ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Tuesday 27 November 2012 13 Muharram 1434 - Volume 17 Number 5531 Price: QR2 Qatar cashes England in Barclays bounce back warrants with big win Business | 17 Sport | 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Historic climate conference begins We have to reach an agreement on the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol: Al Attiyah BY SATISH KANADY DOHA: The landmark Doha Climate Change Conference got under way here yesterday with upbeat organisers say- ing the Summit would mark key mile- stones in taking on climate change challenges. Addressing the opening session of the 18th session for the Conference of the Parties (COP18/CMP8), key leaders of the organising committee made fervent calls to the Parties, member countries and the negotiators to “act urgent”’ to avert what scientists forecast irreversible damage to the planet earth. The newly-elected President of the Conference, H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah said: “A golden opportunity awaits us over the coming days, and we should not miss it. Instead of lingering on marginal issues, we must lay emphasis on the main principles of negotiations- strengthening of the role of state parties in the negotiation process”. President of the Climate Change Conference H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah and other officials at the 18th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP18/CMP8) at the Qatar The Doha summit is considered a National Convention Centre in Doha yesterday. (SALIM MATRAMKOT) historic event, and the topics that it addresses represent a major turning readiness to work and cooperate with us climate change and enables much needed point in climate change negotiations. during the next two weeks. We have to financial assistance and technical sup- “For the first time in the history of these reach an agreement on the second com- port for developing countries. The out- Civil society groups wary of outcomes negotiations-seven subsidiary bodies are mitment period of the Kyoto Protocol”. going Conference President Nkoana meeting, which constitutes an additional Christiana Figueres, Executive Mashabane said COP 18 is another DOHA: Civil society groups, espe- commitment”, says the Third world challenge to its administration.” Secretary, United Nations Framework opportunity to make history by opening cially those that champion the cause Network. Al Attiyah added: “Climate change is Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) a new chapter that will lead humanity of developing nations, seem to be Climate Action Network International a challenge for all humanity, so we have said the CMP8 will mark the closure of beyond 2020. She called on the delegation rather doubtful about the outcomes (CAN) said the inadequate performance to deploy serious efforts to mitigate its the first commitment period of the Kyoto to work for the beginning of a “new era as they believe the Doha Summit is by developed countries was eroding effects, and secure a better future for us and Bali. COP18 will move the Bali Action operation’, and focus on the implementa- meeting amid confusion. “There is trust which would have implications for and for future generations….Our achieve- Plan from plan to action, from design tion of the agreements and lay ground- nothing on the table on key issues the negotiations.” THE PENINSULA ments here in Doha will draw upon past to the full and effective implementa- work for the future. THE PENINSULA like Climate Fund and the second See also page 5 success, and I am optimistic about your tion that expedites urgent response to See also pages 4 & 5 Barak’s resignation Advisory panel urges Mursi meets judges over crisis raises eyebrows CAIRO: Egyptian President of violence between Israel and JERUSALEM: Israel’s Defence cap on lawyers’ fees Mohammed Mursi (pictured) Hamas. The stock market is down Minister Ehud Barak, a close negotiated with senior judges more than 7 percent. ally of Prime Minister Benjamin DOHA: The Advisory Council told this newspaper. yesterday to try to defuse a cri- Mursi’s political opponents Netanyahu, stunned observers yesterday suggested that law- Dr Saud Al Azba said: “Such sis over his seizure of new pow- have accused him of behaving like yesterday by announcing his yers should not be allowed to recommendations are unfair. ers which set off violent protests a dictator and the West has voiced retirement from politics ahead charge more than 10 percent of They wouldn’t be accepted by our reminiscent of an uprising last its concern, worried by more tur- of snap elections in January. claims as fee in civil and com- fraternity.” year that led to the rise of his bulence in a country that has a See also page 7 mercial disputes. He said only rarely are claims Islamist movement. peace treaty with Israel and lies But legal practitioners warned amounts in civil and commercial The justice minister said he at the heart of the Arab Spring. that attempts to restrict such disputes very high and run into believed Mursi would agree with Mursi’s administration has Today’s edition percentages would doom their millions of riyals. “In a majority of Egypt’s highest judicial authority defended his decree as an effort includes a profession at a time when the cases, such claims do not exceed on its proposal to limit the scope decree,” said Tarek Ahmed, 26, a to speed up reforms and com- 44-page cost of living was spiralling and 50,000 riyals,” Al Azba said. of the new powers. Mursi’s spokes- protester who stayed the night in plete a democratic transforma- their overhead expenses were The current law that does not man said the president was “very Tahrir, where tents covered the tion. Leftists, liberals, socialists supplement on escalating. restrict such percentages is wel- optimistic Egyptians would over- central traffic circle. “It must be and others say it has exposed the COP18-CMP8 Interestingly, the existing come. Restricting the percentage come the crisis”. But the protest- scrapped.” autocratic impulses of a man once legislation regulating the legal would mean that lawyers wouldn’t ers, some camped in Cairo’s Tahrir One person has been killed jailed by Mubarak. profession leaves the issue of a be able to recover even their basic Square, have said only retracting and about 370 injured in clashes “President Mursi is very opti- lawyer’s fee in claims in civil and expenses. the decree will satisfy them, a sign between police and protesters mistic that Egyptians will over- commercial cases to be deter- Claims cases linger for long and of the deep rift between Islamists since Mursi issued the decree on come this challenge as they have mined mutually by the lawyer require hard work from lawyers. and their opponents that is desta- Thursday shielding his decisions overcome other challenges,” presi- and his client. “Why such restrictions are being bilising Egypt two years after from judicial review, emboldened dential spokesman Yasser Ali told The legislation is being introduced at a time prices are Hosni Mubarak was ousted. by international plaudits for reporters. REUTERS amended and a draft law has been soaring,” Al Azba said. “There is no use amending the brokering an end to eight days See also page 10 approved by the State Cabinet Asked if the recommendation and forwarded to the Advisory covers foreign lawyers as well, he Council for recommendations. replied in the negative and said as In the draft law, the Cabinet per Qatar’s laws foreign lawyers has recommended that lawyers must work under their Qatari Protests in Bahrain Syria rebels plan army Israel, Hamas in talks should not be permitted to charge counterparts. more than 20 percent of claims It is, however, not known if the DUBAI: Bahraini police fired BEIRUT: Syrian rebel officers CAIRO: Egyptian mediators as fee in civil and commercial amended law would cover foreign tear gas at Shia protesters yes- have formed a commission to began separate talks yesterday disputes. legal consultancy firms operating terday, as they tried to reach lay the foundations for a future with Hamas and with Israel to Going a step ahead, the in the country and those regis- the site of month-long anti- army and liaise with the politi- flesh out details of a ceasefire Advisory Council has reduced tered with the Qatar Financial regime demonstrations that cal opposition on issues such as agreed last week that ended Online edition on this percentage to 10. “Fixing Centers as well. were brutally suppressed by the arming fighters on the ground, eight days of fighting in the such percentages would ruin our THE PENINSULA government last year. a spokesman said yesterday. Gaza Strip. www.thepeninsulaqatar.com profession,” a prominent lawyer Continued on page 6 AFP See also page 10 See also page 7 TUESDAY 27 NOVEMBER 2012 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Tent prices soar as National Day approaches Unprecedented surge in demand DOHA: With growing compe- 60 (300 sq m) to 100 x 100 (10,000 tition among the various local sq m). Ibrahim added: “We are tribes to hire the best tent for flooded with demands from youth the wedding ceremonies of their centres, tribes and schools. Tribal loved ones, combined with the youths and schools generally approaching National Day cel- demand for tents made up of wool ebrations (December 18), rental to give them the traditional look. prices of tents and accessories And for the National Day celebra- are skyrocketing in the Qatari tions, we get orders for big tents market. that are appropriate to undertake Some service providers speculate Arda, a form of cultural dance with the prices may go up to QR700,000 swords.” for a tent with a size of 100m x Abdul Hameed Anwar, an 100m.