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Saturday 10 January 2015 • 19 Rabial I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6306 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Bayern Munich arrive for winter camp Dusty weather Hypermarkets causes health problems to ‘contribute 2,600 kids DOHA: At least 2,600 chil- dren have been treated for respiratory and asthma prob- to price rise’ lems caused by dust storm and strong winds. The cases were received at Distributors complain of hefty charges paediatric emergency centres in Al Saad, Airport Area and DOHA: The rising commod- dependent on them. However, Al Rayyan, said Dr Mohamed ity prices in Qatar have mostly hypermarkets have allegedly Al Amri, Assistant Director, been attributed to the skyrock- invented ways to squeeze a new Paediatric Emergency, Hamad eting rents of warehouses and distributor for extra amount as Medical Corporation. Dust other commercial properties. the latter is looking for an entry storms also pose health hazards However, there are other hid- into the market. And there is such as sinus allergies and respi- den factors influencing the pricing no shortage of such distributors ratory infections, he said. mechanism, say market sources. flooding the market with new Arjen Robben of Bayern Munich giving autographs at Hamad International Airport yesterday. German champions Dr Al Amri advised parents to Some wholesale distributors say products every day. Bayern Munich arrived in Qatar for winter training for eight days. Bayern will take on Qatar Stars League All- take extra care of children during they have been forced to increase If a distributor is included in the Star team in a friendly on Tuesday at Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium, with the latter being coached by Lekhwiya dust storms and weather changes the prices of many commodities “vendor list”, the retailer (hyper- Manager Michael Laudrup. Report on page 21 and keep them indoors. due to additional costs imposed by market) would agree to take a While going out, he said, the some hypermarkets dominating few of their products without any nose and mouth of children should the market. This increase is even- additional charges. However, if be covered to reduce inhalation of tually passed on to consumers. the distributor wants to sell more dust particles. And retailers cite their increas- products, he would be required to He advised treatment if chil- ing overheads, especially rents, to pay extra for each item. France terror hunt ends, 7 die dren show symptoms of allergies, justify price increase. “Every product has a bar- like watering of the eyes, cough, In this blame game, the cus- code and we are required to pay PARIS: French elite forces wheezing or asthma. tomer is the major loser. QR2,000 to QR3,000 extra for stormed two hostage sites yes- Emir telephones Hollande “Precaution is most important, When a new distributor wants each. A distributor will have hun- terday, killing the brothers especially with children with to showcase his products in a dreds of products and only 10 or behind the Charlie Hebdo mas- DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yes- asthma and respiratory prob- leading hypermarket, he would 15 are included in the “free” cat- sacre and a jihadist accomplice terday held telephone talks with President Francois Hollande lems,” he added. be required to pay a huge sum as egory. “Imagine how much these in a fiery end that claimed the and expressed his condolences and sympathy to the govern- Meanwhile, strong dust wind the cost of “vender listing”. hypermarkets would be collecting lives of four hostages. ment and families of the victims of the attack on the offices of with poor visibility has been “If the distributor approaches a from the distributors in this way,” The killings brought a dramatic Charlie Hebdo magazine and the shooting in Montrouge. The Emir forecast for today by Qatar hypermarket, they may not even said the distributor. close to three days of terror and praised Hollande for distinguishing between the perpetrators of Meteorology Department. consider him in the first instance. There is yet another levy called tension that began on Wednesday the crimes and Islam and Muslims. QNA There are chances of scat- “After many visits and sittings, “rebate”, a discount the supplier when the two armed Kouachi tered rains at some places in the they would eventually agree to is bound to offer on sales. brothers burst into the satirical and the Islamic State group. loss of 17 people and tending to evening. include him in their “vendor list- “Suppose we supply goods magazine’s office and slaughtered Seven people, including three 20 injured. Strong winds will bring down ing” provided the distributor pays worth QR100,000 to a hyper- some of best-loved cartoonists. police, were hurt in the super- Supermarket gunman Amedy the temperature below 20 degrees a huge amount, which could go market, they would deduct up to As shots and explosions rang market raid with officers carry- Coulibaly told French TV he was Celsius in Doha at night and up to QR25,000 in case of leading 20 percent as commission. This out in the city, five people, includ- ing some of the terrified hostages a member of the IS group and had below 10 in other parts of country. outlets,” a wholesale foods dis- is known as rebate,” said the ing the gunman, were found dead clear from the scene in their arms. coordinated his atrocities with Abdulla Al Mannai, Head, tributor told this daily, requesting distributor. in the aftermath of the assault on “It’s war!” screamed a mother as one of the Charlie Hebdo gunmen, Forecasting and Analysis Section, anonymity. There are also special charges a Jewish supermarket in eastern she pulled her daughter away. Cherif Kouachi, who told televi- said the temperature is likely to But hypermarkets are not in a for reserving spaces in hypermar- Paris and several captives were At least one body was lying at sion he was backed and financed continue to fall throughout the position to impose their terms on kets for special offers or to pro- freed, security sources said. the scene, where the sliding glass by Al Qaeda in Yemen. coming week, hovering over 20-12 the established suppliers because mote certain products. Gunmen at both sieges told door of the shop was shattered. President Francois Hollande degrees, with chances of clouds they are already in the market THE PENINSULA French TV they were acting in After the three days of blood- said the threats facing France and scattered rains. and the retailers are heavily Continued on page 3 the name of Al Qaeda in Yemen shed, France was mourning the “weren’t over.” AFP THE PENINSULA

Eighth Al Khor Fly-In begins Pings detected MoI services at Pearl Qatar from AirAsia DOHA: The Passports and Expatriates Affairs Department at the Ministry of Interior will open its service centre at the Pearl Qatar soon. Brig Abdulla Ahmed Al Ansari, Director, Unified Service black box Unit at the department, said the number of its services centres JAKARTA: Indonesian search has reached 17 and more will be opened soon across Qatar. He said and rescue teams have likely there is also a plan to open a new building of the service centre in detected signals from the black Al Wakra. box of AirAsia flight QZ8501, The number of people benefitting monthly from the centres has raising hopes that investigators reached 1,10,130 while 1,14,364 visited them in September. Al Rayyan will soon obtain key information centre witnessed the highest number of visitors in September (39,075), on why the plane went down. followed by Mesaimeer (24,956), Al Wakra (15,856), Umm Salal (10,520) The pings were detected yes- and Industrial Area (5,414). terday morning, 12 days after the plane went missing over the Java Sirisena is new Lanka President Sea, carrying 162 people from Surabaya, Indonesia to Singapore. COLOMBO: Sri Lanka’s new President, Maithripala Sirisena, An unmanned underwater 63, was sworn in yesterday after final results from historic polls vehicle located the plane’s tail the previous day showed him the victor over the incumbent, con- about 30-metre underwater off troversial Mahinda Rajapaksa. The result, which surprised many the coast of Borneo, upside down observers, ends a decade of rule they said had become increasingly and partially embedded in the authoritarian and marred by nepotism and corruption. Rajapaksa, sea bed. While the black box and who had called early elections in November confident of a win, con- flight recorders were installed in ceded defeat yesterday morning. See also pages 3 and 10 Gliders showing their skills during the opening of the eighth edition of Al Khor Fly-In at Al Khor Airfield yesterday. the tail section, officials warned See also page 4 that they may have come undone, suggesting that they may be bur- ied in the mud. “We received an update from the field that the pinger loca- tor detected pings,” Santoso Religion, cookery among top favourites at book fair Sayogo, investigator at National Transportation Safety DOHA: Religious, children’s and cook- The number of visitors, including peo- are expected to end soon, the organisers The printed guide does not include the Committee, told reporters. “We ing books have emerged as the most ple from around the world, is more in point out. books with no price tag and publishing have our fingers crossed it is the sought-after at the ongoing book fair, evenings compared to mornings because A record 432 publishing houses from dates. It lists 14,821 titles — 12,271 Arabic black box. Divers need to con- Al Sharq reports. of cold weather and schools close by 29 countries and 72 authorised companies and 2,250 other languages. firm. Unfortunately, it seems it’s The 25th Doha International Book Fair afternoon. representing publishers are taking part in The books with no price tag, published off from the tail. But the divers was inaugurated on Wednesday at Qatar The organisers expect the number to the annual fair organised by the Ministry prior to 2014 or received after the dead- need to confirm the position.” National Convention Centre and runs increase significantly in coming days, cit- of Culture, Arts and Heritage. line, will be included in a USB guide, Searchers have pulled 46 bod- until January 17. ing publicity by visitors through the word This year, the fair is focusing on the taking the total number to 109,055 titles — ies of passengers and crew from It has allocated a large area for aca- of mouth. Arab culture, with forums in evenings. 97,561 Arabic and 11,494 other languages. the water. No survivors have been demic and children’s books popular in the More people, especially children, will The ministry has prepared printed and THE PENINSULA found. THE GUARDIAN US and the UK. visit the fair as exams in some schools electronic guides on books on display. Continued on page 2 SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME 18 enter Hudud Al Saluki finals at falcon festival Hudud Al Tahaddi Challenge back after postponement due to dust storm

DOHA: Eighteen competi- tors qualified for the finals after the first round of Hudud Al Saluki at the Sixth Qatar International Falcons and Hunting Festival yesterday at Sabkhat Marmi in Sealine. A total of 100 salukis or Arabian greyhounds raced at dazzling speeds for 2km during the qualifying round as a large number of spectators, including overseas visitors, followed the www.swiss-belhotel.com fast-paced action. Suzy, a German resident in Tel Qatar for eight years, praised Fax the organisers of the festival and said it offered an opportunity to learn about this important aspect of the Qatari cultural Tel heritage she found interesting. Fax Other visitors from abroad praised the authentic Qatari hospitality offered by the organ- isers. They also complimented the organisers for holding the Tel event in the desert and said it Visitors in cars follow salukis or Arabian greyhounds during the 2km race yesterday. Fax gave a true impression of the history of falconry and hunting in Qatar to this day, thereby The fourth round of Hudud fifth round in the afternoon. The festival is organised by accurately conveying the rich Al Tahaddi Challenge which was In this competition, falcons Al Gannas Society under the Tel + 974 44298888 tradition to the younger genera- postponed on Thursday due to seek to obstruct the flight of patronage of H E Sheikh Joaan tions, as well as those with an inclement weather will be held homing pigeons which are bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. Fax interest in Qatari culture. this morning followed by the trained to fly away. THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax The Holy Sail by Qatari author available at fair Tel Continued from page 1 Fax The guide includes infor- mation such as the pub- lisher’s name, country of Tel origin, date of publishing, Fax price tag (with 25 percent discount) and the number www.doha.hilton.com of stall at the fair. The Holy Sail, the new Tel 44233333 974+ novel by Abdul Aziz Al Mahmood, renowned Fax 44233000 974+ Qatari journalist and author, is available at the fair. The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud vis- ited the fair on Thursday. He was joined by the Tel Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage H E Dr Fax Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari and officials and dignitaries. The fair is open daily Tel from 9am to 1 pm and 4pm Fax to 10pm and on Fridays from 4pm to 10pm. Families visiting various stalls at the book fair. THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax Freak accident on Salwa Road

Tel Fax

Tel Fax

Tel Fax

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Tel Fax www.marriottmarquisdoha.com

Tel + 974 44195000 Fax + 974 44195100

Although signs show the height of trucks permitted to enter subways, a trailer on Thursday hit the flyover on Salwa Road. Many motorists blamed the accident on poor visibility due to fog. Casualties, if any, could not be ascertained. SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Lankan expatriates’ hopes high after regime change They look forward to pension scheme, end to corruption BY FAZEENA SALEEM and making the country free from Leaders greet new President Sirisena fear. But people decided to go for DOHA: Sri Lankan expatriates DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani a change and elected a new presi- in Qatar yesterday welcomed has sent a cable of congratulations to Sri Lankan President dent. We look forward to seeing political changes in their coun- Maithripala Sirisena on winning the election and wished him how Sirisena will deliver what try and said the electoral defeat success. he has promised,” said George of the long-time president The Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani Bandula, President, Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa is a positive sent a similar cable to the president. Coordinating Committee, Qatar. Writer and illustrator Chris White reading one of his books at ISL Qatar. step and will halt the excesses The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah Sri Lankans working in Gulf committed by his regime. bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani also sent a cable of congratulations countries contribute at least half Facing a crucial poll on to Sirisena. QNA of the foreign exchange earnings Thursday, Rajapaksa lost to a of Sri Lanka, and are looking former ally, Maithripala Sirisena, not just because they have a new Siva Ramakrishnan, a Sri forward to the ‘pension scheme’ British illustrator and who won 51.3 percent votes and president but also because democ- Lankan Tamil from the northern Sirisena promised in his election was sworn in as the sixth execu- racy has worked and there has region of the country, said, “People manifesto. tive president yesterday. been very few cases of poll-related voted for a change and good gov- “The value of the Sri Lankan Sirisena quit Rajapaksa’s violence compared to the past. ernance. The new president has rupee has decreased, when we writer enthrall cabinet in November, saying Sri “People have voted for a change come to power with the support of send money home it may look a Lanka needed to end corruption and given the responsibility to the minorities and political par- big amount but the cost of liv- and family rule. He was backed by Sirisena to restore freedom, ties; we hope it will lead to an end ing there is high and many of us students at ISL Qatar a broad range of parties, includ- democracy, people power and rule to the discrimination and oppres- hardly has any savings. ing those representing ethnic and of law for the current and future sion of the minorities.” “Sirisena has promised a pen- DOHA: Children and staff of Veggie Vampire, Wang Foo the religious minorities. generations,” said Mohamed Some expatriates, however, had sion scheme for expatriates and ISL Qatar enjoyed the visit of Kung Fu Shrew, Shark in the toilet! Sri Lanka, with a major- Hazeeb, a Sri Lankan Muslim. a different view about the defeat I hope it will be given priority the acclaimed UK author Chris and other titles, as well as illus- ity of about 75 percent Sinhala “The Rajapaksa regime became of Rajapaksa, especially as he was and implemented,” said Gayan White on Tuesday. trations and a book of two short Buddhists, has Tamils and increasingly authoritarian and able to end the 30-year conflict Ratnayake, a Sri Lankan expa- White is in Doha, hosted stories. Muslims as minorities. the election was considered by with the Tamil rebels. triate working here for over five locally by Maktaba Qatar, in col- He has been featured on radio Sri Lankan expatriates here the people an opportunity to end “Rajapaksa will be remem- years. laboration with Jarrous Press, the and TV shows in the UK and hoped for good governance and corruption,” he added. bered for eliminating terrorism THE PENINSULA Publishers Association and the has travelled around the world, Combined Book Exhibit. spreading the love of the writ- He is participating in the ten rhythmic word and the joy of 25th Doha International Book scribbling funny drawings. Fair which runs until January Primary students enjoyed lis- 17 at Qatar National Convention tening to rhymes and looking at More training units planned for ‘special’ kids Center. how he quickly scribbled funny White had his first collection drawings of superheroes and of poetry published in 2000. His princesses. poetry works include Bitey the THE PENINSULA Retailers ‘struggling due to competition’

Continued from page 1 Denying allegations about their To recover these additional role in the price hike, hypermar- costs, the distributor will raise ket sources say only some small- the prices to make a comfortable scale distributors could complain profit. about such extra charges. “There is no doubt that hyper- They argue that there is noth- markets are the biggest gainers. ing wrong or unusual in imposing A rehabilitation specialist conducting a session for children. But I believe the high rents in such requirements on a new dis- Qatar are the major cause of the tributor and the practice has been DOHA: The Special Education children the ability to develop request. To join the programmes, preschool learning and to acquire increasing commodity prices,” existing in the market for long. Training Center at Hamad physical, mental and social skills a child must be referred by a spe- comprehension, educational and said another distributor. “Several new distributors are Medical Corporation’s (HMC) and shape their personalities. cialist doctor from Hamad General rehabilitation skills. About 70 percent of sales in the entering the market on a daily Rumailah Hospital is help- “The centre offers free educa- Hospital or a rehabilitation phy- Early intervention has been market are through hypermar- basis and badly need spaces to ing children with special needs tional and rehabilitation services to sician from the private sector or successful and many children kets and leading supermarkets, market their products. We cannot gain intellectual and educational all children aged three to six years. health centre; the child must be have been reintegrated into soci- especially in case of food items, he offer them free space, especially independence through compre- We offer instructional services medically stable and able to benefit ety as they were able to interact said. “If we refuse to meet their with our increasing operational hensive social, educational and and training to families to master from the programmes. and express themselves due to our demands, our goods will remain costs. rehabilitation programmes. children’s development and skills “After registration, an appoint- intervention,” said Suleiman. She unsold.” “Some retailers would impose It supports rehabilitation of advancement through lectures and ment is set to assess the child by said after a child is six year-old, Some leading supermarkets fol- such requirements only to drive children and preparing them for meetings so that parents can follow our specialists in accordance with the department continues to track low hypermarkets in their own away a distributor,” said a senior partial or full enrolment in schools up on their children’s training at their needs. “An educational plan how they are doing at school or the way, say sources. official of a hypermarket. and specialist learning centres. home,” said Narjes Suleiman, Head, is designed for the child with long- special education centre. There are “If a hypermarket charges He said many retailers are The programmes, which include Special Education Department, and short-term goals. This is done plans to inaugurate a special edu- QR3,000 for a barcode, a super- struggling to survive due to the special education, physiotherapy, Rumailah Hospital. according to the family’s needs and cation unit at Al Wakra Hospital market may charge QR300. This stiff competition and strict regu- occupational and speech therapy The department organises home aspirations,” said Suleiman. and provide a similar service at Al practice was introduced by hyper- lations imposed by the authori- and physical exercises, are giving visits for follow-up at parents’ “Children are prepared for Khor Hospital. THE PENINSULA markets,” said a distributor. ties. THE PENINSULA Kerry to meet Zarif Time running out for over nuclear issue Libya peace talks, WASHINGTON: The US and their next round of discussions.” Iranian foreign ministers will In 2013, the US, France, meet in Geneva on Wednesday Germany, Britain, Russia and to discuss the Iranian nuclear China struck a preliminary agree- says UN envoy program ahead of a fresh round ment with Iran for Tehran to sus- of talks among Tehran and pend sensitive nuclear work in TRIPOLI: The UN called yes- mainly Islamist fighters in control major powers on the issue, a return for easing some economic terday for Libya’s warring fac- of the second city of Benghazi. senior US official said yesterday. sanctions imposed during more tions to resume peace talks He was initially accused by The meeting will take place than 12 years of nuclear dispute. “before it is too late” after its Libya’s internationally recognised ahead of lower-level bilateral However, the two sides failed envoy to the violence-plagued government of carrying out a coup nuclear talks between Iran and for a second time in December to state met with rival camps. but relations have since thawed as members of six major powers meet a self-imposed deadline for UN envoy Bernardino Leon, Haftar’s fighters and state forces expected to start on Jan. 15 in ending the stand-off and securing who held talks for the first time jointly battle militias. Geneva as well as a collective dis- a comprehensive agreement, and with retired General Khalifa Libya’s parliament, which cussion among the entire group extended the preliminary accord Haftar, said “time was running took refuge in the remote east scheduled to resume on Jan. 18. by seven months. out” to tackle the country’s politi- after fighters from the predomi- Speaking to reporters, the sen- Iranian and Western officials cal and security crises. nantly Islamist Fajr Libya militia ior State Department official said have said differences remain over “Libyans need to unite and stormed the capital in August, has Secretary of State John Kerry Tehran’s uranium enrichment work towards solving their dif- asked Haftar and other retired and Iranian Foreign Minister capacity, how fast economic sanc- ferences if they want to save officials to be officially reinstated Mohammad Javad Zarif planned tions should be lifted and other their country,” Leon was quoted into the army. to meet so as “to provide guidance key issues. as saying in a statement issued on With no early end in sight to to their negotiating teams before RETUERS Friday, a day after his meetings. the violence, the UN has post- Leon also met with represent- poned peace talks that were due atives of Libya’s internationally to take place Monday. recognised government in Tobruk Also yesterday, a rocket attack Plea for security at France Jewish sites and with rival officials in Tripoli, targeted the Tripoli headquar- JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked the statement added. ters of a private television station France yesterday to maintain tight security on Jewish sites after Three years after dictator close to Islamist factions, causing a series of incidents that included hostages being killed at a kosher Moammar Gaddafi was toppled damage but no casualties. store in Paris. “Netanyahu asked the French president to keep and killed in a Nato-backed revolt, Al Nabaa television said its up the increased security on Jewish institutions even after things Libya is awash with weapons and offices had been hit by two rocket- return to normal,” Israeli government sources said, following a tel- powerful militias, and run by rival propelled grenades but vowed ephone conversation between Netanyahu and Francois Hollande. People gather at the entrance of Al Nabaa News Channel head office that governments and parliaments. that the attack would not force “Our hearts are with the families of the victims. Israel offers any Haftar, a controversial figure, the channel off air. was hit by a rocket attack yesterday, in the Libyan capital Tripoli. help France may need,” Netanyahu said. AFP launched a May offensive against AFP SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Thrills in the air Baher Amin

hrilling aerobatics and aircraft on display entertained Thundreds of aviation fans at Al Khor Airfield during the opening of the annual Al Khor Fly- In yesterday. In its eighth edition, the show is one of the most anticipated events for aviation enthusiasts in Qatar. Dozens of private planes by light aircraft owners from Qatar and flight clubs in other GCC countries are participating. Families and children took selfies with different types of aircraft. Today’s activities include free flying, parachute jumping and kite flying. SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Terrorists damage Islam more IS praises attackers DUBAI: The Islamic State (IS) militant group praised the gun- men behind this week’s killings at the Paris headquarters of the Charlie Hebdo weekly newspaper as “heroic jihadists”, a monitor- ing group said yesterday. than cartoons: Hezbollah chief The SITE Intelligence Group, which monitors radical Islamist organisations in the media, said IS praised the gunmen in a brief note in its daily audio bulletin, which was distributed on Hassan Nasrallah addresses supporters to mark Prophet’s birthday Twitter and jihadi forums on Thursday. “We start our bulletin with France. Heroic jihadists killed BEIRUT: The leader of the 12 journalists and wounded ten others working in the French Shia group Hezbollah said yes- magazine Charlie Hebdo, and that was support for our master terday that Islamist terrorists Prophet Mohammad (peace be upon him),” according to the had done more harm to Islam audio bulletin. than any cartoon or book, a In France, armed and masked anti-terrorism police swooped on reference to the attack by sus- woodland villages northeast of Paris in a manhunt for two brothers pected militants on French suspected of carrying out Wednesday’s attack on Charlie Hebdo, satirical newspaper Charlie a satirical newspaper which had published cartoons of Prophet Hebdo. Mohammad (PBUH) as well as other religious and political figures. Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah said Ten journalists and two police officers were killed in the attack, what he called “takfiri terror- which has raised questions of security in the Western world and ist groups” had insulted Islam beyond. more than “even those who have Muslims consider any depiction of the Prophet Mohammad attacked the messenger of God (PBUH) to be against Islam. through books depicting the Islamic State is a powerful militant group which has captured Prophet or making films depict- broad swathes of Iraqi and Syrian territory. ing the Prophet or drawing car- toons of the Prophet.” US TEEN CHARGED WITH ‘TRYING TO JOIN IS’ Takfiri is a term for a Muslim A US teen arrested at a Chicago airport while allegedly trying who accuses others, including to join up with Islamic State fighters in Iraq and Syria, has been another Muslim, of apostasy. formally charged, federal prosecutors said yesterday. Hezbollah considers members of Mohammed Hamzah Khan, 19, faces one count of “attempting to ultra-hardline Sunni-dominated provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization,” which groups like Al Qaeda and Islamic carries a maximum penalty of up to 15 years in prison and a $250,000. State to be takfiris. No date has yet been set for Khan’s next court appearance, accord- Twelve people were killed in ing to the statement from the Justice Department, which added that the presumed Islamist militant the investigation is continuing. attack on Wednesday at the The Illinois teenager was arrested October 4 at Chicago’s O’Hare weekly Charlie Hebdo, which has airport with a roundtrip ticket to Istanbul. often lampooned Islam and other Law enforcement agents who searched Khan’s suburban Chicago religions as well as politicians and home said they had found multiple handwritten letters by Khan and other public figures. others. The letters expressed support for the IS group and made Cartoons in Charlie Hebdo reference to jihad, authorities said. have provoked angry reactions Lebanon’s Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah addressing supporters via a screen during a ceremony The Central Intelligence Agency estimated last year there were from some Muslims. Footage celebrating the birthday anniversary of Prophet Mohammed (peace be upon him) in Beirut yesterday. around 15,000 foreigners fighting with the Islamic State and other of the killings at the paper’s hardcore militant groups. offices showed gunmen shouting of fighters to support President was highly likely. targets” in the West. Experts say most come from Muslim countries, but there are also “we have avenged the Prophet Bashar Al Assad’s forces in Syria. “A group of core Al Qaeda ter- Al Qaeda killed nearly 3,000 hundreds from Europe or the United States. Mohammad (peace be upon Meanwhile, the head of rorists in Syria is planning mass people by attacking the United Officials worry some will return battle-hardened and ready to him)”. Britain’s MI5 Security Service casualty attacks against the West,” States with hijacked passenger launch attacks in their home countries. Nasrallah was speaking to warned yesterday that Al Qaeda Director General Parker said in a planes on September 11, 2001. The swelling ranks of homegrown militants in Europe and the supporters in Beirut’s south- militants in Syria were plotting rare public speech at MI5 head- Militants inspired by the group United States pose a mounting problem for governments, even as ern suburbs via video link to attacks to inflict mass casual- quarters in London. His last public killed 52 commuters in London on Western security services expand their policing powers, share intel- commemorate the birthday ties in the West, possibly against speech was in October 2013. July 7, 2005 with suicide bombs. ligence and embrace far-reaching electronic surveillance, experts of Prophet. Hezbollah, which transport systems or “iconic tar- In the speech, planned before Al Qaeda’s leader Osama bin and officials say. Washington describes as a terror- gets”. Speaking after gunmen the killings in Paris, Parker said Laden was killed by US special “The threat these individuals pose to Americans here at home ist group, functions as a political killed 12 people in an assault on a seasoned Al Qaeda militants forces in 2011, and the threat is being fueled by the conflict in Syria and Iraq and is proving par- party that is part of the Lebanese French satirical newspaper, MI5 in Syria aimed to “cause large- posed by the network to the West ticularly difficult to disrupt,” Nicholas Rasmussen, director of the government. It also has a mili- boss Andrew Parker warned a scale loss of life, often by attack- seemed to recede in recent years. US National Counter-Terrorism Center (NCTC), told lawmakers tary wing that has sent hundreds strike on the United Kingdom ing transport systems or iconic REUTERS last year. AGENCIES

Bahrain protests

A Molotov cocktail which was thrown by protesters explodes on a riot police armoured personnel carrier at a highway in the village of Sitra, south of Manama, yesterday. Several demonstrations calling for the release of Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the al-Wefaq Islamic Society, and resulting in clashes with riot police, were held across the country. Saudi blogger lashed in public

JEDDAH: Saudi Arabia yes- flogged after the weekly Friday for the most basic human rights terday publicly flogged a blog- prayers near Al Jafali mosque in principles.” Rights groups have ger sentenced to 1,000 lashes for the Red Sea city of Jeddah as a also criticised Saudi Arabia, for insulting Islam, with Amnesty crowd of worshippers looked on. regularly beheading convicts. International condemning his He was driven to the site in a Amnesty, echoing other rights punishment as a “vicious act of police car, and taken out of the groups, said Badawi’s “only ‘crime’ cruelty”. vehicle as a government employee was to exercise his right to free- A Saudi court in September read out the charges against him dom of expression by setting up upheld a sentence of 10 years in to the crowd. The blogger was a website for public discussion,” prison as well as the flogging for made to stand with his back to and demanded his unconditional Raef Badawi, who has been behind onlookers as another man began release. The US had urged its ally bars since June 2012. flogging him, witnesses said, add- Saudi Arabia to cancel the “bru- The 30-year-old received a first ing that Badawi did not make any tal” lashing of Badawi. instalment of 50 lashes yesterday sound or cry in pain. “We are greatly concerned and is expected to have 20 weekly People who had emerged from about reports that human rights whipping sessions until his pun- noon prayers watched in silence activist Raef Badawi will start ishment is complete. and were ordered by security facing the inhumane punishment The United States, Amnesty forces not to take any pictures of 1,000 lashes in addition to serv- International and Reporters on their mobile phones. ing a 10-year sentence in prison Without Borders (RSF) have London-based Amnesty for exercising his rights to free- denounced the flogging as a hor- International, citing witnesses, dom of expression and religion,” rific form of punishment, saying said the whole ordeal “lasted State Department spokeswoman Badawi was exercising his right around 15 minutes” and that Jen Psaki said. to freedom of expression. Badawi was shackled. Media watchdog RSF said the Sweden’s Foreign Minister “The flogging of Raef Badawi punishment was “barbaric” and Margot Wallstrom joined the cho- is a vicious act of cruelty which noted it came after Saudi Arabia rus of condemnation. is prohibited under interna- condemned the assault on French “Blogger Raef Badawi was tional law,” said Amnesty’s Said magazine Charlie Hebdo that left flogged today in Saudi Arabia. Boumedouha, describing the blog- 12 people dead. It said Badawi, This cruel attempt to silence ger as a “prisoner of conscience”. who was also ordered to pay a fine modern forms of expression has “By ignoring international of one million riyals ($267,000, to be stopped,” she said on her calls to cancel the flogging Saudi 192,00 euros), had “just used his official Twitter account. Arabia’s authorities have demon- freedom of expression and infor- Witnesses said that Badawi was strated an abhorrent disregard mation.” AFP SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Rajapaksa voted out

HOUGH Maithripala Sirisena has won the Sri Charlie Hebdo: Don’t blame this Lankan presidential election whose results were announced yesterday, the real, biggest winner is Tdemocracy. And if he had lost, the real loser would bloodshed on France’s Muslims have been democracy and Sri Lankans as the country would be hurtling down the path of authoritarianism under Mahinda BY NABILA RAMDANI Rajapaksa. of resentment among alienated com- The climate of intolerance across There is celebration all over Sri Lanka at the victory munities living in housing estates on France may well have been something of Sirisena. This election was the most significant in the HOSE of us trying to make the outskirts of the capital. Many are Charlie Hebdo was reflecting, rather country’s recent history and one which the world too was sense of the Charlie Hebdo Muslims of north African origin who than creating, but strict laws banning watching closely. When the incumbent Rajapaksa called early massacre need to understand complain that discrimination against hate literature would certainly have the bloody history of my home them extends to every field of life, from made many of its past issues unpub- elections in November last year, he was confident of an easy T city, Paris. That four hugely popular housing and employment to the right lishable in countries including the UK. win. But when the votes were counted, Sirisena, 63, received cartoonists were considered legitimate to religious expression. This is particu- Comparisons between Private Eye, the 51.2 percent of the votes and Rajapaksa got 47.5 percent. targets by murderers said to have been larly so as politicians of the left and right British satirical weekly, and Charlie Sri Lankans have voted against nepotism, corruption living within a few miles of the Louvre regularly blame Islam for these social Hebdo have been made recently, but and authoritarianism. Rajapaksa had clearly miscalculated and other global symbols of liberal Gallic problems, which in fact have nothing to actually they are wrong: the self-styled civilisation doesn’t seem possible: don- do with spiritual faith. “nasty” French magazine produces a far his popularity and the strength of his opponents. But it nish satirists are not meant to be gunned Anti-religious hate speech has thus darker form of satire. must go to his credit that he didn’t try to rig the polls, as down in quaint Paris arrondissements become all too prevalent in modern The sacred point, however, is that many had feared, which he perhaps could have done after any more than municipal policemen used France, as it is manipulated for politi- none of this in any way justifies violence, ruling the country for ten years. Or, it could have been the to dealing with traffic and tourists. cal purposes. Jean-Marie Le Pen, the let alone the horrific slaughter this week. determination and vigilance of his opponents which had Sadly, the French capital has been founder of the National Front, is a con- The vast majority of French Algerians made any rigging impossible. The election commission chief associated with victed racist and antisemite, and his and, indeed, Muslims across the world, some of the worst daughter, Marine Le Pen, the party’s were shocked and appalled by the mur- Mahinda Deshapriya too deserves credit for making the polls barbarism in current leader, regularly stigmatises ders, with a spokesman for the French free and fair as he had taken steps which human history. Muslims and other minority groups. Council of the Muslim Faith speaking thwarted Rajapaksa’s efforts to influence The Terror Immigration policy underpins all of of a “barbaric act against humanity, Democracy the outcome of the polls. We were started by the this discourse. Manuel Valls, the reac- democracy and freedom of the press”. Sirisena won because he was able 1789 Revolution tionary Socialist prime minister, infa- Hassen Chalghoumi, imam of the has won in to unite a fragmented opposition and appalled by the led to tens of mously portrayed Roma gypsies as a mosque in Drancy – scene of those thousands of group who cannot integrate and who Holocaust deportations during the Nazi Sri Lanka consolidate minority vote banks – murders yet now deaths, with many should be deported back to Romania occupation – spoke up for many when including Tamils and Muslims -- against of its victims guil- and Bulgaria, despite being EU citizens. he said of the killers: “They have sold with the Rajapaksa. find ourselves lotined in front of This was followed by a number of vio- their souls to hell. This is not freedom. election of The most important outcome of this facing a violent vengeful crowds. lent attacks on Roma, while a right-wing This is not Islam and I hope the French election is that it provides a golden Savage mass mur- mayor blocked the burial of a Roma baby will come out united at the end of this.” Sirisena as ders continued on in a municipal cemetery last week. Two of the dead – Ahmed Merabet, a opportunity to heal the wounds inflicted backlash. squares and boul- There is no doubt that Charlie police officer, and Mustapha Ourad, who president. by the country’s civil war. For the first evards through- Hebdo’s notorious cartoons satirising was working in the Charlie Hebdo office time, Tamils came out in huge numbers out the 19th and the prophet Muhammad saddened and – were themselves Muslim. Many fellow to vote and express their outrage 20th centuries, through the Commune angered Muslims in equal measure. Muslims were among the crowds that against Rajapaksa. Sirisena scored huge and two world wars, the second of which When the magazine published a cover poured on to the streets on Wednesday wins from the Tamil dominated North and East, and also saw tens of thousands of Jews persecuted with a bearded and turbaned cartoon night in a show of solidarity for the before being sent to their deaths in con- figure of the prophet saying “100 lashes Charlie Hebdo victims, rallying behind performed well in the capital Colombo, as well as key parts centration camps. Postwar, many of the if you’re not dying of laughter” in 2011, President Hollande’s call for national of the central province. He should now move to reintegrate Gestapo-trained gendarmes involved their offices were firebombed. unity. Tamils into the mainstream and work for their rehabilitation. in the those atrocities showed a fresh Other images and articles were also Despite all this, the seemingly inevi- The challenge now for the new president will be to move brutality to Algerians displaced by their vindictive, including some about the table backlash has begun, with mosques forward with a ‘rainbow coalition’ which involves both own nation’s fight for independence from other major monotheistic religions, being targeted. Blank grenades were hardline Sinhala nationalist groups and the Tamil National France. Christianity and Judaism, but it was thrown at one in Le Mans on Wednesday The three French-Algerian men Islam that the Hebdo team always night, with bullet holes also found in its Alliance. He must fulfill the promises he had made during the believed responsible for the 12 deaths really had in its sights. Its murdered windows. Shots were fired at a Muslim campaign, like rolling back the controversial decisions taken in Paris on Wednesday would have been editor, Stéphane Charbonnier, regularly prayer hall near Narbonne, in the south by the former president. Sirisena had pledged to rescind the steeped in a recent history of this conflict expressed his disdain for this religion. of France, while an explosion close to eighteenth amendment to the constitution implemented by which, in the 1960s, was exported from Such prejudice was in fact condemned a mosque in Villefranche-sur-Saône Rajapaksa that removed the two-term limit to the office of the battlefields of Algeria to Paris itself. by the White House in September 2012, was described by a local prosecutor as a During one notorious atrocity in 1961, when a spokesman for President Obama “criminal act”. the President. He also said he would abolish the controversial up to 200 Algerians were slaughtered questioned the judgment of Charlie As the history of Paris shows, extreme executive presidency and bring back the position of prime around national monuments, including Hebdo for publishing “images that will violence often inspires further violence. minister, which was abolished by Rajapaksa. He reinstated the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame cathe- be deeply offensive to many and have the The bloody cycle continues, just as it has opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe as prime minister. dral. Many were tossed into the Seine potential to be inflammatory”. Richard always done. But attributing its causes to Rajapaksa now faces an uncertain future. He has been from some of the most beautiful bridges Prasquier, head of France’s Jewish coun- millions of law-abiding French Muslims accused of committing war crimes in the fight against the in the world and left to drown. cil, also said he disapproved of the cari- is as cynical as trying to blame it on a . Half a century on, the violence has catures because they constituted a “form small group of artists and writers. LTTE subsided but there is still a strong sense of irresponsible panache”. THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of Ever rising refugee numbers the day HE rise of refugees in the first continue to have to deal with the dra- The Middle East region is suffering numbers of displaced peoples, mainly six months of 2014 saw 5.5 matic humanitarian consequences,” is the most from the humanitarian crisis, from Afghanistan and Somalia respec- million people newly displaced, the UNHCR statement on the primary with countries neighbouring conflict tively. This is putting an even greater Taccording to the new United cause for the new peak in the number zones bearing the brunt of taking on strain on their fragile economies. Nations High Commissioner for of refugees, a direct outcome of the extra refugees. The UNCHR calculates Despite dropping to second place, We will have a foreign Refugees (UNHCR) assessment. The continuing occurrence of war in various that relative to the size of their popula- the 2.7 million Afghan refugees remain total figure is 46.3 million, which is forms, but also of the failure to end wars. tions, Lebanon and Jordan are host- the largest protracted (at least five years) policy that will around 3.4 million more than at the As troubling as this assessment is, ing the largest numbers of displaced refugee population under UNHCR care mend our ties with end of 2013. As UNHCR only provides the figure of global refugee numbers peoples. With 257 refugees per 1,000 - and hence Pakistan, which hosts 1.6 help for the internally displaced in could yet rise in the next report due to inhabitants, Lebanon was the country million Afghan refugees, remains the the international countries where governments request the current situation in Syria and Iraq, with the highest refugee density at mid- biggest host country in absolute terms. community and its involvement, this figure does not following the onslaught of the extrem- year 2014. This quite simply means that After Syria and Afghanistan, the lead- include all internally displaced people ist organisation over the second half more than one in four people living in ing countries of origin of refugees are all international worldwide. of 2014. The UNHCR data show that Lebanon are refugees. Somalia (1.1 million), Sudan (670,000), “As long as the international com- Syrian refugees now account for 23 per Syrians formed the largest group of South Sudan (509,000), the Democratic organisations to munity continues to fail to find political cent of all refugees that are being helped asylum seekers worldwide during the Republic of the Congo (493,000), derive maximum solutions to existing conflicts and to by the UNCHR, with a total of three mil- first half of 2014. Pakistan and Ethiopia Myanmar (480,000) and Iraq (426,000). Maithripala Sirisena prevent new ones from starting, we will lion recorded by June 2014. have also had to provide refuge for large Khaleej Times benefit for our people. Sri Lankan President SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 The question of peaceful N-programme If deeper investigations into possible past nuclear weapons research in Iran — or any other country — are desired, the world powers should form an organisation that has the technical nuclear weapons knowledge, as well as the legal mandate, to be able to do this.

BY YOUSAF BUTT of talks ended, the head of the agency, Yukiya Amano, said on aving failed to reach an CNN that his group “cannot yet agreement on a com- give the assurance that all nuclear prehensive nuclear activities in Iran are for peace- Haccord in November, ful purposes.” By repeating the Tehran and the six world pow- phrase four times in the short ers set a new deadline — July 1, interview, he suggested this is a 2015. The diplomats are to meet key role of his agency. But it is again on January 18, though pros- not. pects for a rapid breakthrough Amano also failed to mention Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (left) with US Secretary of State John Kerry during talks between the foreign ministers of the six powers remain thin. One big roadblock that Iran is not unique in this. negotiating with Tehran on its nuclear programme, in Vienna. is that the International Atomic The agency cannot vouch for the Energy Agency has set for itself purely peaceful nature of nuclear has executed this mission well. material-accountancy experts are nothing of concern. But the agency weaponization efforts. the impossible goal of verifying activities in Argentina, Brazil and Over the decades, for example, trying to make technical judg- now says an anonymous source has The fact is that the agency the “purely peaceful” nature of 51 other states as well. it has repeatedly confirmedthat ments on weaponisation work informed it that a conventional is skilled at nuclear-materials Iran’s nuclear program. The agency has admitted that declared nuclear material in Iran they are unfamiliar with. And explosive-containment chamber — accountancy, but not properly The agency, however, cannot do its “legal authority to pursue the has not been diverted to any mili- they appear to be getting things possibly relevant to nuclear weapons outfitted for the nuclear-weapons this. Not for Iran — not for any verification of possible nuclear tary program. wrong. research - is on that site. So it wants investigations it is being called country. By holding Iran to this weapons-related activity is limited” Contact with member states is After the latest round of talks to revisit Parchin. on to conduct. Meanwhile, its impossible standard, the agency unless nuclear material is involved. governed by bilateral safeguards ended in November, for exam- Whatever happened in the rhetoric has influenced leaders undercuts the likelihood of a The organisation can seek the vol- agreements, whose sole purpose ple, Iran provided evidence that past, however, US Intelligence worldwide that Iran deserves to nuclear deal. untary cooperation of a signatory is to confirm this nuclear mate- supported its claims that the Director James Clapper has con- be singled out because it alone has No matter how stringent the state to go beyond this standard. rial accountancy. But nowhere agency’s reports describing the firmed he has a “high level of con- a nuclear program that cannot be agency’s oversight, for example, But it does not have either the legal does it state the agency’s job is to “possible military dimensions” of fidence” that Tehran is not now proven to be purely peaceful. some Iranian scientist or engi- basis or the technical capability to monitor “all nuclear activities,” or its nuclear program are “full of weaponising. Consider, for example, that neer could always idly doodle verify that “all nuclear activity” is that it is responsible for ensuring errors.” There may be technical In addition, a former inspec- President Barack Obama in bomb designs — with or without peaceful in any nation. the purely peaceful nature of any merit to Tehran’s assertion. tions director of the International his 2010 address to the United the knowledge of the govern- A former agency director, nation’s nuclear program. My assessments of these charges Atomic Energy Agency, Robert Nations General Assembly said, ment. So no one can prove that Hans Blix, recently explained The reason is simple: The show that either the agency is con- Kelly, who is a 35-year veteran “Iran is the only party to the NPT all nuclear activities in Iran are this point. “There could always agency also does not have the cerned about hardware that has of the US nuclear weapons com- that cannot demonstrate the purely peaceful. be small things in a big geographi- manpower, budget and special- legitimate civil (or conventional plex, has found weaknesses in the peaceful intentions of its nuclear As long as actual nuclear mate- cal area that can be hidden,” Blix ised technical skills to carry out military) uses or else it seems to agency’s reasoning. He criticised program.” rials are not involved, such weap- said, “and you can never guaran- nuclear-weapons investigations in be doing poor technical analysis. the organization’s refusal to take If deeper investigations into ons research is not against the tee completely that there are no signatory states. It doesn’t help that a hawkish up Iran’s offer to inspect another possible past nuclear weapons letter of the law. Even running undeclared activities.” By suggesting it can prove Washington think-tank is also site where the agency alleges Iran research in Iran — or any other computer simulations of nuclear The atomic energy agency was all Iran’s nuclear activities are painting Iran as having violated its also may have conducted nuclear country — are desired, the world bombs would be consistent with designed as an apolitical techni- peaceful, the agency is overselling interim nuclear agreement. weapons-relevant research. powers should form an organisa- the (rather lax) requirements cal organization. It was set up its capabilities. There are actu- A major bone of contention Blix is also skeptical of the tion that has the technical nuclear of the nuclear Non-Proliferation to take regular accounting of ally few nuclear-weapons experts between Iran and the atomic agency’s handling of intelligence. weapons knowledge, as well as the Treaty and those of the IAEA member states’ nuclear materi- at the agency, and those few are agency is about access to the mil- He noted that there is “as much legal mandate, to be able to do nuclear safeguards agreement. als, ensuring that none is diverted banned by Iran from working on itary site at Parchin, where the disinformation as information” this. The IAEA now has neither. Yet after the previous round to weapons use. The agency its inspections file. So the agency’s agency has looked twice and found in the reports on Iran’s alleged REUTERS Rajapaksa miscalculated popularity US to realign forces in UK, BY SHIHAR ANEEZ and JOHN and European countries CHALMERS BY CRAIG WHITLOCK ri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa lost his bid for a third term he Pentagon will close three Air Force bases in Britain that yesterday, ending a decade of rule that date to World War II as part of a broad realignment of US Scritics say had become increasingly forces and installations throughout Europe, defense officials authoritarian and marred by nepotism and Tannounced. corruption. Over the next six years, the Air Force will leave RAF Mildenhall in Opposition candidate Maithripala Sirisena, Suffolk — home to Special Operations forces and aerial refueling tank- a one-time ally of Rajapaksa who defected in ers — and close key intelligence analysis centers at RAF Molesworth November and derailed what the president and RAF Alconbury, two smaller adjacent bases in Cambridgeshire. thought would be an easy win, took 51.3 per- Most of the roughly 5,000 personnel at the three bases will be trans- cent of the votes polled in Thursday’s election. ferred elsewhere in Britain and to other installations in Europe, but Rajapaksa got 47.6 percent, according to the the closures will result in an overall reduction of about 2,000 US troops Election Department. and civilian employees in the United Kingdom. Celebratory firecrackers were set off in the To cushion the blow, US officials said they will base two squadrons capital, Colombo, after Rajapaksa conceded of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters at RAF Lakenheath in Britain, the first defeat to Sirisena, who has vowed to root out US deployments of the advanced fighter jets in Europe. Lakenheath is corruption and bring constitutional reforms about five miles from Mildenhall and will add about 1,200 US troops. to weaken the power of the presidency. Sri The Pentagon also will close more than a dozen smaller installa- Lanka’s stock market climbed to its highest tions in Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and Italy. Most are minor in nearly four years. barracks, commissaries, camps and other sites. Along with the base “We expect a life without fear,” said Fathima shutdowns in Britain, they are collectively expected to save the Defense Farhana, a 27-year-old Muslim woman in Department about $500 million annually, defense officials said. Colombo. “I voted for him because he said he Outgoing Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa sharing a light moment with Presidential staff All told, the U.S. military has about 67,000 troops stationed at bases will create equal opportunities for all,” she said before leaving the Secretariate in Colombo yesterday. in Europe, a number that is expected to remain about the same in the of Sirisena, a soft-spoken 63-year-old from the coming years. rice-growing hinterlands of the Indian Ocean “European and trans-Atlantic security is more important than ever,” island state. maintain good relations with China too,” he a credible candidate. But he did not antici- Derek Chollet, the assistant secretary of defense for international Like Rajapaksa, Sirisena is from the major- told the Hindustan Times. pate the emergence of Sirisena, who shared a security affairs, told reporters. “Yet at the same time, we must ensure ity Sinhala Buddhist community, but he has Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong traditional Sri Lankan dinner with him one that we pursue these goals in a way that is as efficient and effective reached out to ethnic minority Tamils and Lei said Beijing believed the new government evening and turned on him the next day. possible.” Muslims and has the support of several small would maintain a friendly policy towards Sirisena will lead a motley coalition of The United States leases Mildenhall, Molesworth and Alconbury parties. China and support investment projects already ethnic, religious, Marxist and centre-right from the Royal Air Force, and the properties will be returned to Britain Sirisena was sworn in at Colombo’s agreed. parties, which analysts say could hamper after they are vacated. Independence Square, where British colonial economic reform and encourage populist US military personnel at Molesworth and Alconbury — which pro- rulers handed Sri Lanka its independence in MOTLEY COALITION policies. vide intelligence analysis for the US European Command, the US 1948, alongside his new prime minister Ranil The results showed Rajapaksa remained “The opposition’s coalition parties have not Africa Command and the Defense Intelligence Agency — will transfer Wickremesinghe. popular among Sinhala Buddhists, who agreed on a common approach to economic to an expanded $300m intelligence hub at RAF Croughton, another In an acceptance speech, he was vague account for about 70 percent of the country’s policy and, in our view, were mainly united by US-leased base in Britain. on foreign policy, promising to “maintain 21 million people, but Sirisena earned his the desire to unseat Rajapaksa,” Standard and Michael Fallon, the British defense secretary, said his government a close relationship with all countries and lead with the support of the ethnic Tamil- Poor’s Ratings Services said in a statement. is disappointed by the US decision to leave Mildenhall but cheered the organisations”. dominated former war zone in the north and “Policy differences are likely to surface.” announcement to base the F-35 fighters at Lakenheath. Britain has However, his allies say he will rebalance the Muslim-dominated areas. Sirisena has pledged to abolish the execu- plans to buy about 48 of the US-made stealth fighters and will base country’s foreign policy, which tilted heavily Rajapaksa won handsomely in the last tive presidency that gave Rajapaksa unprec- most of them at RAF Marham in Norfolk, Virginia. towards China in recent years as Rajapaksa election in 2010, surfing a wave of popularity edented power and hold a fresh parliamentary “This resounding vote of confidence by the U.S. is great news,” fell out with the West over human rights and months after the defeat of the Tamil Tiger election within 100 days. Fallon said in a statement. “Our historic relationship with the US allegations of war crimes committed at the rebels. He has also promised a crackdown on cor- remains as strong as ever, and their decision to base their first end of a drawn-out conflict with Tamil sepa- But critics say he had become increasingly ruption, which would include investigations European F-35 squadrons in the UK clearly reflects the closeness ratists in 2009. authoritarian, with several members of his into big infrastructure projects such as a of our partnership.” Sri Lanka is just off India’s southern coast family holding powerful positions. Although $1.5 billion deal with China Communications The F-35 is billed as the most advanced fighter jet ever built, and the and has historically had mixed ties with its the economy had blossomed since the end of Construction Co Ltd to build a port city. weapons programme is the most expensive in US history. Many years much larger neighbour. the war, voters complained of the high cost It is not clear if the port, to be built on in the making, the F-35 program has suffered developmental setbacks Rajapaksa had cold-shouldered New Delhi of living. land reclaimed from the sea in Colombo, will and cost overruns. The US Marine Corps is scheduled to begin flying in recent years but Sirisena told an Indian Central bank governor Ajith Nivard Cabraal, be cancelled. the F-35 operationally this year, followed by the Air Force next year newspaper earlier this week that “we will a political appointee, said he had resigned. However, Sirisena’s backers have said a and the Navy in 2018. Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin revert to the old, non-aligned policy”. Rajapaksa had called this election two casino licence given to Australian gambling manufactures the F-35. The Pentagon plans to buy more than 2,400 “India is our first, main concern. But we are years early, confident that the usually frac- tycoon James Packer’s Crown Resorts Ltd will of the fighters and US allies are expected to purchase several hundred not against Chinese investment either. We will tured opposition would fail to come up with be withdrawn. REUTERS more. WP-BLOOMBERG SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Leftist group retracts Playing with snow claim of Istanbul attack Party’s planned attack coincided with bombing

ISTANBUL: A far-left Turkish had made a mistake because it said the police had identified the group yesterday retracted its was actively planning its own suicide bomber but said it would claim of responsibility for a sui- attack which “coincided with the be inappropriate to give further cide bombing of a police station Sultanahmet incident”. It did details. in central Istanbul this week. not give details about its planned The DHKP-C traces its roots A woman entered the attack. to Communist movements active police station in the his- “The action targeting the in Turkey in the 1970s. It has car- toric Sultanahmet district on Istanbul Tourism Police in ried out several attacks on the Tuesday, saying in English she Sultanahmet on January 6 was security forces, most recently on had lost her purse, before throw- not carried out by our organisa- January 1 when a man threw a ing explosives and blowing her- tion,” the group said on its website. homemade bomb at police officers. self up, killing a police officer “That is why we are withdrawing A series of arrests across and wounding another. our claim of responsibility.” Turkey and Europe over the last Hours after the attack a Turkish newspapers reported decade have significantly weak- statement on the Revolutionary this week the bomber was a preg- ened the DHKP-C, but experts People’s Liberation Party-Front nant Russian woman, and that say it still poses a serious threat. (DHKP-C) website said its fight- the police intelligence services The United States, European ers carried out the bombing. were investigating potential links Union and Turkey list the group But yesterday, the group with- to Al Qaeda. as a terrorist organisation. drew its statement, saying it Interior Minister Efkan Ala REUTERS Children play with snow during a heavy snowstorm in Amman yesterday. Muslims with tattoos urged to repent

ANKARA: Turkey’s top reli- that tattoos are harmful and curses the people who change UN confirms S Sudan massacre gious body yesterday urged immoral. their shape created by God’, be Muslims unable to remove “A person with a tattoo should it a woman with tattoos or some- JUBA: Rebels in South Sudan has been held accountable” for the said. “When they ran, soldiers their tattoos to beg God for for- remove it, if possible. He/she one who removes hair from their slaughtered at least 353 civil- killings, which it said “may amount shot at them outside of the gate.” giveness, the latest interven- should repent to God if the tat- face or eyebrows,” it added. ians in April last year, including to war crimes.” Later that day, 19 civilians were tion in a growing controversy too cannot be removed,” Turkey’s Erdogan, a practising Muslim, people sheltering in a mosque, In the April 15 attack on the killed in the town’s hospital, UN over body art in the country. Religious Affairs Directorate, has already made clear his dis- hospital and a United Nations northern oil-town of Bentiu, fight- investigators said. The religious authorities in known as Diyanet in Turkish, taste for tattoos, telling a prom- base, UN rights investigators ers backing South Sudan rebel Fighters also took to the radio officially secular Turkey frown said in a fatwa (a religious ising young footballer in July last said yesterday. leader Riek Machar murdered at urging rival groups to be forced on tattoos, even though they ruling). year to get rid of the tattoos on The report is the first detailed least 287 civilians sheltering in a from the town and for men to are highly fashionable, espe- It reaffirmed that all forms his arm. account of two incidents that have mosque, many of them traders and rape women from the rival tribe. cially among the young, urban of body art are banned by the In September, the government highlighted a pattern of gross their families from neighbouring “Victims were deliberately tar- population. Prophet Mohammed (peace banned school pupils from having abuses and atrocities committed Sudan’s Darfur region. geted on the basis of their eth- President Recep Tayyip be upon him) and suggested tattoos or body piercings as well during the year-old civil war in the “They lined up about 20 nicity, nationality or perceived Erdogan, who critics accuse of that they should, if possible, be as wearing make-up, dyeing of world’s youngest nation. The UN Darfurians, who were tied with support for one of the parties to seeking to impose a creeping removed either by laser or by hair and moustaches and beards also noted that nearly nine months their clothing... and told them to the conflict,” the UN said in a Islamisation on the country, has surgery. for boys. after the events, “no perpetrator run to save their lives,” the report 33-page report. AFP repeatedly made clear his belief “Our prophet has said ‘Allah AFP

Egypt begins Tunis demo in solidarity doubling Sinai with scribes ‘killed by IS’

buffer zone TUNIS: Around 300 people matter seriously.” Newly elected demonstrated in central Tunis President Beji Caid Essebsi met CAIRO: Egypt began work on yesterday in solidarity with two the families of the two men yes- doubling the width of a buffer journalists the Libyan branch terday but has not made any pub- zone along the border with the of the Islamic State (IS) group lic statement about the case. But Gaza Strip to prevent militants claims it has executed. Foreign Minister Mongi Hamdi infiltrating from the Palestinian “We are all Sofiene, we are all said the authorities are following enclave, security officials said. Nadhir,” read placards held by the case “minute by minute.” The buffer was initially planned the demonstrators, many of them Until such time as the claim of to be 500 metres (546 yard) wide, young journalists, in reference their deaths is confirmed, he said but is now being expanded by to Sofiene Chourabi and Nadhir “we hope that they are false.” another 500 metres. Ktari. On Thursday, the IS branch Hamdi expressed frustration The authorities began evacu- in Libya issued a statement say- Thursday over failed efforts to ating 1,220 homes in the area ing the pair, who went missing secure the two men’s release, demarcated for the expansion of there in early September, had saying “we do not know who kid- the zone, security officials said. been executed because they had napped them, why they kidnapped “We have started evacuating “sowed corruption in the land.” them or where they are.” the residents... but no houses have But echoing official state- Chourabi, an investigative jour- been demolished so far,” one said. ments, the head of the National nalist and blogger who was active Construction of the zone comes Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists, during Tunisia’s 2011 revolution, in the wake of an October 24 Neji Bghouri, said the “news has and Ktari, a photographer, went suicide bombing that killed 30 still not been confirmed” and missing in the Ajdabiya district Egyptian soldiers and wounded called on the government to of eastern Libya on September 8. scores more. After that incident, uncover the truth. Libya has been engulfed by Egypt declared a three-month “We chose to be journalists, chaos since the 2011 Nato-backed emergency in parts of North and we know it is difficult. We uprising that toppled and killed Sinai, a remote but strategic have chosen freedom and we will veteran dictator Muammar region bordering Israel and Gaza. Tunisians, including some journalists, hold placards during a demonstration to protest against the execution of carry on,” he said. Sami Ktari, Gaddafi, with two rival govern- Egypt suspects Palestinian two Tunisian journalists by the Libyan branch of the Islamic State (IS) group, in Tunis yesterday. father of one of the two, called ments and a host of militias now militants of aiding jihadist on the authorities to “take the vying for territory. AFP attacks against its security forces that have increased since the army ousted Islamist president Mohamed Mursi in 2013. The army has also stepped up destruc- tion of tunnels from Gaza that it says are used to smuggle arms, Prolonged absence of Qaboos causes worries food and money by the Palestinian militant group Hamas. DUBAI: His Majesty Oman’s monitoring. Speaking to AFP that minimise the impact of fall- Spring protest movement that Sultan Qaboos (pictured), who in Muscat, a Western diplomat ing oil revenues, Omani officials touched much of the region. Syrian opposition left home for medical tests six said that, “by way of this undated fear a slowdown in investments Two civilians died in demon- months ago for suspected can- video, the sultan wanted to show and therefore, the suspension of strations demanding political and figure declines cer and hasn’t returned since, that he remains in control of the major infrastructure projects,” economic reforms, shaking the has stirred concerns over sta- country, even continuing to issue the first diplomat said. government and leading Qaboos Moscow parley bility in his small Gulf country decrees from his place of resi- In 2008, Oman announced plans to implement a series of reforms and his eventual succession. dence abroad.” to build a port and shipyard in and to arrest scores of activists. The 74-year-old absolute ruler When he took the reins of Duqm, designed to handle ultra- In an effort to placate protest- AMMAN: Prominent Syrian is not only sultan, but also prime power, Oman was an isolated large crude carriers and compete ers, Qaboos announced the crea- opposition figure Mouaz Al minister, as well as holding the country living on the margins of with Dubai’s Jebel Ali free zone. tion of 50,000 new jobs, a monthly Khatib said yesterday he had foreign affairs, finance, defence the modern world with little or But the project has never moved allowance for registered job seek- turned down an invitation to a and interior portfolios. no infrastructure. beyond its first phase. ers and a higher minimum wage Moscow meeting with Syrian But without children, or even Qaboos has since transformed Aware of the consequences of for nationals working in the pri- government officials, in a fur- brothers, his closest relatives the sultanate into a modern state. the government’s fiscal problems, vate sector. ther blow to Russian efforts to being cousins, he has no direct In 2011, Qaboos amended the officials have been struggling to Increased financial pressures, find a solution to the Syrian heir. process for choosing his successor. diversify revenues beyond oil. coupled with uncertainty sur- conflict. Qaboos, who has been on the He appointed five top officials to The sultanate derives 79 per- A proposal to impose a two rounding Qaboos’s health and “We decided to decline ... this is throne for 44 years, went to a council that would be involved cent of its revenues from oil, of percent tax on foreign workers’ the speculation over his succes- because the conditions we think Germany in July for medical tests, in confirming the new sultan in which it produces only about one money transfers to their home sor, have fuelled fears of further are necessary to ensure the suc- with one diplomat saying he suf- case of any royal family dispute. million barrels per day. countries, which amounted to an unrest, according to residents in cess of the meeting are not avail- fers from colon cancer. “But as he has not assigned The non-Opec member has officially estimated $7.2bn in 2013, Muscat. able,” the moderate Islamist said Since then, he has made only prerogatives, nobody can make announced this year a budget was abandoned following exten- “This time, violence could erupt in an online post. one appearance, in a brief video decisions in his place” during his deficit of $6.47bn (¤5.35bn), rep- sive debate. again in the industrial area of When he headed the Western- that was broadcast on national life, another diplomat said. resenting 8.0 percent of GDP. Oman’s population is estimated Sohar (in the north), which saw backed Syrian political opposition television on November 5. The diplomat said that posed Current expenditure accounts at around four million. Nearly 1.8 the most violent protests in 2011 in 2012, Khatib called for nego- In it, a visibly weakened Qaboos problems amid an economic for the lion’s share at 68 percent million of them are foreigners — and where residents complain tiations with President Bashar spoke of what he called the “good slowdown that is likely to worsen of public spending, far ahead of mostly Asians. about the poor distribution of al-Assad to pave the way for a results” of his treatment, but after the price of crude has nearly investments (23 percent). In 2011, the usually sleepy sul- national wealth,” warned the dip- handover of power. AGENCIES added that his condition requires halved since June. “Despite their reassurances tanate was caught up in the Arab lomat. AFP SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 West facing mass casualty attacks, warns British spy chief

LONDON: Islamist militants since 2013, was speaking late on security think-tank in London. Afghanistan and Pakistan who and heated debate in Britain, as Security Committee scrutiny body, in Syria are planning “mass Thursday, a day after Islamist These included “attempts to made their way to Syria, although elsewhere. said the Paris attack gave “added casualty attacks” on Western gunmen stormed the offices of cause large scale loss of life, often experts caution they are not a dis- “My sharpest concern as direc- weight” to the case for new sur- targets, the head of British spy French satirical magazine Charlie by attacking transport systems or tinct group but are part of Al Nusra tor general of MI5 is the grow- veillance powers to track militants. agency MI5 has warned, saying Hebdo in Paris and killed 12 iconic targets”. Front, Al Qaeda’s Syrian branch. ing gap between the increasingly “In the modern world they the deadly shooting in Paris was people. The Islamic State group in Raffaello Pantucci, an expert challenging threat and the communicate through the only a reminder of an ongoing He said it was too early to Syria and Iraq is a well-known in international security at RUSI, decreasingly availability of capa- Internet, through email, through threat. judge the details or the origin of threat, targeting Britain and said Parker was making clear in bilities to address it,” he said. social messaging and all the tech- Security Service chief Andrew the attack, but it was a “terri- seeking to radicalise Britons, with his speech that despite the appar- A previous bill to force compa- nical ways that we are aware of,” Parker was referring in particular ble reminder of the intentions of Parker saying an estimated 600 ent changing nature of recent nies to keep data about people’s the former foreign and defence to a group of fighters known as those who wish us harm”. have gone there to fight. attacks, the old threats do not go online conversations, social media secretary told BBC radio. Khorasan, sources said, who have Speaking of the broader But the MI5 chief added: “We away. “So while we have seen a activity, calls and texts for a year “So our intelligence agencies, been targeted by US warplanes in threats, he said the number of know, for example, that a group of surge in this kind of lone actor- was dropped after opposition acting under law, acting on good strikes in northwest Syria. “crude but potentially deadly core Al Qaeda terrorists in Syria type thing, we’ve also still got a from the junior coalition partners reasonable grounds, with author- He warned that intelligence plots” had increased, citing last is planning mass casualty attacks lot of people trying to plan big in the government. ity, have to have the power to inter- agencies needed more powers, in year’s attacks in Canada and against the West.” attacks,” he said. But another law was published cept particularly international particular to intercept communi- Australia, and were particularly He is understood to be refer- “The fact that we haven’t had a in November that would oblige communications that might be cations, but added: “Although we hard to detect. ring to the Khorasan group, which successful one does not mean that Internet service providers to hand relevant.” French Prime Minister and our partners try our utmost, Meanwhile the “complex and had been an obscure cell until US people aren’t plotting to do that.” over data on Internet Protocol Manuel Valls made a similar point we know that we cannot hope to ambitious plots” carried out by intelligence officials called atten- After laying out the threats, (IP) addresses to trace individual Friday, saying: “It will be no doubt stop everything.” Al Qaeda in the past still existed, tion to it in September. Parker made a fresh call for more smartphone and computer users. necessarily to take new measures” Parker, who has led Britain’s he told the Royal United Services US officials say the group powers for the security serv- Malcolm Rifkind, who chairs to respond to the terror threat. domestic intelligence agency Institute (RUSI) defence and includes Al Qaeda operatives from ices—an issue that is of ongoing parliament’s Intelligence and AFP

Abu Hamza Paris turns into gets life in prison on US war zone in hunt conviction

NEW YORK: Radical imam Abu Hamza Al Masri was sen- for attackers tenced to life in prison yester- day, eight months after he was convicted of federal terrorism charges in New York. Police gun down hostage takers US District Judge Katherine Forrest in Manhattan imposed PARIS/DAMMARTIN-EN- “There were police officers the sentence on the one-eyed, GOËLE: Pools of blood, shat- running in every direction,” said handless Abu Hamza, whom tered glass and bodies in the Virginie Handani, 35, who lives jurors had found guilty of provid- street — this was the day when two floors above the supermarket. ing a satellite phone and advice to the heart of France turned into Moments before, other spe- Yemeni militants who kidnapped a war zone. cial forces assaulted a printers’ Western tourists in 1998, leading As commandos assaulted a business in Dammartin-en-Goele to the deaths of four hostages. Paris supermarket to free hos- outside the capital, where the The defendant was also con- tages yesterday, sending locals two main suspects in the Charlie victed of sending two followers running in terror, more special Hebdo massacre had holed up to Oregon to establish a militant forces stormed a building in a with one hostage. training camp, and dispatching an small town nearby, killing two Explosions thundered and associate to Afghanistan to aid Al Islamist hostage-takers. smoke poured from the roof of the Qaeda and the Taliban against the The kind of violence that building. The two brothers inside, United States. seemed unimaginable in the City who had led thousands of police “Abu Hamza was not convicted of Light concluded more than on a wild manhunt for more than for his words,” federal prosecutor two days of terrible tension as 48 hours, ran out in a desperate Edward Kim told Forrest prior to police hunted the Islamist gun- last stand and were gunned down. Members of the French police special forces evacuate hostages including a child (centre) after launching the the sentencing. “His crimes truly men who had massacred 12 people The hostage was saved. assault at a kosher grocery store in Porte de Vincennes, eastern Paris, yesterday. spanned the globe, from Yemen at a satirical weekly magazine on The fiery denouement came at to Afghanistan to the United Wednesday. the end of a day when the abrupt States.” In eastern Paris, police stormed arrival of huge numbers of elite Attacker met Qaeda preacher in Yemen Abu Hamza, 56, had gained the Jewish grocery store where police both in the capital and in notoriety for his incendiary at least one gunman had earlier Dammartin-en-Goele made the sermons at the Finsbury Park taken several people hostage. likelihood of a final battle appear SANAA: One of two broth- The Yemeni source said international affiliates and a Mosque in London, which US and Explosions rocked the neighbour- inevitable. ers suspected of carrying out Kouachi, 34, was among a number direct threat to the United UK authorities said helped inspire hood — one lighting up the shop- “It happened very, very quickly. the deadly shooting at a French of foreigners who entered the States, when it claimed respon- a generation of militants, includ- front in a fireball —a nd shooting We saw helicopters and suddenly satirical weekly met leading country for religious studies. sibility for an attempt by a ing the would-be shoe bomber erupted as the commandos burst we saw CRS (elite police) all Al Qaeda preacher Anwar Al “We do not have confirmed Nigerian man, Umar Farouk Richard Reid. “I still maintain my in. around us. We started to panic a Awlaki during a stay in Yemen information that he was trained Abdulmutallab, to down a innocence,” Abu Hamza told the “It’s war!” screamed a mother bit,” said Stephane, 45, who works in 2011, a senior Yemeni intelli- by Al Qaeda but what was con- Detroit-bound airliner on judge prior to being sentenced. as she dragged her daughter from in a hazardous materials business gence source said yesterday. firmed was that he has met with December 25, 2009 with a bomb He asked that corrections officials the scene. in Dammartin-en-Goele, as he US born and web-savvy, Awlaki Awlaki in Shabwa,” the source concealed in his underwear. arrange to properly treat his disabil- In the aftermath, a reporter described his frightening morn- was seen as an influential inter- said, noting that he could have Said and his brother Cherif, ities, and that any prison time not saw a body sprawled by the cash ing. “They just gave us enough national recruiter to the Al been trained in one of the large 32, are at the centre of a huge constitute “a backdoor for torture.” till, surrounded by broken glass. time to grab something warm to Qaeda movement and a promi- parts of Yemen not under the manhunt in France following the Defense lawyers had urged Blood was everywhere. Another wear outside,” he said. nent figure in Al Qaeda in the control of the authorities back in killing of 12 people at the offices that Abu Hamza be sentenced to corpse was in a bodybag in the Police snipers set up on rooftops Arabian Peninsula (AQAP), the 2011. of the satirical weekly newspa- a term shorter than life in prison. street, one of five people killed, in the non-descript town and group’s most active affiliate. He The southern province of per Charlie Hebdo in Paris on They also said any sentence including the gunman. van after van of reinforcements was killed in September 2011 in Shabwa is a lawless area where Wednesday. should take into account their cli- Several others hostages fled deployed. Masked and helmeted a drone strike widely attributed Al Qaeda militants and the secu- The two suspects are French- ent’s need as a double amputee for from the firing into the arms of troopers with automatic weap- to the CIA. rity forces have clashed in recent born sons of Algerian-born par- specialized medical care, pressing waiting police. ons could be seen peering out of US and European sources years. It was under Al Qaeda’s ents. Both men had been under for Abu Hamza to be sent to a But four people were critically a blue police helicopter hovering close to the investigation said on control in 2011 when mass pro- police surveillance. Cherif was medical facility instead of a maxi- injured. Ambulances raced to the overhead. Thursday that one of the sus- tests forced long-ruling president jailed for 18 months for trying to mum security prison. scene, joining a jam of police vans They didn’t have long to wait pects in the French attack, Said Ali Abdullah Saleh to step down. travel to Iraq a decade ago to fight and other emergency vehicles, all before going into action. Kouachi, was in Yemen for several AQAP emerged as one of as part of an Islamist cell. One held in fresh under the whirr of helicopters. AFP months training with AQAP. Al Qaeda’s most aggressive REUTERS counter-terror Battle of New Orleans remembrance raids in Australia SYDNEY: Australian police Cuba frees 36 activists conducted fresh counter-ter- rorism raids in Sydney yester- day, officials said, as part of an ongoing investigation into citi- in two days: Dissidents zens providing support to for- eign fighters overseas. HAVANA: One of Cuba’s most list of 53 prisoners was a key part A 33-year-old man was arrested prominent dissident groups said of the historic deal announced and charged with acquiring and yesterday that 36 opposition on December 17 under which possessing ammunition illegally in activists, including a popular the Cuban and US governments the raids, which were carried out at hip-hop artist, have been freed agreed to renew diplomatic rela- four properties in southwest Sydney, in the last two days as part tions after more than 50 years of New South Wales police said. of a deal to improve relations hostilities. He was refused bail and between Cuba and the United Most of those released over the ordered to appear in a Sydney States. last two days were accused of such court Saturday. The warrants The dissident Patriotic Union offenses as resisting arrest and were “part of a long-running of Cuba (UNPACU) said 29 of threatening police officers, and investigation and not as a result its members were among those had been given short sentences of any specific terrorism threat,” released, and that most had been of two to five years. police added in a statement. warned by the communist gov- The hip-hop artist, Angel The raids were unconnected to ernment they would be sent back Yunier Remon, known as “The the 16-hour standoff at a Sydney to prison if they continued their Critic”, was serving the longest cafe in mid-December that left the opposition activities. prison term, eight years. lone gunman, self-styled Islamic “Our freed prisoners are com- Remon was arrested in 2013 cleric Man Haron Monis, and mitted to continue fighting for after painting a giant slogan, two hostages dead, an Australian the democratic Cuba which we “Down With The Dictatorship!”, Federal Police spokeswoman said. all want,” UNPACU’s leader Jose on the street outside his home in The investigation, which has Daniel Ferrer said in a statement. the eastern city of Bayamo. He been running for more than a “The UNPACU activists have staged several hunger strikes year, is looking into alleged finan- left prison with more energy, while behind bars, and said he cial and other support for foreign Re-enactors of the Battle of New Orleans march back to their camp from the re-created battlefield on the force and motivation than they contracted cholera due to the fighters involved in conflicts such 200th anniversary of the battle in Chalmette, Louisiana. had when they were jailed.” unsanitary prison conditions. as those in Syria and Iraq. Cuba’s commitment to free a REUTERS AGENCIES SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Philippines Sirisena swears to buy two C130 transport in as Sri Lanka planes from US

MANILA: The Philippine mil- itary yetserday signed a pact president with the US Navy to buy two secondhand C-130 transport planes to boost its capability to fan out quickly for territo- Ranin Wickremesinghe in new PM rial defence and humanitarian operations. COLOMBO: Maithripala for a leader who had appeared Washington has been helping Sirisena was sworn in as Sri certain of victory when he called develop the military capability of Lankan president yester- snap polls in November. its former colony in the face of day after a shock victory over Thilanga Sumathipala, a law- serious security challenges in the veteran strongman Mahinda maker with Rajapaksa’s Sri South China Sea, as China steps Rajapaksa in an election domi- Lanka Freedom Party, said the up its presence in disputed areas. nated by charges of corruption outgoing president had a “very China claims almost all of the and growing authoritarianism. emotional” meeting with minis- sea, believed to be rich in mineral Sirisena took the oath of office ters as he bowed out yesterday. and oil-and-gas deposits. Brunei, hours after Rajapaksa conceded US Secretary of State John Malaysia, Vietnam, Taiwan and defeat, saying he accepted the Kerry welcomed Rajapaksa’s early the Philippines also have claims decision of Sri Lankans who concession and said he looked on the waters, traversed by about turned out in force on Thursday forward to working with the new $5 trillion of ship-borne trade to vote him out after 10 years in leader. each year. office. Sirisena has promised sweep- “The United States is helping Sirisena said Sri Lanka would ing reforms of the presidency and us pay for these two aircraft,” mend its ties with the interna- said he will transfer many of its Colonel Restituto Padilla, a tional community, in a clear ref- executive powers to parliament. Sri Lanka’s newly-elected President Maithripala Sirisena takes oath as he is sworn in at Independence Square in spokesman for the Armed Forces erence to Rajapakse’s falling out He was elected on a tide of Colombo yesterday. of the Philippines, said, adding with the West over allegations resentment against Rajapaksa, that the US State Department of wartime rights abuses by the who rewrote the constitution would provide about $20m in for- military. after his re-election in 2010 to Tamils celebrate toppling Rajapaksa eign military financing. “We will have a foreign policy remove the two-term limit on “We have requested some 1.6 that will mend our ties with the the presidency and give himself billion pesos to complete the pur- international community and all more powers over public servants JAFFNA: Sri Lanka’s Tamils because of our (Tamil) votes.” The main Tamil party, the chase of the transport planes,” he international organisations in and judges. yesterday celebrated their Rajapaksa had travelled to Tamil National Alliance (TNA), added, referring to a sum equiva- order that we derive maximum During the campaign, Sirisena key role in ousting Mahinda Jaffna last week for a campaign backed Sirisena’s candidacy and lent to $35.61m. benefit for our people,” he said. said that he had warned Rajapaksa, whose 11th-hour rally, as the extent of support for said it was grateful to its support- The transport planes, to be Celebratory firecrackers could Rajapaksa to change his ways or charm offensive and exhorta- the opposition among majority ers for electing their choice for delivered early next year, will take be heard in Colombo as Sirisena risk new unrest in the country. tion to vote for “the known Sinhalese became clear. the top job. to five the number of mission- was sworn in on the capital’s “He was leading the coun- devil” was too little, too late. During a campaign rally he But it made clear it expected ready C-130s, for a boost in the Independence Square along try down a dangerous road to Rajapaksa was strongly told residents that Sirisena was him to address the issue of number and capacity of existing with new Prime Minister Ranil destruction,” he had said, prom- resented among Tamils in Sri a stranger to the region, while greater autonomy for Tamil areas medium-lift aircraft. Wickremesinghe. ising a “constitutional revolution” Lanka after ordering a brutal mil- he had travelled there at least 11 of the country — something that In 2014, Washington allocated “People want a new political if elected. itary suppression of a separatist times after first becoming presi- may prove a challenge given that military assistance funds of $50 culture. I don’t want anyone tak- Rajapakse enjoyed huge sup- insurgency in which thousands of dent in 2005. his diverse support base includes million to the Philippines. Besides ing the law into their own hands,” port among majority Sinhalese civilians are said to have died. “The devil you know is better Sinhalese nationalists. the C-130s, the funds were used said Wickremesinghe, the head voters after overseeing the end of With the majority Sinhalese than the unknown angel,” he said “The new president Sirisena to install weapons on two frigates, of the opposition United National a separatist war by ethnic Tamil vote split between the president in Sinhala, speaking through a has to address urgently many also acquired from the US coast Party (UNP), at an earlier press rebels in 2009. and his successful challenger translator. “I am the known devil, grave issues the country faces, guard. conference. But critics say he failed to bring Maithripala Sirisena, Sri Lanka’s so please vote for me.” including an honourable resolu- Padilla said the transport Sirisena, a former health min- about reconciliation in the years largest minority group emerged The somewhat mangled meta- tion of the national question,” the planes would be used to rapidly ister who united a fractured that followed his crushing victory as kingmakers in the polls. phor appears to have rung true TNA said, in a reference to Tamil deploy troops in the fight against opposition to pull off an unlikely over the Tamil Tiger guerrillas. “We were the deciding factor at for many Tamils, who came out in autonomy. Muslim and Maoist-led rebels victory, thanked Rajapakse for a He is also accused of under- this election,” said school teacher unusually large numbers to vote The Tamil Tigers ran Jaffna and carry relief to disaster-hit “fair election that allowed me to mining the independence of the Kanchana Keethiswaran in the for Sirisena despite some reports as a de facto state for nearly five areas. be the president”. judiciary and has packed the gov- northern Jaffna peninsula, scene of intimidation. More than a mil- years until they were dislodged in The purchase is part of a 90bn He was elected with a ernment with relatives, sparking of the worst of the violence in the lion Tamils endorsed Sirisena, 1995 and the area has been heavily pesos ($2bn), five-year upgrade 51.28-percent share of the vote to resentment even within his own decades-long conflict. who took a 51.28-percent share militarised since the war ended plan to catch up with Southeast the former leader’s 47.58 percent. party. “We hope the new president of the vote nationwide to secure in 2009. Asian neighbours. It was a remarkable reverse AFP does not forget that he won only the presidency. AFP REUTERS

Pings from AirAsia black box detected

PANGKALAN BUN, have slowed multinational efforts buried in the seabed. Those Indonesia: Signals believed to find the wreckage of the plane, problems continued throughout to be from the black box data which is lying in relatively shal- Friday, with efforts to lift the tail recorders of crashed AirAsia low waters, and determine why using floatation devices also scup- Flight 8501 were detected yes- it crashed. pered by rough seas. terday, Indonesian authorities The black boxes are regarded as Indonesian authorities have said, raising hopes they could crucial to explaining the cause of also brought a crane to the KRI be retrieved and the disaster the disaster, as they should con- Banda Aceh Navy vessel stationed explained. tain recordings of the pilots’ final close to the tail site, in hopes of However, the signals indicated words and general flight data. using that to lift the wreckage. the boxes may have been dis- They are designed to give a ping Supriyadi said the conditions lodged from the wreckage of the signal for 30 days after a crash so were severely hampering all plane’s tail and fallen hundreds of that the recorders can be found. search efforts — for the black metres deeper into the Java Sea, The tail of the plane, where the boxes, other parts of the plane, and one of the search coordinators, black boxes were housed, was dis- bodies. “Hopefully the weather and S B Supriyadi, told reporters at covered on Wednesday partially the sea are better tomorrow so we nightfall. buried in the seabed 30 metres can do our operation,” he said. “We can’t get the coordinates underwater. American, Chinese and other yet. The possibility is the black But the late Friday com- foreign naval ships are also box was thrown off and fell to ments from Supriyadi, echoed by involved in the hunt for other the seabed and is buried in mud,” Indonesian military commander parts of the plane’s wreckage, said Supriyadi, a director with General Moeldoko, indicated as well as for the bodies of pas- the National Search and Rescue the search had taken another sengers. Just 48 bodies have Agency who is stationed at search frustrating twist and divers been found so far, according to headquarters in the town of would have to go much deeper to Indonesian authorities. Pangkalan Bun on Borneo island. retrieve them. All but seven of those on board The plane crashed on December Dozens of elite Indonesian were Indonesian. The non-Indone- 28 during stormy weather as it Marine divers had tried but failed sians were three South Koreans, flew from the Indonesian city of to thoroughly search the tail after one Singaporean, one Malaysian, Surabaya to Singapore, claiming its discovery on Wednesday, in a one Briton and a Frenchman — An Indonesian rescue helicopter flies over Crest Onyx ship as divers conduct operations to lift the tail of AirAsia the lives of all 162 people on board. task complicated by powerful cur- co-pilot Remi Plesel. flight QZ8501 in the Java Sea yesterday. Rough seas and strong currents rents and the fact it was partially AFP

HK lawmaker will quit to trigger referendum Three rebel suspects killed in Thai south fire fight HONG KONG: A veteran pro- Kong’s pro-democracy lawmak- by-election in which five million hold a critical legislative veto on democracy lawmaker pledged ers, who have vowed to veto any people are eligible to vote. constitutional amendments, vote BANGKOK: Three suspected insurgents were killed in a shoot- yesterday to resign from Hong government proposal over how to “I think I should take every down the political reform package. out with soldiers in Thailand’s restive deep south yesterday after a Kong’s legislature, triggering a choose a new leader in 2017. possible opportunity to enable Lawmakers are expected to vote 12-hour stand-off at a house ended in bloodshed, police said. by-election to allow residents to It came as the authorities con- the Hong Kong people to vent on the package in the early months Acting on a tip-off, soldiers surrounded a house where a group of “vent their anger” at Chinese tinued to clamp down on activists their anger, their frustrations, of the summer, but experts have suspected rebels — who are fighting for greater autonomy for the authorities over proposals on how involved in the mass pro-democ- and protest against the central questioned the usefulness of Ho’s Muslim-majority southernmost region —w ere holed-up since the early the city chooses its next leader. racy rallies which began at the government,” Ho told reporters, move. “It (the resignation) would hours of yesterday. “There was a long negotiation to persuade them to The issue was at the heart of end of September. announcing his decision. be meaningless because the bill surrender,” a police official from Mayo district in Pattani province said,. months of mass protests in the Though Hong Kong will choose “I am in a position to do so by would have been voted down But the discussions collapsed and a prolonged firefight erupted, former British colony where pro- its chief executive through a resigning from my seat so as to already,” political analyst Sonny Lo before heavily-armed security forces stormed the building, ending the democracy demonstrators blocked one-person-one-vote system, the trigger off a territory-wide de- said. The final framework needs incident 12 hours after it began. “Three insurgents were killed in the off stretches of main roads to call authorities have said candidates facto referendum,” he said, adding to pass the city’s mini-parliament clash with soldiers... two others escaped,” he said, adding that several for true universal suffrage. must be vetted by a pro-Beijing that he was sure “the Hong Kong with a two-thirds majority, but guns were abandoned by the suspects. Conflict analysts Deep South Albert Ho’s announcement that committee. people would seize this opportu- Hong Kong’s pan-democrats are Watch say 6,300 people have been killed in a bitter, bloody and seem- he would resign his seat in the Ho’s resignation from his nity to fully express their views.” able to block its passage with their ingly intractable 11-year insurgency mainly in Thailand’s southernmost city’s Legislative Council is the “super seat”, one of five in the leg- Ho said he would resign after 27 total seats. provinces of Pattani, Narathiwat and Yala. latest show of defiance by Hong islature, will trigger a city-wide pro-democracy lawmakers, who AFP AFP SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Blast damages railway track Peshawar schools SC can strike to reopen on Monday PESHAWAR: Schools in the restive northwestern down fresh Pakistani province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will re-open on Monday, an official said, after an extended break following a anti-terror law brutal Taliban assault which killed 150 people, the country’s deadliest-ever attack. Provincial Information Minister Former chief justice cites precedent Mushtaq Ghani told AFP that “all the necessary security measures” ISLAMABAD: Former chief the judiciary as guaranteed by have been taken for 35,000 edu- justice of Pakistan Justice (Rtd) the Constitution. cational institutions, including Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui has In the said case, the SC had schools, colleges and universities said that the Supreme Court declared the Article 203-C as to re-open on January 12. (SC) can strike down the 21st being a violation of Article 209, The government had Constitutional Amendment. which guaranteed the tenure announced a winter vacation He argued that in the 1996 of office. The SC judgement due to security threats after the landmark Al-Jehad Trust Case said, “Since the former Article deadly attack on the military-run — commonly known as the was incorporated by the Chief school in Peshawar killed 150 peo- Judges Case — the apex court had Martial Law Administrator and ple, including 134 children. already struck down an article of the latter Article was enacted by Ghani also said the authorities the Constitution on the precise the framers of the Constitution, would build walls around govern- question of the independence of the same shall prevail and, hence, ment-run education institutions the judiciary. such an appointment will be Pakistani railway workers start their work for replacement of damaged railway track in Jaffarabad. A bomb which would extend at least eight Justice Siddiqui rejected void.” blew up a section of the track in Jaffarabad yesterday. feet high, and would also intro- the impression that there was Following the Supreme Court’s duce community policing systems no precedent in the history of 1996 judgement, the Article 203-C whereby civilians with experi- Pakistani judiciary where any of the Constitution became ence operating weapons would be constitutional article had been redundant and was never applied trained and paid to guard educa- struck down by the apex court. He again because of the apex court’s Islamabad police to act against tional facilities. added that the setting up military decision. The said Article was giv- Private sector schools, colleges courts during Nawaz Sharif’s sec- ing the executive the authority to and universities have meanwhile ond term was also undone by the appoint any judge or chief justice been issued with strict guidelines Supreme Court in Mehram Ali’s of any high court as judge in the Jamia Hafsa over IS video with requirements including hav- case as such courts were found Federal Shariat Court. According ing guards, Ghani said, adding a parallel judicial system which, to the redundant constitutional ISLAMABAD: Islamabad he had consulted with Syed legal advice before proceeding that schools’ licenses could be according to the SC order, could article, if any such high court police department has decided Mohamamd Tayyab, a special further, ‘ the legal opinion says. revoked if they did not follow the not be permitted to be established judge does not accept the appoint- to register criminal cases public prosecutor for the Anti- A police officer said on con- rules. in Pakistan. ment as a judge of FSC, he shall against the Shohada Foundation Terrorist Courts as well as the dition of anonymity that the Justice Siddiqui also referred be deemed to have retired from and students of Jamia Hafsa notified prosecutor in cases concerned authorities and law- Govt to adopt to the case challenging the 18th his office. for ‘waging war’ and invit- registered under the newly- makers had been informed about Amendment in the Supreme The SC had found that the ing the terrorist organisation passed Protection of Pakistan the issue and the police had r esult-based Court with regard to the judges’ appointment of a sitting chief Islamic State (IS), also known Act 2014. decided to register cases against appointment procedure as was justice of a high court or a judge by its Arabic acronym Daish, to The words spoken by the stu- seminary students and the foun- management introduced by parliament through thereof in the Federal Shariat avenge Operation Silence, that dents in the video and the content dation. He said that they were a Constitutional Amendment in Court under Article 203C of the was carried out against the Lal of the press release reportedly fall still awaiting further orders in ISLAMABAD: The meet- 2010. However, the apex court Constitution without his con- Masjid in 2007. under offences laid out in sections this regard. ing on improving the govern- had reservations about the said sent is violative of Article 209 Senior police officials said on 121, 121A, 505(1)b and 505(2) of Section 121 of the PPC deals ment’s performance through procedure following which it had of the Constitution of Pakistan, Thursday that the department the Pakistan Penal Code. with ‘waging or attempting to undertaking systemic reforms sought certain changes which which guarantees the tenure of had sought the legal opinion of Section 121 and 121-A of the wage war or abetting waging agenda that met on Thursday were duly made by parliament office. their prosecution department code deals with offences related of war against Pakistan’, while has decided that ‘Results Based through a constitutional amend- It added that Article 203C over a press release and video to ‘waging war‘ against Pakistan. Section 121A is entitled ‘conspir- Management’ would become ment. The said case, Siddiqui said, of the Constitution having massage, made by students of the The expression ‘waging war’ acy to commit offence publishable a fundamental reform pro- was still pending before the apex been incorporated by the chief Jamia Hafsa seminary, inviting according to the legal opinion by section 121‘. Section 505(1)b gramme, which the Pakistan’s court. martial law administrator and Daish to come to Pakistan. submitted to the police depart- deals with ‘whoever makes, pub- federal government will pur- Referring to the Al-Jehad Article 209 of the Constitution The press release and video ment, has not been defined in the lishes, or circulates any statement sue in order to ensure value for Trust Case of 1996, Justice having been enacted by the were issued by the Shohada code or in the General Clauses rumour or report’ , while Section money and effective delivery of (Rtd) Siddiqui said that before framers of the Constitution Foundation. Act, 1897 and must be therefore, 505(2) is entitled ‘whoever makes, public services. this particular case, the presi- and also being beneficial and A report was prepared on the be understood in its ordinary dic- publishes or circulates any state- Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, dent was empowered to appoint promoting the independence of issue by Superintendent of Police tionary meaning of ‘carrying on ment or report containing rumour under whose chairmanship the a sitting chief justice of a high the judiciary, in case of conflict (SP) City Rizwan Omar Gondal, war’. or alarming news with intent to meeting was held, desired that court or a judge of the Federal between the two, Article 209 whichwas forwarded to Inspector ‘The DSP Legal has deeply create on grounds of religion, a pilot model of a few ministries Shariat Court under Article of the Constitution shall pre- General (IG) Tahir Alam Khan perused the special report along race, place of birth, residence, lan- be initiated to test the working 203C of the Constitution vail over Article 203C which for further action. with press release and visual guage, caste or community or any of the system before its full-scale without his consent. But the detracts from dominant intent The IG asked for a legal opinion evidence with the consultation other ground whatsoever, feel- implementation. As a next step, Supreme Court, in 1996 in the and spirit of the Constitution, on the matter and the report was of the special public prosecu- ings of enmity, hatred or ill-will a roadmap will be developed that Al-Jehad Trust Case, struck namely the independence of the sent to Islamabad deputy super- tor. As the matter relates to between different religious, racial, outlines key steps and a presen- down the said article of the judiciary and such an appoint- intendent of police (DSP) Legal sovereignty of the country and language, or regional groups or tation will be made to the prime Constitution finding it in fric- ment will be void. for his opinion. requires that it be sent to the castes or communities’. minister. tion with the independence of INTERNEWS The DSP Legal reported that appropriate forum to solicit INTERNEWS AGENCIES Bid to declare Imran’s NA seat vacant

ISLAMABAD: Nine members of the and other is resolution under the rules of of [Majlis-e-Shoora] (Parliament) may, National Assembly belonging to the the National Assembly. Naima Kishwar by writing under his hand addressed to Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) of Maulana Khan, Maulana Amir Zaman, Maulana the Speaker or, as the case may be, the Fazlur Rehman and Pakistan Muslim Gohar Shah, Qari Muhammad Yusuf, Chairman resign his seat, and thereupon League-Nawaz (PML-N) have submitted Maulvi Muhammad Agha, M Aasia Nasir, his seat shall become vacant. (2) A House a notice to the Speaker’s Secretariat to Alia Kamran, Shahida Akhtar Ali (JUI) and may declare the seat of a member vacant declare Imran Khan’s seat in the House Dr Ibadullah Khan (PML-N) submitted if, without leave of the House, he remains vacant as he has been absent for 40 con- the resolution, asking for declaring seat of absent for forty consecutive days of its sit- secutive days. NA-56 Rawalpindi vacated since the mem- tings.” The notice has been given under rule The announcement pertaining to his ber elected from this constituency Imran 44 of the National Assembly seeking re- absence was made by the deputy speaker Khan has failed representing the constitu- election in the constituency. The sources of the National Assembly a day earlier, and ents by abstaining from the house for forty said that Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq will Imran Khan can be de-seated with the con- consecutive days. take decision about putting up the resolu- sent of the house any time. They have cited the relevant rules and tion and the notice in the house any day Parliamentary sources in the National article 64 (2) of the Constitution for seek- during the ongoing session of the National Assembly said that two separate submis- ing declaration. The relevant article says Assembly. sions were filed on Thursday; one is notice “64. Vacation of seats.- (1) A member INTERNEWS

Aspiring champions Pakistan govt approves $15m for GB hospitals ISLAMABAD: The Planning Commission of Pakistan has approved Rs1.5bn ($15m) for the purchase of modern machinery for government hospitals in Gilgit-Baltistan. The money to be provided by the Islamic Bank will be given to the region’s health department, an official of the Gilgit chief sectary office on Thursday. The official said that the Planning Commission had approved the amount of money during a recent meeting of the Central Development Working Committee in Islamabad. He said a request for the money was sent to the Planning Afghan youths play football in a field at the Chaman-e- Huzuri ground in Kabul yesterday. Football is Commission by the GB a popular sport in the war-torn country, with the Afghan national team winning the 2014 South Asian Development Working Party Football Federation Cup. three months ago. INTERNEWS SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Dutt at home, Governor’s rule imposed in Kashmir awaits furlough decision We’re still in discussions with a number of parties, says PDP official MUMBAI: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt, who went to SRINAGAR: Jammu Kashmir Ganapathy said after Vohra had means local representatives will up in the mainly Hindu Jammu governor’s rule but ultimately a Yerawada jail in Pune on the was brought under New Delhi’s made an official recommendation have no say in the running of region in the south of the state. popular government has to come end of his 14-day furlough but direct rule yesterday after to Mukherjee. Kashmir for the timebeing, a Abdullah, who suffered a back- and serve the state because the did not surrender and returned political rivals failed to agree on The move comes more than particular sensitive issue in a lash over his government’s han- people have voted for the govern- home on Thursday, is at home a power-sharing coalition, more two weeks after the December region where rebels have been dling of devastating floods in ment,” Akhtar told NDTV. here with his family, awaiting than two weeks after elections 23 announcement of results of fighting to secede from India September, said it was vital the Kashmir is divided between a decision on his request for its in the country’s only Muslim- the state elections which saw since 1989. state not be left in “limbo”. India and Pakistan since the extension, his lawyer said. majority state. all parties fall way short of the It comes after the two parties “I am sorry after an election two countries won independ- “The authorities have yet to A federal government spokes- 44 seats needed for an absolute which won the most seats — the with such a good turnout we ence from Britain in 1947. Both inform us on his application man confirmed that President majority. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have a situation of Governor’s claim the Himalayan territory seeking extension of furlough Pranab Mukherjee had placed Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Prime Minister Narendra rule but as I’ve maintained the in full. leave. Till then, he is at home Governor N N Vohra in charge whose National Conference Party Modi’s Hindu nationalist onus lies with PDP,” he said on The rivals have exchanged in Mumbai,” lawyer Hitesh Jain of the state, the day after the won only 15 seats after suffering Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — Twitter. heavy fire along their border in said. acting chief minister stepped an electoral meltdown, had stayed failed to work out a power sharing PDP spokesman Nayeem Kashmir in recent months, lead- Dutt, 55, who flew to Pune and down. on as caretaker but he submit- arrangement or cut a deal with Akhtar said that the party was ing to scores of deaths on both went up to Yerawada Central “The president has approved ted his resignation to Vohra on other smaller parties. still in discussions with a range sides while thousands of people Jail, spent a few hours in the the governor’s rule for the state,” Thursday. The PDP won 28 seats while of parties. have been displaced. vicinity of the prison and later home ministry spokesman M A The imposition of direct rule the BJP won 25, mainly mopping “It might lead to a brief spell of AFP went away without surrender- ing though his 14-day furlough had ended. The ostensible reason was that Rehearsal a government official had said that it was not necessary for him Obama’s security team to go back to jail till a decision was taken on his December 27 application for extension of his furlough. He had been granted a to arrive on Tuesday 14-day furlough to go home Dec 24. NEW DELHI: Delhi Police capital Jan 13,” said an official, Before leaving for Pune and other security agencies who did not wish to be named. Thursday, Dutt told media per- were making elaborate security The official said that over sons that his application for arrangements for the visit of US 270 Secret Service agents are extension of furloug was still President Barack Obama who expected to come in the days lead- under process. would be the chief guest at the ing to Obama’s arrival Jan 25. “We made the request for Republic Day parade here — but The official said that Obama extension the furlough on security details would be final- was accompanied by 190 Secret December 27 and it is still under ised only after the arrival of a Service agents in 2010. process. As the laws stipulate that US advance team on January “We are yet to get the exact I must surrender myself if I am 13, officials said. number of his security personnel, not granted the extension, I am They said that over 300 but we expect that the number doing it now,” he had said. US Secret Service agents are will be over 300,” another official Earlier Dutt was released on expected to be part of Obama’s said. Officials said they have been furlough in October 2013 for two security detail as he arrives in communicating with US agencies weeks on health reasons, followed India on January 25. regarding security arrangements by a similar leave in December The officials said Obama would but they were waiting for the 2013 to tend to his ailing wife, be lodged at the ITC Maurya hotel arrival of US advance group. Maanyata, attracting charges of during his stay in the capital. The security arrangements are favouritism. “Over 20 members of the expected to be more challenging Dutt’s latest furlough saw him advance detail of the US Secret this time compared to 2010 as attending a special show of the Service, the federal law enforce- Obama would be seated in the latest Aamir Khan megahit, “PK”, ment agency responsible for the open on Rajpath for the Republic and celeb parties, while exhibiting protection of the US president, Day parade for more than an his new set of eight abs built up are expected to arrive in the hour. IANS Border Security Force (BSF) “Daredevils” motorcycle riders perform during a rehearsal for the Republic Day in prison. IANS parade on a winter morning in New Delhi yesterday. 15 diaspora members honoured at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

GANDHINAGAR: The three- day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, attended by around 4,000 diaspora members, came to an end with the conferment of the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman awards by Vice President Hamid Ansari to 15 prominent diaspora members. Those recipients of the Samman, the highest honour conferred on overseas Indians, were Guyanese President Donald Rabindernauth Ramaotar; Mala Mehta from Australia; Kamaljeet Bakshi from New Zealand; Ashraf Palarakunnummal and Bharatkumar Jayantilal Shah from UAE; Essop Esoop Goolam from South Africa; Rajmal M Parakh from Oman; Justice Doraikannu Karunakaran from Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Anandiben Patel and Seychelles; Sanjaya Rajaram from chief ministers of various states on the concluding day of Pravasi Bharatiya Mexico; Lord Raj Loomba and Divas in Gandhinagar yesterday. Sudents paying tribute to the victims of an attack by armed gunmen on the offices of French satirical newspaper Nathu Ram Puri from Britain; Charlie Hebdoat, alongside a sand sculpture at Juhu Beach in Mumbai yesterday. Mahendra Nanji Mehta from Uganda and Nandini Tandon and individually and collectively, and development of India with their Kamlesh Lulla from the US. so do we here. The institution of knowledge and resources and Lisa Singh from Australia, who the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas is an their experience of other lands Police probe politician for could not receive the award last occasion of bonding,” he said. where similar efforts were pur- year, received the Samman, while Ansari said that the NRI sued successfully. A Satyanarayana Nadella, CEO of remittances comprise an impor- Minister for Overseas Indian Microsoft, who was named for the tant element in India’s balance Affairs Sushma Swaraj, in her justifying Paris massacre award was not present. of payments and the “continuing speech, said that the Narendra Ansari congratulated the awar- liberalisation of the Indian econ- Modi government “has been spe- LUCKNOW: Police said yes- apparent revenge for the weekly’s cartoonist for lampooning the dees and said India is grateful for omy, and the most recent policy cially proactive in nurturing the terday they were investigating repeated publication of cartoons Prophet. “I have not made any their contributions to society. initiatives taken or proposed by bonds” with the diaspora. a regional political leader who mocking the Prophet Mohammed such announcement regarding Terming then “deserving recipi- the government are expected to “The diaspora is close to Prime reportedly justified the massa- (peace be upon him). the attack in Paris,” he told the ents of this recognition”, he said: galvanise the involvement of the Minister Modi’s heart. Wherever cre at France’s satirical weekly Qureshi, a Muslim leader of Press Trust of India news agency. “Through their exemplary work, overseas Indians in the many he has gone, he has made a pas- Charlie Hebdo and called for the regional Bahujan Samaj Party, The attacks on Charlie Hebdo they have also proved to be out- fields of economic activity”. sionate appeal to NRIs and PIOs to the Islamist attackers to be was reported on Thursday as say- have been widely condemned in standing envoys of peace, friend- Noting that relationships “are be partners in India’s ongoing jour- rewarded. ing that those who lampooned the India by politicians and leaders ship and cooperation between India not a one-way street”, the vice ney of development and national Police have registered a prelim- Prophet Mohammed (PBUH) of the 150-million-strong Muslim and countries of their residence.” president said that “the Overseas resurgence. We believe in infusing inary criminal case against Haji “deserve” and “invite death”. population. Ansari said that overseas Indians have expectations aimed a new energy and vitality into this Yakub Qureshi, a former minis- “Those who dare insult Prophet But a veteran lawmaker and Indians are “in virtually every at facilitating and intensifying lasting relationship between India ter in the northern state of Uttar deserve death and there is no member of the former ruling country and region of the world”, their involvement with India”. and its diaspora,” she said. Pradesh, for inciting communal need to initiate legal procedure Congress party has sought to link and recited an Urdu phrase to “The government of India, She said that the Modi govern- hatred. against them,” he was quoted by the massacre to France’s ban on describe their ubiquitous pres- and the state governments, have ment “has only one mission: to re- “Based on newspaper reports, the Hindustan Times newspaper the hijab used by Muslim women ence: Jidhar dekhta hoon faqat tu acknowledged the validity of these make India into a great nation, a we have lodged an FIR (first as saying. to cover their hair. hi tu hai (wherever I look I see sentiments and taken or initiated mission in which every Indian and information report) against But Qureshi has denied telling “They say hijab can’t be worn by only you)”. steps to attract, assist and pro- equally every overseas Indian has Qureshi under Section 505 of the media that he was willing to pay Muslim girls. So it will have some He said the overseas Indians, mote a deeper and multifaceted a vital stake. It will be a perfect Indian Penal Code,” Meerut city out `500m ($8m) to the fugitive kind of impact on the Muslims,” ranging from blue collars work- relationship, which is mutually fit, a confluence of dreams and police chief Om Prakash said. gunmen as a reward for carrying said Mani Shankar Aiyar. ers to doctors, engineers, IT pro- beneficial and long lasting. We in interests, and I have no doubt “We are probing the case and out the attacks. “The unity in diversity that has fessionals and business persons, India attach highest importance that with such interlinking and will take action as per the laid out The controversial politician been practised in India is one les- have multiple identities but “a to issues of interest and concern intermeshing, both India and the law,” he said. had originally offered the amount son the West hasn’t learnt,” he common denominator is their to the overseas Indians,” he said. adopted countries of overseas Gunmen killed 12 people in the in 2006 as an incentive to any- was quoted as saying by the DNA emotional bond to India, and to its He said that the diaspora can Indians will benefit enormously”. attack on the magazine in Paris in one who could behead a Danish English daily. AFP cultural legacy. “They cherish it, play an important role in the IANS SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Parade held in jail Tharoor seeks over gang rape of Japanese tourist

KOLKATA: Six men arrested fair probe into for the gang rape of a Japanese tourist held captive in India for nearly a month took part in an identification parade yesterday attended by their alleged vic- wife’s death tim, a prosecutor said. “She was brought to jail to identify the accused,” prosecutor Ex-minister to be questioned soon Dipnarayan Pakrasi said after the police lineup was held in the NEW DELHI/THRISSUR: A called to join the probe, the officer main eastern city of Kolkata’s friend of Sunanda Pushkar who added as well as Tharoor aides Presidency Jail amid tight dropped her to the hotel where Shiv Kumar Prasad and Abhinav security. she was later found dead has Kumar and driver Bajrangi. Although there was no imme- been quizzed in connection with The special team investigating diate word on the outcome of her murder and 12 more people the murder yesterday visited the the parade, all six were later including her husband Shashi hotel where they questioned the remanded in custody until Tharoor will soon be ques- staff and also went to the room January 16 by a magistrate in tioned, Delhi Police said yes- where Pushkar had stayed. the city. terday even as Tharoor sought Tharoor, meanwhile sought a Police had previously said a professional probe in the case “professional” investigation into that the 22-year-old victim without any political pressure. his wife’s death without “political” would fly back home to Japan Sunil Trakru, a businessman pressure and a “pre-determined” after taking part in the identi- and a close friend of Pushkar, has mind. “I have lost my wife and fication parade. been questioned twice, a few days have not been allowed to mourn The victim’s ordeal began in before the registration of the FIR in peace,” the former central min- Kolkata shortly after she arrived on January 4, a Delhi Police officer ister told the media outside a pri- in the city on November 20. said, adding Trakru’s name had vate ayurvedic centre in Thrissur Police say a group of men, one surfaced during the questioning where he has been undergoing a of whom spoke Japanese, per- Policemen escort two men, who were arrested in connection with the alleged abduction and gang-rape of a of Tharoor’s domestic help Shri 14-day general wellness treatment suaded her to withdraw around Japanese tourist, outside a court in Kolkata yesterday. Narayan Singh in November last since December 26. $1,200 in cash before travelling year. with her to the Buddhist shrine two brothers who allegedly locked the end of December. levels of violence against women Singh, who was again ques- FULL COOPERATION of Bodh Gaya in neighbouring her in a secluded basement and The case is the latest in a string in the world’s second most popu- tioned on Thursday for a few “I was completely taken aback Bihar state. repeatedly raped her before she of high-profile sex attacks that lous country. hours, had revealed that the because none of us in the fam- There she was handed over to finally managed to escape towards have highlighted the frightening AFP couple had a fight a day before ily had any reason to believe that Pushkar was found dead. He had there was foul play in her passing also said that Trakru had dropped away,” he said. “It is very impor- Pushkar from the Delhi airport to tant that this (investigation) be Hotel Leela Palace where she was done professionally without any found dead in her room (number pre-determined outcome or polit- 345) on January 17. ical pressure,” he added. Plan to clean offices with cow urine The couple had returned from Tharoor said he had been silent Kerala on January 14 but Tharoor on the issue for a whole year in NEW DELHI: Cow urine may — which is called “Gaunyle”, with of civilisation. Their revered sta- While the urine-based liquid went to his house in Lodhi Colony, order to help police establish the soon be used to clean the floors gau the Hindi word for cow. tus took on extra significance may not be as strong as phenyl, while Pushkar left for the hotel. facts of the case. of India’s government offices in “We have tested the product after Prime Minister Narendra the absence of harmful side- Delhi Police officials also said “I have pledged my full coopera- a country where bovines are in labs and we can say that it is Modi’s Hindu nationalist party effects makes the organic product that they will soon question 12 tion with police and there have sacred and their bodily waste much better than the phenyl that won a landslide election victory preferable, said Virendra Kumar more people including Tharoor, been numerous reports that my considered therapeutic and you get in the market which is so in May last year. Vijay, professor, Centre for Rural Pushkar’s son Shiv Menon, her silence is sinister. even thirst-quenching. full of chemicals,” she said. The party’s election manifesto Development and Technology at two brothers Ashish Dass and “The reason (for my silence) A charity working to care for “We want to create a market pledged to work to protect cows. the Indian Institute of Technology Rajesh Pushkar and her cardi- would be obvious that when a and protect the cows that freely for cow urine and I can say supply The Economic Times yesterday in Delhi. This is not the first time ologist Rajat Mohan. police inquiry is going on, it is roam India’s streets has developed won’t be a problem.” quoted the head of the company the central government has shown They are also looking for a my duty not to undermine it in a cleaning product with their The product is the latest in that supplies housekeeping prod- interest in this regard, he said. person named ‘Kaitie’ whose any way. urine — distilled and spiked with a long line of items made from ucts to government offices prais- “In 2004, the government name surfaced during arguments Tharoor said he was “troubled” natural perfumes to remove the bovine bodily waste, ranging from ing the urine cleaner. employed experts from lead- between Tharoor and Pushkar, by the conclusion of the investi- pungent odour. toiletries such as soap to urine- “It is a great product for the ing research institutes to find overheard by Singh. gation and the way it was car- “Initially when we tried the based medicines and even a soft health of safai karamcharis out more about the disinfect- Police will also quiz Tharoor’s ried out. “There has been a lot product, it had too strong a smell. drink labelled a “healthy” alterna- (cleaners) as well as for the cows,” ant qualities of cow waste but personal assistant Rakesh Kumar of misinformation, distortion and Nobody would have used it. So we tive to Coke and Pepsi. Jagdish Bhatia told the daily. the study was terminated even Sharma, and another family outright lies that has been coming have distilled the urine now and While the sacred status of cows It was women and child devel- before the team could reach con- friend Sanjay Dewan, who found out. A fair enquiry has to be there added natural ingredients like precludes India’s huge Hindu opment minister and ardent ani- clusive results,” he said. “However, Pushkar dead when he came to on Sunanda’s sad demise. I will pine oil to cover the smell,” said majority from eating beef, their mal lover Maneka Gandhi who from the preliminary studies, we enquire about her health. At that not engage in public discussion Anuradha Modi from the Holy waste falls into the same accept- first floated the idea. “It is a win- understood that cow urine can time, Sharma was also present in and I have written to the Delhi Cow Foundation. able category as dairy products. win situation for us — no harm to be a good alternative to phenyl if the hotel. Senior journalist Nalini Police that I would fully cooperate Modi said she was working on a The cow, also known as janitors by way of daily exposure mixed with the right components Singh, with whom Pushkar was with them and would like answer deal to get the company that sup- “Kamdhenu” — “that which fulfils to chemicals, and cows will be val- of other herbal extracts and sci- believed to be in touch over phone all their questions at the earliest,” plies housekeeping items to gov- human needs” — is described in ued more,” she told The Economic entifically treated.” before her death, will also be said Tharoor. IANS ernment offices to use the product Hindu scriptures as the “mother” Times. AGENCIES

Kite-maker at work

Kite-maker Jagmohan Kanojia prepares kites at his home workshop, ahead of Lohri festival in Amritsar yesterday. Kite flying is a passion among the people of Amritsar. Solution likely in Jadavpur impasse KOLKATA: West Bengal end their hunger strike. I have They are undergoing health also boycotted the 59th annual Education Minister Partha heard all their views and the checkup and the final outcome convocation of the university in Chatterjee, who yesterday met chief minister and chancellor will be decided after the gen- December. a section of protesting stu- (Governor K N Tripathi) have eral body meeting at the campus The agitation brought dents of Jadavpur University been informed. We are reaching tonight,” Sarkar said. together the Kolkata diaspora and apprised Chief Minister towards a solution but we can’t The students have been and university alumni in soli- Mamata Banerjee of the situ- say we have found out a solu- clamouring for Chakrabarti’s darity through social network- ation, said they were reaching tion,” Chatterjee told the media removal since September 17 ing websites. towards a solution though it after meeting Banerjee. when the university authorities Amid the clamour for his was not clear what shape it He also stressed he was try- ordered a police crackdown on removal, Chakrabarti, who was would take. ing to rebuild trust between all a sit-in by students who were the interim vice chancellor, was Chatterjee had a lengthy dis- parties. According to Gitashri demanding an independent given full time responsibility by cussion with 12 students who are Sarkar, representative of the investigation into the alleged Governor Tripathi, who is the on an indefinite hunger strike students’ union of the varsity, molestation of a female student ex-officio chancellor. pressing for the removal of Vice the 12 students who met the inside a hostel. The state government later Chancellor Abhijit Chakrabarti. minister will deliberate and The incident triggered pro- instituted a five-member probe Chakrabarti and representa- discuss the proceedings of the test rallies in the city and had panel headed by University tives of Jadavpur University meeting with other student bod- a ripple effect across the coun- of Calcutta vice chancellor Teachers’ Association (JUTA) ies at a general body meeting. try, with college alumni organ- Suranjan Das to look into the were also present in the meet- “The 12 students have ising protest marches in Delhi prima facie evidence of the ing. “I appeal to the students to returned after the meeting. and Mumbai. Many students alleged molestation. IANS SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

ECB looking at Luxury yachts on display risk-sharing mix for QE plan Possible QE volume of €500m suggested

FRANKFURT: The European discussed the current situation at Central Bank is considering a dinner on Wednesday night as it a hybrid approach to govern- gathered for a regular non-policy ment bond purchases which meeting. One central bank source would combine the ECB buying said there was “clearly more of a debt with risk sharing across consensus than before” that QE the euro zone and, in a nod might be necessary. to German qualms, separate “On the rest, there are still purchases by national central pretty much divergent views on banks. the whole range of issues - vol- Sources familiar with the dis- ume, open-ended or closed, risk cussions said such an option for sharing or not, whether there are bond-buying, also known as quan- contingencies and which ones. titative easing (QE), is among the It’s still very open,” the source tools the ECB is preparing ahead said. of its January 22 policy meeting A volume of ¤500bn was sug- should it decide to act to address gested by ECB experts in a pres- falling consumer prices and a entation, another source added. growing risk of deflation in the A third central bank source euro zone. said one of the options that was Several QE plans are under discussed was one where the ECB discussion and nothing has been would buy a certain share of the decided so far. total programme and in case of Visitors view luxury yachts at the Boat Show, at the ExCel in east London, yesterday. The debate reflects the ECB’s default the risk would be shared efforts to build a robust pro- among national central banks gramme that meets German depending on their capital share. concerns about how much risk The remaining part of the pro- it would take on, yet also pleases gramme’s volume would be bought Oil heads for seventh weekly loss on supply glut investors anticipating an unlim- by national central banks, but at ited money-printing pledge. their own risk. Markets and many economists “There was no fundamental LONDON: Oil prices headed fell near $1.92 a barrel, the nar- weakness in the world’s largest time around $50 a barrel for believe anything short of an opposition against this option for a seventh straight weekly rowest since October as inter- energy consumer. another few days before resum- unlimited money-printing will fail on Wednesday,” said the source. loss yesterday, with key produc- national seaborne oil markets Signs of further slowdown ing their decline. to revive a moribund euro zone “This could be an option, which ers showing no sign of cutting appear to be under even more in Europe’s largest economy Supply is piling up with some economy and undermine the unity the Bundesbank could go along output in the face of a global pressure than the US domestic Germany fuelled further concerns of the world’s largest oil traders of the currency area. with.” But the source said there supply glut. market. over oil demand. hiring supertankers this week to But Paul de Grauwe, an econo- was no decision yet and the dis- Global oil benchmarks hit “It is another negative week “Without any changes to fun- store crude at sea. mist with the London School of cussion remained very much their lowest since 2009 this and a reflection of the focus on damentals, selling appears largely BNP Paribas has cut 2015 Economics, warned that any move open. week and are down more than negative arguments,” said Hans to be jittery investors looking for price forecasts for Brent and to leave the responsibility and risk Neither the ECB nor 50 percent from June levels, with Van Cleef, senior energy econo- supply-demand equilibrium,” West Texas Intermediate crude of bond-buying with national cen- Bundesbank would comment. Brent crude futures extending mist at Dutch bank ABN Amro. ANZ analysts said in a note. by more than $10 per barrel to tral banks posed a grave threat to The US Federal Reserve, the declines yesterday, dropping 40 Supply concerns remained as For the first time since 2009, $60 a barrel and $55 a barrel the euro zone. Bank of Japan and the Bank of cents a barrel to $50.56 by 1214 Saudi Arabia and its Gulf Opec a contract to buy crude oil or respectively. “This would be a kind of step England have turned to QE to GMT. allies are showing no sign of con- any sort of refined product costs “Supply issues will dominate towards the disintegration of the revive their economies, but in the US crude futures for February sidering cutting output to boost less if it is for immediate delivery demand in terms of fundamental euro zone,” he said. “It creates the euro zone, which is more reliant delivery were down 18 cents at oil prices even as demand slows than for future shipment, giving factors, with the market focusing perception that it is not fully uni- on banks and which has no com- $48.61 a barrel despite robust US globally. traders more reason to buy now on how the current supply surplus fied ... that this is not a monetary mon fiscal regime, QE is more dif- economic data that brightened Annual consumer inflation in instead of later. will ultimately resolve itself,” BNP union.” ficult to implement. the outlook for demand. China remained near the lowest If recent market history is any said. The ECB Governing Council REUTERS Brent’s premium to US crude in five years, signalling persistent guide, Brent prices could mark REUTERS

Nebraska US payrolls rise solidly, unemployment rate falls to 5.6pc court clears WASHINGTON: US job people left the labour force. losses after the report, while interest rates too soon. The US are expected to provide a tail growth increased briskly in But a five cent drop in aver- the dollar rose. Prices for US central bank has kept its short- wind to consumer spending this Keystone December, positioning the econ- age hourly earnings after rising Treasury debt were trading term interest rate near zero since year. omy for a sturdy pace of expan- six cents in November, took some higher. December 2008. “The wage story should look sion this year and keeping the shine off the report. December marked the 11th It has not raised interest rates much better at the end of 2015 pipeline route Federal Reserve on course to “This is probably a good enough straight month of payroll since 2006, but recently signalled than it does here,” said Dan start raising interest rates. number to allow the Fed to stay increases above 200,000, the it was moving closer to hiking, Greenhaus, chief strategist at WASHINGTON: The Nonfarm payrolls increased on course in terms of adjust- longest stretch since 1994. With even if inflation remains below BTIG in New York. Nebraska Supreme Court yes- 252,000 last month after an ing policy, but it probably won’t October’s count also revised the Fed’s 2.0 percent target. Most Economists polled by Reuters terday removed one of the last upwardly revised 353,000 jump in cause them to change their tim- higher, the economy created economists expect the first rate had expected employment to hurdles for President Barack November, the Labor Department ing from mid-year,” said Peter 50,000 more jobs than previ- increase in June. increase 240,000 in December Obama to settle the fate of the said yesterday. Cecchini, managing director and ously reported in the prior two An acceleration in wage gains and the unemployment rate to fall politically charged Keystone XL The unemployment rate fell chief market strategist at Cantor months. is in the cards as the labour mar- one-tenth of a percentage point to oil pipeline, delivering a closely 0.2 percentage point to a 6-1/2- Fitzgerald in New York. But weak wage growth could ket continues to tighten. That, 5.7 percent. watched decision on an issue year low of 5.6 percent, in part as US stock index futures erased see the Fed cautious about raising together with lower petrol prices REUTERS that could help define his sec- ond term. After months of delibera- tion, the court allowed a route China inflation woes for the pipeline to cross the state, shifting the debate over India’s newest airline TransCanada Corp’s contro- versial line fully to Washington, where Republicans now in con- trol of Congress are seeking to makes maiden flight force its final approval after more than six years of acrimony NEW DELHI: India’s newest sector is currently plagued by with the White House. airline made its maiden flight losses stemming from hefty oper- The ruling came hours before yesterday, kickstarting attempts ating costs and bruising fare wars the US House of Representatives to attract well-heeled passen- that has left at least one no-frills planned to vote on legislation gers in a market dominated by carrier, SpiceJet, struggling. approving the pipeline, which loss-making, no-frills carriers. Vistara is steering clear of the would help carry up to 830,000 New airline Vistara — a Sanskrit budget market dominated by a barrels of oil per day from word meaning “limitless expanse” string of mostly loss-making air- Canada’s oil sands to Gulf Coast — took off from New Delhi for lines who last year had offered refineries. financial hub Mumbai, offering fly- fares lower than the price of a The Senate is expected to take ers premium services including a second-class train ticket. up a Keystone bill for debate next string of special meal options. Instead, Vistara’s premium week. “Being full service doesn’t mean economy fares for short flights In Nebraska, the legal ques- you’re lavish or you’re over the from the capital to Mumbai start tion narrowly focused on whether top. It means serving different at Rs12,000 ($190). the governor had a right to bless customers’ needs differently,” The airline is 49-percent owned a pipeline route, but the state Vistara Chairman Prasad Menon by deep-pocketed Singapore airlines, supreme court has had the matter A man looks at the Pudong financial district of Shanghai. China’s annual consumer inflation hovered at a said at Delhi airport. one of the world’s top-rated carriers. since February and the 64-page near five-year low of 1.5 percent in December, little changed from November’s levels, signalling persistent India’s aviation market is Mumbai-based Tata conglomerate ruling reflects how contentious it weakness in the economy. expected to be the third-largest controls the other 51 percent. has become. globally within a decade. But the AFP REUTERS SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 German car Junk status to limit Tesco bargaining power manufacturers Moody’s cuts biggest British retailer’s debt rating to non-investment grade clock up record

LONDON: The downgrading lost market share. Because many major investors Some analysts reckon dis- hit at the end of Tesco’s 2014-15 sales in 2014 of Tesco’s debt to “junk” sta- Shares in Tesco fell 2.5 percent are not allowed to own bonds counter growth rates may have year. tus could limit its bargaining yesterday while its bonds largely below investment grade, known as peaked as the “big four” retaliate Asset sales would help. Tesco is FRANKFURT: German auto- power on asset sales as well shrugged off the news, which had junk bonds, some could be forced with price cuts. considering its options for data- makers BMW, Daimler and as symbolising the decline in been anticipated. to sell their holdings. “2015 could be the year Tesco gathering business Dunnhumby Volkwagen said yesterday their fortunes of Britain’s biggest Lewis has the tough task of “Borrowing costs will rise, at grasps the nettle and gives its and analysts think it could also leading brands attained record retailer. restoring faith in Tesco, once a time of squeezed operating faltering rivals, and perhaps even sell or spin off assets in Asia or sales in 2014, driven by rising Ratings agency Moody’s down- the dominant force in the margins, and Tesco’s negotiat- the discounters, food for thought,” eastern Europe. demand in all regions. graded the company’s debt to British retail landscape, after ing leverage on future business said analysts at retail research It is also cutting spending Top-of-the-range maker BMW non-investment grade late on a £263 m ($400m) accounting disposals will be much reduced,” group Conlumino. and costs, by cancelling the said in a statement it delivered Thursday on expectations that scandal and four profit warnings said independent retail analyst Analysts are however wary that planned development of 49 more than two million vehicles to profits will remain challenged by last year. Nick Bubb. “Black Friday” promotions on mostly large stores in response customers last year, “the compa- the rapid changes in the British Clive Black, analyst at Shore With Lewis indicating more Nov. 28 may have flattered Tesco’s to customers shopping locally ny’s fourth record year in a row.” supermarket sector. Capital, said the obvious time to price cuts are likely an industry sales over the Christmas period and online. It said it sold a total 2.118 mil- That spoiled a day when have downgraded Tesco’s debt price war also looks set to escalate and wondered if an improved per- Mark Charlton from real estate lion BMW, MINI and Rolls-Royce Tesco’s shares had risen as much would have been 12-18 months in 2015. formance in general merchandise firm Colliers said some of the sites vehicles, which was 7.9 percent as 15 percent after the grocer ago when the firm was in a tail- This week has also seen Wal- was sustainable. in the south of England could be more than the year before. reported Christmas trading that spin, “not (now) when manage- Mart’s Asda and Sainsbury’s Moody’s said Tesco could get sold to residential developers, but “I am delighted that we was not as bad as feared and ment is demonstrably cutting announce further price reduc- back to an investment grade rat- it would probably be hard to find achieved our target of selling investors welcomed plans from costs, conserving cash, prioritis- tions, while Morrisons is promis- ing if it delivered an adjusted buyers for the rest, meaning their more than two million vehicles in new Chief Executive Dave Lewis ing de-leveraging and demon- ing to match German discounters debt-to-core earnings ratio of value would have to be written 2014, a new record for the BMW to slash costs and sell assets to strating some signs of improved Aldi and Lidl on price with its loy- 4.5 times or below, from the down. group. We have seen good growth fund lower prices and recover trading.” alty scheme. around 6 times it expects it to REUTERS throughout the year, well spread across all major sales regions,” said the group’s sales and mar- keting chief Ian Robertson. Solar-powered petrol station “We are now looking forward to building on these successes in Infosys net profit up 2015.” Separately, Daimler said its Mercedes-Benz brand also posted the “best-ever sales in the com- 13pc, shares gain pany’s history.” Sales of Mercedes-Benz cars BANGALORE: Indian soft- Rs130.03bn a year ago. rose by 12.9 percent to 1.65 mil- ware giant Infosys announced The company, based in the lion, its fourth straight year of Friday a better-than-expected southern high-tech hub of record demand. 13 percent jump in third-quar- Bangalore, announced it has “Mercedes-Benz is on a course ter net profit, helped by strong more than $5.5bn in cash of success. The best sales in our demand for services in the reserves, but top management company’s history show that United States. did not detail how the firm our product offensive is bear- The country’s second-larg- planned to spend it. ing fruit,” said chief executive est IT services exporter said Infosys, once known as the Dieter Zetsche. He attributed October-December net profit “bellwether” of India’s flagship the group’s success “in particu- hit Rs32.50bn ($521m), up from outsourcing industry and billed lar to our compact cars, the new Rs28.75bn in the same period last as the country’s equivalent of C-Class and the S-Class.” year. Microsoft, is listed in Mumbai But the group managed to Analysts had expected profits and New York. increase unit sales in all core mar- to be about Rs31.5bn. Sikka replaced co-founder kets, Zetsche said. “In 2015, we “We are seeing good demand Narayana Murthy, who had will continue our product offensive from North America while been recalled from retirement in the SUV (sports utility vehicle) Europe is a bit muted,” said Vishal last year to help Infosys, once segment,” the CEO added. Sikka, Infosys chief executive and the star of India’s information Volkwagen, Europe’s big- managing director. technology sector, regain market gest automaker, said sales of its Infosys shares cheered the share. VW-brand cars topped the six- earnings, gaining 4.99 percent to Sikka, a former executive million level for the first time, 2,073.00 rupees. They had hit a of SAP AG, is trying to revive with worldwide sales reaching intra-day low of 1,914.10 rupees Infosys including by focusing on 6.12 million vehicles. before the profit news was innovation and creating higher- “The VW car brand has now announced. earning opportunities in fields achieved record sales for the The company, created by seven such as data analytics. 10th year in a row. We’ve doubled software professionals around a Co-founders, including Murthy, sales of the brand since 2004,” kitchen table in the 1980s, said it sold $1.1bn worth of stock in the said sales and marketing chief was confident of expanding rev- company in December. Christian Klingler. enues by seven to nine percent in Murthy stressed at the time Sales of VW’s luxury brand the current year ending March that the sale did not reflect lack A manager of PetroChina’s Yizhuang petrol station, which has a solar power system, checks a machine Audi rose by 10.5 percent to 1.741 31. of confidence in the company’s converting solar energy into electricity at the gas station in Beijing yesterday. The station, equipped with a million vehicles worldwide last In the just ended quar- prospects and he remained a top total of 804 solar panels, can produce average 375 kW electricity per day and the electricity is used for the year, said Audi chief executive ter, Infosys’ revenues rose to investor in Infosys. operation of the station. Rupert Stadler. Rs137.96bn ($2.21bn) from AFP AFP German economic weakness not yet over: Data

FRANKFURT: Falling industrial out- “November’s hard data indicate that positive again in the fourth quarter,” he said. put and exports suggest Germany’s cur- Germany’s phase of economic weakness “We’re assuming that German out- rent economic weakness is not over yet, is not yet over, after meagre growth of 0.1 put will continue its positive trend in nevertheless, Europe’s biggest economy percent in the third quarter,” said Natixis the coming months. Low energy prices looks set to regain momentum this year, economist Johannes Gareis. will boost consumers’ purchasing power analysts said yesterday. Nevertheless, at the same time, a lot of and exporters will benefit from the weak Coming hot on the heels of a unexpect- the October data had been revised upwards, euro this year. The economy should gather edly sharp drop in factory orders earlier taking the sting out of the disappointing momentum during the course of 2015,” this week, the economy ministry calculated November numbers, analysts said. Kipar said. in regular data that German industrial “Early indicators such as order intake and “When looking at other hard data in production shed 0.1 percent in November, the Ifo business climate index create hope October-November, the picture looks simi- pulled down by declining activity in the that the German economy will soon pick up larly encouraging,” said UniCredit econo- energy and construction sectors. at a stronger rate again,” said Commerzbank mist Andreas Rees. At the same time, the federal statistics economist Marco Wagner. Retail sales were up strongly, and higher office Destatis estimated that German BayernLB economist Stefan Kipar agreed. employment and rising wages “provide exports fell by 2.1 percent in November, Taking the October and November data enough ammunition to keep private con- causing the country’s trade surplus to con- together, “the indications are that gross sumer expenditures going,” he said. tract sharply. domestic product (GDP) growth was AFP

Cyprus Airways’ future hangs in balance Canada jobless rate flat for a second month OTTAWA: Canada lost 4,300 jobs in December as gains in full-time work were offset by part-time job losses, the gov- ernment statistical agency said yesterday. Full-time employment rose by 54,000 in the month, while there was a decline of 58,000 in part- time work, said Statistics Canada. In all of 2014, there were 186,000 jobs created, most of them in the second half of the year, the agency said. However, in the last two months job growth came to a screeching halt. The unemployment rate remained at 6.6 percent. In December, there were 24,000 A Cyprus Airways plane prepares to take off at Larnaka airport yesterday. The European Commission fewer women employed while was due to rule on whether state aid offered to Cyprus Airways was illegal — with the future of the 23,000 unemployed men found ailing state-controlled flag carrier hanging in the balance. work. AFP SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

Canada doesn’t need keystone Beware the market maxim to win US crude supply battle BY REBECCA ‘the trend is your friend’ HETHER Keystone XL ever gets built, the record amount BY JAMIE MCGEEVER of Canadian oil flowing into the US shows that some of momentum recently is automated trading. 2007-09. Is that really the case? Wthe pipeline project’s original goals are already being met. Momentum funds and algorithm computer If the answer is no, there is a growing risk The Canadian government and pipeline builder TransCanada HE old financial market maxim models are playing a bigger part in financial that massive one-way bets on oil, sovereign have long argued the cross-border pipeline would bolster US “the trend is your friend” has markets now than ever before. bonds and the euro could be vulnerable to a energy security by displacing crude from less reliable nations such rarely been more appropriate Central to the swings across all financial violent reversal, especially as central banks as Venezuela. That’s happening now. than when applied to the recent assets is oil. Slowing demand growth and are almost out of ammunition in their fight While Keystone XL remains at the centre of a bitter political falls in oil, government bond (more pertinently) plentiful supply as pro- against deflation and sub-par growth. conflict in the US, Canadian producers are sending more crude Tyields and the euro, which have been noth- ducers refuse to cut output pushed Brent “What are they going to do for an encore?” from Alberta’s oil sands across the border by train and other, ing short of dramatic. crude futures below $50 a barrel this week asked Citi’s Englander. expanded pipeline networks. Canada now supplies 43 percent of But investors enjoying the ride should for the first time since 2009. Like most people in currency markets, he US oil imports, up from 15 percent a decade ago, largely at the make sure their seatbelts are fastened: That marks a 55 percent decline in six expects the euro to remain under pressure. expense of Mexico and Venezuela. while the trend may well have further to months, and a 40 percent fall in the last It hit a nine-year low of $1.1753 this week, “The market finds a way,” said Judith Dwarkin, chief energy run over the longer term, the risk of sudden two months alone. Moves of such magni- a whisker off its January 1999 launch rate economist at ITG Investment Research in Calgary. Output from reversals is growing by the day. tude over relatively short periods are often of $1.1747. oil-sands projects will continue to rise and “it’s going to find other A look at how equities have performed evidence that prices have overshot. Englander and Nieuwenhuijzen share the ways to move, be that by rail, dog sled, whatever.” over the last two years shows that the S&P The oil market is no stranger to longer broad market consensus view that correc- Republicans in the US Congress this week are trying to force 500 has risen some 40 percent on its way term price swings, however. As Reuters tions and bouts of volatility will not trans- Keystone XL’s approval, with Republican North Dakota Senator to a series of record highs. But there have Breakingviews columnist Edward Hadas late into longer-term trend reversals. John Hoeven introducing bipartisan legislation to authorise been 10 swings lower of between 4 and 10 points out, since 2000 the daily price has The longer-term investment strategy, the project. That would circumvent President Barack Obama, percent in that time. been on average 18 percent higher or lower therefore, would be to sit tight. Investors who has criticized the project, in part because he argues it may Since oil started tumbling in the middle than six months earlier. with a shorter term horizon, however, would help Canadian producers deliver crude to buyers outside North of last year, however, there’s been barely a If the fall in oil has been eye-catching, do well to protect themselves against pro- America. Calgary-based TransCanada has said the $8bn pipeline single noteworthy snap back of 5 percent the move in bond markets has been historic. spective turbulence. will supply refineries in Louisiana and Texas. The White House or more. The fall has been precipitous and The benchmark cost of 10-year gov- For example, even if you still believe oil pledged that Obama would veto the bill. relentless. The picture for the euro and ernment borrowing reached record lows prices are headed lower, you could hedge With Keystone XL stuck in a US review since 2008, pipeline bonds is similar. this week in Japan, Germany, France, the that view by buying shares in commodity- reversals and expansions have given Canadian supplies an advantage But the pullbacks and spikes in volatil- Netherlands, Austria, Belgium, Finland, related companies which are likely to ben- over heavy crude from other countries that have traditionally fed ity that have characterized stock market Canada and Australia. efit from continued strength in broader refineries on the US Gulf Coast. For instance, a second pipe built movements are bound to hit oil, bonds and The average 10-year yield in the G3 eco- equity indices. alongside the Seaway conduit from Cushing, Oklahoma, to Houston the euro in time. nomic powerhouses of the United States, Buying an equity market volatility index will almost double the amount of heavy Canadian crude entering the “These market moves have very little to do euro zone and Japan fell below one percent like the VIX at the bottom of recent ranges region starting this month, according to ARC Financial in Calgary. with fundamentals, and could create oppor- — the lowest on record, according to Steven and selling at the top is another simple way Exports by rail have more than tripled to a record 182,000 bar- tunity,” said Valentijn Nieuwenhuijzen at Englander, global head of currency strategy to protect against sharp price moves. rels a day in the third quarter, from about 57,000 barrels a day ING Investment Management. at Citi. “Volatility will always be part of markets— two years earlier, according to Canada’s National Energy Board. “Almost always, these kinds of moves are By this measure, investors are pricing in a there is no ‘normal’,” said Yoram Lustig, Canada is the top crude supplier to the US and the only exporter opportunities.” world economy that is in a worse state now head of Multi-Asset Investments UK at that’s posted significant gains in deliveries in the past decade. US A significant, if unquantifiable, factor than it was in the Great Depression of the AXA Investment Managers. imports of Canadian crude have risen 80 percent to about three behind the rapid acceleration in market 1930s or during the global financial crash of REUTERS million barrels a day in October from a decade earlier, the latest US Energy Department data shows. The September average of 3.1 million barrels a day was a record high. Over the same period, supplies from Venezuela fell by about 53 percent. Volumes from Mexico slipped 57 percent, though that may eventually climb as the country is opening its energy industry to foreign investment. TransCanada and its customers envisioned Keystone XL as a way to connect booming production in the oil sands to Gulf Coast refineries that were already confronting declin- ing imports from Mexico and Venezuela. The project was proposed in 2008 and originally expected to begin carrying crude in 2012. Obama first rejected the pipeline in 2012 over opposition to its path in Nebraska. TransCanada then split up the project and built the southern portion, refiling for approval of the northern leg with an alternate route. That portion still requires US consent because it crosses the border. The now 1,897-km Keystone XL line, starting in Hardisty, Alberta, would transport 830,000 barrels a day from Canada and Bakken shale fields in North Dakota and Montana to an existing network in Steele City, Nebraska, that’s connected to pipelines feeding the Gulf Coast. With Keystone XL evolving into a politi- cal proxy for debates over energy policy, climate change and jobs, producers increasingly turned to rail. Even with the rail and pipeline workarounds, oil-sands devel- opers need Keystone XL, ITG’s Dwarkin said. A battle between Saudi Arabia and North American producers for market share that has led to a plunge in crude prices won’t affect oil- sands output growth over the next couple of years, she said. Due to investments already committed, oil-sands production is poised to rise 36 percent to at least 2.6 million barrels a day by 2017, Peters & Co, a Calgary-based investment bank, said in a November forecast. Projects now under construction will require 1 million barrels a day of new pipeline space, said Chris Cox, an analyst at Raymond James Ltd in Calgary. “What you should expect this year is that all incremental heavy oil barrels are effectively going to be transported by rail,” Cox said. TransCanada says its customers remain supportive of Keystone XL and that the pipeline’s crude will be refined in the US, like every barrel already transported on the company’s existing cross- border oil line from Alberta. The message hasn’t changed. “In fact, every barrel of Canadian and American oil transported by Keystone XL that replaces imports from the Middle East and Venezuela improves US and North American energy independence,” Russ Girling, TransCanada’s chief executive officer, said in an emailed statement this week about the legislation introduced in Congress. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Big banks park beat-up energy bonds in US money funds BY TIM MCLAUGHLIN investors was a paltry 0.01 per- and government agency debt. But the counter-party represents week at an economic conference In recent presentations, Boston cent. Banks currently have about some jarring discoveries in the minimal credit risk.” in Boston. “... Heavy reliance on Fed President Eric Rosengren IG European and $90 billion outstanding in short- types of collateral money funds By contrast, No. 1 US mutual fund wholesale funding, which is still has said there should be more American banks term and overnight loans backed accept on short-term loans to company Vanguard Group plays it there for certain institutions, is disclosure about the composi- have found a produc- by riskier assets that include cor- big banks can be found by inves- safe. The $133 billion Vanguard an important issue that we need tion of the collateral used in repo tive place to park the porate debt and equities. tors who dig through industry Prime Money Market Fund and the to address and make sure our agreements. He said it would energy sector’s most The exact amount of junk- disclosures. company’s other money funds only financial system is resilient to allow investors an opportunity to Bdistressed debt: the $2.7 trillion rated energy debt used as col- A money fund run by Morgan accept US government securities things going wrong.” observe changes in financing pat- US money market industry. lateral was not available. But Stanley recently disclosed, for as collateral, company spokesman Despite a host of new regula- terns and might prevent risk tak- Barclays Bank plc, Credit more than a dozen of the sector’s example, an $8.25m repurchase David Hoffman said. tions for money funds and banks, ing that investors may consider Suisse and Wells Fargo and oth- mostly highly distressed issuers, agreement with Credit Suisse, “In times of stress, govern- some of the same elements of risk excessive. ers get overnight and short-term including QuickSilver Resources, which used bonds issued by ments are far more liquid than that led to a redemption run in And this summer, before loans from companies that run Black Elk Energy, Halcon Sidewinder Drilling as most of the other asset classes,” Hoffman said. the money fund industry and the oil prices began their descent, money market mutual funds Resources, Samson Investment collateral. As oil prices have tum- “This is especially true with US failure of Lehman Brothers in bonds issued by Black Elk Energy such as Fidelity Investments, and Sidewinder Drilling Inc, bled, so has the value of Sidewinder’s Treasuries, which are likely to 2008 remain intact. Treasury and Offshore Operations LLC were BlackRock Inc, American Beacon have had their bonds used as col- 2019 bonds, falling about 44 percent rally during times of stress.” Federal Reserve officials say more used as collateral in repo agree- and others. The banks use the lateral, according to recent fund since early October. Federal Reserve Bank policy- work needs to be done to address ments with funds run by Fidelity, money to fund long positions in disclosures. Money funds downplay the risk makers say they are worried that the risks of asset fire sales and BlackRock Inc and Goldman securities or to cover short posi- These so-called “other repur- in the repo transactions backed some banks rely too much on repo redemption runs. Sachs’ investment management tions. For collateral, the funds are chase agreements” generate by the junk-rated collateral. They loans as a source of wholesale A redemption run on the arm, fund disclosures show. accepting the junk-rated bonds of above-market yields for the say their ultimate backstop is funding. They also point out how Reserve Primary Fund in 2008 But in recent months, Black beat-up energy companies. funds, ranging anywhere from the bank on the other side of the money funds make loans secured has been a rallying cry for reform Elk debt maturing later this year Even though the value of the 20 basis points to 50 basis points. deal. Fidelity, the largest money by assets they would quickly after its exposure to Lehman is not turning up as collateral in bonds are in free fall as oil prices In contrast, repo loans backed by fund operator in the industry, unload if the bank on the other Brothers debt prompted panicked the latest round of money fund plummet, the money funds readily safe US Treasuries can gener- declined to comment on any spe- side of the deal defaulted. investors to withdraw their money disclosures. The yield on its bonds accept the debt, because it’s a way ate yields of about 10 basis points cific transaction. In a statement, “What always worries you in droves. That run led the fund to has spiked as high as 75 percent in to generate above-market yields and less, according to recent fund the company said, “We make an about wholesale funding is the run “break the buck,” a rare event in the past month, an indication of in an industry hurt by near-zero disclosures. independent assessment on the risk,” John Williams, president the money market fund industry the bond market’s dimming view interest rates. In 2014, the aver- Most money fund assets are in counter-party credit quality in all of the Federal Reserve Bank of that refers to a fund’s net asset the company can avoid default. age yield for taxable money fund Treasuries, certificates of deposit repurchase agreements to ensure San Francisco, told reporters this value falling below $1 per share. REUTERS SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 CLASSIFIEDS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17

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JOGP!OBUJPOBMRBUBSDPN SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Qatar Open Amateur Championship

Jakub Hrinda of Slovakia in action during the second round of Qatar Open Amateur Championship, yesterday at the Doha Golf Club. Hrinda ended the round on joint first place along with Thomas Strandemo with a gross score of 144. CENTRE: Bahrain’s Nasser Yaqoob plays a shot during the second round. RIGHT: Jean Michel Hall of the Great Britain looks on before attempting for a hole. Hall finished the round on a joint third spot along with Qatar’s Ali Saleh Al Kaabi. PICTURES BY KAMMUTTY VP United States pick Boston Vasilyev keeps Minis in as 2024 Games candidate

WASHINGTON: Boston was France as well. The International chosen on Thursday as the Olympic Committee (IOC) will US candidate to host the 2024 select a 2024 Olympic host at Olympics, hopeful of showing its meeting in Lima, Peru, in charge of Dakar Rally the world’s finest athletes its mid-2017. determined recovery from the “We’re excited about our 2013 Boston Marathon bombing plans to submit a bid for the Qatar’s overall leader Al Attiyah finishes 4th in 458km run tragedy. 2024 Games and feel we have Boston outclassed Los Angeles, an incredibly strong partner in San Francisco and Washington Boston that will work with us to ANTOFAGASTA, Chile: in voting by the 15-member US present a compelling bid,” said Russian driver Vladimir Olympic Committee (USOC) USOC chairman Larry Probst. Vasilyev maintained defending board of directors, after multiple The United States has won champions Mini’s monopoly of rounds of voting and “spirited the most medals at the last five the Dakar Rally on Thursday, discussion” to decide among the Summer Games and is home to the manufacturer making it five finalists in a 22-month evaluation many of the richest corporate stage wins in five on the shores process. sponsors of the Olympic move- of the Pacific Ocean. The United States chases its ment, as well as its top-paying Vasilyev clinched the 458km first Summer Olympics since the television rights partners. Qatar’s Nasser run from Chile’s Atacama desert, 1996 centennial edition in Atlanta. The US seeks a fifth Summer the driest place on earth, to the Al Attiyah of Boston’s candidacy follows failed Olympics hosting opportu- coastal stop of Antofagasta with Mini in action bids by New York for the 2012 nity after St. Louis in 1904, Los the Toyota of Saudi Arabia’s during the Olympics, Chicago for 2016 and Angeles in 1932 and 1984 and Yazeed Alrajhi second on the fifth stage of no entry for 2020 in order to re- Atlanta. stage to remain third in the over- Dakar Rally evaluate plans. Next year’s Summer Olympics all standings. 2015 between Three people were killed and will be staged in Rio de Janeiro The Hummer of American Copiapo and more than 260 others were with the 2020 Games being driver Robbie Gordon was third Antofagasta injured from bombs that exploded hosted by Tokyo. The 2018 on the day. in Chile, on near the finish line of the 2013 Winter Olympics will be staged Mini’s Qatari driver Nasser Al Thursday. edition of Boston’s distance rac- in Pyeongchang, South Korea, Attiyah, the 2011 champion and ing classic. and the IOC will decide the 2022 overall leader, was fourth on Runners and citizens fought to Winter Games host at a July Thursday with 11-time cham- recover from the horrific attack 31 meeting in Kuala Lumpur pion Stephane Peterhansel in a with a spirit that became known between finalists Beijing and Peugeot a place futher back. by the catchphrase “Boston Almaty, Kazakhstan. For the first time in the 2015 Strong,” one evoked by the White IOC executive board mem- race, South Africa’s 2009 cham- House in sending US President ber Anita DeFrantz and Angela pion Giniel de Villiers failed to Barack Obama’s congratulations Ruggiero, a four-time Olympic finish on the podium. However, to Boston. medalist as an ice hockey the Toyota driver remains second “The city has taught all of defender, will be vital support overall. But Barreda still boasts a lead difficult to take time from Joan, Sainz was out of contention even us what it means to be Boston builders among IOC members for Four-time motorcycling winner of more than 10 minutes while but, you know, we have a lot of before the fifth stage got under Strong,” the White House said in Boston. “The United States has and defending champion Marc Portugal’s Paulo Goncalves, also racing in front of us. There’s the way. The Spaniard lost more than a statement. “The President and something unique to offer the Coma claimed his first stage vic- on a Honda, remains third in the second part of the rally and we’ll nine hours on a disastrous stage First Lady couldn’t be prouder athletes of the world,” Ruggiero tory of the 2015 edition, finish- standings after finishing fifth on have two marathon stages. on Wednesday which crossed the of this accomplishment and all of said. “I couldn’t be more excited ing the run to Antofagasta ahead the stage. “We will try like hell until the Andes from Argentina into Chile. our nation’s athletes and strongly to share Boston’s athlete-focused of compatriot and overall leader “It was a very tough stage. last day. We know that Joan is The two-time world rally cham- support the effort to bring the vision for the Games with my IOC Joan Barreda. There was fesh-fesh all the time very fast and that he has a very pion suffered mechanical fail- 2024 Olympic and Paralympic colleagues.” Just as he had done on the and in the fesh-fesh you cannot high level, but we will try, for ure on his Peugeot buggy as the Games to the United States. We The largest city in the New fourth stage on Wednesday, see the stones and it is not com- sure.” Spain’s Laia Sanz, the lead- French team, making its Dakar hope to welcome athletes from England region at the northeast Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla took fortable to ride,” said Coma in ref- ing female rider, was 20th on the return after 25 years, endured around the globe to compete in edge of the United States, Boston third spot. erence to the fine sand that can stage to stand at 12th overall after another rollercoaster day. Sainz Boston in 2024.” has more than 7.5 million people KTM rider Coma took 2min clog machines and obscure views. losing 26 minutes. was forced to pull off the track But Boston will enter a global in the metropolitan area and is 16sec out of Honda star Barreda’s “You are always having to pay In the race for the title on four and wait for his support truck to field expected to include solid can- one of America’s oldest cities, its overall lead. attention. It’s going to be very wheels, 2010 champion Carlos arrive to repair the fault. AFP didates from Italy, Germany and roots dating to 1630. AFP Henderson fires 31 Amal wins skeet gold at Losail points to sink Raptors DOHA: Amal Al Rafie kept her for the bronze. In the junior cat- cool in crucial moments to win egory of Trap, Badriya Hamad NEW YORK: Gerald players in double-figures as the the women’s skeet competition clinched the first place followed Henderson scored 31 points as Rockets routed the struggling of the Qatar Cup for Shooting by Rowdha Naji Al Qahtani. Al the Charlotte Hornets extended New York Knicks 120-96. and Archery. Hydus clinched the third place. their winning streak to four Trevor Ariza added 18 points Yesterday, at the Losail The shooting events of the games with a 103-95 victory and Dwight Howard put up 13 Shooting range Amal defeated Qatar Cup ended yesterday. over the Toronto Raptors. and 10 rebounds for the Rockets Sarah Gulam in the gold medal The final two days of the Kemba Walker added 29 points, (25-11), who remain firmly in the match. Hanan Abdullah had to championship, organised by seven rebounds and eight assists mix in the Western Conference. settle for the bronze. Qatar Shooting and Archery – and hit a three-pointer in the Travis Wear finished with 21 In the junior Skeet event, Reem Association, are reserved for final two minutes to extend the for New York (5-34), who were Al Sharshani topped while Hajar archery. lead to 10 points – as the Hornets without Carmelo Anthony and Gulam had to settle for the sil- Archers will compete in the (14-24) handed the Raptors their Amar’e Stoudemire and have now ver. Ameena Al Mansuri took the Recurve 70m x 2 and Compound fourth loss in a row. dropped 14 straight. AGENCIES bronze. 50m today and tomorrow. Kyle Lowry tallied 24 points, In the other events yesterday, The Qatar Cup will serve as Shooters pose for a photo after the medals awarding ceremony at Qatar seven assists and seven rebounds Khulood Hasan Al Khalaf bagged an ideal preparation for the local Cup for Shooting and Archery at the Losail Shooting Range, yesterday. for Toronto (24-11). NBA Results the gold medal in the women’s shooters ahead of the Qatar Open Rockets 120, Knicks 96 Charlotte 103 Toronto 95 Trap event overcoming stiff chal- 2015, which will be held from James Harden recorded 25 Houston 120 NY Knicks 96 lenge from Noora Eisa Al Ali. February 11 to 20 at the same will be seen in action at the Qatar the Skeet, Double Trap and Trap. points to lead seven Houston Portland 99 Miami 83 Maitha Hamad Al Binali settled venue. Some of the top shooters Open. The event will be held in THE PENINSULA SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT India will Smith trumps Bradman to play for win, says Ashwin

SYDNEY: Encouraged by the perfect batting conditions and armed with a positive mindset, fuel Australia’s run chase India will chase their first win of the series once Australia set them a target on the final day Hosts set to give massive target to India on final day of last Test of the fourth Test, Indian spin- ner Ravichandran Ashwin said yesterday. SYDNEY: Steve Smith eclipsed Brad Haddin not out for 31. A Australia, 2-0 up in the series, a Don Bradman record by pow- declaration by Aussies was likely have already taken an overall ering a furious Australian run overnight. 348-run lead in the final match chase to set a massive target for The highest successful run- with four wickets intact and will India in the final Sydney Test chase record in the fourth innings declare early enough today to yesterday. of a Sydney Test is currently Australia’s give their bowlers enough time The Australian skipper with Australia’s 288 for two against captain to claim 10 Indian second innings the Midas touch went helter- South Africa back in the year Steve Smith wickets. skelter after the runs in a bid for 2006. in action Rather than batting out the a declaration to pursue the home Chris Rogers raised his sixth on day 4 of day for a draw, Ashwin suggested side’s third victory in the four- straight 50 of the series with a the fourth the visitors will try to chase down match series in today’s final day. glorious cover drive for four but and final the target on a benign track at Smith, backed by four centu- he was out shortly after hitting Test against the Sydney Cricket Ground. ries, passed Bradman’s 1947/48 straight to Suresh Raina for 56 India at “We are here to play positive record of 715 for most Australian off 77 balls. cricket and win games of cricket. the Sydney runs in a series against India with The Australians finally dis- If presented with the chance to Cricket a frenetic 71 off 70 balls. lodged India for 475 after 162 try and go for a victory, we will The skipper, who was leg before overs to lead by 97 runs on the Ground in try to go for it as sensibly as pos- wicket to Mohammed Shami, fin- first innings shortly before tea on Sydney, sible,” the 28-year-old off-spinner ished the series with 769 runs at the penultimate day. yesterday. told reporters. 128.16. Virat Kohli was rewarded for “We are here to win games of Some late fireworks from Joe some bold captaincy by getting cricket, there’s no two ways about Burns with 66 off 39 balls pro- first innings centurion David it. pelled Australia to 251 for six off Warner for just four in the sec- “It all depends on how posi- 40 overs and a lead of 348 with ond over of the innings bowled by tively you can bat and the tech- niques you apply. Definitely it’s spinner Ravichandran Ashwin. Kumar was eventually given Kohli’s hopes of building an going to be a very positive game Scoreboard Ashwin got an edge off Warner to out by umpire’s referral caught even bigger innings evaporated tomorrow, we will try and be posi- Australia (I innings): ...... 572/7 decl 123-2 (1nb); Watson 20-4-58-2 (1nb); Smith Murali Vijay at slip to the jubila- at slip by Watson off Nathan Lyon in the fifth over of the day when tive about it.” India (I innings): 4-0-17-0. tion of the Indian team. It was the for 30 after putting on 65 with he fell to Ryan Harris. Underlining how good the M Vijay c Haddin b Starc ...... 0 Australia (II innings): sixth time Ashwin has claimed Ashwin. He clipped low to Rogers at track was for batting, Ashwin L Rahul c&b Starc ...... 110 C Rogers c Raina b Kumar ...... 56 Warner’s wicket in Tests. Kumar tried to squeeze the ball mid-wicket and threw back his (50) added 65 runs for the eighth R Sharma b Lyon ...... 53 D Warner c Vijay b Ashwin ...... 4 Shane Watson, who narrowly away with his bat taking a chunk head in anguish before slowly wicket with Bhuvneshwar Kumar V Kohli c Rogers b Harris ...... 147 S Watson b Ashwin ...... 16 avoided being run out shortly out of the ground and carrying it departing with 147 off 230 balls (30), who was adjudged caught in A Rahane lbw Watson ...... 13 S Smith lbw Shami ...... 71 before tea in a mix-up, was bowled to slip. After many replays he was including 20 fours. a controversial decision. S Raina c Haddin b Watson ...... 0 S Marsh c Vijay b Ashwin ...... 1 by Ashwin for 16 to complete an not given the benefit of the doubt. It was the new India skip- “This was one of the slow- W Saha c Smith b Hazlewood ...... 35 J Burns c Yadav b Ashwin ...... 66 underwhelming series of just 238 Mitchell Starc was rewarded per’s fourth century of the series, est innings in my test career. I R Ashwin c Haddin b Starc...... 50 B Haddin (batting) ...... 31 runs at 29.75, while Shaun Marsh for a terrific play-and-miss over equalling Australian counterpart wanted to bat as deep as possible B Kumar c Watson b Lyon ...... 30 R Harris ((batting) ...... 0 lasted four balls for one. when he coaxed an edge off Smith’s achievement. and put it into as many holes as M Shami (not out) ...... 16 Extras (B-2, LB-2, NB-2) ...... 6 Yet another dropped catch had Ashwin, who was on 50, to Haddin It also took Kohli’s series possible and make sure that if any U Yadav c Haddin b Harris ...... 4 Total (for 6 wkts) ...... 251 stalled Australia’s efforts to mop for his third wicket of the innings. aggregate to a record 646 at team won, it was India,” Ashwin, Extras (B-4, LB-7, W-1, NB-5) ...... 17 To bat: M Starc, N Lyon, J Hazlewood. up the Indian first innings when Haddin took his fourth catch 92.28, eclipsing Rahul Dravid’s who has two test centuries, said Total (all out) ...... 475 Fall of wickets: 1-6, 2-46, 3-126, 4-139, bat-pad Joe Burns made a hash of and last of the innings to dismiss 619 for India against Australia in of his 111-ball knock. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-97, 3-238, 4-292, 5-165, 6-251. a chance off Bhuvneshwar Kumar Umesh Yadav for four to end the 2003/04. “But fortunately or unfor- 5-292, 6-352, 7-383, 8-448, 9-456, 10-475. Bowling: Kumar 8-0-46-1; Ashwin 19-2-105- on nought. Indian resistance nearing tea. Saha was dismissed attempting tunately, the game is very well Bowling: Starc 32-7-106-3; Harris 31-7-96-2 4; Shami 6-0-33-1 (1nb); Yadav 3-0-45-0 His blooper was the 16th missed The tourists lost the wickets of a hook shot off Josh Hazlewood poised now, you don’t know which (3nb); Hazlewood 29-8-64-1 (1w); Lyon 46-11- (1nb); Raina 4-0-18-0. opportunity, which has cost the Kohli and Saha in the morning and was caught by Smith at sec- way it’s going to go,” said the Australians 657 runs in the series. session. ond slip for 35. AFP Indian spinner. REUTERS

Chelsea assistant EPL: Blues aim to get back on track LONDON: Jose Mourinho will introducing Willian and Diego attempt to put a troubled fes- Costa after an unconvincing first rules out tive campaign behind him when half display. Chelsea resume their Premier That raised questions about the Messi swoop League title push against quality of the Mourinho’s back-up Newcastle today. players with Andre Schurrle once Mourinho’s side have allowed again failing to impress during a Chelsea’s LONDON: A Chelsea deal for second placed Manchester City 45-minute appearance. manager Jose Barcelona forward Lionel Messi to move level on points at the And with Chelsea due to Mourinho would be impossible under top of the table after a draw play six times before the end of (centre) reacts financial fair play rules, assist- with Southampton and a defeat January, the manager is certain to with Cesc ant coach Steve Holland said at Tottenham in their last two need all the players at his disposal Fabregas (right) yesterday. league matches. if his side are to maintain a chal- and Branislav The Argentine’s future at As if squandering an eight- lenge on four fronts. Ivanovic after Barca has come under increas- point lead over City wasn’t frus- The visit of Newcastle has been the English ing scrutiny in recent weeks amid trating enough for the Chelsea overshadowed by reports of a pos- Premier League media reports of a bust up with manager, Mourinho discovered on sible shock move for Argentina match against coach Luis Enrique and talk of Thursday that he had been hit by forward Lionel Messi whose rela- Stoke City at a potential move away from the a Football Association misconduct tionship with Barcelona coach the Britannia Nou Camp. charge for comments he made Luis Enrique has been placed The four times world player of about referee Anthony Taylor under scrutiny. Stadium in the year would almost certainly after the Southampton clash. Mourinho has repeatedly Stoke, in this command a world record transfer Mourinho described the deci- played down any suggestion Messi December 24, fee while his wages would ensure sion to book Cesc Fabregas for might move to Stamford Bridge 2014 file photo. any deal would be viable only for diving instead of awarding a pen- and will no doubt maintain that the most financially powerful alty as a “scandal” and went on stance as he attempts to ensure clubs. to describe Taylor’s performance his side are not knocked off the Holland, standing in at the as “awful”, prompting the FA to top of the table. club’s weekly news conference for take action. After making eight changes to Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho, said The Portuguese coach has until his starting line for the visit of it was unlikely the London club January 13 to respond but, more Watford, the manager will revert could bring the 27-year-old to significantly, by then he will know to a more familiar starting line- Stamford Bridge without breach- whether or not his team’s recent up against Newcastle. ing UEFA’s stringent spending wobble has been corrected. Meanwhile, mid-table Yaya Toure wins fourth straight controls. Chelsea responded positively Newcastle are continuing their He added that it was unlikely to the 5-3 defeat at White Hart search for a new head coach after that any player would join Chelsea Lane with a 3-0 win over Watford the departure of Alan Pardew to in the January transfer window. in the FA Cup third round last Premier League rivals Crystal African Player of Year award “Jose has made it quite clear weekend. Palace. that in this window his expecta- But victory over the Caretaker boss John Carver, LAGOS: Manchester City and in Africa. Nigeria’s Asisat tion is that nobody comes and Championship side was achieved who is keen to take on the role Ivory Coast midfield star Yaya Oshoala beat compatriot Desire nobody goes,” Holland said. only after Mourinho made a full-time, is expected to be in Toure (pictured) on Thursday Oparanozie and Cameroon goal- “I recall him this time last year double substitution at half-time, charge for at least the next two became the first player to keeper Annette Ngom Ndom to saying a similar thing, but a cou- games to give Mike Ashley, the win four successive African be crowned Africa’s best female ple of things happened that made club’s billionaire owner, chance to Footballer of the Year awards. star of 2014. us reactive. Manchester United EPL Fixtures finalise a short-list of candidates. The 31-year-old beat off the She also won the Youth Player made a huge bid for Juan Mata. (All times in GMT) High-profile names including challenge of Gabon and Borussia of the Year Award. Sometimes you have to react. Sunderland vs Liverpool (1245) former England managers Steve Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick The 20-year-old Oshoala, who “This club conforms with finan- McClaren and Glenn Hoddle Aubameyang and Nigeria goal- was voted the MVP and top Burnley vs Queens Park Rangers (1500) cial fair play. We’ve brought one have already ruled themselves keeper Vincent Enyeama, who scorer of the 2014 FIFA Under-20 Chelsea vs Newcastle United (1500) or two players in over the last 12 out of the running, with ex-Lyon plays for Lille in France. the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. Women’s World Cup in Canada, months but it’s quite clear that Everton vs Manchester City (1500) coach Remi Garde and Ajax’s Toure equalled Cameroon’s Coaches and technical directors joins former Nigeria stars as players have been sold to balance Leicester City vs Aston Villa (1500) Frank de Boer leading the list of Samuel Eto’o as a four-time win- of the 54 member countries of the Mercy Akide and Perpetua the books. Swansea City vs West Ham United (1500) contenders. ner, but he is the first to claim Confederation of African Football Nkwocha who also won the “When you look at the num- West Bromwich Albion vs Hull City (1500) Newcastle can become the four awards in a row. (CAF) took part in the vote. accolade. bers being mentioned around the Crystal Palace vs Tottenham Hotspur (1730) first side this season to achieve Toure, who first won the pres- Ndombe Mubele, who scored Algeria were picked as Africa’s Messi deal, I think it’s almost an the double over Chelsea following tigious African award in 2011, led six goals as AS Vita of DR best national team of last year Tomorrow impossible deal for any club work- their 2-1 victory over the Premier Manchester City to the English Congo reached the final of the after they reached the knockout ing within the restraints of finan- Arsenal vs Stoke City (1330) League leaders at St James’ Park Premier League title last season Champions League, was picked rounds of the World Cup for the cial fair play.” REUTERS Manchester United vs Southampton (1600) last month. AFP as well as helping his country to as Africa’s best player based first time in their history. AFP SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Asian Cup: Buoyant Qatar ready for UAE clash

Qatar football team’s players pose for a group photo following the team’s training session in Canberra, Australia yesterday. LEFT: A Qatari player kicks the ball as coach Djamel Belmadi looks on during team’s training session ahead of their opening Asian Cup match against the UAE tomorrow. The team that won the Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia has been enjoying a good run in the last few months. The coach Belmadi’s side is eyeing a successful campaign in the Asian Cup which started yesterday with a match between hosts Australia and Kuwait. Aussies crush Kuwait in opener Cahill, Luongo, Jedinak and Troisi score for hosts in 4-1 win after Fadhel’s goal

MELBOURNE: Australia dis- to cap a dominant performance. played impressive firepower to “Obviously we got off to a dis- Al Shamrani beat Kuwait 4-1 in their Asian appointing start,” Australia coach Cup opener yesterday after tal- Ange Postecoglou told reporters. isman Tim Cahill kick-started “Sometimes things don’t go to uncertain for the tournament hosts following plan but it’s how you react. an early scare. “It was the right kind of reac- Australia’s Massimo Luongo, Mile Jedinak tion and eventually we over- Cup opener Mathew and James Troisi were also on tar- whelmed them. The positives Leckie (left) get for the Socceroos, who could outweigh the negatives tonight BRISBANE: Controversial have scored six or seven and were and this will give us confidence congratulates striker Nassir Al Shamrani serenaded with a chorus of “Oles” for the next games.” captain Mile could be forced to miss Saudi by a sell-out crowd of 30,000 in Australia, runners-up to Japan Jedinak Arabia’s Asian Cup opener Melbourne. four years ago, are also drawn (centre) and against China after aggravat- Kuwait had stunned Australia alongside Oman and 2002 World Tim Cahill ing an old injury, his coach said with a goal from Hussain Fadhel Cup semi-finalists South Korea in after a goal yesterday. after just eight minutes, the big Group A as they bid to capture a during the first The “Saudi destroyer” incurred defender stooping to head in a first Asian Cup with a revamped round Asian the wrath of Australian fans – and corner and silence the home fans. side after their golden generation Cup l match an eight-match AFC Champions But Cahill relieved the tension failed to win a major title. againstKuwait League ban – after spitting and on a wet and chilly evening by Cahill almost grabbed a sec- in Melbourne, headbutting at the club com- slamming home the equaliser in ond, forcing a superb save from yesterday. petition’s final against Western the 33rd minute after smart work Hameed Youssef on the hour- Sydney. down the right from Luongo. The mark, before Mathew Leckie Coach Cosmin Olaroiu said the 35-year-old has now scored at smashed a left-foot shot against Al Hilal forward was in doubt each of the last three Asian Cups. the underside of the bar as the for Saturday’s game with China, Luongo put Australia in front floodgates threatened to open. after a previous injury flared up in moments before half-time with a “Tim is still a fantastic player,” this month’s friendly with South superb header to give the home Postecoglou gushed after Cahill, Korea. side a huge boost going into the who has scored nine of Australia’s “He had some problems against break. last 16 goals, once again demon- The former Everton forward, rattled the crossbar with a div- big difference between the level of Korea,” said Olaroiu. “It’s some- Skipper Jedinak stroked home strated his importance to the who has now scored 38 times in 78 ing header as the Socceroos the Australian team and Kuwait,” thing he had before. Our medical a penalty in the 62nd minute, green the gold. internationals, added: “It’s always turned on the style against the he said. staff has tried to improve him but giving the Socceroos a two-goal “We saw at the World Cup he’s special. I always talk to the boys 1980 champions Kuwait, who had “When we scored the early goal we will see. We still have time.” cushion as they continued to still very dangerous against the about taking the opportunities beaten them in five of their previ- I was the only person on my bench Al Shamrani scored 10 goals in press, playing with a swagger world’s best defences. and savoring them. I’m 35 but ous 10 meetings. not expressing my joy because I Al Hilal’s run to the Champions that was sorely missing as they “There wouldn’t be a defender I feel great. When you play for Kuwait coach Nabil Maaloul, knew Australia had the quality League final, where the hot managed just a single win in 11 in the world today who would your country, you’ve got to give it who has been in the job just to score at any time – and they favourites narrowly lost 1-0 to matches last year. Troisi poked like to be one-on-one with Tim everything.” three weeks, was philosophical in proved it. Their third goal, the tournament debutants Western home a fourth in stoppage time Cahill.” Substitute Nathan Burns also defeat. “Let’s face facts: there’s a penalty, killed us.” AFP Sydney. AFP German giants Bayern Neymar stars as Barca rout Elche

Munich reach Doha BARCELONA: Neymar’s dou- Shortly afterwards Neymar ble helped Barcelona cruise to was substituted and made it clear DOHA: German giants Bayern getting going. We want to lay the a 5-0 victory in the first leg he was unhappy as he shook his Munich arrived in Qatar for the foundations for success in the sec- of their King’s Cup last 16 tie head when walking off. annual winter training camp, ond half of the season.” against Elche on Thursday to It was an important win for to be staged at Aspire Academy As part of winter break train- ease the pressure on coach Luis Enrique who was criticised for for Sports Excellence fifth year ing programme Bayern Munich Enrique. leaving Messi and Neymar on in a row. will play the elite players of the The Brazilian put the Catalan the bench for the defeat by Real A total of 26 players arrived by Qatar Stars League (QSL) in a club ahead after 34 minutes when Sociedad last Sunday with his the Lufthansa charter jet in Doha friendly match on January 13. he fired home following a well team stuttering under him. yesterday. The match is organ- worked move and after that the The coach put out a first choice The only members of ised by QSL and the flood gates opened against the strike force against Elche as he the first team squad not local side will be led bottom side in La Liga. could not afford another slip-up making the trip to Doha by Lekhwiya SC coach Six minutes later Luis Suarez and he received a mixed reception were long-term injury Michael Laudrup while slotted past Przemyslaw Tyton from the Camp Nou crowd. absentees Philipp Lahm the German side will after creating the chance with a At several times during the and Thiago. be led by coach Pep delightful dummy as he allowed game fans chanted his name but By contrast Javi Guardiola (pictured). the ball to run through his legs they were then drowned out by Martínez was among The one off match, before bearing down on goal. whistles. the group and will con- known as: ‘The Clash Lionel Messi, who was the focus “The only reflection that I will tinue his sports rehab of the Stars’ is to be of attention following a reported make is that which interests me, Barcelona’s Lionel Messi celebrates after scoring a goal against Elche, programme after a cru- played at Abdullah bust-up with Enrique, looked very and I value the support of the fans with team-mate Neymar, during their Spanish King’s Cup trophy match ciate ligament injury. Bin Khalifa Stadium is motivated from the start with to the players. They are the pro- at Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, on Thursday. Two talented U-19 one of the two friendly some lively runs and converted a tagonists in this show and I like it youngsters, Michael Eberwein matches the Bavarian will play penalty just before halftime after that they are supported,” he told and Marco Hingerl, are also mak- during the winter break. The Neymar was felled by defender a news conference. with the management of the club. calm and hopefully we can build ing the trip. Bundesliga leaders’ Qatar winter Enzo Roco. “This is basic if we are going to “I think that our supporters on that with some good results.” “Conditions there are superb,” camp will be for eight days, from Jordi Alba made it 4-0 with a have a good season and it is great have belief in us and in this sense Barca will face either Real Jerome Boateng commented at January 9 to 17. The Germans will clinical finish from a Messi pass if they can back the players.” I am in favour of the decision to Madrid or Atletico Madrid in the Munich airport prior to depar- play a second friendly on January after 55 minutes and Neymar got It has been a difficult week with hold elections by the president King’s Cup quarter-finals once ture according to a report on the 17 against Al Hilal of Saudi Arabia his second foal with a deflected presidential elections brought for- (Josep Maria) Bartomeu as a gen- they finish off Elche. Atletico hold Bayern Munich website. as part of their winter tour. drive from distance five minutes ward a year to the end of this sea- erous gesture” said Luis Enrique. a 2-0 first-leg lead after the home “We’re all delighted to be THE PENINSULA later. son due to general dissatisfaction “This is a way of bringing some leg on Wednesday. REUTERS Most Popular Bangladeshi Newspaper

SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 PROTHOM ALO WEEKLY Published every Thursday 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Available in all leading stores in Qatar       Tel: 4465 0600 Email: [email protected] Ferrer, Berdych to clash for title Spaniard survives Karlovic scare as 3rd seed Czech eases into final with Seppi scalp

BY RIZWAN REHMAT

DOHA: World number 10 David Ferrer of Spain yester- day braved an ace onslaught from seventh seed Ivo Karlovic of Croatia to reach the final of $1.2m Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Ferrer, who has bagged 21 career titles, won 6-7 (2-7), 7-6 (7-5), 7-6 (7-4) in 2 hours and 31 minutes on Centre Court at Khalifa Tennis Complex. In the final today, fourth seed Ferrer will meet form player Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic. Third seed Berdych yes- terday crushed unseeded Andreas Seppi of Italy 6-2, 6-3 to reach his 13th career final. In the first semi-final Ferrer backed his baseline game with a resolute defiance to tackle the huge kicking serves of Karlovic - who stunned world number one Novak Djokovic on Thursday - to reach his 47th career final. It was Ferrer’s fourth career win over Karlovic in five meet- ings. Karlovic, the oldest player left in the draw at 35, fired 30 aces over three sets but Ferrer rallied from a set down to edge the 6’11” tall Croatian. Ferrer admitted Karlovic Karlovic surpasses

Roddick’s Tally Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic reacts after winning his semi-final match against Andreas Seppi of Italy at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: David Ferrer of Spain %A bit of history was made during David returns during his semi-final against Ivo Karlovic of Croatia. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT Ferrer’s victory in three tie-break sets against Ivo Karlovic who became the first active player to pass 9,000 aces yesterday. played better in the first set. “It Ferrer said he worked hard in Ferrer struggled with his Karlovic misjudged a lob return court and that is important to % Karlovic, 35, yesterday delivered 30 was mentally a very tough match. the off-season to fine-tune his returns as Karlovic quickly by Ferrer and let the ball go. But me. There is one more day to go,” aces which carried him past the former US Well, I think in the first set he game. turned a 2-1 lead into a 6-1 card the ball bounced on the line to Berdych said ahead of today’s Open champion Andy Roddick’s total of was better than me. He was more “Well, this pre-season I work a with a couple of sizzling down the allow the Spaniard jump to a 4-3 final. “The week is not over yet. 9,074. intense than me,” Ferrer, 32, said. lot,” Ferrer said. line forehands followed by an easy lead. A couple of long returns by It is an important day (today),” % “In the second and the third “I had one month work with volley to take the tie-breaker at Karlovic saw Ferrer surge ahead he said Karlovic is still 1,111 aces behind sets, it was very very close. I my new coach, and I think we 7-2. to a 6-3 lead and the Spaniard Berdych, 29, said most players Croatian compatriot Goran Ivanisevic’s think in the second set, maybe improve some details in my ten- In the second tie-breaker, produced a backhand passing shot want to avoid a clash against fast- 10,183, which is the all-time record. I had more chances, and in the nis, like a slice on my serve,” he Ferrer saw Karlovic take a 3-1 to seal the match. serving Karlovic. third set it was very even,” the added. “For tomorrow, well, now I lead with an ace. Meanwhile, in the second semi- “No one from all of us wants to Spaniard said. want to rest and to do a massage However, Ferrer recovered final, third seed Berdych crushed play him (Karlovic). He’s a very ATP Qatar Open “I always try to be focused with my physio and to be ready with a forehand down the line to Seppi in straight sets to secure tough opponent. I have to say every point and be focused to do for the final. I will talk with my draw level at 3-3 soon afterwards. today’s final berth. I watched a quite a lot of that Semis Results the best on each point,” Ferrer coach,” Ferrer said. Karlovic produced a 219-kmh ace Ferrer leads Berdych 7-5 in match (first semi-final between said when asked about his intense “Yesterday I think my opponent to draw level at 4-4 but Ferrer career head-to-head with the last Ferrer and Karlovic) and Ivo DOHA, Qatar: Results from battle with Karlovic yesterday. was (going to be) Novak Djokovic, produced an overhead lob to go win coming for the Czech at the played incredibly well. Ferrer had the fifth day of the ATP Qatar “And today I think this match and it was surprise (to see) Ivo 5-4 ahead. Australian Open last year. to fight for each point. So it is not Open at Doha yesterday (x is very important as I had to Karlovic (in the semi-finals),” An unforced error by Karlovic Berdych, who has appeared in going to be an easy final at all,” denotes seeding): concentrate more than the other Ferrer said with a smile. gave Ferrer the set point which 12 finals and 10 career titles to the Czech said. Semi-finals: David Ferrer (ESP x4) bt Ivo players because with Ivo Karlovic, Karlovic fired 10 aces in his six was duly picked up as the Croat his name, said he was ready for “I am going to rest and bring Karlovic (CRO x7) 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 if you make one or two mistakes service games as the two headed hit a return into the net to lose today’s final. back my weapons tomorrow and (7/4); Tomas Berdych (CZE x3) bt Andreas with his serves, you are out (of into a tie-breaker to decide the the tie-breaker at 7-5. “So far it has been a good week. give it another shot,” Berdych said Seppi (ITA) 6-2, 6-3. the game),” he added. opening set. At 3-all in the third tie-break, I have been feeling good on the with a smile. THE PENINSULA Sharapova cruises into final, to face Ivanovic for Brisbane crown BRISBANE: Russia’s Maria down to win her previous match, Sharapova and Ana Ivanovic of once again had to dig deep before Serbia won their semi-finals at seeing off Lepchenko after nearly the Brisbane International yes- two hours on the Pat Rafter terday to set up a highly-antic- Arena. ipated showdown in the lead-up Lepchenko twice served for the to this month’s Australian opening set but Ivanovic broke Open. back both times then won the Sharapova beat the talented tiebreaker. Sharapova of Ukrainian Elina Svitolina 6-1, In the second set, Ivanovic Russia wins a 6-3 to reach the final without charged to a 5-1 lead before she got point during dropping a set while Ivanovic the wobbles, allowing Lepchenko battled her way to a 7-6 (2), 6-4 to reel off the next three games her women’s Juan Monaco of Argentina (left) and Spain’s Rafael Nadal lift their trophies singles semi- after winning the doubles final against Julian Knowle and Philipp Oswald victory over American Varvara before she finally sealed the win Lepchenko. on her seventh match point. final match of Austria at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open, yesterday in Doha. The pair Sharapova beat Ivanovic in the “Definitely, (my) heart was against won the final 6-3, 6-4. 2008 Australian Open final and racing a little bit, especially that Svitolina of both women are in devastating it was really becoming a battle,” Ukraine at form heading towards the first Ivanovic said. the Brisbane Mighty Federer steamrolls Grand Slam of the season, start- “Even though I was 5-1 up, International ing in Melbourne on January 19. still felt like a battle all the way tennis Sharapova has dropped just through.” tournament, Duckworth in 39 minutes nine games in her three matches Ivanovic will be chasing her yesterday in to get to the final and showed no 16th WTA career title and her Brisbane. BRISBANE: Swiss great on the board until the third game mercy against Svitolina, a ris- fifth in 12 months after she began Roger Federer steamrolled of the second set. ing star who won the 2010 junior her latest resurgence up the world his way into the semi-finals Federer hit 24 clean winners French Open, as she reached her rankings. of the Brisbane International past Duckworth, who couldn’t 56th WTA final. Currently ranked seventh, the with a 39-minute demolition manage any against the 17-time “I expected her to play well. I 27-year-old is looming as one of of Australian wildcard James Grand Slam winner as he endured think I did a lot of things good the favourites for the Australian Duckworth yesterday. a miserable evening at Pat Rafter to try to take away her game,” Open. Federer barely raised a sweat Arena. Sharapova said. A former world number one as he won 6-0, 6-1, a total trans- The world number two won “In the end, it became a little who won her only grand slam formation from the player 90 percent of his first serves and bit more difficult. She became title at the 2008 French Open, almost eliminated by unknown fired down 12 aces. “I was very more free, went for her shots a Ivanovic credits her return to because I was very shy,” said the “I felt like I had no time to go Australian John Millman on happy the way I played. I played little bit, a few unforced errors form to finally learning how to player. to movies with friends, you know, Thursday night. aggressive, served well, and then from my end, but overall I’m cope with fame. “It was really overwhelming for and this is what every person He raced through the first set especially on the return I kept the happy I stuck with it and finished “I struggled to be in the spot- me and all the pressures. I always needs. So I really feel since maybe in just 16 minutes and the second pressure on time and time again,” the last point.” light. For me, this is something play tennis as a game and not all year and a half I found this bal- in 23, with Duckworth not getting Federer said. AFP Ivanovic, who came from a set that took time to get used to these pressures and expectations. ance.” REUTERS SATURDAY 10 JANUARY 2015 BREAK TIME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

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