ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Friday 21 December 2012 8 Safar 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5555 Price: QR2 ICE to buy Wins for India, NYSE Euronext Pakistan in in $8.2bn deal Asian hockey Business | 13 Sport | 21 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 A video camera in the sky Qatar to pour up to $265m a year into PSG PARIS: Qatar will pour up to ¤200m ($265m) a year into Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) under an advertising contract designed to help the French club meet UEFA’s financial fair-play rules, according to French media. The deal, already submitted to French football’s controlling body (DNCG), has been struck with the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) and will run until 2016, daily Le Parisien said yesterday. PSG have spent more than ¤250m in transfers since the Qatari fund QSI bought the club in June 2011 and must comply with new financial fair play regu- lations, which require clubs not to spend more than they earn. In a first in Qatar, a TV Channel has begun using remote-controlled flying video camera to cover camel racing. In races that began in Al Shahaniya yesterday, the camera was used. A jeep PSG are playing in the with the remote followed the racing camels on a driveway that runs parallel to the racing track. It was a four-km race yesterday. SYED OMAR Champions League for the first time since 2004 and broadcasting rights for the French top flight are the lowest in the top European leagues, so the club were looking for a new revenue source. According to Le Parisien, QTA will pay between ¤150m and ¤200m Doomsday tale a hoax: Astronomer a year to PSG for the club’s help in promoting the country abroad. QTA is linked to the Qatari state, as are the club’s owners QSI. Sheikh Salman bin Jabor Al Thani says some in Qatari community also believe prediction The deal is retroactive, mean- ing QTA will put the money in DOHA: The doomsday tale pre- when the world would end, why the threat was modified further “It’s a foolish talk,” said Sheikh do, and I think the problem with the club for 2012 to help PSG dicting the end of the world today couldn’t they predict the end of and suggestions were offered that Salamn of the Mayan doomsday them is more psychological than bear the cost of their latest sign- is a hoax, says a famed Qatari their own civilization? the ‘disaster’ would be restricted tale. According to him, in the Holy anything else,” Al Sayed said, ings, including striker Zlatan astronomer, as he tries to con- “Their generations perished and to certain countries. And that’s Books of Muslims, Christians as well putting the blame on the media, Ibrahimovic who is reportedly vince through media interviews they couldn’t foresee their own where people looking for chances as Jews, there is extensive mention which he believes has blasted the earning a net ¤14m a year. PSG some in his own community who end,” said Sheikh Salman, tongue of making money stepped in. of clear signs of the doomsday. “So, entire issue out of proportion. were not available for comment. believe the tale to be true. in cheek, talking of the Mayans’, Insurance companies took ben- believers aren’t going to lend their Today’s media are so strong REUTERS According to the ancient whose so-called calendar ends efit of the panic and made a kill- ears to talks predicting the end of that if anything happens in one Mayan calendar, the world ends today after a span of 5,125 years. ing, as people thought “let’s get the world today.” corner of the world, news about Qatar donates $20m today and it has triggered a hys- He said in remarks to The insured so if something happens Mohamed Yaqub Al Sayed, it reaches the other corner in no teria the world over with many Peninsula that the whole thing to us, our families would be finan- another educated Qatari, said time. And they (the media) also to Tunisian revolution people swayed by the tale. initially started with suggestions cially secure”. since their society is Muslim, a create hypes. Take the example Sheikh Salman bin Jabor Al that there would be total destruc- In Russia, some people began vast majority of the people do not of the turn of the last century, martyrs fund Thani, from the Qatar Scientific tion—the world would vanish. The accumulating food to prepare for believe in the Mayan doomsday said Al Sayed. “So much was said Club (QSC), says he wonders that speculations were modified later, ‘emergencies’, whereas in some speculations since the predic- about Y2K, but ultimately what TUNISIA: Tunisian Prime if the ancient Mayans were so and it was suggested that the other western societies people tions contradict Islamic teach- happened?...This time around Minister Hamadi Al Jebali has good at making predictions and destruction would be partial. jumped off bridges and ended ings and belief. also, nothing would happen.” received $20m as a donation coming up with calculations about And, then, still later, the talk of their lives in panic. “However, there are a few who THE PENINSULA from Qatar for the benefit of the fund of the Tunisian revolution martyrs, wounded persons and victims of tyranny in Tunisia. Winter storm The donation was handed Kuwait closes over by Qatar’s Ambassador Omanis to vote in civic to Tunisia Saad bin Nasser Al Hemaidi during a meeting with opposition-linked Al Jebali yesterday. election tomorrow The Ambassador said after television station the meeting that the donation, which comes under the direc- MUSCAT: Omanis vote in But the municipal polls appear KUWAIT CITY: Kuwait yes- tives of the Heir Apparent their first municipal election to be drawing scant attention terday closed private television H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad tomorrow, a modest opening among the native population of station Al Youm, which backs Al Thani, represents a contri- apparently designed to stem about two million. the opposition, on the grounds bution by Qatar to Tunisia to discontent about graft and Although Muscat’s normally it failed to meet administrative compensate the martyrs of the lack of jobs in what is normally staid streets have been plastered conditions, the government said. Tunisian revolution. He noted one of the Arab world’s quiet- with posters of candidates prom- The opposition blasted the that the donation is a first est corners. ising to fix roads or build park- decision as a means to silence amount that will be followed Stability in the small Gulf oil ing lots, many Omanis say the opponents, claiming the state by a second next year. producer and US ally is important local vote is meaningless because was increasingly becoming a Tunisian Minister for Human because it sits opposite Iran on municipal councils hold little or police state. Rights and Transitional Justice, the Strait of Hormuz, the conduit no power. “The information ministry has who attended the meeting, said for almost a fifth of petroleum “I don’t think these guys will scrapped the licence of a satel- that fund is a joint account traded worldwide. make any significant changes lite station for violating the terms raising donations from within One of the oldest Arab states because they will not be politi- of the licence and after failing to Tunisia and from abroad. and under absolute rule by H M cians and can’t make changes meet a deadline to rectify its sit- An automobile is damaged by a Mercedes-Benz dealership sign fol- He said the account was Sultan Qaboos bin Said for 42 where needed,” said Malik Al uation in line with the law,” the lowing a winter storm in Mobile, Alabama, yesterday. The first major opened a few months ago, not- years, Oman experienced unrest Malki, a civil servant. “They ministry said, quoted by the offi- winter storm of the year took aim at the US Midwest, triggering high ing that the Qatari donation inspired by Arab uprisings else- are not like the Shura Council cial KUNA news agency. was the first to be deposited in wind and blizzard warnings across a widespread area, and a threat of where early last year, with sev- members, who can make enough Al Youm Chairman Ahmad the fund’s account. QNA tornadoes in Gulf Coast states to the south. eral strikes and protests against noises to create jobs for our Al Jabr confirmed to AFP via unemployment and corruption. children.” an SMS text message that the The government swiftly The Shura Council has been channel had received orders to promised to create thousands elected regularly since 1991 by a shut, and the station went off of jobs, announced plans for limited pool of voters. Universal the air immediately. Mohammad municipal polls and granted suffrage was adopted in 2003. Al Daas, general manager of the Runaway workers, illegal vendors nabbed the sultanate’s only elected Of the 1,475 candidates vying channel, which was set up more body, the Shura Council, some for 192 municipal council seats, than a year ago, said it would DOHA: Law-enforcement agen- from the Search and Follow-Up illegal vending activity, Al Sharq legislative power. fewer than 50 are women, reflect- challenge the decision in court. cies rounded up a number of run- department of the Interior reported. According to government fig- ing a belief among some Omani “Al Youm channel has received a away workers and illegal vendors Ministry nabbed a number of Illegal vending is a common ures, Oman created more than women that men do not want to letter from the information minis- during a two-day drive that coin- workers who had escaped their practice with some low-income 52,000 public sector jobs between see them in public office.