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Monday 21 January 2013 9 Rabial I 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5586 Price: QR2

QIB profits Man United to at QR1.24bn; train in Qatar assets rise this week

Business | 17 Sport | 28

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Message from Ethiopia PM Syria opposition Ministry seeks seeks Qatar aid for transitional govt ISTANBUL: The head of Syria’s opposition coalition has opinion on flown to Qatar to secure prom- ises of financial aid for a transi- tional government in rebel-held areas, sources at negotiations in Istanbul said yesterday. company law The talks on agreeing a tran- sitional government had been hit by disagreement over whether Draft law on website for comments a transitional government could survive when the Syrian National Coalition President DOHA: The Ministry of present commercial companies’ Moaz Alkhatib left in the middle Business and Trade has posted law that was enforced 11 years of deliberations, the sources said. a draft commercial companies’ ago. The draft law suggests that “It seems that there won’t law on its website for public listed entitles should be allowed to be a government unless Sheikh comment which talks of setting fix the face value of their shares Moaz comes back from Qatar up a single-window licensing from anywhere between QR1 and with enough to convince enough system for setting up a business QR100 so as to help broaden their members of the coalition that any in the country. subscriber base. government they set up will be The idea is to simplify the THE PENINSULA viable,” said one coalition member licensing process and help attract Continued on page 5 who did not want to be named. added inflow of foreign invest- The talks are the opposition’s ment, says the ministry. Businesses happy second bid to form a transitional The draft suggests allowing a government, with its credibility public shareholding company to DOHA: Legal professionals, at stake as the country slides into have at least a third of the mem- businessmen and investors The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani with Ethiopian Agriculture Minister Tefera Derbew in Doha sectarian conflict. REUTERS bers of its board of directors from are all praise for the initia- yesterday. Derbew delivered a written message from Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn to the See also page 7 outside—those who do not hold tive taken by the Ministry of Emir pertaining to bilateral relations and issues of common interest. any shares of the company. Business and Trade to post It also recommends that the a draft commercial compa- board members of a public share- nies’ law on its website for holding company put together comments from the public. should not be permitted to get The ministry inserted financial awards such as annual announcements in local Tough curbs on alcohol-based perfumes bonus or remunerations exceed- Arabic dailies yesterday say- ing 10 percent of its net profits. ing that it had posted the DOHA: The Ministry of specifications. This rule will come misused, the Ministry said yes- laboratory has been banned,” However, if a company suffers draft on its website (www. Environment has imposed new into force from April 1 this year. terday. “In the interest of pub- said a statement issued by the losses the board could be entitled mbt.gov.qa) and invited gov- regulations for the import and There have been reports of lic health, the Laboratory and Ministry. In keeping with Qatari to some remuneration provided a ernment and non-government sale of alcohol-based perfumes widespread misuse of some Standardisation Department at specifications, the ethanol content proposal to the effect is approved institutions, trade and indus- like cologne to prevent misuse cologne products in Qatar as an the Ministry has announced some in cologne and similar products by its shareholders at their annual try, consultancy firms, inves- and potential health hazards. intoxicant due to their high alco- procedures to regulate the import should not be more than 90 per- general meeting. The ministry can tors as well as others to go A certificate from an author- hol content. of these products to meet Qatari cent and the permitted metha- earmark an amount for that pur- through the draft and give ised laboratory has been made Studies have shown that some specifications No 1079 related to nol (another derivative of alcohol) pose. The face or nominal value of their valuable suggestions. mandatory for import of such ethanol (alcohol) — based cos- ethanol-based cosmetic products. content is not more than 0.05 the shares of a public sharehold- Full story on page 5 products to ensure that they metic products like cologne can Import of such products without per cent. THE PENINSULA ing company is QR10 under the comply with Qatari standards and cause serious health hazards if certificate from an authorised Continued on page 5 Draft law on domestic workers stumbles on weekly holiday DOHA: A draft law on domes- people is giving a day off every Organisation has recently issued tic workers has run into trouble week to a worker, including an international convention on job as it is still being hotly dis- housemaids, the daily said. agreements for household work- cussed by the Supreme Council However, some in the Council ers (Number 189) that needs to be of Family Affairs and some of are of the opinion that maids and ratified by Arab countries. its provisions like granting a other household workers must be The agreement gives domestic day off to a worker in a week are given those basic rights like speci- helps the right to weekly off and a subject of discord among those fying their working hours and fixes their working hours. The concerned. allowing them weekly rest. source told the daily: “So why The draft is stuck at the Qatar’s labor law covers pri- should we treat the labor law and Council as those concerned do vate sector workers and they are the household workers’ law sepa- not find some of its provisions to entitled to a day off in a week, rately?” Both categories belong to be in line with the domestic work so why such a basic right should workers and they are entitled to environment in Qatar, Al Sharq not be given to domestic workers, basic rights like weekly offs and reported yesterday. a source told the daily. He said fixed working hours daily. Especially objectionable to Geneva-based International Labor THE PENINSULA

Obama takes oath Troops capture five Algeria kidnappers

IN AMENAS, ALGERIA: Troops captured five kidnap- pers and found the bodies of 25 captives at a remote gas plant yesterday, a report said, as Algeria warned the toll from a dramatic hostage crisis at the site may rise. Governments scrambled to track down their missing citizens as more details emerged a day after the final showdown between troops and Islamists who took hundreds hostage. The mastermind of the brazen hostage-taking, Mokhtar Belmokhtar, said in a video posted online that the attack was carried out by 40 fight- US President Barack Obama is sworn in for a second term in the ers from the Muslim world and European countries. Blue Room of the White House in Washington DC, yesterday. AFP See also pages 9 & 10 See also page 6 MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Darfur peace parties begin negotiations Deputy Premier urges all groups to join talks

DOHA: Deputy Prime Minister Al Mahmoud said after the open- the parties before starting nego- and Minister of State for ing session. tiations,” Al Mahmoud said. Cabinet Affairs, H E Ahmed The JEM delegation has asked On the issues being discussed, bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud, for more time to study the Doha he said they will be decided by the and Aichatou Mindaoudou, Document for Peace in Darfur negotiators. Joint AU-UN Chief Mediator (DDPD), he said, referring It has been suggested to form for Darfur, opened negotiations to workshop held in Doha for a number of committees to deal between a delegation of the JEM and run by the UNAMID with clauses stipulated in the Government of the Republic of Mediation Support in which a DDPD. Sudan, led by Dr Amin Hassan number of UN and AU experts The Deputy Premier said that Omar, Minister of State in the participated. he had received calls from other Presidency, head of the Darfur The workshop aimed at build- movements, which expressed Follow-up Office and head of the ing the capacity of JEM delega- keenness to join the DDPD. office to pursue peace in Darfur, tion and explain the provisions of “A third party to the conflict will and a delegation of the Sudanese the DDPD, he said. join negotiations... Things are pro- Justice and Equality Movement “The two parties demonstrate gressing on the right path, it is not (JEM) led by Deputy President, keenness to enter into negotia- a compliment,” Al Mahmoud said. in Doha yesterday. tions while I will, together with He said that the information he JEM has decided to participate the joint AU-UN chief mediator received confirmed existence of a H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud and Aichatou Mindaoudou during the meeting, yesterday. in peace talks after it signed a for Darfur, draft an agenda for “genuine desire for peace.” cessation of hostilities agreement, talks which will be approved by “They seek a framework of arrangements... We are now enough time to negotiate. working with the United Nations He said that Qatar made it clear to provide them with such a to both the parties that there were structure” to deal with the Darfur other commitments on schedule conflict, he said. such as the re-building of Darfur. Al Mahmoud urged non-sig- A third party to Al Mahmoud said that the natory movements to sign up the the conflict secret of the success of the Doha DDPD, calling on all armed move- will join Document for Peace is that it ments to resort to the voice of welcomes any party or group to reason and enter negotiations to negotiations... join it. find a comprehensive settlement. Things are He added that the international The DDPD was finalised at the progressing on community backed the document All Darfur Stakeholders Conference because it was made by the people in May 2011 in Doha. the right path. of Darfur. On July 14, the Government The Deputy Prime Minister of Sudan and the Liberation and said that Qatar, led by the Emir Justice Movement (LJM) signed H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa a protocol agreement, committing Al Thani, believes that any docu- themselves to the document, which the conflict and its consequences, ment, if not undertaken by the is now the framework for a compre- including power and wealth shar- people of Darfur, will end up being hensive peace process in Darfur. ing, human rights, justice and a failure. The DDPD is the culmination reconciliation, compensation and To a question on implemen- of two-and-a-half years of nego- return, and internal dialogue, tation of the document, Al tiations with the major parties among others. Mahmoud said that both the involved in the Darfur conflict, all On whether there was a time- Sudanese Government and the relevant stakeholders and inter- frame for negotiations, Al Mahmoud JEM were pleased at the pace of national partners. said that Qatar is the host country implementation. It addresses the root causes of and was trying to give both parties QNA Some of the members involved in talks.

Barwa Bank hands over QR400,000 to orphan foundation

DOHA: Barwa Bank, Qatar’s Shariah-compliant banking service provider, made a dona- tion of QR400,000 to Qatar Orphan Foundation (Dhreima) at a ceremony recently, said a statement from the bank. The donation was made to help support the local charity in Khalid Kamal receiving the donation from Steve Troop. the care for orphans in Qatar. Attending the event was Steve the lives of orphans in Qatar, accept this cheque. It is through Troop, CEO, Barwa Bank, and while at the same time achieving supports like this that we are Khalid Kamal, General Manager, social solidarity through raising able to carry out our mission to Dhreima. awareness of underprivileged chil- provide care and accommoda- Troop said: “We are delighted dren in Qatari society.” tion for orphans and underprivi- to make this donation to Dhreima Receiving the cheque, Kamal leged children to help foster a in order to support the worth- added: “I am proud to be here better quality of life for them.” while work it is doing to improve today on behalf of Dhreima to THE PENINSULA QDA supports Message of Hope events DOHA: Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) is sup- porting the Hope Qatar Center for children with special needs with events scheduled for next month. Hope Qatar has been organising the Message of Hope series since 2010 with the objective of creating awareness in society about abilities of people with special needs. The event that takes place once a year has made a huge impact on creating awareness and motivating thousands of people, including children, youth and adults, over the recent years. The 2013 edition of the series will feature a team of five handicapped artists from the Mouth and Foot Painting Artists organisation. “Qatar Diabetes Association shares many values with Hope Qatar Center for children with special needs who are the organisers of the Message of Hope events. Both organisations focus on creating awareness and offering help to face challenges. Both focus on strengthening individuals and giving them inspiration, courage, and techniques to face challenges they encounter in their daily lives.” said Dr Abdullah Hamaq, Executive Director of QDA. The event will be held on February 6 and 7 at Education City and will feature a series of workshops, live paint- ing events, and an All Qatar Painting competition for students where they will attempt to create paintings and artwork without the use of their hands. It will also feature an exhibition of works created by handicapped artists. All the events are open to public. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Qatar Airways makes history with RNP AR First airline to fly with new technology

DOHA/KATHMANDU: With a smooth descent and Qatar Airways has become fully stabilised approach, it leads the first airline in the world to significant safety improve- to fly an aircraft with a new ments and reduces the required navigational approach into the visibility compared with current Nepalese capital Kathmandu, standard flying procedures. which has a highly complicated The RNP AR procedure allows terrain surrounded by the lofty an aircraft to automatically fly Himalayan mountains. accurate trajectories without The airline implemented a relying on ground-based naviga- Required Navigation Performance tion aids, optimises airspace uti- — Authorisation Required (RNP lisation and reduces diversions in AR) approach into Kathamandu’s difficult weather conditions. Tribhuvan International Airport. Qatar Airways Chief Executive Qatar Airways currently oper- Officer Akbar Al Baker said safety ates four flights a day between its was the number one priority for Doha hub and Kathmandu, one of the airline. the carrier’s most popular routes. “The airline takes all necessary Locked in the Himalayan steps possible to enhance safety mountain range, Kathmandu has measures throughout our opera- Senior officials of Qatar Airways with the crew after first flight using the Required Navigation Performance–Authorisation Required approach into Nepal’s one of the world’s most compli- tion without hesitation, whether Tribhuvan International Airport. cated approaches due to the sur- in the air or on the ground. The rounding challenging terrain. new safety procedures adopted on Airbus-owned company, and the allow aircraft to improve descent Qatar Airways and the Nepalese approach procedure was intro- Flying an RNP AR approach our aircraft significantly enhance Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal trajectory and reduce non-stabi- authorities on the outstanding duced to find a solution to the into Tribhuvan airport reduces navigations procedures and make (CAAN) to design and imple- lised approaches. results achieved for this RNP-AR current difficulties of high ter- pilots’ workload considerably and it an overall improved flying expe- ment the Kathmandu RNP AR “These two criteria are project in Kathmandu and we are rain, adding the authority now allows them to take full benefit of rience for our crew.” procedure. essential when operating in a delighted to have contributed to expected other airline opera- the advanced navigation equip- Working closely with key indus- Airbus Senior Vice-President complicated environment like this major milestone.” tors to adopt new procedure ment installed in aircraft to easily try associates, Qatar Airways has & Chief Product Safety Officer Nepal’s airspace, in particu- Director General of Nepal’s attracting them to fly into circumnavigate difficult terrain, partnered with the French pro- Yannick Malinge said new tech- lar the Kathmandu approach. Civil Aviation Authority T R Kathmandu. the airline said yesterday. cedures designer QUOVADIS, an nological capabilities like RNP Airbus would like to congratulate Manandhar said the RNP AR THE PENINSULA

Hundreds sign up for first Qtel Marathon; registration ends tomorrow

DOHA: Runners have only one the 10km Run, while those under which will take place at 7am. rather than winning. All proceeds from the entry providing two water stations and day left to sign up for the first 18 years can register for the 1km The race will start on the Doha For registration and more fees — QR50 for adults, QR30 for two sets of toilets. The annual Qtel Marathon, which will be Youth Run. Registration closes Corniche and end at the Museum information, visit http://www.qtel. people below 18 — will be donated Qtel Marathon is part of Qtel’s held on Saturday to promote tomorrow. of Islamic Art, after looping qa/en/QtelMarathon. Participants to charities in the Middle East, corporate social responsibility in athletics and to raise money for Hundreds of professional and around the Sheraton Roundabout. can also register at Qtel retail Africa and South Asia. promoting health and fitness, as charities. amateur runners, corporate Participants can choose to shops in Al Saad, City Center, Government authorities will the company plans to expand the Adult runners can register for teams, students and families have walk, run or jog the course, as the Landmark, Villaggio and Hyatt close the Corniche to traffic races to a full marathon in 2014. the Half Marathon (21.1km) or already registered for the races, emphasis is on healthy lifestyles Plaza Mall. for several hours, and Qtel is THE PENINSULA Subscribe to Mozaic TV for 1 year and get 2 months for free!

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Welcome to a world of entertainment offering you over 200 channels with programmes for everyone in the family to enjoy, including sports, news, kids’ shows, movies and lifestyle. Subscribe now for 1 year and you’ll only pay QR 250 per month for all 3 services: landline, home broadband and TV. You will also get the first 2 months FREE and a FREE Wi-Fi router. Visit any Qtel shop or authorised dealer to know more about this exciting service. If you already have home broadband, simply call 111 to upgrade to the Mozaic TV service for as little as QR 17 extra/month. Mozaic TV – where entertainment lives. Qtel MOZAIC TV MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Aspire Academy uses Inmotio to track players National team to adopt technology

BY ISABEL OVALLE programme for an individual ath- lete immediately. DOHA: Aspire Academy is A link to a synchronised video using a high-tech system to system also provides the footage track movements of football that is made during the train- players during practice. The ing, in addition to the real-time state-of-the-art system is called performance data recorded. The Inmotio and is also used by monitoring system also makes it top division European football possible to review the training ses- clubs. sion and particular training situ- Aspire Academy is the first ations afterwards with athletes. to use this technology in the After a live demonstra- Middle East, which will soon be tion, Professor Valter Di Salvo, used by the Qatar national team. Director of Football Performance Four fields at Aspire Zone are and Science at Aspire Academy, equipped with this technology, said that six teams at the acad- which requires four cameras in emy have been using this tech- each corner of every field. nology since September. “This The players wear a special vest system gives the opportunity to with a transponder that trans- collect data during the training mits the real-time performance session, which is very important data via antennas to the base sta- to organise the training pro- tions. The position measurements gramme, offering physical, tech- Athletes wearing data monitors at a training session during the demonstration of the Inmotio tracking system at Aspire Academy, yesterday. (SHAIVAL DALAL) are shown both in 2D and 3D by nical and tactical information,” the application software. he said. move, “tactically we have lots of one player in particular, track This technology cannot be “video analysis makes it easier to The coach can study the dif- Ultimately, the coach can see information because we can see the him and see all his movements used during games because the understand what the player did, ferent real-time data from every the field through the eyes of the distance between the players and and have access to data about federation does not allow it. control the load of the training possible position on a tablet player. For instance, in a standard correct right away”, added Di Salvo. what they are doing physically, However, its use during training session and personalise training or PC and is therefore able to exercise of seven against seven, The programme also allows the like speed, number of kilometres, is positive to improve a player’s programmes.” make changes to the training the trainer can check how players coach to gather information about heart rate, and other parameters. performance. Di Salvo said that THE PENINSULA QOC launches photo contest to mark National Sports Day DOHA: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) launched a photogra- phy contest on the occasion of National Sports Day (NSD). To join, participants must follow the official Twitter account @Qatar_ NSD, take a sport-inspired photo, or someone practising sports and tweet the picture, by mentioning @Qatar_NSD & #NSD. The photo must be taken outdoors and shot by the person who submits it, not copied from the Internet or other sources. The deadline for sub- missions is February 11 and winners will be announced on February 12 at noon at the QOC Sports Zone. THE PENINSULA

Director and screenplay writer of Sea Shadow with Qatari artists at a Hekayat Khaleejia reception. Hekayat Khaleejia opens with Sea Shadow DOHA: Doha Film Institute (DFI) every three months. The audience enjoyed adulthood. Bound by family conventions started the first set of ‘Hekayat Khaleejia’ a question and answer session with direc- and deep-rooted values, the pair must find (Khaleeji Stories), with the screening of tor Nawaf Al Janahi and screenwriter the courage to forge their own paths. Sea Shadow at the Museum of Islamic Mohammed Hassan Ahmed. Beasts of the Southern Wild, part of the Arts (MIA) on Thursday. Set in a small seaside neighbourhood in Katara DFI Cinema programme, will open This new initiative is DFI’s latest year- the UAE, Sea Shadow follows teenagers daily from January 24 to 30 at the Katara round film appreciation programme show- Mansour and Kaltham as they struggle Drama Theatre, Building 16. casing Khaleeji films to the Doha community with tradition in their journey towards THE PENINSULA GCC honour for HMC nursing executives

DOHA: The GCC Nursing Technical Committee has honoured a nursing executive from Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for her role in the advancement of the nursing profession. The committee awarded first place in its Nusaiba Bint Kaab Nursing Award to Sheikha Al Dossari, Assistant Executive Director of Ambulatory Services at HMC’s Women’s Hospital. Al Dossari was honoured during the 10th GCC Nursing Symposium in Jeddah by the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Health in collaboration with the Executive Board of the Health Ministers’ Council for GCC states. The award recognised her role in advancing nursing services during her 20 years of service, by adopting a creative approach for developing the nursing profession and in providing high quality holistic healthcare for indi- viduals, groups and the community at large. The GCC Nursing Technical Committee also honoured Haila Swaid Salim Jawhar, Assistant Executive Director for Nursing Services at Women’s Hospital, who gave a lecture entitled “GCC Nursing Experiences and Disasters: Strategic Directions”. Jawhar gave a comprehensive account of the role played by nursing in practical plans and preparedness strate- gies adopted by HMC for emergencies and disasters in its hospitals during the past years. THE PENINSULA Speaker leaves for Sudan

DOHA: Speaker of the Advisory Council H E Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Kholaifi and his del- egation left Doha yesterday for Sudan to participate in the eighth session of the Parliamentary Union of the Member States of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Conference, which begins today. The session will elect members of the bureau. It will also nominate members to the General Committee and the Executive Committee of the Union for 2013. QNA MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Emir leaves for Ministry move Riyadh today DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will head to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia today to take part on draft law in the Arab Economic, Social and Development Summit at its third session. The Emir will be accompa- draws praise nied by the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabor Al Businessmen welcome initiative Thani, and a high-level delegation. Qatar, Morocco DOHA: Legal professionals, such legislations,” said Al Sayed. businessmen and investors are Citing examples, he said the The debate winners with other participants during the competition. discuss labour ties all praise for the initiative taken draft of the legislation regulating by the Ministry of Business the legal profession was handed to DOHA: The Minister of Social and Trade to post a draft com- the lawyers’ association instead of SFS-Q tops universities debate league Affairs and Acting Minister of mercial companies’ law on its specific people in the association. Labour, H E Nasser bin Abdulla website for comments from the Likewise, a draft media law was Al Hamidi, met yesterday the public. circulated among the editors of DOHA: Debaters from Cornell Medical College in Qatar rather sees one innocent man go Moroccan Minister Delegate The ministry inserted local Arabic dailies and referred Georgetown University School (WCMCQ) tying with them. to jail than a 100 guilty men walk in Charge of Moroccans Living announcements in local Arabic to the Advisory Council. This is of Foreign Service in Qatar The event hosted by Carnegie free, THW obliges pharmaceutical Abroad Abdellatif Maazouz. dailies yesterday saying that it the first time that a draft law as (SFS-Q) topped the recent Mellon University in Qatar companies to spend half of their They discussed bilateral ties had posted the draft on its web- crucial as this one concerning fourth Tournament of Qatar (CMUQ) saw 28 teams from seven research budgets on illnesses that and ways to boost them. site (www.mbt.gov.qa) and invited commercial companies has been Universities Debate League universities including Academic occur primarily in developing The meeting was attended by government and non-government put forward for public review and (QUDL) in English organised by Bridge Programme, CMUQ, countries, THW believes that mili- H E Hussein bin Youssef Al institutions, trade and industry, opinion. QatarDebate. College of North Atlantic Qatar, taries in newly democratised Arab Mulla, Undersecretary of the consultancy firms, investors as According to Al Sayed, seek- Ali Ahsan, Arwa Al Sanosi SFS-Q, Qatar University, Stenden states should act as guardians of Ministry of Labour, and Morroco’s well as others to go through it ing direct inputs from the public and Eilin Francis were the top University Qatar and WCMCQ. secularism and THW assassinates Ambassador to Qatar, Al Makki and give suggestions. and trade and industry held the three speakers at the tourna- Participants debated around Bashar Al Assad. Kawan. “Please give your opinion in key to making the law practicable ment, with Lama Obeid of Weill four motions which included: THW THE PENINSULA QNA such a way that we are able to because there are just two advi- have a very good and practicable sory bodies in the country, so pub- final draft commercial compa- lic review of a draft law assumes nies’ law,” the ministry said in its much significance. announcement. An investor, Ibrahim Ali, The ministry said inputs should lauded the ministry’s move and be provided in such a way that said that seeking inputs from the QDB disburses QR3bn in housing loans the proposed law is effective in public to improve the draft was simplifying licensing procedures a very prudent step. Companies DOHA: The Qatar Officer (CEO) of QDB was quoted QR1bn for the agriculture and economy,” said Al Mahmoud. for companies making their work should particularly be able to Development Bank (QDB), a as saying by Al Arab yesterday. tourism sectors, he added. The bank’s support for the easier and creating a very condu- provide valuable inputs because state-owned financial institu- The doors of QDB are still open The Bank, according to him, industry is not limited to pro- cive business environment in the they deal with commercial com- tion, disbursed about QR3bn for the citizens seeking housing is committed to encouraging viding financial assistance only; country. panies’ law on almost a daily basis housing loans to citizens last loans. Those who are willing to and facilitating the growth it also extends support to busi- Contacted for comment, legal and know its strengths as well as year, according to a senior offi- build homes can always come and of non-hydrocarbon sector nesses to produce, market and luminary Dr Hassan Al Sayed weaknesses. cial of the bank. apply, the bank is ready to grant businesses. export commodities. described the ministry’s move as Both Al Sayed and Ali said “We disbursed over QR3bn loans, said Al Mahmoud. “QDB is putting special focus Asked for his comment about historic and said this is the first that other ministries and gov- housing loans in 2012. There is Al Mahmoud was speaking on growth and development of the, reportedly, high rate of inter- time such a step has been taken ernment agencies should emulate no waiting list of people seek- to the daily on the sidelines of the non-hydrocarbon industries est, he said: “We charge only three by a ministry. the example of the ministry and ing housing loans. It takes only the inaugural ceremony of the and businesses, and for that we percent rate of interest which is “It’s a very good initiative. In invite comments and inputs from two days to complete the whole ‘Made-in-Qatar’ exhibition that are allocating about 50 percent subsidised and inexpensive for a the past, draft laws were circu- the people at large when they pre- procedure to sanction a hous- concluded here recently. of our financial resources. This loan with a repayment period of lated to specific groups of people pare drafts of legislations. ing loan,” Mansour bin Ibrhaim QDB has earmarked QR1.5bn reflects QDB’s priority for the over 15 years.” who were directly concerned with THE PENINSULA Al Mahmoud, Chief Executive for the industrial sector and diversification of the Qatari THE PENINSULA

Labour Ministry plans Official to talk on Draft mentions five types of companies Continued from page 1 traffic violations the draft of details of how a for- and government agencies. The draft law talks of seven eigner can become a partner in a The minimum share capital of a interactive sessions on 107 FM today types of companies instead of particular company—LLC, joint public shareholding company has six which are provided for in venture, public shareholding or been suggested to be QR10m and DOHA: After its maiden and responsibilities, and benefit DOHA: The Urdu radio 107 FM the present law (Law Number 5 any other firm—and how much if the company is unable to offer successful direct interaction from the services provided will host traffic awareness officer of 2002) — general partnership ownership he could be entitled to. its shares for public subscription with private companies and by the ministry. from Traffic Department Lt. Fahad companies, limited partnership The draft is in Arabic and within 60 days of its inception, it their workers to explain the The team visits compa- Shareedah Al Abdullah today from companies, joint venture compa- posted on the website of the would have to change its articles provisions of the labour law in nies to know problems they 8pm to 9pm. nies, private shareholding firms, trade ministry for comments of association and become an LLC detail, the Ministry of Labour are facing in meeting the He will talk about different kinds of public shareholding companies, from the public. This means that after paying the necessary fee and is planning to have another requirements of the minis- traffic violations and the fines speci- limited shareholding companies non-Arabic speaking expatriates fines. spate of prolonged interactive try and if they have any, then fied according to the traffic law issued and limited liability companies. would not be able to express their A public shareholding company, sessions. the team immediately calls in 2007. It also suggests an eighth type opinion on its content. says the draft law, should be able The ministry had set up the department concerned to The talk is part of cooperation of company, apparently an LLC The draft has 340 articles to float initial public offerings or a team that would explain solve it quickly, Team Leader, between the Ministry of Interior and (limited liability company), that divided into 13 chapters and rights issues without help from the finer points of the labour Saleh Al Khalidi, told Al Qatar Radio Corporation to raise traf- can have a single owner who would according to the ministry, has a bank or banks. It can, though, law to workers of private Sharq. fic awareness among Urdu speakers have the right to assign one or sev- been framed by a committee of seek a bank’s help if it so wishes. companies. “If the problem could not from Asian countries, eral directors to represent him. experts from various ministries THE PENINSULA A second team is being set up be solved during our visit to The Ministry is offering cash prizes of The draft says that all com- to resume the interaction and the companies, we take nec- QR400, QR300 and QR200, for the first panies being licensed and cover more and more work- essary steps to help when the three winners of a quiz programme to registered in Qatar must ers and companies under the representatives of the com- be conducted after the talk. have their headquarters unique drive. panies visit the ministry,” he The traffic quiz based on the points here. There are hazy hints The first ‘guidance and added. discussed during the talk will be con- in the draft law that com- educational team’ was set “We discuss with the compa- ducted by the presenter Obeid Tahir panies with foreign part- up two months ago to raise nies problems of their labour- from 8.30pm. People can participate ners are not to be treated awareness among foreign ers and take their views to solve in it by contacting the studio on: on a par with those that are workers about the labour law them,” said Al Khalidi. 44894440, 44894503. wholly-owned by citizens. and makes them meet their THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA There is no mention in

Products should carry warning

Continued from page 1 The ingredients should include one or more sub- stances that change the natural specifications of alcoholic content and make the products unfit for drinking. The products can be used only as sprays and a warning saying “for exter- nal use only” should be printed on them in red col- our in English and Arabic in a prominent manner. The Ministry has urged all traders and importers to strictly comply with the new regulations. Several independent stud- ies have shown that there are potentially harmful chemicals in many popular fragrances which can cause irritability, mental vague- ness, muscle pain, asthma, bloating, joint aches, fatigue, sore throat, eye irritation, gastrointestinal problems, and other health problems. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Algeria captures six kidnappers Militant leader ready for negotiation on conditions

ALGIERS: Algerian troops citizens died or are missing have neighbouring northern Mali. captured six kidnappers and held back from criticising tactics European and US officials say found the bodies of 25 captives used by their ally in the strug- the raid was almost certainly too yesterday at a desert gas com- gle with Islamists across the vast elaborate to have been planned plex, reports said, as a minister desert. since the start of the French warned the toll from a hostage “We in Al Qaeda announce this campaign, although the military crisis may rise. blessed operation,” one-eyed guer- action by Paris could have pro- Security forces discovered the rilla Mokhtar Belmokhtar said in vided a trigger for an assault pre- bodies of 25 hostages as they a video, according to the Sahara pared in advance. combed the In Amenas complex Media website, which quoted from “We had around 40 jihad- deep in the Sahara, a day after the recording but did not imme- ists, most of them from Muslim the deadly stand-off with the diately show it. countries and some even from Islamist gunmen ended, the pri- “We are ready to negotiate with the West,” Sahara Media quoted vate channel Ennahar said. the West and the Algerian gov- Belmokhtar as saying. Algerian El Watan daily put the number ernment provided they stop their officials say Belmokhtar’s group of bodies found at around 30. But bombing of Mali’s Muslims,” said was behind the attack but he was Smoke rises following demining operations at the In Amenas gas plant in Algeria, yesterday. a definitive toll remains unclear. Belmokhtar, a veteran of two dec- not present himself. A veteran Islamist fighter ades of war in Afghanistan and Some Western governments the Algerians have done to work through a fence to run to freedom. said in a statement. claimed responsibility on behalf of the Sahara. have expressed frustration at not with us and to help and coordi- While hiding inside the com- The Islamists’ assault has Al Qaeda for the hostage crisis, a Belmokhtar’s fighters launched being informed in advance of the nate with us. I’d like to thank pound the first night, he managed tested Algeria’s relations with regional website reported yester- their attack on the In Amenas gas Algerian authorities’ decision to them for that. We should also briefly to call his wife who was at the outside world and exposed the day, tying the bloody desert siege plant before dawn on Wednesday, storm the complex on Thursday. recognise that the Algerians too home with their two daughters vulnerability of multinational oil to France’s intervention across just five days after French war- Survivors have said many hos- have seen lives lost among their desperately waiting for news. operations in the Sahara. Algeria, the Sahara in Mali. planes unexpectedly began strikes tages were killed when Algerian soldiers.” “She asked if I wanted to scarred by the civil war with Western governments whose to halt advances by Islamists in government forces blasted a con- With so much still unknown speak to Imogen and Esme, and I Islamist insurgents in the 1990s voy of trucks on Thursday morn- about the fates of foreigners held couldn’t because I thought, I don’t which claimed 200,000 lives, has ing. Algerian officials said they at the site, some countries that want my last ever words to be in insisted there would be no nego- stormed the compound because have faced casualties have yet to a crackly satellite phone, telling a tiation in the face of terrorism. the militants were trying to issue full counts of their dead. lie, saying you’re OK when you’re France especially needs close escape with their captives. Scores of foreigners lived along- far from OK,” he recalled. cooperation from Algeria to have Britain and France both side the hundreds of Algerians Algeria’s oil minister, Youcef a chance of crushing Islamist defended the Algerian action. at the plant, which was run by Yousfi, visited the site and said rebels in northern Mali. Algiers “It’s easy to say that this or Britain’s BP and Norway’s Statoil the physical damage was minor, has promised to shut its porous that should have been done. The and also housed workers from a state news service APS reported. 1,000km border with Mali to Algerian authorities took a deci- Japanese engineering firm and a The plant, which produces 10 prevent Al Qaeda-linked insur- sion and the toll is very high French catering company. percent of Algeria’s natural gas, gents simply melting away into its but I am a bit bothered ... when Cameron said three British would start back up in two days, empty desert expanses and rug- the impression is given that the nationals were confirmed killed he said. ged mountains. Algerians are open to question. and another three plus a British Algeria’s permission for They had to deal with terrorists,” resident were also feared dead. US WARNS OF HIGH THREAT France to use its airspace, con- French Foreign Minister Laurent One American has been confirmed The United States has warned firmed by Fabius last week, also Fabius said. killed. Statoil said it was search- of a “high threat” of terrorism makes it much easier to estab- British Prime Minister David ing for five missing Norwegians. or kidnappings in Algeria and lish direct supply lines for its Cameron said in a televised state- Japanese and French citizens are authorised family members of troops which are trying to stop ment: “Of course people will ask also among those missing or pre- embassy staff to depart following the Islamist rebels from taking questions about the Algerian sumed dead.Survivors have given a deadly hostage crisis. the whole of Mali. French troops response to these events, but I harrowing accounts. Alan Wright, “On January 19, 2013, the in Mali advanced slowly yester- would just say that the responsi- now safe at home in Scotland, told Department of State authorised day towards the town of Diably, bility for these deaths lies squarely Sky News he had escaped with a the departure from Algiers for a militant stronghold the fight- Veteran jihadist Mokhtar Belmokhtar is seen in a still image taken from with the terrorists who launched group of Algerian and foreign eligible family members following ers abandoned on Saturday after Mauritanian news website Sahara Media at an unidentified location, this vicious and cowardly attack. workers who hid for a day and the attack on the In Amenas BP punishing French attacks. yesterday. “We should recognise all that a night and then cut their way Oil facility,” the State Department AGENCIES

Lebanese Tunisian, Malaysian leaders to visit Gaza Iran hangs two men for president backs attack posted on YouTube GAZA CITY: Tunisian with the Palestinian cause,” solidarity mission. details of the visit or its pur- DUBAI: Iran hanged two men yesterday for civil marriages President Moncef Marzouki Hammad added, saying “this Earlier in 2012, Qatar’s pose, saying that an official their role in an assault that was filmed and and Malaysian Prime solidarity must be used to Emir H H Sheikh Hamad statement would be issued posted on YouTube, the Iranian Students’ BEIRUT: President Michel Minister Najib Razak will achieve Palestinian national bin Khalifa Al Thani became today. News Agency (Isna) reported. A 37-sec- Sleiman yesterday expressed make their first visit to Gaza, reconciliation.” the first senior international In Gaza, officials said Najib ond video posted on YouTube in December support for a law allowing civil officials from the Hamas Marzouki’s visit will be the leader to visit Gaza since would arrive from Egypt via and later shown on Iranian state television marriages, currently illegal government said yesterday. latest in a string of high-pro- Hamas took control of the the Rafah border crossing, and showed four masked men approaching the in Lebanon, saying it will help “Tunisia President file trips to Gaza by Arab and territory from the rival Fatah would meet Hamas premier victim on motorcycles, and then two of them build unity in the multi-faith Marzouki will carry out a very Muslim leaders. movement in 2007. Ismail Haniyah before holding assaulting him, taking his bag and jacket. Middle Eastern country. important visit to the Gaza During last November’s Malaysian Prime Minister a joint news conference. One of the attackers appeared to be wielding “We should work on drafting Strip on February 9,” Hamas eight-day war between will be accompanied by Foreign The visits have been made a long knife or machete. a civil marriage law. It is a very official Ghazi Hammad said, Gaza fighters and Israel, Minister Anifah Aman and possible in part by Egypt’s The attack prompted public outrage, and important step in eradicating sec- without giving details of the a delegation of Arab for- other officials on the one-day decision to loosen some of the officials vowed to punish those responsible. tarianism and solidifying national president’s itinerary, or who eign ministers, along with visit tomorrow, an aide to the restrictions on travel through Alireza Mafiha and Mohammad Ali Sorouri unity,” Sleiman wrote in Arabic would be accompanying him. Turkish Foreign Minister prime minister said on condi- its Rafah border crossing with were hanged early on Sunday in the Iranian and English on his Facebook page. “This important visit Ahmet Davatoglu, visited the tion of anonymity. Gaza. capital, Tehran, according to Isna. His views appeared alongside will boost Arab solidarity small coastal territory on a The aide declined to give AFP REUTERS a photo of a man carrying his daughter on his shoulders at a rally. She is seen holding a stuffed animal and a sign reading “civil marriage, not civil war.” After only four hours online, Sleiman’s post garnered more Parties lure undecided voters as Israel poll nears than 1,700 likes and elicited a string of comments, overwhelm- ingly in favour of the law. JERUSALEM: Israeli soldiers it’s the gentile home,” the fire- On his Twitter account, headed to the polls yester- brand Rabbi Ovadia Yosef said Sleiman further asked his follow- day, two days ahead of a gen- in comments broadcast on pub- ers to share their opinions about eral election, the military said, lic radio. “Anyone who supports civil marriage in Lebanon. as politicians made last-ditch them is an unbeliever.” Famed Lebanese singer Elissa appeals before nationwide vot- Jewish Home head Naftali tweeted: “Might civil marriage ing gets underway. Bennett rejected Yosef’s charges, encourage our politicians not The army said the first military saying that to the contrary, “our to hide behind their fingers and ballot boxes went into action at goal is to bring the the Jewish enrich diversity in our beloved the defence ministry’s massive Tel people the beauty of Judaism and country.” Aviv headquarters, for the benefit tradition, and be a bridge between Despite a long-running cam- of “officers and soldiers unable to the religious and the secular”. paign by civil groups, such wed- vote tomorrow because of opera- “In these days, we are being dings still have no legal basis in tional activity.” Political infight- attacked by all the parties,” he Lebanon, a tiny country of around ing intensified as campaigning wrote on Facebook. “We must be four million people who belong drew close to an end and parties on the right track.” to 18 different religious com- scrambled to win the votes of the Elsewhere, the heads of the munities, mainly Christian and 15 percent of Israelis who opinion other major parties made final Muslim. polls said were still undecided. pitches across the country. Livni Former President Elias Hrawi The centrist HaTnuah of appeared in the town of Sderot, in 1998 proposed a similar law, former foreign minister Tzipi near the border with Gaza, while which gained approval from the Livni reportedly sought to dis- Labour leader Shelly Yachimovich cabinet only to be halted amid qualify one of the hardline pro- Likud activists hang large campaign banners of Prime Minister and Likud leader Benjamin Netanyahu outside the campaigned to mothers outside widespread opposition from the settler Jewish Home party’s walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, yesterday. a Tel Aviv kindergarten. Prime country’s religious authorities. candidates after footage sur- Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Most religious faiths have their faced of him speculating about “Imagine today if the dome, the told army radio he had yet to see seat remain in the balance. Jewish the head of Likud, attended the own regulations governing mar- the destruction of Jerusalem’s golden dome- I’m being recorded a formal request to disqualify Home was also under fire from funeral of settler pioneer and riage, divorce and inheritance, Dome of the Rock mosque, one so I can’t say blown up - but Gimpel, who is 14th on the Jewish the nonagenarian spiritual leader former Knesset member Ron and mixed Christian-Muslim of Islam’s holiest sites. Israeli tel- let’s say the dome was blown up, Home’s list. With polls projecting of the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, Nahman in the settlement of weddings in Lebanon are often evision screened a clip of US-born right, and we laid the cornerstone the party to win between 12 to who lambasted the party’s brand Ariel in the northern West Bank discouraged unless one of the Jeremy Gimpel speaking to mem- of the temple in Jerusalem, can 15 seats in the new parliament, of Orthodox, rather than ultra- which Nahman established and potential spouses converts. bers of a Florida church during you imagine?” The chairman of compared with three in 2009, Orthodox, Judaism. led as mayor. AFP a 2011 trip to the United States. the Central Elections Committee Gimpel’s chances of winning a “They call it the Jewish Home, AFP MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Syria rebels, backers to meet in Paris Five family members among 13 killed in air raids: Watchdog Assad’s overthrow DAMACUSS/PARIS: Syrian opposition leaders will meet in Paris this month, French Foreign Minister Laurent ‘red line’ for Iran Fabius said yesterday, decry- ing an “abominable” situation in DUBAI: A senior aide to Iran’s supreme leader warned against which he said 100 people a day the overthrow of Syria’s President Bashar Al Assad, saying his were being killed in an upris- fate was a “red line”, in one of the Islamic state’s strongest mes- ing against President Bashar Al sages of support for the Damascus government. Iran has stead- Assad. fastly backed Assad’s rule since an uprising against his rule began “The situation is horrific and almost two years ago and regards him as an important part of the Bashar must go as fast as possi- axis of opposition against arch-foe Israel. ble,” Fabius said. “If the Syrian President Bashar Al Assad is toppled, the line of “There will be a meeting of the resistance in the face of Israel will be broken,” Ali Akbar Velayati, coalition in Paris in a few days, on who is seen as a potential contender in Iran’s June presidential Monday. It’s a coalition recognised election, said in an interview broadcast yesterday. by more than 100 countries, led by “We believe that there should be reforms emanating from the will extremely respectable people who of the Syrian people, but without resorting to violence and obtaining simply want to restore democracy assistance from the US,” he told Lebanon’s Al Mayadeen satellite in Syria,” he said. television. Asked if Iran sees Assad as a red line, Velayati said: “Yes, Syria’s opposition leaders met it is so. But this does not mean that we ignore the Syrian people’s in Istanbul on Saturday to launch right in choose its own rulers.” their second bid to form a transi- More than 60,000 people have died in the uprising against Assad, tional government. . part of the Arab Spring protests that have swept aside four heads of Agreement among the National state since 2011. Iran, a regional Shia power which backs Lebanon’s Coalition, a grouping formed last Hezbollah group, describes many Syrian opposition groups as “ter- November, could help address rorists” who are backed by Western and Arab states. Assad follows international concern about the an offshoot of Shia sect. Velayati said all parties linked to the crisis risk of Syria disintegrating along in Syria needed to negotiate. “Anyone who comes to the talks cannot ethnic and sectarian lines if Assad negotiate on the table and support the armed elements, but must enter falls. the negotiations and stop supporting the armed elements,” he added. Members of Turkish unions stage a protest against the deployment of Patriot missiles by Nato in Turkey, in the Failure would highlight the Iran has sought international backing for its six-point plan to resolve capital Ankara, yesterday. divisions in the coalition, formed the Syrian conflict. The plan calls for an immediate end to violence with Western and Gulf backing and negotiations between all parties to form a transitional government, in Qatar, and undermine that around 100 people killed a day,” were used in four rockets fired on weapons-banned almost every- but does not call for Assad to step down. REUTERS support. Fabius said. December 23. Le Monde suggested where in the world-could force Fabius, interviewed on radio Syria’s foreign minister said on Western powers played down the them into action in the conflict, station Europe 1, said that the Saturday any discussion of Assad’s event in the hope it was an iso- Le Monde said. village of Baraka, the Syrian military airport east of Damascus. Paris meeting later this month future was “unacceptable”. lated event that would not be Five members of one family Observatory for Human Rights Pro-regime daily Al Watan said would involve the “main backers” Fabius dismissed a newspaper repeated. were killed in air raids on a town said, adding the toll may rise as “the terrorists on the outskirts of of the opposition coalition. report that Syrian forces had “That was alleged and we in Damascus province yester- a number of people were buried Daraya and Moadamiyet Al Sham France has been pressing hard used non-lethal chemical weap- requested verification, not just day, as Syrian warplanes bombed under debris. have appealed for help after being for an end to a 22-month con- ons against rebels in the town of us but other countries too,” said opposition strongholds nation- The Britain-based watchdog hit very hard by the Syrian army, flict in which 60,000 people have Homs in late December. Fabius. “And it was not conclu- wide, a watchdog said. also reported a man killed by which destroyed several of the been killed, according to United French daily Le Monde on sive. We were told ‘No’.” A couple and their three sniper fire amid artillery shelling hideouts where they barricaded Nations estimates. “This is an Saturday cited unnamed intelli- Western powers had previously children were among 13 civil- and air raids on Daraya, strategi- themselves.” abominable situation, with sadly gence sources as saying chemicals warned that any use of chemical ians killed in air strikes on the cally located next to Al Mazzeh REUTERS/AFP

Iraqi sets self ablaze in Cairo clashes leave five dead anti-government rally CAIRO: Five people were killed yesterday in a northern Cairo district as clashes erupted after MOSUL, IRAQ: An Iraqi pro- 390km north of Baghdad. “But he a police officer accidentally tester set himself ablaze yester- reached such a state of despair he killed a man while chasing a day in a dramatic turn in more set himself on fire.” drug dealer, officials said. than three weeks of rallies by Self-immolations have had res- The clashes broke out outside Sunni Muslims challenging onance in the Arab world since a police station in the Shubra Al Shia Prime Minister Nouri Al a Tunisian vegetable seller set Kheima district when relatives Maliki’s government. himself on fire two years ago. His and neighbours of the dead man Thousands of Sunni demon- death in January 2011 triggered gathered and then attacked the strators have rallied since late the wave of uprisings that toppled police with guns and Molotov December against a Shia-led gov- leaders across North Africa and cocktails, a security source said. ernment they believe has margin- the Middle East. Yesterday’s inci- Four of the attackers were alised their minority sect, raising dent in Iraq shows the frustration killed in clashes, taking to five fears the Opec country may slide among Sunnis that has not ebbed the total number of people dead, again into widespread sectarian despite concessions from Maliki. according to a ministry of health confrontation. Many Iraqi Sunnis feel they report, which added 12 others During protests of around have been unfairly targeted by were also wounded, including two 2,000 demonstrators in the security forces and sidelined from policemen and a soldier. northern city of Mosul, one man power since the fall of Sunni dicta- Clashes between police and set himself ablaze before others tor Saddam Hussein after the 2003 people have increased in Egypt quickly stamped out the flames US-led invasion and the rise of the since the uprising that toppled with their jackets, police said. He Shia majority through the ballot former president Hosni Mubarak was sent to hospital with burns box. Protests have centred Anbar in early 2011. An Egyptian stands on a burnt out vehicle during clashes with the police in the coastal city of Alexandria, yesterday. to his face and hands. “We don’t province, a vast desert area that The army has been called in want people to hang themselves makes up a third of Iraq’s terri- frequently to restore law and Clashes also broke out yes- and security forces, media northern city for a deadly crack- or burn themselves, this would be tory, populated mainly by Sunnis order given that the police has terday, for the second day, at a reported. The protesters are down during the Arab Spring against Islam,” said Ghanim al- in towns and settlements along the been widely discredited during court in Egypt’s second city of demanding worthy verdicts for uprising two years ago. Abid, protest organiser in Mosul, Euphrates. REUTERS security operations. Alexandria between protesters security officials on trial in the AFP

Blast and drone attacks kill 13 Qaeda-linked militants in Yemen

SANA’A: At least 10 suspected one of the most active and dan- in an SMS text message that a Al Qaeda operatives were killed gerous wing of the global network number of militants were killed by an explosion in a house in founded by Osama bin Laden, and in two air strikes but gave no fur- south Yemen where they were has attempted a number of attacks ther details. Earlier this month, making bombs and at least against US targets. The house dozens of armed tribesmen took three others died in a drone destroyed in Al Bayda had been to the streets in southern Yemen strike, tribal and official sources used for making bombs, an official to protest drones they said killed said yesterday. from the area said yesterday. innocent civilians and fed anger A bomb ripped through a house “We heard a massive explosion against the United States. in the province of Al Bayda on that terrified people and when we President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Saturday night, the state news went to the house it was destroyed Hadi spoke openly in favour of the agency Saba and a local official and everyone there was dead,” the strikes during a trip to the United said. Three other suspected mili- official said. In Maarib, a pilot- States in September. tants were killed in a drone strike less plane carried out two strikes Praised by the US ambassador in the central province of Maarib, against a car, a witness said. in Sana’a as being more effec- also on Saturday, tribal sources “One of the strikes missed the tive against Al Qaeda than his and the Ministry of Defence said. target and the other hit the car predecessor, Hadi was quoted Yemen’s government has been and left the bodies of the three as saying in September that he fighting a powerful branch of Al people in it completely charred,” personally approved every attack. Qaeda that took advantage of the witness said by telephone Hadi has not commented on the chaos in the impoverished state from the area. He said uniden- most recent strikes. AQAP off- two years ago during a popular tified people evacuated the bod- shoot, Ansar Al Sharia (Partisan uprising against former President ies while tribesmen blocked the of Islamic Law), seized a number Ali Abdullah Saleh. main road linking the capital of of towns in the south in 2011 but Al Qaeda in the Arabian Maarib province with Sana’a on Yemeni government forces retook Peninsula (AQAP) is considered Saturday after the strikes. The the areas in a US-backed offen- by Western governments to be Yemeni Defence Ministry said sive in June. REUTERS MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Syrian stalemate Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

he Syrian uprising is sliding into a maze of confusion and uncertainty. Until recently, hopes were high that the rebels would achieve their objective of toppling Scottish independence is fast Tthe dictatorial regime of Bashar Al Assad. There were a slew of factors which lent credence to this thinking: there were a series of high-profile defections from Assad’s close circles, the rebels were making rapid and considerable becoming the only option progress on the ground by capturing more territory from the government troops and there was a thinking that Assad would BY KEVIN MCKENNA wilt under pressure. But the scenario has changed significantly would sooner accept the Taliban than allows greed, incompetence and corrup- in the past few weeks. There is a feeling that the revolution the SNP. Indeed, the good Dr Kelly tion to be rewarded. (How many peo- would take longer than expected, and unless corrective HOSE among my friends who in his entertaining columns for the ple do you think will go to jail for the measures are taken to sustain the current momentum, Assad have lost their religious faith Scotsman states that the result of the Libor rate-fixing scandal?) Meanwhile, Thave described it as a desolate referendum is already in the bag and Westminster politicians are dividing the will become emboldened and ruthless and the rebels might process. Rather than experiencing a thus the campaign is “boring”. Even poor into categories marked “deserving” find going tough. rush of euphoria at liberation from a now, nationalist strategists ought to be and “scum”. Assad’s address to the nation early this month is said restrictive credo, they speak of their trying out Kelly’s words in an 84pt sans Labour in the UK long ago gave up any to have worked in his favour. In that speech, he sounded sadness as, one by one, the illumina- serif face across six columns in their pretence at being the party of the mar- confident and defiant and offered nothing in concessions to tions on their once cherished pillars are campaign leaflets. ginalised and the vulnerable. Instead, it extinguished. It may be approaching Last year, over coffee in Glasgow, throws rotten fruit at the SNP when it the opposition, while appealing to the people to stand behind apostasy to equate separation from the I was discussing the strategy of the says what Labour should be saying. Alex him. Adding to this was a dilution in international support for divine with the dawning of scepticism Better Together camp with a promi- Salmond last week painted a handsome the opposition and the failure of the West and Arabs to reach about the union of Great Britain and nent Labour politician. I suggested to picture of what a new Scottish constitu- a consensus on how they should move forward. At the same Northern Ireland. Yet when it becomes him that Labour’s problem in Scotland tion following independence would look time, Russia and Iran have been steadfast and determined in increasingly more difficult to find good is that they had to develop a narrative like. Every Scot, he said, would have a their support for Assad and seem reasons why Scotland should remain in that says good things about the union right to a home and free education. the union you begin to wonder if your rather than simply parrot the predict- There will be no nuclear weapons. And convinced that he can continue in crisis of faith is curable or terminal. able and scientifically questionable sur- we’ll decide who we’re fighting and who power. The champi- veys of purple-faced and gin-soaked CBI we’re not. Until Blair, Mandelson, Balls The uprising Though there are several ons of the union types that claim we’ll be a developing and Miliband hijacked the party, that factors working for and against the these days have country if we become independent. was what I thought Labour stood for. is sliding into Assad regime, there is one point curiously little to One year later and, despite Douglas Now they simply boo and hiss with the The gap between say that is posi- Alexander’s best efforts, Labour has still Tories and say it can’t be done. an abyss of which is gaining attention: that a the richest in our tive about their failed to sell the union on its own mer- Earlier this month, the UK Treasury large number of Syrians are still cherished politi- its. Events since then may even have declared that, following a period of confusion and sitting on the fence. One reason society and the cal nirvana beyond rendered the task impossible. Unionists, intense and prolonged analysis of the uncertainty. why the revolutions in Tunisia poorest stretched the Queen, some me included, have talked loftily about economic numbers, each of us would and Egypt came to a swift end shared former dangers of break-up and separation in a be £1 a year worse off in an independ- was the mass support. Protesters a little more and glories and a neb- world that is thirsting for continuity and ent Scotland. Put another way, for £1 we were reminded ulous “stability”. stability. Yet we conveniently overlook a year you will never have to endure the poured into the streets in a human When their anti- the fact that London has already broken economic privations of a Conservative tsunami, which the government troops couldn’t stop. Syria yet again that the nationalist invec- away from the United Kingdom and now government ever again. You will not be hasn’t seen that kind of a demonstration at a steady pace. UK government, tive outweighs exists as a world super-state governed penalised for being poor or old and nor Moreover, the growing sectarianism in the country is working their pro-union by the greed of unhindered capitalism will you suffer the pain of watching your against the opposition, with many Syrians worried that the despite its adulation, you and recognisable as British only by its young boys being killed in illegal wars country could splinter after the exit of Assad. promises, realise that they taxis and bad service. As the world’s or occupations. are not convinced most newly minted oligarchs continue We won’t be lacking friends, either. Of It’s in this context that the Syrian opposition is meeting allows greed, either. Indeed, it to colonise the independent state of matters concerning oil and Europe in an in Paris on January 28. In this meeting, the rebel leaders will incompetence and seems now that London, it becomes almost impossible independent Scotland, the Norwegian try to resolve some of their differences and try to form a the loudest sup- for families on less than £250k to live government officials I met in Oslo last transitional government. The 70-member Syrian opposition corruption to be porters of the decently there. Poor London families month were very upbeat. “Come and coalition, which is dominated by Islamists and their allies, rewarded. union are UK made homeless by the coalition benefit talk to us before you commit to the EU,” was formed with international support in Qatar in December, ministerial sala- cuts are being evacuated as far north as they said, “and let us advise you how to rymen such as Middlesbrough. manage your oil fund and how to negoti- but power struggles among its members have undermined Douglas Alexander and Jim Murphy or Last week, Goldman Sachs, one of the ate with the oil companies.” efforts to agree a transitional government. Also, the head of old Scottish Labour stalwarts such as banks with its fingers in the till when With each passing week, it becomes the Syrian National Coalition is said to be in Qatar to seek Michael Kelly and Brian Wilson. global economic meltdown occurred, more difficult to support a union that financial aid for their government. Alexander and Murphy would suf- awarded an average bonus of £250,000 doesn’t really exist anyway. Morally, it Even if Qatar is willing to offer them aid, the progress the fer most in the anti-Scottish backlash to each of its employees. The gap may soon become indefensible to remain following independence while the other between the richest in our society and in a state that rewards corruption and coalition has made is not promising enough. They have to two have such an implacable hatred of the poorest stretched a little more and promotes inequality when you have an bury their differences first and prove that they are capable of Scottish nationalism that it might lead we were reminded yet again that the opportunity to leave it behind. carrying out the task they have been entrusted with. you reasonably to conclude that they UK government, despite its promises, THE GUARDIAN The Other side Quote of Anti-corruption body the day CCOUNTABILITY of public led up to his death, the government workings of NAB and the Ehtesab the bare minimum to meet the legisla- officials has been in the news appears to be attempting to obfuscate Bureau before it? Yes. The long delay tive requirement of consultation with the the past week and, as usual, the facts. Bookended by these events in passing legislation to erect a new opposition and then quickly installed its Afor mostly the wrong reasons. was Tahirul Qadri’s sit-in in Islamabad accountability framework and organi- preferred candidate. We should work First, the Supreme Court thundered where accountability of public officials sation notwithstanding, the pressure Accountability is a non-starter as about the lack of progress in prosecuting was a central theme of the protesters. from the public and the media will long as the government alone has the on drafting a civil those involved in the rental power scam. Again, while the timing of Qadri’s eventually nudge the government and authority to appoint the accountability The court’s timing may have left much to sit-in was acutely questionable and the opposition into action. When that bureau or commission’s chief. Second, marriage law. It is be desired but the basic point is correct: many of Qadri’s demands outside the action comes, however, the manner in the accountability commission that is little has been done to move forward constitutional framework, he certainly which two key issues are addressed will still in the stage of conceptualisation a very important the investigation and prosecution of key tapped into a vein of deep public effectively determine the fate of a new would need to have genuine financial step in eradicating individuals involved. Then, on Friday, discontent with the manner in which accountability mechanism. and administrative independence. an officer of the National Accountability the state is being run. First, the chief of any new account- Under Gen Musharraf, NAB was made sectarianism and Bureau tasked with investigating the Can this country progress towards ability machinery should be selected to work under the prime minister, while scam was found dead in tragic and an accountability mechanism that genu- through genuine bipartisan consultation. the present government has put it solidifying national mysterious circumstances. Instead of inely holds public officials to account, When Fasih Bokhari was appointed as administratively under the law ministry. unity. Michel Sleiman trying to bring clarity to the events that instead of the selective and politicised NAB’s chairman, the government did DAWN Lebanese President MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Americans relate closely to the Obamas

niece they had not seen in a while. During the 2012 For Malia and Sasha, who attended their father’s campaign events for the US campaign, the Senate when they were six and three, living in front of the camera must now seem routine. When Obama’s second president and first term as president is up, Malia will be 18, an emerging adult. Sasha will be 15, the lady talked about only high school student to have spent her formative years in the White House. Sufficiently warned by their mother their daughters about the risk of having a bratty moment caught on a smartphone and posted on incessantly in the Web for worldwide consumption, they are poised, styled and most often mute, smiling faintly. interviews and “They are on a stage,” Sanchez said. “When you look at that family you see a talk-show hosts motion and movement of dignity.” The image of the Obama family in the loved it. Most White House has been particularly evoc- ative for African Americans, who remain Obama’s most loyal supporters, said Americans loved it E Ethelbert Miller. He recalled watching video of Obama and his girls going to the too, said Stephen bookstore while vacationing on Martha’s Vineyard a few summers ago and being struck by the footage of the “loving black Hess, a presidential family.” “The image is power,” said Miller, historian at director of the African American Studies Resource Center at Howard University. “We know we are making history every the Brookings time you see [the Obamas] holding hands.” Institution. With every mundane shopping trip, the first family seems to be saying “we are a family just like you,” said Michaela BY KRISSAH THOMPSON Angela Davis, a fashion expert who has campaigned for more positive images of black women in the media. s President Barack Obama US President Barack Obama is hugged by First Lady Michelle Obama as daughters Malia (second right) and Sasha look on, after being As a mother and black woman, Davis took the stage to deliver his officially sworn-in in the Blue Room of the White House at the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, DC, yesterday. said watching the Obamas has caused acceptance speech on the her to feel that “there is something hap- night of his re-election, his very optimistic family who knows how to stick with. “Kids tend to quit when it said he “could not ask for better kids” and pening on an emotional level that it is younger daughter nudged his smile, how to have fun.” starts getting hard, which means that’s joked that “one of the main incentives still to early to articulate. It feels like Aarm. He bent down to listen to 11-year- The bits of Obama family life carefully when they’re starting to learn some- of running again was continuing Secret we matter. And when you have felt like old Sasha. “Behind you,” she mouthed. distributed by the White House paint a thing,” the first lady told Yahoo Shine Service protection” to protect his girls you haven’t mattered and then you do, The president nodded and promptly Rockwellian portrait of a first family who in 2011. “And that’s the tough time: to from the boys who are sure to call. the whole world opens up. It’s like when turned to wave to the supporters at his could be living next door — and who hap- continue to make them go to that tennis The reporters who cover the White you go to Oz and it goes from black and back. Sasha beamed. pen to be black. lesson. Even though Malia was complain- House do not report on the comings and white to color.” The same little Obama who plaintively They are “very much ordinary and ing about it, she now loves tennis.” goings of the daughters when they are not David Garrow, a historian and author blurted “Daddy, what city are you in?” at extraordinary,” as the poet Sonia Sanchez Marian Robinson, Michelle Obama’s with their parents, giving them a modi- whose work has focused on the civil rights the big screen after her mother’s 2008 put it. mother, lives in the White House and cum of privacy. era, doesn’t see that personal identifi- convention speech now was giving her The president is a basketball dad who takes the girls to school most mornings. But the White House image machine cation translating to a national shift on father stage direction. The moment was coaches Sasha’s team and yells during the Elizabeth Alexander, a family friend also decided early on to release a con- issues of race. blogged about instantly, viewed 3.2 mil- games. He talks sports and stays up late and Yale professor who was the 2008 stant dribble of family photos to give a He expected the presence of the lion times on YouTube — just another watching ESPN. inaugural poet, said the Obamas are a controlled glimpse of life and discourage Obamas in the White House, day in and indication of the nation’s fascination with A taped interview broadcast during “wonderfully functioning family where paparazzi. day out for four years, to have “a racially this first family. NCAA championship basketball game women across the age spectrum are fully So the world has seen the Obama transformative impact on the country.” Americans view the Obamas in such coverage in April began with Obama forceful parts of a healthy family unit.” daughters accompanying their father “I don’t think that happened,” said packaged snippets yet feel like they are offering commentary on the Big Dance Michelle Obama has “a tremendous to get an ice cream cone on Father’s Garrow, who is white. “They seem [to on a first-name basis. Look how tall to CBS’s Clark Kellogg, a former NBA sense of humour that she expresses with Day or stopping by the bookstore while be] just standard upper middle-class Malia is! Why didn’t Michelle kiss Barack player. And it ended with the two rib- regard to the challenge of being married on vacation in Hawaii and, rarely, tak- Americans. We no longer think of black- on the kiss cam? What does Barack tell bing each other about a previous game and the challenges of child rearing. She ing the stage with him at a marquee ness as being one of the first things that Sasha about her jump shot? of Horse. is very light and funny, and I don’t know political event. comes to mind when you look at them. During the 2012 campaign, the presi- But in between, the two talked as anyone who can stay married without In the stream of 2012 photos posted . . . The under-emphasis, under-appre- dent and first lady talked about their fathers of athletic girls. “A couple of a sense of humour. That’s intimate, and by the White House this month, there ciation of the first family’s blackness is daughters incessantly in interviews and things,” said Obama, “number one, how they allow us to see that.” was the shot of Malia and Sasha hug- part and parcel of the administration’s talk-show hosts loved it. Most Americans pleased I am to see women’s and girls’ The family’s Pennsylvania Avenue ging dad backstage before his speech at packaging.” loved it too, said Stephen Hess, a presi- sports develop since you and I were kids. routine includes dinner together most the Democratic National Convention in Jelani Cobb, an author and professor dential historian at the Brookings Number two is I bleed when those girls evenings at 6.30. The Obamas take turns Charlotte. And another of an amused of Africana studies at Rutgers University, Institution. play . . . watching them play, I just want saying grace, always praying to “live long Malia sitting beside her parents as they also had a moment where he realized he “History is going to remember what them to do so well, you know, and when and strong,” and talk about everything took advantage of a second chance to no longer looked at Obama as a “figure of Barack Obama did or didn’t do as a presi- something goes right, it is more joy than from middle-school friendships to the pucker up on the kiss cam at a basket- racial pride.” Cobb saw Obama on televi- dent. But we who live through it are dif- I ever got playing myself,” the president oil that leaked in the Gulf of Mexico ball game in July. sion and, finally, he just saw the president. ferent. We see the cultural impact,” said said. The first lady is an involved mom and unconventional marriage. Robinson “To the extent that people are fooled Yet Cobb’s deep interest in the family Hess, who served on the White House who keeps her girls in check and assigns doesn’t eat with them, preferring to give into thinking they have a relationship remains. What is he most looking for- staff during the Eisenhower and Nixon them chores. the family time to bond without her. with celebrities, we may also be fooled ward to over the next four years? administrations and as an adviser to Notwithstanding the White House Michelle Obama has often said that into thinking we have a relationship with “It is everything from the trivial — presidents Ford and Carter. “They have housekeeping staff, Michelle Obama life in the White House has been good for the Obamas,” said Reuben May, a profes- whether or not there will be a White contributed in a very special way to our has her daughters make their own beds her daughters. “They have a regular life, sor of sociology at Texas A&M University, House prom — to the much more sig- lives. They got to the White House at and do their own laundry. Malia, a high they’ve got friends and sleepovers and who recalled his wife showing him a pic- nificant, which is how this will translate a moment when a lot of our lives were school freshman, plays varsity tennis — you know, to them it’s home,” she told ture of Malia Obama. They both gaped at into policies that will help other black difficult, and we are fortunate to have a a sport that her mother required her to Jay Leno last year. President Obama has how much she had grown, as if she were a families,” he said. WP-BLOOMBERG Grand strategy will drive more proactive foreign policy

reminded Americans of their most fun- try to roll back communism but instead the world as one of domestic renewal and and the New America Foundation and The iconic grand damental aspirations and urged them to should contain the Soviet Union until global leadership. The need to rebuild at reviewed drafts of both strategies.) turn toward the light of peace, even in it imploded on its own. Kennan, an home means ending the wars we have The Atlantic Council’s report, strategy was the darkness of war. When a president American diplomat, laid out this view in been in and keeping our troops out of “Envisioning 2030: US Strategy for stands on the Capitol steps and takes his famous 1946 “Long Telegram” from new ones. And when we do get involved a Post-Western World,” was princi- the oath of office for a second time, he’s Moscow, and his ability to sketch the in a foreign conflict, the intervention in pally drafted by Robert Manning, a George Kennan’s thinking less about his next four years future of US foreign policy in one word Libya exemplifies how. council senior fellow and former State and more about his legacy. has haunted strategists ever since. We sent planes and intelligence Department official. It builds on a recent “containment” — And he has plenty of help. In There have been other efforts. In the assets, at a cost of roughly $1bn, com- report by the National Intelligence Washington, the period between an 1930s the grand strategy, which Franklin pared to more than $1trn for the war Council that outlined four scenarios for the proposition election and an inauguration is a fertile Roosevelt pushed steadily against, was in Afghanistan so far. At the same time, 2030: one in which the United States time for big, ambitious ideas, reports and isolationism, the view that the United as Obama explained to the nation, the draws inward and economic globalisa- essays. Foreign policy wonks are partial States could best safeguard its inter- United States created “the conditions tion stalls; a best-case world in which that the US should to laying out “grand strategies”: sweeping ests by staying out of other countries’ and coalitions for others to step up.” Washington and Beijing collaborate on statements of the means through which affairs. In the first Clinton administra- American diplomacy was essential to international problems; a bleak future of not try to roll back the United States should achieve its tion, national security adviser Anthony securing a UN resolution allowing all inequality and resulting conflicts between goals in the world. Veterans of the White Lake tried to replace containment with necessary measures to protect civilians and within countries that the United communism but House efforts to craft a National Security enlargement, a grand strategy of steadily and to building a coalition of Nato and States is unable or unwilling to police; Strategy, as commanded by Congress, expanding the community of democra- Middle Eastern countries to carry out and a world in which corporations, activ- typically shake their heads at these lofty cies. The concept drove President Bill the intervention. ists and other nonstate players take the instead should pronouncements. But articulating a Clinton’s decisions to support the growth In recent days, three prominent lead in addressing global challenges. basic approach to the world can provide of Nato and the European Union. think tanks — the Council on Foreign The Atlantic Council report concludes contain the Soviet a starting point from which to tackle a Or take primacy, the notion that Relations, the Atlantic Council and the that the United States can work to avoid wide array of challenges. Complete con- America can best advance its interests New America Foundation — have put the more negative scenarios by leading Union. sistency is impossible, but a good grand by being so much more powerful than forward grand strategies seeking to “actively, vigorously, and strategically.” strategy can increase the coherence of any other country that other nations inspire Obama in his second term. The Essentially, an America that hangs back BY ANNE-MARIE SLAUGHTER an administration’s decisions. are deterred from competing. President foreign policy community is small and is asking for trouble. At the same time, Obama’s choice of a grand strategy for George W Bush explicitly adopted a chummy; the authors and reviewers of Washington should lead more collabora- irst terms are about justify- his second term could help drive a more grand strategy of primacy in his first these reports all know one other, and tively, working with and through partners ing your place in office. Second proactive foreign policy, defining a legacy term, a posture that informed both his many have worked together in and out of (Europe, Nato, Japan, Korea, Australia terms are about justifying your that is more than the sum of responses disdain for international institutions and government. (John Ikenberry, a co-author and Singapore, for example) and coali- Fplace in history. to crises. his doctrine of preventive war. of the CFR report, was my partner in tions whenever possible. In particular, Remember Abraham Lincoln’s Second The iconic grand strategy was George Obama’s first grand strategy, incorpo- leading the Princeton Project on National US cooperation with China will be “the Inaugural Address, in which he eschewed Kennan’s “containment” — the proposi- rated in the National Security Strategy Security from 2004 to 2007. I also serve most crucial single factor” shaping the specific plans and policies and instead tion that the United States should not of 2010, described the US approach to on the boards of the Atlantic Council world in 2030. WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Snow blankets Obama sworn in for second term Heathrow and I did it, says President after taking oath Paris airports LONDON: London’s Heathrow WASHINGTON: President ceremony on the actual date and Airport cancelled a fifth of Barack Obama took the official then hold the ceremonial inaugu- flights yesterday and airlines oath for his second term yes- ral activities the next day. scrapped 40 percent of flights terday at the White House in a By today, Obama will have to Paris’s main airports as snow small, private ceremony that set been sworn in four times, two for continued to blanket parts of a more subdued tone compared each term, putting him equal to Europe, with more forecast. to the historic start of his presi- Franklin Roosevelt, who served Heathrow Ltd, which is owned dency four years ago. four terms. A second Obama by Spain’s Ferrovial, said the Gathered with his family in the swearing-in was deemed necessary reduced schedule — amount- Blue Room on the White House’s in 2009 when Roberts flubbed the ing to around 250 fewer flights ceremonial main floor, Obama put first one. Yesterday, Roberts read — would help it cope with the his hand on a family Bible and the oath carefully from a card and snowfall without making further recited the 35-word oath that was there were no mistakes. cancellations. As snow continued read out loud by US Chief Justice Obama, who won a second four to fall through yesterday, the air- John Roberts. years on November 6 by defeating port operator said flight schedule “I did it,” Obama said as he Republican Mitt Romney after a would be cut by 10 percent. That hugged his wife, Michelle, and bitter campaign, opens round two number could rise, depending on daughters Sasha and Malia. facing many of the same prob- conditions at other European air- “Thank you, sweetie,” he told lems that dogged his first term: ports, Heathrow said. Michelle when she congratulated persistently high unemployment, The Paris airport operator, him. “You didn’t mess up,” Sasha crushing government debt and a ADP, said airlines scrapped 40 Obama told her father. deep partisan divide over how to percent of flights in and out of It was a low-key start to the solve the issues. the two main airports on the out- first African-American US pres- Earlier in the day, Vice skirts of Paris, Charles de Gaulle ident’s second term, which is President Joe Biden was sworn in and Orly, primarily reducing likely to be dominated — at least by Supreme Court Justice Sonia short-haul services. at the start — by budget fights Sotomayor, making her the first London’s Stansted and Gatwick with Republicans and attempts Hispanic judge to administer US President Barack Obama is officially sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts in the Blue Room of the White airports said they were operat- to reform gun control and immi- an oath of office for one of the House during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington yesterday. Next to Obama are (from left) First Lady ing as normal but that delays and gration laws. nation’s two highest offices. Michelle Obama, holding the family Bible, and daughters Malia and Sasha. some flight cancellations were Obama, 51, will be sworn in Obama and Biden then joined likely. Weather forecaster the publicly today outside the West forces to lay a wreath of flowers big as in 2009 when a record speech on yellow legal pads and immigration laws and tax reform. Met Office said snow was likely Front of the Capitol overlooking at the Tomb of the Unknowns at 1.8 million people crammed into working with his speech-writers. Abroad, he is facing a challenge to continue into today. As much the National Mall in front of as Arlington National Cemetery in the National Mall to witness the After his tumultuous first from a resurgence of Islamist as eight centimetres was expected many as 800,000 people, a much a solemn remembrance of those swearing-in. Turnout is projected term during which he achieved extremists in North Africa. He in southeast England, it said. bigger ceremony replete with a killed in the line of duty. at 600,000 to 800,000, with mil- an overhaul of the US healthcare is also winding down the war in More than 400 flights were major address and a parade. Biden’s family, about 120 guests lions more watching on television. system, his second term opens in Afghanistan and dealing with cancelled on Friday, while on Yesterday’s ceremony, shown and a few reporters witnessed the Obama’s Inauguration Day the midst of a feud with congres- Iran’s nuclear ambitions. Saturday 111 flights, most of live on television, was needed private swearing-in ceremony speech will set the tone for the sional Republicans over taxes and Obama will save specific policy them operated by IAG’s British because the US Constitution in the main foyer of his Naval start of his second term and gives spending. His top policy goals for proposals for his annual State of Airways, were cancelled and hun- mandates that the president take Observatory residence. him a chance to lay out his vision the first year, so far, include tight- the Union speech before Congress dreds of passengers spent the office on January 20. Planners The audience for today’s cer- on where he would like to lead the ening gun regulations. Obama on February 12. night in Heathrow’s terminals. opted to go with a private emony is not expected to be as country. He has been drafting the is also seeking an overhaul of REUTERS REUTERS

French troops advance in Mali Merkel party NIONO, MALI: French troops in whereabouts of the Islamist fighters leads key Briton recounts terrifying armoured vehicles advanced yester- remained unclear. “Our principal day towards a central Malian town concern is that a section of the popu- state vote abandoned by Islamist rebels after lation may have joined the jihadists,” days of air strikes, moving cautiously said Colonel Seydou Sogoba, head of BERLIN: German Cha- escape from Algeria siege for fear of guerrilla-style counterat- Malian military operations. ncellor Angela Merkel’s tacks by the Al Qaeda-linked fighters. “The war against the Islamists party was in the lead LONDON: A British survivor escape. “The national employees of the terrorists, or so we thought Television showed the wreckage of is not an easy one. They come in yesterday after the first of the Algerian gas plant siege had convinced themselves that ... If you’d been captured there’s the Islamists’ white pick-up trucks, and mix with the local population,” state poll of a general described yesterday a nerve- there was nobody going to come pretty much no escape, you know some mounted with heavy machine he said. Some Islamist fighters had election year, initial racking escape across a stretch and get us, we weren’t going to be it’s going to take a miracle to get guns, lying charred and twisted shaved off their beards and swapped results showed, but the of desert and a moment of terror rescued because they didn’t know you out.” The horrible moment among the mud-brick buildings of their robes for jeans to blend in with race for a ruling coalition when he feared he had fallen into where we were. So they decided lasted for about two minutes, the village of Diabaly. local residents, he said. France has rested on a knife-edge. the hands of the hostage takers. that they were going to cut the until some of the Algerian work- Commanders of French and deployed 2,000 ground troops and Preliminary results from The Algerian authorities say at fence and make a break for it. ers began to chat with the armed Malian forces, who have set up their its war planes have pounded rebel Lower Saxony on public least 23 hostages and 32 militants “When you don’t know what’s men and he realised they were in operations centre in the nearby columns and bases for 10 days, effec- television showed Merkel’s were killed in the four-day siege, a out there and you know the ter- the hands of the Algerian army. town of Niono, some 300km north- tively halting an Islamist advance on Christian Democrats lead- preliminary death toll they expect rorists are dressed the same as “I can’t put it into words,” he east of the capital Bamako, said the the riverside capital. REUTERS ing with around 36 percent will rise when they have finished the security forces, it was a huge said. “You just sort of hope in the and their current coali- clearing out the remote gas plant decision, do you stay or do you go?” back of your mind that you are tion partners, the Free deep in the Sahara. Hundreds of Wright said he wanted to stay going to see your family and your Democrats, with about Algerian workers and scores of at first, but in the heat of the friends again.” 10 percent. The Social foreigners escaped. moment he and the other expa- Wright said he would forever Democrats had about 32 Alan Wright, now safe at home triates decided to follow. be in debt to the Algerian work- percent and their favoured in Aberdeenshire in northern The men cut through two wire ers who could have surrendered allies the Greens 13 percent. Scotland, told Sky News televi- fences. Within 30 seconds they to the attackers and given up the Detailed figures pointed sion that he hid in an office block were out in the desert and run- expatriates but instead decided to a wafer-thin lead for the within the In Amenas complex for ning away. Wright said the group to flee with them. “The guys that incumbent centre-right, a day and a night with three other of about 30 men got about a kilo- were with us who had the option the same coalition with expatriate workers and a group of metre away when they saw a to surrender and be safe but which Merkel governs in Algerian colleagues. group of uniformed men in arms they decided to stay and help us Berlin. Cut off from the world, the coming towards them. “Is it the escape, you’ll be in debt to them But the cliffhanger cam- men could hear sporadic gunfire terrorists or is it the gendarmes? for the rest of your life.” paign was due to develop throughout the first day of the And for 20 minutes, half an hour, Asked whether he thought the throughout the night as crisis. During the night, which you’re still not sure,” said Wright. Algerian rescue operation had results trickle in, deter- was quieter, he briefly called his He said the fugitives got on their resulted in unnecessary loss of mining which coalition wife who was desperately waiting knees with their hands up as the life, Wright disagreed. “You can will come out on top eight for news at home with the cou- men approached. They were called guess at that. By the same token months before a national ple’s two daughters. up one by one and searched, and if they’d just left it to negotiate election that will decide if “She asked if I wanted to the foreigners were separated from more lives could have been lost, Merkel wins a third term. speak to Imogen and Esme and I the Algerians. “We were put to one you can’t say for sure. They man- The Christian couldn’t, because I thought, I don’t side ... and then you’re thinking aged to rescue quite a lot of peo- Democrats (CDU) were want my last ever words to be in ‘You’ve just made the biggest mis- ple, so bless them for that. down from their 42.5 per- a crackly satellite phone, telling take of your life’, because there’s “My thoughts are with the guys cent score at the last elec- a lie, saying that you’re OK when only one way they’re separating us who weren’t as fortunate as us. tion in 2008 but appeared you’re far from OK,” Wright said. and it’s because they (the Algerian That’s something that’s still going to benefit from the popu- Early the next morning, workers) are going to be free,” said to hit me very, very hard. These larity of state premier hours before the Algerian army Wright. are all my very, very good friends David McAllister, a half- began storming the compound, “So that was a horrible, hor- unaccounted for and my thoughts Scot seen as a potential the Algerian workers hiding in rible thing in that you’ve escaped are with their families just now.” Merkel successor. AFP Wright’s block decided to try and but you’ve escaped into the hands REUTERS

Chavez getting stronger, entering ‘new phase’: VP CARACAS: President Hugo Chavez is paratrooper who first came to power in public and remains, presumably, in a Havana “gaining strength” as he finishes post- 1999 and won another six-year term in hospital. Speaking to private Venezuelan operative care and entering a “new phase” October elections. television network Televen, Maduro said he of cancer treatment, Venezuelan Vice The longtime figurehead of the region’s had spoken with Chavez on several occa- President Nicolas Maduro said yesterday. anti-American left could not attend his sions, including a January 14 visit when he Chavez anointed Maduro his political heir scheduled inauguration on January 10 described the president as being “very inter- before flying to Cuba for a fourth round of because of his poor health and the swearing- ested in oil prices”. cancer surgery on December 11. The long- in has been postponed indefinitely. “We’re always optimistic in the sense that time Venezuelan leader’s condition has been The Venezuelan government has admit- sooner or later we will have the president the topic of much debate ever since. ted that Chavez suffered complications, here with us,” Maduro said, adding that El Chavez is “finishing the post-operative including a severe pulmonary infection Comandante was in good spirits and focused period and will enter a new phase of treat- that resulted in “respiratory insufficiency,” on his treatment. ment,” Maduro said. “His vital signs and but has given no long-term prognosis from Tensions are running high in Venezuela organ function are stabilising, he is conscious doctors. amid uncertainty over the future of Chavez, and gaining strength for the next stage.” Aides and family members have had to but for now the decision by the Supreme The Venezuelan government has been tamp down speculation that Chavez might Court to allow the indefinite postponement releasing only minimal information on the not make a full recovery. Almost six weeks of the inauguration is being respected. condition of Chavez, a 58-year-old former after he left Venezuela he is yet to be seen in AFP MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 39 Filipinos flown back from Algeria 52 nationals caught up in crisis: Govt

MANILA: The Philippines said Hernandez described the 39 as yesterday that 52 of its nation- “survivors” of the siege. als had been accounted for in But after arriving in Manila, Algeria following the hostage the returning Filipinos said crisis at a remote gas plant, but nearly all of them had been work- it was still not known whether ing far from the hostage site and any Filipinos had died. had only been sent home by their The Algerian interior ministry employer due to security fears. said 23 foreigners and Algerians Asked to clarify the situation, were killed after Al Qaeda-linked Hernandez said he had made gunmen began their attack on the his initial comments based on In Amenas gas plant deep in the reports from Philippine embas- Sahara Desert on Wednesday. sies involved in the repatriations. The Philippines has not con- “We will ask for more clari- firmed how many of its nationals fication on this. Will keep you were working at the plant. But it posted,” Hernandez said in a text said yesterday it had offered con- message. sular assistance to 52 Filipinos in He said earlier that Filipino Algeria and 39 of those arrived in diplomats in Algeria were contin- Manila yesterday. uing to coordinate with authori- “Based on reports from our ties and employers to determine team in Algeria... we have 52 the “whereabouts and conditions from Algeria who have been of other Filipinos working in the accounted for,” said Department gas plant”. Filipino overseas workers, who were sent home by their employer in Algeria, arrive at the Manila international airport, yesterday. of Foreign Affairs spokesman However he said it was not Raul Hernandez. clear if there were any more 685 Algerian workers and 107 saved when the device aboard escaped after an explosion. network reported. The 39 who returned home there, nor whether there were foreigners. their hijacked vehicle failed to He said he and three other Balmaceda escaped when the yesterday had been evacuated via any Filipinos among the dead. On Saturday, the wife of explode. Filipino workers were taken truck was hit by an explosion but London and Dubai and arrived in The Algerian interior min- Filipino hostage Ruben Andrada Another Filipino survivor, Jojo at gunpoint as they arrived for sustained a gunshot wound to his Manila aboard a commercial jet. istry said 32 kidnappers were said he told her that the militants Balmaceda, employed by British work, tied up and thrown into a head that affected his hearing, the In an initial statement to also killed during the siege, and draped a bomb on his neck “like a oil giant BP, told local television truck along with Japanese and report said. reporters yesterday morning, special forces were able to free necklace”, but he and others were in the Philippines how he had Malaysian hostages, the GMA AFP

Arroyo asks Supreme Court Army ignoring president’s ceasefire, say Myanmar rebels YANGON: Myanmar’s presi- Saturday morning, but Colonel have ordered them not to occupy raised doubts about the sincerity 8am yesterday morning (0130 to dismiss dent said yesterday he wanted James Lum Dau, Thai-based Laiza,” he said at a meeting with of all the political and economic GMT) had involved artillery and peace talks with all ethnic rebel spokesman for the Kachin non-governmental groups in reforms pursued by Thein Sein in infantry. groups in the country, but gov- Independence Army (KIA), said Yangon, the commercial capital. Myanmar, also known as Burma. A local source in Kachin, who plunder charges ernment troops again attacked the army had continued to attack “In order to gain sustainable On Saturday, addressing a did not want to be identified, rebel positions in Kachin State over the weekend, both in La Ja peace all over the country, there development forum attended by confirmed the army attacks on MANILA: C it i n g l a c k of pr o b- in the northeast despite his Yang and elsewhere in the state. is no other way but to hold talks donor countries and international Sunday, including one on a rebel able cause, former Philippine order to cease fire, rebels and a Thein Sein denied that the army, at the negotiating table as soon as aid organisations, Thein Sein had position about eight kilometres president Gloria Macapagal- local source said. known as the Tamadaw, aimed to possible,” he added. invited the Kachin rebels to a from Laiza. Fighter jets had Arroyo has asked the Supreme President Thein Sein had issued capture Laiza, where the KIA A 17-year ceasefire with the “political dialogue” with the govern- flown over the area but had not Court (SC) to dismiss the the ceasefire order on Friday to and its political arm, the Kachin KIA broke down in June 2011 ment and ethnic rebel groups from attacked, the source said. plunder charges against her troops in the La Ja Yang area of Independence Organisation (KIO), and fighting has been particularly other states. No date was given. New York-based Human Rights for the alleged misuse of Kachin State near the border have their headquarters. intense in recent weeks. Ten other major rebel groups Watch last week accused the 365.9m pesos in Philippine with China, where fighting has “Now the Tamadaw members Twenty months of fighting have already agreed ceasefires. army of indiscriminately shelling Charity Sweepstakes Office been fiercest. are an arm’s length from the KIA/ has displaced tens of thousands Lum Dau said an offen- Laiza. funds. It was due to take effect on KIO headquarters in Laiza but I of people and, for some analysts, sive in La Ja Yang from about REUTERS Through her lawyer Rodolfo Jimenez, Arroyo invoked her con- stitutional and statutory right to be presumed innocent. Beijing strongly dissatisfied over Arroyo said the necessary ele- ments of plunder under Republic Act 2080 have not been estab- lished in the preliminary investi- US remarks on island dispute gation conducted by the Office of the Ombudsman. BEIJING: China said it was “strongly dis- words, cautious in actions” and to take “realistic He cited 21 cases wherein the satisfied” yesterday after US Secretary of actions to protect the peace and stability of the SC upheld the existence of rea- State Hillary Clinton issued a veiled warning region and Chinese-US relations”. sonable doubt in acquitting an to Beijing not to challenge Tokyo’s control of Qin’s statement came after Clinton on Friday accused in a criminal case. disputed islands at the centre of a bitter ter- said the US opposed “any unilateral actions that In the case of People vs Avila, ritorial row. would seek to undermine Japanese administra- the SC held: “It is not the duty China is “strongly dissatisfied with and reso- tion” of the islands. of an accused to prove his inno- lutely opposes” the remarks, Foreign Ministry Clinton, speaking at a press conference with cence before the prosecution spokesman Qin Gang said in a statement on the Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida in proves his guilt, but rather it ministry’s website. Washington, did not mention Beijing directly is the reverse, that is, that the The maritime dispute, which has simmered but said she wanted China and Japan to settle prosecution must prove the guilt off and on for years, intensified last year when the issue peacefully. “We do not want to see any of the accused beyond reasonable the Japanese government nationalised islands in action taken by anyone that could raise tensions doubt before the accused is put the small chain it did not already own, triggering or result in miscalculation that would undermine to proving his freedom and legal angry responses in China. the peace, security and economic growth in this responsibility.” China has since increased maritime and air region,” she said. In People vs Ng, the SC ruled: patrols near the East China Sea territory, and in The US insists it is neutral on the ultimate “From the earliest years of the further escalations in recent weeks both Beijing sovereignty of the islands but also says they are Court, it has emphasized the rule and Tokyo have scrambled fighter jets, though under Japan’s de facto administration. that reasonable doubt in criminal there have been no clashes. China has persistently criticised the US posi- cases must be resolved in favour “We urge the US side to treat the issue of the tion and Beijing’s sending of maritime surveil- of the accused.” Diaoyu islands with a responsible attitude,” Qin lance ships to the potentially gas-rich area is In October last year, Arroyo said, referring to the territory by its Chinese seen by experts as a way to contest the notion asked the SC to stop her indict- name. Japan calls the islands the Senkakus. of Japanese control. ment and void a resolution of the He also called for Washington to be “careful in AFP Office of the Ombudsman finding probable cause to charge her with plunder. However, the SC under Chief Justice Lourdes Sereno has not yet acted on her plea. Tibetan self-immolates in China The SC acted first on two peti- tions for interventions that con- stituents of Arroyo in Pampanga BEIJING: A young Tibetan in southwestern Many Tibetans in China accuse the govern- had filed. China has died after setting himself on fire, ment of religious repression and eroding their The first one was filed last on rights groups have reported, marking the sec- culture, as the country’s majority Han eth- December 21 by Rico Ocampo, ond self-immolation protest in a week and lift- nic group increasingly moves into historically Eugene Paul Ponio, Marcelo ing the total to nearly 100. Tibetan areas. Valencia and Joaquin Mañalac, London-based Free Tibet said in a statement China rejects that, saying Tibetans enjoy reli- while the second was filed last yesterday that a 28-year-old man identified by gious freedom. Beijing also points to huge ongoing week by over 40 Pampanga the single name Dupchoek, died on Friday after- investment it says has brought modernisation residents led by Guagua Mayor noon in Drachen township in the Aba Tibetan and a better standard of living to Tibet. Ricardo Rivera. autonomous prefecture of China’s Sichuan International Campaign for Tibet, based in In full-court session on January province. Washington, also reported the self-immolation 8, the SC ordered the Office of the Free Tibet said that 97 Tibetans have self- at the same location, though identified the man Solicitor General to answer these immolated since February 2009 to protest against by the single name of Tsering and described him petitions for intervention. Beijing’s rule in Tibet. According to a list on the as being in his twenties. THE PHILIPPINE STAR group’s website, about 75 of them have died. AFP MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN UN lists extensive torture in Afghan jails Kabul says monitoring committee found allegations to be untrue; concern over tardy pace of prison reform

KABUL: The United Nations monitoring. But little appears In a letter responding to the said yesterday that Afghan to have changed. Once Nato UN report, Gen John Allen, the authorities were still torturing forces resumed the transfers and commander of US and Nato prisoners, such as hanging them decreased inspections, torture forces in Afghanistan, said that by their wrists and beating them quickly returned to earlier levels, his staff had written letters to with cables, a year after the UN the report said. And even though Afghan ministers urging them to first documented the abuse and the international military force investigate more than 80 separate the Afghan government prom- was making a serious effort to allegations of detainee abuse dur- ised detention reform. delay transfers if there was risk ing the past 18 months. The report shows little progress of torture, about 30 percent of 79 “To date, Afghan officials have in curbing abuse in Afghan pris- detainees who had been trans- acted in only one instance,” Allen ons despite a year of effort by the ferred to Afghan custody by for- said in the letter. In that case UN and international military eign governments ended up being Afghan authorities did not fire forces in Afghanistan. The report tortured, the report said. That’s the official in question, but trans- also cites instances where Afghan higher than in 2011, when the UN ferred him from Kandahar prov- authorities have tried to hide mis- found that 24 percent of trans- ince to Sar-e-Pul in the north. treatment from UN monitors. ferred detainees were tortured. The report documents what The slow progress in prison “Torture cannot be addressed it called a “persistent lack of reform has prompted Nato forces by training, inspections and accountability for perpetrators to once again stop many transfers directives alone,” said Georgette of torture,” noting that no one of detainees to Afghan authorities Gagnon, the head of human has been prosecuted for prisoner out of concern that they would be rights for the UN mission in abuse since the first report was tortured. Afghanistan, explaining that there released. In multiple detention centres, has been little follow-through by Aimal Faizi, a spokesman for Afghan authorities leave detain- the Afghan government. the Afghan president, said torture ees hanging from the ceiling In particular, the UN report and abuse of prisoners was not by their wrists, beat them with found that the Afghan govern- Afghan policy. cables and wooden sticks, admin- ment appeared to be trying to “However, there may be certain ister electric shocks, twist their hide the mistreatment and refus- cases of abuse and we have begun genitals and threaten to shove ing to prosecute those accused of to investigate these cases men- bottles into their bodies or to kill torturing prisoners. tioned in the UN report,” he said. them, the report said. The UN team received “multi- “We will take action accordingly.” In a letter responding to the Afghan Crisis Response Unit forces perform a house entry drill as part of an exercise on the outskirts of Kabul, ple credible reports” that in some The Nato military alliance latest report, the Afghan govern- yesterday. places detainees were hidden from responded to the most recent ment said that its internal moni- international observers in secret report by stopping transfers of toring committee found that “the locations underground or sepa- detainees to seven facilities in allegations of torture of detainees in Afghanistan as international it. They were beating me for some It’s a troubling finding given rate from the main facility being Kabul, Laghman, Herat, Khost were untrue and thus disproved.” forces draw down and the coun- time like one hour and were fre- the amount of international inspected. Also, the observers said and Kunduz provinces — most of The Afghan government said try’s Western allies become less quently telling me that, ‘You are attention and pledges of reform they saw what appeared to be a them the same facilities that were that it would not completely rule watchful over a government that with Taliban and this is what you that came after the first report. suspicious increase in detainees flagged a year ago. The transfers out the possibility of torture at so far has taken few concrete deserve.’” At that time, the Nato military held at police facilities when an were halted in October, when the its detention facilities, but that actions to reform the system. More than half of the 635 alliance temporarily stopped intelligence service facility nearby UN shared its preliminary find- it was nowhere near the levels As one detainee in the west- detainees interviewed had been transferring Afghans it had was being monitored. ings with the military coalition. described in the report and that it ern province of Farah told the tortured, according to the report picked up to national authorities And particularly in the south- “This action is a result of con- was checking on reports of abuse. UN team: “They laid me on the titled Treatment of Conflict- until they could set up a system ern province of Kandahar, the UN cerns over detainee treatment The findings, however, high- ground. One of them sat on my Related Detainees in Afghan free of abuse. Though it said the received reports that authorities at certain Afghan detention light the type of human rights feet and another one sat on my Custody: One Year On. That is findings were exaggerated, the were using unofficial sites to tor- facilities,” said Jamie Graybeal, a abuses that many activists worry head, and the third one took a about the same ratio the UN Afghan government promised ture detainees before transport- spokesman for the international could become more prevalent pipe and started beating me with found in its first report in 2011. after the first report to increase ing them to the regular prison. military alliance in Kabul. AP

Elections, threat to vaccinators may hit polio eradication plan: WHO

ISLAMABAD: Amid growing threat immunisation workers and the suspen- eradication programme. However, the and accountability, detailed planning for support, assisting with the implemen- to vaccinators in Pakistan and the sion of polio campaigns since June 2012 encouraging news is that to address supplementary and routine immunisation tation of direct payment mechanisms, impending elections, the World Health in north-western Khyber and Bajaur these challenges, Pakistan is updating activities, data management, accessing enhancing the development and appli- Organisation (WHO) fears that the tribal districts, are threatening to slow national its polio emergency action plan and engaging underserved and mobile cation of processes for assessing in real- country’s polio eradication programme Pakistan’s progress in fighting the crip- as reflected in the global polio eradication populations, and operating in insecure time the preparedness for supplementary may be derailed. pling virus. and endgame strategic plan 2013-2018 by environments. immunisation activities and the perform- As indicated in a report to be placed There is also a lurking fear that incorporating innovations, best practices In 2013, partner agencies will continue ance of those activities, refining plans for before a nine-day WHO Executive Board national and provincial elections towards and lessons learnt last year. Among the supporting national emergency action operations in insecure areas, and dealing meeting in Geneva from today, the the middle of this year might divert the areas covered under these improvements plan by fully implementing and sustain- with gaps in surveillance performance. countrywide terrorist attacks against authorities’ attention from the polio are programme oversight, monitoring ing the necessary surge in technical INTERNEWS

Remembering a saint Pakistan to dig up state of Indian Muslims at OIC meet

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani government will take up the plight of Muslim minorities in India at the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) sum- mit in the first week of February in Egypt. President Asif Ali Zardari and Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar will repre- sent Pakistan. Some Kashmiri leaders will also attend the con- ference. Well-placed diplomatic sources said yesterday Pakistan has sponsored the resolution in the organisation and the council of ministers will discuss it, and it is likely that the summit could A devotee holds an earthen lamp at the shrine of saint Mian Mir Sahib on his 389th death anniversary, also take it up. INTERNEWS in Lahore, yesterday. The saint was equally popular among Muslims and Sikhs. Fishermen getting caught in Sir Creek row

RERHY, PAKISTAN: was alive — in an Indian prison. Creek, a 100-kilometre strip of Malir, according to prison gov- The killings of Indian and Then last autumn Hamida water in marshland dividing the ernor Nazir Hussain Shah. Pakistani troops in Kashmir suffered a shuddering blow: Indian province of Gujarat from In India, 125 Pakistani fisher- have once again captured the without any warning, her hus- the Pakistani province of Sindh, men are imprisoned, according world’s attention but the vic- band’s body was delivered to is less well-known. to Manish Lodhari, secretary of tims of a lesser-known bor- the village. The creek opens out into the India’s National Fishworkers’ der dispute between the two The disputed Himalayan ter- Arabian Sea and is noted for its Forum. nations are largely forgotten. ritory of Kashmir has been the rich stocks of fish, but fishermen Syed Sarim Burney, a law- In a fly-blown wooden hut in cause of two of the three wars who brave the area are regularly yer who defends some of the the Pakistani coastal village of between India and Pakistan locked up for illegally entering Indians in Pakistan, said the Rerhy, at the edge of the vast since independence from Britain the neighbouring country. fishermen are at the mercy of metropolis of Karachi, Hamida in 1947 and clashes between Ganesh Kumar was detained the authorities. mourns her husband Nawaz, troops in the region regularly by Pakistan in October in an “They are thrown in jail for once a fisherman like those pre- make headlines. Indian boat. “There were seven years without committing any paring their multicoloured boats Five soldiers, three Pakistani of us in the boat and I didn’t crime,” he said. on the nearby shore. and two Indian, have been killed know where I was. The man “There is no visible sea Nawaz went to sea in 1999, in cross-border firing since who owned the boat should have demarcation between the two two days before a violent storm January 6, threatening the two known,” the 19-year-old said in countries so the navy of each struck. His family thought he nuclear-armed countries’ fragile Karachi’s Malir jail. country can arrest the people was dead but seven years later efforts towards lasting peace. There are more than 200 of the neighbouring country they received a letter saying he But the dispute over Sir Indian fishermen in custody in whenever they want.” AFP MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

New terminal Gadkari set Delhi seeks to retain BJP chief’s post

NEW DELHI: The Bharatiya two more Janata Party (BJP) yesterday issued a notification for the party president’s elections amid expectations that incumbent Nitin Gadkari will get another Israeli Awacs term as no other contender had emerged for the post. The notification, issued by party general secretary Thawarchand Air Force chief in Tel Aviv Gehlot, said that the filing of nominations will take place on NEW DELHI/TEL AVIV: in progress. The Indian air chief, Wednesday in the party office Indian Air Force (IAF) chief who is also the current chairman between 10am and 11.30am. N A K Browne is on a four-day of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, It said that the result will be visit to Israel, during which he is scheduled to call on Israeli declared the same day if the elec- will discuss ongoing military Defence Minister Ehud Barak tion is unanimous, and if there cooperation programmes. and Israel Defense Forces Chief was a contest, the date of polling The goodwill visit formally of the General Staff, Lt Gen will be announced. began yesterday with presenta- Benjamin Gantz. Party sources said Gadkari tion of a combined guard of hon- The visit of Air Chief Marshal was likely to get a second term our at the Camp Rabin (Kirya) Browne to Israel, as the IAF chief, in office as no other contender has Base in central Tel Aviv and dis- comes after 12 years of him being emerged in the party so far. They cussions with his host, Israel Air posted as the defence attache at said consultations had already Force commander Maj Gen Amir Tel Aviv for a three-year tenure. President Pranab Mukherjee inaugurating the new terminal of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Airport in Kolkata, been held between Rashtriya Eshel. He was responsible for establish- yesterday. With a capacity to handle 20 million passengers annually, the Rs23bn terminal has been developed Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) func- The IAF chief, who is accom- ing the Indian Defence Wing in by the joint venture of ITD Cementation India Ltd and its parent company Italian-Thai Development Public tionaries, leaders and BJP leaders panied by a small but high-level Tel Aviv in April 1997. Co. Ltd, Thailand. on the choice of president. IAF delegation, will discuss the Israel’s total defence exports The RSS, the ideological men- progress of ongoing military to India have reached a figure of tor of the BJP, favours Gadkari’s cooperation between the two $9bn since then. continuation in the post, the countries. Air Chief Marshal Browne sources said. There have been Israel is supplying missiles would also visit Israeli air bases Partition, wars against demands in the party against and some electronic warfare and squadrons, where he would giving Gadkari a second term in systems to India but the biggest be briefed on the operational the wake of allegations relating deal is about five Phalcon Awacs procedures of the Israeli Air to financial wrongdoing in Purti (Airborne Warning and Control Force. Group linked to him. Aircraft) fitted on board Russian He is also visiting the Yad Netaji’s vision: Daughter While a section of the party IL 76 four-engine jets. VaShem Holocaust Memorial feels that the party’s efforts to Air Chief Marshal Browne Museum where he will lay a KOLKATA: India’s independ- anniversary at Netaji Bhavan Pakistan is in severe problem. pin the Congress on anti-cor- had told India Strategic defence wreath in memory of those ent hero Netaji Subhas Chandra here. Later, Pfaff told media per- She praised the economic liber- ruption plank could be affected magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) who perished in the Holocaust, Bose’s daughter Anita Pfaff yes- sons that the Partition of colonial alization policies pursued in India due Gadkari’s linkage to con- recently that while three Awacs according to an official statement terday termed the Partition of India was the most disappoint- in the 1990s, and said it provided troversy surrounding the Purti had been delivered to India, the released simultaneously in New the country and the resultant ing development. “The deaths, a spectacular take-off for the Group, there is also a view that discussions about two more were Delhi and Tel Aviv. IANS wars and arms race between lot of tragic consequences, the economy. “Of course, it has a side the allegations were not serious India and Pakistan as a major squandering of resources through product which I think you experi- and there was nothing against disappointment, militating unnecessary wars between the ence across the world. If you have him personally. against her father’s vision of the two nations that succeeded colo- higher growth, you always have The party has already given Pulse polio drive post-Independence nation. nial India - it was the most disap- inequality of income distribu- a clean chit to Gadkari on the Describing Netaji as a “far- pointing development.” tion, that unfortunately cannot alleged wrongdoings in invest- sighted and visionary leader”, she The 70-year-old Pfaff said the be avoided.” ments in Purti Group, based on said Bose not only loved his coun- money spent by the two countries She said while the country has the probe done by S Gurumurhty, try “fiercely”, but was also prag- on armament projects could have seen a decline in infant mortal- a financial analyst considered matic. “He had envisioned many been better utilised in areas like ity, the failures on the birth con- close to the RSS. far-sighted measures for the post- healthcare and education. trol front have led to the rise of Meanwhile, the BJP sought Independent period. Some came “All the money that was put growing population among social to link Rahul Gandhi’s elevation through even after his demise, into all sorts of projects- like groups which cannot afford edu- as the Congress vice president even without his active role in armament projects, like procur- cation for their children. to “family inheritance”, and said planning of these ideas.” ing nuclear arms- had they been Pfaff lauded the way India has he sounded like a leader of the “Again, there were other put into education, healthcare, remained intact over the years opposition in his first speech after developments which deviated that certainly would have been despite its diversities. “In the assuming the new role. from what he had envisioned. more beneficial to the population early 1950s and 1960s there was “The BJP’s prime ministerial I will name only three-the of India and Pakistan,” she said. a great concern that the coun- candidate would be selected on Partition of the country, and However, drawing a comparison try might drift apart due to the the basis of his leadership abilities the slow progress in eradicating between the two countries, she cultural differences that existed and not on “family inheritance”, illiteracy and poverty,” she said said India has had fewer prob- within. But India has managed party leader Arun Jaitley said at while addressing the inaugural lems because of the Partition, as remarkably well on containing a function in Bangalore. A volunteer administers pulse polio drops to a child on a passenger session of Netaji’s 116th birth it is a stable nation. In contrast, the cultural odds”. IANS IANS train at a railway station in Bhopal, yesterday. Gujarat now wishes to host PBD

ujarat, the west coast summit for the past six years in partners for the event. the Gujarat Card to non-res- Indian state that a row. Modi has been at pains to According to estimates by the ident Gujaratis by which they has sent hundreds ensure that the Vibrant Gujarat centre of Gujarat State Non- get special attention from the Gof thousands of its Global Investors’ Summit Resident Gujarati Foundation state government agencies while intrepid diaspora to all corners (VGGIS) should send a strong (GSNGF), there are close to dealing with them. of the world, is now looking for- and positive message of convert- three crore Indians overseas, In addition, the cardhold- ward to the world converging ing global challenges of the 21st of which nearly 6 million are ers avail of the facilities of the within its boundaries. Century into opportunities for Gujaratis spread across 120 NRG Bhavan set up by the NRG ‘Vibrant’ Gujarat has been change and forging partner- countries. Foundation, and also rebates taking giant strides in devel- ship between knowledge and The foundation has been and discounts on purchases etc. opment and industrial growth technology. established by the Government being negotiated by the NRG and time and again the state has He appears to be satisfied of Gujarat to further the com- Foundation. relied upon its people overseas that the biennial event has mon interests, concerns and All the District Collectors to partner the government in over the years emerged as an historical ties that bind the peo- have been authorised to issue this journey. incubator of innovators and ple of Gujarat to NRGs. Gujarat Cards. The NRGs (non-resident entrepreneurship, and not The objectives of the The Foundation is sponsoring Gujaratis) have responded just a convergence of investors’ Foundation are to explore every year the Gujarati diaspora magnificently more often than destination. the possibility as to how the seminar arranged by various not. The chief minister has pro- diaspora can play al role in the universities of the State. It was not totally out of place claimed that the event has development of the state and NRGF sponsors this semi- or unexpected, therefore, when demonstrated Gujarat’s capac- to identify the areas where nar to facilitate research on the Chief Minister Narendra Modi ity to convert dreams for global Government can be of assist- Gujarati diaspora. issued an appeal publicly to the development into Recently, a book has been central government to allow the reality. published by the Foundation on state to hold the annual diaspora The sixth ver- marriages to NRIs. The book conclave–Pravasi Bharatiya sion of Gujarat THE NR EYE contains details of important Divas– in Gujarat in 2015. Government’s matters to be considered before The Pravasi Bharatiya Divas flagship mega wedding to NRI. initiative was launched by the event held ear- Moiz Mannan The idea is to bring public federal government through lier this month awareness about what precau- the Ministry of Overseas was attended tions should be taken before Indians Affairs in 2003 as an by top functionaries of govern- ance to them. marriage, status of married attempt to institutionalise, ments, captains of industries Further, the Government woman under foreign laws, rules centralise and systematise a and investors, management has formed NRG committees of prevention of harassment etc. regular dialogue with overseas experts, dignitaries and del- in all the districts of the state The call to hold the Pravasi Indians. egates from 120 countries. for resolving any problems Bharatiya Divas in Gujarat was Although the event has been Making clear the vision for or issues faced by the Non- first given by Lord Prof Bhikhu criticised for failing to address the future, Modi was quoted as Resident Gujaratis, including Parekh, Indian-born political the pressing issue of low- saying at the summit: “There those related to their property thinker, after the event held at income and oppressed Indians was a time when Gujarati peo- and land. Jaipur, Rajasthan. abroad it has made some ple used to go abroad and make They can directly contact the This year, Chief Minister headway in other areas such the foreign land their home. Member Secretary Resident Modi raised the issue again, as involving NRI investment Now, in 21st century, it is Deputy Collector of the commit- arguing that 2015 would be in development, infrastructure Gujarat’s endeavour to create tee of the concerned district or most appropriate as it marked and industry. such an atmosphere that entire can get in touch with the NRI the centenary of Mahatma On this front, Gujarat has world come here to make this Division or The Non-Resident Gandhi’s return to India from already been pro-active, hav- land their home.” Japan and Gujarati’s Foundation (NRGF). South Africa. ing held the ‘Vibrant Gujarat’ Canada have become country The Foundation is issuing THE PENINSULA MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Need more national level leaders: Rahul Secularists must unite against divisive forces: Congress; party to reserve 30 percent posts for women

JAIPUR: Saying that the party he will treat all of them equally, 1,300-capacity Birla Auditorium. and the country were his life, will learn from their experiences Rural Development Minister newly-appointed Congress vice but will only play a judge. “It is a Jairam Ramesh, praising how president Rahul Gandhi yester- big responsibility. I will work for Rahul Gandhi made the Chintan day called for a “complete trans- everybody from today but I will Shivir into a youth-oriented one, formation” of the party system play the judge and not the law- said: “What we are seeing in and creating more national yer,” he said. He said the time has Jaipur is the Congress’ Obama level leaders “who can run the come to question the “central- moment”. country”. ised, unaccountable system and The Congress yesterday “The Congress party is my life, decision making must shift from appealed to the country’s secu- the people of India are my life, Delhi to the panchayats”. lar forces to join its ideological and I will fight for the people of “Why do a handful of people battle against the divisive forces India and my party, I will fight control the entire political space,” and condemned the opposition’s with everything I have,” Gandhi, he asked, adding that “people with “obscurantist philosophies”. 42, said in his first speech at the little understanding were sitting The Jaipur Declaration, All India Congress Committee at high positions”. In a moving adopted by the All India Congress session here after being made speech that won a standing ova- Committee here, “calls on all sec- officially the No.2 in the party. He tion, Gandhi recalled how his ular and progressive forces of the also said a “young and impatient mother Sonia Gandhi came to country to unite in this ideological India” is demanding a greater his room and cried on Saturday battle against those who polarise voice and role in decision making night after the party named him and divide our society”. and more accountability. the new vice president. “The Congress rejects the out- In a speech that touched on “Why did she cry?... she under- dated ideologies and obscurantist the ills of a centralised system of stands that the power many philosophies of the opposition par- government and on the anger and people seek is poison... She can ties and recommits itself to the alienation of the youth, who con- see it because of what it does principles of economic growth and stitute the mass of the country, to the people, and the people social justice which have come to Rahul Gandhi, speaking in Hindi around, and most important, she define the inclusive growth model and English alternatively, said the Rahul Gandhi hugs Prime Minister Manmohan Singh before delivering his first speech as Congress Vice-President is not attached to it (power),” of the Congress-led UPA govern- party “does not focus on leader- while his mother and Congress President Sonia Gandhi looks on during the party leadership conclave in Jaipur, said Gandhi. “We should not ment,” said the declaration. The ship development”. yesterday. chase power for the attributes Congress will set up a legal cell for The party needs to create 40-50 of power, we should only use it redressal of women’s grievances, leaders “who can run the country, in this country... all are closed “The job of the Congress is to has so much depth”. Gandhi said to empower the voiceless,” he and will reserve 30 percent posi- not just a state” and also create systems, designed for mediocrity, create leaders for the country,” he his new responsibility was a big added, amid thundering applause tions at all levels for them, said a similar set of leaders at the mediocrity dominates,” he said. said, adding that “no other party one and told party workers that of over 1,500 delegates inside the the declaration. IANS state level who can be made chief minister. Outlining the need for the 127-year-old Congress party to develop leadership and give BJP seeks apology from Shinde on Hindu terror remarks prominence to grassroots work- ers, Gandhi also asked the party JAIPUR/NEW DELHI: The Shivir in Jaipur, Shinde referred many times,” he added. Referring must apologise to the nation.” the peaceful atmosphere for to respect the youth demand for BJP has demanded an apol- to the involvement of right-wing to blasts in the Samjhauta BJP vice-president Mukhtar political reasons”. Congress lead- a greater role in decision-making. ogy from Home Minister elements in terror incidents and Express, at the Makkah Masjid Abbas Naqvi said Shinde’s remarks ers defended Shinde. “There is Gandhi, who heads Congress Sushilkumar Shinde’s for accus- said there was a need to be alert in Hyderabad and in Malegaon in were “objectionable, dangerous no Hindu or Muslim terrorism. coordination panel, is expected ing the its ideological mentor against misinformation. Maharashtra, Shinde said there and unfortunate” and demanded What he meant was right wing to lead the party in the 2014 gen- RSS of promoting Hindu terror- “After investigations, we have was misinformation about bombs an apology from Congress presi- terrorism,” said Minister of State eral elections. A chorus of voices ism in its training camps. Shinde seen that be it the BJP or the being planted by members of the dent Sonia Gandhi and general for Parlianmentary Affairs Rajeev from the party is demanding he clarified he had only stated what RSS, their training camps are minority community. BJP leader secretary Rahul Gandhi, now Shukla about Shinde’s remark. be declared the prime ministerial has been appearing in the media promoting Hindu terrorism. This Sushma Swaraj said: “Saffron named the party vice president, “We have known this for long. candidate. He said the youth was and his reference was to “saffron is a matter of concern. We are is the antonym of terrorism. apart from Shinde. Naqvi said a Shinde had the courage to say it,” angry and feeling alienated with terrorism”. keeping a strict eye on it,” Shinde Saffron is the symbol of our tra- nationalist organisation has been Congress leader Mani Shankar the existing system. “Until we Speaking at the All India said.“There was nothing new. I ditions, culture, renunciation and linked to terrorism and Shinde’s Aiyar told reporters. start to respect and empower peo- Congress Committee Chintan have spoken of saffron terrorism sacrifices. The home minister remarks amounted to “disturbing IANS ple, we cannot change anything Media hails Gandhi’s promotion

NEW DELHI: Indian news- said. “The party, it is evident, in parliament- is yet to name a can- papers yesterday trumpeted now feels that it will be in an didate to take on the Congress-led the elevation of Rahul Gandhi advantageous position... in case alliance but clamour is growing for to second-in-command of the of such a battle.” Modi to be pitched for prime minis- ruling Congress party and pre- Gandhi was on Saturday for- tership after he won key state polls dicted a showdown for the posi- mally named as the vice-president last year. tion of prime minister with of the party, propelling his long- The Hindustan Times said the opposition rival Narendra Modi anticipated accession to power Congress had stopped short of in 2014 polls. and paving the way for him to naming Gandhi as the candidate “Party finally crowns prince,” lead the party in general elections for the country’s top job “perhaps headlined the English-language next year. out of consideration for its sitting tabloid Mail Today over a full-page The Times of India said the stage octogenarian PM Manmohan spread that featured a smiling had been set for a possible show- Singh”. picture of the 42-year-old. down between Gandhi and Modi, In a front-page report head- The son, grandson and great- a hardline leader of the right- lined “Congress sends 2014 sig- grandson of Indian prime minis- wing Bharatiya Janata Party nal by elevating Rahul to number ters is now second in the Congress (BJP) who is widely expected to 2”, the daily also said the move to party’s hierarchy after his mother, run for prime minister in 2014. elevate Gandhi was in line with party president Sonia Gandhi, “As number two in the Congress, Congress’s shift of focus to the who led the party to back-to-back he has been, for all practical pur- youth and the middle class. victories in the 2004 and 2009 poses, pitched as the prime min- In the Hindi-language media, polls. The move indicated that the ister candidate of the party... thus the daily Navbharat Times head- Congress party was “not averse setting the stage for a showdown line read “Rahul vs Modi?” while to pitting him against Narendra with the Gujarat strongman,” it the Dainik Jagran talked about Modi and fielding him as its prime said referring to Modi. The BJP- the new roles and responsibilities ministerial candidate,” the Mail which is the main opposition party that awaited. AFP

Dangerous flashpoint

Farmers work at their field near the India-Pakistan border in Suchit-Garh, some 36km southwest of Jammu, yesterday. On both sides of the defacto border in Kashmir, villagers living on one of the world’s most danger- ous flashpoints have special reason to fear the return of tension between both nations.

MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

Adrift French solo PRAYER TIME News in Numbers WINDOW ON ECONOMIC sailor rescued in ACTIVITY 3 Fajr (Dawn) 5:01 Southern Ocean Shorook (Sunrise) 6:21 SYDNEY: A French lone sailor Zuhr (Noon) 11:45 adrift for days in a life raft on Asr (Afternoon) 2:49 huge Southern Ocean swells after his yacht sank was recov- Maghrib (Sunset) 5:11 ered yesterday by the crew of an Exports by selected main countries of Isha (Night) 6:41 Antarctic cruise ship that had raced to his rescue. destinations during Q2 and Q3 of 2012 Alain Delord was attempting to sail solo and without assistance WEATHER around the world when his yacht, Tchouk Tchouk Nougat, was dam- Today Tuesday Wednesday Weather aged in rough weather off south- Conditions: ern Australia’s Tasmania island Clear Clear Mostly sunny on Friday. The Frenchman was Misty to foggy forced to abandon ship and had at first at been adrift in a life raft on the High: 23° High: 24° High: 24° places with Southern Ocean since then. Low: 15° Low: 15° Low: 16° some clouds. An Antarctic cruise ship car- rying 100 passengers was diverted about 1,800km to his assistance. It battled worsening weather to reach him before sunset, amid DOHA - SUN & SEA fears he would have to spend a third night at sea. SUN TIDE SEA The Australian Maritime SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND Safety Authority (AMSA) said the Orion managed to find Delord 06:21 17:11 02:00 & 10:00 07:45& 18:30 SE - SW 10-5-15 KT and pluck him to safety, in an alert issued just after 9:30pm local time THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW (1030 GMT). “I’m very pleased to HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER confirm the solo sailor, who had been in a life raft in the Southern MUSCAT 26/18 Mostly sunny 25/18 Mostly sunny Ocean for the past three days, has MAKKAH 34/22 Clear 34/22 Clear been recovered by the cruise ship Exports by main countries in Q3 of 2012 KUWAIT 21/13 Mostly sunny 21/11 Clear Orion and AMSA believes he is BAHRAIN 21/15 Mostly sunny 21/14 Clear being taken to Hobart,” a spokes- SANAA 24/06 Clear 24/06 Clear woman said. The Orion was 11 days into RIYADH 25/10 Clear 23/10 Mostly sunny an 18-day passenger cruise of DUBAI 24/17 Mostly sunny 25/17 Mostly sunny the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic Other Countries Japan BAGHDAD 18/06 Clear 18/09 Mostly sunny when it was drafted into the res- cue. It was the only ship within THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW  100 nautical miles to respond to  HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER AMSA’s distress call. AMSA dropped Delord food, ATHENS 17/09 Mostly sunny 17/08 Mostly sunny water, communications equip- Taiwan South Korea WASHINGTON 05/-4 Snow showers -3/-8 Mostly sunny ment and a safety suit on Saturday SYDNEY 29/21 Mostly sunny 25/19 Chance of storms and had stayed in regular contact  LONDON 00/-5 Fog 01/00 Fog with him up to the rescue. The PARIS 04/-1 Chance of snow 03/-1 Chance of snow experienced yachtsman has been   ISTANBUL 29/23 Mostly sunny 13/08 Clear at sea since October last year and  MANILA 29/22 Mostly sunny 29/22 Mostly sunny was reportedly following the route  DHAKA 27/14 Clear 26/14 Clear of the Vendee Globe round-the- China India DELHI 16/06 Clear 16/05 Clear world ocean race. AFP ISLAMABAD 17/04 Mostly sunny 16/07 Mostly sunny Source : http://www.qsa.gov.qa/ Pakistanis flock to Fatburger Low-budget horror KARACHI: On a Saturday Johnny Rockets Group Inc, House of the United Arab Franchising is also booming afternoon in Pakistan, dozens another American fast-food group Emirates; and five foreign frozen as businesses battling Pakistan’s film Mama takes of teenagers and young families based in Aliso Viejo, California, that yogurt chains. record energy outages seek alter- stand in line at an upmarket operates or franchises 68 ham- Consumer spending in Pakistan natives to factories that can’t Karachi mall, waiting to order burger restaurants in 16 countries, has increased at a 26 percent run without adequate power, burgers at the latest fast-food Second Cup Ltd, a coffee shop average pace the past three years, said Samiullah Mohabbat, Chief store in town. chain based in Missisauga, Canada, compared with 7.7 percent for Executive Officer of Fatburger big box office win “I’ve been coming here every with over 360 cafes and Malaysia’s Asia, according to data compiled Pakistan and the country repre- alternate day for the past month to MammaRoti and PappaRoti are by Euromonitor International, a sentative for the World Franchise NEW YORK: Jessica Chastain CIA agent in Zero Dark Thirty, see if it’s opened yet or not,” Hana set to open their first stores in consumer research firm. Association. Mohabbat received overpowered Mark Wahlberg, the weekend’s second-place film Khan, consultant for restaurant Pakistan this year. Taliban insurgencies along over 100 queries this year from Arnold Schwarzenegger and oth- about the decade-long manhunt delivery website foodpanda, said at “Food is universal, it tran- the border with Afghanistan, entrepreneurs wanting to buy ers as her low-budget horror flick for Osama bin Laden. The movie the January 5 launch of Fatburger, scends politics,” Don Berchtold, nationwide bombings and politi- franchise rights for international emerged as the North American has taken in $55.9m since late a Beverly Hills, California-based President and Chief Operating cal unrest have plagued Pakistan’s food chains. “In this business, you weekend box office champ and December. hamburger chain that also oper- Officer of Fatburger North economy, limiting growth to an get money in your pocket from her Oscar-nominated Zero Dark Silver Linings Playbook, an ates in 14 countries outside the America Inc, said. “In food, peo- average of three percent a year. the very first day,” he said. Thirty captured the second spot Oscar-nominated romantic com- United States. Within two hours ple don’t look at relations between Even so, Pakistan’s middle class The number of foreign food as well. edy about a former mental patient of the doors opening, all 130 seats countries. They just want to eat.” has doubled to 70 million people franchises in Pakistan will “eas- Chastain’s supernatural trying to rebuild his life, expanded inside were taken and dozens of The company, which was in the past decade as booms in ily double” in the next two years thriller, Mama, pulled in $28.1m nationwide for a strong third- people were waiting at the order- founded in 1952, plans to open agriculture and residential prop- as more coffee houses and casual from Friday through yesterday place finish and a $55.3m total ing counter. four more stores in Pakistan over erty, as well as jobs in telecom dining outlets enter the country, at US and Canadian theatres, since the movie starring Bradley Local and overseas business the next three years, including and media have helped peo- Mohabbat said. About two dozen according to studio estimates, Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence groups are queuing up to buy its biggest in the eastern city of ple prosper, according to Sakib foreign food franchises oper- beating out a crop of new tes- opened in late autumn. franchise rights in Pakistan for Lahore with a capacity to seat as Sherani, Chief Executive Officer ate in Pakistan since Louisville, tosterone-fuelled, male-targeted Both Oscar contenders handily an array of popular food sold from many as 175 people. at Macroeconomic Insights in Kentucky-based Yum Brands releases that finished far back in beat out a pair of new, male-ori- Los Angeles to Kuala Lumpur, Since 2011, several food chains Islamabad. Inc’s Pizza Hut opened two dec- the pack. ented films, as did crime thriller driven by rising demand from a have opened their first outlets As Pakistanis join the middle ades ago, followed by the same Zero Dark Thirty, for which Gangster Squad. booming middle class in South in the world’s sixth-most popu- class, they seek international company’s KFC in 1997 and Oak Chastain is a leading best actress The Last Stand features Asia’s second-biggest economy lous nation, including Hardee’s cuisines made popular by the Brook, Illinois-based McDonald’s Oscar contender, took in $17.6m, Schwarzenegger’s return to a after India. Pakistanis increas- Food Systems Inc, headquar- television and Internet boom of Corp, the following year. while another late 2012 release starring, big-screen role after a ingly flock to American food out- tered in St Louis; Atlanta-based the past decade. A traditional KFC plans to open 40 more and Oscar favourite, Silver Linings seven-year break while he was lets even as ties between the two cinnamon roll maker Cinnabon Pakistani diet consists of curries, stores in Pakistan over the next Playbook, finished third with serving as governor of California, nations are strained. International Inc; The Noodle lentils and wheat bread. five years to expand its network of $11.35m. Broken City, a crime but managed only $6.3m to finish 64 outlets in 18 cities, said Rafiq thriller starring Wahlberg and 10th. The former Terminator will Rangoonwala, Chief Executive Russell Crowe, finished fifth with star in three movies over the next Officer of Cupola, the company $9m behind Gangster Squad’s $9.1m, 12 months. Schwarzenegger plays with the franchise rights for KFC, while Schwarzenegger’s new action a retired Los Angeles policeman the biggest fast-food chain by out- film, The Last Stand, earned $6.3m who works to protect a tiny bor- lets in Pakistan. for a dismal 10th place. der town from a notorious drug Pakistanis spend Rs90bn Mama stars Chastain as a gui- kingpin. The film was produced ($924m) a year on eating out at tarist who doesn’t want children for about $45m. the 20,000 restaurants nation- but is forced to take care of two The studio noted that the wide because of a paucity of orphaned nieces who have been weekend was crowded with sev- other entertainment facilities, living in the woods. She and her eral movie-going choices, and said Nauman Mirza, founder and husband try to re-adjust the little that two films were competing Chief Executive Officer of Food girls to normal life. for the same audience, referring Connection Pakistan, an online Based on a 2008 short film, to the weekend’s other new movie, restaurant guide. Luxury shop- the movie was produced for Broken City, which stars Wahlberg ping malls in major cities have roughly $15m. “This is a great as a former New York cop who also given foreign retail and food result, one we never would have uncovers a scandal involving the franchises the opportunity to expected especially for a film of mayor, played by Russell Crowe. open stores in a modern setting. this genre,” said Nikki Rocco, The top 10 movies were rounded “Pakistan is an amazing des- Universal’s president for domestic out by A Haunted House, Django tination for food outlets because distribution. Unchained, Les Miserables and The eating out has become the nation’s “The timing was perfect,” she Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. biggest source of entertainment,” said, noting “the key was it’s a Zero Dark Thirty was released by said Ghulam Hussain Soomro, PG-13 movie that appealed to the Sony Corp’s movie studio. The Last owner of Berrylicious, a local fro- under-25 female audience”. The Stand was distributed by Lions zen yoghurt chain that opened in studio said it was hopeful that as Gate Entertainment. The Hobbit 2011. “Every new place that opens the only PG-13 film in release this and Gangster Squad were released up is packed because the spend- month it would continue to find by Warner Bros, a unit of Time ing power of the masses when it an audience. Warner Inc. A Haunted House was Customers wait in line to order at a Fatburger outlet in Karachi. comes to eating out is amazing.” Chastain is a best actress Oscar released by Open Road Films. WP-BLOOMBERG nominee for her role as a dogged REUTERS Monday 21 January 2013 9 Rabial I 1434 Volume 17 Number 5586 Price: QR2

Al Meera rights on January 27

Business | 19

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 QIB profits at QR1.24bn; Doha Bank profit up by 5.1pc DOHA: Doha Bank’s net profit Mohammad Bin Jabor Al Thani, total deposits increased from recorded an impressive 5.1 per- Managing Director of the bank, QR31.7bn in 2011 to QR34.4bn in cent growth for the year 2012. declared that the bank has 2012. THE PENINSULA The annual profit of the coun- achieved noticeable growth rate Continued on page 18 assets rise by 25.6pc try’s fourth largest lender in the total operating income of reached QR1.305bn in 2012 as 3.6 percent, where the total oper- compared with QR1.241bn in ating income rose from QR2.3bn Bank’s customer deposits increase by 55 percent 2011. in 2011 to QR2.4bn in 2012. Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammad The earnings per share was bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman of QR6.3. The return on adjusted DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank to QR1.77bn for 2011. Net fee the Board of Directors (BoD) of average shareholders’ equity and (QIB) has announced a net income was QR417.2m com- Doha Bank, announced that the the return on average assets were profit of QR1.24bn for the pared to QR300m in 2011. BoD in its meeting yesterday 20.6 percent and 2.42 percent year 2012. This strong operating per- approved the draft of the bank’s respectively. QIB Board of Directors has formance has enabled the bank audited financial statements for The bank recorded remarkable proposed a 37.5 percent profit to strengthen its financial the year ended 2012. The BoD growth rates in all financial indi- distribution to sharehold- position by allocating QR502m decided to present a recommen- cators. The total assets rose from ers, subject to the approval of towards improving the pro- dation to the General Assembly QR52.7bn in 2011 to QR55.2bn in Qatar Central Bank and to be vision coverage on financial to approve the distribution of 2012, up 4.7 percent. Loans and discussed in the next meeting of investments and financing cash dividends of 45 percent of advances rose from QR31bn to Chairman of the Board of Directors QIB General Assembly. activities compared to QR194m the paid-up capital — QR4.5 per QR33.8bn, a growth rate of 8.9 of Doha Bank Sheikh Fahad bin Total assets have increased in 2011. share — to the shareholders. percent. Customers’ deposits Mohammad bin Jabor Al Thani. by 25.6 percent compared to Total shareholders’ equity of Sheikh Abdul Rahman Bin grew by 8.5 percent, where the December 31, 2011 and now the bank reached QR11.5bn as stand at QR73.2bn. at December 31, 2012, helping Financing activities continue it maintain its healthy capital to be the major growth driver adequacy ratios. and have now reached QR43.1bn QIB’s healthy capitalisation having added QR13.5bn, repre- QIB chairman Sheikh Jassim bin and strong asset has enabled senting a 45.7 percent growth Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor Al Fitch Ratings to affirm QIB over the past one year. Thani. Long-term Issuer Default Customer deposits of the Rating at ‘A’ with a Stable bank have registered a strong Outlook. growth of 55 percent and now generated last year, reflecting Standard & Poor’s has also stand at QR43.1bn, reflecting a strong growth in the bank’s core assigned counterparty credit well-balanced financial position. operating activities. ratings of ‘A-‘ long-term and Total income for the year Financing income has grown ‘A-2’ short-term, with a stable Doha Bank Group CEO, R Seetharaman, (seated fourth left) is flanked by Executive Manager of Private Banking reached QR3.1bn, which is 16 by 17 percent to reach QR2.08bn outlook on the long-term. Abdullah Al Asadi (third left) and Head of Retail Banking Suresh Bajpai, along with other members of the management percent higher than QR2.68bn at the end of 2012 compared THE PENINSULA team during the announcement of the financial results at bank’s headquarters, yesterday. SHAIVAL DALAL MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Iranian aviation Regency launches firm dedicated to realty market DOHA: The Regency Group approach to valuations in Qatar. between the parties concerned.” Holding yesterday launched The firm will carry out valuations On the possible clients that the “Escrow International” , the of all real estate assets including company is likely to provide its sector faces first company of its kind in residential, commercial, retail, services, Fadi said, “we are look- Qatar that will provide high industrial, hospitality and special ing at offering our services to the quality real estate services to uses such as hospitals and schools. Ministry of Municipality and its customers. All the valuations are carried out Urban Planning, Civil Defence, The company promises to offer in accordance with the stand- Qtel, Kahramaa and all property turbulent times safe and reliable transactions and ards set by the Royal Institution developers”. transfer of property from seller of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) He said the company will also to buyer within the country. The and International Valuation offer assistance in registration of company will be overseen by Al Standards (IVSC). property, reviewing building per- Some airlines may be shut down Asmakh Real Estate Development Commenting on the role of mits or property, review state- Company, the realty arm of the the new company Fadi Barakeh ments of leases, check the status TEHRAN: Sky-rocketing fuel increased fare prices by 70 per- Regency Holding Group. (pictured), General Manager, Al of tenants , in addition review and and ticket prices, a drop in cent on domestic flights and 90 In addition, Al Asmakh Real Asmakh Real Estate Company, follow up on insurance of property passenger traffic and foreign percent on international flights, Estate Development has started said: “We will provide safe and all necessary measures to com- other related services. currency shortages, all result- leading to a 25 percent drop in a professional division for prop- secured real estate transactions, plete the real estate transaction “We are confident that custom- ing from global sanctions, have passenger traffic, said airlines erty valuations and real estate thereby facilitating the transfer of between the seller and the buyer ers, whether they are either from forced Iran’s aviation sector association chief Abdolreza research. The department con- real property with ease and help no matter how big the value or Qatar, regional or international, into turbulent times. Mousavi. sists of expert professionals from in reducing losses and financial complex the deal may be accord- having their account with Escrow Aviation experts believe that “The income of companies various disciplines. risks that customer may face”. ing to the highest standards of will be definitely benefited from some airlines in the Islamic dropped by 15 percent since The industry diversity and depth “We as a third party, or neu- transparency and profession- our services,” Fadi said. republic will fail to weather these August,” Mousavi said, adding provides a multi-dimensional tral for both parties, will take alism without discrimination THE PENINSULA stormy days and be forced to even that some carriers are “on the shut down. verge of bankruptcy... due to the “It is likely that some small air- collapsing rial, fuel hikes, and lines will be out of business due inaccessible foreign exchange.” A long wait to rises in fuel prices,” Hamid “They do not have money to pay Kuwait’s China Saudi crude oil Reza Pahlevani, head of Iran’s their debt.” Civil Aviation Organisation, was In January, the planes of investment quota exports fell to 7.15 quoted as saying by the Iranian domestic airlines, Mahan Air and media this week. Aseman, were grounded for a few increased to $1bn million bpd in Nov The state-owned National hours by NIORDC which refused Iranian Oil Refining and to refuel them because it said they KUWAIT: China’s for- DUBAI: Saudi crude oil Distribution Company were behind on their payments. eign exchange regulator has exports fell by 124,000 barrels a (NIORDC), apparently facing The state-owned jet fuel sup- increased the amount which day (bpd) to 7.154 million bpd in financial difficulties like many plier now demands cash up front Kuwait’s sovereign wealth November, according to official other firms, tripled the price of from all airline companies, media fund can invest directly in the data published by the Joint Data jet fuel in October, making mat- reports say. Chinese securities markets Initiative (JODI) yesterday. ters worse for domestic airlines. Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister, Ali to $1bn, state news agency The world’s top crude oil Iranian media reports that the Reza Zeighami, has put the pend- KUNA reported yesterday. exporter cut its production by price of jet fuel for international ing payments from such airline The regulator awarded 232,000 bpd from October to 9.492 flights has soared to IR21,000 companies at around IR7,500bn Kuwait an additional $700m million bpd in November, largely ($0.75) from IR7,000 ($0.25) per ($225m). quota on top of $300m awarded due to a 232,000 bpd drop in Saudi litre, while domestic flights now The turmoil in the sector has in March last year, KUNA said. oil use for power generation and have to cough up IR7,000 per litre, led Austrian Airlines to stop fly- Kuwait said last year that it lower demand abroad. up by 75 percent. ing while Dutch carrier KLM was seeking a maximum quota Offsetting the fall in Saudi elec- They say the price hike is said it would cease operations of $1bn. tricity sector demand, its refinery driven by a plan to reduce the from April. European carriers The quota allows the fund to intake rose by 53,000 bpd month gap between Iran, where fuel is like Lufthansa, Alitalia, Turkish buy yuan-denominated stocks on month, while the kingdom put subsidised, and Gulf Arab states. and Aeroflot still land in Iran, and bonds. Only five other an average of 193,866 bpd of crude The price increase is also a however. foreign investors in China into storage, the latest JODI fig- result of high inflation, officially Despite these financial diffi- have quotas as large as $1bn, ures show. estimated at 25 percent, and the culties, Iranian travel agencies according to records; they are Official figures for December plunging value of the rial — a have released large and colourful Qatar Holding, the Hong Kong exports will not be published by direct result of Western sanc- advertisements in mass-selling Monetary Authority, Norway’s JODI until mid February, but tions imposed on Tehran to halt dailies, offering overseas trips Norges Bank, Government of Saudi Arabia has told Opec it cut its suspicious nuclear programme. ahead of the country’s New Year, Singapore Investment Corp, production by 467,000 bpd to 9.025 Oil and banking embargoes by Nowrouz, observed on March 21. and Singapore-based invest- million bpd in December. the US and the European Union The aviation crisis has also ment firm Temasek Fullerton. Export and internal power have also led to a shortage of for- ruffled the nation’s political class Chinese officials were not demand figures published yester- eign currency in Iran. Adding fur- critical of the government’s sub- immediately available to com- day support a Saudi oil official’s ther pressure is the doubling of sidy-easing policy. ment on the KUNA report. But claims that some of the reduction airport taxes following the lifting “By increasing the price we will Guo Shuqing, chairman of the in production in late 2012 was a of subsidies. have achieved in one week what China Securities Regulatory result of lower seasonal demand With companies losing their the US have sought unsuccessfully Commission, indicated last week in Saudi Arabia. edge in buying foreign currency for 30 years — to ground Iran’s that authorities would continue Saudi production in December since the end of 2012, the cost of aviation industry,” the conserva- to open up channels for overseas Pakistani motorists wait in line at a compressed natural gas (CNG) was more than a million barrels buying equipment and mainte- tive Jomhuri Eslami newspaper fund inflows into China, lifting refuelling station on the outskirts of Islamabad, yesterday. Pakistan below its peak production last nance has also doubled. quoted an unnamed source as sentiment in the local stock has substantial natural gas reserves and in the past the government summer, when the kingdom’s own The result is that airlines have saying. REUTERS market. REUTERS encouraged motorists to convert their cars to run on CNG to reduce oil use rises because it burns oil to generate electricity. dependency on imported oil. REUTERS Doha Bank forms alliance JP Morgan lead manager with top bullion brand for Doha Bank share sale BY SATISH KANADY Continued from page 17 currencies. Dr R Seetharaman The total shareholders equity said Doha Bank has launched DOHA: JP Morgan will be the lead manager for Doha reached to QR7.6bn by year end, an extensive suite of bullion Bank’s upcoming share sale, the bank’s Group CEO Dr R an increase of 6.6 percent as products including the “Gold Seetharaman said here yesterday. compared to last year. Investment Loan” product, ‘Go Qatar’s fourth-biggest lender announced early this month Doha Bank’s successful results for Gold Campaign’ and ‘Loan that it will increase its capital by 50 percent. The idea is to are largely attributable to its against Pre-Owned Gold’. initially raise capital by 25 percent by offering the shares and strategy to innovate, diversify Doha Bank has also estab- expand the capital by another 25 percent through issuing glo- and capitalise on market syner- lished a strategic alliance with bal depositary receipts (GDR). The issuance of the GDR and gies, as it continues to increase PAMP, a world leading bullion shares will be a ‘one composite deal’. “Regarding the issuance of shareholder value, noted Dr brand. The bank also unveiled rights, we have the technical know-how. Still capital right is one R Seetharaman, Group Chief the new branch identity at the aspect the lead manager will look into,” Dr Seetharaman said. Executive officer. Gate branch, and inaugurated He said the details of the rights issue will be announced On the liability management two more e-branches during after the extraordinary shareholders meeting scheduled to be front, Dr R Seetharaman said the year. Doha Bank Assurance held on February 20, 2013. The offering will be held after an “Doha Bank has successfully Company LLC, a wholly owned extraordinary shareholders meeting on the same day. completed the senior bond issue insurance subsidiary of Doha “We are working on the technical aspects of the issuance. of $500m under its Medium Bank opened its first retail insur- We need to create the prospects. It needs to go to international Term Note Programme of $2bn. ance branch at C-Ring Road. markets and road shows.” The issue was oversubscribed On the international front, On Doha Bank’s international expansion plans, Dr nearly eight times which speaks Doha Bank upgraded its Abu Seetharaman said the bank is keen on cross-border business. volumes on the faith of global Dhabi representative office to a “We have got very successful commercial gates around the investors in the bank’s strong full scale branch and also opened world, from Japan to London. We have aspirations to go fur- performance in recent years, its a new representative office in ther”, he said. strategy, franchise and leading Sydney, Australia. Doha Bank He said Qatar’s SME sector is doing very well. But it needs to market position along with the has made arrangements for focus on Corporate discipline. Banks and financial institutions impressive economic growth in banking and remittance services need to take calculated risks in terms of granting loans to the Qatar. for expats through arrangements start-ups. Business discipline is becoming an issue in the SME Also, the bank introduced with Commercial Bank in Sri sector. “Doha Bank has many models with Qtel and Qatar the Al Jana series 5 in multi- Lanka and Bank of Philippines Development Bank. We have successful relationships with SME ple regional and international Island. THE PENINSULA sector. Our dedicated SMEs programme TATWEER is doing really well”, he said. THE PENINSULA National Bank of Oman Q4 profit jumps 48pc

DUBAI: National Bank of of OR10.2m ($26.5m) in the final average fourth-quarter profit 15-percent rise in net interest Oman, the sultanate's fourth- three months of 2012, according of OR8.7m. income, which increased to 67.2 largest lender by market to Reuters calculations based on Full-year profits stood at million rials in 2012. capitalisation, posted a 47.8 previous financial statements, OR40.7m, climbing 19 percent Loans and advances grew percent rise jump in fourth- up from OR6.9m in the same on the previous year's figure of by 14 percent in 2012, hitting quarter net profit yesterday, period in 2011. OR34.2m, a statement to the OR1.91bn against OR1.67bn at beating analysts' expectations. Four analysts polled by Muscat stock exchange said. the end of 2011. The lender made a net profit Reuters had estimated an The bank was helped by a REUTERS MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Dubai bourse Al Meera rights issue from January 27 DOHA: Al Meera Consumer Goods Company yesterday announced it has completed all mandatory steps ahead of hits 32-month raising its capital by 100 per- cent through the issuance of 10 million ordinary shares for subscription by its existing shareholders. The process will begin on closing high January 27, and continue until February 10, 2013. The company has appointed Masraf Al Rayan Most regional markets rally to manage the subscription. “Al Meera’s growth in the past DUBAI: Dubai’s bourse rose YESTERDAY’S HIGHLIGHTS several years has been extraor- to a 32-month closing high in dinary; therefore, a rights issue heavy trade yesterday as it DUBAI: The index rose 1 percent was imperative in light of the tested, but failed to break, long- to 1,792 points. company’s new market position,” term technical resistance. Most ABU DHABI: The index gained 0.6 said Dr Mohammed Nasser Al regional markets also gained. percent to 2,782 points. Qahtani, Deputy Chief Executive The Dubai index, buoyed by QATAR: The index edged up 0.04 Officer of Al Meera. a budding recovery in the real percent to 8,625 points. “Simultaneously, Qatar’s eco- estate market and the belief that EGYPT: The index advanced 0.4 nomic development has also been the emirate has largely put its percent to 5,685 points. extraordinary to say the least, 2009-2010 corporate debt crisis OMAN: The index advanced 0.07 and this capital increase will Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Qahtani, Deputy CEO of Al Meera (right) and Adel Mustafawi, Masraf Al Rayan’s Group behind it, climbed as high as 1,803 percent to 5,811 points. allow us to expand and compete CEO, after signing the agreement at Al Meera head office in Doha, yesterday. ABDUL BASIT points before it finished up 1.0 KUWAIT: The index climbed 0.3 more effectively in Qatar and percent at 1,792 points, its high- percent to 6,158 points. other markets,” Al Qahtani said. est close since April 2010. BAHRAIN: The index eased 0.06 Al Meera’s rights issue is in line selection of Masraf Al Rayan for closer with the institution in the Masraf Al Raya’s capabilities The index was testing major percent to 1,081 points. with the company’s decisions of its the rights issue is completely future as we continue to grow and in carrying through with this chart resistance between 1,778 SAUDI ARABIA: The index edged Extraordinary General Meeting aligned with Al Meera’s objectives develop.” project,” said Mustafawi. points, the 2012 high hit in March up 0.06 percent to 7,054 points. held on October 8 to double the of maintaining all its banking Adel Mustafawi, Masraf Al “Our partnership with Al last year, and the October 2010 company’s capital through a rights transactions through partners Rayan’s Group Chief Executive Meera is in line with our strategy peak of 1,793 points. parent OCI in exchange for ordi- issue to its existing shareholders. who prove to have strong financial Officer, thanked Al Meera for to consistently support national Any clean break — a close nary shares in OCI NV. It also The rights issue will be priced at platforms and flexible solutions selecting the bank to handle the Qatari companies by providing above that area for at least two offered to acquire all of OCI’s QR95 per share (QR10 nominal for our requirements. Masraf Al rights issue transaction. them with the best financial solu- successive sessions — would trig- ordinary shares in exchange for value and QR85 premium). Ryan was a natural choice, as “We are delighted to have tions that help them extend their ger a major double bottom formed OCI NV shares or 280 pounds in Commenting on the company’s the bank is one of Qatar’s leading been appointed as the partner businesses within and beyond by the 2012 and early 2011 lows, cash per share. appointment of Masraf Al Rayan Islamic financial institutions with bank for the service by Al Meera Qatar as well as enhance their with a technical target above “Should more than 95 per- to oversee the rights issue trans- a history of delivering excellence. Consumer Goods Co, which financial positions.” 2,200 points in coming months. cent of investors in OCI accept action, Dr Al Qahtani said: “Our We look forward to working even reflects the company’s faith in THE PENINSULA “The market has the potential the offer, the company would to break the 1,800 level, which was then have the option to force the tested today — the volumes were remaining shareholders to sell significant and a continuation on and to delist OCI in Cairo — we last week’s volumes,” said Musa think this is the likeliest option,” Haddad, head of investment advi- NBK Capital said in a research QNB, Mannai join forces to offer cloud services to SMEs sory services at National Bank of note, adding that the fair value of Abu Dhabi. OCI shares was close to the cash DOHA: QNB, the largest finan- teams. As part of this alliance, Abdulla Mubarak Al Khalifa, employees and investors alike. Investors may decide to book offer price. cial institution in the Middle QNB customers that are look- General Manager, QNB Corporate QNB and Mannai believe that gains in the next few sessions, but Delisting OCI would take a East and North Africa (Mena) ing to take advantage of this deal Banking. IT infrastructure is not auxiliary this could merely allow medium- chunk of trading volume off region, has joined forces with can enjoy ‘Software as a Service’ As Mannai’s sole partner, but rather a primary business and long-term investors to buy at the Egypt exchange, where the Mannai to offer its small and (SaaS), cloud-based offerings, through this exclusive deal QNB investment for one’s business. As lower prices. company accounts for about 25 medium-sized (SME) corporate ‘Infrastructure as a Service’ is also offering business support, such, corporate customers are “This is a huge recovery for the percent of total market capitali- customers cloud and other lat- (IaaS) as well as ‘Communication financial arrangement, support always keen to have a stable IT Dubai market, heading to 2,200 sation. “The loss in liquidity will est IT technology services. as a service’ (CaaS) from Mannai. and banking service to customers. infrastructure but without a huge to 2,400 points,” added Haddad. be quite severe,” NBK added. Non-QNB customers looking “Cloud computing is a model In addition, this cloud service amount of initial investment. “The market has been basing out Egypt’s index closed 0.4 per- to take advantage of this offer for enabling convenient and on will act as an easy launch for IT For over 20 years, Mannai has for a few years and this is a bullish cent higher, up 4.1 percent so far need to open a relationship with demand network access to a infrastructure and be a platform been working closely with busi- confirmation on the Dubai mar- in January. The Egyptian pound QNB’s SME business sector and shared pool of configurable com- for services with the latest IT nesses helping them to keep in ket, which should continue for a continued sliding to fresh record list QNB as the preferred bank. puting resources. Further, these technology. line as technology advances. As couple of years.” lows against the US dollar yes- Both new and existing custom- can then be rapidly provisioned QNB said in a release yester- part of Mannai’s ‘SME Cloud The market traded 446 mil- terday but many investors are ers will benefit from cost saving and released with minimal man- day that it is always looking for- Offerings’ the company provides lion shares during the day, a lit- still betting Egypt can avoid an IT infrastructure as well as over- agement effort or service provider ward to be ahead of the curve that SME’s with a deeper understand- tle below the peak of 505 million outright currency collapse, so the head cost reduction by minimising interaction before being utilised ensures it is the bank of choice ing of cloud computing and ICT. shares traded on January 9, which depreciation has not hurt stocks. administration or IT maintenance on a ‘pay as you go’ model,” said for customers, stakeholders, Today, Mannai offers SME cus- was the highest in about a year. Elsewhere, shares in Saudi con- tomers in Qatar the opportunity Bellwether Emaar Properties struction firm Abdullah A M Al to experience enterprise level ICT rose 4.1 percent, National Central Khodari Sons Company plunged solutions for just a fraction of the Cooling (Tabreed) added 2.4 8.3 percent to their lowest close traditional costs. percent and Union Properties in January. “Mannai is committed to build climbed 6.3 percent The construction firm said a long-lasting and strategic part- Abu Dhabi’s measure gained 0.6 late on Saturday that its fourth- nership with QNB to ensure total percent to its highest close since quarter net profit dropped 50 satisfaction and measurable busi- November 2010. Heavyweights percent, mainly because of higher ness results for the companies First Gulf Bank and Etisalat costs. It cited government poli- under the SME/Private sector climbed 2.1 and 0.1 percent cies to encourage more hiring of in Qatar,” said Khalid Mannai, respectively. local citizens rather than foreign- Executive Director of Mannai In Egypt, Orascom ers, such as a quota system for Corporation. Construction Industries (OCI) employees. The latest QNB campaign is helped lift Cairo’s bourse after Costs may rise further after the expected to start in mid January US investors committed to invest labour ministry said in November ahead of a soft launch in March $1bn in its unit OCI NV. Shares that companies employing more which will include a signing cer- in OCI rose 1.7 percent to close at expatriate workers than Saudis emony and a series of public 271.70 pounds ($41.15). would be charged a fee of SR2,400 announcements. OCI NV said on Friday it had ($640) a year for each excess for- This will be followed by the full launched an exchange offer to eigner. Saudi Arabia’s measure rollout later in the year. acquire all of the outstanding ticked up 0.06 percent. Top officials of QNB and Mannai during the press briefing, yesterday. THE PENINSULA Global Depositary Receipts of THE PENINSULA

QFBA and QFMA to hold CISI graduation ceremony Jazeera Airways raises capital by 74pc KUWAIT: Kuwait’s Jazeera Airways yesterday said it had raised its capital by 74 percent to KD42m ($149m) through a share issue DOHA: The Qatar Finance your needs and the needs of your which was 2.25 times oversubscribed. and Business Academy (QFBA) organisation. And that the learn- The airline issued 178 million shares priced at 100 fils each from and Qatar Financial Markets ing environment also needs to December 16 to 31, it said in a statement. There are 1,000 fils in a dinar. Authority (QFMA) plan to hold give professionals the time and The share sale is the latest in a series of capital raising measures a graduation ceremony for 25 space to think.” by Kuwaiti companies. In December, Burgan Bank issued a KD100m professionals. The course is designed to posi- bond, the largest ever local currency issue by a company in the Gulf These professionals are tively impact participants to help Arab state. REUTERS graduates who have success- improve the local standards of the fully completed the recent key positions within the exchange QFMA programme module 1 in market by making sure that key ‘Introduction to Securities and decision makers are highly cer- Investments’ which is licensed tified and trained to meet an by the Chartered Institute for international level. Moreover, in Securities and Investment (CISI). preparation for the exam, QFBA • Bullion - Mumbai The graduation ceremony is offered a Preparatory Course Gold (10 gm) Standard Rs. 30550 an opportunity to honour those on International Introduction Silver (1 kg) Rs. 59265 professionals who have success- to Securities and Investment • Indian Rupees QR1 = 14.66 fully passed the course that is which was available in English • Sensex mandated by QFMA and helps and Arabic. One of the main improve the standard of pro- FROM LEFT: Dr Abdulaziz Al Horr, CEO of QFBA, Nasser Al Sheeby, CEO of benefits of taking the study and BSE 20039.04 fessionals within the exchange QFMA, and Simon Culhane, CEO of CISI, during the press briefing. exam preparation course is that it NSE 6064.40 market. provides candidates with a com- • LIC (International) launches New Gold Investment Plan ‘GOLD PLUS’ – The ‘Introduction to Securities investment industry. The module national vision for 2030. prehensive understanding of the which provides an opportunity to invest in GOLD ETF & GOLD SPOT, PAN and Investments’ is one of the also examined the main invest- Dr Abdulaziz Al Horr the CEO subject matter. Card/Demat Account not required. modules required by the QFMA ment products in the market as of QFBA, said: “This gradua- The Preparatory Course also • Short-term investment plan from LIC International upto 6.4 percent return for practitioners looking to well as the changing roles of regu- tion ceremony is a testament to reduces the amount of self study p.a. (in dollar) obtain or renew their license to lations and ethics. QFBA’s vision to continue help- that is required by the candi- • Housing loan from HDFC LTD undertake any of the regulated QFBA and QFMA have ing organisations on their jour- date and students will be able to functions. moved a step further in achiev- ney while sharing the necessary effectively prepare for the exam. • Mutual Fund: Buy & Sell: SBI MF, HDFC MF, UTI MF, Birla Sun Life MF, Further, through this mod- ing development of the human knowledge, skills and experiences. Importantly, the course is deliv- Tata MF, Reliance MF etc. ule graduates were introduced capital in the Qatari Financial QFBA recognises that learn- ered by CISI certified leading Contact: Investec, Tel: 44325060/44365060 email: [email protected] to the importance of the global sector towards attaining the ing needs to be designed around trainers. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

Boeing unlikely to suffer Budget constraints limit Japan fallout over 787 BY TIM KELLY Obama’s 2nd term agenda ecades of deep business ties between Boeing Co and Japan and the thousands of jobs that depend on them BY ANDY SULLIVAN would trim costs over the medium term. level since the government began keeping mean Japan will likely keep rewarding US manufactur- As part of a deal that allowed the gov- track in 1962. An automatic cut due to take Ders with the bulk of its aviation spending. Boeing’s 80 S President Barack Obama ernment to avert a first-ever debt default effect in March, known as the “sequester,” percent share of commercial airline sales in Japan is unrivalled. starts his second term in office in August 2011, Obama and his Republican will slash discretionary spending another 8 In every other major market, including the United States, the facing unprecedented budget adversaries agreed to spending limits that percent unless Democrats and Republicans US planemaker’s share is around half, with the rest going to constraints that will challenge would slow government spending growth by agree on a way to head it off. European rival Airbus. his ability to implement his $1,000bn over 10 years. Obama frequently invokes the spending The health of Japan’s aerospace industry — dismantled by the Ueconomic vision. Those caps in the 2011 Budget Control caps to rebut Republican charges that he US after Tokyo’s defeat in World War Two — has long been inter- Spending caps that Obama signed into Act do not apply to popular benefits like does not care about reducing trillion-dol- twined with the fortunes of Boeing’s commercial jetliners and the law in 2011 will make it difficult to boost the Social Security retirement program lar deficits. He proposed another $100bn in 787 Dreamliner in particular. The Dreamliner, grounded globally investment in education, scientific research, and Medicare, the health plan for retirees. non-military discretionary cuts during his this week after a series of mishaps, including an emergency land- transportation and other areas that he says Obama and fellow Democrats have so far fiscal-cliff talks last month with Republican ing of an All Nippon Airways domestic flight, is around one third will help the country retool for heightened blocked Republican proposals to scale back House of Representatives Speaker John made-in-Japan. global competition and rapid technological these programs, which are projected to grow Boehner. But he also warns that deep pro- “If you’ve been driving on the right, you don’t want to shift to change, budget experts say. at the same rate as the economy for the gram cuts will undermine future competi- the left,” said an aerospace industry official in Japan who didn’t Because those caps won’t keep pace with next four years before expanding as aging tiveness. “The cuts we’ve already made ... want to be named due to the issue’s sensitivity. He said that, inflation and population growth, the govern- Baby Boomers drive up costs. mean that we spend less as a share of our unless it became really serious, the 787’s problems were unlikely ment will effectively have 16 percent less Instead, the caps cover the 36 percent of economy than has been true for a gen- to decouple Japan from Boeing. to spend in these areas by the time Obama government spending that is set annually by eration,” he said at a news conference on Flag carrier Japan Airlines Co Ltd has never bought an Airbus leaves office in 2017, according to White Congress. Known as discretionary spend- Monday. “And that’s not a recipe for growth.” plane, and ANA was the first to fly the 787. ANA was also a launch House estimates. That could constrain col- ing, this category covers everything from The White House says it will be able to customer for Boeing’s 777 and is the biggest international operator lege loans, preschool education, job training the Defense Department to the National work within the spending caps to prioritise of the US firm’s 767 passenger jets. and other programs that Obama says will Endowment for the Arts. It also includes the areas it cares about most. Those Japan-Boeing ties were initially spurred by trade diplo- boost national competitiveness. social programs that Obama allies say are But experts with experience in federal macy when Japan was the target of US protectionist ire two “Under the caps as they are currently con- crucial for his agenda of broadening oppor- allocations say it will be exceedingly difficult decades ago because of Tokyo’s massive trade surplus. Japanese structed, we’re going to see pretty significant tunity and expanding the middle class. to carve out room from other budget areas. airlines buying a few 747 jumbo jets could help re-tilt some of diminishment of investment in all of those “If you were looking into all the corners The Census Bureau predicts the US pop- that balance. things,” said Scott Lilly, who spent decades of the budget to find those programs that ulation will grow by 12.5 million over the Now, however, with Japan’s trade surplus erased by a strong writing spending bills as a Democratic helped to promote the economic mobility coming four years. That will place increased yen and the fading competitiveness of its exporters, Tokyo’s “Buy staffer in the House of Representatives. of disadvantaged people, many, if not most, demands on the government, requiring American” incentive has shifted from soothing trade friction to Since taking office in 2009, Obama has would be there,” said Jared Bernstein, a many agencies to boost staffing to avoid a protecting Japanese jobs. tried to balance his belief in an active gov- former economic adviser to Vice President performance downgrade, Lilly said. “In the past, diplomatic relations likely influenced purchases. ernment with concerns that the nation’s Joe Biden. The White House estimates that The FBI, for example, will need more Now Japan is putting its effort into building (the planes),” said finances are on an unsustainable course. nonmilitary discretionary spending will crime fighters, and the IRS will need more Hiroyuki Kobayashi, an aviation consultant who was a JAL pilot Even as he has pushed through more than shrink from 4.3 percent of the economy tax examiners. Increased highway traf- for 42 years. $1,000bn in spending increases and tax cuts in the fiscal year that ended on Sept. 30, fic will degrade roads more quickly, and Japan’s share of the build — and of the profit — has grown with to fight the deepest recession in 80 years, 2011 to 2.8 percent when he leaves office increased air traffic will require more air each successive Boeing model, from below a fifth for the 767 and he has floated deficit-reduction plans that in January 2017. That would be the lowest traffic controllers. REUTERS a quarter for the 777 to more than a third for the 787. Among the key Dreamliner components made in Japan are the technically complex wings built by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd, the maker of Japan’s wartime Zero fighter. It is the first time a foreign firm has built wings for a Boeing jetliner — part of a global supply chain linked by upsized 747 cargo jets, dubbed “Dreamlifters”, that ship the 787 parts for final assembly by Boeing in Washington State and South Carolina. Fuji Heavy Industries, maker of Subaru cars, builds the 787’s wing box that connects the wings to the fuselage, while Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd, best known for its motorbikes, makes part of the fuselage wing flaps and landing gear. The plane’s toilets are supplied by Jamco Corp. More than five dozen Japanese firms are among the suppliers for Boeing’s civilian and military divisions, providing 22,000 jobs — around 40 percent of Japan’s aerospace industry. Any switch to Airbus planes would, therefore, be bad news for Japan Inc, said an official at one of Boeing’s suppliers in Japan. “Japanese companies don’t have much presence in the Airbus supply chain,” he said, declining to be identified. Also hurt could be Japan’s bid to break into the commercial regional jet market. Mitsubishi Heavy makes the Mitsubishi Regional Jet (MRJ), a fuel-efficient, 90-seater due to make its maiden flight this year, and designed by engineers who learned their trade working on Boeing planes. Toyota Motor Corp owns a 10 percent stake in the MRJ ven- ture, a reflection of the historical ties linking Japan’s aviation and auto firms. After Japan’s aircraft industry was closed down after World War II many of the country’s aeronautic engineers ended up in car companies. Beyond the commercial considerations, Japan’s military insecu- rity is another reason to stick with the “Made in America” policy. Bound in a security pact under which the US must defend Japan, Boeing and other US defence contractors including Lockheed Martin and Raytheon Co remain in pole position for military con- tracts from a nation that will spend $52bn on its military in the year to March — despite the restraints of a pacifist constitution. Last year, Lockheed Martin became the most recent US ben- eficiary of Japan’s defence spending, winning a $7bn contract to supply Japan with its F-35 fighters, beating a competing bid from the Eurofighter consortium. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Dollar gains as economic data disappoints the markets he US dollar started positive figures from the US and inventories, which may hurt bitter federal budget negotiations from October, when it declined a the week on a soft tone China pushed investors to riskier producers. The Empire States that have led to higher taxes for revised one percent. against a basket of cur- assets. The Euro closed the week Manufacturing Index dropped to many Americans. The Thomson British inflation held at 2.7 per- Trencies as the risk rally at 1.3321. -7.8 from the previous -7.3. Reuters/University of Michigan’s cent for the third month running sparked by the unanimity of the Cable lost grounds through- The rebound in US homebuild- preliminary reading on the over- in December, in line with forecast ECB’s decision combined with out the week, as sentiments on Weekly Money Market Review ing accelerated in December, all index of consumer sentiment as a rise in gas and electricity bills positive comments from Mario the economy remained vulner- capping the best year for the came in at 71.3, the lowest reading was curbed by falls in fuel costs. Draghi, continued. able after a recent series of weak bond buying programme, an effort industry since 2008 and adding since December 2011, down from The Office for National Statistics The greenback started to gain economic data, including a con- to push inflation to two percent, to signs residential real estate is 72.9 the month before. The Index said utility prices rose 3.9 percent traction at mid-week as data traction in the services sector in its highly anticipated target rate. contributing to economic growth. was expected to increase to 75. on the year while fuel costs fell released from the US manufac- December that fuelled concerns The yen gained some footing as Housing Starts climbed 12.1 per- Retail sales in the US rose more by 0.2 percent. Stubborn inflation, turing sector disappointed the over a triple-dip recession. The concerns over the US debt ceiling cent last month to a 954,000 than expected indicating that con- above the Bank of England’s two market and pushed investors sterling pound started the week pushed the currency to 89.70 lev- annual rate, exceeding expecta- sumers looked beyond the politi- percent target since November towards safer assets. However, at 1.6132 and then reached a high els. The Japanese yen closed the tions. In a separate report, build- cal bickering regarding the “Fiscal 2009, is likely to have been a key better-than-expected employ- of 1.6155 but quickly lost its gains. week at 90.10. ing permits, a measure for future Cliff” at the end of the year. Sales argument against quantitative ment and housing data in the US The pound broke a number of key The Federal Reserve Bank construction, climbed less than climbed by 0.5 percent, the big- easing to support growth at the along-side falling borrowing costs support levels to reach a low of of Philadelphia’s general eco- starts, indicating that the indus- gest gain in three months, after bank’s monthly policy meeting in Spain fuelled the risk-on trade 1.5854, and closed the week at nomic index dropped to — 5.8 try may also have acquired a lift a revised 0.4 percent increase in previously. High inflation has put and sent investors chasing higher- 1.5870. from 4.6 in December. Readings from unseasonably warm weather, November that was larger than pressure on consumer spending, yielding assets such as stocks and The Japanese yen continued to lower than zero signal manu- a sign that the industry will take a previously reported. which accounts for around two abandoning their safe-havens. depreciate across the board, as facturing in the area covering break in the coming months. The The number of Americans fil- thirds of all expenditure in the Nonetheless, the move was limited investors anticipate aggressive eastern Pennsylvania, south- number of authorisations issued ing new claims for unemployment British economy. by constant US debt concerns. bond purchasing programmes to ern New Jersey and Delaware is climbed 0.3 percent in December benefits tumbled to a five-year low UK retail sales unexpectedly The euro reached a high of be added to match the expected contracting. to a 903,000 annual rate, the most last week, a hopeful sign for the fell in December as consumer 1.3404 as the risk rally from target of two percent on the Bank The report follows New York since July 2008, from a 900,000 sluggish labour market. Claims uncertainty extended into the the previous week continued. of Japan upcoming meeting today Fed data released earlier this pace in November. fell 37,000 to a seasonally adjusted key Christmas trading season However, the single currency lost and tomorrow. The yen gained week showing factory activity Consumer sentiment unex- 335,000, the lowest level since for British stores. Sales includ- most of its gains after comments some momentum amid comments shrank for a sixth straight month pectedly deteriorated for a sec- January 2008. ing fuel declined 0.1 percent from from EU Finance Minister Jean- from the Japanese economics min- and raises the risk manufactur- ond straight month to its lowest Euro-area industrial production November. Economists expected Claude Juncker that the euro level ister that a weaker yen would hurt ing, once a pillar of the recov- level in over a year in January, unexpectedly fell in November, a 0.2 percent increase. Household is “dangerously high,” pushing the the economy. On Friday, the yen ery, will again weaken in early with many consumers citing the adding to signs the 17-nation cur- goods fell the most in almost three currency to the low of the week dropped against the greenback to 2013. Looming changes in federal recent “fiscal cliff” debate. The rency bloc’s contraction deepened years. From a year earlier, total at 1.3257. The currency gained reach 90.21 amid news that the spending and stagnant prices give sharp drop in sentiment over the in the fourth quarter. Output in sales rose by 0.3 percent. dramatically on Thursday as BoJ will engage in an unlimited companies little reason to expand last two months coincides with the euro area dropped 0.3 percent THE PENINSULA MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

QE Indices Summary QE Index 8,625.33 0.04 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 2,524.38 0.01 % QE Total Return Index 11,673.19 0.04 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,073.78 0.12 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,003.1 0.04 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 4779.717 14.73 0.31 4779.717 4664.6 QE All Share Industrials 2,725.3 0.44 % QR197.5518 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 1,388.65 0.11 % Cac 40 Index/D 3724.85 16.36 0.44 3733.93 3680.61 UK ...... QR 5.7436 QR 5.8131 QE All Share Real Estate 1,630.54 0.19 % SILVER Euro ...... QR 4.8062 QR 4.8961 QE All Share Insurance 1,922.9 0.24 % Dj Indu Average 13511.23 -23.66 -0.17 13661.9 12035.1 QR 3.7005 QE All Share Telecoms 1,116.88 0.30 % CA$ ...... QR 3.6386 QR 3.7087 QE All Share Consumer Goods & Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 4,784.51 0.42 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.8545 QR 3.9287 Services Hang Seng Inde/D 23339.76 -17.23 -0.07 23515.86 22860.25 Yen ...... QR 0.0399 QR 0.0409 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.7832 QR 3.8792 Iseq Overall/D 3464.05 2.19 0.06 3526.74 3396.67 CRUDE OIL Today Previous day Ind Re ...... QR 0.0667 QR 0.0682 20-01-2013 17-01-2013 Karachi 100 In/D 16291.09 109.62 0.68 16935.52 16036.31 Index 8,625.33 8,621.73 BRENT Pak Re ...... QR 0.0370 QR 0.0377 Change 3.60 44.07 Nikkei 225 Index 10609.64 9.2 0.09 10952.31 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0883 QR 0.0910 % 0.04 0.51 $ 110.68 SL Re ...... QR 0.0285 QR 0.0290 YTD% 3.19 3.14 S&P 500 Index/D 1472.63 0.29 0.02 1474.51 1266.74 DUBAI Taka ...... QR 0.0454 QR 0.0463 Volume 2,920,508 5,103,213 Straits Times/D 3195.1 -13.4 -0.42 3237.78 3160.83 Nep Re ...... QR 0.0419 QR 0.0427 Value (QAR) 165,012,303.46 196,451,326.86 $ 108.22 Trades 2,142 3,233 SA Rand ...... QR 0.4107 QR 0.4207 Straits Times/D 2989.31 24.69 0.83 3035.78 2657.77 Up 16 | Down 21 | Unchanged 02

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 20-01-2013

Commodities rev up on promising data and hopes for stronger demand OMMODITY markets platinum is back trading at par- high of $24/barrel. The contrac- to $1700/oz, a major test of the moved up a gear during ity to gold for the first time since Weekly Commodity Update tion was triggered by the contin- current strength and conviction Cthe past week as strong March 2012. ued improved outlook for the US among investors could be tested performances were recorded The prices of key crops such as economy combined with the long soon with $1710/oz. offering plenty across most sectors apart from corn, wheat and soybeans have BY OLE HANSEN awaited expansion of the Seaway of technical resistance. A move industrial metals and livestock. begun to move higher again follow- (Head of Commodity Strategy, pipeline from Cushing, the deliv- higher through this level would Chinese and US economic data ing recent corrections. Prices are ery hub for NYMEX WTI crude, help steady the market’s nerves, Saxo Bank) continued to improve, raising the being supported by drought con- to refineries along the Mexican especially among leveraged inves- prospects for the global economy ditions in the US and Argentina Gulf. The increased flow of crude tors such as hedge funds who and supporting increased demand plus a recent US government currently the January high at with this assumption as its lat- oil to the Gulf will help reduce have been scaling back net-long for commodities. The S&P 500 report which pointed towards $113.30/barrel while support can est long-term energy outlook saw supply pressure on Cushing and positions in recent weeks. Price index recorded additional gains further tightness in stocks dur- be found at the 200-day moving OPEC’s spare capacity reaching at the same time make more of action is, however, now very much while the dollar was unchanged ing this current crop season. This average currently at 109. six million bpd by 2015, the high- the oil that was previously land- driven by economic data from the against the euro but made addi- raises the need for a bumper Mixed signals from major oil est since the late 1980s. Increased locked available to the interna- US with improved data creating tional gains against the Japanese 2013/14 harvest so once again , players spare capacity is one the most tional market where prices are headwinds while weaker does the yen, which hit a 2.5 year low - the weather developments across the Both OPEC and the important factors when looking currently determined by that opposite. main story in currency markets so key growing regions on the north- International Energy Agency for price stability and following of Brent crude. As the chart Gold and silver together with far this January. ern hemisphere will be watched (IEA) released their monthly Saudi Arabia’s cut in December its below shows, the spread has now the two PGM’s platinum and pal- Strong gains were particularly closely as spring approaches. reports this week. The IEA’s spare capacity (defined as volume reached support at $15/barrel and ladium should however continue seen in natural gas which has Algeria hostage crisis sup- report warned about tighten- of production that can be brought a break below would signal addi- to find support as QE is nowhere begun to recover from a milder- ports oil markets ing oil markets due to increased on within 30 days and sustained tional WTI crude outperformance near its completion, forward infla- than-expected winter sell-off and The energy sector was gener- Chinese demand and reduced for at least 90 days) has risen to as it moves closer to international tion expectations stays near recent received a further boost from a ally stronger as the danger of geo- Saudi Arabian supply. The west- the highest level since January levels. Forward prices on the two highs and physical demand from bigger-than-expected decline political-led price spikes surfaced ern countries’ oil watchdog said it 2011. crude oils currently indicate that China especially should pick up as in US inventories which points once again. The hostage crisis in expected demand growth to rise WTI crude in demand as it will take another two years for the economic outlook continues towards robust demand. Platinum Algeria received some attention by 930,000bpd in 2013, up from a spread to Brent crude shrinks the spread to halve from here. to improve. As the chart below and palladium rallied on news as it raised concerns about the previous estimate of 865,000 bpd. The outperformance of WTI Gold higher but investor shows the key support remains that production of platinum in security of energy infrastructure OPEC, meanwhile, struck a more crude oil prices over Brent crude uncertainties persist the 200-day moving average at South Africa is going to be scaled in the country which produces cautious note when saying that which we have seen during the Gold has managed to recover $1662/oz. while the main resist- back. This put the focus on dwin- around 1.4m bpd. Brent crude oil increased competition from non- last month continues with the from its early January slump ance area to look out for is $1710/ dling supplies at a time of robust moved back towards the higher OPEC suppliers due to new pro- spread contracting before finding which was triggered by uncer- oz as mentioned due to trend-line demand from the car industry, end of its current range but did duction techniques could trigger support at USD 15 /barrel. This tainty about the duration of and Fibonacci resistance converg- especially in the Far East and the not find enough ammunition to reduced demand for the cartel’s is the lowest level since last July quantitative easing (QE) in the ing on this level. US. In consequence, the price of challenge resistance, which is oil. BP seems to have gone along and it comes after an October US. Having moved back close THE PENINSULA MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Garcia tees off new season in Doha Spanish legend keen to carry hot form into Commercial Bank Qatar Masters

DOHA: Popular Spaniard Commercial Bank Qatar Sergio Garcia will play his first Stallings competitive round of the year in Masters past champions Doha on Wednesday, when the 2012 Paul Lawrie former world number two will 2011 Thomas Bjorn storms five start as one of the favourites 2010 Robert Karlsson at the $2.5m Commercial Bank 2009 Alvaro Quiros Qatar Masters. 2008 Adam Scott The event will start on a ahead at Wednesday for the first time and 2007 Retief Goosen conclude on Saturday. 2006 Henrik Stenson Garcia, 33, has chosen to start 2005 Ernie Els Sergio Garcia of Spain in action Challenge his 2013 campaign at Doha Golf 2004 Joakim Haeggmann at last year’s Club, which he says ‘feels like 2003 Darren Fichardt home’ and houses the acclaimed Commercial LA QUINTA, California: 2002 Adam Scott 7,374-yard Championship Course Bank Qatar Scott Stallings capitalized on designed by Peter Harradine. 2001 Tony Johnstone Masters at the a pair of eagles to surge five The current World Number 2000 Rolf Muntz Doha Golf Club. strokes clear of the field with 18 is preparing to compete in 1999 Paul Lawrie a sizzling display of “conserva- the tournament for the seventh 1998 Andrew Coltart tively aggressive” golf in the straight year and eighth time in third round of the Humana total, having made his tourna- competition. Garcia travelled to Challenge yesterday. ment debut in 1999, the year he Dubai in late November and fin- One shot off the pace over- turned pro. ished joint ninth in The European night, the 27-year-old American “I love going back to Doha and Tour’s season-ending DP World fired a nine-under-par 63 on the competing in the Commercial Tour Championship. Nicklaus Private course at PGA Bank Qatar Masters. I’ve been In December, he finished fourth West, one of three venues host- competing there for a long time in the Asian Tour’s Thailand Golf ing the tournament renowned for now and I still remember play- Championship, but saved his best its low scoring in the California ing at Doha Golf Club for the first for last, crowning his first appear- desert. time, when I was just 19,” said ance in Malaysia by shooting a Bidding for a third victory on Garcia, who has been practising closing 11-under 61 to win the the PGA Tour, Stallings eagled in his native Castellon province rain-shortened Iskandar Johor the par-five 13th and eighth after in Spain. Open for his 24th professional starting out at the 10th to take “I have a lot of friends in Doha title. ExxonMobil supports command with a 22-under total of and it somehow feels like coming “I played really well in the sec- 194 in the pro-am celebrity event. home, so I’m very happy to start ond half of 2012 and had two great “I feel good,” Stallings told my new season there. The golf wins, in the US and in Malaysia. reporters after scrambling well club, the Qatar Golf Association My final round in Johor was in a round that also included five and Commercial Bank do a great fantastic and shooting 11 under CB Qatar Masters birdies. “I played well. I stayed job organising the tournament, anywhere makes you feel great, aggressive. I’ve been smart when which is why I’m so happy to play especially as it gave me the tro- DOHA: Commercial Bank and the Qatar ExxonMobil Open to another exciting edition in I got out of position. there each season and I usually phy. It was a really good way to Qatar Masters organisers have tennis tournament. 2013.” Andrew Stevens, Group “I guess you can say it’s con- play pretty well.” finish the year. Now, I want to confirmed that long-stand- “Qatar is becoming increas- CEO of title sponsor Commercial servatively aggressive. Like Garcia tied for fifth last start my 2013 season in the same ing partner of the tourna- ingly known for its involvement Bank of Qatar commented, “The number eight today, I hit a really February, his fourth top-10 finish way in Doha,” said Garcia, who ment, ExxonMobil Qatar, will in sports through staging world- sustained support of ExxonMobil good drive and had eight iron,” he in his five previous appearances in will arrive today. once again provide support class events, and we are proud to Qatar is vital to the on-going said of his second eagle. Doha, having tied for seventh in Garcia will compete along with for Qatar’s leading golf event play a part in that ever-devel- success of the Commercial Bank REUTERS both 2008 and 2009, and finished four European team-mates from in 2013. This year’s event will oping success story,” said Bart Qatar Masters. ExxonMobil joint ninth in 2011. last September’s winning Ryder be hosted by the Qatar Golf Cahir, President and General Qatar shares our passion for The 10-time European Tour Cup team – World Number Five Association (QGA), the Qatar Manager of ExxonMobil Qatar sports and for continuing to Humana Challenge winner is determined to start his Justin Rose, Martin Kaymer, Olympic Committee (QOC) Inc. raise Qatar’s profile as a premier new season in the same form he Peter Hanson and defending and Commercialbank Qatar at “At ExxonMobil, we believe sporting venue, making them an US PGA Scores finished last year. In August, he champion Paul Lawrie. Doha Golf Club from January that by sponsoring events such ideal and important partner.” LA QUINTA, California: secured his eighth PGA Tour title Jose Maria Olazabal, Captain 23-26. as the Commercial Bank Qatar Hassan Al Nuaimi, QGA Leading third-round scores at the Wyndham Championship of the victorious team, and Paul ExxonMobil celebrates 16 Masters we can help support President, added “We are yesterday in the $5.6m US and the following week tied for McGinley, recently appointed years of partnership with the State of Qatar as an inter- delighted that ExxonMobil PGA Tour Humana Challenge third in The Barclays, also in the Team Europe Captain for 2014, the Commercial Bank Qatar national sports arena, ulti- Qatar has continued its associa- on the Palmer Course, US. will also be in the field. Other Masters in 2013, having spon- mately highlighting Qatar’s role tion with the Commercial Bank Nicklaus Course and La In late September, the pas- leading players include World sored the tournament ever since as a global business and invest- Qatar Masters for a 16th year. Quinta Country Club course sionate Spaniard lifted the Number Four Louis Oosthuizen, its inception in 1998. ExxonMobil ment hub. It has been fantastic ExxonMobil’s contribution to the (USA unless noted, all par-72): Ryder Cup trophy for the fourth fellow South African Ernie Els, has become a leading supporter to see the Commercial Bank success of the tournament and time, playing his part in the the reigning Open Champion of sports in the State of Qatar Qatar Masters grow into a to Qatari sports in general since 194 Scott Stallings 66-65-63 ‘Miracle at Medinah’ by beating and four-time Major winner, and through high profile sponsor- leading event on The European our first year of partnership in 199 Roberto Castro 63-67-69, Stewart Jim Furyk 1-up in Sunday’s sin- American star Jason Dufner, a ships with events such as the Tour since it was first staged 1998 has been remarkable.” Cink 66-67-66, Charles Howell gles in his sixth appearance for two-time winner on last year’s Commercial Bank Qatar Masters in 1998 and we look forward THE PENINSULA 67-65-67, John Rollins 70-65-64, Europe in the world-famous team US PGA Tour. THE PENINSULA Charley Hoffman 65-67-67 200 Bae Sang-moon (KOR) 67-69-64, Kevin Streelman 69-65-66, Brian Stuard 71-67-62, Kevin Stadler 66- Rose, Dufner impress ahead of Qatar challenge 66-68, Brian Gay 67-66-67, Ryan Palmer 65-69-66, Billy Horschel 67- DOHA: World Number Five way and it Grace, a on the cusp of producing some- shot a closing 70, which left the 68-65, Lee Williams 67-65-68 Justin Rose’s runner-up finish would have four-time thing special as the American reigning Open Champion tied for 201 Jason Kokrak 63-69-69, David in Abu Dhabi has confirmed him been lovely winner on star prepares to make his tour- 39th on two-under. Lingmerth (SWE) 68-64-69, Nicholas as one of the favourites to win- to finish it off last year’s nament debut in Doha. The four-time Major winner Thompson 69-66-66, Richard H. Lee this week’s $2.5m Commercial wire to wire. European “I got off to a good start, but heads to Doha bidding to add to 66-65-70 Bank Qatar Masters. It was a long, Tour, fin- I couldn’t convert a par putt on his previous victory in 2005. 202 Daniel Summerhays 65-68-69, Zach World Number 11 Jason Dufner, hard week to ished fifth nine and from there I just couldn’t Paul Lawrie carded a 72 to fin- Johnson 66-66-70, James Hahn former World Number One end up finish- at 10-under get anything going. I hit it well ish even-parbefore heading to 63-67-72, Ricky Barnes 65-68-69, Martin Kaymer, Peter Hanson ing second. after the and played pretty well the whole Doha, where the 44-year-old Scot Robert Garrigus 66-67-69, Jimmy and Branden Grace– all among I’ve had three 24-year-old week, but just didn’t quite score will defend his title. Lawrie won Walker 66-70-66, Bo Van Pelt 66-68- the highest-ranked players at seconds now South African as well as I’d like. The putter the first of his Commercial Bank 68, Brandt Snedeker 67-68-67, Bryce Doha Golf Club this week – also in the UAE, bagged 10 didn’t quite cooperate and a cou- Qatar Masters titles in 1999. Molder 66-68-68, Aaron Baddeley finished in the top 10 in the Abu but I’ll keep Justin Rose birdies in a Jason Dufner ple of putts each day added up to World Number Four Louis (AUS) 64-68-70, Ben Kohles 68-68- Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship chipping away 65, the day’s a pretty big number,” said Dufner, Oosthuizen and popular Spaniard 66 on Sunday. at it,” said lowest round. who won twice on last year’s US Sergio Garcia are two of the star Rose, who led after each of the Rose, one of five players from Kaymer, a 10-time European Tour PGA Tour. players in Doha this week who first three rounds, lipped out with Europe’s victorious 2012 Ryder winner, shot a 69 to tie for sixth “I feel like my game is right did not compete in the UAE, but his birdie putt on 18 to narrowly Cup competing in Doha. at nine-under. there. I never feel like I’m too both are confident after winning NBA Results miss forcing a play-off with even- “I will hopefully have another Dufner, the third-highest far off from playing really well. their most recent tournaments. Sacramento 97 Charlotte 93 tual champion Jamie Donaldson. opportunity to go one better in ranked player in this week’s field I came over to play these two Oosthuizen won this year’s first San Antonio 98 Atlanta 93 After signing for a closing one- Qatar.I don’t think I need to do in Qatar, carded a 68 to sharen- events, in Abu Dhabi and Doha, European Tour event, the Volvo Memphis 85 Chicago 82 under-par 71 and a 13-under total anything different. I just need inthplace at eight-under along which have got some great fields, Golf Champions in his native Golden State 116 New Orleans 112 of 275, the tall Englishman said to keep chipping away and keep with Hanson (69), a two-time great golf courses. I’m look- South Africa, while Garcia won he was increasingly determined swinging well. I think I’m gaining winner on last year’s European ing forward to Doha and play- last month’s Iskandar Johor Open Minnesota 92 Houston 79 to get his hands on the Mother of more confidence with the putter, Tour. ing some more golf here in the on the Asian Tour and will start his Utah 109 Cleveland 98 Pearl Trophy at Doha Golf Club. so I believe I’m going to make the Dufner, who shot five birdies in Middle East.” 2013 campaign in Doha. Milwaukee 110 Portland 104 “I ran with the lead the whole putts more often than not.” his first eight holes, believes he’s South African legend Ernie Els THE PENINSULA LA Clippers 94 Washington 87

NHL Results Kings ring in short season with banner ceremony Pittsburgh 3 Philadelphia 1 Ottawa 4 Winnipeg 1 LOS ANGELES: The Los ring ceremony before the Stanley Captain Dustin Brown then Hook Elementary School shooting his team’s slow start was the Chicago 5 Los Angeles 2 Angeles Kings finally got to Cup was paraded around the brought out the Stanley Cup victim Ana Marquez-Greene. result of being distracted by the unfurl their first championship Staples Center ice with each of as the sold-out crowd of 18,545 Former Kings all-star Marcel ceremony. Goaltender Jonathan Boston 3 NY Rangers 1 banner yesterday in a colourful the players taking a turn lifting cheered. Dionne was also on the ice for the Quick, who had off-season back Toronto 2 Montreal 1 ceremony after a labour dispute it over his head. “I thought the Kings did a fan- ceremony. Hall of Famer Dionne surgey, had a rough night. led to a three-month delay to “I was thinking this is great tastic job with the ceremony,” played 18 seasons in the NHL and “We just couldn’t get any New Jersey 2 NY Islanders 1 the start of the NHL season. and now I would like to win said Los Angeles defenceman Rob is considered the greatest player momentum,” Sutter said. Tampa Bay 6 Washington 3 The lockout-shortened season, another,” said Kings defenceman Scuderi. of all time never to win a Stanley “Tonight, (Quick) wasn’t very Florida 5 Carolina 1 originally set to begin in October, Matt Greene. “It was awesome to The black and white banner Cup. Because of the lockout, the good.” got underway with the Kings’ be part of the history.” was raised to the rafters where Kings have had ample time to Scuderi stressed that getting St Louis 6 Detroit 0 dropping a 5-2 afternoon game Kings’ play-by-play announcer it will hang permanently. That recover from any Stanley Cup off to a good start in a truncated Columbus 3 Nashville 2 to the 2010 Stanley Cup cham- Bob Miller served as master is a departure from the 11 Los hangover. But the Blackhawks 48-game season is crucial. pion Chicago Blackhawks on a day of ceremonies, calling out the Angeles Lakers NBA champi- spoiled the party by blowing the “With all the added games Dallas 4 Phoenix 3 when 26 of the league’s 30 teams names of each player as they onship banners which sit on the game open with four goals in the against teams in your own con- Minnesota 4 Colorado 2 were in action. skated up individually to receive south wall of the arena. opening 21:16 minutes and then ference it is a four-point swing The Kings pre-game ceremony their Tiffany and Company-made Also taking part in the cer- cruised to victory.Kings coach every night. It is going to be a fun Anaheim 7 Vancouver 3 featured the banner raising and a championship rings. emony was the family of Sandy Darryl Sutter said he didn’t think ride,” Scuderi said. AFP MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Australian Open Schedule Djokovic beats Wawrinka in MELBOURNE: Order of play for show courts at the Australian Open today (x denotes seeding): ROD LAVER ARENA 11:00 am (0000 GMT) epic; Radwanska advances Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x10) vs Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS) Followed by Victoria Azarenka (BLR x1) vs Elena Vesnina Sharapova sets Australian Open record with victory; Ferrer through (RUS) Jo-Wilfried Tsonga (FRA x7) vs Richard Gasquet (FRA x9) MELBOURNE: Novak fight. I always believed I could win Djokovic survived an almighty the match and I am absolutely Australian Open 7:30 pm scare from an inspired Stan thrilled to be in the next round. Serena Williams (USA x3) vs Maria Kirilenko Wawrinka in a five-hour, five- It certainly brings back memories Results (RUS x14) set thriller at the Australian of last year with Rafa.” Milos Raonic (CAN x13) vs Roger Federer Open yesterday, reaching a 15th Wawrinka, who left the court MELBOURNE: Collated results from day (SUI x2) consecutive Grand Slam quar- with tears in his eyes, was dis- seven of the Australian Open yesterday: HISENSE ARENA ter-final but only after digging traught after coming up short Not Before 12:30pm himself out of a huge hole. despite playing the match of his Women’s Singles Jeremy Chardy (FRA) vs Andreas Seppi For the first 50 minutes of the life. (ITA x21) contest, Wawrinka played as if “I think it’s the best match I’ve Fourth Round possessed by his compatriot Roger ever played,” he said. “At the end Bojana Jovanovski (SRB) vs Sloane Stephens (USA x29) Federer and confounded the world I was really close and I was really Ekaterina Makarova (RUS x19) bt Not Before 5:00pm number one with brilliant back- sad to lose, it was a great disap- Angelique Kerber (GER x5) 7-5, 6-4 hands and ferocious forehands to pointment for sure.” Gilles Simon (FRA x14) vs Andy Murray (GBR x3) notch up five straight breaks of In the women’s draw it was Maria Sharapova (RUS x2) bt Kirsten serve. business as usual as Maria Flipkens (BEL) 6-1, 6-0 MARGARET COURT ARENA Even when Djokovic had weath- Sharapova progressed with bru- 11:00am ered the worst of the storm and tal efficiency to reach the last Li Na (CHN x6) bt Julia Goerges (GER Varvara Lepchenko (USA)/Zheng Saisai clawed his way back from 6-1, 4-1 eight having lost just five games (CHN) vs Kimiko Date-Krumm (JPN)/Arantxa down to win the second and third all week - an Australian Open x18) 7-6 (8/6), 6-1 Parra Santonja (ESP) sets, the world number 17 made record. the Serbian earn every point and Agnieszka Radwanska contin- Agnieszka Radwanska (POL x4) bt Ana Followed by forced a decider after a dramatic ued her perfect start to the year Ivanovic (SRB x13) 6-2, 6-4 Marcos Baghdatis (CYP)/Grigor Dimitrov tiebreak. with her 13th successive victory to (BUL) vs Juan Sebastian Cabal (COL)/ The Swiss blew four precious set up a quarter-final with Li Na, Men’s singles Robert Farah (COL) break points in the ninth game while David Ferrer eased further Sania Mirza (IND)/Bob Bryan (USA x3) vs of the fifth set and Djokovic con- into the gap in the draw left by his Fourth Round Abigail Spears (USA)/Scott Lipsky (USA) verted his third match point with injured compatriot Nadal. Natalie Grandin (RSA)/Vladimira Uhlirova a brilliant backhand winner to Injury-hampered fifth seed David Ferrer (ESP x4) bt Kei Nishikori (CZE x14) vs Ashleigh Barty (AUS)/Casey seal a 1-6, 7-5, 6-4, 6-7, 12-10 win. Angelique Kerber crashed out, (JPN x16) 6-2, 6-1, 6-4 Dellacqua (AUS) In a conscious echo of his win however, and she was joined at SHOW COURT 2 over Rafa Nadal in last year’s the exit by men’s eighth seed Nicolas Almagro (ESP x10) bt Janko 11:00 am nearly six-hour final on Rod Janko Tipsarevic, who retired Tipsarevic (SRB x8) 6-2, 5-1 ret Laver Arena, Djokovic ripped off from his tie with a foot problem Julien Benneteau (FRA)/Edouard Roger- Vasselin (FRA) vs David Marrero (ESP)/ his shirt and roared in delight after spending more than 11 hours Tomas Berdych (CZE x5) bt Kevin Fernando Verdasco (ESP x11) at a victory which kept alive his on court in his four matches Anderson (RSA) 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (15/13) hopes of a third successive title at yesterday. Followed by Melbourne Park. Sharapova has achieved her Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) bt Novak Djokovic of Serbia celebrates after winning his fourth round match Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS)/Lucie “We are only halfway through four wins in just 249, earn- Stanislas Wawrinka (SUI x15) 1-6, 7-5, against Stanislas Wawrinka of Switzerland at the Australian Open in Safarova (CZE) vs Jelena Jankovic (SRB)/ the tournament but it felt like ing more than $1,000 a minute 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 12-10 Melbourne, Australia, yesterday. Djokovic won in five sets. Mirjana Lucic-Baroni (CRO) a final to me,” said Djokovic, given the $250,000 purse for Simone Bolelli (ITA)/Fabio Fognini (ITA) vs who will meet fifth seed Tomas quarter-finalists. Mahesh Bhupathi (IND)/Daniel Nestor (CAN Berdych in the next round. The second seed was held up compatriot Ekaterina Makarova, year with much less hoopla than many winners, but she has good x5) “He deserved equally to be a briefly when her serve deserted who upset Kerber 7-5, 6-4. Sharapova but with almost as hands,” she said after her defeat Robin Haase (NED)/Igor Sijsling (NED) vs winner of this match. Tonight he her in the first set but she still “I didn’t start the match really much efficiency. to Radwanska. Kevin Anderson (RSA)/Jonathan Erlich (ISR) showed his qualities. He was the hammered Belgian Kirsten great (but) then I started really Yesterday, he prowled the base- “She can really get the oppo- Hsieh Su-wei (TPE)/Rohan Bopanna (IND) aggressor on the court and I was Flipkens 6-0, 6-1 to set up a repeat getting under the ball and being line of the Rod Laver Arena to nents to feel a little awkward and vs Daniela Hantuchova (SVK)/Fabio Fognini just hanging in there trying to of last year’s last eight clash with aggressive and just had a little bit great effect and ended the chal- make you go for too much.” (ITA) more energy,” Sharapova said. lenge of error-prone Japanese Kei Li converted all five of the But the four-time Grand Slam Nishikori 6-2, 6-1, 6-4. break points she earned in her SHOW COURT 3 winner said her thoughts never “It’s very important to get to 7-6, 6-1 win over Julia Goerges to 11:00 am strayed beyond her next oppo- the second week not feeling too reach the last eight of a Grand Legend Doubles nent, in this case fellow Russian tired and in good physical condi- Slam for the first time since she Followed by Ekaterina Makerova, her victim tion,” said Ferrer, who will face won the French Open. Lucie Hradecka (CZE)/Frantisek Cermak in the quarter-finals on the way Nicolas Almagro in an all-Spanish “I’m really looking forward (CZE) vs Andrea Hlavackova (CZE)/Daniele to last year’s final. quarter-final. to the quarter-final,” said the Bracciali (ITA x7) “It’s not about waiting to see Fifth seed Berdych had said Chinese, a losing finallist here two Nuria Llagostera Vives (ESP)/Zheng Jie where you are in the semis or playing big-serving South African years ago. “It’s been 1-1/2 years. (CHN x7) vs Cara Black (ZIM)/Anastasia finals, it’s about who’s ahead of Kevin Anderson would be like fac- I kept losing in the fourth round Rodionova (AUS) you,” said Sharapova, a veteran ing himself but the contest only so for me it was a very important Ekaterina Makarova (RUS)/Elena Vesnina of 38 Grand Slam campaigns at really came to life in an epic third- match today.” (RUS x4) vs Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP)/ the age of just 25. set tiebreak, which the Czech won Almagro was the beneficiary of Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) “And my next match is against 15-13 to claim a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 win. Tipsarevic’s retirement. Makarova. I have to do the right Radwanska made four unforced “That’s not the way you want to things to beat her. If I win that, errors to 34 for Ana Ivanovic in win,” said the 10th seed, who was it’s moving on to the next one. their fourth round tie and sealed leading 6-2, 5-1 when the Serbian Berdych That’s how I go about a tourna- a 6-2 6-4 rout with an ace. decided he could not continue. ment, a Grand Slam. “Well, what can I say? I’m just “Sometimes you can’t do your “Obviously I want to be playing very happy that I can play at a best and you need to decide to eyes first my best tennis towards the end of very high level,” said Radwanska. stop if you want to be ready for Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska hits a return against Serbia’s Ana the second week.” Meanwhile, beaten Ivanovic the next tournament,” he added Australian Ivanovic during their women’s singles match, yesterday. Ferrer has reached the quar- said: “She’s a player, it’s no yesterday after his match in ter-finals for the third straight secret, who doesn’t make too Melbourne. REUTERS Open semi

Serbia’s Ivanovic says she Nishikori eyes Slam MELBOURNE: Big-hitting Czech Tomas Berdych is deter- mined not to let missed oppor- success despite loss tunities ruin his chances of can challenge for titles again going further than he has ever gone before at the Australian MELBOURNE: Ana Ivanovic of breakthrough. I guess some- MELBOURNE: Japan’s Kei Nishikori said he was “a lit- Open. is yet to revisit the highs of 2008 times results don’t come as early Nishikori was hopeful of claim- tle bit” bothered by the left knee The fifth seed survived an epic when she won the French Open as you expect them. ing more Grand Slam glory this injury which forced him out of this third-set tiebreak against South and made the Australian Open “Sometimes it takes time for a year despite being ousted from month’s Brisbane International African Kevin Anderson, winning final, but the Serb feels her few things to fall in place. I defi- the Australian Open in the and which needed treatment on it 15-13 to clinch a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 game is close to a level where nitely feel my game is in a higher fourth round yesterday. court. victory. she can challenge again. level than it was over the last few Nishikori, troubled by a knee But the 23-year-old tennis It is the third straight year in The world number 13 was years.” injury, was outclassed 6-2, 6-1, player said he was getting close the last eight for Berdych, who beaten 6-2, 6-4 yesterday. Beating Radwanska was always 6-4 by super-consistent Spaniard to improving his record against had a point to lead Rafa Nadal by Yet Ivanovic, who worked hard going to be a high hurdle to cross David Ferrer, the world number top-10 opposition, against whom two sets to love at the same stage in the off season to lose weight with the Pole on a 13-match win five, who reached the quarter- he has now lost seven of his last last year only for the Spaniard to and boost her strength, is confi- streak this year without dropping finals for the third year in a row. nine matches, and make another storm back for victory. dent her time will come again. a set. For Nishikori, it was a disap- deep run at a Grand Slam. “Many people (talk about) that “Definitely, definitely,” she said. The pair had played each pointing outing after last year’s “It’s getting close, but, you backhand volley,” Berdych told “That’s what still drives me, other seven times before with run to the last eight, which went know, there’s a little more work reporters of that missed oppor- to play and compete. I want to Radwanska winning their four down as the best ever perform- to do. Hopefully I can beat them tunity against Nadal. compete for big titles in big tour- previous meetings, most recently ance by a Japanese man. in a Grand Slam some time,” “I saw it a couple of times on naments because I feel my game in Beijing in 2011, and she once “I tried to go aggressive, but Nishikori told reporters after the TV. Still, I was the one on is still there. You know, I have again proved far too powerful and I think I forced it too much,” yesterday’s match. court playing the situation. Maybe strength to do so.” consistent. he said. “So I was missing too He added: “That’s my next goal, it looks easier than the volley was. Her form has been patchy since Ivanovic admits Radwanska Serbia’s Ana Ivanovic reacts many (shots), making too many to get to a quarter-final, semi- Berdych said he was deter- Roland Garros in 2008, but she was too good on the day, but drew after a point against Poland’s unforced errors. And also he was final in a Grand Slam. The French mined only to look forward and reached last year’s US Open quar- confidence from the match. Agnieszka Radwanska during playing well. He didn’t miss much, Open is always tough for me to not back after setting up a meet- ter-finals -- her best Grand Slam “I really felt like I could chal- their women’s singles match, and he gets every ball. play, on clay courts. ing with either top seed Novak since the Paris victory. lenge her, and it was really frus- yesterday. “Yeah, it was tough for me to “But, yeah, for sure I have a Djokovic or Swiss 15th seed “It is frustrating because I feel trating in the second set. I had so play.” chance if I play my best tennis.” Stanislas Wawrinka. like I create chances for myself many chances,” she said. It was a difficult defeat to swal- Nishikori’s defeat ends Japanese “I would say I feel much bet- again,” she said. “Even in the beginning of the makes you work. She doesn’t give low after Nishikori, the world interest at this year’s Australian ter,” he said. “The last year was “I feel a few years back when I first, I thought some of the games you much. number 18, came into the match Open competition after Kimiko a pretty big year for me. There was losing in the second and third in the beginning could have gone “I feel I’m on a high level. I just with a winning record against Date-Krumm’s age-defying run were many new experiences that rounds of Grand Slams, that was either way. have to prove that and make that Ferrer including victories at the ended at the hands of Serbia’s I learned. I hope that I’m going to the level then. And yet I cannot “That’s the frustrating thing. step of beating top players,” she 2008 US Open and last year’s Bojana Jovanovski on Saturday. be able to profit from that.” sort of make that step, that sort But she’s that kind player that said. AFP Olympics, held at Wimbledon. AFP REUTERS MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Vindicated, QSL action resumes today Sunday Times wants We just want to be closer to Al Sadd, says Lekhwiya coach Gerets Armstrong DOHA: Qatar Stars League Qatar Stars League (QSL) champions Lekhwiya in court will take on Eljaish while third- Team P W L D GF GA Pts placed Al Rayyan will face Umm Al Sadd 12 10 1 1 30 12 31 Salal when QSL action resumes LONDON: British newspaper here today. Lekhwiya 12 8 3 1 19 13 25 The Sunday Times, vindicated at Action in the 12-team league last over its 13-year pursuit of had a one month break owing to Al Rayyan 12 7 3 2 25 15 23 Lance Armstrong, said the self- Qatar national team engagements Eljaish 12 7 4 1 14 12 22 confessed drugs cheat should in the Gulf Cup. face legal action and be banned Going into the break, QSL Al Gharafa 12 5 4 3 14 13 18 from competitive sport for life. leaders Al Sadd had 31 points Umm Salal 12 5 5 2 18 22 17 The weekly broadsheet’s jour- from 12 matches while Lekhwiya nalist David Walsh, who sus- had 25 points from same number Qatar SC 12 4 6 2 16 20 14 pected the US cyclist throughout of matches. Al Wakra 12 3 6 3 15 17 12 his seven Tour de France wins, But Lekhwiya coach Eric urged Armstrong to go further in Gerets is keen to narrow the gap Al Kharaitiyat 12 2 5 5 9 11 11 telling the truth about doping in at the top. And, he knows the the sport after he finally admitted Al Khor 12 2 5 5 12 15 11 match against Eljaish is a crucial cheating in an interview with chat one. Al Arabi 12 2 5 5 14 21 11 show queen Oprah Winfrey. “We have a hard game against The Sunday Times said it was Al Sailiya 12 1 9 2 14 29 5 Eljaish. They were the surprise also looking to get its money back (team) for the last year getting to after a ruling led them to pay- the Champions League. They have Qatar Stars League ing him an out-of-court settle- a strong team and always play Week 13 Schedule ment over its allegations which 4-4-2, so it’s not going to be an January 21 Armstrong now admits were true. easy game for us but we will try Al Rayyan vs Umm Salal at Ahmed bin Ali “Lance Armstrong is probably to make it difficult for them also,” Stadium, 4.30pm the most egregious drugs cheat in said Gerets, during the pre-match Eljaish vs Lekhwiya at Suhaim bin Hamad the history of sport,” the newspa- press conference here yesterday. French striker Djibril Cisse (centre) poses with Taha Ahazzai (right), media officer for Al Gharafa, and Saud Fateh, Stadium, 6.30pm per said in its editorial. Gerets who took charge mid- team manager of Al Gharafa, during a news conference in Doha, yesterday. Cisse has moved from Queens Park Al Wakra vs Al Sailiya at Soud bin “Now he is the hero who has way to the league said his team Rangers to Qatar’s Al Gharafa on loan, the English Premier League club said yesterday. Abdalrahman Stadium, 6.30pm sunk to somewhere below zero, will seek revenge for the first leg January 22 exposed by his own admission of loss. Al Gharafa vs Al Kharaitiyat at Thani bin cheating. “In the first match we lost but who have a lot of desire. With Eljaish’s Romanian coach The former goalkeeper said it Jassim Stadium, 4.30pm “This newspaper’s David I wasn’t here at that point. We this desire I hope we can reach Razvan Lucescu said win against will be a tough game. Al Sadd vs Qatar SC at Jassim bin Hamad Walsh, with his dogged journal- have to prove right now we are better points and get to the top,” Lekhwiya in the first leg of QSL “Lekhwiya have been champi- Stadium, 6.30pm ism, has been on Armstrong’s better to reach the top. It’s differ- the Belgian said. will not count much in today’s ons for the last two years. They Al Khor vs Al Arabi at Al Khor Stadium, case for years. Now, as a result of ent, this league, from last year. It “As you know, Lekhwiya were match. are a team who like to control 6.30pm his admission of cheating in an is stronger.” the champions last year, so this “The last game (first leg) the game. I also think this kind Week 14 schedule interview with Oprah Winfrey, it In the first leg Eljaish defeated means there is a lot of pressure against Lekhwiya it’s gone inthe of games bring out the best in is finally out in the open.” January 26 Lekwiya 1-0. on the players and the club. record books. This is another players,” he added. Armstrong said in his interview The former PSV Eindhoven “For now Al Sadd deserve the game so we have to be prepared. In the third match today, bot- Qatar SC vs Al Khor at Qatar SC Stadium, that he would apologise to Walsh. 4:30 coached expressed confidence position they are in. We will not Maybe that victory would give us tom sitters Al Sailiya take on Al “So he should. But an apology that his club can still win the concentrate on Al Sadd (right some confidence but in any case, Wakra. QSL leaders Al Sadd will Umm Salal vs Al Sadd at Al Arabi Stadium, can never be enough,” the news- 4:30 league title. now), however, we will concen- this game will be totally differ- not be seen in action today but paper said. “We have a hope of winning the trate game by game. We just want ent,” said Lucescu, while speaking will take on Qatar SC tomorrow. Lekhwiya vs Al Rayyan at Al Gharafa “Armstrong lied and cheated Stadium, 6:30 league. We have strong players to be closer to Al Sadd.” to reporters. THE PENINSULA his way to success. He has made us all feel more cynical about sport and about how sporting success is achieved. “In 2006, after a court rul- ing that required us to prove his doping rather than being Rain, wet outfield play able to ask legitimate questions about whether he was doing it, this newspaper had to pay Armstrong £300,000 ($475,000, 357,000 euros) in an out-of-court spoilsport in Sydney settlement, plus costs that took our legal bill to £1m. SYDNEY: Rain and a wet out- “We are now pressing for that field brought a premature end Scoreboard money to be paid back. to the fourth one-day interna- “It is not just about the money. tional between Australia and Sri AUSTRALIA Total (for 9 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 222 He destroyed the reputation of Lanka yesterday but not before D Warner lbw T Perera ...... 60 Fall of wickets: 1-4, 2-50, 3-53, 4-93, 5-125, his sport and he tried to destroy the hosts’ batting frailties had P Hughes c Chandimal b Kulasekara ...... 1 6-130, 7-145, 8-166, 9-182. the reputation of a journalist who been exposed again. M Clarke lbw Kulasekara ...... 20 Bowling: Mathews 10-1-50-0; Kulasekara never gave up. Bowled out for 74 runs inside D Hussey c Thirimanne b Malinga ...... 1 10-2-30-3; Malinga 10-2-33-2; T Perera 10-0- “He deserves to be pursued 27 overs in Friday’s match at G Bailey c T Perera b Herath ...... 22 64-2; Herath 10-0-37-2. through the courts and banned Brisbane, Australia wobbled M Wade c Kulasekara b T Perera ...... 31 SRI LANKA from competitive sport for life.” again before reaching 222-9 at M Henriques lbw Herath ...... 3 M Jayawardene (not out) ...... 4 AFP the Sydney Cricket Ground. M Johnson lbw Malinga ...... 10 T Dilshan (not out) ...... 9 Mitchell Starc hit a career- M Starc (not out) ...... 52 Extras (W-1) ...... 1 best 52 not out off 37 balls from C McKay b Kulasekara ...... 2 Total (for no loss in 3.2 overs) ...... 14 Mueller labels number nine as Australia had to X Doherty (not out) ...... 10 Bowling: McKay 2-0-13-0; Starc 1.2-0-1-0. rally from 130-6 and Sri Lanka Extras (B-1, LB-7, W-2) ...... 10 No result: Match abandoned after rain Armstrong were 14 for no wicket from 3.2 overs before rain forced the Sri Lanka might even have said. “That’s always tough but umpires to take the players off. clinched the series yesterday we’ll all look at our games indi- delusional The match was abandoned two had it not been for opener David vidually and work out a plan to hours later because of a wet out- Warner, who top-scored with 60 him.” ADELAIDE, Australia: field, leaving the home side una- to take Australia through some Meanwhile, Francois ‘Faf’ Cycling Australia president ble to win the five-match series. early wobbles. du Plessis was handed the cap- Klaus Mueller has launched Sri Lanka head to Hobart for Nuwan Kulasekara was the taincy of the South African one- a stinging attack on Lance Wednesday’s final match with a pick of the bowlers with 3-30 off day international team yesterday Armstrong, labelling the self- 2-1 lead. his 10 overs. after AB de Villiers was sus- confessed drug cheat delusional “We have to take the umpires’ Clarke said his team needed pended for a slow over rate in the following his interview with judgment,” Australia captain to figure out how to combat the first match against New Zealand. Oprah Winfrey. Michael Clarke said. “Everybody’s seamer, who was also man-of-the- It was another twist in a tale of “It was the most phoney, half- disappointed it wasn’t a full game match in Brisbane. two cricketers who were school- hearted, appalling confession from Sri Lanka’s Thisara Perera succesfully appeals for an LBW against but it means Hobart’s going to be “He’s bringing the ball back in boy team-mates at the Afrikaans a bloke who has been so repre- Australia’s David Warner during their fourth one-day international match a challenge and we’ll be trying to to the right-handers and away Boys High school in Pretoria. hensible in his conduct,” Mueller at the Sydney Cricket Ground, yesterday. level the series.” from the left-handers,” Clarke AGENCIES told News Limited newspapers yesterday. “It was half-baked and pathetic. He’s verging on delusional. There Pakistan set for testing South African challenge was a lack of any real contrition, there was no real apology to the JOHANNESBURG: The Pakistan’s Test series have been bowling unit and some experi- series, which South Africa won by sport to which he’s done enor- Pakistan Test team are due to played in the Asian sub-continent enced batsmen.” two matches to one. In 18 previ- Tour Itinerary mous damage. That was the most arrive in Johannesburg tonight or the United Arab Emirates, The fast bowling attack will ous Test matches between the two January 25-28: SA Invitation XI, East disappointing of all, the lack of to take on world champions which has been their home base be spearheaded by the left- countries, South Africa have won London acknowledgement to the damage South Africa in a three-Test since visiting teams stopped tour- armer Junaid Khan, the tall eight, Pakistan three and seven he’s done to the sport.” February 1-5: First Test, Johannesburg series. ing Pakistan following an attack Mohammad Irfan and the expe- have been drawn. Pakistan’s only Mueller, a Melbourne bar- It is Pakistan’s first visit to on the Sri Lankan team bus in rienced Umar Gul, one of four series win was in Pakistan in February 14-18: Second Test, Cape rister who argues that doping South Africa in six years and 2009. members of the touring squad 2003/04. Town should be a criminal offence, their biggest challenge could be In the year before that they had who were on the 2006/07 tour After spending tonight in February 22-26: Third Test, Centurion said Armstrong’s confession was to adapt to the pace and bounce two high-scoring draws against of South Africa. Johannesburg, the Pakistanis March 1: First Twenty20 international, designed to protect his wealth. of the pitches they will play on South Africa in the UAE and Newcomer Ehsan Adil was a will travel to East London Durban (day-night) Mueller has promised to imple- against a fast bowling attack toured New Zealand, West Indies member of the Pakistan Under- today to prepare for their match ment the key recommendations March 3: Second Twenty20 generally acknowledged to be the and Zimbabwe. 19 team which played in a trian- against the Invitation XI, cap- of an independent review into international, Centurion (day) world’s best. Pakistan nevertheless have a gular tournament in South Africa tained by former international the sport in Australia, which fol- They will have a four-day Test squad which is likely to pro- in January 2012. batsman Justin Ontong. March 6: SA Invitation XI (50 overs), lowed the resignations of men’s warm-up match against a South vide stronger opposition for South Pakistan have two top-class Pakistan Test squad: Misbah- Kimberley (day-night) road coach Matt White and vice- African Invitation XI in East Africa than current tourists New spinners in Saaed Ajmal and ul-Haq (capt), Mohammad March 10: First ODI, Bloemfontein (day) president Stephen Hodge after London, starting on Friday, but Zealand, who were beaten by an Abdur Rehman. Hafeez, Nasir Jamshed, Azhar Ali, March 15: Second ODI, Centurion doping revelations. conditions in the coastal city are innings in two Test matches. Younis Khan, who topped the Umar Gul, Asad Shafiq, Younis (day-night) “If you cheat to obtain a less pace-friendly than is likely “Pakistan will be a potentially Pakistan averages in 2006/07, is Khan, Junaid Khan, Mohammad March 17: Third ODI, Johannesburg financial advantage, it ought when they play the Test matches tough series,” said South African the outstanding player in a rea- Irfan, Ehsan Adil, Saeed Ajmal, (day) to be criminal conduct. He in Johannesburg, Cape Town and captain Graeme Smith after the sonable batting line-up, while Abdur Rehman, Haris Sohail, (Armstrong) ought to be thank- March 21: Fourth ODI, Durban (day) Centurion. New Zealand series. Mohammad Hafeez and Faisal Faisal Iqbal, Taufeeq Umar, ful he’s not getting a protracted In the past 15 months, “They have an exciting Iqbal also played in the 2006/07 Sarfraz Ahmed (wk). AFP March 24 Fifth ODI, Benoni (day) view from behind bars.” AFP MONDAY 21 JANUARY 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Japan Beach Soccer team players arrive in Doha, yesterday, for the 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Asian qualifiers. The winners of the 2011 Asian Beach Soccer Championship will be taking part in the January 22 to January 26 tournament which will take place at Katara Beach. A total of 16 Asian nations will participate in the Asian qualifiers. The two finalists and the third place play-off winner will qualify for the seventh edition of the Beach Soccer World Cup, to be held from September 18 to 28 in Papeete, on the Pacific island of Tahiti. RIGHT: Afghanistan team players and officials pose for a picture outside Doha International Airport yesterday. PICTURES BY: ABDUL BASIT Japan ready for ‘tough’ task in Doha 2013 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Asian qualifiers: Afghanistan keen to impress

BY ARMSTRONG VAS to the Asian qualifying rounds themselves, losing both games to FIFA Beach Soccer Asian for the FIFA Beach Soccer World the same teams again, but with DOHA: The 2011 Asian Beach Qualifiers Groupings Cup Tahiti 2013. much closer scorelines; 8-2 and Soccer Champions Japan is At the original draw, held at the 5-2. not ready to take it easy in Group A: Qatar, Oman, Australia and Ritz-Carlton Hotel in December, Athab is hoping the infra- Qatar when the Asian Football Afghanistan. 13 teams were drawn into four structure needs of Beach Soccer Confederation’s qualifiers kick Group B: Japan, Bahrain, Lebanon and groups for the Qatar tournament. in Phillipines will be addressed off in Doha tomorrow. Thailand. But after several national soon. The Ruy Ramos coached side, Group C: United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, member associations asked for “I’ve been requesting, begging which have qualified for every edi- Palestine and Saudi Arabia. additional time to complete officials to put a sand pitch in tion of the finals since the inau- Group D: Iran, China, Iraq and the Philippines. their application to the competi- Manila. If you want Beach Soccer gural FIFA Beach Soccer World tion, registration remained open to be famous, you have to have a Cup in 2005, have been cautious year hiatus. Japan had their best following the original draw to sand pitch in Manila. Parents will ahead of the five-day champion- finish at the finals under Ramos accommodate such high-levels of not allow kids to travel to a beach ship in Qatar. in 2005 when they took the fourth interest from Asian countries to just for a game. We can develop “We were champions in the last place at the inaugural FIFA Beach participate in the qualifiers. the sport faster with a pitch in Asian Beach qualifiers, but this Soccer World Cup. Beach soccer is a type of foot- Manila,” Athab said. time it would not be easy in Qatar. Ramos was an important mem- ball game played in a sand-filled China on the other hand All the teams are tough, so it will ber of the Japanese national team pitch with a length of about one- bagged two fourth-place finishes be very very difficult. Most of the during their unsuccessful 1994 third of a regular-sized field. in 2006 and 2008 editions of the teams like UAE, Iran, Qatar and World Cup qualification, even- Five players – four outfield and competition. Bahrain are very strong teams, tually retiring from the game in one goalkeeper – form each team The group will also witness so it will be tough for us” said 1998 at the age of 41. Brazilian-born coach of Japan team, Ruy Ramos (left) and Juan Marcos which will play three periods of 12 another intense rivalry between coach Ramos, while speaking to The Pacific Ocean island nation Trioa, Argentina-born coach of Afghanistan. minutes each. two arch rivals Iran and Iraq. The Peninsula. is grouped along with Bahrain, Meanwhile, the Philippine team Iran is expected to be a tough The 15-member Japanese squad Lebanon and Thailand in Group the Bahrain job will be yet another tournament in Qatar in diffi- also arrived in Doha yesterday. customer in the group after mak- arrived in Doha yesterday after a B in the tournament which is con- challenge for him. Meanwhile, war cult circumstances,” said Trioa, Coached by Iraq born Ahmed ing the semi-finals in the last five brief training camp in Dubai. tested by 16 Asian countries. ravaged Afghanistan is seeking to who spent 14 years in strife-torn Ayada Athab, popularly known as editions of the tournament. “We trained in Dubai for five Bahrain’s challenge in the live up to the expectations of the Indian state of Kashmir and Mike, the Filipinos are in Group UAE, Uzbekistan, Palestine and days. We did not have much time championship will be led by Beach Soccer fans back home. worked as a football coach. D along with neighbours China. Saudi Arabia are remaining four to train. In December, we trained Brazilian-born coach Gustavo Coached by Juan Marcos Trioa, Trioa’s aim in the champion- Athab is an Iraqi who came to teams which have been pooled in for another five-day in Japan. So ‘Guga’ Zloccowicz. The 35-year- an Argentinian national, they are ship is to bring happiness to the the Philippines to study 32 years Group C. we had a short training period, “ old travels back to the Middle grouped along with hosts Qatar Afghani fans. ago only to fall in love with the The top team of each group will said Ramos, who became a natu- East to take the reins of a team he in group A along with Oman and “As a Brazilian coach I will country and everything asso- advance to the semifinals, while ralized Japanese citizen in 1989, commanded into the FIFA Beach Australia. aim to bring good happiness to caited with it. the finalists and the third-place was one of the first foreign players Soccer World Cups of 2006 and “It has been very difficult trip the country (Afghanistan) and This will be the third time that team will qualify in the 2013 FIFA in Japanese professional soccer in 2009. coming here. We did not train for my team will try to represent Athab will lead the Philippines to Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti 1977 at the age of 20. Bahrain’s first match in the long, just two weeks. Its winter the country in a good way and the Beach Soccer World Cup. in September. “We are in the mist of winter in competition will be against time, so everything is covered live up to the expectations of the The Philippines participated in The Beach Soccer World Cup Japan and it is snowing in Japan Lebanon, who finished second in with snow, so we could hardly fans,” said Trioa, whose wife is a the Asian qualifiers in 2006 and used to be held every year, but and it is very cold, so it is very the last Copa Lagos and who have train on a sand pitch, we have Brazilian and football coach. 2008, but failed to get past the it now takes place on a biennial very difficult to train outdoors, become one of the favourites for been training indoors for two In the last Asian champion- group stages. basis. so we could not train outdoors one of the tickets to the World weeks and during the last few ship Oman finished runners to In 2006 they sent a team to the Brazil has dominated the event, in our home country, so we pre- Cup. days they (Afghanistan football Japan, while Iran clinched the qualifers and were thumped 16-0 but the reigning champs are ferred Dubai,” said Ramos, who Guga earlier had coached Federation) were able to make a third place in the finals. by Japan and 8-3. Russia, who defeated Brazil 12-8 has returned to the coaching post national teams of Portugal, sand pitch for practice us to train. Afghanistan, the Philippines But two years later the team in the 2011 final in Ravenna, Italy. of the national team after a seven Russia, Bahrain and Brazil, and So we have reached here for the and Thailand are late additions gave a much better account of THE PENINSULA

London Olympic Games gold medal winner Yujie Sun of China reigns supreme in Qatar

Saleh Amer Al Hemaidi, the President of Qatar Fencing Federation (QFF) Ahlam Salem Al Manna, Qatar Women’s Sports Committee President, Issa Abdul Salam Abu Issa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Salam International Investment Limited, Sara Abu Issa, Abdul Salam Abu Issa, Deputy Executive Officer of Salam International and other officials pose for a picture along with Yujie Sun of China, winner of the 2013 Fencing World Cup at the Gate Mall yesterday. Ana Maria Branza of Romania finished runner-up, while Tiffany Geroudet of Switzerland and Lauren Rembi of France took the bronze. RIGHT: Sun (second left) poses for a picture along with runner-up Branza (left), Geroudet (second right) and Rembi. PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP Monday 21 January 2013 9 Rabial I Safar 1434 Volume 17 Number 5586 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Dempsey strikes late to deny Man United victory Chelsea hold on to beat Arsenal 2-1 in the London derby

LONDON: Clint Dempsey’s We had a lot of opportunities on equaliser in the final minute of the counter-attack but our final Manchester United’s manager Sir Alex Ferguson (right) gestures next to stoppage-time denied Premier ball let us down.” a Qatari official as he directs his team during a training session in Doha League leaders Manchester Meanwhile Tottenham boss in this January 12, 2010, file photo. Manchester United will train at Aspire United victory as Tottenham Andre Villas-Boas said the draw Academy this week. Hotspur forced a 1-1 draw at would prove a real morale-booster a snowy White Hart Lane for his team. “ yesterday. We wanted to win, but it was The result meant United’s an important point in the end due Man United to train advantage at the top of the table to the form United are in. A point over second-placed reigning can give us a lot of confidence,” champions Manchester City was he said. reduced to five points after they Spurs are now just four points in Qatar this week had started the weekend seven in adrift of Chelsea after their front of their local rivals. London rivals beat Arsenal 2-1 DOHA: English Premier are delighted to warmly welcome It looked as if Robin van earlier yesterday. League (EPL) giants such a big team at our premises. Persie’s 18th league goal of the Juan Mata gave Chelsea a Manchester United will hold We thank the Manchester season, a 25th-minute header sixth minute lead before Frank a training camp at Aspire United management for choos- from Tom Cleverley’s cross, was Lampard, whose Chelsea future Academy in Qatar this week. ing Qatar and Aspire for their going to secure all three points for remains uncertain, made it 2-0 The 19-time EPL champi- camp. We will do our best to United in a fixture that survived a from the penalty spot 10 min- ons will begin their four-day make their camp and visit to pre-match pitch utes later after training camp today, just hours Aspire and Qatar a successful inspection. English Premier Ramires was after their 1-1 draw against one.” But in the brought down Tottenham Hotspur yesterday. Manchester United will not third and final League Results by Arsenal goal- Manchester United’s training play any friendly matches, minute of stop- keeper Wojciech camp will end on Thursday before rather focusing on team-build- page time, Spurs English Premier League results yesterday: Szczesny. heading back to Manchester for ing excercises with a first-team pumped the ball Chelsea 2 (Mata 6, Lampard 16-pen) But Theo Tottenham their fourth-round FA Cup tie squad that will include the forward. Arsenal 1 (Walcott 58) Walcott, fresh Hotspur’s striker against Fulham on Saturday. likes of England striker Wayne United keeper Tottenham Hotspur 1 (Dempsey 90+3) from signing a Clint Dempsey It will be the second visit Rooney, Netherlands’ forward David de Gea, Manchester United 1 (Van Persie 25) new contract of the US (left) in Qatar for the current EPL Robin Van Persie and Serbia who had previ- in midweek, celebrates after leaders, managed by Sir Alex defender Nemenja Vidic. ously made sev- brought Arsenal scoring his Ferguson, having trained at After missing out on the EPL eral fine saves, could only punch back into the match in the late goal dur- Aspire Academy in January title on the final day of last sea- weakly as the ball came into the 58th minute when he outpaced ing the English 2010. son, Manchester United have box and, from Aaron Lennon’s Branislav Ivanovic and then shot Ferguson will see his squad had a strong first half to the Premier League cross, United States striker powerfully past Petr Cech. train in the warm weather in current season, who are still match against Dempsey rescued a point for the Arsenal pressed for an equal- Qatar as opposed to the freez- vying for three trophies. hosts. iser but European champions Manchester ing temperatures in Manchester Ferguson will be hop- Afterwards United manager Chelsea clung on for only their United at White due to the snow. ing his side can overcome Alex Ferguson hit out at a lines- second home league win under Hart Lane in Speaking of the visit, the Spanish champions Real man for not giving a penalty after interim manager Rafael Benitez. London yester- Ferguson, who took over as Madrid in the last-16 stage of Wayne Rooney went to ground in The Spaniard, repeatedly day. BOTTOM: coach in 1986, said: “We went the UEFA Champions League, the box. jeered by Chelsea supporters since Chelsea’s to Aspire back in 2010 and the as Manchester United resume “It was a clear penalty-kick replacing sacked fans’ favourite English mid- fantastic facilities, excellent their challenge to win the pres- on Wayne Rooney but in no way Roberto di Matteo, said victory fielder Frank weather conditions and hospital- tigous tournament for the fouth was the the linesman going to give had been coming. Lampard ity from the Aspire management time. that,” Ferguson told the BBC. “We have been doing well, cre- (right) vies were a perfect combination.” The 2009 and 2011 runners- “He gave them (Tottenham) ating chances in all our games,” with Arsenal’s The 71-year-old added: “It will up will visit Real on February everything else. We have not had Benitez told Sky Sports. “In the French striker be an ideal place for us and we 13 before hosting the second leg a good record with this linesman, games we didn’t win we deserved Olivier Giroud are looking forward to an excel- on March 5, in which Cristiano against Chelsea a few years ago to win. It was just a matter of during the lent training camp that will see Ronaldo will return to Old he gave onside to Didier Drogba, time until we had a performance English Premier us up for the remainder of the Trafford following his $80m who was three yards offside, you like this.” season.” transfer in 2009. League match at remember those things. Yesterday’s result saw Chelsea Speaking of Manchester Manchester United will also Stamford Bridge Ferguson added: “We did so remain third and Arsenal, who United’s visit to Aspire, Ivan be eyeing the FA Cup, having not well at everything and we kept have won only one of their last five in London. Bravo, Director General of won the competition since 2004. heading it out, the disappoint- matches, stay sixth in the league Aspire Academy said: “Aspire THE PENINSULA ment is not finishing them off. standings. AFP

Abu Dhabi Final Scores ABU DHABI: Leading final scores in the Abu Donaldson pips Rose to win Abu Dhabi title Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship yesterday:

ABU DHABI: Jamie Donaldson debut in April. Rose started the Donaldson then eased ahead by 274 Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 67-70-69-68 reeled in red-hot Justin Rose to day two strokes clear of the field, sinking 12-foot birdie putts at the 275 Justin Rose (ENG) 67-69-68-71, win the Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf but quickly came under pressure 14th and 15th with Rose cutting Thorbjorn Olesen (DEN) 68-69-69-69 Championship yesterday. with Olesen the first to show, the gap to one stroke with a birdie The 37-year-old Welshman drawing level with the 32-year- of his own at the 14th. 277 Ricardo Santos (POR) 71-72-66-68 poked his nose in front going old Englishman at the fifth as he Two holes later though the 278 Branden Grace (RSA) 71-69-73-65 Jamie into the back nine and he held birdied and Rose had a bogey. Ryder Cup star’s second to the firm, going up against the hotly- But the fast-rising Dane came par-four 16th went way right Donaldson of 279 David Howell (ENG) 69-71-68-71, favoured world No.5 to record just to grief at the next, a drive into and was lucky not to end up in Wales poses Martin Kaymer (GER) 71-69-70-69, the second win of his professional deep rough, resulting in a wild the water. But he was unable Joost Luiten (NED) 70-69-73-67 with his trophy career. second into a bush, a penalty to get down in two from there after winning He came in with a final round drop and a double bogey six. He and Donaldson had a two-stroke 280 Peter Hanson (SWE) 73-72-66-69, the Abu Dhabi of 68 for a 14-under total of 274. was unable to get his nose back in cushion. Jorge Campillo (ESP) 74-68-69-69, HSBC Golf Rose and Thorbjorn Olesen of front again after that. The Welshman opened the door Jbe Kruger (RSA) 72-69-69-70, Championship Denmark were joint second on 13 Veteran Englishman David slightly by missing a five-footer Anders Hansen (DEN) 71-71-69-69, 2013 at Abu under after rounds of 71 and 69 Howell, a former world top tenner for par at the last, but neither Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (ESP) Dhabi Golf respectively with Ricardo Santos fallen on hard times due to a com- Rose nor Olesen were able to grab 70-67-71-72, George Coetzee (RSA) Club in Abu of Portugal fourth a further two bination of back problems and loss the birdie they needed to force a 69-71-71-69, Jason Dufner (USA) Dhabi, United strokes back after a 68. of form, then edged ahead with a play off. 71-69,72-68, Thongchai Jaidee (THA) Arab Emirates, The victory was Donaldson’s scintillating front nine of 32. For Rose, the runners-up finish 70-71-66-73 yesterday. second after he won the Irish But his challenge collapsed in will feel like a lost opportunity in Open last year in what was his tragic fashion at the 13th where a tournament that saw the world’s 281 Michael Campbell (NZL) 69-71-69-72, 255th European Tour event. he somehow contrived to four- top two golfers - Rory McIlroy S.S.P. Chowrasia (IND) 73-73-65-70, His second took just 13 more putt from five feet to plummet and Tiger Woods - fail to make Craig Lee (SCO) 72-70-72-67, Andre tournaments. down the leaderboard. the cut. Dodt (AUS) 74-70-65-72 It also means he will break That left Rose and Donaldson Olesen has again underlined into the world top 30 for the out in front, two strokes clear of the potential to become one of 282 Bernd Wiesberger (AUT) 74-71-66-71, first time ahead of his Masters the field. the future top players. AFP Marcus Fraser (AUS) 75-71-67-69