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Wednesday 18 December 2013 14 Safar 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5917 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 US academics in boycott Festive fervour grips Qatar NEW YORK: A prestigious US academic body has joined a growing movement to boycott Large number of events lined up Israel in protest at its treatment of Palestinians. The American across country for National Day Studies Association, which has more than 5,000 members, is the DOHA: This year’s National music and dance, and tra- most significant US academic Day, being celebrated with zeal ditional Malayasian dance organisation to back a boycott of and fervour today, is meant to by artistes from Dukhan. Israeli educational institutions strengthen the bond between A thematic show titled following a two-thirds majority citizens and expatriates. ‘Wonderful Country in the vote. Around a quarter of mem- A highlight of the revelries Desert’ will be held by the bers took part in the ballot. this year is a host of shows being Indonesian and Malaysian expa- See also page 13 organised by different expa- triate communities. triate communities and their Then, Desi Rockers will Syria murdered schools here. present a Bollywood dance show. The recently-opened West Races begin at the Al Rayyan jailed doctor: UK End Park near the Industrial Stadium later. Area is one of the several ven- At Al Wakra Stadium, singing LONDON: Britain accused ues where expatriate cultural competitions will be held among Syria yesterday of effectively and musical shows have been students from Indian, Pakistani murdering a surgeon who was lined up. and Bangladeshi schools. detained after volunteering at a The revelries begin early in The Pakistani community hospital in the war-torn coun- the morning with a military will present a cultural show try and then died in jail. Abbas parade and parachute jumps on later. There will be volleyball Khan, a 32-year-old orthopaedic the Corniche by Qatari armed and football matches and a surgeon from London, travelled forces personnel. medical camp will also be held. to the northern city of Aleppo Some 14,000 seats will be At Al Khor Stadium, mem- last year to help civilians but available at designated loca- bers of the Nepalese commu- was captured by the regime. His tions along the Corniche for nity and Al Khor community family said yesterday the father- the morning events. Like every and students from some Indian of-two had died in detention. year, this year too, fireworks will schools will present cultural See also page 12 be held on the Corniche in the shows. The Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani meeting citizens on the eve of National Day. THE GUARDIAN & AFP evening. At the Qatar National Cricket The two-minute fireworks Stadium in West End Park, a show being held at Darb Al Saai four-nation T20 cricket tour- Today’s edition for the past few days will be held nament will be held. Members this evening as well. of the Indian, Pakistani, Immigration office to remain open includes a special Entertainment activities Bangladeshi and Sri Lankan supplement on are lined up at other venues communities will take part. DOHA: The immigration and tomorrow, Qatar News Agency government offices, authorities as well, among them Al Wakra A live orchestra will perform department (General Directorate (QNA) reported. and public institutions will be Stadium, Al Rayyan Stadium at the Corniche from 9.30pm of Border Passports and The Criminal Evidence and closed for the National Day today and Al Khor Stadium. until 10.15pm. Expatriates Affairs) will remain Information Department and the and tomorrow, the Emiri Diwan

At Al Rayyan Stadium, a A parade of vintage cars will open today and tomorrow from various service centres of the announced. Today, Qatar celebrates its National Day, reflecting the remarkable development that has been achieved in all sectors of the state. Under the leadership of the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Qatar made giant strides in highlight will be a performance be held at Darb Al Saai and on 8am until 12 noon. Ministry of Interior will also have The Qatari bourse (Qatar developing its economy, education, health, media and social sectors. Buoyed by the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the hosting of World Cup 2022, the country is undergoing fast-paced progress.

he day defines the spirit and aspirations of a country as it by a Filipino band, Whoodesska, the Corniche in the day as well The department announced its similar work timings as above on Exchange) will also be closed for continues to grow into one of the world’s most advanced and prosperous nations. Nationalism is at its zenith — not for the Tnationals alone but also for those thousands of expatriates who consider Qatar their home. For Qataris, December 18 is the day they convey their deepest and a solo performance by as in the evening. work timings as the government these two days. trading for two days, and trading gratitude to Sheikh Jassim Bin Mohammed Bin Thani, the founder of Qatar, who distinguished himself in his youth as a pious, brave, self- sacrificing and wise leader who unified Qatar and safeguarded the interests of its people. Qataris therefore regard the message of their heroic forefathers as an inspiration to push forward in their quest to turn themselves and Edgar Gian Bernardino and Malls, shopping complexes yesterday declared a two-day holi- The traffic investigation section, will resume on Sunday — Friday their institutions into guiding beacons of knowledge and righteous- ness, and bring well-being to the whole humanity. The country’s recent achievements in sports, economy and trade and world politics show how Qataris have reaped the yield of seeds of heroism sown by their forefathers and how they have upheld their ideals through the years. The National Day is not all about celebrations. It is an annual reminder Vicencio. and hotels have lined up vari- day to mark Qatar’s National Day. on the other hand, will remain and Saturday being the weekly of Qatar’s culturally rich past, rapidly evolving present and progressive future. It’s time to pay homage to a visionary who unified the country There will then be shows ous events for the day. The traffic department will also open round-the-clock. days off. and led it towards the success which the nation enjoys today. of traditional Indonesian THE PENINSULA be open from 8am to 12 noon today All the ministries, other THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Qatar Foundation schools mark National Day Students take part in activities highlighting Qatar’s history, culture, heritage and achievements

DOHA: Qatar Foundation throughout the day covered vari- schools are celebrating National ous aspects of life in Qatar in a Day with a slew of events within concerted effort to involve more and outside the Education City. and more students in the events. Students participated in A comprehensive play on parades, presentations and games, Qatar’s past, present and future displayed artworks and visited the was prepared by QA Al Khor National Day tent Darb El Saai. students with every grade level Students from Qatar Academy tasked to discuss a particular (QA) Doha, Awsaj Academy, aspect of the Qatari life such Qatar Leadership Academy, as traditional games, education Qatar Academy Al Khor, Qatar and the evolution of oil explora- Academy Al Wakra and Qatar tion and its lasting impact on the Academy Sidra participated in nation. activities organised by their acad- QA Doha senior students also emies as members of the larger QF staged a silent play on their love family, sharing a common interest for Qatar, followed by songs, in gaining a better perspective of poetry. Videos conceptualised Qatar’s history to appreciate its and directed by students were gains and achievements. screened for the first time this QA Doha and QA Wakra began year. All six academies utilised celebrations with student parades their learning spaces as National showcasing traditional costumes. Day hubs, setting up stations for Children perform a song as part of National Day activities. Presentations at all campuses students and their families. Awsaj Academy held an indoor pro- particular Al Jalwa for weddings – and and a falcon show, among others. pony rides courtesy of Al Shaqab, sta- gramme that included reciting of the a balloon show. This was followed by an At QA Sidra, teachers and organis- tions for art and games and a special Quran, rendition of national anthem, outdoor contest covering native games, ers held activities ranging from door calligraphy for students. poetry recitation, traditional dance – in traditional bread and geemat making decoration contests to quizzes on Qatar, THE PENINSULA Sidra merges education divisions

DOHA: Sidra Medical and Executive Officer Dr William Sidra is also developing the Research Center’s National Own Jr. first three Qatari females as Day celebrations included tra- “The dream behind estab- certified child life specialists ditional music, dishes, falcons lishing Sidra envisions it as an and the first group of Qatari and cultural activities. iconic institution. To fulfil this females as patient educators. Sidra announced the consoli- long-term aspect and contrib- Patient educators will be dation of two divisions that focus ute to Qatar National Vision trained to support patients and on one its pillars – education. 2030, emphasis has been placed their families through all phases Career Planning and Learning on education and development of hospitalisation, from admis- and Talent Development of talent. This strategic move sion to discharge, ensuring opti- Organisation, which encom- signifies the emphasis Sidra mum communication during passes, among others, scholar- places on developing Qatari the hospital stay and beyond. ships, Qatarisation and JANA nationals to fulfil the need for They are professional commu- programmes for fresh gradu- professionals and leaders in the nicators with the knowledge, ates, have been merged to oper- field of medicine,” Al Humaidi attitude and judgment needed ate as one department. said. to put patients at ease in what is Ali Al Humaidi, Executive Currently, Qataris represent typically a high-stress situation, Director of the organisation, 25 percent of Sidra’s workforce while child life specialists focus Officials cutting a cake to mark the National Day. will lead the new department and 90 percent of students on the child’s well-being. and report to Sidra Chief sponsored by Sidra. THE PENINSULA Qatari innovators invited to apply for i2 Fellowship programme

DOHA: The Jeddah-based Middle East to transform their Institute for Imagination and patents into a profitable business. Ingenuity (i2 Institute) has It was launched in November invited young innovators from last year. Qatar to submit applications for “With young educated people the i2 Fellowship programme constituting the largest segment for 2014. of Qatar’s population, it is time to The fellowship is the first of invest in their untapped talents its kind created by Saudi sci- and offer them the appropriate i2 Institute Founder and CEO, Dr Hayat entist Dr Hayat Sindi, Founder environment and the best con- Sindi, explaining the programme. and CEO of i2 Institute, to sup- ditions to foster innovation and port young innovators from the economic and social change,” Dr Sindi said. During the eight-month programme, fellows will be hosted for the first six weeks at the Harvard Innovation Lab (i-Lab), working with fellow entre- preneurs, supported by several Harvard Business School faculty members, including Nobel prize win- ners, world-class authors, experts and practitioners. The other part of pro- gramme will take place at the MIT Media Lab and each fellow will be able to visit and explore some Media Lab experiments and collaborate with fac- ulty members and research assistants, or become engaged in research. By the conclusion of the programme, around 12 fellows will have pre- pared their business ven- ture proposals they will pitch at the Business Venture Conference, the i2 Institute’s flagship product. Potential candidates can submit application via i2 Institute’s website: http://www.i2institute. org/#innovation until March 31, 2014. Selection will involve preliminary evaluation to select 50 top applicants with viable and patented ideas. The short-listed entrepreneurs will par- ticipate in a competitive workshop that will culmi- nate in the selection of 12 outstanding fellows. THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME CELEBRATIONS

The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and other dignitaries took part in celebrations held on the occasion of Qatar‘s National Day. The Father Emir toured Qatari tribes’ celebrations in various parts of the country.

WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Festive zeal defines National Day celebrations

BY MUKESH SHARMA “It is amazing to see the celebrations. it with more fervour,” says AlKuwari, Day. The men attend the festivities while European businessman born in East This country treats everyone equally,” who works as a legal counsel at Qatar the women have private parties either . DOHA: Eight-year-old Khalid flaunts says Hany Anwar Awad, an Egyptian Petroleum. at home or at a farmhouse where tradi- “National Day celebrations are impor- the black leather holster he straps on from Giza, who teaches at Ahmed Bin The National Day fervour has acquired tional food is offered. tant. It is good to enjoy and celebrate. to his body before launching into Al Hanbal Independent Secondary School a new dimension this year with the gov- With the spirit of nationalism on the But the social mix is vital and the coun- Ardha, the traditional sword dance. for Boys. ernment launching a stepped-up initia- upswing in the country that is spreading try should pay more attention to many With his thobe swaying in the win- “National Day is special to us. We tive under the theme — One Love. its footprint globally, the demographic other aspects that the population has to ter breeze, the third-grader is delighted cherish it as it reminds us of our cul- The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin mix offers an interesting dimension. go through,” he adds. to move to the beat of drums at school ture and heritage, and we have a saying Hamad Al Thani participating in the With 80 percent of the population com- Even before sunrise this morning, rehearsals. here — “If you don’t have a beginning, run-up to the celebrations with jovial prised of foreign nationals, nationalism thousands will flock to the Corniche The sprightly Egyptian from Al you won’t have an end,” says Mariam kids in the national colour at Darb El lends itself to various forms. to watch the National Day parade, a Mountaza Independent School embodies AlKuwari, a Wales-educated lawyer. Saai underscored the significance of the “Whenever I see expat workers toil- reminder of the day when Sheikh Jassim the spirit of the celebrations that have “With rapid growth of the country, occasion. ing in the streets, I smile at them with bin Mohammed bin Thani founded the seeped into National Day festivities this this celebration is becoming increasingly Besides public celebrations, every tribe gratitude. They are here to do jobs that modern State of Qatar in 1878. year. significant. So, we insist on celebrating has its own ceremony on the National I consider important,” says a Doha-based THE PENINSULA Qatar Airways honours its top students, employees

DOHA: Qatar Airways hon- Acknowledging the success of outstanding mentors and coaches oured its high achieving Qatari the students, Al Baker said: “Each who demonstrated leadership and scholarship students during of them has worked incredibly offered support, guidance and the annual Excellence Day, hard to reach where they are inspiration by committing to train hosted by the Nationalisation today and have achieved success student interns. Department for the second con- by applying themselves diligently Other departments which secutive year. and making the best use of their partnered with Qatar Airways’ More than 30 students were talents. Nationalisation wing in the intake recognised for achieving remark- “This is going to be the founda- of Qatari graduate trainee’s, able excellence by working hard tion upon which they can build interns and managers were also to fulfil their potential in their their successful career with Qatar honoured for their support. academics and summer intern- Airways. As the national airline, Qatar Airways gave out the ship for 2013. we are committed to support- CEO Platinum Awards, which The achievers will be progress- ing and developing these young are divided into four catego- ing towards a career with the air- nationals — men and women — ries, to those with remarkable line and will be nurtured by it to and ensuring they are ready to achievements exceeding all other become future leaders and airline take on roles at all levels.” categories. executives. Senior Vice-President The Student Award went to The event was attended by the Contracts and Procurement & Aisha Mahmoud Al Heidous, Minister of Finance and Qatar Chairman of Nationalisation the Intern Award to Ali Ibrahim Airways Chairman H E Ali Sherif Committee at Qatar Airways, Al Ajail, the Coach Award to The Minister of Transport H E Jassim Seif Ahmed Al Sulaiti (centre), the Chairman of Qatar Civil Aviation Authority Al Emadi, the Chairman of Qatar Mohsen Al Yafei said: “At Qatar Manager, Business System H E Abdulaziz Mohammed Al Nuaimi (left), and Qatar Airways Group CEO, Akbar Al Baker, taking part in an Ardha Tourism Authority Engineer Issa Airways, there will be plenty of in Information Technology dance in a tent near Doha International Airport yesterday. KAMMUTTY V P Mohammed Al Mohannadi, the opportunities for these students Department Amir Hussain Naqvi, US Ambassador Susan L Ziadeh to keep growing their skills and the Department Award to the and Qatar Airways CEO, Akbar and knowledge. They also have Commercial Department. Al Baker. the great opportunity of being Qatar Airways also honoured Students were awarded in coached by senior airline mentors its employees who have success- three categories – Gold, Silver who are passionate and excited fully completed the Executive Companies add thrills and Burgundy with a special CEO about sharing their professional Leadership Programme offered Award for outstanding achieve- experiences.” by Airbusiness Academy. ments, the Platinum Award. Qatar Airways recognised the THE PENINSULA to national festivities Doha Theatre Festival panel set up Dynamic aviation sector leads celebrations DOHA: Many companies in to children and customers at the and guests on a National Day walk DOHA: The Minister of Culture, Arts and Youssuf Burshid, Hamad Abdullah Ashkinani, and Qatar organised their National bank’s branches in Doha and at through the campus before enjoy- Heritage H E Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari Ibrahim Mohammed Al Emadi as members. Day celebrations yesterday. Katara Cultural Village. ing the music, dancing, henna and issued yesterday two decisions related to the set- The second decision appointed Said Youssuf The dynamic aviation sector Qatalum held entertaining camel rides. ting up of the organising committee of the Doha Burshid as Director of the festival. held an event in a traditional activities at its headquarters in Vodafone Qatar is welcoming Theatre Festival, due to be held from March 21 to He will supervise administrative, organisational tent near Doha International Mesaieed Industrial City. The writing enthusiasts at its booth 27 next year. and technical aspects after consultation with the Airport. Qatar Airways, DIA, premises was decorated with at Darb El Saai, where a team The first decision set up the committee under the president of the organising committee, to implement Qatar Civil Aviation Authority, national flags, patriotic songs will provide professional novel- chairmanship of Ajlan Falih Al Hajiri with Musa his assignments and supervise the opening and clos- Qatar Aeronautical College, and were played, and speeches were ists and young writers with the Zainal as Deputy Chairman, Ashraf Ali Hassan, ing ceremonies of the festival. Gulf Helicopters joined hands to delivered. The management cut information they need to join its Rapporteur, Dr Marzouq Bashir, Ali Mirza, Said QNA mark the occasion. a cake during a special lunch- literary competition ‘With your The Minister of Transport H eon attended by VIPs and guests pen express your love for Qatar’. E Jassim Seif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, alongside employees. The company also launched a the Chairman of Qatar Civil Qatar Chemical and promo through which Postpaid Aviation Authority, H E Abdulaziz Petrochemical Marketing and customers can enjoy unlimited Mohammed Al Nuaimi, and Qatar Distribution Company (Muntajat) local calling to any number in Traffic diversion on Al Shamal Road Airways Group CEO, Akbar Al celebrated its first Qatar Qatar today and tomorrow. Baker, among others, took part. National Day at its headquarters. Mowasalat has fixed posters DOHA: The Public Works The event featured as Ardha Employees inscribed their wishes with creative designs of the loy- Authority (Ashghal) will open show, falconry, face painting for for Qatar on a board that will be alty and gratitude flag on taxis a new traffic diversion on Al children, making of fishing bas- kept as memorabilia. and buses. It has also wrapped Shamal Road to facilitate con- kets, and camels and horse shows. RasGas marked the day with its headquarters and Central struction of an interchange in QDVC, a Qatari construction its employees in Doha, Ras Bus Station with the same design. progress as part of the North company, erected for the first Laffan, offshore and at its offices The company will distribute gift Road Enhancement Project. time in Doha four Qatari flags of in and , under packages. The diversion will be open from 70sqm each on the tower cranes the theme ‘Qatar is our source of It will support the public with December 22 until the last on Sheraton Park Project site. pride... our pride is in our hearts’. transportation services to facili- quarter of 2015. The diversion Commercial Bank, Qatar’s A giant billboard celebrating tate “park & ride” to the event has three lanes, with almost the first private bank, distributed the pride of Qatar was displayed venue; Karwa buses will serve as same specifications of the origi- gifts at Dhreima Qatar Orphan on the RasGas headquarters in shuttle buses for the public to ride nal road, to ease traffic, Ashghal Foundation, Shafallah Centre for Doha. free from allotted parking space. said yesterday. children with special needs and College of the North Atlantic New Karwa school buses will On completion, the road will be six Independent schools. – Qatar (CNA-Q) held events, play a video provided by Childhood about 95.2km long and connect Gifts were also distributed at including performances by stu- Cultural Centre. The company the city with the northern parts the Home for the Elderly, and dents of Ahmad bin Mohammed distributed National Day shirts of the country. volunteers distributed the bank’s Al Thani School and the Pearl and gifts to all Karwa drivers. THE PENINSULA National Day badges and scarves band. Officials led students, staff THE PENINSULA Study finds Qatar camels developed antibodies to MERS DOHA: Studies conducted on Reuters reported yesterday. MERS-CoV, but based on the animal source, or reservoir, of samples, including nasal, blood protection against infection. 14 camels in a farm in Qatar Researchers from the current data we cannot conclude MERS virus infections since the and rectal swabs and stool sam- Since they were not able to where three camels were found and Qatar used whether the humans on the farm first human cases were confirmed ples from 14 dromedary camels say definitely whether the virus infected with MERS (Middle gene-sequencing techniques to were infected by the camels or in September 2012. living in a barn in Qatar where had passed from the camels to East Respiratory Syndrome) show that three dromedary, vice versa,” said Bart Haagmans Globally to date, World Health in the previous week, the 61-year- humans, or the other way, the recently have revealed that all or one-humped camels, on the of Rotterdam’s Erasmus Medical Organisation (WHO) says there old owner of the barn had been researchers stressed they could the dromedary had developed farm where two people had con- Centre, who led the study with have been 163 laboratory-con- diagnosed with MERS infection. not rule out that other com- antibodies to MERS suggesting tracted the MERS coronavirus other Dutch and Qatari scientists. firmed human cases of MERS, The samples were sent to mon livestock species, like cattle, the virus might have been cir- (CoV) were also infected. But He said a further possibility including 71 deaths. It is also laboratories in the Netherlands sheep and goats, or other animals, culating for some time. they cautioned it was too early was that humans and camels aware of around a dozen other for genetic and antibody testing, may be involved in the spread The study, published in the to say whether the camels were could have been infected “from probable but unconfirmed MERS which confirmed the presence of of MERS. To help find more Lancet Infectious Diseases jour- definitely the source of the two a third as yet unknown source”. cases in people. MERS in three of the animals. answers, they said, researchers nal yesterday, also revealed that human cases — in a 61-year-old “The big unknown is the exact Cases have so far been reported Researchers noted that all 14 should aim to plot detailed case the gene sequences in the camels man and then in a 23-year-old timing of infections, in the per- in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, camels had antibodies to MERS, histories of all human cases of were very similar, although not male employee of the farm — and sons and the camels,” he added. Jordan, the UAE, Oman, , suggesting the virus might have MERS, including any exposure identical, to those identified in said more research was needed. Both men have recovered. , Germany, , been circulating among the ani- to animals or animal products as the two people who were infected “This is definitive proof that Scientists around the world and Britain. In the Qatar study, mals for some time, allowing well as links with other infected with the virus from the same site, camels can be infected with have been searching for the researchers collected clinical most of them to build up immune people. THE PENINSULA

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Tunisian model Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

RAB Spring is now known more for instability than stability, mayhem than democracy. But even as countries like Egypt, Syria and Libya struggle for Anormality and peace, let alone democracy, Tunisia has Chile beats a path on emerged as a beacon of hope which has gone rather unnoticed. Tunisians yesterday marked the third anniversary of the self- immolation of a young street vendor that sparked the Arab Spring, but they also had a reason to celebrate. By announcing the murder rate a new compromise prime minister, the country has broken new ground in this tumultuous region and shown that even long- BY JONATHAN POWER rate grew by 11%. In most other regions time enemies – Islamists and the secular old guard – can unite of the world it fell or stabilized- by as in the interests of the country. HILE has moved to the left. With much as 50% in most of the world. In According to the deal reached this week between the two Michelle Bachelet’s overwhelm- the drop has been signifi- Poverty, a bad sides, Mehdi Jomaa, 50, an independent technocrat, was picked Cing victory in the presidential poll cant. But in that period, across Latin she now has the freedom to legislate as America, more than one million have distribution of income to lead a caretaker government until new elections can be held she wants. Poverty reduction, income died a violent death. next year. The agreement has pulled the country back from the re-distribution and education are the In Calcutta, with a population of 4.5 and high alcohol front and comes after months of intense negotiations between sharp end of her political program. million, the murder rate (and that of consumption are former prime minister Beji Caid Essebsi, who leads a new But of all Latin American presi- rapes) is, by a large percentage, the probably the main secular-minded political party called Nidaa Tounes, and Rachid dents she is perhaps the most fortu- smallest of any large city in . This Gannouchi, the leader of the Islamist party Ennahda. Reports nate. Despite his draconian suppression goes to show that a stable culture with a reasons for high levels of of human rights, the dictator, General socially concerned and active local gov- say that since the political crisis started this year, triggered Augusto Pinochet, who ruled in the ernment is everything- Bengali family crime, despite improving by two high-profile political assassinations, the two leaders 1970s and 80s, not only engineered high and societal life, despite the poverty, rates of economic have met at least six times, which is something unheard of in economic growth he also kept deep pov- is exceedingly close. In Moslem Arab growth. other Arab Spring countries where erty at bay. countries, along with Scandinavia, a hostility between rival parties has The culmination over years of good tight social structure results in the economic government and attention to world’s lowest murder rates. The for- as the murder and robbery rate in a been so deep-rooted that they By choosing a the poor is that bidding or tough control of alcohol also country that has had the second highest are more focused on political Chile’s murder has much to do with it. Latin America murder rate in the world was horrific consensus PM, annihilation of each other. rate is the low- has little of this. on that road. Jomaa has a huge responsibility est (along with In Latin America, robberies have tri- Half of the Latin American people Tunisian parties of restoring peace and stability, Uruguay) in what pled and in a typical day 460 women believe that security has deteriorated. have set an bringing economic growth and is the most violent suffer sexual violence. (These latter two 65% have stopped going out at night. Many prisons are of all the conti- figures are less easy to be certain about 13% have felt the need to move to instilling confidence among people example for other dominated by nents. Despite the than murders.) Many prisons are domi- another place- that’s 75 million people. to prepare the country for elections. disturbance of the nated by criminal gangs which make The Inter-American Development Arab Spring The fact that he is a consensus criminal gangs student protests sure that when prisoners are released Bank has analysed the cost in terms countries. candidate makes him supremely which make last year over the they are of a mind to commit worse of a reduction in GNP of crime in five eligible to perform such duties. sure that when bad state of edu- crimes than when they went in. In the countries. It ranged from 3% in Chile He is known to be extremely cation, it has a north of the continent drug gangs wreck and Uruguay to 10% in . (The prisoners are calm culture and immense havoc. In they make latter has the highest murder rate in pragmatic, does not belong to any released they a rule of law. some towns practically ungovernable. the world.) political party and has a calm approach to government. He is So much of Grim as it is, progress is being made Poverty, a bad distribution of income also an efficient communicator who had worked with western are of a mind to Latin America in some countries. In , thanks and high alcohol consumption are prob- multinationals. commit worse over the last four to successful negotiations with the guer- ably the main reasons for high levels of Now that a prime minister is in charge, all political parties decades has seen rillas of FARC, the banning of wearing crime, despite improving rates of eco- crimes than when the military or guns in public and the suppression of nomic growth. Other influences are high must work hard for the conduct of free and fair polls. All sides they went in. incompetent cau- the drug gangs, the murder rate has levels of unemployment, the increas- have enough time to go to the people with their policies and dillos in power. fallen by half. that not so ing breakup of families, the growing agendas, and for the same reason, when the elections are held, The suppression long ago was plagued by government- access to guns, the use of drugs and the people’s verdict must be respected, whether they choose to of human rights backed death squads (tolerated by the weak and often corrupt police, judges give power to Islamists or secularists. If the current Tunisian and growing economic equality were US which continued its close links with and prosecutors. experiment succeeds, it will have a positive influence on other the norm. The continent became the the army) that eliminated Indians, lib- It is possible to bring down crime most violent on the planet. Only South erals and leftists has now started to get rates? Chile and New York show how Arab Spring countries. Egypt needs guidance to overcome the Africa can match its murder rate- also a on top of the problem. to do it, albeit in different ways. In New current crisis, and Libya too is looking for succour. Ennahda country with an extremely bad distribu- Yet bad as it is within countries the York it has been 15 years of the police has set an example by agreeing to be led by a consensus tion of income. situation can vary within the country adopting a policy of “zero tolerance” of candidate. That has saved the country from another revolution According to a report by the United depending on where you are. Not so long anti-social behaviour. In Chile a sus- like in Egypt and they will be rewarded by the people for Nations Development Program, ago I was in . To the south tained attack on poverty. It can be done. their exemplary behaviour. Consensus always leads to success. “throughout the last decade the region in the countryside crime was low. But If other parts of the world and Chile can has suffered an epidemic of violence.” when I thought of driving to my next do it so can all Latin America. Confrontation brings disaster • Between 2000 and 2010 the murder stop, Guatemala, I was warned not to, THE PENINSULA Letters Quote of Winter vacation for schools in Doha the day HAVE two children studying in schools in Qatar like the MES, Ideal, of this news and a few are doubtful change of timings of their accounts two Indian schools in Doha -- the DPS , DMIS etc as well as American whether the schools will really close department. Shanthiniketan Indian School (SIS) and other European schools and they for vacation and are waiting either to The accounts department is now Iand Birla Public School (BPS). too have their winter break more or less proceed with their journey or cancel working from 6.30 in the morning till The culture of About three weeks ago, I received during the same period i.e., the third the tickets. 6.30 in the evening, without break. This indiscriminate a circular from the SIS stating that as week of December 2013 till the first I would highly appreciate if newspa- timing is very convenient for parents per the Supreme Education Council’s week of January 2014 . pers can contact the Supreme Council to pay the fees of their wards. Earlier, worldwide directive, the winter vacation for all It’s difficult for me to understand and inform the parents the actual facts the accounts department was work- schools will be from January 26, why only one school is adhering to about this so that the confusion can ing from 6.30am to 1.30pm and from surveillance, 2014 till February 1, 2014 and that this direction from the Supreme Council be ended . 4.30pm to 6.30pm. there will be no vacation in December while others are not. It makes it more Kevin George, I am one of the parents who had exposed to public 2013 . difficult for working parents like us to Doha requested a change in the timing debates and real The BPS has not issued any such take one child to school when the other New MES accounts because due to the odd working hours circular till date and as per the list of has a winter break and sits at home. I in my office, I was finding it difficult to investigations on holidays, they will close on December know a few friends who have had to timing very convenient pay fees on time. every continent, is 23, 2013 and will reopen on January 5, cancel their airline tickets and their I am writing this to thank the MES Mukhtar Mohammed Edward Snowden 2014. I have checked with other Indian planned New Year vacation because Indian School management for the Doha collapsing. US intelligence leaker WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Why Saddam never used chemical arms Saddam viewed chemical weapons as a final trump card, to be held in reserve to deter American or Israeli use of chemical, biological, or nuclear weapons and prevent coalition forces from marching on Baghdad.

BY BENJAMIN BUCH and SCOTT carefully worded presidential letter for D SAGAN Saddam. Bush’s letter said that the “US will not f the Syrian civil war and, in par- tolerate the use of chemical or biological ticular, the horrific Ghouta attack weapons or the destruction of Kuwait’s this August have reminded the oil fields... You and your country will pay world of the persistent danger a terrible price if you order unconscion- of chemical weapons, it is worth able acts of this sort.” Iremembering that this is not the first Baker issued a stronger and more time the US has confronted a Middle explicit verbal warning, telling Aziz that Eastern dictator armed with weapons of if Iraq used chemical or biological weap- mass destruction. During the 1991 Gulf ons, “The American people will demand War, Saddam Hussein possessed large vengeance. And we have the means to stockpiles of chemical weapons, which exact it. This is not a threat, it is a prom- he had used frequently in his eight-year ise.” He then warned that if such weap- war with Iran during the 1980s. And yet ons were used, the American “objective Iraq did not use these weapons against would not be the liberation of Kuwait, Free Syrian Army fighters gather around an improvised artillery weapon in eastern Ghouta, Damascus, on Monday. the US-led coalition forces, even as they but the elimination of the current Iraqi soundly defeated the Iraqi army, push- regime.” Tariq Aziz, however, refused to biggest Saudi cities with all the decision hear my voice, you will hear somebody strategic deterrent in the same way that ing it from Kuwait. For two decades, the deliver Bush’s letter to Saddam, and it is makers, and the Saudi rulers... Also, all else’s voice, so you can receive the order Saddam did. This is likely because one question has been, why not? unclear whether Saddam ever read it. In the Israeli cities, all of them.” When from him, and then you can go attack lesson demonstrated by the Iraq War Some American officials have argued his post-capture interrogation, the Iraqi asked when the chemical and biological your targets.” (and, more recently, by Libya) is that that Saddam was deterred from using leader claimed not to know that Baker’s weapons would be used, he answered, Given that US forces didn’t pursue the US may successfully pursue regime chemical weapons by ambiguous US threats were even connected with the use “Only in the case we are obliged and regime change, even after Iraq crossed an change even after a nation has given up threats of nuclear retaliation and explicit of chemical weapons. there is a great necessity to put them American “red line” by torching Kuwaiti its WMD. Assad thus may be reluctant to threats of regime change. But informa- Even if the messages did make it into action.” oil fields, the Iraqi leadership concluded give up his final cache of chemical weap- tion Saddam provided interrogators through, the nature of the American Saddam’s confidence in his chemical that chemical and biological weapons ons, keeping some as an insurance pol- after his capture — 10 years ago today threats made it unlikely that they were weapons as a strategic deterrent was in had successfully deterred the US. In icy against future attack. In fact, recent — along with newly released recordings an effective deterrent. Baker had earlier part based on a belief that his weapons his official CIA report on Iraq’s chemi- press reports suggest that US intelligence of Saddam’s meetings with his advisers, threatened regime change if Saddam was were far more powerful than they actu- cal and biological weapons programme, agencies are concerned that Assad may suggest otherwise. unwilling to withdraw from Kuwait. ally were. Saddam incorrectly asserted Charles Duelfer notes, “Iraqis believed be holding back some of his weapons. Saddam viewed chemical weapons as a If the US threatened to pursue regime to his advisers that the Iraqi chemical that their possession and willingness to Third, there is a tension between US final trump card, to be held in reserve to change whether or not Saddam used weapons arsenal was “200 times” more use WMD (CW and BW) contributed desires to see Syria disarmed of chemical deter American or Israeli use of chemi- chemical weapons, then that threat could powerful than it had been in the Iran- substantially to deterring the US from weapons and the Obama administration’s cal, biological, or nuclear weapons and to not have been an effective deterrent. Iraq war. going to Baghdad in 1991.” As American stated goal that Assad’s regime must go. prevent coalition forces from marching Moreover, Saddam ordered the burning Saddam also expressed a willingness leaders confront another Middle Eastern Is the US priority to overthrow the on Baghdad. And Saddam later concluded of the Kuwaiti oil fields and did not with- to use chemical and biological weapons if dictator armed with chemical weapons, Syrian regime or to reduce the risk of that his deterrent strategy had worked, draw from Kuwait, further evidence that the US attempted to march on Baghdad. there are four lessons that they should future chemical weapons use? If the telling his advisers that Iraq had won he was not deterred by US threats. The In an interrogation after his capture, draw from the Iraqi case. latter, the US may need to issue more the war because the US stopped combat newly released Saddam tapes also provide Saddam claimed that “WMD was for First, in dealing with authoritarian explicit security assurances, or at least operations after the Iraqi army retreated little support for the idea that Baker’s the defence of Iraq’s sovereignty” and governments, deterrence may not work. suggest that full Syrian disarmament will from Kuwait. threats significantly impacted Iraqi deci- that “Iraq did not use WMD during the Underlings are often hesitant to communi- bring rewards to the government. As the international community works sion-making. Just days after Baker warned 1991 Gulf War as its sovereignty was not cate threats, and dictators may have highly If there are setbacks in the disar- to disarm Bashar Al Assad of his chemi- Aziz not to use chemical or biological weap- threatened.” He added that he “would inflated estimates of their own military mament process, the administration cal arsenal, the US should reconsider the ons, Saddam was preparing his forces to have been called stupid” had he used capabilities as the “yes men” beneath them should use the agreed-upon United true lessons of the Gulf War. Because if do just that. chemical or biological weapons outside say what they think the leader wants to Nation inspection procedures first and Syria’s disarmament does not proceed as In a mid-January meeting with his of these conditions. hear. Authoritarian regimes also often rely be exceedingly careful not to issue threats smoothly as planned, effective deterrence Air Force commander and son-in-law, There is also strong evidence that on poor intelligence analysis of US objec- that it doesn’t fully intend to execute. and smart diplomacy will be essential to he said: “I want to make sure the germ Saddam pre-delegated authority to use tives and decision-making. Disarming dic- Having our bluff called weakens the prevent future uses of chemical weapons. and chemical warheads, as well as the chemical and biological weapons in the tators, if possible, is preferable to trying to strength of future deterrent threats As war loomed between the US and chemical and germ bombs are available to event of a decapitation strike on Baghdad. deter them. and increases the likelihood that we will Iraq in January 1991, president George the ‘concerned people,’ so that in case we In the same January 1991 conversation Second, although the Syrian govern- be challenged. In the words of Brent H W Bush sent secretary of state James ordered an attack, they can do it without with his advisers on the use of chemical ment is clearly trying to gain favour in Scowcroft, reflecting on the 1991 Gulf War, Baker to Geneva to meet Iraqi foreign missing any of their targets.” Saddam also and biological weapons, he stated, “I will the international community by cooper- “It is bad practice to threaten something minister Tariq Aziz. His mission was laid out the targets: give them an order stating that at ‘one ating with the UN disarmament plan, you have no intention of carrying out.” to deliver a verbal threat to Aziz and a “Riyadh and Jeddah, which are the moment,’ if I’m not there and you don’t Assad may view chemical weapons as a WP-BLOOMBERG Outdated US law delay aid to Filipinos Right-wing third party The reality on ground in such the winning bet in 2016 disasters is so complex that it is BY CHARLES D ELLISON on’t say I didn’t tell you: Two years from now, the GOP will officially split into two parties, with traditional Republicans indefensible to hinder humanitarian getting freed up to do their thing while a more robust tea Dparty spin-off picks its own nominee for a presidential elec- response simply to enforce tion that will be unlike any we’ve seen since Ross Perot’s wild ride in 1992. A confluence of trends — including the public’s anxiety, right-wing antiquated rules. nuttiness and incentives for RINOs (or Republicans in Name Only) and tea partiers to go their separate ways — are contributing to what will BY JUANITA SALVADOR These regulations require the become one of the most politically cataclysmic presidential races ever. -BURRIS vast majority of US food aid to be So forget about tired angles on the “battle for the soul of the shipped from preferred growers Republican Party.” It’s time to start distinguishing Republicans from s a Filipino-American, in the US on preferred US ships. Relatives offer flowers and light candles at the ruins of a house once lived those tea party types we all know, love and ever so slightly detest. I have reeled in shock Food has to be shipped more than in by family members in Tacloban, marking the 40th day after Typhoon The real RINOs aren’t politicians such as New Jersey’s Governor and helplessness as 11,000 nautical miles across the Haiyan hit the city. Chris Christie or Governor John Kasich of Ohio, they’re the fire- Athousands of Filipinos ocean, even though there is ample breathing stunt artists such as Senators Ted Cruz (Texas) and Rand in Typhoon Haiyan-decimated food available much closer to the Paul (Kentucky), who joined the GOP in an attempt to co-opt its Tacloban City were shown every crisis, in unaffected areas of the It is now more than a month since it is indefensible for US food aid extensive network of activists, operatives and fund-raising bundlers. day sitting, wandering, crying, and in countries like super-typhoon Haiyan devastated regulations to hinder our humani- They’re supported by a powerful entourage of activists who say no with nowhere to go, without and – at a the central region of the Visayas tarian response simply to enforce to everything from presidential nominees to the recent bipartisan food, water, shelter, and medi- lower price for taxpayers. in the Philippines. antiquated rules. budget deal. cal attention. After six days and The rules prevent aid agencies We now know that 14m were We could start reaching more But once they drain the national email lists and decide to jump ship, reports of no aid arriving yet, I like the World Food Programme impacted, 4m were displaced and people at no extra cost to taxpay- look out for a tea party convention in a Southern city near you. wrote 17 friends in Manila seek- from purchasing food from the are without homes. The Philippine ers almost immediately, because Here are some reasons you should expect a tea party presidential ing answers as to why more aid closest and most cost-effective government said weeks ago that Congress has the power to waive nominee in 2016: had not reached those devastated sellers. Delays in delivering food they were feeding 1.4 million peo- these regulations. Join me and 1) It’s in the Republican DNA. And since political-party shifts hap- by this natural disaster. They felt because of red tape doesn’t just ple a day, and the government is thousands of others in calling on pen in cycles, we guess it’s about that time for a new one to start up. the same despair I did, often tell- cost tax dollars, it can cost lives. being blamed for not doing more. Congress to save lives by exempt- 2) Americans want a third party. At least that’s what a Gallup survey ing me: “not enough aid reached It is unconscionable that red Yet as the WHO Director of ing the emergency response from said two months ago on the eve of the government shutdown, when the people in a timely manner”. tape is delaying food from reach- Emergency Risk Management FDA regulations, so humanitar- jaded voters watched the congressional hot mess unfold. Like many others, I am thank- ing people whose lives have and Humanitarian Response ian aid can reach suffering people 3) You can’t dismiss the 25 percent. That niggling 25 percent of the ful for the generosity of my fellow already been destroyed by Haiyan. said on NPR: “the complexity of when they need it most. It has population made up of folks who like government shutdowns and still Americans, many of whom have Since I started a petition to the disaster is not only its mag- been said that 90 percent of all think President Barack Obama was born in Kenya just won’t go away. already donated millions to the exempt Typhoon relief from out- nitude, but the enormous geo- giving happens within 90 days of You may say they’re just a minority, but polls show they’re a pretty relief effort. dated regulations, tens of thou- graphic spread of the impact of an event. When February 8, 2014 stubborn one. But I could never have imag- sands of Americans signed on to the cyclone over 600km or a 400 comes around, the world may have 4)Those Republican “nut jobs” we keep laughing about keep running ined that red-tape and outdated let the US Congress know they mile swath over different islands.” forgotten how hard Haiyan hit the for office. And the strange thing is, they still have an audience. rules written by the US Congress care about the issue. The logistics of aiding disaster Philippines. But if we achieve this 5) Chris Christie thinks he can win a Republican primary. If Christie in the 1950s could delay urgently Their message is loud and clear: survivors in the Philippines are small change in policy, we can be gets new Republican Party votes plus independents plus moderate-to- needed relief from reaching the fix the broken food aid system. further complicated by the fact proud of helping to empower the conservative Democrats (and a few black and brown folks, too, who millions of people who desperately Haiyan is a perfect example of why that it is made up of 7,107 islands. Philippines to walk strong on the like his candid New Jersey style), his camp thinks it can pull together need humanitarian assistance in reform is so desperately needed, The reality on the ground in long road to recovery and rebuild- a coalition that gives Republicans their last best shot at the White my native land. both now and for future disasters. such disasters is so complex that ing. THE GUARDIAN House before voters of colour totally take over. WP-BLOOMBERG WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 MIDDLE EAST 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Thousands flee ; 66 soldiers killed 10 leading figures including ex-ministers arrested

JUBA: Rival troops were locked than ever, I call on the leaders of The independent radio station in fresh battles in South Sudan’s this new country and all politi- Tamazuj said clashes were taking capital yesterday in unrest that cal factions and parties, as well place around compounds belong- has killed at least 66 soldiers and as community leaders to refrain ing to Machar or his loyalists. sent thousands of terrified civil- from any action that fuels eth- Officials have said several former ians fleeing since an alleged coup nic tensions and exacerbates vio- government ministers have been bid. The fighting in the world’s lence,” she said in a statement. arrested, although the wherea- youngest nation has set off The African Union also said bouts of Machar is unclear. alarm bells in the international it was “deeply concerned” about “So far we have lost seven sol- community, with the United the events and urged all players diers who died while they were Nations urging the warring to show “maximum restraint” and waiting for medical attention groups to refrain from ethnic work towards a resolution. and a further 59 who were killed violence. The heavy fighting and the outside,” military hospital doctor President Salva Kiir on Monday alleged coup has underscored Ajak Bullen said on Miraya FM accused soldiers loyal to his arch- the fragility of the nation which radio. Another medical establish- rival, former vice president Riek only became independent from ment, Teaching Hospital, Lebanese army security officials inspect the explosion site, east of Baalbeck city in ’s Bekaa valley, Machar, of staging a coup attempt Sudan in 2011. Machar — who had earlier reported 26 dead, a yesterday. in the oil-rich but deeply impov- was sacked in July — leads a dissi- mixture of civilians and military. erished nation. dent group within South Sudan’s It was not clear whether there A military hospital doctor ruling party, the Sudan People’s was any overlap between the fig- said at least 66 soldiers have Liberation Movement (SPLM), ures. Military spokesman Philip Deadly blast at Hezbollah post been killed in the fighting, which and had been seen as the main Aguer declined to comment on erupted late on Sunday in the challenger to Kiir. the casualty figures, telling only: BAALBEK, LEBANON: A rushed to the scene and opened militiamen had already inter- capital Juba. The government said The two men hail from differ- “The soldiers are controlling the car exploded near a Hezbollah fire, thinking the others had been cepted two car bombs earlier on yesterday it has arrested 10 lead- ent ethnic groups and had in the situation.” post in eastern Lebanon yester- ambushed, and then helped the the same road. Meanwhile, five ing figures, many of them former past fought on different sides dur- Communications in Juba con- day, leaving casualties, the Shia wounded,” it said. rockets coming from Syria hit the ministers, as clashes raged for ing Sudan’s long civil war. tinued to be sporadic, with most militant group and a security A photographer saw four Bekaa town of Hermel, another two days in the capital. Sporadic South Sudan won its independ- phone lines down and the main source said. The blast caused burned out vehicles at the post, Hezbollah stronghold, on Tuesday clashes could be heard in several ence in July 2011 after its people airport closed, diplomats and civil “deaths and injuries,” the secu- one of many manned by Hezbollah evening and wounded four people, parts of Juba, even though Kiir voted overwhelmingly in a ref- aviation officials said. rity source said. in the Bekaa, which hosts tens the security source said. had announced that the city was erendum to split from the north A reporter said residents living Hezbollah’s Al Manar televi- of thousands of Syrian refugees, “One of the rockets hit a under complete control. and form a new nation. Awash in areas close to military bases sion said an unspecified number who now account for a fifth of Lebanese army barracks and A top UN envoy said at least with guns after the long war, the were using any lull in the fighting of people were wounded in the Lebanon’s resident population. the others hit residential areas,” 10,000 civilians “have received country has struggled with ethnic to flee for safer areas, although attack near the Shia village of Residents said the position was wounding four people, the source protection in the two UNMISS violence and corruption. many said they were too afraid Sbuba. It said an SUV parked used by the militia as a staging said, without elaborating. compounds in Juba”, and that UN An aid worker with the British to move. “We are afraid of going near the Hezbollah post blew up post for its vehicles and fighters, Hermel has been hit by cross- staff were “taking every possible charity Oxfam, Emma Jane Drew, outside,” said Juba resident Jane when members of the militia, especially those headed for Syria border rocket fire several times in step to ensure their safety”. said by telephone that the situa- Kiden. “We had wanted to go out which controls much of the Bekaa to fight alongside government the past. Hezbollah been the tar- The special representative of tion in Juba was “very tense”. and buy food from the market, but Valley in eastern Lebanon along forces. The Lebanese army said get of repeated attack by suspected the UN secretary-general, Hilde “It’s continued shooting. how can you go with the shoot- the border with Syria, approached the car bombing occurred at 2:50 Sunni hardliners since its leader Johnson, said it was “paramount” Shooting could be heard all ing? I am staying at home with the vehicle. The vehicle was am (0050 GMT) on the Sbuba- Hassan Nasrallah confirmed that the conflict did not assume through the night. We don’t know my children.” There were also packed with 60kg of explosives Nabi Mussa road and that mili- in April that its fighters were ethnic dimensions. who is fighting who,” she said, unconfirmed reports of troops and the blast left a crater three tary police were investigating. in Syria supporting President “At a time when unity among adding her team was unable to conducting violent house-to- metres wide, Al Manar said. Lebanon’s NNA news agency Bashar Al Assad’s forces against South Sudanese is more needed leave their compound. house searches. AFP “Other Hezbollah members reported that Hezbollah mainly Sunni rebels. AFP

Israel sends 150 African migrants Syria talks to open in Swiss town of Montreux GENEVA/LONDON: The the Swiss ski resort of Davos on decided how long the talks will had promised to release him this of the western policy on support- back to jail long-delayed “Geneva II” peace January 22, many of them passing continue, Mattar said. week, but on Monday they told ing Syrian rebels, having bitterly JERUSALEM: Israeli police conference for Syria will open through Geneva. the family he had died. opposed the Iraq war in 2003, and yesterday sent back to custody in the Swiss lakeside town of As a result the city’s hotels are BRITISH DOCTOR DIES IN Khan, 34, told the BBC: “My has maintained contacts with the about 150 African migrants who Montreux because of a lack fully booked, leading organisers to SYRIA JAIL brother was going to be released regime of President Bashar Al had abandoned a desert deten- of hotel space in Geneva, the look for alternatives. A British surgeon imprisoned at the end of the week. We were Assad. tion centre in protest against United Nations said yesterday. Montreux was decided upon, in war-torn Syria for over a year given assurance by the Syrian “Last week I received a call a new law allowing them to be “The international conference Mattar said, because of a vari- after volunteering to work in a government. “My brother knew from the (Syrian) foreign minis- kept there indefinitely. on Syria... will be held due to logis- ety of reasons, including security hospital has died in detention, his that. He was ready to come back ter telling me that the president Aided by rights groups, tical reasons... in Montreux,” said considerations and the availability family and a lawmaker said yes- home. He was happy and looking had asked him to contact me to the migrants had travelled to Khawla Mattar, spokeswoman for of hotel space in the scenic town terday. Abbas Khan, a 32-year-old forward to being released.” The come to Damascus to bring Dr Jerusalem to demonstrate out- UN-Arab League envoy Lakhdar at the other end of Lake Geneva orthopaedic surgeon from south family said it had no information Khan home before Christmas,” side the Israeli parliament, Brahimi, who is trying to organise known for its jazz festival. London, travelled to the north- on how he died. British lawmaker said Galloway. “Obviously this which last week passed a law the conference. The conference centre at the ern city of Aleppo — the scene of George Galloway said he had been had to be kept confidential but the allowing authorities to hold ille- UN Secretary General Ban Montreux Palace will only host particularly fierce fighting — last due to fly out to Syria within days family were kept fully informed. gal migrants in an “open facility” Ki-moon last month finally set the first day of high-level talks year to help treat civilians. to bring the doctor home. I was in the process of booking a until they leave the country. January 22 as the date for the on January 22, hosted by Ban Britain’s Foreign Office said “I think we will have to wait flight for this Friday when I got The Israeli government says talks, which have been repeat- and including all invited country it was “extremely concerned” for clarification on how exactly he the appalling news.” that most of the 50,000 African edly postponed since June. But a delegations. by reports of his death and was died but this is heartbreaking and Afroze Khan accused the migrants, mostly Sudanese and luxury watch fair will be taking Negotiations between the two seeking confirmation from the devastating news for his family Foreign Office of failing to take Eritrean, who have since 2006 place in Geneva at the same time. Syrian delegations and Brahimi Syrian government, which it said who have been working so hard action. “We are devastated, dis- crossed over the Egyptian border The global elite will also begin will then continue at the UN’s it would hold responsible if he was for so long to secure his release,” traught and we are angry at the into its territory, are illegal job- gathering for the annual World European headquarters in Geneva dead. Khan’s brother Afroze told Galloway said in a statement. Foreign Office for dragging their seekers who threaten the Jewish Economic Forum which begins in on January 24 but it has not been the BBC that Syrian authorities Galloway has been a vocal critic feet for 13 months.” AGENCIES state’s social makeup. But rights groups and liberal lawmakers say many are asylum- seekers fleeing hardship and per- secution in their homelands. French PM in Algeria “We came from a war-place Cairo apologises for western and we want our dignity. We want to save our lives. We are not crim- inals,” one migrant, who did not give his name, said at the protest. models in constitution banner Police and immigration officers broke up the migrants’ demon- CAIRO: Egypt has apologised “The SIS formally apologises not accurately representing the stration and loaded them on to for a banner promoting the new for the error found in the ban- Egyptian people. “It would have buses headed for prison. A police constitution that misspelt the ner... (It) was delivered hours been nice if the ad that was rep- spokesman said there were some word “Egyptians” and carried before the conference began as resenting Egyptians and targets minor scuffles at the scene, but no images of foreigners instead of a donation by a non-govern- Egyptians actually had Egyptians one was hurt. REUTERS locals, embarrassing the gov- mental organisation promot- in it and not a Canadian handi- ernment as it tries to rally sup- ing the constitutional draft,” capped person, an American doc- port for the document. the SIS said. tor and an Irishwoman,” Khaled Saudi beheads The draft constitution, which An anchor at a morning pro- Alish said on his radio pro- will be put to a mid-January ref- gramme on Mega FM, a pri- gramme, referring to the three Syrian for drug erendum, is an important mile- vately-owned Egyptian radio people in the banner identified as stone in the political transition station, criticised the banner for foreigners. REUTERS trafficking plan mapped out by the army after it deposed elected Islamist RIYADH: Saudi authorities President Mohamed Mursi in Army kills militant implicated yesterday beheaded a Syrian July. man convicted of smuggling The banner was unfurled drugs to the ultra-conservative at a high-profile news confer- in 2012 border ambush kingdom, the interior minis- ence on Sunday to promote the try said. Syrian national Hasan constitution. CAIRO: Egypt’s military has killed a jihadist suspected of Mahmud Al Bash was executed The Arabic text misspelt the involvement in an ambush that left 16 Egyptian soldiers killed in the northern province of Jawf, word “Egyptians” as “determined” near the border with Israel last year, an army spokesman said the ministry said in a statement and Google image searches iden- yesterday. Silmi Mohammed Masbah was killed on Monday in carried by the official SPA news tified three of five people in the Sinai and was allegedly a member of Ansar Beit Al Maqdis — an agency. banner as foreigners. Al Qaeda-inspired militant group operating in the restive penin- Bash was arrested while In English, the banner read “All sula — said Colonel Ahmed Ali on his official Facebook page. attempting to traffic “a large Egyptians Constitution”. Egyptian troops “eliminated Silmi Mohammed Masbah who is amount of narcotic capsules,” In a statement, the State known as Abu Khalid, a member of radical Islamist movement the ministry added. His behead- Information Service (SIS) apolo- Ansar Beit Al Maqdis,” Ali said. ing brings to 76 the number of gised for the misspelling but did He said 20 other jihadists were also arrested in the operation that executions carried out in Saudi French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault (left), greets bystanders in the not mention the controversy over killed Masbah, but they were involved in other attacks on security Arabia this year western Algerian city of Oran, yesterday. the nationalities of the people forces. AFP AFP portrayed in the banner. WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 US academics back Israel boycott Britain warns businesses of risks of involvement in the West Bank settlements NEW YORK: A prestigious US aca- those institutions”. The vote came amid Earlier this year, the EU established Avi Wortzman, the deputy education The US-based Jewish Voice for Peace demic body has joined a growing move- renewed calls in the aftermath of Nelson new guidelines that prohibit giving funds, minister, also condemned the decision. also welcomed the ASA’s move, saying it ment to boycott Israel in protest at its Mandela’s death for an international boy- grants, prizes or scholarships to Israeli He said: “This is a disgraceful attempt represented a “significant milestone in treatment of Palestinians, in a move cott drive against Israel similar to the bodies with links to settlements in the to meddle in the internal policies of the the growth of the BDS (boycott, divest- both welcomed and condemned in a anti-apartheid campaign. West Bank, including East Jerusalem, state of Israel under the guise of an aca- ment and sanctions) movement in the bitterly divisive international arena. Last week the major Dutch drink- prompting a furious response by the demic debate and equal rights suppos- ”. Boycotts to pressure The American Studies Association ing water firm Vitens announced that it Israeli government. edly. The state of Israel grants all of its Israel to abide by international law were (ASA), which has more than 5,000 mem- was severing commercial links, including The Palestinian President Mahmoud citizens an equal opportunity in the aca- not inherently antisemitic, it said. bers, is the most significant US academic joint projects agreed just weeks earlier, Abbas drew a distinction last week demic world and encourages the integra- The American Association of organisation to back a boycott of Israeli with Israel’s national water company, between boycotting products and com- tion of minorities in academia.” University Professors, which has 48,000 educational institutions following a two- Mekorot, in protest at its activities in panies connected to settlements and a Ronald Lauder, the president of the members, has rejected calls for a boy- thirds majority vote. Around a quarter of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. more widespread boycott of Israeli insti- World Jewish Congress, said: “This vote cott of Israeli institutions. In the UK, members took part in the ballot. “The company concluded that it would tutions and goods. “We do not ask anyone to boycott Israel, one of the most demo- the University and College Union sup- The ASA resolution was “in solidarity be very difficult to develop joint ventures to boycott Israel itself,” he said in South cratic and academically free nations ports one. with scholars and students deprived of together, considering the fact that they Africa. “We have relations with Israel, we on the globe, shows the Orwellian Earlier this year, the boycott move- their academic freedom”, the organisa- cannot be seen as divorced from their have mutual recognition of Israel.” But, antisemitism and moral bankruptcy of ment claimed a major victory when the tion said in a statement. It cited “Israel’s political context. We follow international he added, “we ask everyone to boycott the the ASA.” The association was deeply British scientist Stephen Hawking pulled violation of international law and UN law,” Vitens said in a statement. products of the settlements”. biased and disconnected with reality, he out of a conference in Israel in protest at resolutions; the documented impact of At the same time, the UK government The ASA move, which is not binding added. its treatment of Palestinians. the Israeli occupation on Palestinian issued an explicit warning to British busi- on its members, drew angry responses The Palestinian Campaign for the Other British personalities who have scholars and students; and the extent to nesses over the risks of involvement in from Israeli ministers. Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel declined invitations to visit Israel include which Israeli institutions of higher edu- Israeli settlements in the West Bank, “This is an unworthy act that does not hailed the ASA’s “refusal to be intimi- Elvis Costello, Roger Waters, Brian Eno, cation are a party to state policies that including potential damage to a com- dignify the association,” said the science dated by the persistent efforts of defend- Annie Lennox and Mike Leigh. Many violate human rights.” pany’s reputation. There were “clear minister, Yaakov Peri. “To our regret, in ers of Israel’s regime of occupation, others, however, including the author The resolution bans “formal collabora- risks related to economic and financial the recent past we have seen numerous colonisation and apartheid”. The move Ian McEwan, have resisted pressure to tions with Israeli academic institutions, activities in the settlements, and we do examples of the mixing of politics with was “a significant step in the direction join the boycott on the grounds that it is or with scholars who are expressly serv- not encourage or offer support to such science, and we are acting to eradicate of holding Israeli institutions accountable ineffective or misguided. ing as representatives or ambassadors of activity,” it said. those phenomena.” for their collusion”, it added. GUARDIAN NEWS UAE verdict on Copter crash detains ministers’ Brotherhood ‘cell’ on Jan 21 sons, businessmen ABU DHABI: The UAE’s state security court said yes- in corruption probe terday it will announce next month its verdict in the trial of 30 Emiratis and Egyptians ISTANBUL: Turkish police the authority of a man who has charged with forming a Muslim detained the sons of three cabi- dominated politics for a decade. Brotherhood cell. net ministers and several well- Erdogan’s decline, though yet a The verdict will be issued in a known businessmen as part of distant prospect, would create hearing on January 21, the court investigations into alleged cor- huge uncertainty. decided in a session attended by ruption yesterday, state officials Turkey holds local polls in 2014 15 of the defendants, Wa m state said, in a blow to Prime Minister that will be a test of Erdogan’s news agency reported. Nine oth- Recep Tayyip Erdogan months power after a year that has seen ers refused to appear in court, it ahead of elections. unprecedented protests and riots said. Police carried out dawn raids against what some opponents The alleged Muslim in the main commercial city see as an authoritarian style of Brotherhood cell comprises Istanbul, detaining at least 18 government. He retains enor- 10 Emiratis and 20 Egyptians, people including prominent mous popularity, especially in his including six who remain at large. business figures, and searched Anatolian heartland. The Egyptian defendants, the headquarters of state-run Tuesday’s operation, launched including doctors, engineers Officials examine the wreckage of a Turkish military S-70 Sikorsky helicopter which crashed in the outskirts of Halkbank in the capital Ankara, by the chief prosecutor’s office in and university professors, were the capital Ankara, killing all four of its crew members, yesterday. state officials and banking sources Istanbul, consisted of three sepa- arrested between November 2012 said. Halkbank shares fell some rate investigations, according to and January 2013, according to five percent. the website of the mainstream Human Rights Watch. Turkish commentators saw the daily Hurriyet. The Gulf states have grown hand of powerful Islamic cleric One involved Halkbank, one increasingly concerned about the Fethullah Gulen behind the oper- of Turkey’s biggest banks, whose Brotherhood following its prom- Saudi Arabia to rehabilitate ation, whose network of followers offices were searched. Halkbank inent role in the Arab Spring holds influential positions in insti- officials could not immediately be uprisings sweeping the region. tutions from the police and secret reached for comment. The group is banned in much services to the judiciary. Police also searched the head- of the region, and the United returned ex-Gitmo inmates Erdogan and Gulen have been quarters of the Agaoglu Group Arab Emirates, Kuwait and locked in an acrimonious row in of construction magnate Ali Saudi Arabia pledged billions RIYADH: Two Saudi detainees Afghanistan and were working for political violence. recent weeks over government Agaoglu, 59, its chief executive of dollars in aid to Egypt after sent home from the US deten- Al Qaeda. “They will be subjected The programme lasts at least plans to abolish private “prep” Hasan Rahvali told Reuters. the military in July overthrew tion centre at Guantanamo Bay to the regulations in force in the three months, according to offi- schools, many of which are run “We are talking about a wide- president Mohamed Mursi, who will go through the kingdom’s kingdom, which include benefit- cials who took reporters on a tour by Gulen’s Hizmet (“Service”) scoping investigation here. It hails from the Brotherhood, and rehabilitation programme for ing from the counselling and care of one of its facilities this year. movement and provide funding is not focused on Ali Agaoglu,” launched a brutal crackdown on militants, the Interior Ministry programmes,” Interior Ministry It is compulsory for all Saudis and new followers. “It is a very Hasan Rahvali, the chief execu- his supporters. said yesterday. spokesman Major-General convicted of offences relating to bold move by the movement, one tive of Agaoglu Group, said. Amnesty International on Muhammad Husayn Qahtani Mansour Turki was quoted as Islamist militancy after their that you can’t possibly ignore. It “This investigation is related Monday accused UAE authori- and Hamood Abdulla Hamood saying by the official Saudi Press release from prison. is a battle to curb each other’s to claims of bribery against some ties of harassing the families of were repatriated to Saudi Arabia Agency. The authorities say fewer than power,” said Ahmet Sik, a jour- public officials. They searched the prisoners convicted on “vague on Monday after spending 11 Saudi Arabia’s programme 10 percent of those who have nalist detained for a year over his company in the early hours this national security charges.” years in Guantanamo, Cuba, with- to reintegrate former Islamist undergone the course have taken book on Gulen’s life and influence. morning but could not find any “The UAE authorities must end out being charged with any crime. militants features art and sports up arms after their release, but Gulen could not challenge criminal evidence.” this shameful and vindictive cam- They were both captured in classes, religious instruction and the recidivists include several who Erdogan at the polls and has said He said Ali Agaoglu had been paign of persecution. Prisoners’ Pakistan in 2002 and US mili- psychological analysis aimed at became senior al Qaeda figures in he has no plans for a party. But asked by the police to come and families must not be punished for tary documents allege they pushing them away from inter- neighbouring Yemen after fleeing with his influence, not least in the make a statement as part of the seeking justice for their relatives,” fought alongside the Taliban in pretations of Islam that favour the kingdom. REUTERS AK Party, he could undermine investigation. REUTERS the rights groups said. It was referring to the families of 69 nationals jailed for up to 15 years each on charges of plotting to overthrow the government. Three years on, Tunisians mark uprising with new demo Egypt to try 23 SIDI BOUZID, TUNISIA: for a peaceful demonstration. organisers yesterday’s events to Islamists for demo Tunisians gathered yesterday “This is a day of rage and pro- insist President Moncef Marzouki, at the birthplace of the Arab tests against the policies of the parliament chief Mustapha Ben CAIRO: An Egyptian court Spring to vent their anger at government which did not keep to Jaafar and Prime Minister Ali will try 23 Islamists under social exclusion three years its word and betrayed the prom- Larayedh are not welcome in Sidi a newly passed law banning after a street vendor burned ises of the revolution,” said activ- Bouzid. “We categorically refuse unauthorised demonstrations, himself to death in what became ist Youssef Jlili. their presence... because they a judicial source said yesterday. an iconic protest. Demonstrators are also to pay have done nothing but impover- Supporters of Islamist presi- The self-immolation of 26-year- tribute to two opposition politi- ish our region. They are not cred- dent Mohamed Mursi, ousted old Mohammed Bouazizi in the cians who were killed this year ible,” said UGTT official Lazhar and arrested by the military in impoverished central town of by militants, triggering calls for Ghmoudi. Jomaa was chosen a July, regularly hold demonstra- Sidi Bouzid on December 17, the resignation of the Islamist-led day after a previous pick for pre- tions around the country calling 2011 unleashed a wave of protest government. mier agreed on by the outgoing for his return. across the North African country. The murders plunged Tunisia government and the opposition, Egypt’s military-installed His tragic act, aimed at attract- into a deep political crisis which Mustapha Filali, 92, ruled himself authorities have cracked down ing attention to economic hard- began to ease in October when out due to his age. on the protests, and more than ship and repression, was the fuse the ruling Islamists and the The ruling Islamist party 1,000 people have been killed for uprisings across the region mainly secular opposition struck Ennahda has led the coalition and thousands others arrested that toppled veteran strongmen a hard-won agreement to form government since Tunisia held its since mid-August. The judicial in Egypt, Libya and Yemen. an interim government of inde- first freely contested elections in source described the 23 accused But three years on, unemploy- pendents pending fresh elections. October 2011. People carry flags showing the four fingers, a symbol known as “Rabaa” as members of Morsi’s Muslim ment in Tunisia remains stuck And after months of wrangling, The Sidi Bouzid region is home which means four in Arabic, during a rally in Sidi Bouzid in Tunisia yesterday, Brotherhood, and said they had at 15 percent, with little prospect Tunisia’s political parties agreed to nearly half a million people to mark the third anniversary of the Tunisian revolution. been detained ahead of their of improvement as the country on Saturday to choose Industry and its unemployment rate is the case. The group was arrested in remains gripped by political crisis. Minister Mehdi Jomaa to head a nation’s highest at 24.4 percent. misery,” activist Mondher Chaibi stepped up attacks during its the Qaliubiya governorate north Pro-reform activists who organ- government of independent figures “Three years have gone by and said ahead of the demonstration. period in power, and of failing to of Cairo, according to the source, ised the Sidi Bouzid protest jointly tasked with organising elections in nothing changed. The social and The opposition accuses the address the economic problems who did not say when they had with the powerful UGTT trade 2014. But the protracted crisis and economic situation is still difficult outgoing government of failing that triggered the 2010-11 upris- been detained. AFP union confederation have called resulting economic malaise has led and the region has plunged into to rein in Islamist militants, who ing. AFP WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 INTERNATIONAL 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Angry Merkel compares NSA to Stasi in encounter with Obama NEW YORK: In an angry Germany’s Der Spiegel magazine the chairman of the US House occurred”. Senior EU officials say Moraes, the British Labour MEP there would be not be a no- exchange with Barack Obama, that the Americans were listen- select committee on intelligence, that Europe is struggling to come heading the inquiry, says “we have espionage agreement, although Chancellor Angela Merkel com- ing in to her personal mobile Mike Rogers, a Republican, said up with a coherent and effective received substantial evidence that the Americans had pledged to pared the snooping practices of phone, Merkel confronted Obama his views on the invitation to response to the revelations of the operations by intelligence desist from monitoring Merkel the US with those of the Stasi, with the accusation: “This is like Snowden were “not fit to print” mass US and British surveillance services in the US, UK, France personally. the ubiquitous and all-powerful the Stasi.” The newspaper also and that it was “not a great idea”. of electronic communication in and Germany are in breach of A high-ranking German official secret police of the communist reported that Merkel was par- Inviting someone “who is Europe, but that the disclosure international law and European with knowledge of the talks with dictatorship in East Germany, ticularly angry that, based on wanted in the US and has jeop- of the monitoring of the Merkel law”. Rather than resorting to a the White House said there had where she grew up. the disclosures, “the NSA clearly ardised the lives of US soldiers” mobile was a decisive moment. European response, has been a “useful exchange of views”, She also told the US president couldn’t be trusted with private was beneath the dignity of the A draft report by a European been pursuing a bilateral pact but confirmed a final agreement that America’s National Security information, because they let European parliament, he said. parliament inquiry into the affair, with the Americans aimed at was far from being reached. Agency cannot be trusted because Snowden clean them out.” He declined to comment on being presented today says that curbing NSA activities and insist- The Germans have received of the volume of material it had Snowden is to testify on the Merkel’s alleged remarks per- there has to be a discussion about ing on a “no-spying pact” between assurances that the Chancellor’s allowed to leak to the whistle- NSA scandal to a European sonally to Obama. In comments the legality of the NSA’s opera- allies. phone was not being monitored blower Edward Snowden, accord- parliament inquiry next month, to The Guardian, he referred to tions and also of the activities of The NYT reported that Susan and that the US spy agency is not ing to the New York Times. triggering US anger and pres- the exchange as “a conversa- European intelligence agencies. Rice, Obama’s national security conducting industrial espionage. Livid after learning from sure yesterday. In , tion that may or may not have The report, drafted by Claude adviser, had told Berlin that THE GUARDIAN not considering asylum for Snowden Leaker offers help to probe NSA spying programme

BRASILIA: Brazil says it is Snowden is living in the opportunity to grant asylum not considering granting asy- under temporary asylum that is to Edward Snowden, who was key lum to Edward Snowden even due to expire in August. He had to unravelling the US espionage after the former US National previously asked for asylum in system.” Security Agency contractor Brazil, among other countries, “The Brazilian government yesterday offered to help inves- but Brasilia did not answer his should grant him asylum and the tigate revelations that the NSA request. While Snowden stopped US government must understand has spied on Brazilians and short of asking for asylum again that the NSA violated rights pro- their president. in the letter, he suggested that tected in Brazil’s Constitution,” The Brazilian government has any collaboration with Brazilian fellow committee member received no official request from authorities would depend on it. Senator Eduardo Suplicy said. Snowden since he arrived in “Until a country grants per- The original English version of Moscow in June, a foreign min- manent political asylum, the Snowden’s letter was published istry spokesman said. Without a US government will continue on the Facebook page of David formal request, asylum will not be to interfere with my ability to Miranda, partner of journalist considered, the spokesman said. speak,” Snowden wrote. and blogger Glenn Greenwald, In a letter published yesterday The revelations of NSA spying who first brought the Snowden US President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden with executives from leading tech companies, in the by the Folha de S Paulo, a Brazilian damaged relations between the leaks to the world’s attention. Roosevelt Room of the White House, in Washington DC, yesterday. newspaper, and by social media, US and Latin America’s largest Miranda started the petition Snowden offered to collaborate country and prompted Rousseff to on the Avaaz site for Brazil to with a Brazilian investigation into cancel a state visit to Washington offer the “courageous” Snowden the NSA Internet surveillance in October. The spying also led asylum. Obama meets tech giant bosses programme he revealed earlier Rousseff to become a global In his letter, Snowden praised this year. advocate for curbs on Internet Brazil’s efforts at the United WASHINGTON: Under fire blow of a long legal tussle over the Marissa Mayer of Yahoo, Eric Simultaneously, Avaaz, a web- surveillance. Nations to limit excessive elec- from courts and allies over a vast programme. Schmidt of Google and Dick site for public petitions, launched Evidence that the NSA moni- tronic surveillance. US spying dragnet, President It also took place as Obama Costolo of Twitter. an online signature campaign to tored Rousseff’s email and cell- Last month a UN General Barack Obama faced new heat considers the findings of a panel Obama is familiar with many press President Dilma Rousseff to phone, and hacked into the Assembly committee expressed yesterday from Internet titans he set up to recommend reform of the people in the meeting — grant Snowden asylum. computing network of state-run concern at the harm such scru- who fear the surveillance has of US spy agency snooping in the a number are high profile and In his “Open Letter to the oil company Petrobras, angered tiny, including spying in foreign crossed constitutional lines. wake of damaging revelations wealthy supporters of his politi- Brazilian People,” Snowden said Brazilians and led the Senate to states and the mass collection Obama met bosses of tech by fugitive intelligence analyst cal campaigns. he would like to assist in a con- probe the extent of US spying in of personal data, might have on giants Google, Apple, Netflix, Edward Snowden. But the revelations of a massive gressional probe into NSA’s Brazil. human rights, following a joint Yahoo and Twitter at the White The meeting, in the Roosevelt US spy snooping program on the programme, which monitored Some members of Brazil’s resolution introduced by Brazil House for talks also expected to Room of the White House, was Internet, leaked by Snowden, have the personal communications of Congress have asked Russia for and Germany. include an update on the problem- closed to the reporters and Obama strained ties between the White Rousseff and other Brazilians. permission to interview Snowden On Monday, White House plagued website underpinning his made no public remarks. Press House and the US tech sector. “I have expressed my willing- but have received no reply, a con- spokesman Jay Carney dismissed health reform plan. photographers were allowed into Eight leading US-based tech- ness to assist wherever appropri- gressional aide said. the suggestion that the US could The meeting came a day after a the room for less than a minute at nology companies last week called ate and lawful, but unfortunately In a Twitter message, Senator grant amnesty to Snowden if he US court ruled that the National the start to take pictures. on Washington to overhaul its the United States government Ricardo Ferraço, chairman of the were to turn over the documents Security Agency's bulk collection Top executives at the talks surveillance laws following the has worked very hard to limit my Senate foreign relations commit- in his possession. of telephone records was prob- included include Sheryl Sandberg revelations of online eavesdrop- ability to do so,” the letter said. tee, said “Brazil should not miss REUTERS ably unconstitutional, in the first of Facebook, Tim Cook of Apple, ping. AFP

Singing at a barricade Greek, Ukrainian UK police: No evidence Diana abducted from was murdered by elite troops ship off Nigeria LONDON: British police said tabloid press. “Every reasonable ATHENS/ABUJA: Pirates yesterday they found “no cred- line of enquiry was objectively have attacked an oil products ible evidence” that Diana, prin- pursued in order to fully evaluate tanker off the coast of Nigeria cess of Wales was murdered by any potential evidence,” Scotland and kidnapped its Ukrainian special forces, following a probe Yard said in a statement. captain and a Greek engineer, into the new claims over her The numerous conspiracy theo- Greek coastguard officials said death in 1997. ries surrounding the crash were yesterday. Scotland Yard announced in investigated several years ago by The 6,500 tonne Marshall August it was checking recently John Stevens, formerly Britain’s Islands-flaggged MT ALTHEA received information about the top policeman. with 18 crew on board was deaths of the princess and her His two-year inquiry, Operation attacked by a group of 10 pirates, boyfriend Dodi Fayed, including Paget, concluded in 2006 that all the officials said. The ship’s man- an allegation that she was killed the allegations it assessed were ager, Piraeus-based Medtankers by Britain’s elite Special Air without foundation. Management, confirmed the Service (SAS). It rejected the murder claims attack. “We are doing everything Diana and Fayed were killed voiced by some, including Fayed’s we can for their release,” an offi- in a car crash in a Paris under- father, Mohammed Al Fayed. cial at the firm said on condition pass in the early hours of August The Egyptian tycoon’s lawyer of anonymity, adding that so far, 31, 1997, along with their French Simon McKay branded the scop- no ransom demand had been driver Henri Paul. ing exercise “the latest whitewash received. “They kidnapped the The Metropolitan Police Service in a 16-year cover-up” over the two men but did not touch the (MPS) conducted a “scoping deaths. cargo (oil) or injure anyone.” Folk singers sing at a barricade set up by opposition activists on Independence Square in Kiev yesterday. exercise” to assess its relevance “The Met should never have The ship was attacked late on ’s embattled President Viktor Yanukovych sought a multi-billion-dollar lifeline from Russia’s Vladimir and decide whether it warranted been given charge of the case as Monday around 35 nautical miles Putin yesterday that could relieve a brewing economic crisis but also stoke huge pro-EU protests a new criminal investigation. they had every incentive to return off the oil-producing Niger Delta “The final conclusion is that the result we now see. To have coastline, a Nigerian security whilst there is a possibility the done anything else would have source said. The armed pirates alleged comments in relation to called into serious question their fled with the two hostages in a the SAS’s involvement in the own Paget Report,” he said. speedboat, the source said. I am no monster, Knox emails murder trial deaths may have been made, there Dodi Fayed, 42, and driver Paul Pirate attacks off Nigeria is no credible evidence to support — the deputy head of security at have jumped by a third this year ROME: US student Amanda acquitted her in 2011 over the housemate and alleged victim, a theory that such claims had Al Fayed’s plush Hotel Ritz in as ships passing through West Knox emailed the Italian court 2007 killing of British student was “a friend. any basis in fact,” said the police Paris — were pronounced dead Africa’s Gulf of Guinea, a major hearing her murder retrial say- Meredith Kercher, a ruling that “I liked her, she helped me, she statement. at the scene of the crash. commodities route, have come ing she was afraid to attend and was overturned by the supreme was generous and funny, I never “Therefore the MPS are satis- The Mercedes-Benz car had under threat from gangs want- was not a “monster”, in what court earlier this year. criticised enough,” she said, fol- fied there is no evidential basis smashed into a pillar and spun ing to snatch cargoes and crews. the judge yesterday branded an “I am not present at the hear- lowing accusations from prosecu- upon which to open any criminal around. Unlike the waters off Somalia unusual move. ing because I am afraid. I am tors that a deep rift between the investigation,” it added. Diana, 36, the ex-wife of Prince on the east African coast, where “If you want to speak at the afraid that the vehemence of my two was the basic motive for the It is understood the new claim Charles, the heir to the British ships now speed through with trial, come to the trial,” said accusers you will leave an impres- murder. was made by the former parents- throne, and the mother of Princes armed guards on board, there is appeal court judge Alessandro sion on you, that their smoke in Referring to a partial confes- in-law of an ex-soldier, based on William and Harry, died later in little protection for many vessels Nancini before reading out the eyes will blind you,” Knox’s sion that she made to investiga- information he had talked about hospital. Bodyguard Trevor Rees- which have to anchor off West her email in the courtroom in email was quoted as saying. tors in the days after the murder, in the past. Jones, a member of Al Fayed fam- African countries to do business. Florence. Knox has been in the “I am not a monster,” she said. Knox said that she had been “tor- The allegations were widely ily’s protection team, survived. REUTERS US ever since an appeal court She said Kercher, her tured psychologically”. AFP covered in parts of Britain’s AFP WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Japan set to boost arms spending Abe for bigger military role amid territorial row : Japan announced yes- of a group of islands in the East been planning for some period of terday it will buy stealth fight- China Sea, and the perennial time,” he told reporters. ers, drones and submarines as threat posed by an unpredictable Spending will be raised to 24.7 part of a splurge on military North Korea. trillion yen over five years from hardware that will beef up The new guidelines approved by April 2014, up from the present defence of far-flung islands amid the cabinet call for Japan to boost 23.5 trillion yen over the five years a territorial row with China. its missile defence system to coun- to March 2014, but the figure could The cabinet of hawkish Prime ter “a grave and imminent threat” be trimmed by up to 700 billion Minister Shinzo Abe agreed to from North Korea. yen if the defence ministry can spend 24.7 trillion yen ($240bn) Pyongyang conducted its third find savings and efficiencies. between 2014 and 2019 in a stra- nuclear test in February, following New hardware will include two tegic shift towards the south and a rocket test in December 2012. destroyers equipped with the Aegis west of the country — a five per- The guidelines also demand anti-missile system and 28 new cent boost to the military budget a “dynamic joint defence force”, F-35 fighter jets, a stealth plane over five years. intended to help air, land and far superior to the F-15s that US Secretary of State John Kerry gets a thumbs up from a US Embassy employee after she corrected his The shopping list is part of sea forces work together more Japan currently has in service. pronunciation of a few words in Filipino during a visit to the Embassy in Manila yesterday. efforts by Abe to upgrade the effectively. Japan will also purchase three military in Japan, which has been Abe said the shift would allow drones, 52 amphibious vehicles, 17 officially pacifist since defeat in Japan’s military to better shoulder Osprey hybrid choppers and five World War II. Its well-equipped its responsibilities on the global submarines — all designed to boost Kerry plays down tension with China and highly professional services stage. maritime surveillance and bolster are limited to a narrowly defined “We hope to make further con- defence of islands. MANILA: US Secretary of zone imposed by amid normal processes by which we self-defensive role. tributions to the peace and stabil- Analysts noted that much of State John Kerry yesterday friction with Japan over disputed work with other countries in “Can we really protect the lives ity of the international community this kit will replace obsolete equip- played down tension with China islands in the East China Sea. order to raise their maritime of citizens and our state simply by through proactive pacifism,” he ment, but the reorientating in mil- over the East China Sea, saying A day after the United States protection capacity.” (exercising) the right to individual said. “This shows with transpar- itary priorities is evident. US efforts to strengthen mari- gave $32.5m to stiffen maritime Kerry said the United States self-defence?” Abe asked rhetori- ency our country’s diplomatic and Regional tensions were ratch- time security in South East Asia security in South East Asia, the had not taken a position on any cally at a meeting of a government defence policies.” eted up last month when China were part of a normal process to bulk of it for Vietnam, Kerry said claims by countries in disputed panel of security experts yester- US Secretary of State John abruptly declared a new Air help allies defend themselves. the United States would provide seas but did not agree with the day, Kyodo news agency reported. Kerry said on a visit to Manila Defence Identification Zone over Kerry said maritime disputes $40m to the Philippines over way China has responded in the The large-scale spending on yesterday that his country backed the East China Sea. between countries should be three years to build its capacity dispute with Japan. military hardware comes as Japan the newly-announced re-arma- A Chinese foreign ministry offi- resolved peacefully through arbi- to police the South China Sea. “We are not approaching this establishes a US-style National ment plan, saying it had been cial said it was watching Tokyo tration and the United States “We don’t view the situation with any particular view towards Security Council that is expected planned with the United States carefully. “Asian countries and the would speak out when a country, as one of rising tensions and we China, except to say when China to concentrate greater power in beforehand. international community, includ- such as China, took unilateral don’t want rising tensions,” Kerry makes a unilateral move, we will the hands of a smaller number of “Japan has the ability to play a ing China, cannot but pay high action that raised the potential told a news conference with his state our position and make clear senior politicians and bureaucrats. more modern, engaged role (in the attention and stay on high alert to for conflict. Philippine counterpart Albert del what we agree and disagree with,” Japan and China are embroiled region). This is something we have Japan’s relevant moves,” she said. The United States has said it Rosario. Kerry said. in a dispute over the sovereignty been working on, and they have AFP does not recognise an air defence “What we are involved in are REUTERS

Miss International 2013 asks Switzerland to Mourning for Haiyan victims ends TACLOBAN: Survivors of coming back,” Father Amadeo is traditional to mourn the dead return $340m Super Typhoon Haiyan gath- Alvero, of the Santo Nino parish for 40 days. : Taiwan has for- ered in Tacloban to pray while in Tacloban, said after celebrat- They have all been told by the mally asked Switzerland to a priest sprinkled holy water on ing an open-air mass attended by government that they will not be return $340m in alleged ill- their ruined homes yesterday in about 100 survivors. allowed to rebuild because their gotten funds. a ceremony marking the end of “However, they are having old homes were too close to the Taiwan signed a $2.8bn a 40-day mourning period for difficulty getting back on their shore and dangerous, the priest deal to buy six Lafayette-class the thousands killed. feet because they still do not added. frigates in 1991, a deal which Tacloban on the island of Leyte, have proper homes, electricity The authorities said most of the strained French ties with bore the brunt of the Philippines’ is still down, and many have also deaths were caused by tsunami- China at the time and was later deadliest typhoon, accounting for lost their jobs. City officials have like giant storm surges that swept found to have been awash with more than 5,000 of the 6,069 con- yet to find a relocation place for through Tacloban and other cit- up to $400m in bribes. firmed deaths. them.” ies and towns of Leyte and Samar Taiwan’s high court in “The people here have accepted The Philippines is a predomi- islands. May upheld a ruling sentenc- that their loved ones will not be nantly Catholic country where it AFP ing former navy captain Kuo Li-heng to 15 years in prison for taking bribes in the case. Governor faces mulls to deport Asian graft probe Mandela model JAKARTA: workers involved in riot named a prominent provin- COLOMBO: Sri Lanka is con- cial governor a suspect in sidering a South African-style SINGAPORE: Singapore said city-state to examine how it deals the latest in a series of high- truth and reconciliation com- yesterday it will deport 53 with the presence of nearly a mil- profile corruption cases that mission years after crushing South Asian workers and pur- lion low-paid foreign workers, have eroded public trust in Tamil separatists that triggered sue criminal charges against 28 who drive its economic growth. President Susilo Bambang international allegations of war others for involvement in the The rampage, which erupted Yudhoyono’s ruling coalition. crimes, a minister said yesterday. city-state’s first riot in more after an Indian man was killed Over half of Indonesia’s 539 Information minister Keheliya than four decades. by a bus in a district known as regional leaders are now under Rambukwella said President “We have taken strong and Little India, saw 39 people injured, investigation for graft. Mahinda Rajapaksa, who decisive action to charge and to including police officers, and 25 Ratu Atut Chosiyah, gov- attended a memorial service for repatriate those who took part in vehicles destroyed. ernor of Banten province, is former South African president the riot to send a strong signal Fifty-two of the 53 men being suspected of being involved in Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg that we will not tolerate actions deported are Indian nationals and two corruption cases, includ- last week, was trying to replicate by anyone which threaten law and one is a Bangladeshi, said police ing bribing a top judge, who the late civil rights icon’s recon- order in Singapore,” Home Affairs commissioner Ng Joo Hee. is already under arrest over ciliation bid. Minister Teo Chee Hean told a They were hauled up yester- graft. Miss Philippines Bea Rose Santiago is crowned by 2008 and The TRC worked on the basis news conference. day morning and will be deported AGENCIES Alejandra Andreu after winning the title of the 2013 Miss of restorative justice rather than The riot on December 8 by after travel and administrative International beauty pageant in Tokyo yesterday. punishing offenders of gross hundreds of South Asian workers arrangements are settled, he said. human rights abuses. AFP has forced the tightly controlled AFP North Korean leader Kim’s aunt absent from state memorial rites

SEOUL: North Korean leader North Korea's KCNA news leader, Kim Jong Un, and other leader ordered the execution of Kim Jong Un's aunt was absent agency said last week Jang had members of the North Korean the powerful family ally, Jang. from a state memorial cer- been executed for trying to elite. The young Kim was the centre emony yesterday raising ques- seize power and for driving the North Korean state media of attention at the gathering with tions about her influence days economy "into an uncontrollable did not say why she was absent state television showed him sit- after her husband, also a top catastrophe". from the commemoration at the ting centre stage beneath a big red state official, was executed. Yesterday, his wife did not Kumsusan Memorial Palace, in mural of a flag emblazoned with a The purging and execution of appear at a ceremony mark- the capital, Pyongyang. picture of his smiling father. Jang Song Thaek on Friday was ing the second anniversary of Political leaders, including Kim, believed to be about 30, the biggest upheaval in years in the death of her brother, North Kim Jong Un and his wife, paid took over when his father died North Korea, which has con- Korea's second leader, Kim Jong respects to the late Kim Jong Il, in December 2011. ducted three nuclear tests and Il. whose embalmed body lies in a Cheong Seong-jang, an ana- this year raised the possibility of Together, she and Jang had glass coffin in the palace. lyst at the Sejong institute, a nuclear war with South Korea been considered the "Pyongyang Kim Kyong Hui has been Seoul-based think tank, said by and the United States. power couple", the real force absent from such events in the getting rid of his uncle, Jang, the Jang was married to Kim behind the North Korean lead- past, stoking speculation that she young Kim had consolidated his Kyong Hui, a daughter of state ership, before Jang was labelled was ill, only to reappear later. position. founder Kim Il Sung and sister of a traitor and executed. Earlier in the day, the politi- "By eliminating the only other the country's second leader, Kim Kim Kyong Hui usually fea- cal and military elite publicly faction, the power in North North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and his wife Ri Sol Ju pay tribute to Jong Il. She is an aunt of current tures prominently at important pledged their loyalty to Kim Jong Korea is now fully concentrated Kim Jong Il, marking the late leader’s second death anniversary, at the leader Kim Jong Un, the third North Korean events alongside Un at the memorial gathering, on Kim Jong Un," Cheong said. Kumsusan Palace of the Sun in Pyongyang. Kim to rule. her nephew, the young new less than a week after the young REUTERS WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Pakistan rules out army US scholarship Six Nato soldiers killed for Pakistani action against Taliban students

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan ruled this one is a puppet of the United ISLAMABAD: The US in Kabul copter crash out military action against the States. It’s powerless and dollar- government will launch sec- Taliban yesterday and promised hungry,” said Shahidullah Shahid, ond phase of its ‘merit and to pursue peace only through a Pakistani Taliban spokesman. needs based scholarship pro- ISAF policy defers casualty identification procedures talks, but the insurgents imme- He said the Taliban had infor- gramme’ which will benefit diately rejected its call for mation that plans were already 3,000 deserving but finan- KABUL: Six soldiers from under investigation, however ini- or the cause of the hard landing,” negotiations. under way for a state military cially constrained Pakistani the US-led Nato mission fight- tial reporting indicates there was Mohammad Jan Rasolyar, deputy Mullah Fazlullah, the Pakistani operation, saying the Taliban students. ing Taliban insurgents in no enemy activity in the area at governor of Zabul province, said. Taliban’s new hardline leader, says were ready for battle. This was announced by Afghanistan were killed in a the time of the crash. Local officials said that the peace talks are meaningless and “They should happily launch a USAID Pakistan Mission helicopter crash yesterday, with “It is ISAF policy to defer casu- International Security Assistance has pledged to step up attacks as military operation against us. We Director Gregory Gottlieb at Nato officials saying it was not a alty identification procedures to Force and Afghan forces rushed part of his campaign to topple the have seen their military opera- a meeting with 29 vice-chan- suspected militant strike. the relevant national authorities.” to the scene of the crash and were central government and establish tions in the past and would like cellors of partner universi- However, the Taliban imme- The Taliban Twitter account, still on patrol around the site Islamist rule in Pakistan. them to start this long-awaited ties and Executive Director, diately claimed responsibility under the name Abdulqahar when darkness fell. The emergence of Fazlullah operation,” he said defiantly. Higher Education Commission for the deaths, using their main Balkhi, said the helicopter was Aircraft crashes are fairly fre- has prompted speculation that Under Fazlullah, Taliban fight- Professor Mukhtar Ahmad Twitter account to report that shot down yesterday afternoon quent in Afghanistan, where the Pakistan might have to ditch ers took over Pakistan’s Swat here yesterday. their fighters had shot down a while flying low over the district 75,000-strong international mis- hopes for a negotiated ceasefire valley in 2009, imposing aus- The US government through US helicopter in the province of of Shah Joy in Zabul. sion relies heavily on air trans- and resort to military action tere Islamic rule and eventually USAID has decided to expand Zabul. “(The) chopper crashed in (a) port as it battles the insurgency against militants holed up in prompting the army to launch the ‘Merit and Needs Based The incident was the single ball of flame... killing all 8 invad- alongside Afghan forces who now lawless ethnic Pashtun areas on a major offensive to flush them Scholarship Programme’ biggest loss of life for the Nato ers aboard,” the account said. take the lead in most military the Afghan border. But yesterday, out of the strategic region just through HEC by providing an mission in Afghanistan since The Taliban regularly make operations. the government said the Taliban’s 160km (100 miles) northwest of additional $23.1m to benefit seven Georgian soldiers died unsubstantiated claims of attacks In April, two helicopter crashes tough rhetoric did not mean nego- Islamabad. Sharif chaired a meet- 3,000 more young and talented when a suicide bomber blew up on Nato and Afghan forces and killed a total of six Nato troops, tiations had failed. ing of the Cabinet Committee Pakistanis. A total of 1,807 a truck loaded with explosives also exaggerate casualty numbers while five United States troops “Their public posturing is dif- on National Security yesterday scholarships were awarded outside a base in Helmand prov- in proven strikes. died in the southern province of ferent from what’s going on in the where officials confirmed their in the first phase of the pro- ince in June. Provincial officials were unable Kandahar in March when their background,” said Tariq Azeem, a commitment to talks rather than gramme to financially needy “Six International Security to immediately confirm the cause helicopter came down during a senior official in Prime Minister military action. students and more than 1,350 Assistance Force (ISAF) serv- of the accident in Zabul, a restive heavy rainstorm. Nawaz Sharif’s team. “They want Fazlullah is best known for obtained undergraduate and ice members died following province bordering on Helmand This year there have been 149 to appear tough but back chan- ordering the assassination of graduate degrees. an aircraft crash in southern and neighbouring Pakistan. Nato fatalities in Afghanistan, 119 nels show that they are also inter- teenage female education activ- Afghanistan today,” an ISAF “I can confirm a helicopter of them US soldiers. ested in talks.” ist Malala Yousafzai. She sur- statement said, declining to give crashed in Shah Joy district this The annual total peaked in 2010 The Taliban immediately dis- vived the attack and now lives in Sharif cuts PM the nationalities of the victims. afternoon but we don’t have any when 711 Nato troops died. missed the concept of peace talks. Britain. “The cause of the crash is information about the casualties AFP “Like previous governments REUTERS house budget ISLAMABAD: The annual Karachi drone protest budget of the Prime Minister House in Pakistan has been slashed by 50 percent, from Police foil attack on Rs800m ($7.55m) to Rs400m ($3.774m). “Given the conduct of the polio vaccination team previous government, 50 per- cent reduction is a landmark KARACHI: Police aborted a The wounded militant, who was achievement straight from the militant attack on a polio vac- identified as Misbah later died prime minister, who himself cination team in Pakistan yes- in hospital, police officer Khalid has made people see a positive terday, killing one rebel and Khan said. None of the police or change practically,” an official arresting another in the port the polio team was harmed but spokesman said. city of Karachi. police arrested both the militants Similarly, he said, the Two militants allegedly belong- and seized their weapons. Rs3bn annual secret fund of ing to the Tehreek-e-Taliban The vaccination was then called the Information Ministry has Pakistan (TTP) group attempted off in the area. been abolished and discre- to attack the polio team, but Pakistan is one of only three tionary funds of all the fed- escorting police retaliated against countries in the world where eral ministries, which were the attack, in the Ahsanabad polio is still endemic, but efforts a source of huge corruption, neighbourhood on the city’s to stamp out the crippling disease have been done away with. northern outskirts. have been hit by repeated attacks The spokesman said that as “Two persons named Ameer on health teams. Officials blame per the promise of the prime Hamza and Misbah, both from the violence and suspicions about minister during election cam- TTP, came to attack polio workers the vaccine for a surge in cases. paign, Youth Business Loan of and one of them was injured when According to the World Health Rs100bn for the entrepreneur- the police retaliated,” Muneer Organization, Pakistan recorded ial youth, which will generate Shaikh, the senior police officer 72 cases of polio this year. 2 to 3 million jobs and a huge said. AFP Supporters of Pakistan’s Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) political party shout slogans during a protest against US drone economic activity, is being car- strikes in Karachi yesterday. The PTI, which leads the coalition government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, has long ried out transparently. campaigned against the CIA’s drone campaign targetting Al Qaeda and Taliban militants in Pakistan. AGENCIES Bomb blast kills two Sunni Muslims in Kurram PESHAWAR: A bomb yester- sectarian violence in the past Miranshah. North Waziristan has a history of sectarian clashes day killed two Sunni Muslims and the bomb was planted on a is a hub for Taliban and Al between Sunnis and the coun- and wounded two others in a route that Sunni Muslims use. Qaeda-linked militants on the try’s minority Shiite community. restive Pakistani tribal region Another local intelligence Afghanistan-Pakistan border. There has been a rise in sectar- bordering Afghanistan, offi- official confirmed the incident. “At least 24 soldiers were ian violence in Pakistan since cials said. In a separate incident yes- wounded in an IED (impro- several deadly clashes between The explosion occurred in the terday a roadside bomb ripped vised explosive device) attack Sunnis and Shia near the capital Shia-dominated Pewaar area through two military vehi- on a military convoy,” a security Islamabad in November. of the Kurram tribal region, in cles and wounded at least 24 official said. A senior Shia leader and his what appeared to be a targeted Pakistani soldiers in the North Local intelligence officials guard were killed in Karachi in sectarian killing. Waziristan tribal district bor- confirmed the attack and cas- early December. “A vehicle hit a landmine dering Afghanistan, officials ualties. Nobody immediately Three days later Shamsur in Pewaar, leaving two Sunni said. claimed responsibility, but Rehman Muawiya, chief of the Muslims dead and two others The bomb exploded when the Taliban militants have targeted Sunni extremist organisation wounded,” a local intelligence convoy was passing through troops in the past. Ahl-e-Sunnat Wal Jammat for official said. Gosh village, 20 kilometres Kurram, which is one of seven Punjab province, was killed in He said the area had seen (12 miles) west of the town of semi-autonomous tribal regions, Lahore. AFP

Cameron under fire for Afghan mission remark

LONDON: British Prime part of the mission is a basic Minister David Cameron level of security so it doesn’t faced criticism yesterday for become a haven for terror,” he saying that foreign troops added. “That is the mission, had accomplished their mis- that was the mission and I sion of providing security in think we will have accom- Afghanistan, in an echo of plished that mission and so former US president George our troops can be very proud W Bush’s much-derided of what they have done.” comments on Iraq in 2003. Cameron said the situation During an annual Christmas was “totally transformed” from visit to British troops in when troops in the US-led coa- Afghanistan on Monday, lition invaded Afghanistan in Cameron was asked about October 2001 after Al Qaeda’s the ongoing unrest ahead of 9/11 attacks on New York and the scheduled end of interna- Washington DC. tional combat operations in a Opposition politicians and year’s time. Asked if British British newspapers criticised soldiers will be coming home Conservative leader Cameron’s with “mission accomplished”, comments. Vernon Coaker, Cameron told British media: defence spokesman for the “Yes, I think they do. I think opposition Labour party, said they can come home with Cameron “should have chosen Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron speaks to British soldiers at Camp their heads held high.” his words more carefully.” Bastion, outside Lashkar Gah, in the Helmand province of Afghanistan on “To me, the absolute driving AFP Monday. WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 Security barriers removed at US embassy Move seen as retaliation against Indian diplomat’s arrest in New York; parties refuse to meet US delegation

NEW DELHI: Indian authori- staff to domestic helpers and “Refused to meet the visit- ties removed concrete secu- withdrawing consular identifica- ing USA delegation in solidar- rity barriers in front of the US tion cards and privileges such as ity with our nation, protesting embassy in New Delhi yester- access to airport lounges for some ill-treatment meted (out) to our day in apparent retaliation for US diplomats and their families. lady diplomat in USA,” Modi said the arrest and allegedly heavy- India’s Foreign Ministry and in a tweet. handed treatment of an Indian the US embassy said they were A senior member of Modi’s diplomat in New York. unable to comment on the media socially conservative party, cur- New Delhi police used tow reports. Khobragade’s arrest trig- rently favourite to form the next trucks and a backhoe loader to gered a fierce debate in India over government, said India should drag away long concrete blocks how to respond to the alleged mis- retaliate by putting partners from roads running past the treatment of the helper. of “queer” US diplomats in the embassy and leading up to gates Government minister Shashi country behind bars. India’s of the compound, a Reuters wit- Tharoor, a former UN diplomat, Supreme Court last week effec- ness said. The barriers had pre- said many envoys from develop- tively ruled homosexuality to vented vehicles approaching at ing countries in New York were be illegal. high speeds. themselves paid less than the US “The reason why they have Police and government officials minimum wage and that it was arrested this Indian diplomat in refused to respond to repeated unrealistic to expect them to pay New York is violation of the law requests for comment on why the domestic staff more. of the land in the United States. embassy barricades were taken Khobragade falsely stated Now the same violation is taking away. But Indian television net- in her nanny’s visa application place wherever US embassy offi- works, citing unnamed sources, that she would be paid $9.75 an cial have obtained visas for their reported that the removal was hour, a figure that would have partners of the same sex,” former one of several retaliatory meas- been in line with the mini- finance minister Yashwant Sinha ures that India planned to take. mum rates required by US law, told Reuters. A senior government official, according to a statement issued “If American law can apply to who asked not to be named, said last week by the public attor- Indian diplomats in New York, the police posted in the area would ney for the Southern District of India law can apply here,” he said. ensure continued security. New York. The case is the latest con- “We take the security of all The diplomat had privately cerning alleged ill-treatment of diplomatic missions in India very agreed with the domestic worker domestic workers by India’s elite, seriously. Check posts are pro- that she would receive just over both at home and abroad. vided. This is only an issue related A bulldozer removes the security barriers in front of the US embassy in New Delhi yesterday. a third of that rate, the public In June 2011, an Indian maid to traffic flows,” the official said. attorney said. working for the country’s consul As the dispute over the diplo- handcuffed upon arrest last week and surrendering her passport, India’s Foreign Minister Salman With general elections due in general in New York filed a law- mat’s treatment grew, several top and strip-searched before being faces a maximum of 15 years in Khurshid told news network less than six months, India’s polit- suit alleging that he was using her politicians, including the leaders released on bail. jail if convicted on both counts. CNN-IBN. ical parties are determined not as forced labour. of the two main political parties Devyani Khobragade, India’s India has become a close trade “We have put in motion what to be labelled soft or unpatriotic. A member of parliament’s wife and the national security adviser, deputy consul general in New and security partner of the United we believe will be an effective way Narendra Modi, the prime min- was arrested last month for alleg- refused to meet a delegation of York, was arrested on Thursday States over the past decade, but of addressing this issue, but also isterial candidate for the opposi- edly beating her maid to death at US lawmakers visiting India for allegedly underpaying her the two countries have not totally put in motion such steps that we tion Bharatiya Janata Party, and her home in Delhi. Under the this week. India’s National nanny and committing visa overcome a history of ties marked believe need to be taken to protect Rahul Gandhi, the scion of the Vienna Convention on Consular Security Adviser Shivshankar fraud to get her into the United by distrust. her dignity.” Nehru-Gandhi family that leads Relations, consular officials enjoy Menon branded as “barbaric” the States. Khobragade, who was “Everything that can be done Indian television networks said India’s ruling Congress party, immunity from arrest only for treatment of the diplomat, who released on $250,000 bail after will be done I assure you. We the other steps included checking both declined to meet the US crimes committed in connection according to Indian media was pleading not guilty to the charges take this thing very seriously,” the salaries paid by US embassy delegation. with their work. REUTERS

Woman killed Government nod in Assam blast Rajya Sabha passes anti-graft bill not needed for NEW DELHI: The Rajya the Lok Sabha in December 2011. Anna Hazare led a massive pro- as it was against the spirit of the GUWAHATI: A woman was Sabha yesterday finally passed A select committee had examined test involving hundreds of thou- constitution. probe against killed and 13 others injured the much delayed Lokpal bill, the bill in detail and given its rec- sands in the capital in 2011. He also urged the government when suspected ULFA militants paving the way for setting up ommendations, many of which Hazare is again on fast in his to get the whistle blowers’ pro- public servant triggered a blast in Assam’s an ombudsman to battle cor- were incorporated by the govern- village in Maharashtra for the tection bill and citizens grievance Dibrugarh town last evening, ruption in the government and ment in the amended bill tabled in past eight days but has promised redress bill passed by parliament. NEW DELHI: The Supreme police said. among public servants. the Rajya Sabha last week. to call it off after the Lokpal leg- Marxist Sitaram Yechury Court yesterday said there The blast took place in the busy The Lokpal and Lokayuktas The amended bill will now islation is enacted. demanded that the corporate was no need for prior sanction Amolapatty area, said Dibrugarh Bill 2011 was passed by voice vote go to the Lok Sabha where it is Apart from establishing Lokpal sector should be brought under of the government to launch Superintendent of Police Rana at the end of over five hours of expected to be taken up today. in New Delhi, the bill provides for the ambit of Lokpal in relation an inquiry or investigation Bhuyan. The explosion injured 14 debate in the Upper House that Law Minister Kapil Sibal creation of Lokayuktas in states to the government projects it against a public servant under people, including two women, one saw political parties broadly sup- called it a historic moment but within a year of the notification undertakes. He said the bill was the Prevention of Corruption of whom later died of her injuries porting the legislation but saying stressed that corruption cannot of the law. The states will be sent seeking to tackle the “demand Act in a court-monitored CBI at a hospital, Bhuyan said. it must be more effective. be removed by the Lokpal alone. a model bill to frame their own side” of corruption but not the investigation. Dibrugarh town is around The Samajwadi Party, which “Law alone will not lead to laws. Taking part in the debate, “supply side”. “If a (government) A bench of Justice R M Lodha 450km from Assam’s main city has opposed the bill, staged a elimination of corruption. Law Bharatiya Janata Party leader contract is acquired through cor- and Justice Kurian Joseph ruled Guwahati. “We suspect the hand boycott and did not take part in will help deal with those who are Arun Jaitley said people wanted rupt means, how can you have it the approval of federal govern- of the anti-talk faction of the the debate. corrupt but it will not deal with parliament to enact an effective out of Lokpal?” Yechury asked ment was not necessary under ULFA militants behind the blast. The bill had been pending in the the impetus to be corrupt. It will Lokpal. But the leader of the and demanded that public private Section 6A of the Delhi Special However, details are awaited,” Rajya Sabha for almost two years just be a deterrent,” he said. opposition in the Rajya Sabha said partnership (PPP) projects should Police Establishment Act, 1946, in said Assam Home Secretary G D as opposition members had res- The Lokpal bill has hogged his party was against religion- come under the ambit of the bill. cases where the inquiry/investiga- Tripathy. IANS ervations on the draft passed by national limelight after activist based appointments in Lokpal IANS tion under the anti-corruption act is being monitored by the court. “The fact that the investigation is monitored by the constitutional Ropes on the slope court is itself an assurance that investigation/inquiry by the CBI is Eat less, never think not actuated with ulterior motive to harass any public servant and the investigating agency per- forms its duties and discharges its you are old: Advani responsibility of fair and impar- tial investigation uninfluenced by extraneous considerations,” said NEW DELHI: Hear your inner supreme behind his words. It is the order. voice, eat less and never think proven,” said Bhagwat. While agreeing with majority you are old, is what Bharatiya Leader of the opposition in the order, Justice Madan B Lokur in Janata Party (BJP) veteran L K Lok Sabha, Sushma Swaraj, said a concurring but separate order Advani said are the three les- she was amazed at the regularity said: “In my opinion, this sec- sons he has learnt from life. and the range of topics covered in tion (6A of DSPE Act) has no “Hear your inner voice to Advani’s blogs. application to a constitutional find meaning in life, eat less and “We never thought he would court monitored inquiry or never think you have become old,” write regularly. We are left won- investigation.” Advani told a gathering yesterday dering at the wide range of top- Justice Lokur said that he and at the launch of his three books ics he has written about,” Swaraj Justice Lodha arrived at the same here, compiled from the blogs he said while urging the gathering to conclusion but took a different has been writing. gain from the wisdom in Advani’s route. While Justice Lodha took Stating he found both meaning three books. recourse to Article 142 (reservoir and happiness in life, Advani, 86, In a lighter vein, she pointed of powers of apex court), he fol- said he took criticism in his stride. out that sometimes Advani lowed Article 32 of the constitu- “I was labelled a Hindu fanatic was critical of party leaders in tion, he said. and when I visited Pakistan in his blogs but she always takes Workers spray paint over the structure of Mahatma Mandir (temple), a convention-cum-exhibition centre and “A constitutional court moni- 2005, I was charged with revolt- it as an advice from the party a memorial that is under construction at Gandhinagar, in Gujarat, yesterday. tored investigation is nothing ing against my party ideology,” veteran. but the adoption of a procedure he said. “Our adversaries may be happy of a ‘continuing mandamus’ which He thanked Rashtriya over the criticism but he (Advani) traces its origin, like public inter- Swayamsewak Sangh chief Mohan has a right to criticise and scold est litigation, to Article 32 of the Bhagwat for sparing time to us for our mistakes,” she said. Constitution and is our contribu- launch his books — “My Take” in Yoga guru Baba Ramdev also LeT operative arrested in Haryana tion to jurisprudence,” he said. English and “Rashtra Sarvopari” heaped praise on Advani for his He held that there could be and “Drishtikon” in Hindi. “It is long career in politics. NEW DELHI: A suspected His name surfaced after police Rashid was presented before no statutory bar to apex court’s my privilege that the head of an The dignitaries present on the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) opera- interrogated Mohammad Shahid, the court of Additional Sessions plenary powers by any provision organisation with which I have occasion included leader of the tive, arrested from Haryana, another LeT suspect arrested by Judge Dharmesh Sharma who like section 6A of the DSPE Act been associated since the age of opposition in the Rajya Sabha was yesterday sent to five days a special cell of Delhi Police on allowed Delhi Police to question that requires prior permission of 14 is launching my books,” said Arun Jaitley, Madhya Pradesh in police custody by a Delhi December 9 from Choti Mewli vil- the LeT suspect till December 21. the government before an officer Advani. Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan, court. lage in Nuh district. A police officer said Rashid of the rank of joint secretary or Bhagwat was all praise for former minister Arun Shourie Hafeez Rashid, 30, was arrested An earlier report said he was was providing logistics to Shahid above or public servant could be Advani. “He does what he says. and BJP leader Smriti Irani. from Nuh district in Haryana on arrested on December 10 but to prepare for a terror attack in investigated for corruption. National interest has been IANS Monday night, police said. police later corrected the date. north India. IANS IANS

Wednesday 18 December 2013 14 Safar 1435 Volume 18 Number 5917 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 UK to launch shale licensing round Tesco applies to set Onshore exploration licences could be double by summer: Minister up shop in India LONDON: Britain will launch earth tremors caused by shale gas given the green light, the govern- The government’s director of its latest licensing round to exploration in Lancashire, north- ment must consider responses to oil and gas licensing and explo- MUMBAI: Britain’s Tesco said yesterday it has applied to open allow companies to explore for west England. its environmental impact report ration, Simon Toole, told report- supermarkets in India, becoming the first retail giant to try to shale gas in early summer and it The government’s support for as part of a consultation that will ers oil and gas majors as well as enter the market since New Delhi removed foreign investment forecast high interest, showcas- shale development comes despite be open until March 28. smaller firms had declared inter- barriers last year. ing Britain as one of Europe’s strong local and environmental The environmental report est in the new round. The world’s third largest retailer has applied to India’s Foreign main contenders in the race to opposition to the controversial found existing regulations would The industry welcomed the Investment Promotion Board for permission for an initial $110m exploit shale gas resources. extraction practice of hydraulic be robust enough to ensure that government’s assessment. investment in the Tata Group’s retail business Trent Hypermarket Geological studies show Britain fracturing, or fracking, used to the adverse effects of shale gas “Having the regulatory process Limited. to have large shale reserves that develop shale and unconventional production, which critics say written in one place is extremely “Today, we’re making an application to develop a multi-brand could reverse a rising dependency gas blocks. include water contamination and helpful and underlines the exten- retail business in India,” said Trevor Masters, chief executive officer on energy imports, but more drill- Engineering consultancy heavy traffic near drilling sites, sive nature of regulation of oil for Tesco’s Asia operations, on the company’s website. ing is needed to see whether the AMEC, which published the are minimised. and gas exploration in this coun- “If it were successful, it could open the way to Tesco investing deposits are economic as gas has environmental assessment for Separately in a letter made try, which is among the most directly and forming a partnership from our existing relationship not yet been proved to flow from the government, estimated a public yesterday, British Prime comprehensive in the world,” with the Tata Group,” Masters said. the rocks. maximum of 2,880 wells could be Minister David Cameron warned said Ken Cronin, chief executive The Indian government moved last August to open up its poten- Unveiling an environmen- drilled under the new licensing the European Commission not to of the UK Onshore Operators tially lucrative retail sector to foreign companies to try to boost a tal assessment on the impact of round, each producing roughly propose European Union-wide Group. sharply slowing economy. further shale drilling in Britain, 86 million cubic metres over a legislation to regulate the nascent In the United States, the dis- But until now no companies had applied amid concern about Energy Minister Michael Fallon 20-year lifetime. fracking industry. covery of shale gas has trans- some of the tough conditions for entry. told reporters yesterday he “Today marks the next step in Companies have shown a grow- formed the energy market and Commerce Minister Anand Sharma welcomed Tesco’s move, expected strong demand for the unlocking the potential of shale ing interest in Britain’s shale gas helped bring down prices for which initially proposes establishing stores in the western state of licensing round scheduled for gas in our energy mix,” Fallon over the last year, encouraged by consumers. Maharashtra and the southern state of Karnataka, and opening mid-2014. said, adding that in a high-activity a geological study that doubled Britain is one of the only three to five stores every financial year. “We could be doubling the scenario, Britain could produce an estimate of the country’s gas European countries actively sup- “We welcome this development and on our part assure them amount of onshore licences in more than three times the coun- resources, and new tax breaks to porting the development of shale all support for expedited clearances,” Sharma said in a statement. this round,” Fallon said, adding try’s current gas demand in the support shale development. gas, along with nations in east- “We hope that this will mark a new beginning in transforming the government expects to issue 2020s, creating up to 32,000 jobs. France’s GDF Suez and ern Europe such as and India’s retail industry. I am sure that the other global leaders will 50-150 licences. “But we must develop shale Britain’s Centrica, two heavy- . also look at investing in India.” The round, Britain’s 14th ten- responsibly, both for local commu- weight energy firms, have signed The British government has P Phani Sekhar, an analyst with Mumbai’s Angel Broking, said der to open up onshore areas, nities and for the environment, up for positions in UK shale, offered a tax incentive scheme the move would come as a relief to the government more than one has been delayed by around four with robust regulation in place,” while oil company Total has said to developers of shale gas in year after it opened the sector. years after the licensing process he added. it would like to explore for shale Britain. AFP was suspended in 2010 following Before the licence round is in the country. REUTERS WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Azeri gas project Car sales in EU markets rise backers sign final agreement Europe could cut Russia dependence

BAKU: Backers of Azerbaijan’s energy firm Socar for $1.45bn in Shah Deniz II gas project signed cash. a final investment decision yes- “It’s a very good price ... The terday, scaling up its status as price is three times book value an alternative gas transit route while Statoil shares are traded at to Europe as the continent 1.3 times book value,” said John tries to wean itself off Russian Olaisen, an analyst at broker- energy supplies. age ABG Sundal Collier in Oslo. Azeri President Ilham Aliyev Other analysts said investors told a ceremony in the capital would welcome the move. Baku that the project extension An official statement by the “will change the energy map of consortium, which also includes our region and help the historical Total, was expected later on development of our country”. Tuesday. The European Commission BP Azerbaijan and the consor- said the decision to go ahead tium said Socar and its partners with enlargement of the scheme in Shah Deniz II had agreed to could see it supplying 20 percent extend terms for the project by of European Union needs in the 12 years to 2048. long term. From around 2019, Shah Deniz Gas shipments via Ukraine have II is expected to supply 16 bil- been a focus of EU and Russian lion cubic metres (bcm) per year anxiety for years and especially to Europe, including 6bcm for since 2009, when a pricing dispute Turkey. with Russia led to a cut-off of gas European buyers have struggled supplies to EU customers. to find alternatives to Russian gas Since then, Europe has sought producer Gazprom, whose con- Employees of the BLG Logistics Group working on a line of new Mercedes-Benz cars in Bremerhaven, Germany. New car sales in the European new suppliers and to bring tracts link prices to oil, generally Union increased for a third consecutive month in November, but were losing some traction, data released yesterday showed. Ukraine into its orbit, while making it expensive compared to Russia has fought to retain its the spot market. influence over Kiev and to build Gazprom covers a quarter of alternative supply routes to safe- Europe’s gas needs, with more guard deliveries to its European than 150 bcm of exports a year. PPP key for Qatar’s economic growth: Dow customers. In response to Europe’s quest for The documents signed in Baku Caspian supply, Gazprom pro- include an investment decision posed its $39 billion South Stream DOHA: As Qatar and the wider years has given us direct expo- Another Dow innovation highly solutions to help Qatar host on Shah Deniz II, as well as the project, which would pipe gas to Middle East region continues to sure to the ways in which pub- applicable to the Middle East is a the 2022 FIFA World Cup”, Trans-Anatolian (Tanap) and northeast Italy through the Black increase its position as a host lic-private partnerships bring unique elastomeric roof coating Blagovic said. “Qatar has an Trans-Adriatic (Tap) gas pipeline Sea starting at the end of 2015. destination for world sporting together the very best-in-class which helps to reduce the tem- ambitious vision for the future projects. Combined, the projects The European Commission has events, the role that both public in terms of knowledge, expertise perature inside buildings. The and Dow is ready to support will cost $35bn, Aliyev said. said it does not oppose Russia’s and private organisations have and execution.” formulation is applied to metal, this vision.” Project partner Statoil plans to diversify supply routes, to play is key to drawing invest- An example of Dow’s innova- concrete, polyurethane foam bitu- Dow produces many raw mate- of Norway accompanied its bypassing Ukraine, but says they ment, Marko Blagovic, Global tion in the sporting venue space men or other roofing materials to rials used in host city infrastruc- announcement on the go-ahead have to conform with EU law and Sports Marketing Director, The was showcased at the London substantially increase the amount ture and major sport venues. with news it would reduce its are far from doing so. Dow Chemical Company (Dow) 2012 Olympic Games, where a of sunlight reflected, resulting in From construction and coating stake in the consortium to 15.5 “Shah Deniz II and the said here. high performance artificial turf significant energy savings through materials to insulation, field and percent from 25.5 percent. Southern Corridor pipelines will “Mega sporting events should system made of special yarn using reduced air conditioning costs, as track surfaces, stadium seats as Statoil’s move will increase not only change the energy map, be seen as both a celebration Dowlex polyethylene resins was well as a reduction in CO2 emis- well as water filtration systems, the ownership proportions of the but will give customers in Europe of athletic achievement and used for the field hockey pitches. sions. This technology has been Dow designs sustainable solutions remaining players and fits a trend direct access to the gas resources an opportunity to boost eco- This industry leading technology successfully applied in both public that use chemistry to minimise among top oil companies to rein of Azerbaijan for the first time,” nomic growth for an entire city, made playing surfaces safer and sector facilities, such as hospitals the environmental footprint and in spending by focussing on fewer Bob Dudley, BP’s group chief country and region,” Blagovic higher performing for athletes and schools, as well as in residen- increase the performance and big projects. executive, said at the signing cer- commented. and also enhanced the sustain- tial projects. durability of facilities and related Statoil will sell the 10 percent emony yesterday. “Dow’s involvement in mega ability quality by minimising the “We are ready to bring our infrastructure. to operator BP and Azeri state REUTERS sporting events over the last 30 need for water maintenance. innovations and sustainable THE PENINSULA

QATARI MARKET Saudi fuel use bigger threat than US shale: Jadwa Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 101.38 0.59 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 104.88 1.50 % Aa2 AA DUBAI: Rising Saudi energy reduce the available income from productivity to soften the blow of may see some open plants in the demand is a bigger threat to the the Kingdom’s oil exports,” he said. the US shale revolution on the oil United States, Jadwa says. Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.38 2.62 % Aa2 AA world’s biggest oil exporter than Global demand for crude oil export dependent kingdom. Although US gas costs have Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 112.25 3.03 % Aa2 AA surging US shale output, Saudi produced by Opec members like Turki said the main impact on fallen from over $13 per million Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 106.25 3.60 % Aa2 AA Jadwa Investment bank says in Saudi Arabia is expected to fall, Saudi crude exports of US shale British thermal units (mmbtu) Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 153.75 4.95 % Aa2 AA a study published yesterday. along with oil prices, over the next would likely be the reduction of price in mid-2008 to around $4.29 now, Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 114.75 5.34 % Aa2 AA “The key long-term challenge few years due partly to higher differentials between light and heavy Saudi gas prices that have been Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 105.63 5.36 % Aa2 AA facing Saudi Arabia’s oil and gas supply from North America. crudes grades, which it said may fixed at around $0.75/mmbtu for Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.00 0.97 % Aa2 AA industry remains the high and An abundance of cheap natu- change how oil is refined in Europe. many years are still much lower. growing domestic demand for ral gas liquids (NGLs), produced But Jadwa sees a bigger impact But the relative lack of invest- Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 109.88 3.32 % Aa2 AA hydrocarbons,” Fahad Al Turki, by the US shale gas boom, could from the US shale industry on ment in new gas production that Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.63 0.99 % A1 A- Head of Research at the Riyadh- make Saudi petrochemicals Saudi petrochemicals companies such low prices have contributed Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 103.88 2.16 % A1 A- based investment bank, said of industries less competitive than that use gas as a feedstock. to sees Saudi Arabia struggle to QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.25 1.46 % NR NR the next 25 years. they have been to date. Low priced and plentiful natural meet demand in summer - forc- QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.75 1.14 % Aa3 A+ “This is exacerbated by low But Jadwa Investment gas available to US petrochemical ing it to burn millions of barrels a QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 103.75 2.15 % Aa3 A+ prices locally, which will distort expects steep decline rates of producers could make it difficult week of oil in power plants. Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 104.00 2.21 % A2 A- internal economic decisions and tight oil wells and their limited for Saudi industry to compete and REUTERS Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.25 1.47 % A2 A Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 123.25 3.21 % A2 A Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 105.75 3.82 % A2 A Coal threat to German town Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 100.25 4.97 % A2 A IFC and Standard Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.50 0.97 % Aa3 A Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.88 3.23 % Aa3 A Chartered sign RMB Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.75 3.98 % Aa3 A risk sharing facility SOVEREIGNS Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P NEW YORK: IFC, a member Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 101.63 0.08 % Aa2 AA of the World Bank Group, and Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 122.63 2.21 % Aa2 AA Standard Chartered Bank have Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.38 1.92 % NR NR signed a risk sharing facility, which will increase the amount Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 106.50 2.86 % NR NR of renminbi (RMB) denominated Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 119.63 4.38 % NR NR trade finance available to Chinese Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 111.75 4.73 % NR NR banks, as well as corporates and Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.50 0.75 % Aa2 AA businesses in China and across Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 113.38 3.31 % NR BBB Asia and other emerging mar- Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 103.13 4.91 % NR BBB kets involved in imports and Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 95.50 6.63 % Caa1 B- exports to China, a press release for IFC said yesterday. Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 101.63 4.22 % NR BBB- *Periodic Distribution Amount The facility of up to RMB3bn IMPORTANT NOTE: ($500m equivalent) brings Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which together leading market play- is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services ers and is anchored with an Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary investment of up to $250m from data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not Standard Chartered and $100m take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds from IFC in a 50:50 risk partici- can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant pation agreement. An additional liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not $100m has been mobilised from a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and the Korea Development Bank consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. (KDB), as well as $50m from A bucket-wheel excavator extracting coal from the brown coal open cast mine Garzweiler in Immigrath, Swiss Re Corporate Solutions western Germany. The small town and surrounding towns will be wiped off the map to allow energy giant through its subsidiary Swiss Re RWE enlarge the huge open pit mine Garzweiler. International SE. THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Shahristani visits Japan MAF aims to Putin slashes invest $1bn a year for next gas prices to five years DUBAI: Dubai retail group Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) hopes to invest $1bn a year for the next five years in the Middle help Ukraine East to double the size of its business, its chief executive said yesterday. Russia plans to buy $15bn bonds MAF, the sole franchisee of Carrefour hypermarkets in the MOSCOW: President Vladimir a Russian-led Customs Union that region, has benefited from a Putin yesterday announced a Putin hopes to build into a rival trade and tourism boom in Dubai plan to buy $15bn of Ukrainian to the 28-nation bloc but which and is now expanding into other bonds and slash Kiev’s bill for the opposition in Kiev fears could markets including Saudi Arabia, Russian gas imports, in a boost ruin their EU integration dreams. Oman, Egypt and Lebanon. for embattled President Viktor “I would like to calm everyone “Over next few years we are Yanukovych as he faces monster down, today we have not discussed very likely to be investing (a) bil- protests over a rejected EU pact. the issue of Ukraine joining the lion dollars a year. However, this Russia also agreed to remove Customs Union at all,” Putin said. very much depends on finding trade barriers it put up at the start ‘Deepen strategic cooperation’ the right land in the right loca- of the year when it seemed that The ex-Soviet nation of 46 tion and for the right price,” MAF Kiev was on the verge of signing a million has been at the heart of Chief Executive Iyad Malas said at historic trade and political asso- a furious diplomatic tug of war Iraq’s Deputy Prime Minister for Energy Hussain Al Shahristani (left) with Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe a press conference to announce a ciation agreement with Brussels since Yanukovych’s shock decision (right) at Abe’s official residence in Tokyo yesterday. Al Shahristani is in Japan to attend the third Japan-Arab new branding strategy for the firm. that would have pulled it out of last month to ditch a landmark economic forum. About 70 percent of the com- Moscow’s orbit for the first time. EU partnership agreement and pany’s assets are currently in the The help from Russia may seek closer ties with its tradi- United Arab Emirates but most allow Kiev to stave off the threat tional master Russia. of the investments over the next of an imminent balance of pay- Tuesday’s talks came two days few years would be in other coun- ments crisis and possible default after frustrated EU officials sus- Istithmar sells stake in Miami hotel tries, Malas said. MAF reported amid a recession that has seen pended months of partnership annual revenue of $6bn in 2012, the economy shrink since the first negotiations with Ukraine. 10 percent higher than the previ- half of last year. The Ukrainian leader stressed DUBAI: Istithmar World, a unit Proceeds of asset sales by A unit of Toronto-based invest- ous year. “The Russian government the importance of Kiev’s ties to of Dubai World, has sold its 50 Dubai’s state-linked firms will ment company Brookfield Asset The mall developer, famous made a decision to invest part of Moscow during a signing cer- percent stake in Miami Beach’s help to meet a heavy schedule Management bought British-based for building an indoor ski slope the National Welfare fund to the emony that saw him exchange landmark Fontainebleau hotel of debt maturities in the next logistics warehouse developer in Dubai, bought out Carrefour’s amount of $15bn in Ukrainian smiles and private whispers with back to south Florida developer three years, including the first Gazeley from Dubai World subsidi- 25 percent stake in a joint venture government securities,” Putin Putin. Turnberry, a source close to the repayment under Dubai World’s ary Economic Zones World in June. for $683m in May. told reporters after holding about Yanukovych said the agreement seller said yesterday. restructuring plan, worth $4.4bn Istithmar World then trans- The unlisted firm was in talks three hours of Kremlin talks with on the removal of trade restric- Dubai World, one of the emir- and due in May 2015. ferred another landmark hotel, to buy Egypt’s largest supermar- Yanukovych. tion in particular represented “a ate’s big state-owned conglomer- The emirate came close to a Dubai’s Atlantis, to fellow state- ket chain Metro from family- Russia’s Finance Minister road map that will help us sub- ates, declined to comment. debt default in 2009 as the global owned fund Investment Corp of owned Mansour Group but the Anton Siluanov said Moscow stantially” boost trade. Reuters had reported in financial crisis triggered a crash of Dubai earlier this month. discussions collapsed last month. would invest the $15bn into “The implementation of this September that the Fontainebleau its property market. Dubai’s econ- The 1,504-room Fontainebleau “We will continue to invest in Ukrainian eurobonds that Kiev action plan will substantially deal was close to being completed; omy is now recovering strongly hotel became famous in the 1960s Egypt and we are quite positive intends to issue at a later date. deepen our strategic cooperation the price was not immediately but bankers are eager to see how as a playground for stars such as about developments in Egypt. Putin also said Russian gas in many areas,” the Ukrainian known. Dubai World originally the emirate repays roughly $50 Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and There maybe political hiccups giant Gazprom would now sell gas leader said. paid $375m in 2008 for its 50 billion of obligations coming due Jerry Lewis. here and there but we are clearly to Ukraine at a price of $268.50 Yanukovych’s reversal on the percent stake in Fontainebleau between 2014 and 2016. Turnberry is owned by South investing,” said Malas. for 1,000 cubic metres, a huge dis- EU pact sparked the largest Miami Beach. Dubai World initially struggled Florida’s Soffer family; Jeffrey MAF has invested heavily into count from the current level of anti-government rallies since It is the latest in a string of to offload assets in the aftermath Soffer bought the Fontainebleau Egypt and has started construc- around $400. the 2004 pro-democracy Orange asset sales by Dubai World com- of its debt restructuring deal hotel in 2005 before bringing the tion on a $600-million Mall of But the Russian leader crucially Revolution that first nudged panies, as the conglomerate steps because of poor market condi- Dubai firm in as a partner three Egypt in Cairo that is expected stressed that the two sides did not Ukraine on a westward path. up its divestment programme fol- tions, but it has completed two years later. to open by early 2016. discuss Ukraine’s membership in AFP lowing a $25bn debt restructuring. other exits this year. AFP REUTERS WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Egypt minister Banking sector expects 2pc growth in pushes Qatari second quarter

CAIRO: Egypt’s economy should grow at an annual rate index down of two percent in the second fis- cal quarter, the state’s planning minister said yesterday, after expanding less than one percent Egypt surges on stimulus plan in the first quarter because of violent protests. DOHA: Qatar Exchange index before president Hosni Mubarak The government targets 3.5 lost 6.08 points, or 0.06 percent, was ousted. growth in the current fiscal year, yesterday closing at 10,468.59 “The market is reacting posi- which ends June 2014. But the points from the previous closing tively to the second stimulus country has been rocked by vio- of 10,475.39 points. plan and the confidence that lence ever since this past July, The volume of traded shares they have the funds for this,” said when the army ousted president, fell to 5,115,447 from Monday Islam Batrawy, Cairo-based head Mohamed Mursi. 9,706,992 and the value of shares of regional equity sales at NBK Economists polled by Reuters decreased to QR202,693,848.17 Capital. predicted growth of just 2.6 per- from QR354,119,566.66 on Juhanya Food Industries cent for this year. The economy Monday. jumped 5.5 percent and grew 2.1pc in the previous fiscal Among the top losers were Commercial International Bank year, which ended before the lat- Commercial Bank of Qatar gained 1.0 percent. est wave of violence. whose share was down 1.27 per- In Saudi Arabia, shares in “The results of the first quar- cent to QR70.20, International Saudi Hollandi Bank climbed ter of fiscal year 2013-14 for the Islamic Bank lost 0.49 percent 4.5 percent to their highest close period from July to September to QR60.40, National Leasing since October 30 after the lender were modest and will not exceed fell 0.65 percent to QR30.80 and said it planned to boost its capital A view of refinery of French oil giant Total in Gonfreville-l’Orcher, northwestern France. one percent,” the Minister, Ashraf Vodafone Qatar decreased by 0.44 by 20 percent next year through Al Arabi, told state news agency percent to QR11.35. a bonus share issue. Mena. He said two percent growth The Banking and Financial sec- After rising almost 10 per- Strikes keep French refineries shut was expected in the second quar- tor index lost 0.03 percent while cent in each of the past two days, ter, from October to December, Consumer Goods and Services PetroRabigh showed signs of los- Mena said. The army plans for sector index gained 0.45 percent ing steam, gaining only 5.3 per- PARIS: Strikes at Total’s La “The situation is still blocked for all Total refinery workers,” the Egypt to vote on a new constitu- points, while the industrial sector cent. It has been climbing since it Mede, Gonfreville, Feyzin and with management, which is say- union official said. tion on January 14-15, then hold dropped 0.30 percent. said its parent companies agreed Grandpuits refineries went ing that pay increase deals should CGT officials say Total has parliamentary and presidential Meanwhile, Egyptian shares to cut international marketing into their fifth day yesterday as be negotiated locally instead of offered an increase of up to 1.5 elections next year. rose yesterday, lifting the main fees for PetroRabigh’s products workers belonging to the hard- nationally,” the official said. percent, but the Total spokes- Egypt’s economy saw several index to a 35-month high, after by a third over a five-year period. line CGT union stuck with pay Workers at Donges ended their woman said the pay package went years of seven percent growth the finance minister announced In Abu Dhabi, banking shares demands even as other unions strike after the moderate CFDT up to 3.5 percent, including sen- before the popular uprising that plans for a second economic stim- that lagged the recent leg up by accepted an offer from the and CGC unions signed a pay iority and performance elements. brought down Hosni Mubarak in ulus package worth around 30bn Dubai’s bourse played catch-up. company. deal with management, isolating Workers at Feyzin had voted February 2011. Since then, tour- Egyptian pounds ($4.4bn). The Abu Dhabi index climbed The stoppages at the four the CGT union which represents on Monday to halt production, ism and foreign investment have The spending, 25 percent more 1.3 percent to its highest level refineries affected about 712,000 around a quarter of Total’s refin- joining workers at La Mede and collapsed and domestic labor dis- than previously announced and since September 2008; Abu barrels a day of output, but ing workers. Gonfreville, where units were putes have increased. financed partly with aid from Dhabi Commercial Bank rose 5.6 production at the 230,000-bpd A Total spokeswoman said gradually shutting down. Egypt, the most populous the Gulf, is to begin in January. percent. Donges refinery near Nantes was the strikes were not causing any France’s eight refineries have Arab state, needs hard currency Finance Minister Ahmed Galal “There are a lot of investors nearing normal levels after work- major supply problem at French a production capacity of 1.4 mil- to import basic goods from food said 20bn pounds would be spent looking for bulk buying in the ers there voted to end the strike service stations. lion barrels per day, but focus on to oil. In less than three years, it on public investment, while the banking sector as a whole on on Monday. Top CGT union officials at gasoline though French motorists has burned through around $20 rest would cover a public sector speculation about earnings and Workers at the 99,000bpd Total’s refineries were due to mainly use diesel. France imported billion dollars in foreign reserves, minimum wage. dividends,” said Hisham Khairy, Grandpuits plant near Paris were meet later yesterday to decide between 17 and 18 million tonnes borrowed billions from its allies Cairo’s benchmark index rose head of trading for the institu- due to hold a vote at 1300 GMT to on strategy. “We are not ready to of diesel in 2012, making up about and racked up billions in debts to 1.2 percent to 6,720 points, its tional desk at Mena Corp. decide whether or not to prolong break the movement and we still half of its consumption. foreign oil companies. highest level since January 2011, AGENCIES the strike, a CGT official added. believe deals should be negotiated REUTERS REUTERS Swedish central bank cuts key rate to boost inflation

STOCKHOLM: The Swedish interest rates to new all-time lows prices, which in turn may be due central bank, the Riksbank, in a largely unexpected move in to weak demand.” cut its key interest rate to 0.75 the face of disinflationary pres- International and Swedish ana- percent yesterday as worry- sures in the euro area. lysts had expected the rate cut, ing deflationary signs lingered Although is outside the given earlier warnings of surpris- on the horizon for the Nordic euro, there have also been con- ingly low inflation. region’s largest economy. cerns over rapidly falling infla- “Lower rates will stimulate Sweden is a member of the tion in an economy dependent the economy,” wrote the business European Union but not of the on trade with the euro area and daily Dagens Industri after the eurozone, so it manages its own affected by weak demand and a announcement, “and put more monetary policy, and the latest falling exchange rate. effective pressure on inflation decision comes against a back- Last month the Swedish cen- which is at the lowest possible ground of unusually low inflation tral bank predicted an overall level.” across most of Europe. inflation rare of zero for 2013 The bank said it expects higher “Economic activity is develop- which it revised yesterday to growth in 2014 driven largely by ing largely as the Riksbank had minus 0.1 percent. increased demand for exports in forecast earlier. However, infla- In 2014 the bank expects infla- the US and euro area. tion has been unexpectedly low,” tion to move back into the positive “The recovery abroad is impor- the bank said in a statement to 0.6 percent while in October tant to the Swedish economy, about its first rate cut, of 0.25 per- the forecast was for 1.2 percent. which after almost a year of weak centage point from 1.0 percent, The country’s unexpectedly low growth is now moving towards since December 2012. inflation rate, at 0.1 percent in better times,” the bank wrote. “Despite the recovery, infla- November — far from the central “The labour market has tionary pressures over the com- bank’s two-percent target — has improved and confidence in the ing year are expected to be much been lower than domestic cost pres- Swedish household and corpo- lower than in the most recent sures, putting increasing pressure rate sectors has continued to rise. forecast in October,” the bank on the export-oriented economy. Together with increasing demand said. The bank said that “companies from abroad, this means that In November the European have had difficulty in passing on growth will pick up next year.” Central Bank (ECB) cut its key their higher costs through higher AFP

A n exterior view of Sweden’s central bank, Riksbank, headquarters in , yesterday. The bank lowered its key lending rate by 0.25 percent to 0.75 percent. WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

The credit card mistake Hunger Games in local banks BY ADITYA CHAKRABORTTY next time. A Bank of England grandee lays for both credit cards and loans,” it begins: the blame for the debacle on free current they have referred on a large number of that doomed my family he Hunger Games shows the hor- accounts; another City bigwig blames lax customers who have signed up for plastic ror that erupts when desperate, management; a regulator talks of dodgy or debt. “I endeavour to make the most of frightened people are forced by bonus schemes. None however talk of the every call I get where there is a genuine BY LOUISE O’SULLIVAN a tiny elite to compete against treatment of our retail-banking staff – the sales opportunity and this is reflected in my each other for scarce prizes. It is people behind the counters and in the call conversion figures.” his week it was reported that there are more working Ta gladiatorial contest heavy on the circuses, centres. The bonuses may be smaller, but as one households than non-working households living in poverty but miserly with the bread. Sadly, it’s also There is where it resembles the Hunger longstanding staffer emailed me this June, in the UK. I’m sure many people like me have found this an apt metaphor for what’s happened to our Games. What you have at the big banks is “nothing has really changed… there are still Tto be true and that it is quite possibly a knock-on effect high-street banks. large numbers of staff, often on low salaries, targets and there is still pressure to achieve of how we have been living our lives since the recession began. It sounds a stretch, I know. Your local whose only shot at getting bonuses, payrises them, with less staff and resources.” This is my story. bank passes itself off as a friendly, reliable or keeping their jobs comes down to flogging But with no more money. According to After buying our first flat in April 2008, the same week that institution: unthreatening and ever poised customers more financial rubbish. Retail Unite, salaries for the lowest grade staff at the housing market crashed and started to send everything into to take in cheques. So successfully have some banking staff has been coerced into turn- Lloyds begin at £13,000; the next grade up negative equity, things were a little harder but we managed: we high street banks fostered this impression ing predatory – and we are their feedstock. starts at £17,000; the median salary is now budgeted, we paid our bills on time and life was not too much of that when crisis hit in 2008 it was held to A friend of mine worked in a Lloyds-TSB £27,000. Those two bands account for some- a struggle. be all the fault of those investment-banking call centre in the middle of the noughties. thing like 45 percent of all Lloyds employ- When we decided to have our second child, we were aware sharks. From regulator and economist alike, Mary (not her real name) recalls how col- ees. With pay at those levels, you are not that this would mean a shortened maternity leave and continued the cry went up: hive off the casinos, keep leagues, struggling to raise families on mea- just talking about tax credits: 40 percent high childcare costs, but we were desperate for our four-year-old the utilities! gre wages, just got on with the job of selling. of staff in those two bands say they rely daughter not to be an only child. The reality is the utility banks themselves Not so Mary; which eventually led to a man- on overtime or a second income to make Sadly, that decision was the start of our real money troubles. have been corrupted. Their managers have ager listening in on her calls. A woman rang ends meet. Around 12 percent say they As much as we love our gorgeous son, we have been struggling become as shark-like as any investment to inform the bank that her husband had have had to use payday loans in the past ever since he was born. banker; except that their feedstock is us. recently died. At the end of the conversation, year. Another staff member emailed me last Maternity leave took its toll. Even though I promised myself I Consider last Thursday’s revelations of how, the manager asked why Mary had missed week to say that some of her colleagues were would go back to work at six months, I felt I needed a little more up until March 2012, Lloyds’ advisers flogged the opportunity to offer the new widow an using food banks. In 2012, the boss of Lloyds, time with my son and lived off credit cards for three months. My £2bn-worth of ISAs and insurance to custom- extended overdraft, or loan. “Funerals are Antonio Horta-Osorio, took home £3.4m in husband paid the mortgage but could not cover everything on ers who didn’t want them. That is merely the expensive, you know,” she recalls him saying. cash, pension and benefits. Last month, he his wages. Of course, living on credit is not a wise move, but ask latest mis-selling scandal to follow on from Lloyds doesn’t seek to justify such behav- was lined up for a further £2m bonus in any mother how she feels about leaving her six-month-old child all the others about endowments, payment iour, but it promises that things are dif- shares. Meanwhile, the people selling you to go back to work. protection insurance, interest-rate swaps, ferent now: hard-selling has been replaced loans have to go to payday lenders; bankers But the necessity to do so is now a common reality. Many new and credit-card cover. In each case, the story with “meeting customers’ needs”. The bank visiting foodbanks. This is a white-collar mothers I know are not taking the full year’s maternity leave barely changes: thousands, often hundreds of says employees are now assessed against a Hunger Games. because they just cannot afford it. thousands, of households or small businesses wider range of objectives listed on a “bal- Put yourself in their shoes. Your col- This really puts an added strain on families and is an emotional sold costly products they didn’t ask for or anced scorecard”. I have been passed a copy leagues are being laid off all around you; burden for many women. I can completely understand why many even need, and which sometimes brought on of this scorecard completed this summer. your payslip doesn’t provide enough to live want to wait until they are in a good financial position before they financial ruin. One section, Building the Business, uses the on. And you believe that pushing financial have children, but the last few years have made that extremely Each time, there is outrage and a sup- language of customer needs, yet the targets products is the best way to get more money difficult. posedly-hefty penalty – although even the it quotes are to do with sales. and keep your job. What would you do? As We soon needed a bigger home, but we could not afford to buy £28m record fine slapped on Lloyds last At the bottom is a statement from the the film says: “Those are real people on the one, so we leased our property and rented a bigger house. This week amounts to little more than a slap employee, who works in Lloyds’ phone- screen, and they’re not going away when the meant higher rent to pay and huge deposits. on the wrist. Each time, there are vows banking division. “My conversions are con- commercials start to roll.” With continued high living costs and no chance of paying every- that this will be the last time – until the sistently amongst the highest in the team THE GUARDIAN thing off, I eventually had to agree to a voluntary IVA (individual voluntary arrangement) to help insolvents deal with their debt. No more credit meant reality struck home hard, costs spiralled, food was more expensive, childcare payments continued and I had no access to any financial help. With child tax credits or working family credits, many earn just over the threshold and are entitled to no help whatsoever. In my role as a legal assistant, my salary has hardly changed. Gas pipelines to Europe My husband is a self-employed builder, one of the worst trades affected by the recession. If he doesn’t work, he doesn’t get paid. In one particularly bleak Planned gas pipeline projects winter, there was absolutely no work for him. He tried to claim some form of government help and was made Existing Nabucco West Trans Anatolian Pipeline South Stream to jump through hoops, only to be told that he wasn’t entitled To be built Trans Adriatic Pipeline South Caucasus Expansion Southern Corridor to anything. So now we find ourselves with a flat we cannot sell (it is tied into my IVA). Even if we could sell it, we couldn’t afford to buy another place. UKRAINE Until last month we were at a point where we had nothing left AUSTRIA after paying our bills; we were struggling to pay childminders and worrying about affording the weekly food shop. My family have found themselves dealing with me in a depressed state because I RUSSIA can see no light at the end of the tunnel. SLOVENIA I tell myself to be patient, that in three years I will have no SERBIA debt, but it seems so far away. Black Sea AZERBAIJAN We have now moved in with one set of parents in the hope we ITALY BULGARIA GEORGIA can eventually start to save some money or, more realistically, just to have some money to live on. We have both worked hard over the last decade and a half and now feel we didn’t get anything back for the work we put in. Maybe we have been used to a relatively nice lifestyle, where GREECE we could give our children a holiday each year and buy ourselves TURKEY new clothes, and maybe we should just accept that things have changed and we shall have to work solely to pay the bills, solely to survive. Mediterranean If this really is the case then is it any wonder I have fallen in Sea a black hole, feeling there is no hope? I can imagine some people will be critical that I allowed myself to get into this position, that I relied on credit to help me through Source: Companies, World Energy Atlas a difficult period but, had things been different, had the credit crunch not hit when it did, might things have been a whole lot C. Inton, 17/12/2013 better? THE GUARDIAN China needs Western help for nuclear export ambitions

BY DAVID STANWAY inexperience in the economics of late in 2012 and aims to bring which are set up to produce power utility, this year changed its name with Westinghouse to local- nuclear power mean the firms will capacity up from 12.57 gigawatts plants, not profits,” he said. from China Guangdong Nuclear ise key technologies from the hina’s investment in struggle to go it alone. now to 58GW by the end of 2020. “They have no clue about inter- to China General Nuclear as US-based firm’s AP1000 reactor Britain’s £16bn Hinkley “They are very ambitious, but Nearly 30GW of new capacity national business. They have part of its push to reach beyond design, which will form the core of Point project is its first whether they will be welcomed is under construction in China, absolutely no clue how to make its home region. As an operator China’s “localised” ACP1000 reac- Cforay into Europe’s overseas is another question,” more than 40 percent of the profit in nuclear,” he added. of nuclear plants, it has modelled tor, expected to make its overseas nuclear power market and a said Li Ning, a nuclear power world’s total new-build. Li of Xiamen University said itself on EDF. debut in Pakistan. marker of its global ambitions, but specialist and dean of the School China’s regulators have long the firms would struggle to find CNNC is the bigger player, For other projects Chinese its firms will depend on foreign of Energy Research at China’s encouraged nuclear firms to build any immediate economic rationale carved out of the old nuclear firms will depend on foreign part- partners if they are to fulfil them. Xiamen University. an entire industrial chain with for their involvement in Hinkley ministry and backed by Beijing. ners to ensure supply chains meet China General Nuclear Power In Britain, for example, political global reach. Point, but they would look at it as It retains strong government standards in developed markets. Group (CGN) and China National discussions behind closed doors After Fukushima, “history a marketing tool. and military links and has aspi- Even if they succeed in winning Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) about Chinese nuclear involve- has given China an opportunity “It is the first mature nuclear rations to design, manufacture bids for new reactors, China’s plan to take a combined 30-40 ment concluded the public would to overtake the world’s nuclear market for China to work in, and and build nuclear reactors across firms might struggle to secure percent stake in a consortium not accept Chinese companies energy and nuclear technology it could help in other regions,” he the world. supplies of nuclear fuel. While led by French utility EDF to build owning majority stakes in new powers”, Zhang Guobao, China’s said. Both collaborate with Western CNNC has its own supplies and French-designed EPR reactors in plants and that initial participa- former top energy official and CNNC and CGN will both be firms on fuel supply and know- processing capacity, CGN will southwest England. tion should be capped at 49 per- a tireless advocate of nuclear involved in Hinkley Point, but how, and their own-brand reac- still have to collaborate with the China has the world’s largest cent, a source familiar with the energy, told a September meeting getting the two sides to collabo- tors are based on foreign designs. French. nuclear building programme at discussions said. of nuclear scientists, according to rate has proved difficult. Recent CGN is the longtime part- “Everybody sells nuclear power home and hopes to leverage this China’s massive domestic state media. government efforts to get them ner of EDF, which is helping it plants with 20 years of fuel into a nuclear export industry. nuclear new-build programme is China plans to bid for projects to join forces on a single Chinese build two Areva-designed EPR included in the contract,” said While China has already built one of the few bright spots in the in and Turkey. reactor design have so far been reactors in southern China, and Lefevre. reactors for its ally Pakistan, global nuclear industry follow- But its domestic experience fruitless. specialists were surprised to see “CGN cannot do this.” Hinkley Point is its first nuclear ing the 2011 Fukushima disaster, won’t necessarily translate well “The government intention- CNNC pop up as a partner in Li said all this meant that project in a developed country, which prompted several coun- overseas, said Arnaud Lefevre, ally put them in competition for Hinkley Point. China was unlikely to risk going and Beijing hopes the UK cre- tries including Japan, Germany, head of French nuclear consul- markets, so obviously there will CNNC has teamed up with it alone in the foreseeable future. dentials will help promote its Switzerland, Italy and to tancy Dynatom International, be a certain amount of hostil- US-based Westinghouse, owned “You may vie for the leadership two nuclear giants on the global close or phase out their nuclear which has been involved in the ity between the two sides,” said by Japan’s Toshiba, which will see of a consortium, but in the end, stage. programmes. nuclear business in China. Li, adding that on international the world’s first AP1000 reactor to get it completed, you need the But industry analysts say gaps After a post-Fukushima sus- “All the business of nuclear markets this might put China at model go into operation in China supply chain of a global consor- in the Chinese supply chain, pension lasting a year and a half, power plants in China is control- a disadvantage. next year. tium,” he said. fears of political interference and Beijing restarted its programme led by state-owned enterprises CGN, a southern Chinese China signed an agreement REUTERS WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 10,468.59 0.06 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 14,957.22 0.06 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,066.43 0.10 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,610.23 0.02 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,485.34 0.03 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5106.121 12.993 0.26 5453.1 4610.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,998.78 0.45 % QR144.6855 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4087.88 -32 -0.78 4356.28 3575.17 QE All Share Industrials 3,441.08 0.30 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.8894 QR 5.9726 QE All Share Insurance 2,361.26 0.00 % Dj Indu Average 15884.57 129.21 0.82 16174.5 12883.9 Euro ...... QR 4.9793 QR 5.0485 QE All Share Real Estate 1,996.41 0.38 % QR 2.3238 CA$ ...... QR 3.4066 QR 3.4740 QE All Share Telecoms 1,470.95 0.30 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,941.44 0.60 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0775 QR 4.1352 Hang Seng Inde/D 23069.23 -45.43 -0.2 24111.55 19426.36 Yen ...... QR 0.0350 QR 0.0357 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2190 QR 3.2829 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4392.66 15.82 0.36 4527.83 3396.67 CRUDE OIL 17-12-2013 16-12-2013 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0583 QR 0.0595 Index 10,468.59 10,475.39 Karachi 100 In/D 25350.2 51.88 0.21 25407.48 16036.31 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0338 QR 0.0345 Change 6.80 51.56 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 15278.63 125.72 0.83 15942.6 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0816 QR 0.0832 % 0.06 0.49 $ 109.88 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0281 YTD% 25.24 25.32 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1813.55 1398.11 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0474 Volume 5,115,447 9,706,992 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0364 QR 0.0371 Value (QAR) 202,693,848.17 354,119,566.66 Straits Times/D 3067.57 13.8 0.45 3464.79 2990.68 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3484 QR 0.3555 Trades 3,340 4,713 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 107.24 Up 14 | Down 21 | Unchanged 03

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 17-12-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A B G Infra-B/D 46.05 -0.95 1245 Chowgule St-B/D 10.35 0.09 3499 Himat Seide-B/D 50.15 0.05 93603 Kopran-B/D 20.45 0.65 47243 Rallis India-B/D 164 -2.6 17216 Kingfisher/D 370.9 0.3 1037080 A C C-A/D 1089 1.4 6558 Cipla-A/D 387.8 10.65 276343 Hind Motors-B/D 7.56 -0.01 38329 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2678 11.1 1108 Rallis India-B/D 164 -2.6 17216 Land Secs Grou/D 931.3958 0 396736 Aarti Drugs-B/D 188.1 -1.1 1196 City Union Bk-/D 47.9 -0.05 28614 Hind Org Chem-/D 11.55 0.55 21971 Lgb Broth-B/D 228 3 2215 Reliance Indus/D 341.3 0.6 78608 Legal & Genera/D 208.4 -0.7 2339234 Aban Offs-B/D 341.9 6.5 312017 Cmc Ltd-B/D 1345 23.2 1267 Hind Unilever-/D 558 0.15 44638 Lloyd Metal-B/D 9.1 -0.35 1222 Ruchi Soya-B/D 30.5 -1 24085 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 76.85 0.22 31589300 Ador Welding-B/D 128.3 0.35 7446 Colgate-A/D 1265.25 3.55 9166 Hind.Petrol-A/D 212.4 -1.45 64463 Lloydsfin.-B/D 0.43 0.02 1271 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 311.1 -2.4 4605 Marks & Sp./D 454.9 -3.1 2381156 Aegis Logis-B/D 156.9 1.5 44867 Container Cor-/D 712.5 -4.7 1549 Hindalco-A/D 116.4 -0.25 566999 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 13.73 -0.32 8969 Thirumalai-B/D 97.7 -1.6 5389 Next/D 5415 -30 72849 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 98.85 -2.95 2362 Dcm Financia-B/D 0.6 0.02 6606 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 778.3 -20.2 80866 Lupin-A/D 880.9 5.9 49614 Til Ltd.-B/D 137.3 -4.55 1196 Pearson/D 1285.84 -2 285620 Alembic-B/D 13.84 -0.13 31467 Dhampur Sugar-/D 34.1 1.55 10828 I F C I-A/D 23.3 -0.5 843871 Lyka Labs-B/D 9.8 0.04 7500 Timexgroup-B/D 10.63 0.24 4639 Prudential/D 1276.875 -2 907522 Alok Indus-B/D 7.58 0.12 245367 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2425.95 24.5 8176 Idbi-A/D 61.05 -1.05 179003 Maha Scooter-B/D 410 1.65 1501 Tinplate-T/D 48.1 2.25 45125 Rank Group/D 130 1.9 11511 Andhra Paper-B/D 252.1 -1.8 2356 E I H-B/D 53.95 -0.2 98749 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 72.45 0.95 7929 Mangalam Cem-B/D 103.5 -1.45 1199 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.1 -0.9 4310 Rentokil Initi/D 110.8 0.3 560271 Apollo Tyre-A/D 86.7 1.95 4875790 E.I.D Parry-B/D 136.25 -1.55 3337 India Cement-B/D 55.55 -1.85 273898 Maral Overs-B/D 18.3 -0.4 3092 Ucal Fuel-T/D 46.05 -1.9 2323 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1234.9 -2 769047 Asahi I Glass-/D 45.5 0 13919 Eicher Motor-A/D 4782.85 -75.5 3094 India Glycol-B/D 89.55 0.1 4717 Mastek-B/D 134.05 -3.75 9202 Ultramarine-B/D 40.55 0.15 6055 Rsa Insrance G/D 91.95 1.85 23089150 Ashok Leyland-/D 15.55 -0.35 706223 Electrosteel-B/D 14.45 -0.55 67443 Indian Hotel-A/D 60.6 3.35 726412 Max India L-A/D 202.9 -1.65 8362 Unitech P -A/D 14.95 -0.2 3170020 Sainsbury(J)/D 384.8 -10.7 3787294 Bajaj Hold-A/D 879.95 8.6 1954 Emco-B/D 19.55 0.5 413937 Indo-Bcount-B/D 36.55 0.4 5984 Mrpl-A/D 39.35 -0.55 50397 Uppergsugar-B/D 25.8 -1 2902 Schroders/D 2429 -21 59303 Ballarpur In-B/D 12.25 -0.25 147070 Escorts-B/D 131.25 2.9 711439 Indusind-A/D 414.9 -1.4 1991851 Nahar Spg.-B/D 107.15 -1.8 6588 Severn Trent/D 1704 13 159943 Bata India-A/D 1000.55 -5.65 13188 Essar Oil-A/D 50.4 -0.5 188590 J.B.Chemical-B/D 115.5 1.6 103328 Nath Seeds-B/D 4.3 -0.1 2328 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 845 3.5 543075 Beml Ltd-B/D 204.7 0.7 58860 Eveready Indu-/D 34.2 -2.5 631536 Jbf Indu-B/D 73.25 -0.3 3957 Nation Alum -A/D 38.1 0.55 61145 Smiths Group/D 1387 -9 138341 Bh Electronic-/D 1004.4 -5.2 3201 F D C-B/D 107.45 -0.45 48978 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.43 -0.02 2079 Navneet Edu-B/D 54.45 0 6111 3I Group/D 367.1 -0.8 318064 Standrd Chart /D 1305 -1 1095001 Bharat Bijle-B/D 337.7 3.35 1979 Federal Bank-A/D 78.35 1.2 415204 Jct Ltd-B/D 2.05 0.05 33879 Nepc India-B/D 1.74 -0.05 12224 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2309.3347 8 151038 Tate & Lyle/D 777.5 -7.5 160447 Bharatgears-B/D 42 0 1800 Ferro Alloys-B/D 4.93 -0.13 14047 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 2.1 -0.03 1645 Neuland Lab-B/D 274.9 15.1 2997 B Sky B/D 796 -6.5 716156 Tesco/D 326.35 -4.65 5346491 Bhartiya Int-B/D 178 -1.95 4529 Finolex-B/D 161.3 1.2 13702 Jik Indust-T/D 0.6 0 1188 Nrb Bearings-B/D 34.1 -0.9 1635 Barclays/D 252.65 -2.4 21192203 Unilever/D 2397 -16 491221 Bhel-A/D 154.45 -0.5 434120 Forbes-B/D 547.5 12.25 9111 Jindal Drill-B/D 187.05 6.15 9694 O N G C-A/D 274.7 -1.95 121431 Bg Group/D 1235.5 -0.5 971822 United Util Gr/D 670.66 8 1393990 Bom.Burmah-B/D 110.3 -0.15 24946 Gail-A/D 336 1.75 26575 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 159.2 -3.2 156308 Onward Tech-T/D 52.5 0.1 16763 Bp/D 466.95 -6.25 7629063 Vodafone Group/D 228.2 0.5 19971247 Bombay Dyeing-/D 65.3 0.55 122593 Gammon India-B/D 12.65 -0.2 17858 Kajaria Cer-B/D 285.5 -0.7 7711 Orchid Chem-B/D 51.35 2.15 255044 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3163.5 -8.5 877763 Whitbread/D 3551 12 78468 Cable Corp.-B/D 18 0 16190 Godfrey Phil-B/D 2529 -123.2 1481 Kalpat Power-B/D 87.2 -0.55 11517 Orient Hotel-B/D 16.05 -0.05 16618 Bt Group/D 373.4 1.4 2580617 Castrol Ind-A/D 296.55 -1.25 10820 Goodricke-B/D 137.7 6.6 54050 Kalyani Stel-B/D 54.5 1.8 184968 Orient.Carb.-B/D 124.3 2.3 3744 Centrica/D 323.4 -2.2 4594004 Century Enka-B/D 137.8 -1.55 13257 Goodyear I -B/D 358 -5.95 2302 Kanoria Chem-B/D 22.85 -0.65 25133 Orient.Carb.-B/D 124.3 2.3 3744 Gkn/D 361.6 1.6 811906 Century Text-A/D 250.05 -2.2 152156 Hcl Infosys-B/D 19.55 -0.45 88940 Kg Denim-B/D 14.25 -0.05 9944 Oudh Sugar-B/D 17.35 0.05 4199 Hsbc Holdings/D 648.863 -4.5 4569738 Chambal Fert-B/D 37.7 -0.35 83298 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 7.8 -0.02 125669 Kinetic Eng-B/D 44.65 -2.3 2426 Radico Khait-B/D 140.35 -0.5 17058 Imperial Tobac/D 2271 4 437266 WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 Top 10 sporting moments of 2013 A year of highs and lows as two legends call it quits and Armstrong admits cheating

NEW YORK: 1) Lance Armstrong comes clean over doping - January 17. “Yes.” With one word, Lance Armstrong finally confessed to a cycling career built on performing-enhancing drugs, putting himself on a par with Canadian athlete Ben Johnson as the world’s most notori- ous drugs cheat. In an inter- view with Oprah Winfrey in January, Armstrong ended his years of denials about system- atic doping and said it would have been impossible to win one of his seven Tour de France titles without the drugs. “I am flawed,” the American said. “Deeply flawed.” 2) Oscar Pistorius accused of murder - February 14. Stunned disbelief greeted the news that Oscar Pistorius, who Former cyclist Lance Armstrong (left) finally admits he doped during his cycling career during an interview with Oprah Winfrey in this January 17, 2013 file picture. The American said it triumphed over disability to com- would’ve been impossible to win the Tour de France without taking drugs. RIGHT: Former Man United coach Sir Alex Ferguson wipes a tear after his side’s final home match against Swansea pete with able-bodied athletes at City in this May 2013 file photo. Ferguson called it quits after 26 years. the Olympics, had shot dead his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp on Valentine’s Day. South Africa’s Cup in San Francisco after a on the mound as he brought the Sox had emerged as a beacon of “Blade Runner”, a double amputee winner-takes-all showdown with curtain down on a stellar 19 years hope for Boston. Red Sox slugger who uses carbon-fibre prosthetic Emirates Team . Hit in Major League Baseball. The David Ortiz, who won the Most blades to compete, will be tried for with a pre-match penalty that New York crowd rose to their Valuable Player award, said of murder next year. Pistorius told a required Oracle to win 11 races feet, chanting Rivera’s nickname Boston: “We stick together. It’s a Pretoria bail hearing: “I am abso- on the water, the American boat “Mo”. “It definitely was a magic family, and we fight against the lutely mortified by the events and appeared to be down and out at moment,” said Rivera, who rose world.” the devastating loss of my beloved 8-1 behind. But helped by speed from poverty in to be 10) Sachin Tendulkar’s last Reeva.” improvements and installing one of the most revered players Test - November 16. Indian bats- 3) Andy Murray wins Britain’s multi Olympic champion in America’s favourite pastime. man Sachin Tendulkar struggled Wimbledon - July 7. Andy Ben Ainslie as team tactician, He recorded 652 saves and served to hold back the tears after call- Murray ended Britain’s 77-year Oracle reeled off race after race as the Yankees’ closer for 17 ing time on a 24-year cricket wait for a Wimbledon men’s to win sailing’s biggest trophy. seasons. career in Mumbai, his birthplace. champion by vanquishing Novak 5) Alex Ferguson announces 7) Yelena Isinbayeva thrills The “Little Master” finished his Djokovic in an electric final at the retirement - May 8. The news home crowd at worlds - August career as the sport’s most pro- All England Club in July. Willed was not entirely unexpected 13. Russian Yelena Isinbayeva lific international run-scorer but on by thousands of Union Jack- but it still stunned British soc- pulled off a winning leap when it was unable to sign off with a cen- waving fans on Centre Court and cer. Alex Ferguson, the country’s mattered most to claim her third tury against West Indies in his millions across Britain, the Scot longest-serving and most deco- world title in front of a partisan 200th and final Test. “My life’s won tennis’s most prestigious title rated soccer manager, announced home crowd in Moscow. The dou- been 22 yards for 24 years,” said in straight sets. Murray said: “I he was retiring after more than ble Olympic champion was the Tendulkar who scored 15,921 Test know what it feels like to lose 26 years and 1,500 matches at only vaulter to jump 4.89 metres. and 18,426 ODI runs. in finals, in a Wimbledon final, the helm of Manchester United. “I’m the pole vault queen, the Alternates but now I know what it feels like The 71-year-old Scot’s era at Old crowd is mine,” said the 31-year- Wrestling dropped from to win and that’s certainly a lot Trafford brought the northern old who then sparked contro- Olympics - February 12. better.” English club 13 league titles, two versy with comments on Russia’s Wrestling fans were shocked 4) Oracle comeback secures European Cups, five FA Cups and anti-gay laws. Jamaican sprinter when the IOC announced it was America’s Cup - September four League Cups. Usain Bolt won three titles at the dropping the sport from the 25 Larry Ellison’s Oracle Team 6) Mariano Riveira retires - championships. Olympic programme because of USA capped an incredible come- September 26. Baseball’s great- 8) Gareth Bale joins Real its failure to modernise after dec- back to retain the America’s est closer was reduced to tears Madrid - September 1. Ending ades of waning interest. Wrestling months of speculation, Tottenham responded by overhauling its Hotspur forward Gareth Bale rules, administration and gender finally put pen to paper and joined equality policy and was reinstated Real Madrid for a world-record for the 2020 Games. The sport transfer fee of €100m euros featured in the ancient Olympics ($132m). The fee eclipsed the pre- as well as every modern Games, vious record of €94m euros that apart from 1900. Real paid for Sabine Lisicki’s meltdown in TOP: India legend Sachin from Manchester United in Wimbledon final - July 6. Sabine orders - March 24. Sebastian Tendulkar (top) is carried by 2009. The Welshman said Spurs Lisicki despatched defending Vettel cruised to a fourth suc- Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni after would “always be in my heart” champion Serena Williams and cessive Formula One title but his before jetting off to Madrid last year’s runner-up Agnieszka road to the championship hit a his final match against West to take his place among the Radwanska on her way to the speed bump in when he Indies in this November 2013 Galacticos. Wimbledon final but found nerves chose to defy his team’s orders file photo. Tendulkar, who 9) Red Sox win World Series a tougher opponent than Marion and overtake Red Bull team-mate scored more than 15,000 Test for wounded Boston - October Bartoli. The German succumbed Mark Webber. Vettel was told to runs ended his 24 years on a 30. Boston closer Koji Uehara to the pressure and sobbed her stay behind Webber, with both winning note. struck out Matt Carpenter for the way through a 6-1 6-4 defeat. asked to save their tyres and fuel LEFT: Gareth Bale is pre- final out as the Red Sox clinched Former men’s champion John to ensure a one-two finish. Vettel sented to the Real Madrid their first World Series at Fenway McEnroe said: “There would have said: “I am the black sheep right fans after completing his Park since the 1918 championship. been no place Lisicki would rather now ... all I can say is apologies to €100m euros move in the The win came six months after have been an hour ago. Now it’s Mark.” The relationship between summer. Bale is now the the city was shocked by the deadly the last place she wants to be.” the two deteriorated beyond world’s most expensive player. marathon bombings, and the Red Sebastian Vettel ignores team repair. REUTERS

Qatar National Day Trophy at QREC

Sheikh Thani bin Hamad Al Thani (fourth left) and Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani (fourth right) are seen with the winners of the Qatar National Day Trophy at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club in Doha. Muntasar won the feature race of the evening after beating La Hoor, Farraaha and Hariir, who finished in the top four places respectively. RIGHT: Sheikh Thani (right) presents a trophy to a winner. PICTURES BY: OSAMA FAISAL WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Rich haul for Qatar’s Samia Rhythmic Gymnastics Arab Championship: Local girl clinches two medals on day two

DOHA: Samia Hassan Hussain stole the limelight as hosts Qatar clinched a bronze and a silver medal on the second day Rhythmic Gymnastics Arab Championship for women at the Tunisian School in Doha yesterday. The local girl, who gave the hosts a flying start by winning a bronze medal on the first day of the championship on Monday in the All-Round final, contin- ued with an impressive show by clinching a silver medal in the Apparatus Ball event and then followed it up by claiming a bronze in the Apparatus Hoop. In the Apparatus Ball, Maisa Ghazouani of Tunisia walked away with the gold medal while Samia of Qatar and Sofia Moussaoui of Morocco had to settle for the sil- ver medal. In the Apparatus Hoop, Ghazouani topped the event to pick the third gold medal in the championship. The Tunisian, Qatar Rhythmic Gymnastics team coach Adrienne Tettamanti (third right) poses for a picture along with other members of Qatar team taking part in the Rhythmic Gymnastics Arab winner in the Apparatus Ball, Championship for women at the Tunisian School in Doha yesterday. Others seen in the picture are team physio, Elma Bujapabiya (left), Samia (right), Sari Samir Mohammad (second right), had won the All-Round event on Ashrakat Al Haj (third left) and Hind Wafy. RIGHT: Qatar’s Samia Hassan Hussain in action. Samia has won three medals in the three-day championship which will end today. Monday. PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP Moroccan Moussaoui had to settle for the silver, the third one for her in the championship. Qatar now has one silver and one bronze going into the final day. Tunisia leads the medals tally with three gold medals closely followed by Morocco with three silver medals while Qatar is third. Four countries Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia and hosts Qatar are taking part in the championship. Meanwhile in the junior cat- egory yesterday, Tunisia and Morocco won one gold medal each. Amina Chitiba won gold in the Apparatus Hoop for Tunisia, while Basma Ouatay of Morocco topped in the Apparatus Ball Rhythmic Gymnastics Arab Championship for women event. Results from the Rhythmic Gymnastics Arab Championship for women in Doha In the Apparatus Hoop, Ouatay Yesterday’s results came second and Alissa Sadek of Seniors Lebanon won the bronze medal. Tunisian duo of Meniar Jerbi Apparatus Ball: Maisa Ghazouani (Tunisia), Sofia Moussaoui (Morocco), Samia Hassan and Chitiba finished second Hussain (Qatar) and third respectively in the Apparatus Hoop: Maisa Ghazouani (Tunisia), Sofia Moussaoui (Morocco), Samia Hassan Apparatus Ball. Hussain (Qatar) On Monday, Outay won the All- Monday Result Round event, while Chitiba had All-Round: Ghazouani (Tunisia), Sofia Moussaoui (Morocco), Samia Hassan Hussain (Qatar) to contend with the silver medal. Juniors Amani Elkafi of Tunisia took the Maisa Ghazouani of Tunisia (right), gold medal winner in the Apparatus Ball event at the Rhythmic Gymnastics Apparatus Ball: Basma Ouatay (Morocco), Meniar Jerbi (Tunisia), Amina Chitiba (Tunisia) bronze Arab Championship for women at the Tunisian School, poses for a picture along with Mohammed Abdulrahman Apparatus Hoop: Amina Chitiba (Tunisia), Basma Ouatay (Morocco), Alissa Sadek (Lebanon) The championship will end Al Jabir, Secretary-General of Qatar Gymnastics Federation in Doha yesterday. Sofia Moussaoui (centre) of Monday Result today and action begins at Morocco and Samia Hassan Hussain (left), both clinched silver. 12.30pm. THE PENINSULA All-Round: Basma Ouatay (Morocco), Amina Chitiba (Tunisia), Amani Elkafi (Tunisia) NFL: Tucker’s six field goals lift Ravens to key win over Lions Tim Duncan (21) of the San Antonio DETROIT: Justin Tucker’s turnovers. He was intercepted Spurs shoots over sixth field goal of the night -- a three times, including twice in 61-yarder with 38 seconds left -- the fourth quarter. Ryan Hollins (15) lifted Baltimore to a key 18-16 “I didn’t play my best game of the Los Angeles NFL win over the Detroit Lions by any means,” said Stafford, Clippers in the yesterday. who directed a scoring drive on second half of Tucker’s exploits helped the Detroit’s first possession. their NBA game at reigning Super Bowl champion “I felt like we had a good open- Staples Center in Los Ravens post their fourth straight ing drive, put seven (points) on Angeles, California, victory and move just one game the board. yesterday. The behind Cincinnati for first place “For one reason or another the Clippers defeated the in the AFC North division. rest of that half, and even into the Spurs 115-92. In addition, the Ravens main- third quarter, it was tough for us BOTTOM: Glen Davis tained their tie with Miami for to get a rhythm.” of the Orlando Magic. the second and final AFC wild Tucker’s game-winner wasn’t card spot -- and Baltimore quite as far as the NFL record hold the tiebreaker over the 64-yarder booted by the Broncos’ Dolphins. Matt Prater earlier this month. The Lions needed the victory Flacco said he would have just as much, but their fourth liked to get Tucker closer for the defeat in their last five games attempt, but he wasn’t surprised dropped them to 7-7 -- and into that it was good. third in the NFC North behind “I had all the confidence in the Chicago and Green Bay. world in him,” Flacco said. “We Baltimore quarterback Joe see him get those kind of kicks NBA Results Flacco connected on 20-of-38 every day in practice.” Detroit 101 Indiana 96 passing attempts for 222 yards. Meanwhile, veteran Chicago Atlanta 114 La Lakers 100 Jacoby Jones caught six passes for Bears cornerback Charles Boston 101 Minnesota 97 80 yards. Tillman has been ruled out for Brooklyn 130 Philadelphia 94 Ravens coach John Harbaugh the rest of the season after not Miami 117 Utah 94 said a touchdown or two wouldn’t sufficiently recovering from a have gone amiss, but with the torn right triceps, the National Washington 102 Ny Knicks 101 regular season winding down he Football League (NFL) team Orlando 83 Chicago 82 wasn’t going to argue with the said yesterday. LA Clippers 115 San Antonio 92 victory. The 32-year-old, a Pro Bowl “It’s a big win, you take them selection in 2011 and 2012, had NHL Results any way you can get them right been placed on the injured Pittsburgh 3 Toronto 1 Baltimore Ravens’ kicker Justin Tucker (9) kicks a 61-yard field goal dur- now, and that was big for us,” reserve/designated to return list Winnipeg 3 Columbus 2 ing the fourth quarter of their NFL game against the Detroit Lions at Ford Harbaugh said. after suffering the injury against 3 St Louis 2 Lions quarterback Matthew the Detroit Lions on November Field, yesterday. Baltimore Ravens defeated the Detroit Lions 18-16. Colorado 6 Dallas 2 Stafford was again plagued by 10. AGENCIES WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29 Fall rules QMMF’s Qatar Rally to kick Worley out of Winter off new rallying season Olympics

COURCHEVEL, FRANCE: Rally runs in tandem with FIA Women in Motorsport Commission France’s Tessa Worley, the reigning world giant slalom champion, has been ruled out DOHA: The QMMF Qatar of the Winter Olympics next International Rally has moved February after a fall during to the new date of February the World Cup slalom race at 20-22, 2014, and will get a new Courchevel yesterday. season of FIA Middle East Rally The 24-year-old suffered a rup- Championship (MERC) com- tured anterior cruciate ligament petition underway across the in her right knee, French Ski Qatar deserts. Federation (FFS) national tech- Organised by the Qatar Motor nical director Fabien Saguez said. and Motorcycle Federation “She won’t comment (QMMF) under the presidency this evening, but tomorrow of Nasser Khalifa Al-Attiyah – (Wednesday), after meeting in the new FIA vice-president for Lyon with the surgeon who will sport in the Middle East – the carry out the operation. There event has been the traditional is also a small outer meniscus season opener for many years wound. and will be followed by further “It’s a tough blow for skiing. regional events in Kuwait, Jordan, We’ve gone from light to darkness Lebanon, Cyprus and Dubai. overnight,” added Saguez. The 2014 rally will also be Her injury is another blow for held in conjunction with the the French women’s skiing team FIA Women in Motorsport after world downhill champion Commission. Marion Rolland was ruled out of “I am delighted to announce the Sochi Games after injuring that the rally will be held in her right knee training in Chile tandem with the FIA Women in September. in Motorsport Commission,” Laurie Mougel, France’s top enthused Nasser Khalifa Al slalom racer in 2012-2013, has Attiyah. “They will hold their also been ruled out for this season. seminar in Doha during the Worley got into trouble at the rally in the presence of Michele top of the slope during the first Mouton and Frederique Trouve. run and crashed into an advertis- “We have always had a lot of Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah and Giovanni Bernacchini celebrate winning the 2013 Qatar Rally in this file picture. RIGHT: Turkey’s female rally star Burcu ing billboard. interest in rallying from ladies Cetinkaya is a regular visitor to the Qatar International Rally. In tears as she was brought in the Middle East region and down from the summit of the the rally is an ideal backdrop to piste by luge she was taken to showcase motor sport to women. 20, with two days of demanding Delegates will then join com- will be offered five nights’ free from across the GCC and the hospital in Lyon for tests which For many years women have sup- loose surface special stages tak- petitors taking part in the QMMF accommodation for driver and Levant. Local hero Nasser Saleh later confirmed the cruciate liga- ported and competed in the Qatar ing place on February 21 and 22. Qatar International Rally for a co-driver at the Century Hotel Al-Attiyah won the event for the ment damage. International Rally.” The FIA Women in Motorsport joint press conference at 2pm on in Doha. 10th time in 11 years last January Worley, whose father is Officials at the QMMF are still Commission meeting on February February 20. The Qatar International Rally at the wheel of a Ford Fiesta RRC Australian and who grew up ski- finalising the exact timetable for 19 and a conference with the The QMMF is offering a is one of the most demanding on his way to a ninth regional title ing in France and New Zealand, the event, but the ceremonial MERC’s women’s representative generous assistance package to gravel surface events in the world in 11 seasons. won the women’s World Cup giant start will take place February will precede the rally. international entrants. Teams and always attracts a strong entry THE PENINSULA slalom at St-Moritz on Sunday for her eighth career victory. It was a first win for a French skier this season and came as something of a surprise as she had been struggling for form. It was her first World Cup win QOC celebrates Olympic Day in Doha since the giant slalom at Soldeu in Andorra in February 2012, DOHA: Around 600 students although she did win the world (boys and girls) representing title this year. AFP 30 schools across Qatar partici- pated positively in the Olympic Day organised by the Qatar Schild claims Olympic Committee (QOC) at the Aspire Academy Park on record-equalling Thursday. A number of local sport fed- victory erations made a positive con- tribution during the Olympic Day, by providing students with COURCHEVEL, FRANCE: a new literature about multiple Austria’s Marlies Schild won sport programs, also enhanced the women’s World Cup slalom their awareness about the values event in the French resort of of sport love, cooperation and Courchevel yesterday to equal friendship. the record for the most victories The one-day event brought in the discipline. together some 10 local sport fed- Schild has now recorded 34 erations including gymnastics, World Cup slalom wins, equalling handball, sailing and rowing, the all-time record held by Vreni fencing, taekwondo, judo, volley- Schneider of Switzerland. ball, golf, wrestling, cycling and Schild’s total time of 1min swimming. 45.17sec saw her triumph by a The Olympic Day is an margin of 0.33sec from Frida annual event marked and cel- Hansdotter of Sweden, while her ebrated by all National Olympic younger sister Bernadette Schild Committees across the world. It came third, 1min 22sec off the symbolizing the Olympic spirit pace. that aims to develop values of The 32-year-old, who under- peace and love among nations went knee surgery last year, through the sport. had not won on the circuit since Qatar Olympic Committee February last year at Soldeu in organises this annual event in Andorra. the frame of its significant role This, though, was her third to promote sport activities and success at Courchevel, following entertainment programs among previous wins in 2010 and 2011. Boy and girl stu- domestic community, that in “It is obviously very emotional effort to improve individual men- dents representing for me. I hadn’t won in almost tal and dynamic growth, as well 30 schools from two years and had started ask- as to circulate the Olympic values Qatar participating ing questions of myself, while also among society categories. in the Olympic Day hoping to recover my best form,” Students from different edu- programme organ- she said. cational levels made a positive ised by the Qatar “I have had two difficult years, participation in the Olympic Olympic Committee with back problems and the knee Day’s programs and activities , (QOC) at the Aspire operation last December. But the they unanimously hailed the val- Academy Park. long wait makes the win all the ues and new culture they gained sweeter. about the sport activities. “It gives me great pleasure to Khaleel Al Jabir, Director of the equal Vreni Schneider. I’ll need QOC Sports Affairs Department to be quick to beat her record appreciated the tangible role because I am getting older.” played by the sport federations Meanwhile, American prodigy and Supreme Education Council Mikaela Shiffrin never recovered in teaching students the values from a poor first run and finished of sport. said the objective behind the event for the first time as our also promoted for the 2015 IHF Mohammad Hassouna from 12th. He said that the event is a Olympic Day is to back the local coaches taught the participating World Championships during the the Qatar Volleyball Association It was a bad day, too, for golden chance for the sports fed- federations role in spreading the children the basic skills of cycling. Olympic Day. (QVBA) extended his appre- France’s Tessa Worley, the giant erations to discover the talented sport among the society and Khalid Ezzat from the Qatar Hassan bin Ruqaya, coach ciation to the QOC officials for slalom world champion. students in a bid to support the making it as integral part of Handball Association (QHA) of the Qatari Golf team reaf- holding such festival that ena- She crashed out and was taken national teams. human life. stressed that the QHA is trying firmed that the Olympic Day bled the students learn the rules to hospital in Lyon for tests on Mohammed Issa Al Fadallah, Salah Ibrahim from the Qatar to look for the talented students will help introduce the differ- of the different sports including an injured knee with tests later Head of activities and events unit Cycling Federation (QCF) said to help them join the Qatari clubs ent sports to the students espe- volleyball. confirming a ruptured anterior at QOC Sport Affairs Department that the QCF participated in the and added that the association cially golf. THE PENINSULA cruciate ligament. AFP WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Hiddink Roma, AC Milan in line for return to share the spoils Dutch job: Totti ends his two-month injury absence Media MILAN: ended Massimiliano Allegri said: “We from a corner, Zapata meeting his two-month injury absence played well technically in the Muntari’s header with a bounc- PARIS: Guus Hiddink is in for Roma but had to settle for a second half, we were braver and ing header of his own to beat De pole position to become the share of the spoils in a 2-2 draw took the game more to Roma even Sanctis on the half hour. next Netherlands national team away to Milan, who had Sulley though it left us more exposed to Roma thought they had coach as speculation increases Muntari to thank for a late lev- counter attacks.” restored their lead a minute over an imminent contract. eller at the San Siro on Monday Roma started brightly and later but Michael Bradley’s effort Louis van Gaal is to quit night. opened the scoring before the from a tight angle bounced off the after next year’s World Cup and Roma travelled to struggling quarter hour through Mattia goalline. Hiddink set to sign a contract in Milan looking to close the gap on Destro, only to be pegged back Destro threatened again just January as his replacement once leaders Juventus to three points by a Cristian Zapata leveller on before half time but Milan’s the tournament in Brazil is con- after the champions had the half hour. blushes were saved by a timely cluded, Dutch media reported. opened up a six-point gap with an The visitors restored their tackle from Daniele Bonera. A two-year deal up to and eighth consecutive win on Sunday. lead on 51 minutes when Kevin Abbiati failed to appear for the including the 2016 European But despite bossing Milan in Strootman scored from the pen- second half and was replaced by Championship in France is to be almost every department, Roma alty spot but Milan were handed Gabriel, who after seven minutes offered to the 67-year-old, who had to settle for their fifth draw a lifeline when Muntari made the failed to stop Strootman’s spot will return for a second spell in in six matches to remain second, best of ’s pass to kick after the ‘keeper ran out AS Roma forward Francesco Totti (left) vies for the ball with AC Milan charge of the Dutch side. five points behind. beat Morgan De Sanctis on 77 and fouled on the edge defender Daniele Bonera during the Italian Serie A at the Giuseppe “I am neither confirming nor “I’m happy with the perform- minutes. of the box. Meazza Stadium in Milan, Italy, on Monday night. denying anything,” said Bert van ance but not the result because we Roma’s Ivorian striker Totti replaced Destro in the Oostveen, who is the director in were in front twice,” said Roma Gervinho looked particularly 64th minute and the Roma vet- charge of Dutch national teams at coach Rudi Garcia, who steered lively in the opening period and eran was immediately involved in Balotelli’s fierce free kick after concern about missing the World the country’s football association his side to a Serie A record of 10 forced Christian Abbiati to save the build-up which saw Bradley Montolivo had been upended. Cup,” Schweinsteiger. “It’s annoy- (KNVB). opening wins at the start of the down low at his near post inside head just wide from six metres Both Balotelli and Gervinho ing that I can’t play, but I have “That is something we never do season. 10 minutes. out. had chances to snatch a win at to take care of my body. It’s not when it comes to questions like “When you have so many But it was from Strootman’s Until then, Milan had not the death but after turning his the first time...(that I’ve been this,” he told the Dutch NOS tel- chances on goal, normally you run down the left that Roma looked likely to score an equaliser. marker in the box Balotelli’s tame injured). evision on Tuesday. win. We should have scored a opened their account, Destro slid- But in the 77th minute Muntari left-foot shot went wide of the “Light jogging is now possible, “Everyone must wait for the third. But taking a point at Milan ing in unchallenged to slot the ball made the best of Balotelli’s lay- target and Gervinho’s effort went but no ball work. facts. We will announce a suc- is not so bad.” home on 13 minutes. off to the right on the edge of the just wide after he had sidestepped “It’ll take a while yet, but I am cessor to Van Gaal once he is in Despite Milan’s domestic strug- It was Milan’s 114th anniver- area to beat De Sanctis down low Bonera. working harder in training than place.” gles, they remain Italy’s sole rep- sary on Monday, but there was to the keeper’s left. Meanwhile, Bayern Munich’s when I am fit.” Hiddink, however, has con- resentative in the Champions little to celebrate as the hosts The goal revived Milan and Germany star Bastian The 29-year-old has been out firmed to Dutch media he met League after exits by Juventus struggled for rhythm against after penalty claims were waved Schweinsteiger has said he has since mid-November after a sec- with KNVB at his home in and Napoli last week. a well-oiled Roma side and away, when Mattia De Sciglio’s no fear of missing the 2014 World ond operation on his right ankle, Amsterdam last month. He said a And after batting away ques- Gervinho’s lightning runs. cross into the area was chested Cup in Brazil, despite his on-going having also gone under the knife contract would be discussed once tions about their last 16 oppo- However against the run of play down by Nicolas Burdisso, De ankle problems. in August. he returned from a Christmas nents Atletico Madrid, coach Milan found the breakthrough Sanctis did well to punch out “I have not had a moment’s AGENCIES holiday trip to Africa. He was the Dutch coach from 1995 until their semi-final defeat at the World Cup in France in 1998. Initially, Ronald Koeman United’s Fletcher reveals agony of illness was the clear favourite to take over once Van Gaal announced LONDON: Manchester United a way of managing the condition “I always believed one of “There was a day in May when kept that determination.“I was he intended stepping down. midfielder Darren Fletcher without success. the medications would work. we said ‘this is it’. Once I came doing this operation, not just to But disappointing results with has revealed he did not know And as he prepared for a third Unfortunately that wasn’t the out of that operation I would have a quality of life but also to his club Feyenoord over the whether he would be able to operation he was more concerned case. know whether it had worked or get back playing football.” last year, plus the possibility of live normally again as he bat- with how he would cope with the “Ultimately that was the rea- not,” he said. Fletcher achieved his aim at renewing his contract with the tled with a debilitating medical rest of his life rather than his son I went for the operation.” “There were no guarantees. If Villa Park on Sunday, being intro- Rotterdam club, have knocked condition. struggle to return to action at Although Fletcher’s surgeon the operation was not a success duced as a second-half substitute him out of contention, reports Fletcher fought to recover from Old Trafford. was confident surgery would there was no way I would be able as David Moyes’ team cruised to added. Van Gaal announced in ulcerative colitis, an extreme “I couldn’t leave the house,” he prove successful, the conse- to play football and my everyday victory in the Premier League May he would be leaving the job condition affecting the colon, for said. quences of failure were laid bare. life would have been very difficult. fixture.“I am back to normal. I after just two years in charge, several years before making his “Simple stuff, like taking my For a 29-year-old, supposedly “It was very emotional. There do not have ulcerative colitis. I saying he wanted to return to club latest comeback in United’s 3-0 kids to the park, going for a meal in the prime of a career that had was a lot of fear and anxiety. I put am back playing football in the coaching. The 62-year-old failed win at Aston Villa on Sunday. with my wife. already brought him four Premier all my trust in the surgeon. Premier League,” he said. in his first stint as Dutch coach, The Scotland international had “The nature of the illness League titles, an FA Cup and a “I didn’t want to give it up. I “I don’t want to take it easy. stepping down after the unsuc- already taken two breaks from meant I just couldn’t do it. There couple of League Cups, it was a worked hard to be a professional I’ve done enough of that. I am just cessful qualifiers for the 2002 the game in the hope of finding was the exhaustion side as well. bleak prospect. footballer. I always have. I always like anyone else.” AFP World Cup. AFP GCC Cyling Tour: UAE dominate the sixth stage

DOHA: The UAE riders domi- nate at the sixth stage of GCC Cycling Tour by clinching the top three positions. Yesterday at Losail, the UAE riders Tareq Obaid Murad, Ahmed Al Mansouri and Yousif Mirza came up with excellent performances to make a clean sweep of the podium positions at the second stage, of the multi- locations stage event, two of which were held in Qatar. The trio clocked 2:37.41s at the 108.8km stage around Losail to help UAE remain atop the sum- mit in the overall team classifica- tion, ahead of Bahrain and Qatar. UAE’s Mohamed Al Murawwi retained the leaders’ yellow jer- sey, while Ahmed Al Mansouri retained the green jersey for maximum points. Talal Sudain, also of UAE, retained the white jersey for the best young rider. Qatar rider Moosa finished the nine-lap stage in fourth spot. Al Murawwi expressed delight The podium winners at the sixth stage of GCC Cycling Tour in Doha pose for a picture. Yesterday at Losail, the UAE riders Tareq Obaid Murad, Ahmed Al Mansouri and Yousif Mirza came on retaining the leader’s jersey. up with excellent performances to make a clean sweep of the podium positions at the second stage, of the multi-locations stage event, two of which were held in Qatar. RIGHT: Action “It is fantastic to have yellow from the sixth stage of the GCC Cyling Tour. jersey for our home stages of the tour. We have clinched all the three jerseys here… it’s a superb on all the four honours – Yellow the mountains in Al Ain (UAE). and stayed on the heels of the feeling. We are a good team of rid- Jersey, Green Jersey, White Jersey That will be quite decisive and I UAE riders. Our problem is that GCC Cyling Tour Results ers and our strategies are work- and Team,” added Al Murawwi. hope that will be bring about the we don’t have good sprinters. RESULTS (6TH STAGE) 2. Yousif Mirza (UAE) +0:00.04 ing fine,” said the UAE rider while Team-mate Mirza, who is three changes in the GC,” Mirza said. Moosa is fast but he needs to be 108.8 kilometres: Losail to Losail 3. Majid Hassan Albalooshi (UAE) +0:01.07 speaking to journalists after the seconds behind Al Murawwi in Qatar coach Branko Filip said superfast. We require more young 1. Tareq Obaid Murad (UAE) 2:37:41 4. Sultan Bin M Asiri (Saudi Arabia) +0:02.12 podium ceremony.. the General Classification, com that his wards performed well. riders. We lack a good back-up 2. Ahmed Al Mansouri (UAE) 5. Ali Hassan Jawwad (Bahrain) +0:03.02 “It is a nice feeling that I have said: “It was a flat stage. (It was) “We expected a place on the and hopefully, we’ll try to find 3. Yousif Mirza (UAE) 6. Abdullah Afif (Qatar) +0:3.50 4. Moosa Said (Qatar) the yellow jersey and now it’s my Suitable for the sprinters. We podium which was not possi- out more young riders and groom Green Jersey GC 5. Issa Ayub Ismael (Bahrain) Ahmed al-Mansouri (UAE) and my team-mates’ responsibil- controlled and did the front-run- ble as the UAE riders are too them,” he added. Points’ winner: White Jersey GC ity to finish the tour at the top,” ning, getting the top three places strong. One of our tactics was The teams will leave Qatar on Tareq Obaid Murad (UAE) Talal Albalooshi (UAE) he added. in the stage today. that Ahmed (Elbourdainy) would Thursday, the National Day, for Best youth rider: Team GC “It was a stage which was nei- “We have 10 riders in the UAE. attack in the last kilometre. He the UAE, where the seventh and Mohammad Adil (Saudi Arabia) 1. UAE 39:04:10 ther too difficult, nor too easy All are not at the same level. made a good job. However, the eighth stages will be organised Best team: 2. Bahrain +0:13:10 today. (It was) too windy. Our We’re however working hard and UAE riders did not let it happen. before the GCC Tour concluded UAE 3. Qatar +0:16:30 team work and tactics worked they’re getting better with each “Overall, I’m happy with my in Oman with two stages. Yellow Jersey GC 4. Saudi Arabia +0:27:10 well and we retained our grip race. Now, we’ve one stage over riders. They followed the plan THE PENINSULA 1. Mohamed Al Murawwi (UAE) 13:02.04 5. Oman +2:08:53 WEDNESDAY 18 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31

England We were just sick of losing, captain stands by team after says Aussie captain Clarke Ashes defeat

PERTH, : The batsman hails fast bowler Johnson, coach ‘Boof’ Lehmann England captain Alastair Cook described yesterday’s Ashes loss as the lowest point PERTH: Australia’s trans- Clarke, who keeps to his line in of his career, but rejected formation over the last three news conferences as well as his suggestions his team’s flaccid months came about because the bowlers did in the 150-run victory defence was a sign it was in players simply got fed up with at the WACA which sealed one of terminal decline. losing and decided to put in the the best moments of his 100-Test The tourists went into the hard work to turn their for- career, warmed to his theme. series as firm favourites after tunes around, captain Michael “If you don’t have success, if Australian captain their 3-0 victory in the series Clarke said after they won the you’re not performing as you’d Michael Clarke in England earlier this year. Ashes yesterday. like as an individual player or as (right) hugs coach But even Cook conceded In March, Clarke was captain a team, you get to a place where Darren Lehmann they were completely out- of an Australia team in crisis with you get sick of losing, or sick of after Australia played in the first two Tests as many off-field problems as they not getting runs, or not taking regained the in Brisbane and Adelaide, and had on it and soon to lose their wickets,” he added. Ashes on the again in Perth -- where they coach after a 4-0 series drubbing “You find a way to turn it fifth day of the lost by 150 runs to give the in India. around. And the only way to turn third Ashes Test home side an unbeatable 3-0 In August having conceded it around is through lots of hard lead with two Tests left to play. against England a third straight Ashes series to work. Lots of dedication and lots A feature of the series has at the WACA in the English, he was in charge of of sacrifice and throughout this been the poor performance a team that had played 10 Tests, series. Perth, Australia, of senior English players, lost seven, drawn two and won “Individual players have put the yesterday. including Cook himself, pow- one in 2013. team first on every occasion and erful batsman Kevin Pietersen, Yesterday, though, he was that’s why we sit here as winners wicketkeeper-batsman Matt celebrating winning back the today.” Prior, spinner Graeme Swann earthenware symbol of Anglo- Although reluctant to single and swing bowler Jimmy Australian sporting rivalry with out individuals for credit, Clarke Anderson. emphatic victories in the first was prepared to pay tribute Cook, who suffered his first three Tests of the series. to the work done by a bowling series defeat as skipper, told “I can only put it down to hard unit spearheaded by Mitchell “This game is a really good coach Darren “Boof” Lehmann Lehmann took over, it has been reporters he realised there work,” he told reporters. “The Johnson. example, his pace probably with wider remarks about all the the most exciting time in my would be a detailed autopsy of way the guys have trained and Pilloried by England’s Barmy wasn’t as high as the first two backroom staff. career to be involved in the the team’s failure. prepared, that’s not just bat- Army fans for the last four years Test matches, but he executed Shane Watson, one of four Australian team,” he said. He accepted that key ting in the nets or bowling in the for his sometimes erratic bowl- with his skill and he’s got natural Australians punished with a one- “In everyone’s career, especially England players were down nets. The guys are fitter, they’re ing, Johnson has returned from variation. test ban for not providing post- mine, to know the sort of ups and on their best form in the first stronger. injury with a vengeance in this “That’s the class of Mitchell match analysis on the tour of downs we’ve been through over three Tests, but said it was “Mentally they’re certainly as series and taken 23 wickets at an Johnson.” India, showed no such reticence the last few years ... we’re cer- premature to read anything well prepared for opposition play- average of 15.47 so far. Clarke’s reluctance to single out after bludgeoning a brilliant cen- tainly having a lot of fun out there more long-term into it. ers as possible. Then the work “The other guys have played a individuals means he has largely tury to help set up the WACA vic- and playing the way we know “I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re doing in the nets. It all big part to allow Mitch to bowl deflected any requests for com- tory on Monday. we’re going the best out of our- that,” he said when asked adds up.” the way he’s bowled,” Clarke said. ments about the influence of new “From the first week Darren selves.” REUTERS whether the loss signalled an English team in decline. “What I would say is, unfor- Make changes tunately, when we needed peo- ple to be in form and playing or lose series well, we haven’t done that, and that’s why we lost. 5-0, McGrath “We haven’t done ourselves justice out there in these three games, people haven’t warns England performed like we know they could have done, and it’s frus- PERTH: England must make trating when that happens.” changes for the final two Tests Cook pointed to the or risk a 5-0 Ashes humili- Australians, with veterans ation, former Australia fast like Brad Haddin and Mitchell bowler Glenn McGrath said as Johnson playing some of the his country regained the urn best cricket of their careers, yesterday. as evidence that form can be A 150-run defeat, England’s turned around by experienced third heavy loss in succession, players. would have been even bigger had “You only have to look at it not been for a magnificent cen- the Australian side, there’s a tury by Ben Stokes in only his Australia’s David Warner (right) celebrates following the Ashes win over England. RIGHT: Australian bowlers Ryan Harris (left), Mitchell Johnson (centre) few guys on the back end of second Test match, and McGrath and Peter Siddle are seen after the match. 30 delivering a huge amount of said it was time England tried success for Australia,” he said. something different. “The simple fact of the mat- “England have issues both ter is we haven’t had enough with bat and ball, they are going Facts players in form with either bat to have to make some changes or ball,” he added. because if you keep doing the Cook faces his biggest “You can’t put it any more same thing hoping for a differ- Australia have regained the Ashes for honest than that, and people in ent result that’s the definition the first time since 2006-07. They the dressing room know that. of insanity,” McGrath told BBC had lost the three successive series “It hurts like hell when you radio. against England between 2009 and come into a contest and you 2013. “From day two in Brisbane I challenge, says Hussain end up being second best.” was happy to jump back on the Cook answered “Yes” when bandwagon and say 5-0 and we’re Australia have won seven successive asked if the Ashes defeat was well on the way aren’t we.” LONDON: Leading England England great Ian Botham Tests against England at Perth the lowest moment of his Former England batsman out of their Ashes slump will laid the blame for England’s fail- between February 1991 and career but did not elaborate. Geoffrey Boycott, also working for be the biggest challenge of cap- ure squarely at the feet of their December 2013. But he said the English the BBC’s commentary team, said tain Alastair Cook’s (pictured) batsmen. would not be pushed into mak- coach Andy Flower must decide career, according to former “The batters need to look at ing wholesale changes for the his future quickly, for the good of skipper Nasser Hussain. themselves,” said the former all- Australia have registered 36 sixes last two Tests in and in the first three Tests - the most by the team. After three series successes, rounder. “I’m sure the bowlers Melbourne. them in a Test series, eclipsing the 31 “The first question the English England relinquished their will be reminding the batsmen, “I think for this tour we’ll hit by them against India in the three- cricket board should be asking grip on the urn yesterday when ‘We did our part, boys -- where Test series in 2000-01. do what we always do -- try to themselves and asking Andy pri- Australia recorded a third con- were you?’ pick the side and try to pre- vately is are you staying or going secutive Test victory in Perth to “To lose the Ashes is a mas- pare the side which we think because if you’re going, sooner the establish an unassailable 3-0 lead sive thing when you’ve had it for Johnson’s tally is the second highest is the best side to win the next better, then we move on,” Boycott in the five-match series. three years. Those Australian at Perth next only to Glenn McGrath’s game,” he said. said. With Tests in Melbourne and boys will celebrate long into 52 (average 24.07) in 12 Tests “When the game’s just fin- “If you are staying - and he’s a Sydney still to come, England the night and I hope they have ished and everyone’s really good man - then we got to start are at risk of a humiliating series a great night because they’ve emotive and it’s hurting like 48 sixes have been recorded in the now. You’ve got to start plan- whitewash, and Hussain wants worked hard and they’ve totally it’s hurting, you could make series so far - the third highest in a ning, you’ve got to have the men- Cook to stand up and be counted. outclassed England.” Test series, next only to the 51 in the some very radical decisions tal strength, tenacity and desire “This is now the hardest time Former England batsman five Ashes Tests in 2005 and 49 in the which could be the wrong ones. to build another team to get the of his career,” Hussain told Sky Geoff Boycott was typically out- three-Test series between India and “These have to be very cool, Ashes back.” Sports. spoken in his criticism, declaring Pakistan in 2005-06. calculated decisions at the McGrath said Australia’s stun- “Three-nil down, Australians “He basically inherited that Cook’s men had “cocked it right time.” ning return to form began during want 5-0, his game is struggling, Andrew’s side, a very good side, up big time”. Cook said there was always the away series in England earlier he’s got bowlers all over him like but it’s clear that this side is He added: “Some of our coach- After losing to South Africa by 2-0 in pressure on England players this year which the visitors lost a rash, he’s got an opposition coming to the end of its time. ing staff should have a serious 2012, England have lost their first Test to deliver due to the depth of 3-0 despite competing hard. captain (Michael Clarke) that “How quickly the selectors will look at themselves because we series in five attempts talent in domestic cricket. “The way the last Ashes series is out-captaining him. change, we don’t know. But he are on the down and Australia Proof of this, he said, lay in went in the UK 3-0 was probably “He’s often in the past come can view this now as a fantastic are on the up. We should be Stokes’ magnificent knock is the youngster Ben Stokes, who not a true indication of how close back in these situations. This will opportunity for him. To build a thinking and planning for 2015. highest by any batsman in the fourth was called into the team for the series was,” McGrath said. “At be the toughest for him.” side of his own, to take forward, Is our coach up to it? innings of a Test match at WACA, the second Test and scored the start of that series they were Another former England there’s 12 Test matches before “The top people have to decide Perth, obliterating Alastair Cook’s 116 his maiden Test century in a shambles but they had a change captain, Michael Atherton, has the next Ashes series in 2015.” -- (head coach) Andy Flower, are for England vs Australia in December the third. of coach, Darren Lehmann com- urged Cook to view the situation England’s batsmen have strug- you going to be here next year? 2006. Cook conceded his own ing on board, and felt a bit more as a chance to rebuild the team gled in Australia, with 22-year- Are you staying or going? If form had been below-par, but settled and things started to turn that he inherited from predeces- old newcomer Ben Stokes the you’ve had enough, go now. refused to blame the extra around. sor Andrew Strauss. only player to have scored a “We have to be up for the chal- Before Stokes’ achievement, Andrew pressure of captaincy. Flintoff was the last number six “I’m not surprised what has “Alastair Cook can look at century for the tourists after lenge. We have to have the balls He also backed Andy Flower batsman to register a hundred in an happened in this series, Darren this as a fantastic opportunity,” reaching 120 in England’s second to do something.” to continue as the team’s Ashes Test - 102 at Nottingham in Lehmann has played a big role,” Atherton said. innings in Perth. AFP August 2005 coach. AFP he said. REUTERS Wednesday 18 December 2013 14 Safar 1435 Volume 18 Number 5917 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Gattuso under investigation for alleged match-fixing

ROME: (pic- The Australian team tured), a member of Italy’s celebrates after defeating 2006 World Cup-winning side, England to win the Ashes was placed under investigation while four people were arrested on the final day of the third yesterday in connection with a Ashes Test match against match-fixing scandal, Italian England in Perth, yesterday. police reported. For the third time, a side Gattuso, 35, sacked earlier this has regained the Ashes season as coach of second division series with victories in Palermo, is the first three Tests - all suspected three instances have been of “associ- recorded by Australia. The ating with victory also saw Australia criminals regaining the Ashes for the with intent first time since 2006-07. to commit sporting MORE STORIES ON fraud”. PAGE 31 His agent Andrea D’Amico said: “Rino (Gattuso) is stunned. For the moment we cannot comment, he’s waiting to understand (what’s happening). The lawyers are in touch with the public prosecutor.” The long-running “Calciosc ommesse” saga took a further twist with the arrest of the four, all said to have provided the link between players and a clandestine betting ring. Police declined to say where the arrests had taken place, but the nationwide operation was led by the Cremona prosecutor’s office, which initially uncovered the Australia regain the Ashes scandal in 2011. The four were named as Salvatore Spadaro, Francesco Hosts take unassailable 3-0 lead, win first Ashes series in four attempts Bazzani, Cosimo Rinci and Fabio Quadri, the news agency Ansa reported. PERTH, Australia: Australia They have been ruthless. It hurts,” Gattuso is to be questioned over fought past a determined Cook said. his links to Bazzani. rearguard to seal their third However, the pain may not be “For 30 Serie A matches big win in a row against old over for England as Clarke, now there was contact between ‘Civ’ enemy England and regain seeking a return to the world (Bazzani’s nickname) and players the Ashes in emphatic style number one ranking for Australia, and officials,” said the Cremona yesterday. sets his immediate sights on a 5-0 public prosecutor Roberto Di In front of a delirious crowd at whitewash. Martino in a press conference. Perth’s WACA ground, England’s “I am going to enjoy 3-0 for as Di Martino said one of the main resistance came to an end after long as I can tonight. I am going matches under investigation was lunch on the last day as they to enjoy this feeling, but I can between Chievo and AC Milan on were all out for 353, a deficit of guarantee you there won’t be any February 20, 2011, and a study of 150 runs. complacency,” he said. mobile telephones revealed that The victory, which fol- “We will turn up (for the next Gattuso, then a Milan player, had lowed wins of 381 and 218 runs Test) in Melbourne 100 percent been in contact with Bazzani. in Brisbane and Perth, gave ready to go and be doing every- Spadaro is said to be linked Australia an unbeatable 3-0 thing we have done in the first with the “Bolognese” gang which lead in the five-match series and three Test matches.” was involved with former player their first Ashes triumph in four Set a record 504 to win, Giuseppe Signori, who was attempts. England went to lunch on the arrested in 2011 in the initial It capped a remarkable turna- final day at 332-6 after losing investigation into match-fixing. round for Australia, who were just one wicket in the morning Bazzani has also been linked unfancied going into the series session, that of Matt Prior for 26. with Signori, as well as Almir just months after a 3-0 loss Despite huge cracks on the Gegic, the alleged ringleader of in England. They also suffered parched WACA deck, and need- another match-fixing gang. defeats in 2009 and 2010-2011. ing 172 more runs with only four Gegic, a former Serbian foot- “I don’t really know what to say. wickets in hand, Stokes’ rock- baller who holds Turkish and We’ve got them back, I couldn’t be solid batting in just his second Slovak passports, handed himself happier,” Clarke said of the Ashes, Test was tempting England to in to police last year following a which are contained in a small think the unthinkable. year on the run. ceremonial urn. However, Australia got the vital Rinci, chairman of the Riccione “Credit to the team for how they breakthrough when Stokes tried football club, and Quadri both played: they were outstanding.” to sweep spinner Nathan Lyon have links with Spadaro. English rookie Ben Stokes, 22, (3-70) and got a thin bottom edge Gattuso, renowned as a tough- frayed Australian nerves with which was outstandingly held by tackling midfielder who spent a dogged 120, his maiden Test wicketkeeper Haddin. the best years of his career with century, before he was caught It was the end of a superb Australia players celebrate winning the Ashes Test series against England as James Anderson reacts at the Milan from 1999 to 2012, is not brilliantly by Brad Haddin after knock by Stokes, who showed up WACA Ground in Perth, yesterday. the only former player caught up lunch, triggering a clatter of his more senior team-mates by in the latest investigation. England’s last wickets. staying at the crease for 257 min- His former Milan team-mate Fittingly fast bowler Mitchell utes and facing 195 balls, hitting overnight score of 251-5, but New Cristian Brocchi, 37, is also under Johnson, whose destructive 18 fours and one six, in England’s Zealand-born Stokes defied the Scoreboard investigation. spells have played a large part in first century of the series. Australian attack for the entire “Cristian is calm. Under inves- Australia (I innings) ...... 385 Graeme Swann c Smith b Lyon ...... 4 Australia’s victory, took the deci- Lyon then picked up Graeme morning session, losing only Prior tigation does not mean guilty, nor England (I innings) ...... 251 Stuart Broad (not out) ...... 2 sive scalp when he had tail-ender Swann for four, caught at short along the way. convicted,” said his agent Davide Australia (II innings) ...... 369-6 (decl.) Jimmy Anderson c Bailey b Johnson ...... 2 James Anderson caught at short leg, before Johnson had Tim Stokes was temporarily denied Lippi. England (II innings) Extras (B13, LB13, W6) ...... 32 leg. Bresnan (12) brilliantly caught a century when he drove Johnson “We are ready to defend his Alastair Cook b Harris ...... 0 Total (all out wickets, 103.2 overs) ..... 353 England captain Alastair Cook, by the diving Chris Rogers at straight and the ball deflected off reputation while waiting for pros- Michael Carberry lbw Watson ...... 31 Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-62, 3-76, 4-121, who on Monday was out for the mid-off. the bowler’s hand into umpire ecutors to do their job. Joe Root c Haddin b Johnson ...... 19 5-220, 6-296, 7-336, 8-347, 9-349, 10-353. first golden duck of his career in And the match was over Marais Erasmus, costing him the “I would invite everyone Kevin Pietersen c Harris b Lyon ...... 45 Bowling: Harris 19-2-73-1, Johnson 25.2-6- his landmark 100th Test, admit- when Johnson (4-78) claimed his two runs he needed to reach the not to jump to conclusions, Ian Bell c Haddin b Siddle ...... 60 78-4 (5w), Lyon 22-5-70-3 (1w), Siddle 26-11- ted the heavy series defeat was 23rd wicket of the series, with milestone. right now there’s nothing seri- Ben Stokes c Haddin b Lyon ...... 120 67-1, Watson 11-1-39-1. painful. Anderson popping up an easy But he got a top edge to fine leg ous, just requests for tick- Matt Prior c Haddin b Johnson ...... 26 Result: Australia won by 150 runs, Australia “We have been outskilled in all catch to George Bailey. for a boundary to notch his first ets (to matches) from certain Tim Bresnan c Rogers b Johnson ...... 12 leads series 3-0 aspects, and it is hard to say that. England had resumed on their Test century. AFP people.” AFP