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Friday 27 December 2013 23 Safar 1435 - Volume 18 Number 5926 Price: QR2

QE index Sailing: Qatar falls on profit Optimist Cup booking kicks off today

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Emir meets outgoing UAE envoy Emir begins 900 warehouse two-day visit to Morocco plots to be DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will head to Morocco today on a two-day official visit. allotted soon He will hold talks with King Mohammed VI and senior offi- cials on bilateral relations and Move to boost business development issues of mutual concern. QNA

DOHA: The Ministry of for different purposes. New MERS death Municipality and Urban He said this was the third time Planning has announced that it the ministry will allot plots in the in Saudi; toll 57 will soon begin allotting plots of New Industrial Area for various land in the New Industrial Area purposes. RIYADH: Saudi health author- for warehousing purposes. The plots are in Birka Al ities announced yesterday a Business circles that have long Awamir area, which has been new MERS death, taking to 57 been battling a severe shortage of developed and has all basic facili- the number of people killed by warehousing facilities amid rising ties and services. The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met the outgoing UAE Ambassador, Juma Rashid Al Dhaheri, at the coronavirus in the country imports and a booming economy “Allotments are being made fol- Tharb Palace yesterday. The Emir wished him success in his future assignments and relations further progress. with the most fatalities. have welcomed the move. lowing directives of the Minister of The ambassador thanked the Emir and officials for cooperation. The health ministry said in a “It (the ministry’s land allot- Municipality and Urban Planning statement on its website that a ment move) will take care of the H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin 73-year-old Saudi man, who suf- trade and industry’s immediate Khalifa Al Thani to allot plots fered from chronic illnesses, died needs for warehousing facilities,” for small and medium enterprises in Riyadh after he contracted real estate expert, Khalifa Al (SMEs), labour camps and ware- MERS. Muslemani said. houses in the Industrial Area,” Al QTA to issue licences and Authorities also registered Each plot will admeasure 1,000 Mahmoud added. four other new MERS cases in square metres and those who are The idea is to encourage indus- the capital. leased plots will be allowed to trial and business development. Two are Saudis, one is a build warehouses for the purpose “Allotments are going to end 57-year-old who is chronically for which they have applied. here. regulate exhibition firms ill and in intensive care and the Some 900 such plots will be “There will be more such allot- other is a 27-year-old medic. allotted to those eligible in a ments in the future,” Al Mahmoud DOHA: The country’s tourism particular sector or industry. They can be allowed a fur- The other two people infected “transparent manner on first- said. promotion agency has now been The licensing period will be ther grace period of six months are foreign medics, a 43-year-old come-first-served basis”, a min- According to Al Mahmoud, given the authority to license one year and renewable for simi- if the Cabinet so orders, accord- woman and a 35-year-old man. istry official in charge of the applicants should approach the companies that organise exhibi- lar periods or more, says the law ing to Article 26 of the new The ministry said 141 cases allotment process said. ministry’s service section in the tions here or deal in businesses that has 29 articles. legislation. had been reported in the country “Only those shop and company Industrial Area with required relating to exhibitions. No individual or company will The legislation (Law No. 17 of since the virus appeared more owners who have applied for plots documents. A new law passed on Wednesday be allowed to hold an exhibition 2013) was passed by the Emir, H than a year ago. online specifying the purpose for Apart from routine documents authorises Qatar Tourism overseas in the name of Qatar H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Experts are struggling to which they need a warehouse will like commercial licence and reg- Authority (QTA) to license and unless prior approval is obtained Thani on Wednesday, Qatar News understand the disease, for which get plots,” said Mansoor Abdullah istration, applicants must pro- regulate companies that organise from the State Cabinet. Agency (QNA) reported. there is no vaccine. Al Mahmoud. duce proof that they have been exhibitions or do businesses con- Existing companies in the busi- Licensed companies will be MERS is considered a deadlier Al Mahmoud, who heads a importing products for the past cerning exhibitions. ness of organising exhibitions required by the law to sub- but less-transmissible cousin of supervisory committee of the three years that need warehous- Licensed companies will be locally or carrying out activi- mit annual plans for training the SARS virus that erupted in ministry for the Industrial Area, ing facilities. required to seek permission ties that concern exhibitions, Qatari manpower in exhibition Asia in 2003 and infected 8,273 said permission will be given to THE PENINSULA from the authorities concerned have been allowed six months to management. people, nine percent of whom build warehouses on these plots Continued on page 3 to hold exhibitions that concern a approach QTA for licensing. Continued on page 3 died. AFP

Land Cruiser catches fire US drones and 18 Brotherhood members arrested CAIRO: Egyptian prosecutors ordered at least 18 Muslim missiles to help Brotherhood members, including an ex-lawmaker, held on accusa- tions of belonging to a terrorist group, a day after the government Iraq fight violence blacklisted the movement, state media reported. They include the son of a deputy leader of deposed president Mohammed Mursi’s WASHINGTON: The US is movement, the official Mena news agency said. Seven were detained sending Iraq dozens of mis- for a renewable two-week period in Alexandria and 11 in the Nile siles and surveillance drones D elt a t o w n of Z a ga z i g. Pol ic e a l s o a r r e s t e d 16 s u s p e c t e d Br ot herho o d to help combat a recent surge members for passing out leaflets in support of the group and “incit- in Al Qaeda-backed violence, a ing to violence,” the agency reported. State Department official said See also page 5 yesterday. The official confirmed a New US to cut Juba aid if Kiir toppled York Times report about the weapons shipment. The daily WASHINGTON: The US yesterday reaffirmed its pledge to cut aid said 75 Hellfire missiles were pur- to violence-wracked South Sudan if the government of President chased by Iraq and delivered by Salva Kiir is overthrown in a coup. Troops loyal to Kiir have been Washington last week. battling forces allied to former vice-president Riek Machar in a wave The official confirmed the of ethnic violence that has left thousands dead, according to the UN. “recent delivery” of Hellfire mis- “We continue to call on all sides of the conflict to work through their siles and an “upcoming delivery differences peacefully and democratically,” a State Department offi- of Scan Eagles” — reconnaissance The front part of a Land Cruiser was badly damaged when its engine caught fire while the driver was passing cial said. The UN special envoy to the country, Hilde Johnson, said drones that are a smaller version through the main road close to Al Rawdah signal last night. The accident took place at about 9.15pm between the first reinforcements to the UN peacekeeping mission were are of the larger Predator drones that Al Rawdah signal and Kahramaa Roundabout. Motorists rushed to the site with their fire extinguishers and expected to arrive within two days. See also page 5 once were frequently flown over doused the blaze. No casualties were reported, according to Al Sharq. Iraq. “The US is committed to sup- porting Iraq in its fight against terrorism,” the official said, add- ing the effort aims “to strengthen their capabilities to combat this Police College to provide four-year bachelor’s degree threat.” “We remain committed to supporting the government of DOHA: Admission to the Police College However, the council has the right to as a policeman at least double the period and regulations for their selection. Iraq in meeting its defence needs to be set up in Qatar will be open to non- allow one or more subjects in a foreign of their study from the date of graduation. The council has been authorised to in the face of these challenges.” Qatari students as well, subject to schol- language. Otherwise they will have to pay the edu- accredit and issue a bachelor’s degree in Officials in Washington said the arships awarded by their countries. Non-Qatari students who obtain scholar- cation expenses. This rule will also apply law and police science. support is being sent under the The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad ships of their countries can also study in to students who leave the college before It will appoint teaching staff and trainers “strategic framework agreement” Al Thani issued Decision No. 161 of 2013 on the college. completing the course without any genuine and approve financial and administrative between Iraq and the US. Wednesday to establish and regulate the The Minister will issue rules and reg- reasons. regulations for the college. Administration sources told the college. ulations regarding their admission and The vice-chairman and members of the The annual budget of the college will also Times that the weapons delivery A supreme council of the college, chaired certification. council will be appointed by a decision of be approved by the council. comes as the Iraqis had virtually by the Minister of Interior, will prepare The college will bear the expenses of edu- the Minister. A college council will be set up under run out of Hellfire missiles. rules and regulations for the college and cation, training, lodging, books and other The council will make general policies the chairmanship of the director-general The shipments are being deliv- monitor their implementation. student requirements. It will also pay the for the college and approve its curriculum of the college. The members of the council ered as Iraq confronts the worst The college will provide a four-year bills for medical treatment of students in and academic programmes. will be nominated based on a decision of wave of militant violence in half bachelor’s degree in law and police science and out of the country. It will also fix the number of students to the Minister. a decade. AFP in Arabic. A graduate of the college should serve be admitted every year and formulate rules THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 HOME 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Tollfree Fax kids fashion show today The five-hour event will commence at 3pm Tel DOHA: The Pearl-Qatar will Children between the ages of Fax host the first of its kind special- 5 and 12 years will be donning ised Kids fashion show at “The luxurious and world-renowned frozen yogurt Factory” at 18 La brands at the fashion show in Tel Croisette in Porto Arabia this the presence of their parents, Fax afternoon. families and residents of The The five-hour event will com- Pearl Qatar. mence at 3pm, and includes a An official from United variety of entertainment activi- Development Company said Tel ties for children. Children will be organising the fashion show of Fax seen walking the ramp during the this magnitude was a challenge fashion show, while other kids will as large number of fashion outlets www.doha.hilton.com have the opportunity to indulge in at The Pearl- Qatar have showed other fun-filled activities of face their interest in participating in Tel +974 44233333 painting and nail coloring, among a unified fashion show. others. The official explained that the Fax +974 44233000 Other attractions include arts aim of the show is to acquaint and dances, musical perform- the people regarding the high- ances and other enjoyable events end shops at The Pearl-Qatar, as parents, children and visitors at The Pearl-Qatar. for the kids. well as provide a gathering for to enjoy the luxurious facilities THE PENINSULA

Partial closure Tel of Sheraton, Fax and Dafna Roundabouts Tel Fax from Jan 1

DOHA: The Sheraton Roundabout and the Tel Al Dafna Roundabout Fax (near Four Seasons Hotel) will be partially closed from January 1, the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Tel said yesterday. Fax The closure is to facili- tate work on converting the two roundabouts into intersections. Two lanes Tel will remain open to traffic in each direction. Fax Work on the two inter- sections will be completed in two phases, with each phase taking two months, Tel and the entire project is intersections supported with a street towards City Centre and to access the new Qatar Fax scheduled to be completed smart traffic system as part of three lanes towards Omar Al International Exhibition Centre by the second quarter of a plan to ease the traffic on this Mukhtar street, in addition to the and the government buildings in next year, Ashghal said. key artery. side roads to the right of signals. this area without a need to make All other roundabouts The new intersections will com- The project also includes a a U-turn from Al Dafna intersec- on the Corniche road have prise three lane dual carriage- signalised pedestrian crossing tion. already been converted to ways, three lanes from Corniche between the two intersections THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax WISE Book to focus on technology and learning link DOHA: The World Innovation photographer and film-maker of technology to improve learn- most Android or iOS con- Tel Summit for Education Newsha Tavakolian. ing as if technology were some nected devices. This crea- Fax (WISE)’s publication for 2014 The book will include inter- kind of panacea to an unknown tive approach is being further is to focus on the link between views with leaders and feature ailment. However the reality is enhanced by live blogging technology and learning and case studies from Silicon Valley that we have yet to see anything throughout the production via www.renaissancedoha.com will investigate how the con- to Ghana, Lebanon, China, resembling a positive transfor- learning-reimagined.com whilst nected society is transforming Singapore, Brazil, Jordan, mation of the ones so often utilizing social media platforms Tel +974 44195000 learning. Dubai, UK, India, Russia and alluded to,” explains Graham. including Twitter, Facebook and Fax +974 44195100 WISE has commissioned beyond to establish a unique With an emphasis on digital Instagram. Graham will provide Graham Brown Martin, former world view about the ways in platforms Graham is taking opportunities for the WISE Founder of Learning Without which digital technologies are a new and original approach community to be co-creators in Frontiers and Founder of being used to improve learning to the design and creation of the project by inviting members Education Design Labs, to write and opportunity. this new work which will be to contribute their stories and the 2014 WISE Book, which will “There have been numerous presented as a book option- opinions via video capture dur- be illustrated by the creative books, projects and conferences ally enhanced using a free ing the WISE 13 Summit and photography of award winning breathlessly evangelising the use digital app compatible with also online. THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

Deputy PM receives Burkina Faso minister Foreign Minister meets envoy

The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud with The Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah receiving the Polish Ambassador Robert Rostek Minister of Foreign Affairs and Regional Cooperation of Burkina Faso Djibrill Bassole. at his office yesterday on the occasion of the expiry of the latter’s tenure in Qatar. Katara opens Moroccan handicraft ‘market’ Slew of Moroccan lamps, textiles, jewellery and carpets on display at the 11-day festival BY RAYNALD C RIVERA

DOHA: Katara Cultural Village has brought a slice of Morocco to Qatar through the first-ever Moroccan Handicraft Week which opened yesterday at Katara Building 3. Authentic Moroccan prod- ucts are displayed at the venue specially designed to exude the ambience of a real Moroccan market. Many people flocked to the opening of the 11-day event and everyone was impressed of the festival including Katara General Manager Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti. “Once you enter the gal- lery, you really feel you are in Morocco because of the design Weavers and artisans at work at Katara Cultural Village. of the shops. In addition, you see how the handicrafts are done the world. “Once in a while we Chairman of Qatari Morrocan Arab-Islamic civilization in addition to food and art are cooking embroidery, Moroccan perfectly with very high profes- usually hold festivals related to a Friendship Club Shaham Al Morocco which reflects the cul- among those that can be found sweet and wood craft, among sionalism,” Dr Al Sulaiti told The particular part of the world. We Ashrafi and Director General of tures of different parts of the at the festival. others. Peninsula after inaugurating the have already done a couple of fes- Dar Al Sana Abdullah Adnani in country. It is the outcome of the The opening also featured People who would visit the fes- festival. tivals on Latin America, now we addition to representatives of dip- Moroccan innovation and crea- andalusian music and traditional tival today would enjoy Moroccan He expressed optimism people are doing something on Africa. lomatic missions. tivity. We are presenting here Moroccan folk dances. music, kids’ workshop, traditional who would come to the festival We have already done something “It is a good opportunity for our art, innovation, heritage and Running until January 5, the dance, henna, andalusian songs would be satisfied of what can for Africa in general but now we the public to be introduced to folklore and we are expecting to expo provides visitors a glimpse of and traditional Moroccan mar- be found there from Moroccan are focusing on one African coun- the Moroccan culture and we wel- host a similar week in Morocco Morocco’s traditions, culture and riage ceremony. handicraft and food to traditions try for people to see their culture come any initiative which brings to showcase Qatari culture and socio-economic activities. More than 55 artisans, artists and music. closely and in detail.” different cultures and people heritage,” said Al Ashrafi. It is open from 2pm to 12 and folkloric singers representing Dr Al Sulaiti said it is part of Present at the launch event together,” said Al Khamlishy. Moroccan lamps, textile, jew- midnight and features other different regions of Morocco are their plan to organise festivals were Deputy Ambassador of “This event shows a small ellery, wood craft, bags, foot- activities such as storytelling, presenting at the event. that reflect cultures from around Morocco Jalal Al Khamlishy, picture of the history of the wear, carpets and furniture in and workshops for kids and on THE PENINSULA

Jail and fine for violators Foreign Minister Qatar wins 3 awards in Continued from page 1 person who would be replacing person owning such a company meets editors No company will be allowed the deceased. could be jailed for up to one GCC health media contest to sublet or rent out its licence The QTA chairman has been year, or both. DOHA: The Minister of to anyone else and it must be given authority under the law to Lesser fines from QR10,000 Foreign Affairs H E Dr. Khalid used, according to rules and classify licensed companies into to QR50,000 await the licensed bin Mohammed Al Attiyah DOHA: Qatar has won The total number of nomi- regulations in place, by the com- various categories. companies that breach the arti- yesterday met with Qatar three prizes in the fifth Gulf nated works were 111, 38 of pany owner who has been issued Companies that carry out the cles of this law or the terms and News Agency (QNA) Director Excellence Award Health which were excluded and 73 the licence. business of holding exhibitions conditions as specified by QTA. General and editors-in-chief of Media 2013-2014 organised by works accepted. There was 17 In the eventuality of death of or activities concerning exhi- QTA will also approve work- local newspapers. the Executive Board of Health poster works, 6 health par- the owner, his family will need bitions without a valid licence ers a licensed company selects The meeting reviewed Qatar’s Ministers’ Council for GCC ticipations, 18 TV short thesis to inform QTA within three will be liable to be fined from to manage its affairs, says the foreign policy and services offered States. works, 8 for radio short thesis, months providing details of the QR20,000 to QR100,000 and the law. THE PENINSULA to citizens by the foreign ministry, This year’s contest was 10 participations for E-Works, in addition to means of develop- themed “physical activity”. 9 health article and 10 works ing ties between the ministry and The Public Health in short story section, added domestic media outlets. Department of the Supreme Khoja. THE PENINSULA Council of Health (SCH) won In the health article cate- the second prize in the aware- gory, Dr Mohammed Al Dabaai Ooredoo Marathon participants ness poster category while from Yemen won the second Ismail Tellai, journalist at prize and third prize went to Allotments are Al Arab newspaper won the Mohammed Al Khaledi, jour- first prize for the best health nalist at Al Watan newspaper can register through website part of a deal article. in Bahrain. Dr Al Arabi Ataa Allah As for awareness poster, DOHA: Interested competi- registered and more anticipated aims to encourage more peo- Continued from page 1 Quaidri won the third prize the first prize went to Media tors for the Ooredoo Marathon as the registration deadline ple to get involved in sportsand An announcement inserted by for his article “Wahet Al Production Centre in Saudi to be held on January 10, 2014, approaches. inspire Qatar’s future sporting the ministry in local Arabic dai- Nefs” (oasis soul) published in Arabic and the second prize to could get information at the Registered competitors will champions. lies yesterday said enquiries about the health section of Al Arab the Public Health Department Landmark Mall from today. be given a race pack near the Marathon spectators are allotments can be made on tele- newspaper. at SCH. Mohammed Al Nasseri Competitors have been advised Museum of Islamic Art car park requested to stand by the phone number 44266666 or through Director of Communication from Ministry of Health, Oman to check the Ooredoo website at on the day of the race and will Corniche walkway at the Museum email ([email protected]). When and Media Department at the won the third prize. http://www.ooredoo.qa/en/mara- receive a certificate and medal on of Islamic Art or at the Sheraton contacted, Al Muslemani told Supreme Council of Health The Gulf Excellence Award, thon for more information or they completion of their course. hotel. this newspaper that allotments of (SCH) and Member of Health with prizes worth a total of can visit Landmark Mall between The event which features You can also stand by the many plots for warehouses are part of a Awareness Media Committee $50,000 is a leading media award 10am and 10pm until January 3, courses for all abilities of runners checkpoints known as ‘Sports deal earlier reached between the of the Executive Board Jassim in the Middle East which aims 2014. including a 10km run, half-mar- Stations’ which will be positioned Qatar Chamber, the representative Fakhroo congratulated all the to develop the spirit of innova- Ooredoo have confirmed that athon, full marathon and special every 2km and hold cold water body of the private sector, and the winners from Qatar. tion and creativity in health 100 percent of all registration fees children’s 1km fun run aims to and first aid for the runners. ministry. General Director of the media. for the Ooredoo Marathon will be raise a substantial amount for This year’s marathon will When told that these were Executive Office of GCC Council Qatar had won three prizes donated to the charity Reach Out the non-profit organisation Reach begin at 7 am from the Museum small plots for warehouses, he of Health Ministers, Dr Tawfeeq in the previous version of the To Asia. Out To Asia. of Islamic Art Park in Doha. said they should take care of the Bin Ahmed Khoja said entries award 2012 – 2013 which was Number of registered partici- The event which is organ- Competitors are asked to be immediate need for warehousing from Qatar were very impres- themed “Towards Healthy Life pants for the Ooredoo Marathon ised and sponsored by Ooredoo, there 30 minutes before the facilities in the country in these sive and drew special attention and Aged Health Enhancing”. is expected to exceed last year’s is part of the companies new start time. times of shortages amid economic of the arbitration committee. THE PENINSULA total, with hundreds already 2014 sports campaign which THE PENINSULA boom. THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ISLAM Embracing Islam in daily life BY IDRIS TAWFIQ

slam has existed since the beginning of time and it is the natural religion of man- Ikind. Since the beginning of His creation, Almighty Allah had planned that Islam would be the way His creation would find true happiness. Unlike other religions before it, Islam is not just a religion of prayers and religious observance, but it is a complete way of life. In Islam we find a complete way of living. In fact, the ordinary rou- tines of life become for us a way of worshiping Almighty Allah. The first and most important way in which we embrace Islam in our daily lives is to be faithful to the five daily prayers. These five prayers are essential for us. Without them we are just pre- tending to be Muslim. Without them we are not taking our faith seriously. The five daily prayers are the way in which our whole day becomes grounded and rooted in Allah. They have been given to us to make it possible to live as good Muslims, turning our eyes and our hearts throughout the day to Allah. If we are looking for ways to live as Muslims, we need look no further than to try to be faith- ful and prompt to the five daily prayers. By doing this, our whole day revolves around Allah and all the activities of the day; all our thoughts and all our intentions become devoted to Him. It is only natural for us, as In fact, it is these Islamic good middle of the night, for example, humans, to get caught up in the There are so many ways in which Islam manners that can be a very strong to pray extra prayers, knowing rushing around and the busi- part of our dawah to others, tell- that Almighty Allah is ready to ness of the day. It is only natu- becomes a part of our daily lives. It is easy for ing them about Islam in a gentle listen to us. We might pray an ral that the television news and way, without “preaching” to them. extra two rak`ahs at different the newspapers will affect us by anyone to say with their lips that there is no Muslims are courteous towards times during the day to ask Allah their stories of tragedy and disas- others and are respectful to oth- for our needs or to pray for the ter. This is why so many people in god but Allah and that Muhammad (peace be ers and to all of Allah’s creation. needs of others. the world become depressed and In this sense, Muslims are the We might choose to follow the anxious. upon him) is His Messenger, but as Muslims world’s natural environmental- example of our beloved Prophet We, too, as Muslims, might fall ists, since we love and respect our (peace be upon him), by fasting on into the trap of getting caught we must mean it with all our hearts. environment as part of creation. Mondays and Thursdays. During up in the affairs of the world We might spend time talking the special month of Ramadan, if it were not for the five daily about the respect Muslims show we are given an even greater prayers. Just as an air raid siren the Quran will make our day a sisters. There is an unfortunate neither strength nor power save to their parents or to their wife opportunity to dedicate our whole calls citizens in a time of danger better day. Aside from these two trend at the moment to answer in Allah,) whenever we hear of or husband. This is all a part of day to Almighty Allah, by fasting to rush and take shelter, so the central things, we may take a the telephone by saying “hello.” something bad or of some tragedy our faith. for His sake. Adhan, the Call to Prayer, urges whole book to list just some of the Where did this “hello” come or disaster in the news. We might talk about duties So there are so many ways in us to rush and take shelter from ways in which to take our faith from? Are we not Muslim? Is our Of course, as Muslims, we towards our children and rela- which Islam becomes a part of the cares of the world and to take seriously and to embrace Islam greeting not always the greeting embrace Islam in our daily lives by tives or to the way we treat our our daily lives. It is easy for any- refuge in Almighty Allah, Who is in our daily lives. of peace? the way we dress modestly, which neighbors. We need also to take one to say with their lips that in control of all things. So prayer The way we greet others, for Throughout our conversation applies to both men and women, very seriously the bond that exists there is no god but Allah and is the first way to embrace Islam example, reminds them that we during the day we remind our- and the way we lower our gaze at between all Muslims, making that Muhammad (peace be upon in our daily lives. are Muslim and it reminds us, too, selves that we are Muslim by the proper time and the way we them truly brothers and sisters. him) is His Messenger, but as We might find some time, too, that we are Muslim. The greet- words and phrases that call to relate to others during the course So, you see, Islam covers every Muslims we must mean it with during the day to read the Quran ing of salam, a greeting of peace, mind Almighty Allah. For exam- of the day. The way we talk, the aspect of our lives and provides us all our hearts. and to ponder on its message. reminds us that Islam is a religion ple, we praise Almighty Allah with topics of our conversation, and throughout the day with so many We can show how much we This might not take a great deal of peace. exclamations like Alhamdu lillah the people we mix with are all ways of thinking about Allah and mean it by embracing Islam daily of time, but it will heap rewards In some countries it may not (all praise to Allah) and Masha part of our Islam. The choice of praising Him. and making it, as you say, a part upon us and will make our day be the custom to greet all people Allah (whatever Allah wants). We friends is all a part of who we are In addition to all these natural of our daily lives. Insha’ Allah, richer. Setting aside a few min- with assalamu alaykum, but we can remain strong in faith by say- as Muslims. ways of being a good Muslim, we Almighty Allah will give us the utes each day, maybe early in the can at least not forget to do this ing aloud such phrases as la hawla Good manners are a complete can add extra things to help us will to do this and reward our morning or late at night, to read with our Muslim brothers and wa la quwwata ill billah (There is part of our Muslim way of life. even more. We can get up in the efforts. www.onislam.net The Quranic On the origin of the universe

he science of the Department miracles modern cos- of Geology at mology, obser- the Institute Tvational and of Geosciences, theoretical, clearly indi- Johannes Gutenberg ourteen centuries ago, God sent In the 7th century, when the Quran cates that, at one point University, Mainz, down the Quran to mankind as was revealed, Arab society had many in time, the whole uni- Germany. He said: a book of guidance. He called superstitious and groundless beliefs verse was nothing but a “Thinking where Fupon people to be guided to the where scientific issues were concerned. cloud of ‘smoke’ (i.e. an Muhammad (peace truth by adhering to this book. From the Lacking the technology to examine the opaque highly dense and be upon him) came day of its revelation to the day of judge- universe and nature, these early Arabs hot gaseous composi- from . . . I think it ment, this last divine book will remain believed in legends inherited from past tion).1 This is one of the is almost impos- the sole guide for humanity. generations. undisputed principles of sible that he could The matchless style of the Quran and They supposed, for example, that standard modern cos- have known about the superior wisdom in it are definite mountains supported the sky above. mology. Scientists now things like the com- evidence that it is the word of God. In They believed that the earth was flat can observe new stars mon origin of the addition, the Quran has many miracu- and that there were high mountains at forming out of the rem- universe, because lous attributes proving that it is a reve- its both ends. It was thought that these nants of that ‘smoke’. scientists have only lation from God. One of these attributes mountains were pillars that kept the The illuminating stars found out within is the fact that a number of scientific vault of heaven high above. we see at night were, the last few years, truths that we have only been able to However all these superstitious beliefs just as was the whole with very compli- uncover by the technology of the 20th of Arab society were eliminated with the universe, in that ‘smoke’ cated and advanced century were stated in the Quran 1,400 Quran. In Sura Sad, verse 2, it was said: material. God has said technological meth- years ago. “God is He who raised up the heav- in the Quran: ods, that this is the However, the Quran is not a book of ens without any support...”(The Quran, “Then He turned to the case.”2 Also he said: science, it is a book of Signs! Many sci- 38:2). This verse invalidated the belief heaven when it was smoke...” (Quran 41:11) “Somebody who did not know something about nuclear entific facts that are expressed in an that the sky remains above because of Because the earth and the heavens above (the sun, the physics fourteen hundred years ago could not, I think, be extremely concise and profound manner the mountains. In many other subjects, moon, stars, planets, galaxies, etc.) have been formed from in a position to find out from his own mind, for instance, in its verses have only been discovered important facts were revealed at a time this same ‘smoke,’ we conclude that the earth and the heav- that the earth and the heavens had the same origin.”3 with the technology of the 20th century. when no one could have known them. ens were one connected entity. Then out of this homogene- www.islamreligion.com These facts could not have been known The Quran, which was revealed at a ous ‘smoke,’ they formed and separated from each other. at the time of the Quran’s revelation, time when people knew very little about God has said in the Quran: Footnotes: and this is still more proof that the astronomy, physics, or biology, contains “Have not those who disbelieved known that the heavens 1. The First Three Minutes, a Modern View of the Origin of Quran is the word of God. key facts on a variety of subjects such as and the earth were one connected entity, then We separated the Universe, Weinberg, pp. 94-105. In order to understand the scientific the creation of the universe, the creation them?...” (Quran 21:30) 2. The reference for this saying is This is the Truth (vide- miracle of the Quran, we must first take of the human being, the structure of the Dr Alfred Kroner is one of the world’s renowned geol- otape). For a copy of this videotape, please visit this page. a look at the level of science at the time atmosphere, and the delicate balances ogists. He is Professor of Geology and the Chairman of 3. This is the Truth (videotape). when this holy book was revealed. that make life on earth possible. FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Egypt widens Brotherhood crackdown Eighteen supporters detained a day after the group was declared a terrorist organisation by the government

CAIRO: Egypt escalated its allies responded defiantly to the said the activist from Alexandria. for protests on Friday after the targeting the security forces Mansoura attack suggested the crackdown on the Muslim cabinet decision announced late The National Alliance to cabinet’s move. The public pros- have become commonplace, with violence is spreading to the more Brotherhood yesterday, detain- on Wednesday, vowing to continue Support Legitimacy, the pro- ecutor’s office, which is investigat- around 350 soldiers and police- heavily populated areas of the ing at least 18 of the group’s sup- the protests it has staged against Mursi coalition, called for a “week ing the Mansoura bombing, said men killed. The state has declared Nile Valley and Delta. The gov- porters on charges of belonging the army since the overthrow of of anger” and the Freedom and there would be no comment until itself in “a war on terror”. ernment has said violence will not to a terrorist organisation the President Mohamed Mursi. Justice Party (FJP), the political its investigation was complete. Most of the attacks have been derail its political transition plan. day after it was declared one by “The putchists are a terrorist arm of the Brotherhood, called Bombings and shootings in the Sinai Peninsula, though the REUTERS the government. organisation. The Brotherhood The activists were held in the are peaceful patriots,” they said Nile Delta province of Sharkiya on in a statement. suspicion of “promoting the ideol- Wednesday’s move marked an Cairo bomb injures five, second bomb defused ogy of the Muslim Brotherhood escalation in the government’s group, distributing its leaflets, campaign to suppress the Islamist CAIRO: A bomb exploded near and inciting violence against the movement that propelled Mursi a bus in Cairo yesterday injur- army and police,” the state news to the presidency 18 months ago ing five people, a day after the agency said. but has been driven underground government widened a crack- The government declared the since the army toppled him in July down on Islamists by declaring Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist after big protests against him. the Muslim Brotherhood a ter- group on Wednesday in response In the weeks after Mursi’s rorist group. to a suicide attack a day earlier removal, the security forces The windows of the red and that killed 16 in the Nile Delta, killed hundreds of his supporters black public transport bus were accusing the group of carrying out while dispersing their protest shattered in the explosion at a the bombing. The Brotherhood camps, and arrested thousands busy intersection in the north condemned the attack. more including most of the Cairo neighbourhood of Nasr Interior Ministry spokesman Brotherhood’s top leadership. City. Hani Abdel Latif told state TV on Though the Brotherhood has Police defused a second bomb Thursday that anyone taking part been outlawed for most of its and cordoned off the area. in Brotherhood protests would be existence, this is the first time it The interior ministry said the jailed for five years. “The sentence has been formally listed as a ter- attack was meant to intimidate could be death for those who lead rorist organisation. voters ahead of a referendum this organisation,” he added. State prosecutors last week next month on a new constitu- Earlier in the day a bomb ordered Mursi and others to tion, billed as the first step in a explosion in Cairo wounded five stand trial on charges including democratic transition ahead of people, and Latif said a second terrorism for which they could be parliamentary and presidential similar home-made device was executed. A Brotherhood activist, elections. found nearby and dismantled. speaking on condition of anonym- A police general, Mohammed The government did not pro- ity for fear of arrest, said the new Gamal, showed a defused pipe vide evidence to back up the decision seemed aimed at deter- bomb to reporters, saying it had charge that the Brotherhood had ring further protests against the been placed in a billboard and staged the Nile Delta attack in government. was primed to explode when Mansoura, north of Cairo, which The cabinet said terrorism police arrived at the site of the A damaged bus at the site of a bomb blast near Al Azhar University campus in Nasr City district yesterday. was claimed by the Sinai-based charges could be applied to any- first bombing. radical Islamist group Ansar Bayt one who finances or promotes the “It was set to go off remotely,” al-Maqdis. group “verbally and in writing”. interior ministry spokesman heard the explosion. I came run- attack. The Brotherhood, which meant for another target and Ansar Bayt al-Maqdis has Publication of the Brotherhood’s Hany Abdel Latif said, add- ning to help the wounded,” said organises near daily protests exploded prematurely. taken responsibility for several newspaper, Freedom and Justice, ing the bombs were “meant one witness, Mahmud Abd Al Al, demanding Mursi’s reinstate- A suicide bomber had set off other major bombings, including a was halted in response to the to terrorise people before the a construction worker. ment, insists it is peaceful and a car bomb in September in failed attempt to kill the interior decision. referendum”. “They were covered in blood. has condemned militant attacks. the same neighbourhood in an minister in September. “We will continue with the pro- A witness described scenes of One man lost a leg,” he said. The bombing in Cairo appears attempt to assassinate interior The Brotherhood’s Islamist tests. Peaceful action is the hope,” panic after the attack. A health ministry official said to be the first against civilians, minister Mohamed Ibrahim as “I was 100 metres away when I five people were wounded in the although it could have been his convoy passed by. AFP Iran vows to Fighting rages in South Sudan’s oil region restore glory JUBA: Heavy fighting was rag- allied to former vice president weeks of clashes in the world’ retake Bentiu soon,” he added. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus ing yesterday in South Sudan’s Riek Machar inside the town of youngest nation. The violence in South Sudan, a said “good progress” was made in key oil-producing north, offi- Malakal, capital of Upper Nile “There is fighting in Malakal. fledgling oil producer which won the talks, with further talks of the of quake-hit cials said, although neighbours state. Our forces are in the northern independence from Sudan just Inter-Governmental Authority Kenya and Ethiopia said they He also said troops were part of Malakal and the rebels two years ago, has left thousands on Development (IGAD) — a had made “good progress” in preparing an offensive against are on the southern part. We will dead, according to the UN. regional grouping — scheduled to Bam citadel efforts to broker an end to the Bentiu, the main town in oil-rich flush them out of Malakal,” Sudan Tens of thousands of civilians take place in Nairobi today. civil war. Unity State, to follow on from People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) have also sought protection at He said among the issues dis- TEHRAN: A senior Iranian Army spokesman Philip Aguer their recapture of Bor, another spokesman Aguer said. UN bases amid a wave of ethnic cussed was the possible release official said yesterday that said troops loyal to President state capital that had fallen into “The rebels are still controlling violence pitting members of Kiir’s of the 11 senior figures close to the ancient citadel of Bam, Salva Kiir were battling forces rebel hands during the nearly two Bentiu but SPLA is planning to Dinka tribe against Machar’s Machar who were arrested in the destroyed by an earthquake a Nuer. The UN Security Council wake of the outbreak of violence. decade ago, will again be a major voted on Tuesday to send nearly “The release of the detainees tourist attraction by 2016, media 6,000 extra soldiers and police to is part of what we discussed. The reported. South Sudan, nearly doubling the release of the detainees could be “Over the next two or three UNMISS force to 12,500 troops part of the solution,” he said. years, Arg’e Bam will be rebuilt and 1,323 civilian police. The fighting started after Kiir so it again becomes a major tour- Amid reports of bodies piled accused Machar of attempting ist attractions” Fars news agency in mass graves and witness tes- a coup. Machar denied this, and quoted Mohammad Ali Najafi, timonies of massacres and sum- said the president was exploit- head of Iran’s heritage organisa- mary executions and rapes, UN ing a clash between members of tion as saying. Najafi visited the Secretary General Ban Ki-moon the army as a pretext to carry site on the occasion of the 10th has promised those responsible out a purge. Although Kiir and anniversary of the deadly earth- would be “held accountable”. Machar — a former vice president quake which reduced the citadel Crude prices have also edged who was sacked in July — have to rubble on December 26, 2003. higher because of the fighting as said they are open to peace talks, The 6.3 magnitude dawn quake oil production, which accounts for fighting has spread to half of the killed 26,000-32,000 people, more than 95 percent of South country’s 10 states. according to various estimates, Sudan’s fledgling economy, dented The UN said aid agencies need and left 75,000 homeless. by the violence and oil workers $166m over the next three months Nearly 80 percent of Bam’s evacuated. to distribute food, manage camps infrastructure was damaged, and Kenyan President Uhuru for the displaced and provide the desert citadel, once considered Kenyatta and Ethiopia’s Prime health and sanitation. the world’s largest adobe building, Minister Hailemariam Desalegn “There are at least 90,000 peo- crumbled. Bam, 1,000km south- flew into Juba yesterday for talks ple who have been displaced in the east of Tehran, received almost with President Kiir, the latest in past 10 days. This includes 58,000 one million visitors a year before a line of peace brokers who have people who are sheltering in UN the disaster. The citadel can be FROM LEFT: Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir and Kenyan flown in since the fighting began peacekeeping bases,” said the UN traced back to the sixth century on December 15. humanitarian chief in the coun- President Uhuru Kenyatta hold talks in the South Sudanese capital of Juba yesterday. BC but reached its apogee from Ethiopian Foreign Minister try, Toby Lanzer. AFP the seventh to 11th centuries as it sat astride the Silk Road and other trade routes. Najafi expressed satisfaction with the pace of the rebuilding work, saying that “on average, Saudi activist may face death Ex-Qaeda spokesman’s Kuwait citizenship claim rejected some 80 percent of the recon- struction of Arg’e Bam has been JEDDAH: A Saudi judge has where a newly-appointed judge KUWAIT CITY: A Kuwaiti New York court on terror charges, children are still living in Kuwait completed”. Hailing international recommended that a liberal remanded it to the General Court, court has rejected a petition by immediately after the September as the government has not revoked aid to rebuild both the citadel and activist be tried in a higher saying his lower court was not a former Al Qaeda spokesman to 11, 2001 attacks in the US that their citizenship. US prosecutors the city, Najafi said: “Arg’e Bam is court for apostasy, a charge qualified to deal with the case, reclaim his Kuwaiti citizenship killed several thousand people. on Monday linked Abu Ghaith, a symbol of international coopera- that could carry the death pen- Abulkhair explained. revoked by the oil-rich Gulf state “It had been unequivocally who was arrested in February, to tion to revive a global monument.” alty, rights campaigners said Human rights activists said, over his militant activities, a proved that he (Abu Ghaith) was the 2001 Al Qaeda shoe bomber He also praised the efforts of yesterday. however, that the apostasy charge newspaper reported yesterday. a member of Al Qaeda ... and was plot to bring down an airline flying Bam residents in helping to recon- A court in the kingdom sen- was only a recommendation from In a ruling issued on Wednesday, its spokesman,” the court said in from Paris to Miami after adding struct the citadel. In addition to tenced Raef Badawi in July to the judge and not a decision. the administrative court based its ruling. two extra charges against him. international aid, the government seven years in jail and 600 lashes But online news website Sabq. its rejection on the grounds that It added that is was well-known British Al Qaeda recruit in Tehran also granted loans to for setting up a “liberal” network org quoted Badawi’s wife Ensaf Sulaiman Abu Ghaith, the son-in- that Al Qaeda carried out terror- Richard Reid is serving a life sen- survivors so they could rebuild and for allegedly insulting Islam. Haidar as saying that “the new law of slain Al Qaeda chief Osama ist attacks killing innocent people tence in the US for trying to blow their homes. On Wednesday, a judge judge has requested the case be bin Laden, was a member of a and that the ideology of the group up the passenger jet using bombs But Najafi admitted that many remanded Badawi to the General referred to General Court, and group that carried out terrorist calls for the killing of American hidden in his shoes. people were having problems Court on charges of apostasy, demanded the death penalty.” attacks killing innocent people, Al soldiers wherever they are, even if Abu Ghaith, 48, whose trial in repaying these mortgages, and rights lawyer Waleed Abulkhair Badawi, 35, was arrested in Qabas daily reported. that results in the deaths of inno- New York is scheduled to begin on pledged that “the government will said. After Badawi’s sentence, the June last year in the Red Sea city The Kuwaiti government cents. The ruling is not final as it February 3, was initially charged not abandon them”, Mehr news appeals court had sent the case of Jeddah for unknown reasons. withdrew the nationality of Abu can be challenged before the court with one count of conspiracy to agency reported. AFP back to the court of first instance, AFP Ghaith, currently on trial in a of appeals. Abu Ghaith’s wife and kill Americans. AFP FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 06 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Chornovol disaster Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

WOMAN journalist scaling a car and smashing the moon roof to get her hands on the surveillance equipment being used on anti-government Ademonstrators in Ukraine must incur the wrath of In sending goods to Iran, Dubai government. So did it happen with Tetyana Chornovol late on Christmas night. As most Western liberal democracies celebrated Christmas, Chornovol was chased by hoodlums who rammed their vehicle into her car and beat her black and blue. weighs competing interests The assault left the 34-year-old with a concussion in the skull, a profoundly swollen face, highly bloated lips, and an eye so BY JASON REZAIAN puffed up that it seemed not to open. For Iranians starved for products, to pay attention to the news, because In August 2012, the intrepid Chornovol clicked pictures of especially after sanctions were tough- we’ve learned that it really affects our President Viktor Yanukovych’s palatial galleon-styled house fter suffering steep declines ened in 2011, trade with Dubai provides livelihood.” in Mezhyhirya. She was detained and most of the pictures in trade starting in 2012, access to goods they would otherwise be Since Rouhani became president in deleted. However, she could still post some on the Internet. seaborne transfer of goods unable to buy. August, the rial has stabilized at a rate between Iran and Dubai is Some of the goods are considered con- about 15 percent stronger than the day The gruesome attack on the Ukrainian blogger came A picking up again, highlighting the UAE’s traband, but both countries tolerate the he was elected, returning some of the after she published in a Ukrayisnska Pravda blog pictures delicate balancing act in maintaining activity and consider it an important spending power of Iranian consumers of Interior Minister Vitaliy Zakharchenko’s house on the important commercial ties and satisfy- source of livelihood. that had been decimated by the weak- outskirts of the capital Kiev. Hours after the photos appeared, ing its Western allies. Iran-Dubai sea trade annually ened currency. Chornovol was attacked and beaten almost to death. A combination of economic factors in accounts for more than 1 million tons Few here, though, worry about the Iran — attributed to tough international of goods, transported by 2,800 Iranian survival of this unique trade that pre- In Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych’s Ukraine, freedom, sanctions over its contested nuclear ships. dates the establishment of the UAE, like in Vladimir Putin’s Russia, is fast becoming a dirty word. activities — resulted in a decrease in Although the UAE is openly support- which turned 42 years old this month. The home of controversial protest group Femen is seeing trade with the UAE from $24bn in 2011 ive of US policies toward Iran, it has “Our work is very important for huge protests over the last few weeks over the failure of the to $15bn last year, threatening the live- always maintained positive ties with Dubai’s economy, and it has been for government to sign an association lihood of thousands of Iranian sailors. both countries, despite a long-standing years. They know it, and we know it,” agreement with the European According to statistics published in dispute with Tehran over three Gulf said Gholamreza Shirazi, who is a mem- November by Iran’s customs authority, islands that both claim. ber of a six-man crew that carries cargo With her swollen Union. Russian coercion led to the UAE is still Observers of the local business com- twice a month to the southern Iranian Yanukovych doing a volte face at the leading source munity agree and put little stock in the port city of Bushehr. and bloodied the eleventh hour and going the of imports to Iran, notion that Dubai has limited its trade Dubai’s rulers consider trade with face, Tetyana way forced by the Kremlin. Putin, accounting this with Iran at the behest of the United Iran a fact of life that they have subtly desperate to fend-off the growing Although the year for just over States. continued to support even while other Chornovol has influence of the West in its vicinity, UAE is openly 20 percent of all “The authorities have devised a clever Gulf states have shunned business with imports, followed way of dealing with these geopolitical their northern neighbor. The emirate’s become the face has been trying to arm-twist its supportive of US by China and issues that come up every so often, fig- rulers understand that the symbiotic of the Ukraine western neighbour and former policies toward India. The three uring out a formula to appease the West relationship with Iran has helped form Soviet republic to become part of Iran, it has always make up nearly and, at the same time, continuing the the backbone of Dubai’s economy. protests. a Customs agreement. The deal, half of Iran’s total relationship with their neighbor,” said “Trade between Iran and the UAE is forced on many a Caucasus nation, maintained positive imports. Ludmila Yamalova, managing partner very important historically. By many This year’s total at the Dubai-based law firm Yamalova accounts, it’s what put the UAE on the except Georgia, is a Kremlin ties with both trade will dip to & Plewka and a frequent commentator map. Even with political tensions that strategy to wield power in the region. countries, despite an estimated $10 on business in the UAE. have arisen in recent years, the impor- In his country, Putin has freed 30 incarcerated Greenpeace bn, according to US Secretary of State John F tance of the connections between the activists after withdrawing criminal cases against them. He a long-standing the Iran-UAE Kerry and Iranian Foreign Minister two countries can’t be erased,” Yamalova released two members of the infamous punk band accused of dispute with Joint Chamber Mohammad Javad Zarif made official said. hooliganism in a Moscow cathedral. His biggest sleight has of Commerce. visits to the UAE this month to discuss When Dubai began its meteoric Tehran over three But business is shared concerns, underscoring the stra- expansion in the second half of the 20th been to release oil tycoon Mikhail Khodorkvosky, who was Gulf islands. improving, and tegic importance of the Gulf state to century, the city’s commercial activities imprisoned for ten years over tax evasion. The influence Iranian sailors Washington and Tehran. centered on the banks of its creeks, the of Moscow on Ukraine’s government is not hard to see. credit a stronger Iranian sailors, who report that 2012 landing and launching point of cargo Yanukovych is using the same authoritarian techniques on the and more stable currency, a result of was their worst year in decades, say that headed for the Indian Ocean and the protests as often used by Moscow. Yanukovych has recently diplomatic progress between Tehran a rebound in the value of Iran’s cur- Gulf. become intolerant of dissent in the face of the unending and world powers that led last month rency, the rial, is returning the flow of Lining the creek are dozens of dhows, to an interim agreement on the Islamic goods to pre-sanctions levels. the traditional wooden boats long protests asking him to sign the association agreement wit the republic’s nuclear program. When Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was favored by regional sailors. On Baniyas 28-nation EU. The poor former Soviet Republic’s economy “Things are much better for us since Iran’s president, “the rial became so Street, which runs along the creek has been saddled by debt, which has been used as a ruse by [Iranian President Hassan] Rowhani weak, because we had poor relations where the dhows dock, Iran-bound Yanukovych to warm up to Moscow. The attack on Chornovol took office, and we believe they will con- with the rest of the world,” said Hossein goods are piled high.For decades this is deplorable. Though Yanukovych has ordered an enquiry into tinue to improve,” said Ahmad Hajjian, Daryanavard, a sailor from the Iranian area has been a hub for Iranian-owned one of an estimated 40,000 Iranian sail- island of Qeshm who has been traveling businesses, with popular restaurants, the assault, it has left its already discredited administration ors employed in the transport of goods these waters for more than 40 years. nightclubs and shops clustered near the desperate to stanch opposition to his policies • between Iran and Gulf ports. “We aren’t political people, but we have docks. WP-BLOOMBERG The other side Quote of If Germany isn’t more flexible, the European Union may snap the day

NGELA Merkel, speaking to the other weak, heavily indebted economies risk. The crash proved that a single-cur- southern Europe’s governments) with German parliament at the start hasn’t really changed: It’s still beyond rency area needs strong cooperation on an insistence on less Europe (meaning of her third term as chancellor, bad. If this divergence between the fiscal and financial policy — especially little or no new money for mutual fiscal Asaid last week that “Germany convalescent and the chronically ill per- where the two intersect, as when deal- support). will only be strong in the long term sists, it could threaten the whole union. ing with failed but systemically important Take Europe’s long-promised plan to if Europe is strong.” If only she were Fiscal stringency in southern Europe, banks. The consensus on this point is form a banking union. A deal reached prepared to act on that insight. with only limited monetary stimulus from solid. Yet German voters resist, reluc- last week promises a new 55 billion- Do not worry or The outlook for the euro area is poor the European Central Bank to offset it, tant to make further sacrifices (as they euro resolution fund, financed by levies — the European Commission expects will keep unemployment unbearably see it) to help the euro area’s struggling on banks. Germany’s finance minister, fear, the army will growth of just 1.1 percent next year high. Yet as Germany recovers, its main periphery. For most of 2013, with elec- Wolfgang Schaeuble, seemed to think and unemployment to remain above 12 goal is to be firm with the less fortunate. tions looming, it was hard for Merkel to it a breakthrough. Hardly. To begin with, sacrifice for Egypt. percent — but confidence seems to be The stress is already undermining the EU challenge them. She no longer has that the sum is absurdly small: Resolving a We will eliminate picking up in Germany and some other and could conceivably break the euro excuse. After her victory in September, single big bank could exhaust it. The terrorism. countries amid tentative signs of recov- area apart. she leads a coalition that commands a fund won’t be in place until 2025, and in General Abdel ery. Meanwhile, the situation in Greece Since the global crisis began in 2008, huge parliamentary majority. Still, she the meantime there’s no plan for collec- (where almost 30 percent of workers the main question for Europe has been continues to combine calls for “more tive action should it be needed. Fattah Al Sisi are unemployed), Spain (the same) and how much to pool fiscal and financial Europe” (meaning stronger oversight of The Washington Post Egypt’s Army Chief FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Libyans need help to fight extremists Improving security remains essential, but Libya’s problems cannot be solved by military means alone. BY RICHARD NORTHERN and 70 unarmed civilian protesters were JASON PACK killed in violent clashes with militia forces in Tripoli and Benghazi; hundreds were ibyans were due to celebrate wounded. This shocked the population Tuesday — not Christmas Eve, and has galvanised anti-militia activism. of course, but the anniversary Some powerful militias fled the capital of their independence from of Tripoli. British and French military Over the last month, the jihadist group Lrule in 1951. Ansar Al Sharia — thought to be respon- Tragically, the official festivities had to sible for the killing of US Ambassador be cancelled, after Libya suffered its first Christopher Stevens in 2012 -- has suicide bomb attack on Sunday: Thirteen been chased out of its headquarters in soldiers were killed at an army check- Benghazi, Derna and Ajdabiyya by civil- point 30 miles from the main eastern city ian protesters. Government forces have of Benghazi. also bested the group in limited clashes. This change in jihadist tactics will no The attack Sunday was the jihadists’ doubt be seen by some as yet further con- response to seeing their support base firmation that Libya is too chaotic to be dwindle and their freedom of movement helped. Yet the opposite is true: It is a squeezed. signal that the world can no longer afford At the same time, community leaders in Libyans hold placards as they demonstrate against the extension of the GNG mandate, in Tripoli on Wednesday. to stand aside as this oil-rich nation of 6 eastern Libya are making serious efforts million people appears to slide into chaos. to negotiate an end to the oil blockade. So dialogue, building on some inspiring to the needs and aspirations of ordinary But she needs more support and a clear The soldiers killed outside Benghazi far, they have had no success, but support small-scale initiatives by non-govern- Libyans. mandate from Washington. The North were part of an elite unit that has for Ibrahim Jadran -- a blockade leader mental organisations and civil society This agenda is daunting, and the gov- Atlantic Treaty Organization and the had some success in cracking down on who has demanded autonomy for eastern groups in cities across Libya. ernment has few tools to implement African Union -- or even private-sector extremist militias. The attack occurred Libya and a share of oil revenue for his It can’t be said too often that Libya it, making international support and contractors -- could help by passing on now because the Libyan government and group — has begun to waver. Protesters will be forced to build state institutions engagement essential. International expertise derived from the demobilisation its supporters in the international com- in Tobruk recently agreed to restart the from scratch, unlike other Arab Spring organisations and bilateral donors have of militias elsewhere, and overseeing the munity have an opportunity to start turn- flow of oil to the local refinery, out of countries. There needs to be a modicum been providing expert assistance in collection and disposal of weapons. ing the tide against the armed militias frustration at Jadran’s inflexibility. of consensus about what that state should Libya, but not enough. Some countries Once a national political dialogue is that have progressively dominated the If a reinvigorated government can con- look like to galvanise popular support that played a direct role in 2011 are now under way, the United Nations should country since the overthrow of former vince Libyans that it is building effective for the transition process, including the standing on the sidelines. appoint a high-profile international envoy President Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. security forces, has a plan for economic drafting of a new constitution. There is no appetite among Libyans for to ease both the reconciliation and capac- Admittedly, the economic and security development and is ready to begin an Second, a renewed effort must be made foreign peacekeepers. But there needs to ity-building processes. situation in Libya has deteriorated sig- effective national political dialogue, it to disarm and demobilise the militias, be a more visible and substantive multi- Improving security remains essential, nificantly in 2013. Since the summer, pro- may be able to reverse the vicious circle which have filled the political vacuum lateral commitment to Libya. A stable but Libya’s problems cannot be solved testers and later militias have occupied in which Libya has become trapped. since Gaddafi’s fall. Many militias are Libya has the potential to spur economic by military means alone. Nothing would the country’s oil terminals and pipelines, There are three prerequisites for paid by the government, but answer only development throughout North Africa create greater optimism than a coordi- slowing production to a trickle. Radical change. First, the government must set to their commanders. and the Sahel region, and reduce migra- nated plan for economic and infrastruc- Islamists have begun a campaign of assas- an immutable calendar for the remainder The government should stick to its tion flows to Europe. If state-building ture development in Libya’s largest cities, sinations to destabilise the government of the transitional period. aim of withholding salaries of militiamen fails, by contrast, the country can act an area where foreign governments and and demoralise the official security forces. On Monday, the General National who continue to carry weapons but don’t as an agent for instability and violence companies can provide much-needed Yet the causes of the downward spiral Congress voted to extend its mandate enlist in the regular security forces by the throughout the region, as became clear expertise. The challenges in Libya remain in 2013 — weak government and lack of by a year to oversee the writing of the deadline of December 31. It should also last year in Mali. formidable and some political groups, any real state infrastructure — also hide constitution and conduct new elections. establish a process, with international The US, in particular, needs to tran- militias and others with vested interests a strength: Libyans are finally free to This step is likely to provoke a popular help, to collect weapons. scend its “Benghazi syndrome,” moving will continue to impede progress. express themselves and determine their backlash if a precise timetable, and a set Third, the government should coordi- beyond domestic political squabbles about Yet the recent upsurge of public out- own fate. Recently, in the wake of mili- of benchmarks against which progress nate more closely with municipal coun- whom to blame for the tragic death of rage at militia violence provides a real tia violence, ordinary Libyans have made can be impartially measured, are swiftly cils, providing them with more funding Ambassador Stevens, and formulate a mandate for the Libyan government — clear that they want something better promulgated. and decision-making power for local coherent policy toward Libya. together with local councils, civil society and are willing to act to secure it. The measure must include a plan projects. Many of these local councils The new US ambassador, Deborah and the international community — to In November, for example, more than to restart the stalled national political have proved effective and are the closest Jones, is well-qualified and keen to act. act. WP-BLOOMBERG

Obama’s new normal: Drone raids continue Will winning 2015 poll One problem with destroy Britain’s Labour? assessing drone BY JACKIE ASHLEY art of the fun of watching politics is the way that unintended warfare programme is consequences shape events. The coalition’s decision to bring in fixed-term, five-year parliaments – in the hope of creating its secrecy. US officials Pmore stability towards the end of a parliament – has had the reverse effect. With the election still 17 months away, Westminster gives the impression that the campaign is already in full swing. Gather rarely comment on a group of politicians together, and the talk will be of little else. Another unintended consequence, which David Cameron must now the programme, be bitterly regretting, stems from his decision to oppose the AV elec- toral reform campaign. The problem for the prime minister is that he didn’t just oppose it, he seemed to rub the noses of his coalition any specific attack, partners in the fact that he was opposing it, and that they were going to lose. That, in turn, gave the Liberal Democrats the excuse they had especially where been looking for to block the proposed boundary changes that would, according to most experts, have given the Conservatives an extra 20 or so seats. Now it looks as though those 20 seats may well have cost civilian deaths occur. A Pakistani tribesman sifts through the debris of his collapsed home after US air strike in the remote Cameron and the Conservatives their next victory. village of Damadola, in Bajaur Tribal Agency bordering Afghanistan. Let’s come to a third unintended consequence: Nigel Farage, the BY AMY GOODMAN Ukip leader, did not set out to become the anti-politics politician. His especially where civilian deaths occur. As in Yemen are caught in the middle of a violent main concern is independence from Europe. Yet his cheeky chappy here has been yet another violent Obama admitted in the speech, “There’s a wide conflict, as Human Rights Watch wrote in an “let’s enjoy a fag and a pint” image is appealing to those who are thor- attack with mass casualties. This was gap between US assessments of such casualties October report titled “Between a Drone and oughly fed up with “machine” politicians who spout the party line. All not the act of a lone gunman, or of an and nongovernmental reports. Nevertheless, it Al Qaeda.” Just one month to the day before the main parties, including Labour, are nervous about just how many Tarmed student rampaging through a is a hard fact that US strikes have resulted in Obama gave his address at the NDU, Farea votes Ukip is going to pick up at the next election, though its success school. It was a group of families en route to a civilian casualties.” The BIJ’s estimate of the Al Muslimi, an eloquent young Yemeni man will obviously hit the Conservatives hardest. wedding that was killed. The town was called death toll from US drone strikes during the who spent a year attending a US high school, All of which adds up to the fact that the unexpected victor of 2013 Radda – not in Colorado, not in Connecticut, past 12 years in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia spoke before a congressional hearing. Six days has been Ed Miliband. Despite all the mockery, and with an economic but in Yemen. The weapon was not an easy- is well over 4,000. before he testified, a drone strike hit his vil- recovery now started, he must still be odds-on favourite to win the next to-obtain semiautomatic weapon, but missiles While the US media shower attention on lage of Wessab. general election. I have always thought he could do it. The problem is fired from US drones. the hypothetical prospects that in the next Farea said: “What Wessab’s villagers knew going to be, what then? But the electoral arithmetic and the electoral On December 12, 17 people were killed, few years, Amazon.com will deploy clever of the US was based on my stories about my logic are stronger than most commentators seem to have acknowledged. mostly civilians. The London-based Bureau little drones to deliver your holiday orders, wonderful experiences here. ... Now, however, The likelihood is that Miliband, possibly with some Lib Dem support, of Investigative Journalism has consistently it is important to take a hard look at what when they think of America, they think of will become the next prime minister. tracked US drone attacks, recently releasing these airborne robots are actually doing now. the terror they feel from the drones that Does this mean Labour is doomed to win an election that will destroy a report on the six months following President “Democracy Now!” Correspondent Jeremy hover over their heads, ready to fire missiles it for a generation, or longer? Not at all, if the party leadership is clear Barack Obama’s major address on drone war- Scahill has been exposing US covert warmak- at any time. What the violent militants had about the scale of the challenge and has constructed a robust social fare before the National Defence University ing for years, most recently in his book and previously failed to achieve, one drone strike democratic response to hard times. It’s going to have to win the tax (NDU) last May. In that speech, Obama prom- film “Dirty Wars.” accomplished in an instant. There is now an argument afresh. It’s going to have to find ways to get more value for ised that “before any strike is taken, there I hope that people pay attention to these intense anger against America in Wessab.” He money from the state. It’s going to have to campaign far more aggres- must be near-certainty that no civilians will stories, that Americans will know what hap- ended his testimony with the hope that “when sively for fairness. And it’s going to have to have a proper industrial be killed or injured – the highest standard we pened to the Bedouin villagers in Al Majalah, Americans truly know about how much pain strategy, starting to rebalance the economy in the way that the coali- can set.” The BIJ summarised: Yemen, where three dozen women and chil- and suffering the US air strikes have caused tion has so woefully failed to do. Six months after President Obama laid out dren were killed in a US cruise missile strike ... they will reject this devastating targeted We see that some of the old Blairites are being brought back into US rules for using armed drones, a Bureau that the White House tried to cover up. killing programme.” Miliband’s inner circle to prepare for the election. I think he does need analysis shows that covert drone strikes in In his NDU address, Obama said, “We act The scenes of senseless violence in the US to hear from them, though not for advice on the black arts or electoral Yemen and Pakistan have killed more people against terrorists who pose a continuing and form a list of sorrow and loss: Columbine, planning. Rather, he needs the best advice he can get about what to do than in the six months before the speech. imminent threat to the American people.” Tucson, Aurora, Newtown, Littleton. With in his first 100 days and his first year in office. He is clearly going to In a nation that abhors the all-too-routine Neither Obama nor any of his aides have the ongoing work of committed activists, cou- try to govern well to the left of the Blair administrations. mass killing in our communities, why does our explained just what kind of threat the wedding rageous journalists and responsible officials, But how to govern effectively? How to cope with raging public anger government consistently kill so many inno- convoy presented to the American people. The perhaps Americans will recite as well the and still get his points across? How to win an argument in the teeth of cents abroad? One significant problem with government of Yemen, following local custom, names Gardez, Radda, Al Majalah, Mogadishu opposition from the right-wing press? Were I Ed Miliband – and I’m assessing the US drone-warfare programme is made reparations to the victimised families, and the many more sites of drone strikes still pleased I’m not – that’s what I’d spend my Christmas break thinking its secrecy. US officials rarely comment on the reportedly delivering 101 Kalashnikov rifles cloaked in secrecy. about. The one unintended consequence he doesn’t want is Labour programme, less so about any specific attack, and a little over $100,000. These rural villages THE GUARDIAN winning the election only to lose the next three. THE GUARDIAN FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Russian experts rule out polonium poisoning in Arafat’s death MOSCOW: Russian forensic “I can only say that there is Arab League meeting in Cairo on and divided between Swiss and Uiba told reporters yesterday noting it was hard to believe experts studying the remains already a decision to continue (the Saturday. Arafat died in France Russian investigators as well as a that his agency had not received Arafat died “a natural death” in of Yasser Arafat yesterday said investigation),” Faed Mustafa, the on November 11, 2004 at the age French team carrying out a probe any requests from the Palestinians the absence of any diagnosis. the Palestinian leader died a Palestinian ambassador to Russia, of 75, but doctors were unable at the request of Arafat’s widow, to conduct a repeat examination. The Russian agency in October natural death, ruling out radia- told the state RIA Novosti news to specify the cause of death. No Suha. The French have also ruled “We’ve completed an expert doubted a report published in The tion poisoning. agency. autopsy was carried out at the out poisoning, while the Swiss evaluation, and everyone agreed Lancet, saying that Swiss radia- “We have completed all the “We respect their position, we time, in line with his widow’s report said high levels of radio- with us. Moreover, even the tion experts had found traces of studies,” Vladimir Uiba, head highly value their work but there request. active polonium indicated third Swiss withdrew their statements polonium on Arafat’s clothing. of Russia’s Federal Medical- is a decision to continue work,” he His remains were exhumed in party involvement in Arafat’s and agreed, and the French con- The Swiss team said at the time Biological Agency (FMBA), told said. “We need a result, a final and November 2012, partly to inves- 2004 death. firmed our conclusions,” Uiba told its findings “support the possibil- a news conference. concrete result to take the issue tigate whether he had been poi- The Palestinians have long sus- reporters. ity” the veteran Palestinian leader “The person died a natural off the table.” soned with radioactive polonium, pected that Arafat was poisoned, But a spokesman for the Swiss was poisoned. Uiba was reported death and not from radiation.” A decision to ask the UN a suspicion that grew after the with some pointing the finger investigators who conducted the as saying at the time that Arafat A Palestinian envoy, however, General Assembly to establish substance was used to assassinate directly at Israel. Suha Arafat studies, said the Russian results could not have been poisoned by said the Palestinian authorities an international commission to Russian ex-spy and Kremlin critic has said that she was “completely did not change anything. polonium but the agency quickly will press on with a probe into investigate the circumstances of Alexander Litvinenko in 2006. convinced that the martyr Arafat “We maintain our position,” denied issuing any conclusions the 2004 death of Arafat. Arafat’s death was taken at an Some 60 samples were taken did not die a natural death.” spokesman Darcy Christen said, about the leader’s death. AFP

Israel to free Morocco says Palestinians, Erdogan unlikely to quit dismantled build more Corruption scandal a major challenge to premier’s grip on power terrorist cell RABAT: Moroccan authorities ANKARA: Turkish Prime yesterday said they had disman- settlements Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan tled a “terrorist cell” operating replaced nearly half of his cabi- in several cities that included JERUSALEM: Israel will net in a dramatic reshuffle late people trained in the use of fire- announce plans for new settle- on Wednesday after a spreading arms and explosives. ment construction next week, graft scandal forced the resig- North Africa has been on coinciding with the release of a nation of three top ministers heightened alert in recent years third batch of Palestinian pris- and threatened the premier’s as regional jihadist groups have oners as part of peace talks, an own hold on power. grown more powerful and as official said yesterday. Erdogan announced on televi- the turmoil in Libya follow- Palestinians have warned sion he had replaced the three ing Muammar Gaddafi’s 2011 repeatedly that settlement resigning ministers — for the overthrow has left the vast and building destroys the fragile interior, economy and the envi- mostly desert region awash with US-brokered peace talks that ronment — as well as his EU weapons. resumed in July after a three- affairs minister, and reshuffled Morocco’s interior ministry year hiatus. the justice, transport, family, said the operation had netted an “The Israeli government will sports and industry portfolios, individual who had been detained announce tenders for new con- and one of his four deputy prime in the past on terrorism charges struction in the West Bank and ministers’ posts. and who was now coordinating in east Jerusalem which will coin- The reshuffle was decided nationwide operations, includ- cide with the release of a third in a closed-door meeting with ing fundraising and recruiting group of Palestinian prisoners,” President Abdullah Gul, who had militants. the official said on condition of said since Tuesday that it was The ministry did not specify anonymity. imminent. Turkish President Abdullah Gul (centre) heading the National Security Council meeting with some of the new the number of people arrested nor The comments come days There was no indication the cabinet ministers and top generals in Ankara yesterday. the cities in which the operation after Prime Minister Benjamin characteristically defiant prime took place. Netanyahu vowed to push ahead minister was himself contemplat- facilitating bribes for construction economy minister. Emrullah Isler the graft investigation, is thought Morocco has announced the with settlement construction ing stepping down, as demanded projects and illegally smuggling became a deputy prime minis- to be at odds with Erdogan, a dismantling of several alleged ter- despite calls for restraint by US by anti-government protesters -- gold to Iran. ter, replacing Bekir Bozdag who conservative and Islamic-leading rorist cells this year, and authori- Secretary of State John Kerry and by the environment minister Erdogan himself has sought to became justice minister. leader, after the government ties have expressed concern about and the European Union. who resigned, Erdogan Bayraktar. define the corruption scandal as The scandal hit a politically moved to shut down a network of the proliferation of extremist “We will not stop, even for a Yet the corruption scandal is “a conspiracy” plotted by “inter- critical level when the sons of Gulenist schools — a major source groups. moment, building our country and rapidly becoming a major chal- national powers”. the previous interior and econ- of revenue for his group. Al Qaeda in the Islamic becoming stronger, and develop- lenge to Erdogan’s 11-year grip on He insists his ruling Justice omy ministers were among two Gulenists were previously key Maghreb, the global terror net- ing... the settlement enterprise,” power in Turkey, a Nato mem- and Development Party (AKP) dozen people to be charged in the backers of the AKP, helping it to work’s North Africa affiliate, Netanyahu told members of his ber and significant emerging party has a clean record and has wide-ranging bribery and cor- win three elections in a row since released a video in September rightwing Likud party last week. economy. responded to the investigation by ruption probe, which has also 2002. The graft investigation is calling for jihad in Morocco, Kerry, who has been fight- His image was already badly sacking dozens of police chiefs. ensnared close government allies apparently widening still, with which it referred to as a “kingdom ing for the survival of the peace bruised in June when he ordered a Announcing the reshuf- and top businessmen, including prosecutors in Ankara saying of corruption and despotism”. talks, urged Netanyahu earlier heavyhanded crackdown on anti- fle, Erdogan referred to the the chief executive of state-owned they have opened a probe into the Morocco, an ally of France this month “to exercise maxi- government protests sparked by scandal only indirectly, saying: Halkbank. national rail authority over cor- and the US, remains haunted by mum restraint in announcing plans to raze an Istanbul park. “Some of my friends have asked The environment minister’s son ruption claims in public tenders. a wave of attacks in May 2003 new construction” Haaretz daily Another protest took place in to be excused due to the recent was also detained last week, but No arrests have yet been made, claimed by Al Qaeda in which 33 reported. Israel is due to release Istanbul on Wednesday demand- developments.” has not been formally charged and the prosecutor’s office said. people were killed in Casablanca. 26 Palestinian prisoners on ing Erdogan’s ouster, but police Others, he said were leaving to has been released pending trial. The tensions from the over- AFP Sunday, in line with commitments used tear gas to disperse the contest March 30 local elections, Observers see the corrup- all scandal have clearly hurt the to the US-backed peace process estimated 5,000 demonstrators “and others are changes proposed tion probe as the result of a rift already slowing Turkish economy, which also called on both sides to after some skirmishes. Protests to the president within my discre- between Erdogan and a former pushing the national currency to negotiate for nine months. were also reported in Ankara and tion and approved by him”. major ally, Fethullah Gulen, a record lows against the US dollar. Gunmen seize oil Izmir. Erdogan named Idris Gulluce Muslim cleric who lives in the The lira weakened to 2.0907 AGREED TO FREE 104 The probe into the alleged cor- as his new environment minister; US and whose movement wields against the dollar at Wednesday’s ministry building ruption, which has seen recent an interior ministry undersecre- considerable influence in Turkey’s close. The Istanbul stock market Israel agreed to free 104 police raids, focus on numerous tary, Efkan Ala, his new interior police and judiciary. plummeted by 4.2 percent to in east Yemen Palestinian prisoners and has offences including accepting and minister; and Nihat Zeybekci his Gulen, who denies being behind 66,096.56. AFP already released 52 in two sepa- ADEN: Tribesmen seized an rate batches. A third group is to oil ministry building in Yemen’s be freed on December 29 and the eastern Hadramout province last inmates are to walk free in yesterday and exchanged gun- March 2014. fire with a pro-government The previous releases in August tribe seeking to regain control and October were accompanied of the premises, tribal sources by Israeli announcements of Syrian warplanes bomb Aleppo and ministry employees said. fresh construction on land the The tribesmen were respond- Palestinians want for a future BEIRUT: A day-old truce in a army was sending “heavy rein- for another truce in Barzeh, In Aleppo, the country’s second ing to the killing of a tribal leader state, provoking Palestinian fury. besieged rebel-held town near forcements” towards the town. northern Damascus, according city and onetime commercial hub, earlier this month in fighting at In October plans for 1,500 Damascus broke down yes- On Wednesday rebels raised to activist Emad Al Barzawi, but the Air Force kept up its offensive an army checkpoint after his Jewish settler homes in Arab east terday as Syrian warplanes the national flag above the town he said “there has been no deci- a day after 12 people were killed bodyguards refused to hand over Jerusalem came to light almost bombed the divided northern in accordance with a ceasefire sion yet.” in aerial attacks in and around their weapons to soldiers. immediately after Israel began city of Aleppo for a 12th straight deal that was supposed to allow Barzeh has come under fre- the city, said the Observatory. Yemen, one of the Arab world’s freeing the second batch of 26 day, activists said. food in, but Ahmad said none had quent bombardment in recent Regime aircraft launched a poorest countries, is struggling to Palestinian prisoners. By Wednesday, the Aleppo air arrived. months, forcing hundreds of resi- fresh attack using TNT-packed restore state authority after long- Israel had likewise announced blitz that began on December Negotiations were under way dents to flee. barrels against the city’s Hanano serving President Ali Abdullah construction of more than 2,000 15 had killed at least 422 peo- district, and another air strike Saleh was forced to step down in new settler homes in August, ple, mostly civilians, according against Daret Ezza in the sur- 2011. when it freed the first group of to the Syrian Observatory for rounding province, according to The authorities face regular detainees. Palestinian officials Human Rights, a Britain-based the Observatory. challenges from tribesmen who have angrily said Israeli settle- group relying on activists and The European Union, the US have attacked oil pipelines and ment plans destroy the peace other sources inside the war-torn and the Arab League have con- power lines for reasons includ- process and the international country. demned the air force’s use of ing demands for the government community has also denounced In Moadamiyet Al Sham, near barrel bombs, and the US-based to provide employment or efforts past construction moves. the capital, clashes broke out Human Rights Watch has to secure the release of jailed Israeli media yesterday sug- yesterday afternoon, a day after described their use as “unlawful” relatives. gested that the new construc- opposition and regime sources because they do not discriminate The sources said the build- tion push is aimed at pacifying announced a truce for the town, between civilians and fighters. ing was under the control of Al Netanyahu’s coalition partners which had been under a suffocat- “When the bombing starts, you Kathiry tribe who had told the oil following a surge of violence along ing army siege for a year. feel like you’re going to die any ministry workers to leave. Details the Israel-Gaza border and in the The opposition blamed second,” Abu Omar, an activist in of casualties were not immedi- West Bank. President Bashar Al Assad’s the town of Marea near Aleppo, ately available. Maariv daily quoted an troops for breaking the truce. said. “The regime sees us all as The tribesmen’s demands unnamed top official as saying “They opened heavy machine- terrorists — fighters, civilians, include the handing over of the Netanyahu had initially agreed to gun fire without any reason. It men, women, children. To them, soldiers who killed the leader, US and EU appeals to delay by means there are people from the anyone who lives in a liberated Said bin Habrish, full withdrawal two to three weeks the announce- regime who don’t want the siege (rebel) area is a terrorist.” of the army from Hadramout and ment of the new constructions. on our town to be lifted. They are An estimated 126,000 people more jobs for local people. But Netanyahu apparently trying to end the truce in any way have been killed since the start At least four people, including changed his mind under pres- possible,” Ahmad, a local activ- of Syria’s uprising, which began two soldiers, were killed in attacks sure from his coalition partners ist, said. The Syrian Revolution with peaceful protests in March on army checkpoints near oilfields so as not to send out a “signal General Commission, a network A Free Syrian Army fighter stands on a truck-mounted weapon in Aleppo's 2011 but escalated into a civil war in Wadi Hadramout on Monday, of weakness” to the Palestinians of activists on the ground, con- Al Ansari Al Sharqi neighbourhood yesterday. after regime forces fired on dem- according to local sources. from Israel, Maariv said. AFP firmed the fighting, and said the onstrators. AFP REUTERS FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Greenpeace Russian cargo plane crash kills nine MOSCOW: A Russian cargo plane crashed into a military warehouse complex in Siberia activists set yesterday, killing all nine peo- ple on board, the emergencies ministry said. The Antonov An-12 mili- tary transport plane, carrying cargo from the Siberian city of to exit Russia Novosibirsk, crashed into stor- age warehouses at a military unit near Irkutsk, also in Siberia. First member leaves for Finland The emergencies ministry said there were nine people on board: SAINT feelings,” Litvinov six crew and three people accom- PETERSBURG: told AFP before his panying the cargo. A first Greenpeace departure. “They all died,” it said in a activist was on “On one hand, I statement. a train out of feel relieved that No injuries were reported Russia yesterday, everything is over, among the military personnel on more than three on the other there is the ground. months after he a feeling of injustice A fire broke out at the crash was arrested along because we’re con- site but was quickly put out, with 29 fellow crew sidered criminals.” ministry spokesman Andrei members of a ship “The case against Shutov, who visited the site, told protesting against us has been dropped AFP. No buildings caught fire, Arctic oil drilling, but things are not he added. an AFP journalist over,” he added, More than 100 rescue workers saw. expressing “concern were combing through the debris. Dmitri Litvinov, a for the others who The plane belonged to the Rescuers and investigators working at the site of an air crash near the East Siberian city of Irkutsk, Russia, yesterday. Swedish-American live in Russia”. Irkutsk aviation plant. AFP of Russian origin, Litvinov was left Saint Petersburg Activist Mannes Ubels from unsure whether for Finland’s capital the Netherlands exults after he would ever be Helsinki on a train getting the visa stamped on allowed to return departing at 8.25pm to Russia. his passport yesterday. after Russia issued Greenpeace now Chorus rises for Ukraine minister’s resignation exit visas for 14 of expects Russian the crew following a pardon by investigators to return the equip- President Vladimir Putin. ment seized during the operation KIEV: Protesters demanded Ukraine’s “Our police no longer protect their peo- rammed into her car before at least two men Most of the activists who against its activists, as well as the interior minister resign yesterday after an ple, but fight them instead, hurt and oppress jumped out. Photographs and video released received visas are expected to Arctic Sunrise ship, which is still opposition journalist known for document- them,” said protester Valentina Gorilova, a later showed a beaten and bloodied Chornovil leave Russia today, according to being held in the northwestern ing the extravagance of the country’s politi- 47-year-old housewife. on a hospital bed. Her lips were swollen and a Greenpeace statement. city of Murmansk. cal elite was chased down in her car and Some protesters, their hands chained, split, one eye blackened and closed by bruising. Russian authorities ear- Thirteen Greenpeace activists savagely beaten in a midnight attack. kneeled before a row of police in mock sup- The Organisation for Security and lier dropped the criminal case and a British video journalist have Clutching pictures of Tetyana Chornovil’s plication. With Ukraine winding down for the Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United against the last member of the been issued transit visas allowing badly bruised face, hundreds marched on the Orthodox Christian holiday season, the oppo- States embassy in Kiev condemned the attack. 30-strong team, in a move widely them to leave Russia and go home Interior Ministry in the capital, Kiev. sition movement has shown signs of waning. The embassy noted “a strikingly simi- seen as the Kremlin’s attempt to after their ordeal which began on The attack on the 34-year-old restored A hard core of hundreds continue to camp lar series of events over the last few weeks, improve Russia’s image ahead of September 19. passion to protests which have been losing out around braziers on Kiev’s Independence targeting individuals, property, and political the Winter Olympic Games in “Fourteen people have been steam more than a month after the govern- Square, swelled by weekly mass rallies of activity, apparently aimed at intimidating or February in its Black Sea city given a visa,” Greenpeace spokes- ment spurned a pact on closer ties with the around 100,000 or more. punishing those linked to the ... protests.” of Sochi. man Arin de Hoog told AFP. European Union, turning instead to former Chornovil, who has played an active role “We condemn the attack and call for an Litvinov, the son of former Activists showed off their pass- Soviet master Moscow. in the protests, shot to prominence last immediate investigation, which unlike pre- Soviet dissident Pavel Litvinov ports stamped with transit visas Pro-EU demonstrators have been occupy- year when she infiltrated the grounds of vious such incidents must result in those and great-grandson of one of to journalists outside the migra- ing central Kiev but their numbers have been Yanukovych’s opulent residence in a park responsible being held fully accountable under Stalin’s foreign ministers, had tion services offices in Saint falling since Russia offered Ukraine a $15bn near the Dnieper River. She has since posted the law,” it said in a statement. received his exit visa allowing Petersburg, Russia’s second city, bailout this month. photographs online of the homes of other Media reports said another opposition activ- him to leave Russia earlier in where they have been staying for Interior Minister Vitaly Zakharchenko had senior officials. Zakharchenko was her target ist was stabbed in the eastern city of Kharkiv the day. over a month. already become a target of opposition anger on Tuesday. “Here lives the executioner,” the on Tuesday. Yanukovych on Wednesday He was to enter Finnish ter- Italy’s Christian d’Alessandro following a violent crackdown on protesters journalist wrote in her blog, above pictures of called on police to find those responsible for ritory at 8.30pm (1730 GMT), was notified yesterday by inves- by police late last month that helped swell a handsome country property. the attack on Chornovil. Two men were later the Greenpeace statement said, tigators that the case against him the demonstrations. The attack on Chornovil, The Organisation for Security and detained and police said they had identified a and would then take a ferry to had been closed. shortly after midnight on Wednesday, came Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the United third. The president’s pivot away from Europe Stockholm. Earlier this week, Russia closed hours after she posted pictures online of what States embassy in Kiev condemned the attack. last month has thrown the country of 46 mil- Greenpeace said he had “no the cases of the other 29 Arctic she said was Zakharchenko’s home, part of a Hours later, Chornovil was chased on a road lion people into turmoil, exposing a deep rift regrets” about the Arctic protest. Sunrise crew members. campaign to expose the opulence of the politi- outside the capital, a dashboard camera cap- among Ukrainians over whether their future “I’m leaving Russia with mixed AFP cal elite under President Viktor Yanukovich. turing how a black Porsche Cayenne veered and lies with the EU or Russia. REUTERS

Festive bounty Protesting thespian rams car into Dozen civilians die Elysee Palace gate PARIS: A theatre director in Chad clashes rammed a car into the rear gate of the French presidential pal- BANGUI, CENTRAL in with knife or gunshot wounds. ace yesterday in protest over AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Earlier the medical aid group cuts in government funding for French troops were out in force Medecins Sans Frontieres the arts, police and state offi- in the Central African Republic’s (Doctors Without Borders, MSF), cials said. capital yesterday after clashes had counted 36 injured at the hos- The 67-year-old Italian national that killed at least a dozen civil- pital since Wednesday evening. was arrested as he attempted to ians, according to an official, and The circumstances of the force his way through the late- five Chadian peacekeepers. Chadian deaths in Bangui, which nineteenth-century Grille du Coq, Chaos gripped Bangui after occurred on Wednesday, were or Rooster Gate, which leads into heavy arms fire on Wednesday, unclear, a spokesman for the the gardens of the Elysee palace which sent thousands of panick- African Union (AU) force of from Gabriel Avenue, near the ing residents fleeing for shelter which they were a part told AFP. Champs-Elysees, the officials said. at the airport, where French and “Yesterday the city was in total He was protesting against cuts African peacekeepers are based. chaos and this chaos lasted until in subsidies to his small Parisian At least 12 people died in the the end of the night. Today we are theatre, the Italian Comedy, a latest wave of violence, an offi- trying to understand what hap- police source said, adding that cial at Bangui’s main hospital pened,” said Eloi Yao. the man was being held in custody told AFP. “The Red Cross brought The resource-rich but impover- at a Parisian hospital. President at least a dozen” bodies to the ished country has been wracked Francois Hollande has cut into hospital morgue, the official said by escalating violence since a France’s traditionally generous on condition of anonymity, adding March coup. culture budget. REUTERS A chimpanzee carries a box given as a Christmas present in Safaripark Beekse Bergen in Hilvarenbeek that 46 people had been brought AFP yesterday. Baikonur space port struggles to relaunch glorious past BAIKONUR, KAZAKHSTAN: signed off this month will not come too steppes near rocket launch sites, and the reform will boost quality control and latest Proton accident showed the inex- From rocket-shaped playground equip- late to turn the industry around — part what little seems to have changed since end a calamitous series of blunders like plicable degree of degradation in the ment to faded murals of cosmonauts, of a push to make Russia a high-technol- Soviet times often looks the worse for it. July’s crash of a Proton rocket carrying sector.” mementos of the heyday of Soviet space ogy superpower by salvaging leading Cold “Visitors expect a city of steel and a $200m payload. The United Rocket and Space exploration are scattered around this War-era industries and research centres. glass like in science fiction films, but for “We have big plans,” the new Corporation is to be created by mid-April sandswept town that launched Yuri Built far from prying eyes in a desert- a long time no one even knew this place Roskosmos chief, Oleg Ostapenko, told on the grounds of a space research insti- Gagarin into orbit in 1961. like flatland in central Asia, the once- existed,” said Evelina Shchur, director of Reuters last month. “We will do eve- tute, and officials say the restructuring When President Vladimir Putin secret launch site of Sputnik and the first the space museum in a city she describes rything possible to get rid of the black will cost nothing extra. An experienced described the space port on the remote man in space lives on in a strange limbo, as “provincial”. marks on our reputation.” plant manager, the former head of car- Kazakh steppe as “physically aged” in marooned in western Kazakhstan by the Despite bigger budgets and Putin’s The reform also aims to streamline maker Avtovaz , Igor Komarov, 49, has April, he could have been speaking about break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991. pledge to revive the sector, Russia’s space production by uniting suppliers into a been tapped to lead it. Russia’s space industry itself. Today, it is the only gateway for industry has been in crisis for years. new state-run firm. Critics of the plan say it will eliminate In Baikonur as elsewhere, the once- manned flights to the International “The whole industry needs to be over- Roskosmos will be left in charge only competition and that the shake-up may pioneering sector is struggling to live up Space Station, hosting astronauts from hauled because the old doesn’t work and of policy, research and ground infrastruc- bring more confusion to the industry, but to its legacy, end an embarrassing series the world, and the site of about one-third the new hasn’t been built,” said Igor ture such as the Baikonur cosmodrome. many insiders say reform is long overdue. of botched launches, modernise decaying of all satellite launches. Marinin, editor of the spaceflight journal “It will be very difficult, but the “The industry has been stagnant, it’s infrastructure and bring in new blood But Baikonur has no movie theatre — Novosti Kosmonavtiki. Kremlin realises it can’t keep living the been rotting, there were big problems, and new ideas. let alone many of the trappings of the By separating space agency Roskosmos old way,” said Sergey Pekhterev, head of but now a path has been decided on to Putin hopes a sweeping reform he 21st century. Camels graze the barren from its contractors, the Kremlin hopes Russian sat-com firm SetTelecom. “The fix them,” Marinin said. REUTERS FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL Thousands left without power in US, Canada Officials say storm claimed 27 lives

GARDINER, MAINE: Snow Many tree limbs had snapped, fell yesterday in places still hus- littering yards. On one road, tling to get power back on after workers in four bucket trucks a weekend ice storm that turned from Massachusetts’ N-Star util- out the lights from Michigan to ity company worked patiently to Maine and into Canada. get a power line lifted back into Southeast Maine and parts of place as snow fell sporadically. the state’s interior that have been Paul Graham, the crew supervisor without electricity since Sunday from Waltham, and a veteran of anticipated 3 to 7 inches of snow the devastating ice storm of 1998, by the time the latest system said it could’ve been worse, even pushed off the coast last night. as his team worked its third con- Utilities worried that the addi- secutive 18-hour shift. tional weight on branches and “Honestly, you got lucky,” he transmission lines could cause said. “If it was a little more ice, setbacks in the around-the-clock poles would have been broken. efforts to restore power. Things would be on the ground. “We don’t think it’s going to That’s my take. If there was help us much, that’s for sure,” said another quarter of an inch or a Susan Faloon, a spokeswoman half-inch of ice, people would’ve for Bangor Hydro Electric in been out for a long, long, long An aerial view of a Brazilian region affected by torrential rain in the state of Espirito Santo. Maine. “There was some concern time. expressed over the last couple of “But I’m sure no one is thinking days about that storm coming they’re lucky, right?” because obviously we still have A state ferry was comman- lot of stuff weighing down trees deered to transport utility crews Death toll in Brazil’s flood-hit state rises to 17 and lines. to restore power to the 600 or “The system is pretty compro- so residents on the island of SAO PAULO: The death toll He added that the number Authorities said 47 cities in worst in the past 90 years. In mised out there,” she said. “We Islesboro, where actor John from two weeks of torrential of people left homeless by the Espirito Santo, which borders Rio the neighbouring state of Minas expect we will have more outages.” Travolta has a home. rain in Brazil’s southeastern extensive flooding totalled around de Janeiro state, were affected by Gerais, where heavy rains have In Michigan, where about half Bangor Hydro Electric advised state of Espirito Santo has risen 50,000. On Tuesday, Brazilian the flooding, including many left sparked landslides, 17 fatalities a million homes and businesses residents that it will be the end from 14 to 17, officials said late President Dilma Rousseff toured without communications, drink- have now been reported since lost power at the peak of the of the day today before its more on Wednesday. flood-hit areas of the state and able water and power. October 15. In early December, weekend storm, an inch or so of than 11,000 customers are back A civil defense spokesman said pledged federal aid to rebuild State governor Renato a storm left 16 people dead and snow was expected. Utilities there online. The number has fluctu- that the bodies of three more vic- homes and roads. Casagrande, who on Saturday flattened more than 200 houses in reported 101,000 customers with- ated as some get power back while tims — two men and a woman — Nearly 20,000km of roads were declared a state of alert in the the city of Lajedinho in the north- out power yesterday morning and others lose it. were found early Wednesday. reported destroyed or damaged. area, described the rains as the eastern state of Bahia. AFP said it could be tomorrow before Central Maine Power, with all electricity is restored. more than 21,000 customers still Tony Carone lost power in without power early Thursday, his Lapeer, Michigan, home on hoped to get electricity back for Sunday morning. The 52-year- most by the end of the day but old lineman for Detroit-based acknowledged that some will still Americans say US Congress is worst ever British PM DTE knew there were long hours be without electricity Friday. ahead. “I was one of the casual- More than 100,000 were without WASHINGTON: Two thirds the policies of President Barack disagreeing. The negative outlook ties,” he said while taking a break power at the storm’s peak. of Americans say the current Obama, a Democrat. toward Congress “exists among all warns press from restoration work yesterday In the snow country of New Congress is the worst ever, The 113th Congress did pass a demographic and political sub- morning. York’s Tug Hill Plateau, east of while three quarters slammed budget agreement before its holi- groups. Men, women, rich, poor, over new Maine reported more than Lake Ontario, 11 to 17 inches of the “do-nothing” legislature, a day recess, but less than 60 bills young, old — all think this year’s 32,000 customers still out. There wind-whipped lake effect snow CNN/ORC International poll have been signed into law during Congress has been the worst were more than 101,000 without was expected to fall by the end found yesterday. its first year. And with a continued they can remember,” CNN poll- royal charter power in three Canadian prov- of the day Friday. The ice storm The negative attitudes were political stalemate likely in 2014, ing director Keating Holland said. inces — Quebec, Ontario and New knocked out electricity for about expressed toward leading law- when mid-term elections will take “Older Americans — who LONDON: David Cameron has Brunswick — including 54,000 in 50,000 customers in northern makers on both sides of the aisle, place, the current Congress is have lived through more con- warned the press that it runs the the city of Toronto. New York; all but a handful had with 52 percent saying the poli- poised to become one of the least gresses — hold more negative risk of facing “hideous statutory Day five without power was met power back by Thursday. cies of Democrats would move productive in at least the past four views of the 113th Congress than regulation” in the future if the by tired but mostly stoic Mainers. Authorities blame the storm the country in the wrong direc- decades, CNN noted. younger Americans. Republicans, Independent Press Standards In hard-hit Kennebec County, for 27 deaths; 17 in the US and tion, compared to 54 percent for A total of 68 percent of those Democrats and independents also Organisation declines to seek where the state capital of Augusta 10 in Canada, including five who Republican policies. questioned said the current agree that this has been the worst recognition under the terms of is located, glistening trees sagged apparently died from carbon And 54 percent of respond- Congress was the worst in their session of Congress in their life- the new royal charter. under the weight of ice. monoxide poisoning. AP ents said the same thing about lifetime, with only 28 percent times.” AFP In an interview with Spectator editor Fraser Nelson, a strong campaigner against the royal charter, Cameron said a “less liberal, less enlightened govern- ment” of the future could impose Accused US Family pays tribute to British doctor killed in Syria statutory controls unless the press acted now. airport gunman The prime minister spoke LONDON: The brother of a out a few weeks after 90 per- British doctor who died while cent of national newspapers to enter plea being held in custody in Syria and most regional publishers paid a moving tribute to him announced that they would join LOS ANGELES: The man at a funeral prayer service yes- the Independent Press Standards accused of opening fire at Los terday, describing him as “our Organisation (Ipso). Angeles International Airport star”. The body, whose members and killing a federal security Dr Abbas Khan was on the include the Telegraph Media screener and wounding three verge of being released when his Group, Associated Newspapers, other people was expected to family were told of his death. The News UK, Trinity Mirror and plead not guilty yesterday to Syrian regime claimed he took his Northern & Shell, is declining charges of murder and attempted own life, but his family claim he to seek recognition from a panel murder of federal officers. was murdered. that is to be established under the This is the second court appear- The 32-year-old orthopaedic terms of the royal charter. ance for Paul Anthony Ciancia, 23, surgeon from London was cap- Ipso believes the recognition in connection with the November tured in November last year in panel, to be set up by the former 1 shooting spree. Aleppo after travelling from permanent secretary at the Home On December 4, US Magistrate Turkey to help victims of hospi- Office, Sir David Normington, Judge David Bristow ordered tal bombings. who is now commissioner for Ciancia held without bond after His death was announced on public appointments, amounts finding he posed a danger to the December 17. to an unacceptable level of state community and represented a At the packed service at London control. Cameron, who agreed potential flight risk. Ciancia did Central Mosque in Regent’s Park, the terms of the royal charter not enter a plea at that hearing. his brother Shahnawaz Khan said: with Labour and the Liberal Three charges in the 11-count “Last night I sat down to under- Democrats, says the new system indictment against Ciancia carry take the morbid task of writing places the government at arm’s a maximum sentence of life in a eulogy for my brother … My length from the body. prison or the death penalty; fed- brother, to us, was our star. His The royal charter can only be eral prosecutors have not decided star shone on our family.” amended by a two-thirds majority yet whether to seek capital pun- Abbas Khan was described by vote in both houses of parliament. ishment if Ciancia is convicted. his brother as the “kindest and Fatima Kahn, the mother of British doctor Abbas Kahn, reacts after his funeral service at the Regent's Park Mosque The recognition panel will not In addition to a single count simplest man I’ve ever met”. in central London yesterday. regulate the press but will assess of murder and two counts of Shahnawaz spoke of “the evil every few years whether a regula- attempted murder of federal offic- that has taken him from us so being home in time for Christmas. his arm around her and brought are running high at the moment. tory body, which signs up, is car- ers, Ciancia was indicted on four cruelly” and said the family had Abbas leaves behind his wife, her to a car and she was driven “It is a very tragic set of rying out its functions in line with counts of committing an act of been through “one of the most dif- Hanna, 30, his son, Abdullah, six, away. circumstances under which the principles laid down in Lord violence at an international air- ficult times we have ever seen”. and daughter, Rurayya, seven. Speaking outside the mosque Dr Abbas Khan passed away. Justice Leveson’s report into the port and four counts of firearms The doctor’s mother, Fatima, In a very distressed state out- before the prayers, the family’s Obviously we know tomorrow the press. offenses. Ciancia is accused of has dismissed a claim by Syria’s side the mosque, Khan’s mother solicitor, Nabeel Sheikh, said: inquest will be formally opened Once a regulatory body is rec- walking into Terminal 3 at the air- deputy foreign minister, Faisal wailed and as people tried to com- “The family would like to express and then the process will start of ognised by the panel, section 40 port, removing a semi-automatic Mekdad, that her son killed fort her, she said: “Nobody help their sincere gratitude at the level collating evidence for the coroner of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 rifle from a bag and opening fire himself. me, I love my son. I am the loser. of support they’ve received this to finally reach a judgment when would be triggered meaning that on an unarmed Transportation Earlier this month, the fam- I’m the failure.” morning. There is a very, very the inquest concludes. publishers outside an officially Security Administration officer ily revealed a letter in which the She added: “I beg everybody. I large turnout and I think that is He said the idea of suicide was recognised regulatory body could standing at the entrance to a secu- doctor expressed his optimism at touch everyone’s feet. Please give testament to the significance of “inconceivable”. suffer financial penalties in legal rity checkpoint. REUTERS being released and his hopes of me my son.” A man then wrapped this case and the emotions that THE GUARDIAN actions. THE GUARDIAN FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 ASIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Abe visit to Yasukuni angers China, S Korea Japan Premier’s latest move worries US about deteriorating relations between Asian neighbours

TOKYO: Japanese Prime Business ties between China to convey my resolve that people Minister Shinzo Abe visited a and Japan, the world’s second- never again suffer the horrors of shrine yesterday that is seen by and third-largest economies, war,” he told reporters after the critics as a symbol of Tokyo’s have improved after a downturn visit. wartime aggression, infuriat- sparked by a flare-up last year in Television carried live video ing China and South Korea and a row over tiny East China Sea of his motorcade making its way prompting concern from the islands controlled by Japan but to the shrine, built in 1896 by United States about deterio- also claimed by China. Emperor Meiji to enshrine war rating ties between the North But worries are growing that dead. Yasukuni played a key role Asian neighbours. an unintended incident between in the wartime state Shinto reli- China and South Korea have Japanese and Chinese aircraft gion which mobilised the popu- repeatedly expressed anger in and ships playing cat-and-mouse lation to fight in the name of a the past over Japanese politi- near the disputed isles could esca- divine emperor. cians’ visits to Yasukuni Shrine, late into a military clash. Abe, dressed in a morning suit where Japanese leaders convicted Abe, a conservative who took and a silver tie, bowed at the as war criminals by an Allied tri- office for a second term exactly shrine before following a Shinto bunal after World War Two are one year ago, said he did not priest into an inner sanctum. honoured along with those who intend to hurt feelings in neigh- Abe said he shared the view died in battle. bouring nations. of past Japanese leaders that The two countries have been “There is criticism based on the ties with China and South Korea especially touchy about visits to misconception that this is an act were important and that to make the shrine by serving Japanese to worship war criminals, but I them firm was in Japan’s national prime ministers, and Abe is the visited Yasukuni Shrine to report interests - and said that he would first leader in office to pay homage to the souls of the war dead on like to explain that if given the Japanese PM Shinzo Abe follows a Shinto priest as he visits Yasukuni shrine in Tokyo yesterday. at Yasukuni in the past seven years. the progress made this year and opportunity. REUTERS

China, Malaysia boost military Thai cop shot dead during protests Kim Jong-un urges troops cooperation BANGKOK: A police officer into a sports stadium in the capi- deputy prime minister Surapong to be on high combat alert BEIJING: China and was shot dead in Bangkok yes- tal where representatives of about Tovichakchaikul said in a tel- Malaysia on Tuesday agreed terday during clashes between 30 political parties were gathered evised address. SEOUL: North Korean leader viewpoint..., always bearing in mind to strengthen military coop- security forces and anti-govern- for the registration process for “They are intimidating officials Kim Jong-un visited an Army that a war breaks out without any eration through joint drills ment protesters, according to February 2 elections. and trespassing in government unit and urged the military to prior notice,” the KCNA said. and exchanges between the the hospital where he was taken Thirty-two people were hospital- buildings.” maintain high combat readi- The young leader was accom- two naval forces, reported for treatment. ised, including one protester who The government, meanwhile, ness, its state media reported panied by senior officials and Chinese Xinhua news agency. “He was shot in his chest and was in a serious condition with an rejected a call from the Election on Wednesday, amid heightened military leaders, including Choe During talks with Chief of brought to hospital by helicopter,” apparent gunshot wound to his Commission to postpone a tension on the peninsula follow- Ryong Hae, the chief of the mili- Malaysian Armed Forces said Jongjet Aoajenpong, director head, a senior official at the public February poll, insisting the vote ing the shocking execution of tary Politburo, and Ri Yong Gil, Zulkifeli Mohd. Zin, Chief of of the Police General Hospital. “A health ministry, Supan Srithamma, would go ahead as planned, the leader’s uncle. the North’s military chief. Choe General Staff of the Chinese team of doctors tried to resuscitate said. “It’s likely that he was shot by despite clashes. Kim visited the Command of has been considered the commu- People’s Liberation Army him for more than half an hour.” a live bullet,” he said. The commission urged the Large Combined Unit 526 near nist state’s new No 2 man follow- Fang Fenghui said the two Prime Minister Yingluck Police said two other officers government to delay the election the western port city of Nampo ing the recent execution of the forces had had fruitful coop- Shinawatra has faced weeks of were wounded including one who until there was “mutual consent on Christmas Eve, the day when current leader’s uncle, Jang Song eration in areas such as mass street rallies seeking to curb was struck by a bullet in his arm. between all related parties”. his late father Kim Jong Il was Thaek. exchange of high-level visits, her family’s political dominance Security forces denied firing live Anti-government demonstra- appointed as supreme commander His military inspection training and exchange of vis- and install an unelected “peo- rounds, saying only rubber bullets tors insist they will not allow an of the Korean People’s Army, the coincided with South Korean its of naval vessels. ple’s council” to oversee electoral and tear gas were used against election to take place until Prime Korean Central News Agency said. President Park Geun Hye’s first reforms. the demonstrators. Minister Yingluck Shinawatra “He instructed the unit to put visit to a frontline unit since she HK confirms Fresh violence erupted as dem- “Protesters are not peaceful resigns. utmost spurs on rounding off its came into office in February. bird flu death onstrators tried to force their way and unarmed as they claimed,” AFP combat readiness with the firm AGENCIES HONG KONG: An 80-year- Mao anniversary old man infected with the H7N9 bird flu virus has died in Hong Kong in the first such death in the city after the virus surfaced in early December. The man, the sec- ond person in Hong Kong to be diagnosed with the virus strain, lived in the south- ern Chinese city of Shenzhen and had eaten poultry there, media reported. The H7N9 strain was first reported in humans in February in China, and has infected 139 people in China, Taiwan and Hong Kong and killed more than 40. A boat carrying a giant image of late Chinese chairman Mao Zedong and national flags leads winter swimmers during an exercise in the Yangtze Italian tourists River to celebrate the 120th birth anniversary of Mao, in Wuhan, Hubei found dead province, yesterday. KATHMANDU: Two Italian tourists were found dead in their hotel room in the capi- China to triple payout for tal Kathmandu on Christmas Eve in unexplained circum- stances, police said yester- parents losing only child day. “The room was locked. So we broke in and found the BEIJING: China is to more Traditionally, Chinese peo- man was lying at the edge of than triple the amount of com- ple rely on children to support the bed while the woman was pensation that some parents them in old age so when a sole covered with a sleeping bag,” get if their only child dies, the child dies, elderly parents can officer Umesh Raj Joshi said. health and family planning find themselves in dire circum- The couple arrived in Nepal agency said yesterday, in the stances. China has little in the on December 11 and had told latest sign of a more lenient way of welfare or health insur- the hotel owner they visited stand on an uncompromising ance systems. the Himalayan nation every population policy. From next year, couples in year. Autopsies would be con- China’s childless parents are cities who have lost their only ducted to determine the cause emblematic of the problems of child and in which the woman of death, while the Italian the tough one-child policy, which is 49 years or older will get 340 consulate had been informed. the government says has resulted yuan ($56) per parent a month, Joshi said the room was not in 400 million fewer births since the National Health and Family properly ventilated, with the 1980. Planning Commission said in a windows covered with news- A loosening of the one-child statement. papers and plastic. policy will begin early next year. REUTERS AGENCIES Bangla PM sends troops to curb violence DHAKA: Tens of thousands march to the capital on Sunday The army will be deployed until of troops fanned out across to protest against the elections, Jan 9, an Election Commission Bangladesh yesterday in a bid declaring “democracy is dead”. official said. to stem political violence ahead The opposition says it will not People are shot, beaten or of next month’s elections, which take part unless an interim gov- burned to death daily in clashes the opposition Bangladesh ernment is installed and Hasina between rival groups and police. Nationalist Party (BNP) has steps down. Hasina wants to do More than 200 people have died boycotted. away with the practice of install- in political violence this year, half Violence has gripped the coun- ing a caretaker government. of them since Nov 25. try as Prime Minister Sheikh With the BNP’s boycott, more Rolling general strikes staged Hasina and her ruling Awami than half the 300 parliament seats by the opposition and blockades League press ahead with the Jan will go uncontested, making it of roads, rail lines and waterways 5 vote. unlikely the vote will do anything are also hurting the $22bn gar- BNP leader Begum Khaleda to restore stability in one of the ment industry. Zia has called on Bangladeshis to world’s poorest countries. REUTERS FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com PHILIPPINES Remittances throw lifeline to survivors 1.7 million OFWs hail from typhoon-stricken region

PALO: A sister living on the for money coming in from 43 wife in a low-income government other side of the world gave countries. job and two grown up children Roberto Retanal what he The typhoon Haiyan killed both earning pittances in far-off needed most to piece his hum- nearly 6,100 people, with around Manila, he is lucky to have a sis- ble home back together after 1,800 still listed missing. ter working as an accountant in the devastating typhoon that But more than 16 million peo- Britain. tore through his village in the ple have been affected by the “If not for my sister and her central Philippines last month. calamity. Aside from the ruined mother-in-law in London, who She sent him P40,000 ($900) infrastructure and housing, the also donated cash, it would take to replace the roof ripped off his coconut groves that provided me another 10 years to com- house by the strongest winds livelihoods for families in rural plete this roof,” the 59-year-old ever recorded in a country where areas were uprooted. The worst- said in a living room that a few typhoons are all too common. hit eastern and central Visayas weeks ago was left completely Retanal’s sister live and works region accounts for around 9 per- submerged after the storm surge in Britain. There are some 10 mil- cent of the Philippines’ GDP. inundated his one-storey con- lion Filipinos living and working Economic growth is expected crete house. Ravaged coconut trees and wrecked homes are seen as workers remove rusty corrugated iron roofing from the abroad, sending regular remit- to be 7 percent this year, slightly The windows have still to be reconstructed house of Roberto Retanal, after it was damaged by Haiyan, in Palo, Leyte province. tances to help their families get slower than China. As a result replaced, and aside from a sil- by. Between January and October, of the typhoon, analysts expect very “Merry Christmas” sign they had sent back around growth to slow to between 4.1 and hung from a pole, there was lit- largest recipient of remittances, extra inflows to have a big effect For the less well paid, like $18.5bn, six percent more than 5.9 percent in the fourth quarter, tle else in the room other than with India in top spot followed on the peso currency, as it will maids and labourers, the margins last year and running at a rate but officials are sticking with a a broken television set and four by China, according to the World be offset by the need to import to help are far slimmer. equivalent to around 10 percent of 6.5-7.5 percent growth target for plastic chairs. Bank. more goods for the post-disaster “How much more can they send the gross domestic product. next year. All the other houses in this The country’s central bank gov- reconstruction. back over and above what they are When disaster struck on Whatever the rate, the sur- tiny, lower-middle class commu- ernor expected the higher level Only few families are as for- sending now?” said Jun Trinidad, November 8 the telegraphic vivors in the central Philippines nity were covered by temporary of remittances seen post-Haiyan tunate as the Dacatimbangs of economist at Citigroup in Manila. transfers went into overdrive. will struggle, but they can at roofing, either blue tarpaulin to stretch into the early months Tacloban City. A daughter works “These are mostly fixed-income “Filipinos dug even deeper,” least count on support from rela- or metal sheets twisted by the of next year, based on what he as a nurse in Indiana and has wage earners in the Middle East, said Pia de Lima, spokeswoman tives abroad, as 1.7 million of the storm and salvaged after the flood saw in 2009 when two typhoons sent around $1,000 twice a month Singapore, I don’t think they have for Western Union in Asia-Pacific, Filipino diaspora hail from the waters receded. inundated large parts of the main since the typhoon struck to help that tremendous flexibility to aug- which cancelled transaction fees stricken region. The Philippines, along with island of Luzon. her parents repair their home and ment their remittances.” for three weeks after the typhoon Retanal is jobless and, with a Mexico, is the world’s third Analysts do not expect the replace essential items. REUTERS

Drug recalled President retains energy by China not Three drug cartel members held FDA-registered minister despite resignation MANILA: Philippine anti- Senior Superintendent Bartolome It was not clear why the drug police said yesterday Tobias, head of a drugs task force. Mexican cartel would have MANILA: The hepatitis B MANILA: Philippine President failing to meet his target in sev- they had arrested three people “We have previously had entered the Philippines. The vaccine recalled by Chinese Benigno Aquino yesterday eral towns. connected to Mexico’s feared reports that the Mexicans are national police chief, Director- health authorities is not reg- refused to accept the resigna- But Aquino said experts had Sinaloa drug cartel while they here and... this is the first time General Alan Purisima, said the istered with the Food and tion of his energy minister after previously estimated that it would were storing narcotics. we have confirmed that indeed, country’s strategic location and Drug Administration (FDA), he failed to restore power fully take as long as six months fully to The two Filipinos and one the Mexicans are already here,” the difficulty of guarding the the Department of Health to areas devastated by Super restore power to the towns dev- Filipino-Chinese were arrested he told reporters. Tobias did not archipelago’s maritime borders (DOH) said yesterday. Typhoon Haiyan. astated by Haiyan on November in a raid on Wednesday on a say how they knew the Sinaloa made it easy to infiltrate. “We are monitoring this but Aquino told Energy Secretary 8, said Lacierda. cock-fighting farm in Lipa City, cartel was involved. “It is part of our investigation as far as the DOH is concerned, Jericho Petilla that he would be “The president noted that for- 75 kilometres (47 miles) south of He said a Filipino-American how the cartel was able to pen- we are not using that vaccine in retaining him, citing his “excel- eign observers who have seen Manila, after weeks of intelligence named Gary Torres and two etrate our country. We are still in our immunisation programme,” lent performance,” despite work being done... in comparison operations by local and US anti- Mexicans known as “Jaime” and the process of determining what DOH Assistant Secretary Eric Petilla’s previous offer to resign, to disasters of lesser magnitude narcotics personnel. “Joey” were being sought in con- is the history behind the arrest of Tayag said. Tayag said the said presidential spokesman in other countries, pointed out Seized in the raid were 84 nection with the seized drugs. these people,” Purisima said. He DOH acquires its vaccine sup- Edwin Lacierda. that repair and rehabilitation of kilogrammes (185 pounds) of President Benigno Aquino’s said Chinese drug syndicates may plies from the United Nations Petilla had previously said he energy infrastructure was done methamphetamine hydrochlo- spokesman Herminio Coloma be colluding with the Mexicans. Children’s Fund. would step down if he did not faster,” Lacierda added. ride, popularly known as “ice” or said the government would act A spokesman for the Philippine Chinese health authorities restore power to towns flattened The typhoon, one of the strong- “shabu”, as well as two firearms, promptly against the cartel. Drug Enforcement Agency, have ordered the recall of the by Super Typhoon Haiyan by est to ever hit land, left almost said police officials. “Of course, the government will Derrick Carreon, said the entry hepatitis vaccine following the Christmas Eve. 8,000 dead or missing in one of However the actual mem- seek to arrest these lawbreakers, of the Mexican cartel was based death of several infants immu- On Wednesday he told Lacierda the worst natural disasters in bers of the Mexican cartel were stop their crimes, and protect the on “intelligence reports” but did nized with it. The victims were he would file his resignation after Philippine history. AFP not there during the raid, said citizenry,” he told reporters. not elaborate. AFP residents of Guangdong, Hunan and Sichuan. Nine fishermen Kidnappers of 2 Firecracker injuries on slain in attack ZAMBOANGA CITY: Nine Europeans held fishermen were reported rise ahead of New Year killed in an attack by uniden- ZAMBOANGA CITY: A mem- tified gunmen in the waters ber of the rogue group Abu MANILA: Five days ahead of (but) I think a more informed off Zamboanga Sibugay Sayyaf, who is believed to be the New Year, the number of public is what we really need. on Tuesday, police said involved in the kidnapping of two firecracker injuries recorded There is too much freedom yesterday. European bird watchers, was by the Department of Health in the country and there are Authorities learned of the arrested by police on Wednesday, (DOH) has increased to 72, also many children playing attack from the two alleged an official said yesterday. with piccolo as the leading around,” he said. survivors who were brought to Police identified the suspect as cause of injury. Ona underscored the need the Zamboanga City Medical Haik Asgali alias Abu Aswad, 30, Health Secretary Enrique for a law that will make par- Center for treatment, said a nephew of Abu Sayyaf leader Ona said 37 of the 72 cases ents responsible for their chil- Senior Inspector Noel Lozano, Radullan Sahiron. Asgali was reported were caused by pic- dren playing with firecrackers. commander of the Police arrested following a raid in a village colo, an imported firecracker. Based on the DOH’s Iwas Station 3 in Barangay Sangali. in Jolo town, Sulu province at 10am Ona has given parents the Paputok Injury Registry, 66 of Lozano identified the sur- on Wednesday. Asgali was involved task of ensuring that their the firecracker cases sustained vivors as Muksin and Loli in the kidnapping of Elwold children will not use any type blast injuries not requiring Ambasal, who told investiga- Horn from the Netherlands of firecracker. amputation, while seven were tors they played dead as the and Lorenzo Vinceguerra from “It has always been the eye injuries. There was no new gunmen opened fire at them. Switzerland last February 1. responsibility of the police to case of fireworks ingestion. THE PHILIPPINE STAR be on the lookout for piccolo... THE PHILIPPINE STAR Worker robbed, killed in Makati New Year’s belief MANILA: A female employee of a pawnshop was shot dead as she resisted two motorcycle-riding robbers yesterday morning in Makati City. Reports reaching the Southern Police District iden- tified the victim as Racquel Ricafrenete, 21, a floating appraiser of the Tambunting Pawnshop located at Einhoven St in Barangay Palanan. According to reports, Ricafrente was walking along Dian St at about 11am on her way to the BPI branch on the same street when the suspects cut her off at the corner of Calatagan St. Police said Ricafrente was about to deposit an undeter- mined amount of cash con- tained in a black bag. A worker arranges watermelons at a market in Manila yesterday. Filipinos believe that displaying 12 AGENCIES different round-shaped fruits at home before New Year’s Day will bring in prosperity. FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Aizaz chosen as Pakistan to foreign secretary ISLAMABAD: The change of guard of the Foreign Office will take place today as Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry will assume the Foreign Secretary’s office raise drone immediately after the inaugu- ration of the new block of the Foreign Office adjacent to the existing building of the min- istry on Constitution Avenue here. Prime Minister Nawaz issue at UN Sharif will perform the inau- guration of the new block of the Foreign Office in a simple Ties with US strained by attacks ceremony where heads of for- eign missions and some senior ISLAMABAD: Pakistan yes- district of North Waziristan, diplomats have been invited. terday said it would raise the which borders Afghanistan. The outgoing Foreign issue of US drone strikes inside Pakistan’s foreign ministry con- Secretary Syed Jalil Abbas Jailani its territory at the United demned the fresh attack, terming who initiated the construction Nations Human Rights Council. it a violation of Pakistan’s sover- work for the new block of the “We will go to the United eignty and territorial integrity. Foreign Office will act as the Nations Human Rights Council Ties between the US and master of ceremonies during his (UNHRC) in Geneva if the drone Pakistan have been seriously last hours as Foreign Secretary. strikes continue” Tasneem Aslam, strained over US drone strikes He will be leaving for Washington the spokeswoman for the ministry in Pakistan’s tribal belt as well the same evening to assume of foreign affairs said in a weekly as over sanctuaries for Afghan charge as Pakistan’s Ambassador news conference. Taliban insurgents inside its bor- for the United States. The UN General Assembly ders. But human rights groups Highly placed diplomatic passed a resolution on December and Pakistani politicians say the People burn a mock US flag during a protest against a drone attack in North Waziristran tribal agency, in Multan, sources in the Foreign Office 18 2013 calling on states using missile attacks have killed inno- Pakistan. At least four suspected militants were killed yesterday. said that Aizaz Chaudhry being drone strikes as a counter-ter- cent civilians and are a breach of the new Foreign Secretary would rorism measure to comply with sovereignty. brief the prime minister about their obligations under interna- President Barack Obama has searched trucks in northwest truck drivers. Last month a US sources said killed the Haqqanis’ the salient features of Pakistan’s tional law and the UN Charter. defended the drone strikes as an Pakistan in a campaign to disrupt drone attack on a seminary linked spiritual leader along with five ties with the world capitals and But in the latest US missile effective, lawful tool used with Nato supply routes through the to the feared Haqqani militant others, was extremely unusual as he will seek guidance from the strike after the UN resolution, at restraint to target suspected Al Torkham gate border crossing. network in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa it was mounted outside Pakistan’s prime minister pertaining to the least three people were killed late Qaeda militants. The club-wielding protesters province in the northwest killed lawless tribal areas on the Afghan working of the Foreign Office, on Wednesday night in Miranshah In recent weeks, activists have prompted US officials to at least six people. border. since Sharif is also holding the in Pakistan’s northwestern tribal opposed to the drone raids forcibly halt the shipments to protect the The attack, which militant AFP portfolio of Foreign Affairs. INTERNEWS Pakistan, India to resume peace talks Panel to ensure uniform ISLAMABAD: Signifying ministers’ talks, as Prime said. The third round of peace to discuss the prospects of peace curriculum in all provinces a gradual thaw in relations, Minister Nawaz Sharif would process was originally scheduled talks. Pakistan and India are inch- announce new measures seeking to kick-start in January this year Earlier, Prime Minister Nawaz ISLAMABAD: The govern- and it would be headed on a rotat- ing closer to the resumption of improved trade and economic ties but talks could not take place due sent a letter through his special ment of Pakistan has decided ing basis. Rehman had said in a stalled peace talks following the with New Delhi. to clashes on the LoC. assistant to his Indian counter- to set up a National Curriculum recent session of the National ‘successful’ meeting of top mili- “The meeting of DGMOs will New Delhi was also reluctant part seeking early restoration of Commission (NCC) to ensure Assembly that the provinces tary officials from the two coun- certainly help ease tensions,” to resume the composite dia- composite dialogue. Nawaz said his that the provinces follow a uni- would be producing students of tries this week. said another official speaking on logue due to what it claimed ‘slow government was willing to go ‘extra form course of study in schools different standards because of dif- Billed as baby steps, the two condition of anonymity. During progress’ to prosecute perpetra- mile’ to improve ties with India. and colleges. ferences in their curriculum. neighbours are holding discus- Tuesday’s historic meeting, the tors of November 2008 Mumbai The partition of the Punjab and The Minister of State for In the letter, he said that he sions to arrange a meeting of DGMOs agreed to take steps to attacks. Bengal provinces led to communal Education, Training and wanted a forum where experts their commerce ministers next prevent ceasefire violations across Commenting on the develop- riots across India and Pakistan; Standards in Higher Education, from all over the country could month in New Delhi. the Line of Control (LoC) that ment, a foreign office official millions of Muslims moved to Muhammad Balighur Rehman, produce a uniform curriculum for A foreign ministry official separates our two countries. acknowledged that negative fall- Pakistan and millions of Hindus has written a letter to the chief schools and colleges to cater to revealed that commerce min- Despite the chequered history, out of the Mumbai attacks was and Sikhs moved to India. ministers, saying that lack of the national requirements. isters would meet on the side- Pakistan is now hoping that the still haunting the two neighbours. Attacks on Indian military coordination among the pro- According to sources, the prov- lines of a conference of South easing of tensions on the LoC will “But our position is very clear bases by the Pakistan Air Force vincial curriculum development inces are yet to respond to the Asian Association for Regional pave the way for the resumption that the process of dialogue must in December 1971 sparked the departments is creating discrep- proposal. Cooperation (SAARC) in the of composite dialogue. continue,” the official insisted. Indo-Pakistani War of 1971, which ancies in the quality and content Before the 18th Amendment Indian capital on January 15-17. “Our proposal for resump- Meanwhile, it is also learnt that ended with the formal secession of of the courses. enforced in 2010, the federal edu- Officials familiar with the tion of the dialogue is still on the a meeting between the national East Pakistan as the independent He said the proposed NCC cation ministry was responsible development said major decisions table and we expect now a positive security advisers of the two coun- state of Bangladesh. would have members from fed- for curriculum development. were expected in the commerce response from India,” the official tries was likely to take place soon INTERNEWS eral and provincial governments INTERNEWS

Winter aid Worker held by Al Qaeda seeks Obama’s support

ISLAMABAD: A US devel- independently verified. opment worker kidnapped Weinstein was abducted in Pakistan by Al Qaeda in 2011 in the eastern city of two years ago appealed to Lahore where he worked for a President Barack Obama to US consulting company. intervene and help negoti- Pakistan’s tribal areas on its ate his release, in a video border with Afghanistan serve released yesterday. as safe havens for Al Qaeda, In a 13-minute clip issued the Taliban and other militant by Al Qaeda’s media wing and groups, and the Islamabad posted on several news web- government has been under sites, Warren Weinstein, 72, pressure from the United looked gaunt and tired. States to do more to eliminate “I am not in good health. I the insurgency. have a heart condition. I suffer Al Qaeda has attacked civil- from acute asthma... Needless ian and military targets in to say I’ve been suffering deep various countries, including anxiety every part of every the September 11 attacks, 1998 day,” he said. US embassy bombings and the “Mr President, for the 2002 Bali bombings. majority of my adult life, for The US government over 30 years I’ve served my responded to the September country ... Now when I need 11 attacks by launching the my government it seems that War on Terror. With the loss I have been totally abandoned of key leaders, culminating in An Afghan woman receives winter aid from the UN Refugee Agency in and forgotten.” the death of Osama bin Laden, Herat yesterday. The agency is distributing relief to the most vulnerable The video could not be AFP returnees, internally displaced people and others at risk in the cold winter. Punjab pushes for free compulsory education

LAHORE: The provincial working on a plan of action to be said. Khan said the Article 25-A He said the Punjab Education government of Punjab will announced along with the educa- legislation involved several areas Foundation (PEF) and the present a bill on education tion policy. He said the proposed of a child’s development and Punjab Educational Endowment reforms in line with the Article reforms included regulation and cross-departmental input was Fund (PEEF) had been set up 25-A of the Constitution monitoring of private schools in required to look at the issue in to this end. - which gives every child the province and developing a a holistic way. The PEEF has provided between the age of five and 16 monitoring mechanism to ensure “There is no intention to nearly 41,000 scholarships since the right to free and compul- quality education at all schools in delay the legislative process it its inception in 2009. The PEEF, sory education in March 2014, the Punjab. is just a complex issue being established in 2004, is now oper- Education Minister Rana “We are working on a com- dealt with seriously.” The edu- ational in all 36 districts of the Mashood Ahmad Khan said prehensive legislation on educa- cation minister said the gov- Punjab and has over 3,000 part- yesterday. tion reforms instead of taking ernment was already following ner schools. Khan said the government was up piecemeal law-making,” he the provisions of Article 25-A. INTERNEWS FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA AAP prepares Cabinet orders Gujarat snooping probe for general Conspiracy against Modi: BJP elections NEW DELHI: The cabinet Singh, a bitter critic of Modi, yesterday ordered a probe into welcomed the cabinet move: NEW DELHI: The Aam the alleged snooping on a young “Congratulations to central gov- Aadmi Party (AAP) yesterday woman by Gujarat Police in ernment. This should have hap- named two members, Pankaj 2009 at the behest of former pened earlier.” Gupta and Sanjay Singh, as its state home minister Amit Shah, The Congress had earlier team that would look into prep- provoking an angry BJP to dis- alleged that the woman was close arations for the Lok Sabha elec- miss the decision as “politically to Modi and was put under sur- tions next year. motivated”. veillance by Shah in 2009, after “Pankaj Gupta and Sanjay The cabinet decision was Modi suspected he of being close Singh will look into the prepa- welcomed by Congress leaders. to an IAS officer. rations for the Lok Sabha polls. But the Bharatiya Janata Party A group of women activists had They will help in making the par- saw it as an attempt to target approached President Pranab ty’s election manifesto and other its prime ministerial candidate Mukherjee to seek a judicial poll-related issues,” party leader and Gujarat Chief Minister probe into the alleged snooping. Yogendra Yadav told reporters at Narendra Modi. No more a minister in Gujarat, the party office in central Delhi’s The court order prompted BJP whose government has already Hanuman Road. leader Arun Jaitley to claim that ordered a probe into the case, Yadav said the two members the “conspiracy” to implicate Shah is now in-charge of the BJP would comprise a sub-committee Modi had been exposed. in Uttar Pradesh. under the party’s parliamentary “The Congress and its spon- The BJP said yesterday that affairs committee. They will also sored NGOs are unable to fight Modi was the real target of the help party volunteers across the Narendra Modi politically. They investigation into the alleged country in poll preparations. used falsehood in court against snooping. “The centre’s decision AAP issued a form yesterday him but failed,” the BJP leader to institute a fresh commission Bharatiya Janata Party workers celebrate with posters of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi after a court gave for the party’s ticket seekers in tweeted. of inquiry into the alleged snoop- a clean chit to him in the 2002 Gulbarg society case, in Bhopal, yesterday. the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The commission of inquiry ing case is an attempt to tarnish “The party will accept the forms approved by the cabinet will look the image of the Gujarat govern- of those who are not involved into the “physical/electronic sur- ment,” BJP president Rajnath in any criminal case and whose veillance” in Gujarat, Himachal Singh said. Court upholds SIT closure report image is honest,” Yadav said. Pradesh and Delhi “allegedly Added BJP spokesperson The form has 15 separate points without authorisation”, an official Nirmala Sitharaman: “The AHMEDABAD: In a major was among the 69 people killed it could not find any prosecuta- in which the candidate will not statement said. Congress is trying to hit at the relief for Gujarat Chief Minister in the Gulbarg Society massacre ble evidence against the accused only have to give his personal A retired Supreme Court principal opposition party’s prime Narendra Modi, a local court here on February 28, 2002 during regarding their involvement in details, he will also have to give judge could head the inquiry and ministerial candidate. It is a clear yesterday dismissed a petition by the bloody riots in the wake of the the alleged larger riots conspiracy. the details of his family back- may be asked to submit a report case of political vindictiveness a killed Congress leader’s widow, Godhra train incident. The SIT declined to consider ground. “The important thing in three months, said govern- coming into play.” challenging the SIT’s closure In her petition, Jafri had Indian Police Service officers R about the form is that the candi- ment sources. Jaitley called the cabinet deci- report giving a clean chit to him alleged that the SIT had shielded B Sreekumar, Sanjiv Bhatt and date will have to submit the form The snooping issue came into sion “a step against the federal and 58 others in a case relating Modi and others by discarding Rahul Sharma as witnesses or with the signature of 100 people focus after two investigative structure of our constitution. I am to the 2002 communal riots. the statements of police officers treat their statements as evidence from each of the assembly seg- news portals — Cobrapost and sure it will be legally challenged Expressing disappointment and other available evidence. She on grounds that these were “hear- ments falling in that parliamen- Gulail — claimed last month that in courts”. over the ruling by Metropolitan further accused the SIT of hav- say evidence”. tary constituency,” Yadav said. Shah ordered the illegal surveil- Law and Communications Magistrate B J Ganatra, Zakia ing done incomplete and frivolous In 2006, Jafri had sought to The form, both in Hindi and lance of a woman at the behest Minister Kapil Sibal mocked Jafri and her supporters, includ- investigations and playing the role lodge a complaint about the alleged English, will be available on the of a “saheb” — widely believed at him. “Ironically, those who ing activist Teesta Setalvad, said of a court by adjudging the truth larger conspiratorial role of Modi AAP website. Yadav said the to be Modi. wanted immediate action against they would challenge it before a about the available evidence. and 62 others during the 2002 riots. party has started preparations for Recently, Gulail.com released a individuals allegedly accessing higher court. Before closing the matter, the After the Gujarat Police failed to general elections in every state. set of 39 new tapes, purportedly of their call detail records CDRs The petition challenging SIT had said there was not suf- register her complaint, she peti- “AAP has its local units in a telephonic conversations which, it are opposing the snoopgate the Supreme Court-appointed ficient evidence to prosecute Modi tioned the Gujarat High Court total of 309 districts of the country said, showed that the alleged ille- actions,” Sibal tweeted, referring Special Investigation Team’s and the incident alleged (the which directed her to a magiste- — including Assam, Karnataka, gal surveillance of the architect to a case when Jaitley’s phone closure report, was filed by Gulbarg massacre) was beyond rial court. However, she decided to West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, occurred even beyond Gujarat. was allegedly tapped. Jafri, the widow of slain former the ambit of its probe. The inves- move the Supreme Court. Kerala, Odisha, Maharashtra and Congress leader Digvijaya IANS Congress MP Ehsan Jafri who tigating agency further said that IANS Gujarat. All the party units have become ready for the general elec- tions,” Yadav said. Meanwhile, Alka Lamba, a Tsunami anniversary former national president of the Congress student wing, quit the All 35 crew arrested Congress to end a 20-year asso- ciation and sought admission in the AAP. The 38-year-old Lamba went over to the office of the AAP, from US ship get bail which will form a government in Delhi tomorrow, and sought its CHENNAI: A court in Tamil papers presented by them did not membership. Nadu’s Tuticorin city yester- support their verbal statements. IANS day granted bail to all 35 crew According to the Coast Guard, members arrested from US ship eight of the crew members are Seaman Guard Ohio after rifles Indians and two Ukrainians. Five killed in and bullets were found onboard On October 18, Tamil Nadu the vessel, an advocate said. Police formally arrested 33 crew Jalpaiguri blast “Police had to file a chargesheet members and security personnel, within 60 days of their arrest. But and a court sent all of them to 14 SILIGURI: Five people were they did not do that and hence the days’ judicial custody. Police also killed and four injured when court granted bail to the ship’s seized 35 weapons and 5,680 rounds suspected Kamtapur Liberation crew,” Joseph Jawahar, advocate of ammunition from the vessel. Organisation (KLO) mili- for the crew, said from Tuticoin. Two crew members were left tants triggered a bomb blast in The ship is owned by American on the vessel for its upkeep and Jalpaiguri district of northern company AdvanFort. Sailing under maintenance till the shipping West Bengal yesterday evening, West African country Sierra company made alternate arrange- police said. Leone’s flag, the Seaman Guard ments. However, they too were “Five people have been killed. Ohio was in Indian waters on the arrested and sent to judicial cus- Some others are injured. Our night of Oct 11, around 15 nautical tody on October 19. reading is that the blast was Ellammal, 54, who lost her husband and two sons in the 2004 tsunami, cries during a prayer ceremony for miles from Tuticorin port. Of the 25 security guards who caused by an Improvised Explosive the victims of the tsunami on the ninth anniversary of the disaster, at Marina beach in Chennai yesterday. The Coast Guard escorted the were arrested, six are British, Device (IED) kept in a cycle,” said ship with 35 people — 10 crew and 14 Estonians, one Ukrainian Inspector General of Police, North 25 security guards — to Tuticorin and four Indians. According to a Bengal, Sashikant Pujari. port on October 12. website that tracks marine traffic, The four injured people were Officials from various security the last known port of call for the admitted in Jalpaiguri District departments questioned the ship’s Seaman Guard Ohio was Sharjah. Hospital. The blast occurred Mamata inducts two ministers, personnel after automatic rifles, The ship’s owner, AdvanFort, around 7pm in Bajrapara area. bullets and other arms were found which specialises in providing “We suspect KLO militants are onboard the vessel. maritime security against pirates, behind the blast. Recently some of A marine police official said claimed the ship entered Indian their activists have been arrested. clips wings of Chatterjee security guards on the ship main- waters to escape the fury of The blast could be a retaliatory tained that the arms were for Cyclone Phailin. However, cyclone- action on their part,” said Pujari. KOLKATA: Days after pulling for “non-performance”. Sashi Chatterjee losing the industry providing security to the ship. hit states Odisha and Andhra The blast took place two days up “non-performing” ministers, Panja, legislator from Kolkata’s portfolio to Mitra, a former sec- The official said earlier that the Pradesh are far off from Tuticorin ahead of December 28, the foun- West Bengal Chief Minister Shyampukur, was sworn-in by retary general of industry lobby crew members were giving con- where the ship was detected. dation day of KLO, which came Mamata Banerjee yesterday Governor M K Narayanan as FICCI. tradictory statements. Also, the IANS up in 1996. IANS took away the cream indus- minister with independent charge Banerjee was apparently cut tries and commerce portfolios and allotted the women and child up with the affairs in the indus- from Partha Chatterjee — con- welfare portfolio, so long held by try department over its failure sidered the number two in the Sabitri Mitra — another minister to utilise the funds allotted, rope cabinet so far — and handed it who failed to satisfy Banerjee. in investment and ensure speedy to Finance Minister and former Mitra is now left with only clearance of pending projects. Transport, cooking gas prices hiked corporate lobbyist Amit Mitra. social welfare portfolio. Panja was The chief minister is now seem- Chatterjee, Trinamool Congress working as parliamentary secre- ingly pinning hopes on Mitra’s abil- secretary general, will now be left tary till now. Minister of State for ity to use his contacts to draw the NEW DELHI: Prices of compressed natural gas Rs29.50 per standard cubic metre of consumption up with parliamentary affairs, IT and Cottage and Small Scale Industry much-needed big ticket investment (CNG) used in automobiles and piped cooking gas to 30 scm in two months. For consumption above 30 electronics departments. Swapan Debnath was promoted in the state. However, speaking will go up by nearly 10 percent from midnight, scm in 60 days price will be hiked to Rs52 per scm The ministerial reshuffle, which as a minister with independent to media after the swearing-in, making travel and other related services costlier. from the existing price of Rs45.24 per scm. saw two new faces inducted, comes charge. He would continue to hold Banerjee attributed the change of CNG, used by almost all the public transport In Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad, the price nearly a week after Banerjee in a the same charge, besides animal portfolios to Chatterjee’s “inability vehicles and also widely used by other commercial the revised price of PNG will be Rs31 per scm for closed-door meeting, expressed husbandry that was snatched to devote time as he had too many and private vehicles in the national capital, will cost consumption up to 30 scm in 60 days and for con- deep anguish over the poor per- from another “poor performer” responsibilities”. Rs4.50 a kg or nearly 10 percent more in Delhi. sumption beyond 30 scm, the new price will be Rs54 formance of several of her minis- Noor Alam Chowdhury. The lat- “Partha Chatterjee has too The price of CNG will be hiked to Rs50.10 per per scm. “There has been a reduction in allocation of ters and bureaucrats. ter has been shifted to planning. many ministries and can’t give kg in the national capital from Rs45.60 per kg. In APM gas to us, which is forcing us to source more Binay Krishna Burman, a law- The reshuffle — the most enough time. He is too much bur- Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad region, the quantity of market priced imported R-LNG, whose maker from Mathabhanga in north extensive since Banerjee took over dened. He even has to spend time revised price of CNG will be Rs56.70 per kg. The prices are currently on an upswing,” IGL said. Bengal’s Cooch Behar district, is in 2011 — is being seen as part of with me, as he has the responsi- difference is because of the state taxes, according to “This has affected our overall input cost by over the new forest minister, replacing her efforts to speed up the gov- bility of the group of ministers. a statement released by Indraprastha Gas Ltd (IGL). 13 per cent. There has also been an increase in the Hiten Burman, who stepped down ernment’s functioning and deliver Being the general secretary, he Piped cooking gas, called PNG, supplied to kitch- operating expenses including increase in minimum citing health issues and illness. results ahead of next year’s Lok has to devote time for the party ens will also become costlier by nearly 10 percent wages announced by the government with effect However, political circles feel Sabha polls. But the change that as well,” said Banerjee, flanked by in Delhi as well as in Noida, Ghaziabad and Greater from October 2013,” it said. Hiten Burman got the stick caught the most attention is Chatterjee and Mitra. IANS Noida. For Delhi households, PNG will now cost IANS FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Yuan souvenir coins Report: 62pc of Britain ‘to be GCC-listed firms miss analysts’ estimates Europe’s top DOHA: More than half of the GCC listed companies’ results in the third quarter of 2013, includ- ing the results of many firms in Qatar, missed analysts’ esti- economy’ mates. Most of the ‘consumer’ companies reported lower than expected earnings. Telecom companies, including Ooredoo, Germany predicted in second position also missed estimates as a result of higher than expected foreign LONDON: A rising population, predictions needed to be treated exchange losses. a low-tax regime and insulation with caution, especially in light of On the other hand, 15 out of from the worst of the eurozone’s the unpredictable fluctuations in 31 banks reported higher than problems leave Britain on course currencies. expected profits. A snapshot chart to overtake Germany as Europe’s But the CEBR said its model of GCC Equities prepared by biggest economy within the next showed China overtaking the US A resident displays newly-issued one Chinese yuan souvenir coins, to commemorate the Year of the Horse, Investment Bank SICO revealed two decades, according to a study to become the world’s biggest as people queue to exchange the coins outside a Bank of China branch in Neijiang, Sichuan province. A total yesterday an estimated 62 percent released yesterday. economy by 2028, by which time of 100 million souvenir coins were made available to the public for exchange in China, as a celebration for of GCC-listed companies missed The annual world economic both will be five times as big as analyst estimates in 3Q13 and the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year which starts on January 31, 2014. league tables from the Centre for India, in third place. actual profits were $697m below Economic and Business Research For some years, economists estimates with only Omani and (CEBR) predicts that Germany have been trying to assess when UAE companies beating fore- will have a smaller economy than China will overtake the US. The casts. Reported 3Q13 net profits the UK by about 2030. CEBR said it would take longer of Saudi firms missed analyst Although strong growth by than some analysts have sug- QE index falls on profit booking expectations by SR614m. emerging economies such as gested due to the continuing per- SICO covered 124 companies India, Brazil and Russia mean formance of the US as the west’s including 14 listed on Qatar that the UK will slip down the strongest economy and the slow- Exchange (QE). The report noted global rankings over the next two ing down of the Chinese economy. by local retail investors QNB reported QR159m lower- decades, the CEBR said it would India is expected to overtake than expected net income in 3Q13. be the second most successful Japan as the world’s third biggest DOHA: Qatar Exchange (QE) shed 3.42 percent, real estate and accounting for 25.49 percent of Also Commercial Bank of Qatar’s western economy after the US. economy within 15 years, with index edged low last week on insurance sectors fell 1.75 percent the total, followed by real estate (CBQ) net income fell 49 percent “Positive demographics with Brazil fifth and Germany only just profit taking by local retail inves- and 1.29 percent respectively. sector and industrial sectors. YoY. Ooredoo missed estimates by continuing immigration [and] ahead of the UK in sixth by 2028. tors. The benchmark index shed Overall the trading activity The industrial sector led the a significant margin as a result of rather less exposure to the prob- The CEBR said “Abenomics” 77.42 points or 0.74 percent last improved last week, both in terms trading number of transactions higher than expected FX losses. lems of the eurozone than other — the anti-deflation strategy week to close at 10,391.17 points. of value and volume. Trading accounting for 30.45 percent of Profits of GCC listed compa- European economies combine with named after Japan’s prime min- The market, that opened low value increased by 108.95 percent the total. Qatar Investors Group nies increased by 6 percent YoY to relatively low taxes by European ister Shinzo Abe — would lead to after the four-day holidays, to reach QR1.97bn compared to led trading value accounting for reach $14.5bn. Double digit profit standards to encourage faster a weak yen for the foreseeable firmed up in the following trading the previous week’s QR944m. 16.4 percent of the total followed growth YoY was witnessed in UAE, growth than in most western econ- future which would affect the sessions before it dipped again as Trading volume increased by by Masraf Al Rayan and Barwa and Oman whereas Qatar and omies,” the report said. “Issues for dollar value of its national output. the local individual investors took 131.17 percent to reach 58 mil- Real Estate. Of the total 42 listed Kuwait had a YoY decline in net the UK include the need to further The CEBR said: “Theoretically their heart to offload stocks after lion shares, as against 25 mil- companies, nine ended higher profits. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain reorient its exports to the faster Germany should continue to per- Messaieed Petrochemical Holding lion shares, while the number of last week, while 31 fell and two saw modest profit growth. growing markets, an unresolved form well in future years. However, Company’s (MPHC) announce- transactions rose by 115.67 per- remained unchanged. GCC listed banks’ profits relationship with the rest of the on the assumption that the euro ment to offer 323.19m shares cent to reach 29,478 last week Yesterday, the bourse lost 0.68 increased by 3 percent YoY dur- EU and the possibility of breakup does not break up, a combination of through IPO . compared to 13,668 transactions percent or 71.37 points to close ing the period. QNB reported – highlighted by the referen- weak European economic growth, a The market capitalisation the previous week. at 10,391.17. While five sector strong double digit profit growth. dum on Scottish independence in depreciating currency, the require- declined by 0.79 percent or nearly The industrial sector led trad- indices dropped, two advanced Real estate, telecom, engineering September 2014.” ment to bail out ailing economies QR5bn last week compared to the ing value last week, accounting marginally. The banking sec- & construction, transportation The CEBR said it used fore- in the rest of the eurozone and previous week to reach QR554bn. for 32.38 percent, followed by tor which lost 0.39 percent, was utilities, consumer and other casts for growth, inflation and increasingly adverse population All the sectors entered in neg- the banking and financial serv- mainly dragged down by Masraf financial sectors reported double currency values to compile league trends mean that in this forecast ative territory last week, except ices sector, real estate sector and Al Rayan. The real estate index digit YoY profit growth in 3Q13. tables of the size of economies Germany eventually slips down the the industrials. The banking and consumer goods and services. was down by 0.99 percent, UDC In 3Q13, the region’s utilities measured in US dollars in 2013, league table. financial sector dropped 1.37 per- The banking and financial serv- losing the most. sector reported earnings growth 2018, 2023 and 2028. It said the THE GUARDIAN cent. While Transportation sector ices sector led trading volume THE PENINSULA of 15 percent YoY led by a 22 per- cent increase in Qatar Electricity & Water profits. Eight out of 10 best perform- US consumers shop less ing stocks were those that beat 3Q13 analyst estimates. And 90 Turkish lira dips to new low percent of the top 10 losers dur- ing the past three months were ISTANBUL: Turkey’s lira fell and foreign investors have gen- those that did not meet investors’’ to consecutive all-time lows erally seen Erdogan as a known expectations for 3Q13 profits. against the dollar yesterday, quantity who has supported a THE PENINSULA hit by a corruption scandal that decade of growth and broadly has spiralled into a crisis for the liberal economic policy. ruling elite and the judiciary. The lira is particularly vulner- Target faces The lira tanked to 2.1410 per able because Turkey is among the dollar, weakening from 2.0850 late countries most exposed to the US almost two on Wednesday. Stocks and gov- Federal Reserve’s decision this ernment bonds also fell, extending month to stem a flood of dollars, dozen lawsuits losses after a public prosecutor reversing an investor rush into working on the graft probe said emerging stocks and bonds. NEW YORK: Target, the sec- the judiciary was subject to ‘open On Tuesday, the central bank ond-largest US discount chain, pressure’ in an unusally outspo- said it was increasing the scale faces almost two dozen lawsuits ken statement. The lira stood at of the regular hard currency filed by customers after a com- 2.1270 by 1633 GMT. auctions it runs in support of the puter security breach exposed A corruption investigation has lira, signalling sales worth at least data on 40 million debit and widened to include the sons of three $6bn by the end of January. credit cards. of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Turkey has seen explosive Customers have filed com- Erdogan’s ministers and prompted consumption-led growth under plaints seeking group, or class- him to sack half of his cabinet, Erdogan, with per capita wealth action, status for their suits in A girl looks up at a toy sales display in a JC Penney store in New York. US consumers shopped less on the appointing loyalists in an attempt almost tripling in nominal terms state and federal courts from final weekend before Christmas despite deeper discounts, the latest sign of how difficult a season this is to tighten his grip over the executive. over the past decade. the company’s home state of turning out to be for retailers. The local financial community REUTERS Minnesota to California and New York. Most accuse Target of failing to protect their private information. The information obtained dur- ing the breach “is a treasure trove for identity theft criminals Libya’s Misrata port handles record container unloading who could use it to gain access to credit card and other private MISRATA, LIBYA: Container unload- unloaded 208,339 twenty-foot equivalent 55 to 60 percent of the cargo in Libyan the resignation of the prime minister. and valuable information about ing at Libya’s Misrata port has hit record units (TEUs) of containers, up from 159,634 ports, and he said the harbour’s quays were Analysts say that apart from better secu- customers,” one of the plain- levels this year and the major shipping last year, said Mohammed El-Swayah, mar- currently being expanded. Other large non- rity, Misrata port benefits from a free trade tiffs, Alfonso E. Alonso III of San gateway is expanding, a local official said, keting and cooperation manager at the oil ports in Libya are Tripoli, Khoms and zone offering special benefits for investors Francisco, said in a complaint. in a rare success story in the troubled Misrata Free Zone Co, part of the port. Benghazi. such as exemptions from taxes and duties. Target said on December 19 North African country. “This is a record figure,” he told Reuters. The growth of business at Misrata con- Swayah said 18 companies had invested in that security for the cards may Libya’s third-biggest city, some 200km Misrata was benefiting from its geographic trasts sharply with the fate of the country’s the local free trade zone. “We have requests have been breached between east of the capital Tripoli, has benefited position in central Libya, stability and a long oil ports. Libya relies on oil for government from 50 other firms which are being studied,” November 27 and December 15 from better security conditions than other tradition as Mediterranean trade center. revenues, but militias and tribesmen have he said during a visit to the free trade zone, during purchases in stores. While parts of the Opec producer, which has been “Many traders from Tripoli use Misrata often seized the major oil ports and fields, which is also being expanded. the chain said it had identified hit by turmoil since the 2011 toppling of port,” he said, adding that the port city also slashing the country’s crude exports to Many foreign firms who used to be and resolved the issue, the com- Muammar Gaddafi. had an expansion plan to become a transit around 110,000 barrels a day from a poten- active in Libya before the uprising have promise occurred during the most Misrata saw some of the worst fight- point for goods arriving from abroad and tial 1m b/d or more. been reluctant to return due to the volatile important period of the year for ing during the Nato-backed uprising. But continuing on to sub-Saharan countries. The militias helped oust Gaddafi, but security situation. But Swayah said both retailers, with shoppers already it now rarely sees the kind of clashes of In 2010, the year before the violent upris- they have kept their weapons to press for foreign and local firms were now consider- showing reluctance to spend. In a armed groups that occur regularly in the ing brought economic activity in Libya to a political and financial demands, and the ing investing there, although he declined to statement, Target said it’s unveil- eastern port city of Benghazi and some- standstill, Misrata unloaded 130,779 TEUs, government has struggled to rein them in. name any of them. “Since the revolution ing a special website for to com- times in Tripoli. he said. On Thursday, armed militiamen blocked we’ve had requests (to invest) from Italian municate with customers. This year, Misrata’s non-oil port has Swayah said Misrata has been handling the port entrance at Tripoli and demanded and other firms,” he said. REUTERS WP-BLOOMBERG FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Brent slips on Japanese carmakers see best November sales refinery woes, petrol gains US oil prices rise in choppy trade

NEW YORK: Brent oil fell stockpiles fell, indicating demand yesterday as French workers for oil products, a report from extended a strike at two refin- industry group the American eries, which limited demand, Petroleum Institute said late on while US oil prices rose in Tuesday. choppy trade, underpinned by positive US jobs data. EYES ON EIA REPORT US petrol and ultra low-sulfur Traders will next look to the US diesel (ULSD) futures prices at government’s Energy Information months-long highs also supported Administration report to gauge US crude oil prices. supply and demand. The data is Supply disruptions in Africa lim- due on December 27 at 11am EST, ited losses in Brent while an unex- delayed from its usual Wednesday pected rise in US crude stockpiles release by the Christmas holiday. capped gains in US benchmark US crude also drew sup- West Texas Intermediate. port from jobs data showing the Workers check paints and bodies of the new model of Toyota Motor’s best selling car ‘Corolla’ at a plant of the company’s subsidiary Central Motor “A lot of oil is being produced number of Americans filing new at Ohira village in Miyagi prefecture, northern Japan. Japanese carmakers saw their best November sales ever last month in stark contrast to a and put into storage and I think claims for unemployment benefits year ago when shipments plunged amid a deep territorial row between Tokyo and Beijing. that will limit gains,” said Gene fell last week to the lowest level in McGillian, analyst with Tradition nearly a month, a hopeful sign for Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. the labour market in the world’s Brent crude was down 15 cents top oil consumer. at $111.75 a barrel at 10:43am In Europe, workers extended EST (1543 GMT) after touching a strike over pay at two French an intra-day high of $112.12, the refineries, while lifting action Unemployment rate rises in France highest since December 5. at a third plant. A majority of US crude was up 9 cents at workers at the 247,000 barrel- PARIS: France’s number of reg- A slight fall in the number with no employment whatso- centre-right UMP party accused $99.31. Both markets were shut per-day Gonfreville refinery, istered job-seekers rose by 17,800 of unemployed for October, of ever had been rising by 30,000 Hollande of playing with figures to for Christmas on Wednesday. Total’s largest in France, and at in November to 3.29 million, the 20,500, had raised government per month in the first quarter back claims that the fight against the 153,000-bpd La Mede refin- labour ministry said yesterday, hopes France’s years-long jobless of 2013, and that the figure had unemployment was on track. UMP SPREAD STEADIES ery voted to extend their action, challenging government claims crisis may be finally drawing to fallen steadily during the year. president Jean-Francois Cope said The spread between the two union officials said. to have bucked a trend of spiral- an end. “This movement, to be significant, Hollande must admit “his fail- benchmarks has steadied around The strikes, in addition to poor ling unemployment. The Socialist leader, who is must follow month after month,” ure and immediately announce a $12.50 per barrel for the last four refinery margins, have weighed Labour Minister Michel Sapin under fierce pressure to tackle he said. “It’s a daily battle.” change of economic policy.” sessions in thin holiday trade. on European crude demand, say claimed President Francois unemployment with polls showing “A lasting decline in unemploy- He said Hollande could not It was last trading at $12.47 per analysts. Hollande’s pledge to curb growing his approval ratings the lowest of ment is within our reach,” he said, hide “the tough reality that the barrel. Supply outages in Africa are joblessness by the year’s end was any president in modern French adding that his government would number of jobless people has never US petrol futures continued also in focus. The government in still on track, if part-time and history, claimed last month he focus on labour reforms, spurring been so high in our country.” to rise, hitting $2.8382 per gal- South Sudan, which is threatened short-term workers were added had met his electoral pledge to investment in industry and other The influential Medef, the larg- lon, their highest peak since by civil war, has shut 45,000 b/d of to the total number of job-seekers. halt the rise in joblessness by the measures to create more jobs. est employers’ union in France, September 9, before easing to production, and export terminals That number actually fell by end of this year. On Monday, Hollande said the said structural reforms and trade at $2.8315. ULSD futures remain closed in Libya, where 6,900 to 4.87 million if those work- Hollande’s reaction to the lat- two main challenges for the year higher corporate competitiveness traded to their highest level since output is around a tenth of the ers were factored in, prompting est figures was guarded. He sim- ahead were curbing unemploy- were needed to create more jobs. September 16 at $3.0899 per gal- 1m b/d it pumped in July. Sapin to say that the reversal of ply said the new data “did not ment and kickstarting growth Leading unions rubbished the lon. The contract last traded at Tribal leaders will hold more the upward trend is “well and modify the trend”. Nevertheless, in the eurozone’s second largest government’s claim. The CFDT $3.0845. talks on reopening ports in eastern truly under course in the fourth he asserted that “the reversal of economy. Economists and other said the figures were deceptive While US crude stocks unex- Libya but the government will not quarter.” the unemployment curve, which experts say there is little chance and the CGT said Hollande had pectedly rose by 716,000 barrels negotiate with protesters blocking “The number of jobless will is something I had set out to do, unemployment will stop rising lost his wager to deliver on unem- last week, refineries boosted out- them, the prime minister said. continue to decrease in the com- has truly begun.” without sustained growth. ployment by the end of the year. put and distillate and gasoline REUTERS ing months,” he said. He said the number of those The main opposition AFP

QATARI MARKET Bond Coupon Maturity Currency Mid Price Yield Moodys S&P Gold, silver gain Qatar Govt 5.15% 4/9/2014 USD 101.38 0.25 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 3.125% 1/20/2017 USD 104.88 1.49 % Aa2 AA as traders cover Qatar Govt 6.55% 4/9/2019 USD 119.00 2.67 % Aa2 AA Qatar Govt 5.25% 1/20/2020 USD 112.00 3.07 % Aa2 AA short positions Qatar Govt 4.5% 1/20/2022 USD 106.00 3.63 % Aa2 AA LONDON: Gold gained nearly Qatar Govt 9.75% 6/15/2030 USD 153.00 4.99 % Aa2 AA one percent in thin year-end Qatar Govt 6.4% 1/20/2040 USD 114.25 5.38 % Aa2 AA holiday trade yesterday, but was Qatar Govt 5.75% 1/20/2042 USD 105.25 5.38 % Aa2 AA still set for its biggest annual Qatari Diar 3.5% 7/21/2015 USD 103.88 1.00 % Aa2 AA loss in three decades as inves- Qatari Diar 5% 7/21/2020 USD 109.38 3.39 % Aa2 AA tors switch to rallying equities on optimism about a global eco- Comqat 5% 11/18/2014 USD 103.50 1.18 % A1 A- nomic recovery. Comqat 3.375% 4/11/2017 USD 103.50 2.26 % A1 A- Signs that the US labour mar- QIB 3.856% 10/7/2015 USD 104.13 1.50 % NR NR ket is improving — data showed QNB 3.125% 11/16/2015 USD 103.75 1.11 % Aa3 A+ weekly jobless claims decreased QNB 3.375% 2/22/2017 USD 103.63 2.18 % Aa3 A+ 42,000 to a seasonally adjusted 338,000 last week — propelled the Doha Bank 3.5% 3/14/2017 USD 103.75 2.28 % A2 A- price of more industrial precious Qtel 3.375% 10/14/2016 USD 105.13 1.50 % A2 A metals higher, with spot platinum Qtel 7.875% 6/10/2019 USD 122.75 3.29 % A2 A heading for its biggest daily gain Qtel 4.75% 2/16/2021 USD 105.13 3.92 % A2 A since October 17, up two percent. Qtel 5% 10/19/2025 USD 99.63 5.04 % A2 A Spot gold, flat initially, rose as much as 0.9 percent to a one-week Rasgas 5.5% 9/30/2014 USD 103.38 0.95 % Aa3 A high of $1,215.70 an ounce earlier An investor stands in front of an electronic board showing stock information filled with green figures indicating Rasgas 5.832% 9/30/2016 USD 106.63 3.30 % Aa3 A and was trading up 0.8 percent to falling prices at a brokerage house in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, yesterday. Chinese shares closed down on Rasgas 5.298% 9/30/2020 USD 107.50 4.02 % Aa3 A $1,213.60 by 1519 GMT. US gold worries over liquidity conditions after the central bank declined to inject funds into the money market. SOVEREIGNS futures for February delivery also rose 0.9 percent to $1,214.40. Bond PDA* Maturity Currency Mid Price Yield Moodys S&P Bullion fell to a six-month low Abu Dhabi Govt 5.5% 4/8/2014 USD 101.38 0.56 % Aa2 AA Retailers lead Wall Street higher of $1,185.10 last week after the Abu Dhabi Govt 6.75% 4/8/2019 USD 122.00 2.30 % Aa2 AA Fed said it would begin tapering NEW YORK: Dubai Govt 6.7% 10/5/2015 USD 108.25 1.92 % NR NR its $85 billion in monthly bond US stocks rose but also not much reason to buy Standard & Poor’s 500 Index was purchases next month, before yesterday, putting the Dow on except for that fact that we con- up 8.25 points, or 0.45 percent, at Dubai Govt 4.9% 5/2/2017 USD 106.38 2.89 % NR NR recovering slightly. And traders track for a record closing high tinue to be poised to go higher.” 1,841.57. The Nasdaq Composite Dubai Govt 7.75% 10/5/2020 USD 119.75 4.35 % NR NR betting the metal’s price would for a sixth straight day as retail In a positive sign for economic Index was up 10.74 points, or 0.26 Dubai Govt 6.45% 5/2/2022 USD 111.38 4.78 % NR NR endure further losses were this names rallied following strong growth, initial jobless claims fell percent, at 4,166.16. Qatar Govt 4% 1/20/2015 USD 103.50 0.87 % Aa2 AA week forced to cover their short data about the holiday shopping 42,000 in the latest week, drop- The Dow climbed to an all-time Bahrain Govt 6.273% 11/22/2018 USD 113.13 3.35 % NR BBB positions, analysts said. season. ping to 338,000 — the lowest level intraday high of 16,480.64, while Gold is headed for a near 30 Trading volume was light in in nearly a month. Analysts had the S&P 500 hit a record intraday Bahrain Govt 5.5% 3/31/2020 USD 103.50 4.84 % NR BBB percent slump in 2013, ending a the first full day of trading since expected 345,000 new claims. high of 1,842.26. Energy shares Egypt Govt 5.75% 4/29/2020 USD 96.00 6.53 % Caa1 B- 12-year rally prompted by rock Monday, following an early close Retail stocks stayed in the also climbed. ExxonMobil Corp Morocco Govt 4.5% 10/5/2020 EUR 101.75 4.20 % NR BBB- bottom interest rates and meas- on Tuesday and Wednesday’s spotlight as the holiday shop- shot up 1.8 percent to $100.97 and

*Periodic Distribution Amount ures taken by global central banks Christmas holiday. ping season drew to a close. helped boost the Dow. Chevron IMPORTANT NOTE: to prop up the economy. While the market’s light action Data published by MasterCard Corp, another Dow component, Published by HSBC Bank Middle East Limited, P O Box 57, Doha, Qatar which The decline this year is set to be could amplify trading volatility, Advisors SpendingPulse said rose 1.1 percent to $124.86. is licensed and regulated by Qatar Central Bank and Jersey Financial Services gold’s biggest annual loss since 1981, Wall Street’s recent upward bias sales between November 1 and At the end of Tuesday’s abbre- Commission. Information quoted is from publicly available sources or proprietary while current prices are 37 percent continued, with the Dow on track December 24 rose 2.3 percent, viated trading session, the Dow data and subject to change. HSBC accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising below an all-time high of $1,920.30 for its longest winning streak bucking concerns that the sea- marked its fifth straight record out of the use of all or part of this material. This information is general and does not hit in 2011. Several brokerages such since March. Both the Dow and son had been weak. closing high and the S&P 500 take into account individual circumstances, objectives or needs. The price of bonds can and does fluctuate. The secondary market for bonds may not provide significant as Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas the S&P 500 closed at record The S&P retail index jumped achieved its third record clos- liquidity or may trade based on prevailing market conditions. Past performance is not and Societe General expect gold highs on Tuesday. Retailers lead 0.8 percent. The stock of Urban ing high in a row. The S&P 500 a reliable indicator of future performance. You should consider these matters and prices to drop below $1,150 in 2014. Wall Street higher Outfitters rose 2.8 percent to has soared almost 29 percent consult your financial advisor prior to making any investment decisions. In other precious metals, sil- “I don’t get why we seem to $37.81 and was the S&P 500’s this year, largely due to stimulus ver rose 2.3 percent to $19.94 an have an eternally upward mar- biggest percentage gainer. Online from the US Federal Reserve. The ounce, having earlier touched its ket, but it looks like that’s what retailer Amazon.com Inc gained 1 index is on track for its best year highest level since December 18 we have,” said Kim Forrest, senior percent to $403.12. since 1997. The Dow is up 25.2 at $20.02. The metal is however equity research analyst at Fort The Dow Jones industrial percent in 2013 while the Nasdaq down 36 percent for the year. Pitt Capital Group in Pittsburgh. average was up 118.58 points, or has jumped about 38 percent. REUTERS “There’s no reason to sell stocks, 0.72 percent, at 16,476.13. The REUTERS FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17

Brainwashed by the Who invited you to Bali? BY AGNIESZKA SOBOCINSKA Local farmers bear the brunt of the water the complete disregard for local mores dis- cult of the super-rich deficit, and the rice farming that was once played by those tourists who come to Bali his summer, many of us are head- the island’s economic backbone is fast to party. They have complained about the ing overseas. Australians are the becoming untenable. Rice farming, once the nightclubs, the alcohol and the drugs, and BY PRIMVADA GOPAL world’s largest spenders on inter- backbone of Balianise economy, is becoming have lamented the sordid results – drunks national travel on a per capita untenable. Farmers are also being pushed weaving through late-night traffic, couples ast week, Tory MP Esther McVey, Iain Duncan Smith’s basis. In 2012, one in three of us off the land by skyrocketing property values. having intercourse on the beaches, and alco- deputy, insisted it was “right” that half a million Britons Theaded overseas. Previously quiet parts of the island, such hol-fuelled violence breaking out in clubs be dependent on food banks in “tough times”. Around the After New Zealand, the most popular des- as the villages surrounding Ubud and the and on the streets. Add to this the annual Lsame time, the motor racing heiress Tamara Ecclestone tination is Indonesia, or rather Bali. Close inland lakes, are now being developed for influx of schoolies, when tens of thousands totted up a champagne bill of £30,000 in one evening. A rich to a million Australians will visit Indonesia tourism. of Australian youth descend on the island teenager in Texas has just got away with probation for drunkenly this year, many in the summer holiday peak. Bali has a severe electricity deficit that with the express intent to get drunk and running over and killing four people because his lawyers argued They form the largest single group of over- keeps more than 30 percent of the island disorderly. This apparent contempt for local successfully that he suffered from “affluenza”, which rendered him seas tourists to Bali, accounting for around off the grid – a situation that has led the mores troubles many Balinese. Many pre- unable to handle a car responsibly. What we’ve been realising for 25 percent of foreign arrivals. provincial government to take out a $224m fer to steer clear of Kuta altogether, refer- some time now is that, for all the team sport rhetoric, only two Bali is a relatively small island, but it is loan from the Asian Development Bank in ring to it with characteristic wordplay as sides are really at play in Britain and beyond: Team Super-Rich densely populated – especially as domestic an attempt to improve locals’ access to Kota Untuk Turis Australia – the town for and Team Everyone Else. migrants come from across Indonesia to electricity. Australian tourists. The rich are not merely different: they’ve become a cult which work in the booming tourist economy. Yet Indonesia is a developing nation, which This is telling. Tourism academics have drafts us as members. We are invited to deceive ourselves into the domestic population is dwarfed by the must take out loans to bring its infrastruc- noted that the inequalities of contemporary believing we are playing for the same stakes while worshipping the influx of tourists. ture to the standard demanded by First tourism can replicate those of colonialism. same ideals, a process labelled “aspiration”. Reaching its zenith at Although Balinese society and culture has World tourists. Gross National Income per The Balinese were never consulted when this time of year, our participation in cult rituals – buy, consume, proven resilient in the face of the tourist capita is just above $4,100 per annum, and the Dutch colonial administration began to accumulate beyond need – helps mute our criticism and diffuse onslaught, signs of tension are increasing. by some estimates, more than half the popu- promote the island as a relaxing retreat, and anger at systemic exploitation. As hosts, locals don’t want to offend their lation lives on less than $2 per day. these patterns of the tourist industry are That’s why we buy into the notion that a £20 Zara necklace guests; nor do they want to risk alienating Although Bali is among the wealthiest still evident today. worn by the Duchess of Cambridge on a designer gown costing them for fear they will take their tourist provinces in Indonesia, this is a relative Despite the tragic bombings of 2002 and thousands of pounds is evidence that she is like us. We hear that dollars elsewhere. Yet the environmental, measure only. Last month, the provincial 2005, Australians’ enthusiasm for party- the monarch begrudges police officers who guard her family and social and cultural impacts of tourism are government raised Bali’s minimum wage ing in Bali has actually risen thanks to her palaces a handful of cashew nuts and interpret it as eccentric- being felt across the island. to Rp1,321,000 or approximately $116 per the aggressive discounting implemented ity rather than an apt metaphor for the Dickensian meanness of The tourism industry places an incalcula- month – less than a tourist can expect to after the terrorist attacks and the rise of spirit that underlies the selective concentration of wealth. The ble strain on natural resources, particularly pay for a single night at many of the hotels budget airlines. But the real cost of tourism adulation of royalty is not a harmless anachronism; it is calcu- water. Bali is running out of it. The NGO that hug the island’s coastline. Attempts is far higher than what we pay for flights, lated totem worship that only entrenches the bizarre notion that Tourism Concern estimates that tourists have been made to cover the gap through accommodation and food, and the deficit some people are rich simply because they are more deserving but in resorts such as Bali, Zanzibar and Goa additional fees and levies, including Bali’s is often borne by host economies and local somehow they are still just like us. use water at a rate 15 times higher than recently-proposed $10 “heritage protection communities. Cults rely on spectacles of opulence intended to stoke an obses- locals. Resorts’ lush landscaping, spacious fee.” We should remember that nobody invited sive veneration for riches. The Rich Kids of Instagram who showed swimming pools and emerald golf courses But economic inequality is only the tip us to Bali. Tourists are often a burden on us what the “unapologetically super-rich” can do because they consume water by the megalitre; even the of the iceberg. For decades, Balinese and host communities; showing our appreciation have “more money than you” will find further fame in a novel and smallest indulgence can have a massive Indonesians have expressed concern about and respect for the local environment, soci- a reality show. Beyond the sumptuous lifestyle spreads in glossies impact when multiplied by millions. Tourists the cultural degradation brought about by ety and culture might be a first step towards or the gift-strewn shop windows at Harrods and Selfridges, and are responsible for 65 percent of Bali’s total mass tourism. recompensing them for our imposition. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop website, shows like Downton Abbey keep water consumption. They have been particularly affronted by THE GUARDIAN us in thrall to the idea of moolah, mansions and autocratic power. They help us forget that wealthy British landowners, including the Queen, get millions of pounds in farming subsidies while the rest of us take back to the modest homes, which we probably don’t own, lower salaries and slashed pensions. Transfixed by courtroom dramas involving people who can spend a small family’s living income on flower arrangements, we don’t ask why inherited wealth is rewarded by more revenue but tough manual labour or care work by low wages. Cue the predictable charge of “class envy” or what Boris Johnson dismisses as “bashing or moaning or preaching.” Issued by its high priests, this brand of condemnation is integral to the cult of the rich. We must repeat the mantra that the greed of a few means prosperity for all. Those who stick to writ and offer humble thanks to the acquisitive are contradictorily assured by mansion-dwellers that money does not buy happiness and that electric blankets can replace central heating. Enter “austerity chic” wherein celebrity footballers are hailed for the odd Poundland foray, millionaire property pundits teach us how to “make do” with handmade home projects and celebrity chefs demonstrate how to “save” on ingredients – after we’ve purchased their money- spinning books, of course. Cultish thinking means that the stupendously rich who throw small slivers of their fortunes at charity, or merely grace lavish fundraisers – like Prince William’s Winter Whites gala for the homeless at his taxpayer-funded Kensington Palace home – with their presence, become instant saints. The poor and the less well-off, subject to austerity and exploi- tation, their “excesses” constantly policed and criminalised, are turned into objects of patronage, grateful canvasses against which the generosity of wealth can be stirringly displayed. The cult of the rich propounds the idea that vast economic inequalities are both natural and just: the winner who takes most is, like any cult hero, just more intelligent and deserving, even when inherited affluence gives them a head start. We are mildly baffled rather than galvanised into righteous indignation when told that the rich are being persecuted – bullied for taxes and lynched for bonuses. The demonising of the poor is the flip side of the cult of the rich or, as a friend puts it, together they comprise the yin and yang of maintaining a dismal status quo. It is time to change it through reality checks, not reality shows. THE GUARDIAN Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Could rationing hold the key to today’s food crises? BY ZOE WILLIAMS The United Kingdom is a rare night as its most urgent and starved, or even people in the years of neoliberalism has totally go on the tendency of the poor to country for running the full pressing business. middle: the concern was a) that hollowed out our sense of reason. mismanage their finances (pace resumably you’re already gamut, from a government ini- At the end of rationing (which scarcity would falsely inflate In that era, food was a mani- Michael Gove), or people’s lim- totally sickened by the tiative that did work, to one that was incredibly unpopular, let’s prices, so people who could pre- festation – perhaps the central itless desire for things that are excesses of Christmas as doesn’t at all. not forget – nobody enjoys being viously afford to eat would be manifestation – of solidarity. free (and Lord Freud). Pa gift-giving ceremony, That is, rationing in the sec- told how much bacon they’re priced out; and b) that people Rather than deal with the However, while the hungry and your goodwill to others has ond world war, and the Change allowed) not only was there would hoard. threat of starvation as it hap- are, of course, hit hardest by been leached out of you by the size for Life campaign, which has been much less obesity, but other The hoarding point is interest- pened, with emergency food par- the modern solipsism, it makes of the queue outside Jo Malone running since 2009, addressing a indicators of a nation’s health – ing as it gives the lie to a nar- cels and people slipping through change impossible all the way (10 minutes of your life, scorched, knowledge deficit that doesn’t birth weight, infant mortality – rative often tacitly peddled, that the net, that government dealt through society so that it hits in the quest for a candle that exist (obesity specialists are also improved. human nature during the war was with it pre-emptively, and it us all. smells). pretty well united on the fact At a recent Women’s Institute better than it is now, more self- worked. We all get fatter, and there are I’ve now got two excellent that there are very few people history night, I saw for the first sacrificing, less demanding, more People didn’t starve, and they no public health levers, because phrases to spoil your Christmas who don’t know a high-calorie time a full list of what the rations generous. ended up healthier, and our par- the levers that work are the ones dinner, and turn the marshmal- foodstuff from a low one). actually were. But more important is that ents were born slightly bigger, wherein we’re all in it together as low-topped sweet potato to ash in It’s always presented as a happy I concluded ruefully that they point about prices – all markets which accounts for why they need a demonstrable fact, and not just your mouth: “obesity crisis” and accident, one of those cute para- were so meagre (one egg a week, favour the rich. their ginormous baby-boomer nauseating rhetorical guff. “food bank”. doxes in which the second world 50g of butter) that I don’t think In times of scarcity, though, houses. Across the world there are They’re actually related, you war specialised, that rationing, I’d bother eating, I’d just live on the poor are disadvantaged by an Contrast that with food other things that work; in know. But not in the way Richard in a bid to stop us starving, also protein powder and alcohol. amount so stark that you can’t banks today: obviously the situ- Denmark, a solid resistance to Littlejohn would have us believe, stopped us getting fat. But that’s not the point; when count it. ation is slightly different, since corporate interests has led to the that people who go to food banks In fact, while obesity may not one discusses rationing, it’s in the Whatever the price is, the the scarcity is not of food but healthiest McDonald’s and KFC only eat chips. have featured in the planning, this context of national circumstances entire point is that it will be of money, and it has been wil- recipes of any country. In the new year the Overseas isn’t an accident: in order to be so straitened that everybody sim- too much for that group, so that fully created by the government In South Korea, a mass edu- Development Institute is to pub- the kind of government that can ply had to eat less, because there demand is reduced and supply by unjust benefit sanctions and cation programme has led to the lish Future Diets: Implications effect that kind of public health wasn’t enough. at the top can remain at normal maladministration. consumption of insane amounts for Agriculture and Food Prices, improvement, you have to start But the next stage of that logi- levels. Nevertheless, people are hun- of vegetables. behind which rather dry title lie by being the kind of government cal process is never discussed – It’s like a bully holding a boy’s gry, and rather than answer You don’t have to ration people some eye-popping figures about that cares whether or not your which is that it was a fear, really, satchel 5cm higher than he can that with a call to act collec- to one egg a week to be a big gov- global obesity. people are hungry. for the poor not having enough jump. tively, to sacrifice collectively, ernment; but you do have to be One interesting line of inquiry, You have to be the kind of gov- that led to a policy for everyone. That much was obvious in the we are asked to maybe give a a big government to make a big though, is what successfully com- ernment that takes what people Circumstances weren’t so 1940s, and you would hope it tin of kidney beans as we pass difference. bats obesity. are putting on their tables every dire that rich people would have would be again today, unless 30 through Tesco, reflecting as we THE GUARDIAN FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com CLASSIFIEDS

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0BTJT$BSTDPN FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Sailing: Qatar Optimist Cup kicks off today in Doha Sailors from 14 countries to take part in the six-day event

DOHA: Around 51 sailors from 14 countries will take part in the inaugural Qatar Optimist Cup, organised by the Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation (QSRF), which kicks off at the Doha Corniche from today. Sailors from Algeria, the Czech Republic, Egypt, Spain, Finland, Germany, India, Lebanon, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, Turkey, UAE, besides Qatar will compete in the six day event which will end on January 2. Races will start from tomorrow while the opening ceremony and practice races will take place today. No races will be held on December 31, informed the organisers. The first three place win- ners will get cash prizes. The event which consists of 12 races is open to sailors born in 1998 or after. The overall champion in both the boy’s and girls section will get QR4000, while the runner-up will receive QR3000 and the third place finisher QR2000. Prize money will also be awarded to podium winners in the Optimist Team Racing event. The organisers said they have lined up several other prizes for sailors. Qatar will field 13 sailors in the competition. THE PENINSULA Qatar Optimist Cup Schedule Today Practice Race from 2.00pm, Opening Ceremony Tomorrow Race 1, 2 and 3 from 10.00am December 29 Race 4, 5 and 6 from 10.00am December 30 Team Race from 12noon December 31 Rest Day January 1 Race 7, 8 and 9 from 10.00am Sailors taking part in the Optimist Class at the Qatar International Regatta - Sail The Gulf 2013, during the practice session at Doha Sailing Club, in this file picture of February 19, 2013. January 2 Race 10, 11 and 12 from 10.00am, Closing Ceremony

Qatar Basketball League: Al Arabi down Al Wakra Murray shrugs off defeat in UAE return

ABU DHABI: Andy Murray’s return to action after a three- month injury lay-off ended in a straight sets defeat to France’s Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Mudabala World Tennis Championship yesterday. The Wimbledon champion and world number four went down 7-5, 6-3 to 10th-ranked Tsonga on the opening day of the three-day exhibition tournament. “The courts here are very fast and you have to react quickly,” said 26-year-old Murray, who underwent back surgery in September. “Jo was sharper than me today, he served very well.” Tsonga went into the match with an 8-1 career deficit in com- petitive matches. Meanwhile, Nadal has no inten- tion of joining the dizzying coach- ing merry-go-round which has seen Novak Djokovic hire Boris Action from the Qatar Basketball League match between Al Arabi and Al Wakra at Al Gharafa Indoor Stadium in Doha yesterday. Becker in just one of a raft of Al Arabi won 106- 89. In another match yesterday, Eljaish overpowered Al Gharafa 93-87. RIGHT: An official signals to the scorers changes ahead of the 2014 season. during the match between Al Arabi and Al Wakra. PICTURES BY: WASFY World number one Nadal has been coached by his uncle Toni since childhood and it’s a partner- ship which has brought 13 Grand Slam titles. Djokovic, meanwhile, stunned the sport by hiring Becker, one of Aspire Academy to host elite a host of former Grand Slam win- ners from the 1980s and 1990s to be handed new leases of life over the winter. Roger Federer has been goalkeeper training summit hitting with Stefan Edberg, Richard Gasquet has taken on Sergi Bruguera, Marin Cilic DOHA: Aspire Academy, in collabora- has renewed his partnership tion with the Iker Casillas Foundation, with Goran Ivanisevic while Kei is set to host an intensive training Nishikori signed up Michael camp for some of the world’s most Chang. Iker Casillas, promising young goalkeepers. Undoubtedly, they were moves The three-day summit is taking place- captain of inspired by Murray’s success with from today to December 29. Spain and Ivan Lendl which has yielded the Talented shot-stoppers from ten coun- Real Madrid, 2012 US Open title and 2013 tries have been selected to attend the is seen with Wimbledon triumph. course along with student-athletes from with Aspire “It is great to have a great Aspire Academy and Aspire’s Football Academy champion in tour games as they Dreams project. students bring great charisma to the game. Nations represented include Germany, in this file It will be great to have Ivan and Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Japan, US and picture. Boris around this season. It is a UK. good thing and will do positive Each player has been identified as a things to the tour,” Nadal told potential candidate to represent their the Gulf News. home country at the FIFA 2022 World “However, I will stick to my Cup finals in Qatar. team. I always feel when I play If they succeed, they will have gone of Aspire Academy. “As one of the skill sets, ranging from intercepting to bad, it is my fault and when some way to emulating the achieve- world’s most comprehensive campuses shot stopping. I’m winning I’m doing the right ments of Iker Casillas, founder of the for athletes in training, participants will The training camp will culminate in a things. I had success in my career Iker Casillas Foundation. be encouraged to take full advantage of ‘Battle of the Goalkeepers’ competition, with the same team. AGENCIES The goalkeeping legend is captain of the state-of-the-art facilities on offer allowing the players to demonstrate the Spain and Real Madrid, and is his coun- at Aspire Zone. It is our hope that this different techniques learned during the try’s most capped player of all time and gathering will help ensure that the play- summit in a head-to-head contest. The NBA Results will be in Doha for the camp. ers reach their full potential, and that participants will be given the chance to Chicago 95 Brooklyn 78 “We are delighted to welcome some they return to Qatar in 2022 to compete win a range of exciting prizes, includ- Oklahoma City 123 NY Knicks 94 the world’s most talented young goal- on the highest stage in the World Cup ing a trip to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Miami 101 LA Lakers 95 keepers to this training program, which finals.” in Brazil and tickets to the Champions Houston 111 San Antonio 98 is designed to nurture elite sporting tal- The summit will include a variety of League match later this season. ent,” said Ivan Bravo, Director General sessions designed to enhance specific THE PENINSULA Golden State 105 LA Clippers 103 FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Brazil fines FIFA for Arsenal profit as Man City Confed Cup ticket snafus

RIO DE JANEIRO: World dethrone Liverpool in EPL football’s governing body FIFA has been fined over ticket- ing problems which arose at Walcott brace takes Gunners to the top; Hazard strikes for Chelsea a Confederations Cup match in Brazil last June, media and consumer organisations said LONDON: Liverpool slipped yesterday. from first to fourth in the Consumer body Procon indi- Premier League after losing 2-1 cated a civil ruling had been at Manchester City yesterday, made against FIFA in the north- leaving Arsenal in first place eastern city of Recife, following following a frantic Boxing Day a case brought on behalf of eight programme. fans who said they were unable Brendan Rodgers’s Liverpool to access their seats for the June started the day in first place and 16 Confederations Cup match they made an impressive start at between Spain and Uruguay. the Etihad Stadium, with Philippe Procon said FIFA and its oper- Coutinho giving the visitors a ational services provider Match 24th-minute lead after a neat had both been fined 500,000 reais team move. ($210,000). However, City captain Vincent A lawyer for the fans said that Kompany headed home an equal- some had been forced to sit on the iser seven minutes later and steps, while others simply left the Alvaro Negredo put the hosts in stadium. front on the stroke of half-time One fan received compensation with a tame shot that Liverpool of 2,000 reais ($800), with oth- goalkeeper Simon Mignolet could ers receiving smaller sums after only palm into the net. a magistrate ruled that their con- City, who have now won all sumer rights had been breached. nine of their home games this The fans said they had tickets season, climb to second place, to be seated near the action, but a point behind Arsenal, while that they were reassigned to seats Liverpool, for whom Raheem further up in the stands, some Sterling spurned a fine second- with a poor view of the pitch. half chance, are three points off Tottenham Hotspur’s Belgian midfielder Nacer Chadl (left) vies with West Bromwich Albion’s FIFA and Match had indicated the pace. English defender Liam Ridgewell during their English Premier League match at White Hart when the case started earlier Earlier, Theo Walcott had Lane in north London, yesterday. The match ended in a 1-1 draw. RIGHT: Manchester this month that if fans were not scored twice as Arsenal came United’s Wayne Rooney (front) is challenged by Hull City’s David Meyler. Manchester directed to their nominal seats from behind to win 3-1 against United won 3-1. then it was a matter for the local West Ham United at Upton Park. organizers and main venue con- Arsenal spurned several first- structor Odebrecht. half chances and they were pun- 29th minute at Stamford Bridge, It was Sunderland’s first away sent off, allowing Newcastle to Sports daily Lance quoted the ished early in the second period cutting in from the left in familiar win since April and left Gus prevail through a Loic Remy brace English Premier director of Procon’s Recife office, when Carlton Cole put the hosts fashion before letting fly with a Poyet’s men three points from and goals from Yoan Gouffran, Jose Neves, as saying that “we in front after Wojciech Szczesny low drive that squeezed beneath safety. Yohan Cabaye and Papiss Cisse. League Results received various complaints” from spilled a shot from Kevin Nolan. Gerhard Tremmel. Manchester United doggedly Tottenham Hotspur’s new Aston Villa 0 Crystal Palace 1 (Gayle 90) fans and that the case augured However, Walcott struck twice “With the three points and overturned a two-goal deficit to permanent head coach Tim Cardiff 0 Southampton 3 (Rodriguez 14, 20, badly for next June’s World Cup, in three minutes to turn the game clean sheet, I am satisfied,” win 3-2 at Hull City and register Sherwood saw his side draw 1-1 at Lambert 27) which Brazil will host. around, before Lukas Podolski said Chelsea manager Jose their fifth consecutive victory in home to West Bromwich Albion, Chelsea 1 (Hazard 29) Swansea 0 The Confederations tour- crowned his comeback from a Mourinho. all competitions. for whom Jonas Olsson cancelled Everton 0 Sunderland 1 (Ki 25-pen) nament, an eight-team dress hamstring injury with a low strike “But we had so many chances Early goals from James Chester out Christian Eriksen’s 36th- rehearsal for next year’s extrav- Hull 2 (Chester 4, Meyler 13) Manchester in the 79th minute. that you have to score at least and David Meyler gave Hull a 2-0 minute free-kick. aganza which Brazil won, was United 3 (Smalling 19, Rooney 26, Chester “We couldn’t take our chances once and create a more comfort- lead, only for Chris Smalling and Southampton, meanwhile, marred by mass public protests 66-og) in the first half and we responded able situation for yourselves.” Wayne Rooney, with a sumptu- ended a run of six games without against political corruption but very well in the second half, in Everton’s hopes of making fur- ous volley, to bring United level, victory by winning 3-0 at Cardiff Manchester City 2 (Kompany 31, Negredo also the cost of staging major the end winning the game in a ther ground on the Champions before Chester scored a 66th- City through a Jay Rodriguez 45) Liverpool 1 (Coutinho 24) sports events. convincing way,” said Arsenal League contenders were thwarted, minute own goal. brace and a Rickie Lambert Newcastle 5 (Remy 44, 56, Gouffran 48, Neves told Lance: “Our con- manager Arsene Wenger. however, as they crashed to a 1-0 Newcastle United closed strike. Cabaye 66, Cisse 80-pen) Stoke 1 (Assaidi cern is the future, the 2014 World “I am proud of the character of defeat at home to bottom club to within three points of the Scott Parker scored a stunning 29) Cup.” this team because they are always Sunderland. Champions League places by com- 87th-minute winner as Fulham Norwich 1 (Hooper 13) Fulham 2 (Kasami FIFA said it could not immedi- focused and try to do well.” Ki Sung-yueng scored the ing from behind to overwhelm won 2-1 at Norwich City, but they 33, Parker 87) ately comment on the case. Chelsea also leapfrogged game’s only goal from the pen- nine-man Stoke City 5-1 at St remain in the bottom three due to Globo daily meanwhile Tottenham 1 (Eriksen 36) West Brom 1 Liverpool, moving up to third alty spot in the 25th minute, after James’ Park. Crystal Palace’s 1-0 win at Aston described the outcome as a “first (Olsson 38) place by beating Swansea City 1-0. Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard Stoke took the lead through Villa, which lifted Tony Pulis’s defeat for FIFA before Brazilian Belgian winger Eden Hazard was sent off for a foul on the Oussama Assaidi, but they had men out of the drop zone. West Ham 1 (C.Cole 46) Arsenal 3 (Walcott justice.” AFP scored the game’s only goal in the South Korea international. Glenn Whelan and Marc Wilson AFP 68, 71, Podolski 79) Van Dijk sends Celtic Valencia appoint 11 points clear in SPL Pizzi as new coach

GLASGOW: Celtic increased first half and scored a wonder MADRID: Valencia, which has received a takeover bid from a their lead at the top of the goal. We got a little big ragged Singapore billionaire, said yesterday they have appointed their Scottish Premiership to 11 for 10 or 15 minutes of the sec- former Argentine striker Juan Antonio Pizzi as their new coach. points with a 1-0 win over St ond half but for the last half hour The 45-year-old, who just led San Lorenzo, the Buenos Aires team Johnstone at McDiarmid Park I thought we had good control supported by Pope Francis, to the Argentine league title, replaces yesterday. again. It’s a huge win for us.” Serbia’s Miroslav Djukic who was sacked last week afer just six months Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk His St Johnstone counterpart at the helm of the Spanish club. got the only goal of the game in felt his side should have got more “Valencia have finalised a deal with Juan Antonio Pizzi to make the the fifth minute with a superb fin- out of the game. Argentine the new manager of the club. He will be joined at Valencia ish following a mazy run which “I think we put a lot into it. Celtic by fitness coach Alejandro Richino and assistant Manuel Suarez,” the started just inside his own half. had the lion’s share of chances but club said in a statement. Anthony Stokes also had an I think we created enough chances The six-time La Liga champions sacked Djukic, 47, after Valencia’s effort chopped off for offside as to get something out of the game,” 3-0 loss at second-placed Atletico Madrid which left the team in ninth Celtic dominated the first half Tommy Wright said. place in the league table. with the home side failing to mus- “We’re really disappointed with Pizzi played for Valencia as a striker during the 1993-94 season. ter a shot on target. the manner in which we conceded Last week Valencia announced that Singaporean businessman Peter St Johnstone were vastly the first goal but I thought we Lim has made a bid to take over financially stricken club and wipe improved after the break but showed a lot of character and out its debt. Celtic’s unbeaten start to the sea- dug in.” The club has been looking for investors since principal creditor son never really looked to be in St Johnstone had threatened to Bankia refused earlier this month to refinance the combined 306 mil- danger of coming to an end as the strike first as Stevie May chased lion euro ($418m, £256m) debt the club and its foundation has with Hoops kept a clean sheet for the down a long ball out of defence the bank. fourth consecutive league match. but van Dijk raced back to nick Valencia president Amadeo Salvo said Lim placed a deadline of Celtic now have an 11-point the ball off the striker’s foot and January 15 for the club and its creditors to decide on his offer. lead at the top of the table over put it out for a corner. Lim, 60, has a net worth of $2.05bn, making him Singapore’s fifth Motherwell, who moved second The Dutch defender then richest man, according to Forbes. thanks to a 1-0 win over Aberdeen showed off his skills at the other Meanwhile, Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes says he has recov- and Dundee United’s surprise 4-1 end of the park as he put Celtic ered from a right calf strain and is fit to return to the team after the loss to St Mirren. ahead with a superb solo goal. Christmas break. “It was as tight as I expected Van Dijk picked up the ball just The 31-year-old sustained the injury during Spain’s humbling 1-0 it to be and we never get it inside his own half and after a defeat to South Africa in a friendly on November 19 in Johannesburg, easy here,” Celtic manager Neil mazy run past a couple of defend- the site of their 2010 World Cup victory. Lennon said of the win. ers he arrowed a low shot past “Training session today December 25. I am ready,” he wrote in a “I thought we played very well ‘keeper Alan Mannus. message on his official Twitter account. Scott Brown and Anthony Valdes, who has revealed plans to leave the Spanish champions Scottish Premiership Stokes both had efforts saved when his current contract expires in 2014, said last week he was Results before the Hoops came close to targeting a return in Barcelona’s league match at home to Elche adding to their advantage when on January 5. Aberdeen 0 Motherwell 1 (Ainsworth 49) Georgios Samaras’ inviting cross Jordan’s Sharif Adnan (right) challenges Lebanon’s Hassan Chaito “I am feeling very good. These weeks have been unusual for me Hearts 0 Kilmarnock 4 (Boyd 13, 48, was nearly deflected into the net during their 8th West Asian Football Federation (WAFF) champion- as I had never been injured before but we have now completed Johnston 40, McKenzie 90) by a St Johnstone defender. ship football match in Doha, yesterday. The Group C match ended in two goalkeeping sessions and one more intense one and every- Partick 0 Inverness CT 0 Elsewhere, Hearts lost 4-0 at a goalless draw. Jordan take on Kuwait in their next match on January thing has gone faster than expected,” he told a news conference Ross County 0 Hibernian 2 (Nelson 18, home to Kilmarnock, Hibernian 1. Today is rest day of the championship which will end on January 7. on December 20. Forster 56) won 2-0 away to Ross County and Nine teams are vying for the title. The others teams in the champion- “The latest tests show everything has mended. I am excited about St Johnstone 0 Celtic 1 (Van Dijk 5) Inverness Caledonian Thistle and ship are hosts Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, Oman, Iraq and Bahrain. playing again and if everything goes well the plan is for me to make my St Mirren 4 (Thompson 12, 88, McGinn 35, Partick Thistle ended goalless. PICTURE BY: MOHAMMED FARAJ comeback against Elche if the coach decides that is the right decision,” Naismith 71) Dundee Utd 1 (Ciftci 36) AFP he added. AGENCIES LATEST NEWS UPDATES FROM PHILIPPINPHILIPPINES

AVAILABLE AT ALL LEADING BOOK STORES / FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 SUPERMARKETS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT IN QATAR 22

FOR ADVERTISEMENTS CONTACT: TEL: 4465 0600 EMAIL: [email protected] India dominate day one in Durban Vijay, Pujara hit half centuries as visitors reach 181 for one; Morkel claims one wicket

DURBAN, South Africa: way to bring drinks break. would post a good total. India’s Murali Vijay Indian batsmen Murali Vijay reverse swing Scoreboard Dhawan made “Then the pitch might break bats during Day One and Cheteshwar Pujara shared into the game.” 29 in an opening up a bit and our bowlers might of the second Test an unbeaten century partner- It was an India (I innings): stand of 41 with get reverse swing.” match against South ship before bad light stopped inauspicious S Dhawan c Petersen b Morkel ...... 29 Vijay. Batting first also gave India’s Africa at the Sahara play on the first day of the sec- opening day for M Vijay (batting) ...... 91 Morkel suf- fast bowlers a chance to recover ond and final Test against South world champi- C Pujara (batting) ...... 58 fered a sprained further from their exertions in Stadium, Kingsmead Africa at Kingsmead yesterday. ons South Africa Extras (LB1, N1, W1) ...... 3 right ankle while Johannesburg, where India bowled in Durban, yesterday. India were 181 for one when the after captain Total (1 wkt, 61 overs) ...... 181 fielding on the 136 overs in the last innings with- day’s play was brought to a pre- Graeme Smith Fall of wicket: 1-41 third day of the out being able to clinch victory. mature end eight overs after tea. said the team Bowling: Steyn 16-6-49-0, Philander 14-4- drawn first Test Dhawan and Vijay both looked Vijay (91 not out) and Pujara were determined 39-0, Morkel 12-3-26-1, Kallis 7-1-23-0, in Johannesburg confident at the start of the (58 not out) put on 140 for the to put in a good Peterson 12-2-43-0 last Friday. innings and the left-handed second wicket as South Africa’s performance to To bat: V Kohli, R Sharma, A Rahane, R It was ini- Dhawan struck four boundaries bowlers toiled on a slow pitch mark star all- Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, I Sharma, Mohammed tially expected before edging a drive to Alviro which fast bowler Morne Morkel rounder Jacques Shami he would be put Petersen at third slip. described as being similar to Kallis’ last Test. South Africa: G Smith, A Petersen, H Amla, J of action for Vijay batted patiently to notch surfaces found in the Indian Kallis, 38, Kallis, A de Villiers, J Duminy, F du Plessis, R between seven a half-century off 102 balls, sub-continent. announced on Peterson, V Philander, D Steyn, M Morkel and ten days but including 11 boundaries. By the “We as bowlers were a lit- Wednesday that he passed a fit- close he had faced 201 balls and tle surprised at the pace of the he would retire from Test cricket ness test yesterday morning after added another six fours. wicket,” said Morkel. after the match, although he will intensive treatment. Pujara followed up his 153 in the “It was a little on the slow side. continue to play one-day cricket Morkel said the team had only second innings in Johannesburg But as a bowling unit it is impor- in an effort to win selection for heard that Kallis was about to with another impressive innings, tant for us to move away from the 2015 Cricket World Cup in retire two days before the game. reinforcing his reputation as the those sort of things. Australia and New Zealand. “It was a shock,” he said. successor to Rahul Dravid in play- “The conditions are what they Kallis led the South African “It added ten percent to my ing the anchor batting role for his are and we need to deal with team on to the field at the start of recovery because I wanted to play team. them. It was hard work.” play to the applause of his team- this game for Jacques.” He reached his fifty shortly Morkel said the ball quickly lost mates, spectators and umpires Indian bowling coach Joe Dawes before tea off 97 balls with its shine on a dry surface, ena- Steve Davis and Rod Tucker. said it had been a good toss for seven fours. He faced another bling the bowlers to gain reverse Morkel claimed South Africa’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni 20 deliveries before the close sunshine but by tea the ground discussions about the light before swing before the early close. only wicket when he had Shikhar to win. without adding to his tally of had clouded over and the flood- taking the players off just over “After 13 overs the ball looked Dhawan caught at third slip off the “It looked pretty flat,” he said. boundaries. lights were on. half an hour after the interval. 60 overs old. We need to find a first ball after the mid-morning Dawes said he hoped India The match started in bright The umpires had several AFP Hafeez, Talha Sammy clinches back in Pakistan two-wicket win for squad for Sri Lanka Tests

Windies in Auckland LAHORE, Pakistan: In-form batsman Mohammad Hafeez and AUCKLAND: The West Indies key times and in the end it was forgotten paceman Mohammad tasted success for the first time a pretty close game but it was a Talha yesterday returned to on their New Zealand tour yes- thoroughly deserved win for the Pakistan’s 15-man squad for the terday when they scraped home West Indies. They outplayed us in three-Test series against Sri by two wickets in the first one- all three facets of the game,” he Lanka starting in the United day international. said. Although the West Indies’ Arab Emirates next week. After rolling over New Zealand batting remained fragile, the Hafeez was discarded from for a modest 156 in 42.1 overs, introduction of one-day special- the Test team for the two-match the tourists made hard work of ists unleashed a bowling line-up series against South Africa in reaching their target for the loss that New Zealand failed to handle October after a run of poor scores of eight wickets in 27.3 overs. on a seam-friendly wicket. in the year. A rollicking unbeaten 43 from Any confidence New Zealand But the 33-year-old has scored Darren Sammy (pictured) in 27 took from the Tests quickly evapo- three hundreds in the ongo- balls took them over the line as rated when they were sent into bat ing five-match one-day series to wickets fell regularly and faced new arriv- regain his place in the Test squad. at the other end. als Ravi Rampaul, Pakistan lead the series 3-1, When just the last Dwayne Bravo and England batsman Kevin Pietersen (second left) receives treatment on the first day of the fourth Ashes cricket with the fifth and final match in two wickets were Jason Holder. It was Test played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), in Melbourne, yesterday. Abu Dhabi today. left, Sammy knocked not the return to The first Test against Sri off the final 10 runs international cricket Lanka starts in Abu Dhabi on with a six and a that big-hitting December 31. The second Test four off Mitchell opener Jesse Ryder will be in Dubai (January 8-12) McClenaghan to be wanted.He only faced and the third in Sharjah (January sure of the win. five balls before slash- Pietersen curbs instincts 16-20). Also returning to the Test The victory, no ing at a wide Rampaul squad is 25-year-old right-arm matter how nar- delivery to be caught paceman Talha, whose only Test row, was a change by Darren Bravo at in 2009 ended abruptly after a of fortunes for a side cover point without as England crawl to 226/6 militant attack on the Sri Lankan comprehensively out- scoring. His failure team bus in March 2009. played during their signalled the start of Meanwhile, organisers of crick- 0-2 Test series loss a disappointing bat- MELBOURNE: Under- Scoreboard England will need more of the et’s Asia Cup will hold talks next to New Zealand. ting performance only redeemed pressure England batsman same today if England’s tail is to month to decide whether to move “There is some work to do with by the McCullum brothers Kevin Pietersen stood tall on the England (I innings): avoid being blown away cheaply February’s tournament out of vio- our batting but a win is a win and Brendon (51) and Nathan (47). opening day of the fourth Ashes Alastair Cook c Clarke b Siddle...... 27 again. lence-plagued Bangladesh, a top it will ease a lot of pressure on us,” They contributed 98 of the New Test against Australia yesterday Michael Carberry b Watson ...... 38 Eleven of Mitchell Johnson’s 25 official said yesterday. captain Dwayne Bravo said. Zealand total, with the remaining even as his team-mates crum- Joe Root c Haddin b Harris ...... 24 wickets in the series have been the Asian Cricket Council chief “Darren Sammy is leader of nine batsmen scoring a total of bled around him. Kevin Pietersen (batting) ...... 67 numbers eight-to-eleven batsmen executive Syed Ashraful Haque the fielding group and I think the just 49 runs with nine extras. Normally ebullient at the Ian Bell C Haddin b Harris ...... 27 at a cost of 3.88 runs per wicket. said the council would meet in energy in the field was what set Martin Guptill was trapped leg- crease, Pietersen showed rare cir- Ben Stokes c Watson b Johnson ...... 14 England’s habit of scoring the Sri Lankan capital Colombo the scene for the win for us, and before by Ravi Rampaul for two. cumspection as he rode his luck Jonny Bairstow b Johnson ...... 10 slowly and losing wickets consist- on January 4 to discuss alterna- he finished it with the bat.” Ross Taylor, the Test series hero, to an unbeaten 67 to anchor his Tim Bresnan (batting) ...... 1 ently at vital times have handed tive venues in light of the growing Despite the narrow margin at went for three, Kane Williamson team to 226 for six at the close Extras (B10, LB6, W1, 1NB) ...... 18 Australia the early advantage unrest in Bangladesh. the end, New Zealand captain (eight), Corey Anderson (13) in front of a world record Test Total (6 wkts; 89 overs) ...... 226 after the first day. “As of now the Asia Cup will be Brendon McCullum said his side and Luke Ronchi (seven) as New crowd of 91,092 at the Melbourne Fall of wickets: 1-48, 2-96, 3-106, 4-173, It may have been the Boxing held in Bangladesh as scheduled,” did not deserve to win. Zealand slumped to 66 for six. Cricket Ground. 5-202, 6-216 Day Test match but it was more Haque said. “We kept picking up wickets at AFP Given a life on six when substi- Bowling: Harris 20-8-32-2, Johnson 20-2- like Groundhog Day for England, “However, if the participating tute fielder Nathan Coulter-Nile 59-2 (1w), Siddle 22-7-48-1 (1nb), Lyon whose batsmen struggled against countries see that the security Scoreboard carried a catch over the boundary, 20.2-3-60-0, Watson 6.4-2-11-1 Australia’s miserly bowling situation in Bangladesh prevailing Pietersen enjoyed more luck when To bat: Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Monty attack. at that time is not convenient for New Zealand West Indies he was dropped on 41 by George Panesar. The record crowd were made that, the question of shifting the M Guptill lbw Rampaul ...... 2 J Charles b McClenaghan ...... 9 Bailey. to endure the tourists scoring at venue arises. India, Pakistan, Sri J Ryder c DM Bravo b Rampaul ...... 0 K Powell b McClenaghan ...... 4 If England are to have any 2.5 runs per over, almost equal- Lanka and Bangladesh are due K Williamson c Ramdin b Holder ...... 8 DM Bravo c Williamson b McClenaghan ..... 14 chance of posting a 300-plus first the South Africa-born batsman, ling the pedestrian rate of 2.4 in to take part in the 50-over one- R Taylor run out (Holder) ...... 3 L Simmons c Taylor b Mills ...... 34 innings total for the first time this who had been slammed by British their mauling at Brisbane, and day tournament from February B McCullum lbw DJ Bravo ...... 51 DJ Bravo lbw McClenaghan ...... 12 series, they will need their best media and labelled a “mug” by still well below the Australians’ 24 to March 7. All the matches C Anderson c Simmons b DJ Bravo ...... 13 N Deonarine b Mills ...... 6 batsman to stay out the rest of former England batsman Geoff series average of 3.7. are scheduled to take place in the L Ronchi c Charles b Narine ...... 7 D Ramdin c B McCullum b McClenaghan ..... 2 the innings. Boycott for throwing away his Even with heavy overcast early Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, which J Neesham c DM Bravo b DJ Bravo ...... 10 D Sammy (not out) ...... 43 “The positive is that we’ve got wicket in the series. morning conditions, Michael has badly hit by violent protests N McCullum c DM Bravo b Holder ...... 47 J Holder c Ronchi b Neesham ...... 10 Kev (Pietersen) there tomorrow Pietersen’s response was to Clarke’s decision to invite England and strikes in the build-up to a morning and if he has a good surpass Boycott’s 8,114 runs to to bat first on a flat MCG pitch general election on January 5. K Mills c Sammy b DJ Bravo ...... 3 S Narine (not out) ...... 0 Squad: M McClenaghan (not out) ...... 3 Extras: (LB 8, W14, NB 1) ...... 23 couple of hours then things can become England’s fourth highest looked a risk and the Australian Misbah-ul Haq (cap- Extras: (LB6 W3) ...... 9 Total: (8 wickets; 27.3 overs) ...... 157 change very quickly,” England’s run-scorer in Tests. captain admitted much himself. tain), Mohammad Hafeez, Ahmed Total: (all out; 42.1 overs) ...... 156 Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-19, 3-32, 4-60, 5-94, Ian Bell said. It was not a vintage Pietersen “I can’t believe I’m doing this Shahzad, Khurram Manzoor, Fall of wickets: 1-2, 2-3, 3-10, 4-32, 5-57, 6-96, 7-121, 8-147 “Hopefully tomorrow with Kev knock but it was effective. but we’re going to have a bowl,” he Shan Masood, Azhar Ali, Asad 6-66, 7-93, 8-104, 9-112, 10-156 Bowling: Mills 8-1-37-2, McClenaghan 9.3-0- there we can get ourselves past Batting at a strike rate of told the crowd at the toss. Shafiq, Younis Khan, Adnan Bowling: Holder 7.1-1-21-2 (w3), Rampaul 58-5 (w6, nb1), Neesham 6-0-35-1 (w3), An- 300 and try to put a bit of pres- just over 44 runs, well below his No doubt he was emboldened by Akmal, Junaid Khan, Saeed 9-0-27-2, Sammy 6-0-30-0, Narine 10-2-28- derson 4-0-19-0 (w5) sure on Australia.” career strike rate of 62, he struck the merciless performances of his Ajmal, Abdul Rehman, Umar Gul, 1, DJ Bravo 10-0-44-4 Result: West Indies by eight wickets That Pietersen managed to four fours and one six for his 67 scrooge-like bowling attack so far Rahat Ali, Muhammad Talha. hang on for so long was a credit to off 152 balls. in this series. AFP AFP FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 BREAK TIME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

QF RADIO 91.7 FM ENGLISH Dhoom 3 (2D/Hindi) – 2.15 & 10.30pm SHOWING AT VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER PROGRAMME BRIEF TV LISTINGS TEL: 444933989 444517001 Endrendrum Punnagai (2D/Tamil) – 5.30pm LIVE SHOWS Airing Programme Briefs 1 Time Silence (2D/ Malayalam) – 8.15pm SPIRITUAL 6:00- A time of reflection, a deeper HOUR 7:00 AM understanding of the teachings of Islam. Walking W/ Dinosaurs (3D/Action)J RISE 7:00– Is a lighthearted 10-minute fashion bulletin 16:15 English Premier 12:00 Bollywood Cut – 3.00pm 9:00AM from red carpets and popular brands around League; 13:00 Matinee Hits the world. Manchester City Signature Series Frozen (3D/Animation) – 5.00pm INTERNATIO- 1:00 PM The latest news and events from around V Liverpool 16:00 Bollywood NAL NEWS the world. 18:00 English Sports Business 2 Waar (2D/Pakistani) – 7.00pm DRIVE 3:00 – Our newest offering! 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HYPER C RSO S W O RD

1234567891011121314 62 Hard worker 25 Part of an iconic 63 Site near an outdoor Eden outfit 15 16 recording session in 26 Durable kitchen “Help!” items 17 18 27 Low-priced item, DOWN maybe 19 20 21 1 Pot item 29 Cartoonist Keane 2 Prefix with -stat 32 Ululates 22 23 24 3 Pool protector 36 TV show that 4 Six-time Lombardi has spawned many 25 26 27 28 29 30 Trophy winners movies, briefly 38 Cold war 31 32 33 34 5 Rx chain 6 Spanish wine concern 35 36 37 38 7 Leaning 41 Yvonne of “The Yesterday’s answer 8 Like the snowy owl Munsters” 39 40 41 42 9 Very much 45 Striped identifier How to play Hyper Sudoku: 10 Shanghai-to-Tokyo 48 Zach ___, “Garden A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper 43 44 45 46 dir. State” actor/director Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all 50 Early automaker regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like 11 Block during a 47 48 49 50 Frederick Henry a normal Sudoku. blizzard 12 Genre that glorifies ___ 51 52 53 54 55 56 gunplay 52 Direction from on How to play Kakuro: 13 Mostly high The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any 57 58 59 54 Weights, colloquially size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells 14 Checked 55 “Hullabaloo” dance like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, 60 61 21 Emergency oil rig some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some visitor 56 Bang out cells will contain two numbers. 62 63 23 Out of one’s 58 Fielding feats, for However, in a crossword the numbers reference league? short clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! 59 When repeated, a They denote the total of the digits in the row or 24 “Whitman Cantata” composer sneaky laugh column referenced by the number. ACROSS 33 They’re no longer tender in a Within each typical trattoria collection of cells 1 Game with the figures - called a run - any “soldier’s bed” and “fish in a 34 Yellowfin, on some menus PRO AND CON of the numbers 1 dish” 35 Tangles with, in the country N I VE KSOUT BONO to 9 may be used 11 Real-estate mogul Olenicoff 37 Classic Chrysler but, like sudoku, 15 Superpower with which Clark 39 Lead characters in “Mork & OFER VERSE F IDE each number may Kent shaves himself Mindy”? only be used once. MENADES TROLLED 16 Boulevardier’s accessory 40 Impart SIT CHA Yesterday’s 17 Waffling 42 Coaching concern answer 18 Fangorn Forest denizens 43 Tillis or Tormé SC I ENCE GEST ION 19 Source of the line “Hope 44 Place to moor TONS HI B I T SODY springs eternal …” 46 Full of adrenaline, informally 20 Larder lineup 47 West Point newcomers AMS NER N I E Sherman’s Lagoon by Jim Toomey 21 It moves along via a series of 49 Aids in marketing? NETO GEALS SIST belts 51 O. Henry is known for one STRAINS STRICTS 22 Greg Evans comic strip 52 Baccarat cousin 24 Dental patient, often 53 Estrangement TRA A IR 25 Daughter of Zeus and Leda 57 Zip FITEERS CLAIMED 28 Drum that might accompany 58 1971 film with the tagline a fife “You don’t assign him to IFER LOGUE NOTE 30 First carrier to offer regular murder cases. You just turn CHES SORTS GRAM in-flight movies, 1961 him loose.” 31 Garment made of Gore-Tex, 60 Like shellfish TEM TES NTO maybe 61 Regime change catalyst ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE FRIDAY 27 DECEMBER 2013 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Demolition derby

Fajr (Dawn) 4:56 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:17 Zuhr (Noon) 11:35 Asr (Afternoon) 2:32 Maghrib (Sunset) 4:53 Isha (Night) 6:23

WEATHER

Today Saturday Weather Sunday Conditions: Clear Clear Partly cloudy Fine to partly cloudy. High: 22° High: 20° High: 21° Low: 14° Low: 13° Low: 15°

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA

SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:17 16:53 01:15 & 10:45 05:00 & 18:30 03-12 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW Drivers take part in a demolition derby organised by the Malta Motor Sports Association to raise funds for charity in Ta’Qali, outside Valletta, Malta. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER The drivers have one ultimate aim — that their vehicle, or what’s left of it, remains the only one standing.

MUSCAT 22/16 Partly cloudy 22/16 Clear KUWAIT 18/11 Clear 19/11 Clear BAHRAIN 19/07 Clear 20/09 Clear SANAA 22/03 Clear 22/04 Clear RIYADH 22/10 Clear 24/11 Clear Solar storms get a new tracker, in Britain DUBAI 22/15 Partly cloudy 23/15 Clear BAGHDAD 18/05 Partly cloudy 20/05 Clear LONDON: Imagine days without your atmosphere release streams of energetic par- European Space Agency and Nasa space favourite TV soap, chilly evenings with ticles into space. observatories. THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW room heaters or romantic nights without These storms can damage satellites, kill the It would, however, use slightly different HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER WhatsApp. This is what you will experience Global Positioning System, cripple power serv- models and ground-based data, including in the event a solar storm hits the earth. ices, cause radio blackouts and create havoc measurements by the British Geological ATHENS 16/10 Clear 14/09 Clear The scary possibility has moved the British with earth’s magnetic field. Survey of the size of the magnetic storms WASHINGTON 08/01 Clear 12/03 Clear government to begin a space weather serv- “The facility would provide a back-up for in earth’s atmosphere, the report added. SYDNEY 26/19 Chance of rain 23/16 Chance of rain ice to provide early warning of powerful solar the US Space Weather Prediction Centre, The world witnessed a massive solar storm storms. Backed by £4.6m ($7.5m) funding over which is run by the National Oceanic and in 2012 at the far side of the sun that sent bil- LONDON 10/03 Chance of rain 07/03 Mostly cloudy three years, the service will run non-stop from Atmospheric Administration’s National lions of tonnes of solar particles into space at PARIS 12/05 Rain 12/06 Chance of rain April 2014, said a report published in Nature. Weather Service in Colorado,” informed a speed of over 11 million kilometres per hour. ISTANBUL 12/05 Mostly cloudy 11/04 Mostly cloudy Controlled by Britain’s Met Office, the Mark Gibbs, British Met Office’s space- If the same event had occurred just a week MANILA 31/23 Partly cloudy 29/23 Partly cloudy service is set to provide an early warning for weather business manager. later, the sun’s rotation would have meant DHAKA 25/14 Clear 26/14 Clear services likely to be crippled by severe space The British service will use the same basic that earth would have been affected, added DELHI 15/07 Partly cloudy 14/07 Partly cloudy weather when magnetic storms in the sun’s data as its US counterpart, gathered from the report. IANS ISLAMABAD 16/03 Partly cloudy 18/01 Partly cloudy

Dhoom:3 rules Nepal Japan’s ‘Tree Town’ sculptors make living art

SOSA, JAPAN: With a deft clip here seem like they were shaped by the wind or the Sato sees challenges ahead, not least of And they will spend weeks in refriger- box office and a gentle tug there, Makoto Ishibashi weight of snow. That dramatic effect involves which the fact that Japanese homeowners are ated shipping containers without sunlight KATHMANDU: sculpts trees with the skill of an artisan chiseling branches to twist and pull them into increasingly turning to easy-to-care-for trees or water before reaching markets including Bollywood star Aamir whose work is far more than just a job. shape, while keeping the tree alive, a delicate instead of those that require expert care. China, Taiwan, Singapore, Germany, France, Khan-starrer action The heir to a centuries-old family busi- technique called “nomiire”. “So, I’m really grateful that people abroad and Britain. thriller Dhoom:3, which ness, he creates masterpieces that can turn “Oh, it hurts? Sorry, I’ll do it slowly,” are looking to Japanese garden trees,” he says. Buyers must have deep pockets, and is expected to mint a pine tree into a work of art that could fetch Tadayoshi Udono, an expert in the style, says Koichi Ebato, chairman of gardening firm patience. It can take a decade to complete a Rs300 crore (about $40,000. “This tree is a woman — the leaves to one tree as its branch squeaks under the Koshuen, agreed times are tough in the relatively small tree, while others are a cen- $48m), is going so are soft,” the arborist says of the pine into a pressure. Like many traditional crafts, the densely-populated country of 128 million. tury or more in the making. strong at the box office triangle at his farm in the city of Sosa. art of shaping so-called “macro bonsai” trees “In Japan, there is no space, and houses The 55-year-old Ishibashi, who started in Nepal that the local “Trees are my family — they don’t say what — cousins to the smaller and potted bonsai — are not suited for Japanese gardens anymore. when he was 18, recalls his father scolding filmmakers have had they want but they are sending messages has been facing tough times. And the economy is bad. Nowadays most of him for wearing gloves as a beginner. to delay the release of about how they want to be shaped. Few among the younger generation are tak- my clients are Chinese,” he says. Gloves, he was told, make the hand less able their own films for the “The feeling may be one-sided, but I believe ing up the painstaking profession these days, Producers are banking on overseas demand. to complete delicate snipping and trimming next three weeks fear- that we share something with trees, just like and some who abandoned the trade as the Japan exported about 8.17bn yen ($82m) worthy of a surgeon. ing tough competition. living creatures.” economy turned sour in recent years. worth of trees, plants and miniature bonsai While Ishibashi has come a long way since “We do not have Sosa, a small city about 100km east of the Yoichiro Sato, 38, has seen colleagues quit last year, up 22 percent from 2011. then, the veteran still thinks he has only Nepali movies to release Japanese capital, has long been known for and jokes that he was “brainwashed” by rela- But it’s a tricky kind of export. scratched the surface. “This job is profound now and for another supplying many of Tokyo’s expertly manicured tives to work in a business that has been in Trees and plants must meet importing — I won’t learn everything before the end of two weeks, though five gardens and temple grounds with trees that his family for four generations. countries’ strict quarantine requirements. my life.” AFP to six Nepali movies were ready to come out,” Rajkumar Rai, chairman of Nepal Film Producers Circus Krone Association said. Widows better off Many producers are New gene a risk factor not keen to release their films due to the on well-being overwhelming response to Dhoom:3, Rai said. for type 2 diabetes Roshan Adiga, CEO index, finds survey of QFX Cinemas, said: NEW YORK: First the facts. include samples from Mexico and “No Nepali film is in the SYDNEY: Being a widow is tough, right? The number of diabetes patients Latin America, we’ve found one of pipeline for release.” Wrong! in India is expected to reach 100 the strongest genetic risk factors In comparison to the Widows and widowers actually enjoy the million by 2030, according to the discovered till date, which could over $2bn Indian film highest levels of well-being while singles are latest Indian Council of Medical illuminate new pathways to target industry, the filmdom in the worst when it comes to personal rela- Research study. And the number with drugs and a deeper under- Nepal is very small and tionships, home and safety. of type 2 diabetics is rapidly standing of the disease,” he added. the maximum budget In a latest survey by National Australia increasing in our country. The higher risk form of the of a film doesn’t exceed Bank Wellbeing Index, widowed people To add to their woes, research- gene — named SLC16A11 — NRs3m ($30,000) to have higher levels of well-being than mar- ers in Mexico and the US have has been found in up to half of NRs4m ($40,000). ried couples. Women aged 18 to 29 are the uncovered a new genetic clue that people who have recent Native Gopi Krishna Movies unhappiest age group, added the survey. contributes to an increased risk of American ancestry, including brought Dhoom:3 in When it comes to marital status, wid- developing type 2 diabetes. Latin Americans. The variant is Nepal after paying a ows and widowers had the highest levels of The team discovered a risk gene found in about 20 percent of East whopping NRs32m. well-being, the survey, that included 2,100 for type 2 diabetes that had gone Asians and is rare in populations Nepali audiences are Australians, showed. undetected in previous efforts. from Europe and Africa. directly influenced by “In particular, mental well-being, feeling People who carry the higher risk The elevated frequency of this Indian TV and Aamir’s part of the community and physical health version of the gene are 25 percent risk gene in Latin Americans could stardom helped the are significantly stronger contributors to more likely to have diabetes than account for as much as 20 per- film get a grand open- the well-being of widows when compared those who do not, and people who cent of the populations’ increased ing here. to married couples,” NAB economists were inherited them from parents are prevalence of type 2 diabetes — the IANS quoted as saying in Herald Sun. 50 percent more likely to have origins of which are not well under- Those with no children reported higher diabetes, said the study. stood. “One of the most exciting levels of well-being than those with children, “To date, genetic studies have aspects of this work is that we’ve while the highest earners were happier than largely used samples from people of uncovered a new clue about the those on lower incomes. Those in regional European or Asian ancestry which biology of diabetes,” said co-senior cities reported the highest levels of well- makes it possible to miss culprit author David Altshuler. “We are being, compared with people in capital cities genes that are altered at different now trying to figure out what is and rural areas, the survey added. frequencies in other populations,” being transported, how this influ- When it comes to age, women aged 18 Swiss animal teacher Jana Mandana performs with elephants during said study author José Florez, ences triglyceride metabolism and to 29 reported the lowest levels of wellbe- the premiere of winter programme at Circus Krone in Munich, Germany. associate professor of medicine at what steps lead to the development ing while women aged 50-plus reported the Harvard Medical School. of type 2 diabetes,” he added. highest levels. IANS “By expanding our search to IANS