ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER

Tuesday 18 December 2012 5 Safar 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5552 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Emir takes part in National Day celebrations Epic film on Law prescribes Prophet to strict terms for cost $1bn DOHA: The Doha-based Al Noor Holding Group which is planning to produce an epic film handling flag on Prophet Muhammed (peace be upon him) has disclosed that the movie will be in seven parts, instead of three, and would cost Emir issues law on eve of National Day $1bn. The company had earlier said DOHA: Qatar passed a law law. If a flag has become unus- the film will be made in three on the eve of the National Day able it must be burned, showing parts. The announcement was yesterday which makes it bind- it respect, and until it is reduced made yesterday on the occasion ing on everyone to halt imme- into ashes, to make sure there is of the National Day at a press diately and stand upright as a no trace of a flag. conference attended by promi- mark of respect when they see After a flag is washed, it must nent Islamic scholars involved in the national flag being hoisted be handled with respect for dry- the project including Dr Yousuf or taken down. ing and it should not be mingled Al Qaradawi. “Anyone who is passing by and with any other linen. When a The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani took part in celebrations held yesterday at Al Wajbah Fort The company said preparations sees a Qatari flag being hoisted flag is hoisted horizontally, the on the occasion of Qatar National Day. The function was attended by H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, for the film were progressing well. or being taken down must imme- white side should be on the left. the Personal Representative of the Emir; H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Special Adviser of the The most sophisticated technical diately stop and he or she must In the event of it being hoisted and audio-visual systems will be Emir, and a number of their excellencies sons of the Emir. then stand upright as a mark of vertically, the white side must used in the film. Issues related respect,” says the legislation. be up. to enacting historic personalities And, all ships entering Qatar’s It should be hoisted promi- have also been addressed. territorial waters must bear nently on a building or from a The Prophet will not be directly Qatar’s national flag, hoisting it window or balcony of a building. presented in the film but many of prominently and in a respectable All government buildings and Skydiving feat at Corniche today his companions may appear. way. The flag should be on a ship Qatari embassies overseas must Al Qaradawi said, after until it leaves Qatar’s territorial hoist the national flag. research and consultations with waters, says the law. It must be used in official DOHA: A group of skydiv- along the Doha seafront and fighter Powder fireworks will follow 30 prominent Islamic scholars, The law contains extensive ceremonies, during the visit of ers will fly a large Qatari flag jets will fly overhead between 8am the parade at the Corniche. Being he was convinced that there is guidelines on how to use the Qatari delegations overseas or 6,000-feet high in the sky in the and 10am at the Corniche today. introduced for the first time into nothing wrong in presenting the national flag and bans its use as taking part in conferences or morning and will jump off from The parade will showcase Qatar’s the National Day celebrations, senior companions of the Prophet a commercial trade mark and use important events and during a plane with the help of para- strength and determination powder fireworks will take place in artistic creations. There is no in advertisements without formal signing ceremonies, says the law. chutes during National Day cel- towards its national security and between 11am and 4pm, one dis- text in the Holy Quran banning permission from the authorities The law gives the national flag ebrations at the Corniche today. its defence transformation during play of 10 seconds every hour. An this, he added. concerned. the name of ‘Al Addaam’ (mean- The parachutes will land near the past years. artistic firework will be displayed The film will be in English but In no way should any one ever ing ‘maroon’ in Arabic). This the pavilion where dignitaries People who plan to visit the for 10 minutes starting at 8pm at there is a plan to translate it into make changes to the flag or put name was first used by Sheikh will be seated. The 12-mem- Corniche for the celebrations are the Corniche, accompanied with many other languages. photographs and designs, accord- Mohamed bin Thani in 1851. ber group of skydivers from required by the organising com- traditional music. THE PENINSULA ing to the legislation (Number 14 Qatari tribes were attacked from Lekhwiya’s rescue team will mittee to be present before 7am. Many other activities will be of 2012) which was issued by the the direction of Mesaimir at carry the 15-metre length and Special transport and shuttle bus held at the Corniche to mark the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin the time and they carried their 10-metre wide Qatari flag, Al services too have been organised. celebrations. Two different kinds Today’s edition Khalifa Al Thani, reports Qatar tribal flags to the battlefield. Sharq reported yesterday. Meanwhile, the Ministry of of Qatari traditional boats will be News Agency (QNA). Sheikh Mohamed bin Thani “After parachuting with the flag, Interior on its Facebook page has showcased at the Dhow exhibition. includes a The flag must be neat and clean saw the danger in the tribes hav- the skydivers will make formations requested the public to respect A classic car exhibition, palm trees 12-page and its colour must not have ing their respective flags so he in the sky,” said Sergeant Haneez law and rules with good behaviour illumination, activities for children, faded. It must be washed and decided to unite them under one Al Meraikhi. They will make for- during the celebrations. “Please which are being held for the past supplement ironed based on the type of the banner, and he chose the two col- mations of diamonds and throw cooperate with Police and Security five days, will conclude today. A fabric, and people should stand ours for the flag which is Qatar’s smoke bombs, producing designs. Personnel to ensure that people Pearl illumination will be displayed on Qatar up and face the flag when the national flag today. The Qatari military will parade can enjoy safely the celebrations at Palm Island. THE PENINSULA National Day national anthem is sung, says the THE PENINSULA tanks, rocket launchers would roll of National Day,” it further said. See also page 6

Tunisia revolution anniversary Bin Hammam resigns, Mursi-appointed prosecutor resigns given life ban by Fifa CAIRO: Egypt’s prosecutor general named by President Mohammed Mursi last month as he temporarily assumed sweeping ZURICH: Mohamed bin powers handed in his resignation yesterday, a judicial source said. Hammam, the former Fifa presi- “The prosecutor general has submitted his resignation under pres- dential candidate embroiled sure from protesters,” said the source, referring to magistrates who in corruption allegations, has have been clamouring for his immediate departure. The Supreme resigned from all his positions in Judicial Council will examine prosecutor general Talaat Ibrahim football and been given a life ban, Abdallah’s resignation next Sunday, a day after a final round of vot- Fifa said yesterday. The 63-year- ing in a referendum on Egypt’s draft constitution, the source said. old former Asian soccer chief In his resignation letter, which was published by state news agency was first banned by FIFA in July MENA, Abdallah said he wished to “return to his work in the judi- 2011 for alleged bribery during cial system”. Earlier, hundreds of magistrates had organised a sit-in his failed bid to oust Sepp Blatter People take cover from stones being thrown by protesters yesterday in the central Tunisian town of Sidi Bouzid, outside his office demanded that he quit. See also page 12 in the presidential race to head cradle of the revolution that erupted exactly two years ago. The unrest began after a speech by President world soccer’s governing body. Moncef Marzouki to mark the second anniversary of the start of the revolution. See also page 12 Obama vows to battle gun violence See also page 32 NEWTOWN: US President Barack Obama vowed yesterday to battle gun violence, casting the fight as a nation’s duty to protect its young, as a Connecticut town prepared to bury the first two victims of last week’s rampage at an elementary school. Speaking at a vigil for the dead, which included 20 six- and seven-year-olds, Obama pledged to Govt to fix prices of goods, services use all his power to stop such gun massacres, saying “these tragedies must end”. “Can we say that we’re truly doing enough to give all the DOHA: Retail prices of hun- additionally tasked to carry out CPD at the Ministry of Business amendments to the above law, and children of this country the chance they deserve to live out their lives dreds of basic commodities and regular monitoring of the outlets, and Trade. ratified the draft unanimously in happiness and with purpose?” he implored, as candles burned by services are likely to be fixed by including local manufacturers, to Service outlets might be asked which talks of introducing maxi- his podium to remember the victims. “I’ve been reflecting on this the the government by the second make sure that they comply with to seek approval from the Civil mum caps on the retail pricing last few days, and if we’re honest with ourselves, the answer is no. We quarter of 2013 in a bid to pre- the price freeze. Defense before their licenses of consumer goods and services are not doing enough, and we will have to change.” See also page 14 vent outlets from manipulating The panel will have members could be issued or renewed. The and curtailing profit margins of pricing and taking hapless con- from the Consumer Protection idea is to make sure that they the traders. Deputy at odds with Assad as war rages sumers for a ride. Department (CPD), the Ministry of comply with safety rules. The report of the Council’s eco- Laundries and barber shops are Municipality and Urban Planning, CPD inspectors are already nomic and financial affairs com- DAMASCUS: President Bashar Al Assad’s deputy said a clear most likely to be included among Ministry of Economy and Finance, armed with judicial powers to con- mittee was tabled in the House winner is unlikely to emerge in Syria’s war and he prefers a nego- the service outlets whose rates are the Ministry of Environment and duct raids on retail, wholesale as for discussions. tiated solution, in remarks at odds with the president, as clashes to be frozen by the government. Qatar Chamber, representative well as manufacturing and storage The committee had earlier raged yesterday across the country. Prime Minister Vice President The consumer protection law body of the private sector. facilities of consumer goods and ini- held meetings with senior CPD Farouq Al Sharaa gave a gloomy assessment of the conflict, how- of 2008 is being amended to pave To tighten screws on retail tiate legal action against violators. and business and trade ministry ever, as rebels launched an all-out assault on the central city of the way for forming a high-profile outlets, they might be required After amendment, the consumer officials to discuss the proposed Hama, regime warplanes bombed eastern Damascus and refugees inter-ministerial committee that to seek additional approval from protection law might confer simi- amendments and the price fix- fled a second day of clashes at a Palestinian camp in the capital. would prepare an extensive fair the Specifications and Standards lar powers on the employees of ing mechanisms. The draft of “No opposition can end the battle militarily, just as the security price list for the various com- Department of the Ministry of the Standards and Specifications the proposed amendments is to forces and army cannot achieve a decisive conclusion,” Sharaa told modities and services that would Environment to launch promo- Department as well. be referred back to the State Lebanon’s Al Akhbar newspaper. Nationwide, at least 98 people be binding on outlets. tions. Permitting promotions are The Advisory Council yes- Cabinet. were killed yesterday. See also page 12 The said panel would be presently a prerogative of the terday discussed the proposed THE PENINSULA AGENCIES

TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Advisory Council Emir meets Belgian FM MoI film bags top prize holds weekly session

DOHA: The Advisory Council held its weekly for security awareness regular session here yes- terday under its Speaker H E Mohammed bin PR department receives honours for eighth straight year Mubarak Al Kholeifi. At the outset of the DOHA: The Public Relations Kooman, presented the award Abdulla Khalifa Al Muftah, said: meeting, the Council’s Department under the Ministry and a certificate of appreciation “We are keen on taking part in Secretary General H E of Interior (MoI) has bagged the to the Director General of Public various purposive security aware- Fahd bin Mubarak Al first prize for a security aware- Security Staff, Major General ness competitions held at local, Khayreen read out the ness film, on human trafficking, Saad bin Jassim Al Khulaifi, who regional and international lev- agenda which has been for the eighth consecutive year. headed the Qatari delegation to els. The PR Department of the approved. The annual film competition the meeting, at a ceremony held Ministry of Interior has received Afterwards the council was organised by the Security in the presence of delegations several awards and achievements approved the minutes of its Media Office at the General from several Arab countries. in the security awareness field previous meeting. Secretariat of the Arab Interior This year’s competition was because of the excellence of the The memo of the Ministers Council (GSAIMC), held on five themes: human traf- films produced by us and meeting Cabinet’s General with participation from differ- ficking, community policing cul- with the technical requirements Secretariat addressed to ent Arab states. The first prize ture, human rights, role of civil prescribed in the award manual, the office of the Prime winner is selected from among society in supporting security along with using latest technol- Minister on the council’s many nominations submitted by work, and awareness against car ogy in graphics and producing the recommendations con- several Arab countries. thefts. The MoI had submitted film in a non-traditional method.” cerning a draft law amend- The winner was announced films on three themes: human The head of Security Media ing some provisions of the on the sidelines of the 36th trafficking, community policing Section at the PR Department of law No. 10 of 1987 regard- meeting of Arab Police and culture, and role of civil society in the MoI clarified that the Media ing the state’s public and Security Chiefs held in Algeria supporting security work. Production Centre under the The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with the Belgian Deputy private properties, was between December 9 and 10, and Commenting on the occasion, Department had produced the Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Didier Reynders, at Al Wajbah read out and the Council the Secretary General of the the Director of PR Department of prizewinning film. Palace yesterday. took note of it. GSAIMC, Dr Muhammed Ali the Ministry of Interior, Colonel THE PENINSULA The Council later dis- cussed a report by the Finance and Economy Committee on a draft law amending some provisions Municipality ministry launches online of the law No. 12 of 1972 on compulsory pricing and profits determination, and nursery to sell plants via email decided to forward its rec- ommendations thereon to the Council of Ministers. DOHA: The Ministry of ministry to receive the plants. and removing abandoned cars, QNA Municipality and Urban The Minister of Municipality Al Sharq reported yesterday. Planning has opened an online and Urban Planning, H E The digital guidance screens nursery service whereby peo- Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin will be set up at the headquar- ple can order decorative plants Khalifa, has inaugurated three ters of all municipalities and and saplings via email. new e-services for the public. important buildings of the civic Details of the plants and sap- The e-services include the said ministry. The screens will dis- HMC, PHCC lings with pictures are available online nursery, an automatic- play Aljazeera broadcasts as well on the website of the ministry response hotline, and digital as live footage from the Doha working on (www.baladiya.gov.qa). guidance screens. Corniche. Weather reports, Payment for the purchased The hotline service is available prayer timings, the latest news plants can be made in cash round the clock on 44266666 to about the municipality and early cancer or by credit card. The buyers provide municipal services such important instructions for visi- can print the receipt after the as attending to water logging, tors to municipality offices will detection transaction and send it to the removal of water overflowing also be displayed on the screens. Public Parks Department at the from drains, spraying pesticides THE PENINSULA DOHA: The Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) and Primary Healthcare Corporation (PHCC) are working together for early detec- tion and treatment of cancer in Qatar. The two organisations jointly held training ses- sions for primary care physicians recently to help them recognise the signs and symptoms of cancer. Following the launch of the Qatar National Cancer Strategy in 2011, HMC and PHCC are continuing to drive toward a 48-hour referral for patients with a suspected cancer to be seen by a specialist doctor. Dr Mariam Ali Abdulmalik, Managing Director of PHCC, said: “PHCC is working to tackle a rapid and defini- tive diagnosis to save lives and to make the commu- nity aware of the impor- tance of detecting cancer as soon as possible because an early detection of can- cer increases the chances of successful treatment.” HMC launched a special form for patients with a suspected cancer in April 2012. This form is used by PHCC physicians to iden- tify patients with a pos- sible diagnosis of cancer who require referral to a specialist clinic at HMC, and these referrals are then treated as urgent. All suspected cancer referrals are offered an appointment at a special- ist clinic within 48 hours of receiving the referral. A series of workshops for PHCC physicians were held in Doha in November and early December where senior consultants from HMC delivered lec- tures on the early signs and symptoms of cancer. The lectures covered many of the more com- mon cancer types includ- ing urology, colorectal, breast, neuro-oncology (brain), head and neck, and lung. Members of the HMC dedicated cancer team also delivered lec- tures on the referral proc- ess itself. THE PENINSULA

TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani taking part in National Day celebrations held at Al Wajbah Fort yesterday. RIGHT: H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Personal Representative of the Emir, and H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Special Adviser of the Emir, with other dignitaries at the celebrations. National Day celebrated across the globe

Qatar’s embassies around the world host receptions to mark day of pride Emir receives greetings from DOHA: Qatar’s missions over- It was also attended by Deputy seas celebrated the National Undersecretary of the Air Force Showing respects to the flag on National Day Advisory Council Speaker Day by hosting receptions on the for International Affairs Heidi eve of the great day yesterday. H Grant, Washington Mayor White colour should be on the left when the Qatari flag is raised DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani Alia Ahmed bin Seif Al Thani, Vincent Gray, Rev Jesse Jackson horizontally. has received a cable of congratulations from the Speaker of the Qatar’s permanent representa- and former presidential candidate White should be on the top when the flag is placed vertically. Advisory Council H E Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Kholaifi on tive to the UN in Geneva hosted Ralph Nader, in addition to many Qatari flag should not be flown on the same pole with a flag of the occasion of Qatar’s National Day. a reception in Geneva and said diplomats, military figures and another country, but other types of flags can be flown along with In his cable, Al Kholaifi said: “It gives me pleasure, on my behalf that Qatar has witnessed a turn- businessmen. the Qatari flag, but the Qatari flag should be on top. and on behalf of the Advisory Council’s members, to offer Your ing point in national, political and Qatar’s Ambassador to the In the streets the flags should be displayed vertically with the Highness the most sincere congratulations and blessings on the economic advancement since the United Kingdom Khalid bin white on the top. THE PENINSULA occasion of Qatar National Day, asking Allah, the Almighty for Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Rashid Al Hamoudi Al Mansouri many happy returns of such a dearest national occasion and Khalifa Al Thani took power. held a reception at Hotel Muqaddam Al Buainain hosted Chairman of the Foreign Affairs wishing His Highness the best of health and happiness and more She cited as landmarks in Claridge’s in London to mark a yesterday which was attended Committee and Kishishtov progress and welfare to our beloved country, Qatar, under the wise Qatar’s recent history the adop- Qatar National Day. by a number the Egyptian gov- Kraevski, the Director of the dip- and far-sighted leadership of the Emir. tion of a permanent constitution, The function was attended ernment officials, including lomatic protocol at the Ministry The Emir in return has sent a reply cable of thanks to the expanding the base of popular by Minister for Culture, Minister of Housing and Urban of Foreign Affairs and Katagina Advisory Council Speaker in which the Emir has exchanged good participation in decision- mak- Communications and Creative Communities Dr Tarek Wafik Subiresca, the Deputy Minister felicitations with the Council Speaker and the members on the ing and deepening the principles Industries Ed Vaizey, as well as Mohamed, Minister of State of Tourism and Sports and Irina happy occasion. The Emir expressed appreciation to the precious of liberty and basic freedoms a number of senior UK officials, for Sport Affairs Amri Farouk Chivenska , the Vice President the feelings of the Advisory Council Speaker and the members wishing and human rights. The National and members of the House of and Minister of Manpower and Olympic Committee who is also them the best of health and more welfare, progress and prosperity Vision 2030 is the country’s future Commons and the House of Lords. Immigration Khaled Mahmoud Al a member of the international to the people of the State of Qatar. QNA roadmap, she said. Meanwhile, Qatar’s Ambassador Azhari, as well as the Secretary Olympic Committee (IOC). Qatar’s Ambassador to the to the Bavarian Republic of General of the League of Arab Representatives of the diplo- United States Mohammed bin Venezuela Batal Mojab Al Dossari States Dr Nabil Al Arabi and matic corps accredited in Poland, Abdullah Al Rumaihi hosted a yesterday hosted a reception on Arab League Deputy Secretary together with academics and rep- reception in Washington which the occasion of Qatar National General Ambassador Ahmed Ben resentatives of the sports commu- Indian president greets Emir was attended by a number of Day. The function was attended Helli. nity and an elite of businessmen, DOHA: Indian President Pranab Mukherjee has greeted the US officials, Congressmen and by Palestinian Foreign Minister The reception was also journalists and community lead- Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani on the occasion dignitaries, led by Democratic Riadh Al Maliki, a representa- attended by Governor of Cairo ers of Muslim organisations of of the National Day of Qatar. Senator John Kerry, who is also tive for the Venezuelan Foreign Osama Ahmed Kamal, Governor Poles and Arab expatriates. “I have great pleasure in extending warm greetings and felicita- the Chairman of the Senate’s Ministry, Director of the Protocols of Kafr El Sheikh Eng Saad Ismat Qatar’s Ambassador to the tions on behalf of the government and the people of India and on Foreign Relations Committee, Department, the official in charge Al Husseini, assistant ministers Republic of Poland Hadi Nasser my own behalf to Your Highness and to the people of the State Senator Dan Burton, minor- of Qatar’s file at the Middle East in the Egyptian government, Mansour Al Hajri delivered a of Qatar,” the India’s head of state said in a message of greetings ity leader in the House of and Asia Department, ambassa- senior officials at the Ministry speech and congratulated the peo- to the Emir. Representatives Nancy Pelosi, dors accredited to the Bavarian of Foreign Affairs and Arab and ple of Qatar and their wise lead- “India values its close and mutually beneficial relationship Secretary of Homeland Security, Republic of Venezuela, as well as foreign ambassadors accredited to ership represented by the Emir. with the State of Qatar. Your Highness’ successful visit to India Janet Napolitano, Chairman of the a number of businessmen and the Arab Republic of Egypt. The Embassy in Belgium too in April, 2012 has provided further impetus to our multifaceted House Oversight and Government media men. The Embassy of Qatar in joined the celebrations yesterday. engagement,” Mukherjee said in the message, the text of which Reform Committee in the House Around 20 children from the Poland joined in the celebrations The function was attended by was released by the Indian embassy here yesterday. of Representatives, Darrell Issa, school of the Venezuelan foreign by hosting a reception at the a number of Belgian officials and “I am confident that our ongoing cooperation across the full Democratic Representative ministry staff also attended the Sheraton Hotel in Warsaw, which politicians, as well as cultural, spectrum of political, economic and cultural activities will be fur- Cyril Maloney, Republican reception. was attended by a large number of economic and scientific figures ther strengthened and diversified by us for the mutual benefit of Representative Michael Grimm Qatar’s Ambassador to the leaders of the Polish state, headed and EU officials in addition to our peoples.” and Deputy Chief of Staff of Arab Republic of Egypt and by Uige Vnederlikh, the Deputy members of the diplomatic corps THE PENINSULA the US Air Force Lt Gen Frank its Permanent Representative Speaker and Marek Russky, the and members of the Arab com- Gorenc. to the Arab League Saif bin Deputy Senate President and munity. QNA MoI distributes National Day gifts to passengers, employees at Doha Airport DOHA: The Airport Security Doha International Airport, The initiative was taken as a The Director of Airport of officers and petty officers from passengers and the employees of and Airport Passports crew of different airlines work- step toward enhancing coopera- Security Department Col Eisa both departments attended the the airport as they have consid- Departments of the Ministry ing in the airport, customs tion and communication between Arar Al Rumaihi, Charge de ceremony. ered it as an evidence of love and of Interior distributed national staffers and the staff of two the police and the citizens, expa- Affaires of Airport Passports The initiative of the two secu- welcome from the Qatari society day gifts among the passen- departments on Sunday to triates and the visitors to the Department Lt Col Muhammed rity departments got appre- toward them. gers at the arrival lounge of the mark Qatar National Day. country as well. Rashid Al Mazroui and a number ciation and appraisal from the THE PENINSULA

Officers of the Airport Security and Airport Passports Departments of the Ministry of Interior distributing National Day gifts among passengers and employees at the arrivals lounge of the Doha International Airport. TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

A desolate 23rd edition of the International Book Fair at the Doha Exhibition Centre yesterday. ABDUL BASIT Book fair draws few visitors Lack of publicity behind low turnout: Stall owners

BY RAYNALD C RIVERA book fair also coincided with the doing well compared to oth- National Day but sales were good ers, such as American publisher DOHA: The 23rd Doha then,” said a stall owner from Galaxy Press which is behind International Book Fair wore Sharjah who sells educational the publication of prolific fiction a desolate look yesterday, with materials for children. writer L Ron Hubbard’s short hardly any visitor and shop She observed very few students stories. owners sporting distressed visit the Fair like on Sunday when “Sales are very good, very looks desperate to sell hundreds only a hundred students came. steady. A lot of people are buying of titles just five days before the “I haven’t sold a single book books here,” said Mitch Breuer of fair closes. today and yesterday, one of my Galaxy Press, whose books include “Sales are not good compared friends in the other stall had zero audio materials helping to develop to last year,” said Mohammed sales,” she said, blaming a lack of both reading and listening skills Gamal of Dar El Rateb Publishing publicity as the reason for the dis- of young learners. House, who sells 100 different mal failure of the fair. “This is our fifth year here. titles of illustrated infopaedia in “Perhaps they did not have I was at the Sharjah book fair Arabic language. enough advertisements for the before and the situation was The book fair which opened fair that’s why many people don’t very similar here; many people on Wednesday last week depends know about this,” she added. look for good books and parents mostly on students and schools A couple of visitors to the Fair want their kids to read,” said and according to Gamal the yesterday said they never knew Breuer adding the book fair was number has dwindled precisely of the event until they happened an amazing event for people who because the fair coincides at to pass by the Doha Exhibition are interested in reading. the time when Qatar is about Centre. “It has books for all ages and to celebrate National Day so “We didn’t know that there is provides all types of people chance schools might have been busy a book fair here. We have been to find books they can’t find in of their respective events and looking for books that could serve other places,” he said. preparations. as supplementary materials for Running until December 22, But other stalls don’t blame our children who are in elemen- the book fair features Japan as National Day for the poor turnout tary grades,” said the mother of the guest of honour with a pavil- at the fair saying last year’s event two. ion featuring activities such as also coincided with the celebra- This year’s fair hosts a total of writing visitors’ names using tions, in fact both fairs have fol- 419 publishers from 27 countries, Japanese calligraphy, origami lowed exactly the same schedule. but despite that huge number workshops and introduction of “We keep asking what the very few stalls are offering books Japanese pop culture and latest reason for the very poor sales is in English. technology, among others. because I remember last year’s These few stalls, however, are THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME SEC urged QF students to prepare QF fillip for Arabic online content meet world’s new safety Arabic YouTube Tweetup gathers over 400 community members top innovators DOHA: Qatar Computing programmes and tools that will “This is our culture, our lan- drives the efforts at Twitter, Inc. guidelines Research Institute (QCRI), a help close this gap in content. guage. As a community, we are With 17 million tweets in in New York member of Qatar Foundation The event featured social net- in the best position to create and Arabic every day, Kaveh Gharib, DOHA: A senior official of for Education, Science and working and digital content giants make significant contributions to Localisation Project Manager at DOHA: Qatar Foundation the Civil Defence Department Community Development, and YouTube, Google and Twitter, who enrich the content and to drive Twitter Inc, stated that along- for Education, Science and has called on the Supreme Taghreedat, a regional Arabic talked about their initiatives in the renaissance of the Arabic side the opportunities for content Community Development (QF) Education Council (SEC) to e-content community building promoting and supporting Arabic language.” growth come challenges, such as participated in The Economist prepare new safety and secu- initiative based in Qatar, held an language online. Speaking about Ethraa, QCRI’s how to separate the signal from Group’s The World in 2013 rity guidelines for schools in Arabic YouTube Tweetup over The tweetup, scheduled as part initiative to enrich and increase the noise. Festival in New York City last the country that can effectively the weekend. of Google’s month-long Arabic Arabic digital content, Majd Dr Fayeq Oweis, Arabic weekend. address emergency situations According to experts at Google, Web Days project, gathered over Abbar, Director of Arabic Content Localisation Manager at Google A host of key decision-mak- like fire. Arabic is one of the fastest grow- 400 content creators from around Initiatives at QCRI, explained the Inc, talked about numerous ini- ers and students from Qatar The guidelines currently ing languages on the worldwide the region looking to contribute to reasons behind the effort. tiatives underway at Google in Foundation attended the two- circulated by the SEC among web. Over the past two years, the acceleration of digital content “Arabic was once the language of support of creating Arabic digital day forum at the NYU Skirball Independent schools were pre- social networking sites including in Arabic, with a focus on devel- science, literature and knowledge. content, including local Arabic dia- Center for Performing Arts, pared in 2009 and they have not Twitter, YouTube and Facebook oping video content for YouTube. Ethraa is focused on ensuring that lect voice recognition on Android which included a gala dinner on been updated since then, a work- have experienced a massive Representatives from YouTube the Arabic language is restored to phones, and tools that are avail- December 6 and a programme of shop on school safety at the Qatar increase in Arabic language usage. and video content entrepreneurs its natural position as a language able to write in Arabic without thought-provoking discussions on Technical School (QTS) was told. Yet, although there are close from across the region shared of science and research, which falling back on Arabizi. (Arabizi is December 8. The situation is even worse in to 350 million Arabic language their insight and experiences of supports Qatar’s transformation an alphabet based on Latin script The event featured analysis private schools many of which do speakers in the Arab world alone, how to create viral Arabic videos to a knowledge-based economy.” commonly used to communicate and commentary from renowned not have any plans or guidelines the amount of online content in on the YouTube platform. Ensuring the ease of use as an short digital messages in Arabic business leaders, authors, schol- related to safety and security, it Arabic hovers at only 3 percent Dr Ahmed Elmagarmid, instantaneous communication when the Arabic alphabet is not ars and policymakers, who shared was disclosed at the workshop, a of the total. Executive Director of QCRI, out- platform, and that the content available due to technical reasons). experiences and provided a glo- local Arabic daily has reported. The Arabic YouTube Tweetup lined the Arabic language initia- is meaningful and interesting to The YouTube platform is also fully bal perspective on the upcoming Major Hussain Aman of the was held to introduce new tives underway at the Institute. the rest of the world, is also what Arabicised. THE PENINSULA year. The world-class list of con- Civil Defence Department, while tributors included Eric E Schmidt, addressing the workshop called Executive Chairman of Google, on the SEC to come out with a and Lady de Rothschild, CEO of new safety and security plan for E L Rothschild. the schools. The festival formed part of Ameera Al Sadr of the SEC 18-hour traffic an ongoing relationship between disclosed that 36 schools in the The Economist Group (TEG) and country are still lacking a fire diversion at Qatar Foundation, whose values alarm system, while 81 percent and goals are closely aligned. of the Independent and private While TEG informs readers schools are equipped with such a Ain Khaled across the world about current system. social and economic developments, There are a total of 233 DOHA: The Public Works Qatar Foundation continues to Independent school buildings Authority (Ashghal) has pursue its mission of “unlocking and 160 private school build- announced a traffic diversion human potential” through innova- ings in Qatar. The Civil Defence near the intersection of Umm tive educational endeavours. Department has been inspecting Seneem Street and Khaled bin Twelve students from Qatar all school buildings to ensure that Ahmed Street at Ain Khaled Foundation travelled to New York they meet the safety and security zone as illustrated in the for the festival. North Western requirements, she said. map, effective from 12 noon University in Qatar was repre- “It is important to set up a on December 21 until 6am on sented by Alanood Al Thani, Haya safety task force in every school December 22. Al Thani, Nayla Al Thani and and prepare a plan for training This diversion is to complete Fatima Al Hajri. From Virginia the staff,” she said. necessary maintenance works. Commonwealth University in Over the past six months, the While apologising to any incon- Qatar, Farah Zamri and Nathaniel Civil Defence Department con- veniences caused to the public, Tonelli also attended, along with ducted 150 mock fire drills at Ashghal appeals to all commut- Dua’a Althabatah and Haya Al Independent and private schools ers to abide by traffic rules and Khalifa from Carnegie Mellon to get them prepared for emer- directions. University in Qatar; Aysha gency situations, the workshop Earlier the Public Works Alkhaja and Moiz Bahra from was told. Authority (Ashghal) implemented Texas A&M University at Qatar; Abdullah Shams of QTS said a similar diversion at Nasser bin Haya Al Thani from Georgetown the school decided to host the Salemein Interchange (formerly University’s School of Foreign workshop to bring the issue of Soudan Interchange), near Doha Service in Qatar; and Yousef safety in schools to the focus and Expressway to complete mainte- Al Rashidi from the Faculty of address the shortcomings in this nance works. Islamic Studies. field. THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Annual Mesaieed beach clean-up campaign

Speakers on the last day of the regional diabetes conference in Doha. Curtain falls on diabetes meet DOHA: The regional dia- High-Level Meeting on Non com- betes conference has closed municable Disease Prevention and with the participation of 500 Control and the WHO summit on delegates from 24 countries. November 2012 and our role as The International Diabetes diabetes associations is to moni- Federation IDF/Mena conven- tor, prevent and care,” he added. tion allowed participants to Prof Elsayed also highlighted Event organisers and volunteers pose after the annual Mesaieed beach clean-up campaign held on December 13. Over 350 volunteers from 23 private access the latest data and opin- the need for increased media companies took part in the campaign. The volunteers collected refuse from beaches at Sealine Beach Resort and from a 3km stretch of the roadside ion from the scientific com- action to spread diabetes aware- starting at the Q-Chem gate to the end of the new Sealine Road. On completion of the day’s events, the Manager of Industrial Cities Operations, munity, discuss key issues in ness, while Dr Al Hamaq con- Abdullatif Al Mohanadi, and the Head of Municipal Services, Adel Al Tamimi, expressed their appreciation to the event organisers and the participants. diabetes care, and exchange firmed that the second IDF information on how available MENA Diabetes Conference will resources can best be used to be held in Morocco on May 2013. tackle the diabetes problem. The International Diabetes Dr Abdulla Al Hamaq, the Federation (IDF) is an umbrella Executive Director of Qatar organisation of over 200 member Apple’s iPhone 5 hits Vodafone stores Diabetes Association, said: “I hope associations in more than 160 all the participants from Qatar countries, representing the 285 DOHA: Vodafone Qatar yes- battery life. iPhone 5 comes with warrantee,” said Marc Norris, and the region left the conference million people with diabetes, their terday announced that it has iOS 6, the world’s most advanced Customer Operations Director armed with the experience and families, and their healthcare started offering the iPhone 5 mobile operating system with “We’re committed to offering ready to take key learning back to providers. (pictured). The phone will be over 200 new features including: our customers the best services their health centres, care settings The mission of IDF is to pro- available for a retail price of the all new Maps app with Apple- and solutions; both retail and and organisation and implement mote diabetes care, preven- QR3,049 for the 16GB model, designed cartography and turn- call centre staff are fully trained them for the benefit of the people tion and cure worldwide. It’s QR3,599 for the 32GB model and by-turn navigation; Facebook by Apple to help everyone get living with diabetes and those at a non-governmental organisa- QR4,099 for the 64GB model at integration; Passbook organisa- the most out of their iPhone risk.” tion associated with the United all Vodafone retail stores, online tion and even more Siri features 5. Another great advantage of Diabetes is one of the most Nations’ Department of Public and through selected partners. and languages. purchasing your iPhone 5 from common chronic diseases in the Information. Customers can also take “We’re proud, as the only offi- Vodafone Qatar is that it comes Middle East, where almost 20 The IDF Middle East and advantage of the great prepaid cial iPhone supplier in Qatar, to pre-installed with Vodafone percent of the adult population is North Africa (Mena) Region cov- and postpaid offers bundled with be launching iPhone 5. Vodafone Qatar’s Internet and MMS set- suffering from it. Professor Adel ers a wide area in North Africa iPhone 5. The phone is the thin- Qatar guarantees its customers tings, which means that custom- Elsayed, the Chair Elect of Mena and West-Asia, from Pakistan in nest and lightest iPhone ever, to be covered by an official Apple ers can get online straight away,” Region, said “the International the east to Morocco in the west. completely redesigned to feature warranty, which means that they Marc Norris said. Diabetes Federation has achieved The majority of countries in this a stunning new 4-inch Retina dis- will be looked after all around the To celebrate the launch, significant political actions which area fall under the umbrella of play; an Apple-designed A6 chip world. In addition, Vodafone Qatar Vodafone is offering a free acces- affect the progress made in diabe- IDF. The Mena Region cur- for blazing fast performance; and operates the only two authorised sory pack with purchase of iPhone tes care and prevention.” rently consists of 20 member ultrafast wireless technology — iPhone service centres, cover- 5 while stocks last. “These actions are the UN associations. all while delivering even better ing all iPhones that have a valid THE PENINSULA Resolution on 2006, the UN THE PENINSULA

TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Editorial ESTABLISHED IN 1996

CHAIRMAN: SHEIKH THANI BIN ABDULLAH AL THANI EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: KHALID AL SAYED A day to celebrate E-MAIL: [email protected] ACTING MANAGING EDITOR: HUSSAIN AHMAD National Day provides an opportunity to E-MAIL: [email protected] showcase Qatar’s glorious past, EDITORIAL: TEL: 44557741 / 44557743 FAX: 44557746 / 44557758 P. O. BOX: 3488, DOHA, QATAR. present and future. E-MAIL: [email protected]

ADVERTISING: TEL: 44557837 / 780 FAX: 44557870 HE mood is festive and spirits high. As Qatar marks the countries are facing the threat of popular discontent. But Qatar National Day today, all residents, including citizens and expa- stands like a pillar of stability amid them and this stability is the CLASSIFIED: 44557857 E-MAIL: [email protected] Ttriates, are united in celebrating the success of a nation which result of several bold social and political initiatives launched by the SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY has made huge strides in every field. The celebrations will reverber- government. Arab uprisings are both a yearning for more freedom ate through the region and will be noticed by the world due to the and a call for better economic opportunities. Qatar has been able to TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 preeminent position which Qatar enjoys on the global stage today. meet both demands of its population. E-MAIL: [email protected] National Day celebrations serve two purposes: first, it’s an occasion Also, the celebrations serve as a reminder of the country’s glorious SUBSCRIPTION RATES to showcase before the world a nation’s achievements and secondly, past, are an endorsement of the prosperous present, and a proclama- ANNUAL it helps to strengthen feelings of nationalism among its people. The tion of its wonderful future. With Doha set to host the 2022 Football QR 675 government of Qatar and citizens have lined up several glittering World Cup, and the important role Doha is playing in global and 6 MONTHS QR 340 events today, which has added to the spirit, and private, government Arab affairs, it’s natural that the world is keenly watching this small and semi-government institutions and citizens are using the occa- country and its achievements. sion to pay tributes to the rulers -- the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad Among the most remarkable achievements of the country include bin Khalifa Al Thani and the Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim unprecedented social and economic progress, like the strides made bin Hamad Al Thani – for their vision and wisdom which has made in education and healthcare, and Qatar’s role as a mediator in Arab Qatar what it is today. affairs and its leadership role in crisis-hit countries. But its diplomatic Our achievements assume significance because they come at a interventions haven’t always been easy. Sometimes, the foreign media PUBLICATION time when the region and Arab world are passing through a period has doubted its motives and even questioned its stance, but on every of upheaval and transformation. Popular uprisings against auto- occasion Qatar has proved that its objectives were noble and didn’t cratic governments have convulsed some Arab countries and several have any other motive than bringing peace to the world.

In the coming weeks I’ll use whatever power this office holds The other side to engage my fellow citizens from law enforcement, mental health professionals to parents and educators in an effort aimed at Quote of preventing more tragedies like Improve school security this (Connecticut incident). the day Barack Obama E FEEL sad that 22 primary school students in Central US President China’s Henan province were wounded by a villager with Wmental health problems wielding a knife on Friday, the same day as 20 children and seven adults in the United States were shot dead by a gunman in Connecticut. While the school shooting in the US brings forth the topic of gun control, the tragedy in China points to the necessity of tightening security in schools, those in rural areas in particular. This tragedy took place in a rural primary school in Guangshan county and the preliminary investigation shows that the culprit with a knife in his hand entered the school without anyone stopping him, and then he hacked his way from the first floor of the school building to the third floor. It would have been extremely difficult to stop the gunman who shot the students in Connecticut, but it should have been possible to stop the man from attacking the school children in Guangshan. The culprit might not have been able to enter the school had there been security guards, who were responsible enough to stop him and ask his identity. But unfortunately there was not even a janitor, never mind security guards, at the school gate at the time, according to reports. It might have been possible to subdue the culprit had teachers come to the defense of the students. It was reported that some boys blocked the door of their classroom and the attacker failed to cause any harm to students in that classroom. But where were all the teachers? The ministries of education and public security required that local governments must arrange security guards at nurseries and primary schools two years ago when a series of similar tragedies occurred at kindergartens. Now there are security guards in most urban schools. But appar- ently this rural village school had no one to guard the students from intruders. Neither was there any preventive measure in place, say a janitor or an alarm system, in case any intruder broke into the school. The school principal and even the county leader will receive disci- plinary punishments. But will all the rural school principals and local government leaders be made to discuss all the safety hazards children may face at school and then adopt preventive measures in advance? We shouldn’t wait until another tragedy occurs. CHINA DAILY Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate On Tunisia’s road to democracy, hope springs eternal

BY RORY MCCARTHY has not improved. Youth unem- Ennahdha has been, so far at least, was convicted of disrupting public pledged to retain the well-regarded argued in favour of a mixed system ployment was even higher at 42%. more moderate and pragmatic order and violating moral values personal status code, which guar- in which parliament’s powers were T FIRST glance Tunisia’s These severe job shortages and lack than most other Islamist move- for broadcasting the animated antees rights for women – among balanced by the presidency. Again, transition to democracy of economic recovery lay behind ments in the region. In part too it film Persepolis, which some reli- the most progressive in the Arab Ennahdha was forced to concede: Aseems fragile. More than the Siliana demonstrations in late is down to a more legalistic tradi- gious critics said insulted Islam world – and which secularists Tunisia’s president will in future 200 demonstrators were injured, November and other street pro- tion which ensured the uprising by including a depiction of God. had feared was in jeopardy. When be directly elected. Presidential some seriously, in a brutal police tests will almost certainly follow was followed by an orderly and In other cases art exhibitions and Ennahdha drafted a constitutional and parliamentary elections are crackdown after recent protests in the months ahead. None of the largely peaceful transition, lead- film screenings deemed critical of article ambiguously declaring that scheduled for June next year. in the town of Siliana. The elected rival political parties have offered ing to elections for a constitution- Islam have been attacked by vio- Tunisian women should play a Such cross-party pragmatism in government, a rare coalition bold ideas for economic recovery. drafting assembly in October last lent crowds. “complementary” role to men, the Tunisia ought not be a surprise. between Islamists and secular- Moncef Marzouki, Tunisia’s presi- year. There has been no interfer- Yet, the worst predictions of the movement was forced to retreat Even during the Ben Ali years, ists, has lost support: MPs have dent, warned this month that pov- ence from Tunisia’s small and apo- secularists have not been realised. in the face of strong criticism. several opposition groups from defected from the ruling parties erty threatened the new Tunisia: litical military. Although there has been a sharp Likewise, the Islamists eventually across the ideological spectrum – and the president himself has “We will have a revolution within Many Tunisian secularists debate between Islamists and secu- dropped a much-criticised article among them Islamists, secularists called for an urgent cabinet reshuf- the revolution,” he told The World were particularly worried that larists on Tunisia’s identity, this that would have banned, in danger- and communists – came together fle. A new constitution was due to Today. “People do not fear the gov- Ennahdha would impose an ideo- has resulted in more compromise ously ambiguous terms, “all attacks in a forum known as the October be completed two months ago, but ernment now. They would take to logical dictatorship and censor than violent division. Each time on the sacred”. Mention of reli- 18 Collectif and worked for several is still not ready. Two years to the the streets if we don’t give them freedom of expression. They feared the Islamists have put forward a gious values in the constitution is years to produce a joint vision of day after Mohamed Bouazizi, the reason to hope that their condition that Tunisia would revert to the controversial proposal they have now expected to be relegated to the a future, free Tunisia. The par- street seller from Sidi Bouzid, set will improve.” suffocating, authoritarian control been forced to backpedal. preamble, although the Islamists ties agreed a platform embracing fire to himself and unleashed a On other fronts the transition that marked the 23-year rule of Ennahdha, emboldened by its may yet try for a blasphemy law women’s rights, gender equality, wave of uprisings across the region, over the past two years in Tunisia ousted president Zine el-Abidine election victory last year, hoped to in the future. a civil (not theocratic) state and has Tunisia’s transition to democ- has been more positive. Although Ben Ali. As one leading opposition introduce a reference to sharia law Given its large weight in par- freedom of opinion and conscience. racy begun to unravel? an Islamist party, Ennahdha, won politician, Nejib Chebbi, warned in the new constitution but then liament, Ennahdha had hoped to Although this co-operation even- It was economic pressure that the first elections after the upris- last year: “Tunisians don’t want rapidly withdrew the proposal. install a parliamentary democracy, tually evaporated before the upris- played such an important role in ing, Tunisia has been spared the to have an ideology restrain their Rachid Ghannouchi, Ennahdha’s arguing this was the best way to ing, it demonstrates that Tunisia’s setting off the Arab uprisings and it depth of polarisation and violence freedoms.” leader, conceded by saying sharia prevent a return to authoritarian political opponents have not always is these challenges that still remain that has marked Egypt’s transi- There were incidents of genuine law was too divisive and a con- presidencies. However, most other been as far apart as they some- unanswered. Unemployment in tion to an elected Islamist-led gov- concern. In May, the head of the cept that remained “unclear” for political parties feared a sweep- times seem. Tunisia rose to 19% last year and ernment. In part that is because private Nessma television station most Tunisians. Ghannouchi also ing Islamist majoritarianism and THE GUARDIAN TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Huge mandate for Japan’s Shinzo Abe

was a decision by the public that they Japanese voters should put an end to the political stag- nation and confusion over the past three have been on years, caused by the Democratic Party’s misguided political leadership,” Abe told a news conference yesterday. a roller coaster “We must move forward and achieve results.” of hopes and Japanese voters have been on a roller coaster of hopes and disappointment for the past decade since charismatic leader disappointment for Junichiro Koizumi took office in 2001 pledging bold reforms. the past decade. Lured by Koizumi’s promises, vot- ers handed the LDP a massive victory BY LINDA SIEG in 2005 only to kick out the long-ruling party four years later in hopes that the ven Japan’s next prime minis- Democrats would do a better job. ter, Shinzo Abe, realises that In a sign that both enthusiasm and his party’s landslide election expectations are fading, turnout on victory is not the sweeping Sunday was a record low 59 percent, mandate that it appears at according to a Kyodo news agency Efirst blush. estimate. An analysis of the vote as well as Abe’s Nor did the LDP win a majority of own comments suggests he would be best votes from those who did cast their bal- served by focusing on what matters most lots. The main opposition party won to voters — the economy — and steering about 43 percent of the vote in the single- clear of divisive issues such as revising seat constituencies that supply 300 of the Japan’s pacifist constitution. chamber’s seats, but a first-past-the post That said, aggressive moves by China system and split votes amongst a clutch in a territorial row over tiny islands in of new, small parties meant that the the East China Sea could act to bolster party secured 79 percent of those seats. support for Abe’s tough-talking stance toward its giant rival. JULY ELECTION HURDLE Three years after a crushing defeat, In the proportional representation Abe’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) blocks that provide the other 180 seats, surged back to win 294 seats in Sunday’s the LDP won about 28 percent of the Liberal Democratic Party President Shinzo Abe speaks during a press conference in Tokyo yesterday. vote for the 480-member lower house. votes compared to 16 percent for the Together with a smaller ally, the New DPJ, while the new right-leaning Japan Komeito party, the LDP also took a two- Restoration Party took 20 percent, media and cumbersome process, so the new gov- constitution and rewriting wartime his- That could grow if Beijing steps up its thirds ‘super majority’ that could help estimates showed. ernment will be keen to win a majority tory with a less apologetic tinge. activities in waters and airspace near the break Japan’s persistent policy deadlock “It’s clear that only 30 percent or less in July’s poll. Changing the charter — never altered disputed islands, known as the Senkaku in parliament. of voters solidly support the LDP. Unless “He’s preparing for the next election since its adoption in 1947 — requires in Japan and the Diaoyu in China. The ruling Democratic Party of Japan Abe is careful, his cabinet support will go and understands that what he does in the approval by two-thirds of both houses of Last week, a Chinese government plane (DPJ), in comparison, managed a mere down to that level very quickly and even first few months will have a big impact parliament and a majority of voters in a entered what Japan considers its airspace 57 seats — less than a fifth of its showing with a two-thirds majority, he would be in and voters are most interested in the national referendum. over the islets in the East China Sea, when it swept into power for the first trouble,” said Sophia University political economy,” said Jeff Kingston, director Straw polls of voters suggest that the prompting Japanese fighters to scramble time in a historic 2009 vote. science professor Koichi Nakano. of Asian studies at Temple University’s economy tops the list of public priorities and escalating tension in the row between Abe himself, however, admitted the Abe, who quit in 2007 after a trou- Japan campus. and LDP ally New Komeito is not keen Asia’s two biggest economies. victory was more a rejection of the nov- bled year in office, will have to persuade Abe has vowed to rescue Japan from its on revising the constitution’s pacifist “This has not been a strong mandate ice Democrats’ messy reign than a vote voters quickly that they made the right fourth recession since 2000, end deflation Article 9. for Abe in foreign policy or security mat- of confidence for the LDP, which ruled choice ahead of an election for parlia- and tame the strong yen with a recipe But a strong showing by the nationalist ters,” said Narushige Michishita, an asso- Japan for most of the past half-century ment’s upper chamber in July. of hyper-easy monetary policy and big Japan Restoration Party in the election ciate professor at the National Institute before its ouster three years ago. Although the LDP-New Komeito spending on public works. also indicates simmering support for a for Policy Studies. “But if China continues “Our victory this time does not mean “super majority” will allow the lower Equally central to his agenda, however, is tough stance towards China as well as to provoke us as they did several days ago, trust in the Liberal Democratic Party house to enact bills rejected by the upper a push to shed the shackles of Japan’s post- hope for a decisive leader to restore that might change.” has been completely restored. Rather, it chamber, doing so is a time-consuming war pacifism by revising the US-drafted Japan’s flagging self-respect. REUTERS Heirs of Havel’s jailers eye power Gun control lessons BY JEFFREY DONOVAN Democrats. Unlike them, the from Lyndon Johnson KSCM wants to exit the North ne year after the Atlantic Treaty Organization, death of former Czech he said. BY JOSEPH A. CALIFANO, President Vaclav Havel, For now, investors are unmoved JR. Oa global icon in fight- by the success of the Communists. ing dictatorship, his persecutors’ The nation enjoys borrowing costs f ever there were a moment political heirs have national power similar to higher-rated France. for President Obama to learn in their sights for the first time At the same time, the from history, it is now, in since 1989. Communists “may be more dan- Ithe wake of Friday’s shoot- The Communist Party of gerous than most think,” said ings at the elementary school Bohemia and Moravia is riding a Martin Lobotka, an economist at Newtown, Connecticut. The protest wave like other anti-aus- at Ceska Sporitelna in Prague. timely lesson for Obama, drawn terity parties across Europe such KSCM measures may boost from the experience of Lyndon B as Greece’s Golden Dawn, and debt and “set off alarm bells at Johnson — the last president to polls show it could form a major- major rating agencies” and lead aggressively fight for comprehen- US President Barack Obama ity with the Social Democrats to “Czech yields rising and the sive gun control is this: Demand were elections held now. koruna weakening,” he said. action on comprehensive gun “In voting for the Communists Havel and other Velvet control immediately from this and a couple of Democratic col- out of protest, Czechs are implic- Revolution leaders rejected ban- Congress or lose the opportunity leagues wanted the committee to itly saying they consider the ning the Communists and argued during your presidency. consider a bill they believed was former regime acceptable,” said they should be defeated in elec- In the aftermath of the assas- stronger. LBJ thought the Tydings Jiri Pehe, a former adviser to tions, Pehe said. Most Czechs sination of Robert F Kennedy (just proposal had no chance of passage Havel, who died at 75 a year ago weren’t bothered by the KSCM’s weeks after the fatal shooting of and feared that any delay to con- today. regional success, a November Martin Luther King Jr and only sider it would give the gun lobby The party, whose leader eulo- 20 survey by polling company a few years after President John time to kill his legislation. gised North Korea’s Kim Jong-il STEM showed. F Kennedy was shot), President That’s exactly what happened. after his death last year, is win- The Social Democrats, who Johnson pressed Congress to enact The Tydings proposal never got ning support as Prime Minister vowed in 1995 never to govern Former Czech President Vaclav Havel. gun control legislation he had sent beyond the discussion phase, and Petr Necas cuts investments and nationally with the KSCM, may to Capitol Hill years earlier. LBJ LBJ’s comprehensive bill failed by raises taxes amid the second welcome communist backing for ordered all of us on his staff and a tie vote in the committee. With recession since 2009. His govern- a government should both parties reduction, invest in projects with inevitable in a party with 66,000 urged allies in Congress to act relentless pressure, he was able to ment is also struggling to fight combine to win a majority in the a “multiplying” effect on growth members. “We’re not about a swiftly. “We have only two weeks, get a bill by October with a pro- graft, with the nation ranked next election, Social Democrat and repeal the overhaul that return to the past, but finding a maybe only 10 days,” he said, “before hibition against mail-order sales worse than Georgia and Rwanda head Bohuslav Sobotka said in partly privatised pensions, Dolejs new way forward,” he said. the gun lobby gets organised.” He (LBJ called it “murder by mail in Transparency International’s an October 15 interview in the said. KSCM also seeks an end to Last year, thousands of Czechs told Larry O’Brien and me, “We’ve order”), sale of guns to minors 2012 Corruption Index. newspaper Pravo. environmental limits on brown braved winter’s onset to pay their got to beat the NRA [National and importation of “$10 specials,” The KSCM, shunned by par- His party and the KSCM would coal to boost jobs. last respects to Havel. The play- Rifle Association] into the offices or cheap guns that were pouring ties after the 1989 transition to together win a majority in the With Czech debt at 45 percent wright, imprisoned for almost of members of Congress.” into the country. But Johnson’s democracy, finished second in 200-seat lower house of parlia- of economic output, less than five years by the Soviet-backed For three years Johnson’s bill pet proposals to license all gun October regional voting and now ment, according to a December half the euro-area level, “mar- regime, once installed a neon had been locked in the Senate owners and register all guns were co-rules in 10 of 13 regions with 13 Internet survey of 11,739 adults kets would generally tolerate a heart over the Prague Castle as Judiciary Committee by a power- defeated. the Social Democrats. by polling company SANEP. The less hawkish” fiscal policy, said a symbol of “love, understanding ful army of gun lobbyists. Johnson Obama’s pained remarks in the “Much of our work was done by Social Democrats would finish Neil Shearing, an economist at and decency.” saw in the tragedy of the assassi- wake of this latest school shoot- the government,” said Jiri Dolejs, first with 115 seats and the KSCM Capital Economics in London. Post-1989 communists never nation of Robert Kennedy in June ing echo Johnson’s anguish a half- 51, the KSCM’s shadow finance second with 99, according to the Still, repealing the pension over- followed the “cult of Havel,” of 1968 a chance to get his gun bill century ago. But Obama has a minister. “People are unhappy and poll, which had a margin of error haul “could well provoke bond Roman Janouch, editor of KSCM enacted. unique opportunity: a lame-duck don’t trust politicians.” of 1.5 percent. markets.” newspaper Halo Noviny, said in an Johnson’s bill would ban all session of Congress. If he learns While former Marxists have The Civic Democratic party Last year, KSCM leader interview. They opposed Havel’s mail-order and out-of-state sales from the lesson of LBJ — two held power in neighbouring Poland led by Necas, whose term ends Vojtech Filip wrote to Pyongyang embrace of Nato and backing of of handguns, shotguns and rifles; weeks to get action — and takes and in Hungary, the Czechs have in 2014, would claim 36 seats, after Kim’s death, praising his US foreign policy in Iraq, and prohibit the sale of guns to minors; advantage of the fact that many the only “unreformed” communist according to the poll. Necas’ “sacrifice for the good of his peo- accused him of facilitating the and require national registration members can vote their con- party in the EU’s east, according Cabinet counts on 99 deputies ple.” Lawmaker Marta Semelova 1993 breakup of Czechoslovakia, of all guns and licensing of all science without fear of retribu- to David Ondracka, who heads for support and early elections has lauded Cold War-era bor- he said. gun owners. There had been lit- tion by the gun lobby because they Transparency International’s remain a possibility as he tries to der guards who shot at fleeing “I too was once a believer and tle hope of enactment. But the day are not seeking re-election, this Prague branch. push through additional austerity Czechs and urged the party’s even had a Havel poster over my after Kennedy died from gunshot nation may “complete the task” The KSCM wants to boost measures by year-end. “Bolshevisation.” She was among bed,” Janouch said. “I soon threw wounds, LBJ renewed his pressure of passing comprehensive gun taxes and welfare spending and KSCM argues that too-fast four KSCM deputies to refuse to it away because I realized this on the Senate Judiciary Committee controls. That’s an opportunity beef up regulations to allow closer fiscal consolidation has choked join a parliamentary ceremony man’s noble words about truth, to report his bill out and send it to that is worth grasping out of the regulation of the financial indus- domestic demand, which makes honouring Havel after his death. love and freedom never matched the Senate floor for a vote. unspeakable tragedy that occurred try, Dolejs said, policies that are up half the economy. The party Dolejs sought to downplay his actions.” Maryland Senator Joseph in Newtown, Connecticut. similar to proposals by the Social would slow the pace of deficit such incidents, saying they are WP-BLOOMBERG Tydings, a close friend of Kennedy, WP-BLOOMBERG TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Neither side can win war: Assad’s deputy Farouq Al Sharaa calls for ‘historic settlement’

BEIRUT/DAMASCUS: regime,” Sharaa was quoted as were leading, but that anyone Syrian Vice President Farouq saying. “The opposition cannot who met him would hear that Al Sharaa said that neither decisively settle the battle and “this is a long struggle...and he the forces of President Bashar what the security forces and army does not hide his desire to settle Al Assad nor rebels seeking to units are doing will not achieve a matters militarily to reach a final overthrow him can win the war decisive settlement,” he told the solution.” which is now being fought on paper, adding that the insurgents “We realise today that change is the outskirts of Assad’s power- fighting to topple Syria’s leader- inevitable,” Sharaa said, but “none base in Damascus. ship could plunge it into “anar- of the peaceful or armed oppo- Sharaa, a Sunni Muslim in a chy and an unending spiral of sition groups with their known power structure dominated by violence”. Sources close to the foreign links can call themselves Assad’s Alawite minority, has Syrian government say Sharaa the sole legitimate representative rarely been seen since the Syrian had pushed for dialogue with the of the Syrian people”. revolt erupted in March 2011 and opposition and objected to the “Likewise the current leader- is not part of the president’s inner military response to an uprising ship...cannot achieve change alone Inhabitants of Sidi Bouzid shout slogans calling for Tunisia’s President Moncef Marzouki to leave, in the central circle directing the fight against that began peacefully. after two years of crisis without town of Sidi Bouzid, cradle of the revolution that erupted exactly two years ago, yesterday. Sunni rebels. In Damascus, clashes raged new partners who contribute to But he is the most prominent between Palestinian factions preserving (Syria’s) national fab- figure to say in public that Assad loyal to and opposed to Assad ric, territorial unity and regional will not win. He was speaking to in the Yarmouk district a day sovereignty”. Tunisian president attacked Lebanon’s Al Akhbar paper in an after Syrian fighter jets bombed Rebels have now brought the interview from Damascus, which a mosque there, killing at least war to the capital, without yet is now hemmed in by rebel fight- 25 people. Activists said troops delivering a fatal blow to the ers to the south. and tanks were gathered outside government. But nor has Assad during revolution anniversary Assad’s forces have used jets the camp yesterday and hundreds found the military muscle to oust and artillery to try to dislodge the of Palestinians refugees living in his opponents from the city. SIDI BOUZID, TUNISIA: headquarters. The protest- about the lack of infrastructure. fighters from around Damascus Syria flooded into Lebanon. In Hama province, rebels and Protesters yesterday hurled ers invaded the square where Poverty and unemployment but the violence has crept into the Syria hosts half a million the army clashed in a new cam- stones at Tunisia’s President the speeches were taking place, were key factors behind the heart of the capital and activists Palestinian refugees, most living paign launched on Sunday by Moncef Marzouki and parlia- shouting “the people want the fall mass protests that erupted after said rebels overran three army in Yarmouk and descendants of rebels to block off the country’s mentary speaker Mustapha Ben of the government.” a 27-year-old street vendor set stations in a new offensive in those admitted after the creation north, activists said. Jaafar in Sidi Bouzid, cradle of The police held back, after vio- himself on fire outside the gover- the central province of Hama of Israel in 1948, and has always Meanwhile, the United Nations the revolution that erupted lent clashes in Tunisia in recent nor’s office on December 17, 2010, yesterday. cast itself as a champion of the is sending chemical weapons exactly two years ago. few months, often following to protest against police harass- Sharaa said the situation in Palestinian struggle, sponsoring kits to UN troops in the Golan The incident began after a attempts by the security forces to ment. Ongoing insecurity and the Syria, where more than 40,000 several guerrilla factions. Heights because of growing fears speech by Marzouki and as Ben disperse protesters angry over the crisis in Europe have hampered people have been killed, was Both Assad’s government and over Syria’s chemical arsenal, offi- Jaafar was about to address the government’s failure to improve Tunisia’s economic recovery, after deteriorating and a “historic set- the mainly Sunni Muslim Syrian cials said yesterday. crowd in the poor Tunisian town, living conditions. last year’s recession, and unem- tlement” was needed to end the rebels have enlisted and armed UN peacekeeping chief Herve where muted celebrations are When the president took to ployment, pegged at around 18 conflict, involving regional powers divided Palestinian factions as the Ladsous briefed the UN Security taking place to mark the anni- the podium yesterday, many in percent, is especially high among and the UN Security Council and uprising has developed into a civil Council yesterday on efforts to versary of the uprising. the crowd of around 5,000 started young Tunisians, fuelling their the formation of a national unity war. In a veiled criticism of the bolster safety for the UN force, Tunisia’s marginalised interior shouting “Get out! Get out!” - one anger and frustration. government “with broad powers”. crackdown, Sharaa said there was which monitors a ceasefire zone has witnessed frequent outbreaks of the rallying cries of the revolu- Last month, around 300 peo- “With every passing day the a difference between the state’s between Syria and Israel, after of social unrest amid bitter frus- tion that toppled the regime of ple were wounded in five straight political and military solutions duty to provide security to its five troops were injured in attacks. tration at the revolution’s failure former dictator Zine El Abidine days of clashes between police and are becoming more distant. We citizens, and “pursuing a security “We have taken measures to to bring material benefits. Ben Ali. Marzouki had promised protesters in the town of Siliana, should be in a position defending solution to the crisis”. enhance security,” Ladsous told The security forces swiftly economic progress within six southwest of Tunis, where a strike the existence of Syria. We are not He said even Assad could not reporters after the meeting. evacuated the two men to the pre- months, after meeting residents swiftly degenerated into violence. in a battle for an individual or a be certain where events in Syria REUTERS/AFP fecture, or regional government of Sidi Bouzid, who complained AFP

Bahrain arrests Egypt opposition calls Wave of Iraq campaigner attacks kills 48 DUBAI: Bahraini police fired for protest today BAGHDAD: A wave of attacks stun grenades to break up doz- targeting both Iraqi security ens of protesters and arrested forces and civilians killed 48 around 25 people including a CAIRO: Egypt’s opposition the second round. On the legal people yesterday, in a second prominent campaigner dur- is calling for mass protests front, the State Council Judges day of deadly violence ahead ing anti-government rallies in today over alleged polling vio- Club, whose members took part of the first anniversary of the capital Manama yesterday, lations after Islamists backing in overseeing the first round as the withdrawal of US forces. activists said. President Mohammed Mursi required by law, said it would boy- Yesterday was the deadliest day Sayed Yousif Al Muhafda, a claimed victory in the first cott next Saturday’s vote because in Iraq since November 29, when leading figure at the Bahrain round of a referendum on a new the authorities had failed to live 50 people were killed. The lat- Centre for Human Rights, was charter. up to their promises. est violence comes after attacks detained for joining the opposi- A group of top judges, mean- The association has demanded killed 19 people and wounded 77 tion marches marking the death while, announced it would boy- that a “siege” of the Supreme on Sunday. of two activists in the 1990s - his cott supervision of the second Constitutional Court by US military forces completed second arrest since November, round, and Germany said it Brotherhood supporters be lifted. their withdrawal from Iraq on another campaigner said. has postponed debt relief for But the action has continued December 18, 2011, ending a The island kingdom, the base Egypt because of concerns over despite the presence of soldiers nearly nine-year war that cost of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has the country’s commitment to and police, it said. the lives of tens of thousands of been in turmoil since pro-democ- democracy. “It is true that the planned par- Iraqis, thousands of Americans racy protests led by its Shi’ite The opposition coalition, the tial debt relief will not come for and hundreds of billions of dollars. Muslim majority erupted last National Salvation Front, urged now,” he told a government news Violence in Iraq is down sig- year inspired by revolts across Egyptians to “take to the streets briefing. nificantly from its peak in 2006 the region. today to defend their freedoms, Germany’s Development and 2007, but while Iraqi forces Earlier this month, Bahrain’s prevent fraud and reject the draft Minister Dirk Niebel said ear- have held their own since the opposition groups welcomed a call constitution” ahead of the next lier he had serious reservations. US departure, insurgent groups by the Crown Prince for dialogue. round of voting on Saturday. “There is the danger that the still pose a significant threat, and But meetings have not started It claimed “irregularities dictatorial system of ousted pres- attacks occur almost daily. and the unrest has continued. and violations” marred the ident (Hosni) Mubarak is return- Dozens of protesters shouted initial stage of the referen- ing,” he told the daily Berliner anti-government slogans in the A riot policeman using pepper spray at female protesters at the old market dum last weekend across half Zeitung. OIC appoints envoy streets of Manama’s old market place in capital Manama, yesterday. of Egypt that Morsi’s Muslim Niebel said Berlin had cancelled area then fled into alleyways pur- Brotherhood said resulted in a talks on development aid sched- to Rohingya Muslims sued by police, witnesses said. grenades to break up crowds, but up efforts to end the unrest in 57 percent “yes” vote, according uled for mid-December and that JEDDAH: The Secretary Up to 100 men and women there were no direct clashes with recent months and several activ- to its unofficial tally. future assistance was depend- General of the Organisation marched in another street but security forces, said people at the ists have been arrested or jailed The official count will be ent on Egypt’s progress towards of Islamic Cooperation were also dispersed, they added. scene. for organising or taking part in announced only after the rest of democracy and the rule of law. Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu has Police used at least two stun The authorities have stepped unlicensed protests. REUTERS the country goes to the polls in AFP appointed the head of the Indonesian Red Cross and former Indonesian President Yusuf Kalla envoy to Myanmar Khamenei ‘likes’ Facebook to follow up the issue of the Rohingya Muslim minority. DUBAI: Facebook- banned in Iran due to its use by Israel okays 1,500 settler homes in East Jerusalem activists to rally government opponents in 2009- has an unlikely new member: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali JERUSALEM: Israel yesterday against Israel’s settlement build- to 1,500 and now the plan has to be Ex-Lebanese minister Khamenei. Launched a few days ago, the Facebook page gave the green light for develop- ing, including recourse to the UN resubmitted and meet the conditions “Khamenei.ir” displays photographs of the 73-year-old ers to go ahead with controversial Security Council, to prevent imple- in order to get final approval,” she on US terror list cleric alongside speeches and pronouncements by the plans to build 1,500 settler homes in mentation of these decisions,” presi- said.“It could take months more, or WASHINGTON: The United man who wields ultimate power in the Islamic Republic. Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem, the dent Mahmud Abbas’s spokesman years.” States yesterday named While there are several other Facebook pages already interior ministry said. Nabil Abu Rudeina said. Ramat Shlomo is a Jewish settle- Lebanese ex-information minis- devoted to Khamenei, the new one - whose number of Spokeswoman Efrat Orbach said The Israeli plan caused a diplo- ment in the mainly Arab eastern sec- ter Michel Samaha to its global “likes” quadrupled yesterday to over 1,000 - appeared the ministry’s planning committee matic rift with Washington when tor of Jerusalem which Israel seized terror list for allegedly aiding to be officially authorised, rather than merely the work had told the applicants to trim their it was first announced in 2010 as in 1967 and later annexed in a move Damascus launch assassina- of admirers. The page has been publicised by a Twitter request to build 1,600 new housing US Vice President Joe Biden met not recognised by the international tions in Lebanon. account of the same name that Iran experts believe is run units at Ramat Shlomo to 1,500 and top Israeli officials in Jerusalem to community. Samaha, 64, was arrested in by Khamenei’s office. Both US-based social media sites resubmit it “for final approval”. boost Israeli-Palestinian peace talks. Yesterday’s announcement will August by Lebanese authori- are blocked in Iran by a wide-reaching government censor The Palestinian leadership It has lain dormant since August only add to international discontent ties and accused of plotting to but they are still commonly used by millions of Iranians responded by saying it would seek a 2011 but two weeks ago the ministry caused by a separate Israeli decision assassinate Lebanese leaders who use special software to get around the ban. UN Security Council meeting on the announced that it had been revived. to plan 3,000 more settler homes in and of transporting explosives In 2009, social media were a vital tool for those Iranians Israeli plans to build the new settler Orbach said that the committee the West Bank and east Jerusalem into Lebanon for such attacks, who believed the re-election of President Mahmoud homes. heard public objections and told to after the Palestinians won upgraded the US Treasury said in a Ahmadinejad was rigged. REUTERS The leadership was about to take make changes. status at the United Nations last statement. “important and necessary measures “It reduced the plan from 1,600 month. AFP AGENCIES

TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL

British Queen to Chavez allies sweep Venezuela vote attend Cabinet Allies win 20 of 23 states, boost socialist control; opposition leader Capriles holds seat in historic first LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II CARACAS: Allies of cancer- populous state of Zulia. The opposition leader, Henri Falcon, hurt the opposition, with plenty of Tuesday’s six-hour operation - is to attend a British Cabinet stricken President Hugo Chavez youthful Capriles’ re-election a former government ally who middle-class opposition support- his fourth since he was diagnosed meeting today, Downing Street swept to victory by taking nearly will help maintain unity among broke with Chavez in 2010, also ers already starting holidays. with cancer in the pelvic region in announced, the first such visit all of Venezuela’s 23 states in elec- the historically fractured opposi- won re-election. His broad popu- Chavez’s brother Adan com- mid-2011. Chavez’s struggle with in more than a century. tions on Sunday, but Henrique tion in a potential election against larity and appeal to working class fortably held their agricultural a third bout of cancer has raised Historically, monarchs used to Capriles consolidated his position Vice President Nicolas Maduro, voters have left many considering home state of Barinas, while the the possibility of a return to the chair Cabinet meetings but the as top opposition leader by win- Chavez’s anointed successor. him a potential challenger to the president’s former military com- polls just months after the October last one to exercise their right to ning re-election as governor. Though his supporters whooped socialist government. rade Francisco Arias unseated presidential election in which he attend was queen Victoria, Queen Capriles, the 40-year-old gov- for joy, the subdued tone of “Nobody here is surrendering,” a prominent opposition leader, beat Capriles to win a third term. Elizabeth’s great-great grand- ernor of Miranda, beat Chavez’s Capriles’ victory speech and long said Ramon Guillermo Aveledo, Pablo Perez, in oil-rich Zulia state. Officials say Chavez has regained mother, who died in 1901. former vice president Elias Jaua faces of some in his campaign head of the opposition Democratic “It’s been an immense victory. full consciousness, is giving instruc- The 86-year-old sovereign is to retain control of the country’s team reflected the reality of the Unity coalition. In southern The map is red in all corners,” tions from his bed. going to the prime minister’s second-most populous state, leav- drubbing the opposition took. Bolivar state, the opposition said Socialist Party campaign “The commander-president Downing Street residence to ing him as candidate-in-waiting if “I’m happy for Miranda, but not candidate refused to accept the coordinator Jorge Rodriguez. continues to stabilise. The trend receive a diamond jubilee gift from Chavez’s ill health forces him aside. for our Venezuela,” Capriles said, official results that showed him Turnout was a poor 54 percent, remains positive,” his son-in-law the Cabinet, marking her 60 years The ruling Socialist Party, however, accusing Socialist Party candi- losing. He alleged irregularities in reflecting weariness with poli- Jorge Arreaza, who serves as sci- on the throne, and will also sit in extended its control over the South dates of bolstering their showing the vote count and called on sup- tics after the recent presidential ence and technology minister, said on their meeting as an observer. American Opec nation, snatching by offering handouts to voters and porters to protest in the street. campaign and the closeness of from Havana. The official updates Cabinet meetings usually last four states from the opposition to exploiting Chavez’s illness. “The The results signalled the con- Christmas. Opposition sympa- of his health are shy on details. around an hour and a half, and win 20 of the 23 states. day must come when we defeat tinued dominance of Chavez’s thizers have grumbled that the Speculation is rife that Chavez the queen will attend for at least Possibly benefiting from a wave this abuse of power.” socialist leadership despite his ill date was intentionally chosen to may be in a life-threatening situ- 30 minutes, Buckingham Palace of sympathy over Chavez’s bat- Capriles won by just four per- health and in spite of widespread heighten voter abstention to the ation in Havana’s Cimeq hospital said. Queen Elizabeth was to sit tle to recover from cancer sur- centage points, lower than his complaints about shoddy roads, benefit of Chavez allies. with both a difficult post-operative at the middle of the table, with gery, it staged several upsets, camp and most analysts had unsafe streets and poor electrical The nation remains focused on recovery and a possible spreading Prime Minister David Cameron to including a victory in the most predicted. Another prominent services. The vote date may have Chavez’s recovery in Cuba from of the cancer. REUTERS her right and Foreign Secretary William Hague to her left. The prime minister always sits at the middle of the Cabinet table, with his back to the fireplace. His leather-bound wooden chair is the Newtown buries its only one with arms. The green, boat-shaped table was introduced by Harold Macmillan, who served as prime minister from 1957 to dead after massacre 1963, to allow him to see all his ministers. NEWTOWN, CONNECTICUT: murderer carried a high-powered, “The Queen will visit Downing Funerals began yesterday in military style rifle and two hand- Street tomorrow. She will be the little Connecticut town of guns, may have spurred change in presented with a gift to mark Newtown after the school massa- the political landscape regarding her Diamond Jubilee and attend cre that took the lives of 20 small rules on weapons ownership. Cabinet as an observer,” the prime children and six staff, triggering Late on Sunday, President minister’s office said in a tweet. new momentum for a change to Barack Obama joined a prayer Queen Elizabeth has been to America’s gun culture. vigil in Newtown and used his Downing Street on numerous The first burials, held under remarks to pledge to work for an occasions during her reign, most raw, wet skies, were for two end to mass shootings, which have recently in July for a diamond six-year-old boys who were now become an almost regular jubilee lunch hosted by Cameron among those shot in Sandy Hook event in the United States — with and attended by former prime Elementary School. Today, the four massacres since Obama took ministers Gordon Brown, Tony first of the girls, also aged six, was office alone. Blair and John Major. due to be laid to rest. “These tragedies must end,” She has had 12 British pre- There were no classes at all Obama said, not giving specifics, miers, the first being Winston across Newtown yesterday, and the but appearing to commit himself Churchill, during her 60-year blood-soaked elementary school to a push for reform in his sec- reign. However, she has never was to remain a closed crime ond White House term, possibly attended a Cabinet meeting, scene indefinitely, authorities said. by urging restoration of a federal where secretaries of state discuss “Healing is still going on,” town ban on assault weapons like the the big issues of the day. police Lieutenant George Sinko one used in Newtown. That ban “The monarch used to chair said. “The plan is to try to resume expired in 2004. People visit a memorial for the victims at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown yesterday. Cabinet, historically. They no normalcy for school classes tomor- “Can we say that we’re truly longer do but there is no consti- row, except for those members of doing enough to give all the chil- 3. But with gun ownership pro- Then she “and at least one other house before going to the school. tutional bar to attending Cabinet, the Sandy Hook school.” dren of this country the chance tected by the US constitution teacher went out and actually No information about a pos- although that right has not been In the nearby town of Ridgefield, they deserve to live out their lives and firearms deeply ingrained tried to subdue the killer,” her sible motive, or whether Lanza exercised recently,” a Buckingham reports of a suspicious person in happiness and with purpose?” in American culture, attempts husband George said. had any diagnosed mental condi- Palace spokesman said. prompted the lockdown and Obama asked on a podium lined to restrict access have long been “I don’t know where that comes tion, has emerged, although police Though Queen Elizabeth is deployment of police at all schools, with candles lit in memory of the seen as a vote-losing proposition. from. Dawn was 5’2,” he said. said they are probing every bullet Britain’s head of state, her role in the Ridgefield public schools sys- dead. “I’ve been reflecting on this Bit by bit, the full picture “Dawn put herself in jeopardy fired, every gun used, and search- exercising power is largely formal tem said in an alert on its website. the last few days, and if we’re of the horror and heroism in and I have been angry about that, ing the mother’s house for any and the monarchy has to remain For Newtown, a picturesque honest with ourselves, the answer the school, where the deranged angry — until just now, when I clues to Lanza’s background. strictly neutral in political affairs. and quiet suburban community is no,” he said. “We will have to shooter, Adam Lanza, sprayed met two women that she told to Newtown was the second dead- She gives a weekly audience to where the 20-year-old killer lived change.” bullets into two rooms, was start- go under shelter while she actu- liest school shooting in US history the prime minister at which she with his well-off mother, the start Earlier, Democratic Senator ing to emerge. The husband of ally confronted the gunman.” after the Virginia Tech massacre in has a right and a duty to express of funerals was unlikely to settle Dianne Feinstein of California Dawn Hochsprung, the diminu- But police remained tight- 2007, in which South Korean stu- her views on government matters. the nightmare of what happened promised to introduce a bill to ban tive school principal killed as she lipped about their investigation dent Seung-Hui Cho shot and killed No-one else is present, no notes last Friday. assault weapons on the very first tried to stop the killer, said she into the killer. Lanza is believed to 32 people and wounded 17 others are taken and the content is never But the crime, in which the day of the next Congress, January told others around her to hide. have first shot his mother in their before taking his own life. AFP discussed. AFP

Zuma challenged for ANC leadership Most Italians Feuding French conservatives oppose second BLOEMFONTEIN, SOUTH set new leadership vote AFRICA: President Jacob Zuma and Deputy President term for Monti PARIS: French conservatives Fillon, a moderate who became Kgalema Motlanthe will go ROME: Most Italians are against whose main party has been one of France’s best-liked poli- head to head in the battle to technocrat Prime Minister locked in a leadership strug- ticians after five years under lead South Africa’s ruling ANC, Mario Monti running for a sec- gle for weeks after losing the Sarkozy, plummeted to an approval after both were nominated by ond term in parliamentary elec- last national election to the rating of 33 percent, according to party members yesterday. tions expected in February, a poll Socialists agreed yesterday to a December 9 survey by pollster At a quinquennial party confer- showed yesterday. hold a new vote in September. Opinionway. Cope, with support of ence, Motlanthe refused to bow to Approval ratings for the premier The deal raised the prospect of just 17 percent in the poll, acknowl- pressure to not stand, accepting a hit almost their lowest level since a return to business as usual for edged the fallout from what he nomination to the party’s top spot Monti was appointed 13 months the UMP, distracted from its role called a “tragi-comedy”. to cheers from supporters along ago to lead a government charged as the leading opposition party “Obviously we’ve suffered in with some boos. with pulling Italy from the brink since Jean-Francois Cope and the polls, but what causes me the Since taking control of the sto- of a financial crisis. Monti is under former prime minister Francois most regret is the image of the ried party in 2007, Zuma has been international pressure to stand so Fillon both claimed to have won party that we have transmitted embroiled in a series of financial he can continue a programme of a leadership vote six weeks ago to to our supporters,” he said. scandals, prompting some mem- reforms and austerity meant to replace ousted former president The party nevertheless has made bers of the ANC to agitate for a defuse a debt crisis dangerous to Nicolas Sarkozy. advances at the ballot box, winning leadership change. the eurozone. Cope, a lawyer, former budget three by-elections on Sunday - a Motlanthe, a former trade But the tax hikes and cuts to minister and apparent winner of result which suggested internal unionist and caretaker president spending imposed by the govern- the contested November 18 vote, problems weighed less for voters who once considered entering Party delegates singing and dancing during the 53rd ANC National ment have provoked widespread said a compromise was being fine than Socialist President Francois the clergy, makes for an unlikely Conference held in Mangaung yesterday. protests in Italy. Just 24 per- tuned to schedule a new election Hollande’s job performance. stalking horse. Delegates say his cent of respondents said Monti in September, bringing forward a It also showed that voters still softly-softly approach to running to the back benches of the party. An ANC spokesman said the should put himself forward as a vote by six months from the date identifed the UMP as a single party in public has been mirrored in the He is likely to be replaced by Cyril party had been given a preliminary candidate while 61 percent were he originally had proposed. and not two camps split along ide- backrooms of the conference, with Ramaphosa, who formally threw report that the men may have been against the idea, the survey by the Supporters of Fillon, his main ological lines. Many analysts had the 63-year old running a largely his hat into the ring on Monday. on route to blow up the venue, but SWG polling institute showed. opponent, hailed the agreement predicted a break, with Cope run- silent campaign. Some 4,000 ANC voting del- police denied suggestions the meet- The result shows an apparent but called for guarantees to avoid ning a tough right flank and Fillon Party insiders and political egates — a number revised down ing was under threat. disconnect between voters and any repeat of voting irregularities in charge of moderate Gaullists. analysts give him slim chances of from earlier estimates — are Voting will begin soon and the leaders as centre-right politicians which tarnished the first election. “It was never about ideol- winning. “The writing is on the gathered in the central city of results are expected by early stepped up calls over the week- “I hope we’ll reach a deal ogy,” said a member of European wall,” said Samson Ramolomo, Bloemfontein to elect candidates today. No matter who wins, few end for Monti to run for a second today with Francois Fillon on Parliament in Cope’s camp who a voting delegate from Limpopo to fill the party’s top six positions. are predicting any major changes term at the head of a conserva- the main points,” Cope said. The asked not to be identified to speak province, which backed Motlanthe The vote comes as South in policy. Both Motlanthe and tive coalition. Centre-right voters deal fended off the prospect of a freely on a sensitive topic. As poll in preliminary voting. African police announced that Zuma come from the centre- were the most strongly opposed breakup following weeks of vicious scores dwindled, Cope and Fillon Despite the long odds, they had arrested four armed left of the party, and both have to a Monti run with 82 percent public exchanges, an internal split inched toward a deal by holding Motlanthe doubled his bet, refus- right-wing extremists suspected tempered their revolutionary against the idea, compared with formalised by the formation of a a series of closed-door meetings. ing to have his name considered of planning attacks, and there language with overtures to inter- 58 percent of centre-left voters new centre-right in parliament They were to meet again to fine for the deputy president post. were claims that the ANC con- national investors who are vital to and 34 percent of centrists. run by Fillon, and a failed media- tune their agreement, Cope said. So a loss will see him relegated ference had been targeted. South Africa’s economy. AFP REUTERS tion effort by Sarkozy. REUTERS TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Japan’s Abe vows no compromise on islands Beijing declares itself ready to work with Tokyo but expresses disquiet over direction Abe would take

TOKYO: Japan’s premier-in- Abe is expected to be elected century of almost unbroken LDP waiting Shinzo Abe came out as premier by fellow lawmakers rule. The result cost Noda his fighting yesterday after his when parliament meets for a spe- party leadership. sweeping election victory, saying cial session on December 26. The rout was completed by there can be no compromise on At home, his large electoral news that the conservative party the sovereignty of islands at the margin boosted hopes for the and its junior coalition party New centre of a dispute with China. country’s problem-plagued econ- Komeito secured a large enough China reacted with alarm to omy, with investors pushing stocks majority in the lower house to Abe’s victory, after his conserva- up as the painfully high yen eased. overrule the upper chamber. tive Liberal Democratic Party The one-time premier has “Control of two-thirds of lower crushed opponents in national vowed to put the moribund econ- house seats would alleviate con- polls and he immediately restated omy back on track after years of cerns about divided control of the Tokyo’s claims. deflation, made worse by a soar- Diet’s two chambers,” brokerage “The Senkaku islands are ing currency that has squeezed giant Nomura said in a note. Japan’s inherent territory,” Abe exporters. “It is also likely to fuel expecta- told a press conference, referring Topping his agenda was a tions, particularly among foreign to an archipelago Beijing calls the promise to pressure the Bank of investors, of more expeditious Diaoyus. Japan into more aggressive eas- policymaking.” “Japan owns and controls the ing policies aimed at kick-starting Fukushima plant operator islands... under international law. growth as the world’s third-larg- Tepco was a big winner yester- There is no room for negotiation est economy slips into recession. day, with its shares rocketing 33 on this point.” All eyes will be on the bank’s percent, leading the charge by Beijing declared itself ready policy meeting this week to see energy firms as investors cheered to work with Japan on “further whether central bankers move in the likely end to a nascent move development of stable relations” line with Abe’s wishes. to snuff out atomic power. but expressed disquiet at where Investors are increasingly bet- Anti-nuclear sentiment has Abe would lead Japan. ting on some action, with the yen run high in Japan since last year’s “We are highly concerned about tumbling against the dollar and disaster at the plant, with opinion Japan’s main opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) leader Shinzo Abe points to a journalist during a press which direction Japan will take,” euro yesterday, while Tokyo’s polls showing a majority of voters conference at the LDP headquarters in Tokyo yesterday. foreign ministry spokeswoman Nikkei 225 stock index surged want to phase out atomic power. Hua Chunying said at a regular 0.94 percent by the close. But the mood did not translate briefing. Voters on Sunday dumped into success for parties pushing three years of flip-flops, policy even Abe acknowledged the out- watching if the LDP will be able “The current task is now to Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda for an atomic exit. missteps and diplomatic drift, but come was not a ringing endorse- to live up to expectations.” properly handle the current three years after his Democratic Analysts say the LDP’s victory having little faith in any of the ment. “I think this result means Abe is set to meet with business issue” of the territorial dispute, Party of Japan (DPJ) promised came by default — with voters alternatives. a ‘no’ to the political confusion of leaders today. she added. a change from more than half a disenchanted by the DPJ after With turnout at a record low the DPJ. People will be strictly AFP

Philippine congress approves birth control bill Warning over Malaysia polls MANILA: The Philippines’ lawmakers adjourn for Christmas ended about 13 years of debate on on the faithful for prayers. KUALA LUMPUR: A pres- government ahead of elections, to Congress passed yesterday a holidays. Aquino had certified it the contraceptive measure, seen “What the church will do is to sure group calling for free and be held before the end of June. bill on promoting state-funded as an urgent measure. by proponents as a human rights continue instructing our people, fair polling in Malaysia warned The group said the task to contraceptive, underscoring The legislation requires gov- issue but opposed by Catholic telling them the evils of contra- yesterday that the country could ensure fair elections now fell President Benigno Aquino’s ernments down to village level to bishops on moral grounds. ceptives,” said Bishop Gabriel see its “dirtiest elections ever” to the people, and that it would influence on the legislature and provide free or low-cost repro- Aquino is expected to sign the Reyes, who watched the debate as it pledged to continue its embark on campaigns to boost his defiance of Roman Catholic ductive health services. The law bill into law by the end of the year from the Congress gallery. campaign to prevent cheating. voter turnout to mitigate fraud, bishops opposed to the measure. will not promote abortion, which after the two chambers iron out “They should not accept it Poll reform group Bersih, a civil and enlist citizen observers to The legislature’s two cham- is illegal. differences in their two versions. because contraceptives are not society movement which has twice prevent cheating. bers, dominated by Aquino’s allies, “It’s a gift to my constituents,” Social networking sites Twitter pro-poor. It’s not pro-children or led tens of thousands to rally for The group was yet to decide approved by solid margins on said Janette Garin, one of the bill’s and Facebook were full of praise pro-family. It is harmful against electoral reform, said shortcom- whether to take to the streets for third and final reading the repro- principal authors. for senators and congressmen. women, children and family.” ings such as errors on the elec- a third protest in two years. ductive health bill two days before The passage of the measure A church-operated radio called REUTERS toral roll had been ignored by the AFP TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Landmine kills 10 young Afghan girls Taliban claim responsibilty for attack on logistics company; girls killed while collecting firewood

KABUL: A Taliban car bomb Contrack and Najeeb Zarab fac- heavily fortified guesthouse used targeted a US company in Kabul tories — one person is dead and 15 by Westerners in the same area. yesterday, killing one person others are wounded,” Kabul police Seven people were killed at the and wounding at least 15 shortly chief Mohammad Ayoub Salangi “Green Village” complex used by after a landmine killed 10 young said. the European Union, the United girls in eastern Afghanistan, “We don’t yet know whether Nations and aid groups. officials said. there was someone in the truck or A US-led Nato force of some It was the most brazen assault it was detonated remotely. They 100,000 troops is backing the targeting Westerners in the for- were very powerful explosives.” Kabul government against the tified Afghan capital since a sui- The Taliban claimed respon- Taliban insurgents, but they are cide car bomber killed 12 people, sibility for the attack, saying it due to pull out in 2014 and are including eight South Africans, was a suicide car bombing carried training the Afghan army and on September 18. out by a “hero mujahid” on “an police to take over responsibility A security source at the mili- important American company for security. tary contracting firm, Contrack, which provided security services In eastern Afghanistan, 10 girls said that five foreigners, including to the invading forces”. aged nine to 11 died when one of Americans and South Africans, “This company was under the them accidentally struck a mine were among the wounded, but surveillance of the mujahedin for with an axe as they were collect- police said only three foreigners a while and thanks God today ing firewood before going to school were slightly injured, mainly by the opportunity was provided in a Taliban-troubled area. flying glass. to attack it,” Taliban spokesman “An old mine left over from the Contrack is a US-owned com- Zabihullah Mujahid said in a time of the jihad (against Soviet pany which builds military facili- statement. troops in the 1980s) exploded, kill- ties for the Afghan army and The militia, which was ousted ing 10 girls and wounding two oth- police, an employee said. from power in Kabul by a 2001 ers,” Chaparhar district governor “We were sitting in the office. US-led invasion, is fighting to Mohammad Sediq Dawlatzai said. There was a massive explosion. bring down the Western-backed Nangarhar provincial govern- Afghan security officials inspect the scene of a suicide bomb blast targeting the offices of a private logistics The ceiling collapsed over us and government and to expel US-led ment spokesman Ahmad Zia company in Kabul, Afghanistan, yesterday. 10 to 12 Afghans in the office were foreign troops. Abdulzai said, however, that the wounded,” he said. A reporter at the scene said mine was planted by “the enemies Police said it was not immedi- there were signs of a huge explo- of Afghanistan” — a reference to Despite international clearance during three recent conflicts: the The Taliban now plant bombs, ately clear whether anyone had sion beyond an area blocked off by the Taliban — even if it had been efforts, more than three decades 1980s war against the Soviets, the or improvised explosive devices, been in the truck when the huge police, and some bystanders had in that spot for some time. of war have left Afghanistan one 1990s civil war, and during fight- to target Afghan troops and their explosion occurred. also suffered minor injuries. Most of the bodies were so badly of the most heavily-mined coun- ing between the Northern Alliance Nato backers but these regularly “A small truck packed with In May, Taliban bombers dis- shattered that they could hardly tries in the world. and the Taliban before they were kill civilians. explosives detonated between guised in burqas attacked a be recognised, Dawlatzai said. The explosives were placed ousted from power in 2001. AFP

Over 3 million in Pakistan to benefit Pakistani Islamists denounce peace moves with India from British aid WAGAH: About 10,000 countries since independence blamed for the 2008 Mumbai Pakistan coalition, which has for information leading to his Pakistani Islamists held a from British rule in 1947. attacks, told the rally. vowed to block peace and free arrest and conviction. India also ISLAMABAD: Over three rally at the Wagah border with The protestors oppose recent “Anyone who will extend a hand trade with India. blames militants from Saeed’s million internally displaced peo- India on Sunday, denounc- moves to improve trade relations, of friendship with India without India suspended its peace groups for terrorist attacks in its ple in Pakistan will benefit from ing peace moves between the in particular Pakistan’s decision resolving (the) Kashmir dispute process with Pakistan after the zone of Kashmir. winter assistance from Britain’s nuclear-armed rivals without to grant India the status of most will be seen as a traitor,” Saeed Mumbai attacks and talks only The disputed region has been Department for International resolution of the dispute over favoured nation by the end of the said. resumed in February last year. racked by militancy since 1989 Development (DFID). Kashmir. year in a bid to expand economic Many of the Islamists at the Both sides remain deadlocked when an insurgency against The aid will assist 1.4 million Muslim-majority Kashmir, a cooperation. border, some 25 kilometres over Kashmir but have made Indian rule erupted. Around with critical water, sanitation, Himalayan region which India “There should be no peace (15 miles) from the eastern some progress on less contentious 47,000 people have died, though health and nutrition services. and Pakistan both claim but rule and trade with India,” Hafiz Pakistani city of Lahore, were subjects such as trade. militant violence has fallen in Britain will also support improved in part, has been the cause of Mohammad Saeed, who estab- carrying the black and white The United States in April recent years. livelihoods opportunities for over two of three wars between the lished the Lashkar-e-Taiba group striped flags of the Defence of slapped a $10m bounty on Saeed AFP 100,000 people living outside tem- porary camps and the communi- ties hosting them. Britain will support communi- ties in Sindh, northern Punjab and Balochistan by providing food France says ration packs for over a million people (156,000 families) until the Afghan officials end of 2012; emergency shelter for over 250,000 people (41,000 fami- lies); winter kits, blankets, solar to meet Taliban lights, shawls etc for 162,500 peo- ple (25,000 families); and water, near Paris basic sanitation and hygiene for 686,000 people (104,000 families). PARIS: France said on Sunday Giving further details about officials from the Afghan gov- the winter assistance, George ernment, the Taliban rebel Turkington, Head of Office for movement and other factions DFID Pakistan, said the British would meet this week near government was deeply concerned Paris to discuss the country’s about families, women and chil- future as Nato troops prepare dren living in temporary accom- to pull out in 2014. modation as the winter sets in. Speaking on RFI radio, Foreign He said Britain was providing Minister Laurent Fabius, whose additional shelter, special winter country withdrew the last of its kits, and access to water, health combat troops from Afghanistan and nutrition, to help get those on Saturday, said Afghan who are most vulnerable through President Hamid Karzai had given these cold months. his green light to the meeting. ‘The UK and Pakistan share a “Discreet talks have been tak- deep bond and friendship and we ing place between different fac- will always stand by and support tions for three years,” Fabius said. each other’ Turkington said. “If you want peace, it’s usu- ally between people who don’t A police officer and a citizen walk towards a burning car after a bomb attack, at Fauji Market in Peshawar, yesterday. agree, and over there they don’t Schedule of Pakistan’s talk to each other. So there will be discussions, but it won’t be polls to be unveiled negotiations.” ISLAMABAD: If a close aide Karzai’s government has failed to Pakistani President Asif Ali Bomb attack kills 17 at Pakistan market to draw the Taliban into face-to- Zardari is to be believed, the face-talks. The forthcoming event government’s plan for a general JAMRUD: A car bomb killed from where the bomb was deto- office was the intended target, homegrown armed groups in the is the first time representatives election will be clear towards 17 people including women and nated but was not damaged in the but said authorities were still tribal belt. from the Taliban, members of the end of this month or the children and wounded dozens attack. investigating. On Saturday, a suicide squad the Afghan High Peace Council beginning of the next month. more when it exploded near a “Seventeen people were killed “We are still are ascertaining of five targeted the airport in and influential figures from the Asked for a tentative schedule bus queue at a market in north- in the blast. Fourteen bodies what procedure exactly was used Peshawar, the main northwest- Northern Alliance who fought the for the election, the aide said: “I west Pakistan yesterday. were brought to our hospital to blow up the vehicle,” he said. ern city close to Jamrud, killing Taliban for years are taking part. can only tell you that ambiguity The bomb went off in the town while three people succumbed Two intelligence officials, five civilians and blowing a hole A Taliban spokesman said surrounding the PPP’s plan for of Jamrud, killing or wounding to their wounds on their way to speaking on condition of anonym- in the perimeter wall. there would only be speeches at general election will be over in people waiting for buses to take Hayatabad Medical Complex in ity, said the explosives had been The assault, claimed by the the conference and there would two or three weeks. By then it will them across the northwest and Peshawar,” said Doctor Sameen packed into a Suzuki Alto vehicle. Pakistani Taliban, sparked be no political commitments and be clear whether we want to have to other parts of the country, Jan Shinwari at the Agency Driver Taj Muhammad, 40, said prolonged gunfire and forced no negotiations would take place. elections in March or go to May.” according to officials. Headquarters hospital in Jamrud. he was entering Jamrud when he authorities to close the airport, The officials are due to meet If one goes by the assessment of Pools of blood and charred flesh “Four women were among heard the explosion and saw a ball a commercial hub and air force between Wednesday and Friday the President’s confidant, the gov- littered the roadside, along with those killed in the blast and they of fire. base on the edge of the tribal at a secret location to the north of ernment intends to hold the gen- at least 20 burnt vehicles, said were all Afghans. These women “I rushed to the site and saw belt. Paris, which will be entirely closed eral election by the end of March. an AFP reporter. Clothes, school were coming from the border in people engulfed by flames. There It was the second Islamist off, said Camille Grand, director According to a federal minister, books, children’s shoes and burqas a hired car, which was completely were pieces of human flesh and militant attack in four months of the Foundation for Strategic there is a strong voice within the lay everywhere. destroyed. These women’s Afghan blood everywhere. I saw a little on a military air base in nuclear- Research, a think tank which is party to go to the polls in March Jamrud is in Khyber district, passports were found in a bag,” child who was injured and crying. armed Pakistan. organising the event. in order to avoid the scourge of which is part of Pakistan’s semi- said Shinwari. I took this boy to hospital,” said. On Sunday a policeman and “They have been invited on an load shedding in summer. autonomous tribal belt on the He said a five-year-old Afghan “When I picked up the injured five militants were killed follow- individual basis,” he said. “The He said: “The prime minister Afghan border. The Taliban and girl accompanying the women and boy he looked like my son and I ing gunbattles between security idea is to get them to talk freely along with some federal ministers other Al Qaeda linked groups, who two six-year-old Pakistani boys was really so sad.” forces and militants suspected and behind closed doors,” he told is forcefully arguing in favour of stage attacks in both countries, were also among those killed. Pakistan suffers frequent of having been involved in the Reuters, adding that there would completing the term, which ends have strongholds in the zone. Khyber’s top administrative bomb and suicide attacks blamed airport attack, security officials be 20 participants. He declined to on March 16.” A district administration official, Mutahir Zeb, played down on Islamist militant groups. Its said. name the individuals attending. AGENCIES office was around 100 metres the idea that the government troops have for years been fighting AFP REUTERS TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 Upper House passes Vehicle collision promotion quota bill Bill can be challenged in court, warns Samajwadi Party

NEW DELHI: The Rajya weaker sections. The government out of the 113 posts of additional Sabha (Upper House) yesterday also agreed to the suggestion that secretaries, five were from the passed a constitution amend- there will be no demotion due to Scheduled Castes while one was ment bill to provide reserva- retrospective provisions in the from the Scheduled Tribes and tions in promotions for the bill. The bill seeks to provide none of them was from the other Scheduled Castes (SCs) and impediment-free reservation in backward classes (OBCs). the Scheduled Tribes (STs), promotion to SCs and STs. He said the percentage of SCs with the Samajwadi Party Parliamentary Affairs in A, B, C categories of govern- expressing its opposition to the Minister Kamal Nath said after ment jobs was 11.5 percent, 14.9 legislation. the passage of the bill in the percent and 17.5 percent, respec- The Constitution (One Hundred Rajya Sabha that it was likely tively. “The same situation is in Seventeenth Amendment) Bill, to be listed for discussion in the states,” he said. “The SCs and 2012 was passed with 206 mem- Lok Sabha (Lower House) on STs are backward per se from bers voting for it and 10 voting Wednesday. our side,” he added. against it at the end of a debate In his reply to the debate in the The bill, a major demand of the spread over two days in which 34 Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Bahujan Samaj Party, had seen members took part. Personnel, Public Grievances and vociferous opposition from the SP The bill was put to vote by Pension V Narayanasamy said all members who stalled proceedings Chairman M Hamid Ansari parties had expressed support of the house on several occasions. after the government agreed for the bill except the Samajwadi Strongly opposed to quota for to suggestions of the Bharatiya Party and the Shiv Sena. government job promotions, the Janata Party that the pre-con- Reeling out statistics, Samajwadi Party warned the gov- dition of judging efficiency of a Narayanasamy said that of the ernment that it could have a very person, irrespective of his caste, 102 secretary-level officers in the serious fallout and may be chal- should be maintained though the union government, none belonged lenged in court. standards could be lowered for to the Scheduled Castes. He said IANS Wreckage of vehicles seen at the site of the collision of a truck, jeep and a car in Maihar Tehsil of Satna district, some 400km from Bhopal, yesterday. At least 14 people were killed and 10 others injured in the accident. Woman gang-raped in Delhi bus, battles for life

NEW DELHI: A 23-year-old names of the six other men in the young woman, whose name is a movie at a mall in Saket and south Delhi at around 10.30pm Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh and woman was battling for life bus. Mukesh and another accused, being withheld, was on ventilator boarded a bus to go to Dwarka. after their mobile phones were lives in Ber Sarai in south Delhi. here yesterday after a gang of identified as Kalu, too were at the Safdarjung Hospital with “Around seven men, including snatched. A police vehicle rushed He had completed his B.Tech from men tortured and raped her in nabbed late at night. All three life-threatening injuries. the driver and conductor, told them to hospital after being Meerut and was preparing for a moving bus and threw her out lived in Ravidas Camp slums at “The patient is critical,” hos- the couple they were headed to tipped off by a toll plaza patrol civil services examination. on the road along with her boy- sector 3, R K Puram. pital spokesman S N Makwana Dwarka,” Deputy Commissioner that a young man and a young Sharma said CCTV footage friend, police said. Delhi Chief Minister Sheila said. Doctors said she had grave of Police Chhaya Sharma said. woman were lying sprawled by of the bus was seized from a Police arrested one of alleged Dikshit expressed disgust over injuries on the stomach and intes- The men misbehaved with the roadside, Sharma said. toll plaza in Gurgaon. “A case rapists, Ram Singh, a resident the horrific incident even as tine, and she bore signs of having the woman. When the boyfriend The young woman, who belongs of kidnapping, robbery and rape of R K Puram Sector 3. Singh police detained suspects for the been beaten with a blunt object. intervened, he was beaten up, said to Ballia in Uttar Pradesh, was has been registered,” she added. was the driver of the bus but overnight crime and hunted for Police said the attack took place Sharma. The woman was then interning at a hospital here “Over 50 buses have been checked on Sunday had let his brother, other accomplices. While the when the young couple reached raped in the moving bus by four for some months. She lives in till now.” Chief Minister Dikshit Mukesh, drive, police said. Singh 28-year-old boyfriend was dis- Munirka in south Delhi around men. Both victims were pushed Mahavir Enclave in west Delhi. pledged “strict action” against the has reportedly given cops the charged after treatment, the 9.15pm on Sunday after watching out of the bus at Mahipalpur in Her friend hails from attackers. AGENCIES TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Pakistan misled us on Mourners pack funeral Saeed’s arrest: Shinde for nurse SHIRVA, MANGALORE: LeT chief’s arrests not related to 26/11 attacks: Minister About 2,000 mourners packed a church yesterday for the NEW DELHI: Home Minister said. “I specially mentioned (to adding that home secretaries of funeral of a nurse found Sushilkumar Shinde yesterday- Malik) our investigation showed the two countries will try to meet hanged after taking a royal said Pakistan had misled India that Hafiz Saeed was one of the in 2013’s first quarter. hoax call, as her family said on the arrest of Mumbai terror masterminds and Pakistan is still Shinde also criticised Pakistan’s they had nearly lost the attacks mastermind Hafiz Saeed to take effective action to charge non-compliance of long-pending strength to grieve. and the impression created about him,” Shinde said, adding many red corner notices against the Indian-born Jacintha his detentions for his role as a other key conspirators and par- 1993 Mumbai blasts accused, in Saldanha, 46, apparently com- conspirator in the attack did not ticipants in the Mumbai attack which more than 400 people were mitted suicide after answering match the documents furnished. have not yet been chargesheeted. killed. “D-company operatives led the call from Australian radio Making a statement in the The minister said he also by Dawood Ibrahim still evade hosts to the London hospital Rajya Sabha (Upper House) a day emphasised the “value of voice arrest,” he said. Shinde’s state- where the pregnant wife of after Pakistan Interior Minister samples for establishing the iden- ment came after the BJP raised Prince William was admitted Rehman Malik concluded his tities of those who were auda- the issue of Rehman Malik’s irre- with acute morning sickness. three-day visit to India, Shinde cious enough to be caught on tape sponsible statements during Zero “The events of the last week said copies of FIRs and judgments while directing the attackers” in Hour in parliament and sought a have shattered our lives and pertaining to previous arrests of Mumbai. “I also emphasised the reply from the government. we barely have any strength the Lashkar-e-Taiba chief made need to respond to the letter roga- Deputy leader of Opposition in to grieve,” widower Benedict available to India showed the tories sent to Pakistan in pursuant the Rajya Sabha, Ravi Shankar Barboza and the couple’s two arrests were not for the Mumbai to investigation by NIA (National Prasad, said Malik had been children said in a statement attacks. Investigation Agency),” he said. lying all along and that this has read by a family friend after “Mr Rehman Malik has been Shinde said India had given “in been brought to light only now. the funeral. telling us repeatedly he has principle” approval to visit of a Meanwhile, reacting to Shinde’s “The incidents leading to this arrested Hafiz Saeed thrice and judicial commission from Pakistan statement, BJP leader Yashwant tragedy are being investigated and that on each occasion he to complete cross-examination of Sinha said: “There is no meaning by the London Metropolitan was let off by the courts due to four witnesses, and it could come of any government-to-government Police and they have assured us lack of evidence. We had been next month. He said a team from level talks between India and of a full and fair investigation.” given to understand Hafiz Saeed India will visit Pakistan this week Pakistan if this is the attitude Barboza and the couple’s son, was arrested on charge of being to ensure that the revised terms that Pakistan has. Pakistan does Junal, 16, and daughter, Lisha, involved in the 26/11 attacks,” of reference for the panel’s visit not stand by the commitments 14, were joined by relatives and Jacintha Saldanha’s widower Ben Barboza (centre), her children Lisha Shinde said. “From the papers are worked out carefully in con- it makes.” Rejecting the BJP’s local residents for the Catholic (left) and Junal mourn during her funeral at a cemetery in Shirva, about given to us, it is clear that the sultation with senior law officers demand for suspending talks with service in the southwestern 52km north of Mangalore, yesterday. detentions of Hafiz Saeed in the of both sides so that “there is no Pakistan, Congress spokesperson state of Karnataka. Saldanha’s aforesaid cases were for other legal lacunae”. P.C. Chacko told reporters: “We coffin, covered with flowers and reasons and not for his role as a Officials from the home min- have to talk to them. There have with a photographic portrait on the service through the main sending much of their wages conspirator in the 26/11 Mumbai istry, the NIA and Narcotics to be discussions. We should con- top, was carried out of the Our door of the church and to get home. John Rodrigues, who terror attacks. Therefore, I can Control Bureau will visit Pakistan tinue to talk in spite of all the Lady of the Health church in footage of the burial as large returned to Shirva after work- only say that Mr Rehman Malik in January 2013 to operationalise differences. Suspending talks or Shirva, 50km from Mangalore crowds gathered behind ropes ing in the oil and gas sector in appears to have been misin- the “task force” on counterfeit- having hostile attitude is not a city, for burial in the cemetery. to watch the coffin being low- the Middle East, said there was formed in the matter,” Shinde ing and drug trafficking, he said, solution.” IANS “Benedict has become a wid- ered into the ground. still “a lot of confusion in peo- ower and her children are ple’s minds over how she died”. motherless. Let us pray for CONFUSION A London inquest last week her soul,” Ronald Saldanha, a Barboza hugged his son and heard that she had been found relative of the family, said in daughter at the graveside as hanged with a scarf in staff Google takes Chandni Chowk market online the address delivered beneath the burial rites were concluded accommodation on December stained-glass windows and and a brass band played a final 7 and there were no suspicious NEW DELHI: Google India websites for businesses operat- increase their competitiveness in spinning fans. Before the cer- hymn. Afterwards he declined circumstances over her death. yesterday unveiled a spe- ing from the market. In addi- the global economy,” said Union emony, Saldanha’s coffin was to comment on reports that A few days earlier the nurse cial project intended to make tion to creating these websites Minister of Communications taken to her mother-in-law’s Saldanha had felt under pres- put the hoax call through to Chandni Chowk, the iconic for businesses, Google India also and IT and Chandni Chowk MP, house where female mourners sure from the King Edward a colleague, who relayed con- market of old Delhi, easily launched a common website Kapil Sibal, while launching the chanted and sang commemo- VII private hospital after the fidential details about the accessible to users worldwide. ‘www.chandnichowknowonline. initiative. rative songs. hoax call or that she had been health of Prince William’s wife The project is part of Google’s in’, which provides an easy to “This initiative from Google “This is a sad moment. in a separate dispute with col- Catherine to the Australian unique initiative to offer free navigate directory of all busi- has provided all Chandni Chowk Nothing else, just grief,” M leagues. Shirva is Barboza’s radio presenters. websites and domains to small nesses from Chandni Chowk that businesses with a professional Menezes, a computer profes- home town while several of Saldanha left three notes, one and medium businesses in India now have a website. website, which will now make sional on Christmas leave from Saldanha’s relatives, including of which reportedly criticised through the ‘India Get Your “The Internet is becoming an it easier for customers to find his job in the Gulf, said after her frail mother, live in the port colleagues over her treatment Business Online’ campaign engine of economic growth and us online and help us to grow paying his final respects. city of Mangalore. at the hospital. The hospital has launched a year ago. is expected to contribute over US our businesses,” said Pradeep Family members in the Many local residents said defended itself, saying it offered As part of this special project, $100bn by 2015 to India’s GDP. Jain, spokesperson of the Kinari town were unwilling to speak they identified closely with the support to Saldanha and had Google India and HostGator Due to initiatives such as these, Bazaar Gota Zari Association of to reporters after a week of family since workers often leave stressed to her she would not went to each shop in Chandni small and medium businesses Chandni Chowk. intense media scrutiny fol- the area to take jobs in Britain be disciplined for being taken in Chowk and built over 2,500 free are embracing the Internet to IANS lowing the news of her death. or the Gulf countries as nurses, by what it described as a “cruel Television crews jostled to film engineers and mechanics, trick”. AFP Modi sweep forecast as polling ends

AHMEDABAD: Exit polls universally forecast a sweep- ing, third term win for Chief Minister Narendra Modi as the two-phase assembly elec- tions ended in Gujarat with a record 70 percent polling. Although the official results will be declared only on Thursday, all exit polls predicted that Modi was set to lead the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to a landslide victory. The Ananda Bazar Patrika- Nielsen survey gave 116 of the total 182 seats to the BJP. The Congress was placed a distant second with 60 seats. C voters (Centre for Voting Opinion and Trends in Election Research) agency said Modi could bag upto 124 seats. It put 54 seats in the Congress kitty. The News 24 Today Chanakya poll predicted a much higher 140 seats for the BJP and 40 to the Congress. A supremely confident Modi, who has ruled Gujarat since 2001, gave a broad smile and flashed a V-sign with both hands after casting his ballot in his People queue up to cast their votes in the second phase of the Gujarat state assembly elections, at a polling constituency Maninagar. centre in Ahmedabad, yesterday. “The people of Gujarat will vote the BJP to power for a third consecutive term,” he told the issue of good governance and the 2002 unrest, during which the Gandhi dynasty which has the media triumphantly. development.” as many as 2,000 people, mostly run India for most of its post- Long queues formed at polling Though Modi has never Muslims, were killed in an orgy independence history. stations yesterday with turnout declared his ambition to be of violence that saw victims set If Modi wins the state polls nearly matching the 70 percent prime minister, he is widely alight or hacked to death in the with a big majority, he could recorded in the first round of thought to be angling to lead the streets. “We have noted a huge project himself as a prime voting last week in Gujarat, BJP into national elections due turnout in the final phase of ministerial candidate - result- one of India’s fastest-develop- in 2014. Modi’s links to some of election. Over 10 million people ing in a potential showdown ing states. “It’s a very peaceful the worst sectarian violence in have voted today,” a state elec- with Rahul Gandhi, scion of election,” Modi said after cast- post-independence India make tion officer in Ahmedabad said. the Gandhi family, in the 2014 ing his vote in the state’s larg- him a hate-figure for many Modi’s main rival in Gujarat elections, analysts say. Results est commercial city Ahmedabad. Muslims and secularists. is the Congress party, which from the Gujarat elections are “It will be a historic (election) He is blamed by some rights heads the federal coalition gov- expected on December 20. because it has been contested on groups for turning a blind eye to ernment and is dominated by IANS/AFP

Tuesday 18 December 2012 5 Safar 1434 Volume 17 Number 5552 Price: QR2

Etihad in final talks for Indian stake

Business | 22

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780

Vodafone Rayyan Bank Industries NakilatQatar Islamic Barwa Gulf HoldingComm. Bank Int. Islamic Qatar Bank of Qatar Bank

182,667 8.11 249,990 26.00 72,299 152.5066,969 15.16 34,444 75.30 37,064 27.50 4,663 22.21 131,317 70.10 32,917 51.40

QIIB plans to raise Qatar to be key player in renewable energy number of board members Country will be one of the leading contributors to the GCC power grid, says official DOHA: The Board of Directors has recommended the Qatar DOHA: As the Middle East and region’s renewable energy goes becomes operational, Qatar’s entrants from the Mena to Ernst next five years, energy usage is International Islamic Bank North African (Mena) coun- beyond to see the GCC connec- water needs would be mainly met & Young’s CAI, which covers 40 not expected to slowdown, with (QIIB) to amend an article of tries set to emerge as a major tion to Egypt and then Europe, through solar energy, Fahad told countries across the globe on the double–digit growth rates fore- the Qatari bank’s articles of renewable energy force, Qatar is The Financial Times reported. The Peninsula recently. attractiveness of their renewable cast for the Middle East. association in order to increase getting ready to be a key con- “I see the future where power Qatar is in a final design stage energy markets, energy infra- The International Renewable its number of board members. tributor. A top Qatari official generation could be anywhere and of putting together the solar plant structure and the suitability for Energy Agency (IRENA), which QIIB’s Board of Directors at said the country would be one people just get their electricity which will generate 1,800MW individual technologies. has recently signed an MoU with its 17th meeting for the year of the contributors to the GCC from places simply because grids power from 2014 onwards and As new entrants to the index, Qatar to develop its renewable 2012 recommended to the share- power grid interconnections are being integrated”, the London would potentially produce 80 per- they exemplify the growing clean sources, noted the country’s holders’ extraordinary general that would export electricity to newspaper quoted Fahad bin cent of our water needs through energy potential of the Mena Polysilicon production plant in assembly to amend Article 21 the neighbouring countries and Mohammed Al Attiya, Chairman harnessing solar power. region, with policy-makers in the Ras Laffan is capable of produc- to increase the number of board even beyond. of Qatar National Food Security According to Ernst & Young’s two countries already announc- ing 8,000 metric tons of polysili- members from nine to 11, a QIIB Qatar is eyeing the export of Programme (QNFSP) as saying. Renewable Energy Country ing ambitious renewable energy con per year. The country is in the filing to Qatar Exchange noted electricity from the six countries An estimated 80 percent of Attractiveness Indices (CAI) targets, it said. making of generating 1000MW yesterday. in the Gulf co-operation Council Qatar’s total water desalination Saudi Arabia and the UAE are Energy consumption in the solar. The works of a biomass The date of the extraordi- regional group. The upgrade of process would be soon powered by expected to lead Middle East and Middle East has grown rapidly in plant with an installed capacity nary General Assembly will be the region’s power grid inter- solar energy. The country’s pro- North Africa region’s generation the last five years. Between 2007 of 40MW has already been com- decided after getting the neces- connections might accentuate posed 1,800MW solar project is in of renewable energy. The UAE and 2011, the region‘s energy con- pleted, IRENA said. sary approvals. the plans. The potential of the the final stage. Once the project and Saudi Arabia are the new sumption grew 22 per cent. In the THE PENINSULA Meanwhile, Qatari German Medical Devices Company (QGMD) has announced its Annual General Meeting will be E-car recharge spot held on December 19, 2012 at the Grand Heritage Hotel in Doha. Potanin named Norilsk QGMD’s AGM scheduled for December 16 had been adjourned due to lack of quorum, the company CEO under Kremlin deal said in a separate filing to the QE. Fortune Oil to sell MOSCOW: Norilsk Nickel a new board on March 11. named longtime co-owner Vladimir Strzhalkovsky, who natural gas division Vladimir Potanin as its chief like Putin served in the Soviet executive yesterday under a KGB security force, steps down to China Gas Kremlin-inspired deal to end a as CEO — a demand by Deripaska boardroom war at the world’s that Potanin had resisted. HONG KONG: Fortune Oil top nickel and palladium Sources close to the company’s Plc said it would sell its natu- producer. shareholders said last week that ral gas business to China Gas Oligarch Roman Abramovich Strzhalkovsky, who sided with Holdings Ltd for $400m, giving will take control of a 20 percent Potanin and launched a series of it the option to raise its stake in voting stake and act as a buffer buybacks during the dispute over China Gas and remain invested between Potanin and rival Oleg Norilsk Nickel’s cash flows, would in the high-demand energy sec- Deripaska, who owns a share have a $100m severance deal. tor in the world’s second largest in Norilsk through UC RUSAL, The appointment by the Norilsk economy. the world’s largest aluminium board of Potanin, a survivor of the Fortune Oil held an 18.4 percent producer. battles between the businessmen stake in China Gas as of November “When the new lineup of share- who struck it rich after the col- 16, primarily through a joint ven- holders gets used to each other, lapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, ture formed last year with one of confidence will grow that we now had appeared unlikely until the the company’s founders. feel is now lacking,” Potanin said, deal was reached this month. China Gas, which sells lique- paying tribute to the mediating Potanin left the Soviet trade fied petroleum gas and piped gas role to be played by Abramovich, ministry and created a bank- to residential and commercial an ally of President Vladimir ing empire in the early 1990s — users in China, will pay Fortune Putin. securing control over Norilsk at Oil $200m in cash on comple- Speaking after his unanimous a bargain-basement price in the tion of the deal and a further election by the Norilsk board, loans-for-shares privatisations $200m as deferred consideration. Potanin said he planned to stay that he masterminded. The first e-car sharing service is opened at the Potsdamer Platz in Berlin, Germany yesterday. Cars can be THE PENINSULA/REUTERS in the job for between 18 months His stake at Norilsk Nickel was recharged at three different spots. and two years. The peace deal will one of the biggest prizes handed last for 10 years, with the core to insiders in the post-Soviet shareholders agreeing to keep carve-up of Russian industry in their stakes for five. 1995, a process that spawned a Abramovich, the billionaire new oligarch elite. Budget hopes lift US crude while Brent seesaws owner of Chelsea soccer club, Putin reined in the tycoons after could act as a conduit for the he rose to power in 2000, and sig- Kremlin at the cash-rich com- nalled last week he was intent on NEW YORK: Oil prices were a budget deal have the equities Brent hit a 2012 high of $128 labour market remained weak. pany that mines the vast mineral tackling some of the problems that mixed in choppy trading yester- market putting in a good day in March and is on course to end Motiva Enterprises suspended deposits of Russia’s far north. continue to blight Russia’s business day, with Wall Street equities and US crude has followed along, the year little changed in percent- the restart of its 325,000 barrel- Having brought an end to the scene after 13 years as the coun- and US crude futures receiving while the switch to the February age terms as economic worries per-day crude unit at the Port four-year feud between Potanin try’s dominant leader. support from optimism that a contract and outlook for pretty have countered price-supporting Arthur, Texas, refinery after and Deripaska, he could poten- Sorting out problems at Norilsk budget deal might be reached in weak economies in Europe have supply disruptions in the Middle a small fire yesterday, sources tially end up sidelining them as Nickel would help enhance time to avert looming mandated helped limit Brent,” said Addison East and other regions such as familiar with refinery operations Putin seeks to restore order at Russia’s image among foreign US spending cuts and tax hikes. Armstrong at Tradition Energy the North Sea. said. the $30bn miner that was priva- investors. Brent crude futures see- in Stamford Connecticut. US January crude was up 73 The sources said the unit was tised in the mid-1990s. Potanin, 51, is ranked the 46th- sawed near unchanged, with the Investors have worried that cents at $87.46 a barrel, having not being shut down, as it was Deripaska and Potanin now richest man in the world, with a February contract in front-month allowing the mandated tax reached $87.62. US crude was on after a small fire last week, but lose their blocking voting stakes fortune estimated at $14.5bn by position after the January con- increases and slashed spending pace to end the year with an 11 that the process of gradually and Abramovich steps in with the Forbes magazine. tract expiration on Friday. to go forward starting in January percent loss from where it ended increasing production rates had ability to serve the president’s He had long rejected a direct The front-month US January could send the US economy back 2011. been paused. interests early in his new six- role in managing the company, crude rose, though the rally ran into recession, curbing already Crude prices rose on Friday US RBOB gasoline futures year term. “Roman Abramovich saying he preferred to leave the into resistance ahead of the 50-day tepid demand for oil. after surveys showed China’s moved higher yesterday, helped is a businessman who wants to day-to-day running of the com- moving average at $87.67 a barrel. Brent February crude fell manufacturing sector expanded by the struggles of the Motiva make money,” a well-connected pany to professional managers. Republican House Speaker two cents to $108.16 a barrel at in early December and that US refinery and a shut down petrol industry insider said of the deal. Despite the deal, it is not clear John Boehner edged slightly 12.12pm EST (1712 GMT), hav- factories were having their best pipeline in New Jersey. “Norilsk Nickel is a cash machine whether a balance of power has closer to US President Barack ing swung from $107.72 to $108.50. month since April. Buckeye Partners said on that doesn’t need to fear a crisis.” been reached at the management Obama’s key demands on Sunday “Brent has been having some Tempering enthusiasm about Sunday the “620 pipeline system Alexander Abramov, level. Analysts expressed concerns and the sign of movement in the short-term support at $108. the US economy, the New York will remain out of service until Abramovich’s partner in Evraz, that paying out dividends could talks on avoiding the tax increases Today it’s broken below $108, but Federal Reserve said in a report it is repaired and deemed safe to Russia’s largest steelmaker, is take precedence over capital and spending cuts, the so called it certainly hasn’t collapsed as a released yesterday that manu- return to operations.” The line to become board chairman at investment now running at about “fiscal cliff,” sparked optimism result,” said Christopher Bellew, facturing in New York State runs from Linden, New Jersey, to Norilsk Nickel, a source said. $2.5bn per year. on Wall Street, lifting equities a senior oil broker at Jefferies declined for a fifth straight Macungie, Pennsylvania. Norilsk’s shareholders will elect REUTERS and supporting oil. “Hopes for Bache in London. month in December and the REUTERS TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Santander to absorb Banesto Iraqi Kurdish Etihad in final oil exports fall below talks for Indian 30,000b/d

ARBIL: Oil exports from Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region carrier stakes have fallen to an average of below 30,000 barrels per day (b/d), industry sources said yes- terday, a decline likely to worsen Kingfisher to restart operations tensions between Baghdad and the Kurdish region. NEW DELHI/DUBAI: Gulf the stock price, causing the Abu The fall comes at a time of carrier Etihad Airways, seek- Dhabi carrier to reconsider. increasing friction between the ing to widen operations in India “The deal was almost done with Kurdish region and the central and other Asian markets, is Jet when it was leaked and this government in Baghdad, which in the final stages of talks to upset Etihad,” said the source. has withheld payments to oil buy part of either Jet Airways Shares in Jet Airways Ltd, the companies operating in the north or grounded rival Kingfisher No. 2 Indian carrier, closed 2.4 as part of a wider dispute over Airlines, an Indian government percent higher yesterday, after petroleum rights. official said yesterday. rising as much as 4.7 percent to Kurdistan has previously halted A deal, which the official said a nearly two-year high, on hopes shipments of its oil in protest over could be announced by next week, that Abu Dhabi-based Etihad what it said were overdue pay- would be the first since the gov- would strike a deal with it. ments from Baghdad, but the rea- ernment relaxed ownership rules Kingfisher shares ended down son for the current decline was in September to allow foreign air- five percent — their daily limit not immediately clear. At their lines to invest up to 49 percent in — snapping nine consecutive ses- highest, Iraqi Kurdish oil exports a domestic carrier. sions of gains. reached around 200,000b/d. “Etihad has not yet decided. He said Jet and Kingfisher were “Exports are much lower than They are talking to both,” said the equal contenders for Etihad’s 30,000 now,” said one industry official, who has knowledge of the interest now and the Gulf airline A man with a trolley walks past a Santander bank branch in Madrid yesterday. Spain’s largest bank Santander source on condition of anonymity. talks but declined to be named as may even look at a stake in both, will spend around $340.84m to absorb subsidiary Banesto and will close 700 local branches as it tries to cut Comment from the Kurdish the negotiations are confidential. giving it a formidable market longer-term costs. ministry of natural resources was The decision is now with the presence. “Entering India in such not immediately available. board of Etihad and Abu Dhabi’s a scale will block all its competi- Last week, Kurdish crude flow state-owned investment fund tors,” he said. was cut by around 75,000 barrels Mubadala, said one Dubai-based Indian carriers are beset by stiff per day due to a technical prob- source who did not want to be competition and high operating lem at the Khurmala oilfield, Iraqi identified as discussions were costs and have been in talks to sell Kuwait budget surplus surges oil sources said. That followed an private. minority stakes to foreign opera- earlier reduction to 100,000b/d. Indian financial firm Edelweiss tors. “Unbelievable as it might KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s posted on the finance ministry $104 and $107 a barrel for Kuwaiti In October, the Kurds agreed is advising Kingfisher. The firm sound, Kingfisher at the moment provisional budget surplus website. crude, said the central bank. to export 250,000b/d in 2013 if and the airline’s management stands a better chance, but the surged 43 percent to Dh14.7bn Income from oil jumped 40.9 Kuwait has projected a deficit Baghdad paid operators in the team have met with Etihad sev- price has to be right,” said Rajan ($52.2bn) in the first seven percent over the same period last in each of the past 13 fiscal years, region. An initial sum of $650m eral times over the last few days. Mehra, an industry expert and the months of the fiscal year, year to Dh18.0bn. but ended in surplus mainly by was transferred by Baghdad to Buying into Jet is seen as more India head of US-based private jet boosted by oil income, govern- Meanwhile, spending shrank calculating oil income at a very the Kurdistan regional govern- lucrative for Etihad as the two operator Universal Aviation. ment data showed yesterday. by a massive 30.7 percent to low price. ment (KRG) in October, but a carriers already have a code- “Etihad will be able to have con- The figure compares with a Dh4.2bn from last fiscal year’s During that period, the emirate subsequent payment has not yet sharing agreement and could trol over the airline. Right now Dh7.3bn ($26bn) deficit pro- Dh6bn dinars in the first seven has accumulated about $250bn in been made. target the market share of state- what they want is control,” said jected in the budget for 2012-2013, months. budget surpluses. Baghdad rejects the deals signed owned Air India and Dubai-based Mehra, who previously headed which began on April 1. The sur- The ministry did not give rea- Under Kuwaiti law, 10 percent between Kurdistan and oil com- Emirates Airline, the latter of Qatar Airways’ India operations. plus stood at $36.5bn in the same sons for the sharp drop but it is of revenues are deducted every panies including Exxon Mobil, which dominates routes between Kingfisher is considering giving period last fiscal year. believed an ongoing political cri- year in favour of the emirate’s Chevron and Total as illegal and India and the Middle East. up operational control of its over- In the 2011-2012 fiscal year sis in the Gulf state has further sovereign wealth fund, the assets has blacklisted some that have ven- But a stake in Kingfisher, seas flights if a deal goes through, that ended on March 31, the Opec slowed down projects. of which are estimated at about tured into the northern region. which has been grounded after a separate source had said earlier. member posted a record budget Kuwait’s government issued $400bn. Kurdistan says its right to grant its licences were suspended and Yesterday, Kingfisher said it surplus of $47bn on the back of an the 2012-2013 budget with record This fiscal year, Kuwait decided contracts to foreign companies is whose owner, liquor baron Vijay was looking to restart operations all-time high income of $107.5bn. spending projections of Dh21.2bn to transfer 25 percent of revenues enshrined in the Iraqi constitution, Mallya, has been looking for an and would arrange funding itself. Oil income makes up about 95 in the absence of a parliament. into the sovereign wealth fund. which was drawn up following the investor for more than a year, The carrier said it would discuss percent of public revenues. The new assembly is expected to Returns on the fund are not 2003 invasion that ousted Sunni would be cheaper. a full recapitalisation plan with a Revenues until the end of confirm the budget soon. included in the budget. dictator Saddam Hussein. Jet Airways was set to sign a small group of bankers. October also rose 15.7 percent National Bank of Kuwait said With a native population of The oil payment dispute is deal with Etihad valued at around Kingfisher will need about to Dh18.86bn compared with the in a recent report that the coun- 1.2 million in addition to 2.6 mil- part of a broader debate between $440m within six months, a source Rs4.25bn ($77.91m) to restart same period in the last fiscal year. try was expected to post a surplus lion foreigners, Kuwait says it Baghdad and Kurdistan over con- had confirmed in November. according to its plan, said Shyamal The seven-month income is of between $34.8bn and $45.4bn at holds 10 percent of global crude trol of oil and territories which The Dubai-based source said Acharya, a deputy managing direc- also up 35.3 percent on budget the end of the current fiscal year. oil reserves and pumps about 3.0 is straining Iraq’s uneasy federal news leaked on the Jet-Etihad tor at State Bank of India. estimates for the whole year of The projections were based on million barrels of oil per day. union one year after US troops left. partnership plans, which shot up REUTERS Dh13.9bn, according to the figures an average oil price of between AFP REUTERS

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Egypt’s rising fuel bill reflects energy crisis Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 105.50 0.89 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.63 1.69 % Aa2 AA LONDON: Egypt is becoming diesel. “It is already behind with been extremely beneficial. We freedom to take on risk or major Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 126.13 2.11 % Aa2 AA increasingly dependent on fuel payments for previous deliveries were hoping for late December, oil companies that are producers Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 120.00 2.19 % Aa2 AA imports as it uses oil to pay off and is finding it more difficult to early January, but now it is in Egypt, such as Shell , according Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 115.25 2.61 % Aa2 AA debts instead of refining the raise finance because of its indebt- delayed to February at the earli- to oil and product traders. Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 181.00 3.51 % Aa2 AA crude at home, in a downward edness and the internal situation est, so there is no near-term res- “Their (Egypt’s) refineries are Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 140.50 3.95 % Aa2 AA spiral that is piling pressure on in Egypt.” pite,” she added. clearly not running anywhere Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 131.00 3.95 % Aa2 AA its deteriorating finances. The Egyptian oil ministry did Egypt asked to delay its $4.8 near where they should be, and Political and social unrest is not offer an immediate comment. billion loan from the International they need the products,” said a Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.75 1.62 % Aa2 AA making suppliers and creditors Egyptian refineries have always Monetary Fund because of its trader. “I am sure someone will Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 117.25 2.49 % Aa2 AA nervous about financing Egypt, operated well below capacity, but political turmoil, the Fund said take advantage of the situation. Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 106.25 1.68 % A1 A- forcing it to rely more on sales of processing runs are likely to have last week. This is a trader’s dream, no?” Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 104.19 2.35 % A1 A- crude to cover imports of other fallen sharply, product traders Credit rating agency Fitch Egypt is the largest non-Opec QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.63 2.15 % NR NR products and debts. and analysts say, estimating cur- in June downgraded Egypt to producer in Africa, but output QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.63 1.84 % Aa3 A+ This leaves less for Egyptian rent levels as low as 50 percent. B-plus, deep in junk territory, peaked in the 1990s at around QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.75 2.18 % Aa3 A+ refineries to process into products Egypt has entered a circular from BB-minus, with a negative 930,000 barrels of oil equivalent per such as diesel, forcing the state oil debt situation that is compound- outlook. day (boepd) and has since declined Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 103.63 2.59 % A2 A- firm to rely on global markets for ing its payment problems, accord- “Successful reform of fuel sub- by four to five percent a year. Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 104.88 2.04 % A2 A increasing volumes of fuel, traders ing to Catherine Hunter, senior sidies is the single biggest reform Its oil output is now about Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 131.06 2.63 % A2 A and analysts say. Levant and North Africa analyst the government can make to the same as its consumption at Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 113.13 2.93 % A2 A These growing imports are at IHS Energy. improve Egypt’s fiscal position around 700,000bpd, about a third Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 113.75 3.65 % A2 A inflating its debts and heighten- As for solutions to this energy or free up revenue to spend else- of Germany’s. Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 108.00 0.95 % Aa3 A ing creditors’ concerns, according crisis, “One option might be for where,” Fitch said more recently. Some of this oil must go to Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 110.13 2.98 % Aa3 A to Hakim Darbouche, a research somebody to step in with a crude The agency said the decision the oil companies that produce fellow at Oxford Energy Institute donation or more likely, ‘below- to postpone the IMF discus- it as part of long-term produc- Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 112.88 3.40 % Aa3 A for Energy Studies. cost sales’. There have been a fair sion highlighted the challenge in tion sharing agreements, which SOVEREIGNS “The other question is how will number of financial loans from implementing tax increases and means that even without the cur- Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P the Egyptian General Petroleum the Gulf”, indicating help with subsidy cuts. rent financial pressures Egypt is Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 106.63 0.39 % Aa2 AA Corporation (EGPC) pay,” fuel supplies may follow, Hunter Until a solution is found, those forced to be a net importer of Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 128.63 1.91 % Aa2 AA Darbouche said, commenting on said. best placed to supply Egypt are crude as well as refined fuel. the latest Egyptian tender to buy “IMF instalments would have trading companies with more REUTERS Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 111.00 2.60 % NR NR Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.63 3.02 % NR NR Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 126.50 3.79 % NR NR Saudi aviation body to allow price rises Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 116.81 4.26 % NR NR Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 105.63 1.26 % Aa2 AA RIYADH: Saudi Arabia will review fuel prices and give its civil aviation Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 114.50 3.54 % NR BBB body powers to allow fare increases as it struggles to move towards an Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 107.75 4.25 % NR BBB • Bullion - Mumbai open-skies policy, the country’s information minister said yesterday. The Saudi airline industry is dominated by state-owned Saudi Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 100.00 5.75 % B2 B Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 30845.00 Silver (1 kg) Rs. 61940 Arabian Airlines (SAA), but the largest Arab economy still has one Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 101.00 4.35 % NR BBB- of the Middle East’s smallest networks relative to its size and SAA *Periodic Distribution Amount • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.88 and budget carrier National Air Services struggle to meet demand. IMPORTANT NOTE: • Sensex Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which Riyadh, which already caps economy fares, has announced that it will is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services BSE 19244.42 allow new carriers to operate in the kingdom, but analysts say that fuel Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary NSE 5857.90 subsidies for SAA will make it hard for private companies to compete. data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising • LIC (International) launches New Gold Investment Plan ‘GOLD PLUS’ – The General Authority for Civil Aviation (GACA) will work on the out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds which provides an opportunity to invest in GOLD ETF & GOLD SPOT, PAN issues within a broader “comprehensive strategic plan”, Information can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant Card/Demat Account not required. Minister Abdulaziz Khoja said in a statement after yesterday’s weekly liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return cabinet meeting. He said that a government committee, including a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and GACA, would review fuel prices at airports “in comparison to prices p.a. (in dollar) consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. in force in regional airports and raise them to the appropriate level”. • Housing loan from HDFC LTD Economy-class ticket prices on domestic flights will also be reviewed, • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, with carriers able to increase prices gradually as the date of travel Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. approaches, in accordance with guidelines set by GACA, the body said Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] in an emailed statement. REUTERS TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Qatar Exchange Dreamliner lands in Vienna index adds 15.26 points Emaar propels Dubai to two-week high

DOHA: Qatar Exchange pur- in 2013 and are accumulating now, sued its upswing trend yester- he added. Investors are also bullish day, adding 15.26 points (or 0.18 on Emaar’s fourth-quarter results. percent) to advance to 8,350.74 Small-cap Ajman Bank climbed points from 8,335.48 on Sunday. 4.2 percent, extending gains on The volume of the shares traded market talk of a possible investor up to 2,985,722 from 1,513,653 on looking to purchase a large stake. Sunday and the value of shares The emirate’s index advanced increased to QR178,238,472.46 one percent, its biggest one-day from QR80,424,703.11 on Sunday. gain since November 29. Among the top gainers were In Saudi Arabia, the index gained Commercial Bank of Qatar which 0.3 percent, a fresh five-week high was up 0.85 percent to QR71.40, as investors took positions ahead Qatar Islamic Bank rose 0.79 per- of the year-end on expectations of cent to QR76.20, Industries Qatar a strong start to 2013. gained 0.65 percent to QR154.00 Large-caps supported, with the and Gulf International was up by heavyweight petrochemical and 2.01 percent to QR30.50. banking sectors up 0.8 and 0.4 The banking and financial sec- percent respectively. tor index up 3.10 points while Saudi Kayan Petrochemical consumer goods and services jumped 4.5 percent in heavy An airport worker walks inside a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft after its first official landing at the Vienna airport yesterday. sector index added 0.47 points. trade. Saudi Basic Industries The industrial sector gained 13.42 Corp gained 0.3 percent. points while insurance sector “People are positioning for dropped 24.22 points. two things, the Saudi budget and Meanwhile, f oreign buying 2013 — we are very positive on India forecasts lowest growth in a decade in Dubai’s bellwether Emaar the market for next year,” said Properties yesterday helped the Alhassan Goussous, chief execu- emirate’s bourse make its largest tive officer at Bakheet Investment NEW DELHI: India yesterday a central bank meeting at which developing market peers which Still, the ministry said there one-day gain in two weeks. Group. “The market is quite cut its growth forecast for the policy-makers were expected to have lowered borrowing costs to “are reasons to believe” the slow- Shares in Emaar rose 1.6 per- undervalued and prices should current fiscal year to just under keep benchmark interest rates on offset the impact of the eurozone down has bottomed out. Data cent, extending year-to-date come in line with fundamentals six percent, putting Asia’s third- hold until inflation — stubbornly crisis. has pointed to an upturn with gains to 44.4 percent. once global issues — uncertainty largest economy on track for its high at 7.24 percent — eases. The finance ministry said it industrial output growing by 8.2 A recovery in sectors of Dubai’s in the US and Europe — reduce.” worst annual performance in a There have been mounting expected inflation — which has percent year-on-year in October real estate market along with Saudi’s budget for 2013 is decade. demands from business leaders receded from near double digits — the fastest pace in 16 months. new project announcements has expected to be announced before The finance ministry said “sup- for rate cuts to boost the sluggish — to ease further and “facilitate a “The second half will be bet- brought investor appetite back December-end. On global markets, portive” moves from the central economy hit by high borrowing softening” of interest rates. ter than the first half,” said into developers shares. investors are focused on the fast bank would be needed even for costs, a global downturn and an The government also said its the Prime Minister’s Economic Emaar said last November that approaching year-end deadline to the economy to expand at the investment slowdown amid con- pledge to trim the deficit — the Advisory Council Chairman C plans to expand its Dubai Mall with avoid the imposition of steep tax revised level of 5.7-to-5.9 percent, cerns about policy-making and widest of all big emerging market Rangarajan, projecting growth of high-end fashion stores, hotels and hikes and spending cuts in the US, down from 7.85 percent estimated corruption. economies — to 5.3 percent from 5.5 to six percent this year. But he luxury homes had been finalised known as the “fiscal cliff”, which at the start of the year. The projected full-year growth 5.8 percent last year was “chal- said India needs to grow “much and work would begin shortly. could send the world’s top economy Prime Minister Manmohan to March 2013 would be far below lenging” but achievable with plans faster”. “Most of the activity was con- back into recession. Singh’s scandal-scarred gov- the near double-digit pace India for stake sales in state-run firms. Average income in the coun- centrated on Emaar, which is Back in Riyadh, shares in ernment has unleashed a blitz logged before the onset of the glo- Economists had already pared try of 1.2 billion is still just $1,600 driven by foreigners who are posi- Dallah Healthcare Holding of economic reforms to draw bal financial crisis and the lowest their growth forecasts to mid-five and “if we grow at 8-9 percent, tioning ahead of the year-end,” Company surged 51.3 percent on more investment and jump-start since the economy grew by four percent or lower. Much of the by 2025 we’ll reach somewhere said Anastasios Dalgiannakis, its debut. Dallah rose to 57.50 riy- growth before facing voters in percent in 2002-03. world would envy such growth around $10,500. It’s only then institutional trading manager at als per shares, up from its initial polls due in 2014 and avert a The hawkish central bank has but the pace is not nearly enough India will graduate from a low- Mubasher. public offering (IPO) price of 38 threatened credit downgrade. kept rates steady since April — for India which says it needs near income country to a middle- Some market participants riyals. The new official forecast tabled when it cut them for the first 10 percent to reduce crushing income country.” expect a strong year for equities AGENCIES in parliament came a day before time in three years — unlike its poverty. AFP

Greece lenders warn of ‘very large risks’ to bailout Conservatives’ victory

ATHENS: Political resistance but warned Athens still risked attacks both from within and out- market reforms not accelerate as and potential court challenges falling short on its commitments. side on its plan to push through a foreseen under the programme, pushes yen down are among “very large” risks to “The key risks concern the over- new round of austerity. positive economic growth could reforms required for Greece’s all policy implementation, given The report warned that the not return in 2014 as foreseen,” TOKYO: The yen plunged in bank, and see the appointment bailout programme, the coun- that the coalition supporting the impact of spending cuts in 2013 on the report said. Asian currency markets yes- of a like-minded BoJ governor try’s European lenders said government appears fragile and a weak economy may be stronger Criticising influential business terday after Japan’s conserva- after current chief Masaaki yesterday. some components of the programme than expected, though that could lobbies, it said reviving the econ- tive opposition swept to victory Shirakawa’s term ends next year. The long-awaited report from face political resistance, despite the be stemmed by the government omy would require “breaking the in national polls, with promises But Abe’s stated goals may the European Commission and the determination of the government,” paying off arrears. resistance (to reform) of vested from its leader to press for more hit political resistance despite European Central Bank details the report said. “Important budget- Greece’s economy is expected interests and the prevailing rent- central bank easing. Sunday’s landslide, National the findings of the “troika” of the ary measures are likely to be chal- to contract by about 6 percent seeking mentality of powerful In early Tokyo trade the dollar Australia Bank said in a note. EC, ECB and the International lenged in courts, which could lead to this year - its fifth in recession - pressure groups”. bought 84.30 yen, up from 83.52 “The upper house will... still Monetary Fund on Athens’ efforts the need to fill a fiscal gap emerging and by a further 4.2 percent next The report acknowledged that yen in New York on Friday and have a say in the appointment of to meet targets under its ¤130bn as a consequence.” year before growing 0.6 percent privatisation proceeds had been at its strongest level against the new BoJ officials,” it said. ($170bn) bailout. Greece’s conservative-led gov- in 2014, the report said, warn- disappointing so far but that the Japanese currency in more than “This is of some significance, The report formally confirmed ernment has promised Athens ing that Athens must implement programme had gained some a year and a half. meaning that the LDP cannot that Greece deserved its next will restore its damaged cred- reforms to meet those forecasts. momentum since September. The euro also soared to multi- automatically appoint its pre- tranche of aid under the bailout, ibility but the coalition has faced “Should product and services REUTERS month highs at 111.10 yen from ferred choices for the posts of BoJ 109.94 yen in US trade. governor and deputy governors But by late afternoon trade, the (both of them), all of whose terms yen clawed back slightly, with the expire next March and April.” China exports rise dollar at 84.05 yen while the euro However, speculation over BoJ GDF Suez to sell was at 110.58 yen. policy moves were reinforced The European single currency on Friday after the bank’s own assets in Canada also bought $1.3154, compared quarterly Tankan survey showed with $1.3161 in New York. confidence among Japanese man- On Sunday, voters dumped ufacturers hit a near three-year to reduce debt Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda low in the final months of 2012. PARIS: Heavily-indebted three years after his Democratic Those were the weakest French energy group GDF Party of Japan (DPJ) promised Tankan results since the start of Suez announced yesterday the a change from more than half a 2010. sale of 60 percent of its renew- century of almost unbroken rule Separate figures showed able energy interests in Canada by the Liberal Democratic Party Japan’s economy shrank in the worth ¤1.5bn ($2bn) and the (LDP). July-September period and may creation of a joint venture with Hawkish LDP head Shinzo have dipped slightly in the previ- the two buyers. Abe pledged to bolster Japan’s ous three months, meaning the The sale will enable GDF Suez defences in the face of a territo- country had technically slipped to reduce its net borrowings by rial spat with China while vow- into a recession. about ¤1bn and to increase the ing to pressure the Bank of Japan The dollar was mixed against money raised from a programme (BoJ) into more aggressive policy other Asia-Pacific currencies. of asset sales to ¤3.9bn compared easing measures to kickstart the It fell to 1,072.32 South Korean with a target of ¤5bn for this year, economy. won from 1,073.75 won on Friday, the company said in a statement. He also offered to boost to 41.04 Philippine pesos from The two buyers are the spending on infrastructure at a 41.14 pesos, to 30.58 Thai baht Japanese industrial conglomerate time when much of the tsunami- from 30.64 baht and Sg$1.2201 Mitsui & Co, and a consortium wrecked northeast remains a from Sg$1.2212. headed by Canadian fund Fiera shell of its former self after last The greenback firmed to 9,697 Axium. Each of these two will year’s disaster, which sparked Indonesia rupiah from 9,694 have an interest of 30 percent. the worst atomic crisis in a rupiah while it was flat at 54.55 The assets concerned are generation. Indian rupees and Tw$29.05. mainly wind-power genera- Employees work on products that will be exported to Europe at a garment factory in Hefei, Anhui prov- Abe’s central bank pledge has The Australian dollar edged tors and a few solar projects ince. China’s exports grew 7.3 percent in the first 11 months of 2012 from a year earlier, while imports grew weighed on the yen in recent up to US$1.0539 from US$1.0536 representing in total about 680 4.1 percent, official data showed. The government aims for 10 percent growth for combined exports and weeks as traders bet that an LDP while China’s yuan rose to 13.46 megawatts. imports this year. victory would boost the likelihood yen from 13.39 yen. AFP of more easing from the central AFP TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

Republican tax intransigence California refiners dreaming relies on warped facts BY ALBERT R HUNT of shale oil face hurdles s many Republicans reject higher tax rates for wealthier BY KRISTEN HAYS Kirby Corp, the nation’s largest tank The state’s refiners have long depended Americans, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich urges barge operator, bought rival Penn Maritime on crude from now-shrinking fields in them to continue to resist, claiming that the economic wo years on, a gusher of US shale last month in a $295m deal to boost its California and Alaska as well as Canada, Aboom of the 1990s and the resulting budget surplus were oil production is finally starting coastal fleet. Kirby is “starting to discuss” where export infrastructure also has not due to his leadership in Congress and not President Bill Clinton’s to seep into California, where the idea of expanding those operations to kept up with rising production. Imported early tax increases. refiners in the country’s most the West Coast, moving oil from railway crude from Argentina to Asia now meets All economic indicators were heading downward before Gingrich isolated fuel market are waging terminals in Washington State to existing half of California’s demand, up from just 10 became speaker, he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press” on Dec 9, and Tan increasingly desperate battle to curb marine import docks in California. percent in 1995. “virtually all the economic growth occurs after Republicans take costs. Kinder Morgan Energy Partners LP Ironically, California has its own huge control” of the House in 1995. The budget was balanced late in It’s far from certain, however, that cut- Chief Executive Richard Kinder said there shale play, the Monterey shale, estimated by the decade because of the tax cut he engineered in 1997, he said. priced light crude from eastern Texas or was “very enthusiastic” interest in a project the US government to be the biggest such To paraphrase the late Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan, North Dakota will arrive quickly enough or to convert part of an underused natural reserve in the country. But output has been Gingrich is entitled to his opinion, but not to his own facts. His in sufficient volume to revitalise California gas pipeline to move crude to Southern disappointing and producers have struggled facts are wrong. plants in the same way new domestic oil has California. The potentially $2bn project with geology that differs from other fast- This is more than the usual Gingrich penchant for self- glo- rescued East Coast refiners. would transport as much as 400,000 bpd flowing reserves. rification. The arguments against higher taxes today and those The nation’s toughest permitting rules, of crude from West Texas and experts say So instead, local refiners are angling to used by Gingrich and his allies against the Clinton tax increase in complex new carbon emission limits and a it would take at least a year, if not two to bring in oil from places such as the Bakken 1993 are strikingly similar: They will destroy jobs and devastate lack of pipeline infrastructure might delay complete. fields of North Dakota and the Eagle Ford economic growth, without cutting the deficit. the flow of large-scale shipments until the The race is on and the clock is ticking. and Permian Basin in Texas, turning to rail- The facts: The Clinton tax increase on upper incomes, which end of next year or beyond. By then the big Other big projects across the United States ways to tap into domestic production that is brought the top rate to 39.6 percent, as President Barack Obama discounts on the glut of US inland crude are well ahead and could shrink the big running at its highest in two decades. wants to do now, was enacted on Aug 6, 1993. Over the next 18 might have diminished, some analysts warn. discounts by 2014, according to Bernstein The incentive is clear. Bakken was months, the economy grew at a rate of about 4 percent; unemploy- For some companies it’s a make or break Research. priced at around $82 a barrel on Friday, ment dropped sharply, to 6 percent from 7.6 percent. The stock moment. Niche refiner Alon Energy USA “It’s entirely possible California refiners while roughly similar quality ANS crude market rose moderately. Inc - which mainly produces asphalt for decide they can’t get this done in time to from Alaska was nearly $106, according to Deficits immediately began to narrow, shrinking to $22bn which demand has slumped - shut its under- catch the arbitrage, so refiners wouldn’t Reuters data. That’s a steal, even accounting in 1997 from $255bn in 1993. In late 1997, a small tax cut that utilised southern California refining system get the benefit of low-cost crude from the for the up to $15 a barrel cost of shipping included a reduction in capital-gains levies and a child credit was in October and November while it builds an Midcontinent,” said David Hackett, presi- the oil by rail from North Dakota to the passed, though the much-larger tax increases enacted four years offloading facility to bring in inland crude dent of energy consultancy Stillwater West Coast. earlier were left largely untouched. The budget situation continued by rail late next year. Associates in Irvine, California. Phillips 66, which runs refineries in Los to improve, moving to surpluses over the next four years. Most It is the only California refiner so far to California’s sheer distance from other Angeles and San Francisco, is “looking for economists credit this result to the climate of the decade, which seek permits to build a rail offloading facility, markets east of the Rocky Mountains everything we can find,” says Tim Taylor, former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan and others according to state and local agencies, but - where the big shale fields are located - executive vice president of commercial, said was sparked by the 1993 legislation boosting consumer and others are definitely looking. already sets it apart. No major pipelines marketing, transportation and business investor confidence. Meanwhile, other companies are look- carry crude to the West Coast. No major development. Now, the Republican obsession with lower marginal tax rates ing to profit from the price discrepancies waterways flow east to west into the state’s Its West Coast plants already use rail to for the more affluent defies economic and political reality. Polls that have emerged from the record boom refining hubs. Even the nation’s major export refined fuels and have some capacity show strong support for Obama’s position on the top rate. in output from previously untapped shale freight railroads thin out over the moun- for unloading crude, he added. The Republican notion that revenue can be increased without deposits. tain range and on the West Coast. REUTERS raising rates is a fantasy. Eliminating the George W Bush-era tax cuts for upper-income Americans, taking the top rate to 39.6 percent, along with the accompanying changes on some deductions and exemptions, would raise about $600bn in a decade. During the presidential campaign, the Republican nominee, Mitt Romney, floated the notion of capping deductions at $50,000 a year; that would raise less than $500bn if, as would seem cer- tain, it excluded charitable contributions; there would be other controversies and it would hit middle-class taxpayers. There are significant other tax elements apart from the rates. Some compromises will be necessary on scheduled increases in levies on dividends and capital gains. On the estate tax, although it goes exclusively to the rich, some Senate Democrats such as Max Baucus of Montana and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana, favour a more generous break. As the political tension mounts over the current fiscal deadlock — which, unless a deal is reached by Dec 31, would increase taxes for everyone and force some draconian spending cuts — there will have to be tradeoffs for any ultimate deficit-reduction deal. Congressional Republicans insist this will only be palatable if there are major cuts to entitlement programmes, especially Medicare. There are clear indications that the White House, despite the objections of some Democrats, would go along with significant changes, perhaps including a form of means testing for Medicare benefits, altering the cost-of-living adjustments for entitlements and taxes. None of that will fly politically unless it is accompanied by sig- nificant revenue increases. Initially, Obama wanted $1.6trn over 10 years; he has pulled back to $1.4trn. If he gets an amount in excess of $1trn — which would require additional measures beyond ending the Bush-era tax cuts for the wealthy — a substantive deal on entitlements becomes more palatable. Even if the current standoff over taxes and spending is resolved in the next two weeks, things are going to get messy early next year. Republicans are intent on using the need to increase the debt ceiling as leverage to force the White House to accept entitlement cuts; Obama is adamant that he won’t play Russian roulette with the debt ceiling again, a reference to last year’s market-rattling last-minute deal. The only way to avoid that faceoff is to devise some sort of enforcement mechanism before New Year’s Eve that would man- date action on entitlements and increased revenue next year. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate China setbacks are no reason to bet on its failure

BY CLIVE CROOK China’s development model has exaggerated. The pace of restruc- stimulus from the centre. Fiscal China has been here before. as China has proved before. produced spectacular growth. The turing from public to private own- policy had previously been con- Heavy lending to public borrow- (Meanwhile, ask India what too hina’s economy, which fear is that anything less might ership has slowed, it’s true. That servative, and high domestic sav- ers exposed banks to big losses in little investment in infrastructure paused earlier this year, start a vicious circle and the was bound to happen as state- ings meant that China didn’t rely the 1990s, and the central govern- does for your growth prospects.) is picking up again — miracle could start to unravel. owned enterprises lost ground. on external borrowing. That cre- ment had to absorb the bad debts. There’s no doubt, the pessimists Cgood news for China and Might that happen? The experts They accounted for more than ated fiscal space for action when Many observers think that China have a point: China’s reliance on for the United States and Europe, are divided, but there’s agreement 80 percent of industrial output it was needed, and the govern- has lately invested in projects that investment rather than consump- which need all the external stimu- on several points. in the late 1970s; today, between ment used it. are marginal, at best. Efficient tion to fuel growth is testing the lus they can get. China pessimists First, under the leadership that 25 percent and 30 percent. China’s public debt is reckoned public investments attract com- limits, and the need to reform aren’t convinced, though. They just stepped down, pro- market It’s also true that state-owned to be less than 50 percent of gross panies, spur activity and boost public finance is pressing. In the still see a hard landing coming. economic reform slowed. China’s enterprises led the government’s domestic product. Unlike the US local tax revenue — the means future, spending on infrastruc- “Pause” and “hard landing” third decade of fast growth was stimulus programme during the (to say nothing of Europe), China to service the debts. Bridges to ture should be judged more cau- have special meanings in China, powered by the momentum from post-2008 global slowdown. This has scope for another big stimulus nowhere don’t. tiously and financed with bonds. of course. Growth slowed to an earlier efforts. Second, the model was less a strategic reorienta- if one should be needed. Local officials are also counting The government should liberal- annualised rate of about 7 per- has to change in any event. China tion, however, than a temporary The real danger for China isn’t on revenue generated by rising ise interest rates and phase out cent in the first half of this year should rely less on investment expedient: Fiscal policy had to that the consolidated public sec- property values. A crash in land disguised subsidies to enterprises — lame by China’s standards, ath- and more on consumption, a be eased quickly. State-owned tor is flirting with insolvency or or housing prices might not wreak that implicitly tax consumers. letic by anybody else’s. Even the switch that requires bold finan- companies’ share of assets rose that the dead hand of government as much havoc as it did in the US Switching from investment- most pessimistic analysts talk of cial reforms — and which threat- after 2008 because of the surge of planning is reaching out to stran- China’s borrowers are much less driven growth to consumption- growth dropping at some point ens entrenched interests. Third, spending on infrastructure. Their gle the country’s private sector. leveraged. A real estate crash driven growth doesn’t have to to 3 percent or 4 percent a year, the underlying drivers of China’s share of bank lending, industrial It’s that the financing model for would check spending, though, happen all at once. China can which would hardly count as a growth remain strong. If the gov- output and exports continued to subnational public investment has and brake the growth on which make policy gradualism work landing, let alone a hard one, in ernment does what’s needed, the fall. been dangerously overstretched. everything else depends. It would again, but it has to act deliber- most of the world. miracle has further to run. Overall, the stimulus was a The money for all that new also deny provincial and local gov- ately, and the job won’t be easy. For now, the economy seems to Pessimists emphasise the success. China pushed through infrastructure has mainly come ernments the revenue they hope Political interests have aligned be rebounding. Factory output in stalling, and some say reversal, the global recession virtually not from long-term bond issuance to collect by leasing land. around the present model. Who Nov was 10.1 percent higher than of reform efforts. State-owned unscathed. but from short-term bank lend- A lot will depend on the real knows whether China’s weirdly a year earlier, beating expecta- enterprises are no longer shrink- In the US, fiscal tightening in ing, opaquely mediated through extent of overinvestment — and impenetrable leadership even tions. Still, the question remains ing, they say; if anything, the the states partly neutralised lower local financing vehicles. If the that’s hard to say, reports of understands the issues? whether China is about to slip to a state-run sector, with all its taxes and higher spending at the investments fail to generate high “ghost towns” with empty roads So yes, expect setbacks. Yet slower trajectory — and, if it does, growth-retarding distortions and federal level. In China, higher economic returns, the revenue and buildings notwithstanding. China’s underlying advantages whether the government can han- inefficiencies, is resurgent. spending at the subnational level needed to service the debts will Rapid growth has a way of justify- are formidable. dle the political implications. I would say this concern is reinforced (and in fact exceeded) fall short. That’s a real possibility. ing apparently excess investment, WP-BLOOMBERG TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

QE Indices Summary QE Index 8,350.74 15.26 WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 11,301.57 20.65 QE All Share Index 2,007.57 3.38 RATE INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial Services 1,965.79 3.10 GOLD Buying Selling QE All Share Industrials 2,595.5 13.42 All Ordinaries 4592.942 1.1 0.02 4608.8 4033.4 QR198.6551 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 1,338.74 2.12 Cac 40 Index/D 3643.92 -2.74 -0.08 3652.04 2922.26 QE All Share Real Estate 1,575.54 5.89 SILVER UK ...... QR 5.8379 QR 5.9193 QE All Share Insurance 1,896.06 24.22 Dj Indu Average 13245.45 -2.99 -0.02 13661.87 11735.19 QR 3.8401 Euro ...... QR 4.7266 QR 4.7930 QE All Share Telecoms 1,046.04 2.04 CA$ ...... QR 3.6709 QR 3.7436 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 4,678.6 0.47 Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.9063 QR 3.9620 Hang Seng Inde/D 22445.58 -57.77 -0.26 22508.01 18056.4 Yen ...... QR 0.0432 QR 0.0441 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.8060 QR 3.8817 Iseq Overall/D 3328.46 -14.02 -0.42 3382.77 2882.71 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0663 QR 0.0676 17-12-2012 16-12-2012 Karachi 100 In/D 16806.58 61.98 0.37 16903.46 10771.13 Index 8,350.74 8,335.48 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0370 QR 0.0378 Change 15.26 4.34 Nikkei 225 Index 9742.73 161.27 1.68 10255.15 8238.96 Peso ...... QR 0.0877 QR 0.0895 % 0.18 0.05 $ 107.86 SL Re ...... QR 0.0281 QR 0.0287 YTD% 4.88 5.05 S&P 500 Index/D 1428.48 0.64 0.04 1474.51 1202.37 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0443 QR 0.0455 Volume 2,985,722 1,513,653 Straits Times/D 3156.55 14.98 0.48 3145 2657.77 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0416 QR 0.0424 Value (QAR) 178,238,472.46 80,424,703.11 $ 104.62 Trades 2,170 1,640 SA Rand ...... QR 0.4175 QR 0.4258 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 09 | Down 16 | Unchanged 04

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 17-12-2012

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A B G Infra-B/D 117.45 1.55 1300 Cipla-A/D 406.5 -8.9 80015 Hind Org Chem-/D 18.9 -0.15 27540 Kopran-B/D 21.85 -0.45 33053 Pacific Indu-B/D 175.5 -1.7 1987 Gkn/D 225.9 0.4 1226411 A C C-A/D 1396 -24.95 59874 City Union Bk-/D 55.9 -0.65 118169 Hind.Petrol-A/D 282.25 0.9 88806 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 205.7 0.7 1465 Punjab Chem.-B/D 53.1 -0.65 2415 Hsbc Holdings/D 644.015 0.3 12768377 Aarti Drugs-T/D 207.8 -1.75 4326 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1172.65 -8.45 2001 Hindalco-A/D 115.9 -2.4 518168 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2148.85 -2.45 1743 Radico Khait-B/D 142.7 -0.75 13794 Imperial Tobac/D 2455.1 -10 410922 Aban Offs-B/D 377.45 -4.85 84853 Colgate-A/D 1404.1 3.85 11970 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 854.2 -5.7 36247 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 37.75 0.45 1555 Rallis India-B/D 150.05 -2.95 38386 Kingfisher/D 275.4 0.4 1016606 Aegis Logis-B/D 186.85 -6.4 34930 Container Cor-/D 907.9 11 24670 I F C I-A/D 33.6 -1.25 4253827 Lloyd Metal-B/D 14.45 -1 12535 Reliance Indus/D 446.15 -10.8 229505 Land Secs Grou/D 813 3 178117 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 140.2 1.45 6716 Dcm Financia-B/D 1.48 -0.02 3703 Idbi-A/D 107.5 -3.7 486409 Lloyd Steel-B/D 11.23 -0.41 144296 Ruchi Soya-B/D 66.7 0.65 16191 Legal & Genera/D 146.8 -0.6 2181367 Alembic-B/D 16.1 0 9384 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 49.3 -0.6 1583 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 108.85 -0.1 8454 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.77 0.03 3328 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 423.9 -19.25 93374 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 46.781 0.04 23972239 Alok Indus-B/D 10.59 -0.07 1961906 Dhampur Sugar-/D 57.4 -1.1 4489 India Cement-B/D 87.55 -2.25 79962 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 14.94 0.07 17285 Salora Inter-B/D 20.7 -0.6 12126 Marks & Sp./D 391.8 -2 541691 Next/D 3716 -34 78601 Andhra Paper-B/D 280.45 -7.75 47548 Dr. Reddy-A/D 1852.1 -22.1 14630 India Glycol-B/D 183.05 -2.2 15753 Lupin-A/D 609 2.35 58013 Saur.Cem-B/D 26.5 -0.35 2257 Pearson/D 1187.7566 -3 269237 Apollo Tyre-A/D 85.95 -0.25 521548 E I H-B/D 71.2 -0.4 15012 Indian Card-B/D 122.55 -3.45 1521 Lyka Labs-B/D 11.29 -0.12 20406 Savita Oil-B/D 537.6 -10.4 1235 Prudential/D 899.5 -5 1616356 Asahi I Glass-/D 56.05 -0.6 4226 E.I.D Parry-B/D 226.35 -5.4 63055 Indian Hotel-A/D 63 0.25 178330 Mafatlal Ind-T/D 133.85 -3.15 18294 Thirumalai-B/D 116.1 -1.8 16503 Rank Group/D 139.3 -0.5 4362 Ashok Leyland-/D 26.95 0.45 703612 Eicher Motor-A/D 2666.3 -49.75 1132 Indo-Tcount-T/D 13.25 -0.51 24405 Mah.Seamless-B/D 282.9 -3.4 2813 Til Ltd.-B/D 222.5 -4.6 1435 Rentokil Initi/D 93.5 -0.2 540751 Bajaj Hold-A/D 925.6 19.25 11569 Electrosteel-B/D 23.05 -0.7 227985 Indusind-A/D 408.65 3.65 83980 Mangalam Cem-B/D 171.55 -3.6 14022 Timexgroup-B/D 18.9 -0.3 42574 Rolls Royce Pl/D 866.9 -9 514616 Ballarpur In-B/D 22.3 -0.3 68345 Emco-B/D 29.15 -0.35 23763 J.B.Chemical-B/D 84.9 -1.35 23566 Maral Overs-B/D 14.25 -0.86 9720 Tinplate-B/D 51.6 -0.15 14186 Rsa Insrance G/D 123.825 -0.1 1754733 Bata India-A/D 877.5 -11.85 15813 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.15 -0.02 1106 Jbf Indu-B/D 128.15 0.65 8568 Mastek-B/D 140 -0.8 14235 Ub Engineer-B/D 39.15 -1.7 49780 Sainsbury(J)/D 347.05 -0.6 798290 Bayer Crop-A/D 1209.75 1 4701 Escorts-B/D 65.25 -1.6 268531 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.62 -0.02 154043 Max India L-A/D 240.55 1.4 39937 Ub Engineer-B/D 39.15 -1.7 49780 Schroders/D 1644 -9 27999 Beml Ltd-B/D 291.55 -3.5 34702 Essar Oil-A/D 67.4 -0.85 395236 Jct Ltd-B/D 1.48 -0.05 138946 Mrpl-A/D 60.9 -0.8 61567 Ucal Fuel-B/D 69.95 -0.7 7328 Severn Trent/D 1560.2636 -3 190832 Bh Electronic-/D 1182.9 5.25 1085 Eveready Indu-/D 22.8 -0.45 114875 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 3.56 -0.12 15242 Nahar Spg.-B/D 69.35 -0.45 13602 Ultramarine-B/D 48.55 -0.5 4341 Smith&Nephew/D 672.5 -6.5 210554 Bharat Bijle-B/D 553.4 3 2675 F D C-B/D 86.55 -0.4 7199 Jik Indust-B/D 4.08 0.13 31670 Nath Seeds-B/D 7.98 0.18 3594 Unitech P -A/D 33.5 -1.45 6202403 Smiths Group/D 1146.05 -1 330737 Bharatgears-B/D 56.05 -0.35 2039 Federal Bank-A/D 485.4 -12.95 54428 Jindal Drill-B/D 244 1.45 1762 Nation Alum -A/D 46.65 -0.55 30746 Univcable-B/D 44 -0.1 14545 Standrd Chart /D 1494.5 2.5 1059454 Bhartiya Int-T/D 176.35 0.05 2864 Ferro Alloys-B/D 6.84 0.02 10854 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 120.45 -0.3 19073 Navneet Pub.-B/D 64.15 -2.05 295160 Tate & Lyle/D 757.5 -3.5 163151 Tesco/D 339 -1.5 2421752 Bhel-A/D 228.05 -4.3 431033 Finolex-B/D 63.8 1.8 231023 Jmc Projects-B/D 108.1 -1.75 3526 Nepc India-B/D 2.46 0.02 8348 LONDON Bom.Burmah-B/D 119.6 -2.6 58136 Gail-A/D 347.85 -0.5 47805 Kabra Extr-B/D 32.6 -1.4 4321 Neuland Lab-B/D 174.55 -9.15 28748 Tomkins/D 0 0 0 Bombay Dyeing-/D 123.75 -2.25 112635 Gammon India-B/D 37.85 -0.65 32278 Kajaria Cer-B/D 251.8 1.45 1707 Nrb Bearings-B/D 36 -0.45 4777 3i Group/D 213.5 1.6 741067 Unilever/D 2424 -5 591162 United Util Gr/D 695 5.5 396324 Cable Corp.-B/D 23.25 0.45 2050 Garden P -B/D 57 -1.4 12562 Kalpat Power-B/D 86.05 -1.5 6435 O N G C-A/D 260.25 0.55 131509 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 1509 -12 183256 Vodafone Group/D 161.967 0.45 19129777 Camph.& All-B/D 152.8 -6.65 2190 Goodricke-B/D 156.3 -4.2 9520 Kalyani Stel-B/D 53.25 -1.05 12352 Ocl India-B/D 145.5 -1.95 1405 B Sky B/D 760.15 -9.5 1139787 Whitbread/D 2446 -15 84854 Canfin Homes-T/D 152.25 -0.7 9444 Goodyear I -B/D 323.65 -0.55 90531 Kanoria Chem-B/D 39.95 1 548153 Oil Country-B/D 51.05 -0.65 3783 Barclays/D 253.964 1.35 14771062 Castrol Ind-A/D 292.3 0.35 31417 Hcl Infosys-B/D 37.15 -0.5 51826 Kg Denim-T/D 14.3 -0.65 21809 Onward Tech-T/D 45.7 -0.75 4761 Bg Group/D 1047.938 -17.5 2870526 Century Enka-B/D 131.65 -0.4 4671 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 10.31 0.04 751802 Kilburnengg-B/D 19.9 -0.85 20070 Orchid Chem-B/D 102.35 -2.2 130909 Bp/D 430.162 0.15 4627974 Century Text-A/D 415.5 -14.85 137680 Himat Seide-B/D 43.9 -0.3 208612 Kin.Motor-B/D 9.61 -0.15 11139 Orient Hotel-B/D 23.55 0 46019 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3251 3.5 410297 Chambal Fert-B/D 68.2 0.2 255632 Hind Unilever-/D 519.8 -10.1 430648 Kinetic Eng-B/D 72.95 1.95 5952 Orient.Carb.-B/D 130.15 -3.2 4291 Bt Group/D 235.7 0.8 2297244 Chola Invest-B/D 262.95 8.1 332306 Hind Motors-B/D 10.13 -0.28 99810 Klg Systel-B/D 22.2 0.2 6855 Oudh Sugar-B/D 26.75 -0.55 2956 Centrica/D 336.1681 -1.4 910529

TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Tennis: Federer wins Swiss Sportsman of the Year award Pistorius to race in Australia

Swiss Tennis Player SYDNEY: South African run- Roger Federer smiles ner Oscar Pistorius, known during the ‘Credit as the “Blade Runner” for his Suisse’ Sports Awards carbon fibre blades, has been in Zurich, Switzerland confirmed to race in Australia, late on Sunday. officials said yesterday. Federer was named The double amputee will com- Swiss Sportsman pete in the Sydney and Perth of the Year. RIGHT: instalments of the 2013 Australian Federer (left) and Athletics Tour in March. “Having never competed in triathlete Nicola Spirig Australia before, I am very pose after receiving excited to line up in Sydney and the Swiss Sportsman/ Perth,” Pistorius said. Sportswoman of the “I plan to be in pretty solid Year award. form when I arrive and it would be great to start my season in style at the meet.” The news is a coup after Olympic gold medallist Sally Pearson earlier this month revealed a back problem would force her to miss out. AFP McIlroy rules after stellar year The world number one caps remarkable 2012 season with Ryder Cup victory, four titles

PARIS: Rory McIlroy started 2012 as the crown prince of golf. He ended it as the undisputed king. The 23-year-old from Holywood, near Belfast, won four times during the year, including his second major at the USPGA Championship, he became the second youngest ever world No.1, won the Money Lists on both sides of the Atlantic and played a leading role in Europe’s successful defence of the Ryder Cup. McIlroy also impressed with his easy-going manner and integrity coupled with a healthy confidence in his own abilities and a willing- ness to put in the hard work on the range when things are not quite right Not since Tiger Woods backed his car into a fire hydrant outside his Florida home in November 2009 unleashing a sex scandal that eventually floored him has golf had a truly dominant golfer at the head of the rankings. And at such a young age, he can realistically expect to be at or near the top for the next two decades well into the 2030s. Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy (right) poses with his girlfriend, Denmark’s tennis champion Caroline Wozniacki, after winning the DP World Tour golf Championship in Dubai, in this November It was not all sweetness and 2012 file photo. McIlroy responded in magnificent fashion to Justin Rose’s course record round of 10-under par 62 by making five birdies in his last five holes to win the Championship. RIGHT: light for McIlroy in 2012. He From left: Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Luke Donald and Ian Poulter pose with the Ryder Cup after Europe defeated the USA 14.5 to 13.5 to retain the Ryder Cup during the Single matches made a strong start to the year, at the 39th Ryder Cup at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Illinois, in this September 2012 file photo. but in his own words “took my eye off the ball” in the late spring and summer, missing four cuts in championships at a very young away from the golf course hasn’t of trees in a playoff with Louis climbed back to second in the at the 18th hole. The Englishman’s five outings, one of those coming age and very convincingly,” he changed, but definitely when I Oosthuizen, the shot of the year world rankings. goggle-eyed, fist-pumping victory at the US Open, where he was said. get to the golf course I’m maybe for many fans. His budding rivalry with celebration after sinking the win- defending champion. “He’s stamped his authority on a little more professional, a little Another American, Webb McIlroy, more than 13 years his ning putt gave new hope to the But after a short trip back to world golf over the last couple of more businesslike and go about Simpson, also won his first major junior, is being hotly anticipated flagging Europeans at 10-6 down. the driving range for repairs, he years. He’s only 23 years old and my business like that.” at the US Open played over the for 2013. The Poulter factor carried over re-emerged with a bang to win he’s just an incredibly talented kid Instrumental in him adopting quirky Olympic Club course in It was an Englishman who stole to the following day when they the USPGA by eight shots. with a great personality.” this new harder, more focussed San Francisco, while veteran the show in the Ryder Cup at produced the greatest comeback From there on until his win at McIlroy himself agrees that he edge, McIlroy says, has been girl- Ernie Els benefitted from Adam Medinah outside Chicago in late to take the singles 8 1/2 to 3 1/2 the season-ending Race to Dubai has taken his golf up onto a new friend and former tennis world Scott’s collapse over the last four September. with Martin Kaymer sinking the tournament, he was superb and level in the last 12 months or so. No.1 Caroline Wozniacki. holes at Royal Lytham to win the Outplayed by the Americans winning putt. Poulter had won all all his main rivals agree that he “I’ve always felt like I’ve been For 2013, McIlroy says he will British Open. for much of the first two days, it four of his matches and he agreed is currently the best golfer in the dedicated to the game and I’ve play a less demanding schedule Tiger Woods failed to add to his looked like Europe would head that the showdown brought the world by a good margin. practiced hard and I’ve worked and look to perform at his peak in majors haul of 14, where he has into the 12 closing singles trailing best out of him. Fellow Northern Irishman at it,” he said. the majors, which, with the excep- been stranded since winning the by a near impossible 11-5. “I don’t know. It’s a passion I and Ryder Cup partner Graeme “But I guess over the last 18 tion of the USPGA. he did not do US Open at Torrey Pines in 2008, But, playing with McIlroy in have; it’s a passion I’ve seen at McDowell is the golfer who knows months, especially after winning in 2012. and he remains four short of the the penultimate afternoon four- The Ryder Cup for years and McIlroy best and he is in no doubt the US Open I felt like I went to The Masters in April saw an record 18 won by Jack Nicklaus. balls, Ian Poulter closed with an years as a kid growing up, and of his worth. the next level or the next stage of emotional win for straight-talking He did, however, enjoy a strong astonishing five straight birdies it’s something that comes from “He’s the world number one my career. Bubba Watson, his hooked recov- return to form in the year with to defeat the previously unbeaten within. I don’t know. I just love player, he’s won two major “I feel like my personality ery shot from deep inside a clump three tournament wins and Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson it,” he said. AFP Calderon’s triple-double lifts Raptors Qatar coach completes course

TORONTO: The injury- win (earlier) but it feels great,” depleted Toronto Raptors won he said. consecutive games for the first Playing without injured Andrea time in eight months with a Bargnani and Kyle Lowry, two of 103-96 victory over the Houston the Raptors’ top three scorers, Rockets yesterday. Toronto built an early 12-point Alan Anderson lead and held off scored a team- a late Houston high 24 points NBA Results charge for its while DeMar Toronto 103 Houston 96 first win streak DeRozan added since April of the LA Lakers 111 Philadelphia 98 19 to lead a spir- 2011-12 season. ited Toronto Denver 122 Sacramento 97 Houston effort that pulled to within handed the Rockets a seventh two points twice during the final straight road loss. minute but Anderson helped “We’ve been working so hard, put the game out of reach with we’ve been practicing so hard and a reverse layup with 11 seconds Qatar National Badminton Coach Manoj Sahibjan successfully com- we were staying together and try- left in regulation. pleted the BWF Coaches Training Course, hosted by the Bahrain ing to do a lot of things,” Raptors’ For Toronto (6-19), the win Badminton and Squash Federation (BB&SF) in Sheikh Khalifa Stadium, Toronto Raptors’ guard Jose Calderon (centre) reacts in front of team- guard Jose Calderon, who had 18 avenged last month’s 117-101 Bahrain held recently. He received the certificate from Hisham Al Khan, mates Amir Johnson (left) and John Lucas III after drawing a penalty to points, 14 assists and 10 rebounds road loss at Houston (11-12), Secretary of Badminton and Squash Federation after the Bahrain Open the Houston Rockets during the second half of their NBA basketball game for a triple-double, told reporters. which came during a dismal run Badminton Tournament prize giving ceremony that was held at the in Toronto, yesterday. “I know it’s been a tough time that saw the Raptors loss 12 of 13 Indian Club Bahrain in Manama, recently. and we couldn’t turn that into a games. REUTERS TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29 Pakistan favourites for Asian Champions Trophy, says Nobbs India selectors have future on their minds; retain same squad for Qatar tournament

DOHA: Top-ranked Pakistan of the team in 2011 said the Indian is one of the favourites to win selectors decided against tinker- the Asian Champions Trophy ing with the team as they have hockey championship which future on their minds. begins from December 20 in “Well the selectors have Qatar, says Michael Nobbs, decided to look at young players Australian coach of the Indian as they are the future. It doesn’t hockey team. mean that the senior players Speaking to journalists at Doha will be missing out completely. International Airport Nobbs said The young boys did very well in Pakistan team is a more experi- Australia,” said Nobbs. enced side compared to India. The Aussie said it was not about “Look, Pakistan is clearly the the youngsters getting used to his favourites for this tournament. German style of play which forced Both teams are playing after com- the selectors to stick to the same ing straight from a tough tour- squad which did duty in Australia. nament. But Pakistan has some “It is not about young play- great players like Shakeel Abbasi ers adapting better to my style and Waseem Ahmed, between of training. I think after the them they have around 600 Olympics we looked at the games. We have Sardar (Singh) German team. They have good who has figured in 150 matches,” standards at World Hockey and said the 58-year-old. so we took positives from their Indian team which arrived in play and put them in our style of Qatar yesterday for the six nation play. We still have our attacking championship was earlier part of style of play but we have tight- The Indian hockey team players and officials pose for a picture on their arrival at Doha International Airport yesterday. India will be taking part in the the Champions Trophy action in ened up in the defense a bit more Asian Champions Trophy hockey championship which begins from December 20 at Al Rayyan Stadium. Pakistan, Japan, China, Malaysia and Oman are Australia which concluded last looking at the way the Germany’s the other teams taking part in the eight-day tournament. RIGHT: Michael Nobbs, Australian coach of the Indian hockey team. PICTURES BY: ABDUL BASIT week. play,” explained Nobbs. The eight-time Olympic cham- Nobbs said Hockey India is try- pions lost to Pakistan 3-2 in the ing to create a pool of players and third place play-off to finish the performance in Australia has fourth. been encouraging HIL financial windfall delights Sardar The Nobbs coached side thus “We are trying to build up the missed a chance to claim only its base of hockey. And we have made DOHA: Indian captain Sardar With such high profile players and we cannot take any team second Champions Trophy medal some conscious effort to try and Singh (pictured) feels he is around there is lot the youngsters lightly. So we will going match and the first since 1982. make sure that we have 20-30 ‘lucky but not surprised’ that can learn, said the 26-year-old. by match. We will see how it goes. Hosts Australia won the players or more whom we can call he emerged as the highest-paid HIL, which is due to start The captain was surprised that Champions Trophy. on anytime. We will also try and player at the inaugural Hockey next month, is structured on the the team bounced back to finish The Green Shirts, winners of make sure all are provided oppor- India League (HIL) auction on lines of cricket’s popular Indian fourth in the Champions Trophy the world title for a record four tunities and then, try and pick the Sunday night. Premier League. in Australia after the disappoint- times, thanks to their bronze best for the major tournaments.” The mid-fielder who led India “I think I am lucky but not ing show at the London 2012 medal in Australia have leapt Nobbs was not certain if veteran in the just-concluded Champions surprised by the amount and Olympics where India finished last. from the ninth place to fifth in player Ignace Tirkey was willing to Trophy in Melbourne, was bought happy to top the list,” added “I didn’t seriously expect such the latest rankings released by make a return to the team. by Delhi franchise for $78,000. Sardar, also the brand ambassa- a show from the boys. The young- FIH. “I’m not sure if Ignace wants to Sardar said HIL is the best dor of the League. ster really played out of their skin Pakistan enters the tourna- comeback. He just told me after thing to happen to hockey in The midfielder said the Qatar all credit goes to the youngsters. ment as the top-ranked team and the Olympics I just want to go and India. tournament is not just about the We fought really well against the will clash with defending champi- see my baby. He has given every- “Some of the worlds best play- India-Pakistan match, but China, teams like New Zealand, England ons India on December 24. thing to Indian hockey. It’s like he ers will be playing in the League Japan, Malaysia and Oman are all and Belgium. The camp ahead of India defeated Pakistan in has to make the decision on his and thus it will provide the tough opponents. the Champions Trophy in Patiala the last edition of the Asian own whether to continue or no,” Indian players an opportunity “Some of the best teams are worked for us,” added Sardar. Champions Trophy held in China. Nobbs said about the 31-year-old. to learn and improve our game. here from Asian not just Pakistan THE PENINSULA Nobbs, who took over as coach THE PENINSULA Indian team to launch unique calendar in Qatar BY ARMSTRONG VAS China, Oman and Japan are tak- sports, educational and cultural them a good education so that ing part in the eight-day tourna- activities of the students and they can make their way without DOHA: Wanderers Hockey ment, which culminates with the volunteers of the project have sports as well,” she added. – a first division club of Qatar final on December 27. The idea found its way into the Calendar,” The foundation is imparting National League - will launch behind the calendar is to raise says Fabian Faleiro, President of English language classes and the first edition of their Annual funds for Hockey Village India Wanderers Hockey. hockey training for both boys and Hockey Calendar as part of an Foundation, a Non-governmental Geraldine Menezes of Sharp girls of the village and plans are ambitious fund raising drive Organisation (NGO) based some Shooters, a photographic agency afoot to build a school and install to support a hockey school in 120 kilometres away from Jaipur, from Mumbai, spend a week in an Astroturf. a remote village in western the capital city of Rajasthan. Garh Himmat Singh Hockey “The Bremer Hockey Club in Indian state of Rajasthan. Wanderers Hockey, consist- Village, east of Jaipur for the Germany is removing its old turf The Calendar will be released ing mostly of expatriate players Calendar shoot. by beginning of next year and they today by the Indian hockey team. from India, finished as winners “The idea of the calendar is have donated the turf to our vil- The Indian team are in Doha for for three successive years in the to promote the village and find lage. We can play on that turf at the Asian Champions Trophy Qatar league from 2008 to 2010. some new sponsors. We wanted least the next two years, until then tournament which begins from Three players from the club are to highlight the rural surround- we have to proof that we are good December 20 at Al Rayyan part of the Qatar national team ing and the conditions in which enough to get a new turf from the Stadium. which took part in the World we are working as well as their government. We already found a Six top teams from Asia includ- League of FIH. sports activities and the edu- sponsor who is shipping the heavy ing hockey powerhouses India “Pictures depicting the ways cational part. Geraldine did turf to India - GAC - a Swedish and Pakistan, besides Malaysia, of life in the village besides the an amazing job and we are all shipping company is doing that curious to see the results,” said great job for us. In Rajasthan, we Andrea Thumshirn, a travel have only two Astroturf’s and it agent by profession who started is hard and complicated to bring the project in 2008. the kids there for practise,” said Initially, the former hockey Thumshirn. Girls from player from Germany, use to Astroturf, the school, get on Garh Himmat shuttle between India and top of the country, play inter- Singh Germany, but is now perma- national tournaments and even Hockey nently based in the village for invite international teams to our Village tak- the last two years. village and to include the vil- ing part in “We are providing education lagers in the project as teacher, the Hockey (so far English classes), starting coach and clerk, are the some of A collage of pictures that will feature on the Wanderers Hockey Calendar. Village India from next June we will have our the important targets, which the The Calendar will be released by the Indian hockey team in Qatar today. Foundation’s own school and sports facilities. Foundation aims to achieve in the BOTTOM: Andrea Thumshirn (centre) of Hockey Village India Foundation sports and As I am a hockey player myself I coming years. THE PENINSULA with the boys and girls hockey team during a tournament in Jaipur. education know very well how much sport project pose especially team sports can change for a picture. in your life,” said the 38-year-old. Garh Himmat The project goes by the slogan ‘Sports and education for a better Singh future’ and the day-to-day activi- Hockey ties of the foundation are carried Village is out by Thumshirn and a group of situated volunteers. some 120 Thumshirn believes sports and kilometres education together will provide away from for a bright future for the rural Jaipur, the students of India. capital city of “In India sports is still a way Rajasthan. to earn money. So even if the kids don’t manage to play for the country or to get a good job due to their sports, we at least gave TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT England seal historic series win Trott, Bell hit tons in drawn Test match; visitors triumph in India for first time in 27 years

NAGPUR: England scripted welcome for Bell who averaged eighth Test hundred before lunch, their first series win in India just 18 in India before he came Bell got his first big score of the Stats from India, since 1984-85 after the fourth to the crease when England were series minutes before the end of and final cricket Test ended in are 94/3. the game. England Series a dull draw at the VCA Stadium The draw meant England got If the pitch did no good to 4: Number of Test series here, yesterday. their hands on the Anthony De India’s cause, their sloppy field- England have won in India. England, starting the day at 161 Mello Trophy as they won the ing let them further down. Alastair Cook joins David Gower for three, batted India out of the four-match series 2-1. It was a Sehwag was once again caught (2-1 in 1984-85), Tony Greig (3-1 game by going on to make 352 for remarkable comeback for the napping at first slip, dropping Bell in 1976-77) and Douglas Jardine four in their second innings when visitors, who bounced back after off Piyush Chawla. (2-0 in 1933-34) in leading the play was called off an hour a heavy loss in the first Test at His late reaction to Bell’s cut England to victory there. after tea on the final day. Ahmedabad. short led to the slip-up. Sehwag 11: Wickets taken by Monty The stars for England were The Indian bowling, that looked had also dropped Kevin Pietersen Panesar on his comeback Test Jonathan Trott (143) and Ian Bell inferior to England’s attack on the penultimate day of the at Mumbai. His 11-210 was the (116 not out), who took the game throughout the series, failed to game. third best match figures at the away from the hosts by forging come up with something special England skipper Alastair Wankhede Stadium, behind a 208-run stand from a pre- on a slow wicket, responsible for Cook led from the front and was Ian Botham (13-106), Laxman carious 94 for three on day four. producing a drab affair. deservingly picked as the man of Sivaramakrishnan (12-181). England had made 330 in their The match ended with Gautam the series. 20: Wickets taken by Graeme first innings and India responded Gambhir rolling his arm over for The southpaw amassed 562 Swann and Pragyan Ojha, the with 326 for nine. the first time in Tests, demon- runs at ana average of 80.28 to be joint leading wicket-takers in The Warwickshire pair posted strating that the India ran out of series’ highest run-getter, smash- the series. their highest Test scores of the options. ing three hundreds in the process. 438: Runs in the series by year, with a century particularly While Trott completed his For India, it was their first India’s top scorer Cheteshwar series loss at home since 2004, Pujara, 185 higher than nearest when they lost 1-2 to Australia. rival Virender Sehwag. IANS 528: Combined international wicket totals by Anderson (288 Scoreboard in Tests, 222 in ODIs and 18 in T20 internationals) and Botham Virat Kohli (left) England (I innings): ...... 330 (383 in Tests, 145 in ODIs), who congratulates India (I innings): ...... 226/9 decl now share the England record. England’s Ian England (II innings): Captain Cook A Cook c Dhoni b Ashwin ...... 13 Bell, after the 5: Set a new world record with N Compton lbw Ojha ...... 34 fourth Test match centuries in his first five Tests I Trott c Kohli b Ashwin ...... 143 as captain. between England K Pietersen b Jadeja ...... 6 and India was I Bell (not out) ...... 116 23: Cook became the first England batsman to score 23 drawn, yesterday. J Root (not out) ...... 20 Test centuries when he reached England won the Extras (B-8, LB-6, NB-6) ...... 20 three figures in Kolkata. Walter Test series 2-1. Total (for 4 wkts decl) ...... 352 Hammond, Colin Cowdrey, Geoff Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-81, 3-94, 4-302. Boycott and Kevin Pietersen Bowling: I Sharma 15-3-42-0 (3nb); P P have scored 22. Ojha 40-14-70-1; R Ashwin 38-11-99-2; P P Jonathan Trott (left) celebrates 0his eighth Test century against India on Chawla 26-6-64-0 (2nb); R A Jadeja 33-17- 27: Became the youngest bats- man to pass 7,000 Test runs at 59-1 (1nb); G Gambhir 2-0-4-0. the fifth day of the fourth Test match in Nagpur, yesterday. 27 years 347 days Bangladesh Cook savours positive result England deserved the agree to tour NAGPUR: Alastair Cook more impressive given their ter- couple of games all made a dif- savoured a “very special” series rible start to the series. England ference and the amount of effort victory, says Dhoni win after England triumphed lost the opening Test which led to the guys have put in for me, I Pakistan in India for the first time in 27 gloomy forecasts of a whitewash. can’t ask any more,” he added. years. “We didn’t handle the James Anderson, who was NAGPUR: India captain “As the game progressed there DHAKA: Bangladesh have Centuries from Jonathan Trott Ahmedabad wicket well but awarded the Man-of-the-Match Mahendra Singh Dhoni has said wasn’t much for the spinners or agreed in principle to tour and Ian Bell secured a draw in the others were all very differ- award after taking 4-81 in India’s England deserved the series fast bowlers. If you got your head Pakistan and become the first the fourth Test in Nagpur and a ent and we adapted well,” added first innings, was described as win after the fourth and final down it was hard to take wickets. team to play international 2-1 win in the series. Cook, who was named man of the the difference between the two cricket Test ended in a drab I think it got better, coming on to cricket there since an attack Captain Cook, whose team lost series after scoring three hun- sides by India captain Mahendra draw here yesterday. the bat and easier to play strokes,” on Sri Lanka’s team bus nearly the first Test, said: “It’s a very dreds and 562 runs in the four- Dhoni. Dhoni, asked if England he said. four years ago, officials said special day for us; it’s been a match series. The fast bowler took 12 wick- deserved the series win, said: “I “We tried a few combinations yesterday. special tour and we’ll have great “The bowlers have been bril- ets and played a key part. think so, we struggled in the bat- that didn’t really work (in the Pakistan have had to play their memories. liant and our batters have con- “When we come over here, ting department but their spin- series), we had some part-tim- ‘home’ matches in venues ranging “Today was a fantastic effort tributed big runs. people think that spinners are ners were right on the mark, ers but we needed someone like from Dubai to London ever since by Trott and Bell. It was a flat “Everyone in the squad can going to get all the wickets but James Anderson was very good, (Ravindra) Jadeja to keep the lid gunmen shot dead eight people pitch, but how calmly they batted be very proud, especially after we knew that the seamers had a testing the batsmen.” on the batsmen. (Cheteshwar) and wounded seven Sri Lankan was fantastic.” Ahmedabad and that heavy job to do,” Anderson said. Dhoni, however, criticised the Pujara’s batting was a positive players in an audacious attack England’s success was all the defeat. The guys who played a AGENCIES pitch conditions saying it was dif- and (Gautam) Gambhir got back near the stadium in Lahore in ficult to pick wickets. in the runs.” IANS March 2009. But their exile status now looks set to end as early as January 12 after the Bangladeshi board Hosts Australia set Sri Lanka 393 to win (BCB) said it would take up an invitation to play two games in Lahore, as long as there were no HOBART: Australia removed five declared and will need to set last-minute objections on security both Sri Lanka openers cheaply a new record for a fourth innings grounds. to leave the tourists clinging run chase at Hobart to beat the “We have in principle agreed to on at 65 for two and chasing an 369 Australia scored against tour Pakistan. It’s a commitment unlikely 393 for victory at the Pakistan in 1999. made by former BCB president close of play on the fourth day of Spinner Rangana Herath took Mustafa Kamal. We are keeping the first Test yesterday. five for 95 and seamer Chanaka his word,” Enayet Husain Siraj, Sri Lanka’s hopes are in the Welegedara 3-89 as the Sri the board’s head of cricket opera- experienced hands of Kumar Lankan bowlers finally got some tions, said. Sangakkara (18 not out) and skip- reward for their efforts after the Sri Lankan batsman “The tour is subject to security per Mahela Jayawardene (five not Australian openers frustrated Dimuth Karunaratne clearance,” he added. out) after Tillakaratne Dilshan them for much of the morning. (second left) dives Bangladesh had also accepted and Dimuth Karunaratne both Their Australian counterparts on the pitch during an invitation to tour Pakistan fell victim to superb deliveries. made a more immediate impact the fourth day of the last April for a short limited- Australia skipper Michael as they looked to remove the last first Test match, in over series but the Dhaka High Clarke had earlier played a glit- 10 wickets and take a 1-0 lead in Hobart, yesterday. Court blocked the tour on secu- tering cameo by smashing 57 runs the three-match series. rity grounds. off 46 balls to help drive the hosts Shane Watson, taking on a big- Officials have said they see no to 278 in their second innings ger bowling burden after Sunday’s judicial bar this time. before he retired hurt with a injury to quick Ben Hilfenhaus, Jalal Yunus, a spokesman hamstring injury. struck with his first ball to remove for the BCB, said the board on Sri Lanka were dismissed Dilshan, who made 147 in the first Sunday night received a security for 336 on Sunday in reply to innings, caught behind for 11. plan from their counterparts in Australia’s first innings 450 for Karunaratne had put 30 runs Pakistan, which would be dis- cussed before signing off on the Scoreboard tour. “We’ll sit with our stakeholders Australia (I innings): ...... 450/5 decl 5-181, 6-250, 7-256, 8-271 9-278. on the board when he was undone in the second session. Herath a declaration. Three overs later, including players and concerned Sri Lanka (I innings): ...... 336 Bowling: Kulasekara 12-3-24-0 (1nb); Weleg- by a sizzling Mitchell Starc yorker had been belted for a six and a however, Phil Hughes played the government officials very soon,” Australia (II innings): edara 22-3-89-3 (3nb); Dilshan 2-0-2-0; which hammered into the base of switch-hit four by Warner but ball onto his own wicket to depart he said. E Cowan b Welegedara ...... 56 Eranga 11-0-53-1; Mathews 5-2-5-0; Herath the off-stump. got his revenge when his carrom for 16 and Wade did not last much Yunus said Pakistan had pro- D Warner c P Jayawardene b Herath ...... 68 21.5-2-95-5. Skipper Mahela Jayawardene delivery took a bottom edge and longer, holing out to Kulasekara posed two matches to take place P Hughes b Eranga ...... 16 Sri Lanka (II innings): took 25 balls to get off the mark carried to the wicketkeeper. for 11. in Lahore from January 12-13, S Watson st P Jayawardene b Herath ...... 5 D Karunaratne b Starc ...... 30 and Sangakkara had a big scare Cowan joined his partner in the After Clarke’s departure, Peter one of which would be a 50-over M Wade c Kulasekara b Herath ...... 11 T Dilshan c Wade b Watson ...... 11 on three when Clarke, who had pavilion 15 minutes later when Siddle (four), Starc (five) and international game and the other M Clarke (retd hurt) ...... 57 K Sangakkara (batting) ...... 18 come out to field despite his Welegedara swung in a fizzing Lyon (11) made brief appearances a Twenty20 contest. M Hussey (not out) ...... 31 M Jayawardene ((batting) ...... 5 injury, dropped the ICC cricketer delivery which hit the Australian’s before Herath trapped Hilfenhaus Pakistani cricketers are hugely P Siddle c P Jayawardene b Welegedara ...... 4 Extras (B-1) ...... 1 of the year in the slips. pad before taking off the bails. lbw for a duck to end the innings popular in Bangladesh and 20 of M Starc lbw b Welegedara ...... 5 Total (for 2 wkts) ...... 65 In the morning sunshine, open- Watson suffered torrid exami- and bring up tea. them -- including stars such as N Lyon b Herath ...... 11 Fall of wickets: 1-26, 2-47 ers David Warner (68) and Ed nation from Herath before he The final wicket gave Herath big-hitting Shahid Afridi and the B Hilfenhaus lbw Herath ...... 0 Bowling: Starc 10-4-21-1; Siddle 7-3-12-0; Cowan (56) combined for a part- was stumped by wicketkeeper 60 for 2012 to put him ahead of spinner Saeed Ajmal -- played Extras (LB-10, NB-4) ...... 14 Watson 9-4-10-1; Lyon 10-3-16-0; Hussey nership of 132. Prasanna Jayawardene for five England’s Graeme Swann in their in the inaugural edition of the Total (for 9 wkts) ...... 278 1-0-5-0. However both were removed in soon after lunch to bring Wade personal battle to decide the most Bangladesh Premier League Fall of wickets: 1-132, 2-140, 3-153, 4-165, Sri Lanka trail by 328 runs. the half hour before lunch in an in at number five as they looked to prolific wicket-taker of the year. (BPL) last year. AFP appetizer for what was to come up the run rate heading towards REUTERS TUESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2012 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31

Match fixing scandal rocks Barca increase South Africa

JOHANNESBURG: South Africa was plunged into crisis yesterday just a month before it hosts the African Nations Cup lead at the top finals with the suspension of its football association president and other top officials follow- Messi scores twice in 4-1 win over Atletico ing a report into match fixing involving the national team. MADRID: Leaders Barcelona Espanyol substitute Juan Albin South African Football struck a potentially decisive Spanish League stunned Real with an 88th-minute Association (SAFA) president blow in the La Liga title race equaliser as the Barcelona-based Kirsten Nematandani, new chief when Lionel Messi scored twice Results side grabbed an unlikely draw at executive Dennis Mumble and in a 4-1 win at home to second- the Bernabeu. its top refereeing officials have MADRID: Spanish league placed Atletico Madrid to move The Uruguayan forward bun- been suspended indefinitely as results on Sunday night: nine points clear at the top on dled the ball in after Real failed to the organisation said it planned Sunday night. Real Zaragoza 0 Levante 1 (Santos 19) clear a corner, and whistles rang to ask a judge to set up an inde- The victory moved Barca 13 Valencia 0 Rayo Vallecano 1 (Dominguez 83- around the ground as the teams pendent inquiry. points ahead of ailing champions pen) filed off the pitch at the end. The suspension follows the Real Madrid, who were surpris- Real Madrid 2 (Cristiano Ronaldo 45+1, Karim Benzema was left in the handing over last Friday by world ingly held to a 2-2 draw at home Coentrao 48) Espanyol 2 (Sergio Garcia 31, stands with an ankle injury, and governing body FIFA to SAFA of a by lowly Espanyol. Albin 88) Cristiano Ronaldo started in the 500-page report investigating the Tito Vilanova’s unbeaten lead- Barcelona 4 (Adriano 36, Busquets 45, centre-forward position, but for activities of convicted Singapore ers fought back after Radamel Messi 57, 88) Atletico Madrid 1 (Falcao 31) all their possession Real struggled match fixer Wilson Raj Perumal Falcao gave Atletico a deserved Played on Saturday in the first half. and his Football 4U organisation. lead. A magnificent strike from Getafe 1 (Diego Castro 90+3-pen) Osasuna Visiting striker Sergio Garcia, The report highlighted the Adriano levelled the scores, and 1 (Echaide 84) a Euro 2008 winner with Spain, involvement of the five South Sergio Busquets and a second- sprinted clear to net past Iker African officials, a press briefing Real Mallorca 0 Athletic Bilbao 1 (Aduriz 11) half brace from Messi completed Casillas in the 31st minute. in Johannesburg was told. the scoring. Barca have 46 points Granada 0 Real Sociedad 0 Luka Modric crashed a shot “These suspensions were neces- from 16 games, Atletico have 37 Sevilla 0 Malaga 2 (Demichelis 49, Eliseu against the post, but just as sary for good governance and for and Real 33. 70-pen) the Bernabeu was getting rest- allowing this matter to be thor- “You can’t say the league is Playing on Monday (GMT) less Sami Khedira crossed and oughly and properly investigated,” over,” Real midfielder Xabi Alonso Deportivo La Coruna vs Valladolid (1900), Ronaldo stuck out a foot to level said outgoing chief executive told Spanish television after their Celta Vigo vs Real Betis (2030) in the 45th minute. Ronaldo’s Robin Petersen, who was due to earlier game. reverse pass picked out Fabio hand over to Mumble next month. “We will continue fighting, it back in the game thanks to a Coentrao’s driving run, and the FIFA has alleged that the will be tough, but we will carry thunderous shot from Adriano, Portugal defender put Real ahead results of pre-World Cup warm- on.” who cut in from the right flank with his first league goal for the up matches against Thailand, Atletico made an impressive and fired in off the underside of club, soon after the re-start. Bulgaria, Colombia and start, causing problems on the the crossbar. Atletico were strug- A fingertip save and the wood- Guatemala in the weeks leading break, and after twice going close, gling to break out of the area work prevented a quick third for up the 2010 finals were fixed. Colombia striker Falcao put the before halftime, and when they Real, but Espanyol continued to The suspended officials had visitors ahead in the 32nd minute failed to clear a corner, Busquets threaten and Albin made them engaged Perumal to organise with his 17th of the campaign. calmly stroked home the second. pay for failing to finish off the job. opponents for South Africa’s Diego Costa stole the ball off After the break, Messi slot- Earlier, Rayo Vallecano scored national team as they pre- Messi and fed Falcao who sped ted a third into the corner and a late penalty to spoil Ernesto Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi (right) congratulates defender pared to host the World away and cleverly lobbed the then pounced on an error at the Valverde’s home debut as Valencia Adriano Correia on scoring during the Spanish league match against Atletico Cup, and then also agreed to advancing Victor Valdes. end for his 25th in La Liga and coach, with a surprise 1-0 victory. de Madrid at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona on Sunday. Perumal’s suggestion he bring Five minutes later, Barca were 90th for club and country in 2012. REUTERS in and pay referees from other African countries to handle the matches, SAFA said. The referees then fixed the results of the games to benefit an PSG edge out Lyon to take pole position Asian betting syndicate, some of the matches filled with dubious PARIS: A first half injury-time -- especially in Qatari owners after the latter had Cheikh penalty decisions and poor offside goal from Blaise Matuidi gave the second half. French League but still trying M’Bengue and Franck Tabanou calls. Paris Saint-Germain a 1-0 vic- We didn’t take to find the right dismissed during the first half. Allegations of match fixing tory in their top-of-the-table any defensive Results blend in what has M’Bengue received a harsh were first revealed in the South clash with Lyon at the Parc des risks. We must PARIS: French league results been an incon- straight red card for a lunge on African press in July last year but Princes on Sunday night as the still show solid- on Sunday night: sistent campaign, Morgan Amalfitano on 25 min- SAFA did not immediately act, capital club moved top on goal ity and consist- will now hold utes, while Toulouse goalkeeper only raising the issue once FIFA Paris SG 1 (Matuidi 45+1) Lyon 0 difference. ency (but) since on to pole posi- Ali Ahamada saved a first-half had incorporated the country Swedish star Zlatan we lost at Nice a Saint-Etienne 0 Lorient 2 (Aliadiere 20, S. A. tion if they can penalty from Andre Ayew after into a wider investigation into Ibrahimovic, whose steady supply lot of things have Traore 38) win their final Tabanou had impeded Jordan Perumal. of goals has constituted the bed- changed. Nancy 1 (Bakar 32) Bordeaux 1 (Saivet 76) match of the Ayew. The home side were then SAFA said it would ask a rock of PSG’s tilt at a first league “The players year on Friday reduced to nine men as Tabanou retired judge to take charge of crown since 1994, this time turned have worked hard and we deserve at Brest. Lyon complete their was sent off for a rash challenge an urgent commission of inquiry provider, cutting in from the right to be top of the pile.” 2012 programme on Saturday from behind on Andre Ayew “so that the issue can be speedily to whip over a cross for Matuidi, Lyon’s third defeat of the cam- at home to Nice while Marseille on the stroke of half-time, as resolved”. lurking on the edge of the box. paign was a further blow after finish off the year at the Stade Ahamada produced a couple of The organisation’s image has The French-born midfielder, they had dropped two home points Velodrome against fallen giants excellent saves from Joey Barton suffered in recent years from whose parents are both Angolan, in a midweek draw with rock- Saint Etienne. and Lucas Mendes to keep it goal- in-fighting between football poli- promptly launched himself to bottom Nancy while PSG had Lyon might have easily bagged less at the interval. ticians and near bankruptcy, nod past Lyon keeper Remy been grateful to an Ibrahimovic a point but Argentine striker Saint Etienne saw any real with an independent audit firm Vercoutre. hat-trick in a 4-0 thrashing of Lisandro Lopez hit the post. hope of closing in on the top three brought in to run the body’s PSG’s success before a 43,000 Valenciennes. That was a rare excursion into recede after they went down finances. crowd saw them move ahead of And this loss extended their the danger zone from a visiting to a 2-0 home loss to Lorient SAFA was hoping a successful both Lyon and Marseille on goal winless sequence against the side playing five at the back and for whom former Arsenal man Nations Cup tournament, which difference with all three having Parisians to eight encounters. once PSG had their lead the hosts Jeremy Aliadiere hit the opener starts on January 19, would help Paris Saint-Germain’s midfielder garnered 35 points from 18 games. Lyon gave as good as they got in rarely looked like conceding their before Alain Traore sealed the turn around its fortunes and Blaise Matuidi reacts after the “We were a bit surprised by the early exchanges despite Remi advantage. win. Nancy, buoyed by having recently unveiled a long-term French L1 match against Lyon, at the way Lyon lined up with five Garde’s men missing the midfield On Saturday, Andre-Pierre held Lyon, prevented Bordeaux development plan it is hoping the Parc des Princes Stadium in defenders,” coach Carlo Ancelotti creativity of the injured Yoann Gignac’s first goal since his return from moving into the top four by to entice corporate sponsors to Paris, yesterday. admitted. Gourcuff. The Parisians, float- from injury guided Marseille to a holding them to a 1-1 home draw. back. REUTERS “We played a strong match ing on a sea of cash from their 1-0 win over nine-man Toulouse AFP Wiggins named BBC Sports Personality of the Year LONDON: Tour de France hospitalised for severe morning from the 2008 Beijing Olympics winner and Olympic time-trial sickness about two weeks ago. to cement his legacy as the champion Bradley Wiggins was The ceremony capped a mem- world’s greatest ever sprinter. named BBC Sports Personality orable year for sport in Great The Duchess of Cambridge of the Year at a star-studded Britain, which was recognised also handed a lifetime achieve- live ceremony in London on when the country’s Olympic and ment award to two-time Olympic Sunday night. Paralympic squad -- who between champion athlete Sebastian Coe, The 32-year-old cyclist won them won 185 medals during the 56, who spearheaded London’s ahead of Olympic heptathlon London Games -- were named successful bid for the Games champion Jessica Ennis, while Team of the Year. and then chaired the organising tennis player Andy Murray, who “It was a once-in-a-life- committee. triumphed at the Olympics and time experience,” said gold The Young Sports Personality the US Open, came third in the medal-winning cyclist Victoria of the Year award went to annual public poll, which received Pendleton. 15-year-old swimmer Josef Craig, 1.5 million votes. “It was an incredible atmos- who has cerebral palsy and won “I’m just going to say thank phere and it’s wonderful to be a Paralympic gold medal in the you very much for everyone who presented with this award, but 400m freestyle S7. picked the phone up and voted,” there are so many people behind Martine Wright, who lose said Wiggins, who became the the scenes who help us get to both legs in the July 2005 first British winner of the Tour where we are today.” London bombings, was awarded de France and took his tally of Dave Brailsford was named the Helen Rollason Award for Olympic gold medals to four at Coach of the Year for master- achievement in the face of the London Games. minding Wiggins’ Tour de France adversity after competing for “What a year. And to stand on triumph as head of Team Sky Britain in the sitting volleyball this stage with these people next and then overseeing a haul of at the Paralympics. to me is incredible.” eight gold medals for the host Helen Rollason was a BBC Prince William’s pregnant nation’s cyclists at the Olympics. Sport presenter who died from wife, Catherine, presented The Overseas Personality of cancer in 1999. Wiggins with his award at the the Year award went to Jamaica’s Aside from the main award, the ExCel Centre, in her first pub- Usain Bolt, who repeated his remaining prizes were decided by British cyclist Bradley Wiggins, Tour de France 2012 winner celebrates his win with his son during the parade at lic appearance since she was 100m-200m-4x100m relay triple a panel of experts. AFP the end of the 120km and last stage of the 2012 Tour de France cycling race in the file picture of July 22, 2012. Tuesday 18 December 2012 5 Safar 1434 Volume 17 Number 5552 Sport Price: QR2

URDU FILIPINO LANGUAGE DAILY NEWSPAPER WEEKLY NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED FROM QATAR! Rory McIlroy England seal Middle East Edition AVAILABLE rules after historic Test AT ALL LEADING BOOK STORES / SUPERMARKETS stellar year victory in India Available every Tuesdays in all leading IN QATAR supermarkets and shops in Qatar & Bahrain

Tel. : +974 44557622 / 44557623 FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: Fax. : +974 44557759 DAR AL SHARQ TEL: 4455 7623 EMAIL: [email protected] Sport | 28 Sport | 30 email: [email protected]

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Heir Apparent urges Qatar’s sports chiefs to maintain sporting success Sheikh Saoud to continue as the Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee

DOHA: The Heir Apparent over its executive office. In turn In order to achieve those goals, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Sheikh Saoud bin Ali Al Thani five projects have been drawn out. FROM LEFT: Al Thani has urged the sports was also elected to be the deputy These are: 1). Participation Qatar Olympic federation’s chiefs to maintain chairman of the QOC whereas Survey project. Committee (QOC) the sporting accomplishments, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman 2). Qatar’s active campaign Secretary General during the first meeting of the Al Thani will continue his role as project. Sheikh Saoud Qatar Olympic Committee’s the Secretary General of QOC. 3). Draft National Plan of bin Abdulrahman (QOC) General Assembly of During the meeting, discussions sports and recreational facilities. Al Thani, Moutaz the 2012-2016 Olympic Session, of the Sport Sector’s Strategy 4). Sample project of building Essa Barshim,the yesterday. (SSS) in the State of Qatar for of path’s athletes. Heir Apparent and In the meeting held at the the period (2013-2016), which 5). Strategic management QOC Chairman QOC’s headquarters, H H Sheikh is emanated from the National project of coaches and technical H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Development Strategy (2011- officials. Tamim bin Hamad who is also the QOC Chairman 2016) were raised. The meeting also involved a Al Thani and addressed the General Assembly Part of Qatar’s national vision discussion of the tournaments Nasser Saleh Al members on their strenuous and 2030 is based on achieving the the country will take take part in. Attiyah pose for tireless efforts. He also asked to following three main goal - an These include the second a picture at QOC invest in grassroots and pay spe- increase in the community’s Islamic Solidarity to be held in headquarters cial attention to the talented for participation in sport, improv- Indonesia in 2013, the 2013 Youth yesterday. continuing achieving success. ing the integration of the sports Asian Games in Nanjing, China, During the meeting, the Heir general and specialised facilities, the 2014 Asian Games in 2014 Apparent was unanimously and increasing the process of the and the second Youth Summer The Heir Apparent, also hon- for winning bronze medals for Games. He handed them certifi- elected to chair the QOC for the growth and management of those Olympic Games in Nanjing, China oured Moutaz Essa Barshim Qatar in the high jump and skeet cates and Olympic pins. new Olympic session and preside with sporting talents. in 2014. and Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah events respectively at the Olympic QNA/THE PENINSULA Bin Hammam resigns, given life ban by FIFA

ZURICH: Mohamed bin Hammam, the former FIFA presidential candidate embroiled in corruption alle- gations, has resigned from all his positions in football and been given a life ban, FIFA said yesterday The 63-year-old former Asian football chief was first banned by FIFA in July 2011 for alleged brib- ery during his failed bid to oust Sepp Blatter in the presidential race to head world soccer’s gov- erning body. That punishment was over- turned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in July, but FIFA handed out another life ban yesterday and said he would never be active in organised football again. This suspension was not in con- nection with bribery allegations during the election campaign but for “conflicts of interest” while he was president of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC). “In view of the fact that under the new FIFA Code of Ethics, the FIFA Ethics Committee remains competent to render a decision even if a person resigns, the Adjudicatory Chamber decided Mohamed bin Hammam is seen in this file photo. Bin Hammam, the former to ban Mohamed bin Hammam FIFA presidential candidate embroiled in corruption allegations, has resigned from all football-related activity from all his positions in football and has been banned from the game for for life,” a FIFA statement said. life, FIFA said yesterday. “This life ban is based on the final report of Michael J Garcia, Chairman of the Investigatory by handing them $40,000 each in standard” and that “it is more Chamber of the FIFA Ethics brown envelopes at a meeting in likely than not” that he was Committee. Port of Spain one month before the source of cash brought into “That report showed repeated he was due to challenge Blatter Trinidad and Tobago and distrib- violations of Article 19 (Conflict in last year’s FIFA presidential uted by former FIFA vice-presi- of Interest) of the FIFA Code of election. dent Jack Warner. Ethics, edition 2012, of Mohamed He withdrew his candidacy and CAS said then: “It is a situa- bin Hammam during his terms as was subsequently banned pend- tion of ‘case not proven’, coupled AFC President and as member of ing investigations. Blatter was with concern on the part of the the FIFA Executive Committee re-elected unopposed for a fourth Panel that the FIFA investigation in the years 2008 to 2011, which term as FIFA president. was not complete or comprehen- justified a life-long ban from all Bin Hammam was then banned sive enough to fill the gaps in the football related activity.” for life after being found guilty of record. Bin Hammam, who was This latest suspension could breaking seven articles of FIFA’s elected unopposed for a third bring an end to one of the most ethics code, including one on and final four-year term as the unsavoury scandals to have hit bribery. head of the AFC in January 2011, the sport. In July, a CAS three-man panel has long pleaded his innocence Bin Hammam was originally voted 2-1 in bin Hammam’s favour and complained his punishments accused of trying to buy the presi- but added that his behaviour have come because he challenged dential votes of Caribbean officials was “not of the highest ethical Blatter’s leadership. REUTERS