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Emir meets Iran FM Al Mazrouah Private sector yard to sell fish, poultry DOHA: Fresh fish from Qatari will get access waters and locally produced chicken and egg, apart from vegetables, will be sold at low prices at the Al Mazrouah yard in Umm Salal, which will open to state labs on Thursday for the new har- vest season. The market was set up last year by the Ministry of Environment Companies can get products tested to help Qatari farmers sell their products directly to the custom- DOHA: State-run laboratories to testing the ingredients of prod- ers at reasonable prices, without that test gold, toys, building ucts. “Once we open our doors to intervention of middlemen. materials and electrical appli- the private sector, our services The market attracted a large ances, among other things, for would prove to be of much help to number of customers last year, quality assurance will soon open them,” Al Rumaihi said. including restaurants, groceries, their doors to the private sector. Private companies are large supermarkets, and vegetable sup- The laboratories presently run importers and depend on quality pliers. More than 35,000 people quality checks on the above and certification for products issued in visited the yard last year and other materials such as asphalt, the countries of their origin. The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif about 170,000 cartons of vegeta- soil and marble only for the Al Rumaihi said all the labo- and his delegation yesterday. Talks dealt with relations and matters of mutual concern. bles from the local farms were government. ratories work in close coordina- sold, according to figures released Their purpose is to make sure tion with the state consumer by the ministry. that all goods imported or pro- rights watchdog, the Consumer Inspired by the success of the duced locally meet Qatari stand- Protection Department (CPD) experiment, the ministry has ards and specifications. of the Ministry of Economy and expanded the facility this year The government has decided to Commerce. Shura nod for military draft law and added separate outlets for make the services of these labo- “The CPD regularly sends us fresh fish, livestock and locally ratories available to the private samples of various products col- DOHA: The Advisory Council As is the practice, the draft should be made and the service produced poultry products, Qatar sector for a fee so that private lected by its inspectors from the has urged the government to was referred to it by the State should be compulsory for all News Agency reported yesterday. companies can get any material local market and we run quality enforce a proposed law to make Cabinet. Qatar News Agency who fall within the targeted age The market will be open tested for quality. checks,” said the official. brief military service compul- (QNA) reported that the pro- group. three days a week — Thursday, “We are presently busy fixing Plans are afoot to set up three sory for all young male Qataris, posed law could see the light of The Ministry of Defence will Friday and Saturday — from this fee slabs for the various tests,” more laboratories — to test without any exemption. day this very year. inform the concerned person to Thursday until the end of the har- said Saleh Al Rumaihi, Director of edible oil, textiles, and cosmetic Once passed, the law is to be Once enforced, the legisla- report to it within 60 days. It has vest season. Sales will take place Laboratory Affairs at the Ministry products. implemented on an experimen- tion will apply to all Qatari men been recommended that employed from 7am until 5pm on all days. of Environment. Al Rumaihi said as for setting tal basis and its impact is to be aged between 18 and 35 years. Qataris should continue to receive There will be 32 stalls selling Qatar currently has eight labo- up a laboratory for cosmetic assessed with feedback taken Graduates will need to do the their salaries and other benefits vegetables, with addition of 10 ratories, all under the Ministry of products, plans were in the final from people. compulsory service for three during the period of service, stalls from last year. Environment, that specialise in stages. “The legal aspects have The Council has recommended months, while the duration will which should be counted in their The ministry is expecting testing various materials, includ- been taken care of. We are now that those who refuse to undergo be four months for all others. length of service. healthy competition among ing precious metals. looking into financial and techni- military training be denied jobs Exceptions are to be made in The draft suggests that the farmers, which could result in There are laboratories to check cal aspects and the training of in order to force them to fall in the case of sons of defence per- government could, in the event low prices. It has also taken asphalt, building materials, soil staff.” line. sonnel or prisoners of war or of war or any other emergency, measures to ensure the quality and marble, electrical and house- These will be referral laborato- The Council, at its weekly those whose fathers are missing, ask those who have done the com- of the products through proper hold appliances, chemicals and ries for Qatar and the other GCC meeting yesterday, approved the QNA said. pulsory service to be in an active display and packaging. children’s toys as well. states, according to the official. draft compulsory military service The Council has said in its rec- force for 10 years. Continued on page 6 One laboratory is solely devoted THE PENINSULA law unanimously after discussion. ommendations that no exceptions THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Delivery by mini-drone Special panel for UN evidence on Syria war private schools DOHA: A special commit- crimes implicates Assad tee has been set up under the Supreme Education Council GENEVA: Evidence collected named Assad or any other offi- (SEC) to study applications by UN investigators probing cials publicly. related to establishment of Syrian war crimes implicates They have compiled secret lists new private schools as well as President Bashar Al Assad, of suspects and handed them to increase in school fees. United Nations human rights Pillay for safe storage, in hope The committee will also oversee chief Navi Pillay said yesterday. that one day suspects will face procedures for licensing of new Pillay later denied having trial for violations including tor- private schools and study prob- direct knowledge of their secret ture and mass killings. lems and issues related to private list of suspects, but her reveal- “They point to the fact that the schools. ing remarks about the head of evidence indicates responsibility The Minister of Education has state were at odds with a policy at the highest level of govern- issued a decision setting up three of keeping the identity of alleged ment, including the head of state,” special committees under the perpetrators under wraps pend- Pillay told a news conference. SEC, a local Arabic daily reported ing any judicial process. But Pillay said even she can- yesterday. The UN investigators, who col- not unseal the confidential lists, The other two committees lect testimony in utmost secrecy and insisted she was only repeat- will deal with issues related to and independently from Pillay, ing what the investigators led by Independent schools’ staff and have previously said the evidence Brazilian expert Paulo Pinheiro the establishment and manage- A flying “octocopter” mini-drone that would be used by Amazon to fly small packages to consumers. Jeff points to the highest levels of had said. ment of Independent schools, Bezos, CEO of the US online retail giant, said yesterday he hopes to soon deploy an armada of mini-drones Syria’s government, but have not REUTERS respectively. able to drop small packages at your doorstep. Protesters dig in heels in Ukraine KIEV: Ukrainian protesters June 18 was hottest, Jan 23 coldest last year blockaded government build- ings and camped on Kiev’s DOHA: June 18 was the hot- Environment Statistics Report The highest daily average tem- average) the average annual con- However, salinity in central central square yesterday, seek- test day in Doha last year with 2013, lessons learnt and data perature observed in Qatar was centration of PM2.5 was seven Qatar shows an increasing trend. ing to oust President Viktor a maximum temperature of 47.7 shortcomings”, presented the in July 2000, at 49.6 degrees C. times higher at Movenpick, 11 The most recent calculation of Yanukovych after police bru- degrees Celsius, and the coldest ministry’s second environment In 2012, the highest average times higher at Qatar University the overall groundwater balance tality and a row over EU ties day of the year was January 23, statistics workshop. monthly relative humidity was and eight times higher at Aspire shows an annual overexploita- plunged the country into its with 8.6 degrees C, according to Extreme temperatures of 45 observed in Doha, with 88 per- Zone in 2012. tion of 108.04 million m3 per year worst political crisis in a decade. data released by the Ministry degrees C and more are most cent in January and December. In Concentrations of sulphur (2012). Prime Minister Mykola Azarov of Development Planning and likely from May to August. Last Doha the month with the lowest dioxide and carbon monoxide are Of all groundwater extractions, said the protest bore “all the signs Statistics yesterday. year, 17 days (one in May, six in average monthly relative humid- consistently below the national 92 percent are for agricultural of a coup” as tens of thousands of The hottest month in 2012 was June, eight in July and two in ity was June, with 29 percent. air quality standards. Only on one purposes, the remaining eight demonstrators dug in their heels July, with an average maximum August) had maximum tempera- The report also contains data day in 2012 were carbon monox- percent are for domestic, munici- in the capital. Speaker Volodymyr daily temperature of 43.3 degrees tures of 45 degrees C and above. about air quality, groundwater ide concentrations were above the pal and industrial uses. Rybak said the parliament would C measured at Doha International The average daily minimum levels, carbon emissions, waste quality standard (in Aspire Zone). In 2010, Qatar contributed to today discuss a vote of no-confi- Airport. This was 1.8 degrees C and maximum temperatures generation and fish catch in the Groundwater levels in central 0.21 percent of the global GHG dence against the government. more than the long-term average of August from 2008-12 were country, among others. Qatar and north Qatar show no (greenhouse gas) emissions. THE PENINSULA & (1962-1992), says a report titled higher than the corresponding Compared to the WHO guid- significant trend and are slightly Continued on page 2 AGENCIES “Structure and content of the long-term average (1962-1992). ance value of 10 3g/m3 (annual above sea level. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME UN official: Divorces PM meets Azerbaijan envoy high in GCC societies Call for effective measures to combat social menace

DOHA: GCC societies as a following with a percentage of 24, that the rate of divorce in Qatar whole have a high rate of divorce said Ahad. was 34.8 percent. with Kuwait topping the region One of the negative impacts of “It’s worrisome,” he said, adding and Qatar trailing it, a UN offi- the high divorce rate is that one that Qatar was taking effective cial said yesterday, calling for out of every 10 divorced women in steps to check the phenomenon. effective measures to combat the region has to fend for herself Tension between old and new was the social evil. and her children. “She is the lone to blame for it, he said. The rate of divorce in Kuwait is bread-winner or her family.” Social values were crumbling 37 percent while the ratio in Qatar Talking about Arab societies in under the onslaught of modernity, is slightly less at over 34 percent, general, the official said the situ- he suggested. according to United Nations ation in Syria didn’t portend well He said the number of unmar- Population Fund (UNFPA), for the welfare of the family. ried women was also on the rise The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with the Regional Director for Arab States, Some 6.5 million people have in the country. Ambassador of Azerbaijan Dr Tofiq Abdullayev in Doha yesterday. Mohamed Abdel Ahad. been displaced and another 2.5 Nadir Qabbani, from Silatech, He was addressing a semi- million were living as refugees in said unemployment being a high nar on the ‘Impact of Changing neighbouring countries. 27 percent in the Arab world was Population Dynamics on the Qatar’s Minister for the root-cause of delayed mar- Arab Family’ held by the Doha Development Planning and riages. The number of unmarried Emission intensity decreasing in Qatar International Family Institute. Statistics, H E Dr Saleh bin women in the entire Arab world In the UAE, the rate of divorce Mohamed Al Nabit, who opened has been increasing, he said. Continued from page 1 From 2007 to 2012 the con- Both the fish catch per boat is 26 percent with Bahrain the seminar told reporters later THE PENINSULA In 2010 the GHG emissions sumption more than doubled up and the fish catch per fisherman of Qatar were more than five from 36.6 to 82.4 ODP tonnes per showed a rising tendency from times higher than in 1990 (from year and the per capita consump- 2000 until 2006. Since 2007 fish 11,775,000 tonnes in 1990 to tion increased by 50 percent. catches per boat and per fisher- 70,531,000 tonnes in 2010) and Since the 1950s fish catch in man are decreasing (from 38.8 still show an increasing trend. terms of mass shows an exponen- metric tonnes/boat in 2006 to However, the emission inten- tial increase. From 1950 until 1999 22.6 metric tonnes/boat in 2012, sity is decreasing significantly total fish exploitation in Qatar is from 5.7 metric tonnes/fisherman since the mid 1990s. The emission more than tenfold up from 400 in 2006 to 3.2 metric tonnes/fish- intensity per GDP has decreased to 4,397 metric tonnes per year. erman in 2012.). from a maximum of 646.7 metric From 2000 until 2008 total fish Waste generation has been ris- tonnes per QR1m GDP in 1993 exploitation also was more than ing since 2008, from 8.26m tonnes to 248.2 metric tonnes per QR1m doubled up from 7,140 to 17,688 a year to 11.83m in 2012. Qatar’s GDP in 2010. The peak of GHG metric tonnes per year. Since construction sector is the main emissions per capita was in 1997 2009 the total fish catch shows source of wastes, as it accounts with 67.6 metric tonnes per capita a decrease from 14,066 (2009) to for 78.48 percent of the total and has decreased to 41.1 metric 11,274 (2012) metric tonnes per wastes generated in 2012. tonnes per capita in 2010. year. Twenty percent of the mass From 2008 to 2012 the per Out of the total GHG emissions of the fish caught in 2012 are clas- capita domestic waste generation in year 2007, 50 percent origi- sified as “over-exploited”, which rate has remained between 1.37 nated from the oil and gas sector. means that there is a high risk of and 1.30 kg per person per day. From 1998 until 2007 the con- stock depletion for that particular A total of 2,387 tonnes of sumption of ozone depleting sub- species. domestic wastes were generated stances in Qatar decreased from The number of fisherman has daily in 2012 which means an 175.3 to 36.6 ODP tonnes per year decreased by 31 percent since the average per capita generation of (-79 percent). In the same period year 2000, whereas the number 1.30 kg/day. In 2012 about 95 per- The Minister of Development Planning and Statistics H E Dr Saleh bin Mohammed Al Nabit delivering the opening the annual per capita consump- of fishing boats remained at the cent of the wastes were disposed speech at the Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT tion decreased from 0.26 ODP kg same level (514 in 2000 and 499 of in landfills. to 0.03 ODP kg (-89 percent). in 2012). THE PENINSULA

TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Philippine typhoon victims get QSL help DOHA: The Qatar Stars League (QSL) match between Al Ahli and Al Khor last Friday raised QR245,760, which was donated to the victims of Super Typhoon Yolanda in the Philippines. Representatives from the Qatar Stars League, the Qatar Football Association and Al Ahli Sports Club presented the cheque to Philippine Ambassador Crescente R Relacion yesterday Al Bidda Tower. Hani Ballan, Deputy CEO of the QSL, was joined by Saoud Mohannadi, General-Secretary of the QFA, Ahmed Mohammed Al Mannai of Al Ahli Sports Club and Ambassador Relacion at the event. The President of Katara Hospitality, Hamad Al Mulla (right), with the President The money was raised as the of Sphinex Hotels & Resorts for Touristic Assets Management, Saeed Abdulla QSL’s largest crowd of the season Al Kaabi, after signing the agreement yesterday. ABDUL BASIT – 6,690 – came out in force for the 2-2 draw between Al Ahli and Al Khor. The event was deemed a success thanks to the hard work and dedication of Nasser Yakoub, Sphinex, Katara Al Ahli’s Audience and Marketing manager. Philippine Ambassador Crescente R Relacion (right) receiving the cheque from General-Secretary of Qatar Football The club donated every penny Association, Saoud Mohannadi (second left), at Al Bidda Tower in Doha yesterday. Deputy CEO of Qatar Stars in ticket sales — a total of League, Hani Ballan (left) and Ahmed Mohammed Al Mannai of Al Ahli Sports Club are also present. KAMMUTTY VP QR66,960. team up to run They raised an extra 15,000 through half-time events, gen- people of our country and the sum of money on behalf of his the whole time in this moment erating a total of QR81,960. The people close to them. Football compatriots. of need. It is not the first time QSL agreed to match this number, is the most popular sport in the “The Philippines govern- Qatar has supported us when we with the QFA’s contribution tak- world and it is very important to ment is so grateful to the Qatar have needed it most.” 5-star hotel ing the total to QR245,760. be able to use its power to give Stars League, the Qatar Football Meanwhile, Ahli Bank yes- “This is a proud day for the something back to a country that Association, Al Ahli Sports Club terday donated QR100,000 to QSL and everyone involved in has been devastated, the way the and the Qatari government for the Philippines Department of ‘Agreement a boon to Qatar’s tourism’ football in Qatar. We are proud Philippines was last month. their support to our people. Social Welfare and Development to have met with the ambassa- “In Qatar we are used to car- “We must thank the Emir, through the Philippine Embassy. DOHA: Sphinex Hotels & company’s action is based on a dor of the Philippines and we are rying out these sorts of initiatives H H Sheikh Tamim bin Ahmad Ambassador Relacion received Resorts for Touristic Assets clear strategy and vision towards happy to have been able to help,” to help people who are in severe Al Thani for his benevolent sup- the cheque from the Executive Management yesterday signed bringing the Qatari tourism facili- said Ballan. need of our support. We will con- port in the last few weeks direct- Manager, Gov. Relation & Corp. an agreement with Katara ties to the highest international “This gesture is symbolic of the tinue to do this.” ing all charitable organisations Affairs at Ahli Bank, Shafi Al Hospitality Organisation, for standards proportionally to the social responsibility the Qatar Ambassador Relacion spoke in Qatar raising money for our Shafi, at the Philippine Embassy. the management of the Merweb global vision of maximising the Stars League has towards the with emotion as he accepted the cause. Qatar has been with us THE PENINSULA Plaza Hotel. important means available in Saeed Abdulla Al Kaabi, the country and marketing them President of Sphinex Hotels abroad, particularly in the field & Resorts for Touristic Assets of business, conference and exhi- Management signed the agree- bition tourism, where Qatar has ment with Katara Hospitality achieved great success. QU, Marubeni unveil Arabic encyclopaedia on Japan Chairman Sheikh Nawaf bin “Sphinex Hotels & Resorts is a Jassim bin Jabr Al Thani, in the Qatari national company work- DOHA: An encyclopaedia on presence of Katara Hospitality ing towards seriously contribut- Japan in Arabic was recently President Hamad Al Mulla ing to the development of tourism published jointly by Qatar and Qatar Tourism Authority in Qatar. It is in the process of University (QU) and Marubeni Chairman Essa Al Mohannadi. developing three 5 star, 4 star and Corporation (Marubeni). The The 5-star Merweb Plaza, 3 star hotels, in addition undergo- encyclopaedia is the first such situated in Al Sadd area, offers ing feasibility study to construct on Japan that is written in well-equipped rooms and various a world class touristic resort, Arabic. luxurious hotel services as well as within the first stage of our strat- The encyclopaedia, which is fashion shops, spa and specialty egy to make Sphinex one of the funded by Marubeni, is a product restaurants. most important Qatari companies of an agreement between the two All rooms feature warm mod- working in the field of developing partners in which the company ern colours and equipped with flat touristic projects.” will donate $6m over a five-year screen TV and comfortable seat- Al Kaabi added that Sphinex period to the university’s College ing area. These are sound proof Hotels & Resorts, which recently of Arts and Sciences (CAS). and offer a mini-fridge, WiFi and signed a cooperation agreement The endowment, the larg- spacious working areas for busi- with Best Western International, est ever received by QU, will ness travellers. is looking forward to be a leading fund the establishment of two Al Kaabi said the agreement force in the local, regional and Faculty Chairs, a teaching posi- would positively contribute to the international levels in hotel man- tion for Japanese language; a development of touristic activi- agement. He said the joint venture student internship programme The President of Qatar University Prof Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad and Ambassador of Japan Shingo Tsuda with ties in Qatar in line with Qatar with Best Western International to Marubeni’s Tokyo Office; and other officials during the launch of the encyclopaedia. National Vision 2030 under the plans to develop 400 hotel rooms a Qatar-Japan student cultural guidance of the Emir H H Sheikh every year, for the next five years exchange programme. Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to meet the increasing demand QU will distribute copies to all publication, QU President Prof Regional CEO for Middle East and two institutions committed aimed at building a strong and for various hotel services in the schools in Qatar as part of the Sheikha Abdulla Al Misnad, and Africa Masataka Kuramoto to social and educational devel- diversified economy. promising Qatari market. agreement. In an event to mark Ambassador of Japan to Qatar were joined by CAS Dean Dr opment. It is a pleasure and an He underlined that his THE PENINSULA the occasion of the encyclopaedia’s Shingo Tsuda, and Marubeni Eiman Mustafawi and CAS honour to receive this substantial Associate Dean Dr academic effort.” Steven Wright. Ambassador Tsuda said: “We Prof Al Misnad emphasised on the importance said: “This event of the encyclopaedia for Arabic marks the strong readers since it includes informa- cultural and educa- tion on Japan’s culture, natural tional ties between resources, economy and history.” two great countries THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Qatar calls for Many unaware of their sugar level promoting AOD awareness campaign at Katara Arab music DOHA: The Minister of DOHA: Many people at an with diabetes will almost double. Culture, Arts and Heritage awareness campaign for diabe- However, with initiatives such H E Dr Hamad Abdul Aziz Al tes were not aware that they as the Diabetes Screening and Kuwari has underscored that had the disease. Awareness Village we are trying Qatar is sparing no effort to Over 1,500 people got tested for to significantly lower these num- support the promotion of Arab diabetes at the Action on Diabetes bers through education, early music as an integral part (AOD’s) ‘Diabetes Screening and detection and intervention.” of Arab culture as a whole Awareness Village’ at Katara Raising awareness about diabe- including music, theatre, cin- Cultural Village recently. tes and the need to be regularly ema, fine art and literature. A total of 54 who were tested screened was one of the main Speaking at a reception positive were previously unaware objectives of the campaign as held for members of the Arab that they had abnormal high lev- early detection can stop the onset Society of Music, organised by els of blood sugar, indicating they of the condition. Qatar Academy of Music at might have the condition. While reaching out to Qatar’s Katara yesterday, the Minister All individuals that had abnor- local population to provide free said that affluent Arab music mal high levels of blood sugar or diabetes testing and advice by pro- needs special attention by all found to be at risk of developing fessional staff from the Supreme the institutions of Arab states diabetes had a consultation with Council of Health (SCH) and to maintain it and convey it to a diabetes educator and were Hamad Hospital, the campaign the new generation, warning at referred to assigned centres and also offered other fun filled events the same time of the serious- physicians for further advice and including cooking demonstrations ness of today's generation being treatment. showcasing healthy menus, fun influenced by Western music The Head of Endocrinology, exercises and Kids Zone. and exotic cultures through Diabetes Division at Hamad The Deputy Managing Director means of social networking, the Medical Corporation, Dr of Maersk Oil Qatar, Sheikh Faisal Internet, satellite channels and Mahmoud Zirie, said: “The bin Fahad Al Thani, said: “The other technology means. QNA People being screened at the Action on Diabetes programme at the Katara Cultural Village. campaign highlighted that the number of people with diabetes in number of people in Qatar who Qatar is increasing; we are proud are unaware of their diabetes of the role the AOD partnership to the Qatari authorities to and private partnerships can condition or are pre-diabetic is plays through its various health reduce the incidence of dia- make a real difference to the rather high. By 2030, it is esti- and well-being initiatives to raise betes. Action on Diabetes is a society.” mated that the number of people awareness and provide support successful model in how public THE PENINSULA Aspire app to ‘step into health’

DOHA: Aspire Zone performance and compare it To download the ‘step into Foundation has launched a against the average healthy health’ app, visit www.stepinto- user-friendly mobile applica- standard of 10,000 steps a day. health.qa/Registration.aspx to tion for its ‘step into health’ The ‘step into health’ app register. programme. has already proven popular, Participants will receive The new app measures how attracting around 2,014 users an email with a membership many steps a participant takes since its launch a fortnight ago. number, a username, password, during daily routines, and will Ranging in age between 16 and and a link to download the appli- also monitor their athletic 58 years old, the app devotees cation. Once activated, the user have walked a cumulative total can format the app’s settings of 906,070 steps, the equivalent and language preference. Aspire Academy to unveil of 615km. The app provides users with The new app provides users several advantages and unique Khalfan Ibrahim commercial with a number of innovative fea- features, allowing them to tures intended to assist in moni- monitor their athletic progress DOHA: Aspire Academy is set to reveal its latest televi- toring fitness levels. As well as closely by utilising motion sen- sion commercial at Aspire Zone today. Directed by Christian counting steps and measuring sors to count a user’s steps. Lyngbye, the advert will feature the Qatari football star distance, it also calculates calo- Therefore, walkers are advised Khalfan Ibrahim. ries and the amount of fat burnt. to either carry their phones in The commercial highlights the hard work and discipline, allied The app then downloads these their hands or pockets while to natural talent, required to become a sporting champion, and results onto the programme’s using the App to ensure an accu- illustrates how Aspire Academy prepares its students for a career website where participants can rate step count. of sporting achievements through its comprehensive curriculum. monitor their overall perform- The ‘step into health’ pro- The commercial marks the first time Aspire Academy has used ance and achievements. gramme is one of Aspire Zone a local star as the main character in an advertisement. Acting The application has been Foundation’s health initiatives alongside Ibrahim is 9-year-old Qatari Hassan Juma. designed to have no notice- which aim to engage the commu- Filming took place at Aspire and across the city, capturing able effect on a phone’s battery nity in long-term, self-adminis- Khalfan undertaking a fitness regime before turning his training life, allowing walkers to com- tered health programmes. These into triumph on the pitch. plete long-distance exercises. initiatives rely on moderate daily Over 60 from all over the world were involved in the produc- Furthermore, the app is the activity routines, such as walk- tion. Following the official unveiling, the commercial will be aired first of its kind to feature both ing 10,000 steps or more, which on national television channels and a selection of regional and English and Arabic and can be can be done in a recreational, international media outlets. THE PENINSULA downloaded onto all iPhone IOS non-competitive context. 5 and Android 2.3.3 devices. THE PENINSULA

Members of Pixel Glitch, the winning team of the VCU-Q business idea competition, receiving their prize. VCU-Q hosts business idea contest DOHA: Virginia Commonwealth University-Qatar (VCU-Q) hosted its first business idea competition last week as part of the worldwide programme, Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). The aim of GEW is to grow enterprise ambitions amongst young people. GEW celebrates the innovators and job creators who start their own business ideas and drive economic growth and expand human welfare. This initiative is worldwide and is a growing scheme in Qatar. To celebrate GEW, VCU-Q hosted a student competi- tion sponsored by q.media in which entrepreneurship students were encourage to build a business plan for a profitable business idea. The finalists of the competition had to present their business plans to a panel of judges, which included the sponsor, q.media. “Our aim is to build a culture around entrepreneur- ship,” said the Director of Entrepreneurship at VCU-Q, Roger Griffiths. The winning team, Pixel Glitch, made up of Tariq Spence and Dawood Al Anwari were thrilled to win the competition and stated that the prize money would be ploughed into expanding the business. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME North Cyprus Smooth traffic seeks to boost ties with GCC ‘Interest on the island growing’

BY LESTER JANSZ

DOHA: As the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) is emerging as a top destination for tourists and university students, it is looking at bolstering cooperation with Qatar and other Gulf countries in the fields of food and water security, education and sports. Aytu Fazil Plümer, from the island nation’s Trade and Tourism Office in West Bay, told The Peninsula that over 2.5 mil- lion tourists visited TRNC last year, including nearly 2m from the southern part of the country. He said apart from natural Representative of the Turkish beauty and year-round pleasant Republic of Northern Cyprus Trade weather, the island offers a five- and Tourism Office in Doha, Aytu star hotel with all amenities. “Our Fazil Plümer, at his office in Doha. hospitality is well-known in the Smooth traffic yesterday morning during peak hours on the Corniche road in Doha. The installation of traffic signals in place of roundabouts, and world,” Plümer said. the world — mainly Turkey, the road widening projects have reduced congestions on this road. KAMMUTTY VP He said the country needed Middle East, Europe, and Gulf to attract more tourists from countries. This is another area the Gulf and that was “the main TRNC and Qatar can cooperate objective of the Representative in. We would like to have more Office in Doha.” The Qatari public students from the Gulf at our uni- has been showing more interest in versities which are internation- the island for the past two years. ally recognised,” he said. TAMU-Q award for best math, science teacher “Potential investors are also These universities are members showing interest. We do our best of international organisations and DOHA: Texas A&M University choose the winning teacher, to guide them from our office. have signed agreements with at Qatar’s (TAMU-Q) second who will receive a cash prize of We have investment promotion European universities. World Congress on Engineering QR20,000. Details about the com- agencies in North Cyprus which “We would like to have this Education (WCEE) has petition are available at www. provide free services.” kind of relationship with univer- launched a new annual award stem.qa A favourable tax regime, sities and educational authorities and cash prize for Qatar’s top The Managing Director of unlimited money remittances in Qatar,” he said. high school teacher of math and Maersk Oil Qatar, Lewis Affleck, and concessionary property lease “We have enjoyed consist- sciences. said a focus on youth initiatives terms are some of the benefits for ent support from the Qatari The congress will be held in in STEM — science, technology, investors. government and we are grate- partnership with Maersk Oil engineering and math — is a key There are also good investment ful for it. During meetings of Qatar, providing an important element of Maersk Oil’s support opportunities in the agro sector. OIC (Organisation of Islamic forum for discussing best prac- for the Qatar National Vision 2030 “We have a $100m project to bring Cooperation) of which TRNC is tices in engineering education. and the country’s development of water through a pipeline from an observer member, Qatar has The inaugural World Congress a knowledge-based society. Turkey. Once it is completed, supported the just cause of the on Engineering Education was “We are delighted to partner we will have access to 75m cubic TRNC people. held in January and attracted with Texas A&M University Qatar metres of water annually, half of “Qatar voted for the resolution hundreds of educators and for this pioneering forum for the which will be used for agricul- which calls on member states to researchers to Doha. second year running. Maersk Oil ture and the rest for domestic support the Turkish Republic “The Congress brought Qatar recognizes both the impor- purposes. people in the fields of trade, tour- together many of the world’s top tance of nurturing and developing “This is a wonderful time for ism, education, sports and politi- scholars on engineering education Officials of Texas A&M University at Qatar unveiling the new annual award local talent in STEM disciplines, investments in the island. We ask cal stability.” Plümer sees sports and research, and their discus- and the value of high standards for Qatar’s top high school teacher of math and science. Qataris to look into our projects as another area where TRNC and sions are already influencing how in engineering education as a key as Qatari authorities are con- Gulf countries, mainly Qatar, can we approach teaching and learn- component in achieving a highly cerned about food and water secu- bolster cooperation. ing for engineering students in the second WCEE in November sciences. “Students must have skilled workforce,” he said. rity, which is a common issue in “Qatar attaches great impor- Qatar and beyond,” said Dr Mark 2014.” strong skills in math and sci- The WCEE plays an increas- this region.” tance to sports and our sports Weichold, Dean and CEO of Texas The Congress also highlighted ences to succeed in undergradu- ingly impactful role in this area, TNRC has also attached great clubs and football federation would A&M at Qatar. the importance of math and sci- ate engineering programmes, and while the new STEM Educator importance to education. It has like to have friendly matches with “These discussions would not ence education for middle and we want to recognise outstand- award will recognise the vital con- six universities and over the past their Qatari counterparts. have been possible without sup- high school students, Weichold ing teachers in Qatar who provide tribution that exceptional teach- years the student number has “We are certain that Qatar port from our industry partner, said, and inspired organisers to that foundation,” Weichold said. ers make to student development, reached 50,000. would successfully host the World Maersk Oil, and we look forward create an award to recognise A selection committee will Affleck said. “We have students from all over Cup 2022.” THE PENINSULA to continuing that conversation at Qatar’s top teacher of math and review nomination packets and THE PENINSULA

Fog in West Bay

The Deputy Governor of Qatar Central Bank and Chairman of National Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Committee, Sheikh Fahad bin Faisal Al Thani (centre), addressing the summit yesterday. ABDUL BASIT Qatar keen to join global fight against Fog around 9am in West Bay area yesterday. The Department of Meteorology had on Sunday warned motor- ists of poor visibility in Doha due to fog in the morning hours. ABDUL BASIT money laundering: QCB deputy chief

DOHA: A meeting of Financial to share information and experi- Qatar Central Bank (QCB) and Action Task Force (FATF) on ences with delegations of FATF Chairman of National Anti- Market to get locally produced pure honey, cheese anti-money laundering and in the workshops to be held on Money Laundering and Terrorism countering terrorism funding the sideline of the summit, Qatar Financing Committee. Continued from page 1 The new yard for animals and There will be another section kicked off here yesterday. News Agency (QNA) reported Speaking in the opening cer- The ministry has conducted poultry will have separate sec- for fresh fish, where catch from A three day event is held in col- yesterday. emony of the event, Sheikh Fahad several workshops to educate tions for each. The animal yard six local fishermen will be sold. laboration with FATF and Middle “Qatar is keen to join the said that partnership of Qatar farmers in these things. will have 20 stalls for goat and The fish, poultry and livestock East and North Africa Financial International Community to with International Monetary Locally produced pure honey sheep, while locally produced will be put under strict quality Action Task Force (MENAFATF). curb the crimes of money laun- Fund to upgrade its system to and cheese will be the added chicken, duck and egg will be sold checks and monitoring, said the The meeting will provide an dering and terrorism funding,” fight against money laundering attractions of the market this in the other section, among other report. opportunity to representatives of said Sheikh Fahad bin Faisal and terrorist funding, he added. year. products. THE PENINSULA member countries of MENAFATF Al Thani, Deputy Governor of THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Criticising Emir punishable: Syria toll hits nearly 126,000 Kuwait court

KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait’s top Over 6,600 children among dead; real toll probably much higher: Monitoring group court yesterday upheld as con- stitutional a disputed law under which people who “offend” the BEIRUT: The death toll in The Observatory, based in militias supporting Assad, but Observatory said. Around half Syria’s stockpile of chemical weap- emir can be jailed for up to five Syria’s civil war has risen to at Britain but with a network of said that number too was prob- of those were from the power- ons. The West blames Assad for a years. The constitutional court least 125,835, more than a third activists across Syria, put the ably higher. ful Lebanese guerrilla group poison gas attack near Damascus rejected challenges by lawyers of them civilians, but the real number of children killed in the Hezbollah, whose military sup- on August 21 that killed hundreds defending activists to demand figure is probably much higher, conflict so far at 6,627. SECTARIAN CONFLICT port for Assad has helped his of people, but are now working with the penal code provision be abol- the Syrian Observatory for It put the death toll among “There are at least 40,000 more forces make strategic territorial his forces to remove and destroy ished for allegedly suppressing Human Rights said yesterday. rebels fighting the Assad gov- dead combatants but they were advances in central Syria. such weapons from Syria. freedom of speech guaranteed The pro-opposition monitor- ernment at at least 27,746 rebels, not included in the toll because “The Observatory calls for ... However, regular combat con- under the basic law. ing group also appealed to UN including more than 6,000 cat- the cases were not documented serious efforts (by the interna- tinues, including daily air strikes. Emir H H Sheikh Sabah Al Secretary General Ban Ki-moon egorised as foreign fighters or well enough,” Abdelrahman said. tional community) to stop the The Observatory, which gives Ahmad Al Sabah is described as and “all people in the interna- unknown combatants. Both Sunni and Shi’ite mili- killing in Syria and help its people daily death tolls in Syria as well, “immune and inviolable” in the tional community who have a con- “The number is likely much tants from around the region have transition to a democratic state usually cites more than 100 peo- Kuwaiti constitution. science” to increase their efforts higher but in many battles, the joined the fight on opposite sides. with freedom, justice and equal- ple killed each day, although the “It is not acceptable that the to end the 2-1/2 year war. number of rebels killed is hid- Many Sunni Muslim countries ity,” it said in a statement. death toll in recent days has been highest position in the country The conflict began as peace- den, especially by the (al Qaeda- support the rebels, who are led The United Nations does not double that. should be treated like other indi- ful protests against four decades linked) Nusra Front and Islamic by Syria’s Sunni majority. Shia give regular casualty counts for “They should not just be con- viduals,” the constitutional court of rule by President Bashar Al State of Iraq and the Levant,” states back Assad, who is from Syria. It has said for months that cerned with destroying chemical said in a written verdict. Assad’s family, but under a fierce Rami Abdelrahman, head of the the minority Alawite sect, an off- more than 100,000 have died. weapons when tens of thousands The court, whose rulings are security force crackdown, turned Observatory, told Reuters. shoot of Shias. International efforts have of Syrians have been killed by all final, added that failure to protect into an armed insurgency whose He said the observatory had As well as Syrians, nearly 500 largely concentrated on a planned kinds of weapons since the poi- the Kuwaiti ruler could threaten sectarian dimensions have echoed documented 50,430 deaths among Shi’ite foreign militants have died peace conference in Geneva next son gas attacks of Damascus,” the the unity of the oil-rich Gulf across the Middle East. the Syrian armed forces and local fighting with Assad’s army, the month and on the destruction of group said. REUTERS state, its internal security and the regime itself. Courts have used the provision, known as Article 25, to send doz- ens of opposition MPs, activists Lebanon gives army and tweeters to jail for insulting the emir and undermining both him and the authorities. control over Tripoli In April, Human Rights Watch called on Kuwait to scrap the arti- cle and stop considering “offend- BEIRUT: Lebanon’s govern- was a pretext to drive the refu- ing the emir” as a crime. ment has given the army full gees from the site. The incident The New York-based watch- responsibility for security in the comes amid warnings from the dog said criminal prosecution for restive coastal city of Tripoli for Lebanese government and aid peaceful criticism of public offi- six months, caretaker Prime agencies about tensions between cials violates international stand- Minister Najib Mikati told LBC Lebanese communities and the ards for human rights. television yesterday. more than 800,000 Syrian refu- Ten people were killed over the gees who have fled to the small weekend in clashes between mili- country, which has its own long Tehran warns of tia supporting opposing sides of history of unrest. the Syrian conflict, the latest in The informal camp in the east- rising Aids cases regular outbreaks of bloodletting ern Bekaa village of Qsar Naba in the city that started during housed some 400 refugees in TEHRAN: The number of Aids Lebanon’s own civil war but have around 100 tents and shelters. cases in Iran has soared over intensified since the Syrian revolt On Sunday a group of local the past two decades, Health started in 2011. residents stormed the camp, set- Minister Hassan Hashemi Meanwhile, residents of a vil- ting fire to some of the tents and said yesterday, warning the lage in eastern Lebanon forced threatening its residents. A man holds up a broken wooden structure in a burnt makeshift Syrian refugee camp after it was attacked by Islamic republic can not ignore hundreds of Syrian refugees from After the attack, many of the residents of the neighbouring eastern Lebanese village of Qsar Naba in the Bekaa valley, yesterday. the problem.“This disease has an informal campsite yesterday, refugees began dismantling their increased by 80 percent annually, setting fire to tents after accus- shelters and spent Sunday night 33-year-old refugee, said mem- for us,” he said, weeping. 30 people and then released them which is much higher than the ing them of raping a mentally- sleeping in the open nearby. bers of the local Dirani family led He said the attackers beat the all for lack of evidence.” rise in inflation or rents,” he said, disabled man. The residents returned yester- the attack. “The Diranis burned refugees and stole their belong- “I have three children, the eld- quoted in Shahrvand newspaper. But a doctor who examined the day, the refugees said, setting fire the tents and then refused to ings. “They accused us of attack- est of whom is just six. We don’t Hashemi criticised Iran’s man said there was no evidence to at least 15 tents and knocking allow the fire brigade through to ing a young man, knowing that know where to go. After this I just hush-hush policy on Aids. Extra- he was attacked, and one resident down others. put the flames out,” he said. the Lebanese army had already want to go back to Syria.” marital sex is strictly prohibited of the village said the alleged rape Ahmed Abdul Mahmud, a “There’s not a single tent left raided the tents, arrested about AGENCIES in Iran, punishable by whipping and imprisonment. “The pattern has changed from transmission of the infection through drug injec- tion to unprotected sexual inter- course,” Hashemi said. “We need to find new ways to Gazans protest at sea over Israeli naval blockade fight Aids and we should not be afraid to admit this is a problem of our society,” said the minister. GAZA: Hundreds of Palestinian a message to the world that they “There was a time that Aids youth activists sailed from the must act to end the Gaza block- was used ... to mock other socie- shores of the Gaza Strip yester- ade,” said Shorouq Mahmoud, the ties, but now the entire world is day to protest at Israel’s restric- group’s spokeswoman. struggling with this disease and we tions on fishing in the seas off the An Israeli military spokes- are no exception,” Hashemi said. Islamist-ruled enclave. woman said none of the boats Ali Sayyari, Iran’s deputy health Palestinian fishermen say they breached the fishing zone limit. minister, blamed the phenomenon cannot meet demand in Gaza due Israeli forces have regularly shot on satellite TV programmes, gyms to Israel’s naval blockade on the at Gaza boats seen as trying to and beauty salons, describing them territory and limit of six nautical breach the blockade. as a “triangle of death”. According miles (11km) in which they can Israel tightened its land block- to UN statistics, the number of take out their boats off shore. ade on Gaza after the Islamist people in Iran living with HIV Israel eased the blockade some- Hamas seized control of the enclave reached 71,000 in 2012. what in 2010 after an Israeli in 2007. Occupation authorities commando raid on a ship in an decided yesterday to partially open activist flotilla bent on reaching the Karam Abu Salem crossing Turkey probes Gaza left nine Turks dead and for the entry of food aids and the raised an international uproar, export of local products. ‘kidney sale’ ads but Palestinians say the gestures Head of the Coordination were not enough. Committee for entry of goods in ISTANBUL: Turkish police Yesterday, Gaza’s Coalition the Gaza Strip Raed Fattouh said have launched an investigation Intifada group said about 200 that four truckloads of strawber- into online adverts posted by youths boarded fishing boats ries and green spices are sched- people allegedly so desperate heading out of Gaza City towards uled to be exported to Europe. for money they are offering to the fishing zone boundary, before Fattouh added that 200 truck- sell their kidneys, local media returning to shore. Organisers loads with aids and goods for reported yesterday. said some boats crossed the six- commercial, agricultural and The adverts were apparently mile maritime limit. transportation sectors will be linked to an organ trafficking Palestinians ride a boat as a national flag flutters during a protest against the blockade on Gaza, at the seaport “We have sent a message of allowed through the terminal. ring which had been carrying of Gaza City, yesterday. solidarity with the fishermen and AGENCIES out illegal kidney removals and transplants in Turkey as well as Egypt, India, Iran and Iraq and was busted by police in October. Sellers were asking as much as Bahrain jails 16 Shias over attack 150,000 Turkish lira ($73,000 ) for 15 killed in attacks across Iraq a kidney, often boasting about their good state of health. DUBAI: A Bahraini court yesterday sentenced 16 Shias convicted “I want to sell my kidney of attacking a police patrol with Molotov cocktails to seven years BAGHDAD: Attacks near but the government has been gunned down in their homes in urgently because I am in debt,” in prison each, a judicial source said. They were also found guilty Baghdad and northern and criticised for not doing more to Al Nibaie, which lies just north said one Internet advert published of blocking roads by setting tyres on fire in May last year and for western Iraq killed 15 people address grievances in the Sunni of the capital. by the Haberturk newspaper in taking part in an unauthorised protest during which a police vehicle yesterday, the latest deadly vio- Arab community which analysts It is the latest in a troubling which the seller declared: “I have was attacked, although no one was hurt. lence to rock the country amid say fuels the violence. series of attacks where large never tasted alcohol in my life.” fears it is slipping back into all- Yesterday, shootings and bomb- groups of people have been shot “I am selling my liver, kidney out sectarian war. ings struck around Baghdad, dead and left for authorities to and bone marrow,” said another. Shia activist denied early release Iraq’s worst bloodshed since as well as in and around the find, scenes eerily reminiscent of “I work out and walk every day.” 2008, with more than 6,000 peo- northern cities of Mosul and the worst of Iraq’s gruesome com- Leaders of the trafficking ring DUBAI: A Bahraini court refused yesterday to free prominent Shia ple killed already this year, has Tuz Khurmatu, killed 15 people, munal war. took up to $35,000 (26,000 euros) activist Nabeel Rajab saying he was not eligible for early release forced the authorities to appeal while a rare double bombing in At the peak of sectarian fight- from organ recipients, Haberturk from jail where he is serving a two-year sentence, a judicial source for international help in combat- the Kurdish north left two senior ing in the wake of the 2003 US-led said. According to health minis- said. Rajab was arrested in the wake of the crackdown on a month ting militancy ahead of general security officers wounded. invasion, Sunni and Shia militias try figures, about 20,000 patients of Shia-led protests in 2011 demanding political reforms and jailed elections due to be held in April. In the deadliest violence, a regularly carried out tit-for-tat in Turkey were awaiting kidney for taking part in “unauthorised” protests. Officials have blamed a resur- family of six — two men, two kidnappings and assassinations transplants last year, while about His sentence was later reduced on appeal to two years from an initial gent Al Qaeda emboldened by the women and two children — were and left scores of corpses litter- 2,000 were waiting for livers. three. AFP civil war in neighbouring Syria, found dead after having been ing the streets. AFP AGENCIES TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Ukrainian spring Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

KRAINE has erupted like a volcano, letting out pent-up rage against the regime of President Viktor Yanukovych. The temptation to believe that the riots Uhave only to do with the government’s refusal to India’s anti-corruption party get closer to the European Union is overpowering. However, Ukraine’s going back on the promise of signing a trade deal with the 28-nation bloc was only a precipitating factor for the unrest. The predisposing factors were aplenty. faces first big test in New Delhi Yanukovych came to power in 2010 after winning presidential elections in the country which is deeply divided BY ANNIE GOWEN along pro-Russia and anti-Russia faults. The fissures run so they appeared to welcome under-the- Bhushan said. Kejriwal and Hazare deep that when the Yanukovych government tried to increase table donations. “We are not disturbed had a painful public parting of the the role of Russian as one of the official languages, there was t a recent rally, supporters of an about it,” Kejriwal said, after pledging ways over the younger man’s decision bedlam in Parliament. Russian President Vladimir Putin, upstart Indian political party to review the tapes and dismiss any to enter politics, and the two clashed as is his wont, has stood behind Yanukovych. Amid unrest in Awaved brooms in the air — a candidates who acted improperly. But again early in November, when Hazare signal they’re ready to clean house — it was the latest in a string of blows accused the AAP of unauthorised use the former Soviet Republic, Russian President Vladimir Putin danced in the dusty, sun-dappled street that showed that Kejriwal’s shift from of his name and likeness and ques- threw his weight behind the Ukrainian leader saying that and chanted “End corruption!” people’s icon to politician may be more tioned whether Kejriwal was using he was a legitimate ruler. Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola A clamour rose when the party’s difficult than expected. funds from their civic movement for Azarov said yesterday that there was a plan to overthrow the leader, a slight man with glasses It’s been two years since the India political gain. Kejriwal denied both government. Putin’s also made it clear that outside forces named Arvind Kejriwal, arrived in the Against Corruption movement caught accusations. back of an open sport-utility vehicle. fire, prompting demonstrations in The AAP has promised free water were behind the movement against Yanukovych. The Russian As he greeted supporters, they pelted the streets of Delhi and other cities. and reduced electric bills, which critics leader’s statement has echoes of him supporting Syrian him with marigold blooms and chanted Middle-class residents were galvanised charge is a calculated move to get votes President Bashar Al Assad in spite of the more-than-two-year- “Kejriwal! Kejriwal!” by several government corruption scan- in this sprawling city of 16 million, in old revolt ripping apart the Middle East nation. Kejriwal, 45, was a little-known tax dals and a growing sense of frustration which the government estimates that The trail of Ukraine’s troubles inspector-turned-activist just three over the bribes they had to pay in their about half the population lives in slums can be traced to the time when years ago, before he spearheaded a own lives. and illegal housing. series of hunger strikes and exposes of “Everything is costly. We have no Kejriwal counts among his support- The former former Prime Minister Yulia India’s rich and proper lights, no proper sewage and ers teachers, small-business owners and Soviet Republic Tymoshenko was thrown into jail powerful that won no drinking water,” said Sushila Yadav, many of the city’s auto-rickshaw drivers, after a legal process that smacked widespread public a 50-year-old schoolteacher from the who have plastered the AAP banners has to pay a of selective justice. The Orange support. western part of New Delhi who turned on the backs of their ubiquitous green- high cost for Revolution leader, however, was But now up to cheer on Kejriwal recently. “I and-yellow three-wheeled vehicles. The not ready to be put down. She kept The AAP has Kejriwal faces don’t like paying bribes, but we are party has received about $3.5m in small ignoring the his tough- forced to.” donations — which it scrupulously notes protesting inside prison against promised free est challenge Kejriwal has been campaigning on its website, an action rare in Indian European Union poor conditions of incarceration water and reduced — turning that against corruption since his early days politics. and grabbing the as the West started seizing on political goodwill as a bureaucrat, when he saw other gov- AAP is fielding candidates for nearly the opportunity of making noises electric bills, which into actual votes. ernment officials misbehave. all seats in New Delhi’s assembly, pivot to Russia. against the authoritarian regime of critics charge is a His newly formed But it was not until 2011, when he which is similar to a state government. Aam Aadmi joined forces with another activist, Kejriwal himself is taking on Sheila Yanukovych, who was thrown out of calculated move (Common Man’s) Anna Hazare, that he got widespread Dikshit, the powerful three-term chief power by the revolution led by her in 2004. to get votes in this Party faces its attention. minister from the governing Indian Yanukovych was constantly under pressure from the West first test in elec- Hazare, now 76, became the move- National Congress party. for releasing Tymoshenko, also called the ‘gas princess.’ She sprawling city of tions in the capi- ment’s figurehead, a wise elder who A recent poll on the assembly election was sentenced for purported irregularities in a gas deal she 16 million, in which tal on December clothed himself in Gandhian white and by ABP News-Dainik Bhaskar-Nielsen signed with Russia. The volatile political situation in Ukraine 4, a run-up to went on hunger strikes that captivated found 33 percent backed the main oppo- the government national elections the county. sition Bharatiya Janata Party, 26 per- worsened when the proposed trade deal that Yanukovych was next spring. Both men wanted India’s Parliament cent Dikshit’s Congress party and 23 supposed to sign with the European Union did not materialise estimates that As his SUV to pass the Lokpal bill, creating a kind of percent the AAP. Other polls have the after Russia arm-twisted him to agree to a customs union. about half the crawled through corruption ombudsman for the nation. AAP garnering far fewer seats. The culmination of a tug-of-war between the West and the narrow But the fevered excitement soon faded, The party has attracted much notice Russia over Ukraine has put the focus on Kiev’s fraught loyalties. population lives. streets of a and the bill languished. among Indian expatriates, and party Faced with a hegemonic Russia in his backyard and a persuasive working-class By last summer, Kejriwal and his sup- chapters have formed around the neighbourhood of porters decided they had to try some- globe. European bloc holding out the lure of a membership into its lumber shops and tiny stores, Kejriwal thing different, according to Prashant “When I see all the crowd, their coveted club, Ukraine relented — but to the benefit of Russia. said he was elated by the response. Bhushan, a lawyer and co-founder of the expectations are so high, sometimes it Yanukovych faces a disgruntled population out to vent its But reality kicked in when a TV news Aam Aadmi Party. becomes scary,” Kejriwal said, gesturing frustration at the loss of opportunity to pivot to the West. Any crew climbed atop the vehicle’s running “It crystallized . . . that the parties to the people with their white caps just bad peace is better than a good war, Yanukovych said yesterday. board and thrust a microphone in his and the whole system had gotten so like his, emblazoned with the words: I face. News was breaking that candi- corrupted that they were not going to am the common man. However, he has to realise that the cost Ukraine has to pay for dates from Kejriwal’s party had been yield unless they are seriously chal- “But I think this is going to happen.” leaning towards Russia may be disproportionately high • caught by a sting operation in which lenged in elections by honest people,” WP-BLOOMBERG Letters Quote of Popularise public transportation to reduce traffic chaos the day HIS refers to frequent reports people do not utilise the public trans- a parking slot for even ten minutes to Hundreds of employees (white collar and editorials in The Peninsula port system, either because of lack of go to a bank or other offices due to and blue collar) are using such facilities, on traffic woes in Doha. Drivers awareness about the facilities or minor lack of parking slots on Grand Hamad which also help maintain punctuality. Ttake one hour or more to move mistakes in planning by the public Street, where most of the banks have People should help eliminate the belief eight to 12 kilometres in some parts transport authorities. their main branches, as the parking that group transportation is meant of Doha during peak and off peak The traffic chaos has increased in slots are already occupied by the staff. only for labourers/blue collar workers, hours. As found in a survey earlier, the many areas, including the newly con- I humbly urge the public to utilise and can insist that their offices provide Any bad peace is number of registered vehicles in 2011 structed Shamal Highway, Rayyan, the the public transportation system and group transportation facilities. Use of was 8,14,373, and in 2012 the number Corniche, and the C, D, and E Ring request the authorities to extend the school transportation for students may better than a good increased to 8,76,039. roads. The Traffic Department is doing system to all areas to meet people’s reduce the traffic as many parents drop I would like to commend the pub- a commendable job by deploying requirements. People should under- their wards to school in their vehicles. war. Everyone must lic transport systems in some Gulf patrols and police in various parts of stand that reducing the number of These steps cannot be implemented observe the laws of countries, including the UAE, and in Doha, which is easing the traffic flow. vehicles not only eases traffic but also in a day or two. other Western countries. All citizens, The increasing number of vehicles is helps the environment. Many compa- Let’s join hands for a widespread our state. irrespective of their social or financial choking not only roads but also most nies in Mesaieed, Ras Laffan, Dukhan and efficient public transportation sys- status, use public transport in those of the parking spaces in souqs and and Doha are providing group trans- tem in Qatar. Viktor Yanukovych countries. Unfortunately in Doha, many malls. People face difficulties in finding portation facilities to their employees. —Mashood Thiruthiyad, Doha Ukrainian President TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Saudis have few options on foreign policy The kingdom will not risk a breach in relations with its main non-Arab ally — the US — and will explore, however warily, a purely diplomatic response to the Iranian opening.

BY ANGUS MCDOWALL counterparts for months to prepare for last month’s interim nuclear agreement audi Arabia seems to have few between six world powers and Tehran, viable options for pursuing a raising Gulf Arab rulers’ fears that more independent and forth- Washington is willing to go behind their right foreign policy, despite its backs to do a deal with Iran. deep unease about the West’s Saudi leaders were taken unawares by Stentative rapprochement with Iran. the content of the deal that was struck in Upset with the US, senior Saudis have the early hours of November 24, despite hinted at a range of possibilities, from an earlier promise by US Secretary of building strategic relations with other State John Kerry to keep them informed world powers to pushing a tougher line of developments, diplomatic sources in against Iranian allies in the Arab world the Gulf said. and, if world powers fail to foil Tehran’s The agreement offers Tehran relief nuclear ambitions, even seeking its own from sanctions that are strangling its atomic bomb. economy, in return for more oversight But alternative powers are hard even of its nuclear programme. Riyadh, along to contemplate for a nation that has been with its Western allies, fears this is aimed a staunch US ally for decades. Russia is at producing weapons, a charge Tehran on the opposite side to Riyadh over the denies. Syrian war and China’s military clout Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (fourth left) attends a meeting of the Second Joint High Committee in Kuwait City on remains modest compared with the US’. Javad Zarif suggested on Sunday the deal Sunday. Robert Jordan, US ambassador to should not be seen as a threat. “This Riyadh from 2001-03, said there would agreement cannot be at the expense to build the bomb. But diplomatic sources continue and may expand, but logistical proliferator of mass destruction weapons be limits to any Saudi alliances with other of any country in the region,” he told in the Gulf and analysts close to Saudi challenges will hinder any rapid attempt instead of Iran. powers. reporters in Kuwait. “We look at Saudi thinking say the main problem in turning to increase training much beyond the Media commentators have speculated “There is no country in the world more Arabia as an important and influential such rhetoric into action is the lack of an thousand or so rebels now working in the kingdom could obtain an atomic bomb capable of providing the protection of regional country and we are working to obvious replacement for the US security Jordan with Saudi special forces. from its nuclear-armed friend Pakistan, their oil fields, and their economy, than strengthen cooperation with it for the umbrella in the Gulf, or for the American Riyadh’s own fears of an Islamist back- or on the arms market. But the analyst the US, and the Saudis are aware of that. benefit of the region.” military’s role in advising, arming and lash, reinforced by a bombing campaign said it would never place itself in the posi- We’re not going to see them jump out of Diplomatic sources in the Gulf say assisting the Saudi armed forces. inside the country in the last decade, pre- tion of being an international outcast like that orbit,” he said. Riyadh is nervous that the deal will ease A Western adviser to Gulf countries on vent it from arming more militant groups Iraq under Saddam Hussein and more While Jordan was a senior diplomat in pressure on Tehran, allowing it more geopolitical issues said senior Saudis have with ties to Al Qaeda. recently Tehran. “Iraq did it. Iran did it. the administration of President George room to damage Saudi interests else- looked at ways of reducing the kingdom’s The sources say Saudi Arabia still Saudi Arabia would never do this type of W Bush, some Saudi analysts also say where in the Middle East. The Sunni long-term reliance on the US. France is relies on a lot of support from Western behaviour,” he said. the kingdom is well aware of what major kingdom is at odds with Iran’s revolu- one option, albeit one that remains firmly allies for command and control expertise , Saudi Arabia is in the very early stages foreign policy shifts would involve — par- tionary Shia leaders in struggles across in the Western camp notwithstanding and would find it very difficult to build its of planning an atomic power programme, ticularly any pursuit of nuclear weapons. the Arab world, including in Lebanon, past differences with Nato allies. own coalition of Arab allies to join forces and has signed up to the nuclear non- This could end up creating problems Iraq, Bahrain and Yemen. Riyadh has worked closely with Paris in a military campaign. proliferation treaty and a more rig- for Saudi Arabia and Riyadh has no Most of all, Riyadh sees Iran’s open in recent months on both Syrian and The kingdom and its five closest orous safeguarding protocol with the appetite for the kind of isolation that support for Syrian President Bashar Al Iranian issues, and has awarded it big regional friends, the other members of International Atomic Energy Agency. has forced Iran to the negotiating table. Assad in fighting a rebellion backed by naval contracts. That said, the Saudi the GCC, have been unable to agree on a Any attempt to build a bomb in secret “Saudi Arabia doesn’t need to become Gulf states as a foreign occupation of armed forces and economy are so closely shared missile defence shield after years would probably take decades due to the a second Iran,” said a Saudi analyst close Arab lands. tied to the US that any serious attempt of discussions, they note. kingdom’s current lack of any nuclear to official thinking. Riyadh has expressed lukewarm sup- to disengage over the longer term would Prince Mohammed’s warnings on the technology, expertise or materials, ana- “It would be a total reversal of our port for the nuclear deal, couched along- be prohibitively costly and difficult, dip- possibility of seeking a nuclear bomb lysts believe. Even if it were to attempt traditional behaviour, of being a reliable side caveats that it was a “first step” lomatic sources in the Gulf say. have previously been voiced by other top to short cut that process by, for example, member of the international community and that a more comprehensive solution Washington remains much closer to Saudis, including former intelligence buying an off-the-peg atomic weapons that promotes strategic stability and sta- required “good will”. But some prominent Riyadh on every Middle Eastern issue minister Prince Turki Al Faisal. system from Pakistan — a transaction bilises oil markets.” Saudis have made bold declarations that than any other world power at present But on closer inspection this looks less itself fraught with difficulties — the Diplomatic sources and analysts in the Riyadh will develop a tough new foreign except France, which has taken a hard like a serious statement of intent and obstacles would be formidable. Gulf say the kingdom, while unsettled, policy, defending its interests in keeping line on Iran. more like an attempt to nudge world pow- Such an effort would also incur a mas- will not risk a breach in relations with with its status as the richest Arab state In Syria — the issue over which there ers into being tougher on Iran by raising sive price in diplomatic and economic its main non-Arab ally — the US — and and birthplace of Islam. is the greatest disagreement between the spectre of an atomic arms race in relations with other countries, notably will explore, however warily, a purely dip- Prince Mohammed bin Nawaf, the Riyadh and Washington, the kingdom is the Middle East, where Israel is already the US. The Saudi economy, reliant on lomatic response to the Iranian opening. Saudi ambassador to London, told The already arming and training some rebel widely presumed to have nuclear weap- oil exports and the import of many goods Top Saudis are nevertheless furious Times newspaper that “all options are groups which the US, wary about arming ons. The analyst close to official thinking and services from overseas, appears ill with Washington. Senior US officials available” to Riyadh, including seeking jihadists, views with caution. Diplomatic suggested that actively seeking nuclear suited to withstand such pressures. held secret bilateral talks with Iranian its own atomic weapon, if Iran managed sources in the Gulf say these efforts will arms would backfire, making Riyadh the REUTERS NHS reforms: A rubbish poll strategy Australians’ privacy

and doesn’t dodge the difficulties Is it really ideal for patients to be in of it. One crucial recommenda- under serious threat tion is that patients must own control as to who they go to when their own records. That means it BY GEOFFREY ROBERTSON will become much easier to share records across different organisa- he latest Snowden document, revealed by Guardian Australia they get long-term diseases? tions — hospitals, GPs and local today, increases concern that the Defence Signals Directorate authorities — so everyone can see (DSD) is operating outside its legal mandate. The minutes of a BY JACKIE ASHLEY the health service — of not being what needs to be done. The other Tpolicy meeting in Britain in 2008, with their US, Canadian, UK in control, from the inability to crucial change is that everybody and New Zealand counterparts, reveal DSD representatives claiming omething very big is see the same GP, to the cluster should have a single point of con- that they were entitled to share the confidential data of Australians about to happen in the of medical students at the foot of tact for all their needs. with these partners, and were even considering disclosing them to National Health Service the bed? Again and again, surveys Surveys find that this is what “non-intelligence agencies” without first obtaining a warrant. Sdebate. But if you just show that we want control, to people want. And a “care co- This would be a breach of sections 8 and 12 of the Intelligence concentrate on the headlines, and have some say over what happens ordinator” can end the absurdity Services Act 2001. Snowden’s evidence that DSD ignored this law (or think about NHS reform in the to us, and that we want consist- of people being discharged from was ignorant of its correct interpretation) raises the prospect that old, conventional ways, you won’t ency — a friendly face, a familiar hospital still unable to look after law-abiding Australians have had their personal data wrongfully col- understand it. After a generation voice, somebody who knows us themselves, but without proper lected and transmitted to bodies which may use it to damage them. during which the right, broadly with all our “ways”, not just our community support; or of people The Intelligence Services Act sets strict limits on any DSD (now speaking, thought you could passing clinical problems. being admitted to hospital and ASD) activity “likely to have a direct effect on an Australian person change the NHS by creating mar- Finally, how many of us want then suffering from malnutrition. or produce intelligence on an Australian person”. In such cases, min- British Shadow Secretary of State kets and the left by supporting to be institutionalised? Hands The IPPR report rightly isterial authorisation is required (section 8) and before giving it, the NHS staff, we are finally breaking up? No, almost all of us prefer to for Health Andy Burnham stresses that the changes must minister must be satisfied that the Australian is “a person of inter- through to new thinking. stay at home for as long as that is fit the local area, rather than est” — ie involved in terrorism or espionage or serious crime. This is Andy Burnham, Labour’s safe and possible. We don’t want funded differently, through local being prescribed nationally. They a vital safeguard and any unauthorised or unnecessary surveillance of health spokesman, should get a to end up lying in a hospital bed authorities block contracts and do not, it seems, require a major an Australian is in breach of the Act (section 12). lot of the credit for this, though I or a care home. a mix of means-testing and pri- new injection of money. The new The Snowden leak, however, suggests that in some circumstances don’t suppose he will. But before So that’s it. Not really that vate money. Meshing the two will injection is in terms of thinking, DSD believes it can circumvent this safeguard and even offer up the we plunge into the details, let’s complicated, is it? I strongly sus- be very difficult. Politically, too, breaking down institutional bar- fruit of its warrantless interceptions to foreign agencies. consider what kind of ideal health pect most people would prefer a this is not an easy idea. You won’t riers, and really meaning it when In Australia there is a parliamentary committee on intelligence service we would like. health service where they were get the big health bodies march- you say “the patient comes first”. and security. But it can only review matters referred by a minister First, why will we need the treated through a single, reliable ing enthusiastically alongside The more I look at this, the or by the houses of parliament — it cannot act on its own initiative NHS? Not, in most cases, because contact; where they felt more in you, because it will mean a huge more I think it seems an abso- to ensure that DSD is operating within the law. There is however an of a stabbing or a horrific road control and were able to stay at shake-up in the pay and condi- lutely rubbish strategy for trying inspector general of intelligence and security, a position established by accident but because of cancer, home; and where the focus was on tions of many people. The private to win a general election. It’s non- special legislation in 1986 who may of her own initiative “inquire into stroke, diabetes or mental illness. the longer-term diseases most of health industry, looking for rich confrontational, it’s very compli- any matter that relates to the compliance by (DSD) with the laws of Statistically, as an ageing country, us suffer from, or will do. pickings, will come away confused cated, it will be run differently the Commonwealth… or the propriety of particular activities of the the longer-term conditions of age- But though it may not seem and disappointed. And the inevi- in different parts of the country, agency… or a practice of that agency that is or may be inconsistent ing and of bad lifestyles are what much to ask, it is a horrendously table jargon surrounding it will and it’s hard to sum up in crisp, with or contrary to any human right”. plague us. A Casualty view of the complicated challenge to get from confuse the public. headline-friendly terms. The guardian who must now guard the DSD is the current inspector NHS makes for good television the NHS and care services we All this is why a new Institute Yet it’s also by far the biggest general Dr Vivienne Thom, a legal academic. So far she has remained but it has very little to do with have today, to that simpler-seem- for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and most hopeful thing happening silent on the Snowden revelations and as far as the public is aware, the real challenges and the real ing and more patient-focused report, Towards Whole Person in the health service today. Andy she has not investigated the organisation for privacy invasion or excess health service. vision. One of the biggest prob- Care, deserves to be taken far Burnham is taking a huge risk of power in respect of those allegations. If she hasn’t, she must do so Second, what about that feel- lems is that the NHS is funded more seriously than most of the to be putting his shirt on this. A urgently and immediately, or her office will not live up to its statutory ing of being passed around like one way — through general taxa- output of thinktankery. It makes rousing three cheers for him. duty. The answer to the Quis Custodiet question, in Australia, will be a human pass-the-parcel inside tion — while most social care is an unanswerable case for reform THE GUARDIAN Nemo — nobody. THE GUARDIAN TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Egypt’s draft charter cements army power Islamists, secular forces fear return of police state

CAIRO: Egypt’s draft constitu- they carry out “direct attacks” on In addition to enjoying legal tion, which has been approved the armed forces, but critics fear immunity, the military would for a referendum, would con- the provision could be expansively be able to maintain its vast eco- solidate the power of the mili- interpreted to apply to journal- nomic and commercial interests, tary, which had promised a ists, protesters and dissidents. he added. “democratic transition” when Thousands of Islamists have The 50-member panel rejected it ousted Islamist president been jailed since Mursi’s July 3 an article setting out a strict Mohamed Mursi. overthrow, and hundreds of pro- timetable for the referendum — The document has raised fears Mursi protesters were killed expected in January — to be fol- among Islamists and secular when security forces stormed lowed by parliamentary and then activists alike of a return to a two Cairo sit-ins in mid-August, presidential elections. police state less than three years in the worst mass killing in mod- The revised article does not after Hosni Mubarak, an air force ern Egyptian history. specify which election will be commander who went on to rule More recently, several non- held first, fuelling suspicions that Egypt for 30 years, was toppled by Islamist activists have been General Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, pro-democracy protests. detained for violating a new law defence minister and head of the Since a group of mid-level army regulating protests, including armed forces, could to seek the officers overthrew the monarchy well-known blogger Alaa Abdel presidency and then preside over in 1952, the military has sup- Fattah, who is accused of beat- the formation of the legislature. plied all of Egypt’s leaders except ing a police officer, among other “If presidential elections hap- Mursi and has maintained exten- charges. pen first, the president sets the sive privileges, including a budget In addition to allowing military tone. If there is an elected parlia- beyond civilian scrutiny and the tribunals for civilians, the draft ment in office, it can potentially power to try civilians. constitution keeps the military set the tone,” Dorsey said. The draft constitution “con- budget beyond civilian scrutiny Experts said that even if the Supporters of 28-year-old blogger Khaled Said who died following police questioning before the revolution in firms the domination of the and allows the military to appoint hugely popular Sisi does not seek 2010, run away from tear gas during a demonstration outside the criminal court in the northern coastal city of military,” said Mustafa Kamel the defence minister, raising con- the presidency, he could remain Alexandria yesterday. al-Sayyed, a political science pro- cerns that it will effectively exist outside the civilian chain of com- fessor at Cairo University, adding outside the civilian government. mand by continuing to serve as subordinate to their authority” a president elected by universal military junta, which ruled the that an article retaining military “The military has managed defence minister. because he is not appointed by suffrage, a prime minister serving country in the wake of Mubarak’s trials for civilians “violates all to retain total autonomy,” said “What will be the relationship them, Hassan Nafea, a politi- with the confidence of parliament, ouster in a popular uprising and democratic standards”. James Dorsey, a Middle East between the elected president cal science professor at Cairo and a defence minister account- until Mursi became Egypt’s first The new constitution explicitly specialist at the S. Rajaratnam and prime minister on the one University, said. able only to the armed forces. freely elected president the fol- states that civilians cannot be School of International Studies in side and the defence minister The charter would create a It was the Supreme Council lowing year. tried by military tribunals unless Singapore. on the other, who will not feel “power with three heads,” with of the Armed Forces (SCAF), a AFP

Army officer Security tightened killed in British diplomat to visit Iran Benghazi for first time in two years BENGHAZI: A Libyan army officer was shot dead as he drove his teenage son to school on DUBAI/MUSCAT: Britain’s Sunday in the increasingly law- newly-appointed envoy will less eastern city of Benghazi, travel to Iran today, the first officials said. Further east in the diplomatic visit by a British offi- city of Derna, long seen as a bas- cial since its embassy in Tehran tion of radical Islamists, dozens of was stormed more than two residents blocked roads, burned years ago. tyres and called for a strike to The election of a relative mod- protest against insecurity in the erate, President Hassan Rowhani, city, according to witnesses and has paved the way for a thaw in a local official. Libya’s security ties between the two countries. forces have come under near- London announced the appoint- daily attack, particularly in the ment of Ajay Sharma as its charge east, as they have tried to rein d’affaires in November. in militias made up of former “In the first step, the British rebels who toppled long-ruling non-resident charge d’affaires dictator Moamer Gaddafi in 2011. will travel to Tehran today with Benghazi security forces spokes- a delegation to visit (diplomatic) man Ibrahim Al Sharaa said facilities in the country and unknown gunmen had fired on have talks with officials at the Salah Fraj Al Dursi as he drove Foreign Ministry,” Mohammad Ajay Sharma Mohammad Javad Zarif his 17-year-old son to school, kill- Habibullah Zadeh, his Iranian ing the officer and wounding the counterpart, was quoted as say- authorities of failing in their extremely important country in teenager. Dursi’s son was under- ing by state news agency Irna. duties to protect diplomats and the region and the Islamic world,” going surgery after being shot in Habibullah said he would then their residences which were ran- Zarif said. the hand. visit London. sacked and set on fire. “We believe that Iran and Saudi British Foreign Secretary Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Arabia should work together in William Hague said on Twitter: Minister Mohammad Javad order to promote peace and sta- Libya sends back “Ajay Sharma will make 1st Zarif appealed yesterday to bility in the region.” visit to Tehran tomorrow. We’ll Saudi Arabia to work together Zarif’s remarks came during 360 Egyptians with improve UK-Iran ties on a step- with his government toward a stopover in Muscat as part of by-step, reciprocal basis.” achieving regional “stability”, in a tour he began in Kuwait aimed forged visas Hague cut direct diplomatic remarks to AFP during a visit at assuring Gulf Arab states that Palestinian security forces roaming on a street in the West Bank city relations with Iran soon after its to Oman. a deal Tehran secured with the TRIPOLI: Libya has deported of Nablus yesterday. Officials say hundreds of security reinforcements embassy in Tehran was stormed “I believe that our relations West on its nuclear programme 360 Egyptians who arrived have been deployed in Nablus district after reports that a Gaza-based by activists in November 2011. with Saudi Arabia should expand is in their interest. on two flights with forged British officials accused Iranian as we consider Saudi Arabia as an AGENCIES group affiliated with Al Qaeda is operating in the West Bank. visas, state news agency Lana said. The Egyptians landed at Misrata airport in central Libya and were sent back to Egypt on the same planes, the agency added, without giving any more Somali prime minister details. Libya, facing turmoil two Netanyahu meets Pope, years after the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, has been trying to clamp down on a trade in forged visas voted out by lawmakers for workers from Egypt or other talks tough on Iran neighbouring countries looking MOGADISHU: Somalia’s parliament yesterday sacked Prime to come to the country. Minister Abdi Farah Shirdon, citing his government’s poor per- ROME: Israeli Prime Minister a great shepherd of our common restating his firm opposition to formance over the past year. Benjamin Netanyahu met Pope heritage”. an international nuclear deal with The prime minister, a political newcomer appointed in October Private radio owner Francis yesterday as part of a Francis is expected to travel arch-foe Iran. last year, fell out with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud over the visit to Rome during which he to the Middle East next year and “It is very easy to receive a pat composition of a new cabinet, prompting no-confidence vote. shot dead in Tripoli restated his firm opposition to a Israeli sources say the visit could on the shoulder from the inter- Aanalysts and diplomats said a replacement must be appointed soon nuclear deal with Iran. take place before Israeli President national community, to bow one’s to end political paralysis after two decades of war and chaos in which TRIPOLI: The owner of a The two leaders addressed Shimon Peres ends his term in head,” Netanyahu said. the Horn of Africa state was carved up into clan fiefdoms and then Libyan radio station that broad- “the complex political and social July. Although no date has been “I would like to dispel any ruled by al Shabaab militants. casts exclusively in English and situation in the Middle East, made official, sources on both illusions. Iran aspires to attain Western donors had worried the rift would disrupt efforts to shore plays Western music was found with particular reference to sides say it is likely to take place an atomic bomb. It would thus up nascent institutions of state and defeat Islamists linked to al Qaeda dead in his car, his body rid- the resumption of negotiations on May 25-26. threaten not only Israel but who still control swathes of countryside. dled with bullets, the broad- between Israelis and Palestinians”, Israel and the Vatican first also Italy, Europe and the entire “(Shirdon) and his cabinet ministers had failed,” Somali legislator caster said yesterday. Tripoli the Vatican said in a statement. established full diplomatic rela- world,” he was quoted as saying Ibrahim Suleiman said. “This toppled government had low capacity.” FM, which touts itself as Libya’s The pope expressed a hope tions in 1993, but have been on his website. It could be months before a new cabinet is appointed and then number one radio station, went “that a just and lasting solution, engaged in years of thorny diplo- “There should be no going approved by the parliament, which could jeopardise the modest secu- off air temporarily to mourn the which respects the rights of both matic negotiations over property astray after the attack of smiles. rity gains and the limited progress made on building a federal state. death of Radwan Ghariani, head parties, can be reached as soon as rights and tax exemptions for the Today there is a regime in Iran “This is going to disorient the entire political structure,” said Abdi of programmes Rabii Dahan possible”, it said. Catholic Church, which have yet that supports terrorism, facili- Aynte, director of Mogadishu-based Heritage Institute for Policy said. It was not immediately Talks between Israel and the to be fully resolved. tates the massacre of civilians in Studies. President Mohamud had told Western diplomats the bid to clear who killed Ghariani or for Palestinians resumed in July after Netanyahu met later with his Syria and unceasingly arms its remove Shirdon was prompted by the government’s poor performance, what reason but the murder a three-year hiatus but have fal- Italian counterpart Enrico Letta, proxies,” he said. made worse by growing discontent among Somalis who want faster comes amid a spike in violence tered due to Israeli plans for new and a joint press conference was Iran agreed to curb its nuclear progress on delivering change. in Libya as it struggles to rein settlement building. expected to begin around 1400 programme for the next six “Prime Minister Shirdon in many ways has become a scapegoat in militias made up of former Netanyahu’s audience with the GMT. months in exchange for limited for a relative lack of progress — particularly measured against the rebels who toppled long-ruling pontiff lasted just 25 minutes. On Sunday, the Israeli premier sanctions relief following mara- huge expectations — since the government came to power,” said Paul dictator Muammar Gaddafi in The Israeli PM gave the pope a attended a candle-lighting cere- thon talks in Geneva last month. Gabriel, an analyst for Global Risk Analysis. 2011. AGENCIES book dedicated to “Pope Francis, mony in Rome’s main synagogue, AFP REUTERS TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Speed likely Protesters control parts of Kiev cause of train Police keep distance as tension remains high; Yanukovych’s government ponders next move crash, says KIEV: Throngs of anti-govern- around receiving refreshments; The mood intensified when police insisted they would not leave until guarding the presidential admin- NY Governor ment protesters remained in many who had travelled from the cleared Independence Square the government fell. In the west- istration — the scene of violent control of parts of central Kiev regions to Kiev were sleeping on with considerable force early on ern city of Lviv, a stronghold of clashes on Sunday in which more NEW YORK: The Governor of yesterday morning, as police the floor. Saturday and banned further pro-European forces, the regional than 100 police were injured. New York, Andrew Cuomo, said kept their distance and Viktor “We’ve just had enough. We’re protest. authorities announced a general The interior ministry said a yesterday that a subway train Yanukovych’s government pon- sick of this,” said Alexander The residents of Kiev ignored strike yesterday. total of 150 riot police and other that derailed in a devastating dered its next move. Yabchenko, a 33-year-old oncolo- them, pouring into the square The key political opposition to officials had been injured, while accident that killed four pas- After huge protests on Sunday, gist from Lviv in western Ukraine, in vast numbers on Sunday, in Yanukovych, such as the jailed 165 protesters had been injured, sengers and wounded 67 others during which several hundred who had travelled to Kiev to take a largely peaceful protest that former prime minister Yulia 109 of which required some kind was probably travelling too fast. thousand people took to the part in the protests. turned violent at the fringes. Tymoshenko and the heavy- of hospital treatment. There are three possibilities streets of Kiev to call for the “I’m not part of any political Yesterday, as Kiev began weight boxer Vitali Klitschko, Yanukovych is due to travel to behind Sunday’s crash, which president’s removal, protesters party but I understand that only its working week, tension was have called on their supporters China today, calling into Moscow struck during America’s post- erected makeshift barricades by trying to be more European can high as both ordinary people to refrain from violence but not on the way back to discuss eco- Thanksgiving shopping frenzy, around Independence Square we end our troubles. Even from and opposition leaders were to go home. nomic help from Russia, but in Cuomo said: “Problem with the — the hub of the 2004 Orange my own experience, I see so many left guessing how events might “This government is clearly the current climate it is unclear track, equipment problem or Revolution. Nearby, the main City problems with the medical system, unfold. Hundreds of protest- over,” said Vladimir Luchishin, whether he can make the trip. operator error.” Hall building was taken over by and we just need to modernise.” ers took up positions blocking 60, from Donetsk, who was sleep- Except for brief remarks posted “Working with the experts over protesters without police resist- The protests began after entrances to government build- ing at city hall, having arrived on his website on Saturday, con- the past day, I think it is going to ance on Sunday evening. Yanukovych walked away from ings to stop officials from getting on Sunday. “If they try to fight demning violence against protest- be speed-related,” he told NBC, Many of the windows were an integration pact with the to work, while others blocked off back with force, it will only make ers and promising that Ukraine adding that the sharp curve where smashed and “Revolution HQ” European Union that was sup- whole streets. things worse for them.” would not give up on EU integra- the train veered off the tracks was was daubed in black paint on its posed to be signed at a summit Many of the people who spent Police have retreated from most tion, he has not commented pub- not enough to explain the accident. stone Stalinist facade. Inside, in Vilnius last Friday in favour the night in the two government of the centre of Kiev but cordons licly on the situation. “This was a tricky turn on the sys- hundreds of people milled of closer relations with Russia. buildings seized by protesters of riot police remained in position, THE GUARDIAN tem, but it’s a turn that’s been here for decades and trains negotiate all day long,” he said. “I think it’s going to turn out Glasgow copter crash toll rises to nine to be about the speed more than anything, and the operator’s oper- ation of the train at that time.” Australian spy agency After retrieving the train’s two “black boxes” — one from the front and one from the rear offered to share data — investigators from the National Transportation Safety Bureau were continuing their probe at the scene, in the Bronx borough on citizens: Report north of Manhattan. The train, carrying between 100 SYDNEY: Australia’s spy least, there is warrantless sur- and 150 people, crashed at around agency offered to share infor- veillance of Australians’ personal 7:20am (1220 GMT) on Sunday as mation about its own citizens metadata.” Metadata refers to it headed south to Grand Central with foreign intelligence part- the information people generate Station in Manhattan. The train’s ners, according to leaked doc- when they use technology such seven cars derailed just before it uments published yesterday, as phones and computers. reached Spuyten Duyvil station. sparking calls for an inquiry. The newspaper cited top The Metropolitan Transp- The latest revelations by US human rights lawyer Geoffrey ortation Authority identified the intelligence fugitive Edward Robertson as saying the latest four victims, who ranged in age Snowden, reported by The revelations increased concerns from 35 to 59. Two were men, two Guardian Australia, show that that the agency could be operat- were women, and all were New the Defence Signals Directorate ing outside its legal mandate. York-area residents. Three of the (DSD) discussed the option of Greens Senator Scott Ludlum victims had been thrown from sharing “medical, legal or reli- also said the document “implies the train. The New York Fire gious information”. that the agency may have been Department said 11 other people The partners included the US, breaching Australian law for five were seriously hurt, and another Britain, Canada and New Zealand, years”, demanding an inquiry. Rescue workers lift the wreckage of a police helicopter on to a trailer in central Glasgow yesterday. The 56 suffered minor injuries. collectively known as 5-Eyes, with “The government can no longer number of people killed after a helicopter crashed into a pub in Scotland’s biggest city rose to nine, police said. AFP the document, marked secret, avoid the issues and hide behind based on notes from a conference platitudes that everything is hosted by Britain in 2008. It fol- done in accordance with the law,” lows a Snowden release last month Ludlam said. “It is the job of showing Australian spy agencies this parliament to conduct a full tried to listen to the phone calls inquiry, as is happening in many US HealthCare.gov website faces new test of Indonesian President Susilo other countries around the world.” Bambang Yudhoyono as well as But Prime Minister Tony his wife and inner circle, spark- Abbott said he had no reason to WASHINGTON: US President as consumers scramble to sign up about tax subsidies, Banks said. at year-end because they do not ing a crisis. believe any laws had been broken. Barack Obama and his before a December 23 deadline for For example, she said, people who meet Obamacare’s standards for According to the report, the “Intelligence gathering is sub- HealthCare.gov website face coverage that begins on January 1. appeared to be eligible for sub- benefits and consumer protection. DSD, now known as the Australian ject to supervision by the joint another critical test start- Enroll America, the nonprofit sidies given their income levels Zients said that a five-week Signals Directorate, told its global parliamentary committee. It’s also ing this week, as Americans group that serves as a flagship for were told they did not qualify. emergency “tech surge” had dou- partners it could share “bulk, unse- subject to supervision, very close who have been unable to enroll private sector enrollment efforts Banks said the organisation bled the capacity of the online lected, unminimised metadata as supervision, from the Inspector- in health coverage under under Obama’s landmark health- planned a radio campaign as part health insurance portal that is long as there is no intent to target General of Intelligence and Obamacare rush to a site that care law, said it planned to launch of a push to get people enrolled by crucial to helping people shop for an Australian national”. Security,” Abbott told reporters. continues to face challenges. a new “Coverage is Coming” push, December 23 so they could have insurance plans. The administra- “Unintentional collection is “I’m confident that we’ve got all A day after the administration with more than 1,000 events over coverage starting next year. tion said the effort’s key improve- not viewed as a significant issue,” the relevant safeguards in place said it met its weekend deadline the next three weeks. The White House, which plans ment was to increase HealthCare. notes from the conference said, and I have no reason to think that for making HealthCare.gov oper- Aids Alabama, a statewide non- to hold public education events gov’s capacity to 50,000 simulta- although the agency acknowl- any Australian intelligence organ- ate smoothly for most users, net- profit organisation that received about the healthcare law through- neous users, which would allow edged that more substantial isation has not acted in accord- works of volunteer organisations a federal grant to help people out December, will hold a Youth the site to handle a minimum of interrogation of the material ance with Australian law.” are expected to resume enroll- enroll, had been relying largely Summit tomorrow to help drive 800,000 users per day. would require a warrant. Former US National Security ment activities after a long US on paper applications to sign peo- outreach and enrollment over Longer-term questions remain The Guardian said the docu- Agency contractor Snowden holiday weekend, many of them ple up until last week, when they the remaining four-month enroll- about whether the program will ment shed new light on “the was granted asylum in Russia in with backlogs of would-be appli- noticed major improvement in the ment period. The number who be able to enroll the estimated 7 extent to which intelligence agen- August, to the fury of the United cants waiting for access. website, said Lauren Banks, the need coverage starting January million people it needs by the end cies at that time were considering States where he is wanted on While saying HealthCare.gov organisation’s director of policy 1 could include millions of unin- of March to be financially viable, sharing information with foreign espionage charges following dis- had improved, Obama adviser and advocacy. sured Americans with preexist- including millions of healthy, young surveillance partners”. closures that have provoked Jeffrey Zients also warned that One glitch the organisation ing health conditions and others enrollees who are needed to keep “It provides further confir- international uproar and strained peak traffic volumes during the came across last week involved who have been notified that their the programme’s costs in check. mation that, to some extent at ties with allies. AFP coming weeks could overwhelm it apparently incorrect information current health plans will expire REUTERS

Chile run-off polls on December 15 Attacks prompt 24-hour curfew France to keep Sunday in Nigerian city as day of rest: Premier MAIDUGURI: Attacks by PARIS: France’s Socialist gov- Ayrault was speaking after Boko Haram Islamists forced ernment is to maintain most receiving the report from Jean- authorities yesterday to impose of the existing restrictions on Paul Bailly, the former head of a 24-hour curfew in Maiduguri, Sunday shopping, despite criti- France’s postal services, which northeast Nigeria, closing the cism that they are ill-suited recommended that shops should airport and shutting roads into to a country battling record be allowed to open up to 12 and out of the city. unemployment. Sundays a year, as opposed to a The government in Borno state Speaking after the publication maximum of five at present. said the decision was taken after of a government-sponsored report Under the current rules, consultation with the military, which called for a partial easing of most large, non-food shops are which is believed to have been the the curbs, Prime Minister Jean- restricted from opening on target of the strikes by hundreds Marc Ayrault said the govern- Sundays unless they are in des- of militant fighters. ment would legislate to clear up ignated tourist areas or have The military said they would anomalies in the patchwork of received a special exemption from tighten security in communities local and national rules govern- local authorities. near Nigeria’s northern and east- ing Sunday trading. This has led to a situation ern borders with Chad, Niger and But he said the principle of where, for example, it is easy to Cameroon due to fears about Boko Sunday being a day of rest would buy plants on a Sunday but not a Haram strikes. Details of the con- be maintained and rules requir- spade to plant them with. flict have been difficult to verify ing workers to be paid at higher Different rules apply to the because of the communications rates for Sunday shifts would be shops in tourist areas, where staff Chilean presidential candidate Michelle Bachelet (centre) delivers a speech accompanied by young supporters black-out. The latest violence tightened up. can be expected to routinely work after meeting with them in Santiago yesterday. Chileans go to the polls on December 15 in a run-off election. began at around 0200 GMT and “The principle will be no open- Sundays, and other zones, where included bomb and gun attacks. ing without something in return it has to be on a voluntary basis. AFP for employees,” he said. AFP TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Thai PM opens talks to find peaceful solution Protesters set today as deadline for her resignation

BANGKOK: Thai Prime Yingluck’s office in the heart of “The protesters’ demands are Minister Yingluck Shinawatra Bangkok. After using canister impossible to meet under the said yesterday she would “open upon canister of teargas to repel framework of the constitution,” every door” to find a peace- them on Sunday, police stepped up Yingluck said. ful solution to a political cri- their response yesterday. Suthep met Yingluck late on sis gripping Bangkok as police “We are alternating between Sunday but insisted there had used rubber bullets against the use of water cannons, tear- been no negotiations to end protesters seeking to topple her gas and rubber bullets,” Paradorn Thailand’s worst political crisis government. Pattanathabutr, the head of the since bloody unrest in 2010. The violence is the latest twist National Security Council, said. He said the meeting was in a conflict pitting Bangkok’s “Rubber bullets are being used arranged by the powerful military, middle class and royalist elite in one area only and that is the which has taken sides against against the mostly poor, rural bridge near Government House.” Thaksin-allied governments in supporters of Yingluck and her A Reuters reporter saw a man the past and put down a drawn-out brother, Thaksin Shinawatra, a in his early 20s fire three shots pro-Thaksin protest in 2010, when populist former prime minister from a pistol in the direction of more than 90 people were killed. who was ousted in a military coup police protecting Government The government at the time in 2006 and lives in self-imposed House. Protesters also threw doz- - in which Suthep was a deputy exile. ens of petrol bombs. prime minister - gave the mili- Yingluck told a news confer- Teargas was used against pro- tary powers under an emergency ence that police would not use testers trying to tear down barri- decree to clear pro-Thaksin “red force but the national security ers at the Bangkok metropolitan shirts” from central Bangkok. chief said rubber bullets were police headquarters. This time the army has care- being used as protesters threat- They pulled back in late after- fully tried not to get involved, only ened to advance on Yingluck’s noon but protest leader Suthep reluctantly providing unarmed office, the focal point of the dem- Thaugsuban, who rejected back-up for police. onstrations since the weekend. Yingluck’s call for talks, told “The military has positioned A Ramathibodi Hospital official supporters he was determined itself as neutral and it wants to An anti-government protester throws back a canister of tear gas at policemen during clashes near the government later said two protesters had been the assault would go on and they see a peaceful way out,” Yingluck wounded by gunfire but it was not would seize the headquarters told the news conference. house in Bangkok yesterday. known who shot them. today. Three people were shot dead at The number of protesters was Suthep, 64, who resigned as a the weekend, including two gov- police said. tools of the Thaksin regime,” said be functioning. The Commerce well down on the 30,000 dispersed Democrat lawmaker to lead the ernment supporters who had been Suthep has set today’s dead- Akanat Promphan, a spokesman Ministry released inflation data around various sites on Sunday, protests, wants a vaguely defined at a rally in east Bangkok and a line for her to step aside and his for the protest group. as planned. Protesters still occupy but hard-core elements broke “people’s council” to replace student from a nearby university. movement has called for civil Yingluck said government the Finance Minister and a gov- through concrete barriers set Yingluck’s government and a par- The remains of a fourth person servants to go on strike. offices were open as normal and ernment agency complex. up around Government House, liament of nominated worthies. were found in a burnt-out bus, “Government workers are still many ministries appeared to REUTERS

Liu Xia fears Taiwan jets fly into overlapping zone No new US army bases in punishment TAIPEI: Taiwan said yes- Yen Ming, answering questions Progressive Party, described the Manila, only troops: Envoy terday that its military planes in parliament yesterday, said the comments as “too weak.” BEIJING: The wife of jailed have made about 30 flights into Taiwanese military planes had The smaller, more radical MANILA: The new United Goldberg said having faster Nobel Peace Prize Laureate a part of China’s newly declared made “around 30 flights” into Taiwan Solidarity Union filed a States ambassador to the and more efficient military capa- Liu Xiaobo is unwell under air defence zone which overlaps the overlapping area in the past lawsuit against Ma, claiming he Philippines said they are not bilities “will always be of help” house arrest and possibly suf- a similar Taiwanese zone. week or so. had betrayed Taiwan’s interests building new military bases as shown in the on-going relief fering from severe depression, China’s unilateral announce- Yen said Taiwan’s air force would to China. Taiwan’s parliament here but he cited the impor- operations in areas ravaged by but refuses to seek medical ment on November 23 of an scramble planes should Chinese passed a bipartisan resolution urg- tance of the help coming from Super Typhoon Haiyan, wherein help as she is afraid of further Air Defence Identification Zone aircraft enter the overlapping ing the government not to present American troops. American forces have provided punishment, her friends said (ADIZ) in the East China Sea area, but none had done so as yet. flight plans to China even though Ambassador Philip Goldberg assistance. yesterday. has angered the United States, But the minister said the air force the island’s Civil Aeronautics said yesterday establishing new American troops, equipment, The accounts from Liu Xia’s Japan and South Korea as well as would refrain from conducting Administration agreed to do so. bases in the Philippines is not and even transport planes have friends shed a rare light into Taiwan. Beijing demands that all bombing exercises in the area, to China still considers Taiwan part of the yet-to-be-signed been deployed to Tacloban City her condition since being held at aircraft submit flight plans when avoid fuelling tensions. as part of its territory awaiting framework agreement for the in the province of Leyte and in home after Liu Xiaobo won the traversing the zone, which covers Japan and South Korea both reunification, even though the two increased rotational presence of other typhoon-hit places to aid Nobel Prize in 2010. islands disputed with Tokyo and said last week they had flown sides split back in 1949 at the end US forces. However, he said it is their Philippine counterparts in They also come two days ahead also claimed by Taipei. into the Chinese air zone without of a civil war. important to help the Philippine the relief efforts. of a visit to China by United On Friday the Ma Ying-jeou notifying Beijing, after US B-52 But relations have warmed military, especially in the aspects “It’s important for the States Vice President Joe Biden, administration in Taiwan, which bombers did likewise. since Ma of the China-friendly of maritime defence and disaster Philippines, I think, as we saw during which human rights will has been pushing for detente with Ma’s administration in a state- Kuomintang party came to power response. with the Super Typhoon Haiyan likely be raised amid a broader the mainland since 2008, launched ment Saturday called for a peace- in 2008 on a platform of strength- “We’re not talking about bases to have a greater ability to provide crackdown on dissent and free- a belated protest about the zone ful settlement of the dispute. ening trade and tourism links. He or any kind of new bases for the for humanitarian assistance and dom of speech and assembly. following mounting pressure from But the China-sceptic main was re-elected in January 2012. United States,” Goldberg said at disaster relief,” Goldberg said. REUTERS the opposition. Defence Minister opposition party, the Democratic AFP a televised news briefing. THE PHILIPPINE STAR China sends lunar probe, Yutu buggy

BEIJING: China launched its first ever extraterres- trial landing craft into orbit en route for the moon in the small hours of yesterday, in a major milestone for its space programme. The Chang’e-3 lunar probe, which includes the Yutu or Jade Rabbit buggy, blasted off on board an enhanced Long March-3B carrier rocket from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre in China’s southwest- ern Sichuan province at 1:30am (12:30pm EDT). President Xi Jinping has said he wants China to establish itself as a space superpower, and the mission has inspired pride in China’s growing tech- nological prowess. State televi- sion showed a live broadcast of the rocket lifting off. If all goes smoothly, the rover will conduct geological surveys and search for natural resources after the probe touches down on the moon in mid-December as China’s first spacecraft to make a soft landing beyond Earth. “The probe has already entered the designated orbit,” the official Xinhua news agency quoted Zhang Zhenzhong, direc- tor of the launch centre, as say- The Chang’e-3 rocket, carrying the Jade Rabbit rover, blasts off from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in ing. “I now announce the launch the southwest province of Sichuan yesterday. was successful.” “We will strive for our space dream as part of the Chinese Chinese scientists have dis- probe on the moon, release a space capabilities giving it any dream of national rejuvenation,” cussed the possibility of sending moon rover and return the strategic advantage. China says he added. a human to the moon after 2020. probe to the Earth in 2017, it will share the technological In 2007, China launched its If the lunar mission is suc- Xinhua said. achievements of its manned first moon orbiter, the Chang’e-1 cessful, China will become the Beijing insists its space pro- space programme with other - named after a lunar goddess third country, after the United gramme is for peaceful pur- nations, especially developing - which took images of the sur- States and the former Soviet poses, but the US Department of ones, and will offer to train face and analysed the distribu- Union, to soft-land on the moon. Defence has made clear it wants astronauts from other coun- tion of elements. China is looking to land a to prevent China’s increasing tries. REUTERS TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 10 die as bus falls into Kashmir ravine Four injured; bus hurtles down 500-foot slope

MUZAFFARABAD: At least Abbasi said that around 20 peo- accident was not immediately 10 people were killed yesterday ple were on board. He said 10 had known. Pakistan has a poor when a passenger bus plunged been killed and four were injured. record for fatal traffic accidents, into a ravine in Pakistan’s A senior government official with poorly maintained roads and Kashmir region, close to the also confirmed the incident. vehicles and reckless driving often disputed border with India. “The accident occurred around the cause. The narrow, twisting The bus travelling from the 5.00am. We have moved the roads in mountainous Kashmir garrison city of Rawalpindi to the injured to hospitals and handed are particularly hazardous. frontier town of Forward Kahuta, over dead bodies to the rela- The government of Punjab has fell down the 150 metre (500 foot) tives,” local administration official planned to built a bus system in slope early in the morning. Sardar Shahbaz Ali said. Rawalpindi similar to Lahore’s A Pakistani man looks at the wreckage of the bus that fell into a ravine in Kashmir region yesterday. Senior local police official Riaz The officials said the cause of Metrobus. AFP

US aid at risk if Families urge Pakistan to no troop accord Karzai denies delayed poll plea KABUL: President Hamid term and has so far refrained constitution and electoral law.” free Bagram detainees Karzai denied yesterday that he from backing any of the can- But while electoral law states by Afghanistan had urged delaying the elections didates, although he is widely the date cannot be changed, one BRUSSELS: Nato officials PESHAWAR: Family mem- Jail in Peshawar, a volatile and scheduled for April next year to expected to support his elder member of the IEC, appointed warned Afghan President bers and lawyers representing a chaotic city on Pakistan’s Afghan avoid the heavy snow that could brother Qayum, seen as one of by Karzai’s administration to Hamid Karzai yesterday that group of Pakistani men released border. cut off access to some parts of the front runners. organise the vote, said it could be he must sign a US troop sta- from a US military prison but “We don’t know what evidence the country, as asserted by the The president has also refused delayed if the weather threatened tus accord or put at risk future held by Pakistani authorities they are using to hold them. poll’s organisers. to sign a pact that would keep to exclude groups of voters. military and development aid urged the government yester- There is no evidence as far as we The Independent Election thousands of US troops in “That is possible, but one thing for his country. day to free them or explain why are concerned,” said Belal, who Commission (IEC) chairman had Afghanistan after next year when is clear. We are trying not to say While planning continues for a they are still being kept behind met the men inside the prison told parliament that Karzai sug- most international troops pull this... it is premature,” the com- post-2014 training and advisory bars. earlier in the day. gested pushing back the elections out. His assertion the deal should missioner told Reuters, asking to mission after Nato ends combat The six men were arrested Pakistani prison or justice offi- to address concerns about snow wait until after the elections has remain anonymous because he is operations, time is pressing and by US authorities in neighbour- cials were not immediately avail- blocking voters. Karzai’s spokes- been taken by some as evidence not authorised to give statements political and military practicali- ing Afghanistan on suspicion of able for comment. man however denied that chang- of his reluctance to step out of to the press. ties mean the agreement must be links to the Taliban but they were Foreign prisoners at Bagram, ing the date had been discussed. the limelight. Critics at home and diplomats signed soon, a senior Nato official released on November 16 from which is often compared to the “The president will never inter- “Regarding the weather, there however have long feared that said. the high-security Bagram prison Guantanamo Bay jail in Cuba, fere in the affairs of the election have been concerns,” IEC chair- Karzai could use bad weather or If there is no Afghan-US there without charge. have no trials, only review boards commission nor he would allow man Yousof Nooristani told par- poor security as a tool for push- accord, there is “no post-2014 They were repatriated to their staffed by U.S. military officers. others to do so,” Aimal Faizi said. liament’s upper house on Sunday. ing back the vote set to mark the mission” and likely all the fund- homeland and have since been Dozens of Pakistani prisoners The prospect of a delay was “Even the president has sug- first democratic transfer of power ing and other commitments that held at a prison in Peshawar in are believed to be held at Bagram likely to worry the United States gested we could make changes to since the Taliban fell in 2001. go with it, the official told a brief- northwestern Pakistan. without charge. and critics of Karzai who fear he this (the election date) because But the IEC’s spokesman said ing ahead of a two-day Nato for- “We don’t know on what The boards evaluate evidence may be trying to drag out his sec- he received complaints from the that neither the organisers nor eign ministers meeting beginning charges they are being held,” against them and whether the ond and final term. people.” the president had authority to today. Sarah Belal, one of the lawyers, detainees might pose a future Karzai is barred by the consti- “I told him we couldn’t because change the date. Current NATO aid for Afghan said outside the sprawling Central threat to US forces. REUTERS tution from running for a third the date is set, based on the REUTERS armed forces runs at $4.1 billion (3 billion euros) a year, of which Kabul would only be able to raise Open classroom $500 million, said the official who asked not to be named. The handling and “appropri- ate oversight” of aid is a key issue post-2014, given concerns over corruption, and the official said donors would be worried if there was no US and alliance presence to enure it was spent as intended. Without an agreement, fund- ing “in theory could continue to be forthcoming...but in practice there must be a question whether donors would have the confidence to contribute,” said the official. In Kabul, Taliban insurgents fighting against the US-backed Afghan government expressed their support for Karzai’s refusal to sign a security pact. “It seems he has sensed the truth, and we hope this opposi- tion comes from Afghani pride and is for the sake of ending the nation’s problems,” the Islamists, who ruled from 1996-2001, said in a statement. “It is obvious to all that the Afghan people have never wanted foreign invaders in their land... He should, without any hesitance, distance himself from this his- torical shame.” The Bilateral Security Afghan schoolchildren take lessons in an open classroom at a refugee Agreement could see several camp on the outskirts of Jalalabad, Nangarhar province, on Sunday. thousand US troops staying on in Afghanistan has had only rare moments of peace over the past 30 years, Afghanistan to train local secu- rity forces and undertake coun- its education system being undermined by the Soviet invasion of 1979, a ter-terror operations. AGENCIES civil war in the 1990s and five years of Taliban rule. Islamabad, Kabul to push for Taliban office ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and President Hamid Karzai’s request The Pakistani official ruled out Afghanistan have agreed to for a Taliban office in Pakistan. the possibility of the Doha process evolve a new mechanism that “Our role [in the Afghan peace being revived. But the official held seeks to accelerate efforts for process] will remain that of a out the hope that ‘a similar proc- bringing a peaceful end to the facilitator and not a leader allow- ess could be initiated in another 12-year-old conflict in the war- ing the Taliban to open an office country.’ ravaged country, it was learnt in Pakistan will be contrary to Pakistan is considered crucial yesterday. our principled position,” the offi- for any peace deal in Afghanistan Under the agreement, both cial quoted the prime minister as because of its historic ties with sides would explore options on an saying. the Afghan Taliban. Several key ‘urgent basis’ to open a political He indicated that an important Taliban commanders, including office for the Taliban in Turkey or development is expected over the the insurgent group’s former dep- Saudi Arabia, said a senior aide next few weeks regarding the uty Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. Afghan Taliban’s office. remained in Pakistan’s custody. The understanding was reached The faction set up a political However, Islamabad released during the premier’s recent trip office in Doha in June this year, many Taliban detainees as part to Kabul. but the move was immediately of efforts to give new impetus to The official, who travelled with rejected by the Karzai adminis- the peace efforts. the prime minister on Saturday, tration following a row over the The official disclosed that the said that Islamabad asked Kabul former’s portrayal of the office as Afghan High Peace Council dele- to allow the Taliban to set up an embassy of the Taliban regime gation already had detailed meet- their office in Turkey or Saudi in Afghanistan. ing with Baradar recently and in Arabia. Speaking on condition The differences led to the clo- future more such meetings are of anonymity, the official said sure of the Doha office within 24 planned. Islamabad politely turned down hours of its opening. INTERNEWS TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Rescue demonstration Woman throws 108 Muslim candidates baby-daughter out of train KOLKATA: A woman was in Delhi election fray arrested yesterday after she flung her year-old daughter out of a running train in West Campaign ends; parties hold rallies to woo voters Bengal’s North 24-Parganas district. The baby battles for NEW DELHI: The Delhi Around eight constituencies candidates. Of the total 18 candi- life in a hospital, police said. assembly elections tomorrow in Delhi have Muslim population dates, 11 are Muslims. The fledg- The incident occurred yes- will see a slight increase in the of around 30-40 percent. These ling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has terday near Naihati railway participation of Muslim candi- include Okhla, Mustafabad and fielded six Muslim candidates in station, some 40km from dates from various political par- Seelampur in east Delhi and its debut year, including promi- here. The woman, Purnima ties compared to the 2008 polls. Matia Mahal and Ballimaran in nent party face Shazia Ilmi. Das, boarded a suburban The BSP has fielded the highest the Walled City. Fielding a non- Campaigning for the elections train at Naihati. As the train number of Muslim candidates Muslim candidate in these seats ended yesterday as the Congress, pulled out of the station, she along with Samajwadi Party. is considered to be suicidal. BJP and AAP held over 25 meet- flung her baby out. Shocked Of the 810 candidates fielded Kumar pointed out that elec- ings, road shows and rallies all co-passengers pulled the for the 70 seats, a total number of tions in these constituencies over the capital in a last-minute chain to stop the train, and 108 Muslims have been fielded — are fought on local issues. This effort to woo voters. handed the woman over to comprising 13 percent. In 2008, 92 time, the Congress has fielded In their last press confer- police. The woman claimed Muslim candidates were fielded six Muslim candidates, while the ence before the polls, each party that her husband’s family of the total 875 fighting the polls. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has claimed it will get a clear majority had been torturing her ever Muslims account for 11 percent given a ticket to only one Muslim. in the assembly, while both the since she gave birth to a girl, of the 11.5 million voters in Delhi. But it is the Bahujan Samaj BJP and Congress dismissed the and she wanted to rid herself The 70-member Delhi assembly Party (BSP) which has given tick- AAP as any serious threat. of her daughter. “Ever since has only five Muslim legislators. ets to the highest number of 11 While the last day of campaign- I gave birth to a girl, my in- “It is not just Delhi, but in Muslims. “We give representation ing went off peacefully, stray inci- laws have been mentally and all the state assemblies in the to all communities, unlike other dents of violence were reported. physically torturing me,” Das country Muslims have less rep- parties. In 2008, we fielded six The BJP’s campaign, led by told police after her arrest. resentation,” Sanjay Kumar, fel- Muslim candidates, this time we its prime ministerial candidate low at Centre for the Study of have fielded 11,” BSP’s Delhi in- Narendra Modi, overshadowed Pakistan envoy Developing Societies and author charge Ram Achal Rajbhar said. the other two parties. Modi’s ral- of the book Changing Electoral Samajwadi Party’s Delhi presi- lies held across the city were a hit positive on ties Politics in Delhi, said. dent Usha Yadav said: “We have and were attended by thousands Of the five Muslim lawmakers, fielded 11 Muslim candidates this of people, whereas the Congress NEW DELHI: Pakistan’s four are from the ruling Congress. time.” Congress minister Haroon poll campaign led by party chief outgoing envoy to New Delhi They belong to areas with size- Yusuf, the most well known Sonia Gandhi and vice president said yesterday that he saw able Muslim population, including Muslim politician of Delhi, will seek Rahul Gandhi got a lukewarm “light at the end of the tun- unauthorised and resettlement a straight fifth term as MLA from response. On the other hand, the nel” in diplomatic relations colonies — and comprise a major Ballimaran in the Walled City. AAP did not organise any mega Navy commandos take part in a rescue demonstration during a and predicted the improve- vote share of the oldest party in Okhla constituency will see rally and limited itself to door-to- rehearsal for December 4 Navy Day celebrations in front of The ment would survive next the country. the maximum number of Muslim door campaigning. IANS Gateway of India in Mumbai yesterday. year’s Indian elections. High Commissioner (ambassador) Salman Bashir said calm had returned to the neighbours’ de facto border in Kashmir after a deadly flare-up ear- Three Kerala lier in the year and both sides Tejpal undergoes blood, potency tests were committed to improving ties. “I do not want to sound jailbirds busy over-optimistic or exaggerate PANAJI: Tehelka editor-in- questioned in spells of three hours other medical examinations are Tejpal spent most of Sunday in but what I am saying is that on Facebook chief Tarun Tejpal yesterday on Sunday after he was formally mandatory every two days when his prison cell. He spent the night there is light at the end of the spent most of the time in hos- sent to police custody for six days an accused is in police custody. on a makeshift newspaper mat in tunnel,” Bashir told a farewell THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: pital, undergoing a urology test for allegedly sexually assaulting a Police sources said Tejpal could the company of four alleged frog press conference here. “We Three inmates of Kozhikode related to potency, a manda- junior colleague. be taken to the Grand Hyatt hotel poachers arrested by the state have constantly worked for Jail in Kerala, under trial for tory general medical examina- Tejpal was questioned about the to recreate the crime scene. The forest department. the improvement in relations the brutal murder last year of a tion and a series of blood tests, discrepancy between his apologies woman journalist has accused Police sources said a minor between the two countries former leader of the CPI-M, T officials here said. via email to the woman, and his Tejpal of allegedly sexually argument broke out outside the and at this point of time I am P Chandrasekheran, were found Tejpal underwent the tests yes- subsequent public posturing that assaulting her twice in that hotel’s lock-up on Sunday night after personally optimistic that we to have posted photographs on terday at the Goa Medical College the case was a conspiracy. elevator on November 7-8 during Tejpal’s family turned up with will be on the upward trajec- Facebook. near Panaji under police escort Police sources said while the a three-day conference organised a mattress for him but were tory in the coming months.” TV news channels in the state and was taken back to the Crime potency test was necessary to by Tejpal’s weekly news magazine. refused entry because the court have now picked up the pic- Branch for more interrogation establish whether the accused “He will then be confronted with has not permitted the use of a Shiv Sena MP tures, and a discussion has begun later in the afternoon. was physically capable of the sex- the footage from CCTVs outside blanket by Tejpal. about what jail inmates should Police said Tejpal was ual assault he is accused of, the the elevator,” a police source said. IANS Rawale sacked be allowed to do. Kodi Sunni, Kirmani Manoj and Mohammed MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena Shafi, among the 36 accused in yesterday sacked senior leader the murder case, posed within Mohan Rawale, at five terms the jail premises, wearing shorts its longest serving Lok Sabha and sunglasses, and posted their Delhi, Tokyo near pact MP, for dissidence, a party photographs on Facebook. spokesperson said. The expul- “The director general of police sion was ordered shortly after is probing the matter and action Rawale addressed a press con- will be taken against those found on civil nuclear deal ference in which he launched a to be wanting in their duty. This no-holds-barred attack on the (access to social media for pris- NEW DELHI: India and Japan Manmohan Singh, renewable party leadership and alleged oners) is not acceptable at all. are “close to agreement” on a energy resources were discussed, that the Shiv Sena was becom- I am visiting the jail tomorrow civil nuclear deal and are also Tanino said. During their closed ing “a party of touts”. The to find out for myself what has in discussions on boosting their door meeting, both sides touched developments came just four happened,” state Home Minister business and people-to-people upon their close and warm bilat- days after a stern Shiv Sena Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan ties, a Japanese official said as eral relations and discussed a President Uddhav Thackeray told reporters. Emperor Akihito held talks with wide range of issues, including made it clear that all those Chandrasekheran, who was Prime Minister Manmohan their business ties, he said. who did not like his leadership ousted in 2008 by the Communist Singh here yesterday. Besides the Japanese emperor were “free to leave the party”. Party of India-Marxist after he Sakutaro Tanino, press secretary and Manmohan Singh, the “small Rawale was elected as the became the proverbial thorn in to the emperor and a former envoy group meeting” was attended party MP in 1991, 1996, 1998, the side of the party in Kozhikode to India, said the two countries are by External Affairs Minister 1999 and 2004 from Mumbai. district, founded another party, in negotiations on peaceful use of Salman Khurshid and Planning the Revolutionary Marxist Party. nuclear energy and are “close to Commission Deputy Chairperson Mars craft crosses As the 51-year-old was return- agreement” on a civil nuclear deal. Montek Singh Ahluwalia, while ing home near Onchiyam in He stressed India and Japan share from the Japanese side former moon orbit Kozhikode district on May 4, 2012, the view for ultimate elimination prime minister Yoshiro Mori was BANGALORE: The Indian he was hacked 51 times by a group of nuclear weapons. present. spacecraft to Mars crossed of armed gangsters. In all, 36 peo- Japan’s concerns over nuclear The meeting, scheduled for 45 the moon’s orbit yesterday on ple are in jail as undertrials in this energy stem from the radioac- minutes, was marked by “shared its way towards the red planet, case. Kozhikode Jail officials said tive leakage from its Fukushima intimacy” and “shared chemis- ISRO officials said. Cruising at they searched the premises after plant that had to be shut down try”, at the Hyderabad House. 32km per second in the 680m the news reports featuring the following the 2011 earthquake and Both Manmohan Singh and km solar orbit, the Orbiter photographs appeared, but could tsunami. Japan has been import- Emperor Akihito talked about flew over the satellite, crossing not find anything. Japanese Empress Michiko (left) meets students during her visit to the ing fossil fuel for its energy needs. the changes in India in the past its orbit where India’s moon Among the posts on the social Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi yesterday. During talks between Emperor 53 years and the changes in India- craft Chandrayaan-1 orbited networking site left by the three Akihito and Prime Minister Japan ties, said Tanino. IANS in 2008-09. are those claiming that Kerala AGENCIES would soon get a new and excel- lent chief minister in CPI-M leader Pinarayi Vijayan. TV channels have uncovered mobile call details showing that Kodi Suni spoke on a cellphone 29 years later, Bhopal gas victims still wait for justice even at 11am yesterday. TV news reports show that more than 900 NEW DELHI: It was on the night of meeting in Bhopal today to reiterate their none having any answer to when will it be “The people who were responsible for calls were made by Kodi Suni December 2-3, 1984, that a toxic gas leak demands. Most of the victims blame the removed,” she said. the whole tragedy have gone scot free and from two mobile phones in the from the Union Carbide Corporation’s state and central governments for not pay- “The Madhya Pradesh government our government did not take any action past two months. pesticide plant in the Madhya Pradesh ing heed to their needs. has accepted about the contamination of to punish those responsible for taking so Among those accused in this capital killed and maimed thousands of “In the past 29 years, we have been fight- groundwater in the region but no steps many innocent lives,” Namdeo said. Victims murder case are state, district people. Nearly three decades later, vic- ing with limited resources we had but noth- have been taken for its disposal,” she said. say the impact of the tragedy can be seen and local leaders of the CPI-M, tims of the Bhopal gas tragedy are still ing substantial has come out yet. Both the The Bhopal gas tragedy killed over 3,500 even today as hundreds of children born in including the husband of a party fighting for justice. state and central governments have been people in a single night. An estimated the area even now suffer from disabilities. legislator. Last month, TV visu- The victims have been waging legal bat- eye-washing the world on the matter,” 25,000 maimed and diseased have died over “There are no jobs, victims are being als showed CPI-M legislator K tles demanding more compensation, better Rachna Dhingra, a member of the Bhopal two decades. given substandard medicines in hospitals K Lathika having food with her treatment facilities and removal of haz- Group for Information and Action, said. Balkrishna Namdeo of the Bhopal Gas and children continue to be born with dis- husband P Mohanan, one of the ardous waste from the site, and jobs for Dhingra said 25,000 tonnes of toxic Peedit Nirashrit Pension Bhogi Sangharsh abilities of all kinds. We have been fighting accused in the case, in a restau- affected people. waste still lies inside the locked Union Samiti said the worst part is that the cul- and will continue for our rights,” Rashida rant, as the man was being taken Various social groups fighting for justice Carbide plant in Bhopal. “So far, only 350 prits behind the tragedy are still at large Bi, head of the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila to hospital for a check-up. for the victims of one of the world’s worst tonnes of waste has been removed and the and the government has failed to put them Stationery Karmchari Sangh, said. IANS industrial disasters are planning to hold a rest continues to lie inside the plant with behind bars. IANS

TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Women may  News in Numbers    have been CHART: 1 31 1 Fajr (Dawn) 4:42 3 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:03 sacrificed in Zuhr (Noon) 11:23 Asr (Afternoon) 2:23 ancient China Maghrib (Sunset) 4:44 BEIJING: Archaeologists in Isha (Night) 6:14 China have unearthed the skulls of more than 80 young women who may have been sacrificed more than 4,000 years ago, state WEATHER media reported yesterday. The skulls were found in what appears to have been a mass grave Today Wednesday Weather Thursday Conditions: at the Shimao Ruins, the site of a Clear Partly cloudy Partly cloudy neolithic stone city in the north- Fine to partly ern province of Shaanxi. The 14 biggest insurance markets of the MENA region have a total population cloudy. The women’s bodies were not present, the official news agency of about 370 million. The region generates a combined gross domestic product High: 28° High: 27° High: 28° Xinhua said, adding that archae- (GDP) of close to US$ 3.5 trillion or 5pc of the world’s total. At an inflation-adjusted Low: 20° Low: 19° Low: 20° ologists concluded that the skulls growth rate of 4.8pc per annum between 2007 and 2012, the region’s economies were “likely to be related to the construction of the city wall” in grew markedly faster than the global average (3.3pc). Qatar’s GDP growth stands “ancient religious activities or out, primarily reflecting the expansion in liquefied natural gas (LNG) capacity . The DOHA - SUN & SEA foundation ceremonies” before country is expected to remain the region’s most vibrant economy, though growth construction began. SUN TIDE SEA There may have been an out- rates are set to fall to single-digit levels as current LNG development programmes SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND break of mass violence or ethnic near completion. conflict in the region at the time 06:03 16:44 05:15 & 16:15 12:15 & 22:30 4-12/5 KT since “ancient people were prone to use their enemies or captives Real GDP growth THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW as sacrifices”, it added. The discovery is not the first (2007- 2014f; annual averages) HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER instance of researchers unearth- ing remains related to human 14 MUSCAT 28/20 Partly cloudy 28/20 Partly cloudy sacrifice in early China. Kings and KUWAIT 25/15 Partly cloudy 25/17 Partly cloudy emperors were regularly buried BAHRAIN 24/19 Clear 25/20 Clear along with their servants and 2007-2012 SANAA 23/07 Clear 24/08 Clear concubines, who were sometimes RIYADH 29/16 Partly cloudy 29/16 Partly cloudy killed first — and on other occa- 2013-2014 (estimates, forecasts) DUBAI 29/20 Partly cloudy 28/20 Partly cloudy sions buried alive. BAGHDAD 20/14 Mostly cloudy 17/09 Mostly cloudy The Shimao Ruins cover more than four square kilometres and THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW were discovered in 1976. The total includes 40 skulls 6.4 HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER that the Shaanxi provincial gov- 5.15.1 ernment said earlier had been 4.8 4.3 4.7 ATHENS 11/08 Chance of rain 10/09 Chance of rain discovered at the site last year. 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.4 WASHINGTON 11/04 Partly cloudy 14/10 Mostly cloudy Sun Zhouyong, deputy head of 3.3 3.4 3 2.9 2.7 SYDNEY 29/18 Mostly cloudy 25/11 Chance of storm the Shaanxi Provincial Institute of Archaeology, told state broad- LONDON 09/04 Mostly cloudy 11/03 Partly cloudy caster CCTV that the initial batch PARIS 04/01 Mostly cloudy 06/06 Mostly cloudy “show signs of being hit and ISTANBUL 07/05 Chance of rain 09/05 Clear -0.1 burned”. MANILA 32/24 Chance of rain 31/23 Partly cloudy “This collective burial might Egypt Qatar DHAKA 27/17 Clear 27/17 Clear also have something to do with World MENA Turkey KSA Iran UAE DELHI 25/10 Clear 26/12 Clear the founding ceremony of the * MENA region (Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates) ISLAMABAD 23/06 Clear 23/06 Partly cloudy city,” he said. AFP Source : http://www.qfc.com.qa Speed a factor in crash that killed Walker Male koala bear’s deep

LOS ANGELES: Speed played a role in the one-car crash that killed “The Fast and the Furious” actor Paul Walker in Southern grunt draws females California on Saturday, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said. WASHINGTON: Male koala he said. The koala bear makes a Walker, 40, was a passenger in the red 2005 Porsche Carrera GT that bears may be tiny, but to woo bellowing call 20 times deeper crashed into a utility pole and burst into flames in the city of Santa the ladies they make a low- than would be expected for an Clarita on Saturday afternoon. pitched grunt as deep as an animal that weighs just eight “Speed was a factor in the solo vehicle collision,” the Los Angeles elephant’s call, thanks to kilogrammes on average, the County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement. an extra set of vocal cords, study said. Deputy Mark Pope said the accident was under investigation and researchers said yesterday. But since these vocal cords lie he did not know how fast the car was going. This previously unknown where the oral and nasal cavities The Los Angeles Times identified the driver as Roger Rodas, 38, a organ lies outside the voice box, connect, they are not limited by friend of Walker’s who owned Always Evolving, an auto dealership and or larynx, and is not known to the size constraints of the voice racing services company. exist in any other land mam- box, which typically makes for The sheriff’s department would not confirm that. The company could mal, said the study in the journal higher-pitched calls among not be reached for comment on Sunday. Current Biology. smaller creatures. In a message on its Facebook page, the company posted a message Koalas seeking to mate make These extra vocal cords are that said, “Thank you all for your condolences and prayers while we noises that sound like a mix like two lips inside the soft mourn the loss of our loved ones.” between snoring and belch- palette, a location researchers The blond-haired, blue-eyed Walker was in five of the six “The Fast ing, something akin to a don- described as “highly unusual.” and the Furious” films about illegal street racing and heists. A seventh key’s braying, explained lead Researchers said more study instalment was in development, according to Universal, the studio researcher Benjamin Charlton is needed to find out if female behind the franchise. of the University of Sussex. koalas have these vocal cords Fans pay their respects at the site of the car accident in which actor Paul Walker played law enforcement official Brian O’Conner in the “They are actually quite loud,” as well. AFP Walker was killed in Santa Clarita, California. movie series. REUTERS

The eagle lands Asterix creator sues daughter over ‘psychological violence’

PARIS: French illus- shut for years, but today trator Albert Uderzo, I have decided to act,” co-creator of Gallic the 86-year-old Uderzo hero Asterix, said told reporters at his yesterday he had filed home in the Paris sub- a judicial complaint urbs. “I want to turn the against his daughter tables on those who are and son-in-law for attacking me. Enough is “psychological vio- enough,” Uderzo said. lence” over a long- In a statement, running legal dispute. Uderzo and his wife said Uderzo, who cre- their daughter and her ated the iconic comic husband were not seek- series with writer ing reconciliation and Rene Goscinny in 1959, were “introducing and accused his daughter Asterix enjoys worldwide popularity. extending legal pro- cedures that have no Sylvie and her husband was being exploited. foundation”. of trying to “get their The rift goes back to “The sole purpose of hands” on his legacy. 2007 when the couple these acts is to under- Sylvie and her hus- were dismissed as man- mine our psychological band Bernard de Choisy agers of the company integrity and to hasten have made a number of handling Uderzo’s estate. our debility, in order to An installation of the giant eagle, Gwaihir, from the movie Hobbit with its rider Gandalf hanging from the roof at legal complaints over A year later the company get their hands on our Wellington Airport in New Zealand yesterday. The model was created by Weta Workshop to mark the release of Uderzo’s estate, includ- was sold to French pub- legacy, which they covet,” Peter Jackson’s second Hobbit movie The Desolation of Smaug, which is being released worldwide this month. ing one in 2011 claiming lishing firm Hachette. the statement said. that her elderly father “I have kept my mouth AFP Tuesday 3 December 2013 29 Moharram 1435 Volume 18 Number 5902 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Tehran to reassert authority at Opec Iran wants to resume position as second producer

VIENNA: Bijan Zanganeh are widely expected to roll forward Rising volumes from the United returns this week to the same until June an agreement to hold their States spurred by production from Vienna hotel suite he last occu- output near 30 million barrels daily new shale technology may mean pied eight years ago as Iranian for 12 member countries. Opec will need to cut output in the oil minister, ready to prepare But oil traders will be watching second half of 2014 if it wants to Opec for what Tehran hopes closely for signs of cooperation, or keep oil prices above $100 a barrel. will mark its return as the car- otherwise, between the big three “From now until the end of tel’s second biggest producer. producers in Opec, knowing that March, the market looks well bal- Emboldened by its nuclear Riyadh and Baghdad will need anced and the price should stay H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada (centre) joins the celebrations. deal with the West, Iranian oil to find room for Iran should its supported. But from June, there negotiators led again by indus- interim nuclear deal be verified will be a need for a cut,” said a try veteran Zanganeh, will seek and sanctions lifted. senior Opec delegate. RasGas celebrates incident-free work hours to reassert Tehran’s author- Reappointed to the oil minis- “The onus would be on Saudi ity in the Organisation of the try by Iran’s new and more west- Arabia and a few other Gulf pro- Petroleum Exporting Countries ern-friendly President Hassan ducers to rein in the incremental DOHA: RasGas yesterday Al Sada, Minister of Energy of the multi-national contractor at a Wednesday meeting. Rouhani, Zanganeh has openly output they put into the market,” held a ceremony to celebrate and Industry and Chairman and site workers who made this amaz- Western sanctions imposed in criticised Iraq, now Opec’s sec- said Samuel Ciszuk, oil analyst at a record of 100 million work Managing Director of Qatar ing achievement possible. 2012 on Iran for its nuclear pro- ond biggest producer, for increas- the Swedish Energy Agency. man hours Lost Time Incident Petroleum, Hamad Rashid Al “On behalf of the State of gramme have cost it dearly, losing ing its market share at Tehran’s Because of sanctions, Iran’s (LTI) free in Ras Laffan. This Mohannadi, RasGas CEO, RasGas Qatar and Qatar Petroleum, I it billions of dollars in oil revenues expense. “Iraq has replaced Iran’s output is down a million bpd since achievement became a real- Board of Directors, Barzan am delighted to join you today to and market share in Opec — largely oil with its own,” Zanganeh said the start of 2012 to 2.7 million ity as a result of the company’s Executive Committee, President and celebrate a historic achievement to its main regional political rival in November. “This Iraq move is bpd while Iraq, recovering from on-going commitment to safety General Manager of ExxonMobil and to congratulate all of you for Saudi Arabia, and neighbour Iraq. not friendly at all. We expect the years of war and sanctions under and through its stringent safety Qatar Inc, RasGas’ Executive accomplishing 100 million man- With its exports still shackled by Iranians to say, ‘We’re coming back Saddam Hussein, has boosted strategies, systems and proc- Leadership Team, dignitaries as well hours without a lost time inci- sanctions for at least another six to the market and we need some production to nearly 3 million esses, said a press statement. as representatives from the various dent,” Dr Al Sada told the site months, Iran poses no immediate space,’” said an Opec delegate from bpd. The celebration was attended contractors and sub-contractors. workers at the celebration. threat to the status quo. Oil ministers a rival Gulf Arab producer. REUTERS by H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh It was also attended by 10,000 THE PNEINSULA TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

World Expo in Ashghal begins Dubai to boost growth in GCC briefings for DOHA: Dubai’s successful bid to host the World Expo in 2020 will help boost GDP growth in the GCC region, including the UAE, as the Emirate economy Qatari firms is expected witness a whop- ping spending of nearly $18bn over the next several years, said a statement issued by QNB 500 officials attend three-day event yesterday. The government has announced DOHA: Promoting Qatari construction and development plans for $8bn of infrastructure companies to play a bigger role projects within the scope of the spending for the mega event, in future projects, the Public local roads and drainage pro- including the acceleration of plans Works Authority, (Ashghal) gramme. Qualified companies will to expand the Dubai metro, rail yesterday commenced a series be awarded contracts to imple- and road networks. of industry briefings with rep- ment works assigned by Ashghal A report from HSBC estimated resentatives from different con- according to the approved prices that there would be a further tracting firms to examine the previously submitted by the com- $10bn of private sector spending Framework of Contracts strat- panies. This speeds up the selec- to cover all the costs of putting on egy for the implementation of tion process for the contractors, the Expo. The size of the public its nationwide local roads and and ensures fast delivery in and private investments will stim- drainage programme, said a accordance with the international ulate growth and economic ben- press statement. quality standards. efits considerably. The spending More than 500 officials repre- The Framework of Contracts will directly impact consumption senting 75 qualified companies also aims to enhance the role of and investment growth, which in will attend the three-day event to Qatari companies, and develop turn, will create new jobs, drawing outline the implementation of the their capacity. Under the frame- in workers and providing a fur- Framework of Contracts passed work process, the main criteria ther boost to consumption. by Ashghal to develop more than for the selection process is the QNB Group estimates that 200 projects within its Local need for the successful bidders these factors should add an aver- Roads and Drainage Programme. to be either a Qatari-registered age 0.5 percentage points GDP The Framework of Contracts is company, or a joint venture of an growth annually in the run up to the conclusion of a comprehensive international firm with a Qatari 2020 and an additional one per- pre-qualification process Ashghal partner who owns not less than centage point in 2020 itself as the conducted for contractors willing 50 percent of the shares of the influx of people into the country to cooperate with the Authority. company. Mohammed Ahmed T Al Kawari (right) welcoming Pedro Goncalves (second left). boost domestic demand. As part of the process 75 quali- This Framework of Contracts The World Expo is the third fied companies were approved will also allow Qatari companies largest global event after the to implement construction and gain the experience they need to QC welcomes Portuguese trade team FIFA World Cup and the development projects under the participate in larger projects in Olympics. Based on the previous programme within the next five the future. experience of previous events, to seven years. Through this system, Ashghal DOHA: The Qatar Chamber chamber extends full support to has come to develop economic the Expo could attract up to 50m Saoud Al Tamimi, Manager will be able to process the prelimi- (QC) yesterday welcomed the the Portuguese businessmen to relations between the two visitors, in 2020 itself, providing of Roads Projects Department, nary approvals and prior agree- visiting Portuguese business- explore and set up business in countries. a strong boost to tourism and on behalf of Nasser bin Ali Al ments that have been concluded men to invest in the country for Qatar and there is huge develop- Goncalves said his team is look- consumption. Mawlawi, the President of Ashghal, with the participating contractors. its future development. ment work possibilities related to ing for right partners in bank- Considering that the World highlighted the importance of this This, in turn, will reduce the time While welcoming a trade del- the World Cup 2022.” ing, construction, engineering, Cup is being held in Qatar in Framework of Contracts as an required to award contracts for egates headed by the Portuguese Goncalves, while acknowl- healthcare, software and other 2022, the combination of both important step towards the imple- the implementation of projects. In Deputy Minister of Economy, edging the great response to IT-related services in Qatar. events in a reasonably short mentation of the local roads and this context, Ashghal has initiated Pedro Goncalves, QC Vice- the Portuguese delegates from The two sides also discussed timeframe should provide con- drainage programme. agreements allowing qualified com- Chairman Mohammed Ahmed the Qatari businessmen, said trade relations between the two siderable impetus to growth in The authority has adopted panies to implement field visits to T Al Kawari said: “We welcome though the two countries have nations and ways to establish the UAE, Qatar and the GCC as the Framework of Contracts to sites covered by the programme. more companies for the develop- already established strong bilat- partnerships in various sectors. a whole. expedite the implementation of THE PENINSULA ment of the local market. The eral political relations, the time THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA Qatar Steel takes part in The Big 5 Qatargas and JBOG Show in Dubai celebrate safety day DOHA: Qatar Steel Company participated in The Big 5 DOHA: The Qatargas Jetty not come easy. It has taken hard Show, held recently in Dubai. Boil-Off Gas (JBOG) Project work, rigorous training and sharp The event attracted over 2,500 team recently celebrated its vigilance on a daily basis by eve- exhibitors from 75 countries. fifth Safety Day at Ras Laffan ryone to ensure that Everybody The Big 5 is the largest trade Industrial City. Goes Home Safe. The real heroes show for the construction and The event was organised by the of JBOG’s safe working success industry in the Middle East and JBOG Project Management Team are our workers, and this safety North Africa. with support from its contrac- day was a small token of our grat- Qatar Steel was the silver tors, Fluor, Qcon, Qatar Kentz, itude to them.” sponsor of the show. Qatar Steel Medgulf, Teyseer, Shaqab Abela, The activities for the Safety logo and silver sponsor credits G4S and Draieh. Day included contractor’s safety appeared on the main event sig- Commenting on the celebration, display booths, safety quiz con- nage as well as on the front cover Sheikh Khalid Bin Abdulla Al tests, and awards and recognition of exhibition directory. Thani, Qatargas Chief Operating for demonstrating safety excel- Qatar had a special stand at the Officer, Engineering & Ventures, lence. Winners of the poster show containing 33 Qatari com- said: “Qatargas’ vision is to be making contest, the best safety panies, with 11 more this year. the premier LNG company in the booth and the safety quizzes were The show also highlighted the world, and the JBOG Project has given prizes. Several attractive booming construction industry in shown what a premier safety per- prizes were given away through the region. It was also a meeting formance looks like. The JBOG a raffle draw. place for building and civil engi- Project has not only achieved 19 The JBOG Recovery Project neering professionals, traders, million manhours while keeping aims to recover gas currently and businessmen. their people safe, but also man- being flared during LNG ship aged to sustain an incident and loading at the Ras Laffan port. Power Grid Corp of injury free work site for 12 con- The project will enable boiled-off secutive weeks. I commend the gas to be collected from LNG ships India announces FPO JBOG management team, their and compressed at a central facil- contractors and their workers ity. The compressed gas will then DOHA: The Power Grid on keeping themselves safe, and be sent to the LNG producers to Corporation of India Ltd urge them to maintain their high be consumed as fuel or converted (PGCIL), a public sector power safety standards up to the last day back into LNG. This project, when transmission company that of the project.” fully operational, will recover the owns and operates over 90 per- Bashir Mirza, Project Manager, equivalent of some 0.6 million cent of the national transmission JBOG, said: “The outstanding tonnes per year of LNG, which is grid in India, has announced a feat of keeping everybody on the enough natural gas to power more follow-on public offer (FPO). project safe for over three years than 300,000 homes. The issue opened yesterday and and 19 million man hours does THE PENINSULA will close Thursday for Qualified Institutional Buyers (QIBs). The FPO comprises fresh issue of 601.8 million equity shares and an offer Kuwait Airways to buy 25 new for sale of 185.2 million equity shares held by the government. Airbus jets and lease 12 more The objectives of the issue announced are to deploy Rs46bn KUWAIT: Kuwait Airways has signed a contract with Airbus towards development of 27 trans- to buy 25 new aircraft and lease 12 other new planes in the big- mission projects in fiscal years gest overhaul of its fleet since the 1990 Iraqi invasion, the state- 2014 and 2015. owned carrier said yesterday. “The company will start to receive There is no lock-in or mini- the new planes from the second quarter of 2014,” the airline said in mum holding period for inves- a statement. tors. The price band for the issue The airline did not disclose the value of the agreement or give details is Rs85-90 per share. The offer about the type of aircraft, but said that it would give a news conference would constitute 15.04 percent today. In May Kuwait Airways said it had signed an initial agreement of the post-offer paid-up equity with Airbus to buy 25 new aircraft and had taken an option on 10 capital of the company. more, saying the order would be for 15 A320neo narrowbody jets and On a consolidated basis, the 10 of Airbus’s new A350-900 XWB. gross fixed assets, revenues and The airline wants to take out of service 11 jets from its 17-strong net profits of the company have fleet, the planes of which have an average age of 18 years. grown from $556m, $100m and The Kuwait Airways order comes a year after the Gulf Arab state $37m, respectively in 1993 to won a $500m settlement from Iraqi Airways to end a two-decade $12.9bn, $21.66bn and $681 m, dispute over damage caused when former Iraqi President Saddam respectively, in 2013. Hussein’s forces seized aircraft and parts. THE PENINSULA REUTERS TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 EU regulator raps rating agencies ESMA finds shortcomings in rating

PARIS: The EU’s securi- the rating committees,” said the ties market regulator yester- report. day rapped rating agencies for ESMA also expressed concern numerous shortcomings in how that increased research activity they evaluate the creditworthi- was diverting sovereign analysts ness of sovereign countries, but from their core tasks and increas- did not move to sanction them ing the possibility that research under new regulations. customers might be tipped off on “ESMA’s investigation revealed ratings actions. shortcomings in the sovereign The regulator also criticised ratings process which could pose the lack of adequate procedures risks to the quality, independence on notification of ratings actions and integrity of the ratings and and ensuring a real appeal proc- of the rating process,” said the ess for the country affected. European Securities and Markets In at least one ratings Authority in a report. agency “ESMA observed sev- The probe focused on conflicts eral instances of disclosure of of interests in the ratings proc- upcoming rating actions to an ess, safeguards to ensure ratings unauthorised third party, before actions remain confidential until publication and, in some cases, A worker prepares the venue ahead of the ninth World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Nusa Dua, on the Indonesian resort island of Bali, their release, and the adequacy of before the rating committee had yesterday. ratings staff. taken place.” The work was carried out The EU tightened regulation of before new European Union regu- sovereign ratings agencies follow- Bali talks begin today, to decide fate of WTO lations came into force last June. ing several mass downgrades of The review of the practices of European countries in 2011 and Standard & Poor’s, Moody’s and 2012 due to the eurozone crisis, GENEVA/JAKARTA: Crisis Azevedo had repeatedly said the The WTO has already signifi- this week to provide. A successful Fitch — which control 90 percent which sparked criticism that the is the natural state of world text must be settled in Geneva and cantly lowered its sights since outcome is still possible.” of the ratings market — raised agencies were not looking suffi- trade negotiations. But this there could be no negotiations in a decade of Doha talks broke Supporters say the deal would concerns about the independence ciently at the circumstances of week will be different. Bali. Ministers indulging in politi- down, forcing the body to focus be felt globally, with most impact of ratings action. individual countries. Ministers meeting in the cal point-scoring and rhetorical on a much less ambitious set of in the poorest countries, since Paris-based ESMA found at There were also concerns rat- Indonesian resort of Bali from grandstanding are thought unlikely reforms. The agenda for the Bali it would set standards for han- least one instance of a member ings agencies did not have ade- today until Friday will decide to succeed where their Geneva- meeting has already suffered one dling the cross-border ship- of a ratings agency’s board of quate staff to monitor countries the fate of the World Trade based trade negotiators have failed. big loss: talks on free trade in ment of goods, making customs directors holding discussions with sufficiently. Organisation, with two possible “Will they or won’t they nego- technology goods, slated for agree- authorities help instead of hinder senior members of ratings teams Credit ratings influence what outcomes: a global trade agree- tiate in Bali? Some will try but ment at the meeting, collapsed business. on the appropriate actions to be countries pay to borrow money ment, the first since the WTO the recalcitrants will hold out last month after China insisted Estimates of the value to the followed or having a vote in rat- on debt markets, with many pen- was created in 1995, or a failure unless they get overruled by on a large list of exemptions. world economy vary, with some ings decisions. sion and investment funds bound that kills off the Doha round of their heads of government,” said But Azevedo has refused to as high as $1 trillion. Experts say It said it believed in certain by rules that prohibit them from trade talks and casts the WTO Simon Evenett, professor of abandon the deal on the table, it would be much more important cases senior management had buying debt of countries with low into obsolescence. international trade at the Swiss working the phones to narrow than abolishing import tariffs driven ratings decisions, with ratings. The 159 WTO members have University of St Gallen. bilateral differences. globally, since bureaucracy and limited or late-stage involvement New regulations tighten the pushed the crisis to the brink “For that to happen, enough “The remaining obstacles are opaque rules are a bigger brake by the lead analysts. rules on how ratings agencies by failing to finalise the text of prime ministers and presidents very few, well-defined and not dif- on trade. “In at least one instance, lead operate, forcing them to make an a deal in Geneva, leaving a Swiss are going to have to be convinced ficult to solve if we have political Bayu Krisnamurthi, Indonesia’s analysts received explicit guid- in-depth analysis for each coun- cheese of a draft after marathon to pick up the phone and call engagement and political will,” deputy trade minister, said last ance and opinions by senior man- try hit by an action and banning talks that WTO Director-General their peers and, given what little he wrote in a Wall Street Journal Wednesday that there were only agers as to the countries and the direct policy recommendations. Roberto Azevedo finally halted at is left on the table, why should op-ed on Sunday. “That is what four issues to be settled. recommendations to bring to AFP 7am last Monday. they bother?” we are looking to ministers in Bali REUTERS Etisalat may revive talks on Sudan unit sale British energy firms

DUBAI: Etisalat could resur- for the United Arab Emirates’ Zain’s 11.95 million subscribers it withdrew from India and sold rect talks to sell its Sudanese firm. “The deal fell apart at the gave it a 44 percent share of Sudan’s most of its stake in Indonesia’s PT to limit price rises telecom arm Canar to Kuwait’s last moment,” the source said, mobile market and $470m of revenue XL Axiata. Zain, as both sides remain keen declining to be identified because in the nine months to September 30. In November, Etisalat agreed to on a deal despite a breakdown in the talks were not public. Canar had 316,770 subscribers as of buy a controlling stake in Maroc LONDON: Britain’s biggest charges contribute nearly 10 per- negotiations earlier this year, a Negotiations collapsed around March 31, data from the country’s Telecom for $5.7bn, but analysts energy companies agreed yes- cent to domestic energy bills. source close to the matter said. the start of 2013, the source said, telecom regulator shows. see little point in the UAE firm terday to limit increases to Npower, the British arm of Zain Sudan is the African coun- with Etisalat thought to have Etisalat does not provide finan- retaining interests in minor play- household bills, giving some German utility RWE, said it try’s No.1 mobile company. Buying backed out because it believed cial information on Canar, but its ers such as Canar, especially after relief to Prime Minister David would now cut bills in line with Canar — the top fixed-line car- other parties might consider buy- consortium paid ¤45m for Sudan’s the Sudanese pound fell by about Cameron on an issue that has the £50 reduction. Npower had rier — would be in line with Zain’s ing Canar and so hoped to get a second fixed-line licence in 2004 half against the dollar following angered voters and given oppo- in October announced an aver- broader strategy, as outlined by better price for its subsidiary. and the UAE firm later paid South Sudan’s succession in 2011. nents a potent line of attack age price increase of 10.4 percent chief executive Scott Gegenheimer Zain remains interested in around $276m to up its stake to Canar hoped to obtain a mobile before a 2015 election. — almost four times the rate of in October, of moving beyond acquiring Canar, while Etisalat 89 percent from 37 percent. licence, its chief executive told Soaring energy costs have inflation — which kicked in on mobile to provide bundled serv- was still a likely seller, the source This was part of Etisalat’s rapid Reuters in 2008, but never did become a big political issue in December 1. ices to corporates and individuals. said, describing a deal as “a win- expansion last decade as it sought so and just 1 percent of Sudanese Britain since Labour leader Ed British Gas, owned by Centrica, Etisalat took an impairment of win situation” for both parties. to offset the loss of its domestic had a fixed-line telephone connec- Miliband said in September he said it would reduce the cost of Dh459m ($125m) against Canar Etisalat did not respond to monopoly, but few of its estimated tion at the end of 2012, according would freeze consumer bills for the average dual fuel bill by £53 in 2012 and may be eager to sell requests for comment and Zain $12.6bn of foreign investments to Etisalat’s annual report. 20 months if he wins power. from January 1 while SSE said it what is a peripheral investment declined to comment. have paid off and in recent years REUTERS In response to a pledge by the would take £50 off its bills before government to remove some taxes the end of the current financial and social charges from bills, year. Britain’s “Big Six” energy com- Scottish Power and E.ON said Hilton to go public panies said they would pass on the they would also pass on the sav- Indian sugar mills savings and try to keep prices low ings while EDF Energy, which until the next election. had previously announced a rise Energy Secretary Ed Davey of just 3.9 percent, said it had start up after said the changes to electric- already anticipated the govern- ity and gas bills, which will ment changes and would there- price war truce form part of the government’s fore not need to lower bills. twice-yearly budget update to They all said they would seek NEW DELHI: Mills in India’s parliament on Thursday, would to freeze bills until after the next two top sugar-producing states save the average household £50 election, unless wholesale energy have begun operations following ($81.90) each year. costs or network charges increase. a truce in a bitter price dispute But Labour’s Miliband said gas The six big firms supply 98 per- with farmers that threatened to and electricity bills, which average cent of the country’s homes. disrupt the refining season, an over £1,200 a year for each house- The debate over how much industry official said yesterday. hold, would still rise this winter Britons pay to heat and light “The Maharashtra and Uttar and families would end up pay- their homes has turned into a Pradesh mills have started up ing for the savings through their political football, with all the their boilers and crushing should general tax bills. main parties desperate to seize begin within a few days,” Sanjay “We have been working on get- the initiative. Banerjee, Indian Sugar Mills ting people’s energy bills down With the economy growing Association spokesman, said. since we came to power,” Davey again after a deep crisis, Labour The row had turned violent told Sky News when asked if the has shifted its campaigning from in recent weeks with protesting government had only acted on stagnation to what it calls a cost farmers burning vehicles and energy costs under pressure from of living crisis that it blames on an blocking roads, while at least two Miliband. “Under Labour, energy uncaring and out-of-touch coali- farmers committed suicide. bills would have been much higher tion government. India is the world’s second- than they are now.” Cameron conceded in October largest producer after Brazil. The energy companies blame that Miliband’s price freeze idea Maharashtra in the west and the price rises on wholesale prices, had “struck a chord”. A poll sug- Uttar Pradesh in the north T he Hilton Hotel on Sixth Avenue in New York City. The New York-based investment firm that bought the the cost of the supply network, gested it was the most popular account for 80 percent of the Hilton hotel chain six years ago is considering taking the company public to help pay down debt. Blackstone and the government’s environ- policy of the party’s autumn con- country’s sugar output. Group hopes to raise $1.25bn through the initial public offering of Hilton. mental and social programmes. ference season. AFP Environmental taxes and social REUTERS TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

French tax hike Mahathir quits Ibdar Bank eyes as Petronas adviser: Report KUALA LUMPUR: Mahathir larger deals Mohamad, Malaysia’s long- serving former prime minister, has resigned as an adviser to state-run oil company Petronas, after merger giving up a position he has held since he stepped down as leader in 2003, media reported yesterday. Three Bahrain banks form new entity Mahathir, 88, had resigned from the post effective December DUBAI: Bahrain’s Ibdar Bank sectors, which Ibdar aims to 1, the pro-government New Straits hopes to leverage the com- maintain while disposing of non- Times newspaper said. Mahathir’s bined expertise of its predeces- core assets. office did not immediately confirm sor banks and a larger balance Ibdar would launch new prod- the resignation and said it would sheet to win business which its ucts along these same business issue a statement later in the day. three legacy banks struggled to lines, said Aljasim, without elab- There was no immediate response individually, its chief investment orating on the timing or size of from Petronas. officer said in an interview. future transactions. The Star newspaper reported Ibdar was launched as a brand “The business lines will con- that Mahathir had decided to yesterday following the merger of tinue, not one will out-shine the step down on his doctor’s advice. Capivest, Elaf Bank and Capital other.” Police officers riding horses stand as a convoy transporting horses drives through a motorway in Paris Mahathir was admitted to hospital Management House, after more The merger is a rare example yesterday as part of a demonstration against the government’s proposal to raise the Value-Added Tax (VAT) last month for a chest infection, than a year of negotiations of a successful consolidation of for equestrian centres. Equestrian centres have to provide services with the highest VAT rate of 20 percent. although he has generally been between the Bahraini lenders and Gulf Arab banks, helping the tiny in good health, frequently giving authorities. kingdom’s standing as a regional interviews and criticising the gov- Bahrain’s banking industry is banking sector against growing ernment from the sidelines. streamlining, aided by a central competition from the likes of The report coincided with the bank policy encouraging mergers Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha. Central bank review dents Bank first day of the ruling United Malays and acquisitions, after it strug- Although the commercial National Organisation’s (UMNO’s) gled in the aftermath of the glo- rationale for consolidation is annual general assembly, which bal financial crisis and political largely accepted, Gulf bank merg- Mahathir was expected to attend. unrest which deterred some for- ers are uncommon because main of Ireland’s capital cushion Relations between Mahathir eign investment. shareholders, often powerful local and current Prime Minister Najib “2013 was a year we focused families, are reluctant to cede Razak have grown tense in recent on integration, where we laid the control and can demand exag- DUBLIN: Bank of Ireland’s they are potentially going to take impairment charge dented its months, particularly over Najib’s foundations, 2014 is hopefully gerated valuations. capital adequacy ratios suffered a hard line with other banks.” stock ahead of plans to repay refusal to endorse Mahathir’s son a fresh start for us,” said chief “In terms of the process, which a sharper than expected drop Bank of Ireland said it was not ¤1.8bn ($2.5bn) of state-owned for an influential post as one of investment officer Mohamed started in June 2011, it was share- after the Irish central bank required to raise additional capi- preference shares. three UMNO vice-presidents. Aljasim. holder-driven which made it eas- said following its industry- tal after the central bank review Shares in the bank, which have Mukhriz Mahathir lost his bid The Islamic lender now has ier to execute. The framework wide review ahead of European and said it was in talks with the risen three-fold over the past 12 for the position in an internal $300m of paid up capital, $329m avoided a lot of the issues of valu- tests next year that the bank central bank about its estimates. months as it has recovered faster party vote in October, with all in equity and assets of $360m, ation and other issues that can needed to make extra loan loss “The outcome of this engage- than domestic rivals that are three vice-president slots going which it hopes can help it win come in-between,” Aljasim said. provisions. ment cannot be anticipated with hampered by larger loan losses to candidates backed by Najib. deals in its focus areas of capital The merger comes at a time The health checks, carried out certainty and actions taken follow- and weaker margins, were 2.7 per- Mahathir, still an influential markets, private equity and real when several other Bahraini just before Ireland exits its EU/ ing engagement with the Central cent lower at ¤0.28 at 0950 GMT. power broker within UMNO, estate. banks are considering mergers IMF bailout, are seen as a preview Bank of Ireland may adversely In its review the central bank criticised Najib in an interview “There were a lot of opportuni- of their own. for the European Central Bank’s impact capital ratios,” Bank of estimated that Bank of Ireland just before the vote, saying he had ties that each of the legacy banks Islamic lender Al Salam Bank (ECB) own tests of eurozone banks Ireland said in a statement. needed to set aside an extra only stayed in power after a poor could not do individually, as it was said in September it had agreed next year, when capital holes run- Under the review the bank’s ¤360m to cover potential loan election showing in May because too big or they couldn’t close the to merge with fellow Bahraini ning to 10s of billions of euros are Core Tier 1 capital adequacy losses on Irish mortgages, an of a lack of viable replacements. transactions. We now have a big- lender BMI Bank, an affiliate of expected to be uncovered. ratio fell to 9.85 percent of risk- additional ¤486m to cover poten- The Petronas board reports ger balance sheet, it opens the Oman’s Bank Muscat, through a “Maybe there is an extra layer adjusted assets from 13.8 percent tial losses on business loans and directly to the prime minister. door to greater opportunities for share swap. of conservatism built into this as of June 30, calculated on the ¤547m on defaulted loans. Mahathir stepped down as prime us.” Khaleeji Commercial Bank, 47 balance sheet assessment because basis of a gradual introduction of The central bank also increased minister after 22 years in power Ibdar is not leveraged and percent owned by Gulf Finance Ireland is set to leave its (bail- tougher global capital rules. Bank of Ireland’s risk-weighted and was appointed as an adviser to will retain Elaf Bank’s licence in House, said in June it was evalu- out) programme,” said Ciaran Bank of Ireland said it expected assets, usually loans adusted for the Petronas — Malaysia’s only Fortune Malaysia to support a geographi- ating a potential merger with Callaghan, an analyst at Merrion to maintain a Core Tier 1 capi- likelihood of non-payment, by ¤6.8bn. 500 company — as well as national cal scope that includes the Middle local lender Bank Al Khair. Capital. tal ratio above 10 percent on Local analysts said that as carmaker Proton, a position he still East, North Africa and Turkey, In March, National Bank of “The extent to which that is that basis. In a note, Citi said the central bank’s review was holds. Those roles have been criti- Aljasim said. Bahrain and a local pension fund true we won’t know until Europe it believed Bank of Ireland had a based on data as of June 30 this cised by some observers, who say In the past, the three lenders bought a 51.6-percent stake in does its tests,” he said. significant capital shortfall rela- year, it did not take into account Mahathir has used his influence to were involved in financing, advi- Bahrain Islamic Bank from “But investors may look at tive to its UK and European peers improvements in the bank’s main ensure contracts go to allies and sory work and portfolio manage- Kuwait’s Investment Dar in a deal these results and say that based and reiterated its sell rating. markets of Ireland and Britain business associates. Mahathir has ment in the aviation, shipping, worth around $92.6m. purely on this it appears that the Expectations Bank of Ireland and in its loan book performance. denied such accusations. infrastructure and real estate REUTERS ECB means business and that will have to raise its full-year REUTERS REUTERS

Japanese firms QATARI MARKET Egypt likely to keep rates on hold Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 101.63 0.42% Aa2 AA plan big jump in Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 105.00 1.48% Aa2 AA CAIRO: Egypt is expected to revenues and foreign investment. 2011-13, the central bank will now keep interest rates unchanged In an effort to balance inflation look for further economic and capital spending Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.88 2.55% Aa2 AA at a monetary policy meeting on pressures while the government political stability before revers- Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 112.75 2.96% Aa2 AA Thursday, as officials try to bal- attempts to stimulate the econ- ing the final 50 bps, particularly Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 107.00 3.50% Aa2 AA ance the need to stimulate the omy the bank kept interest rates given rising inflation pressures,” TOKYO: Japanese firms, Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 153.75 4.95% Aa2 AA economy while curbing inflation on hold at its last monetary policy said Liz Martins, senior econo- buoyed by government stimulus Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 115.00 5.33% Aa2 AA pressures, a Reuters survey meeting in October. mist at HSBC. and growing profits, will usher Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 106.00 5.34% Aa2 AA shows. Seven economists surveyed by Political instability since the in their biggest annual capi- Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.25 0.86% Aa2 AA Urban consumer inflation in Reuters expect it to leave rates uprising that toppled autocrat tal spending increase since the the most populous Arab country unchanged again on Thursday. president Hosni Mubarak in 2011 2008 global financial crisis, a Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 110.38 3.25% Aa2 AA is high at 10.4 percent in October, “Inflation still needs to be has driven tourists and investors survey showed yesterday. Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.88 0.91% A1 A- having risen from 10.1 percent in tamed, for any reduction in rates. away, badly damaging the economy. The leading Nikkei business Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 103.75 2.21% A1 A- September, giving the central bank Also, for rates to be increased Egypt faced another setback when daily said investments in plants, QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.25 1.50% NR NR little room to ease policy to try and there aren’t any real signs of the army ousted Islamist President equipment and other capital QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.63 1.23% Aa3 A+ shore up the battered economy. growth,” said Allen Sandeep, an Mohammed Mursi in July after spending by nearly 1,400 surveyed QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 104.00 2.08% Aa3 A+ The bank is under pressure economist at Naeem Brokerage. mass protests against his rule. firms would total 25.9 trillion yen Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 103.88 2.26% A2 A- to keep interest rates high to The bank has kept its key In an effort to stimulate ($250.4bn) for the current fiscal Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.25 1.49% A2 A attract funds out of foreign cur- rates steady since cutting them the economy the government year to March — up 13.1 percent rencies and into the Egyptian in August and September by a launched a 29.6bn Egyptian pound from a year earlier. Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 124.38 3.04% A2 A pound. It has spent tens of bil- cumulative 100 basis points. ($4.3bn) stimulus package this The percentage rise would be Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 106.25 3.75% A2 A lions of dollars supporting its “We think that, having reversed year after Gulf countries pledged the biggest annual gain after a Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 101.25 4.86% A2 A currency since the 2011 upris- 100 basis points out of the 150bps $12bn in aid. 13.7 percent jump in fiscal 2005 Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.88 0.75% Aa3 A ing which hammered tourism of tightening it implemented over REUTERS and the best showing since the Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 107.00 3.21% Aa3 A 2008 collapse of Lehman Brothers Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.75 3.99% Aa3 A triggered a worldwide financial meltdown, the Nikkei said. SOVEREIGNS Job cuts at Deutsche Telecom Spending on overseas plants Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P and other investments by a subset Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 101.88 0.01% Aa2 AA of the polled group — about 840 Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 123.63 2.06% Aa2 AA firms — were on track to surge Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.50 1.96% NR NR 33.0 percent to 4.2 trillion yen, it said. Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 107.13 2.70% NR NR The survey is a plus for Prime Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 120.25 4.30% NR NR Minister Shinzo Abe’s bid to stoke Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 111.50 4.77% NR NR the world’s third-largest econ- Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.63 0.76% Aa2 AA omy with a policy blitz dubbed Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 113.38 3.33% NR BBB Abenomics. Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 102.88 4.96% NR BBB Since Abe took office late last Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 93.50 7.03% Caa1 B- year, the yen has declined by about one-quarter on the dollar, boosting Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 102.25 4.11% NR BBB- *Periodic Distribution Amount Japanese exporters and the Nikkei IMPORTANT NOTE: stock index, as the Bank of Japan Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which (BoJ) launched an unprecedented is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services monetary easing plan. Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary The premier has been calling data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not on cash-rich firms to boost wages take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds to stoke spending and growth. can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant BoJ Governor Haruhiko Kuroda liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not repeated Tokyo’s salary-hike call a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and in a speech Monday. consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. “I am hoping that increases in A man working on the booth of German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom at the CeBIT IT fair basic salaries... will be carried out in Hanover. Deutsche Telekom is planning to axe 4,000-6,000 jobs in a radical shake-up of its IT services as corporate earnings grow,” he subsidiary, T-Systems. told business executives. AFP TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Waiting for bitcoin When loans beat grants BY FELIX SALMON got training as well. Obviously, this is only does not appear to have been spent into the one study — although Chris Blattman says business, for men or women, but is instead to get really boring hat’s best: giving a man that it’s a “very important” one. either spent on family obligations or other a fish, teaching a man to Certainly people should start trying to consumption.” fish, or lending a man a replicate it. But I suspect that the effects But loans need to be paid back, which BY FELIX SALMON fish? Nathan Fiala, of it finds are real. For while the study itself makes it more important for the money to the German Institute for might be new, there are three well-known be invested into the business: “knowing that omething of a milestone was reached very early in the WEconomic Research, went to Uganda to find effects at work here. the loan had to be repaid appears to have morning of Friday, November 29, a time when most out, and the results of his study make for The first is that most microlending very led men to use the money more effectively Americans were either sleeping off their Thanksgiving fascinating reading. rarely makes people richer. That doesn’t in their businesses,” he writes. Sexcesses or out seeking Black Friday bargains. At the end Fiala’s study is the first to directly pit the mean that it’s a bad thing: access to loans Because everybody in the study was of Wednesday, the price of gold, on Comex, had closed at $1,240 per newly-trendy area of cash transfers (which can be very useful in terms of things like already running a small business when the ounce; that market would not reopen until Friday morning. And come in both conditional and unconditional consumption smoothing. But if what you’re interventions began, all of the recipients of then at about 1am on Friday, EST, there was a trade on Mt Gox, flavours), against the slightly tarnished area trying to do is create increased wealth and funds — men and women both — had jobs the largest bitcoin exchange, which valued each coin at $1,242. If of microfinance. He found a group of small economic growth, microlending is a very all along. only briefly and theoretically, at that point in time a bitcoin was Ugandan businesses, and divided them ran- inefficient way of getting there. There was no opportunity, in this study, worth more than an ounce of gold. domly into five groups. The second is the exception to that rule. for women to use funds to enter the work- Bitcoin, by its nature, is a highly volatile asset, which is prone The first received loans; the second loans The one time when microlending does pre- force. On the other hand, there was opportu- to astonishing run-ups in price. To put it another way, there is with business skills training; the third cash dictably make people richer is when it takes nity for men to use loans to start employing nothing surprising about what bitcoin is doing right now; it has grants; the fourth cash grants with busi- unemployed women and turns them into their relatives. done it many times in the past, and it will probably do it in the ness skills training; and finally, there was a small businesses. It’s unclear why men find it easier to hire future as well. After all, there’s no way to calculate the funda- fifth control group. The loans and the grants In many parts of the world, women have their relatives than women do — but once mental value of a bitcoin: indeed, it’s probably easier to justify were both around $200; Fiala went back to not historically been given the opportunity again, the only way to increase wealth and a price of $1,000 per bitcoin than it was to justify a price of $10. all of the businesses after six months and to go into money-making work — and in growth seems to be to find a way to employ The latest bright idea from Alderney is certifiably bonkers. For nine months to see how the various groups those parts of the world, microlending can people who would otherwise be unemployed. one thing, the whole point of bitcoin is that it isn’t going to suffer were doing. make a substantial difference. It’s worth emphasising, here, that Fiala the same fate as all those currencies which the government prom- The results were not what you might It increases the number of employed peo- isn’t measuring welfare improvements: I’m ised were backed by something else. More weirdly, the Alderney expect. On the simple question of loans ver- ple, and thereby increases both wealth and quite sure that the people who received cash bitcoins are going to have about £500 worth of gold in them, which sus grants, it stands to reason that you’re economic growth. grants, for instance, are noticeably better makes no sense at all. Let’s say that the gold in the coin is worth going to be better off if you don’t have to Finally, as we know from Portfolios of the off for having received them. Instead, he’s $800, while the bitcoin backing it is worth $1,000. What, then, repay the money than if you do. Poor and from David Roodman’s book, there just measuring the profitability of small would the coin be worth? It can’t be much less than $1,000, at By the nine-month point in the study, are many mechanisms, within poor socie- businesses. least as long as it can be redeemed for an electronic bitcoin, or a businesses which received grants saw a neg- ties, for wealth to get redistributed — and Using that narrow criterion, it turns out bitcoin’s worth of pounds sterling. But by the same token, it can’t ligible increase in profits, while businesses those mechanisms have existed for much that throwing money at the business doesn’t be worth much more than $1,000, because numismatists don’t tend which received grants and training actu- longer than microfinance. When one person make it more profitable — which, if you put to value gimmicks very highly, so it’s not going to have significant ally saw their profits go down, on average. needs money, they will get it somehow; when it that way, is maybe not so surprising. If you value as a collector’s item. And the most you could sell it for, in Women-run businesses also saw a decrease another person comes into an unexpected want to help small businesses grow, then terms of its fundamental value, is the value of one bitcoin. Which in profits after getting loans, whether they windfall, that money will find its way to there is a case to be made for using loans means that there’s no point whatsoever in pouring £500 worth of were accompanied by training or not. people in need. rather than grants. gold into it — the gold doesn’t increase the value of the coin at all. In fact, the only area where the interven- Put these three things together, and it’s But even then, I suspect, the really valu- All of which is to say that the FT is splashing all over its front page tion seemed to do any good at all was in easy to see how Fiala’s study found what able resource is underutilised labour, rather a crazy bitcoin scheme which is never going to happen. But what male-owned businesses receiving loans: they it did. As he says, when the small business than cash. independent company would ever do such a thing? The company did well overall, and even better when they owners were given cash grants, “the cash REUTERS would essentially need to hand over its bitcoins to Alderney, would probably have to help fund the cost of manufacturing the coins out of gold, and would get essentially nothing in return for the huge risk it was taking that all its coins would become worthless. One of the less reported aspects of the bitcoin story is the way in which editors tend to be much more excited about it than report- ers, who are generally more sceptical, and who worry that their own reporting will only serve to inflate the bubble even further. This is something which should worry the bitcoin faithful, if they really want to see bitcoin become a broadly-used global currency. After all, press coverage of bitocins runs in lockstep with the bitcoin price: it’s times like this, when the price is at its fluffiest, that bitcoin gets written about the most. The largely unspoken assumption behind all such stories: bitcoin is an asset class, and people should get excited about it when the price is going up. This is what I think of as the CNBC Premise: when an asset rises in price, that is necessarily a Good Thing, and when it falls in price, that is always a Bad Thing. The CNBC Premise has never made much sense with respect to currencies, however. And with respect to bitcoin in particular, its most exciting aspect is not its value, but rather its status as an all-but-frictionless international payments mechanism. If you want bitcoin to really take off with respect to payments, you actually don’t want to see crazy price spikes — such things are the best possible way of stopping people from using bitcoins for payments. After all, if your bitcoins are doubling in value every few days, why on earth would you want to spend them? For me, the most interesting period in the short history of bitcoin was the period from roughly the beginning of May to the end of September, when the volatility in the price of bitcoin was relatively low, even as the price was pretty high — more than $100 per coin. And more generally, it’s the long flat areas of the three charts above, rather than the attention-grabbing spiky bits, that bitcoin bulls should get excited about. If and when those long flat areas last for years rather than months, bitcoin might start becoming a boring, credible currency. We’ll know that bitcoin has made it to the next level not when editors all want to write about it, but rather when editors don’t want to write about it, because it’s just another way of people paying each other for stuff. As Joe Weisenthal points out, stability at a high price is more bullish for the bitcoinverse than stability at a low price, because the higher the market capitalisation of bitcoin, the greater the amount of commerce that can be transacted in it. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate A relationship to benefit China, Britain and the world

BY DAVID CAMERON together for mutual benefit not against prosperous, Britain has the world-class investment, growth and the fight against The promise is of an economy with a each other in a zero-sum game. goods and services they need: from poverty in Africa. more predictable legal environment and his week I make my second visit China is at a defining moment. It has healthcare and education to premier Britain is also uniquely placed to make with stricter enforcement of protection to China as Britain’s prime min- just announced bold reforms that show luxury brands; from high end manufac- the case for deepening the European for intellectual property rights. ister. I come with a clear ambi- real ambition to free its markets and turing to our great creative and sporting Union’s trade and investment relation- I welcome this vision. The fact is that Ttion: to build a lasting friendship open them up to foreign participation. exports. At the same time we are work- ship with China. Building on the recent businesses thrive in a stable, secure and that can become a blueprint for future There is no greater advocate of that ing to make Britain even more open to launch of EU-China negotiations on corruption-free environment that limits co-operation between our countries: a economic openness than Britain and no Chinese investment. This includes cut- investment, and on China’s continued the risk of shock, provides certainty of partnership for growth and reform that better partner for China as it opens to ting corporation tax to 20 percent, the commitment to economic reform, I now dispute resolution and offers protection can help to deliver the Chinese dream — the world. Put simply, there is no coun- lowest in the G20, and improving our want to set a new long-term goal of an of capital and intellectual assets. These and long-term prosperity for Britain too. try in the western world more open to visa arrangements with a new mobile visa ambitious and comprehensive EU-China conditions are good for growth in China, China’s transformation is one of the Chinese investment, more able to meet service up and running in Beijing and Free Trade Agreement. the UK and right across the world. defining facts of our lifetime. Last year the demands of Chinese consumers or Shanghai and a new 24-hour visa serv- Third, as permanent members of the That’s why I want to deepen our dialogue China became the world’s largest trading more willing to make the case for eco- ice on offer from next summer. Second, Security Council and economic pow- on comprehensive reform. And that’s why nation. Next year China is set to become nomic openness in the G8, the G20 and Britain and China can be great partners ers with global reach, both Britain and I hope that China’s economic progress will the world’s largest importer of goods the European Union. in making the case for economic open- China have a responsibility through our be accompanied by steadily greater politi- and later this century it will become the So let me set out the three ways in ness and free trade across the world. At on-going dialogue to work together on cal opening — because I am convinced that world’s biggest economy. which I believe an open Britain can be an the World Trade Organization conference a range of wider international issues — the best guarantee of prosperity and stabil- We should be clear that there is a genu- essential partner for an opening China, in Bali this week, we can together fight from negotiations with Iran, to counter- ity is for economic and political progress ine choice for every country over how to for the benefit of all our peoples. protectionism and push for an ambitious terrorism and climate change. to go together. And I believe that discuss- respond to this growing openness and suc- First, we must continue to develop our deal on trade facilitation, cutting red tape We should recognise that China’s ing these challenges should remain a part cess. They can protect their markets from bilateral trade and commercial relation- at borders, and worth $100bn a year to economic transformation is happen- of our partnership of mutual respect and China or open their markets to China. ship. We are now making fast progress. the global economy. ing at 100 times the scale and 10 times understanding. There is a Chinese saying They can try and shut China out — or wel- Chinese investment in the UK has almost We can work together in the fight the speed of Britain’s own urbanisation that one generation plants the trees in come China as a partner at the top table doubled in one year, making us the most against poverty by developing trade in two centuries ago. In the last 30 years, whose shade another generation rests. I of global affairs. popular investment destination in Europe Africa. This week I will launch a new China has made unprecedented social hope that by advancing and extending our Britain’s answer is clear. We want to with more investment than the next UK-China initiative to help developing and economic achievements. The recent bilateral trade, by working together on see China succeed. Whether it is wel- four most popular EU destinations com- African nations improve their trade per- meeting of China’s leaders — the Third the global issues that affect us all, and by coming China’s investment in our nuclear bined. Britain’s exports of goods have also formance. This will be alongside a new Plenum — has now set a clear goal: com- maintaining an honest and open dialogue, energy sector, or creating a western hub increased by almost a fifth in the first UK-China Africa Infrastructure Forum prehensive reform, including issues such my visit to China can plant the seeds of for the Renminbi in London, we believe half of this year. to support the efficient delivery of infra- as governance and the judicial protection a long-term relationship that will benefit that the right way forward is openness, As Chinese cities expand dramati- structure and a new agreement with the of human rights, and recognising that all China, Britain and the world for genera- dialogue, trade and investment; working cally and Chinese people become more China Development Bank on promoting types of reform are inextricably linked. tions to come. THE GUARDIAN TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 10,366.21 0.28 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 14,810.93 0.28 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,041.46 0.07 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,581.79 0.30 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,451.26 0.45 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5273.485 -40.838 -0.77 5453.1 4610.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,988.2 0.24 % QR145.0388 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4281.78 -13.43 -0.31 4356.28 3575.17 QE All Share Industrials 3,397.38 0.03 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.9299 QR 6.0126 QE All Share Insurance 2,395.16 0.02 % Dj Indu Average 16086.41 -10.92 -0.07 16174.5 12883.9 Euro ...... QR 4.9033 QR 4.9714 QE All Share Real Estate 1,978.64 0.22 % QR 2.3074 CA$ ...... QR 3.3945 QR 3.4606 QE All Share Telecoms 1,444.45 0.67 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,935.95 0.78 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.9793 QR 4.0356 Hang Seng Inde/D 24038.55 157.26 0.66 24014.81 19426.36 Yen ...... QR 0.0351 QR 0.0358 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2999 QR 3.3643 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4500.17 -9.75 -0.22 4527.83 3396.67 CRUDE OIL 02-12-2013 01-12-2013 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0580 QR 0.0592 Index 10,366.21 10,395.32 Karachi 100 In/D 24401.57 99.38 0.41 24338.89 16036.31 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0333 QR 0.0339 Change 29.11 20.26 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 15655.07 -6.8 -0.04 15942.6 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0826 QR 0.0842 % 0.28 0.20 $ 111.85 SL Re ...... QR 0.0275 QR 0.0281 YTD% 24.01 24.36 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1813.55 1398.11 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0474 Volume 9,193,522 9,560,506 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0364 QR 0.0371 Value (QAR) 268,195,427.97 288,547,171.54 Straits Times/D 3188.76 12.41 0.39 3464.79 2990.68 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3518 QR 0.3622 Trades 4,133 4,540 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 108.04 Up 15 | Down 19 | Unchanged 06

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 02-12-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1094.15 -2.4 20976 Chowgule St-B/D 9.25 -0.4 7136 Hind Unilever-/D 583.25 -11.2 79739 Kanoria Chem-B/D 24 0 4243 Orient.Carb.-B/D 116.05 0.05 2016 Kingfisher/D 372.1 -3.8 1441243 Aarti Drugs-B/D 193.4 -0.05 1792 Cipla-A/D 391.6 0.5 111116 Hind.Petrol-A/D 217.1 1.75 123937 Kg Denim-B/D 14.33 -0.02 11436 Oudh Sugar-B/D 18.05 -0.3 1127 Land Secs Grou/D 940.5 -12.5 303013 Aban Offs-B/D 374.65 -2.75 340907 City Union Bk-/D 49.75 0.5 437099 Hindalco-A/D 121.85 -0.85 778696 Kopran-B/D 22.8 -0.05 38627 Radico Khait-B/D 140.1 3.75 50994 Legal & Genera/D 211.2 -2.7 1568493 Ador Welding-B/D 120.25 -0.85 1645 Colgate-A/D 1284.7 23.3 13438 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 827 2.55 109160 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2465 -25 1330 Rallis India-B/D 179.65 -2.2 57146 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 78.5972 1.19 61192766 Aegis Logis-B/D 156.75 2.65 13906 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 54.9 0.9 2695 I F C I-A/D 25.6 0.2 1095602 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 42 1.85 1115 Reliance Indus/D 379.55 19.7 360775 Marks & Sp./D 478.17 -8.9 580336 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 106.9 2.3 12987 Dhampur Sugar-/D 38.5 -0.8 122113 Idbi-A/D 65 0.2 135789 Lloyd Metal-B/D 9.5 -0.29 2500 Ruchi Soya-B/D 30.45 0.05 45233 Next/D 5435 -60 100651 Alembic-B/D 14.95 -0.01 45354 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2498.85 14 10136 Ifb Agro-B/D 156.55 14.35 3626 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.42 0.02 1840 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 322.15 2.75 2035 Pearson/D 1340 -10 325853 Alkyl Amines-B/D 236.25 11.25 10468 E I H-B/D 53.1 -0.1 9044 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 69.6 3.1 39573 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 15.25 0.45 8539 Samtel-B/D 2.45 0.11 9950 Prudential/D 1290 -17 904453 Alok Indus-B/D 7.83 0.08 483721 E.I.D Parry-B/D 141.4 3.15 18778 India Cement-B/D 59.55 -0.65 357485 Lumax Ind-B/D 323.35 -6.2 4164 Til Ltd.-B/D 123 -3.45 2412 Rank Group/D 144.9 0 5642 Andhra Paper-B/D 243.95 -4.7 24810 Eicher Motor-A/D 5006.1 320 9985 India Glycol-B/D 94.65 1.95 27091 Lupin-A/D 876.25 20.8 70223 Timexgroup-B/D 10.59 0.78 84778 Rentokil Initi/D 107 0.9 1376606 Apollo Tyre-A/D 80.95 0.5 770587 Eimco Elecon-B/D 139.4 1.4 2614 Indian Card-B/D 83 -3 1174 Lyka Labs-B/D 9.46 -0.17 7748 Tinplate-T/D 44.95 0.15 11770 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1213 -22 1562391 Asahi I Glass-/D 42 -0.55 4178 Electrosteel-B/D 15.85 0.6 166610 Indian Hotel-A/D 48.65 0.8 65389 Mah.Seamless-B/D 175.75 8.5 7107 Ucal Fuel-T/D 50.5 0.6 2600 Rsa Insrance G/D 104.2659 -2.2 2872342 Ashok Leyland-/D 16.7 -0.05 1020820 Emco-B/D 17.25 0.85 88880 Indo-Bcount-B/D 40.55 1.1 8361 Mangalam Cem-B/D 103.9 1.95 2823 Unitech P -A/D 16.55 -0.25 5529317 Sainsbury(J)/D 393.712 -13.7 3164600 Ballarpur In-B/D 12.39 -0.05 347809 Escorts-B/D 115.1 -1.95 380770 Indusind-A/D 432.6 10.15 199719 Maral Overs-B/D 21.25 0.9 54744 Univcable-B/D 26.4 -1.35 1150 Schroders/D 2446 -20 25824 Bata India-A/D 1051.6 -15.55 18679 Essar Oil-A/D 53.1 0.4 169307 J.B.Chemical-B/D 118.45 1.3 92005 Mastek-B/D 140.95 3.2 3024 Severn Trent/D 1751 -15 192920 Beml Ltd-B/D 195.7 12.8 139226 Eveready Indu-/D 28.25 -0.2 81974 Jagatjit Ind-B/D 46.8 -2.45 1505 Max India L-A/D 210.85 1 10431 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 814.08 -1 251868 Bhansali Eng-B/D 12.5 -0.5 3690 F D C-B/D 111.1 4.25 143216 Jagson Phar-B/D 8.67 0.41 3848 Mrpl-A/D 42.1 0.2 111656 Smiths Group/D 1362 -12 91643 Bharat Bijle-B/D 365 -2.3 4506 Federal Bank-A/D 79.3 0.5 174631 Jamnaauto-B/D 61.9 2.9 1330 Nahar Spg.-B/D 108.25 -1.9 17130 3I Group/D 367.9 -2.1 230400 Standrd Chart /D 1431 -17.5 1534045 Bhartiya Int-B/D 192.75 -12.55 21026 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.18 0.04 115282 Jbf Indu-B/D 81.8 -2.65 117003 Nath Seeds-B/D 4.05 -0.19 1109 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2289 -4 156214 Tate & Lyle/D 779.5 -5.5 272815 Bhel-A/D 159.25 3.2 893203 Finolex-B/D 159.7 -2.45 30001 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.45 0 25275 Nation Alum -A/D 38.4 1 113397 B Sky B/D 806.5 -12 1432887 Tesco/D 338.994 -9 11060102 Bhuwalka Stl-B/D 10.5 -0.33 1070 Gail-A/D 333.45 -4.8 35751 Jct Ltd-B/D 2.07 0.09 104283 Navneet Edu-B/D 54.1 0.1 8190 Barclays/D 272.1464 0.45 19985493 Unilever/D 2438.825 -31 1062384 Bom.Burmah-B/D 121.9 1.45 26776 Gammon India-B/D 13.8 -0.17 33500 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.2 -0.3 8950 Nepc India-B/D 1.72 0.04 16932 Bg Group/D 1233.5 -15 934768 United Util Gr/D 656 -2.5 1143538 Bombay Dyeing-/D 71.85 0.8 376267 Goodricke-B/D 121.3 0.25 8152 Jik Indust-T/D 0.57 0.01 7276 Nrb Bearings-B/D 35.1 1.35 4215 Bp/D 477.9 -4.1 6199477 Vodafone Group/D 227.15 0.35 14039959 Cable Corp.-B/D 18.2 0 2340 Goodyear I -B/D 375 1.85 14100 Jindal Drill-B/D 204.1 11.85 61920 O N G C-A/D 293.9 -4.6 579064 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3242.5 -18.5 584513 Whitbread/D 3569 2 73647 Canfin Homes-B/D 151.95 1.85 2676 Hcl Infosys-B/D 21.5 0.3 50335 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 156.1 -3.25 283516 Ocl India-B/D 145 0 1739 Bt Group/D 368.902 -3.8 2808994 Castrol Ind-A/D 310 3.75 38021 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.26 0.26 342664 Jmc Projects-B/D 72.2 0.1 1766 Oil Country-B/D 37.5 -1.95 86693 Centrica/D 337.8 -0.5 5906423 Century Enka-B/D 150.25 2.2 43905 Himat Seide-B/D 46.8 0.5 40089 Kajaria Cer-B/D 252.65 3 2566 Onward Tech-T/D 54 -2.05 4693 Gkn/D 376.4 -2.7 866555 Century Text-A/D 275.75 2.7 110873 Hind Motors-B/D 7.65 0.04 67128 Kalpat Power-B/D 80.9 2.5 75865 Orchid Chem-B/D 51.2 -0.35 118663 Hsbc Holdings/D 676.9 -5 4757132 Chambal Fert-B/D 38.4 -0.5 81872 Hind Org Chem-/D 11.52 0.54 15515 Kalyani Stel-B/D 54.4 1.65 109624 Orient Hotel-B/D 15.6 -0.1 1459 Imperial Tobac/D 2314 -10 324320 TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

NHL Results Vancouver 3 Carolina 2 Detroit 4 Ottawa 2 NFL: Denver Broncos inch Edmonton 3 Dallas 2 NHL: Alfredsson scores against closer to play-off berth Senators in Ottawa return

NFL: Vikings’ Peterson surpasses 10,000 career rushing yards OTTAWA, Ontario: Daniel Alfredsson got a firsthand look NEW YORK: The Denver completing 29-of-41 passes for at how the Ottawa Senators are Broncos inched closer to a play- NFL Results 371 yards and two touchdowns but now struggling without him. off berth with a rousing win Indianapolis 22 Tennessee 14 it was a 53-yard field goal from Alfredsson scored an empty- over the Kansas City Chiefs Jacksonville 32 Cleveland 28 Stephen Gostkowski with about net goal and added an assist in his while the New England Patriots Carolina 27 Tampa Bay 6 three minutes to play that put return to Ottawa, and the Detroit escaped a near upset to close in Minnesota 23 Chicago 20 New England ahead for good in a Red Wings beat the host Senators on another division title during Philadelphia 24 Arizona 21 back and forth game. 4-2 yesterday. NFL action yesterday. The San Francisco 49ers (8-4), Alfredsson, the former long- Miami 23 Ny Jets 3 The Carolina Panthers also who are holding on to the final time captain of the Senators, boosted their hopes for a division New England 34 Houston 31 playoff seed in the National wasn’t primarily responsible for crown with an inspired perform- Atlanta 34 Buffalo 31 Football Conference, crushed the Ottawa’s second straight loss and ance from Cam Newton while San Francisco 23 St Louis 13 St. Louis Rams (5-7) 23-13, while fourth consecutive at home, but Nick Foles capped a remarkable Cincinnati 17 San Diego 10 the Cincinnati Bengals (8-4) beat he helped contribute to the con- first month as a starter by leading Denver 35 Kansas City 28 the host San Diego Chargers (5-7) tinuation of his ex-team’s woes. the streaking Philadelphia Eagles NY Giants 24 Washington 17 17-10 to pad their lead atop the “The result makes it a lot to victory as the NFL’s play-off AFC North Division. sweeter,” said Alfredsson, who picture started to take shape. franchise-record eighth straight The Indianapolis Colts (8-4) got was named the third star. “ You The visiting Broncos, who win. Newton completed 18-of- a four-yard touchdown run from could tell our team was moti- handed the Chiefs their first loss 29 passes for 263 yards and two Donald Brown with two minutes vated and played hard. I thought of the season two weeks ago in touchdowns, plus one rushing to play that sealed a 22-14 win we got better as the game went Denver, came back from a 21-7 touchdown for a Carolina (9-3) over a Tennessee Titans (5-7) on. But if we would have lost, for second-quarter deficit and with- team that visits the New Orleans team that is seeking its first play- me personally, I think it would stood a late Kansas City rally Saints next week with first place off berth in five years. still have been a night I’ll always for a 35-28 win that has the in the NFC South division on the Brandon Weeden’s return remember.”Like so many times Super Bowl favorites leading the line. as starting quarterback for the in their previous 27 games in the American Football Conference. Philadelphia’s Foles completed Cleveland Browns (4-8) got off post-Alfredsson era, something Staring at a 14-point deficit less 21-of-34 passes for 237 yards and to a losing start as his team fell was missing for the Senators (10- than four minutes into the second three touchdowns in a 24-21 win 32-28 at home to a suddenly feisty 13-4). Defensive breakdowns led quarter, Denver’s Peyton Manning over the Arizona Cardinals (7-5) Jacksonville Jaguars (3-9) squad. to goals, and there wasn’t enough took control of the game as he fin- that moved the Eagles (7-5), win- With Jacksonville trailing by offense to compensate. ished with 403 yards passing and ners of four straight, into a tie three, quarterback Chad Henne “They catch us on three line five touchdowns, including four to atop the NFC East. led his team on an 80-yard drive changes, and they get the odd- wide receiver Eric Decker. The 24-year-old Foles was play- that culminated in a 20-yard man rush and they don’t miss,” The win by Denver (10-2) ing in his first game since being touchdown pass to Cecil Shorts Ottawa coach Paul MacLean said. marked the third straight defeat named the NFC’s Player of the with 45 seconds to play. “They’re a team that if you give for a Kansas City (9-3) team that Month for November, when he The Jaguars, who lost the first them those opportunities, they’re opened the season with nine con- tied an NFL record for seven eight games of the 2013 season, going to take advantage of them. secutive victories. touchdowns in one game. have now won three of their last They took what we gave them and Carolina’s Newton was forced Tom Brady faced intense pres- four games. they made it the difference.” to remove his black and silver sure from the Texans’ (2-10) The Minnesota Vikings (3-8) The other difference was cleats with the Batman insignia defense all day but he managed turned back the Chicago Bears Ottawa’s power-less power play, painted on the back ahead of to step up and deliver a 34-31 vic- (6-6) 23-20 in overtime with a that went 0-for-4 and recorded the Panthers’ game against the tory for a visiting Patriots (9-3) field goal after each team had only four shots. Tampa Bay Buccaneers, per NFL team that is closing in on a fifth missed earlier field goal attempts “We couldn’t really establish rules, but that did not seem to straight AFC East division title. in the extra session. anything off the entries, and that’s slow him. During the game, Brady Reigning Most Valuable Player why we couldn’t really get set up,” The 2011 Rookie of the Year eclipsed 3,000 passing yards on Adrian Peterson rushed for 211 defenceman Erik Karlsson said. “ set up Carolina’s first score with the season for the 11th time in yards in the Vikings’ win, which New York Giants’ free safety Will Hill strips the ball from Washington We just had to chase the puck the a 56-yard run early in the first his career, making him just the allowed him to surpass 10,000 Redskins’ wide receiver Pierre Garcon to end the Redskins’ final drive whole time.” quarter of a 27-6 victory over sixth quarterback in NFL history yards for his career in 101 games, of the game, in the fourth quarter at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, Drew Miller scored twice, the visiting Buccaneers (3-9) to do so. the third fastest to reach that yesterday. The Giants defeated the Redskins 24-17. Johan Franzen added a goal. that gave his the Panthers a Brady finished the game mark in NFL history. AFP AGENCIES Jimenez, Thongchai will lead Pacers end Clippers’ teams at inaugural EurAsia Cup winning streak LOS ANGELES: Despite hav- today and finish it off. But we ing the NBA’s best record, the have a lot more work to do. We HONG KONG: Spain’s Miguel Indiana Pacers realise there’s don’t worry about swagger. We’re Angel Jimenez and Thongchai Tour showpiece always room for improvement. just five individuals out there on Jaidee of Thailand were yester- David West scored 14 of his 24 the court playing together.’’ day named captains for an inau- cut over lack of points in the third quarter and The defending Pacific Division gural team golf event between grabbed 12 rebounds, Paul George champion Clippers played their Asia and Europe taking place in star players had 27 points, and the Pacers first game since finding out that Malaysia next year. improved their best start in fran- JJ Redick will be sidelined six to The EurAsia Cup will pit chise history to 16-1 on Sunday eight weeks because of a broken 10 golfers from each continent SINGAPORE: The inaugu- with a 105-100 victory that bone in his shooting hand and a against each other in three days ral OneAsia Championship snapped the Los Angeles Clippers’ ligament tear in his right elbow. of matchplay at the Glenmarie has been axed from this year’s four-game winning streak. Redick will be re-evaluated Golf and Country Club near Kuala schedule after failing to attract ‘“We can become a lot bet- yesterday by hand specialist Dr. Lumpur from March 27. enough star players, organisers ter. We’re still nowhere close to Steve Shin to determine what The $4m biennial tournament said yesterday. where we want to be offensively, further course of treatment will is styled on the popular Ryder This week’s $2m tournament and that’s the next step for us,’’ be necessary. His injuries, which Cup, and organisers the Asian at southern China’s Mission Hills George said. occurred in Friday night’s 104- Tour and European Tour hope it was intended to be the climax of “The defense is clicking well, 98 overtime win at Sacramento, will spark an similarly exciting the stroke-play events on the the transition defense is click- complicated things even more intercontinental rivalry. OneAsia calendar. ing well, and we’re playing like a for the Clippers with reserve “It is sure to be a great bat- It is one of a number of Asian team. This was a great win for us. forward Matt Barnes missing his tle and I’ll make sure the Asian EurAsia Cup Captains Thongchai Jaidee from of Thailand (right) and tournaments to be hit in what We knew coming in that it was sixth straight game due to an eye team is as well prepared as they Miguel Angel Jimenez of Spain in Hong Kong yesterday. The EurAsia OneAsia called a “year of con- going to be a hard-fought game.’’ injury. can be,” 44-year-old Thongchai Cup will pit 10 golfers from each continent against each other in three solidation”, which follows a long Jamal Crawford led the ‘“The ligament looks intact, so told reporters in Hong Kong, days of matchplay at the Glenmarie Golf and Country Club near Kuala period of expansion. Clippers with 20 points - the 10th they shouldn’t have to operate on where the announcement was Lumpur from March 27. “The tournament promoters time this season that a Pacers that,’’ Redick said. made. set a high bar for the inaugural opponent didn’t have anyone with “It’s just the fragments of the Jimenez, 49, said he expected championship, but unfortunately more than 20. Chris Paul had 17 bone. It’s still swollen and there’s the event to be a “close contest” Yesterday, European Tour World Ranking several of the targeted players points and 10 rebounds, while some pain there. It’s frustrating, as he named the first European officials dismissed comparisons already had commitments, so the Blake Griffin scored 16 and pulled because I have enjoyed those 17 1. (1) Tiger Woods (US) players to have qualified for his between the EurAsia Cup and the first edition has been postponed,” down 12 rebounds, equaling team- games immensely.’’ side. Royal Trophy, another Europe vs 2. (2) Adam Scott (Australia) a statement said.The postpone- mate DeAndre Jordan’s total. Los Angeles used the same Former US Open champion Asia team competition which is 3. (3) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) ment means Rory McIlroy’s vic- “We’re always up for a chal- starting lineup in each of its first Graeme McDowell of Northern taking place at Dragon Lake Golf 4. (4) Phil Mickelson (US) tory at the Australian Open on lenge, and we had a good one 16 games before Paul sat out Ireland, France’s Victor Club in China’s Guangzhou later 5. (5) Justin Rose (Britain) Sunday marked the final OneAsia today,’’ said center Roy Hibbert, Friday’s game with a right ham- Dubuisson, Spain’s Gonzalo this month. 6. (6) Rory Mcilroy (Britain) stroke-play event this year. who helped fuel the Pacers’ sev- string strain. Rivers opted to con- Fernandez-Castano, and Jamie “The EurAsia Cup is the only 7. (7) Matt Kuchar (US) It also confirms Australia’s enth straight win with 19 points. tinue using Jamal Crawford off the Donaldson of Wales will play match event between Europe and 8. (8) Steve Stricker (US) Matthew Griffin as this year’s “The Clippers are going to bench despite his 31-point outing courtesy of where they fin- Asia which is fully sanctioned by order of merit winner, mainly be a contender for the Western at Sacramento, so Willie Green 9. (9) Brandt Snedeker (US) ished in this year’s Race to the European Tour and the Asian thanks to his SK Telecom Open Conference finals, so we just had started in Redick’s place and scored Dubai. Tour,” Ben Cowen, the European 10. (11) Jason Day (Australia) win in South Korea in May. to get in there and grind it out only two points in 15 minutes. Another four will make the Tour’s deputy director of interna- 11. (10) Jason Dufner (US) OneAsia, one of Asia’s two West capped a 13-3 run with an European team based on world tional policy, said. 12. (12) Graeme Mcdowell (Britain) rival golf circuits, now has the NBA Results 18-footer and two free throws to rankings in February, while “We have an official qualifi- 13. (13) Ian Poulter (Britain) December 12-15 Dongfeng Nissan Denver 112 Toronto 98 give the Pacers their biggest lead, Jimenez will have two captains’ cation criteria as well so that 14. (14) Dustin Johnson (US) Cup team tournament as the final Indiana 105 LaClippers 100 74-60, with 4:48 left in the third. picks. will encourage the best players 15. (15) Luke Donald (Britain) event on its 2013 schedule. Detroit 115 Philadelphia 100 Los Angeles closed to 93-89 on The Asian ten will include at the time to qualify for the “It has been a year of consoli- Jordan’s dunk off an alley-oop lob 16. (16) Zach Johnson (US) Golden State 115 Sacramento 113 the leading four available Asian tournament.” dation both for OneAsia and the from backup point guard Darren 17. (17) Jim Furyk (US) players from the 2013 Asian Tour Players on the winning team industry in general, but we expect Miami 99 Charlotte 98 Collison with 7:12 to play. Paul set Order of Merit and three based on will pocket $300,000 each, while 18. (21) Charl Schwartzel (South Africa) to shortly announce an outline Oklahoma City 113 Minnesota 103 up another one by Jordan with world rankings, while Thongchai the runners-up will take home 19. (18) Keegan Bradley (US) of our expanded 2014 schedule,” New Orleans 103 NY Knicks 99 1:05 to go, pulling the Clippers will select the final trio. $100,000 each. AGENCIES 20. (19) Sergio Garcia (Spain) OneAsia said. AFP Portland 114 LALakers 108 within 102-100. AGENCIES TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Doha Goals to begin next week Becker, Johnson and sports ministers of more than 20 countries to attend global forum

DOHA: Six-time Grand Slam Goals Richard Attias said sport is Olympic champion gymnast from singles champion Boris Becker increasingly a major area of focus USA. and athletics legend Michael for some of the world’s biggest The list also includes Moroccon Johnson will constitute a diverse brands, for whom sport is now Hicham El Guerrouj, world group of people who will be an integral part of their market- record holder in 1,500m, 1,600m attending this year’s Doha ing and communications agenda. and outdoor 2000m, Tony Hawk, Goals, it was announced here “Rather than acting as a con- a 12-time world champion skate- yesterday. ference - where ideas are traded boarder and founder of Tony Held under the high patronage but rarely enacted - Doha Goals Hawk Foundation, Kelly Holmes, of The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim is an initiative with the express double Olympic champion 1500m bin Hamad Al Thani, Doha Goals, intent of empowering stakehold- and 800m and Founder of DKH the world’s leading platform focus- ers to create a roadmap for social Legacy Trust, UK, Wilson ing on sport as a driver of social improvement through sport, and Kipketer, world record-holder and economic change, will hold its launch cross-border initiatives,” and champion middle-distance second edition on December 9 to Attias said. runner from Denmark, Dikembe 11 at the Aspire Dome here. Following the first edition of Mutombo, former NBA player Doha Goals is a call to action Doha Goals, a number of initia- of Houston Rockets and Hasim for policymakers, NGOs, corpora- tives were selected for feasibil- Rahman, double world champion tions and athletes alike. ity studies and will be launched heavyweight boxer from USA. Addressing a press conference at the official opening of Doha Besides international sports yesterday at Aspire Dome Sheikh Goals on December 10, it was stars, others who will be in Qatar Faisal bin Mubarak AI Thani, announced. for the meet include the heads of Executive Director of Doha Goals, Among the many sporting government, general secretar- said: “The diverse group of people champions already confirmed ies and presidents of the world’s - as speakers, partners, partici- as speakers for this year’s forum major sporting federations, NGOs, pants, students, and community are: Hamza Abdullah, National civil society groups. members - creates a unique forum Football League player, formerly Meanwhile, the Ministers of for this initiative. of Arizona Cardinals and Tampa Sport Summit will take place on “By bringing together this Bay Buccaneers, Hou Bin, triple the first day of the global forum cross-section of interested par- paralympic champion in high with sports ministers from more ties, from heads of government jump from China, Ato Boldon, than 20 countries, including Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak Al Thani (right), Executive Director of Doha Goals and Richard Attias, Executive through to federations and NGOs, former world champion sprinter, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico and Producer, Doha Goals during a press conference at Aspire Doha yesterday. PICTURE BY: KAMMUTTY VP we have the opportunity to have and former Senator of Trinidad Italy taking part. real dialogue and bring about real and Tobago, Nadia Comaneci, tri- Attais said some key topics change.” ple Olympic champion in gymnas- which the sports ministers sum- have threatened to outpace the The agenda will then provide Executive Producer of Doha tics from Romania, Bart Conner, mit will address are: “How can development of sports policy. the basis for global coordination sport be utilised for the develop- Thus, Doha Goals is committed to ensure that athletes, people, ment of societies and economies? to bringing together sports min- governments, business and civic How can we broaden access and isters from across the world to society fulfill the potential of our opportunity in sport so that eve- develop their understanding of new world of globalised sport. ryone can enjoy its benefits? How the new challenges and opportu- The inaugural Doha Goals can we protect the integrity of nities in this world of globalised forum brought together more sports from abuses such as dop- sport,” according to Doha Goals than 2,000 participants from 60 ing and corruption,” Attias said. website. countries including 400 interna- The special sports ministers Representatives from some of tional students and 400 Qatari summit will seek to establish the world’s biggest brands will students. Doha Goals as the world’s first also be attending the meet in the Speakers at Doha Goals 2012 annual forum for policy makers Qatari capital. included President of FIFA Sepp and ministers responsible for The deliberations and out- Blatter and Lord Coe, chairman sports policy to come together comes from the discussions will of the organising committee of and build a worldwide sports be combined with the outcomes London 2012, as well as sporting agenda, and a platform on which of the Doha Goals taskforces to champions such as multi-Olympic to share it with the global sport- create a set of global challenges gold medalists Ian Thorpe and ing community. and action plans for the leading Carl Lewis. “The rapid globalisation of global policy makers in sport to Registration for local residents Michael Johnson Nadia Comaneci sports and the advent of truly develop and implement through- begin on December 8 from 9.00am Boris Becker global sporting competitions out 2014. onwards. THE PENINSULA

Campbell tops at Sprint Distance of GMC TriSeries Aspire Academy athletics students excel in Brazil

Aspire Academy student Qatar’s Abubaker Hayder (centre) won the 1,500m event at Gymnasiade Brazil. Hayder warded off competition from Russian and Italy runners to emerge on top, registering a time of 3:54:90. Team- mate Saleem Fadel (bot- tom right) won a bronze medal in the Hammer Throw event.

The podium winners at the GMC TriSeries Doha pose for a picture in Doha. Cameron Campbell topped in the adults category at the GMC TriSeries, hosted by Qatar’s leading triathlon club, TriClub Doha. The top finisher in the juniors’ category was Jay Toet. Wendy Mountford was the fastest woman participant. Juniors completed a course spanning a 100m Swim, 2km Cycle and 1km Run. The adults completed a course covering a 500m Swim, 20km Cycle and 5km Run. The TriSeries is designed to appeal to both beginners, who may be participating in their first triathlon, and more experienced athletes who want to build up to the full Olympic-distance event in April 2014. The final two legs of the GMC TriSeries Doha will be held next year, in January 2014 which is a three quarter event covering a 750m swim, 30km biking and 7.5km run. The final round of the GMC series will be held in April over an Olympic-length course covering a 1,500m swim, 40km cycling route and a 10km run. TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Qatar Basketball League: Al Rayyan beat Al Sadd 79-71; Al Wakra win England A B C announce New Zealand tour dates LONDON: England will play Tests in Auckland, Dunedin and Hamilton when they tour New Zealand next year, the Rugby Football Union announced yesterday. The series starts at the All A) Al Al Rayyan player (in white) tries to shoot a basket during his side’s Qatar Blacks Eden Park fortress on Basketball League (QBL) match against Al Sadd at Al Rayyan Sports Hall in June 7, continues at Forsyth Barr Doha yesterday. B) The referee begins the match between Al Sadd and Al Stadium seven days later and Rayyan. Al Rayyan won 79-71. C) Action between Al Wakra and Al Shamal concludes at Waikato Stadium during their QBL match at the same venue. Al Wakra won 89-77. on June 21. England’s tour also includes a midweek match against seven- time Super Rugby champions the Crusaders in Christchurch on June 17. Three of England’s 2011 World Cup group matches were staged in Dunedin, where they defeated Top FIBA 3x3 sides set Argentina, Georgia and Romania, while Eden Park was the setting for their 19-12 quarter-final loss to beaten finalists France. 2015 World Cup hosts England will travel to New Zealand look- ing to turn the table on the world to visit schools in Doha champions following last month’s 30-22 loss at Twickenham in a gripping encounter. Doha Team to face FC Barcelona in an exhibition match, says QBF official “To play the world champions in their own back yard is the ulti- mate test,” said England coach DOHA: Four of the six sides Stuart Lancaster. at next week’s FIBA 3x3 All A B Teams “We saw in the Rugby Stars will visit schools in Doha Brezovica Championship and the QBE to promote the latest version Blaz Cresnar Internationals what a formida- of basketball that is taking the Jasmin Hercegovac ble team and rugby nation New world by storm, a top Qatar Ales Kunc Zealand is. Basketball Federation (QBF) Rok Smaka “This is our final tour before official said yesterday. the World Cup and is massively Saadoun Al Kuwari, the Caracas important for us to benchmark Tournament Director, said FC Jovanni Diaz ourselves against the number one Barcelona, Brezovica, Caracas, Michael Flores Urbaez team in the world. Doha Team, Nagoya and Novi Sad Rafael Melgarejo “Playing three Tests and a will feature at the one-day event Edgar Sifontes midweek match will give us the at Katara Beach and four out of Doha Team opportunity to take 35 to 40 play- this group will visit schools. ers who will get a chance to lay Khalid Suliman Abdi “Since Qatar is hosting the down a marker 15 months out Mohammed Seleem Abdulla event we feel this is good opportu- from the World Cup.” nity to get four of the sides to visit C Yaseen Musa But England’s prospects of schools in Doha,” Al Kuwari said. Boney Watson winning the series opener will be “The 3x3 format is hugely pop- FC Barcelona hampered by a fixture clash that ular around the globe. FIBA is Manel Bosch means Lancaster is almost bound trying to get this into the Olympic Rodrigo De La Fuente to field a weakened team. Games charter,” Al Kuwari said. Roger Esteller The first Test takes place just “The 3x3 format is popular in seven days after the English Ferran Martinez Doha as well,” he added. Premiership final at Twickenham The one-day event will feature Nagoya and that has left Lancaster in a six teams - including one from the Mitsui Hideki position where he won’t be able to host country who will be compet- Jun Suehiro field his best XV until Dunedin. ing for a whopping overall prize A: Dusan Domovic Bulut (3), the world number one in the 3x3 format in action in this file photo. Bulut will be Taniguchi Tatsuro France, Wales and Ireland bag of $120,000 at Katara Beach. in the Novi Sad team that will be taking part in the 3x3 All Stars event at Katara Beach on December 12. B: Ochiai Tomoya will face the same complication Besides home team ‘Doha’, the Boney Watson of Doha Team. C: Rodrigo De La Fuente of FC Barcelona. Doha Team and FC Barcelona will Novi Sad following the Top 14 and Celtic event has attracted the high- League finals for their 2014 tours play an exhibition match on December 11. D: Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF) President and Qatar Olympic Dusan Domovic Bulut est ranked players in Americas, Committee (QOC) Secretary General Sheikh Souad bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. E: Tournament Director of 3x3 of Australia, South Africa and Europe and the rest of the world. Marko Savi Argentina respectively. AFP All Stars event and QBF Executive Director Saadoun Al Kuwari. Doha Team will be repre- Nikola Ugrica sented by Khalid Suliman Abdi, Marko Zdero Mohammed Seleem Abdulla, will telecast the December 12 Tennis: Qatar’s Yaseen Musa and Boney Watson. games live, beaming pictures for D E Fixtures Doha Team will take on Japan’s about five hours,” Al Kuwari said. Venue: Katara Beach Shannan, Al Nagoya in the first match fol- Al Kuwari said a ‘Dunk Date: December 12 lowed by their encounter against Contest’ is also planned. Pool A Jufairi win Brezovica of Slovenia. The top four sides in the event Brezovica vs Nagoya, 3.00pm “We have signed a three-year will qualify for the semi-finals fol- Nagoya vs Doha, 3.50pm Asian U-14 title contract with FIBA. This event lowed by the final at 7.00pm. Doha vs Brezovica, 4.40pm will be here until 2015. It will be The world body - FIBA - is Pool B staged in the middle of December using the 3x3 format to attract DOHA: Qatar’s Issa Shannan Novi Sad vs Caracas, 3.20pm for all three seasons,” Al Kuwari young fans to basketball which and Omar Al Jufairi won the said. is one of the most popular disci- Caracas vs FC Barcelona, 4.10pm Qatar Asian Juniors Under-14 Al Kuwari said FC Barcelona plines at the Olympic Games. FC Barcelona vs Novi Sad, 5.00pm title after defeating Abdulaziz will play an exhibition game on Similar 3x3 events were also Semi-finals Hussein from United Arab December 11 staged at City Center and Katara Pool A Winner vs Pool B Runner-Up, Emirates and Saudi Arabia’s Al “We are also looking forward earlier this year. 5.40pm Janahi. to the exhibition game between A day after the 3x3 event, QBF Pool B Winner vs Pool A Runner-Up, Hosted by the Qatar Tennis FC Barcelona and Doha Team. All will organise two more champion- 6.10pm Federation, (QTF), the match games will be played at Katara ships - ‘3x3 Clubs Tournament for Final took place on the final day of Beach,” Al Kuwari said. Men’ and ‘Doha Jam’. Winner of Semi-final 1 vs Winner of the tournament at Khalifa “Al Kass and Al Jazeera Sports THE PENINSULA Semi-final 2, 7.00pm International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha. The win came after Shannan Victories for Al Shammari and Al Mohannadi at the Association Cup had defeated Saudi’s Fares Al Janahi in the boys singles competition. Tariq Zainal, QTF Assistant Secretary-General, said: “The best is yet to come! It is just a beginning and I believe in our national teams’ abilities. Issa showed the future of Qatar on the final night, and we are look- ing forward to seeing even better results in the upcoming events.” Khalid Al Khelaifi, Head of National Teams Committee at QTF, also expressed his satisfac- tion about the results achieved by the national team players, stressing on the role played by this tournament in improving the national players’ skills on the court and enhancing their confi- dence in competing with interna- tional opponents. In the girls’ competition, Adithya from Sri Lanka defeated Winner of the 10 metres male’s beginners category - Abdullah Al Shammari (back row, centre), runner-up Ali Al Mohannadi (back row, left) and third-placed Issa Al Mohannadi (back row, Saba Najafi of Iran in the singles right) along with officials pose for a picture during the Association Cup at Losail Shooting Complex in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: Winner in the 10 metres female beginners category Noor Al while, the team of Adithya and Mohannadi, (centre), runner-up Aysha Al Tayyib (left) and third-placed Heya Al Balushi (right) display their medals on the podium. The competition will end on December 7. Chui Kei Leung beat Mubarka Al PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT Nuaimi and Fatima Amirul in the doubles. QNA TUESDAY 3 DECEMBER 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Barca beaten again in Bilbao Martino’s side suffers first defeat of the season in La Liga; Athletic rise to fourth spot

MADRID: Barcelona slipped to a second consecutive defeat for the first time since April 2012 as they lost for the first time in Ibrahimovic nets the league this season 1-0 away to Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Barcelona had suffered their first defeat under coach Gerardo Martino against Ajax in mid- twice as PSG week and Athletic appeared to learn from the Dutch champions’ approach as, without the injured Barcelona’s Lionel Messi, Barca struggled to defender Martin impose themselves on the game. outclass Lyon Montoya (left) vies Iker Muniain slotted home the for the ball with only goal of the game from Markel Athletic Bilbao’s PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain said. The build-up to the match Susaeta’s cross 20 minutes from midfielder Mikel underlined their superior- was overshadowed by the news time as a third straight win Rico during their ity over the rest of the French that both team buses were stoned moved the Basques into fourth. Spanish League top flight on Sunday as Zlatan on the way to the stadium, while The Catalans remain top of Ibrahimovic netted twice in Lyon lost Bafetimbi Gomis to at the San Mames La Liga on goal difference only a 4-0 win against Lyon at the injury in the warm-up. Stadium in Bilbao from Atletico Madrid with Real Parc des Princes. They were also helped by refe- Madrid now just three points on Sunday. Ibrahimovic scored both of his ree Antony Gautier’s decision not behind the leaders. goals from the penalty spot as to award a penalty when Cavani And the champions were left he moved clear at the top of the went down under a challenge to complain about referee Juan Ligue 1 scorers chart, while South from Bakary Kone 16 minutes in. Martinez Manuera’s decision to Americans Edinson Cavani and PSG got their noses in front only show Ander Iturraspe a yel- captain Thiago Silva also found nine minutes before the interval low card when he pulled back the target to help PSG continue when Cavani met a corner from Neymar as the Brazilian bore their unbeaten record in all com- the left and headed in through the down on goal with the score still petitions this season. legs of Yoann Gourcuff, who was at 0-0. They remain four points clear standing on the near post. “They are a good team and it of Lille and five ahead of Monaco Five minutes later, the is difficult when we have chances at the top of the standings after Uruguayan was brought down and don’t take them,” said mid- easing past a Lyon side who once again inside the box. This time, fielder Sergio Busquets. before the break as Muniain dominated the French scene Lyon goalkeeper Remy Vercoutre “And yes the referee didn’t do fluffed his lines after Andoni themselves but are currently lan- was the culprit, and a penalty was his job well either because it is a Iraola’s cross was deflected Your TV guide for guishing in mid-table. awarded. red card and that made it more perfectly into his path before But while Lyon coach Remi Ibrahimovic sent Vercoutre the difficult. Gorka Toquero headed wide live matches today Garde accepted that his team wrong way as he coolly chipped “I think that would have when unmarked from Muniain’s are “not competing in the same into the net. Lyon conceded again changed the game. He was cross. Event Competition Time Channel league as Paris”, opposite number on the hour mark as Brazil skip- through on the goalkeeper, I don’t Martino’s men improved after Laurent Blanc insisted the score- per Silva converted the loose ball know where (Mikel) Balenziaga the break as Athletic’s pressing Spezia vs Pescara Italian Cup 17:00 HD3 line was not necessarily a fair following a corner for his first was but it was a clear one-on-one wavered slightly and Neymar Avellino vs Frosinone Italian Cup 19:00 HD4 reflection on the game. ever goal in Ligue 1. and for me it is a red card.” should have given them the “The size of the scoreline could And there was more pain On top of Messi’s absence, lead when he raced onto Cesc Bologna vs Siena Italian Cup 21:00 +4 make you think it was easy from to come as Ibrahimovic beat Barca were also missing Victor Fabregas’s fine through ball but Lille vs Marseille Ligue 1 21:00 +3 beginning to end, but Lyon made Vercoutre from the spot once Valdes and Dani Alves and slipped as he shot and the ball life difficult for us early on,” he again for the home side. AFP Busquets insisted they have to sailed well over. Schalke vs Hoffenheim German Cup 22:30 +1 concentrate on not losing any Barca were then left infuriated Saarbrucken vs Borussia Dortmund German Cup 22:30 +2 Zlatan Ibrahimovic of PSG celebrates more ground in the two league at Manuera for not sending-off Crystal Palace vs West Ham Barclays Premier League 22:30 HD6 scoring the fourth goal during the French games that remain before the Iturraspe when he pulled back Ligue 1 match against Lyon at the Parc winter break with Messi and Neymar as the Brazilian was Parma vs Varese Italian Cup 23:00 HD3 des Princes Stadium in Paris on Sunday. Valdes due back in January. played in on goal. Nice vs Monaco Ligue 1 23:00 +3 “We shouldn’t be alarmed. We Neymar pulled himself up to need to keep going, win the two take the resulting free-kick which games between now and the end curled inches wide of Iraizoz’s Sunday’s Results of the year and learn from the right-hand post. Ligue 1 mistakes we have made.” However, it was Athletic who Bordeaux 4 (Jussie 9, 68, Sertic 50, Maurice-Belay 55) Ajaccio 0 Neymar had Barcelona’s best finally made the breakthrough Bastia 2 (Krasic 49, Khazri 90+5) Evian 0 effort of the first-half with a when Ander Herrera robbed the Paris Saint-Germain 4 (Cavani 36, Ibrahimovic pen-41, pen-83, Silva 60) Lyon 0 curling effort that was brilliantly ball deep inside Barca territory La Liga tipped over the bar by Gorka and fed Susaeta, whose cross Athletic Bilbao 1 Barcelona 0 Iraizoz. from the right was turned home Granada CF 1 Sevilla 2 However, it was the hosts that by Muniain for his third goal of Real Betis 2 Rayo Vallecano 2 had the better of the chances the season. AFP Valencia 3 Osasuna 0 Liverpool legend Fowler Registration opens for PSG to lead training sessions in Doha this month Academy programme in Qatar DOHA: Liverpool legend special appearance by former DOHA: The world-renowned Robbie Fowler will visit Qatar Manchester United super- Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) this month to lead Evolution defender Dennis Irwin who will Academy is coming to Qatar Soccer training sessions, play also lead training sessions with this month thanks to Evolution a charity football match and our young players as part of the Sports Academy and registra- run the Leaders’ Race hosted Commercial Bank partnership tion is now open for all young by Standard with the Red people across the country aged Chartered Bank Devils.” between 6 and 18. at the Aspire There are This is the first time the PSG Zone. two official Academy will be in Qatar and will Tommy race catego- be held at Doha College, Al Waab Westmoreland, ries; a 10km campus and Lycee Voltaire West Head Soccer and a 3km fun Bay school from December 8 to 12. Coach and run. The 10k The PSG Academy to be sup- Manager of race is a meas- ported by Evolution Soccer in Evolution Sports ured (accurate) Qatar, costs QR1200 per student, said: “We are so 10K race for all and will run from 3pm Sunday to excited to have abilities around 6pm on Thursday. Robbie Fowler the grounds of All students will receive a PSG make the time Aspire on a fast welcome pack including a train- to attend some and flat course. ing kit and a fun, action-packed of our football The event has programme of specialist football training ses- already drawn training combined with life skills sions and play keen interest that have made PSG players so PSG Academy children pose for a picture after undertaking football sessions in this file photo. PSG Academy alongside our from both pro- successful. sessions will take place in Qatar from December 8 to 12. Evo U19s squad fessional and Qatar will also play host for the in a friendly leisure runners yearly PSG football winter tour, match against from Qatar including a friendly match against a keen interest in working more PSG is one of the world’s most top coaches. It offers a unique the Ethiopian Robbie Fowler and across the Real Madrid in January 2, 2014. closely with Evolution Soccer in famous football clubs and this training methodology tailored Community region since Participants will also have the the future to deliver many more exciting event is an opportunity to each individual’s profile (age, here in Qatar. registrations opportunity of winning 30 compli- of these initiatives which will for players, both boys and girls, to level etc.), focusing on three The days leading up to the 10k opened. Registration for the mentary tickets to the forthcom- enable our coaches to observe and enjoy a positive physical training core principles: offering all par- event will see Robbie along with Standard Chartered race is ing game next year. learn from the best but also share experience, supplemented with ticipants the unique PSG player LFC Foundation coaches conduct available online only at www. Tommy Westmoreland, ideas and be a part of something important life skills all deliv- development know-how, pro- coaching clinics at local schools premiermarathons.com. Evolution Sports Director & very special throughout the Gulf ered in a professional footballing moting the noble values of sport and at the popular local amateur Fowler is one of the greatest Head Soccer Coach said: “We are region. We are extremely happy environment. and discovering potential new football league the QIAFL.” footballers to have played for truly overwhelmed and excited to be affiliated with Paris Saint- Established in 2005, in close talents. Westmoreland added: Liverpool and is one of the most by Paris Saint Germain’s enthu- Germain and look forward to wel- collaboration with the Elite Since 2007, Evolution Sports “Evolution Sports are currently natural goal scorers ever to wear siasm to work alongside Evolution coming them to Qatar.” Academy, especially in terms of has been responsible for more making some very strong links the famous red shirt. The 1995- Soccer bringing first-class train- Evolution Sports soccer coaches the development of a technical than 20 soccer camps in Doha for in the sporting world such as 96 season saw him score 30-plus ing opportunities to the local who are UEFA qualified will also programme, the PSG Academy young people aged 5 to 15 years our forthcoming ‘Paris Saint goals and retain his Young Player area for young boys and girls to lead daily sessions alongside PSG provides football fans with the old and this year will officially Germain (PSG) and Evo Soccer’ of the Year award. experience.” staff establishing a professional opportunity to step inside the introduce PSG to the local com- winter football camp and a THE PENINSULA He added: “Paris Saint- relationship of shared methods world of the club, while benefit- munity. Germain have already expressed and training principles. ting from the know-how of PSG’s THE PENINSULA LATEST NEWS UPDATES FROM PHILIPPINPHILIPPINES

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Fawad Ahmed bowl- ing at the indoor cricket nets at the MCG in Melbourne eye Test ratings in this June 6, 2013 file picture. Pakistan- born cricketer Fawad Batsman Williamson ruled out due to thumb injury Ahmed has been named Australia’s Muslim Sportsperson DUNEDIN, New Zealand: of the Year, beating West Indies and New Zealand out code-hopping begin their three-Test series Rugby League today in Dunedin with an aim superstar Sonny Bill to improve their ratings points Shivnarine Williams. on the Reliance International Chanderpaul Cricket Australia, Cricket Council (ICC) Test (centre) which worked to have Team Rankings Table. and Aaron Despite the results there will Ahmed’s citizenship be no change in West Indies’ final Redmond (left) fast-tracked earlier position on the table, except to talk to umpire this year, welcomed reduce the gap with Australia. Billy Bowden the announcement West Indies enter the series in between of the award which in sixth position on 95 ratings overs, on the acknowledges the points, while New Zealand starts first day of the spin bowler’s contri- off in eighth place with 75 ratings New Zealand bution to Australia’s points. XI and West Muslim community. If New Zealand was to win the Indians Tour series by a margin of 2-0, it can match at rise up to 82 ratings points, while Lincoln, in a 3-0 series sweep will hand the thisNovember home team a rise of eight ratings 27 file picture. points to thereby finish at 83, according to the ICC. In both scenarios (New Zealand winning 2-0 and 3-0), West Indies will move down to seventh place behind Sri Lanka. Bresnan called Blazing gun If New Zealand win the series West Indies a gain of four ratings number three, fractured his left him miss this one out and have by either 1-0 or 2-1, or even if the points, thereby reducing the gap thumb playing against Bangladesh another week to recover.” into England Harris holding series is drawn 0-0 or 1-1, there with Australia to just two. in late October, and captain New Zealand: Brendon will be no change in West Indies’ With the top four sides as of Brendon McCullum said it was McCullum (capt.), Corey Anderson, nothing back in final position on the table. December 31, 2016 qualifying for always going to be a close call Trent Boult, Peter Fulton, Aaron squad for For the West Indies, the the inaugural ICC World Test whether he would be fit for the Redmond, Hamish Rutherford, Ish series offers an opportunity to Championship scheduled for 2017, first West Indies Test. Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, second Test Adelaide Test reduce the gap with fifth-ranked every Test counts towards the “It was a tough decision, but in Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Doug Australia. But this can only hap- qualification. the end it was a touch too early Bracewell. SYDNEY: Bowling all-rounder SYDNEY: Australia pace- pen if it wins the series by either Meanwhile, New Zealand bats- for Kane,” said McCullum when West Indies: Kieran Powell, Tim Bresnan was called into the man Ryan Harris will be hold- a 2-0 or 3-0 margin. man Kane Williamson has been he named the playing eleven Kirk Edwards, Darren Bravo, England squad for the Ashes ing nothing back in the second If West Indies win the series ruled out of the opening Test with yesterday. Marlon Samuels, Shivnarine series yesterday and will be Ashes Test against England this by a 2-0 margin, it will gain two an injured thumb. “He probably could have played, Chanderpaul, Narsingh available for the second Test week even if his injury track ratings points to end at 97, to His withdrawal opens the way but in the grand scheme of the Deonarine, Denesh Ramdin (wk), against Australia in Adelaide record suggests he will strug- thereby reduce the gap with fifth- for Aaron Redmond to return to season we’ve got in front of us Darren Sammy (capt), Shane this week. gle to play all five Tests in the ranked Australia to four ratings the side after a five-year absence. and how valuable he is to us, we Shillingford, Tino Best, Shannon Bresnan, who suffered a stress series. points. A 3-0 series win, will give Williamson, who bats at saw it as a more safe option to let Gabriel. AGENCIES fracture in his back which ruled A litany of injuries since mak- him out of the final Test of the ing his debut in 2010 has pre- first Ashes series earlier this year, vented Harris from completing Announcer denies which the hosts won 3-0, trav- a five-match Test series, his best elled to Australia with England’s effort being four of five matches using Indian Performance Programme. in England earlier this year when Having proved his fitness, he was his country’s outstanding accent for Panesar Bresnan’s stock rose as, apart bowler. from Stuart Broad, England’s With Adelaide likely to be the SYDNEY: A ground announcer attack disappointed in the first toughest venue for the quick stood down for allegedly pro- Test at Brisbane, which Australia bowlers, some have suggested nouncing England bowler won by 381 runs largely on the Australia would be wise to revive Monty Panesar’s name with an back of aggressive pace bowling. their rotation policy and save the Indian accent has denied doing It rose even further after 34-year-old for the third Test on so, and said he would be seek- more disappointing bowling in a more pace-friendly wicket in ing clarification from Cricket England’s two-day tour match in Perth. Australia. Alice Springs last weekend. Having grabbed five wickets for Cricket Australia said on The 28-year-old was a key 77 runs to help Australia take a Saturday that it deemed the con- member of the squad which series lead with a thumping 381- duct of the PA announcer at the won the Ashes in Australia in run victory in the opening Test in Alice Springs ground as inappro- 2010-11, taking 11 wickets in the Brisbane, though, Harris has no priate and stood him down at lunch final two Tests at an average of intention of taking it easy at the on the final day of the England vs 19.54 as England sealed a 3-1 Adelaide Oval. Chairman’s XI tour match. triumph. “I’ll be all guns blazing here,” he But the announcer David He also played a major role in told reporters yesterday. Nixon, an ABC producer based in England’s victory in the fourth “I’m not going to miss a Test the Northern Territory, yesterday Test of the first series earlier unless I really have to. I’ve said denied putting on an accent for this year, scoring 45 runs in the that from the start, I’m here to England-born Panesar, who is of second innings then taking the play five. Indian descent. key wickets of David Warner and “I had the turnaround in “It comes as a complete sur- Shane Watson as England won by England and I got through okay. prise to me to be at the centre of 74 runs. The wickets here are a little International Cricketers Association Chief Operating Officer Ian Smith (right) and International Cricket Council a controversy about racial slur- Chris Tremlett is likely to give harder, that’s probably the only (ICC) Event Manager Chris Tetley inspect the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Cricket Stadium in Fatullah on the out- ring, and I absolutely refute any way for Bresnan if he is selected difference. skirts of Dhaka, yesterday. The ICC World Twenty20 2014 will be played from March 16 to April 6, 2014 and allegation that I feigned an Indian for the Adelaide Test, which “I’m feeling good, obviously the is scheduled to be played at four venues around Bangladesh. accent,” he said in a statement, starts on Thursday. extra rest after Brisbane helped the ABC reported. AFP REUTERS but I’m feeling good and ready to go here.” Harris, who is expected to reprise his partnership with Peter Siddle and Gabba stand- Root or Bell to bat at three for England out Mitchell Johnson in a three- pronged pace unit, also dimissed SYDNEY: Joe Root (pictured) dropping down to number six for in Brisbane. “There is character mistake, if you asked me, to just the idea that skipper Michael and Ian Bell are the two candi- the Gabba Test, where he scored in the team, there is skill in the focus on one bowler,” he said. Clarke might use him more dates to replace Jonathan Trott two and a determined 26 not out team, obviously we’ve got show “They have four other very sparingly. at number three in the England in his two innings. better will than we did in the last good Test bowlers ... so we have to “I will be used as usual, there’s batting order for this week’s “Whoever moves up to number game,” the former England skip- be aware of all of them. Mitchell no good playing if you’re being second Ashes Test in Adelaide, three, and it’s probably fair to say per added. Johnson will be part of that and held back, you’ve got to go in 110 batting coach Graham Gooch that Joe Root and Ian Bell are the “To get dismissed twice for short bowling will be part of that percent,” he added. said yesterday. two candidates, I’m sure they’ll under 200 is very disappointing ...” Gooch brushed off the row “You can’t have one bloke going Trott returned to England with stand up for England, that’s what and you’re not going to win any over sledging in the first Test, half-hearted because it puts pres- a stress-related illness after his they’ve got to do,” Gooch told games of cricket if you do that. saying there was nothing new in sure on your two or three other team lost the opening Test in reporters at the Adelaide Oval. “We know that we didn’t per- the opposition trying to intimi- bowlers. Brisbane by a humbling 381 runs “I’m not a believer (that) you’ve form anywhere near the standard date batsman and it was part and “I’ve just got to make sure and his spot in the batting line-up got to be very careful about look- that is required, and this team is parcel of the game. whatever I do between Tests I has been the subject of much con- ing after people in what number capable of, and we’ve got to work “Some people it motivates, get right and feel good and I’m jecture. Bell, playing in the middle they bat. hard to put that right.” makes them play better, more confident I can do that.” order, was widely regarded as the “If you’re asked to bat three, Mitchell Johnson played a determined,” said the former That said, Harris believes all- difference between the two sides four, five or six, whatever, you key role in Australia’s victory in batsman, who played 118 Tests for rounder Shane Watson would in England’s 3-0 win at home in have to do that job.” Brisbane with nine wickets at the England between 1975 and 1995. contribute with the ball more the first Ashes series of the year Gooch felt what was more Gabba but Gooch said it would be “Some people it can unsettle. than at the Gabba having fully when he scored three centuries. important was that England’s wrong just to focus on the mercu- But generally sledging is about recovered from a hamstring Root opened the batting with batsmen put on more runs in rial left-arm quick. getting you to play the man and strain. The trip to Adelaide is his captain Alastair Cook against Adelaide after being dismissed for “He inconvenienced a few of not the ball, get your focus off the something of a homecoming for Australia in England before 136 and 179 in their two innings our players (but) it would be a ball. AFP Harris. AFP