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Thursday 12 December 2013 8 Safar 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5911 Price: QR2

Qatar becomes Afridi stars global leader in in Pakistan helium exports victory

Business | 21 Sport | 32

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 More streets to become business hubs Move to curb spiralling rents

DOHA: The government yes- proposed commercial streets the terday announced plans to con- Ministry announced yesterday. vert 11 more major streets into The first list of nine proposed commercial hubs, most of them commercial hubs was released in Doha and the neighbouring on December 4. Al Rayyan Municipality. Each of these streets would This time, however, roads such likely be reserved for certain as Umm Salal (near Umm Salal), businesses or for a mix of related Umm Qarn and Al Kheraib, (near businesses. Al Shahaniya) have also been The Central Municipal Council included in the plan. (CMC) has for long been demand- Analysts say the move is aimed ing that the government take The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the 34th session of the GCC Supreme Council held in the Liberation Hall at Bayan Palace in Kuwait at making enough supplies of measures to end the severe short- City yesterday. The Minister of Foreign Affairs H E Dr Khalid bin Mohammed Al Attiyah also participated in the summit. shops available in these places in age of shops. a bid to check the spiralling rents. Shop rents have for the past One of the 11 streets (Al Haloul few years been going through the Road in Abu Hamour in Doha), roof due to the shortages. They plans for which were announced have gone up six to seven times yesterday, is to be exclusively and even more in certain areas in GCC states to get regional police centre earmarked for office space for the past 10 to 12 years, according consultancies and other such to trade and industry circles. DOHA: The GCC states have The Gulf states demanded all foreign forces from Syria,” in nations said in their summit’s activities. A laundry operator in Old decided to set up a regional that foreign militias quit Syria a clear reference to Iran-backed closing statement. The Ministry of Municipality Airport area of Doha said that his police coordination centre to and said President Bashar Shia militias from Iraq and In response, Syria strongly con- and Urban Planning announced shop rent was QR2, 000 a month put up a concerted fight against Al Assad must have no future Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement demned the “inflammatory rheto- the conversion of the roads into until about 10 to 12 years ago and terrorism. role, in a declaration his Iran- which are supporting Assad’s ric of the Council’s statement on commercial streets that include now he was paying QR13, 000. The proposed centre, the and Hezbollah-backed regime troops against Sunni-led rebels. Syria, particularly as countries in Al Wajbah Road, Al Qila (Fort) “I fought a court case with my headquarters of which were denounced as meddling. The GCC backed the opposi- the Council... support and prac- Road, Nasser bin Abdullah landlord over the rent issue for a not announced, will coordinate The leaders welcomed what tion National Coalition’s decision tice terrorism”. Al Misnad Street, and Al year and realizing that my busi- with security agencies in the six they described as the new Iranian to attend a Geneva peace confer- But brushing aside differences Kheraib Road. ness was suffering, entered into member-countries. government’s shift to a positive ence, saying the January 22 meet- with Iran on Syria, the GCC The other roads are Al Kinana an out-of-court settlement,” said GCC leaders approved the plan policy toward the six-nation bloc. ing should lead to the formation praised the Islamic republic’s Street, Old Al Rayyan Road, the shop operator. at the Summit that concluded in The GCC leaders postponed a of a transitional government with overtures to Gulf states. Semaisima Street, Umm Qarn “I am now paying a monthly Kuwait yesterday. decision on a proposed union. extensive executive powers and in The monarchies “welcome the Road, Umm Salal Road and rent of QR13, 000,” he said, add- For external security, they also Adopting a firm stance on which Assad would have no role. new orientation by the Iranian Halul Street, the last one located ing that soaring overheads were gave the nod for a unified military Syria, the GCC “strongly con- “Pillars of the Syrian regime leadership towards the Gulf between Mamoura and Abu eating into his profits. Many command. demned the continued genocide whose hands had been stained Cooperation Council and hope Hamur. The Ministry said more small businesses operating from It was also decided to establish that Assad’s regime is committing by the blood of the Syrian people it will be followed by concrete commercial street development shops have vanished due to sky- a Gulf Academy for Strategic and against the Syrian people using must have no role in the tran- measures that would positively plans are to be announced soon. rocketing shop rents, market Security Studies which is to be heavy and chemical weapons”. sitional government or Syria’s impact regional peace,” said the This is the second list of sources say. THE PENINSULA based in the UAE. It called “for the withdrawal of political future,” the oil-rich statement. QNA/AFP

Qatar at top in Split workers’ off days, says CMC GCC panel okays DOHA: The Central Municipal Fraish said it was a matter and commercial areas,” said the Council (CMC) wants compa- of grave concern that such huge CMC. It has also asked authori- adopting new nies not to let all their work- crowds of low-income work- ties to allot areas, as announced unified food law ers take a weekly day off on ers gather in places like Grand earlier, in Doha, Al Khor, Al tech in health Fridays as the civic body says Hamad Road on Fridays and Shamal, Umm Salal and Al DOHA: The GCC Food Safety with the food laws of the mem- it leads to crowding in some threaten law and order and Wakra for workers’ gatherings DOHA: Qatar is at the top Committee, in its meeting ber countries and will serve as a areas of Doha. hygiene. on the weekends. among eight countries intro- which concluded here yesterday common guideline , especially on Companies should instead They litter the place putting The CMC has also said that ducing new technology and approved the proposed unified food safety-related issues. The allow a weekly day off only to pressure on public cleaning serv- one day of the week should be practices into their health- food law for GCC states. committee discussed the first half their workers on Fridays ices, and can spread communi- reserved for workers in public care systems, says a study The 21st meeting of the GCC draft of the proposed unified sys- and let the others have their cable diseases. Besides, policing parks and on that day families released yesterday at the World panel also set up a working com- tem for imposing or lifting a ban sabbatical on some other day of them becomes necessary. should not be let in. Innovation Summit for Health mittee to prepare executive regu- on imported food in the member the week. The CMC has urged the There is an old graveyard area (WISH) 2013 here. lations for the law. The committee countries. The meeting recom- The civic body has presented authorities that specific places be near Grand Hamad Street, said ‘New Global Diffusion of is currently working on a “rapid mended that the final draft of the proposal to the government— earmarked for their gathering on the CMC. That should be devel- Healthcare Innovation’ (GDHI) food alarm system” and common the document be presented in the the Ministry of Municipality and the weekends and these places oped and reserved exclusively weighs factors that promote guidelines to impose or lift bans next meeting. The committee also Urban Planning. should be closer to exchange for the low-income workers for adoption of healthcare innova- on imported food in the mem- reviewed the first draft of a set The debate on the workers’ houses and commercial areas. their weekend gatherings. There tion in Qatar, Australia, Brazil, ber states. The unified food law of guidelines for imported food at issue was opened in the House “Most of the workers throng are more than 80,000 registered Britain, India, South Africa, is expected to be in compliance ports of entry. THE PENINSULA by member Mubarak Fraish at Grand Hamad Street because it companies in the country. Spain, and the US. All countries its regular session last Tuesday. is close to exchange companies THE PENINSULA below Qatar in the rankings are developed or developing econo- mies with Australia, Britain, Spain and the US part of the select club of Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development Fake interpreter beside Obama sparks outrage (OECD). In these nations, experts said, a gap was seen between what JOHANNESBURG: A fake sign lan- experts said meant absolutely nothing. crowd gave a hostile reception to Zuma, was important for the dissemina- guage interpreter took to the stage Besides the bizarre twist to an event a scandal-plagued leader who faces an tion of new ideas and that which during a mass memorial for anti- that also saw Zuma booed and jeered, the election in less than six months. existed. Only in Qatar, a new and apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, man’s presence on the stage within yards “You’re supposed to indicate with your rapidly expanding economy, did the gesticulating gibberish before a global of Obama and Brazil’s Dilma Rousseff facial expressions, even if it’s not an exact reality match the experts’ ratings. audience of millions and outraging raised awkward security questions. sign,” she said. “He didn’t indicate that The independent study com- deaf people across the world. “He was basically gesturing. He didn’t at all. It just passed him by.” missioned by Qatar Foundation DeafSA, South Africa’s leading deaf follow any of the grammatical rules In Britain, the Action on Hearing reveals that the spread of new association, condemned the presence and structure of the language. He just Loss group said as a result of the fake ideas in healthcare requires gov- of the unknown man at the memorial, invented his signs as he went along,” said mimer’s actions, “deaf or hard of hearing ernments and healthcare organi- which was attended by President Jacob Delphin Hlungwane, an official sign lan- people across the world were completely sations to set out a clear vision Zuma and scores of world leaders includ- guage interpreter at DeafSA. excluded from one of the biggest events of what can be achieved establish ing US President Barack Obama. “There was zero percent accuracy. He in recent history.” standards and eliminate old ways While dignitaries were addressing the couldn’t even get the basics right. He The revelations have sparked a man- of working — yet most countries US President Barack Obama delivers a speech next crowd in the 95,000-seat Soccer City couldn’t even say ‘thank you’,” she said. hunt for the mystery mimer, who is are not delivering on these meas- to a sign language interpreter during the memorial stadium, the young, suited man with Hlungwane said the fake interpreter totally unknown to South Africa’s deaf ures. THE PENINSULA service for South African President Nelson Mandela an official security pass round his neck also failed to impart to television view- community. Continued on page 6 at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg. produced a series of hand signals that ers — as he should have done — that the REUTERS

HOME THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Qatar rocks scanned to help in oil recovery

DOHA: A team of This yields information about the do the two-dimensional scan with researchers at the production method of the sherd and the electron microscope. That gives Maersk Oil Research its origin. you the composition of the minerals and Technology Centre “For field development, it’s of the throughout the rock. (MO-RTC) is using the utmost importance to understand “Some rocks won’t allow the latest technology to scan the structure of the interior of the pressurised water or gas used to rock samples from Qatar rocks at Al Shaheen because that extract oil to flush through them at a micro level and cre- will determine the flow of oil,” says and we want to know why; our goal ate images that assist Theis Ivan Solling, Manager of the is to seek the best ways of responsi- in oil recovery, and now laboratory. bly extracting the most oil,” Solling archeology. “We do a CT scan of the rock to explained. The MO-RTC Digital obtain the 3D pore spaces and then THE PENINSULA Core Laboratory is the first of its kind to oper- ate in the Middle East and home to the region’s only electron microscope with associated QEMscan capability, the company said yesterday. Using techniques of computed tomography (CT) and quantitative automated mineralogy, archaeologists can com- pare the mineralogy of pottery sherds with that of locally sourced clays, and understand the origins of the ceramics from sites under excavation within Qatar. The technology has helped researchers dis- cover important informa- tion on the far-reaching trade routes of the Islamic period that extended to regions far beyond the Arabian Gulf. Evidence for this trade comes from pot- tery on several Islamic sites in Qatar, including Al Zubarah town on the northwest coast. In another part of the lab, CT scanning produces three-dimensional images of the structure of a pot- tery sample. Some 13,000 images are used to make a math- ematical reconstruction. This results in a file that records the spatial struc- ture of the specimen. From the results researchers can see how all the pores are interconnected. THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Call for suitable technology, Three projects recognised for better patient care

DOHA: Three innovative “We don’t use the net as it is, more healthcare professionals projects which have supported but develop it to suit the surgi- better patient care were recog- cal need. It has benefited around nised yesterday. 3,000 patients in 15 countries,” H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser attends gala dinner of WISH They were originated or oper- he said. ated from the UK but two are Sleepio is an online pro- implemented in developing coun- gramme clinically proven to help tries, especially in Africa. one overcome poor sleep. It could ‘Operation Hernia’ by make people fall asleep faster, Professor Andrew Kingsworth reduce night time awakenings for using mosquito nets in rural and boost daytime energy. hospitals as surgical mesh for “If you make a person sleep, hernia patients, ‘Sleepio’ a it’s easier to handle their other sleep expert smartphone app by health problems,” Hemes said Peter Hemes and ‘eRanger’ by about his project during the Mike Norman for motorcycles Innovation Showcase Plenary designed to enable access over Panel. the toughest terrain to deliver “Sleepio is evidence-based patients and cargo safely were behavioural solution readily avail- voted by delegates and selected able through simple technology.” as the best projects. The eRanger is a versatile and Around 15 innovations were on robust vehicle design to enable display in state-of-the-art inno- access over the toughest terrain vation ‘pods’ alongside the indi- to deliver its cargo safely and in viduals who turned these novel one piece, ready to go into action ideas into practical solutions. quickly and easily. Professor Kingsworth at Ideal for use by the local pop- Operation Hernia, a charitable ulation and already tried and organisation, first learned about tested in the hardest conditions, using mosquito nets instead of the eRanger has proven to be surgical mesh from an Indian extremely durable and reliable medical journal. and is making a positive impact He is using it in places in various parts of the world where hernia repair costs are such as Haiti and the Caribbean. prohibitive. THE PENINSULA

H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser attending the gala dinner of the World Innovation Summit for Health (WISH) at Al Shaqab Equestrian Centre. With her is Top aviation players join hands HRH Princess Lalla Salma, HRH the Duke of York, Prince Andrew (right), and Boris Johnson, Mayor of London. to celebrate National Day DOHA: The need for Qatar not having nationals as profes- of Global Institute of Health About the next steps of to adopt tailor-made technol- sionals,” she said, explaining how Innovation, Imperial College the summit, Lord Darzi said, DOHA: The five key players children, making of fishing bas- ogy and increase the number Qatar Foundation is working to London and Executive Chair of “Delegates should try to influ- in the aviation sector in Qatar kets, and camel and horse shows. of healthcare professionals was train locals to become healthcare WISH said “Providing consist- ence and make changes in the have joined hands to celebrate On December 18, celebrations stressed at the closing session professionals. ently high quality, cost-effective 67 countries they come form. We Qatar National Day. will continue and will be open of World Innovation Summit for During the two-day WISH healthcare is a global challenge also looked at creating a database Qatar Airways, Doha for the public. Visitors will enjoy Health (WISH) 2013 yesterday. 2013 summit, world leaders and with local solutions. of innovations from which coun- International Airport, Qatar the genuine Qatari hospitality H H Sheikha Moza bit Nasser, policymakers discussed the most “We hope that we have inspired tries can benefit.” Civil Aviation Authority, Qatar through traditional foods and Princess Lalla Salma of Morocco pressing global health problems, delegates to take away some of The Innovation Plenary Panel Aeronautical College and Gulf drinks. The increased success and Princess Ghida Talal of including obesity, mental health, the ideas presented at WISH discussed new developments in Helicopters will celebrate the of the aviation sector has been Jordan also attended the session. accountable care, big data and and devise solutions which are technology, management and success the growing industry has through recent developments. Former health minister Dr healthcare, antimicrobial resist- right for their national healthcare medical practice in the context witnessed as a result of coopera- Qatar Airways has become one Ghalia bint Mohammed Al Thani ance, end-of-life care, patient requirements. of global healthcare demands. tion in the past years. of the most influential airlines on outlined the challenge of introduc- engagement and road injuries “WISH has provided the blue- These included an ambulance Preparations for celebrations a global level, with a increasingly ing patient-centred treatment. and made suggestions to address print for a new era in global redesign from the UK, a water are being finalised. The two-day large fleet of aircraft. “We need to introduce tailor- them. healthcare policy — one in which purifier from Sweden, and a celebrations start on December Doha International Airport made technologies to meet the They also shared experiences gradual improvements and spo- handheld visualisation tool pow- 17 with an official opening, fol- handled over 21 million passen- needs of our healthcare sector,” gained through practice. radic breakthroughs are replaced ered by ultrasound technology lowed by traditional and authen- gers last year and the number is he said. Summing up the conference, by systematic innovation and to see inside a patient during a tic activities such as an Ardha expected to reach 23.2m this year. “But the unique challenge is Professor Lord Darzi, Director co-operation.” physical exam. THE PENINSULA show, falconry, face-painting for THE PENINSULA National Day jewellery Sustainable practices initiative unveiled Parents get DOHA: A new initiative has Facility Management Association MEFMA. The new group has a tips to deal been launched in Qatar to edu- (MEFMA), has been created as a clear agenda and will drive change cate and empower facilities platform for professionals to meet, via practical and innovative ini- management experts in sus- discuss and share best practices. tiatives that are both affordable with bullying tainable practices. The Group was officially and sustainable. The group will The Facilities Management launched yesterday at the also determine whether regula- among kids Interest Group, set up by the Intercontinental Doha with the tory changes are needed for the Qatar Green Building Council signing of a Memorandum of facilities management industry DOHA: A group of par- (QGBC) and the Middle East Understanding by QGBC and in Qatar. ents were given tips on The group will be co- how to deal with bully- chaired by Richard Jowsey, ing among children at Head of Operations at a recent workshop held MMG Qatar, and his col- by the Awsaj Academy, league Gavin Posnett. They a member of the Qatar are tasked with bringing Foundation. together professionals to The workshop was lobby for sustainable solu- conducted by Emad El tions to benefit the future Jewellery in the shape of ‘Qatar’ and the national flag on sale in a shop in a Makahleh, a professional growth of Qatar. hypermarket yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT school counsellor at Awsaj THE PENINSULA Academy Elementary School. Participants learned that bullying occurs when a person uses his or her physical or social power to abuse someone with apparently less power. Some warning signs were identified at the workshop that might indicate that a student is being bullied or is bullying other students. Participants also learned the difference between joking and teas- ing, as well as some of the differences between the ways boys bully oth- ers compared to the way girls bully others. Parents were encour- aged to have conver- sations with their children about bullying and were also given tools to help raise the issue of bullying with school administrators. Topics for future workshops at the Academy include ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), Anger Management, Assistive Technology, and Adolescence. THE PENINSULA

THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

PM meets Mayor of London Qatar pays tribute to Mandela Condolences sent to Kuwaiti Emir DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of condolences to the Emir of Kuwait H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Jaber Al Sabah following the death of Sheikh Nayef Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah. The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani sent a similar cable. QNA Qatar slams Israel practices Deputising for the Emir, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, his Personal Representative The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani took part in memorial services for anti-apartheid icon in Palestine met yesterday the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, and discussed ways of enhancing and former South African president Nelson Mandela at the presidential palace in Pretoria CONAKRY: cooperation. yesterday. He also conveyed condolences to the government and Mandela’s family. Qatar has condemned Israeli settle- ment projects in the occupied Palestinian territories and called on the international com- Expat artists to perform munity to re-emphasise the ille- gality of Israeli practices. Cabinet praises GCC Qatar is rejecting any Israeli attempts to implement unilat- at Al Wakrah Sports Club eral measures to create a new fait accompli on the ground, the Director of the Department on National Day of International Organisations Summit outcome and Conferences at the Foreign DOHA: The Al Wakrah Sports and Nafis Khan and Bangladeshi Ministry, Dr Mutlaq bin Majed Al Club will see spectacular per- artists Bapa Majumdar and Qahtani, told the 40th Session of formances by Pakistani and Fahmida Nabi. ‘Kuwait Declaration will enhance joint march’ the Council of Foreign Ministers Bangladeshi artists on the A Harley-Davidson motor bike of the Organization of Islamic occasion of the National Day on show, a competition focusing on DOHA: The Cabinet welcomed measures to issue the compul- taxpayers and forward its periodi- Cooperation (OIC) in Guinea. December 18. traffic for the public with gifts for the outcome of the 34th session sory military services law after cal reports to the Cabinet. He said what was happening The Pakistan Education winners will also be part of the of the GCC Supreme Council taking note of Advisory Council’s A letter from Supreme Council in the occupied territories and Centre, Bangladesh MHM School, celebrations.. Summit which concluded in recommendations. for Family Affairs with a proposal the suffering of the Palestinian Bhavan’s Indian School and DPS- The Al Wakrah Indoor sta- Kuwait and attended by the It reviewed a draft law amend- to set up a committee to oversee people in Gaza from killing, Modern Indian School will also dium will host a volleyball match Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin ing some provisions of the law No. implementation of a separate destruction and confiscation of join the celebrations. between ten teams starting from Hamad Al Thani yesterday. 2 of 2004 concerning people with building for the Family Court was land, settlement, displacement The events themed “One Love” 8am on the day. The final match Following the weekly Cabinet special needs and the Cabinet’s also discussed. and building the apartheid wall are organised by the Committee will be played at 5pm. session at the Emiri Diwan, the draft decision on the rights of the The Cabinet approved a draft revealed the serious condition of of Associate Programmes for the A friendly football match Deputy Prime Minister and disabled people. agreement and a draft protocol the Palestinian people. “We have National Day in collaboration between Pakistani and Minister of State for Cabinet It also discussed a letter from on avoidance of double taxation to take advantage of all avail- with expatriate schools and com- Bangladeshi community teams Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah the Energy Minister, also head of and prevention of fiscal evasion able means and mechanisms in munity organizations. will be held at the football train- Al Mahmoud said the session also the standing committee for water between Qatar and Morocco; the law of states to protect the The activities will begin with ing ground. There will be 100m stressed that the resolutions and resources, on a report of the pan- a draft air services agreement Palestinian people and in par- the Qatari national anthem at race for kids below 10 years and recommendations in the clos- el’s activities during the second between Qatar and Slovakia; a ticular Jerusalem and Al Aqsa 8am by school students, followed 200m race for students above 10 ing statement and positions and quarter of 2013. draft memorandum of under- Mosque,” he said, adding the by a parade of students from all to 20 years and 800m race for the directions in Kuwait Declaration The report highlighted deci- standing in the field of youth Qatari delegation will present the four participating schools. general public. will contribute to enhancing GCC sions on the impact of infrastruc- and sports between Qatar and objective and practical ideas in In the morning session, Free blood and sugar checking joint march to serve the inter- ture projects on the underground Bulgaria; and a draft MoU on the ministerial meeting. Pakistani community will have will be held in collaboration with ests of the member states, realise water and the estimated value tourism cooperation between He said the situation in Syria cultural performances led by the Supreme Council of Health, aspirations of the GCC people and of a project to stop the use of Qatar and Georgia . had reached unbearable stages Samra, songs led by Capt. Nusrat, Hamad Medical Corporation, consolidate the causes of Arab and underground water for fodder It also approved the acces- as hundreds of innocent peo- solo Tabla led by Ustad Nazakat Qatar Red Crescent and KIMS Islamic nation. production. sion of Qatar Tourism Authority ple were killed every day by the Ali Khan, Pakistani Khattak medical centre. First aid training Chairing the meeting, the A letter from the ad hoc tax for membership of World regime which did not hesitate to dance led by Shiraz Khan, by Qatar Red Crescent will also Prime Minister and Interior appeal committee at the Finance Federation of Conferences And use all kinds of weapons against Pakistani folk dance, a popular be provided in the venue. Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah Ministry concerning its activi- Exhibitions. its people. He called on the UN Urdu/Pashto comedy show and The venue is provided with bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani ties during the first six months This comes within the frame- Security Council, which adopted songs by Punjab Musical Group. pray areas, resting areas for fami- stressed H H the Emir’s direc- of 2013 was also reviewed. work of cooperation with organi- Resolution 2118 on Syrian chemi- The morning events will lies, restaurants and emergency tives to pay attention to citizens, The committee is formed under zations, associations and regional cal programme, to take prompt also include a group dance by medical services for the public. resolve their problems and facili- the chairmanship of a judge of the and international agencies con- and effective measures to protect Bangladeshi school students, More than 110 volunteers from tate measures to provide services Court of Appeal with representa- cerned with tourism to help QTA civilians and bring the perpetra- Bangla folk song led by Rupel different communities will work to them on top priority. tives of the concerned parties as promote tourism. tors of war crimes and crimes Das, fashion show by Bangladesh for the smooth running of the Then the Cabinet took members to resolve grievances of QNA against humanity to justice. QNA school students, folk song led events from 6am to 10pm. by Arif Chowdhury, a drama A work group meeting was on dowry, patriotic song , group held to assess the arrangements dance by Bangladeshi school in the presence of the director students and classical song by of Public Relations Department Burhanuddin Mukul/Abdulla Al of the Ministry of Interior Col. Mamoon. Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah and Eight Qatari youth complete Rota training The afternoon session will start Mana Ibrahim Al Mana, officials with performances by Pashtu from Committee of Associated DOHA: Eighty Qatari youth the accomplishment phase, how to investing in the next generation of towards the community as the orchestra followed by a com- Programs for Qatar National Day. recently completed the Reach face challenges and obstacles that Qatari youth leaders who will be development of Qatar hinges on edy show by Meervaiz in Pashtu Brig. Ali Salman Al Muhannadi, Out To Asia (Rota) Leadership might hinder the project, and how qualified with the skills enabling investments in our future talent,” and Urdu, songs and dances by head of security committee for Training course held in partner- to benefit from the experiences of them to make a difference in our said Engineer Abdulla Hassan Al Bangladeshi artists and a comedy National Day Celebrations 2013, ship with Msheireb Properties. successful entrepreneurs. communities and participate fully Mehshadi, Chief Executive Officer show by Sarwar Jahan. venue manager Maj. Arif Abdul The four-day Leadership Rota Leadership Training is in the nation building process,” of Msheireb Properties. There will be a dance compe- Rahman from the community Training event for 16-to-26 year- a multi-faceted program that said Mohamed Abdulla Saleh, “Young Qataris are important tition between the participating policing section at South Security olds provided new and existing prepares youth for the future by Rota National Programs Director. stakeholders in our community, schools followed by a thematic Dept, venue commander Lt. Ali Rota Youth Service Club (RYSC) enhancing their leadership skills Now they possess the neces- as they will eventually shape show on Qatar where each school Majid Al Qahtani, representatives members with an intensive pro- through a progressive training sary leadership skills to run their the decisions of the future. Our will present a 10-minute skit fea- of Pakistani community Habib gram designed to develop lead- agenda which allows partici- own RYSC activities effectively, partnership with Rota Youth turing Qatar. Sheikh and Janan Bangash, rep- ership skills, teamwork, project pants to put the knowledge into the Leadership Training partici- Leadership Program was a The evening session will see resentatives of Bangladeshi com- management and advocacy skills. practice. “By focusing strongly pants are set to establish their fruitful exercise which will help performances by noted Pakistani munity Anver Hussain Akon and The training tackled topics on the three themes of Service own Clubs through the assist- develop the skills of the young Pashto singers and artists like Zulfiqar Azad, coordinators from such as how to manage successful Learning, Leadership and Global ance of the existing fellows. “Our participants to become proactive Hanif Raja, Haroon Bacha, the participating schools were projects from the planning phase, Citizenship, Rota Youth Service involvement in Rota reflects individuals in society”. Masroor Fateh Ali Khan, Mirawas also present. THE PENINSULA implementation and guidance to Clubs Leadership Training is our key focus on responsibility THE PENINSULA

Winter sale at Lulu Qatar unique in healthcare practices

Continued from page 1 Qatar,” said, Dr Greg Parston, The Lancet journal speaking at a “Qatar is unique in improving chief author of the GDHI dis- plenary session. the next journey of system trans- cussing about the study during “Innovation is critical than formation as seen by healthcare a plenary session at WISH 2013. adopting technology, and there professionals as the most preva- GDHI was based on interviews are wonderful examples for intro- lent dynamic,” said the document and quantitative surveys among ducing innovation in low income released yesterday. nearly 2,500 healthcare provid- countries… If you get good poli- The gap was largest in England ers, policy makers, public health cies, politicians and way of imple- and Spain, where the lack of fund- leaders and technology industry menting innovation can go long ing for research, development and leaders across the eight countries. way,” he added. diffusion of new ideas was seen as United States and India ranks He cited examples of a nation- a major drawback. In Australia, second, while Australia and wide public healthcare insurance Brazil and South Africa, incen- England ranked third in ‘improv- system introduced in China, and tives and rewards for spreading ing the next journey of system the method followed by Ruwanda innovation were seen as inade- transformation.’ to inform the Health Minister on quate. In the US and India there Experts were also critical about every death of a pregnant mother. was a small but consistent gap the research for not including He was joined by Princes Ghida between the experts’ assessment developing or low income coun- Talal, Chairperson, Board of and the reality. tries and assessing how they Trustees, King Hussein Cancer “There is a noticeable gap adopt innovation. Foundation, Ali Thalib Al Hinai, Lulu outlets began winter sale yesterday. Abu Issa from the Municipality, Mohamed Althaf, Director, Lulu Group between the importance and “Low income countries can Undersecretary for Planning, International, and Shaijan M O, Regional Director, Lulu Hypermarket Group - Qatar Region, inaugurated the prevalence in most of the coun- go from innovation than middle Oman and Stephen Dorrell MP sale by cutting a cake in the presence of other officials at Lulu Hypermarket, D-Ring Road, at 10am. tries but the gap between expec- income and high income coun- for Charnwood in the UK. tation and reality is very less in tries,’’ said Richard Horton from THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Qatar’s cruise tourism role highlighted

DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority promote cruise tours for the Gulf of tourist ships as they dock in the opportunity and drive demand in the (QTA) Chairman Issa bin citizens to encourage regional tour- harbours for four to eight hours dur- region. Mohammed Al Mohannadi has ism on board of the cruises. ing which passengers are given the “QTA aims to play a major role in outlined Qatar’s leading role in On transforming the Doha Port chance to visit a large number of developing regional itineraries and developing the cruise tourism to a cruise terminal, the Chairman tourist sites in Doha. facilities in order to make the Gulf industry in the Gulf region. noted it would be possible convert the “We are aware of the importance region an attractive route to the Al Mohannadi was speaking before port into a tourist destination that of cruise industry and are working cruise industry as it gains in promi- 200 regional ministers, tourism lead- contains a residential area, a large towards making significant invest- nence as a cruise location,” he said. ers and leading cruise and industry retail shopping area, a hotel and ments in infrastructure to meet the THE PENINSULA professionals at the Seatrade Middle restaurants. East Cruise Forum in Abu Dhabi. Cruise tour operators welcomed “The presence of a home port for the idea of transforming the cur- cruise lines would enhance not only rent port due to its location at the Qatar but the Gulf’s position as a heart of tourist destinations such tourist destination and promote as the Museum of Islamic Art, Souq economic diversity. As the tourism Waqif, Musheireb, the Corniche, The industry develops in Qatar and across National Museum and its proxim- the Gulf, the cruise market can be a ity to Hamad International Airport, pillar of growth that accelerates our which will facilitate the transpor- efforts and brings more people to dis- tation of tourists from and to the QTA Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi addressing cover the products on offer,” he said. cruises. The surroundings of the port He urged cruise operators to coop- are a key factor in attracting cruises, the forum. erate with local tourism offices to and falls in line with the operation Deal to boost research in Islamic banking

DOHA: Qatar University for this agreement. We are also College of Shariah and Islamic thankful to those in charge of Studies (CSIS) yesterday the college, which plays a promi- signed a cooperation agree- nent role in Islamic economics ment with the Company of in general and Islamic banking Research Studies & Consulting in particular. in Islamic Banking to enhance “We hope this agreement scientific research and train- will be a qualitative addition ing in Islamic banking. to efforts towards scientific, The deal was signed by QU research and practical applica- President, Prof Sheikha Abdulla tion of the partnerships between Al Misnad, and the Chairman of private enterprises and leading Trustees for Research Studies & national educational institu- Consulting in Islamic Banking, tions. This will have positive Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani results on activities associated bin Abdullah Al Thani, in the with Islamic economics theory presence of CSIS Dean Dr Sheikh Dr Khalid bin Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani and Prof Al Misnad at and practice.” Abdul Hakeem Alkhelaifi, CEO the signing ceremony. Dr Alkhelaifi said the college of Qatar International Islamic is considering setting up a new Bank Abdul Basit Ahmed Al and support for the establish- banking firms in Qatar. “This minor in Islamic banking and Shaibei and CSIS faculty. ment of a scientific journal on agreement is just the beginning insurance. “This field is impor- The college will benefit from Islamic financial transactions. of a long-term collaboration tant and needs more research the establishment of a profes- Prof Al Misnad thanked that will benefit our students and investigative efforts. I sorial position in Islamic bank- Sheikh Al Thani and Al Shaibei and society.” believe that such an initiative ing; training of undergraduate for support and efforts to Sheikh Al Thani said: “It is will play a great role in promot- and graduate students; annual enhance relationship between a great opportunity to express ing the college and QU.” seminars on Islamic banking; academic institutions and our thanks and respect for QU THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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US-Cuba handshake Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

013 HAS the potential to end up as a year of milestones in global foreign policy. The most significant political achievement of the year is the The Mandela coverage and 2rapprochement in relations between the US and Iran after the signing of a temporary deal on the Iran nuclear programme, which had bedeviled relations between the two for a long time. That deal is now going in the right direction the banality of goodness despite stiff opposition from Washington’s traditional allies. And now comes the news of this handshake between BY SIMON JENKINS President Barack Obama and his Cuban counterpart Raul beatification was a godsend. For all the cruelties of the armed strug- Castro at Nelson Mandela’s memorial service in South Visiting and writing about South gle, it was astonishingly sparing of blood. Africa. Such a handshake was unthinkable until now, and NOUGH is enough. The pub- Africa in the last years of white rule in This was no Pakistan, no Sri Lanka, no since relations between even sworn enemies shift and licity for the death and funeral the 1980s, I was acutely aware that the Congo. The rise of majority rule in South Eof Nelson Mandela has become great struggle was not so much between Africa was one of the noblest moments oscillate in global diplomacy, there is nothing wrong in absurd. Mandela was an African politi- the white South Africans and Mandela’s in African history. The resulting Nobel reading a little bit more into this handshaking. cal leader with qualities that were apt at ANC, whose leaders were in prison or peace prize was rightly shared between Are the 1950s coming back, asked a commentator in the a crucial juncture in his nation’s affairs. exile, but within Afrikanerdom. This Mandela and De Klerk, a sharing that New York Times, in five words summing the whole import of That was all and that was enough. Yet was no rebellion against a foreign power. has been ignored by almost all the past the handshake. Accidents like this don’t just happen because his reputation has fallen among thieves It was a potential conflict between an week’s obituaries. There were two good and cynics. Hijacked by politicians and impotent majority and a potent minor- men in Cape Town in 1990. world leaders don’t stumble into serious blunders which can celebrities from Barack Obama to ity, in which the likelihood of the lat- The concept of goodness in a politi- cost them their jobs. There is a possibility of reconciliation Naomi Campbell and Sepp Blatter, he ter giving way to the former seemed cal leader has fascinated scholars from between Cuba and the US and there are clear signs that has had to be deified so as to dust oth- minimal – and unnecessary in the short Plato to Nietzsche and beyond. We need both sides recognize this. Granma, the Cuban Communist ers with his glory. In the process he has term. to believe in it, lest we slide into cyni- Party’s newspaper, ran a photo of the handshake and become dehumanised. We hear much The first hero of that struggle was cism, yet must beware of it lest we slide pointed out that it was a historic first. of the banality of evil. Sometimes we the then prime minister, FW de Klerk. into idolatry. Machiavelli would have should note the banality of goodness. The realisation that his group should argued that it was easy for Mandela After the And we need to remember Obama’s Part of this is due to the media’s cede power to a black government was a to be good. He was in prison and his remarks at a Florida fundraiser in crude mechanics. moral conversion as much as realpolitik. courage was essentially personal. His Iran deal, November, where he suggested revising Millions of dollars The Afrikaners capitulated not because moment of true goodness was brief. He the 53-year-old US embargo against have been lavished some mighty power (such as sanctions) understood from his study of British law time is ripe Cuba. For many Cubans, the latest on preparing for had crushed them or because of the the concept of legitimacy in government development is welcome news. Obama’s Mandela’s death. Staff more significant fall of Rhodesia and and the role of compromise. To them he for thaw in To discuss have been deployed, the Portuguese empire. Their priests added an instinct for reconciliation, but positive attitude, and the handshake, Mandela hotels booked, huts and intellectuals told them apartheid in part because he knew that without it US-Cuba spells hope that the two countries alongside rented in Transkei vil- had lost the argument. They had lost he was unlikely to win. relations. will cease hostilities, ease travel lages. Hospitals could the will. It had been, said De Klerk, “a Once that instinct had unlocked the restrictions and start trading, which Mother Teresa, have been built for terrible wrong”. door of a settlement, Mandela acted will benefit both countries immensely. what must have been Even so the task of switching to swiftly to reassure white businessmen Gandhi and spent. All media have black majority rule was Herculean, who could well have vanished overseas. Though it will be premature to expect immediate and Jesus is gone mad. Last week and success by no means inevitable. A He welded the ANC into an electoral tangible results from the handshake as the hostility between I caught a BBC pre- lesser man than De Klerk could well force, and worked to keep dissident the two is very deep-rooted, it can set the foundation for a barking mad. senter, groaning with have battled on for another decade of Zulus on board when Natal seces- thaw in relations. Both sides can now work towards creating I bet he’s tedium, asking a guest mounting bloodshed. But his tribal revo- sion briefly threatened. But as David a conducive atmosphere for talks and interaction. That will laughing his to compare Mandela lution, well chronicled by the historian Beresford’s admirable Guardian obitu- be a more sensible approach because a sudden patch-up with Jesus. The cor- of Afrikanerdom Hermann Giliomee, ary relates, he was a worse than ordi- head off right poration has report- succeeded. It was a rare case of an nary president. He did little to resist the will be both difficult and a bit hard for the conservatives on now. edly received more entrenched minority peacefully hand- drift to cronyism and corruption, was either side to digest. than a thousand com- ing power to a majority. a poor executive, and never deployed However, Washington will have to compete with Russia plaints about exces- Mandela was crucial to De Klerk’s his talents to tame Mugabe or ease the for influence in Havana. A few days before the famous sive coverage. Is it now preparing for a task. He was an African aristocrat, horrors afflicting the rest of Africa. He handshake, Russia made the biggest debt write-off in its resurrection? articulate of his people’s aspirations, preferred to see out his office meeting history. President Vladimir Putin’s government agreed to More serious is the obligation that a reconciler and forgiver of past evils. celebrities and raising dubious money. the cult of the media-event should owe Mandela seemed to embody the cross- Human history may crave myths, reduce Cuba’s debt to $3.2bn from $32bn, payable in equal to history. There is no argument that ing of the racial divide, thus enabling but needs to know them as such. I once installments over the next 10 years. in the 1980s Mandela was “a necessary De Klerk’s near impossible task. White argued with the writer Jan Morris It’s interesting and commendable that global diplomacy icon” not just for South Africans but South Africans would swear he was the against the nonsense attributed by is throwing new surprises. Relations between countries are for the world in general. In what was only black leader who made them feel some Welsh to Owen Glendower. She never set in stone. Every country is driven by its interests, wrongly presented as the last great act safe – with nervous glances at Desmond protested that “truth” in history was of imperial retreat, white men were car- Tutu and others. what people came to believe it to be. and it’s these changing interests which are creating huge icatured as bad and black men good. The South Africa in the early 90s was no All tribes need legends, the better to surprises• arrival of a gentlemanly black leader, postcolonial retreat. It was a bargain cement their identity. Legends are not even a former terrorist, well cast for between one set of tribes and another. made to be true. THE GUARDIAN Letters Quote of Open manhole belonged to Kahramaa the day

PROPOS the front page the boy gets well soon. Out of our necessary action as per the proce- manhole base and replaced the article published on keenness to be transparent with the dure in similar situations. missing cover. December 2 about the media and the public, we would like At 8.11pm on Friday, November We, at Ashghal are always com- Sisi killed people when Aopen manhole accident. to present to you the following facts 29, 2013, Ashghal’s Call Centre mitted to working with all entities they were praying, First, we would like to thank you related to the incident. received a call from the Operations and contributing to the develop- for your continuous efforts towards At 7pm on Monday, November Centre at the Ministry of Interior ment and growth of Qatar. Again, we he killed people when communicating with residents and 25, we received a call from the requesting immediate action and the reiterate our sincere regret for what they were fasting, he entities in Qatar and providing latest Police Operations Centre about the closure of the mentioned manhole. had happened and wish him a quick news and updates on the develop- cover of a manhole missing in front Ashghal responded immediately recovery. We welcome any ideas, dumped their bodies ment of our beloved country. of Qatar University near the main to the request and the Emergency suggestions or enquiries from the using bulldozers as if With reference to the article street. Team, under the supervision of one residents of Qatar, who can always titled ‘Boy in coma as car hits open When Ashghal’s team inspected of Ashghal’s engineers, headed contact us on 44951111. they were garbage. manhole at QU’, we would like to the location, it was clear that the directly to the location. The team Abdulla Saad Al Saad Such a crime has never express our sincere regret for the manhole was of Kahramaa. The arrived at 8.30pm and worked Ashghal Public Relations and happened in Egypt’s unfortunate accident and hope issue was directed to them for there until 11:30pm to repair the Communications Manager Mohammed Badie history. Muslim Brotherhood Chief THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 9 Injustice will not prolong life of regimes

reaches them, and put in camps ABDULAZIZ AL MAHMOUD that look like detention camps where they live without respect and dignity. everal years ago I was like the Kurdistan Workers’ Party, Gaza is besieged, and children invited to a confer- Abu Nidal Organisation or others. and elders are dying silently due ence on “The Media and The strange thing is that there to the shortage in food and medi- STerrorism” in Bonn, is only one Shia organisation cines, while Al Sisi is building the Germany. After I arrived at the on the list, namely Hezbollah. siege wall and the world provides airport and picked up my luggage Hezbollah’s military wing was him with whatever he needs to from the conveyor belt, the cus- added to the list recently. Other fulfil his mission. He talks about toms officer asked me to put it on branches of the movement were the siege of Gaza and gets aid, but the inspection table. He also asked excluded from the list. This means when the besieged people cry for me the regular question: “Why are that 60 percent of the blacklisted medicines, food and cooking gas, you here?” He then asked me to organisations are Sunni. Why did no one pays attention to them. open the luggage for inspection. not the people who created this Are not our matters strange? I showed him the invitation I list ask themselves the reasons The Rohingya people are getting had received to attend the confer- for this? burnt in Burma, their children ence. He read it and then asked A feeling of injustice is simmer- are getting killed brutally, their me to close my luggage and leave. ing in the Arab world. A sense of houses are being destroyed and The strange thing was that I was humiliation and disrespect per- they are being expelled from the only passenger asked to go to meates every aspect of the life of their homes. Meanwhile, the the inspection table. Everyone else the people of the region. They face West is talking about democracy was either European or Asian. So humiliation at airports and border in Burma and providing aid to they were spared this procedure. checkpoints everywhere. the government. Passengers were divided into Muslims make up the bulk of all Only Turkish leaders have two groups based on their skin col- refugees. They are abused every- raised this issue in international our as terrorists and non-terror- where. They go through life with- forums and made a visit to reduce ists. But how can one prove that out experiencing any compassion, the pain of the victims. one is not a terrorist if one does and then the West asks, “Why do I wonder if we will get out of not have documents like those I they hate us?” this dark circle one day, and live had during that trip? The hatred is increasing day by freely so that no one can play I have typed “lists of terrorist day. Muslims are being targeted tricks on us? When will the world groups” in the search bar of Google. everywhere. Their dreams are stop humiliating us and describe The search engine brought up the being shattered. Some intelligence us as terrorists if we cry out for website of the US Department of services funded by some Arab corrupt system. In addition to this, chemical weapons, children got Despite this, youth who go to air and freedom? When will the Defence, which contains a list of leaders are hatching conspiracies flashing the four-fingered Rabaa beheaded by knifes and women Syria to help the innocent people world start dealing with us as it 53 terrorist organisations. I had against them. Al Adawiya sign has become a were raped and thrown on roads are being called “terrorists” and deals with others, among whom not heard about some of the listed The military coup of Egyptian crime in Egypt and some Arab and dumping grounds, and the imprisoned and tortured. we are not included? organisations before. general Abdel Fatah Al Sisi is countries that support the coup. international community did not The world has besieged these The list posted by the US State The list was drawn up last year. being called reforms. Jailing those This is an internal affair of Egypt. say a word. oppressed people; they have no Department on its website will be I am not sure whether the US demanding democracy is called In Syria, the situation is tragic. Instead, the killer got rewarded weapons or food. Children die of expanded, and some organisations Department of Defence updates democracy. The constitution Events there prove that our blood for handing over his chemical arse- hunger if they escape bullets, and may be removed, but others might it every year. The list includes 32 approved by the Egyptian people is cheaper than dust blown by the nal for destruction. Iran deploys if they are lucky and manage to be included, as planting thorns will Sunni organisations, accounting has been replaced with another wind, and that our dignity and its soldiers and sends its weapons cross the borders into Arab coun- not produce flowers. Humiliating for more than 60 percent of the one written by some dancers, sing- honour have no value for the rest to Syria in order to kill innocent tries, they are sold in slave mar- people will not lead to a good life, organisations listed. I did not count ers and actors. And implement- of the world. people who had done nothing kets, the “refugee camps”, to be and injustice will not extend the leftist or nationalist organisations ing it by force is called reform of a Cities were attacked with wrong except demanding freedom. counted to attract aid that never life of regimes.

KHALED AL JABER Iran-West deal and the markets The dispossessed nternational markets have common enemy for the countries cheered the agreement reached ABDULLAH ABDEL AZIZ AL KHATER of the region, with the hope that Irecently between Iran and they unite and form one front, US-led powers. Markets reacted or at least establish strong links Arab elite positively to the deal, and oil prices This means the interests of the and coordination between them, fell simply because the embargo on allies were not the motivation which have failed to form in the ustave Edmund von Grunebaum defined culture as Iranian oil exports was expected behind this deal as Iranian nuclear past because of Israeli aggressions. an effort to find a coherent set of answers to the to be lifted. International markets activities do not pose a threat to Tel Aviv does not listen to the Gexistential situations that confront humans. In other welcomed the deal to get access America as much as they do to the Americans and is continuing to words, recurrent confrontation with basic and radical issues, to the Iranian market when the countries of the region. build its settlements, which is which could be answered by a set of codes which together economy improves and a new It is in the best interests of impeding the peace process. At make up a cohesive and viable whole. phase of development starts, The nuclear deal flagging Western economies the time the Arab countries do The Moroccan thinker Mohamed Abid Al Jabiry defines an when companies will benefit from is expected to that are badly in need of liquid- not want to allow a transition to intellectual as a social critic whose major concern is to define Iranian projects. ity that can revive them before democracy, or to respect human and analyze to be able to overcome obstacles that stand in America and Western compa- pave the way they breathe their last. This can rights, regardless of whether the the way of bringing about a better social system, which is nies badly need these projects. The for Western be better understood when we time is ripe for all this. supposed to be a more deal is expected to pave the way look at Western economies in the The deal puts the countries of humane and rational for Western companies to return companies to context of the damage caused by the region face to face with their social system. There is to the Iranian market. There is return to Iran. sanctions to both sides for decades. responsibilities. Concepts like Gulf Is the cultural dis- no other justification to under- This means the deal is necessary unity and Arab unity cannot be course in the Arab mine the allies of the West in the for their survival. more suitable for the Arabs, who world dispossessed? confusion in the region, including Israel and the This agreement may lead need to create common institu- Is it shabby? That Arab countries. suffered neglect for years because to scrapping of the US missile tions to pave the way to unity. says everything about cultural scene as Israel does not have projects of priority being given to milita- defence shield, which threatens The Arab countries need a uni- nothing, or says noth- that can benefit Western econo- rization, offers the hope of rescue Russia, as the US has used the fied economy, a unified currency, ing about everything. mies and make them grow. While to Western economies at present. Iran nuclear programme to justify a unified central bank, unified This discourse talks the intellectual’s Western companies are already Since the Iranian economy has building this shield. The West will foreign policy and a unified army, about everything operating in Arab countries, they suffered from economic sanctions save billions of dollars by cancel- which, in the end, would mean the except the things that role has been are looking for other markets that for years, the deal is expected to ling this programme, and it may creation of a united Arab state in should be talked about. can rescue Western economies? provide the necessary solutions to help America improve its rela- the Arabian Peninsula, which will There is confusion in eliminated, The Iranian market is huge both sides. tions with Russia, and give it a free force the world to respect them. the cultural scene as and need years to recover, and This is the crux of the deal, hand to counter China, which Is The idea of each country work- the intellectual’s role American and Western companies not Iran’s nuclear programme, considered an emerging threat to ing on its own has become out- has been eliminated, and has been may get the lion’s share of it. which used to be at the centre of America’s interests. dated. No Arab regime can survive and has been taken Unemployment has reached an American and Western fuss for The US might have realised long after the Arab Spring and the over by politicians. taken over by unprecedented level of 27 per- years. America is concerned about that a collapse of the Iranian Iranian-Western nuclear deal. The politician has cent of the workforce in Western the nuclear programme only as far regime would be catastrophic for Now it is time for work. We will become an intellec- countries, which is similar to the as its allies in the region — Israel the region at present. Therefore, see the Arab regimes that used to tual and slaughtered politicians. The situation in countries cut off from and the Arabs — are concerned. the $8bn that was spent quickly depend on Western countries to culture and corrupted development in Africa and others These allies are not satisfied with relieved the Iranian regime and protect their interests coming politics. politician has facing civil wars. the agreement and they have made its strong again. America back to the Arab homeland, to The uprisings that A widening budget deficit opposed it. America’s allies were will use Iran to force its allies their citizens and to each other. have rocked the Arab makes the chances of revival of kept totally in the dark about in the region -- Israel and the They will realise that their inter- world have brought to become an Western economies slim, and the agreement, except for what Arab countries -- to listen to ests and the interests of their peo- the fore the issue of the Iranian economy, which has America wanted them to know. it. The deal may leave only one, ple are identical. the intellectual’s role intellectual and in political, social and cultural change which imposes itself on the slaughtered region and its peoples. The general outcome culture and shows the weakness of The disjointed Gulf Cooperation Council the role played by Arab intellectuals and their corrupted politics. he Saudi foreign minister revolution. It is better to consoli- very modest effect, urged the GCC member DR ABDULLAH AL EMADI date the council now to fulfil the compared to the youth and other social segments — youth Tstates to be “one hand same goal. The situation on the who use digital media, are not politicised, are free of ideo- against the risks in the region”. ground might be different, but it logical inclinations, have limited cultural knowledge, and are The Omani foreign minister Cooperation Council. It also shows – the Omani foreign minister – is still about the same thing. considered a marginal and hopeless generation. replied, saying: “We are against that the council can do nothing to declare that his country is not Iran is at centrestage once The question is: how can Arab intellectuals overcome the union, and we will not prevent but react to events, particularly interested in the union and Oman again. The difference, though, is this historical dilemma confronting them amid the trans- it, but if it happens, we will not be when we take into consideration will not contribute to creating it, that Western countries care only formations under way in the post-Arab revolutions era? part of it.” its history and how it was estab- preventing it, or be a part of it. about their interests. They have The other questions are: what is our definition of an intel- This one incident shows the lished in reaction to the Islamic This announcement reveals the joined hands with Iran against lectual? What are the influential roles he/she has to play, status of the GCC after three revolution in Iran and the fear of divisions in the council, although the countries of the Gulf. So what is it Heideggerian or Nietzschean? Is he required to play a decades of its establishment, as Ayatollah Khomeini’s revolution it appears unified. What is the have the GCC leaders decided in role in re-dismantling and re-constructing, according to the it finished preparations for the being exported to them and other point of the GCC if it cannot their summit at a time when the French philosopher Jacques Derrida, or to ask questions annual summit, which ended in Arab countries. achieve greater unity or formulate danger has increased? that are not thought about or impossible to think about in Kuwait on Tuesday. The GCC has remained the common foreign and economic the Arab world? The aforementioned encounter same for three decades despite policies? The views expressed in the articles on this indicates a schism and a clear its attempts to change. Now it is The GCC was established in page do not reflect the viewpoint of the contrast in visions and opinions high time for the foreign minis- 1981 to prevent the export of newspaper. among the members of the Gulf ter of one of its member countries the principles of the Iranian THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST

Saudi militant Chaos at Egypt trial jailed for 16 years over murder plot

RIYADH: A Saudi court has jailed an Al Qaeda-linked mili- as judges walk out tant for 16 years for plotting to kill the kingdom’s grand mufti, Sheikh Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah Al Sheikh, and other clerics, Brotherhood chief accuses Al Sisi of murdering people media said yesterday. The sentence, which includes CAIRO: The trial of Egypt’s face the death penalty. by Mursi when he became presi- 40 lashes and a 16-year travel ban, Muslim Brotherhood chief and Three other accused Islamists dent. Barely audible above the din, was handed down on Tuesday by a his deputies on charges related also face murder charges while the judge then adjourned the trial. court in Riyadh specialising in ter- to protest deaths came to an 29 are charged with participat- “I asked the accused to remain rorism cases, the local Okaz daily abrupt end yesterday when the ing in acts of violence. Millions calm but they did not do so. reported.According to Okaz, the judges quit in protest at chaos of protesters on June 30 called Therefore we are recusing our- jihadist was convicted of “recruit- in the dock. for the ouster of Mursi, accusing selves,” Salama said before he and ing several people to assassinate The previous session on October him of working for the sole ben- his two fellow judges walked out. the kingdom’s grand mufti, several 29 of the trial of Mohamed Badie efit of the Brotherhood, ruining In a brief but fiery address from clerics, important personalities and and 34 co-defendants had also an already dilapidated economy the dock, Badie, dressed in white security officials”. been halted when the three pre- and monopolising power following prison uniform like his fellow- The official SPA said the siding judges withdrew, citing the 2011 overthrow of long-time accused, railed against the new defendant was convicted of “reasons of conscience”. ruler Hosni Mubarak. authorities, accusing them of car- “receiving books inciting adoption Yesterday, a new panel of three Mursi, Egypt’s first demo- rying out a “coup d’etat” by depos- of the deviant ideology and assas- judges appointed to hear the cratically elected president, was ing Mursi. sinating security officials and case recused themselves after deposed by the army on July 3 “The Egyptian people tasted important personalities” in the the accused Brotherhood mem- after just one year in office. freedom after the revolution kingdom, without specifying that bers yelled slogans from the dock During yesterday’s session, (which toppled longtime leader the grand mufti was targeted. against the military-installed presiding judge Mostafa Salama Hosni Mubarak in 2011) and since authorities. initially suspended proceedings the election of Mohamed Mursi,” Despite being ordered to keep as Badie and his co-defendants he yelled, in his first public com- Bahrain jails 12 quiet by the chief judge, the hurled verbal abuse at the govern- ments since his arrest. “They will Brotherhood members contin- ment installed by the military in not give up this freedom.” Shias for torching ued to rail loudly against the gov- the wake of Mursi’s ouster. “Sisi killed people when they ernment, which has relentlessly But at the resumption, mayhem were praying, he killed peo- Muslim Brotherhood leader Mohammed Badie shouts solgans and gestures car warehouse repressed their movement since again erupted in the dock, with ple when they were fasting, he the Rabaa sign from the defendant’s cage during his trial with other leaders the ouster of Islamist president the accused jeering and yelling dumped their bodies using bull- of the Brotherhood in a courtroom in Cairo yesterday. DUBAI: A Bahraini court yes- Mohamed Mursi in July. insults at the judges as well as dozers as if they were garbage. terday sentenced 12 Shias to Badie and his two deputies, against the government and mili- Such a crime has never happened During yesterday’s court ses- regime of secret police is back!” 15-year jail terms for attacking Khairat Al Shater and Rashad Al tary chief Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, in Egypt’s history.” sion, Brotherhood supporters Thousands of Islamists have a car warehouse during unrest Bayoumi, face charges of inciting the new strongman of Egyptian He was referring to a crack- continuously flashed the four- been arrested in the crackdown, in the Sunni-ruled kingdom, the murders of nine protesters politics. “Sisi traitor, Sisi traitor,” down by police on August 14 when finger sign that has become which has deeply polarised Egypt. a judicial source said. The 12 who stormed the Brotherhood’s they screamed as the judge tried they stormed two protest camps associated with the crackdown, Badie meanwhile is also on trial men were found guilty of set- Cairo headquarters on June 30. in vain to restore order. Sisi had set up by Mursi’s supporters in while chanting, “Down with the in a separate case, which began on ting fire to the warehouse in a If found guilty, they could been appointed defence minister Cairo, leaving hundreds dead. military regime!” and “Mubarak’s Monday. AFP mostly Shia area near the capi- tal Manama in February 2012. The court also accused the men of taking part in an unauthorised demonstration and possessing Molotov cocktails, and handed the Iran commander asks FM to stay out of military affairs group a fine totalling BD383,000 ($1m, ¤700,000) for the 59 cars damaged in the warehouse. DUBAI: The commander of as saying on Tuesday, without in the face of that,” he said. sanctions that have squeezed its much influence as possible over Lawyers for the defendants Iran’s elite revolutionary guards naming Zarif. In September, both president economy. Khamenei. Clearly the relation- rejected the charges, saying their force, Mohammad Jafari, has The commander-in-chief of the Hassan Rouhani and supreme The interim accord has been ship between Rowhani and the clients had made their confes- suggested the nation’s foreign Islamic Revolutionary Guard leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei widely welcomed by Iranians but Guards is not good. There will sions “under torture,” the judi- minister stay out of military Corps (IRGC), Jafari was answer- said there was no need for the hardliners are irked by the for- be a lot of adjustments and turf cial source added. Security forces affairs in a growing debate over ing a question about whether US force to be active in politics. eign policy shift and apprehen- war.” crushed a Shia-led uprising comments by the minister that forces could destroy Iran’s mili- Major General Mohammad sive that they are losing influence Meanwhile, Iran’s new envoy to demanding democratic reforms indicated Iran was weak. tary capability with a few bombs. Jafari’s comments are some of the over Iran’s most powerful man, Britain is to make his first visit to in Sunni-ruled but Shia-majority Last week Mohammad Javad “It’s not like that at all. He sharpest to be made by a senior Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali London this week, British Foreign Bahrain in March 2011. But spo- Zarif was quoted by local media has no military experience or official in public since the moder- Khamenei. Secretary William Hague said radic protests have broken out as saying the West had little fear expertise,” Jafari said during a ate Rowhani took office in August Siavush Ranjbar-Daemi, a yesterday, as ties thaw between across the island since then and of Iran’s military defences and visit to Tehran’s Imam Sadiq pledging to improve Iran’s rela- lecturer in Iranian politics at the two countries. authorities have banned demon- could destroy them if it wished, University. tions with regional countries and Manchester University in Britain A Foreign Office spokeswoman strations in Manama. although Zarif has said his state- Jafari also appeared to dismiss the West. said: “From the moment this said that Hassan Habibollah- ment was skewed and taken out recent calls for the IRGC to stay The government’s diplomatic presidency started Rowhani has Zadeh would arrive today and of context. out of politics, saying its duty was initiative led to an agreement been trying to redefine the IRGC “he will meet UK officials at the Egypt frees Gaddafi “We consider him an experi- to protect the Islamic revolution. with six world powers last month presence in politics. He sees them Foreign Office tomorrow, includ- enced diplomat, but he has no “The main threat to the revolu- under which Iran is to curb its as an obstacles to the nuclear ing the UK non-resident charge cousin cleared of experience in the military field,” tion is in the political arena ... and disputed nuclear programme in agreement”. d’affaires Ajay Sharma”. Fars news agency reported Jafari the Guards cannot remain silent return for limited relief from “He’s trying to acquire as AGENCIES attempted murder

CAIRO: A cousin and former aide of slain Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been released two days after his Iran and UN nuclear watchdog acquittal in a trial for attempted murder, a security official said yesterday. Ahmed Qaddaf Al to discuss new practical steps Dam, whose extradition Tripoli is demanding, was “freed overnight by police in Cairo following the VIENNA: The UN atomic Varjoranta told reporters. On information on all new research court decision to acquit him” on watchdog and Iran said yester- November 11 Iran and the IAEA reactors, on 16 sites designated Monday, the official said. day that they aimed to agree agreed a framework deal that for nuclear power plants, on Judicial sources had said Al next month additional “prac- included six practical steps that additional uranium enrichment Dam was detained in Cairo in tical steps” to increase trans- Tehran would take within three facilities and on laser enrichment March following a gunfight with parency over Tehran’s nuclear months — by February 11. technology. Reza Najafi, Iran’s Egyptian policemen in his apart- programme. The first, a trip to a plant pro- envoy to the IAEA, said meeting ment and was held despite the International Atomic Energy ducing so-called heavy water for was “very good” and that it touched extradition demand. The Cairo Agency chief inspector Tero a reactor under construction at on new “practical measures” to court also acquitted him of pos- Varjoranta said after talks in Arak, took place on December 8 be taken in the “next phase after sessing unlicensed weapons and Vienna that the January 21 meet- when all of the IAEA’s “technical February 11”. The November 11 resisting arrest, sources said. ing would also cover long-stand- objectives” were met, Varjoranta agreement did not specifically Al Dam had denied the charges ing allegations of nuclear bomb said. The second, a visit to the mention the IAEA’s stalled two- against him. Al Dam and his research by Tehran. “We aim to Gachin uranium mine in southern year effort to get answers from bodyguards allegedly fired a hail reach agreement on what those Iran, has yet to be arranged but Iran over the allegations that prior of bullets at masked policemen practical measures are in our next would take place before February to 2003, and possibly since, Iran’s who stormed his apartment in technical meeting, which is sched- 11, Varjoranta said. nuclear programme had “military an upscale Cairo neighbourhood, Iranian President Hassan Rowhani greets Russian Foreign Minister Sergei uled for January 21 in Tehran,” Others include providing dimensions”. AFP witnesses had said. AGENCIES Lavrov in Tehran yesterday. Decade after arrest, Saddam legacy looms over Iraq BAGHDAD: A decade after blamed on some combination of and the participation of Sunnis in immeasurably as a result of the Saddam Hussein’s arrest, the Saddam supporters and Sunni his regime aside.” wars he waged against Iran and now-executed Iraqi dictator’s militants. At the same time, pub- “We need to get more power- Kuwait, the latter of which led to legacy of conflicts, sanctions lic services that fell into disrepair sharing, and really send signals punishing sanctions that crippled and repression still exact a during the years of conflict have that the conflict, and some of the Iraq’s economy. heavy toll on the country. yet to be fully upgraded, unem- tensions that existed between At the time, US and Iraqi offi- And as oil-rich Iraq grows ployment remains high, corrup- Sunnis and Shias during the cials hailed his capture as a turn- increasingly important to the glo- tion and nepotism are rampant Saddam era, is over, that there is ing point in the war, and voiced bal economy and regional diplo- and analysts say members of a new path forward.” optimism that by nabbing him, macy, his legacy of a slow-moving, Saddam’s Sunni Arab minority “That is a very long-term they had dealt a critical blow hierarchical bureaucracy and cor- have yet to fully reconcile to los- issue.” Saddam was arrested on to the insurgency. But in fact, rupt decision-making processes ing power to Iraq’s Shia majority. December 13, 2003 outside the violence only worsened as time have hamstrung a country look- “What is the new social con- town of Dawr, where US soldiers went on, peaking in 2006 and A man holds watches bearing the portrait of late Iraqi dictator Saddam ing to rebuild. Former members tract going to be?” asked Ayham found him hiding in a specially- 2007, when tens of thousands Hussein, at a market in Baghdad. of Saddam’s now-banned Baath Kamel, a London-based Middle constructed hole in the ground. were killed in nationwide sectar- Party are still regularly barred East analyst at the Eurasia Group Hundreds of thousands, most ian bloodletting, and only falling among Sunni Arabs, who com- demonstrations for almost a year. from public office, politicians consultancy. “A lot of Sunnis of them Shias and Kurds, died off somewhat from 2008 onwards. plain of mistreatment at the And some violent groups tar opponents as “Baathists”, believe that there needs to be a at the hands of his govern- Unrest has surged again this year, hands of the Shiite-led authorities actually include supporters of and surging violence is typically shift ... putting the Saddam legacy ment. Countless others suffered fuelled by widespread discontent and have held anti-government Saddam’s regime. AFP THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 US, UK halt non-lethal aid to Syrian rebels Islamist figthers seize western-backed weapons warehouses: Report

ISTANBUL: The United Islamic Front’s battlefield success The British wanted the situa- States and Britain suspended in capturing the weapons stores tion clarified after the clashes. non-lethal aid to northern Syria could undermine SMC assurances “We have no plans to deliver any after Islamist fighters seized to the United States that no sup- equipment while the situation Western-backed rebel weapons plies sent to their fighters would remains so unclear. We will keep warehouses, highlighting fears fall into the hands of Islamist this under close review,” a spokes- that supplies could end up in brigades. man from the British embassy in the wrong hands and the gen- The US embassy spokesman Ankara said. eral chaos engulfing the nation. in Ankara said the situation was Turkey shut its side of the bor- The rebel Free Syrian Army being investigated “to inventory der crossing in Hatay province, (FSA) fighting President Bashar the status of US equipment and customs sources said, citing a Al Assad said the US and British supplies provided to the SMC”. reported increase in clashes on moves were rushed and mis- “As a result of this situation the the Syrian side. There was no taken. “We hope our friends will United States has suspended all immediate confirmation from rethink and wait for a few days further deliveries of non-lethal Turkish officials. when things will be clearer,” FSA assistance into northern Syria,” Yesterday’s announcement does spokesman Louay Meqdad said. the spokesman said. Five rebel not affect humanitarian sup- The suspension underlines fighters were killed in the clashes port because this is distributed a crisis for the FSA leadership at Bab Al Hawa but it was not through aid groups and the United which needs international back- clear which side they were on. Nations. The first UN relief airlift ing to reinforce its credibility and to Syria from neighbouring Iraq to stop its fighters joining pow- REBELS PLAY DOWN will deliver food and winter sup- erful Al Qaeda-backed Islamist INFIGHTING plies to the mostly Kurdish north- militants who now dominate the American aid, including trucks, east over the next 10 days. war with Assad. ambulances and “meals ready to The 2-3/4 year conflict has The United States and Britain eat food”, reaches Syria overland killed more than 100,000 people, have in the past offered radios, through Turkey. US officials said driven more than two million Syrian refugees play with snow during a winter storm in Zahle town, in the Bekaa Valley of Lebanon, yesterday. body armour, medical supplies, in the summer that they had abroad as refugees and left many The worst of winter is yet to come for 2.2 million refugees living outside Syria and millions more displaced inside money and food to rebels fighting developed a system of distribution millions more dependent on aid. the country. Assad, but a US embassy spokes- using SMC operatives that would Playing down the fighting man in Turkey declined to give ensure the aid reached US-allied between the Islamic Front and details of what supplies may have groups. The United States has the FSA brigades as a “misun- been halted. been concerned the non-lethal aid derstanding”, the FSA’s Meqdad Regime slams GCC interference Fighters from the Islamic should not reach Islamists. said SMC leader General Salim Front, which groups six major A senior US administration Idriss was talking to the front’s DAMASCUS: Syria’s govern- the Council... support and prac- suffering of the Syrian people rebel brigades and which said official said that the suspension leaders to try to resolve the ment yesterday slammed the tice terrorism,” the statement is nothing more than crocodile last week it had quit the FSA, should not be misinterpreted. confrontation. Gulf Cooperation Council for said. tears.” seized headquarters of the Syrian “This is absolutely not the Asked whether any FSA interfering in the country’s con- Gulf states, including Qatar and The GCC, after two days of talks Military Council, nominally in beginning of the US washing its stock was missing Meqdad said: flict and condemned the bloc for Saudi Arabia, actively support the in Kuwait, called for the with- charge of the FSA, and weapons hands. We will remain engaged in “Everything will be clear in the what it called “inflammatory uprising against Assad’s govern- drawal of all foreign forces from warehouses at the Bab Al Hawa the humanitarian effort, we will next hours and we believe the rhetoric”. ment and have been fiercely crit- Syria and accused Assad’s govern- crossing on Syria’s northwestern remain engaged in the diplomatic Syrians are good people and we The foreign ministry statement icised by the Syrian regime for ment of committing “genocide”. border with Turkey. effort,” the official said, adding: don’t believe there was a problem. came after the GCC called for the backing “terrorists”. The appeal for a withdrawal The Syrian Observatory for “This doesn’t represent a change They are our brothers.” withdrawal of foreign forces tak- “Those who participated today was a clear reference to Shia Human Rights, a British-based in policy in our support for the Infighting among Syrian rebels ing part in the conflict, and said in the summit in Kuwait, first fighters from Lebanon’s Hezbollah anti-Assad monitoring group, said moderate opposition.” has weakened their efforts to President Bashar Al Assad should among them the Saudi regime, movement and Iraqi militias that the Islamic Front had seized doz- He said the administration bring down Assad in a conflict have no role in Syria’s future. have contributed in large part are fighting alongside the Syrian ens of ‘Shilka’ anti-aircraft weap- was looking for other ways to which began with peaceful pro- The foreign ministry “strongly to the killing of Syrians and the regime. The grouping also backed ons and anti-tank rockets from see how the support can be pro- tests against his rule in March condemns the inflammatory rhet- destruction of their country,” the an opposition demand that Assad the SMC arms stores in fight- vided to ensure it does not fall 2011 and has descended into civil oric of the Council’s statement on ministry said. play no role in Syria’s future. ing on Friday and Saturday. The into the hands of “extremists”. war. REUTERS Syria, particularly as countries in “Their sorrow about the AFP

Kuwait spy chief worried by Freed Dutch scribe dismisses Al Qaeda involvement THE HAGUE: A Dutch couple “The couple is in a good physi- turmoil in Iraq returned home from Yemen in cal condition, extremely happy good health yesterday following to have survived their ordeal MANAMA: Kuwait is anxious a six-month kidnapping ordeal. unharmed and wishes nothing about instability in Iraq and “We’ve waited for this moment more than to be soonest reunited disappointed at its neighbour’s for a very long time,” Judith with their family,” it said. failure to arrest a militia leader Spiegel, a journalist for Dutch The couple had made an emo- who said his group was behind a public television NOS and finan- tional plea in an Internet video mortar attack on Saudi Arabia, cial paper NRC Handelsblad, told a dated July 13 for their govern- a Kuwaiti intelligence chief said. press conference at Amsterdam’s ment to act to secure their Sheikh Thamer Al Sabah, Schiphol airport. release, warning at the time that President of Kuwait’s National “This was not a very happy they faced execution within 10 Security Bureau intelligence serv- time for us ... but it was probably days by their “armed” abductors. ice, said in a rare interview that still less so for our families,” she Dutch media said Spiegel is a his working relationships with his added. Spiegel said she would try journalist based in Sana’a for vari- counterparts in Iraq, which occu- to find out whether a ransom was ous Dutch news outlets.Berendsen pied Kuwait in 1990-91, and Iran paid for their release, but added: is employed in the insurance needed improvement. “I do not rule out that we were industry. The pair also teach Freed Dutch journalist Judith Spiegel (left) and her partner Boudewijn Berendsen talking to media at Schiphol Kuwait, a small desert state released for free.” at the Lebanese International airport in Amsterdam yesterday. sitting on 6 percent of global Speaking to reporters before University in Sana’a, local media oil reserves, is wedged uneasily boarding the plane in the Yemeni reported. Media reports said they between bigger regional powers capital Sana’a, Spiegel said she the pair’s release, announced on had “no idea” if ransom was paid who along with her husband were abducted from their home Iraq, Iran and Saudi Arabia at the and her husband Boudewijn Tuesday, was secured. But Spiegel to the kidnappers. appeared relaxed and in good in Sana’a. Hundreds of people northern end of the Gulf. Berendsen “were treated very dismissed reports of Al Qaeda’s “So I know there were many health. The Hague said “the have been kidnapped in Yemen Instability in any of the three well” during captivity. No details involvement in the June 8 abduc- rumours that we were in the Yemeni and Netherlands govern- over the past 15 years, mostly by unnerves Kuwait, possibly more have been revealed on the iden- tion. “I think (they were) just hands of Al Qaeda, but I’m not so ments are extremely pleased to tribesmen and nearly all of them than other small Gulf Arab states, tity of the abductors or how tribes,” she said, adding that she sure about that,” added Spiegel, welcome the news of the release”. later freed unharmed. AFP thanks to the decision by then Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein to invade in August 1990. A US-led coalition expelled Iraq seven months later, but the nation of 3.8 million took years to EU must stop paying regain its confidence. “We are deeply worried ... about the rapidly growing instability in Iraq,” Sheikh Thamer said Gaza officials who on the sidelines of the Manama Dialogue, an annual Gulf security seminar. “After all, Kuwait’s long- don’t work: Auditors est borders are with Iraq and any instability will have a direct and a BRUSSELS: The European Union should stop funding Palestinian profound impact on us.” civil servants in the Gaza Strip because money is going to officials Two years after the departure who do not work, European auditors said yesterday. of US troops who invaded Iraq in As the biggest aid donor to the Palestinian territories, EU taxpay- 2003, Kuwait’s northern neighbour ers pay a fifth of the salaries of teachers, doctors and bureaucrats in is again a war zone, with Sunni the small coastal territory, which has been governed by the Islamist Muslim militants close to Al Qaeda group Hamas since 2007. challenging the Shia-led govern- But following an investigation into how EU aid is being spent, the ment. Shia militias, which have no European Court of Auditors has found that large numbers of recipients love for Saudi Arabia or Kuwait, are providing no public service. also operate, but on a smaller scale. The court did not have overall figures on the size of the problem. Sheikh Thamer said he was But in one spot check, 90 of the 125 employees at the National Audit “saddened” Iraq had not detained Institute of Palestine said they did not work. the leader of an Iranian-backed In another sample, 40 percent of civil servants were not working, Iraqi Shi’a militia who said his men EU auditor Hans Gustaf Wessberg, who led the inspections over the fired mortar bombs that landed past 16 months, told a news conference. near a border post in northern “Our suggestion is to discontinue the programme for employees in Saudi Arabia on November 21. Gaza,” said Wessberg, saying the money could go to the West Bank There were no casualties. Wathiq instead. “The payment of civil servants who do not work does not Al Batat, commander of Iraq’s Al meet one of (the EU’s) main objectives to provide public services to Mukhtar Army militia, said by the Palestinian people.” telephone the same day that the Wessberg denied EU money was going to former prisoners or mili- strike was a warning to the king- tants and blamed the problem on the split in the Palestinian Authority dom to stop meddling in Iraqi between Hamas in Gaza and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ affairs. REUTERS Fatah party in the West Bank. REUTERS THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL

Obama, Cameron Tears as Mandela lies in state ‘selfie’ at memorial creates online stir

Thousands of South Africans pay their last respects SOWETO: US President Barack Obama may have PRETORIA: Nelson Mandela’s waited in line from 5am. Among Hartley, 27. “He gave all of us moved the masses attend- tearful widow was among scores the dignitaries were Mandela’s an opportunity to be the best we ing Nelson Mandela’s memo- of mourners who paid their last former political foe FW de Klerk, could be.” rial service with his stirring respects before his open casket ex-wife Winnie Madikizela- At Union Buildings, the seat eulogy yesterday, but it was yesterday, as the much-loved Mandela and musician and activ- of South African government, his grinning “selfie” with the leader lay in state. ist Bono. the casket was unloaded by eight Danish and British premiers Graca Machel, clad in a black The Irish rocker accompa- pallbearers representing the that set social networks head-dress with her eyes shielded nied Mandela’s long time aide- branches of the armed forces in abuzz. by sunglasses, placed both hands de-camp Zelda Le Grange, who full uniform. In a candid moment, on the raised coffin before turning appeared heartbroken and needed From there it was carried up Denmark’s Helle Thorning- away disconsolate. to be supported throughout. the steps toward the towering Schmidt can be seen hold- At each end of the coffin stood Earlier a black hearse flanked acropolis of beige freestone, where ing up her smartphone, with two navy officers clad in white by 16 motorcycle outriders had nearly two decades ago Mandela Obama lending a helping hand, dress uniform, heads bowed, carried Mandela’s flag-draped was sworn in as the country’s as they pose for a picture with eyes closed and swords pointing coffin on a solemn journey first black president, signifying David Cameron, all three of downward. through the streets of Pretoria, the rebirth of this long-troubled them smiling broadly in their Later, presidents, royalty and the South African capital. nation. seats at Soweto’s World Cup thousands of South Africans The cortege moved briskly Trailing behind the coffin stadium. made their own pilgrimage. through streets lined with flag- was Mandela’s oldest grandson, First Lady Michelle Obama, Some stopped briefly to pray, waving South Africans who Mandla Mandela, his manifest sitting to the left of her hus- others bowed or brushed against formed a public guard of honour. grief a poignant reminder that band, does not join in with the rope balustrade to get a closer “I never met Mandela, so this while the nation lost a hero, the lightheartedness, keep- look at the mortal remains of a is my only chance and it’s impor- Mandela’s family lost a father, ing her eyes firmly trained man who had earned a place in tant I pay my respects. I’m South grandfather and husband. on the podium where world history long before his demise. African -- I have to be here,” said Mandela’s open coffin was Nelson Mandela’s widow Graca Machel (right), leaving after bidding farewell leaders were paying tribute to Some collapsed, felled by the 28-year-old Vaughan Motshwene. placed on a cubic platform in the to South African former president lying in state at Union Buildings in Pretoria South Africa’s anti-apartheid weight of their grief, before being Some cheered but many were building’s amphitheatre, soon to hero Mandela, who died on yesterday. helped away by medical personnel tearful, aware that Mandela’s be renamed in his honour, where Thursday aged 95. or fellow onlookers. death last Thursday aged 95, it will be on view for three days. The so-called selfie — short A blind man with a cane passed opened a new chapter in South Mandela’s final journey through 1962 for incitement and leaving His conviction and subsequent for self-portrait — was quickly by, helped by an aide. African history. Pretoria is laden with symbolism the country illegally. life sentence marked the begin- picked up by major interna- “I was just feeling sad when “It feels like the end of an era. and replete with landmarks that Another landmark is the ning of a 27-year jail stint, from tional news outlets and went I saw him lying there as if he All the opportunities I’ve had carry resonance in his life and Palace of Justice, the court where which he finally emerged in 1990 viral on social media sites, with can wake up. As if I can say ‘Mr growing up that my parents never that of this deeply scarred nation. Mandela famously stood trial in as the structure of apartheid many questioning whether the Mandela, how are you?” said had, Madiba gave me that,” said The procession passed the cen- 1963-64 for treason and sabotage crumbled around its white minor- moment of mirth was appro- 44-year-old Anna Mtsoweni, who government employee Faaiqia tral prison where he was jailed in with 10 other codefendants. ity supporters. AFP priate for the occasion. AFP French veil ban on trial Pressure mounts on Yanukovych Letta vows stability KIEV: Ukrainian demonstra- achieving compromise I am call- with the gang.” Several dozen peo- tors yesterday forced riot police ing on the opposition not to reject ple were injured in the early hours after House vote win in new to retreat after a pre-dawn raid (talks), not to follow the path of of yesterday when riot police and on their protest camp, in a blow confrontation and ultimatums,” interior ministry special forces ROME: Italian Prime Minister for gross domestic product (GDP) to the authority of President Yanukovych said in a statement. moved against the demonstra- Enrico Letta yesterday won a growth of 1.0 percent in 2014 and challenge Viktor Yanukovych who called “I am ready to participate in tors who have occupied Kiev’s parliamentary confidence vote 2.0 percent in 2015, while also for talks after nearly three such round table talks personally.” Independence Square in anger at triggered by the fall of Silvio slashing debt. VERSAILLES: Lawyers weeks of rallies. The opposition, which has ear- the rejection of a landmark EU Berlusconi, promising to push “Italy will shake off the image for a young woman whose International pressure mounted lier ruled out any negotiations pact. through a pro-European reform of an unstable, Baroque country arrest for wearing a full- on the embattled leader, with EU until he dismissed the govern- But the security forces were agenda and fight populism. that can never decide anything,” face veil sparked riots foreign policy chief Catherine ment and punished riot police eventually forced into a humiliat- Letta vowed to bring political said Letta, who came to power argued yesterday in court Ashton meeting with Yanukovych for crushing a smaller protest on ing retreat amid cheers from the stability and economic growth to in April following a two-month that France’s contentious twice over the past two days and November 30, vowed to do eve- demonstrators after the ranks of a country on the point of exit- stalemate after an inconclusive ban on such coverings was US Assistant Secretary of State rything to topple the president. protesters swelled. ing its longest post-war reces- general election. unconstitutional and tar- Victoria Nuland telling the presi- Jailed former prime minister “We have not won the war yet sion, condemning “chaos” after Letta also promised to reduce geted Muslims. dent the attempted police crack- Yulia Tymoshenko earlier yester- but we’ve decisively won this bat- anti-austerity protests this week the number of parliamentarians The court said it would down was “inadmissable”. day warned the protest movement tle. The authorities are panick- across Italy. and end public subsidies to politi- deliver a verdict on January Yanukovych vowed yesterday against holding any negotiations ing,” said protester Anton Kulyk. “We will not allow Italy to sink cal parties — both reforms that 8 on her lawyer’s request for that the authorities would never with Yanukovych. In an extraordinary choice of again,” Letta told lawmakers, have long been mooted in Italy a special procedure to seek use force against peaceful protests “I am calling on all Ukrainians: timing, the raid came as both promising to “fight with every- including by Letta but never car- a review by the country’s and urged the opposition to sit rise up!” Yanukovych’s arch rival Nuland and Ashton were in Kiev. thing I have to avoid our country ried out. Constitutional Council of a down for talks. “For the sake of said in a statement. “No talks AFP being thrown back into chaos just The vote was called after the law that has already been as it is beginning to lift itself up scandal-tainted Berlusconi’s party passed. again”. quit the ruling coalition and he The case relates to “Today we are drawing a clear was ejected from parliament over Cassandra Belin, 20, who line. On this side are those who a tax fraud conviction. was stopped by police in the love Europe... knowing that with- Berlusconi’s departure would gritty town of Trappes, west out the European Union we would have brought down the govern- of Paris, on July 18 for wearing plunge into the Middle Ages. ment but a group of the playboy the veil in public. “On that side are those who politician’s former proteges broke The incident, in the midst want to block Europe,” he said away and stayed in the cabinet. of the month of Ramadan, in a thinly-veiled reference to In a sign of the social tensions led to an altercation and Berlusconi and the anti-establish- in Italy, there have been some- her husband Michael Khiri ment firebrand politician Beppe times violent rallies led by an was arrested and accused of Grillo. anti-austerity movement known insulting a police officer. Letta won the vote in the lower as the “Forconi” (Pitchforks) He was later found guilty house handily with 379 in favour who held a small protest in Rome and got a three-month sus- and 212 against and was expected yesterday. pended sentence. The incident to get a majority, although by a far Members of the Fiom metal- sparked two nights of rioting narrower margin, in a vote in the workers’ union also took to the in Trappes, which has a large upper house scheduled for later. streets of the Italian capital to immigrant population. Letta admitted that instability demand more help from the gov- Belin’s lawyer Philippe had “weakened” his government ernment to save jobs. Bataille told the court in the but voiced hope that the confi- Letta’s cabinet won some western suburb of Versailles dence vote would give his coalition breathing space this week with that the ban on the veil, a stronger mandate to govern and the long-awaited news that the which came into force in 2011, press ahead with much-needed economy has stopped contract- impinged on freedom of reli- reforms. ing and an end to recession was gion and of movement and He said he would impose fur- imminent. went against human dignity. ther cuts on Italy’s overweight But unemployment and poverty Anti-Yanukovych protesters clash with anti-riot police on Independence Square in Kiev, yesterday. “How can a woman who is bureaucratic machine and aim are still rampant. AFP entirely veiled be considered a threat to public order?” Bataille said, adding that the law was discriminatory as “it only applies to Muslims.” He said one of the police- Czechs strike coalition deal Putin amnesty far too narrow: Activists men had ripped apart Belin’s veil and shoved her mother- MOSCOW: Human rights critics consider political pris- trust in the authorities among the in-law, who was accompanying after months of turmoil advisers to Russian President oners, including ex-oil tycoon part of the society that is most the couple. Vladimir Putin yesterday criti- Mikhail Khodorkovsky, would critical about them”, he said. “The law must not be put PRAGUE: Three Czech par- The CSSD will team up with cised his proposal to free some remain behind bars. And there Rights activists yesterday filed in the hands of Islamophobic ties said yesterday they have the billionaire-led populist prisoners on the 20th anniver- would be no clemency for most a request with the Duma, par- officers,” Bataille added. struck a deal to form a new ANO party, which sprang out of sary of Russia’s constitution, of those prosecuted for mass pro- liament’s lower chamber, for a France argues that the ban, centre-left coalition govern- nowhere to finish a close second arguing it was far too limited to tests against Putin on the eve of wider amnesty, and backed it with which was approved by the ment in a breakthrough set to in the snap vote. help ease social tensions. his third presidential inaugura- 20,000 signatures collected from Constitutional Council in 2010 end months of political turmoil. The smaller centrist Christian Putin’s amnesty would include tion last year. citizens. after three years of intense “I think I can say we’ve fin- Democrats are also a party to the crime of ‘hooliganism’ and The scale of the amnesty will “Of course we are happy for debate, is necessary for secu- ished the job,” Bohuslav Sobotka, the coalition that will command could lead to the early release be a measure of Putin’s tolerance every freed person but we would rity reasons and to uphold the chairman of the leftwing Social a sound majority of 111 votes in of two jailed members of female for dissent as Russia prepares like the amnesty to affect all country’s secular traditions. Democrats (CSSD) who is the 200-seat parliament. punk band Pussy Riot, convicted to host the Winter Olympics in political prisoners, not just some,” Critics of the ban say if tipped for prime minister, told “It seems that the Czech on that charge for performing an Sochi in less than two months’ said veteran activist Lyudmila security is a consideration, reporters. Republic will have clear lead- anti-Kremlin ‘punk prayer’ in a time — an event that has focused Alexeyeva, who has quit the coun- then motorcycle helmets The CSSD won an October ership at least for some time,” Moscow cathedral. international attention on his cil in protest over Putin’s human should also be outlawed. In snap election triggered by the Pavel Saradin, a political analyst But members of Putin’s advi- human rights record. A total of rights policies but goes on coop- theory the ban covers all collapse of the previous centre- at Palacky University said. sory council on human rights said 1,335 convicts, or just half of a erating with the panel. face coverings but in practice right administration in June. The Taxes and health care fees the draft, which the Kremlin sent percent of those jailed in Russia In late 2011 and in 2012, Putin the only arrests have been of prime minister at the time, Petr were at the heart of the coalition to parliament on Tuesday, would at present, would be allowed to faced the largest wave of street women wearing Muslim veils. Necas, fell over a bribery and spy talks, but negotiators were reluc- free a relatively small number of walk free, said Andrei Babushkin, protests against his rule since AFP scandal involving his then lover tant to release details yesterday. inmates. a member of the rights council. he first rose to the presidency in and now wife. AFP Several people whom Kremlin The proposal fails to “restore 2000. REUTERS THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Snowden hopes leaks will boost transparency

Time ’s runner-up behind the Pope for Person of the Year title, speaks to the US magazine in rare interview

WASHINGTON: Former US majority of society even being spontaneously decide to embrace programmes to reasonable stand- in Russia, learning the language Snowden, who fled to Hong national security contractor aware it was possible,” he told moustache twirling and jackboots ards and direct the NSA to focus and reading Dostoyevsky’s Crime Kong before pitching up in Edward Snowden hopes his Time in an email interview. to bear us bodily into dark places, its tremendous power toward and Punishment. The report said Russia in June, added that he did leaks of classified documents Snowden, who is living in but that the slowly shifting foun- developing new global technical he uses the Internet through not defend every story that has will lead to greater transpar- Russia under temporary asy- dation of policy will make it such standards that enforce robust encrypted and anonymous been written, but that he allowed ency by governments, he said lum and was branded “the dark that moustaches and jackboots end-to-end security, ensuring connections. journalists he worked with to be in rare comments published prophet” by Time, has given few are discovered to prove an opera- that not only are we not improp- Snowden said he believes the final arbiters of what was yesterday. interviews since leaking a trove tional advantage toward a neces- erly surveilling individuals but encryption and the ability to be published. The fugitive Snowden, Time’s of secret documents from the sary purpose,” he told Time. that other governments aren’t free of surveillance are funda- “There have of course been runner-up behind the Pope for its National Security Agency. He told the magazine that he either,” he said. mental rights. some stories where my calcula- Person of the Year, told the mag- He said he took the risk of hopes his disclosures will help Snowden was given asylum “In general, if you agree with tion of what is not public inter- azine he chose to defy his obliga- publicising the data because of bring about changes by forcing in Russia in August, to the the (US constitution’s) First est differs from that of reporters, tions when he learned the scope the dangers he saw of a surveil- a rethinking by the public, the fury of the US, where he could Amendment principles, you but it is for this precise reason of surveillance programmes con- lance state. technology community, the US face espionage charges follow- agree with encryption. It’s just that publication decisions were ducted without being disclosed. “The NSA is surely not the courts, Congress and the execu- ing disclosures that have pro- code,” he said. entrusted to journalists and their “What we recoil most strongly (East German) Stasi, but we tive branch. voked international uproar and “Arguing against encryption editors,” he told Time. against is not that such surveil- should always remember that the “The president could plausi- strained US ties with allies. would be analogous to argu- “I recognise I have clear biases lance can theoretically occur, danger to societies from secu- bly use the mandate of public Time wrote that Snowden has ing against hidden meanings in influencing my judgment.” but that it was done without a rity services is not that they will knowledge to both reform these begun to settle into his new life paintings or poetry.” AFP

British govt blocks MPs US Supreme from quizzing spy chief Court wrestles with child LONDON: The British govern- Parker appeared before parlia- ment has blocked a parliamen- ment’s intelligence and security tary panel from questioning the committee (ISC) in November, abduction case head of domestic spy agency alongside the chiefs of the MI6 MI5 about the Edward Snowden external spy agency and the WASHINGTON: The US leaks, the committee chairman GCHQ listening agency, for an Supreme Court yesterday said yesterday, branding the unprecedented televised grilling. appeared conflicted as the jus- decision “not helpful”. That was sufficient scrutiny, tices considered whether a MI5 Director General Andrew May argued, adding: “I do not father who lives in the United Parker had been called before the believe that it would be appropri- Kingdom has the legal authority home affairs committee to expand ate or necessary for the oversight to seek the immediate return of on evidence he gave to lawmakers provided by the ISC to be dupli- his daughter, who was taken to last month about the intelligence cated by another committee.” New York by her mother. released by the fugitive former US The spy chiefs made headlines During a one-hour oral argu- analyst. when they claimed that Al Qaeda ment, the nine justices appeared However, Home Secretary and other enemies were “lapping to struggle over how to bal- Theresa May, the interior minis- up” Snowden’s revelations about ance the interests of the now ter, has written to the committee the extent of surveillance by the 8-year-old child, who has been in to decline the invitation, saying United States and its allies, and the US for four years, with the she did not believe it was “appro- were using them to change the need to deter international child priate or necessary”. way they operate. abduction. Prime Minister David Cameron But critics accused ISC mem- The mother, Diana Lucia also declined a request to question bers of being too soft in their Montoya Alvarez, left London his national security adviser, Kim questioning, while The Sunday with the child in July 2009 Darroch. Times newspaper later reported Fog clears around the Houses of Parliament in central London yesterday. after spending several months Committee chairman Keith Vaz, the witnesses had been informed in a women’s shelter. She later a lawmaker with the opposition of the questions in advance. claimed that the father, Manuel Labour Party, said he was “disap- May will now be asked more Jose Lozano, had been abusive. pointed” by the responses, “which detailed questions about the intel- Flight chaos in Britain over fog Both parents are from Colombia are not helpful to the committee’s ligence services when she appears but met in London in 2004. inquiry into counter-terrorism”. before the committee on Monday, LONDON: Thick fog in Britain said: “We’re looking at 190 can- subject to similar delays. “We Lozano, who has not seen the He added: “Ministers should Vaz said. yesterday forced the cancel- cellations at the moment. They’re expect the fog to last into the child since November 2008, cites take care not to dictate to par- The ISC, meanwhile, announced lation of nearly 200 flights at mostly short-haul -- a mixture of evening,” the spokeswoman said. the Hague Convention of the Civil liamentary committees which it was broadening its existing London’s Heathrow airport, one flights to mainland Europe and The fog, which was especially Aspects of International Child witnesses can be called and for inquiry into the laws governing of the world’s busiest. domestic flights.” thick in southern England, also Abduction that requires children what reasons. the surveillance of private com- Most of the flights grounded The conditions also caused led to the cancellation of every to be returned to the country of “Witnesses, no matter how munications to consider the wider were heading to destinations in flights arriving at Heathrow to early morning service at London residence within one year of being senior, should not be afraid of questions raised by the Snowden Britain or Europe. be delayed by an average of one City, an airport mainly used by abducted. Only then can custody answering questions from MPs.” leaks. AFP A Heathrow spokeswoman hour, while departing flights were business travellers. AFP rights be adjudicated. A question from Justice Stephen Breyer summarised the apparent concerns among the justices. Asiana accident “On the one hand, we don’t want to encourage abduction. On probe examines Heavy rains paralyse Rio de Janeiro the other hand we don’t want to treat the child as a yo-yo,” he said. cockpit automation The legal problem for Lozano is RIO DE JANEIRO: Heavy created such chaos that Mayor across a floodplain between One Rio resident was pho- that he did not make his official WASHINGTON: US air acci- rains late Tuesday and early Eduardo Paes asked residents to nearby mountains and the sea. tographed riding a jet ski past request until after Alvarez and dent investigators opened a yesterday paralysed much stay home. “We are now dealing with another trapped bus, while some the girl had already been absent hearing yesterday into the role of Rio de Janeiro, a tropi- No deaths have been reported, the problems of opportunistic motorists were stuck in cars that for more than a year. He says that sophisticated cockpit auto- cal metropolis scrambling to but emergency personnel by development that puts peo- risked being swept away by ris- courts should take into account mation might have played in the improve infrastructure to pre- early yesterday afternoon were ple and property at risk,” said ing runoff. the fact that he did not know fiery crash of a South Korean pare to host the 2014 World tending to isolated injuries and Moacyr Duarte, an engineer and The flooding comes just six where Alvarez had gone. The one- airliner in San Francisco. Cup and the 2016 Olympics. evaluating the extent of the researcher on disaster manage- months before Rio, along with 11 year clock should only start tick- Three passengers died when More rain fell overnight damage. ment who also advises the city on other Brazilian cities, welcomes ing from the moment he located Asiana Airlines Flight 214 clipped around the city, Brazil’s second Though December is part of preparedness. “The authorities hundreds of thousands of visi- her, he argues. REUTERS a seawall, skidded out of control biggest, than would normally the annual rainy season, the never should have let much of tors for World Cup soccer games. and burst into flames upon land- be expected during the entire intensity of the rains under- this to be built.” Two years later the city will host ing after an otherwise routine month, meteorologists said. scored longstanding concerns Television footage and snap- the summer Olympics, an event flight from Seoul on July 6. The downpour flooded major about flooding in a coastal city shots sent to local media by har- for which it is busy building new Canada to phase Another 182 passengers and thoroughfares, toppled houses in where slipshod development and ried residents showed passengers venues, bus and rail lines and crew aboard the Boeing 777 were working class suburbs, disrupted poor public oversight in past standing atop buses half sub- other facilities. out door-to-door injured — and first indications train and flight schedules and decades led to an urban sprawl merged in muddy water. While local officials pointed suggested the pilots approached to advances since past flooding, mail delivery the runway at well below the opti- when smaller volumes of rain led mum speed for landing. to deaths, they remain concerned OTTAWA: Canada’s postal “We have the opportunity that long-term climate forecasts service said yesterday it will today to ensure that the lessons suggest that downpours will only phase out door-to-door mail of this tragedy are well-learned intensify across southeast Brazil delivery in response to falling and that the circumstances are in the coming years. mail volumes and big financial not repeated,” NTSB chairwoman Long accustomed to hosting losses. Deborah Hersman said, opening throngs of tourists and major Canadians will instead have the day’s proceedings. events, such as annual Carnival to collect their mail from corner The nearly 12-hour hearing was celebrations and a big seaside community mailboxes that are supposed to be a two-day affair, New Year’s party, the city and to be set up in cities nationwide, but its scheduled start Tuesday surrounding region, an area of Canada Post said. was postponed due to a federal more than 10 million people, The new boxes will be installed government shutdown prompted have nonetheless repeatedly been over five years, starting in the by wintry weather in Washington. caught off guard by the weather. second half of 2014. Keith Holloway of the National Last July, when rains turned Canada Post also announced a Transportation Safety Board said a rural field they had prepared doubling of the price of sending the hearing will “gather addi- for a campsite and outdoor sanc- letters to C$1 (95 US cents) per tional factual information” as tuary into a bog during a high- stamp, effective March 31. the agency prepares its report on profile visit by Pope Francis, Canada Post delivers close to the first fatal accident involving a authorities had to relocate the 10 billion letters and parcels each Boeing 777. final mass scheduled. year to more than 15.3 million “Typically it takes about 12 In 2011, heavy rains in the addresses across Canada. months to complete a full inves- mountains outside Rio caused In its last annual report, it tigation,” he said. None of the four major mudslides and killed more noted a 23.6 percent drop in let- pilots, 12 flight attendants and 291 than 900 people. termail from 2008 as Canadians passengers, many of them South Local forecasts predict rain increasingly turned to email and Korean and Chinese nationals, A man rows in a flooded street in a suburb of Rio de Janeiro yesterday. over Rio at least through the end paying household bills online. are to testify. AFP of the workweek. REUTERS AFP THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA

Japanese vets Top China official under house arrest repair knee of President Xi orders probe into Zhou’s alleged corruption rare white tiger

BEIJING: China has put Zhou “Zhou Yongkang’s freedom has corruption, vowing to go after TOKYO: Vets in Japan have Yongkang, one of the most pow- been restricted. His movements powerful “tigers” like Zhou as well carried out knee surgery on erful politicians of the last dec- have been monitored,” one source as lowly “flies.” a rare white tiger cub, fixing ade, under virtual house arrest said, adding that he cannot leave “Xi has pulled out all the a leg problem the animal had while the ruling Communist his Beijing home or receive guests tiger’s teeth,” a second source been born with. Party investigates accusations without prior approval. said, referring to the downfall In what was being billed of corruption against him, sev- Zhou is being investigated for of Zhou’s men, including Jiang as the first such operation eral sources said yesterday. violating party discipline, official Jiemin, who was the top regula- of its kind on a white tiger, Zhou is the most senior offi- jargon for corruption, the sources tor of state-owned enterprises for surgeons fixed a congenitally cial to be ensnared in a graft said. They did not say what the just five months until September displaced kneecap in its right scandal since the Communists specific allegations were. when state media said he was put hind leg. came to power in 1949. He was Xi was installed as head of the under investigation for “serious The nine-month-old male, the domestic security tsar and a party just over a year ago, and as discipline violations.” named Sky, was under the member of the party’s Politburo president in March, and the inves- Jiang was previously chairman knife for five-and-a-half Standing Committee - the pinna- tigation illustrates his growing of state-owned China National hours Tuesday at the Nihon cle of power in the country - when power and confidence that he can Petroleum Corp (CNPC) - Zhou University Animal Medical he retired last year. manage any rift that may ensue. Yongkang’s power base - as well Centre in Fujisawa, south of Chinese President Xi Jinping In ordering the investigation, as one of its subsidiaries, oil-and- Tokyo, the institution said on ordered a special task force Xi has broken with an unwritten gas behemoth PetroChina. Zhou A file picture of former Public Security minister Zhou Yongkang during the its website. formed in late November or understanding that members of served as CNPC’s general man- 17th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2007. early December to look into sev- the Standing Committee will not ager from 1996-1998, having risen Market blaze kills eral accusations brought against be investigated after retirement. through the ranks. Political analysts say such an Jonathan Fenby, director at ana- Zhou by political rivals, sources But Xi has yet to decide “Zhou Yongkang is a toothless indictment and a trial would instil lyst group Trusted Sources, said 16 in Shenzhen with ties to the leadership said, whether Zhou would be publicly tiger and tantamount to a dead fear in other retired leaders and any form of public trial of Zhou requesting anonymity to avoid prosecuted, pending completion tiger. The question is: will Xi skin the party’s 80 million members, would be “potential for embarrass- BEIJING: A fire at a market repercussions for discussing of the internal probe, the sources the tiger?” the source said, refer- worsening infighting among rival ment ... given his long tenure at the in southern China has killed secretive elite politics. said. Xi has declared war on ring to a trial. political factions. top.” REUTERS 16 people, who were all liv- ing in their stalls when the blaze broke out, state media reported on yesterday. The fire broke out at the market in the booming export- Thailand’s Red Shirts Seoul, US discuss defence cost sharing hub city Shenzhen in the early hours of the morning. SEOUL: South Korea and Time is ticking for the two Washington is pushing to increase A city fire department the United States yesterday allies to come up with a renewal the amount to around 1tr won, spokesman told Xinhua that to defend Yingluck resumed negotiations on the of the current five-year SMA, citing mounting security threats commercial tenants worked sharing of the cost for station- which is set to expire at the end from North Korea, according to and lived in the stores in the BANGKOK: The red-shirted The United Front for ing American troops here, with of this year. (Yonhap) news agency. market. The cause of the supporters of Thai Prime Democracy Against Dictatorship both sides seen as nearing an The size of South Korea’s con- Seoul and Washington have so blaze, he said, was still being Minister Yingluck Shinawatra (UDD), as the red shirts are agreement on the prickly issue. tributions remains the major far held eight rounds of negotia- investigated. said yesterday they could take known, could rally to protect The talks to renew the Special sticking point as of now, with tions to renew the cost-sharing China, the world’s second- to the streets to protect the the government, said Jatuporn Measure Agreement, which Seoul showing reservations about deal, but they’ve been in vain. largest economy, has a poor government from protesters Promphan, one of its leaders. kicked off a day earlier, are the US calls for a spike from what Since their first agreement in record on workplace safety. who have forced her to call a “It is the UDD’s job to bring expected to last more than two Seoul has paid under the cur- 1991, South Korea has taken on Fire exits in factories, office snap election, setting the scene together en masse the red shirts days as the allies are committed rent agreement, according to the the financial burden of covering buildings and shops are often for a possible confrontation. and those who love democracy to renew the pact on splitting the sources. more than 40 percent of the cost locked to prevent workers The warning by the “red and don’t agree with Suthep’s burden of financing United States Seoul wants to keep its cur- for stationing 28,500 American taking time off or stealing, or shirts” highlights the risks methods. There will be many Forces Korea (USFK), govern- rent yearly payment level of about troops here. blocked entirely. ahead as anti-government pro- more people than Suthep man- ment sources said. 869.5bn won ($825.8m), while AGENCIES AGENCIES testers keep pushing to eradi- aged to gather,” he said. cate the political influence of Suthep, who a few weeks ago Yingluck’s brother, former pre- resigned the parliamentary seat mier Thaksin Shinawatra, a hero he had held for 34 years, derives in the rural north and northeast support from a small but pow- who was toppled by the military erful minority: the royalist elite in 2006. Protest leader Suthep in Bangkok and the opposition Bomb kills four soldiers in Thai south Thaugsuban, has ignored her call Democrats. for a snap election to be held on In 2010, he authorised a crack- BANGKOK: Fo u r T h a i s o l d i e r s the Kha Pho district of Pattani Meanwhile, police in nearby Yala with the government are regu- February 2. down by security forces that left were killed and at least a dozen province said. In addition to the province said two Muslim villagers larly targeted, as well as Muslims He wants Thailand to be gov- downtown Bangkok burning more wounded, some critically, four killed, twelve other soldiers had been shot dead Tuesday, with- perceived to be collaborating with erned by an unelected “people’s and killed scores of red shirts, when a powerful roadside bomb were wounded and six of them out giving further details. More the authorities. council” made up of appointed who say they remain supportive went off yesterday in Thailand’s remain in a critical condition, than 5,500 people have been killed Earlier this year, the Thailand “good people.” of Yingluck and her billionaire unrest-plagued south. he said, speaking on condition of in Thailand’s Muslim-majority government held its first ever Such an unprecedented move brother Thaksin, who lives in The 50kgs bomb was hidden anonymity. south with shadowy insurgent official peace talks with southern alone would potentially spark self-exile to avoid jail for abuse of in a gas canister and detonated “Sixteen soldiers were in the groups blamed for near-daily insurgents. However, no signifi- conflict with Yingluck’s red- power charges that he says were by a mobile phone device at army truck” he said, adding that bombings and shootings. cant breakthroughs were made shirted supporters in the country politically motivated. around midday as an army truck the four victims had died at the Security personnel like soldiers and attacks have continued in the of 66 million. REUTERS approached, a police officer in local hospital. and police, and those connected region. AFP

Bangla court to decide fate of top Islamist DHAKA: Bangladesh’s highest court held a hear- ing yesterday to decide the fate of an Islamist leader sentenced to death for war crimes, after he was given a dramatic last-minute reprieve from execution. A judge stayed the hang- ing of Jamaat-e-Islami party leader Abdul Quader Molla on Tuesday night, just 90 minutes before his scheduled execution overnight at a jail in the capital Dhaka. He would have been the first person put to death for massacres committed dur- ing Bangladesh’s 1971 inde- Sri Lankan police form a blockade on a road leading to President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s office during a demonstration pendence war following a held by the opposition People’s Liberation Front Party (JVP) in Colombo yesterday. The JVP is protesting high series of verdicts by a special living costs and demanding higher government spending on education. war crimes court that have sparked deadly protests. The Supreme Court yes- Church ‘no’ to foreign probe in Sri Lanka terday heard an appeal on whether Molla could seek a COLOMBO: The Catholic international calls to investigate in the mainly Buddhist country, review of the death sentence, church yesterday warned Sri allegations that up to 40,000 eth- but the Catholic church wields with his lawyers arguing Lanka’s government of foreign nic Tamil civilians were killed by considerable influence over that he had “a constitutional intervention unless it worked security forces in the final months the government and Ranjith is right” to do so. towards reconciliation and of fighting in 2009. regarded as close to Rajapaksa. However Attorney addressed allegations of war At a Commonwealth sum- The cardinal said the major- General Mahbubey Alam crimes during the war against mit hosted by Colombo last ity Sinhalese and Tamils should told the court there was “no Tamil separatists. month, Britain’s Prime Minister ensure reconciliation and politi- scope for a review in war Malcolm Ranjith, the arch- David Cameron warned that he cians on both sides should be flex- crimes cases.” bishop of Colombo, said he was would push for an international ible and hammer out a political After more than two urging President Mahinda inquiry under the auspices of the power sharing deal. hours of legal argument, Rajapaksa and the main eth- UN unless Sri Lanka ensures In its 24-page letter, the church Chief Justice Muzammel nic Tamil party to hammer out accountability by March. also asked the government to Hossain adjourned the hear- a political settlement or risk an In a pastoral letter, the church ensure accountability for polit- ing until today. international probe. “Foreigners warned that failure on the part of ically-motivated killings going In a night of high drama, should not tell us what to do... Colombo to ensure accountability back four decades. Up to 40,000 the government announced We are not a pack of fools,” the for alleged war crimes could trig- people were said to have been late Tuesday that Molla, cardinal said. “But if we do not ger international investigations killed when the then government would be executed at one resolve these issues, then we open that will be a “serious threat to crushed a political uprising by minute past midnight. ourselves to foreign intervention.” the sovereignty of the country”. mainly Sinhalese Marxists rebels AFP Sri Lanka has resisted Christians are a small minority in 1971. AFP THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Govt prepares Yolanda recovery plan Foreign donors to get plan on Dec 18

MANILA: The government will actions” will take up to a year to present to foreign donors and complete, while “medium-term development partners next week actions” are expected to take its recovery and reconstruc- about four years. tion plan for areas devastated by A clear example of critical Super Typhoon Yolanda. actions is temporary housing, “The final reconstruction plan while short- and medium-term will be presented on December actions involve the construction of 18,” Foreign Secretary Albert del permanent housing for targeted Rosario told The STAR. groups, which means complete National Economic and rebuilding, he said. Development Authority (NEDA) Newly appointed rehabilitation Director General Arsenio Balisacan czar Panfilo Lacson, whose first would be in charge of coordinating official act was to join the Cabinet the national plan for reconstruc- meeting, said that “there is a tion. The government had a meet- very high degree of private sector ing with its development partners interest in investing in the rede- on November 28 to outline the ini- velopment of the typhoon-affected tial Recovery and Rehabilitation areas“. Coloma said Lacson will Plan at the Department of Foreign request for concrete project pro- Affairs (DFA). posals from the private sector. Around 25 development part- Also yesterday, Coloma said ners — countries, multilateral President Benigno Aquino organisations and aid agencies — ordered the Cabinet to speed up were on hand to exchange views the restoration of the economic with the government on its post and social conditions of the recovery and reconstruction affected areas with the release plan, which includes shelter and of 238.6m pesos to the National employment, power restoration, Housing Authority for the con- education and infrastructure. The struction of permanent houses. meeting was co-moderated by Del “The President directed the Rosario and Finance Secretary Cabinet to fast-track the resto- Cesar Purisima. Also present were ration of the economic and social Budget Secretary Florencio Abad, conditions of the affected areas, Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene following the ‘build back bet- Almendras, National Treasurer ter’ principle, with emphasis on Rosalia de Leon and Balisacan. attaining a higher degree of dis- Malacañang Palace said aster resilience,” he said. the government is now on its Aquino emphasised the need to British Royal Navy amphibious helicopter carrier HMS Illustrious docks at the port of Manila yesterday. The 23,000-tonne helicopter carrier was deployed “pathway to recovery” mode in speed up the process of enabling to the Philippines to assist with the relief effort in the aftermath of Super Typhoon Haiyan. the severely affected areas in the people to rebuild their homes Eastern Visayas. Press Secretary and resume productive liveli- Herminio Coloma Jr said the hood and employment activities relief operations in the affected in communities that are fortified Haiyan leaves giraffes, zebras injured regions are already “tapering off”. and protected from the harsh Coloma presented to newsmen impact of natural disasters. the “pathways to recovery” chart Budget Secretary Abad MANILA: Giraffes and zebras who had gone on a relief mission caused by falling trees, said Leber, “Most of the trees fell down. enumerating the salient aspects of reported on Tuesday the release were badly injured and left with to Calauit earlier this month said. an assistant to Four Paws’ direc- Giraffes eat from trees, they do “disaster impact,” “critical imme- of 238.6m pesos to the NHA for almost no food when a deadly “Two or three zebras have not tor of project development. not eat from the ground, so there diate actions” and “short- and the construction of permanent typhoon struck a Philippine been eating very well, and one was Four Paws learnt the injured is nothing left for them to eat,” medium-term actions.” housing units for low- and mar- island reserve for African wild- seen walking strangely,” she said. animals had not gotten any medi- Leber said. Four Paws brought six “The full plan will be presented ginal-income families and infor- life, an international animal The isolated 3,760-hectare cal attention at all, and it plans to tonnes of emergency food rations next week in a forum with the mal settlers affected by Typhoon welfare group said yesterday. island on the South China Sea was send a second mission to Calauit to the island, good for three country‘s development partners,” Yolanda, Coloma said. Super Typhoon Haiyan felled turned into a a wildlife reserve in the next few days to treat months, so its giraffes would not Coloma said in a news briefing. The NHA is gearing up for the many trees at the Calauit reserve by the late Philippine dictator them, Leber said. starve, she added. He said Balisacan would short-term action of providing when it raked across the central Ferdinand Marcos in 1976. The “The (Calauit) animal hospital, Calauit was originally stocked present NEDA’s framework for permanent housing even while islands nearly five weeks ago, current government has contin- sad to say, is broken and there is with 104 heads of giraffe, zebra, the “phased, cumulative response” Department of Public Works and injuring some of its animals, said ued to promote the island to tour- no medical equipment to treat impala, waterbuck, gazelle, eland, for the rehabilitation efforts. Highways is giving attention to Birgit Leber of Vienna-based ists as offering a glimpse of Africa the animals,” said Leber. The first topi and bushbuck acquired from In the framework, “critical the critical immediate action, Four Paws International. in a remarkable tropical setting. Four Paws team did not see the Kenya, along with native wild immediate actions” have been set which is to build temporary shel- “Eight or nine giraffes out of 21 Two of the reserve’s giraffes other animals, but observed that mammals, according to its offi- in motion and will be completed ters and bunkhouses, Coloma said. need medical treatment,” Leber, had open wounds above their much of the food source of the cial website. within six months. “Short-term THE PHILIPPINE STAR a member of a Four Paws team front legs that were probably giraffes had been destroyed. AFP

Justice panel to Boxing superstar owes probe trafficking Another radioman of workers in killed in Davao $18.3m in taxes to IRS the Middle East DAVAO CITY: Another radio on sensitive issues. He has not MANILA: The Department of broadcaster was killed yesterday, received any death threats,” MANILA: Filipino boxing Justice (DOJ) will look into the this time in Tagum City, while said Jaro police director Chief superstar Manny Pacquiao alleged trafficking and exploita- a radio reporter survived an Inspector Rhea Santos. (pictured) is facing tax woes tion of Filipino workers in the attempt on his life in Iloilo City. Butalid is the third media prac- left and right. Middle East. The attacks came barely two titioner killed within a week in Already in trouble with the Justice Secretary Leila de Lima weeks after a radio journalist was Mindanao. Bureau of Internal Revenue told the House Committee on killed in Surigao del Sur during Michael Diaz Milo of Tandag, (BIR), Pacquiao is now facing Overseas Workers Affairs that the weekend and a radio com- Surigao del Sur was killed last allegations he owes the Internal she would create an inter-agency mentator was slain in Bukidnon. Friday while another radio Revenue Service (IRS) in the task force led by the DOJ to con- Police said Rogelio “Tata” commentator, Joas Dignos of United States $18.3m in taxes. duct the inquiry. Butalid, 44, of Radyo Natin Bukidnon, was murdered on TMZ Sports yesterday reported De Lima said a comprehensive Tagum, was about to leave the November 29. that Pacquiao “stiffed the govern- investigation is necessary “given radio station after finishing his The National Union of ment out of federal income taxes” that more victims of human traf- programme when a lone gunman Journalists of the Philippines from 2006 to 2010 amounting to ficking and sexual exploitation are killed him. (NUJP) Media Safety Office in $18,313,668.79 or roughly 805m being reported”. “This is initially Butalid was reportedly criti- Mindanao is currently inves- pesos. The popular US-based for fact-finding and eventually for cal of the ongoing corporate war tigating if Milo’s killing is entertainment portal said it has prosecution of those involved.” between two factions of the Davao work-related. obtained official documents on She said the task force is pat- del Norte Electric Cooperative Rowena Paraan, executive coor- Pacquiao’s latest tax issue. terned after a similar panel (Daneco). dinator of the NUJP Media Safety The breakdown is as fol- led by the National Bureau of Authorities suspected the kill- Office, said the killing of Dignos lows: $1,160,324.30 for 2006, Investigation, which is looking ing could be related to the issue was apparently work-related. $2,035,992.50 for 2007, $2,862,437.11 into complaints of sexual abuses on the Daneco faction, although If their deaths are proven to be for 2008, $8,022,915.87 for 2009, and by Filipino workers against some the investigation was still ongoing. work-related, Butalid and Milo $4,231,999.01 for 2010. labour officers posted in Kuwait. On the other hand, Jonavin would be the 159th and 160th But Pacquiao’s chief adviser, She added that the panel has Villalva of Manila Broadcasting journalists killed in the line of Mike Koncz, called The STAR yes- added. Pacquiao said everything is and there’s nothing for me to been able to question the complain- Co’s Aksyon Radyo-Iloilo was duty under President Benigno terday to say the numbers are not in order, and that every time he hide,” he said. ants and respondents. The panel is repeatedly shot in front of his Aquino’s administration. final and that everybody’s work- fights in the US, the IRS is always Right after his impressive vic- scheduled to submit its report to residence along the Cuartero The NUJP said they have ing on the matter. “There is no on his tail. He said his promoter tory over Brandon Rios in Macau De Lima on December 16. Highway in Jaro district, Iloilo. recorded 19 work-related media final assessment yet on the exact Bob Arum has been paying his last November 24, the BIR went The justice secretary pointed Villalva had just returned murders, an average of six jour- amount from the IRS,” he said. taxes assiduously. after Pacquiao, saying the boxing out that sex-for-flight cases would home from his radio programme nalists killed per year under the “We are not covering or hid- “Bob paid it all. It’s deducted, icon owes the government 2.2bn be handled by the inter-agency when two men on a motorcycle Aquino administration. ing anything. This is ongoing. and goes straight to the IRS. Each pesos in taxes for 2008 and 2009. task force. The House panel approached him from behind and Malacañang Palace condemned Everything is transparent,” said time I fight, the IRS is there,” he Arum, chief of Top Rank chaired by Rep Walden Bello of repeatedly shot him. the killing of Butalid and gave Koncz, who added that they are told Filipino sports website Spin. Promotions, said 30 percent of party-list group Akbayan turned Police said Villalva survived and assurance that the Philippine looking at huge tax deductions for ph yesterday. all of the boxer’s earnings for his over to De Lima five former is now in stable condition at the National Police (PNP) is investi- Pacquiao for the period in question. Pacquiao, a second-term con- fights and endorsements in the Middle East workers who claimed Iloilo Mission Hospital. Villalva gating the incident. “It’s a very simple question. gressman from Sarangani, said US go to the IRS. He even dared they were abused in Saudi Arabia. told police investigators that he “We extend our condolences Will the tax appeals board (in the these tax issues are the handiwork the BIR to send its agents to the During the hearing, for- noticed the suspects riding a black to the family of Rogelio Butalid,” US) consider these deductions as of people who are either jealous Top Rank office in Las Vegas. eign affairs and labour officials motorcycle had followed him. Press Secretary Herminio Coloma business expenses or not? You see, of him or are out to destroy his “Let them come to our office. reported that up to 5,000 Filipino Villalva could not think of any Jr said. American taxes are very different credibility as a public official. Let them sit down and we will workers in Saudi Arabia want to motive that could have led to the “The PNP will do what is from Philippine taxes. He, however, remains unfazed, take them through every single be repatriated. slay try on him, saying he has necessary to track down those “It’s for the tax appeals board adding that he plans to push wire transfer (to the IRS),” Arum They said this is the number no known enemies despite his responsible for this,” Coloma said. to decide. Again, there’s no final through with a family vacation said. Arum said these tax issues affected by the Saudi govern- profession. The PNP has created Task assessment at this point. We are in the US this month. against Pacquiao are “outrageous ment’s policy of giving preference “If it’s work-related, we could Force Usig to investigate the kill- very confident with our tax law- “I’m not rattled by this. I’m not and it’s politics at its worst.” to locals in job hiring. not say for now, because he’s ing of journalists. yers and our accountants,” Koncz hiding anything. I’m not a thief THE PHILIPPINE STAR THE PHILIPPINE STAR not been making commentaries THE PHILIPPINE STAR THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN Shakil Afridi’s Germany urges Karzai to sign pact lawyer flees ‘Deal after election will be too late’ after threats PESHAWAR: The lawyer for KABUL: Germany’s defence planning.” Karzai had first a Pakistani doctor who helped minister on a visit to endorsed the deal -- which lays the United States track down Afghanistan yesterday urged out rules for United States troops, Osama bin Laden has fled President Hamid Karzai to and would be the basis for other Pakistan after receiving threats quickly sign a deal to pave the Nato forces -- but later said it from militants, relatives said way for a continued Nato pres- could only be signed after an April yesterday. ence after 2014. presidential election. Lawyer Samiullah Afridi went Karzai has so far refused to sign De Maiziere conceded that abroad after militants threatened the agreement setting out rules ‘public pressure’ was unlikely to blow up his car and kill his for Western training and security to have an effect on Karzai, but family, a relative said. support after most combat forces warned that there was no time “We cannot disclose the country pull out, frustrating Washington to lose in planning the complex he left for due to security threats which has warned it may with- operation. to his life,” the relative said, ask- draw altogether and freeze its aid. “An agreement after the presi- ing for anonymity because he was “We are urgently waiting for a dential election, which could go also scared of militants. signature from the Afghan side,” into a second round, and which “Militants warned him to said German Defence Minister would then be followed by a deci- stop pleading the case or else Thomas de Maiziere, whose sion by the Americans, would cer- he and his family would face the country has offered to also keep tainly be too late,” he said. consequences.” hundreds of forces in the country De Maiziere also thanked Lawyer Afridi represented doc- post-2014. German troops who have been tor Shakil Afridi, is a Pakistani “We are prepared for all deployed in the country’s north physician who helped the CIA options, but not endlessly,” the in their longest combat operation run a fake vaccine program in minister told reporters on the since World War II, saying that Abbottabad, Pakistan, to confirm flight to Afghanistan. in Afghanistan “German soldiers German Defence Minister Thomas de Maiziere (left) is greeted by Afghan Army General Zalmai Wesa on his arrival Osama bin Laden’s presence in “Such a deployment and had to learn to fight.” at the Afghan Army training Camp in Mazar-e-Sharif yesterday. the city by obtaining DNA sam- redeployment require forward AFP ples. Doctor Afridi was arrested after United States special forces killed bin Laden in May 2011 in the town of Abbottabad. The secret raid outraged Pakistan and strained relations Berlin court rejects Afghan claims Suicide bomber attacks between the allies. Afridi was sentenced to 33 years in jail for membership of BONN: A German court yes- German commander had made militant group Laskhar-e-Islam, terday threw out a compensa- sufficient checks, asking contacts German troops in Kabul an accusation he denies. tion claim by relatives of the at the scene seven times whether Family members and a mem- scores of civilians killed in a there were civilians there and KABUL: A suicide bomber The Taliban claimed respon- ber of his legal counsel claimed 2009 German-ordered Nato each time hearing that there were attacked a convoy of German sibility for the attack in a text Dr Afridi had been tortured attack in Afghanistan, rul- not. troops near the international message sent by spokesman while in Pakistani custody during ing that the commander who The infrared camera images airport in the Afghan capital, Zabihullah Mujahid. He claimed November 2012. But in August, ordered the strike did not act available to him from the United Kabul yesterday, a military two German vehicles were Pakistan overturned his convic- negligently. States jet could also not detect official said, but there were no destroyed and “10 soldiers were tion, citing procedural errors and The commander, Georg Klein, a civilian presence, the court immediate reports of casualties. killed and wounded.” ordering a retrial. had called in a United States said, as people appeared only as Confirmation of the attack A bomb had been planted in a Now the doctor faces murder fighter jet to strike two fuel trucks dots leaving it impossible to tell from the Nato-led International four-wheel-drive vehicle on the charges relating to the death of north of Kunduz city, which Nato whether they were armed or if Security Assistance Force northern edge of the airport, a patient eight years ago. A judg- believed had been hijacked by they were children. (ISAF) came soon after a wit- Afghan deputy interior minister ment is expected on December 18. Taliban insurgents. Relatives, who had sought ness reported a large blast near General Ayoub Salangi posted on Samiullah Afridi is the second The Afghan government said 99 damages from the German gov- the sprawling and heavily guarded Twitter. There were no casualties, member of the legal team to flee people, including 30 civilians, were ernment, protested against the facility, which is used by civilians he said. following militant threats. killed in the strike. Independent German Commander George Klein decision outside the court. and the military. REUTERS REUTERS rights groups estimated between Civilian casualties have con- 60 and 70 civilians died. they are useful for the Taliban’s tinued to cause tensions between “The chamber is convinced ... logistics and appropriate for a Afghan authorities and interna- that the then commander of the possible attack,” the statement tional backers. Provincial Reconstruction Team added. The German government plans Kunduz did not act in dereliction The high death toll from the to reduce the number of soldiers of his duty. In ordering the strike attack sent shockwaves across to 170,000 professionals and up he did not violate the norms of Germany and ultimately forced to 15,000 short-term volunteers international law to protect the its then defence minister to step (voluntary military service). civilian population,” the Bonn down over accusations he covered Reservists are available to the regional court said in a statement. up the number of civilian casual- Armed Forces and participate “He correctly identified the ties in the weeks leading up to the in defence exercises and deploy- fuel tankers as a military objects. 2009 federal election. ments abroad. Because of the fuel they carry, The court said it believed the REUTERS

Mob kills man for desecrating Quran in Quetta QUETTA: A mob killed a man and wounded three others over the alleged desecration of a copy of the Quran in the southwestern Pakistani city of Quetta yesterday, officials said. The violence started when some vendors alleg- edly found torn-out pages of Quran in a pomegran- ate crate they received in a shipment from neigh- bouring Iran, witnesses and officials said. A mob then formed, shouting slogans against Shia, who form a major- ity in Iran. They destroyed shops, burnt a motorcy- cle and tried to march towards a Shia neighbour- hood in the city but were stopped by police, a senior police official said on con- dition of anonymity. The crowd began shoot- ing indiscriminately in various parts of the city, which resulted in one death and bullet wounds to three others. “At least one man was killed and three others were wounded in firing incidents in the city,” pro- vincial home secretary Asad Gilani said. Gilani said the unrest in the city was contained after paramilitary troops were deployed in key areas, but he declined to shed light on the allegations of desecration. Nobody had come to the police to file a case. AFP THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 Homosexuality a crime: Supreme Court Activists dejected, protest verdict

NEW DELHI: The Supreme hundreds from the LGBT com- Court yesterday held consen- munity staged angry demonstra- sual sex between adults of the tions at Jantar Mantar. same gender a criminal offence, Reacting to the court rul- leaving the lesbian, gay, bisexual ing, Law Minister Kapil Sibal and transgender community said: “It is the prerogative of the dejected. Supreme Court to judge the con- As scores from the community stitutionality and validity of the came out on the streets to pro- law. The opinion of the Supreme test the verdict, the government Court must be respected by the indicated they will take the legis- government. They have exercised lative route on decriminalisation their prerogative, we shall exer- of same gender sexual relations. cise ours.” Asked how soon the Setting aside a Delhi High government will bring the matter Court verdict of 2009 that in parliament, Sibal said: “Well, decriminalised sexual relations if parliament runs, we shall take between people of the same sex, it up.” Justice G S Singhvi and Justice S Information and Broadcasting J Mukhopadhayay said: “We hold Minister Manish Tewari said the that Section 377 IPC does not suf- government will definitely take fer from the vice of unconstitu- into cognisance the verdict of the tionality and the declaration made Supreme Court. by the division bench of the high “As far as the government is court is legally unsustainable.” concerned, if I recall correctly, in The section holds that same- 2009 or 2010 when M Veerappa gender sexual relationship is Moily was the law minister, he against the order of nature and had said that Section 377 of IPC an offence entailing imprison- should be decriminalised. But ment up to life sentence. since a decision has come, the “We would like to make it clear government will take cognisance that this court has merely pro- of it and let you know.” nounced on the correctness of Expressing his deep disappoint- the view taken by the Delhi High ment with the verdict, gay activist Court on the constitutionality of Ashok Row Kavi the fight will go Section 377 of the IPC and found on. “We are back to square one. that the said section does not suf- But we will fight for our rights. It fer from any constitutional infir- is essential to note that this has A gay-rights activist takes part in a protest against the Supreme Court’s ruling in Kolkata yesterday. mity,” Justice Singhvi said. nothing to do with morality and But the court said: “The com- religion. which is undisputedly the rep- immune from constitutional chal- judgment “not just a betrayal of the address the issue,” he said. petent legislature will be free to “We are only asking for inclu- resentative body of the people of lenge, it must nonetheless guide LGBT community but of the val- The government had earlier consider the desirability and pro- sive rights in the society. This is India has not thought it proper our understanding of character, ues enshrined in the constitution”. told the apex court that there priety of deleting Section 377 IPC just a type of orientation a lot of to delete the provision,” the apex scope, ambit and import.” “Our fight will go on. We will fight were an estimated 2.5 million gays from the statute book or amend.” people are involved in,” he added. court said. The apex court verdict uphold- till the bitter end,” she said. in India and about seven percent The court also said the issue Referring to the 172nd Law “Such a conclusion” the court ing Section 377 came 21 months Pallav Patankar from Humsafar of them were HIV infected. has repeatedly come up for Commission Report, which had said, “is further strengthened by after it had reserved its verdict Trust said the verdict was a big In its affidavit, the union health debate, but the government chose specifically recommended deletion the fact that despite the decision of in March 2012. It allowed appeals blow to the community. ministry said it was planning to not to amend the law or revisit it. of the controversial section, the the union of India to not challenge filed by social and religious groups “The Supreme Court has put bring 400,000 high-risk men who The ruling came as a major court said: “The issue has repeat- in appeal the order of the Delhi challenging the high court verdict the decision back to parliament. have sex with men under its AIDS blow for gay rights activists, who edly come up for debate. However, High Court, the parliament has not on the ground that gay sex was The reason it went to the SC control programme — and that pledged to fight for their rights. the Legislature has chosen not to made any amendment in the law.” against cultural and religious val- was because parliament refused half of them have already been Many activists who were in the amend the law or revisit it.” However, the court said: “While ues of the country. to discuss issues related to alter- covered. court broke down. In the evening, “This shows that parliament, this does not make the law Activist Sohini Ghosh called the nate sexuality. There is a need to IANS

Kashmir unrest Kejriwal in Foreign Policy list of 100 global thinkers WASHINGTON: Aam Aadmi Party’s Security Agency contractor Edward Snowden, The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate impressive debut in the Delhi elections has “for exposing the reach of government spying”. Change, led by India’s Rajendra Pachauri was earned party founder Arvind Kejriwal a It also includes US Secretary of State John listed 42nd “for showing that humanity is on the place on Foreign Policy magazine’s list of 100 Kerry “for betting on Middle East peace when brink of catastrophe”. Other Indians or people of global thinkers “for leading a campaign to no one else would”, Iranian President Hassan Indian origin in the list include Rohit Wanchoo, clean up India’s capital”. Rouhani “for opening a door” and UN Human one of the four founders of GiveDirectly organ- “Kejriwal is out to ignite a revolution,” says Rights High Commissioner Navi Pillay. isation, “for trusting the poor to spend their the prestigious magazine in putting him on the India’s leading women’s rights activists money wisely”. Anand Grover, a human rights 32nd spot of its list of people who have made a Urvashi Butalia and Kavita Krishnan are lawyer and the UN special rapporteur on the “measurable difference” and are “pushing the listed on the 77th spot “for exposing the roots right to health, makes it “for going to the mat boundaries of the possible”. “India’s elite have of India’s rampant sexual violence”. with Big Pharma”. good reason to be worried about Kejriwal,” the Butalia, the founder of India’s first femi- Naval Ravikant, co-founder of AngelList, magazine said. nist publishing house, and Krishnan, secre- an online platform that connects investors “The country was rocked by a series of anti- tary of the All India Progressive Women’s with start-ups seeking funding, is listed for corruption protests just two years ago, and in a Association, “aren’t just thoughtful activists: “throwing open the gates to venture capital”. poll released in July, 71 percent of respondents They are formidable, front-line opponents in Pakistani girls’ education activist Malala said corruption is getting worse.” the battle against India’s scourge of sexual Yousafzai earned a spot “for wielding uncom- The list was topped by former National violence”, the magazine said. mon courage and wisdom”. IANS

MiG-21 FL flies Sreesanth to tie into IAF history the knot today KALAIKUNDA: The iconic KOCHI: Controversial former A bullet hole is seen on the glass door of a shop as an army soldier MiG-21 FL — a variant in the India pace bowler S Sreesanth stands guard after a shootout in Srinagar yesterday. A Central Reserve MiG-21 series of fighter aircraft will tie the knot with a girl from Police Force (CRPF) officer was killed and another injured after mili- — that heralded the dawn of the the Jaipur royal family, a jew- supersonic jet era for the Indian ellery designer by profession, tants opened fire on a CRPF patrol, police said. Air Force half a century ago, at the famed Guruvayoor Sree yesterday passed into military Krishna temple in Kerala today aviation history at an emotional morning. fly past and parade at an air Pre-wedding ceremonies base here. were held at a private hotel Parliament loses another Two pairs of MiG-21 FLs took here attended by the close rela- off with a deafening roar from tives of Sreesanth and the bride the runway of the Kalaikunda air Bhuveneshwari Kumari. She day to disruptions base at 9.45am for one last time along with her family arrived here yesterday, ending a 50-year-long from Rajasthan on December 8. NEW DELHI: The Lok Sabha of children in relief camps hous- association with the IAF. The couple has been going and Rajya Sabha were adjourned ing Muslim riot victims in The jet — that has been flown steady for the past few years and yesterday after noisy protests Muzaffarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. by nearly three out of every four she stood by him in times of cri- over various issues including Speaker Meira Kumar first fighter pilots of the IAF since its sis when he was jailed following Telangana and food prices. adjourned the House till 12 noon. induction in 1963 and dealt telling a spot-fixing scandal which took Lok Sabha Speaker Meira When it met at noon, members blows to the Pakistan Air Force place during the last edition of the Kumar and Rajya Sabha Deputy again resorted to protests over a during the 1971 war — made its Indian Premier League. Chairman P J Kurien called off parliamentary report on 2G spec- final pass in a four-aircraft box The couple will go to Sreesanth’s business after failing to restore trum allocation as well as attacks formation over the tarmac area. ancestral home in Kothamangalam order in their houses. on Tamil Nadu fishermen by the A separate formation by three in Ernakulam district after the The Lok Sabha was the first to Sri Lanka Navy. She also told MiG-27 MLs roared overhead, wedding, followed by a reception be adjourned until today. The two the House that she had received performing the Trishul Break today, sources close to the fast Houses lost their question hour notices for a no-confidence Manoeuvre in a final salute to the bowler said. as disturbances broke out within motion against the government MiG-21s (Type-77). After his arrest on May 16 and minutes after they met for the from several members. As the din It was a nostalgic moment for subsequent imprisonment till June day’s proceedings. continued, Meira Kumar said she Air Chief Marshal N A K Browne 11, Sreesanth was banned from all In the Lok Sabha, members was “compelled” to adjourn the and many other weather-beaten forms of the game by the Board from the Seemandhra region of house again — for the day. IAF veterans who had flown the of Control for Cricket in India Andhra Pradesh shouted slogans Bharatiya Janata Party leader jet and experienced the distinct after a probe by the country’s against the division of the state to M Venkiah Naidu, meanwhile, “kick” of its reheat, regarded by cricket body. Sreesanth has been create Telangana, drowning out demanded a discussion on the Joint aviation experts as quite unlike charged under the Maharashtra the question hour. Parliamentary Committee report any other fighter jet’s “reheat” Two Mig-21FL (TYPE 77) fighter jets fly while Air Force personnel parade Control of Organised Crime Act There were also protests on on the 2G spectrum allocation. experience. during an air show at Air Force Station, in Kalaikunda, yesterday. and the case has now been posted rising food prices and the deaths IANS IANS for December 18. IANS THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Uncertainty ‘11.12.13’ babies over new govt formation in Delhi continues

NEW DELHI: Uncertainty continued yesterday over the formation of a new government in the capital, with neither the BJP nor the AAP making any move in this direction. Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) put the onus on each other for formation of the government. The stance of the two parties appeared to reinforce the specula- tion that the national capital was headed for president’s rule. The BJP emerged as the single largest party in the 70-member assembly with 31 seats while AAP got 28. The Congress, after ruling the city for 15 years, ended with eight seats only. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said his party was ready for fresh elections, and chided the BJP Newly born children are seen lying on a bed at the Government Jai Prakash hospital in Bhopal yesterday. The century’s last sequential date — 11.12.13 — is considered an auspicious for not forming the government sequence number by many Indians, and more than 11 newly born children were registered at the hospital. despite being the largest party in the assembly. The BJP had Tuesday said it was prepared for fresh elections. Kejriwal, who addressed a pub- lic meeting in the capital yester- day, also said the AAP website would be opened for donations for Stunned in 4 states, Congress fears ’14 the next assembly polls in Delhi. “We are prepared to fight the elections again,” Kejriwal said. Disconnect with people major reason for defeat; Modi a major threat, say most state leaders He, however, did not speak about the party’s plans for the 2014 Lok NEW DELHI: Congress lead- convinced that people were angry Punjab Congress president and spoke to IANS, however, insisted government was to blame — were Sabha polls. Kejriwal said the ers across the country are with the Congress in all states. Gurdaspur MP Pratap Singh Bajwa that Congress president Sonia the reasons people had become BJP and Congress should form virtually in mourning after “The Congress will find it very said the results were “a wake up Gandhi and her son and vice disenchanted with the party. “We the government as they had the the humiliating defeat in four tough to come out of this crisis by call”. Congress leaders in Haryana president Rahul Gandhi could not were not expecting this kind of numbers to notch up a majority states, with many admitting the the next Lok Sabha election,” he are worried that the AAP — which be blamed for the electoral mess. defeat in the four states,” rued a in the Delhi assembly. rout has rattled the party ahead said, adding the party would win has pockets of influence in areas “The results are definitely a Goa Congress leader. But he said: “The BJP and Congress are two of the 2014 Lok Sabha election. only one or two parliamentary bordering Delhi — could expand its matter of grave concern,” said “But people are mature. They vote sides of the same coin. They have Congress leaders at vari- seats in the state. base in the state. Jammu and Kashmir minister for one party at local level and got seats and should jointly form ous levels in state after state In elections held in A senior Congress leader in and Congress leader Sham Lal another at the national level.” a government,” he said. blamed a variety of factors for November-December, the BJP Maharashtra blamed four ‘M’s Sharma. “But to blame the defeat “Disconnect with people He said if the BJP fails to form the electoral drubbing in Delhi, retained Madhya Pradesh and for the debacle: “Modi, Media, on Rahul Gandhi is highly unfair.” appears to be a major reason for the government despite having 31 Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh despite being in Minorities and Manmohan.” Salman Soz, a Congress leader the defeat,” Jharkhand Congress seats, people should regard the Chhattisgarh. power for 10 years, ousted the He said party activists appeared and son of the party’s state presi- spokesman Shailesh Sinha told party as a failure and not support Most state leaders said they Congress in Rajasthan and came disenchanted in the Congress- dent Saif-ud-Din, said that the IANS. “Leaders seem to be it any further. He said members were worried over the coming Lok close to victory in Delhi. ruled state. Although he felt that state results were “deeply dis- depending on the party’s name who feel suffocated in the Congress Sabha battle. A few conceded that In Delhi, the one-year-old Aam the result would not impact on tressing” and “we must learn and leader to garner votes.” and the BJP can join the AAP. the BJP’s prime ministerial can- Aadmi Party (AAP) created his- the Lok Sabha polls, he warned some hard lessons”. However, some Congress lead- Meanwhile, Harsh Vardhan, didate Narendra Modi was indeed tory by bagging 28 of the 70 seats that the Congress “will have to On Sunday, after the Congress ers expressed the hope that the leader of the BJP legislature party, a major threat. in its maiden electoral battle. work doubly hard”. In Odisha, was soundly defeated, Sonia party will overcome — and not said it was up to the AAP and the “You cannot deny the Modi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit was where the Congress has been out Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi spoke allow Sunday’s verdict to cast a Congress to cobble together an factor,” said a Congress leader in herself defeated by AAP leader of power since 2000, senior party on similar lines. A Tamil Nadu shadow on the Lok Sabha polls. alliance to form the government. Rajasthan, where his party was Arvind Kejriwal. leader Niranjan Patnaik warned Congress leader said “Modi and Said West Bengal Congress “I won’t comment on Congress crushed by the Bharatiya Janata In Punjab, a prominent of similar debacles elsewhere the media” contributed to the general secretary Om Prakash considering support to AAP. If Party. “He is a good orator. People Congress leader did not hide his unless “mistakes” were rectified. electoral drubbing. But he insisted Mishra: “The Congress showing they want to form a government enjoyed listening to his speeches.” disgust. “Mere rhetoric on non- Another leader complained there was no Modi wave. is disastrous but it won’t have any in Delhi, they can very well do Another Rajasthan leader, who issues will no longer work,” he that there was no internal democ- A few felt that rising food significant bearing on the Lok that,” Harsh Vardhan said. did not want to be identified by said. “Rahul Gandhi will have to racy in the country’s oldest politi- prices and corruption — for Sabha polls. There is no reason IANS name, added that he was now take drastic measures now.” cal party. Almost all of those who which the Congress-led central for despondency.” IANS

Tejpal sent to judicial custody Mars craft tuned for 12 days to stay course PANAJI: Tehelka editor-in- chief Tarun Tejpal was yes- BANGALORE: India’s Mars of the 20-minute delay due to terday remanded in 12 days in spacecraft was fine tuned early the space distance between the judicial custody by a court here. yesterday in the interplanetary orbiter and our ground network Tejpal was presented before the space to stay on course in the centre,” the official said. court yesterday after his extended 680-million-km sun orbit on The orbiter zoomed out on four-day police custody period way to the Red Planet. December 4 of the earth’s sphere expired. The district and ses- “The on-board computer car- of influence, which extends up to sions court passed the order after ried the first mid-course cor- 925,000km in the interplanetary police argued that Tejpal should rection of the Mars Orbiter at space and freed from its gravita- not be released on bail for fear of 6:30 a.m. by firing the 22 Newton tional pull. After a nine-month intimidating the victim and wit- thrusters for 40.5 seconds,” a sen- journey, the spacecraft will enter nesses who have testified against ior space agency official said. the Mars sphere of influence, him in the alleged rape case, or for The spacecraft was 2.9-million which is around 573,473km from its destroying evidence against him. km away from the earth when the surface, in a hyperbolic trajectory. The editor has spent 10 days trajectory correction was carried When the spacecraft is clos- in custody since his arrest on and cruising at 32 km/second to est to the Red Planet, it will be November 30 for alleged sexual reach the Martian orbit in mid- captured into the Martian orbit assault on a junior colleague in a September 2014 for its geological through a crucial manoeuvre, Goa resort last month. Besides exploration. which involves slowing its speed. the alleged sexual assault, Tejpal “The craft is coasting in the Transition from the earth’s final faces charges under sections like intended solar orbit towards Mars. orbit to solar orbit has been pro- Supporters of anti-corruption activist Anna Hazare take part in a candle-lit march in Amritsar yesterday. Hazare’s 341 (wrongful restraint) and 342 Three more mid-course correc- grammed in line with sun’s gravity indefinite hunger strike to press for the passage of the Jan Lokpal bill entered its second day. (wrongful confinement) of the tions will be carried out in April, and laws of the universe to ensure Indian Penal Code (IPC). These August and early September next the orbiter reaches precisely on were slapped on him last week. year to ensure that the orbiter time to be slung into Martian orbit. Govt ‘not sincere’ on Lokpal bill Tejpal has already been booked stays on course for its interjec- The 1,337kg orbiter was under sections 354-A (sexual tion into the Martian orbit Sep launched on November 5 from harassment, physical contact, 24,” the official said. Sriharikota off the Bay of Bengal, NEW DELHI: The govern- letter on Tuesday in response December 2011 by Lok Sabha was advances involving unwelcome Scientists at the Deep Space about 80km from Chennai, ment is not sincere in getting to Hazare’s letter sent to him “neither the Jan Lokpal nor had and explicit sexual overtures, or Network of the Indian Space onboard a 350-tonne rocket with the Lokpal bill passed in parlia- on November 30. He said the it measured to our expectations”. any other unwelcome physical, Research Organisation (ISRO) at five scientific instruments — ment, BJP leader Arun Jaitley Bharatiya Janata Party had made “Surely, creation of a ‘sarkari’ verbal or non-verbal conduct of Bylalu, about 40km from here, are MarsColour Camera, Methane has told social activist Anna several proposals to the select Lokpal could not be your objective sexual nature), 376 (rape) and monitoring the orbiter’s odyssey Sensor, Thermal Infrared Imaging Hazare, while conveying his committee of Rajya Sabha formed or ours,” the BJP leader said. 376(2)(k) (rape by a person of and programming its computer Spectrometer, Lyman Alpha party’s desire to pursue the leg- after the Lokpal bill came to the He said the bill was taken up a woman in his custody taking for sending and receiving com- Photometer, and Mars exospheric islation with sincerity. house but the government diluted in Rajya Sabha on December 29, advantage of his official position) mands for its operations despite Netural Composition Analyser. In a letter to the social activist the panel’s recommendations. 2011, and the entire opposition ral- of the IPC. a 20-minute delay in the exercise India became the first Asian who has started an indefinite agi- “I am writing to you to remove lied against the provisions of the The police have already due to the distance between earth country and the fourth nation in tation for passage of the Lokpal any possibility of misunderstand- bill passed in the Lok Sabha as it recorded the statements of the and the orbiter in deep space. the world to leap into the inter- bill, Jaitley said the government ing on this issue which is indi- sought to create a “sarkari Lokpal”. victim, three witnesses and The onboard navigators have planetary space with its Rs450- used its majority in the Lok Sabha cated in your letter. My party He said the BJP was committed Tehelka’s former managing editor been monitoring the orbiter’s crore exploratory mission to to approve the bill on December and I am fully committed to the to passing the legislation and had Shoma Chaudhury, sworn before velocity and determining its space Mars, about 400-million km from 27, 2011 to create a Lokpal “not as highest norms of public account- suggested major amendments to a judicial magistrate. Sources said path to fine tune its voyage in the earth. So far, only Russia, US an independent institution but as ability and, therefore, believe that make the Lokpal a credible insti- that the investigators had been intended sun orbit. and the European Space Agency a government controlled entity”. the Lokpal should be brought into tution but the Rajya Sabha was unable to break Tejpal and extract “The onboard computer is also (ESA) have undertaken such mis- Jaitley, Leader of Opposition force immediately,” Jaitley said. adjourned by the chairman. a confession of crime from him. getting hands-on experience in sions to Mars. in the Rajya Sabha, wrote the He said the bill passed in IANS IANS handling the commands in spite IANS

THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BREAK

PRAYER TIME French cafe brews rule: Fajr (Dawn) 4:48 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:09 Be rude, Zuhr (Noon) 11:27 Asr (Afternoon) 2:25 pay more Maghrib (Sunset) 4:46 Isha (Night) 6:16 PARIS: A cafe on the French Riviera has gained international notoriety after reminding cus- tomers to mind their manners. WEATHER What started as a local joke generated an Internet buzz this week after a diner tweeted the Today Thursday Weather Friday Conditions: sign outside the Petite Syrah in Clear Clear Clear Nice on the Cote d’Azur. Fine to partly In an attempt to turn the tables cloudy. on customers who complain that serving staff are rude, the man- High: 25° High: 28° High: 29° ager warned he would hit impolite Low: 17° Low: 20° Low: 20° customers where it hurts, in the pocket. A sign outside the establish- ment states: DOHA - SUN & SEA “Un cafe - EUR7 “Un cafe s’il vous plait SUN TIDE SEA - EUR4.25 SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND “Bonjour, un cafe, s’il vous plait - EUR1.40.” 06:09 16:46 02:15 & 12:00 06:45 & 19:30 05-10/15 KT The appeal for some old-fash- ioned savoir-vivre clearly touched THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW a nerve around the world. Within hours, the story went viral on HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER Twitter. The former centre-right government minister Christine MUSCAT 28/20 Clear 28/20 Partly cloudy Boutin responded, also by Twitter, KUWAIT 24/17 Clear 22/13 Chance of rain that it was an excellent idea, and BAHRAIN 24/21 Clear 25/20 Partly cloudy the story in the local Nice-Matin SANAA 22/07 Chance of rain 24/06 Partly cloudy newspaper received tens of thou- RIYADH 27/14 Clear 27/15 Partly cloudy sands of “likes”. DUBAI 27/20 Partly cloudy 30/20 Partly cloudy The manager, Fabrice Pepino, BAGHDAD 14/07 Partly cloudy 12/07 Partly cloudy told the paper he had even had television cameras turn up to film THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW the sign. “We live in a strange old world. For three years, we have HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER put all our passion into what we do, which is trying to offer quality ATHENS 11/07 Partly cloudy 11/06 Mostly cloudy food...” THE GUARDIAN WASHINGTON 02/-6 Partly cloudy 04/-3 Partly cloudy SYDNEY 28/17 Clear 27/19 Partly cloudy LONDON 09/06 Partly cloudy 10/03 Chance of rain PARIS 09/04 Partly cloudy 10/07 Mostly cloudy ISTANBUL 04/01 Snow 05/02 Clear MANILA 30/25 Partly cloudy 30/24 Mostly cloudy DHAKA 25/15 Clear 25/15 Clear DELHI 25/11 Clear 24/10 Clear ISLAMABAD 21/06 Clear 23/06 Clear Thursday 12 December 2013 8 Safar 1435 Volume 18 Number 5911 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar becomes global leader in helium exports Energy Minister dedicates Helium 2 plant to Emir; take-off agreements signed with three companies

DOHA: Qatar emerged as the world’s largest helium exporter as H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry officially inaugurated its Helium 2 plant yesterday. The plant has the largest refin- ing facility and makes world’s second largest helium producer after the US. After the inaugural ceremony, Dr Al Sada told reporters: “As Qatar celebrates its National Day, I would like to present this achievement to H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar.” The Minister described the Helium 2 plant as “a testament to how Qatar’s national resources from the North Field can be best optimised.” Used in Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), airships, rocket engines, deep sea diving, cryogenic material and to estimate the age of rocks and minerals containing uranium and thorium and solar The Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada with top energy and industry officials during the inauguration of Helium 2 plant yesterday. telescopes; China, India and Japan are biggest importers of helium. billion standard cubic feet (Bscf). supplier RasGas is committed to creating and maintaining a safe capacity, we in Qatargas are very has provided Qatari engineers Qatar has already signed off-take “For RasGas to develop, build building on Qatar’s reputation as work environment. proud to be part, and a major con- with a variety of career and skill agreements with three companies. and operate the facilities that a reliable international supplier of As a result of RasGas’ and tributor, of the Helium project since development opportunities. A The Helium 2 plant incorpo- make Qatar the world’s larg- high quality helium,” said Hamad Qatargas’ mega LNG trains, its beginning with Helium 1 and large number of Qatari nationals rates highly complex and advanced est exporter of helium reflects Rashid Al Mohannadi, RasGas Helium 2 has doubled the pro- now with the further expansion, have been involved in the Helium technology that captures, extracts the confidence our sharehold- Chief Executive Officer and Vice- duction capacity of its predeces- Helium 2, which has allowed it to 2 project since its early stages. and refines crude helium from six ers have in our proven ability Chairman of Qatar Petroleum. sor, Helium 1. The two plants’ become the largest helium asset in The inaugural event was also liquefied natural gas (LNG) mega to manage projects and oper- More than five million man combined annual production 1.96 the world and part of our continuing attended by senior government trains: RasGas’ trains 6 and 7, ate facilities safely and reliably. hours were worked constructing Bscf per year is expected to meet contribution to the diversification officials and senior personnel and Qatargas’ trains 4, 5, 6 and RasGas is very proud that the the Helium 2 project without a around 25 percent of current total of our nation’s natural resources,” from Qatar Petroleum, RasGas, 7. RasGas managed the two-year Helium 2 project was executed single lost time incident (LTI). global liquid helium demand. said Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatargas, ExxonMobil, project construction project and now and achieved timely production This remarkable safety mile- “As the largest LNG producer Qatargas Chief Executive Officer. shareholders, contracted custom- operates the plant which has an with an excellent safety record stone is testament to RasGas with 42 million tonnes per annum The advanced technology ers and contractors. annual production capacity of 1.3 from the onset. As a global energy and Qatargas’ commitment to and seven trains operating at full applied in the Helium 2 facility THE PENINSULA

Doha Bank gets Etihad examines Alitalia books, plans investment licence for MILAN/ABU DHABI: Abu “Etihad has been in (Alitalia’s) Alitalia. Analysts said Etihad jointly operating flights between airline and a good portion of Dhabi’s Etihad Airways is data room as of some ten days would likely be interested in a Abu Dhabi and the Italian cities their fleet serves destinations in operations examining Alitalia’s books and will complete the process by shareholding of at least 25 per- of Rome and Milan. Northern Italy,” said Stefano Sala, and is expected to decide by the end of this week,” one source cent to have enough management Etihad, whose annual net profit a partner at aviation investment Christmas whether to take a said. Etihad is expected to decide and strategic influence. tripled in 2012, already holds advisory firm Avinomics. “It will in India stake in the troubled Italian on whether to buy a stake in The two airlines had been linked stakes in Virgin Australia, Air be interesting to see what can airline, two sources familiar Alitalia “just before Christmas”, in media reports earlier this year Berlin, Aer Lingus and India’s Jet be done between Alitalia and DOHA: Doha Bank gets licence with the matter said yesterday. the source added. Etihad and but Etihad said at the time there Airways among others. Darwin. from the Reserve Bank of India Alitalia offers access to Alitalia declined to comment. were no talks beyond those on The UAE carrier has been Alitalia is much leaner today (RBI) to commence bank- Europe’s fourth-largest travel Alitalia has just raised ¤300m code sharing. Speculation of a tie- aggressively growing its interna- than the group that was rescued ing operations in India. It will market and flies 25 million pas- ($413m) which analysts said up began again in recent weeks. tional network over the past 10 and privatised in 2008 and in a open a branch in Mumbai soon sengers a year. But the airline, would keep the carrier flying “An Etihad-led team is looking years through minority stake pur- revised industrial plan presented to provide full-scale banking which loses ¤700,000 a day and for the next six months while it at numbers of Alitalia and this is chases and codeshare agreements, last month its management services. has net debt of more than ¤800m, searches for an investor. not the first time it has done so,” a as it competes with regional rivals promised severe cost cuts of up to Doha Bank will offer wholesale needs to find a partner willing to Not being a European carrier, second source close to Etihad said, Emirates Airline and Qatar ¤300m to make the carrier more banking, retail banking, treasury invest in its fleet and make it prof- Etihad can only take a stake of adding the two airlines already Airways. “Etihad recently bought profitable. and trade finance services. itable in the longer term. up to 49 percent in Rome-based had strong commercial links by a third of Switzerland’s Darwin REUTERS Sheikh Fahad bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al Thani, Chairman, Doha Bank, said, “in line with the expansion strategy adopted Nissan unveils X-Trail SUV by the Board of Directors over the years with a view to expanding Oil steady above $109, the operations of Doha Bank at the local, regional and interna- tional levels, the licence from the RBI to start operations in India market awais US data is yet another milestone and tes- timony and is considered as the LONDON: Oil held steady the past year. “It is range-bound. only Qatari bank to obtain such above $109 a barrel yesterday, I see us staying in that range a licence.” shrugging off predictions from today with about $110.50 a bar- Doha Bank’s Managing the West’s energy watchdog rel at the upper end and about Director Sheikh Abdul Rahman of rising global demand as the $109 a barrel at the lower end,” bin Mohammad bin Jabor Al market awaited US data that said Christopher Bellew, trader Thani said, “Doha Bank is the is expected to show a drop in at Jefferies Bache. “If anything it first Qatari Bank to have a full- crude stockpiles. will break downwards but there is scale operations in Dubai, Abu The International Energy plenty of speculative length in the Dhabi, Kuwait and India, and this Agency (IEA) said in its monthly market in case the IEA is right.” new licence for opening a branch report that after eight consecu- Brent crude oil was down 15 in India will not only add value tive quarters of contraction, oil cents to $109.23 a barrel by 1010 to the bank but will enhance its demand in the world’s heavily GMT, after closing one cent lower capabilities in supporting all cor- industrialised countries returned on Tuesday. US crude futures for porate and individual banking to growth in the second quarter January delivery stayed near a needs.” of this year. six-week peak at $98.52, up one R Seetharaman, CEO of The Paris-based agency revised cent after registering a 1.2-per- the bank said, “there is a large up its estimates for global oil cent rise the previous day. diaspora of Indians in Qatar and demand growth by 145,000 bar- Brent’s premium to West GCC and that various Indian rels per day (bpd) to 1.2 million Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude companies are active in infra- bpd for 2013 and by 110,000 bpd futures has fallen nearly $8 since structure projects, therefore, to 1.2 million bpd for 2014. end-November, as changes in the licence we got to start our An all-new X-Trail SUV of Nissan Motor Co is displayed during an unveiling event at the company’s global Traders said those forecasts pipeline flows may ease a supply operations in India will pave the headquarters showroom in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, yesterday. The new vehicle will go on sale in Japan would not be enough to push the glut at WTI’s delivery point in way for the bank to support all from Monday. Brent contract out of the narrow Cushing, Oklahoma. expatriates.” range in which it has traded for REUTERS THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Qatar Chamber, Islamic financing ICC helped broker trade deal to drive Mena at Bali WTO meet DOHA: Qatar Chamber said that it had worked along with International Chamber of growth: Experts Commerce (ICC) and other World Trade Organisation (WTO) parties to seal a his- Euromoney Qatar Conference ends toric agreement at the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference DOHA: Rapidly-growing is increasing pressure to boost in Bali. The drive was a part- Islamic-based finance will drive employment opportunities and nership created by the two the next phase of economic enhance support for the private organisations called the ICC growth across the Middle East sector. Business World Trade Agenda and North Africa (Mena), finan- The Mena region needs to cre- (WTA). cial leaders have said at the ate 75 million jobs to keep pace The trade facilitation deal Euromoney Qatar Conference with population growth, requir- would contribute to economic yesterday. ing greater investment by small- growth and job creation by Globally Shariah-compliant and medium-sized enterprises simplifying administrative assets are estimated to be worth which represent 80 percent of procedures and standards that $1.4 trillion, and slated to post the region’s businesses, accord- dictate how goods cross bor- double-digit growth in the next ing to figures presented at the ders or how they are handled two-to-three years. conference. at customs. The GCC and Asia are set Khaled Al Aboodi, Chief The deal will also restore confi- to be Islamic finance leaders, Executive Officer, Islamic dence in the multilateral trading followed by newcomers such as Corporation for the Development system and generate a stimulus Turkey and Nigeria, experts of the Private Sector (ICD), said: Rene Karsenti, (right) President of the International Capital Market Association during an interview session at of $1 trillion and 21 million jobs noted while addressing vari- “The private sector is the main Euromoney Qatar Conference yesterday. (ABDUL BASIT) in the world economy. ous sessions on the conclud- engine of growth for jobs, better According to ICC, this agree- ing day of the Euromoney income, and increased standard economy. Speakers from around enjoyed increased activity and on this will help Qatar achieve ment is expected to reduce conference. of living. Achieving this develop- the world at the conference con- is expected to continue to grow its National Vision 2030, and cross-border transaction costs As well as funding planned gov- mental goal will require public- curred that Qatar was entering as more sophisticated financial place Qatar as a leading eco- for companies by 10 to 15 per- ernment infrastructure invest- private partnerships, supported a new phase of unprecedented instruments spark the interest nomic centre in the region and cent and is a significant step for ment, Shariah-compliant finance with Islamic finance. Qatar is opportunity. of investors.” global economy.” businesses in all sectors and of all is increasing its importance in the assuming an increasingly promi- Rene Karsenti, President, Robert Stheeman, Chief Beyond the GCC, Turkey is sizes around the world. corporate space. International nent place on the world stage, International Capital Market Executive, United Kingdom becoming more active in the ICC Secretary General Jean- communications company while playing an important role Association Group, said: “As a Debt Management Office, Islamic finance market in order Guy Carrier said he was con- Ooredoo recently launched a in socio-economic development financial sector, Qatar benefits said: “Qatar will need to fur- to enhance economic growth, fident that impetus from the $1.25bn 5-year sukuk as part of in Africa, Central Asia, and from solid attributes such as ther diversify its economy and as the country recently issued agreement reached in Bali will a growing trend. Southeast Asia.” an English common law envi- encourage the private sector two sovereign sukuk: $1.5bn drive further negotiations at The rise of the Islamic financ- Qatar has taken a leading role ronment, and a world-class and entrepreneurship, and con- 5.5-year in September 2012, the WTO in Geneva to com- ing sector will provide important in Islamic finance, in line with regulatory regime. The Islamic tinue its focus on research and and $1.25bn 5-year in October plete other important elements stimulus at a critical period for its goals of becoming a global finance sector represents also development, education, and 2013. of the Doha Development the Mena region, where there financial hub and diversifying its an opportunity — the sector has health. Successfully delivering THE PENINSULA Agenda. “We are thrilled with this out- come which is particularly impor- tant for developing countries who will be the main beneficiaries of this agreement,” he said. GPCA urges petrochemical producers to conserve water In April 2013, Qatar Chamber and ICC hosted the ICC World Trade Agenda DOHA: With water consump- greenhouse gas emissions and Last year, the United Nations this finite resource. The sector meters fresh and municipal water Summit in Doha, bringing tion by the GCC petrochemi- hazardous waste generated by World Water Development is dependent on water in nearly to produce plastics. However, together business leaders and cals industry reaching 1.16 the sector. According to the Report noted that the growth in every aspect of its value chain,” between 2011 and 2012, the key policymakers in order trillion cubic metres in 2012, report, water consumption in population and consumption in said Dr Sadoun. company saved 24 million cubic to move beyond the Doha petrochemical producers must the region has risen from 1.12 the Middle East threatened the GCC petrochemical producers meters of fresh water by intro- Development Round deadlock conserve water in their manu- trillion cubic meters in 2010, an quality and quantity of available must develop strategies, processes ducing cold sea water, sourced and ratify trade negotiations. facturing processes to avoid increase of 3.5 percent over a two water in the region, which now and practices that conserve the from the local utilities plant, in Victor K. Fung, Chairman of the implementation of strict year period. imports up to 60 percent of its quantity and quality of water their manufacturing processes. the ICC World Trade Agenda, regulations, advised the Gulf “The industry’s capacity has fresh water. now. “If the GCC leaders pass Meanwhile, Sabic has a water said: “The door is now open to Petrochemicals and Chemicals grown by more than 12 per- Significant volumes of water — regulations on water conservation management system that is proceed with a forward-look- Association (GPCA), the cent over the last two years. either from underground sources tomorrow, it will be very difficult focused on minimizing the use of ing, post-Bali trade agenda that region’s longest standing trade However, GCC petrochemical or desalination — are used by the for the region’s petrochemical fresh water. The company recy- meets the needs of today’s glo- association. companies should take steps to petrochemical industry in the producers to change their proce- cles a large percentage of water in bal economy. This new trade The findings on water usage in conserve water due to the scar- GCC for the production of petro- dures overnight.” its operations. This strategy has agenda should include talks the Gulf’s petrochemical indus- city of this finite resource in the chemicals or for cooling purposes, The region’s petrochemical led to savings of one million cubic towards a multilateral frame- try are revealed in the GPCA’s region,” said Dr. Abdulwahab Al explained Dr Sadoun. “It is in producers have already started to meters of fresh water in the 2011- work on investment.” latest Performance Metrics Sadoun, Secretary General of the interest of the petrochemical change the way they use water. 2012 period. THE PENINSULA Report, which also measures the GPCA. industry to conserve and protect Borouge uses over a billion cubic THE PENINSULA Egypt in gas price talks with foreign firms

CAIRO: Egypt is still in talks with foreign foreign companies are being conducted by This has caused domestic gas shortages, energy companies to change the amount EGAS and by Egyptian General Petroleum another potential spark for unrest in the the government pays them for natural gas Corporation (EGPC), which is also a state- Arab world’s most populous nation, which produced in the country and there is no run firm. has experienced near constant upheaval timeline for when negotiations will finish, Egypt pays offshore gas producers on since the 2011 uprising that toppled auto- an oil ministry spokesman said. average around $2-$3 per million British crat president Hosni Mubarak. Officials have said they hope revised thermal units, according to industry esti- Abdel Aziz said there was no set timeline prices will encourage investment and future mates. Comparable payments for gas in for when the talks would conclude and that production in Egypt, notably offshore where Britain are currently above $10 and for new prices would depend on the specifics of costs are high, to avoid shortages on the Asian supply above $17. each contract. domestic market. Exploration companies are hesitating Egyptian officials have suggested pricing Oil Minister Sherif Ismail was quoted to develop untapped gas finds in Egyptian arrangements should be changed to reflect as saying, about three weeks ago, that waters partly because the amount the gov- the high costs of offshore exploration in deep state-run Egyptian Natural Gas Holding ernment pays them barely covers their water, arguing that such reform would spur Company (EGAS) would sign seven new investment costs. new investments. Abdel Aziz did not specifiy contracts and modify seven others within The government has also been late with which firms were involved in the talks. He two weeks. payments to foreign oil companies, but last could not immediately be reached for fur- Ministry spokesman Hamdy Mohamed week the oil minister promised to pay back ther comment. Abdel Aziz said yesterday that talks with $1.5bn of the $6bn owed. REUTERS

ExxonMobil hails Helium plant opening DOHA: ExxonMobil congratu- lated RasGas and QatarGas on the occasion of the inauguration of Helium 2 plant. Mark Nolan, Vice-President of Middle East and Infrastructure for ExxonMobil Development Company said: “On behalf of ExxonMobil, I congratu- late RasGas and Qatargas on the safe completion of the Helium 2 project, under budget and in line with the project schedule.”. “The project teams were able to manage a multitude of complexities involved with constructing a plant of this size and with coordinating efforts across RasGas and Qatargas sites without a lost time injury. This Mark Nolan with Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa, CEO of QatarGas, yesterday. achievement is evidence of strong safety cultures supported by all shareholder of Helium 2, ExxonMobil is proud to build this world-class facility.”, he noted. levels of the organisations. As a to support RasGas and Qatargas in their efforts THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Google to double Taiwan investment QFB’s Al Rifai Printemps’ sells Nutisal brand to takeover third Cloetta DOHA: Qatar First Bank (QFB) announced that its portfolio company Al Rifai International largest in Mena Holding (Al Rifai), a leading Lebanese manufacturer and retailer of nuts, kernels and confectionery, has signed an Qatari-controlled fund pays $2.1bn agreement to sell its Al Rifai Nutisal AB (Nutisal) operations DOHA: The acqui- to $5.2bn in Q3, 2013. in Sweden to Cloetta, a leading sition of Printemps Phil Gandier confectionery company in the store in France by (pictured), Mena Nordic region, the Netherlands Divine Investments Transaction Advisory and Italy dating back to 1862. SA, a Qatari- Services Leader, EY, Al Rifai International Holding controlled invest- said: “The surge in which is 35 percent owned by QFB, ment fund, for both inbound and agreed to sell the Nutisal opera- QR7.65bn ($2.1bn) domestic deal val- tions for an upfront payment and was the third larg- ues this quarter is a a deferred payment, based on 2016 est deal inked in strong indication that results. Alrifai Nutisal AB pro- the Middle East the regional econ- duces and sells dry roasted nuts and North Africa omy is picking up. under the brand Nutisal. It was region during third quarter of This quarter saw the highest Q3 established in 2007 in Sweden and 2013, according to EY’s Q3 2013 deal values since 2008. Investors has around 60 employees. Today, Mena M&A update. from both within and outside the Sweden accounts for 50 percent While the other top two region are recognizing that the A cooling system facility is seen during the media tour in the Google data centre in Changhua Coastal of the sales, and the rest is sold deals singed during the third fundamentals for M&A in Mena Industrial Park, central Taiwan, yesterday. Google said it would double its planned investment to $600m for in Denmark, Norway, Germany, quarter were the acquisition are improving. This is strength- its data centre in Taiwan. UK and the Benelux countries. of 53 percent stakes in Maroc ening buying intentions across Nutisal holds the number two Telecom in Morocco by Emirates the region and could create real position in the branded nuts mar- Telecommunications Company momentum in the M&A market.” ket in Sweden and the number (Etisalat) for over QR21.8bn ($6bn) Saudi Arabia led as the tar- three position in the total nuts and purchase of 33 percent stakes get country of domestic deals in Beema assigned Baa2 by Moody’s market, a press release issued by in Egypt’s Apache Corporation by a Mena with 13 deals, followed by QFB said yesterday. Chinese firm, Sinopec International the UAE with 12 deals. Out of the “We are pleased with the exit Petroleum Exploration and top 10 deals in Q3 2013, four were DOHA: Moody’s Investors within the domestic Takaful demonstrated good underwriting of Nutisal and are confident that Production Corporation, for about domestic and outbound, and two Service yesterday assigned a market and at a strengthening results, with the combined ratio we have placed the business and QR11.3bn ($3.1bn), respectively. were inbound. first-time Baa2 insurance finan- 7th position in the overall Qatari averaging 93 percent in 2011-2012 the brand in safe hands. We Etisalat’s deal alone accounted In the private equity space, 21 cial strength rating (IFSR) to insurance market in terms of con- (excluding the year of inception), are positive that Cloetta will 34 percent of the total deal value SWF/PE deals were announced Qatar-based Damaan Islamic tributions written. and further improving to 74 per- endorse the Nutisal brand and struck during Q3 2013. in Q3, 2013, with September 2013 Insurance Company, ‘Beema’ Furthermore, there is strong cent as at Q3 2013. This has led ensure its continued growth in According to the EY’s update having the most activity with 10 with a stable outlook, said a growth potential thanks to the to a growth in consolidated equity Sweden and beyond, “commented domestic deal value in the region deals followed by August with press statement. broad distribution access the (shareholders’ equity plus poli- Mohamed Rifai, CEO of Al Rifai increased by 170 percent from seven deals. Established in 2009, Beema is company enjoys via its diversified cyholders’ funds) of 10.4 percent International Holding Ltd. $3bn in Q3, 2012 to $8.2bn in Q3, “Some element of M&A caution a Shariah-compliant insurance shareholders (including banks, and 12.7 percent for 2012 and Q3 Ahmad Meshari QFB Acting 2013. Inbound deal value more still exists given the backdrop of service provider. It writes a mix an insurer and a real estate com- 2013 respectively over the prior CEO said: “We congratulate Al than tripled compared to Q3, the global economy and MENA of non-life, health and Takaful life pany), albeit there is no explicit year. Rifai on this exit. We are confi- 2012, rising from $1.1bn in Q3, geopolitical factors. However, insurance. guarantee from the shareholders. Business diversification and dent that Al Rifai will continue 2012 to $3.9bn in Q3, 2013, an there continues to be a growing Qatar Insurance Company The rating also benefits from product risk, considering the to diversify its product range and increase of 254 percent. corporate appetite in M&A activ- (QIC), Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB) a lower-risk investment portfolio modest size of Beema, is also con- venture into new markets creat- The total disclosed value of ity due to the strong financial fun- and Masraf Al Rayan, Barwa Real compared to its GCC peers, with sidered strong, writing credit life, ing value to its shareholders.” M&As in the MENA region rose damentals of the MENA region’s Estate and Q-Invest are the major the vast majority of investments health and motor, together with QFB had acquired 15 percent of 76 percent from $9.9bn in Q3, 2012 capital agenda as indicated by stakeholders of the company. held as cash, bank deposits and lower volumes of general acci- Al Rifai International in December to $17.3b in Q3 2013. Outbound EY’s recent Capital Confidence Moody’s Baa2 rating reflects Sukuk bonds. dent, fire and marine/aviation 2011 and it increased its share to disclosed deal value decreased by Barometer study,” said Phil. Beema’s good market position, Furthermore, Beema has, rela- business. 35 percent in September 2012. 9 percent from $5.7bn in Q3, 2012 THE PENINSULA being the third largest player tive to some GCC Takaful peers, THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Yemen sees Exxon offers gasoil term contract from Saudi deal on $550m Sign of Riyadh becoming self-sufficient in gasoil needs; Aramco Trading could skip imports loan from IMF

SINGAPORE: ExxonMobil It has offered 11 to 12 cargoes of rise in domestic demand. from the Yanbu refinery are likely This could possibly change in early 2014 Corp has offered gasoil cargoes either 300,000 barrels or 500,000 “I would imagine they are fear- due to new refining capacity trade flow patterns in the region through a rare term tender barrels each of gasoil for loading ing a slump in premium over 2014, appearing in Saudi Arabia, which is and pressure gasoil margins, KUWAIT: Yemen is close to from its joint-venture refinery from Yanbu, Saudi Arabia over and hence might want to capture expected to cut the country’s reli- traders said. a deal with the International in Saudi Arabia, in a further January to December, next year. a better premium now,” a third ance on fuel imports, traders said. Many refineries in Asia and Monetary Fund on a $550m sign that the country is becom- The tender closes on December Gulf-based trader said. Aramco started oil product the Middle East depend on Saudi loan, the country’s planning ing more self-sufficient in meet- 12 and is valid until December 20. Saudi Arabia has historically exports from the new Saudi Arabia’s diesel imports to absorb minister said yesterday. ing its gasoil needs. “I’ve only seen a spot tender been short of gasoline and gasoil. Aramco Total Refining and excess cargoes in the region. With A senior IMF official said last Gasoil from the Saudi Aramco from them, but they have (a term Its petro-dollar fuelled economy Petrochemicals Co (SATORP) a significantly reduced demand month that Yemen urgently Mobil Refinery Co (SAMREF) contract) for the high sulphur and growing population have rap- refinery in Jubail, Saudi Arabia from Saudi Arabia and even needs budgetary support. refinery in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, gasoil,” said a Singapore-based idly driven up internal demand, from the second half of this year, exports from its refineries, traders The impoverished Arabian which is a joint venture between middle distillates trader. especially when power generation which is expected to cut its reli- are worried the supply glut in Asia Peninsula nation came close to ExxonMobil and Saudi Aramco, is “Cargoes have always been surges in the hot summer months ance on gasoil imports. will pressure refinery margins. economic collapse after a popu- usually sold within Saudi Arabia, there but they normally keep from May to August. “With Saudis taking some vol- SATORP, the first of a trio of lar uprising in 2011 that forced with the occasional spot cargoes (those) for themselves apart from The country imported a record umes from their new refinery, it’s 400,000 barrels per day (bpd) former President Ali Abdullah offered for exports, traders said during winter,” he added. monthly volume of over 10 million freeing up some volumes (from refineries due to open over the Saleh to step down. yesterday. A second trader added that barrels of gasoil in July, this year, other refineries in Saudi Arabia),” next five years, will refine Saudi “We expect to reach an agree- But ExxonMobil has offered up gasoil cargoes of similar specifi- up from a usual peak of 7 to 9 mil- said a Singapore-based trader. heavy crude into fuels ranging ment with the International to six million barrels of 500ppm cations were offered regularly for lion barrels for the same month Aramco Trading, the trading from gasoil, including diesel, to Monetary Fund in early 2014 sulphur gasoil through a rare exports from the refinery a few in previous years, official Saudi arm of Saudi Aramco, might skip gasoline and petroleum coke for regarding a $550m loan,” Minister term tender from the refinery years ago, but stopped about three data showed. its term gasoil imports for next year, domestic consumption and export. Mohammed Al Saadi said on the for loading next year, they said. to four years ago likely due to a The unexpected term cargoes a source close to the matter said. REUTERS sidelines of an investment confer- ence in Kuwait. Yemen’s finances have been strained by frequent attacks on oil pipelines by disgruntled tribes- men. Crude exports provide up to Russians pick official 70 percent of government budget income. The IMF expects Yemen’s budget deficit to shrink to 5.8 symbol for rouble percent of gross domestic prod- uct (GDP) this year from 6.3 MOSCOW: The Russian pub- centre and that has had created percent in 2012, the biggest gap lic have picked a first official an objective need to introduce a since 2009. But its non-oil budget symbol for the rouble, choos- new symbol.” shortfall is set to deepen to 29.6 ing a sign the central bank said A one-rouble coin featuring percent of GDP in 2013 from 28.2 would enhance the appeal of the the logo will be minted from next percent in 2012. once-tarnished currency on glo- year, but it is still unclear when Saadi also said that Yemen bal markets. bank notes will follow. has received more than $2bn of The central bank had published Until now, signage such as a $7.9bn aid package pledged by five proposed rouble symbols on price tags have either used the international donors last year. its website, inviting voters to pick word rouble or a regular Cyrillic That included a $1bn central bank one and give a brief explanation “P”. deposit by Saudi Arabia, he said. for their choice. A symbol of ridicule in Soviet The Saudi kingdom along with The winner was a Cyrillic “P” times, when the black market the neighbouring United Arab with horizontal strokes — eas- exchange rate was a fraction of Emirates and Oman have also ily recognisable to Russians but the official rate, confidence in the supplied Yemen with fuel in the less so to foreigners. In Russian, rouble was further hit by hyper- past to cover the shortages. the letter is pronounced like the inflation and devaluation in the Economic reforms will be a Latin “R”. 1990s. condition of any IMF loan and The sign, now approved by the The currency lost a third of its the Fund said that one of the central bank, represents a largely value in a devaluation after the measures the government was Members of a pro-Vladimir Putin social network group carrying a poster with an official symbol for the rouble used symbolic move aimed at improv- 2008 crisis. The central bank has considering was the elimination as a letter with horizontal lines (back top left) during their action in support of the currency in central Moscow. ing the appeal of the rouble that since allowed the currency to float of costly fuel subsidies. was damaged in the early post- more freely and plans to step back “Fuel subsidies are a major prob- Soviet years by economic chaos from managing the exchange rate lem for the budget,” Saadi said, but and hyperinflation. completely from 2015. added that any lifting of petrol “I believe that the approved The central bank took another subsidies in Yemen would require symbol will worthily represent move towards an unfettered free a national consensus. He did not our currency on the world mar- float on Tuesday, decreasing the give details. Economic recovery in kets,” Governor Elvira Nabiullina amount of interventions needed Yemen, the second-poorest Arab said at its presentation. to shift its target exchange-rate state after Mauritania, has accel- “Moscow aspires to the sta- corridor for the rouble. erated this year. tus of an international financial REUTERS REUTERS

Halkbank unable to QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P resume processing Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 101.38 0.75 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 104.88 1.51 % Aa2 AA India payments Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.38 2.63 % Aa2 AA for Iran oil Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 112.25 3.04 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 106.25 3.60 % Aa2 AA ISTANBUL: Turkey’s state- Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 153.75 4.95 % Aa2 AA run Halkbank can only resume Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 114.75 5.35 % Aa2 AA processing Indian oil payments Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 105.75 5.35 % Aa2 AA to Iran once Western sanctions Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 104.00 0.97 % Aa2 AA are officially lifted following an interim deal in Geneva last Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 110.00 3.30 % Aa2 AA month, a senior Halkbank official Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.63 1.04 % A1 A- said yesterday. “If the deal signed Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 103.75 2.20 % A1 A- in Geneva becomes official, we QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.25 1.46 % NR NR could resume processing Indian QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.50 1.28 % Aa3 A+ oil payments to Iran,” Hakan QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 103.75 2.15 % Aa3 A+ Aydogan, head of Halkbank’s for- Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 103.88 2.26 % A2 A- eign operations department said. Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.25 1.48 % A2 A “Despite the breakthrough, the positive developments, there has Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 123.88 3.11 % A2 A not been official progress in this,” he Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 105.75 3.83 % A2 A said. Six world powers and Tehran Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 100.50 4.94 % A2 A reached an interim deal in November Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.63 0.88 % Aa3 A that provided limited relief to Iran Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.88 3.24 % Aa3 A from economic sanctions in exchange Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.75 3.99 % Aa3 A for curbs to Tehran’s nuclear pro- gramme, opening the way for some SOVEREIGNS oil payments to resume. Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid-Price Yield Moody’s S&P Indian and Iranian officials are Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 101.63 0.27 % Aa2 AA meeting this week to discuss how Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 122.75 2.20 % Aa2 AA to unlock the first oil payments to Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.50 1.88 % NR NR the Islamic Republic since that agreement. Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 106.63 2.84 % NR NR The deal is a chance for Iran’s Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 119.75 4.37 % NR NR new leadership to revive the Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 111.75 4.74 % NR NR country’s economy, plagued with Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.50 0.78 % Aa2 AA high inflation and a weakened Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 113.38 3.32 % NR BBB currency. Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 103.25 4.89 % NR BBB The West believes Iran is trying Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 94.75 6.78 % Caa1 B- to make nuclear weapons, while Iran says its nuclear programme Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 102.13 4.14 % NR BBB- *Periodic Distribution Amount is for power generation. IMPORTANT NOTE: India started settling 55 per- Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which cent of its payments for its pur- is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services chases of Iranian oil in euros Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary through Halkbank in mid-2012. 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 The rest was settled in rupees take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds through India’s UCO Bank. can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant But the Halkbank route was liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not halted in February this year when a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and new sanctions prevented Iran consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. from repatriating cash earned from oil it has been able to sell, choking off the biggest revenue stream to its economy. REUTERS THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Wage increases 3D printing not yet a new and their pitfalls revolution, but will be big BY HARRY J HOLZER BY JIM CHALMERS printer can turn a couple of metres of coiled experiment more readily with new ideas, plastic filament into anything from jewellery and then see the fruits of their creativity hree jurisdictions in the Washington metro area — the hen music was a physi- and artworks to gadgets and kitchen tools. produced quickly and with fewer hurdles District of Columbia, and Maryland’s Montgomery cal item – a vinyl record, It is too early to describe the emergence of than at present. This is not to say, of course, County and Prince George’s County — have voted recently a tape or a CD – owner- 3D printing as a new industrial revolution that 3D printing will ever completely replace Tto raise their minimum wages to $11.50 over a three-year ship could be verified and (although The New Scientist has done just assembly lines or machining. It will more period. At least 20 states and some major localities have already quality could be assured. that). But as the technology becomes faster, likely serve to complement, rather than increased their minimum wages above the federal level of $7.25. A WIn the last decade, music progressively cheaper and more sophisticated, it will have compete with traditional manufacturing. handful of states have chosen to index their statutory minimum morphed into little more than a file which wide-reaching impacts on industry and the This goes further than just the question wages to measures of inflation over time. can be easily shared and edited. Now, the global economy. of intellectual property. 3D printing and States and localities are motivated, at least in part, by federal vast and rapid technological advances being A more efficient 3D printing process similar technologies have led to a further gridlock: President Obama proposed increasing the minimum catalysed by three dimensional printing would allow industry an opportunity it blurring of the lines between goods and wage this year, but Washington’s paralysis has eliminated the could see this phenomenon repeated for a never had before: for production on the services. There are challenges for global prospect of a reasonable federal increase anytime soon. Minimum- much wider range of products. small-scale to be as efficient as large scale trade as a result, associated with measure- wage increases seem to combat the disturbingly high earnings The 3D printing industry is predicted production. Think about it: using the tech- ment, assigning property rights and respon- inequality that has arisen in recent decades. They seem to help to be worth over $8bn globally by 2020. niques of traditional manufacturing, the sibility for quality assurance. low-wage workers in particular. But these efforts, while often Physical items, mass produced and bought production of one-off items and prototypes But the opportunities dwarf the chal- popular, can backfire. in outlet stores, will become replicable is very costly or impossible as the absence lenges. As the WTO observed in its 2013 As a labour economist, I generally support modest and periodic and editable by anyone with knowledge of of specialised machines and moulds makes World Trade Report, the possibility to edit increases in the federal minimum wage, along with some state computer-aided drawing and access to a 3D production labour-intensive. This labour- and create physical objects through 3D increases above that level. The biggest concern among economists printer. intensity has driven many types of pro- printing will feed the burgeoning global mid- is that imposing pay increases on employers will reduce the hir- Already, 3D printing technology is being duction offshore. The flight of relatively dle class desire for variety and individual- ing of low-wage workers and raise unemployment. But in four used to manufacture a wide array of items low-skilled manufacturing jobs to nations ity in their goods. This is just one of many decades of research by economists, this appears to be a small – from auto parts and prototypes to human with lower wage rates and a comparative technological advances challenging us to or nonexistent effect. And, under some circumstances, indexing skin and organs. In a world where mass- advantage in manufacturing has been one of change our way of thinking about interna- the statutory minimum to the rate of inflation is not a bad idea. manufacturing takes place on scales never the largest structural economic shifts over tional trade and economic growth. Advances Some of the recent actions to raise wages, however, give cause seen before, 3D printing is starting to spell the past 30 years. in robotics, data sharing and medical tech- for concern. Many proposed increases are very large and very local. big changes for the way the world thinks The advent of widespread 3D printing nology are others. For instance, the increases in the Washington region will raise about production. This inevitably means we makes it possible for some forms of one-off Australia needs to set itself up to take the minimum wage more than 50 percent in the two Maryland will face new frontiers in global trade as well. manufacturing and prototyping to return. advantage of the opportunities presented counties and nearly 40 percent in the District of Columbia, even The technology underlying 3D printers For 3D printers, it doesn’t matter if one by these new technologies. By defining our after adjusting for inflation. This comes on top of the sizable fed- has been around since the 1970s, but the item or one thousand items are produced; role in new global value chains and mas- eral increases — about 35 percent after inflation — that occurred devices have come into prominence only in the price of production per item remains tering the technology via investment in between 2007 and 2009. recent years, as patent expiry and new inno- constant. As a result, 3D printing has the education and broadband, we can use our Increases this large could generate larger employment losses vation have led to drastic decreases in the capability of bringing the design process and greatest asset – the creativity, adaptability than in the past as employers seek to minimise payroll costs. And price of the devices. To fully appreciate the the manufacturing process closer together. and innovation of our population – to create the smaller the geographic area in which such increases occur, way 3D printing might impact our lives, con- With greater ease of innovation, small and a new generation of broad-based prosperity the greater the risk that employment growth will shift across sider this: in under an hour, your $2,000 3D medium-sized enterprises will be able to here at home. THE GUARDIAN a municipal or state border as employers relocate to areas with lower minimum wages. It’s noteworthy that the previous state and federal increases on which most research is based generally do not share these characteristics, so that body of research is a less useful guide to the changes in employment that may soon occur. There are a few other reasons to be cautious about these increases. Most employees working at or near the minimum wage are not the heads of poor households. They are typically either young (up to about 25) or are second-earners, in which case their households do not rely exclusively on them for income. Although Americans might be happy to see all of these workers get a raise, we should perhaps be concerned that any loss of employment might be most concentrated among the small fraction of these workers who are poor adults and who most need the jobs, as some research suggests. Indexing increases in the minimum wage to a measure of price inflation makes sense in some cases. But indexing should begin closer to the lower end of the ranges recently set. One reason employers might not reduce hiring in response to wage increases is that, traditionally, these increases tend to erode over time with inflation. If it is costly to change production methods in ways that reduce employment, many employers might judge that it is not worth doing so, since the increased wages would be normalised with time anyway. But indexing might change those calculations, because the newly implemented increases would not erode over time. And, since little indexing has been done in this country, there is little research to explain how employers would respond to minimum-wage increases in that context. The biggest reason to be cautious in raising minimum wages is the weak job market. Employment opportunities nationwide continue to be limited. In a strong or rapidly improving job mar- ket — such as that of 1996-98, when a federal minimum increase took effect — there is little reason to worry about such increases reducing employment levels. But the job market’s recovery from the recession has been agonisingly slow, and two of the groups whose wages stand to be increased — the young and least-educated — already have the hardest time finding work. Many are expe- riencing long-term unemployment from which it is increasingly difficult to escape. As localities and states consider appropriate minimum-wage increases and where to apply them, they should try to avoid increases that might make it even harder for the youngest or least-educated among us to find work. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Eurozone lived to fight another day, but another battle is brewing BY DANIEL ALTMAN Portugal survived the worst of right. Budget deficits, which aver- given them the skills employers but by these two primary meas- liabilities. It does not help that its austerity program; and Ireland aged 6.5 percent of GDP in 2009, are seeking. ures, its effect has been negligible. these differences largely follow s there light at the end of the became the poster child for fiscal are now at 3.7 percent. Public Even if the eurozone survives If economic cycles in the geographical lines. Chunnel? Five years after the and financial turnaround. Even debts have risen substantially, these dark portents, there is no eurozone fail to synchronise, its Given these fundamentals, the global financial crisis kicked Italy showed signs of exiting its but they are still controllable in guarantee that the problems of downturns and recessions will economies of the eurozone coun- Ioff, the eurozone is finally two-year recession, provided it non-bailout countries. And the the past several years won’t recur. continue to be unduly deep. The tries will not fall magically into starting to regain its economic could achieve a measure of politi- International Monetary Fund This is because the fundamental reason is simple: Countries that lock step merely because they footing. Budgets are being bal- cal stability. expects GDP to grow in every problem with the euro has not use the euro can’t unilaterally share a single currency. anced, growth is returning, and Indeed, for much of 2013, the eurozone country except Cyprus been solved: A single monetary devalue their currencies in a bid If workers could move eas- questions about countries leaving eurozone seemed well on its way and Slovenia next year. policy is still not appropriate for to attract investment and boost ily among them, there might the currency union have ebbed. to recovery. Its overall reces- The medium term, however, all the countries that use the cur- exports. As a result, the return be some hope. People would Yet despite a positive outlook for sion ended over the summer, and is a different story. High unem- rency, and it may never be. to growth and job creation takes flee weak economies and flock the short term, the eurozone still at the time of this writing, the ployment in the eurozone and This is mainly because the eco- longer. Making matters worse, the to strong ones, helping to bal- hasn’t resolved the issues that euro’s trade-weighted value had the European Union as a whole nomic cycles of the members have European Union’s new, stricter ance wages and unemployment cloud its future as an economic risen more than 8 percent since has inflicted damage that may failed to synchronise. Although fiscal rules — designed in part to across the eurozone. But even bloc. Draghi’s speech. Only Greece has take many years to repair. The the variance in growth rates protect the euro — will make it with nominally free migration The eurozone arguably turned continued to limp along, barely labour force in a country doesn’t among eurozone members came harder for countries to stimulate within the European Union, bar- the corner in July 2012, when satisfying the terms of its existing always bounce back when eco- down in the previous decade, their economies with government riers including licensing, lan- Mario Draghi, the president of the bailout and possibly heading for nomic growth returns. People since the global financial crisis it spending. guages, and prejudice still exist. European Central Bank, pledged another one. who have been jobless for years has returned to pre-euro levels. Unfortunately, synchronisation And with anti-immigrant senti- “to do whatever it takes to pre- Still, it’s hard to find anyone may be too discouraged to look for Enhanced trade was supposed is where the long-term outlook ment having risen in tandem with serve the euro.” Not only would these days who thinks Greece or work again. The return of growth to aid synchronisation, but the for the eurozone is the black- unemployment in some countries, the bank keep short-term inter- any other country will leave the may be accompanied by demands eurozone’s members haven’t per- est. In terms of future economic the potential saving grace of the est rates low, but it would also eurozone soon. Draghi’s October for higher wages among the formed any better than the three development, its members are eurozone is also one of its most bolster the finances of member visit to the United States was employed, narrowing the scope other EU countries — Britain, diverging. Some boast entrepre- controversial attributes. countries by buying their bonds something of a victory lap; at for new hiring. And the skills of Denmark, and Sweden — that neurial environments for business The recent crises among EU and thus reducing the interest a speech in New York he said, the unemployed may have become opted not to join the currency that are ripe with innovation, members had diverse causes, from they paid on their debts. “[The] euro area has a strategy obsolete during their long spells of union. Since 2001, when there while others continue to struggle bank failures to low tax collec- The markets took Draghi at to return to sustainable growth joblessness. As Draghi and others were 12 EU countries in the with bureaucracy and corruption. tions. Taken as a whole, however, his word, and confidence in the and employment, and that strat- have suggested, young people may eurozone, the two groups’ exports Some have relatively young pop- the crises served as a late alarm euro and the eurozone began to egy is actually being executed.” All be at a particular disadvantage within the EU have, on average, ulations and manageable debts, bell from a system that was bro- strengthen. Meanwhile, Spain policymakers need to do, he said, in such a difficult labour market. grown at about the same rate. while others are aging fast and ken from the beginning. It’s still a cleaned up its banks and launched is to “stay the course.” They have little or no experience, The euro may have aided eco- staggering under the burden of long way from being fixed. a reform of its public sector; In the short term, he might be and their education may not have nomic integration in other ways, existing borrowing and pension WP-BLOOMBERG THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary EXCHANGE QE Index 10,457.12 0.38 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER QE Total Return Index 14,940.82 0.38 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,064.8 0.04 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,602.43 0.28 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,481.05 0.53 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5146.195 -2.23 -0.04 5453.1 4610.6 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,968.45 0.21 % QR146.6748 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 Services Cac 40 Index/D 4129.83 -4.27 -0.1 4356.28 3575.17 QE All Share Industrials 3,426.5 0.21 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.9502 QR 6.0335 QE All Share Insurance 2,366.97 0.46 % Dj Indu Average 16025.53 5.33 0.03 16174.5 12883.9 Euro ...... QR 4.9750 QR 5.0448 QE All Share Real Estate 2,012.59 0.13 % QR 2.3649 CA$ ...... QR 3.3878 QR 3.4548 QE All Share Telecoms 1,455.02 1.23 % Egypt Cma Gn Idx 1026.29 32.57 3.28 999.95 312.38 QE All Share Transportation 1,924.4 0.36 % Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.0665 QR 4.1250 Hang Seng Inde/D 23744.19 -66.98 -0.28 24111.55 19426.36 Yen ...... QR 0.0351 QR 0.0358 QE Market Summary Comparison Aus$ ...... QR 3.2909 QR 3.3565 Today Previous day Iseq Overall/D 4409.38 1.9 0.04 4527.83 3396.67 CRUDE OIL 11-12-2013 10-12-2013 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0592 QR 0.0603 Index 10,457.12 10,496.89 Karachi 100 In/D 24878.68 -120.21 -0.48 25125.81 16036.31 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0333 QR 0.0339 Change 39.77 2.42 BRENT Nikkei 225 Index 15611.31 -38.9 -0.25 15942.6 10398.61 Peso ...... QR 0.0816 QR 0.0832 % 0.38 0.02 $ 109.48 SL Re ...... QR 0.0276 QR 0.0281 YTD% 25.10 24.83 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 1813.55 1398.11 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0474 Volume 9,836,183 15,203,063 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0364 QR 0.0371 Value (QAR) 544,423,926.65 672,204,715.85 Straits Times/D 3081.72 -31.92 -1.03 3464.79 2990.68 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3501 QR 0.3571 Trades 4,437 6,466 Straits Times/D 2971.47 22.7 0.77 3035.78 2657.77 $ 106.80 Up 17 | Down 17 | Unchanged 06

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 11-12-2013

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

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

A C C-A/D 1150.75 -14.85 35527 Cimmco-T/D 19.3 -0.9 7096 Hind Unilever-/D 564.35 4.25 652013 Klg Systel-T/D 4.08 -0.12 5870 Radico Khait-B/D 136.45 -1.1 13350 Kingfisher/D 368.8 3.4 7937650 Aban Offs-B/D 364.35 -5.2 399075 Cipla-A/D 388 2.65 69278 Hind.Petrol-A/D 230.05 -4.35 91974 Kopran-B/D 19.9 -1.35 47127 Rallis India-B/D 161.9 -6.6 37409 Land Secs Grou/D 944.3044 -3.5 196167 Ador Welding-B/D 127 -2.55 5347 City Union Bk-/D 48.3 -1.25 45961 Hindalco-A/D 125.05 1.15 1040730 Lakshmi Mach-B/D 2629.4 129.6 7118 Rallis India-B/D 161.9 -6.6 37409 Legal & Genera/D 206.4 -0.1 4352199 Aegis Logis-B/D 165.4 -2.15 20155 Colgate-A/D 1280 2.65 4438 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 808.35 -11.7 58538 Lloyd Metal-B/D 9 -0.06 1381 Reliance Indus/D 365 -8.55 70846 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 78.56 0.36 35777434 Alembic-B/D 14.3 -0.29 51284 Dhampur Sugar-/D 33.9 -0.9 15702 I F C I-A/D 25.25 -0.35 812121 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 14.8 -0.21 12695 Ruchi Soya-B/D 32.95 2.1 331934 Marks & Sp./D 459.9 -1.1 1171726 Alkyl Amines-B/D 260 -2.05 1650 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2455.25 5.75 5132 Idbi-A/D 65.15 -1.75 216084 Lupin-A/D 872.45 19.65 99550 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 320 0.25 3290 Next/D 5460 10 33673 Alok Indus-B/D 7.48 -0.08 935343 E I H-B/D 54.45 0.5 36669 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 73.4 1.4 16868 Lyka Labs-B/D 9.4 -0.14 4556 Tanfac Indust-/D 7.5 -0.26 3450 Pearson/D 1283 -3 323462 Andhra Paper-B/D 255.75 -4.6 26455 E.I.D Parry-B/D 141 2.35 108244 India Cement-B/D 61 -0.35 730768 Mah.Seamless-B/D 165.55 -5.1 1427 Til Ltd.-B/D 146.75 -9.2 18691 Prudential/D 1286 20 1286229 Apollo Tyre-A/D 81.35 -0.05 845662 Eicher Motor-A/D 4700 16.15 1975 India Glycol-B/D 91.95 -2.7 19139 Mangalam Cem-B/D 109.45 -2.85 27860 Timexgroup-B/D 11.25 -0.45 9538 Rank Group/D 135.9 0 2524 Asahi I Glass-/D 43.8 -0.55 7319 Electrosteel-B/D 15.2 -0.2 26147 Indian Hotel-A/D 55.1 2.65 454129 Maral Overs-B/D 19.5 -0.85 2163 Tinplate-T/D 47.55 1.5 29872 Rentokil Initi/D 111.1 1.3 1185364 Ashok Leyland-/D 16.7 0.2 532642 Emco-B/D 17.7 -0.7 22582 Indo-Bcount-B/D 38.3 -0.05 6509 Mastek-B/D 139.15 0 10106 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.6 -1 2049 Rolls Royce Pl/D 1200 -6 890923 Bajaj Hold-A/D 879.7 2.6 1632 Escorts-B/D 129.55 -1.6 492076 Indusind-A/D 453.05 -13.9 160678 Max India L-A/D 206.9 2.65 31877 Ub Engineer-B/D 9.6 -1 2049 Rsa Insrance G/D 101.8 1.3 2512097 Ballarpur In-B/D 12.98 -0.38 157440 Essar Oil-A/D 53.85 -1.7 182670 J.B.Chemical-B/D 109.05 -1.9 31970 Mrpl-A/D 40.9 -1.1 83629 Ultramarine-B/D 42 0.8 2540 Sainsbury(J)/D 388.22 2.2 3462077 Bata India-A/D 1015.05 -13.05 22046 Eveready Indu-/D 36 0.35 667200 Jagson Phar-B/D 9.02 -0.22 24759 Nahar Spg.-B/D 110.1 0.2 12072 Unitech P -A/D 15.8 -0.2 3157712 Schroders/D 2466 25 46975 Bayer Crop-B/D 1700 55.9 2302 F D C-B/D 105.35 -1.6 16142 Jamnaauto-B/D 60 0 1300 Nation Alum -A/D 38.35 1.3 173531 Severn Trent/D 1689 24 289602 Beml Ltd-B/D 209.25 -5.4 61369 Federal Bank-A/D 80.2 -2.35 209339 Jbf Indu-B/D 76.75 -2.55 8985 Navneet Edu-B/D 55.2 -0.55 13399 LONDON Smith&Nephew/D 851.5 1.5 902932 Bharat Bijle-B/D 353.45 2.45 2190 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5.15 -0.03 13053 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.47 0.01 18446 Nepc India-B/D 1.7 -0.08 13753 Smiths Group/D 1400 22 397430 Bharatgears-B/D 41.25 -0.75 1561 Finolex-B/D 153.9 -0.5 26953 Jct Ltd-B/D 2.22 -0.08 66966 Neuland Lab-B/D 263.5 1.3 1113 3I Group/D 369.8 -0.4 704509 Standrd Chart /D 1295.5 -18.5 2619080 Bhartiya Int-B/D 181.45 -1.6 2424 Forbes-B/D 536 -10.5 1628 Jik Indust-T/D 0.6 0 19236 Nrb Bearings-B/D 34.25 -0.95 2309 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 2270.3505 6 103041 Tate & Lyle/D 778.5 -1 272632 Bhel-A/D 165.65 -6.05 1116730 Gail-A/D 350 -2.55 63632 Jindal Drill-B/D 189.85 -3.25 1509 O N G C-A/D 297.95 -6.9 184735 B Sky B/D 798 -2 729073 Tesco/D 334.2167 0.55 3774116 Bom.Burmah-B/D 113.35 0.1 17592 Gammon India-B/D 13.75 -0.23 19841 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 163.55 -0.6 148561 Ocl India-B/D 157 -0.9 13922 Barclays/D 267.2 0 9403669 Unilever/D 2469 -6 407809 Bombay Dyeing-/D 69.75 0.2 138490 Garden P -B/D 38.5 0.05 1119 Jmc Projects-B/D 82 3.25 4378 Oil Country-B/D 34.3 -0.5 3155 Bg Group/D 1242.5 5 2345812 United Util Gr/D 646.975 0 465275 Cable Corp.-B/D 18.1 -0.05 17291 Goodricke-B/D 128.5 -0.9 1931 Kabra Extr-B/D 29.5 0.2 34756 Onward Tech-T/D 52.05 -0.15 17861 Bp/D 475.55 -1.25 5882693 Vodafone Group/D 233.5 0.05 22944676 Canfin Homes-B/D 151.45 1.4 1040 Goodyear I -B/D 364.75 -11.25 8782 Kajaria Cer-B/D 278.7 9.8 45260 Orchid Chem-B/D 50.7 -1.05 103864 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3179 -2.5 863996 Whitbread/D 3497.8 -27 276360 Castrol Ind-A/D 303.65 0.55 14395 Hcl Infosys-B/D 21.25 -0.2 56191 Kalpat Power-B/D 92.2 -0.65 67057 Orient Hotel-B/D 16.2 0.25 9330 Bt Group/D 369.6 -1.6 2508447 Century Enka-B/D 146 -1.8 10908 Him.Fut.Comm-B/D 8.16 -0.04 276805 Kalyani Stel-B/D 55.55 -1.1 52896 Orient.Carb.-B/D 118 -0.05 1875 Centrica/D 326.3 -1.2 2457263 Century Text-A/D 273.8 -6.4 108528 Himat Seide-B/D 48.5 -1.5 94159 Kanoria Chem-B/D 23.85 -0.1 5333 Orient.Carb.-B/D 118 -0.05 1875 Gkn/D 363.8 -0.2 756553 Chambal Fert-B/D 38.7 0.35 259902 Hind Motors-B/D 7.72 -0.02 70328 Kg Denim-B/D 14.11 -0.32 4242 Oudh Sugar-B/D 17.6 -0.4 5143 Hsbc Holdings/D 654.2 -3.5 9006696 Chola Invest-B/D 255 4.4 1231 Hind Org Chem-/D 11.3 -0.05 1947 Kilburnengg-B/D 14.5 1.25 6306 Patspin India-/D 6.82 0.32 1851 Imperial Tobac/D 2273 -2 187761 THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Trumbo joins Kobe winless after Diamondbacks in three-team trade at NHL

Suns beat Lakers NEW YORK: The Arizona Diamondbacks have beefed up their batting by acquir- Dragic scores 31 points in win over Lakers ing former All-Star outfielder Mark Trumbo from the Los Angeles Angels in a three-team LOS ANGELES: Kobe Bryant of energy and kind of got them trade also involving the Chicago is swiftly regaining his confi- NBA Results on their toes. They were playing White Sox, the Diamondbacks dence and timing. His condi- Cleveland 109 Ny Knicks 94 small, so we had a great oppor- said yesterday. tioning improves daily, and he’s Indiana 90 Miami 84 tunity to attack the boards. And The 27-year-old Trumbo, already leading the Los Angeles San Antonio 116 Toronto 103 that’s what we did.’’ who has blasted 95 home runs Lakers in scoring again. Pau Gasol scored 19 points during his first three full sea- Oklahoma City 101 Atlanta 92 Yet thanks to Goran Dragic while Jodie Meeks, Nick Young sons in the majors, will join the and the exciting Phoenix Suns, Brooklyn 104 Boston 96 and Jordan Hill added 13 apiece Diamondbacks along with two Kobe still doesn’t have a victory. Minnesota 121 Detroit 94 for the Lakers, who have lost players to be named later, one Dragic scored 12 of his 31 Milwaukee 78 Chicago 74 three of four to fall back below from the Angels and the other points in the fourth quarter and Phoenix 114 LA Lakers 108 .500. Los Angeles’ NBA-best from the White Sox. the Suns beat the Lakers 114-108 bench contributed 43 points Trumbo, an All-Star in 2012, yesterday, dropping Bryant to 0-2 what you can and can’t do. Every while using just four reserves, but hit .234 with 34 home runs and in his comeback. Bryant scored game, you try to step up and do Phoenix dominated the boards, 100 RBIs for the Angels this year. 20 points while playing 29 mostly a little bit more and just go from outrebounding the Lakers 43-33. To complete the three-way sharp minutes in his second game there.’’ The Suns handled the Phoenix hadn’t beaten the deal, Arizona will shift outfielder back from nearly eight months Lakers with teamwork, shredding Lakers at Staples Center since Adam Eaton to Chicago and left- out with a torn Achilles tendon. Los Angeles’ lousy defense during November 2010. handed pitcher Tyler Skaggs to He led a fourth-quarter rally by a 35-point fourth quarter to earn “I think we have a group of guys Los Angeles. the Lakers, but they only got their first three-game winning who play hard all the time, and Also yesterday, three-time All- within four points with 3 minutes streak of the season. they’re not selfish,’’ Phoenix coach Star outfielder Curtis Granderson left before Phoenix held on. Marcus Morris scored 22 points Jeff Hornacek said. officially became a member of the Bryant gave his performance and Eric Bledsoe had 18 points “They genuinely like each other New York Mets after signing a a ‘B grade, but realizes he’s got and nine assists for the surprising to do well. If guys take bad shots, four-year contract worth $60 more work to do - both on his Suns, who never trailed after the we’ll take them out of the game. million. game and his chemistry with the opening minutes. Phoenix held off But for the most part, they run “A lot of the people I’ve met in rest of the Lakers. Bryant had just the Lakers with superb fourth- our offense. We’ve got two great New York have always said that, three turnovers against Phoenix quarter play from both Morris point guards in Goran - who had ‘True New Yorkers are Mets after committing eight in his sea- brothers, who scored nine points a great game - and Eric.’’ fans’,” Granderson told a news son debut two days ago against apiece down the stretch. Markieff Dragic hit two 3-pointers and conference in Orlando, Florida Toronto, but contributed just two Morris finished with 15 points. didn’t miss any of his 11 free after donning his No. 3 jersey. “So rebounds and three assists while “We kept pushing the ball and throws, finishing one point shy of Goran Dragic (1) of the Phoenix Suns shoots over Pau Gasol (16) of I’m excited to get a chance to see the Suns comfortably held on. didn’t slow it down too much,’’ his career high in his latest out- the Los Angeles Lakers at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, them all out there.” “It’s a process,’’ Bryant said. Marcus Morris said of the fourth standing performance against the yesterday. The Suns won 114-108. Granderson, 32, is a career .261 ‘’You just continue to figure out quarter. “We came out with a lot Lakers. AGENCIES hitter with six seasons of at least 20 home runs and ranks fifth in the majors since 2011 with a homer every 15.3 at-bats. Winner of the Silver Slugger award in 2011, he became a free agent when his contract with the Jones shines as Kings pound Canadiens New York Yankees expired after the 2013 season. MONTREAL: Rookie Martin working. We have a lot of work backup goaltender to Jonathan saves he was making, it could “He brings a personality. He Jones is already making Los ahead of us. We’re playing some Quick, who’s out with a groin have been a completely different NHL Results brings credibility. He brings expe- Angeles Kings ‘ history. good teams.” injury. ball game right off the start,” said Buffalo 2 Ottawa 1 rience, and he brings talent,” Mets In Los Angeles’s 6-0 rout of The 23-year-old earned his With Quick expected back in a Anze Kopitar, who rewarded his general manager Sandy Alderson Washington 6 Tampa Bay 5 the Canadiens yesterday, Jones first win in his NHL debut last couple of weeks, Jones’ perform- goalie with a goal late in the first said of Granderson. became the first Kings goal- Tuesday, beating the Anaheim ance could force coach Darryl period, his ninth of the season. Columbus 5 New Jersey 4 Meanwhile, the Anaheim tender to record a shutout against Ducks after a nine-round shoot- Sutter to make a tough decision “ He came up big for us. That Angels have acquired Arizona Los Angeles 6 Montreal 0 Montreal. out. He followed up by making down the road. game could have gone the com- Diamondbacks left-handed And he did it in just his third 16 saves to blank the New York “ Whenever I’m called upon, plete opposite way.” Florida 3 Detroit 2 pitcher Tyler Skaggs and career NHL game. Jones is 3-0 Islanders on Saturday. they’re going to get my best,” LA’s victory extended its win- Nashville 4 NY Rangers 1 Chicago White Sox lefthander with a 0.65 goals-against-average “ It’s been nice to get wins Jones said. ning streak to four games, snap- Hector Santiago in a three- and a .973 save percentage. The in different ways,” Jones said. “ The Canadiens got his best ping Montreal’s 10-game point St. Louis 2 Winnipeg 1 team Major League Baseball deal shutout was also his second in as That’s the sign of a good team, we on Tuesday at the Bell Centre, streak. Los Angeles has earned Chicago 6 Dallas 2 yesterday. many games. get wins in different situations.” where Jones stopped all 31 shots a point in 15 of its past 16 games The Angels sent first base- “ Maybe I didn’t expect to get Jones got the start in Montreal he faced, including a seven-shot since Nov. 2, not allowing more Phoenix 3 Colorado 1 man Mark Trumbo to Arizona, that kind of start, but I don’t in place of Ben Scrivens, who opening game flurry with the than two non-shootout goals in Boston 2 Calgary 1 while the White Sox received want to stop here,” Jones said. leads the league in save percent- Canadiens on the power play. any game during that dominant outfielder Adam Eaton from the “I want to make sure I keep age. And Scrivens is normally “ If Jones wasn’t making the stretch. AGENCIES Edmonton 5 Carolina 4 Diamondbacks. AGENCIES St Peters clinch Touch Football Qatar 2013 Donz 7’s title

DOHA: St Peters defeated Trinity 7-1 to win the Touch Football Qatar 2013 Donz 7’s championship. In a remarkable free flowing, one sided grand final they at Al Ahli Sports Club Stadium in front of a crowd of 800 St Peters clinched the title. There were some brilliant tries, amazing passing and moments of great defense. The all-day and night event organised by Sri Lankan School DS Senanyake Old Boys Association (DSSC) attracted 160 players con- sisting of 16 teams and 600 sports fans making it the largest Touch Football event in the history of Qatar. Director of Development for Touch Football Qatar and tournament referee Samuel Rico was very excited about the Donz 7’s tournament and its existence in Doha. “Today, Touch Football as a product left no doubt of its place in the sporting landscape of Qatar. It is the largest and fastest growing community sports in the world, being played in over eighty different countries and what we saw today from all involved Touch is here to stay. The committees of both Al Ahli Stadium and the DSSC must be congratulated on putting on such an extravaganza,” said Rico. THE PENINSULA

Action from the Touch Football Qatar 2013 Donz 7’s championship at Al Ahli Sports Club Stadium. RIGHT: Officials of Sri Lankan School DS Senanyake Old Boys Association are seen along with guests during the awards ceremony. THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Khabbab wins Al Khor Cup at Qatar Racing and Equestrian club

The podium winners at the Al Khor Cup pose for a picture along with officials of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) at QREC yesterday. RIGHT: Jockeys taking part in the race pose for a picture. Swansea, Wigan Volleyball League: Al Ahli, Al Rayyan win openers aim to seal berths Europa League: Six spots up for grabs

PARIS: Swansea City and Europa League Results Wigan Athletic are on the road today as they bid to seal their PARIS: Europa League fixtures today: Maccabi Tel Aviv (ISR) v Bordeaux (FRA) berths in the first knockout Groups A-F (kick-offs 1800 GMT) Groups G-L (kick-offs 2005 GMT) round of the Europa League. Group A Group G A total of 18 clubs are already At St Gallen, Switzerland At Kiev through to the last 32 of Europe’s St Gallen (SUI) v Swansea City (ENG) Dynamo Kiev (UKR) v Rapid Vienna (AUT) second-tier competition with six At Valencia, Spain At Thun, Switzerland more spots up for grabs today. Valencia CF (ESP) v Kuban Krasnodar (RUS) FC Thun (SUI) v KRC Genk (BEL) They will be joined by the eight Group H third-placed teams from the Group B UEFA Champions League group At Zagreb At Estoril, Portugal stage. Dinamo Zagreb (CRO) v Ludogorets Razgrad Estoril (POR) v Slovan Liberec (CZE) Another English representa- (BUL) At Freiburg, Germany Action from the Qatar Volleyball League match between Al Ahli and Al Khor at Al Arabi Indoor Stadium yes- tive, Tottenham Hotspur, are At Eindhoven, Netherlands Freiburg (GER) v Sevilla (ESP) terday. Al Ahli won 3-0 in the opening round matches of the Qatar Volleyball League. RIGHT: Mariusz Sordyl, already through along with PSV Eindhoven (NED) v FC Chornomorets Group I coach of Al Ahli during the match. PICTURES BY: WASFY Spanish clubs Valencia and Odessa (UKR) At Seville, Spain Group C Sevilla, France’s Lyon and Real Betis (ESP) v Rijeka (CRO) At Salzburg, Austria Fiorentina of Italy. At Guimaraes, Portugal The north London outfit host FC Red Bull Salzburg (AUT) v Esbjerg (DEN) Vitória Guimarães (POR) v Lyon (FRA) Russians Anzhi Makhachkala at At Liege, Belgium Group J White Hart Lane with both sides Standard Liege (BEL) v Elfsborg (SWE) At Nicosia having already qualified from Group D Group K. Apollon Limassol (CYP) v Legia Warsaw At Maribor, Slovenia Swansea are second in Group (POR) A behind Valencia as they travel NK Maribor (SLO) v Wigan Athletic (ENG) At Rome to face Swiss side St Gallen need- At Bruges, Belgium Lazio (ITA) v Trabzonspor (TUR) ing just a point to advance, while SV Zulte Waregem (BEL) v Rubin Kazan Group K Championship outfit Wigan, third (RUS) At Tiraspol, Moldova Group E in Group D, visit Slovenian outfit Sheriff Tiraspol (MDA) V Tromsø (NOR) At Florence, Italy Maribor. At London Fiorentina (ITA) v FC Dnipro (UKR) Of Swansea’s task, goalkeeper Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) v Anzhi Gerhard Tremmel remarked: “It At Cluj-Napoca, Romania Makhachkala (RUS) won’t be easy .. but the whole Pandurii Targu-Jiu (ROM) v Paços de Group L squad is determined to go to Ferreira (POR) At Haifa, Israel Switzerland and get the result Group F Maccabi Haifa (ISR) v Shakhter Karagandy we need to get through. At Frankfurt, Germany (KAZ) “Of course, it also depends on Eintracht Frankfurt (GER) v Apoel Nicosia At Salonika, Greece how Kuban do in Valencia, but we (CYP) PAOK Salonika (GRE) v AZ Alkmaar (NED) will only be concentrating on our At Tel Aviv, Israel match. “A positive result will give us a good feeling and a bit of momen- last month as they lost 1-0 at sidelines in Monday’s 1-1 Premier tum for the league game at home to Valencia. League draw against Hull City, Norwich on Sunday.” For today’s game, Laudrup while Ivorian forward Wilfried Michael Laudrup’s Swansea has said he is reluctant to risk Bony is recovering from a ham- ljubomir Travica, the coach of Al Rayyan gestures during the match between Al Rayyan and Al Shamal at Al were unable to get the point that Michu despite the Spaniard’s string problem picked up against Arabi Indoor Hall yesterday. Al Rayyan won 3-0. would have clinched qualification return from five weeks on the Valencia. AFP Doha Goals Forum: Putting Job Creation At The Top Of The Sports Agenda

Dikembe Mutombo, former NBA player for the Houston Rockets, speaks during the Doha Goals Forum at Aspire Dome in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: Panellists taking part in a discussion ‘Putting Job Creation At the Top Of The Sports Agenda’ at Doha Goals. Christian Filhol, Founder, TenniSquad (France), Gilles Klein, Founding Secretary General, World Sports Alliance (France), Will Lloyd, CEO, GlobalSportsJobs (UK), Emanuel Macedo de Medeiros, CEO, European Professional Football Leagues (Switzerland), Manisha Malhotra,CEO, Mittals Champions Trust and Asian Games silver medallist, tennis (India), Zaid Mohseni, COO, Moby Group (Afghanistan), Don Porter, President, International Softball Federation (USA), Nicolas Sultan, Senior Principal and leader of the sports practice, AT Kearney (France) took part in the discussion. It was moderated by Simon Chadwick, Professor of Sport Business Strategy, Coventry University (UK). PICTURES BY: SYED OMAR THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29 Ronaldo sets record; Lekhwiya hold off Al Sadd

DOHA: Lekhwiya held on to beat Qatar Stars League (QSL) cham- pions Al Sadd in an entertaining 3-2 victory at Al Sadd Stadium, Leverkusen advance yesterday. Nam Tae-Hee (9, 27) gave the two-time champions a 2-0 lead, before Sebastian Soria (44) made it three for Eric Gerets’ side one minute Olympiakos in last-16; United top group; Bayern beaten from half-time. However, a brace from Qatari striker Ibrahim Khalfan (57, 60) pulled Al Sadd back into the game, but Lekhwiya held on for the three LONDON: Real Madrid’s points. Cristiano Ronaldo set a Champions League The QSL champions got off to a dreadful start after Tae-Hee gave his Cristiano Ronaldo of Champions League group phase Results team the lead when he whipped in a free-kick that deceived everyone. scoring record on Tuesday Real Madrid gestures Tae-Hee doubled his side’s lead when he unleashed a long-range Champions League results for the sixth and as Bayer Leverkusen and during the UEFA effort in the 27th minute. Soria then scored from the spot before Olympiakos Piraeus reached Champions League final round of first round group matches half-time. the last 16. Group B match against on Tuesday: After the break, Khalfan scored from the penalty spot to give his Holders Bayern Munich’s FC Copenhagen in Group A side some hope and later scored again to make it 3-2. record-breaking run of 10 con- Copenhagen, Denmark Manchester United (ENG) 1 (Jones 67) Following the win, Gerets’ side is in third position with 21 points, secutive Champions League wins on Tuesday. Shakhtar Donetsk (UKR) 0 three behind leaders Al Sadd, who missed the opportunity to move came to an unceremonious end Real Sociedad (ESP) 0 Bayer Leverkusen clear following Eljaish’s defeat to Al Rayyan on Tuesday. after Manchester City staged a (GER) 1 (Toprak 49) In other matches, yesterday, Al Ahli beat Al Wakra 1-0, while Al memorable fightback after con- Group B Khor picked up maximum points against Al Kharaitiyat by the same ceding two early goals to win 3-2 scoreline. THE PENINSULA FC Copenhagen (DEN) 0 Real Madrid (ESP) at the Allianz Arena. 2 (Modric 25, Cristiano Ronaldo 48) However, Bayern still won Group D with City finishing in Group C second place. Benfica (POR) 2 (Lima 45-pen, Gaitan 58) Prolific Ronaldo took his tally Paris Saint-Germain (FRA) 1 to nine for the campaign in Real’s (Cavani 37) Lekhwiya’s 2-0 win at FC Copenhagen, with Olympiakos (GRE) 3 (Saviola 33, 58, Sebastian the nine-times champions also Dominguez 90+5-pen) Anderlecht Soria setting an all-time record in (BEL) 1 (Kljestan 39) (right) vies European competitions by netting Group D for the in 31 successive matches. ball with Bayern Munich (GER) 2 (Mueller 5, Goetze Ronaldo, in his first game back Al Sadd’s 12) Manchester City (ENG) 3 (David since sustaining a muscle strain Silva 28, Kolarov 59-pen, Milner 62) Ali Almadi on November 23, scored with a during Viktoria Pilsen (CZE) 2 (Kolar 76, Wagner simple close-range finish three their Qatar 90) CSKA Moscow (RUS) 1 (Musa 65) minutes after the break, Real’s Stars second after Luka Modric’s League delightful opener. goals without Vincent Kompany, side 2-0 ahead after 12 minutes. Javier Saviola scored twice as (QSL) Bayern manager Pep Guardiola Yaya Toure, Alvaro Negredo and David Silva started the come- Olympiakos pipped Benfica to sec- match at suffered only his second loss in 25 Sergio Aguero shows we have a back with a simple finish to ond spot in Group C by beating Al Sadd matches since taking over from very good squad also, so it’s a very reduce the deficit by the break visitors Anderlecht 3-1. Jupp Heynckes. important victory.” and James Milner won a penalty, In an extraordinary match, the Stadium “When you go 2-0 ahead, you Leverkusen’s 1-0 win at Real converted by Aleksandar Kolarov, Belgians finished with eight men in Doha, have to play better than that,” Sociedad put them through as and side-footed the winner in a after the Greeks scored one pen- yesterday. Bayern captain Philipp Lahm told runners-up behind Manchester three-minute second-half spell. alty and had two saved by keeper Sky Sports Deutschland. “But we United in Group A. “We wanted revenge for the Silvia Proto, including one from PICTURE can live with the defeat, we are The Bundesliga side’s victory, first game (Bayern won 3-1) Saviola. BY: SALIM still group winners.” earned by Oemer Toprak’s sec- and to show it was not that dif- The Anderlecht stopper spoiled MATRAMKOT A heavy loss looked on the ond-half goal, lifted them above ferent between Bayern and our his night by getting sent off in cards for City when slack defend- Shakhtar Donetsk into second team,” said City manager Manuel stoppage-time, joining Cheikhou ing allowed Thomas Mueller and after the Ukrainians lost 1-0 at Pellegrini. Kouyate and Fabrice N’Sakala in Mario Goetze to fire the German United. “To win here and score three seeing red. REUTERS QSL Results Al Ahli 1 Al Wakra 0 Al Kharaitiyat 0 Al Khor 1 Your TV guide for Manchester City punished Al Sadd 2 Lekhwiya 3 Played on Tuesday live matches today Umm Salal 0 Qatar SC 2 Bayern’s complacency: Mueller Al Sailiyah 4 Muaither 1 Event Competition Time Channel Al Rayyan 1 Eljaish 0 Lanus vs Ponte Preta Copa Sudamericana 02:50 .TV MUNICH, GERMANY: Midfielder Thomas “The human-factor came out in us and we played Al Arabi 2 Al Gharafa 0 PSV vs Odessa UEFA Europa League 20:30 HD2 Mueller has admitted Bayern Munich were too carelessly,” admitted Mueller, as Bayern pro- punished for their complacency in their shock gressed to the last 16 as Group D winners despite QSL Standings St Gallen vs Swansea UEFA Europa League 20:30 HD6 3-2 defeat by Manchester City, who proved the the defeat after winning five of their six games. P W D L F A Pts Fiorentina vs Dnipro UEFA Europa League 21:00 .TV Champions League winners are not unbeatable. “Everyone ran too little after we went 2-0 up. AlSadd 12 7 3 2 27 13 24 Dinamo Zagreb vs Ludogoret UEFA Europa League 21:00 +4 Bayern suffered their first defeat under Pep “It’s not like we missed chance after chance, but Al Jaish 12 7 3 2 16 10 21 Guardiola since losing the German Super Cup we weren’t able to compensate for the two goals AlSailiya SC 12 5 4 3 23 18 19 Valencia vs Kuban UEFA Europa League 21:00 .TV final to Borussia Dortmund in July as their record they scored. Qatar SC 12 5 4 3 14 14 19 Maribor vs Wigan UEFA Europa League 21:00 .TV 10-match winning streak in Europe was brought to “After such a strong start, we had imagined the Al Arabi 12 5 3 4 18 13 18 an abrupt halt. game would have gone differently. Waregem vs Rubin UEFA Europa League 21:00 +2 Al Ahli 12 5 3 4 18 18 18 Having raced into a two-goal lead after 11 minutes “We have a lot of self-confidence at the moment Al Gharafa 12 3 6 3 20 16 15 Frankfurt vs APOEL UEFA Europa League 21:00 +3 at Munich’s Allianz Arena with goals by Mueller and and after we went 2-0 up, you thought ‘what could Real Betis vs Rijeka UEFA Europa League 23:00 .TV Mario Goetze, Bayern allowed City to fight back on possibly go wrong now?’ Al Wakra 12 3 6 3 16 17 15 Tuesday in their final group game. “We lost 3-2, so that was the best of our possible Guimaraes vs Lyon UEFA Europa League 23:00 .TV Al Kharaitiyat 12 3 4 5 15 15 13 David Silva and stand-in captain Aleksandar worst case scenarios.” Al Khor 12 1 9 2 11 15 12 Estoril vs Liberec UEFA Europa League 23:00 HD4 Kolarov both scored before winger James Milner City would have finished as group winners with Al Rayyan 12 3 3 6 15 22 12 Dynamo Kiev vs Rapid Vienna UEFA Europa League 23:00 +2 capped an outstanding display to hit the winner with a 4-2 victory and Mueller said keeping hold of pos- Muaither 12 2 2 8 12 31 8 a superb curling shot to complete the miraculous session had been his priority in the dying minutes Umm Salal 12 0 5 7 12 24 5 PAOK vs AZ UEFA Europa League 23:00 .TV fight-back. to avoid conceding a crucial fourth goal. AFP Liverpool legend Fowler backs 2022 winter World Cup BY ARMSTRONG VAS FIFA will decide after the 2014 World Cup the top four of the English Premier League whether to host the 2022 edition in summer which will mean Suarez will get a chance to DOHA: Hosting the 2022 World Cup in or move to the much cooler winter weather. show his prowess against some of the top winter will be the ‘ideal option’ for Qatar, Fowler part of the 2002 World Cup squad clubs. says former Liverpool player Robbie Fowler. does not agree that England has got a tough “The ideal situation will be for Liverpool The 38-year-old, who scored 128 goals in draw for the FIFA 2014 World Cup finals. to finish among the top four in the English 266 appearances for the English giants, said The former striker has a different perspec- Premier League and book a place in next January will be the right time to host the tive about the 2014 World Cup draw for the year’s Champions League. Playing in the World Cup in Qatar. Brazil finals. Champions League will mean Suarez has an “I was very much pleased when Qatar won Roy Hodgson and his Three Lions squad opportunity to test his skills against the top- the rights to host the 2022 World Cup. I have will face Italy in their opener before taking on ranked clubs,” he said. been a frequent visitor to this Middle East Uruguay and Costa Rica in Group D. Fowler said he is looking forward to taking region, not Qatar, but to Dubai. I know how “Everybody talks that the draw is a tough part in the Doha race. people from this region are passionate about one for England. But when you talk about “I will be participating in the race and try- football and Qatar deserves to host it.” World Cup you have the best teams of the ing to give it my best shot,” he said. “Ideally I would go in for the January period world taking part. You have to beat the Besides the race, Fowler will be taking part to host the Cup,” said Fowler, who is in Qatar world’s best team to win the championship. in some of the coaching clinics conducted by to participate in the Leaders’ Race hosted by So all the teams are tough and you have to Liverpool Football Club Foundation for dif- Liverpool sponsors Standard Chartered Bank beat them,” said Fowler, the fifth-highest goal ferent schools and community coaching ses- on December 14 at Aspire Zone. scorer in the history of the Premier League. sions in Doha. Fowler, however, added that with the He scored 183 goals in total for Liverpool, “I am sure the fantastic coaching staff resources available, Qatar will be host a per- 128 of which were scored in the Premier of Liverpool Football Club Foundation will fectly organised Cup even in summer. League, 162 Premier League goals in total. He make the coaching a wonderful experience “Hosting the World Cup in winter with be also played for Leeds United and Manchester for the kids and it will be pleasure taking a perfect situation and January month will be City. rounds of the different schools,” said Fowler, an ideal time. But having said that, I would Fowler, known for being a natural scorer while explaining the world-wide work of the add that the technological advances and the with an instinctive goal-poaching ability, said Liverpool Football Club Foundation. money available with Qatar, they will do a Luis Suarez, Liverpool striker from Uruguay Charles Carlson, CEO Standard Chartered good job. No matter what time (winter or is an amazing talent’ Bank, Qatar said around 650 runners will be summer) and what they (FIFA) decide on, it “He is a terrific player, a fantastic talent, taking part in the race. will be done (hosted ) superbly. Although a a tough player and he is a new talent. He is “Kids here are crazy about football, just lot of leagues around the world will have to be still learning the things. He is scoring goals, like they are in UK, and they will be excited Former Liverpool and England striker answers a question during a restructured,” said Fowler, who turned out 27 setting up goals and also unsettling defences,” to see Robbie and his team and an exciting press conference at Oryx Rotana Hotel in Doha yesterday. Forwler will times for the national team and scored seven Fowler said about the 26-year-old striker. week lays in store for them,” said Carlson. take part in the Leaders’ Race hosted by Standard Chartered Bank goals from 1996 to 2012. Fowler hopes that Liverpool will finish in THE PENINSULA on December 14 at Aspire Park. PICTURE BY: QASSIM RAHMATULLAH THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Athletics free from doping is an unrealistic idea, says Johnson We need a new format for athletics and package it better for fans: Sprint legend

BY DENZIL PINTO He added: “You can’t compare Micheal Johnson athletics to any team sport. It’s Series of DOHA: Four-time Olympic the purest form of competition. champion Michael Johnson medals Everyone loves to see people have believes athletics will never Olympic Games a race but we’re seeing too much historic firsts be free of drug cheats and has Gold 1992 Barcelona 4 x 400 m relay emphasis placed on world records called for changes to make Gold 1996 Atlanta 200m and not on the battle between the mark Doha the sport more appealing to Gold 1996 Atlanta 400m athletes. We must look closely at spectators. Gold 2000 Sydney 400m the sport and see what it is that Athletics has long been tar- World Championships people actually want to watch. Do Goals 2013 nished by failed drug tests, most we need the women’s discus? A Gold 1991 Tokyo 200m notably sprinters Tyson Gay and 3,000m and 5,000m steeplechase DOHA: Doha Goals 2013 will Asafa Powell who had been in Gold 1993 Stuttgart 400m at the same meeting? Nothing has be remembered for the series the headlines prior to the World Gold 1993 Stuttgart 4 x 400m relay happened to change the sport in of firsts that were delivered Championship in August, which Gold 1995 Göteborg 200m my time. We need to look at a throughout the forum amongst they later missed. Gold 1995 Göteborg 400m new format, package it better to them, the first ever Sports Speaking at Doha Goals, yes- Gold 1995 Göteborg 4 x 400m relay engage more fans. Other sports Ministers Summit and the terday, the 46-year-old said: have done it to increase their fan launch of the first initiatives to Gold 1997 Athens 400m “Athletics has a zero tolerance base, why can’t athletics?” benefit from the actions agreed policy with drugs and, in a way, Gold 1999 Seville 400m The American saw his 200m at Doha Goals last year. we have kind of suffered because changed now as to when he was world record broken by Jamaican The second edition of the of that,” said Johnson. competing in the 1990s. superstar and double Olympic forum - the world’s leading plat- He added: “Most other sports The eight-time world cham- gold medallist Usain Bolt at the form focusing on sport as a driver are not at the level (of drug tests). pion said: “Nothing has really Beijing Games, and Johnson for social change and economic We catch more people but there happened within a long span of believes Bolt deserves every penny progress - was attended by 1,500 are more stories and scandals time to change the sport. You are that he has earned. participants from 70 countries, about this than other sports. But looking at ways to engage with the “I hear people saying that Bolt including 150 speakers and 30 at the same time I think it’s the audience, and if you lose fans, you shouldn’t be making so much sporting champions with star right way. Despite that, you are lose television (viewers).” money then what he is earning names including Michael Johnson, never going to have a situation The former 400m and 200m but I would disagree. He is well Boris Becker, Nadia Comaneci, where no-one cheats – athletics world record holder also believes worth it with what he is earn- Tony Hawk, Hicham el Guerrouj is a microcosm of real life and there is more focus on an athlete ing,” said Johnson, who believes and Dame Kelly Holmes. in real life you will always have rather than the competition itself. it is difficult to put the Jamaican International media gathered people who cheat. It’s unrealistic He said: “Everyone is inter- superstar as the all-time greatest en masse in Doha with over 250 to expect athletics to be a drug ested in watching two people race, athlete as of now. media and press delegates in free sport. Other sports may have whether it’s two cars or horses. When asked of who was the attendance, with 30 countries and fans that can put up with it but People want to see a race. Now most difficult opponent during 110 media outlets represented. in athletics the fans want to see athletics have moved on from the his career, the television analyst 400 students from 20 universi- the Olympians hold true to the competition and more onto the said Frankie Fredericks. “He won ties and high schools also joined Olympic ideal and values.” personality and records. There is silver medal at the 1992 Games the forum. Considered as one of the not enough focus on the competi- and I knew every championship Concluding yesterday, the three greatest legends in the sport, tion rather than the athlete which that he was in, I had to run my Retired US sprinter Michael Johnson speaks on the second day of the day forum hosted the first ever the American said not much has is fascinating on its own.” fastest.” THE PENINSULA Doha Goals Forum, Gathering of all Leaders in Sport, in Doha yesterday. Sports Ministers Summit where 16 Sports Ministers and senior representatives of government from over 20 countries gathered in Qatar’s capital to discuss the Tony Hawk of the US, former important role played by sport professional skateboarder to promote innovation, economic and founder of the Tony Hawk growth, social inclusion and Foundation, speaks during the cohesion. Doha Goals Forum in Doha yes- The discussion, hosted by H terday. Hawk took part in the dis- E Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser cussion Extreme Sports. Others Al Ali, Qatar’s Minister of Youth who took part in the debate were and Sports, co-hosted by Sheikh Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, Faisal bin Mubarak Al Thani, President, Qatar Marine Sports executive director, and Richard Federation, Burcu Çetinkaya, TV Attias, executive producer Doha presenter, champion rally driver Goals, and facilitated by Lord and Red Bull athlete (Turkey), Mandelson, chairman of Global Counsel, saw the participants Taïg Khris, professional vert consider how sport can play an skater (Algeria), Shawn Langdon, important role in addressing some top fuel driver, Al Anabi Racing of the most important economic, (USA), James Leitz, senior vice social and political challenges president, IMG Worldwide (USA) facing the world today, including and Chris Sharma, world no.1 youth unemployment, corruption rock climber (USA). and poor health. PICTURES BY: SYED OMAR The outcomes of the Summit were summarised in the Doha Goals Accord, which will be com- bined with the 100 recommenda- tions from participants during the Forum. Attias announced at the closing session that, follow- ing dialogue with the Australian government, the new host nation of the G20, the outcomes of Doha Goals will be heard by the G20. H E Minister Al Ali said: Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al Thani, “This has been an important step President, Qatar Marine Sports towards better and stronger col- Federation, during the discussion on laboration between Ministers of Extreme Sports at Aspire Dome. RIGHT: Sport so that we can build a case Britain’s Kelly Holmes, double Olympic for sport to be given higher prior- champion and founder of DKH Legacy ity at a policy level.” Trust, during the discussion on the topic Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak Al Thani said: “Important discus- entitled Your Sport, Your World. Hamza sions have been had about how Abdullah, NFL player, formerly Arizona sport can be used as a bridge for Cardinals and Tampa Bay Buccaneers cultures, as well a way to promote (USA), Boris Becker, Partner, Becker peace and fight prejudice.” Private Office (Germany), Hou Bin, triple Attias confirmed: “I am delighted Paralympic champion, high jump (China) to be able to say that we will be Ato Boldon, former world champion here again next year to ensure we sprinter, and former Senator (Trinidad continue to act upon the many and Tobago), Tony Hawk, 12-time world interested and varied discussions champion skateboarder and Founder, that we have had here this year. Tony Hawk Foundation (USA), Michael Hundreds of ideas were discussed Johnson, four-time Olympic champion in the task forces and these will be and eight-time world champion sprinter, brought to G20 in 2014 ahead of the Wilson Kipketer, world record-holder third edition of Doha Goals 2014 in and champion middle-distance runner December, which will also see the (Denmark), Dikembe Mutombo, former second Sports Ministers Summit NBA player, Houston Rockets (Democratic take place.” Four life-changing initiatives Republic of Congo), Ilie Nastase, former were announced at the opening world No.1 professional tennis player session of Doha Goals, and MoUs (Romania) took part. were signed with Afghanistan, Gabon and Palestine. They included a Sport Fields Initiative, a program to give children around the world access to prosthetics, the Sport Solidarity Fund ‘from the athletes to the athletes’. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 12 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31

Sabin FIBA 3x3 All Stars event becomes first female LTA president

LONDON: Cathie Sabin to be held today in Qatar was yesterday confirmed as the first female president of British tennis’s govern- Doha Team among six sides to battle for the title at Katara Beach ing body, the Lawn Tennis Association (LTA). The organisation’s former DOHA: Six teams will be aim- vice-president, Sabin is step- ing to clinch the FIBA 3x3 All Teams ping up to replace the outgo- Stars Championship title at A Brezovica ing Peter Bretherton and was Katara Beach today. Blaz Cresnar sworn in at the LTA’s annual FC Barcelona, Brezovica, Jasmin Hercegovac general meeting in London. Caracas, Doha Team, Nagoya and Ales Kunc “Cathie’s qualities, know- Novi Sad will be showcasing their Rok Smaka how and experience make her basketball skills in the one-day eminently qualified for this event from 3.10pm today. Caracas role,” said Bretherton, who has Khalid Suliman Abdi, Jovanni Diaz stepped down after a three- Mohammed Seleem Abdulla, Michael Flores Urbaez year term of office. And with Yaseen Musa and Boney Watson Rafael Melgarejo her at the helm for the next will form Doha Team, who begin Edgar Sifontes three years, British tennis is their campaign against Japan’s Doha Team in good hands.” Nagoya and then Slovenia’s Addressing the LTA, Sabin Khalid Suliman Abdi Brezovica. A) FROM LEFT: Yaseen Musa, Doha Team, Saadoun Al Kuwari, Executive Director of FIBA 3x3 All Stars, Mohammed said: “I am really looking for- Mohammed Seleem Abdulla Qatari player Musa is looking Ali Hobash, Vice-President of the FIBA 3x3 All Stars, Alex Sanchez, FIBA 3x3 Director, Dusan Domovic Bulut of ward to working with you all forward to the event. Speaking Novi Sad, and Rodrigo De La Feunte of FC Barcelona are seen during the pre-event match press conference at Yaseen Musa and coming out around the under the presence of Mohammed Ritz-Carlton in Doha, yesterday. B) Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani (left), President of Qatar Basketball Boney Watson regions to visit your teams. Ali Hobash, Vice-President of Federation and Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary-General, shakes hands with FIBA President Yvan Mainini. FC Barcelona “Thank you so much, and I 3x3 All Stars, and Saadoun Al C) Action between FC Barcelona and Doha Team during an exhibition match at Katara Beach in Doha yesterday. Manel Bosch would also like to thank Peter Kuwari, Executive Director, he PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT/SHAIVAL DALAL Rodrigo De La Fuente for his support and guidance said: “This will be a new experi- Roger Esteller over the last three years.” ence for me and the team. I am Bretherton also spoke out Ferran Martinez used to playing 5x5 matches, but I stressed the sport must reach in defence of departing chief hope many people will support us people rather than the other way Nagoya executive Roger Draper, and that can have a positive effect round. Mitsui Hideki who relinquished his role in on us.” He said: “It is very important Jun Suehiro September after being criti- B Among the players who will be for us. It is played down town in Taniguchi Tatsuro cised over his annual salary of seen in action is world number many parts of the world and our Ochiai Tomoya £640,000. one Dusan Domovic Bulut of Novi objective is to bring sport to the Novi Sad “During his watch, the Sad. Bulut said his team will be people which is why we wanted organisation was transformed,” Dusan Domovic Bulut relishing the opportunity to play to play this event in an open Bretherton said. in front of fans at Katara Beach. stadium rather than an indoor Marko Savi “He introduced the British He said: “We have played a lot sports hall.” Nikola Ugrica tennis membership scheme, of tournaments this year and are Each team will play two group Marko Zdero and was instrumental in the happy to be here. The other teams matches each, with the top two professionalisation of the tal- and players are strong and it will qualifying for the semi-finals. The Fixtures ent identification scheme. be very hard.” final will begin at 7.10pm Venue: Katara Beach British tennis owes Roger an Novi Sad open their campaign Meanwhile, Qatar Basketball Date: December 12 enormous debt of gratitude.” against Caracas, before facing FC Federation President Sheikh Pool A Draper will be succeeded by Barcelona. Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani C Brezovica vs Nagoya, 3:10pm Michael Downey, the current The Spanish outfit will have said Qatar will help coaches Nagoya vs Doha, 4.00pm head of Tennis Canada, who C Rodrigo De La Fuente, who develop their skills and knowledge Doha vs Brezovica, 5.00pm is due to take up the role in came out of retirement to take for the whole of Middle East. Pool B January. part in this format. Speaking of Sheikh Saoud said: “We are Meanwhile, Japanese tennis Novi Sad vs Caracas, 3.30pm his team’s chances, De La Fuente happy and delighted to organise star Kei Nishikori said Whe said: “It is a new type of game. the first 3x3 All-Stars event. The Caracas vs FC Barcelona, 4.20pm has signed up former French I just returned a year ago and event is a mutual idea of Qatar FC Barcelona vs Novi Sad, 5.20pm Open champion Michael never played 3x3 at all. We are and FIBA for three years. The Semi-finals Chang of the US as a coach going to enjoy this as there are event will keep bringing bring all Pool A Winner vs Pool B Runner-Up, from next year. no coaches - it’s just you and your the best 3x3 players in the world 6.00pm “Excited to announce an team-mates and are ready to best to Qatar.” Pool B Winner vs Pool A Runner-Up, addition to the team. Michael our best against the teams.” Patrick Bauman, FIBA General 6.20pm Chang will join us in 2014,” Alex Sanchez, FIBA 3x3 Secretary said he is sure the for- Final Nishikori, said on Twitter and Director said he hopes the for- mat will boost the whole of the Winner of Semi-final 1 vs Winner of Facebook. AFP mat will attract many people and Middle East. THE PENINSULA Semi-final 2, 7.10pm Misbah fears De Kock shines again Taylor century lifts New for wellbeing of Pakistan but rain ruins third ODI Zealand in Wellington PRETORIA: South African Quinton de Kock became the fifth players player in one-day international history to score centuries in three consecutive matches, but rain had the final say as the third one- WELLINGTON: New KARACHI: Pakistan’s dayer against India was abandoned in Pretoria yesterday. Zealand’s Ross Taylor tor- nomadic cricketers need to Opener De Kock scored 101 from 120 balls for his third ton of the mented the West Indies’ bowl- resume home internationals to series against an Indian attack that has had no answers to the skilful ers yesterday, making the most avoid the risk of stress-related 20-year-old left-hander. of an early let-off to score a illness brought about by long He and captain AB de Villiers (109 from 101 balls) catapulted South century on the first day of the absences away from their fami- Africa to 301 for eight in their 50 overs, boosted by a fine cameo from second Test as the home side lies, skipper Misbah-ul Haq David Miller who made 56 not out from 34 balls. reached 307 for six. says. De Kock joined Pakistanis Zaheer Abbas and Saeed Anwar as well The former skipper, who scored Foreign sides have shunned as compatriots Herschelle Gibbs and De Villiers as the only men to an unbeaten double century in tours of Pakistan since Sri Lanka’s have scored hundreds in three consecutive one-day internationals. the series opener, was dismissed team bus came under attack by Ishant Sharma was the best of the Indian bowlers with figures of shortly before close of play at militants in Lahore in March four for 40 in 10 overs. Wellington’s Basin Reserve for 2009, forcing the Pakistanis to The rain arrived at the change of innings, though, and the umpires 129 when Shane Shillingford play all their series away from called off play without a ball being bowled in the Indian reply. pulled off a diving catch. home including on neutral turf South Africa had already claimed the three-match series after win- In-form Taylor arrived at the Ross Taylor of New Zealand plays a shot during day one of the second in the United Arab Emirates. ning the first two matches in Johannesburg and Durban. crease with the home side in deep Test match against West Indies at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, But, invoking the depression The teams will now switch focus to a two-match Test series starting trouble at 24-2 on a green wicket yesterday. suffered by England’s Jonathan at The Wanderers in Johannesburg on December 18. REUTERS and was dropped before he got off Trott, Pakistan’s Test and one- the mark. day captain said the situation was In conditions that favoured to swing the match New Zealand’s helped by the inability of West becoming untenable. the bowlers, the 29-year-old way, taking the sting out of the Indies strike bowlers Best and “You come back from a tour Cook’s brain scrambled, forged half-century partnerships second new ball with BJ Watling. Gabriel to maintain the good and hardly get time to settle, then with Kane Williamson, Brendon Taylor has amassed a total of line and length that saw them you are off again for a series. And says England great Boycott McCullum and Corey Anderson 362 runs in just three innings and claim openers Peter Fulton and since there are no home games, been dismissed just once. Hamish Rutherford in quick it’s taking its toll on the players,” He also passed 4,000 Test runs succession. Misbah, 39, said. PERTH, Australia: England great Geoffrey Boycott yesterday Scoreboard during his innings and now has Fulton, whose leg before wicket “I salute my players for showing blasted captain Alastair Cook’s “scrambled brain” and said the an average of 46.52, topping the first ball dismissal was overturned the mental strength to overcome team needed to use more common sense to prevent yet another New Zealand (I innings) list of New Zealand batsmen on appeal, did not make the most home sickness. Being away from defeat to Australia. P Fulton c Ramdin b Sammy ...... 6 who have played a minimum of of his reprieve as he poked at a their families, it’s a really tough Boycott has been shocked by England’s lacklustre efforts dur- H Rutherford c Ramdin b Best ...... 11 20 innings. Darren Sammy delivery outside ask,” he said. ing the Ashes tour and laid some of the blame at Cook’s feet, K Williamson c Sammy b Best ...... 45 After his early life when off-stump a few overs later and Umar Akmal, Asad Shafiq, saying he appeared frustrated and worn down by the Australian R Taylor c Shillingford b Gabriel ...... 129 dropped in the slips by Kirk was caught behind for six. Azhar Ali, Ahmed Shehzad and attack. B McCullum c Edwards b Deonarine ...... 37 Edwards, Taylor offered another Rutherford, dropped by Sammy Junaid Khan has never played “Australia have worked Alastair out,” Boycott said in a column C Anderson c Edwards b Shillingford .....38 opportunity on 122 when Tino on eight, made only three more international cricket at home. for the West Australian newspaper. B Watling (batting) ...... 8 Best spilled a catch at fine leg. runs before chasing a shorter Best Misbah said all his players “They give him nothing to score off his legs or hip and they are T Southee (batting) ...... 9 That came just after Taylor had delivery, which he edged to wick- were desperate to play on home winning the battle.” Extras (B16, LB6, NB2) ...... 24 belted 13 runs off one over by the etkeeper Denesh Ramdin. grounds, and added that “this The plain-speaking Boycott could barely contain his anger at Total: (6 wickets; 90 overs) ...... 307 West Indies quick. Kane Williamson, returning is also affecting our young and Cook’s second-innings dismissal in Adelaide for one, when he needed Fall of wickets: 1-14, 2-24, 3-112, 4-189, But he was seldom under pres- to the New Zealand line-up after upcoming fans and players who to get a big score. 5-257, 6-296 sure as he faced 227 balls and hit missing the Dunedin Test with a don’t get to see international “Here was our captain, who is supposed to set the tone, hooking To bat: I Sodhi, N Wagner, T Boult 15 boundaries before slashing at thumb injury, scored freely until matches”. Mitchell Johnson down fine leg’s throat in the second over of the Bowling: Best 14-1-66-2, Gabriel 18-4-56- Shannon Gabriel and being well he reached 45, when he flashed at “How can they learn with- day, which shows his brain is scrambled,” he said. 1, Sammy 19-3-65-1, Shillingford 23-4-59-1, caught by Shillingford. a wide Best delivery to be caught out watching matches on home “We have some serious problems,” Boycott added. AFP Deonarine 16-2-39-1 New Zealand’s cause was also by Sammy in the slips. AFP grounds?” said Misbah. AFP Thursday 12 December 2013 8 Safar 1435 Volume 18 Number 5911 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Afridi stars in Pakistan victory T20: The all-rounder’s winning six helps Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by three wickets

DUBAI: Dashing all-rounder Shahid Afridi starred in Pakistan’s exciting three-wicket win over Sri Lanka in the first Twenty20 international at Dubai Stadium yesterday. Afridi scored an unbeaten 20-ball 39, hitting the winning six off the first ball of the final over by paceman Nuwan Kulasekara to give Pakistan a 1-0 lead in the two-match series. In all Afridi hit three sixes and two boundaries to help Pakistan overcome a tough challenge from world number one Sri Lanka who had taken the match to the final over with Pakistan needing six runs. Set a challenging 146 to get, Pakistan lost Ahmed Shehzad (four) in the third over but Mohammad Hafeez (32) and Sharjeel Khan (34) steadied the innings through their 57-run Pakistan’s bowler Saeed Ajmal (right) celebrates with his team-mates after Sri Lanka’s Kumar Sangakkara was Scoreboard second wicket stand before they caught out during their first T20 match in Dubai, yesterday. LEFT: International Cricket Council (ICC) chairman lost three wickets in the space of Dave Richardson (left) and retired cricket player Waqar Younis of Pakistan pose with a framed cricket cap SRI LANKA: Ahmed Shehzad c Thirimanne b Senanayake 4 seven runs. after Younis was inducted into the ICC Hall of Fame recently. T Dilshan c Shehzad b Tanvir ...... 7 Mohammad Hafeez lbw b Mendis ...... 32 Sharjeel holed out after hit- K Perera lbw b Ajmal ...... 15 Umar Akmal run out ...... 5 ting three fours off 31 balls while D Chandimal lbw b Afridi ...... 22 Sohaib Maqsood lbw b Malinga ...... 13 Hafeez, who hit two fours and a Twenty20 cricket. In all he has sending left-arm paceman Sohail debut to 19-year-old Usman K Sangakkara c Afridi b Ajmal ...... 21 Umar Amin c Chandimal b Malinga ...... 8 six in his 27-ball knock, fell leg- 73 wickets in 69 matches. Tanvir to long-on ropes to reach Shinwari after the left-arm pace- A Mathews c Sharjeel b Tanvir ...... 50 Shahid Afridi (not out) ...... 39 before and Umar Akmal was run Sent into bat, Sri Lankan bats- his fifty off 32 balls. man was drafted into the team as L Thirimanne (not out) ...... 23 Bilawal Bhatti c Thisara b Malinga ...... 10 out for five. men did not capitalise on the Experienced opener late as on Tuesday but the young- T Perera (not out) ...... 2 Sohail Tanvir (not out) ...... 0 It was left to Afridi to see good starts before Mathews (50) Tillakaratne Dilshan managed ster from the troubled Kahyber Extras: (W5) ...... 5 Extras: (NB1) ...... 1 Pakistan through. and Lahiru Thirimanne (23 not just seven before he was the first Pakhtunkhwa province bowled Total: (for five wkts; 20 overs) ...... 145 Total: (for 7 wkts; 19.1 overs) ...... 146 Criticised for his recent poor out) added 58 for the fifth wicket wicket to fall in the second over. only one over, costing nine runs. Fall of wickets: 1-9, 2-41, 3-59, 4-84, 5-142 Fall of wickets: 1-12, 2-69, 3-76, 4-76, 5-96, batting form, Afridi hit two tow- stand to take their team to 145-5 Kusal Perera (15) and skip- Tanvir finished with 2-32 while Bowling: Hafeez 4-0-24-0, Tanvir 4-0-34-2 6-117, 7-139 ering sixes in Kulasekara’s 16th in 20 overs. per Dinesh Chandimal (22) then leg-spinner Shahid Afridi took (1w), Shinwari 1-0-9-0 (2w), Bhatti 3-0-23-0, Bowling: Malinga 4-0-26-3 (1nb), Kulasekara over to give Pakistan a sniff of Mathews hit five boundaries added 32 for the second wicket 1-20 in his four overs. Ajmal 4-0-35-2 (1w), Afridi 4-0-20-1 (1w) 3.1-0-30-0, Senanayake 3-0-14-1, Mendis 4-0- victory. and a six off 34 balls before hol- but off-spinner Saeed Ajmal put The second match will be PAKISTAN: 29-1, Mathews 2-0-20-0, Thisara 3-0-26-1 When on 23, Afridi also became ing out in the last over. He hit on the initial brakes with 2-35. played tomorrow. The two teams Sharjeel Khan c Dilshan b Thisara 34 Result: Pakistan won by three wickets the first player to score 1,000 paceman Bilawal Bhatti for three Kumar Sangakkara scored 21. also play five one-day internation- runs and take 50 wickets in all boundaries in one over before Pakistan gave an international als and three Tests. AFP Sneijder sinks Juventus as Galatasaray reach last-16 ISTANBUL: An 85th minute strike from Wesley Sneijder secured what will go down as a controversial 1-0 win for Galatasaray over Juventus and a place in the last-16 of the Champions League yesterday. Galatasaray’s second win in six games left them second in Group B on seven points, allow- ing the Turkish giants to join Real Madrid in the last 16 of the competition. Juventus finished third on six points, two more than FC Copenhagen, and drop into the Europa League. The match resumed in the 32nd minute at the Ali Sami Yen sta- dium after officials called a halt to proceedings while the match stood scoreless on Tuesday due Galatasaray’s players celebrate after defeating Juventus during the UEFA Champions League match in Istanbul, to heavy snowfall. Turkey, yesterday. RIGHT: Galatasaray’s Didier Drogba (front) and Wesley Sneijder (back) celebrates after Officials had managed to clear the match. A Wesley Sneijder goal five minutes from time saw Turkey’s Galatasaray beat Italian champions the pitch of snow for the remain- Juventus and qualify for the last 16 of the Champions League. ing 59 minutes of the game, how- ever snow continued to fall and several areas of the pitch were compensate for the poor condi- the lads did well. The point we experience will serve us well for Muslera. Sneijder was next to defenders on the right and from virtually unplayable. tions underfoot. took from Turin served us well the future.” show a glimpse of creation on 54 the resulting corner defender Juventus coach Antonio Conte Galatasaray coach Roberto and today we deserved the win.” Juventus eventually grew into minutes, the Dutchman pounc- Giorgio Chiellini saw an effort go was clearly unhappy, especially as Mancini, who took over from Conte said his pleas to have the their stride and were by far the ing on a loose ball from Drogba wide. a large chunk of damaged pitch Fatih Terim the day before hold- match postponed fell on deaf ears. dominant team towards the end to send a drive narrowly wide of Minutes later Tevez cut the lay in Juventus’s attacking end for ing Juventus to a 2-2 draw in “We’ve been penalised in a very of the second period, however the Buffon’s upright. ball back for Claudio Marchisio the second half. Turin, admitted the “dangerous” harsh manner,” complained the chances they did create were only Buffon then pulled off a superb following Arturo Vidal’s smart He complained vociferously conditions should have perhaps Juventus coach. ever half-chances. diving stop down low to block cross to the left, but Marchisio’s of the playing conditions to the led to another postponement. “I congratulated the lads Four minutes after the restart Drogba’s goalbound shot from the first-time strike was straight at match referee at half-time, but “It was difficult to play the ball, because they gave everything they Frenchman Paul Pogba, playing edge of the area. Muslera. to no avail. maybe it would have been better could on a pitch that wasn’t fit for in central midfield for injured Juventus moved up a gear in Juve were having the lion’s It made for a farcical game of not to play. It was dangerous for football, and this fact penalised Andrea Pirlo, managed to get a the final 20 minutes, with Carlos share of play but were ultimately football, with many passes incom- the players,” Mancini told Sky us a lot. The shame is that we shot away from outside the area as Tevez finally finding his feet. stunned five minutes from time pleted, overplayed and stuck Sport Italia. were reduced to having to qualify Galatasary failed to clear but his On 74 minutes the Argentinian when Sneijder beat Buffon at his in the mud as players tried to “It was a difficult situation, but in this last game. Hopefully the effort was collected by Fernando striker squeezed between two far post. AFP