed deal s with Gulf Crafts and Al Kass channel yesterday. Al Kass will broadcast all the 3x3 All Stars Marko as saying his team had and other sports under Qatar visit Newton School, who will been against the change but were matches live. Olympic Committee.” showcase some skills of basket- overruled. A studio will also be installed ball. THE PENINSULA REUTERS

Qatar’s Carella, Torrente eye UNESCO, ICSS join hands PARIS: In a major step forward in the battle to protect integrity in sport, UNESCO has concluded a strategic partnership agree- ment with the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) to address corruption and match-fixing on a global level. world title in season-finale The partnership will see the organisations work together across a range of initiatives including: SHARJAH, UAE: The Qatar He added: “It’s not like the last Developing international and national capacities to prevent and Team’s Shaun Torrente and two years where we managed to fight the manipulation of sport competition. Alex Carella will be in the thick win the title with Alex in Abu This will encompass methodologies for sport integrity standards and of the drama in what promises Dhabi. This is going to be a fight good practice, mechanisms for enhanced cooperation and information to be the most exciting ever fin- to the end and, insha’allah, we will sharing, and educational programmes, executive training and public ishes in the history of the UIM get the third title in a row for the awareness raising F1 H2O World Championship QMSF. Support for the implementation of outcomes from the 5th UNESCO at Friday’s 15th Grand Prix of “Shaun and Alex have to be World Conference of Sport Ministers (MINEPS V), the Declaration Sharjah in the UAE. careful. They need to drive hard, of Berlin on ‘Preserving the Integrity of Sport’, which was adopted in The Qatar Team duo heads to but be safe to win it. But, they Germany earlier this year. Khalid Lagoon in the United Arab also have to remember that this This will include the promotion of actions by governments, the sport Emirates knowing that outright is a team effort and everyone has movement, intergovernmental and non-governmental organisations, victory would give either of them worked so hard to put them in law enforcement agencies, the betting industry and athletes in line the world title in the final round. this position and hopefully make with the Berlin Declaration Finland’s double world cham- Shaun Torrente (left) and Alex Carella of Qatar Team celebrate after this happen,” he explained. The collaboration will also seek to mobilise government support for pion Sami Selio holds a two- finishing in the top two places in the qualifying session at the 19th Al Kuwari is delighted that the the development of guiding principles in the field of sport integrity, point lead in the title race over Grand Prix of China in this file photo. The two pilots have a chance of boats are in tip-tip condition for building on the current work developed by the ICSS and University Torrente and Carella is a further winning the UIM F1 H20 World Championship title at the Grand Prix the final race of the season and Paris 1 Pantheon-Sorbonne. two adrift but, with 20 on offer Brendan Power and the team Alexander Schischlik, Team Leader of UNESCO’s Anti-Doping and of Sharjah on Friday. for first overall and only 15 for have got to the bottom of the Sport Programme, said: “Individual nations can’t prevent international second, it’s ‘winner-takes-all’ in engine issues that plagued them threats to sport integrity but collectively they can. With its interna- the Sharjah showdown. Carella wants to win a third head of formula racing at the in recent outings. tional expertise, the ICSS is a strategic partner for UNESCO in the The Qatar Team has already championship in as many years. Qatar Marine Sports Federation “Qualifying on Thursday will area of manipulation of sport competitions. Together we can enhance won the UIM F1 H2O Teams’ He said: “I want this for me (QMSF), which runs under the be so very important,” said Al our scientific, multi-stakeholder approach to this problem.” Championship. and the team because it would presidency of Sheikh Hassan bin Kuwari. Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said: “This is a historical “I have been working hard all give me something that has not Jabor Al Thani, is relishing the He added: “I think that Q3 moment for the ICSS and the UNESCO-ICSS partnership will enable season to put myself in this posi- been done for 10 years and that prospect of the thrilling finale to and getting pole position is us to drive forward the sport integrity agenda. This agreement is being tion to win it all on Friday,” said is three straight world titles. I’ve the season, but is also mindful almost 80 percent of winning the developed for the benefit of sport.” Torrente. never won in Sharjah and I want that it is not guaranteed that the race.” He added: “Through UNESCO’s intergovernmental man- He added: “Despite some bad to go out there and show everyone Qatar Team will collect a third Frenchman Phillipe Chiappe date and influence, the ICSS’s ongoing work for and commitment breaks, we are still a flicker away that I can take the pressure and successive world title. is also in with a chance of to the eradication of corruption in sport now takes a significant from the title. This is my time and win it.” “There is definitely pressure claiming a maiden world step forward.” my place in history to do it.” Khalid bin Arhama Al Kuwari, this time,” admitted Al Kuwari. championship. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Dewar, Guevel win QGL Ammico Trophy Murray to miss BBC awards ceremony

LONDON: Wimbledon cham- broadly on track, he feels he still pion Andy Murray (pic- has a lot of work to do. tured) has decided not to Murray is renowned as one of attend Sunday’s BBC’s Sports the tour’s hardest trainers and Personality of the Year awards knowing he has done everything ceremony despite being the hot possible to prepare himself for big favourite to take the top prize. events is central to his approach. The Scot was installed as the After the exhibition tourna- front-runner for the prestigious ment in Abu Dhabi, which also award immediately following his features Novak Djokovic and historic win over Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal, Murray will return in July made him the first British The world number four intends to the ATP Tour in Doha the fol- men’s singles victor at Wimbledon to train every day up to and lowing week. since Fred Perry in 1936. including Christmas Day before The world number four has yet Murray had considered being flying to Abu Dhabi, where he to confirm his participation at the present at the hugely popular cer- is due to begin his season on Australian Open, but his desire to emony in Leeds, but in the end December 26 with a match be in the best shape possible for decided to stay at his training against Jo-Wilfried Tsonga. the first grand slam of the sea- base in Miami where he is work- Murray does not want his deci- son is the main reason behind his FROM LEFT: Manoj Megchiani, Albert Dalton, Valerie Dalton, Pavan Singh, PK Mathew, Fazal Kazi, Jamal ing his way back to fitness after sion to be seen as a snub to the decision not to fly back to Britain. Nasir, Serge Guevel, CK Krishnan, Steve Dewar, Khalid Ansari and Sanjay Jain pose for a picture after the an operation on his lower back in award or the BBC, who he writes A BBC spokesperson said of Ammico Trophy tournament at Doha Golf Club. Dewar teamed up with Guevel to win the Ammico Trophy September. a column for during Wimbledon Murray’s absence: “We are of tournament organised by Qatar Golf Lovers (QGL) which saw the participation of 84 golfers. Singh and Daley Instead the 26-year-old Murray and with whom he collaborated on course disappointed that Andy duo came second in the tournament which was sponsored by Sal Contracting Company. Sheji Valiyakath won will link up with the show live by a documentary ahead of this year’s Murray cannot be in Leeds the ‘longest putt’, Mathew triumphed in the ‘closest to pin’ category, Adrian Usher came first in the ‘longest video from Florida, as he did last Championships. in person but are very much drive’, and Krishnan won the ‘closest to rope’ prizes. Special prizes were won by Ansari, Michael Saretsky, year, when he was presented with The Scot only began playing looking forward to him join- Kazi and Joe Conway. the third-placed trophy by boxer points in practice last week and, ing us live on the night via Lennox Lewis. although his recovery is said to be link-up.” AFP WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29

Fixing not Al Rayyan hand Eljaish ‘big issue’, says FA’s Horne LONDON: Match-fixing their second straight loss and spot-fixing are not a “big issue” in English soc- cer despite six people being QSL: Al Arabi beat Al Gharafa 2-0; Al Sailiya thrash Muaither 4-1 arrested as part of a National Crime Agency (NCA) inves- tigation this week, according DOHA: An early first-half to Football Association gen- strike from Al Rayyan’s Chelsea are eral secretary Alex Horne. Rodrigo Tabata was enough to A Horne was one of several condemn Eljaish to their sec- outsiders for senior officials from various ond straight defeat in the Qatar sports summoned to a meeting Stars League (QSL) yesterday. Champions with the Department of Media The attacking midfielder nod- Culture and Sport yesterday as ded Nilmar’s cross in the 9th the fall-out from a sting set up minute of the match to give new League, says by The Sun on Sunday newspa- coach Manolo Jimenez all three per continued. points in the 1-0 win at Al Rayyan Mourinho Former Premier League Stadium. striker DJ Campbell, now The result is only the third LONDON: Jose Mourinho (pic- playing for Blackburn Rovers win of the season for Al Rayyan tured) admits he does not con- in the Championship, was con- while Eljaish, who had topped sider Chelsea to be among the firmed by his club as one of the the standings before their first favourites to win the Champions people arrested. defeat last week remain in sec- League. “The general consensus ond position behind points leaders The around the room was that this Al Sadd. Premier is not a big issue,” Horne, who Al Sadd play their match in League club was joined by officials from hand against former champions have already tennis, rugby union, cricket Lekhwiya today. qualified for and horse racing, told Sky In other results yesterday, Al the knockout Sports News after leaving the Sailiya thrashed Muaither 4-1, C B stages and meeting. and Qatar Sports Club picked up will qualify “The intelligence we have three points against Umm Salal at the head says this isn’t widescale at the in their 2-0 victory. of Group E moment but we don’t want to Al Arabi won 2-0 against Al A) Eljaish’s Wagner if they beat be complacent and don’t want Gharafa. THE PENINSULA Steaua Bucharest at Stamford to see this in our sport. We are Ribeiro vies for Bridge in their final group game. doing everything we can; we the ball during his That will move Chelsea man- are looking at all measures.” Yesterday’s Results side’s Qatar Stars ager Mourinho one step closer to Cricket, snooker, tennis and Umm Salal 0 Qatar SC 2 League (QSL) match becoming the first manager to win horse racing have all taken a against Al Rayyan at Al Sailiya 4 Muaither 1 the competition with three differ- lead in anti-corruption meas- Al Rayyan Stadium ent clubs have lifted the trophy ures following high-profile Al Rayyan 1 Eljaish 0 in Doha yesterday. with FC Porto an Inter Milan. cases. Al Arabi 2 Al Gharafa 0 B) Action during But the Portuguese insists “We are never complacent the same match. Bayern Munich, Barcelona and on this issue and there is a Today’s Fixtures C) Action between Real Madrid are the leading con- lot we can learn from other Al Ahli vs Al Wakra, 4.00pm at Qatar Sports Club tenders this season with his own sports,” Horne said. Al Arabi Stadium and Umm Salal at club one of a number who he con- “Some of the education siders to be outsiders. programmes put in place by Al Kharaitiyiat vs Al Khor, Qatar Sports Club Stadium in Doha. “I think our chances, this sea- cricket are very far advanced 4.00pm at Al Khor Stadium son, which is my first season, are and the integrity unit the Al Sadd vs Lekhwiya, 6.30pm at not comparable with the chances BHA (British Horseracing Al Sadd Stadium other clubs have,” said Mourinho. Authority) have in place is very “I think other clubs have com- advanced.” pletely different stability, squads, The England and Wales evolution of the team to be con- Cricket Board (ECB) was the sidered the favourites to win the first domestic national govern- competition. ing body to set up its own anti- Qatar’s Al Rayyan and Al Sadd “We have reached the last 16. If corruption unit (ACCESS) in we reach the quarter-final, which 2010 after Essex fast bowler is the next step, every team in the Mervyn Westfield admitted quarter-final has a chance to win spot-fixing during a Pro40 one- it. day game. learn group stage fates in ACL “But in my analysis, I think Westfield was subsequently we are not considered one of the banned for five years and KUALA LUMPUR: Qatar Asian Champions favourites to win the competition. given a four-month prison Stars League (QSL) champions “In my opinion, my favourites sentence while team mate Al Sadd have been drawn with are Bayern - European cham- Danish Kaneria was banned A League draw Al Ahli, Al Hilal and Sepahan pions and a top club, with the from English cricket for life KUALA LUMPUR: Draw for the 2014 Asian for the 2014 Asian Champions same players and a new manager, after Westfield named him as Champions League made in Kuala Lumpur League (ACL) this season. same team and team, unbelievable the alleged instigator of the yesterday: Qatar’s other representative - stability. spot-fixing. Al Rayyan who qualified for the Group A “They won it last year, were All players competing in tournament after beating Al Sadd Esteghlal (IRI) in the final the year before, in a English domestic cricket, in the Emir Cup final in May, Al Rayyan (QAT) final in 2010. Fantastic stability in including those from overseas, face Esteghlal, Al Jazira and Al this level. Barcelona. Real Madrid. must agree to an anti-corrup- Shabab in Group A. Al Jazira (UAE) And these three teams are, clearly tion code while they can also Hussein Amute’s side, who won Al Shabab (KSA) in terms of potential and respon- report any approaches from the competition in 2011, will make Group B sibilities, in front.” unregulated bookmakers or trips to UAE, Saudi Arabia and Mourinho added: “But I could betting syndicates via a con- Al Fateh (KSA) to Iran. say other teams are very strong. fidential phone line. Al Rayyan will also travel to Foolad Khuzestan (IRI) And one of these teams arrive in While the FA’s Horne Iran, UAE and Saudi Arabia. Winners of West playoff series one the last eight, anything can hap- appeared to play down con- Meanwhile, China’s Guangzhou Bunyodkor (UZB) pen. These teams are obviously cerns about corruption, the Evergrande were kept guessing Manchester City, Man United, ECB said the fight was ongoing. Group C over the group opponents for Atletico Madrid, Chelsea... there “Our view is that we can their title defence when they were Al Ain (UAE) is a group of teams that arrive in never be complacent about drawn with two still unknown Al Ittihad (KSA) there. this and that we have got to teams. Tractorsazi Tabriz (IRI) “But we are still in the first remain extremely vigilant at Marcello Lippi’s team were phase. The last 16, we will find all times,” ECB spokesman matched with 2006 champi- Winners of West play-off series two some difficult matches because Andrew Walpole said. ons Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Group D some important teams will finish “It’s something we are very the eventual winners of Japan’s Al Sadd (QAT) second.” concerned about and that’s Emperor’s Cup and the survi- Chelsea will face Steaua on the why we have been so pro-active Al Ahli (UAE) vors of a play-off series involving back of a 3-2 defeat at Stoke City in setting up this unit.” Al Hilal (KSA) Australia’s Melbourne Victory in B and having conceded six goals in REUTERS Group G. Sepahan (IRI) their last two games. AFP The draw leaves World Cup- Seoul and Australian champions Group E winning coach Lippi, who is lead- Central Coast Mariners in Group Pohang Steelers (KOR) ing his team at the Club World F. Cup in Morocco this week, wait- Thailand’s Buriram United Buriram United (THA) Your TV guide for ing to see if Guangzhou are fac- will look to build on their bat- Shandong Luneng (CHN) ing a “group of death”, a stroll to tling run to this year’s quarter- Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) live matches today the knock-outs or something in finals when they take on former Group F between. champions Pohang Steelers, Event Competition Time Channel Lippi’s Guangzhou will defend China’s Shandong Luneng and Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN) their first Asian title without J-League team Kawasaki Frontale Central Coast Mariners (AUS) Al Kharitiyat vs Al Khor Qatar Stars League 16:00 +4 talismanic midfielder Dario in Group E. FC Seoul (KOR) Al Ahli vs Al Wakra Qatar Stars League 16:00 HD3 Conca, who is leaving the club In Group C Saudi giants Al along with his reportedly huge Ittihad, two-time winners of the A) Qatar’s Al Sadd player Lee Winners of East play-off series one Al Sadd vs Lekhwiya Qatar Stars League 17:30 +2 salary to return to Brazil’s AFC Champions League, were Jung Soo (left) celebrates with Group G Raja Casablanca vs Auckland FIFA Club World Cup 21:30 HD4 Fluminense. drawn with fellow former cham- team-mate Wisam Rizq after Guangzhou Evergrande (CHN) Barcelona vs Celtic UEFA Champions League 22:00 HD6 Australia’s Western Sydney pions Al Ain of UAE and Iran’s scoring against Uzbekistan’s Emperor’s Cup Winners (JPN) Wanderers, making their Tractorsazi Tabriz. PFC Pakhtakor Tashkent during Schalke vs Basel UEFA Champions League 22:45 .TV Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (KOR) debut just a year after being Under new Asian Football their AFC Champions League Milan vs Ajax UEFA Champions League 22:45 .TV formed, were bracketed with Confederation (AFC) rules, match at Al Sadd Stadium in Winner of East play-off series two China’s Guizhou Renhe, Japan’s West and East Asian teams Atletico vs Porto UEFA Champions League 22:45 .TV this file photo. B) Qatar’s Al Group H Yokohama Marinos and 2012 will be kept apart until the Austria Wien vs Zenit UEFA Champions League 22:45 .TV winners Ulsan Hyundai of South semi-finals. East Asian sides Rayyan Rodrigo Tabata cel- Western Sydney Wanderers (AUS) Chelsea vs Steaua UEFA Champions League 22:45 .TV Korea in Group H. have dominated in recent years, ebrates after scoring against Guizhou Renhe (CHN) Uzbekistan’s Nasaf during their J-League winners Sanfrecce winning seven of the last eight Yokohama Marinos (JPN) Napoli vs Arsenal UEFA Champions League 22:45 .TV Hiroshima were pitted against titles. AFC Champions League match Ulsan Hyundai (KOR) Marseille vs Dortmund UEFA Champions League 22:45 +3 this year’s AFC runners-up FC AFP/THE PENINSULA in this file photo. WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Josoor Institute launched in Doha Centre of excellence designed to give world-class education to sports professionals

DOHA: The Josoor Institute, a events and sports management centre of excellence designed to companies to develop and deliver give world-class education and the programmes and courses. training facilities to the people More than 1,000 participants of Qatar, the Middle East and are expected to attend the Josoor North Africa, was unveiled yes- Institute in the first full opera- terday by Hassan Al Thawadi, tional year beginning in October Secretary-General of the Qatar 2014. Georgetown University is 2022 Supreme Committee, dur- working with the Institute to ing the second annual Doha provide an academic framework Goals Forum. and endorsement for coursework. The Josoor Institute will train Although the Josoor Institute many of the people who will play is still in development, the first an integral role in Qatar’s host- outreach course took place on ing of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Monday. individuals who will then have the Over the next two days a fur- knowledge to deliver large-scale ther 100 participants from coun- sporting and non-sporting events tries including Kuwait, Libya, across the region long after 2022. Tunisia, Jordan, Lebanon, Saudi The Josoor Institute will teach Arabia, Palestine, Iraq, the United courses on a range of topics from Arab Emirates, Yemen, Iran, running major events and the Bahrain, Oman and Sudan will business of football to creating a take part in two, short courses culture of volunteering. on the Business of Football and Courses at the Josoor Institute an Introduction to Running Major will combine classroom-based Events. theory with practical learning in These courses will be delivered a variety of ways. by leading specialists in their Short courses, Outreach Days field, ranging from a former Chief and Programme Pathways are Executive of the Premier League, some of the courses which the to those responsible for deliver- insititute aim to conduct. ing the Olympic and Paralympic Outreach Days, according to Games and the Rugby World Cup. Jossor Insititute officials, will H E Salah bin Ghanem bin provide university students with Nasser Al Ali, Minister of Youth the information they need to and Sport, said: “Increasing edu- FROM LEFT: Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy, Paul Tagliabue, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, General-Secretary of Qatar shape their careers, whilst learn- cational opportunities is central Olympic Committee, H E Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali, Qatar’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani, ing about the opportunities of to Qatar’s achieving the ambi- President of Qatar Football Association, Sheikh Abdulla bin Ali Al Thani, Hassan Al Thawadi, General-Secretary of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee working in the sports and events tious goals set out in the Qatar attend the launch of the Josoor Institute, a centre of excellence designed to give world-class education and training facilities to the people of Qatar, industries; National Vision 2030. We in Qatar the Middle East and North Africa in Doha, yesterday. The Josoor Institute was launched yesterday by Hassan Al Thawadi, during the annual Doha The Short Courses, targeted at firmly believe that access to edu- Goals Forum. The Josoor Institute will train many of the people who will play an integral role in Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and leave professionals who wish to develop cation and enabling the trans- a long term legacy of individuals fully trained to deliver large scale sporting and non-sporting events across the region. new skills and gain an aware- fer of knowledge are key to the ness of new career opportuni- advancement of societies across ties within the sports and event the Middle East. new opportunities to learn in nation’s hosting of a truly amaz- in these industries.” Association, Qatar University, industries. “We believe that learning and outside of the classroom and ing 2022 FIFA World Cup.” In the first quarter of 2014, Silatech, Qatar Tourism Programme Pathways is a range inspires young people and pro- enhance our ability to host major Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary the Josoor Institute will host a Authority. of professional certificate and vides a clear means to improve sporting events. The new knowl- General of the Qatar 2022 further series of invitation-only Deloitte, Georgetown diploma programmes providing their lives. That is why we aim edge it will create has the power Supreme Committee said: “The short courses. Individuals and University, IMG, the International both academic and work-based to make sport a way of life in to inspire our young people, pro- Josoor Institute will provide the organisations interested in learn- Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), experience. These courses aim to Qatar. Participation in sport has viding them with the means to people of Qatar, the Middle East ing more about these courses and Qatar Stars League, are the prepare graduates for manage- the power to broaden the horizons become leaders in their communi- and North Africa with the educa- upcoming programme pathways Institutional Partners. rial and leadership positions in of our youth, inspiring new ways ties and societies.” tional opportunities necessary to should email info@josoorinstitute. The Programme & Course the sports and event industries. of thinking and easing the path The minister said the institute realise their dreams of a career qa or visit www.josoorinstitute.qa Partners are Beyond Sport, The Qatar 2022 Supreme to obtaining new knowledge and will have a crucial role to play in in the sports and events indus- Josoor Institute has part- Leeds Metropolitan University, Committee is a founding part- skills. 2022. tries. The next eight years and nered several organisations: The Rushmans, Wasserman. ner of the Josoor Institute and “I strongly believe that the “I am certain that the Josoor beyond are an exciting time for Founding Partners are Aspire The Associate Partners are is working alongside some of the Josoor Institute creates an excep- Institute will play an impor- our region and I believe that the Academy, Hamad Bin Khalifa College of North Atlantic Qatar. world’s leading universities, mar- tional opportunity for our region. tant role in Qatar, by preparing Josoor Institute will play a key University, Qatar 2022 Supreme THE PENINSULA keting agencies, media outlets and It will provide young people with Qatari youth to assist in our great role in establishing us as pioneers Committee, Qatar Football

Aspire Academy Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy, speaking during the agreement signing ceremony and La Liga sign at Aspire Dome in Doha yester- day. Also seen is Javier Tebas, agreement President of La Liga, the Spanish Football Professional League. H E Nassir Aspire Academy yesterday signed Abdulaziz Al DOHA: Aspire Academy yes- terday signed a Memorandum a Memorandum of Understanding Nasser, UN High of Understanding (MoU) with (MoU) with Liga BBVA, Spanish Representative Liga BBVA, Spanish football’s Football Premier League, to coop- for the Alliance premier league, to cooperate erate closely in exchanging know- of Civilisations closely in exchanging know-how how in sporting development. Qatar talks dur- in sporting development. ing the official Under the terms of the agree- opening cer- ment, Qatar will be positioned as greatest football competitions to further strengthen that rela- organise football clinics and road emony of the a global football centre. A planned and, as our Academy students tionship,” Tebas added. shows. We will be involved with Doha Goals Under-15 La Liga tournament continue their pursuit of excel- Accompanied by Fernando Sanz football associations, share our forum in Doha, with the participation of Aspire lence, they will undoubtedly be Durán, La Liga’s Middle East and knowledge with the local leagues yesterday. teams will provide the centrepiece motivated by the example set by North Africa General Director, and provide strategic input and The two-day of the partnership, with 12 teams some of the game’s most accom- Tebas held several meetings in insight into the game here.” forum opened competing at Aspire Academy in plished players. We sincerely the Qatar during their participa- The Under-15 tournament is at Aspire Dome Doha during April 2014. hope that this Memorandum tion at Doha Goals Forum. Such set to take place between April yesterday. Signed at the opening cer- of Understanding heralds the meetings are aimed at eventually 11 and 14 next year. It will feature emony of the Doha Goals Forum beginning of a long and fruitful seeing the Spanish league further an array of Spain’s top youth sides in Aspire Academy Dome, the relationship which contributes to establish precedents in Qatar and together with two teams from MoU also seeks to form the basis the development of world-class the region. Sanz, a former Real Aspire Academy, and showcase of a longer-term relationship players.” Madrid and Malaga defender, and the emerging talents of players between Aspire Academy and In response, Javier Tebas, former owner and president of who will be at the height of their La Liga through the fostering of President of La Liga – the the Malaga team, indicated that powers when Qatar hosts the mentorships between professional Spanish Football Professional he is here to stay in the Middle FIFA 2022 World Cup finals. footballers and future stars of the League said: “The Middle East East and facilitate exchanges of By embarking upon a relation- game. and North Africa region, with knowledge, skill sets and technical ship with a league that features Ivan Bravo, Director General over 23 markets, holds over prowess that La Liga has. the supreme skills of Lionel Messi of Aspire Academy, said: “We are 128 million La Liga fans. Thus, “Our plans for the MENA and Cristiano Ronaldo, widely delighted to be working closely the agreement takes us one region are long-term,” explained recognised as the greatest play- with La Liga in promoting the step closer to our fan-base. “In Sanz. “However, in the short- ers in the world, Aspire Academy development of the beautiful the past, we have engaged local term, we intend to bring events, seeks to inspire its students to game, both here in Qatar and fur- football leagues, clubs and play- friendly games, and famous play- achieve greatness by working ther afield. Liga BBVA is widely ers through Spanish talent and ers to share their experiences with hard to maximise their innate recognised as one of the world’s direct engagement. Now, we want local talent and leagues, as well as ability. THE PENINSULA

Aboubakar Sidiki ‘Titi’ Camara (right) former Al Sailiyah and Liverpool striker playing football at Doha Goals Football Former Brazil international and coach of Al Gharafa Zico (standing, Challenge in Doha. third right) poses for a picture along with Mikael Silvestre (standing, RIGHT: A delegate second right), former Manchester United, Arsenal and French national speaking during one of team player during the Doha Goals Football Challenge at Aspire Dome the think tank session of on Monday. Aboubakar Sidiki ‘Titi’ Camara, former Minister of Sport Doha Goals forum. and former Liverpool and Guinea player, along with Trevor Steven (standing, third left) former England, Everton, Olympique de Marseille and Glasgow Rangers player and currently a TV analyst took part in the informal football tournament. WEDNESDAY 11 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31

Today’s Programme Opening Speech Khalid Al Sulaiteen, acting president, Aspire Zone Foundation 09:00 - 09.10 Time Out Doha Goals launches Burcu Çetinkaya, TV presenter, champion rally driver and Red Bull athlete (Turkey) Moderated by Rachel Bourlier, TV Presenter and Journalist (France) at 09:10 - 09.30 Mega Events: Who Can Afford To Host Them? Moderated by Lord Mandelson, Chairman, Global Counsel (UK)at 09:30 – 10:20 The Future Of Athletics Michael Johnson, four-time Olympic champion and eight-time world champion sprinter, and four new initiatives Founder, Michael Johnson Performance (USA) Kelly Holmes, double Olympic champion, 1500m and 800m and Founder, DKH Legacy Trust (UK) Gabon, Palestine, Afghanistan to benefit from the project In conversation with Jonathan Edwards, Chair, Athletes’ Commission, London 2012 and world record holder, triple jump (UK) at 10:20 – 10.50

DOHA: Four life-changing ini- tiatives were announced at the Redistributing The Wealth 11:20 – 12:00 launch of Doha Goals 2013 here Moderated by Simon Chadwick, Professor of Sport Business Strategy, Coventry University (UK) yesterday. at 11:20 – 12:00 A Sport Fields Initiative, a pro- Sports Medicine gramme to give children around The Engineered Athlete: New Advances In Sports Medicine And Sports Sciences the world access to prosthetics, a Stéphane Bermon, sports physician and exercise physiologist, Monaco Institute of Sports fund ‘from the athletes to the ath- Medicine and Surgery (Monaco) at 12.00 – 12:40 letes’ and an international U-15s football championships were some Discussion: Sport’s Role In Medicine of the initiatives which got the nod. Moderator: Jonathan Edwards, Chair, Athletes’ Commission, London 2012 and world-record The initiatives were inspired holder, triple jump (UK) at 12:10 - 12:40 by some of the 456 ideas put for- Time Out ward by members of the Forum Moderated by: Paul Fadel, Senior Presenter, Al Jazeera Sport channel (Qatar) at 12:10 - 12:40 last year. Putting Job Creation Top Of The Sports Agenda Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak Moderated by Simon Chadwick, Professor of Sport Business Strategy, Coventry University (UK) Al Thani, Executive Director of Doha Goals, and Richard Attias, Integrating Sports As Part Of Children’s Lifestyles Executive Producer of Doha Goals, Moderated by Mori Taheripour, Senior Advisor, Sport for Development, USAID (USA) made the announcement in front The Fight To Eliminate Prejudice In Sport of more than 1,000 participants Moderated by Bonnie Morris, Professor of Women’s Sports History, Georgetown University during the inaugural session of (USA) the two-day event which kicked off with the formal opening. Sport’s Role In Urban Regeneration Doha Goals is a call to action Moderated by Alexis Lyras, HM King Abdullah II of Jordan Generations for Peace Fellow, for policymakers, NGOs, corpo- Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak Al Thani (second right), Executive Director of Doha Goals, and Richard Attias (right), Georgetown University (Qatar) rations and athlete’s alike taking Executive Producer of Doha Goals, are seen along with Ghassan W Shakaa, Mayor of Nablus Municipality, Taxation Of Athletes And Clubs place at the Aspire Dome. Gabriel Ntougou, Adviser to President of the Republic of Gabon and Mohammad Jan, Deputy Mayor of Mazar- In the Sport Fields Initiative, e-Sharif after the contract signing ceremony in Doha yesterday. Facilitated by Sajid Khan, international tax partner, PricewaterhouseCoopers (Qatar) Doha Goals, in partnership with local authorities, will build foot- Closing Session: 16:10– 19:00 ball and basketball fields in dif- in these countries working with finance business ideas and ven- in doah to sing the agreement ferent cities around the world in the Katarina Witt Foundation, tures for retiring athletes. Private with Doha Goals. Sheikh Faisal Speech by H E Nassir Abdulaziz Al-Nasser, UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilisations (Qatar) order to provide free access to Doha Goals will be given pros- sector partnerships will create bin Mubarak Al Thani, Richard sport facilities for local communi- thetics,” Doha Goals officials said. internships and training pro- Attias, Ghassan W Shakaa, Mayor ties, particularly underprivileged Current French and US Open grammes for retired athletes. of Nablus Municipality, Gabriel Official Keynote Address by H E Sheikh Ahmed Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, President, Olympic Council youth. Wheelchair Tennis champion A health fund will take care Ntougou – Advisor, President of the of Asia (Kuwait) The first beneficiaries of the Stephane Houdet and three-time of the rehabilitation services for Republic of Gabon and Mohammad Time Out sports fields project will be Chinese Paralympic gold medal- injured athletes and the educa- Jan – Deputy Mayor of Mazar-e- Zico, manager of Al Gharafa club in Qatar, and Brazilian footballing superstar (Brazil) Port Gentil (Gabon), Nablus list Hou Bin are the ambassadors tion fund will give scholarships for Sharif, were some of the officials In conversation with Paul Fadel, senior presenter, Al Jazeera Sport (Qatar) at 16.25 - 16.35 (Palestine), Mazar-e-Sharif supporting the programme. educational programs for retired prestn for the signing ceremony. Tony Hawk, 12-time world champion skateboarder and Founder, Tony Hawk Foundation (USA) (Afghanistan). The third initiative which has athletes and opportunities for On Monday, the Ministers Doha Goals officials informed got chosen is the Sport Solidarity mentorship. of Sport and representatives of In conversation with Paul Fadel, senior presenter, Al Jazeera Sport (Qatar) that an MoU has been signed Fund. The fourth initiaitve sports bodies from over 20 coun- Extreme Sports: Are They The Future? with the three cities and also Under it a multimillion-dollar is the International U-15 tries gathered in Doha to discuss Moderated by Paul Fadel, senior presenter, Al Jazeera Sport (Qatar) with NGOs and institutions who Fund will be set up ‘from the ath- Championships which will take the important role played by sport Time Out will administer and maintain the letes to the athletes’ to support place in Doha. The tournament to promote innovation, economic Ilie Nastase, former world No.1 professional tennis player (Romania) fields and create community pro- athletes and their families while will take place from April 11 to 14 growth, social inclusion and cohe- In conversation with Paul Fadel, senior presenter, Al Jazeera Sport (Qatar) grams for the local youth. they are suffering from injuries as next year at the Aspire Zone and sion for the Doha Goals Sports Under the second project, Doha well as during post-retirement . will be supported by Doha Goals Ministers Summit. Summations From Doha Goals 2013 Goals Prosthetics Programme, The focus will be on four areas and will feature 10 football teams Yesterday, Sir Ronald Flanagan, H E Sheikh Faisal Al Thani, Executive Director, Doha GOALS (Qatar) children around the world will namely: The fund will provide from the top clubs in Europe and Chairman of the International Richard Attias, Executive Chairman, Richard Attias & Associates and Executive Producer, Doha be provided with good quality funding for counselling and two Qatari teams, it was revealed. Cricket Council’s Anti-Corruption Goals (USA) prosthetics. consulting services for current Following the announcements, Unit, and INTERPOL Secretary Your Sport, Your World “Quality prosthetics are expen- professional athletes and their the official signing of the Doha General Ronald Noble took part Moderated by Richard Attias, Executive Chairman, Richard Attias & Associates and Executive sive and a lack of mobility impedes families to prepare them for Goals Sport Fields Initiative took in an expert panel discussing cor- Producer, Doha GOALS (USA) and Jonathan Edwards, Chair, Athletes’ Commission, London participation in sports and in the retirement. place. Officials from Afghanistan, ruption in sport. 2012 and world record-holder, triple jump (UK) community and isolates amputees Post career angel fund will Gabon and Palestine were present THE PENINSULA Bolt has rewritten the sprinting rules: Boldon

BY ARMSTRONG VAS Blake, for his age he has been faster than Bolt,” he added. DOHA: Jamaican sprinter Boldon, who is in Doha for the Usain Bolt - widely regarded Doha Goals, said when Michael as the fastest person ever - has Johnson broke the 200 metres ‘rewritten the sprinting rules’ record no one thought it will be but there is always a chance broken. that his records will be broken “It takes me to the race where in the coming years, says four- I competed against Johnson, he time Olympic medal winner, ran the 200 meters in 19.32 in Ato Boldon of Trinidad and Atlanta 1996 and everyone said Tobago. that the record will not be broken Nada Zeidan from Qatar, presenter with Al Jazeera Sports, and the The 40-year-old one of the 15 in the next 50 years. It did not last first female GCC rally driver and archer at two Asian Games speaking fastest men in history ran 9.86 even 15 years,” said Bolton. during one of the sessions at Doha Goals Forum yesterday. in the straight and won four He has shown what is possible Olympic medals, but could not and near it is Yohan Blake, at his lay hands on the gold medal. age has been faster than Bolt. “There are no limits to human Bolt hold both the 100 metres performance. Usain Bolt has and 200 metres world records and rewritten the sprinting rules but along with his team-mates, also you cannot tell what will happen holds the world record in the 4 x in ten or 15 years time. 100 metres relay. “Bolt has shown what is pos- Boldon, who is now a televi- sible and close to him is Yohan sion commentator on ESPN and NBC said mixed races might happen in the near future taking into account TV viewership into account. “The future of athletics, I believe, will be to include mixed races. In my time there was talk of facing a man against a woman, but that did not happen. But with the rapid strisdes in tecnhol- ogy I’m talking about men and women competing against each other. People are demanding that we use some technology in broad- casting and connect the wires to the athletes.” Boldon said the Doha Goals Forum is the best time of his life. Michael Johnson, four-time Olympic champion and eight-time world “I regret that they didn’t invite champion sprinter, and Founder of Michael Johnson Performance, speaking at Doha Goals Forum. TOP: Germany’s Katarina Witt, a dou- Trinidad and Tobago’s Ato me last year. It is fantastic. Sport ble Olympic winner and four-time World Champion for figure skating, Boldon, former world champion is all about leaving a legacy. Even talks during the official opening ceremony of the Doha Goals Forum. sprinter and a former senator, people like Nelson Mandela, even talks during the Doha Goals though he was a prisoner, felt that The Forum aims to create initiatives for global progress through sports Forum. sport was a tool to unite a country will end today. and people.” THE PENINSULA Wednesday 11 December 2013 7 Safar 1435 Volume 18 Number 5910 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 All to play for as Napoli Rio has no face Arsenal in decider time to lose, Destiny in Dortmund’s hands for Marseille clash says IOC boss LAUSANNE, SWTIZERLAND: Organisers of the 2016 Rio MILAN: Napoli striker de Janeiro Olympics have no time to lose with the International Gonzalo Higuain is hoping to Who can qualify? Olympic Committee president flying into the country in the com- avoid the “horrible” situation of Group E ing weeks to monitor progress, the IOC said yesterday. beating Arsenal but still failing “We have to realise that there is not a single moment to lose, to advance to the last 16 of the Chelsea are already through, with the key that every effort has to be made every day to bring the construction Champions League when the match in the group between Schalke and of Olympic sites and infrastructure forward,” said IOC president sides meet today. Basel. Thomas Bach. A 3-1 defeat away to Borussia Rio Games organisers have been repeatedly urged to speed up Dortmund a fortnight ago has left The winners of that match in Gelsenkirchen progress as the country struggles to prepare for the world’s two Rafael Benitez’s Napoli third in will qualify with Jose Mourinho’s side. Basel biggest sports events - the 2014 soccer World Cup and the 2016 Group F on nine points, the same only need a point to progress and send Olympics. Bach said he was planning to visit Brazil before February as the second-placed Bundesliga Schalke to the Europa League. and would meet Brazil President Dilma Rousseff to help improve side and three adrift of leaders work between the government and organisers. Arsenal. Chelsea must beat already eliminated “What will be essential and crucial for the success of Rio will be It means Arsenal, Dortmund Steaua Bucharest in their last game to be a seamless cooperation and coordination among different levels of and Napoli still have everything sure of finishing group winners. government and the organising committee,” Bach told reporters. to play for, and there will be as “To ensure this I will most likely travel with the (IOC) delegation much attention paid to proceed- Group F to Rio and Brasilia even before the Sochi Games (in February) to ings in Marseille as Napoli’s San Despite winning four out of their five games speak with the president of Brazil and speak with other levels of Paolo stadium. in the group so far, Arsenal are still just short government and the organising committee in such a way to ensure While Arsenal need only a of securing their place in the next stage. The this... because this is definitely needed to have successful Games and draw to go through as leaders, to meet the schedules.” Gunners will progress so long as they avoid Napoli need to beat the Gunners With the country already struggling to meet deadlines for next a three-goal defeat against Napoli in their to have any chance of securing a year’s World Cup, Games organisers have yet to finalise the overall runner-up spot which Dortmund final game. If Borussia Dortmund fail to beat budget less than three years before the event while also dropping could hold on to with victory in Marseille even even a heavy loss cannot behind in constructing the venues. Bach said the IOC’s Olympic France. eliminate the English side. Games executive director Gilbert Felli, who is retiring in August, will If both Napoli and Dortmund Napoli, currently level with Borussia only deal with Rio progress after the Sochi Olympics and will continue win, all three teams would finish to do so even after his retirement in an effort to speed up work. Napoli’s Macedonian forward Goran Pandev attends a press confer- Dortmund, need to finish on a greater points on 12 points and the standings “We have had a request on behalf of the Rio organising commit- ence on the eve of the UEFA Champions League Group F match against total than the German side to finish above would be decided by head-to-head Arsenal at the San Paolo Stadium in Naples, yesterday. tee to put Mr Felli at the disposal of the organising committee,” clashes and goal difference. them as they trail 4-3 in a hypothetical said Bach. If, however, Marseille upset the aggregate score from their two group “After Sochi Mr Felli’s top priority will be close cooperation with form book and beat Dortmund Arsenal, who drew 1-1 with we will be playing three big teams meetings. the Rio organising committee and even after his retirement at a draw would be enough for Everton at the weekend but with a lot of quality.” Group G the end of August he will continue to work closely with Rio 2016.” Benitez’s Serie A title challengers still hold a five-point lead over Right-back Carl Jenkinson REUTERS to secure the runner-up spot and Liverpool in the Premier League, looks set to again stand in for Atletico Madrid have already won Group G follow Arsenal into the knockout head to the San Paolo as slight Bacary Sagna, who is sidelined after victories in their first four games. phase. favourites. by a hamstring problem, and the Yet the stark reality is that Although a welcome state 21-year-old says it will be key for Zenit St Petersburg lead Porto in their Napoli could finish on 12 points of affairs, Arsenal midfielder Arsenal to play to their potential. head-to-head meetings, so the Portuguese and still finish third and out of Mathieu Flamini admits the “When we play to our peak, I side’s hopes of progressing depend on the competition -- a scenario Gunners face a “busy” spell with think we can beat anyone so it is them beating Atletico in their final game and Argentinian striker Higuain can- trips to Manchester City and important that we go and do that Zenit failing to do the same against Austria not come to terms with. Chelsea all on the horizon. on Wednesday,” said Jenkinson. Vienna. “I’ve never seen a side elimi- “It is going to be a busy period “It is going to be a tough game nated from the competition with for us and we just have to focus,” - they are going to be battling Group H nine or 12 points - it’s a horrible said Flamini, who rejoined because they want to qualify just With Barcelona already qualified, AC Milan situation to be in,” Higuain told Arsenal on a free transfer in the as much as us. host Ajax in a winner-takes-all match. Sky Sport 24. summer after being released by “But we will work hard and go International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach (left) “All we can do is focus on win- AC Milan. out there with the confidence that Seven-time winners Milan only need a point and outgoing IOC president Jacques Rogge cut the ribbon during ning our match. If we win and still “What would be good for us will we have from our recent results to qualify and leave Ajax, four-time European the reopening of the newly renovated Olympic Museum in Lausanne, go out with 12 points, then there’s be three victories, but we know and hopefully come back with the champions, in the Europa League. Switzerland, yesterday. not much we can do.” it is not going to be easy because result we want.” AFP Nadal comeback ‘unbelievable’, says Becker

BY ARMSTRONG VAS Becker foresees the chance of Nadal overtaking Federer’s tally DOHA: T h r e e - t i m e W i m b l e d o n of 17 Grand Slams. champion Boris Becker says “You are judged by the number current world number one of tournaments you have won, Rafael Nadal (pictured right) how many major titles you have ‘unbelievable comeback’ from won. Nadal is four away from injury has amazed him. Roger and it’s possible he can sur- Former tennis The German who is here for pass him (Federer),” said Becker. player Boris the Doha goals said: “For some- His first venture to Doha was Becker of body seriously injured for eight 20 years back. Germany talks months, coming back and winning He was one of the few big during the titles and reaching No. 1 again you names to take part in the official opening cannot write a book like that. He’s first –ever Qatar Open, just ceremony of the an unbelievable character.” two years after the end of the Doha GOALS Terming his style was differ- Gulf War Forum in Doha ent to that of Nadal he said the Stefan Edberg and Goran thing common between him and Ivanisevic were some of the top yesterday. The the Spaniard was both of them players who were taking part forum aims to will never give up without a fight along with Becker. create initiatives and the foot work. “I was ranked No.2 when I for global “I rate him as the biggest com- went I came here to Qatar,” who progress through petitor out there, with the biggest beat both the former Wimbledon sports. It will end heart. On my day, I was like that, champion to triumph. today. yes. My footwork wasn’t as good “Nobody knew anything about and clay court expertise wasn’t Doha or Qatar back then. Nobody as good, but I was similar in that I could see some 20 years ago how was one of the biggest competitor, great. “It is going to be difficult much it would grow. Nobody could never giving up for Roger to win another Grand imagine that it would be getting Regarding Roger Federer’s Slam as long as he keeps playing really serious in the world of eco- chances of winning a Grand Slam there’s a chance, but it’s going to nomics, business and sports,” he in the near future he said it is be tough,” added Becker who is added. going to be tough for the Swiss also an avid football fan. THE PENINSULA