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FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 • 21 Rabia I 1437 • Volume 20 Number 6662 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 New contracts Fire engulfs high-rise for rail projects hotel in Dubai DUBAI: A huge fire ripped through a luxury hotel yesterday, as people gathered to watch New Year’s Eve celebrations, injuring at least by mid-year 16 people, authorities said. The 63-storey building close to Burj Kha- lifa, the world’s tallest tower, was engulfed in flames across many floors as sirens wailed Qatar Rail to hold consultants’ meet and helicopters hovered overhead. Dubai Police Chief General Khamis Matar DOHA: Qatar Rail has started Qatar Rail is also studying ten- Al Mzeima said all the hotel’s residents had preparations to sign a slew of ders for additional services such been evacuated from the scene of the blaze. new contracts for the country’s as information technology and “Until the fire is put out, we will not have ambitious rail network compris- commercial services for use by information on what caused it,” he added. ing Doha Metro, Lusail Tram and passengers in the trains, at the “At least 14 people have been slightly the long-distance train. metro stations and in the light injured, along with one medium injury, and The first phase of the Doha trains in Lusail City. a heart attack case registered due to people Metro project is expected to be By 2030, all the three networks pushing” amid the smoke, the media office completed in the fourth quarter — Doha Metro, Lusail Tram and tweeted, adding no children were hurt. of 2019. Completion of the Lusail the long-distance rail — are A witness said the fire started at around Tram is scheduled for 2020. expected to be completed and 9.30pm and rapidly spread upwards across The current contracts with made part of a unified and inte- dozens of floors. The government tweeted consultants will end this July and grated transport network cover- that the fire erupted on the 20th floor and new contracts would be signed ing different parts of Qatar. affected only the outer facade of the building. for four years until June 2020, Al With completion of the first “Four firefighting teams have been deployed” Sharq reports. phase of Doha Metro and Lusail to fight the blaze, it added. Qatar Rail will hold a meeting Tram, Qatar Rail will offer Authorities had deployed thousands of with companies interested in bid- 600,000 passenger trips per day by security personnel to ensure visitors and res- ding for new contracts on January 2021. By then, 37 Metro stations idents enjoy the New Year’s festivities safely. 5 to explain the terms and condi- will be completed and there will “New Year’s celebrations will proceed tions of the tenders and answer be an average journey time of just according to schedule,” government spokes- queries, said the daily. three minutes between adjacent woman Mona Al Marri said on her Twitter Companies specialising in con- stations. F ire engulfs the Address Hotel near the Burj Khalifa in Dubai yesterday. account. sultation services will attend the The Metro network will be AGENCIES meeting, which would discuss the built over two phases and will scope of the services, project man- include four lines. Phase one cov- agement, supervision of construc- ers 80km across Doha, of which tion work, and management of 63km is underground. commercial affairs for eight con- The Lusail Tram network adds tracts for design and construction another 38km and an additional of phase one of Doha Metro that 37 stations. Completion of the Over 55,000 died in Syria last year: Monitor is under way. Lusail network is scheduled for Qatar Rail is expected to issue 2020. The first phase will see the BEIRUT: More than 55,000 peo- mented the deaths of 55,219 peo- Syrian pro-regime militiamen, ple, including over 76,000 civilians. tenders for Doha Metro facilities Red, Gold and Green Lines open- ple were killed in Syria in 2015, ple, of whom 13,249 were civilians, and 378 members of Lebanon’s More than 45,000 rebels and management and Lusail Tram in ing in 2019, with 37 stations and the country’s fifth year of war, including 2,574 children, it said. Hezbollah movement. over 95,000 regime forces have the first quarter of 2016. 75km of revenue lines. including over 2,500 children, a As in previous years, the dead A total of 1,214 fighters from been killed. The second tender for opera- The Red Line will offer a very monitor said yesterday. were mostly combatants, includ- other countries, including Iraq, Another 40,121 jihadists have tion and maintenance of Doha convenient and reliable alterna- The total number of dead since ing 7,798 rebels and over 16,000 Iran and Afghanistan, died bat- been killed in fighting and air Metro and Lusail Tram would be tive to driving within the heart of the beginning of the conflict jihadists from the Islamic State tling for the regime. strikes, including by a US-led offered in the second quarter of Doha City. A trip from the airport reached more than 260,000, the group, Al Qaeda-affiliate Al Nusra The observatory said it had coalition and Russian warplanes. this year. to Lusail, where the venue for the Britain-based Syrian Observatory Front and associated organisa- recorded the deaths of an addi- The conflict began with peace- This will be followed by another 2022 FIFA World Cup opening for Human Rights said, though tions. tional 274 people whose identities ful anti-government protests but tender for maintenance and oper- and final matches will be located, the number of those killed last The observatory also docu- could not be established. descended into a brutal civil war ation of the facilities associated would take some 36 minutes. year was lower than 76,021 who mented the deaths of 17,686 Since the war began in March after a regime crackdown on dis- with the long-distance rail. It will died in 2014. regime forces, including over 2011, the observatory has docu- sent. link all the GCC states. THE PENINSULA In 2015, the monitor docu- 8,800 troops, more than 7,000 mented the deaths of 260,758 peo- AFP

Ringing in 2016 Snow halts hundreds of flights in Istanbul

ISTANBUL: Hundreds of flights on the last day of the year. domes of mosques and the hills by attractive for residents making were cancelled yesterday from The heavy snowfall left the the Bosphorus. their way around the metropolis Istanbul’s two main airports historic capital of the Ottoman Tourists flocked to take pic- or travelling for the New Year. after the city was hit by a pictur- Empire veiled under a curtain tures of the city at its most win- National carrier Turkish Air- esque but troublesome snowfall of white with snow covering the try. But conditions were far less lines said it had cancelled 265 domestic and international flights from Ataturk Airport and 37 at Sabiha Gokcen airport on the Asian side of the city. Private carrier Pegasus Air- lines cancelled 34 flights in and out of Sabiha Gokcen. Istanbul had a thick covering of snow by early morning, while almost 12 inches fell in some parts of the city, causing disruptions to transport services and the closure of several roads. All ferry services across the Bosphorus which bisects the European and Asian sides of Istanbul were cancelled, city authorities said, warning citizens against non-essential travel. Schools have been shut down in more than 20 provinces across Turkey, Dogan news agency added. Authorities in Istanbul, who were heavily criticised over a slow response to a heavy snow- fall in February, mobilised 5,450 workers to deal with the situation and laid down almost 12 tonnes of salt. The snowfall is expected to last until noon today. See also page 4 A partygoer wears a 2016-themed hat while ringing in the New Year at Sydney Harbour in Australia. See also page 8 Aircraft on the tarmac at Ataturk International Airport in Istanbul yesterday. AFP FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME PM visits Independent schools Qatar makes major achievements in 2015 Labour law revised, new laws in health, education sectors

DOHA: Year 2015 was vibrant transferred to private insurance lection of four historical build- for Qatar with a multitude of providers from June, according to ings converted into museums, major diplomatic, political, eco- the SCH. was launched in October. The nomic and cultural events, activi- In a major breakthrough in 100-year-old Heritage Houses ties and achievements. health education, Qatar Uni- — Bin Jelmood House, Com- Major amendments to labour versity opened its College of pany House, Mohamed Bin Jas- and residency laws and new leg- Medicine. The college will offer sim House and Radwani House islations in the health and edu- a six-year programme, leading to in Msheireb Downtown Doha — cation sectors were among the a Doctor of Medicine degree. Of have been restored and converted highlights of the year. the pioneering batch of 83 stu- into culturally significant muse- The much-awaited new law dents pursuing the programme, ums containing artefacts that give regulating entry, exit and resi- 55 percent are Qataris. them their distinct identity. dency of expatriates was issued In the education sector, a law Perhaps the most prominent during the year. to regulate private schools was cultural event was the Qatar To be enforced on December issued, giving the Supreme Edu- Turkey 2015 Year of Culture 14 this year, the law has replaced cation Council (SEC) authority which included a programme of Prime Minister, Interior Minister and Supreme Education Council Chairman H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin the Kafala (sponsorship) system to set up private schools in col- exhibitions, festivals, perform- Khalifa Al Thani yesterday visited two Independent schools to see education progress and conduct of examinations with a contract-based system and laboration with internationally ances, educational activities and for grades 11 and 12. He also interacted with students and teaching and administrative staff. The Premier was cancelled the exit permit system. reputed schools, with an agree- cultural exchanges across Qatar accompanied by Minister of Education and Higher Education H E Dr Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali Al Hammadi. It has also removed the two- ment that they must run such and Turkey. year period required for an expa- schools. The SEC will have con- Not one but two editions of triate worker to return to the trol over all private schools and Doha International Book Fair country to take up a new job, has the right to supervise them, were held last year, celebrat- after his departure. As per the their curriculum, buildings and ing its silver jubilee in January Qatar International Falcon and Hunting new law, a worker can return to the quality of education. and marking its 26th edition in the country two or three days Out of purview of the law are December. Both witnessed visi- after his departure if he gets a cultural centres set up by global tors thronging to hundreds of new contract and fulfils entry visa entities with agreements with publishing houses offering thou- Festival opening postponed to Monday requirements and if there is no Qatar and training centres and sands of titles. court verdict against him. industrial training facilities set Qatar National Day was marked DOHA: The opening of the sev- ing Gulf heritage and tradition, A major move taken to safe- up by companies to improve their with many events for citizens and enth Qatar International Falcon focuses specifically on the herit- guard workers’ rights was the workers’ skills or provide them expatriates at various locations. and Hunting Festival scheduled age sport of falconry inscribed on introduction of the Wage Protec- with training. The Darb El-Saee saw thousands today has been postponed due to the Unesco List of the Intangible tion System (WPS), a mandatory The Traffic Law was amended, of visitors at its cultural events, weather conditions, the organis- Cultural Heritage of Humanity. online wage payment system for reducing the fine for violations on exhibitions and activities in two ing committee said yesterday. With big prizes, including cash private sector workers. the conciliation list by 50 percent weeks. Events culminated in a The month-long festival is now and Lexus car, the event attracts More than 50,000 private com- if paid by motorists within 30 spectacular military parade on set to launch on Monday at Sab- hundreds of competitors from all panies are to be part of the WPS days and raising it for overtak- the Corniche which saw huge kat Marmi in Sealine. over the region every year. and all of their workers paid ing from the right side and park- turnout of spectators. The Asso- Al Gannas Society and Festi- Under the patronage of wages through banking channels. ing on spaces reserved for people ciated Events organised by the val Chairman Ali bin Khatem Al H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad In the health front, the with special needs from QR500 to Ministry of Interior for expatri- Mahshadi stressed that the deci- Al Thani, the festival is being Supreme Council of Health (SCH) QR1,000. Implementation of the ate communities in four locations sion to postpone the opening of organised by Al Gannas Soci- launched the Qatar National Dia- revised law begins today. were also a big draw. the festival because of the weather ety, in cooperation with Katara betes Strategy to raise awareness Two women, including an Another major stride in the was taken by the committee for Cultural Village Foundation. On and seek preventive measures incumbent, were elected for the diplomatic front was the peace the benefit of the participants. the sidelines, the second Qatar against the disease that affects fifth term of Central Municipal deal brokered by Qatar between In its official weather forecast Al Gannas Society and Festival International Falcon Veterinary almost 17 percent of the popula- Council during the year. two rival tribes in southern Libya yesterday, the Qatar Meteorol- Chairman Ali bin Khatem Al Conference will be hosted by Al tion. Another major turn in the The arts and culture landscape who had battled for control of oil- ogy Department warned of poor Mahshadi Gannas Society in collaboration health sector was that services of received a major boost with the fields. The Tebu and Tuareg tribes visibility due to fog which can be with Souq Waqif Falcon Hospital. the state-owned National Health launch of several museums. The signed a comprehensive reconcili- expected today. It will be misty or the first edition of the annual It will discuss falcon veterinary, Insurance Company (NHIC) pro- opening of Doha Fire Station has ation agreement in Doha under foggy at first and partly cloudy by competition. He said the com- diseases that affect falcons in viding health insurance cover to set a new paradigm for heritage the auspices of Emir H H Sheikh the day, it added. mittee had devised a competition the Gulf and veterinary solutions Qataris under the national health preservation and opened a new Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. It Al Mahshadi said the number schedule for the participants for and the outcomes of specialised insurance scheme, Seha, have window on contemporary art pro- puts an end to fighting in the of participants registered for var- the coming days. research in falcon veterinary. been suspended effective from duction with its Artists in Resi- town of Ubari in southwestern ious categories of the competition The festival, one of the most today. dence programme. Libya. reached 1,541, the highest since important in the region highlight- THE PENINSULA Health cover for citizens will be Msheireb Museums, a col- THE PENINSULA

Goodbye 2015

The last sunset of the year reflected on rainwater, over the Doha Metro Rail project near Barwa Village and (RIGHT) a panoramic view of the busy Salwa Road on New Year’s Eve yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT and ABDUL BASIT

Talk on conservation of nature Part of Doha-bound Al Shamal Road in Yemen on January 6 to be closed for four months DOHA: The Public Works from Doha), with two lanes in DOHA: The Qatar Natural History Group has Authority (Ashghal) is imple- each direction. Speed limit will announced the topic and schedule of its January talk. menting a temporary closure on be reduced to 60kmph throughout Dr Mohammed Al Duais, Assistant, Natural Sci- part of the south-bound carriage- the diversion route to reduce risks ences Programme, Unesco, will give a talk on ‘Bridg- way of Al Shamal Road leading to road users and project workers. ing the Generation Gap to Protect Nature in Yemen: to Doha for about 500 metres at The closure is required to carry Conservation of Nature through Culture’ on January Al Huwaila Interchange (No. 66). out works on a proposed bridge as 6, starting at 7pm at Doha English Speaking School, The closure starts on Sunday part of the North Road enhance- Madinat Khalifa South. It will be followed by a ques- and lasts four months. ment project. Ashghal will install tion-answer session. Dr Al Duais was director of the Traffic on the closed south- signs to advice motorists of the Foundation of Endangered Wildlife in Yemen and is bound section of Al Shamal Road diversion. It has urged road users now responsible for the Unesco Natural Science Sec- will be diverted to the opposite to abide by speed limits and follow tor office in Doha. Details can be had from the group’s side of the road (north-bound car- signs for their safety. website at www.qnhg.org riageway), which will be divided to Dr Mohammed Al Duais THE PENINSULA contain both directions (to and THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 ISLAM www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Moral teachings of the Prophet By Imam Ghazali Mere teachings and commands of Do’s and Don’ts do not form the slam came to illuminate foundation of good moral char- the lives of the people with acter in a society, because these the light of virtue and good things are not sufficient for devel- Imanners, to create in them oping these good qualities in the brightness of character, and to fill human nature. A teacher can- their laps with the pearls of good not merely order to do such and conduct. It made the stages that such things and not to do such came in the process of achieving and such things, and the society this great objective an important will become a moral society. The part of the prophethood. Similarly teachings of good conduct which it declared all attempts to create are fruitful require long training disruption in these stages as an and constant watchfulness. expulsion from the religion and The training cannot be on the equivalent to throwing away the right lines if the example before yoke of faith from one’s neck. the society is not such that com- The position of morality is not mands full confidence, because a like that of the means of pleasures person having a bad moral char- and luxuries, from which indiffer- acter cannot leave a good impres- ence may be possible. But moral- sion on his surroundings. ity is the name of the principles of The best training can be life which the religion must adopt expected only from such a man and it must care for the rights whose personality, by the force of its standard-bearers (i.e. the of its morality, would create a Muslims). response of admiration in the Islam has enumerated all these beholders. They would sing praises virtues and principles and has of his nobility and feel the irre- encouraged its followers to make sistible urge to benefit from the them parts of their lives, one after example of his life. The world another. would spontaneously feel the If we collect all the sayings moral character.” (Tabrani) urge to follow in his footsteps. For of the holy Prophet about the Abdullah bin’ Amar has The Prophet himself was the best example of the good nourishing and developing more importance of good moral char- reported: “I have heard the Prophet and more excellent good character acter, then a voluminous book as saying: ‘Should I not tell you moral character, to emulate which he was giving a call among his followers, it is neces- would have to be prepared, about who amongst you is the most like- sary that the leader must possess which many of the great reform- able person to me 1 And who will to his followers. Before advising them to adopt a moral higher and nobler character and ers will be ignorant. Before we be the nearest to me on the Day attributes than his followers. enumerate these virtues and state of the Judgment 1’ He repeated life by giving sermons and counsels, he was sowing the The Prophet himself was the their details, it will be proper if this question twice or thrice. The best example of the good moral we quote some examples of how people requested him to tell them seeds of morality among his followers by actually living character, emulating that to strongly and emphatically Islam about such a person. He said ‘He which he was calling his follow- has called upon the people to who amongst you has the best moral that kind of life. ers. Before advising them to adopt adopt good moral character. character.’” (Ahmed) a moral life by giving sermons and Usama bin Shareek says: “We In another hadith, he has said: faith, when some other religions washed away, or that offering worship; but on account of his wick- counsels, he was sowing the seeds were sitting in the presence of the “On the Day of the Judgement turn their attention more towards fixed prayers by itself will cancel edness of character he is thrown of morality among his followers Messenger of Allah so quietly as if there will be nothing weightier the performance of worship and your mistakes. in the lowest recesses of the Hell.” by actually living that kind of life. birds were perched on our heads. in the balance of a Mu’min than other religious rites. But Islam does not believe in (Tabrani). Abdullah Ibn Amar says: “The Nobody had the courage to open the goodness of character. The last Prophet gave a call this. According to it, these ben- Hazrat Ayesha narrates: “I Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was his mouth. In the meantime some Allah dislikes an obscene and for the performance of various efits will be available only when have heard the Prophet as saying: neither ill-mannered nor rude. He people came and asked: “Amongst a rude talker, and the bearer of fundamentals of worship and for the axis and centre of belief is ‘Mu’min, by goodness of his char- used to say that the better people the slaves of God, who is the dearest a good moral character reaches the establishment of an Islamic a conscious step towards virtue, acter, achieves the high position of among you are those who are best in to Him.” The Prophet replied: “One to the level of the observer of the government, that was involved in and payment of the compulsory the one who observes fast and offers their moral character.” (Bukhari) who has the best moral character.” prayer and fasting, on account of a long-drawn war with its large (charitable) dues, and when the prayers.” (Abu Dawood). Anas says: “I served the holy (Ibn Haban) his character.” (Imam Ahmed) number of enemies. In spite of the proposed worship can become a Ibn Umar is reported to have Prophet for ten years. He never said Another tradition has it: “They There would be nothing surpris- expansion of his religion and the real source of washing away the narrated: “I have heard the ‘Uf (expressing dissatisfaction), nor asked what is the best thing given ing if such teachings were to come immense increase in the various sins and generating real perfec- Prophet saying: ‘A Muslim who did he ever ask me why I did this or to man ?” He replied: “Best moral from a philosopher who was busy tasks of his followers, the Prophet tion. In other words evil can be observes moderation in matter of did not do that. (Muslim) character.” (Tirmidi) in his campaign of moral-reform. informed them of the fact that on removed by those virtues which worship, on account of the good- It is also reported by him: “My The Prophet was asked: “Which But the great surprise is that these the Day of Judgment there will be man makes his own and by which ness of his character and decency mother used to hold the Prophet’s Muslim has the perfect faith ?” He teachings come from a man who nothing weightier in their balance he is able to reach high and lofty achieves the position of that man hand and used to take him wher- answered: “He who has the best strived to establish a great new than their good moral character, standards. who observes fast and recites ever she wanted. If any person used so definitely this reality is not hid- The holy Prophet has forcefully Allah’s verses during prayers in the to come before him and shake his den from him- that in Islam the emphasised these valuable prin- night.” (Ahmed) hand, the Prophet never used to If we collect all the sayings of the value of morality is very high. ciples so that the Ummah may Abu Huraira has quoted the draw away his hand from the other The fact is that if the religion is understand very clearly that the Prophet as saying: “A Mu’min’s nobil- person’s hands till the latter drew holy Prophet about the importance the name of good conduct between value of morality should not go ity is his religiousness, his tolerance is away his hands, and he never used man and man, then on the other down in its eyes, and the impor- his intelligence, and his lineage is his to turn away his face from that per- of good moral character, then a hand in its spiritual sense it is tance of mere forms and shapes goodness of character.” (Hakim) son till the latter himself turned also the name of the best rela- should not increase. Abu Zar has narrated: “Suc- away his face. And in the meetings voluminous book will be prepared, tionship between man and his Hazrat Anas has reported: cessful is the man who has purified he was never seen squatting in such God, and in both these aspects “Allah’s Messenger has said: ‘A slave his heart for faith, kept his heart a way that his knees were protruding about which many of the great there is the same reality. There achieves, by means of the goodness on the right lines, his tongue was further than his fellow-squatters.” are some religions which give the of his character, great position truthful, his self was content, and (Tirmidi) reformers will be ignorant. glad tiding that if you embrace and high honour in the Hereafter, his nature was on the right path.” a certain belief, your sins will be though he may be weak in matters of (Ibn Haban) www.muhammad.net What have floods in Arabia and Psalm 84 got in common? By Laura Ball Jesus or Isa (PBUH) and his mother! doorkeeper in the house of my God than Most Muslims will recognise the dwell in the tents of the wicked. he continuous rainfall all over descriptions found in Psalm 84. Indige- 11. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; Qatar last week has reminded nous Arabs will also probably realise that the Lord bestows favour and honour; no me of Psalm 84 in the Bible, and the ‘Autumn pools’ we have everywhere good thing does he withhold from those Tof the floods in Makkah when in Doha each time it rains heavily, are whose walk is blameless. my husband went on Hajj about twelve quite a normal occurrence each winter 12. O Lord Almighty, blessed is the man years ago! These rains and the pools of in Arabia, and should be expected. who trusts in you. water that quickly collect on the rocky ‘For the director of music- according Arabian terrain are nothing new. They Here is the short, beautiful, and highly to Gittith, [b]of the Sons of Korah — A have been happening for thousands of significant song written by Prophet psalm’. This is a reference to the part years — since before the time of Prophet Dawood (PBUH) thousands of years ago: of the family of Dawood (PBUH) from David or Dawud in Arabic (peace be 1. How lovely is your dwelling place, O whom this Psalm of Dawood was received, upon him), and his composition of hun- Lord Almighty! like an Isnad or chain of narration- of dreds of songs praising and calling out 2. My soul yearns, even faints, for the who reported the sayings and actions to God - the Psalms. courts of the Lord; my heart and my of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) in the The Psalms are called the Zaboor flesh cry out for the living God. Ahadith. in the Quran. They are recognised as 3. Even the sparrow has found a home, Psalm 84 refers to the story of Prophet (PBUH) said: “One prayer in my mosque is and it is a very similar Semitic language the holy scripture of Prophet Dawud and the swallow a nest for herself, where Ibrahim (PBUH) where he left Hagar better than one thousand prayers elsewhere, to both Hebrew and Aramaic. (PBUH). In Psalm 84, Prophet and Mes- she may have her young—a place near (God be pleased with her) and baby Ismail except Masjid Al Haraam, and one prayer in The significance of this Psalm, for those senger of God Dawud (PBUH) describes your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King (PBUH) in a deserted valley, obeying a Masjid Al Haraam is better than one hun- of you who have not yet grasped it, is that Bakka, the old name for Makkah, which and my God. wise command from God in a dream. The dred thousand prayers elsewhere.” this is a very powerful evidence that the is also the name found for it in the 4. Blessed are those who dwell in your well of ZamZam started flowing under All Muslims are told to trust in God, to way of the Prophets and Messengers was Quran. Surprising to some will be the house; they are ever praising you. “Selah” the heel of baby Ismail, who was kicking trust in the benefits derived from obeying one Way, and mainstream Islam is not fact that the Jews at Dawood’s (PBUH) 5. Blessed are those whose strength and crying from thirst, when an angel His commands and His Power to answer some strange cult, but a continuation time used to do pilgrimage to the is in you, who have set their hearts on appeared next to him. The spring of Zam- the prayers especially of those who obey of that God conscious way of life. This Kaaba, long before Prophet Muhammad pilgrimage. Zam still flows abundantly in Makkah Him, when the time is right. knowledge may help to allay some of the (PBUH) was even born. The Kaaba was 6. As they pass through the Valley of today — thanks and glory be to God. When the Psalm says ‘gathered before fear-mongering and demonisation being the first place or house, established by Baca, they make it a place of springs; the The swallows still nest by and fly in God in Zion’, Dawood (PBUH) is likely spread by Christian and Jewish extrem- Prophet Abraham and his son Prophet autumn rains also cover it with pools. circles around the Kaabah, just as the pil- to be referring to when all human beings ists, about Islam and the more than 1.5 Ismail (peace be upon them) in which, 7. They go from strength to strength, grims or Hajji and Hajjas do their ‘Taw- will be gathered on the ‘Day of Judge- billion worldwide Muslim community, and and around which people prayed to the till each appears before God in Zion. waf’ or seven circles around the Kaabah, ment’ before God. Perhaps the places help to cool some of the fires of anger and One God, who creates and controls all 8. Hear my prayer, O Lord God while praying to God. where ‘Selah’ are put, are pauses in the hatred being fanned to justify acts of war existence. Pilgrims continued to come Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob. The Prophet and Messenger of God singing or recitation of the Psalms where against Muslims. Today, it may help to to the Kaaba until the time of Prophet “Selah” described the immense blessings of people should pray, perhaps putting their make some people in power think twice Muhammad (PBUH), but many strange 9. Look upon our shield, O God; look praying at the Kaabah in Makkah. In heads on the ground in worship, thanks about bombing innocent civilians in one of customs and rituals had been introduced with favour on your anointed one. the report narrated by Ahmad and Ibn and awe of The Creator. In the Quran the cradles of civilisation —Syria. by then, including the worship of about 10. Better is one day in your courts than Majaah (1406) from Jaabir (may Allaah be there are signs in certain places to do this. 365 idols and people- including Prophet a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a pleased with him), the Messenger of Allah The Islamic ritual prayer is called Salah THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GULF / MIDDLE EAST No let-up in Istanbul snows up on New Year eve war on rebels, says Erdogan Over 3,000 Kurdish militants killed

ISTANBUL: Turkish President mountains of northern Iraq, Recep Tayyip Erdogan yester- while thousands of troops backed day vowed no let-up in a military by tanks have in recent weeks campaign which he said had killed pressed a campaign within Tur- more than 3,000 mostly Kurdish key to flush out militants on the militants this year in some of ground. the heaviest fighting since their Erdogan said 3,100 militants insurgency began three decades had been killed by the Turkish ago. military in and outside the coun- In a New Year statement, try since the start of 2015, which Erdogan said Turkey had “the would be one of the highest rates resources and determination” to of attrition for years. deal with the Kurdistan Workers Since the PKK launched its Party (PKK), which first took up insurgency, fighting has been arms in 1984 to push for greater largely in the countryside, but autonomy in the largely Kurdish the latest violence has focused southeast. on urban areas, where the PKK The violence has preoccupied youth wing has set up barricades the Nato member’s armed forces and dug trenches to keep security and complicated international forces out. efforts to fight Islamic State in Residents in towns such as neighbouring Syria, where a Cizre and Silopi, which have been Boys play in the snow at Sultanahmet Square, with the Byzantine era monument of Hagia Sophia in the background in Istanbul, Turkey, yesterday. Kurdish group linked to the PKK rocked by explosions and gunfire RIGHT: Pedestrians walk along the snow-covered Galata Bridge in the city. is fighting the jihadists. West- in recent weeks, have complained ern allies want Turkey to focus that the military operations are more squarely on the threat from indiscriminate and that round- Islamic State. the-clock curfews have left even “Our security forces are con- the sick unable to get to hospitals. Bahrain jails tinuing to cleanse every place of The violence has also hit once- Iran denies launching rockets terrorists, in the mountains and thriving cross-border trade. The Shia citizen to in the cities, and will continue to UND transporters’ association do so,” Erdogan said, referring to said yesterday around 10,000 at US aircraft carrier in Gulf death for the PKK. truck drivers were stuck on the Turkey launched what it Iraqi side of the border because dubbed a “synchronised war on of the security concerns in Silopi DUBAI: Iran denied yesterday In Washington, Commander ing Western “infiltration,” while killing two terror” in July, meant to include a and Cizre. that its Revolutionary Guards Kyle Raines said the action was the United States passed a law campaign against Islamic State in In apparent reference to a row launched rockets near a US air- “highly provocative, unsafe and restricting visa-free travel rights DUBAI: A Bahraini court sen- Syria as well as Kurdish militants with Baghdad over the deploy- craft carrier in the Gulf on Sat- unprofessional.” for people who have visited Iran tenced a Shia citizen to death and at home. But it has overwhelm- ment of Turkish troops to north- urday and condemned US plans Several Revolutionary Guard or hold dual Iranian nationality, a jailed 22 others for life yesterday ingly concentrated its efforts on ern Iraq, Erdogan said Turkey for new sanctions over its ballistic vessels fired the rockets “in close measure Iran has called a breach for forming a “terrorist group” the PKK. had no territorial ambitions in missile programme. proximity” of the warships and of the deal. that killed two people, including Southeastern Turkey has any other country and did not The dispute comes after Iran nearby merchant traffic “after Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokes- a policeman. plunged back into some of its question the sovereignty of its and six world powers, including providing only 23 minutes of man Hossein Jaber Ansari yester- This is the second such ruling worst violence since the 1990s neighbours. Iraq’s prime minister the United States, reached a deal advance notification,” said Raines, day condemned as “arbitrary and this week in the tiny Gulf king- after a two-year ceasefire between accused Turkey on Wednesday of in July that will remove certain spokesman for the US Central illegal” US plans for new sanc- dom, where members of the Shia the PKK — designated a terror- failing to respect an agreement US, European Union and UN Command. tions on international companies majority population have led an ist group by Turkey, the United to withdraw its troops from the sanctions on Tehran in exchange Iranian and US forces have and individuals over Iran’s ballis- uprising. States and European Union — and north and its foreign minister for Iran accepting curbs on its clashed in the Gulf in the past, tic missile programme. The court also revoked the citi- the state collapsed in July. said if forced, Iraq could resort nuclear programme. especially during the Iran-Iraq “As we have declared to the zenships of the 23 convicts and Warplanes have bombed PKK to military action to defend its “The naval forces of the Guards war in the 1980s after the 1979 American government ... Iran’s fined two of them 200,000 dinars camps in southeastern Turkey sovereignty. have not had any exercises in the Islamic revolution. missile programme has no con- ($530,000), terror crime prosecu- and across the border in the REUTERS Strait of Hormuz during the past Diplomats have held out hope nection to the (nuclear) agree- tion chief Ahmed Al Hammadi week and the period claimed by that the deal over Iran’s disputed ment,” state television quoted said in a statement. the Americans for them to have nuclear programme could ease Ansari as saying. Judicial sources said that all the launched missiles and rockets,” decades of mistrust and reduce “Iran will resolutely respond defendants were Shia and that 16 the Revolutionary Guards web- tensions in the Middle East. to any interfering action by were tried in absentia, without site quoted Ramezan Sharif, the The West has long suspected America against its defensive giving further details. Guards’ spokesman, as saying. the programme was aimed at cre- programmes,” said Jaber Ansari. Hammadi said members of the “The publication of such false ating a nuclear bomb, something In Washington, sources famil- group were convicted of carrying news under the present circum- denied by Iran, which sent a ship- iar with the situation said on out bombings in two Shia villages stances is akin to psychological ment of low-enriched uranium Wednesday the US government last December. warfare,” Sharif said. materials to Russia this month was preparing the sanctions, One of the bombings, in NBC News, citing unnamed US as part of the deal. which the Wall Street Journal Damistan village, killed a Jorda- military officials, said the Guards But ahead of the formal eas- said would target about 12 com- nian policeman working in Bah- were conducting a live-fire exer- ing of international sanctions on panies and individuals in Iran, rain under a security and training cise and the US aircraft-carrier Tehran set for the beginning of Hong Kong and the United Arab exchange agreement. Harry S Truman came within 2016, tensions have mounted. Emirates for their suspected role The other one in the nearby vil- about 1,500 metres of a rocket Hardliners in Iran have car- in developing Iran’s missile pro- lage of Karzakan, killed an elderly Masked Turkish police officers in plain clothes stand guard during a as it entered the Gulf with other ried out a wave of arrests of gramme. Bahraini man. demonstration after a curfew was lifted in Diyarbakir yesterday. warships. activists they accuse of promot- REUTERS Both bombings were carried out by the same “terrorist group” formed by the defendants and “specialised in making explosives to target policemen,” Hammadi said. Couple, three Meanwhile, an appeals court Air raids decimate IS mid-level militants upheld the death sentence yes- terday against a Shia convicted kids killed in of forming and leading a simi- BEIRUT: US-led strikes against He named several other IS lar “terrorist group” that killed Islamic State group officials in operatives killed in December, a policeman in a bombing in the North Sinai Iraq and Syria are robbing the including leading members of the Shia village of Aker last year, jihadists of one of their most “Hesba” — the force that imple- Hammadi said. CAIRO: A couple and their three valuable resources: experienced ments IS’ strict religious and The court also confirmed stiff children, including a five-year- mid-level commanders. social code. jail sentences handed down in old girl, were killed yesterday Ten of the group’s higher-ups, “On the one hand, IS has lost April to 11 other members of the when shelling hit their house in including one with “direct” ties its operational and executive group. North Sinai, where Egypt’s army to the alleged mastermind of the capacity. On the other hand, it Seven of them have been sen- is fighting jihadists, state news Paris attacks, were killed in air has lost its ability as a structured tenced to life, and four others agency MENA reported. strikes in December alone, the US hierarchy to work together as a to 10 years, said Hammadi in a A teenager was also wounded in military said. team,” Hashimi said. statement. The appeals court also the attack, in the town of Rafah, According to analysts, these IS has also been dealt a series approved revoking the citizenship which borders the Gaza Strip, the deaths chip away at IS “middle- of military blows on the ground of all the defendants convicted of agency said. management” — seasoned and in recent weeks. attempting to kill three other It was unclear who fired the skilled commanders within the Earlier this week, Iraqi forces policemen. projectile, as both the army and group. pushed the group out of the city On Tuesday, Bahrain handed militants carry out shelling in the “Because of their operational of Ramadi, while an alliance of down sentences ranging from five area. role and their experience, these French Rafale Marine fighter aircraft are seen on the flight deck of French Kurdish and Arab forces in Syria years to life in prison to 29 peo- North Sinai is a bastion of the figures are an invaluable human aircraft carrier Charles De Gaulle, which was involved in launching flight rolled the jihadists back across ple for the attempted murder of “Sinai Province” group, the Egyp- resource and a huge loss for IS,” missions targeting the Islamic State, at Bahrain’s Khalifa port, north of the Euphrates River. a policeman in a bombing later in tian affiliate of the Islamic State said Mathieu Guidere, a jihad- Manama, yesterday. Yezid Sayigh, an analyst at the December 2014. group. ism expert at the University of Carnegie Middle East Centre, said Attacks against police are com- Jihadists have regularly Toulouse. forces, but others were targeted “His death will burden senior IS’ recent losses could be a sign mon in Bahrain, a Western ally attacked Egyptian security forces Instead of focusing on IS’ politi- in Syria. (IS) cadres to find a technically that the United States is receiving and home to the US Navy’s Fifth in the peninsula as an Islamist cal chiefs the US-led coalition has The dead include Charaffe El skilled and trustworthy replace- better intelligence on the group’s Fleet, across the Gulf from Iran. insurgency swelled in the region targeted “technical cadres and Mouadan, who had ties to the ment,” said US-led coalition activities. The country has been rocked by after the army ousted president the mid-level commanders who, Paris attacks “cell leader” Abdel- spokesman Colonel Steve Warren. “But it may also be a result of the Shia-led uprising since Febru- Mohamed Mursi in 2013. though they don’t take the deci- hamid Abaaoud and was killed Also killed in Iraq earlier this weakening security practice among ary 2011. Scores of opponents have They say their attacks are in sions, execute them”, said Gui- in a coalition strike in Syria on month was Khalil Ahmad Ali Al IS personnel as more experienced been detained, with many facing response to a crackdown by the dere. December 24, according to the Wais, IS’ “emir of Kirkuk prov- cadres are taken out of action,” trial, while others convicted of authorities targeting Mursi’s “Without them, nothing could Pentagon. ince”, according to the Pentagon. he said. The “cumulative impact” involvement in violence have been supporters, which has seen hun- be done on the ground.” Yunis Khalash, IS’ “deputy Iraqi analyst Hisham Al Hash- of these deaths could be a turn- handed heavy sentences, includ- dreds killed and thousands jailed. Most of the commanders were financial emir” in the group’s Iraqi imi said Al Wais, known as Abu ing point in the war against the ing loss of citizenship and life in killed in Iraq, where Washing- stronghold Mosul, was killed on Waddah, also headed IS’ internal jihadist group, he said. prison. AFP ton is working with government December 9, it said. communications and mail service. AFP AFP FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 GULF / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Looking to the future Netanyahu’s wife Yemen army quizzed over misuse of funds officer escapes JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s wife arrived at a police station yesterday for questioning over allegations the couple used public attempt on life funds on purchases and repairs for their private home, an AFP photographer said. Sara Netanyahu is to be ques- Aden varsity suspends classes tioned as part of a months-long investigation over claims they ADEN: The pro-government Aden as jihadist groups exploit spent the money on garden fur- army commander of Yemen’s the conflict to make sweeping niture and repairing electricals Aden survived a car bombing in gains, particularly in southern at their private villa in Caesarea. the second city yesterday that regions. Attorney General Yehuda left one of his bodyguards dead, The extremists are occupying Weinstein ordered the probe in a military official told AFP. government buildings and are July after claims made primarily General Ahmed Saif Al Yafie, frequently seen patrolling several by Meni Naftali, who had been commander of the Fourth Mili- districts of Aden. fired as the premier’s butler. tary Region, which includes Aden They have carried out several Among the allegations is that the and its surroundings, escaped deadly attacks, assassinated gov- Netanyahus sent garden furniture unharmed when an explosive ernment officials, and intimidated bought for the premier’s official device planted in his vehicle blew civilians. Jerusalem residence to the Cae- up, killing the guard, the source Yesterday, radical Islamist sarea holiday home. said. gunmen shut down the faculty The Netanyahus have dismissed There was no immediate claim of engineering at the University the allegations, widely circulated of responsibility for the attack. of Aden for the second time this in the local media, as a smear Aden, declared by the govern- week and kidnapped its dean, stu- campaign. ment as Yemen’s temporary capi- dents said. Yemeni university graduates attend their graduation ceremony at Sana’a University yesterday. According to AFP tal, has been the scene of growing The gunmen, who arrived reports, literacy rates in Yemen stand at approximately 70 percent for men and 38 percent for women. unrest as Al Qaeda in the Arabian aboard four military vehicles, Peninsula, long active in Yemen, forced the gates shut to protest and the newly emerged Islamic against mixing of the sexes on State group appear to be vying for campus, students said. influence in the port city. “No mixing. We had previ- It was rocked by months of ously warned the university,” the Iran to expand missile programme fighting this year between pro- students quoted the gunmen as government forces and Iran- saying. DUBAI: President Hassan Row- Emad rocket on October 10. US officials have said the head, making it a violation of a backed rebels who seized the The university said it has sus- hani ordered his defence minister The escalating dispute centres Treasury Department retains a UN Security Council resolution. capital Sana’a in September 2014 pended all classes and closed all yesterday to expand Iran’s missile on the types of missile that the right under the nuclear deal to Ballistic missiles follow a high, before expanding south. its faculties until further notice. programme, in defiance of a US Islamic Republic is allowed to blacklist Iranian entities sus- arching trajectory before falling Supported by a Saudi-led coa- On Tuesday, gunmen locked threat to impose sanctions over a develop and whether they are pected of involvement in missile under gravity to their target, lition, loyalists have regained down the faculties of administra- ballistic missile test Iran carried capable of, or designed to, carry development. unlike low-flying cruise missiles. control of Aden and four nearby tive sciences, law, and engineering out in October. nuclear warheads. Iranian officials have said the Ballistic tests by Iran are banned provinces in the south since July in an attempt to force male and Under a landmark agreement “As the US government is Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali under Security Council resolu- as fierce battles persist across the female students to keep apart on it clinched with world powers in clearly still pursuing its hostile Khamenei, would view such pen- tion 1929, which dates from 2010 country. campus. July, Iran is scaling back a nuclear policies and illegal meddling ... the alties as violating the nuclear and remains valid until the July In another sign of increasing Witnesses and residents say programme that the West feared armed forces need to quickly and accord. Earlier yesterday, Ira- nuclear deal between Iran and insecurity, unknown gunmen shot the radical gunmen are loyalists was aimed at acquiring atomic significantly increase their missile nian Foreign Ministry spokesman world powers goes into effect. dead a leading member of the pro- of Ayman Askar, a local mili- weapons, in return for an eas- capability,” Rowhani wrote in a Hossein Jaber Ansari condemned Once it does, Iran will still government Popular Resistance tia leader known for his links ing of international sanctions. It letter to Defence Minister Hos- the US plans to impose additional be “called upon” not to under- militia and two of his bodyguards, to both Al Qaeda and IS. Last hopes to see these lifted early in sein Dehghan, published by the sanctions as “arbitrary and ille- take any ballistic missiles work security officials said. month, gunmen shut the faculty the new year. state news agency, IRNA. gal”. designed to deliver nuclear weap- They were killed in a drive-by of administrative sciences and But sources familiar with the “The defence ministry, with A team of UN sanctions moni- ons for a period of up to eight shooting in central Aden over- threatened to use force against situation said on Wednesday that the support of the armed forces, tors said in a confidential report years, according to a Security night Wednesday and the gunmen students if they did not observe Washington is preparing new is tasked with putting in place seen by Reuters on December 15 Council resolution adopted in July, fled after the attack, the sources segregation of the sexes. sanctions against international new programmes by all available that the Emad rocket tested by right after the nuclear deal. said. The government has been companies and individuals over means to increase the country’s Iran was a ballistic missile capa- struggling to exert control over AFP Iran’s testing of a medium-range missile capability,” he added. ble of delivering a nuclear war- REUTERS

Opposition Egypt parliament to leader given convene on Jan 10 state funeral CAIRO: Egypt said yesterday support Sisi. The individual seats the country’s new parliament went to a mix of party-affiliated will convene on January 10, weeks candidates and independents. in Algeria after a legislative election that The new assembly will also was marred by a low turnout in include 28 members appointed ALGIERS: The remains of the absence of any opposition. by Sisi yesterday. Hocine Ait Ahmed, one of the The first parliamentary elec- The low turnout came after fathers of Algeria’s struggle for tion since the army ousted Islam- authorities launched a deadly independence from France and ist president Mohamed Mursi in crackdown on the Muslim Broth- then a longtime opposition fig- July 2013 was held in two phases erhood. ure, arrived home yesterday for between October 17 and Decem- Hundreds of Brotherhood sup- a state funeral. ber 2, and saw a turnout of only porters have been killed and thou- The 89-year-old, who died in 28.3 percent. sands jailed, while hundreds more Switzerland last week after a long “President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi have been sentenced to death. illness, was the last of the nine has called for the parliament to The group had dominated the so-called “sons of Toussaint” who convene on January 10,” presi- previous parliamentary election launched the uprising in Novem- dential spokesman Alaa Youssef held between late 2011 and early Evacuees from two besieged towns in northwest Syria at Ebla Hotel in Damascus, Syria. Some 338 Syrians from ber 1954. told AFP. 2012. That assembly was dissolved His coffin arrived wrapped the two besieged towns of Fowaa and Kafraya in northwestern Idlib province arrived in Damascus after passing Analysts say the new 596-mem- months later by a court on tech- in the national flag at Algiers through Turkey and Lebanon as part of a rare UN-backed deal to evacuate people from flashpoint areas. ber parliament is expected to nical grounds. The Brotherhood airport, where Prime Minister rubber-stamp government deci- faced a strong backlash during Abdelmalek Sellal and other offi- sions in the absence of the main Mursi’s sole year in power, with cials attended prayers. Islamist opposition, Mursi’s now millions taking to the street His remains were then taken to blacklisted Muslim Brotherhood. demanding his resignation and his Socialist Forces Front (FFS) Syrian army attacks rebels Lawmakers were elected under prompting the military to inter- party headquarters for a wake, a complex system of independent vene. Though reviled by Islamists, before his burial in his home vil- candidates and party lists. Sisi remains popular with many lage of Ait Yahya today. All party list seats went to the who say a strong man is needed Ait Ahmed, who was jailed by near border with Israel For Love of Egypt coalition, an at Egypt’s helm. the French in 1956, was freed alliance of parties and groups that AFP after a ceasefire in 1962. He went BEIRUT: The Syrian army Yahya, a spokesman for Al Wiyat Qantar, a Hezbollah leader killed into opposition when Ahmed Ben and allied militias launched an Al Furqan, a rebel group in the in Damascus two weeks ago, had Bella became president, and had offensive in the Golan Heights area. been involved in another offen- been an opposition figure ever yesterday, in what rebels said The attacks came in Quneitra sive earlier this year in Quneitra. Raising a stink since. was part of a major assault to province, a sensitive piece of ter- Israel welcomed Qantar’s death He was arrested in 1964 regain ground in southern Syria ritory around 70km southwest of but has not confirmed it carried and condemned to death but the government had lost over the the capital, Damascus. It has seen out the attack that killed him. later freed, and left for exile in last three years. frequent fighting between various The offensive in Quneitra was Lausanne in 1966. Rebels said the attacks began insurgent groups and the Syrian the government’s first in the He returned to Algeria in 1989 at dawn, when the army stormed military and its militia allies. south since Russia joined the war after the FFS was legalised, but the village of Samdaniya Al Ghar- The army was mostly relying on September 30 in support of its returned three years later. biya, near the border with Israel. on ground troops and heavy artil- ally, Syrian President Bashar Al He stood as a candidate in the The army said the village was lery bombardments, said a mem- Assad. Yesterday’s attacks came 1999 presidential election, but he captured, but rebels in the area ber of another rebel group, Seif just days after an assault on the and five others pulled out mid- said heavy fighting continued. Al Sham. Proximity to the Israeli town of Sheikh Maksin that saw campaign arguing that the vote Under cover of rain and fog, border makes it difficult to use air Russia’s heaviest bombing cam- was rigged in favour of Abdelaziz government troops pushed power extensively. paign so far in the south. Bouteflika, who remains president towards the strategic town of Israel seized part of the Golan The commander of one rebel today. Hamdanieh, in the Syrian Golan Heights from Syria in the 1967 group in the region said Rus- His health began failing in 2012, Heights, which they lost two years Arab-Israeli war and annexed it sia had launched at least 100 air and he resigned the following year ago, according to residents and later. Concern is growing in Israel raids against its positions over as head of the FFS. rebels. “They staged a large-scale over the presence in Quneitra of two days. The air campaign had After Ait Ahmed’s death, attack under cover of heavy fog, the Lebanese militant group Hez- tipped the balance in favour of the Bouteflika declared eight days of where you can hardly see some- bollah, an ally of the Syrian gov- government, the commander said. A man rides a bike past rubbish piled up on the street in Jdeideh, mourning. one only a few metres away from ernment. northeast of Beirut, yesterday. AFP you, on the two villages,” said Abu Syrian state media said Samir REUTERS FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 06 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial

Hope for 2016 Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

S THE world bid goodbye to a year during which nations watched with trepidation the unfolding dance of terror, the New Year seems to stare at an Auncertain 2016. However, the New Year spirit prevails. And it showed. Defeating the self-perpetuating fear of terror Obama’s recent vetoes brought on by fissiparous forces across the globe, world capitals yesterday ushered in the year with pomp and pageantry. From Stockholm to Sydney and Beijing to Bogota, revellers danced and partied to their heart’s content. Though governments and security forces were on high alert, the spirit ahead of the first were unconstitutional sunrise of the year came alive everywhere. RESIDENT Barack Obama’s the existence of adjournments when bill The problem is that this gambit cre- A fire at a Dubai skyscraper may have dampened the mood vetoes earlier this month of two return is possible. ates doubt because it combines two but couldn’t defeat the unrelenting spirit of the people of the bills that would have blocked In fact, the return veto is actually mutually exclusive actions: a regular glitzy Emirate. The government announced that the much- Padministration efforts to blunt preferred by the terms of the Consti- veto and a pocket veto. Even more awaited fireworks display would go ahead amid reports that climate change surprised no one. The tution, as was the clear intent of the troubling, the history behind this veto there were no casualties in the blaze. vetoes came after Congress passed res- Framers. We know this because at the mashup — claiming the exercise of a olutions that even Republican leaders Constitutional Convention, they repeat- non-return pocket veto while simulta- Though Europe remained on high alert as French President admitted were largely symbolic -- pre- edly and emphatically rejected a monar- neously returning the bill to Congress Francois Hollande sounded a cautionary note, European cisely because the GOP lacks the votes chical absolute or non-override veto for — is a presidential power grab designed capitals from Berlin to London ushered in the New Year with to override Obama. the president. The right of Congress to to stretch the no-override pocket veto grand celebrations. Police was out in full strength across the By choosing an unorthodox and have a final chance at vetoed bills was into an absolute veto that could be used British capital, while New York’s Times Square was fortified unnecessary method to exercise his essential to the checks and balances sys- whenever Congress is not in session, with security. veto, though, Obama may have handed tem they created. giving the president the very power the a major victory to the Republicans by Yet the pocket veto is absolute in Founders sought to deny the office. In spite of the splash and grandeur, the fear of terror, self- providing them with a way to chal- its effect, because the bill dies without This practice traces to former Presi- perpetuating as it is, remained visible. But there were many lenge the constitutionality of his action. return to Congress, so how is its pres- dent Gerald Ford’s administration, redeeming factors that led one to believe that extremism was Here’s how. ence in the Constitution explained? The when the president issued five such dual yet to emerge victorious in a world The Constitution provides the presi- answer is that the pocket veto was cre- vetoes. Then-Sen. Edward Kennedy where wars and strife make millions dent with two veto options: the regular ated to prevent Congress from duck- challenged these vetoes in federal dis- suffer. or return veto, ing a veto by passing a bill and quickly trict court, where he prevailed. Ford Terror was where the presi- adjourning to prevent the president halted the practice and agreed to use a Turkey on Wednesday arrested dent returns from returning the measure. Without pocket veto only at the end of a two-year all pervasive two for plotting an attack in the the bill to Con- the pocket veto, an objectionable bill session of Congress. Yet the practice was centre of the capital Ankara where gress with his would simply become law after ten days, resuscitated by President George H W across the thousands of revellers gather to The return veto is objections; and whether the president signed it or not. Bush, who claimed to pocket veto two party on New Year eve. The country the pocket veto, So how can a regular veto be used bills that he also returned to Congress. world in 2015. actually preferred which kills the bill if Congress is not in session, which President Bill Clinton did the same was the target of many attacks last by the terms of without return- it is not, since the first session of the thing three times in 2000, and President That shouldn’t year that forced the government of ing it to Con- 114th Congress ended December 18? George W. Bush employed the practice Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu to the Constitution, gress. Presidents Simple: Each house designates legal once in 2007. Obama, meanwhile, has however defeat ratchet up a crackdown on Islamic like the pocket agents to receive veto messages and used the maneuver five times out of hope this year. State cells within the country and as was the clear veto better for other communications. This routine seven total vetoes. hit the Kurdish insurgency hard. the obvious rea- mechanism has been used thousands of The Republicans’ option is clear: Sue intent of the son that it is times by Congress for decades during the president, arguing that the vetoes In his New Year message yesterday, Framers. At the absolute, with no long weekends, vacations and breaks, were facially unconstitutional because President Recep Tayyip Erdogan possibility of veto just as the White House receives bills they combined two mutually exclusive vowed no let-up in the war on Constitutional override, but the from Congress on behalf of the presi- procedures, and because Congress had terrorism. His message is likely to resonate well with the Constitution does dent when he is absent or indisposed. designated legal agents to receive veto Turkish population that has been largely shaken by the attacks Convention, not allow presi- Both procedures have met constitu- messages. Since Obama withheld his last year. dents to pick and tional muster. As the Supreme Court signature, the two bills, instead of being they rejected choose the kind of said in 1938, the “Constitution does not vetoed, should have become law without While other nations tried not to dampen the festivities veto they wish to define what shall constitute a return his signature after 10 days. despite the threat perception, some countries lived up to their a monarchical use. The regular of a bill or deny the use of appropriate It would pain me to see Obama’s laud- reputation. Muscovites were denied the right to celebrate in absolute or veto is uncondi- agencies in effecting the return.” able efforts to reduce greenhouse gases the Russian capital’s legendary Red Square. The opacity of tional as long as In his two vetoes, Obama issued a so- thwarted. But it is even more painful to information was typical of the government. First, it said the non-override veto the bill can be called “protective return pocket veto,” see this constitutional Rube Goldberg returned. But whereby he announced a pocket veto veto device persist. Obama could and Square was closed for a film shoot. However, the film company for the president. the pocket veto, and titled his veto message “Memoran- should have simply exercised the return denied it had anything to do with the filming. under the terms dum of Disapproval” (the name for a veto, but he didn’t. It’s time to bring The Iranian government’s announcement that it is going of Article I, Sec- pocket veto message). But he then pro- this practice to an end. Maybe it will to expand its missile programme, rang over the celebrations, tion 7, has two conditions for its use: ceeded to return the two bills to Con- take a legal victory by the president’s if any, in the Iranian capital. Terror or not, 2015 made and Congress must be adjourned, and bill gress — a return veto. The justification opponents to persuade him.

marred many lives across the globe in myriad ways. One should, return must be “prevented.” These two for doing so is always the same: to “leave linked conditions in turn acknowledge no doubt that the bill is being vetoed.” THE WASHINGTON POST however, look at 2016 only with hope. The other side Quote of Corruption’s tragic returns the day ISASTERS, both natural and globe. Hundreds of millions of Chi- as possible, despite the risks. And the dozen have been pulled alive from the man-made, tear a hole in nese migrated to work in its booming risks were not unknown. According to wreckage. society. When that tear comes factories. The plants spread for miles the New York Times, last October the The catastrophe quite possibly in a place such as China, in every direction along with drab dor- Shenzhen Evening News published a could have been prevented with bet- Dsystemic failures often are exposed as mitories where workers were boarded, lengthy investigation of the city’s over- ter management and attention to safety, well as lives lost and dreams crushed. their laundry fluttering in the wind. whelming amount of construction waste. but over and over again, disasters in The landslide that came roaring down More recently, Shenzhen was The Wall Street Journal reported that a China point to an economic system in We’re not on the Chinese city of Shenzhen on attempting to reinvent itself anew as local environmental monitoring firm pro- which safety and the environment have December 20 underscores yet again the a high-tech hub, and the construc- posed on December 16 to suspend the been neglected by business and the finished with dangers of unbridled growth, lax safety tion disgorged enormous quantities of landfill’s operations pending efforts to party-state. Baby formula was found inspections, corruption, unaccountable waste. In 2013, a dump was opened in address some of the safety risks it had to be adulterated in 2008; high-speed terrorism. The government and lack of rule of law. an old quarry on the outskirts of the city. identified. trains collided on a viaduct in Zhejiang Shenzhen has special significance Trucks rumbled to the site day and night, Four days later, the landfill turned province in 2011; massive explosions threat is still for China: It is the location of the first unloading dirt and debris until it became into a deadly avalanche of red mud, ripped apart a chemical storage facility there. of the special economic zones that a mammoth heap. The operators of the crashing into some of the dormitories in August at the port of Tianjin. eventually turned the nation into the dump were paid by the truckload, so below and burying residents alive. More Francois Hollande low-cost manufacturing floor of the there was incentive to take in as much than 70 people are missing, and only a The Washington Post French President FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 OPINION www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Sanders’ and Clinton’s fake middle class

Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders want to spend money on a lot of stuff: Single-payer health care, more generous Social Security benefits, universal preschool, free college and worker training. Yet, both of them seem wedded to the idea that taxes should not rise significantly for anyone who makes less than $250,000 a year.

By Megan McArdle country. Those people are going dle-class people ought not to care to freak out if you tell them that about this, because we’re mostly S $250,000 a year in they have to pay higher taxes. taking costs that they already household income “mid- And Democratic priorities, pay and transferring them to the dle class”? That sort of particularly Sanders’ plans, government. The strong form of income puts a family in would cost a great deal of money. this argument is false, because it the top five percent of He says he favours single-payer ignores deadweight loss, frictions American earners, which health care, which would involve in the transition (taxes would rise Iseems like an overgenerous defini- funnelling through government well before wages) and a probable tion of “middle class”. Why, then, coffers most of the $3 trillion a increase in utilization, which will are Democrats so allergic to rais- year that Americans currently require putting more money into ing taxes on people who make less spend on health care; $1 trillion the system. The weaker version than this fabled cutoff? of new spending on infrastruc- of this argument is irrelevant, Hillary Clinton and Bernie ture; expanded Social Security because whether or not people Sanders want to spend money on benefits; and free tuition at pub- should think this way, they don’t. a lot of stuff: Single-payer health lic colleges. Enacting his agenda Tell them that you need another care, more generous Social Secu- would require something on the 10 percent of their paycheck for rity benefits, universal preschool, order of $1.5 trillion a year in new new goodies, and they will freak free college and worker training. revenue. out. They are probably not going to be That’s a lot of money. That’s And of course the more pro- able to pay for it with the piddly not “whack up taxes on the rich” gressive you try to make the sums one can raise from even large money: His Social Security plan taxes, the bigger the hit individual tax hikes on the very highest earn- to modestly increase benefits, for paychecks at the high end have ers. Yet, both of them seem wedded example, appears to consume all to take -- and the more that hit Democratic presidential candidate and US Senator Bernie Sanders waves to his supporters at the end of a to the idea that taxes should not of the revenue from lifting the will be concentrated in expensive campaign rally in North Las Vegas, Nevada, recently. rise significantly for anyone who cap on Social Security earnings blue states where average incomes makes less than $250,000 a year. above $250,000 a year. Maybe that are higher, and taxes are already tax bill had gone up. really rich people who stole it all progressive tax plan to go with it. In the New York Times, Bryce sounds like an itty bitty change quite high. I suspected that this cruel math from the rest of you anyway” and These effects wouldn’t neces- Covert of ThinkProgress argues to you, but in fact it is a 12.4 per- The existing level of taxes is why even Sanders has delicately came back to Clintonesque victo- sarily happen at the conscious that this is a mistake. The middle cent tax hike on all wage and sal- matters a lot. Here’s why: As stayed away from proposals to ries. There’s no appetite for trying level; politics is generally less class is suffering, she says, and it’s ary income for high earners, who your starting tax rate increases, substantially hike taxes on the again to be “the party of taxing self-interested than most people time to tap the merely affluent as already have a marginal tax rate incremental hikes sound smaller middle class. But when I went everyone, a lot.” think. Rather, they happen at the well as the fantastically well off. of about 40 percent, not including but in fact take a larger share of looking for evidence in the demo- The second is that those afflu- level of people looking at numbers She does a good job of making the state and local taxes. That’s just your remaining income. If your graphic data on Democratic sup- ent-but-pinched progressive folks and saying “Wow, that’s too big.” case that Democratic priorities to pay for one proposal. Covering tax rate is 5 percent, a hike of 5 port, it was harder to prove than in coastal cities may not be a large When you propose taking another can’t be funded without broader- the estimated $1 trillion a year in percent sounds enormous: you’re I expected. Democrats do better fraction of the electorate, but 20 percent of some rich guy’s based taxes. What she does not private health insurance expendi- doubling the rate! On the other than Republicans with white vot- they are a huge fraction of two income, you imagine his losses do, however, is explain why Dem- tures would need something many hand, if your tax rate is 50 per- ers in expensive blue states, but very important groups: the pro- in the form of fabulous vacations ocrats are avoiding this obvious times larger than that. cent, an additional 5 percent hike not so much better that alienating fessional political class, and the and private jet rides. arithmetic. sounds pretty small. the carriage trade among those media. That provides two choke When you propose taking One answer is that they get a SINGLE-PAYER PLAN But even as a 5 percent hike voters would be likely to cost points for any plan to enact the another 10-20 percent of some lot of their support in high-cost That means taking money from from 5 percent decreases your them a presidential election. And broad and high taxes on the mod- moderately successful reporter’s states where, say, $125,000 a year the middle class, because while take-home by just a smidge over among their other base support- erately affluent needed to pay for income, they know where the does not feel like riches beyond the middle class does not have 5 percent, a 5 percent hike from ers, like blacks, they do so well at the expanded welfare state that cash is coming from: lose the gym dreams of avarice. Over the past oodles of the stuff lying around, 50 percent actually decreases your all income levels that they could Democrats want. membership and forget about five years or so, the commentariat there are so many more of them take-home income by 10 percent. If basically kiss the merely affluent First, the policy has to get vacations for a while, the leak- has been periodically convulsed that in aggregate, taxing them you’re already giving 40 percent of goodbye and still carry the demo- past the wonks, who may give ing bathroom is going to have to by arguments over whether high raises more revenue than taxing your paycheck to the government graphic very comfortably. more scrutiny to a plan that keep leaking, and maybe it wasn’t earners have any right to feel the rich. (That’s why extending one way or the other — and it’s not leaves them, personally, strug- such a good idea to stretch on the pinched because their “basics” — the Bush tax cuts for the middle hard for a single making $150,000 DEMOCRATS PLAN gling to make their mortgage pay- mortgage to get the kids into a a decently sized home in a good class cost three times as much in someplace like New York City So why are Democrats paying ments. And even if they decide better school district. This is the school district, a diet filled with as extending the tax cuts for the to get there — then the kind of tax so much attention to the interests to lean into the strike zone and process by which elite preferences lean protein and fresh produce, wealthy would have, even though hikes needed to pay for Sanders- of high-but-not-astoundingly-so- take one for the team, they are on all sorts of things — from free and an amenity-filled coastal city investment bankers got a much type government wouldn’t sound income voters, rather than the well aware that the broadly lib- trade to immigration — capture nearby in which to enjoy their bigger individual benefit from the like a new and better deal; they’d lower-income folk who swing deci- eral journalistic class will also both political parties. hard-won socioeconomic status tax cuts than a bus driver mak- sound crippling. sively in their favour? One answer be uncomfortable with any plan What this suggests is that we — are very expensive. ing $45,000 a year.) Just paying Oh, I know: Many urban pro- is that they don’t want to lose any under which they are going to probably won’t see Democrats Living in a coastal city is actu- for Sanders’ single-payer plan gressives say they’re willing to pay voters. But there are a lot more have to gut renovate the family brave the sub-$250,000 tax hike ally not a civil right; it is a con- would, for example, conservatively higher taxes. But my anecdotal people making $45,000 a year than budget to pay their new, higher until they absolutely have to. sumption good, and therefore, yes, require between 25-35 percent experience of talking to them is $145,000 a year: Why not alienate tax bill. That might mean nega- Which also suggests that if we you are still very affluent if you more tax revenue than we cur- that they think they’d be kicking a the smaller group and pick up tive coverage for your shiny new have a Democratic president, make $250,000 a year and choose rently collect. Other plans require few thousand more a year into the more of the bigger one? plan. Far better for politicians to all those expensive policy prom- to spend it on living near Manhat- expenditure from other parties collective kitty, not they’d be willing I can propose a couple of propose wonderful new programs ises are likely to be either deficit tan. But this is neither here nor -- employers, state and local gov- to see their personal income reduced answers to this. The first is that piecemeal, paying for all of them financed, or dead-on-arrival. there; most people do not feel this ernments — that are likely to end by, say, 15 percent in perpetuity. That Democrats never got over their with the same handful of popular- (Megan McArdle is a Bloomberg way, in part because they compare up being collected from the pay- would make it challenging for them reputation as the party of tax hik- sounding tax hikes on financial View columnist writing on econom- themselves with people they know, checks of workers, one way or the to pay the sizeable mortgages they ers, and what it did to them in the firms and wealthy people, than to ics, business and public policy). and their own expectations from other. have assumed — mortgages that 1980s. They regrouped, rebranded develop a comprehensive progres- growing up, not everyone in the Now, you can argue that mid- would not shrink just because their as “the party of hiking taxes on sive agenda, and a comprehensive BLOOMBERG Brazil’s white-collar criminals turn snitches

By Mac Margolis had to forfeit a bundle of cash and two bargain, and with his name popping up fancy vacation homes as part of his plea in testimony from other state witnesses, deal. But when he left jail in November Youssef buckled, agreed again to speak ATCHING him buckle Brazilians would be forgiven for thinking that little has after agreeing to finger accomplices in out, and led Brazil’s sleuths to the corner up for the flight to Rio changed. By cutting deals with prosecutors, confessed the Petrobras scheme, he went home to offices of Petrobras and beyond. de Janeiro for the hol- his luxury apartment in one of Rio’s toni- Snitch by snitch, the Car Wash case idays, few passengers criminals have managed to convert harsh jail terms into est beach districts. has made its way from the oil rigs to the would have guessed suspended sentences and house arrest. Pedro Jose Barusco Filho, sentenced last Brazilian capital, where 54 senior politi- Wthat the graying man in a burgundy polo year to 18 years for turning his second- cians, former politicians and their associ- shirt seated in the back of the plane tier job at Petrobras into a bribe- collection ates are now under investigation. was wearing an ankle monitor below his counter, quickly signed an agreement with All eyes are now on Delcidio do Ama- slacks, or that federal agents were watch- prosecutors and promised to return $615m ral, who is not only the first sitting Bra- ing his every move. as well as a heap of public derision. Brazil’s Supreme Federal Court sent two he’d skimmed from supply contracts. By zilian senator to be arrested but also a The idyll burst when a few passengers Such indulgences go down poorly in dozen moguls and political bosses to jail Christmas, he was spotted kicking back former Petrobras bureaucrat who served finally recognized Nestor Cervero, one of a country where public figures who get in a sweeping vote-buying scam. A rigor- at a luxury spa in the Rio hills. Two other as a key dealmaker to the ruling Work- Brazil’s most famous white-collar crimi- caught with their hands in taxpayers’ ous anti-corruption law followed in 2013, guests reportedly left on the spot. ers’ Party for the past 13 years. So far, nals. “Thief!” they growled as the plane pockets rarely see jail time. But Cervero and now criminals and cronies are lining Amaral hasn’t named any names, but descended to Rio. A former higher-up is part of a new generation of Brazilian up to cop their pleas. SHADOW MONEY DEALER the prospect that he might sing is roiling in state oil company Petrobras, Cervero justice. And without his willingness to Thanks largely to dishonour among Then there is Alberto Youssef, a shad- the political corridors. If anyone knows was convicted earlier this year of paying come forward and the country’s new- thieves — not to mention financial track- owy money dealer who has been in and where the bodies in Brasilia are buried, bribes, fixing supply contracts and shunt- found prosecutorial zeal, civic revolt ers skilled in sniffing out hidden money out of custody since 2005, when he first it’s Amaral. ing dirty money to some of the country’s against bent officials might amount to — prosecutors have since secured 80 con- agreed to help authorities take down a So does Jose Carlos Bumlai, a wealthy most powerful politicians. very little. victions of seemingly untouchable moguls money-laundering ring at a state-owned cattle rancher who was on a first-name So all hail 2015, Brazil’s year of the and politicians, whose jail sentences total regional bank. But he went back on basis with Workers’ Party legend Luiz UNRAVELLING BIGGEST SCAM snitch. Investigators in the city of Curit- 782 years. So many criminals have been his word and left investigators empty- Inacio Lula da Silva, the former presi- Instead of going down silently, how- iba, where the so-called Operation Car repurposed as state witnesses that police handed. dent. Now in prison on charges that he ever, Cervero agreed to talk, and thanks Wash probe into corruption at Petrobras are running short on ankle bracelets. This time, the feds were cleverer. brokered a fake loan that ended up as an to his testimony — and the confessions is based, have struck 40 such plea bar- Brazilians would be forgiven for think- When, in early 2014, police again caught illegal campaign contribution to the rul- of dozens of other penitents like him gains, turning criminals into strategic ing that little has changed. By cutting up to Youssef — now for helping high- ing party, Bumlai could prove a damaging — public prosecutors and a crusading witnesses for the prosecution. deals with prosecutors, confessed crimi- rolling oil company executives and poli- witness — if he decides to talk. federal judge have managed to unravel Negotiating reduced sentences is not nals have managed to convert harsh jail ticians on the take spirit their off-books For now, the silence is deafening. the biggest political corruption scam in new in Brazil. But until recently, most terms into suspended sentences and earnings to offshore tax havens — they (Mac Margolis is a Bloomberg View con- Brazilian history. That deal won him a criminals preferred to gamble on the fee- house arrest. doubled down on the man known as “the tributor based in Rio de Janeiro.) vastly reduced sentence and the right to ble court system and take their secrets to Yes, Fernando “Baiano” Soares, a lob- black market’s central banker.” spend Christmas and New Year’s at home, jail. Everything changed after 2012, when byist at the heart of the Car Wash cabal, Jailed for breaking his earlier plea BLOOMBERG FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA

Seoul protest Philippine China building second commandos kill 10 militants MANILA: US-trained army com- aircraft carrier mandos in the Philippines killed 10 Al Qaeda-linked militants in a clash on a southern island, a mili- Move comes amid South China Sea territorial disputes tary spokesman said yesterday, as security forces intensify a search BEIJING: China is building ing positive and nationalistic. coasts of other states, and has for foreign hostages. its second aircraft carrier, the “This is a very good New Year’s turned a series of reefs and out- A lieutenant was among eight defence ministry said yesterday, gift for the motherland!” wrote crops in disputed waters into arti- Philippine soldiers killed or as Beijing expands its naval capa- one user on Sina Weibo, a Chinese ficial islands capable of hosting wounded in a clash with about bilities amid maritime disputes version of Twitter. military facilities. 300 members of the Abu Sayyaf with neighbours in the East and Others warned that having just In recent months, US ships and militant group on Jolo island late South China Seas. two such ships was not enough to planes have approached the new on Wednesday, spokesman Major “This aircraft carrier is being counter the naval power of China’s islands to assert international Filemon Tan told reporters. developed according to entirely rivals. rights to freedom of navigation, “Our troops are pursuing the domestic designs,” defence min- “Once we have equipped each of with a B-52 bomber on one occa- South Korean policemen detain a man after protesters tried to enter the Abu Sayyaf who broke into small istry spokesman Yang Yujun told our fleets with aircraft carriers, sion unintentionally flying within Japanese embassy in Seoul yesterday. The protesters were demanding groups and withdrew to the inte- a regular briefing, adding it was the US and Japan will wake up two nautical miles of one of them. rejection of an agreement between South Korea and Japan regarding rior of the island,” Tan said, add- under construction in Dalian, a from their dream,” another user “International seas and airspace former sex slaves. ing that 15 militants had also been northeastern port. wrote. belong to everyone and are not the wounded in the fighting. The official confirmation comes Beijing’s forces have been dominion of any single nation,” US “This is part of our focused after months of rumours and involved in sometimes tense con- Admiral Harry Harris said at the military operation to free foreign hints from military officials. frontations with Japanese and Stanford Center at Peking Uni- hostages held by the Abu Sayyaf.” Beijing has rapidly expanded its Philippine units over maritime versity last month. Tan said the Abu Sayyaf group military in recent years, rattling disputes in the East China Sea “Our military will continue to Indonesia arrests three is holding two Canadians, along its neighbours and attracting the and South China Sea respectively, fly, sail, and operate whenever and with a Dutch citizen, a Norwegian attention of the United States, prompting fears that the disputes wherever international law allows. and a Japanese. which is making a foreign policy could result in armed clashes. The South China Sea is not — and with suspected IS links Last month, they beheaded a “pivot” towards Asia. Relations between Japan and will not — be an exception,” he Malaysian captive, prompting China’s first aircraft carrier, the China have often been strained added, according to a transcript. JAKARTA: Indonesian police reported that they had captured President Benigno Aquino to order Liaoning, is a secondhand Soviet over competing claims of the Beijing is seeking to build a yesterday arrested three men with three more people,” the Antara intensified operations against the ship built more than 25 years ago. Senkaku islands, or Diaoyu in “blue water” navy capable of suspected links to Islamic State as news agency quoted Central rebels. It was commissioned in 2012 after Chinese. Japan regularly scram- operating in distant seas and part of an operation in the prov- Sulawesi police chief Idham Azis Tan said US-trained scout rang- extensive refits. bled fighter jets in response to has embarked on an extensive ince of Central Sulawesi to cap- as saying. He said the men were ers had assaulted a rebel lair, trig- “The design and construction Chinese planes, it says. The US project to modernise its two mil- ture the country’s most-wanted thought to be linked to militant gering a three-hour battle. Troops of the second aircraft absorbed and Japan have mutual defence lion-strong military, the world’s man, state media reported. leader Santoso, who has eluded later fired artillery at the fleeing the useful experience of research treaty and any conflict with China largest. The arrests came as the US capture for years and is holed up rebels. and training from the Liaoning,” could draw both countries in. China legalised overseas embassy in Jakarta issued an in jungles near Poso town in Cen- There were no indications any Yang said. “In terms of China’s capacity counter-terror operations by “emergency message” for US citi- tral Sulawesi. of the hostages were in the area, “This led to many areas of to require other Asian countries, its military this week as part of zens warning of potential security Azis said a hunt for Santoso and he said. improvements and enhance- excepting Japan and India, to a controversial new law, which threats at tourist beaches on the about 30 of his followers would Abu Sayyaf is one of the most ments,” he added, without provid- accept Chinese naval superiority, stated that Beijing “may send per- island of Lombok surrounding the conclude on January 9. He said hardline Muslim rebel factions in ing details. having the new carrier would be sonnel outside the border to carry New Year’s celebrations. seven suspected militants as well the Muslim south of the largely The new vessel will have a dis- valuable,” Steve Tsang, a Chinese out anti-terror activities” when Counter-terrorism officials as two policemen and an army Christian Philippines. placement of 50,000 tonnes and studies professor at the University the “relevant country” agrees. believe there are at least 1,000 officer were killed in the operation. Two weeks ago, 13 Abu Sayyaf use “conventional power”, Yang of Nottingham, told AFP. The measure applies to the sympathisers of the radical jihad- US authorities on Wednesday rebels were killed in a clash on said, as opposed to being nuclear- But he added that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army, which ist group across Indonesia. More noted arrests made by authorities nearby Basilan island while 14 driven. navy was “already superior” to includes the navy, as well as than a dozen men suspected of in Turkey, Belgium and Indone- people died on Christmas eve It will carry China’s indigenous many of its neighbours, and this the People’s Armed Police and planning bomb attacks over the sia in connection with suspected when another Muslim rebel fac- J-15 aircraft along with other would only add to China’s lead. employees of the country’s public holiday period were arrested in a plots by Islamic State operatives tion, Bangsamoro Islamic Free- planes, he added. Beijing claims almost all the security organs. series of raids recently, and the or sympathisers to launch attacks dom Fighters, staged attacks on Reactions on social media to the strategically vital South China hunt is on for their ringleaders. over the holiday. Mindanao. announcement were overwhelm- Sea, even waters close to the AFP “This morning my team just REUTERS REUTERS Sydney show kicks off global party High security in CAR SYDNEY: Sydney will kick-start the global New Year’s Eve party Revelry kills one with its biggest fireworks display as vote count starts ever, but fear of jihadist attacks has cast a pall with Brussels in Philippines BANGUI: UN troops stood armoured vehicle to prevent any scrapping celebrations and many MANILA: Stray bullets and guard over the main vote-count- attacks by supporters of disgrun- cities tightening security. exploding firecrackers have killed ing centre in Bangui yesterday tled politicians. The show from the Harbour one person and injured almost 200 after a peaceful election in the The enthusiasm of the elector- Bridge and Opera House in Aus- others as the Philippines plunged Central African Republic aimed ate with a clear desire for peace tralia’s largest city is traditionally into its annual chaotic New Year at turning the page on years of was hampered by some organisa- the world’s first major event to revelry, authorities said yesterday. inter-religious violence. tional glitches that led to delays ring in the New Year. Officials said 185 people had Voters turned out in vast num- in polling in some areas, but there Despite safety concerns, organ- been treated for blast-related or bers for Wednesday’s presiden- were no reports of major violence isers are expecting a one million gunshot injuries and one person tial and parliamentary elections, or widespread fraud. plus crowd before the chimes of had been shot dead since Decem- which went off without major A second round of voting is set midnight move across Asia, the ber 21, when the mostly-Catholic incident and were hailed as “a for January 31. Middle East, Africa, Europe and country launched into two weeks success” by the head of the UN Prominent candidates have finally the Americas. of holidays and merrymaking. mission MINUSCA, Parfait Ona- already declared themselves “It just keeps getting better Revellers traditionally set off nga-Anyanga. pleased with Wednesday’s polls. every year,” Sydney Lord Mayor firecrackers, including potentially UN forces operating in the “The results are very, very sat- Clover Moore said of the Aus$7m Fireworks light up the sky over Sydney’s Opera House (left) and Harbour deadly types, and shoot guns into deeply poor country alongside isfying,” onetime prime minister (US$5.1m), 12-minute fireworks Bridge during New Year celebrations in Sydney. the air to celebrate the festive French troops helped to ensure Martin Ziguele told AFP. “My extravaganza. season. that polling stations stayed open party (the Centrafrican People’s The 2016 theme is “City of and other Asian cities may rival nesian capital. “Our hospitals stand ready with late into the night so people could Liberation Movement) is getting Colour” and seven tonnes of fire- Sydney’s pyrotechnic splash, but Sierra Leone’s capital Freetown manpower and equipment to deal vote. high scores in zones where we’re works will go up in smoke, includ- Brunei offers a sober evening was hoping to reclaim its mantle with any unusual upsurge of casu- The country may have to wait not deeply rooted, while in ‘our’ ing 11,000 shells, 25,000 shooting after banning Christmas in a shift as host of the best beach parties alties,” health department spokes- at least a week to learn the out- regions, the scores are Soviet- comets and 100,000 individual to hardline Islamic law. in Africa after Ebola scared peo- man Lyndon Lee Suy said. come of the election, which resi- style!” “pyrotechnics effects” under fore- Tens of thousands of revellers ple away. The city of 1.2 million Police said five civilians, a soldier dents hope will restore stability The ANE admitted to “mate- casts of a fine summer night sky. gathered on either side of Hong was deserted 12 months ago dur- and a policeman were arrested for after three years of brutal conflict rial errors on voting slips” in Acknowledging Australia’s Kong’s iconic Victoria Harbour, ing the worst Ebola outbreak ever illegally firing their guns. that has left tens of thousands parts of Bangui as well as in the Aboriginal culture, a “welcome which was bathed in a dazzling recorded. The annual tide of New Year dead and many more homeless. provinces and said that some par- to country” indigenous ceremony fireworks display. “This New Year’s Eve I am injuries dropped in 2014, with 351 As the National Elections liamentary by-elections will need will also be marked through Jakarta remained on high alert going to dance and party until people hurt by fireworks and three Authority (ANE) began the to take place in future to right images projected on the bridge’s after anti-terror police foiled the cock crows,” said 35-year-old hit by stray bullets, the lowest in count, cement barriers were the wrongs. pylons. detailed plans for an alleged New Franklyn Smith. five years. placed outside the main tallying Hong Kong, Beijing, Singapore Year suicide attack in the Indo- AFP AFP centre in Bangui along with a UN AFP

Volcanic selfie Indonesia to appeal rejection of haze lawsuit

JAKARTA: The Indonesian and the Indonesian part of Bor- but blazes still occur frequently. ing to flight cancellations and government will appeal a court’s neo island. Major firms have “zero-burn” school closures across the region. rejection of a $565m lawsuit The damages would have been policies and typically insist fires Bumi Mekar Hijau was one of against a pulp and paper com- the biggest ever levied against a inside their concessions start out- 20 firms who were punished in pany accused of failing to prevent firm over such burning activities side before spreading in, and are an unprecedented move over the fires that blanketed Southeast inIndonesia, and environmental- started by people not working for blazes. Asia in toxic haze, an official said ists said the rejection was a major them. Activist Riko Kurniawan, from yesterday. setback in efforts to take on those Authorities accused Bumi The Indonesian Forum for the The court on Sumatra island behind the annual haze outbreaks. Mekar Hijau of failing to prevent Environment, said the lawsuit Wednesday dismissed the civil suit Environment ministry spokes- widespread fires in a concession in rejection set a “bad precedent”. brought by authorities against man Eka Widodo Sugiri said the South Sumatra province last year, “We really regret the deci- Bumi Mekar Hijau, a supplier to government would file an appeal according to state-run Antara sion of the judges who rejected global giant Asia Pulp and Paper, against the court’s decision within news agency. the lawsuit, it is another failed over fires on plantation land in two weeks. The company is also being attempt to seek justice for victims 2014, saying there was insufficient “Our nation’s dignity was dis- investigated over this year’s of the haze,” he said. evidence. turbed, we received complaints fires, with its operations frozen The haze crisis also caused The haze-belching fires occur from neighbouring countries,” in December. huge damage to the Indonesian Indonesian tourists take a selfie as Mount Bromo spews volcanic mate- every year as land is cleared using Sugiri said. The 2015 blazes, which occurred economy, with the World Bank rial and ash into the air during an eruption in Probolinggo, East Java, slash-and-burn methods to make Plantation companies are mainly in September and October, estimating the cost at $16bn. Indonesia, yesterday. Mount Bromo is on the second highest alert level way for palm oil and pulp and responsible for ensuring fires were the worst for years, prompt- as its activity has increased in the last two months. paper plantations on Sumatra do not break out on their land, ing thousands to fall ill, and lead- AFP FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / PAKISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

Nepal PM, Modi Taliban has to choose discuss political developments

NEW DELHI: Nepalese Prime peace or terror: Ghani Minister K P Sharma Oli yes- terday telephoned Prime Minis- ter Narendra Modi and apprised Talks to revive peace process in Islamabad on Jan 11 him of the political developments in the Himalayan nation. KABUL: Afghan President of the movement may be open to initially represented by Deputy “Prime Minister (Modi) empha- Ashraf Ghani said interna- talks and which remain commit- Foreign Minister Hekmat Khalil sised the importance of finding a tional meetings next month to ted to the insurgency. Karzai. durable solution to the political lay the groundwork for a pos- The legitimacy of Omar’s The United States and China problems facing Nepal based on sible resumption of peace talks former deputy Mullah Akhtar have both been pressing hard for consensus or ‘sahmati’,” an exter- with the Taliban had to seek an Mansour, who assumed the lead- a resumption of talks with the nal affairs ministry statement approach to the fractured insur- ership in July, is rejected by some Taliban but mutual suspicions said. gent movement that ensured a militants. between Kabul and Islamabad, “Modi extended his good wishes rejection of terrorism. Rivals who accuse him of being as well as the factional fighting to the friendly people of Nepal for Officials from Afghanistan, beholden to Pakistan are suspi- within the Taliban, have held up the New Year 2016,” it added. Pakistan, China and the United cious that he hid Omar’s death the process. Over 50 people have lost their States are due to meet in Islama- for so long. Afghanistan has long said Afghan President Ashraf Ghani gives a briefing on peace talks with the lives in four months of violent pro- bad on January 11 to try to revive “It is obvious that there are Pakistan is harbouring Tali- Taliban during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Kabul tests after the adoption of a new a peace process that stalled in groups of Taliban, not a unified ban leaders and sponsoring the yesterday. constitution by the Himalayan July when the news came out movement,” Ghani told a news insurgency as a means of exert- republic with agitating Madhesi that Taliban leader Mullah conference yesterday. ing control over Kabul, a charge Despite its leadership disputes, As well as the brief capture of political parties and ethnic groups Mohammad Omar had died two “The fundamental issue here is that Pakistan rejects, saying it the movement has made signifi- the northern city of Kunduz in of the Nepal Terai demanding years earlier. the choice: choose peace or ter- too is a victim of terrorism. cant advances this year, inflict- September, the insurgent move- amendments in the statute that Prospects of success have been rorism,” he said. “There will be no For its part, the main faction ing heavy casualties on Afghan ment has also threatened to take they deem discriminatory. clouded by bloody infighting in tolerance for terrorism.” of the Taliban has rejected peace security forces fighting largely on the volatile southern province of The southern plains host over the Taliban over the leadership Next month’s meeting will talks as long as foreign troops in their own since the withdrawal Helmand after overrunning sev- 50 percent of the population of succession which has made it be followed by another encoun- Nato’s training and assistance of most foreign combat troops eral district centres. Nepal. difficult to identify which parts ter in Kabul, with Afghanistan mission remain in Afghanistan. last year. REUTERS IANS Two get death for killing Bangladesh blogger Malaysia’s anti-graft DHAKA: A Bangladesh court protect dissident writers and sentenced two students to death activists. agency sends probe yesterday for the 2013 murder of Police say the banned Islamist a secular blogger, delivering the group Ansarullah Bangla Team first convictions over a series of (ABT) was behind the attacks. report to top official brutal killings that have rocked Haider, an architect, became the Muslim-majority nation. a target of the group after he KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s git currency – before beginning Ahmed Rajib Haider, 35, was helped launch a massive protest anti-graft agency said yesterday a restructuring programme this hacked to death by machete- against the leaders of the largest it had sent two reports to the year. wielding attackers in February Islamist party, several of whom attorney-general’s office about “The MACC has high hopes 2013, in the first of a string of are accused of war crimes during its probes into the transfer of that the Attorney-General in his attacks targeting secular writers. Bangladesh’s 1971 independence huge sums of money into Prime capacity as the public prosecutor The judge in the fast-track struggle against Pakistan. Minister Najib Razak’s bank will make a professional decision,” court yesterday found both stu- Police said Haider had angered accounts and the affairs of state the MACC’s deputy chief commis- dents and one other man, Mak- the students by writing against fund 1MDB. sioner of operations, Mohd Shukri sudul Hasan, guilty of murder and Islam and mocking the Prophet The Malaysian Anti-Corrup- Abdull, said in a statement yes- convicted another five people on Mohammed on blog sites. tion Commission (MACC) did terday. lesser charges related to Haider’s They said Rahmani, an ABT not reveal their findings or say Najib said in a New Year’s mes- death. leader, had ordered the murders whether any wrongdoing was sage that a string of asset sales Hasan, 23, was given a life sen- Members of the Gonojagoron Mancha shout slogans as they attend a of other secular bloggers from involved. It would be up to Attor- combined with other deals would tence. protest rally after the verdict was announced in the trial over the murder of jail while he was being tried for ney-General Mohamed Apandi see 1MDB’s debt cut by about One of the two students, who blogger Rajib Haider, in Dhaka yesterday. Haider’s murder. Ali to decide any further action, 40.4bn ringgit ($9.4bn). attended one of the country’s top These include Avijit Roy, a US it said. “It is therefore clear that universities, is on the run and was ecutor Mahbubur Rahman said. said it was a pre-planned mur- citizen of Bangladeshi origin who Najib has weathered months of 1MDB’s major challenges are now sentenced in absentia. Rahman said the two students der. They should have been given moderated an anti-religion web- calls to resign over alleged finan- behind it,” he said. “Two students of North had been “inspired” by the ser- harsher punishments,” he added. site. He was killed in February. cial mismanagement at indebted The MACC submitted a sepa- South University, Faisal bin mons of firebrand cleric Jashim Five more secular bloggers Rahmani had preached that it state fund 1Malaysia Develop- rate report on SRC International, Nayem and Rezwanul Azad Uddin Rahmani, 45, who was and a publisher have been bru- was legal to kill atheist bloggers ment Berhad (1MDB), whose a former 1MDB subsidiary being Rana, were sentenced to given five years in prison for abet- tally killed this year, triggering who campaigned against Islam, advisory board he chairs. probed for an alleged misappro- death. Rana has been a fugi- ting the murder. protests and claims that the gov- police said. Controversy turned to scan- priation of funds worth 4bn ring- tive since the trial began,” pros- “I am not satisfied. The judge ernment is not doing enough to AFP dal in July when the Wall Street git ($931.32m). Journal reported that investiga- The WSJ report, which Reuters tors looking into 1MDB had iden- has not independently verified, tified funds worth 2.6bn ringgit had also said that 42m ringgit ($605.36m) that had been trans- ($9.78m) of the funds channeled ferred directly to the prime min- into Najib’s account originated ister’s bank accounts. from SRC. Pakistan bureaucracy bloated, says report Najib has denied any wrongdo- 1MDB is under investigation ing and says he did not take any by law enforcement agencies in ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s some 12 ministries and divisions. “Our bureaucracy is bloated, The editorial went on to say money for personal gain. Switzerland, Hong Kong and the bureaucracy is bloated, over “How any organization can overpaid and grossly inefficient...” that the Finance Ministry has The MACC had earlier said United States, media and sources paid and grossly inefficient, said function without a strong leader- It observed that poor govern- perfected the art of “concealing the funds were a political dona- have said. a daily which noted that Indian ship and direction is beyond com- ance has caused ministries to the true financial position of the tion from an unidentified Middle Opposition leaders and some Prime Minister Narendra Modi mon sense, but affairs are being become redundant and talents and government from the public and Eastern benefactor. establishment figures have called cut down his cabinet to streamline run, and targets are being met- skills of people go to waste. yet no one is held accountable for The scandal has shaken inves- for Najib to step down over the decision making. such are the official claims. If this “The Nawaz Sharif governance inefficiency or corruption”. tors in Southeast Asia’s third-big- scandal. An editorial “When bigger is is true, that we are doing well style remains colonial at best- the It said that the government gest economy and rocked public However, Najib still enjoys the not better” in The News Interna- without these missing managers; state machinery is run through a must prioritise and shake up its confidence in the coalition led by backing of most of UMNO’s pow- tional said that the inefficiency of why do we need so many official group made up of the prime min- government structure to eliminate Najib’s United Malays National erful division chiefs, and even his the countless ministries running posts to begin with?” isters family members and close the unnecessary. Organisation (UMNO) party, fiercest internal critics, such as the affairs of Pakistan is no secret, The daily said that Pakistan is friends. The cabinet has report- “We have too many ministry which has held power since inde- influential former Prime Minister but the sitting government goes a perhaps one of the few countries in edly met only three times in 2015. portfolios and departments — we pendence in 1957. Mahathir Mohamad, accept that step ahead to set new precedents. the world that requires a horde of If ministerial duty is just a farce do not need this many ministers The fund had racked up more he cannot be unseated. “The government has failed government officials to carry out then why spend national excheq- and secretaries.” than $11bn in debt – a burden to appoint permanent heads to a simple task. uer on these ministries?” IANS that had weighed on the ring- REUTERS Freed Afghan village reveals key to Taliban’s ‘success’ QARA GHOILY: Commander They didn’t need one. They the guards will take whatever is of all districts across Afghanistan Ghulam Farooq peered out from beheaded all their prisoners over left,” remarked a village resident, are at risk of falling. a hilltop at the biggest military there.” requesting anonymity for fear of Afghan security operations that prize of his storied career as a They also kept a chokehold on retribution. claim to kill scores of militants on warlord — a village captured social freedoms, including a ban “People prefer to tolerate the a daily basis are causing the “dis- after five years of Taliban control. on music, shaving of beards and cruelty of the Taliban than be placement of the insurgency, not The village of Qara Ghoily in hip Hollywood hairstyles. robbed of justice and everything its eradication”, a Western official the northwestern badlands bor- But despite their austere vision they own.” in Kabul said. dering Turkmenistan offers a rare of Islam, the Taliban shored up The testimony highlights the The Afghan government has glimpse into life under Taliban support by restoring a modicum anguished choices faced by a frequently lashed out at neigh- rule and encapsulates govern- of order in the village through an population seemingly trapped bouring Pakistan for nurturing ance failures that have helped effective Shariah-inspired judicial between two evils and helps the Taliban, while ignoring their the Islamists gain ground against system, filling a vacuum left by a explain the insurgency’s stunning local support base, which the offi- Nato-backed Afghan forces. Western-backed government seen rise despite a decade of costly cial stressed cannot be uprooted When Farooq, a powerful anti- as inept and corrupt. Western intervention. by military force alone. Taliban militia commander in Unlike the official legal system, The Taliban remain largely Commander Farooq, 49, is part Faryab province, wrested control built with millions of dollars of unpopular in urban centres, but in of a constellation of informal of the village in August after a foreign aid, the Taliban’s informal many rural areas the puritanical militia groups seeking to bolster Anti-Taliban armed Afghan fighters hold rocket-propelled grenades as scorched-earth offensive, he found court dispensed swift justice on movement has entrenched itself Afghan forces struggling to beat they ride their motorbikes down a hillside during a patrol against Taliban a population deeply disaffected all matters, from adultery to rob- among alienated groups, compet- back the lethal insurgency. insurgents at Qara Ghoily in Almar district of northern Faryab province. with the government despite bery. And one thing in particular ing directly with the government Farooq styles himself as a years of hardline Taliban rule. set them apart from government for public loyalty. formidable bulwark against the motorbikes. Joining the Taliban gap between the people and the “There,” said Farooq, pointing officials: they never demanded a The Taliban now control more Taliban. He managed to do what exodus were around 60 families government grows,” Farooq con- down to a patch of clay dirt sur- bribe. territory than in any year since government forces could not for from the village of 2,000 people. ceded. rounded by fields of wild grape- “If you go to a city court, the they were toppled from power in five years — dislodge the Taliban Those who stayed back are dis- “That works to the Taliban’s vines and deserted village roads. judge will take your money, the a 2001 US-led invasion, with the from Qara Ghoily. trustful of Farooq’s forces. advantage.” “The Taliban had no prison. clerk will take your clothes and UN estimating that nearly half The insurgents escaped on “It is hard to gain trust as the AFP FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / INDIA Delhi-Centre sparring may hit traffic scheme Suspension of two central officials triggers new confrontation

NEW DELHI: The new con- Civil Service) cadre, revoked bureaucrats and officers in the the city government was harass- frontation between Delhi’s AAP Kejriwal’s order, terming it null city government were the “full- ing officials and demanded Jain’s government and the centre over and void. fledged B teams” of the BJP and resignation. the suspension of two central Subhash Chandra, special sec- hinted at a crackdown against the “The suspension of two special officials that triggered a mass retary (prisons), and Yashpal dissident officers. secretaries is completely a wrong protest leave by their colleagues Garg, special secretary (prose- “People will be v happy if these administrative decision. The BJP may throw a spanner in the cution), were suspended by Delhi officers go on long leave. Govt strongly opposes such harassment implementation of the ambitious Home Minister Satyendar Jain. ready to give paid leave. Govern- of officials and demands Jain’s 15-day odd-even vehicle restric- They had argued that the order ance will become honest, smooth resignation,” he said. tion scheme to combat pollution needed Jung’s approval. n efficient,” he tweeted. He alleged that the Home Min- from January 1. The development may affect Deputy Chief Minister Manish ister Jain was pressuring officials Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal the implementation of the road- Sisodia told reporters at a press under his ministry to sign a file accused Prime Minister Naren- rationing scheme on the success conference: “I want to ask why pertaining to the revision of pay dra Modi of scuttling the scheme of which Kejriwal’s government they went on mass leave before scale of its standing counsel Rahul through Lt. Governor Najeeb depends on its 10,000 civil defence a day of odd-even scheme. PMO Mehra. Jung and these officials who he volunteers and Delhi Police with (officials) and LG were online BJP Lok Sabha member Meen- said were the “B team” of the which it has been carrying out a (video-conferencing) in yester- kashi Lekhi said the AAP govern- Bharatiya Janata Party that leads long-drawn war of words. day’s meeting of DANICS asso- ment was looking for an escape A traffic police personnel wearing a mask tries to manage traffic at an the central government. In a series of angry tweets, ciation. Thereafter, a conspiracy route since the scheme was bound intersection before the implementation of the odd-even vehicle scheme in About 200 DANICS officials Kejriwal said: “Narendra Modi was hatched.” to fail. New Delhi, yesterday. Delhi went on a one-day leave ji is taking a shot (on AAP gov- Control over officers in the “This exercise is a faulted protesting the suspension of two ernment) by using L-G and these Delhi government has been the exercise. It is bound to fail. They colleagues who refused to sign the officers.” most contentious issue between are looking for an escape route 1 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. except (January 3 and 10) will be restric- cabinet order to hike the salary of “L-G personally attended the the chief minister and the lt. gov- and there is nothing better than on Sundays. tion free. public prosecutors. Scores of IAS DANICS association meeting ernor with matters reaching the putting the onus on the central Cars with odd registration num- Exemption has been given to officers in the government also yesterday thro speaker ph. LG in court. government. If you really want bers will be allowed to ply only on 25 categories of motorists includ- went on a half-day leave. turn was in touch wid Nripendra The Bharatiya Janata Party’s to deal with pollution, there are odd dates (January 1, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13 ing women drivers, bikers, emer- However, the Centre, which Misra in PMO,” he tweeted. (BJP) Delhi president Satish better ways to deal with it,” Lekhi and 15) and those with even reg- gency vehicles and a host of VIPs. controls the DANICS (Delhi, Misra is Modi’s principal sec- Upadhyay condemned the sus- said. The odd-even formula will be istration numbers on even dates Andaman and Nicobar Islands retary. The chief minister said pension of the two officers, saying tried out for 15 days from January (January 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 14). Sundays IANS

Accident Foundation stone Congress: PM must introspect of Delhi-Meerut on parliament’s functioning highway laid NOIDA: Prime Minister Naren- NEW DELHI: As Prime Min- adopt a resolution to allow par- stitutional norms, parliamentary dra Modi yesterday laid the ister Narendra Modi yesterday liament to function for the sake of values and democratic ideas,” he foundation stone of a 14 lane asked the Congress to make a the nation’s development, adding added. Delhi-Meerut expressway here, New Year resolution to allow that the party that ruled for six Surjewala said: “Modi-ji only calling it a national highway to parliament to function, the oppo- decades did not have the right to believes in his own branding, giv- development. sition party hit back by asking destroy its functioning for politi- ing a complete go-by to the wel- “This is the national highway him to “introspect” instead on cal reasons. fare of the poor. We urge Modi-ji of development... It will emerge the issue. “If the opposition has no right and the BJP to take action against as a major factor for development “The prime minister should to speak, will Modi-ji tell the their own corrupt leaders. of western Uttar Pradesh,” Modi introspect the reason on account people of India as to under what “He should remove Madhya said. Modi said the people in the of which parliament is not func- right parliament (functioning) Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj villages aspire for good roads, An injured man is treated by medical staff at the Guru Nanak Dev Hospital tioning. Should he not examine was blocked by the BJP during Singh Chauhan, Rajasthan CM as they know it is the key to in Amritsar. Villagers torched a bus after nine people were killed and 14 the reasons instead of creating a the 10-year rule of the United Vasundhara Raje, Chhattisgarh development.“The villagers know injured in a road accident. false smoke screen? Has he forgot- Progressive Alliance govern- CM Raman Singh, External if they want development, they ten the attitude of the Bharatiya ment? Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, first need connectivity through Janata Party between 2004 and “We believe the responsibility Finance Minister Arun Jaitley good roads,” he said. 2014 in not allowing parliament of running parliament is of the and other tainted ministers and Modi also mentioned the to function?” Congress spokesper- government and of championing by all means let parliament func- Golden Quadrilateral project of Kerala Congressmen put son Randeep Singh Surjewala told the people’s issues is that of the tion,” the Congress leader said. the Atal Bihari Vajpayee gov- media persons here. opposition. The prime minister ernment, and also the Pradhan Modi asked the Congress to has given a complete go-by to con- IANS Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana. on united face, announce IANS statewide march PAN to be must Saradha scam: Trinamool THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: gress in Kerala picked up pace Leaders of various factions in when a letter allegedly written for transactions the Kerala unit of the Congress by Chennithala to the party high Rs3.8m looted yesterday played down their command surfaced in the media above Rs200,000 lawmaker denied bail differences while announcing a after the poor performance of KOLKATA: Rejecting his bail The CBI has been repeatedly from ATM statewide yatra (march). the ruling party in the civic body NEW DELHI: In yet another plea, a city court yesterday opposing Mitra’s bail plea con- “I will lead a statewide yatra elections in November. bid to curb generation of black extended the judicial remand of tending he was an influential per- RANCHI: Unidentified crimi- of the party on January 4 from When asked about the letter, money, quoting of the income Trinamool Congress lawmaker son and granting him bail would nals looted Rs.38 lakh from a Kasargode district and end it Chandy sidestepped the issue and tax Permanent Account Number and Saradha scam accused adversely affect the investigation. State Bank of India ATM in here on February 9,” Congress even challenged the media to pro- (PAN) would be mandatory for Madan Mitra till January 14. The court of Additional Chief Jharkhand’s Hazaribagh district Kerala unit chief V.M. Sudheeran duce it. cash transactions above `200,000 Mitra was arrested by the Cen- Judicial Magistrate Sougata Roy yesterday, police said. told a joint press conference at “We are not going to make the from January 1, 2016. tral Bureau of Investigation on Chowdhury extended his judicial According to police, the crimi- the party headquarters here in letter an issue since it will involve “The government received December 12, 2014, for his alleged custody by 14 days. nals used password to unlock the the presence of Chief Minister registeration of a case against the numerous representations from complicity in the multi-crore- Arrested and indicted by the ATM and looted the cash. The Oommen Chandy and Home newspaper that published it,” the various quarters regarding the rupee scam. He stepped down as CBI on charges of cheating, con- ATM is located at Demotand, Minister Ramesh Chennithala. chief minister said. burden of compliance this pro- the state transport minister in spiracy and criminal breach of around 110 km from Ranchi. He denied that the press con- “We have been winning all polls posal will entail. PAN will be November. trust, Mitra was granted bail by Police have launched an opera- ference was called as per Con- in recent times... the civic polls required for transactions above Pressing for bail, Mitra’s coun- a lower court on October 31. tion to arrest the criminals and gress president Sonia Gandhi’s were an exception. Sudheeran’s `200,000, regardless of the mode sel co ntended that the CBI’s However, the relief was subse- two people have been detained. directive, as reported in the yatra will make a connection with of payment,” the Central Board assertion of him being an influ- quently cancelled by the Calcutta The criminals might have media here. Sonia Gandhi visited the people. We are confident of of Direct Taxes said in a state- ential person did not stand as he High Court on November 19 and secured the ATM pin from those the southern state last Wednes- returning to power in the state,” ment yesterday. was no more a minister. he has been in judicial custody involved in depositing the cash in day. Chandy said. The counsel also pleaded for his since then. the machine, police suspect. The factional fight in the Con- IANS IANS bail on health grounds. IANS IANS

Master potter India to tighten rules for credit cooperatives

NEW DELHI: India will crack Sahara has not responded to purview of an existing regula- customers. Cooperatives operating down on errant financial firms requests for comment by Reuters. tor, such as the Securities and across state lines are registered that raise funds, mainly from The federal government plans Exchange Board of India, which not with the central bank, but millions of rural poor customers, to penalise cooperatives that fail oversees India’s stock markets, the with the cooperatives division of through loosely regulated credit to repay investors when depos- official said. the Ministry of Agriculture. cooperative societies, a senior its come due or engage in other Credit cooperatives are widely Multi-state credit coopera- official in the agriculture minis- violations of regulations, a senior used by the rural poor. A lack of tives would be better regulated try said. official from the Ministry of Agri- banking services in India - nearly under India’s central bank, the This follows a Reuters investi- culture’s credit cooperatives divi- two-fifths of its 1.27 billion people Reserve Bank of India (RBI), said gation that revealed an expansion sion told Reuters. have no bank accounts - has helped Bindu Ananth, head of the IFMR in fund-raising by embattled con- The official, who has direct shadow banks such as the credit Finance Foundation, a non-profit glomerate Sahara India Pariwar knowledge of the matter, did not cooperatives thrive for decades in group that seeks to broaden access using four credit cooperatives in want to be named as he was not Asia’s third-largest economy. to financial services. different parts of the country. authorised to speak to the media. “The idea is to make it more “It’s an anomaly that you have Reuters spoke to dozens of sav- Agriculture Minister Radha stringent by giving more teeth a class of deposit-taking institu- ers who said Sahara had not given Mohan Singh and Secretary Siraj so that we are able to effectively tions that is outside the ambit of National Awardee Machihan Sasa heating pottery over fire at his resi- them their money when their Hussain, the top bureaucrats in protect investors’ interest,” the the RBI,” Ananth said. dence in the Tankhul Naga village named Longpi, in Ukhrul district of deposits matured. Instead, they the ministry, did not immediately cooperatives division official said. The proposed regulatory Manipur state. Sasa has been awarded the ‘Shilp Guru’ prize by the complained, Sahara’s agents and respond to emails seeking com- “Various suggestions have been changes would come after Prime Indian government for his creation of five new pottery masterpieces. branch officials tried to persuade ment. made and the top brass is very Minister Narendra Modi launched Longpi pottery is made from a paste of ground black serpentinite stone them to switch their matured One measure under discussion serious about this.” an ambitious project to widen and a special brown clay native to the village. After the pots are shaped, savings deposits to new schemes is to either have an independent Under Indian law, credit coop- banking services in India. polished and sun dried, they are heated in fire and polished with a tree offered through credit coopera- regulator supervise credit coop- eratives must be owned by their leaf locally called Chiron ni. tives run by Sahara. eratives or bring them under the members, who are also the main REUTERS FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 ASIA / INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Prayers for peace Ilayaraja Congress seeks tie-up nominated for top Kerala award THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: with Left in Bengal Music legend Ilayaraja was yes- terday nominated for the Nisha- gandi Puraskaram by the Kerala Trinamool ridicules idea of key rivals forging alliance government, a minister said. The 72-year-old maestro is KOLKATA: Amid rising spec- deal with swift political changes “Flexibility is always there, being conferred the honour for ulation of a probable alliance while the state Congress wrote our tactics have to be flexible to his artistic excellence and contri- between the CPI-M and the to party president Sonia Gandhi enable us to prepare for any new bution to the Indian film music Congress for the 2016 West Ben- seeking for a Left-Congress seat political situation that is arising,” industry, state Tourism Minister gal assembly polls, the ruling arrangement. Karat said when asked about the A.P. Anil Kumar told reporters. Trinamool Congress yesterday Remaining evasive on the issue speculations of a tie-up with the Chief Minister Oommen ridiculed such an electoral under- of aligning with the Congress, the Congress. Chandy will give away the award standing calling it a “desperate CPI-M state committee will dis- Meanwhile, state Congress gen- on the inaugural day of the eight- measure” by parties on the wane. cuss and decide about the elec- eral secretary O.P. Mishra wrote School students offer prayers for world peace in 2016, in Ahmedabad day Nishagandi annual dance and “They already have a coalition toral plan of action which will to party president Sonia Gandhi yesterday. music festival to be held here as Left Front, so I wonder what then be sent to the central com- advocating for a seat-sharing from January 20. has made them now to cry for mittee and politburo to take a arrangement with the Left Front. The festival will see perform- another alliance? The CPI-M is a final call. “A Congress-Left Front seat ances from sitar player Anoushka politically bankrupt party which Asked if the party had ruled adjustment with a declared com- Shankar, tabla maestro Zakir is on a wane. out the possibility of such an alli- mon minimum programme would Singer Adnan Sami to Hussain, actress-dancer Hema All these are its desperate ance, CPI-M general secretary dethrone the Trinamool govern- Malini, Kathak dancers Marami measures to stay afloat,” Trina- Sitaram Yechury said: “It was ment and usher in a Congress- Medhi and her actress daughter mool secretary general Partha not the agenda of the plenum to Left Front alliance in West Meghranjani, Odissi dancer Ile- Chatterjee said. discuss the matter.” Bengal,” Mishra said in the letter get Indian citizenship ana Citarisi, and Carnatic vocal- “Both the CPI-M and the Con- Exuding confidence of ousting giving vote and seat projections ist TV Sankaranarayanan. gress are spent forces and never the Mamata Banerjee led Trina- for the 2016 assembly polls. MUMBAI: In the New Year, today,” Sami, who is of Pakistani follow coalition dharma. Even if mool government, Yechury called “Given the rapid deterioration noted singer Adnan Sami will origin, told reporters here. IANS they manage somehow to come upon party cadres and leaders to of support for BJP in the state, it become an Indian citizen. He says Born in Britain and hitherto a together, it will only disillusion brace for attacks from the rul- is expected that a high percentage it’s a “New Year gift”. Canadian citizen, Sami has been and antagonise their followers ing party and continue to march of BJP vote would travel back to Home ministry officials yes- living in India on visa since March and activists who will then join ahead towards its goal of setting the Left and Congress combine. terday said Sami will be granted 2001. He was last given a visa Trinamool which has been bring- up the people’s agenda. “The assembly segment wise citizenship on Friday. The Indian extension in October this year. ing development across the state,” Last Wednesday, politburo vote projection assumes transfer citizenship was granted after he Sami, who is known for playing Punjab claims he added. member former general secretary of 40 percent of the total vote made a representation to the home a variety of musical instruments Chatterjee’s comments came Prakash Karat had said the party received by the BJP in 2014 Lok ministry on May 26 requesting for and for his distinct voice, has drop in crime on a day when the CPI-M, at will discuss and decide its tactics Sabha polls, in favour of Con- it on humanitarian grounds. always maintained that the love he the conclusion of its five-day in the next few weeks for oust- gress-Left nominees,” he added. “This is the New Year gift for has received from Indian citizens during 2015 organisational plenum, asserted ing the “authoritarian” Mamata me. I am thankful to the Indian is “everything” for him. of employing “flexible tactics” to Banerjee regime. IANS government. I am very happy IANS CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police yesterday claimed that there was a drop in incidents of crime dur- ing 2015 compared to the previ- Gulmarg snow ous year. “Crime against person and property — murders, dacoities Congress wins seven of 11 and burglaries, showed a decrease in 2015, as compared to 2014,” a police department spokesman said here. local bodies in Chhattisgarh The number of murder cases came down to 693 this year from RAIPUR: The Congress yester- leading in the mayoral contest. local body polls, the problems on 767 last year. Dacoties decreased day dealt a severe jolt to the rul- “BJP government has done the other side were much more from 31 to 23. ing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) nothing on the issues of paddy serious. The number of rape cases winning seven of the 11 local bod- procurement, bonus, ration In Baikunthpur, Congress’s reported this year was 860 com- ies — elections to which were held cards, etc. You can see the result Ashok jaiswal defeated BJP’s pared to 981 last year. Snatchings on Monday. of its inaction in the outcome of Shailesh Shivhar by more than went down to 1,246 from 1,354 last While the BJP, in power in the local body polls. This victory 1,000 votes for the post of mayor. year, the spokesman said. Chhattisgarh for the last 15 will boost the confidence of the In Shivpur Charcha, Con- “However, an increase has been years, could manage to win just Congress,” said T.S. Singh Dev, gress’s Ajit Lakda defeated BJP’s noticed in some crime heads such four Nagar Panchayats, the Con- leader of opposition in the Chat- Rajesh Singh by 700 votes. as kidnappings/abduction (1,678 gress bagged four Nagar Palika tisgarh assembly. In Rajnandgaon, Congress’s this year as against 1,550 in 2014), (municipalities) and three Nagar Ajit Jogi, another Congress Mira Chopra won the Khaira- theft (3,828 as against 3,713 in Panchayat (city councils) leader and former chief minis- garh Palika presidentship, 2014) and attempt to murder Counting in Bhilai munici- ter, was of the view that while defeating BJP’s Preeti Tamrakar (871 as against 864 in 2014),” the Tourists have a snowball fight on slopes in Gulmarg, north of Srinagar, pal corporation was on, and the both his party and BJP experi- by 900 votes. spokesman said. IANS IANS the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, yesterday. Tourists have Congress’s Devendra Yadav was enced dissension ahead of the flocked in large numbers to Gulmarg. CPI-M ‘redoubles’ resolve to overcome weaknesses No Goa commitment yet KOLKATA: The CPI-M yester- completed the mandate of the 21st rampant in Indian politics”. that are there inside our party. day asserted it was the only party party congress (held in Visha- “We are the party that will set The only weapon to fight all such on defence expo land that can offer a policy alternative khapatnam). the agenda for India, the people’s deviations is party unity. This and a better political culture, as “We have redoubled our resolve agenda in the coming days. That unity has to be preserved and it called on workers to preserve to strengthen our party and on is the resistance against the plun- strengthened.” PANAJI: The Goa government nation for the exhibition. We will and strengthen inner party unity. that basis to strengthen the unity der by the ruling class that we are “We have successfully com- has not made any formal commit- take it up separately,” the chief At the conclusion of the organi- of Left forces and on that basis seeing. pleted the mandate of the 21st ment yet to the Defence Ministry minister said. sational plenum here, Communist to forge the Left and democratic “There are many challenges party congress and in a period of for allotting land on a perma- Held alternately in Delhi and Party of India-Marxist general front in order to change the cor- before us, but every period of cri- eight months we have delivered a nent basis for holding a biennial Bengaluru, the Defence Expo in secretary Sitaram Yechury said relation of political forces of peo- ses has a period of new opportuni- very health premature baby. defence exhibition, Chief Minister 2016 will be held in the pictur- the party had successfully com- ple’s democracy and socialism,” ties. And the CPI-M is determined “A premature baby in terms Laxmikant Parsekar said yester- esque coastal village of Betul in pleted the mandate of redoubling said Yechury. to seize these opportunities and of the doubling of our resolve to day. south Goa since a convention its resolve to overcome internal Yechury exuded confidence march ahead,” he said. overcome our internal weaknesses, The state government has given centre is coming up at Pragati weaknesses and meet external about the party offering the peo- Yechury emphasised the need meet the external challenges and permission only for the four-day Maidan in the national capital. challenges. ple a “policy alternative, a better to preserve and strengthen inner change the correlation of politi- Defence Expo in March 2016 as of The move to shift the exhibition “The plenum has adopted both political culture which fights cor- party unity. cal forces among the Indians,” now, Parsekar told reporters here. to Goa has met with opposition the draft resolution and the draft ruption, moral degradation and “In order to do that, we will Yechury added. “We have not taken a decision from the Congress. report and by doing that we have degeneration which is there today have to combat all the deviations IANS yet regarding a permanent desti- IANS

Facebook fights for free Internet in India

MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: India would put small content provid- tion that precedes the rule-mak- The executives said in the letter, has become a battleground over ers and start-ups that don’t par- ing process. dated Tuesday, that differential the right to unrestricted Inter- ticipate in it at a disadvantage, But more than three quarters of pricing for Internet access would net access, with local tech start- they say. the 1.8 million comments submit- lead to a “few players like Face- ups joining the front line against “India is a test case for a com- ted by users via Facebook will be book with its Free Basics platform Facebook Inc founder Mark Zuck- pany like Facebook and what hap- disregarded as they did not follow acting as gate-keepers.” erberg and his plan to roll out free pens here will affect the roll out of the proper format, TRAI Chair- “There is no reason to create a Internet to the country’s masses. this service in other smaller coun- man Ram Sevak Sharma told a digital divide by offering a walled The Indian government has tries where perhaps there is not news conference. garden of limited services in the ordered Facebook’s Free Basics so much awareness at present,” In the past week, Facebook name of providing access to the plan to be put on hold while it said Mishi Choudhary, a New has urged users in India to send poor,” they wrote. decides what to do. York-based lawyer who works on a response to the TRAI both Zuckerberg has got personally The programme, launched in technology and Internet advocacy through its social networking involved. around three dozen developing issues. platform and through mobiles by “We know that for every 10 countries, offers pared-down web Also at stake is Facebook’s dialling a number that automati- people connected to the Internet, services on mobile phones, along ambition to expand in its largest cally generates a response on the roughly one is lifted out of pov- with access to Facebook’s own market outside the United States. users’ behalf. erty,” he wrote in The Times of social network and messaging Only 252 million of India’s 1.3 bil- However, the social media giant India newspaper this week. “We Motorists ride past a billboard displaying Facebook’s Free Basics initiative services, without charge. lion people have Internet access, faces stiff resistance. know that for India to make in Mumbai. But critics say the programme, making it a growth market for In a letter, the heads of nine progress, more than 1 billion peo- launched 10 months ago in India firms including Google and Face- start-ups, including Alibaba- ple need to be connected to the Launched last year in Zam- The TRAI has asked Facebook in collaboration with operator book. backed Paytm and dining app Internet. What reason is there for bia, Free Basics, earlier known as and Reliance Communications Reliance Communications, vio- The Telecom Regulatory Zomato have written to the TRAI denying people free access to vital internet.org, has run in to trou- to suspend Free Basics until a lates principles of net neutrality, Authority of India (TRAI) said urging it to ensure Internet access services for communication, edu- ble elsewhere on grounds that it final policy decision is made next the concept that all websites on yesterday it had received record was allowed without differential cation, healthcare, employment, infringes the principle of net neu- month. the internet are treated equally. It submissions for a public consulta- pricing. farming and women’s rights?” trality. REUTERS FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com EUROPE

19 to face trial Germany to hear asylum seekers’ pleas over $50m Policy of granting automatic refugee status to Syrians reserved diamond heist

BERLIN: Germany will start tants to carry out attacks in Syrian passports. Bernard Cazeneuve called on Two of the suicide bombers holding personal hearings for Europe. “This regulation will be valid the European Commission to who detonated explosives outside in Brussels asylum seekers from Syria as Chancellor Angela Merkel has as of January 1 regardless of the tighten security by improving the Stade de France stadium, as of today, an Interior Ministry repeatedly rebuffed pressure to country of origin,” the Interior the quality of equipment used to part of the November attacks BRUSSELS: Nineteen people spokeswoman told reporters clamp down on migrant arriv- Ministry spokeswoman said of check travel documents at exter- which killed 130 people, were have been ordered to face trial yesterday, reversing a policy of als along German borders. She the change in policy, confirm- nal borders, notably in Greece carrying false Syrian passports over a spectacular $50m diamond granting almost automatic refu- said that Germany has a duty to ing a report in best-selling Bild and Italy. they had shown in Greece when heist at Brussels airport almost gee status for Syrians. shelter people fleeing conflict and newspaper. Blank passports were in circu- entering the EU on October 3, three years ago, the Belga news Syrians have since the end of persecution. France this had week asked the lation that had been stolen from Cazeneuve said. agency said yesterday. 2014 enjoyed a simplified asylum But opposition to her stance European Union to improve the administrative facilities at places Germany has taken in just over The February 2013 robbery, process, which has exempted grew at home and abroad after detection of fake Syrian passports run by the Islamic State, and a million migrants this year, far one of the world’s biggest dia- them from personal hearings. two of the suicide bombers in the used by people trying to get into once an identity had been added more than any other European mond thefts, saw a gang of Critics say this has allowed November 13 Paris attacks were Europe. to them they were very hard to country so far. armed men posing as police seize Islamic State to smuggle in mili- found to have been carrying fake French Interior Minister detect, he wrote in a letter. REUTERS the gems from a passenger plane in an operation that lasted barely 10 minutes without a shot being fired. Refugee influx an Prosecutors said nine suspects will go on trial on charges of direct involvement in the rob- bery and the rest on the charges opportunity: Merkel of hiding the diamonds, Belga reported. BERLIN: Chancellor Angela lists and xenophobic street rallies. Six of the suspects are also Merkel stood firm on her deci- The efforts put in to cope with charged with money launder- sion to open Germany to refugees the challenges would be worth it ing in Belgium, Switzerland and despite criticism, telling citizens in the end because “countries have Morocco. in her New Year’s address yester- always benefitted from successful Prosecutors did not give a date day that the record influx is “an immigration, both economically for the trial of the 19 suspects opportunity for tomorrow”. and socially”, she said. who include three women. All Merkel has earned praise at “I am convinced that, handled but one live in Belgium. home and abroad for her deci- properly, today’s great task of so The gang of hooded men armed sion to allow in a record wave of many people is an opportunity for with machine guns pulled up in refugees, about half from war- tomorrow,” said Merkel. a car on the runway at Brussels’ torn Syria. Germany took in almost 1.1 main Zaventem airport where But with one million asylum million asylum seekers this year, an armoured vehicle had just seekers arriving in 2015 alone, five times last year’s total, the unloaded diamonds into a plane opposition and doubts are grow- Saechsische Zeitung regional daily about to take off for Zurich. ing, including within her own reported Wednesday. The men forced open the hold conservative camp and among Merkel’s stance on refugees has and removed about 120 boxes of the population. won her accolades, including from diamonds before making off with Acknowledging the immense media organisations like Agence the haul of about $50m dollars task of dealing with the massive France-Presse, the Financial Times (€45m) in gems. influx, Merkel braced Germans and Time, which named her the most More than 30 people were for more challenges ahead and influential person of the year. detained in Belgium, France and made a strong call for unity. But at home, her usually stel- Switzerland during the massive “Next year is about one thing lar ratings have fallen as opposi- coordinated police operations in particular: our cohesion,” she tion grows within her conservative and a large quantity of diamonds said. “It is important we don’t camp and popular concerns rise and cash was recovered. allow ourselves to be divided. about the influx. In a bid to counter In November, a Swiss court “It is crucial not to follow those these concerns, Merkel has vowed gave an estate agent and his who, with coldness or even hatred steps to reduce refugee numbers lawyer two-year suspended sen- in their hearts, lay a sole claim to next year. Her plan involves per- tences and fines for handling what it means to be German and suading other EU members to take An asylum seeker taking a selfie with German Chancellor Angela Merkel during her visit at a branch of the Federal stolen goods. seek to exclude others,” she urged, in more refugees Office for Migration and Refugees and a first registration centre for asylum seekers in Berlin. in a reference to ring-wing popu- AFP AFP

Extra armed Security fears dampen festive spirit across Europe police out in PARIS/BRUSSELS: Shaken by prompting authorities to call off first anniversary of the gunning- ber 13 attackers had entered the Authorities in Madrid said they a year of militant attacks, Euro- the city’s traditional December 31 down of cartoonists and staff at continent under cover of a wave were fielding 15 percent more London; terror peans will ring in 2016 in sub- fireworks display, which last year satirical paper Charlie Hebdo, of Middle Eastern refugees has police and emergency staff than dued fashion today, with soldiers drew a crowd of around 100,000. Paris is greeting the New Year in heightened anxieties over the a year ago, including the ‘Saint on the streets of Paris, a height- “We couldn’t guarantee keep- what Mayor Anne Hidalgo called migration crisis and emboldened Silvester’ evening fun run through threat high ened police presence at Berlin’s ing control of everyone,” Mayor “an atmosphere of sobriety and right-wing nationalist parties the Spanish capital. Brandenburg Gate, and silence Yvan Mayeur said. “Operations togetherness”. across the European Union who A spokesman of Italian police LONDON: British police said across the vast cobbled emptiness are under way... it was felt best The city has shortened a New want a halt to the influx. force said there would be more yesterday they would deploy more of Moscow’s Red Square. not to take any risk.” Year video light show at the Arc On December 26, Vienna police than 30 percent more officers on armed officers than usual on the Bookended by deadly Islamist In Russia, officials said closure de Triomphe at midnight, and said a “friendly” intelligence serv- duty across the country than a streets of London for New Year’s assaults on Paris, the departing of Red Square, usually the focal cancelled a firework display to ice had warned European capitals year ago, “not because it’s New Eve, as the terror threat level year limped to a close with secu- point of celebrations, was to allow keep down crowds. Soldiers are of the possibility of a shooting or Year but because of what hap- remains at “severe” meaning an rity forces on raised alert in many the filming of a New Year concert. deployed at key tourist sites bomb attack before New Year, pened on November 13 in Paris”. attack is “highly likely”. capitals and Belgian authorities But that was denied by the including Notre Dame cathedral, prompting police across the conti- Security has been tightened for Some 3,000 police officers will announcing a series of terrorism- television company concerned, where tourist Mark Scarrott was nent to increase security measures. the open air concert at the Cir- be deployed in central London related arrests. prompting speculation that the visiting from Australia. Europeans will still be out to cus Maximus in Rome. In Milan, today, where there will be the Prosecutors said police had real reason is fear of an attack. “We do feel safe. Obviously, New party, but under a much tighter those attending the New Year traditional fireworks display seized a 10th suspect in Belgium Russia began bombing Syrian Year’s Eve will be a little different. than usual security presence. concert in the square will have to along the River Thames near in connection with the November rebel targets on September 30 I don’t think we will be heading At the Brandenburg Gate in negotiate security corridors with the Houses of Parliament, the 13 Paris attacks that killed 130 and in support of its ally President out into the main attractions, just Berlin, organisers expect more barriers, police patrols and a ban police said. were claimed by the Islamic State. Bashar al-Assad; a month later, because of the things that have than one million people to gather on fireworks and glass bottles. The Daily Telegraph said all Six more were detained dur- a Russian plane was downed over happened,” he said. to watch a fireworks display. Some In Istanbul, police said they the armed officers in London — ing house searches in Brussels Egypt, with loss of 224 lives, in an Across Europe, the deadliest 150 additional police officers will had ramped up the number of around 2,000 people — would be in an investigation into a plot to attack claimed by Islamic State. year of militant attacks since be deployed to secure the event, a officers on the streets by around deployed in “an unprecedented carry out an attack in the city Shadow over Paris 2004 has compounded a mood police spokesman said, and no one 10,000, thanks to staff working anti-terror security operation”. on New Year’s Eve. Two others Seven weeks after the latest of worry and uncertainty. Evi- will be allowed to bring in bags longer shifts. Metropolitan Police spokes- were arrested earlier this week, attacks and a week before the dence that two of the Novem- and backpacks. REUTERS woman Jo Edwards said: “The public can expect to see additional police officers in central London, which includes an increased Corbyn visits flood-hit areas number of firearms officers. “Our plans are purely precau- tionary and not as a result of any IS group claims shooting at specific intelligence,” she said. For the second year running access to central London to view ancient citadel in Dagestan the fireworks is by ticket only and all 113,000 have been sold out. Roads in central London will MOSCOW: The Islamic State service officers in the city of Der- “Many leaders of armed groups start being closed off from 1400 group has claimed it was behind bent in southern Dagestan, killing in the region have pledged alle- GMT. Westminster, Soho, Picca- a deadly shooting at an ancient one officer and injuring the oth- giance to the IS, hoping to receive dillly and the area around Buck- citadel in Russia’s volatile North ers,” the jihadist-monitoring SITE its financial support. Ideology is ingham Palace will be entirely Caucasus region of Dagestan, an Intelligence Group quoted IS as not the main factor.” car-free between 2000 GMT area increasingly becoming a hot- saying. Islamist rebels in Dagestan Russia’s Federal Security Serv- and 0600 GMT, the police said. bed of extremism. have been increasingly flocking to ice (FSB) said that nearly 2,900 Moreover, public transport will Tuesday night’s attack near join IS, which in June declared it Russians are fighting or have be free and run until 0430 GMT, the historic citadel of Derbent, had established a franchise there. fought with the jihadists in Iraq the police added. which left one person dead and Dagestan leader Ramazan and Syria. The Derbent attack The terror threat level in 11 injured, is the second claimed Abdulatipov said that 600 resi- targeted Russian security forces, Britain was last raised in August by the IS in the Russian Cauca- dents had left to join ranks of IS, with an unnamed source telling 2014 to four out of five grades and sus since September, according to and that anti-terror commissions RIA Novosti state news agency Prime Minister David Cameron local news portal Caucasian Knot. were set up in every district to cur- that a member of the FSB had said yesterday. The Russian authorities are tail the group’s appeal. The region’s been killed and another injured. Since August 2014, the threat battling to prevent residents from police force had published an even The shooting took place as Rus- level in Britain has been at four joining up with the brutal jihadist higher figure earlier this month, sian warplanes wrapped up two out of a total of five. Prime Min- group in Iraq and in Syria, where claiming 900 Dagestan residents days of intensive bombing raids ister David Cameron earlier Moscow has been waging air had joined armed groups in Syria. over Syria, carrying out 121 sor- said that seven terror plots strikes over the past two months. “The success of the Islamic state ties in which they hit 424 targets, Britain’s opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn (second left) have been foiled in Britain in “With the help of Allah, the war- has a certain appeal for militants the military said on Wednesday. is briefed by members of the Environment Agency during his visit to the past year. riors of the caliphate were able to from the North Caucasus,” political the flood-affected Foss Barrier in York, Britain, yesterday. AFP attack a group of Russian special analyst Alexei Makarkin said. AFP FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Fears of more deaths in flood-hit Missouri Deluge death toll at 14, hundreds of homes swept off

CHICAGO: Residents in the hazards and disruptions — from “It was kind of our pride of a flood-ravaged US state of Mis- Missourians being forced from new bridge being built. And you souri waited anxiously yester- their homes, to businesses tem- see that house hit it, was very day to see how high the mighty porarily closing, to traffic conges- nerve wracking,” Michael Polizzi Mississippi River would rise, as tion and impacts on interstate told reporters. “We’re really con- the death toll from the record- commerce due to the closure of a cerned about that.” breaking deluge rose to 14. major trucking corridor,” Nixon The flooding has been so wide- Hundreds of homes and busi- said in a statement. spread he doesn’t even know nesses have been swallowed by the “I thank the many Missouri- whose home it was that struck frigid, muddy waters. Scores of ans who are assisting their neigh- the bridge. Thankfully, nobody people have had to be rescued by bours by providing rooms in their has been reported missing so far boat — including one man plucked homes, helping with sandbagging from his suburban St. Louis town. from the roof of his home as it efforts and countless other acts President Barack Obama called floated away. of kindness.” Nixon from Hawaii, where he Governor Jay Nixon pleaded The Mississippi River was is on vacation, to offer federal with people to heed evacuation forecast to crest in the city of St. assistance if it is needed. orders and stay off flooded road- Louis late yesterday at more than “The president thanked the ways, after the body of a motor- 12 feet (3.8 meters) above flood governor for his leadership dur- Workers from the Missouri Department of Transportation pump off water at I-55 near Arnold, Missouri, yesterday. ist who was swept off a road was stage. Towns further downriver ing this challenging time and recovered on Wednesday. are forecast to see a crest that expressed condolences on behalf holiday. Nixon declared a state of the lives of five people swept away death. More misery came All but one of the state’s 14 will be nearly 20 feet above flood of the First Lady and himself for emergency on Sunday and called while driving on a flooded road- Wednesday as heavy rain led to fatalities were caused by people stage in the coming days, accord- those who lost their lives,” spokes- in the National Guard to help way, and a state of emergency was renewed flash flood warnings in driving into the floodwaters and ing to the National Weather Serv- man Eric Schultz said. local officials deal with the rare declared in a dozen counties. Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Nixon has stationed troops at ice. The recovery will be long and The United States has been hit winter flooding — the result of a The wild winter weather has and South Carolina and West major road closures to help direct costly, local officials feared. by a wave of wild weather — tor- monster storm system that also killed 11 people in Texas, 11 in Virginia. Significant flooding is traffic and stop people from driv- The mayor of hard-hit Fenton, nadoes, floods and rain — that has unleased tornadoes and freezing Mississippi and six in Tennessee. currently occurring in more than ing around barricades. Missouri watched in horror as a claimed at least 52 lives in the past rain. Alabama and Arkansas each a dozen US states, the weather “This historic flooding event house swept away by the floods week and stranded millions trying Neighboring Illinois has also reported two storm-related service said. will continue to cause significant struck a newly-built bridge. to get home after the Christmas been hard-hit. The storm claimed deaths while Georgia had one AFP

Decked up to welcome 2016 Obama may expand checks on gun sales

WASHINGTON: US Presi- weapon, Politico reported. scheduled for January 12. ber this year, lawmakers in the dent Barack Obama is expected Additional measures would Obama has repeatedly urged US Senate debated gun control to announce executive action impose tighter rules for report- Congress to tighten the gun laws, but failed to advance any legisla- expanding background checks ing guns that are lost or stolen on with his calls growing louder fol- tion addressing the violence. on the gun sales, media outlets their way to a buyer, the political lowing the 2012 massacre at an Frustrated with the little reported yesterday, citing people news website said. elementary school in Newtown, action from Congress, the Presi- familiar with White House pro- Planning for the action is not Connecticut, and again this fall dent has vowed to use “whatever posals and planning. complete and the announcement after mass shootings in Colorado power this office holds” to put in The changes, which could could be delayed, CNN reported. Springs, Colorado, and San Ber- place gun control measures via come as soon as next week, But gun control advocates nardino, California, earlier this executive action. would include requiring more told the cable news channel they year. Obama is currently on vacation small-scale gun sellers to be are expecting the actions to be The day after the San Ber- with his family in Hawaii. licensed and to conduct a back- announced ahead of Obama’s nardino attacks, which killed 14 ground check whenever selling a annual State of the Union address, people and injured 21 in Decem- REUTERS

Maduro’s gesture Drug gang injures 2 cops in Argentina shoot out

BUENOS AIRES: Fugitive drug traffickers implicated in political dirty tricks in Argentina injured two policemen in a shootout yes- terday as authorities tried to hunt them down, an official said. Shooting broke out when offic- Pedestrians walk past a giant speaker in preparation for New ers stopped the three in a truck Year’s Eve at Times Square in New York yesterday. on a rural highway south of Bue- nos Aires, the provincial security minister Cristian Ritondo said. The government said the three US authorities warily fugitives — Cristian Lanatta, 40, his brother Martin, 41, and Victor Schillaci, 33 — escaped on Sunday eye holiday threats from a top-security jail. Ritondo identified them as the authors of yesterday’s highway WASHINGTON: US authori- Qaeda will try to direct or inspire shooting and said they fled after- ties are monitoring investiga- an attack early in the new year wards. “They shot and injured two tions overseas of alleged plots by to follow up the Paris operation. police. These people do not care Islamic State operatives or sym- The plan for an attack on Brus- about dying. They act like killers,” pathizers to launch attacks over sels’ grand market would be just he told a news conference. New Chicago police policy aims the New Year’s holiday period, US such an assault,” said Bruce Riedel, The government this week officials said. a former senior CIA Middle East issued an international call to Officials at the Department of expert and sometime adviser to catch the three. Homeland Security and other US President Barack Obama. Officials alleged their escape to limit use of lethal force agencies, however, said they were Authorities in Turkey detained from jail was an inside job and unaware of any imminent or cred- two suspected members of Islamic linked to political dirty tricks. CHICAGO: Chicago police will The Chicago Police Depart- officers think when they approach ible threats by Islamic State or State who they believed were They were serving life sentences get new equipment and training ment, has admitted the woman’s a critical incident by establish- other militants to attack inside plotting suicide attacks in Ankara for a drug-related triple killing. to help them defuse tense situa- death was an accident. ing time and distance to allow the United State or hit American on New Year’s Eve. The three convicts overpow- tions and limit their use of lethal The latest shootings came for more prudent thinking and targets overseas. While the US officials said they ered a guard at the General force, Mayor Rahm Emanuel after protesters had called for physical space to promote a safer In New York City, the site of have detected no serious plots Alvear prison and escaped wear- said following weeks of protests Emanuel’s resignation after a environment,” he said. the nation’s largest New Year’s inside the United States, they said ing prison staff uniforms. calling for him to resign over his video was released last month “We expect that every police Eve celebration, police have seen suspected militants always engage Martin Lanatta sparked a handling of fatal police shootings. showing Chicago Police Officer officer develops skills and abilities no credible threat at this time, a in “chatter” about possible attacks scandal during campaigning for The number of Tasers, or elec- Jason Van Dyke, shooting 17-year- that allow them to help dissolve New York police spokesman said. at this time of year. last month’s election, in which tric stun guns that are generally old African-American Laquan confrontations by the using the US officials noted arrests over- The Federal Bureau of Inves- Argentina’s new conservative not lethal, for the police depart- McDonald in 2014. Van Dyke has least amount of physical or lethal seas by authorities in Turkey, tigation said it is increasing vigi- president, Mauricio Macri, beat ment will be doubled to 1,400 so pleaded not guilty to murder. force necessary,” he said. Belgium and Indonesia in connec- lance and called on the public the left-wing ally of his pred- that every patrol unit that goes That, and other shootings of The city has already announced tion with alleged plots linked to to be alert. “While the FBI and ecessor Cristina Kirchner. Lan- out at night has one, Emanuel black men by police in last 18 it will add more body cameras to Islamic State. Brussels, Belgium’s Department of Homeland Secu- atta alleged during a television said at a news conference. months, have led to protests across police equipment and that officers capital city, canceled its New rity are not aware of any specific, interview conducted in the prison “Just because you are trained the country and the issue has fueled involved in fatal shootings will be Year’s fireworks due to a threat, credible threats to the homeland, that a senior ally of Kirchner was you can use force, doesn’t mean a civil rights movement under the put on a mandatory 30-day period city officials said. we continue to take proactive involved in drug crimes. you should,” Emanuel said at the name Black Lives Matter. of desk duty, compared with the Belgian police arrested two steps to ensure the safety and Damaged by the claim, the tar- news conference, flanked by top Chicago police shoot more current three-day policy. individuals connected to a motor- security of our communities,” get of his allegation, Anibal Fern- officials including interim Police than 50 people a year, 74 per- Most US police receive little or cycle gang last weekend on sus- it said in a statement. Lorenzo andez, lost his bid to be elected as Superintendent John Escalante. cent of them black, with an aver- no training on how to de-escalate picion that they were plotting Vidino, a counterterrorism expert Buenos Aires province governor. Emanuel ended his Cuba vaca- age of 17 fatal shootings a year crisis situations involving the men- an attack against landmarks in said both real and false reports The 2008 killings for which the tion early this week to deal with between 2007 and 2014, according tally ill or people under the effect of Brussels, possibly including the of terrorist plotting are common three were convicted were linked fallout from the police shooting to to the Independent Police Review drugs or alcohol, despite the grow- Grand Place, the city’s most at this time of year because the to trafficking in Mexico of ephe- death a 55-year-old mother and a Authority. Escalante however, ing frequency of such encounters famous square. media is more attuned to them. drine, a medicine that is also used 19-year-old college student, whom said the aim was to discourage and fatal results in a number of “Security services are rightly as an illegal stimulant. relatives said had suffered from aggression and confrontation. recent cases. worried that Islamic State and Al REUTERS AFP mental issues. “The goal is to change the way AFP FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Gulf markets expect better 2016 Qatar stock index gains Equity valuations looking better 170.64 points past week DOHA: Qatar Exchange (QS) Industries sector led traded DUBAI: Middle Eastern stock released a reformist state budget index gained 170.64 points, or 1.66 number of transactions with markets ended a grim year with for 2016 on Monday. percent, during the last trading 30.66 percent of the total. Bank- mixed performances yesterday, A survey of 14 leading Middle week when the bourse closed yes- ing and Financial Services sector but there were signs they could East fund managers, published terday at 10,429.36 points. accounted for 23.93 percent. Tel- fare better in 2016. yesterday, found 50 percent Trading value during the week ecoms sector accounted for 16.75 Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Egypt expecting to raise their regional decreased to reach QR940.84m percent and real estate sector and other regional bourses were equity allocations in the next compared to QR956.74m regis- accounted for 12.13 percent. caught in an emerging market three months, and 14 percent tered during the previous week. From the 43 listed companies, downturn this year and the Gulf expecting to cut them — the larg- Trading volume decreased by 29 ended higher during the week, was hit by shrinking oil revenues, est bullish balance since Febru- 14.24 percent to reach 23,972,212 while 12 fell and two remained while a severe foreign exchange ary 2014. The Saudi stock index shares, as against 27,951,821 unchanged. shortage plagued Egypt. edged up 0.1 percent yesterday, shares, while the number of Gulf International Services led There is likely to be more stabilising after two days of falls transactions fell by 12.78 percent trading value during the week pain ahead. Gulf governments triggered by austerity measures , to reach 13,567 transactions as that accounted for 17.78 percent are starting to cut spending in in the state budget. It fell 17.1 compared to 15,555 transactions. of the total trading value. Indus- response to cheap oil, which will percent throughout this year, in Market cap rose by 2.14 percent tries Qatar accounted for 11.88 hurt economic growth next year, line with a 17.2 percent slide by to reach QR553.18bn compared percent and QNB accounted for while the reduction in oil reve- MSCI’s emerging market index. Kuwaiti traders follow the stock market activity at the Kuwait Stock to QR541.6obn at the end of the 8.18 percent. nues is pushing up market inter- Some petrochemical shares, hit Exchange (KSE) yesterday in Kuwait City. previous week. On daily basis, the benchmark est rates. Investors in Egypt have by gas feedstock price rises in the Industries sector led traded index dropped 6.31 points , or 0.06 been disappointed by faltering budget, stopped falling yesterday. value during last week with 37.77 percent, when the bourse closed economic reforms. The biggest stock in the sector, percent. Trading volume more cent to 7,006 points after break- percent of the total traded value. trading at 10,429.36 points yes- Nevertheless, fund managers Saudi Basic Industries, edged up than halved from the previous day ing technical resistance on its Banking and Financial Services terday, the last trading day of the say there are some reasons for 0.3 percent. as foreign investors took year-end December peak on Wednesday, sector accounted for 27.51 per- week and the year. The daily turn- optimism. Expensive equities val- However, Saudi Kayan lost a holidays. triggering a minor double bot- cent. Telecoms sector accounted over increased to QR213,343m uations have come down to more further 2.2 percent and PetroRa- Abu Dhabi gained 0.7 percent tom formed by the November and for 9.57 percent and real estate with a volume of 5,349,635 shares attractive levels; Saudi Arabia’s bigh fell 2.0 percent after saying yesterday for a 5.6 percent drop December lows and pointing up to sector accounted for 8.91 percent, from 2,705 deals compared with market is trading at about 13 it would restart only gradually its over the year. Telecommunica- around 7,400 points. For the year, reports QNA. QR152,024m with a volume of times this year’s estimated earn- high-olefin fluid catalytic cracker tions blue chip Etisalat rose 1.3 it lost 21.5 percent. Industries sector led traded 3,902,768 shares from 2,826 deals ings, Egypt at 10 times and Dubai and subordinate units after an percent on the day while Abu The Kuwait index edged up 0.1 volume with 28.08 percent of on Wednesday. Indices of five sec- at 8.5 times. extended maintenance period. Dhabi National Energy climbed percent to close at 5,615 points. the total traded volume. Bank- tors ended in the green and two Reforms to state spending, It estimated the cost of the 4.4 percent after saying it had The Oman index fell 0.7 per- ing and Financial Services sector sector ended in red. Transporta- energy subsidies and tax sys- extra maintenance at SR200m obtained its first oil from its new cent to 5,406 points, while the accounted for 19.29 percent. Tel- tion sector ended in the green, tems in Gulf states may in the ($53.3m). Cladhan field development in Bahrain index rose 0.9 percent ecoms sector accounted for 18.20 gaining 0.09 percent to 2,430.95 long term put them on a sustain- Dubai’s index was almost flat, Britain’s North Sea. to 1,216 points. percent and real estate sector points. able fiscal footing. Saudi Arabia closing with an annual loss of 16.5 Egypt’s index rose 0.4 per- REUTERS accounted for 15.86 percent. THE PENINSULA Mideast fund managers more bullish on Qatari stocks DUBAI: Middle East fund man- comparable bases. fund managers expect to reduce management at Abu Dhabi-based the first three months of 2016 will and 7 percent in November. agers have become more positive Thirty-six percent of managers their allocations to regional fixed Union National Bank. be an adjustment period for com- “Technically we are close to on regional equities with a strong expect to raise equity allocations income, with none planning to For a third straight month, panies as their gross margins are stable levels at which markets bias towards the United Arab in Doha and 7 percent to reduce raise them — the biggest bear- managers are equally split over impacted by the higher costs,” should pass through a consolida- Emirates, and more bearish on them. Last month, the figures ish balance for bonds since the the region’s largest stock market, said Mohammad Shabbir, head of tion phase before returning to bonds, a monthly survey shows. were 21 percent and 29 percent. survey was launched in Septem- Saudi Arabia, with 36 percent equity funds at Dubai-based Ras- rally to fair valuation levels in the The Reuters survey of 14 lead- Global markets’ positive reac- ber 2013. Last month, the ratios expecting to increase their expo- mala Investment Bank. He cited near term,” said Kamal. ing fund managers, conducted tion to the first US interest rate were 36 percent and 7 percent. sure there and the same number companies in the petrochemical, Meanwhile, funds have on bal- over the past 10 days, found 50 hike in almost a decade, and bet- The US rate hike in December to reduce it. cement and transportation sec- ance turned more bullish towards percent expecting to raise their ter regional valuations after a was imitated by most Gulf central Slightly under half of manag- tors. The effects of contractionary Egyptian equities because of the regional equity allocations in the broad Gulf market sell-off in early banks and is expected to be the ers submitted their responses monetary policy and less accom- central bank’s efforts, under new next three months, and 14 per- December, are the main reasons first in a series. Also, shrunken after the government announced modative fiscal policy will be governor Tarek Amer, to ease cent expecting to cut them — the for the change. government revenues in the Gulf on Monday this week its 2016 visible next year, said Vijay Har- investors’ worries about the coun- largest bullish balance since Feb- “Some stocks have been pres- due to low oil prices are hurting budget, which included spending palani, fund manager at Dubai- try’s foreign exchange squeeze. The ruary 2014. sured by aggressive, redemption- liquidity at Gulf banks, pushing cuts, energy subsidy reforms and based Al Mal Capital. central bank has repaid foreign In last month’s survey, 29 per- driven selling flows after oil prices up short-term interest rates and tax rises designed to bring a huge The United Arab Emirates managers their backlog of hard cent anticipated increasing equity fell, and this correction offers reducing local buying support for deficit under control. remains by far the favoured equity currency. Twenty-nine percent exposure and 21 percent expected medium- to long-term investors Gulf bonds. While many managers see the market among regional bourses of managers now expect to raise to reduce it. the opportunity to increase their “In the coming US Federal budget as positive for the long with 71 percent of fund managers their allocations in Cairo and none Managers have also become exposure to fundamentally robust Open Market Committee meet- term, they believe the market expecting to increase their expo- to cut them. Last month, 29 per- more positive towards Qatari companies,” said Sachin Mohin- ings, we will continue to witness could be hurt in the short term sure there and none to reduce cent anticipated reducing alloca- stocks, citing valuations of dra, portfolio manager at Abu rising rates, which will negatively by the austerity steps. it — the most bullish allocation tions and 14 percent raising them. blue-chip names and attractive Dhabi-based Invest AD. impact fixed income securities,” “The budget is a positive sign since the survey was launched. dividend yields on historic and Meanwhile, 36 percent of said Tamer Kamal, head of asset for the long run, but we think that That compares with 36 percent REUTERS

China to tweak IPO system to China cracks whip on foreign curb market banks with forex shut-out swings SHANGHAI/HONG KONG: more difficult to do that if you China wants,” the person said. SHANGHAI: China will from Chinese authorities are start- have these outsiders coming in “We used to make so much money today drop its requirement for ing to police the nation’s foreign and taking advantage of the arbi- from arbitrage — easy money you initial public offering subscrip- exchange market in a way cur- trage,” said Jimmy Weng, Hong know? Now, none.” tions to be paid in advance, regu- rency traders have rarely seen Kong-based fund manager at The latest move comes just lators said yesterday, in a move to before, levying penalty pay- Genesis Capital Investment. three months after the People’s curb stock market volatility. ments for aggressive trading and China-based forex market Bank of China (PBOC) ordered Under the current IPO regime, prompting some banks to turn sources said Beijing had turned banks to scrutinise clients’ foreign the China Securities Regulatory down business. up the pressure over the past exchange transactions to prevent Commission (CSRC) decides It was reported on Wednesday few months following guide- illicit cross-border currency arbi- which companies offer stocks and that China’s central bank had lines released in September to trage between the offshore and A Deutsche Bank sign is seen outside of a corporate building in Shanghai’s when, as well as setting guide- suspended at least three foreign strengthen regulation of the mar- onshore yuan. financial district. lines for the number of shares banks from conducting some of ket and make forex trades more On Wednesday, the country’s and their price — all of which their foreign exchange business expensive. foreign exchange regulator also banks said China’s central bank August 11 fuelled a wave of capi- are determined by the market in until the end of March. One foreign bank received a said it would improve its reserve asked them to disclose the names tal outflows on fears the economy other countries. China’s past willingness to warning from the State Admin- position and contingency plans to of their foreign exchange clients might be slowing more sharply The rules systematically under- tolerate some capital flight has istration of Foreign Exchange curb risks from abnormal cross- buying spot and instructed any than thought. value companies coming to the paved the way for locals to take (SAFE) regulator and was forced border capital flows. state-owned enterprises among The spread between the market, offering near-guaranteed billions from the country for fun- to increase money set aside for “The main purpose is to crack them to stop trading. onshore and offshore yuan has profits to those lucky enough to nelling into assets such as French trades as a penalty in November down on excessive currency spec- “The PBOC is robbing us. been growing since the devalu- secure new shares. vineyards and luxury properties due to its “aggressive” business ulation and arbitrage, which may They’re not being reasonable; ation, making it increasingly As a result, the advance pay- in the world’s leading cities. model for forex operations, said a hurt the economy,” said a senior even if we comply with every- difficult for the central bank to ment requirement heightens But with the country’s growth senior China-based banker in the economist at a think-tank linked thing, we provide all the docu- manage its currency and stem stock market volatility as inves- at its weakest in 25 years and the FX team at a foreign bank. The to China’s Cabinet. ments, our spot volume is too outflows. China’s central bank tors sell existing holdings to raise currency heading for a record fall person’s own bank had shut down “They are worried about falling large,” the person said. and commercial banks sold a net funds for applications, drying up this year, China is aiming to stem buy-side forex trades. FX reserves. The yuan faces obvi- The PBOC and SAFE did not 2.19 trillion yuan ($337bn) of for- liquidity. the capital outflows, which can be “It’s possible that the foreign ous depreciation pressure as the immediately return requests for eign exchange between January IPOs were suspended in July as exacerbated by the widening gap banks did everything right, that Fed (U.S. Federal Reserve) may comment. The banks targeted and November, compared with a part of moves to end a rout that between onshore and offshore they put aside the 20 percent continue to raise interest rates, so were likely picked because of the net purchase of 897 billion yuan in wiped trillions from Chinese mar- exchange rates for the yuan, or reserve, that they met the ‘know- policymakers are concerned and large scale of their cross-border the same period in 2014. Net sales ket capitalisations, but resumed renminbi. your-client’ (KYC) requirements, intend to take effective measures forex businesses, sources said. indicate capital outflows. last month. “China is essentially trying but are still trading aggressively, to respond.” A surprise devaluation of the AFP to close that gap and it’s much which is clearly against what A source at one of the affected yuan by nearly 2 percent on REUTERS FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Asean officially launches economic bloc GM fails to Vision for community is a single market with a free flow of goods, capital and skilled labour avert first JAKARTA: Southeast Asian for foreign investment. nomics said in a note the estab- “The AEC will not be rais- barriers remain. Asean includes ignition nations officially launched an EU- The new bloc “will contrib- lishment of the AEC was “no ing the curtain on any radical wealthy Singapore, one of the inspired economic bloc yesterday ute significantly to the region’s game changer”, and it was likely change,” he wrote in a commen- world’s most developed coun- aimed at boosting the region’s growth and create developmental to fall short in tackling major tary. tries, oil-rich Brunei, developing switch trial trading clout and attracting more opportunities for all,” said Vivian challenges such as reducing non- Diplomats have conceded the states such as Malaysia, Indone- investment, but analysts said a Balakrishnan, the foreign minis- tariff barriers and improving single market vision is many years sia, Thailand, the Philippines and NEW YORK: A US judge true single market was still a long ter of Asean member Singapore. infrastructure. away, but insist the project will Vietnam, and poorer nations like rejected General Motors Co’s way off. But experts say such an idea “Asean, with its tradition of help change mindsets and provide Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. bid to dismiss the first so-called The ten-member Association of is difficult, if not impossible, to non-interference into the affairs momentum. Its members range from free- “bellwether” case over defective Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) achieve in a region marked by of member countries, an absence Asean leaders signed a declara- wheeling to controlled democra- ignition switches in its vehicles, hailed the project as a “milestone” extremes in development levels, of penalties for non-compliance, tion to establish the AEC at the cies, communist-ruled states and clearing the way for a January in combining the economic force democratisation, and institutional and a lack of a powerful central group’s annual summit in Novem- an absolute Islamic monarchy. 11 trial. of a resource-rich and growing capability. bureaucracy, is ill-equipped to ber but there was no official cer- Although Asean’s plans were US District Judge Jesse Fur- market of more than 600 million The official launch of the AEC tackle these obstacles,” it said. emony yesterday to mark the new inspired by the developed single man in Manhattan said the plain- people. has no practical effect, and diplo- John Pang, a senior fellow at bloc’s establishment. market of the 28-member Euro- tiff, Robert Scheuer, presented The vision for the Asean Eco- mats have said Asean — regularly Singapore’s S Rajaratnam School Southeast Asia has already pean Union, officials insist they enough evidence to justify letting nomic Community (AEC) is a criticised for a lack of concrete of International Studies, said made progress on lower-hang- want to pursue integration in a a jury decide whether an alleged single market with a free flow of achievements — was keen not to there would be only “slow and ing fruit like cutting tariffs and way suitable to the region’s cir- ignition switch defect in his 2003 goods, capital and skilled labour, miss its own deadline of 2015, set incremental progress” in inte- removing other hurdles such as cumstances, and have ruled out a Saturn Ion caused or enhanced which should help the region several years ago. grating the economies of South- clashing customs systems but common currency. his injuries from a 2014 crash. compete with the likes of China Research group Capital Eco- east Asia. significant non-tariff and other AFP Furman also refused to accept GM’s argument that Scheuer’s claims arising solely from the Detroit-based automaker’s con- Marking the last trading day of 2015 duct following its 2009 bank- ruptcy failed as a matter of law. These claims included GM’s Banking regulator alleged failure to properly warn Scheuer about the defect, and were the only claims that could expose GM to punitive damages, in UK drops review the judge wrote. Scheuer sued GM after another vehicle forced him off an Okla- homa highway on May 28, 2014, of industry culture causing him to crash head-on into two trees. His Ion’s front airbags LONDON: A public review of who sits on the Treasury Select did not deploy, which he said Britain’s banking culture has Committee, a group of lawmakers resulted from a defective igni- been scrapped just months after which scrutinises economic and tion switch. it was announced, with the UK financial policymaking and whose Bellwether trials are sometimes regulator saying yesterday it had recommendations often require a used in product liability litigation opted instead to work with lend- government response, told BBC in which hundreds or thousands ers individually to address any Radio he was disappointed by the of people have similar claims. The concerns. decision. outcomes can help parties deter- The move will likely add to the “I think probably we are miss- mine whether to keep litigating or public perception that the Finan- ing an opportunity to be able to to settle. Six bellwether trials are cial Conduct Authority (FCA) is look at what is best practice and scheduled in the GM litigation for softening its approach after sev- what is worst practice of course 2016, court records show. eral years of “banker bashing” across all banks,” Garnier said. Furman’s decision “paves the following the 2007-2009 financial Fellow Committee member and way for the jury to have an unfet- crisis. opposition Labour party politician tered and full view of GM’s behav- It follows the departure of Mar- John Mann was even more criti- iour in covering up this defect,” tin Wheatley, seen by some in the cal, saying on Twitter the move Scheuer’s lawyer Bob Hilliard said sector as a regulatory hardliner, was a “surrender to big banks”. Japan Exchange Group holds a ceremony to celebrate the last trading day of 2015 at the Tokyo Stock in a statement. as the FCA’s chief executive in “(The) whole point of scup- Exchange in Tokyo on December 30, 2015. Tokyo’s shares ended the year on a high note, climbing more than REUTERS July, and a dilution of impending pered FCA culture enquiry was nine percent in 2015 to rank among the world’s top-performing major markets. rules to hold senior bankers to to look at the ethics and morality account for regulatory breaches. at the top of banking — or rather However, public antipathy to its absence,” Mann said. the industry remains high as Stephen Platt, adjunct profes- banks globally fight to improve sor of law at Georgetown Univer- First shale gas export terminal starts production in US their reputation after market- sity and author of a book critical rigging scandals, including in of the financial sector, said: “We currency rates and interest rate are sliding back into the mental- NEW YORK: Cheniere Energy e-mailed requests for comment. sis shows. While the US has been Natural gas futures have benchmarks, which have led to ity that produced the crisis ... It is Inc began production at what Cheniere has previously said sending gas abroad from Alaska plunged more than 80 percent multi-million pound fines for the the flawed culture of banking that will become the first terminal to the inaugural cargo will leave the for years, Cheniere’s cargo would from 2008 highs to a 16-year low likes of Barclays and HSBC. lies at the root of the spectrum export natural gas from Ameri- complex in January by tanker and mark the first to leave from the earlier this month on the New After announcing plans for a of appalling behaviour, including ca’s shale formations, according that UK-based BG Group Plc is lower-48 states, a testament to York Mercantile Exchange. Feb- thematic review in March, the excessive risk taking, mis-selling, to ING Capital LLC, which helped contracted to take the first ship- surging shale supplies that have ruary contracts were up 6.2 per- FCA had undertaken initial work rate rigging, sanctions evasion, finance the project. ment. Sabine Pass is “on sched- sent domestic stockpiles to record cent at $2.352 per million British on the project, before deciding money laundering and the facili- The company is receiving about ule,” Ennis said. “You can’t dock levels. thermal units at 8:38am. that publishing the report was not tation of crime.” 50 million cubic feet of the fuel a a ship to offtake the LNG until Cheniere’s export terminal The U.S. cargoes will mark “a the most effective way to handle The FCA said in a statement day, chilling it into liquefied natu- you have a full shipload of LNG underscores how dramatically paradigm shift for the industry,” the issue, a source familiar with that a focus on culture in financial ral gas at the Sabine Pass termi- in the tanks, which is planned to the shale boom has reshaped the Hadi Hallouche, head of liquefied the matter said. services is still one of its priori- nal in Louisiana, and storing it happen in January.” natural gas market. Before drill- natural gas trading at Trafigura Instead, it had fed back the ties. “There is currently extensive in tanks before the first export, The start at Sabine Pass paves ers started pulling the fuel out Beheer BV, said by phone from findings to the banks concerned ongoing work in this area within Richard Ennis, head of natural the way for other planned lique- of tight-rock formations using Geneva. The supply of natural gas and would work with lenders firms and externally,” it said. resources at ING, said. Ennis fied natural gas terminals that hydraulic fracturing and horizon- scheduled to arrive at Cheniere’s individually to address any issues “We have decided that the best said he receives regular updates are projected to turn the US into tal drilling, Cheniere was building Sabine Pass terminal from two around corporate culture, the way to support these efforts is to from the company and that he one of the world’s largest suppli- import terminals in anticipation pipelines for liquefaction has source added, confirming a report engage individually with firms to hadn’t been informed of a delay ers. The country may be capable of a domestic shortage. Follow- surged to 128,987 dekatherms as in the Financial Times. encourage their delivery of cul- in the startup. Cheniere spokes- of exporting 7.76 billion cubic feet ing the onslaught of shale gas, of Wednesday from just 6,720 a Mark Garnier, a member of tural change.” woman Faith Parker didn’t imme- of gas a day by 2019, a Bloomb- Cheniere started retrofitting ter- month ago. the ruling Conservative party REUTERS diately respond to telephone and erg New Energy Finance analy- minals for exports. BLOOMBERG

Jobless claims in US jump to highest level since July Facebook investor WASHINGTON: The number of before the report. “I wouldn’t worry class-action suit Americans filing applications for unless I see a string of bad numbers unemployment benefits rose more on claims. The labor market is still than projected during the Christmas strong.” week, reaching the highest level in No states estimated data last week, to move forward almost six months, perhaps reflecting according to the Labor Department. typical swings during holidays. Before adjusting for seasonal varia- NEW YORK: A US judge has cleared a class- Jobless claims jumped by 20,000 to tions, the increase in claims last week action suit against Facebook from investors 287,000 in the week ended December was about typical for this time of year, claiming the social network failed to fully disclose 26, a report from the Labor Depart- the agency spokesman said. The sea- its risks at the time of its 2012 share offering. ment showed yesterday in Washington. sonal adjustment, however, wasn’t In a ruling posted this week, Judge Robert The median forecast of 30 economists anticipating the increase, the spokes- Sweet certified the class-action suit which claimed surveyed by Bloomberg called for man added. Facebook failed to provide adequate information 270,000. Applications haven’t been this Economists’ estimates in the to all its investors. In the case led by teacher and high since the week ended July 4, the Bloomberg survey for weekly jobless other public employee pension funds, the plaintiffs American Independence Day holiday. claims ranged from 259,000 to 287,000. claim Facebook withheld key financial information While there was nothing unu- The previous week’s figure was unre- ahead of the initial public offering in 2012. sual in the state-level data, the jump vised at 267,000. The judge said there was evidence presented could have been caused by the vola- The four-week moving average, a that some investors failed to get the same informa- tility introduced when the numbers less volatile measure than the weekly A man listens to a job interviewer during a screening session for seasonal jobs at tion as investment banks and other institutional are adjusted for seasonal variations, a claims numbers, increased to 277,000 investors that were close to the underwriters. Coney Island in the Brooklyn borough of New York. Labor Department spokesman said as last week from 272,500. Facebook, which has denied the accusations, the figures were released to the press. The number of people continuing to said it was appealing the decision. “We are disap- Limited firings, steady hiring and receive jobless benefits rose by 3,000 to may also reflect company- or industry- workers in November, and the unem- pointed with the decision, and have already filed an unemployment rate at more than 2.2 million in the week ended Decem- specific causes, such as cost-cutting or ployment rate held at 5 percent, more an appeal,” the company said. “We believe the a seven-year low underscore job mar- ber 19. The unemployment rate among business restructuring, rather than than a seven year low. Citing improve- class certification is without merit and conflicts ket improvement that allowed the Fed- people eligible for benefits held at 1.6 underlying labor market trends. ment in the economy and the labor with well-settled Supreme Court and Second Cir- eral Reserve to lift interest rates this percent. These data are reported with Since early March, claims have been market, Fed policy makers on Dec. 16 cuit (appeals court) law.” The stock market debut month for the first time since 2006. a one-week lag. below the 300,000 level that econo- set the new target range for the fed- appeared troubled for Facebook after the IPO, as “Claims at this time of the year Initial jobless claims reflect weekly mists say is typically consistent with eral funds rate at 0.25 percent to 0.5 its share price sank around 50 percent from the tend to be even more volatile,” Thomas firings, and a sustained low level of an improving job market. percent, up from zero to 0.25 percent. $38 introductory level, with investors concerned Simons, a money-market economist at applications has typically coincided Data released earlier this month about its revenue growth potential. Jefferies Group LLC in New York, said with faster job gains. Many layoffs showed the economy added 211,000 BLOOMBERG AFP FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS Former colonies aren’t poor Sky-high stocks book because of wealth theft

By Noah Smith

F you get involved in online debates about economic history, fourth year of gains it won’t be long before someone tells you that the West is rich because it stole the resources of the regions it colonized. By John Geddie to justify putting your money there.” tipped for growth next year of around 6 per- IThis stolen-wealth theory is cited as the reason the UK and Japan, like the euro zone, is well entrenched cent. France are rich today, while Ethiopia and Burundi are poor. It also TOCK markets in developed in monetary easing. Tokyo’s Nikkei index, The slide in oil has been the standout in is sometimes used to argue that global capitalism is inherently economies were set to record their which was closed yesterday, finished the year 2015. unjust and that wealth must be radically redistributed between fourth straight year of gains yes- up around 9 percent. Brent crude gained 0.4 percent to $36.60 nations as compensation. terday while oil prices cemented But elsewhere in Asia, markets have been yesterday, after a 3.5 percent drop in the The problem is, the stolen-wealth theory is wrong. losses of more than 35 percent as hit by worries about China, the world’s sec- previous session. It’s set for a slump of nearly Oh, it’s absolutely true that colonial powers stole natural Sa roller-coaster year drew to a close. ond largest economy, and oil prices which 37 percent for 2015, having shed 48 percent resources from the lands they conquered. No one disputes that. Ultra-easy monetary policy and pockets slumped near 11-year lows. in the previous year, as a global supply glut And at the time, this definitely made the colonized regions a lot of economic resurgence have helped equity MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shows no sign of abating. poorer. The UK, for example, caused repeated famines in India valuations break new ground this year. US shares outside Japan was up slightly yester- Some analysts like Goldman Sachs say by raising taxes on farmers and by encouraging the cultivation stocks are finishing 2015 near record highs, day but has shed nearly 12 percent this year. prices as low as $20 per barrel might be of cash crops instead of subsistence crops. That is a pretty stark European equities have hit all-time peaks Broader emerging market stocks are down necessary to push enough production out of example of destructive resource extraction. and Japanese shares have risen to levels not 17 percent in 2015. business and allow the market to rebalance. It’s also probably true that this stolen wealth helped much of seen since the turn of the century. The outperformance in European and Combined with a stronger dollar, this the West get rich. Of course, Western countries didn’t simply With China’s slowdown and sliding oil Japanese equities has a lot to do with a trend has crushed commodity currencies. consume the resources they plundered — the global economy isn’t prices troubling emerging markets, and strengthening dollar, which has weakened The dollar hit a more than one-year high just a lump of wealth that gets divvied up, but rather relies on the global bonds on edge as the United States their currencies over the last few years and against Russia’s rouble yesterday, and its productive efforts of individuals, companies and governments. The experiments with its first rate rise in nearly made their exporters more competitive. highest in at least 13 years against the Nor- UK, for example, was able to industrialise not by consuming spices a decade, these shares are seen as among the The euro was down 0.1 percent yester- wegian crown the previous day. confiscated from India, but because its citizens invented power best bets for investors. day, on track for a fall of nearly 10 percent Among widely-trade currencies, the five looms and steam engines and other technologies, and because its In Europe, where the ECB is pumping against the dollar in 2015. worst performers this year have included people worked very hard at factories and plants that used those more than a trillion euros into the economy, Against a basket of major currencies in the Brazilian real, with losses of around 30 technologies. stocks were down 0.2 percent yesterday but 2016, the greenback has gained 9 percent percent versus the dollar, the South African But steam engines and power looms and other industrial on track for a 7 percent gain on the year. with a rebounding jobs market convincing rand, Turkish lira and the rouble. machinery required raw materials like coal and rubber as inputs. Analysts expect the pan-European STOXX the Federal Reserve to ‘lift off’ earlier this In debt markets, German bonds ended When those materials became less expensive, it became cheaper 600 index to nudge above the 400 mark by month. It was broadly flat yesterday. their most volatile year since 2011 with to substitute machines for human labour. That means that some the end of 2016. Even if they may not return Currency strategists predict the dollar yields higher than they were at the end of of the resources stolen from colonies probably did give Britain and to this year’s highs of 415, that would mark a will add another 4 percent next year, with 2014, showing the limitations of ultra-easy France part of the boost they needed to jump-start the industri- gain of some 10 percent from current levels. policymakers’ enthusiasm for further rate monetary policy with global disinflationary alization that eventually made them wealthy. “European stocks are still probably the best hikes in the world’s largest economy likely forces at work. Ten-year yields closed at 0.63 So if the West did steal resources from colonised nations, and choice in a limited range of options,” said to be tempered by the drag of a strong dollar percent on Wednesday, up 9 bps on the year if this theft did help them get rich, why do I say that the stolen- Darren Sinden at Admiral Markets. “There’s on corporate earnings. and far from record lows of 0.05 percent wealth theory is wrong? I say that because the theory doesn’t not much incentive to hold bonds, and the While US stocks are just off record highs, touched in mid-April. explain the global distribution of income today. It is no longer a US is at the tail-end of a bull run, so it’s hard they rose only 0.2 percent this year but are REUTERS significant reason why rich countries are rich and poor countries are poor. The easiest way to see this is to observe all the rich countries that never had the chance to plunder colonies. Germany, Italy, Sweden, Denmark and Japan had colonial empires for only the very briefest of moments, and their greatest eras of develop- ment came before and after those colonial episodes. Switzerland, Finland, and Austria never had colonies. And South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong were themselves colonies of other powers. Yet today they are very rich. They did it not by theft, but by working hard, being creative, and having good institutions. Meanwhile, poor countries have long since taken control of their natural resources. State-controlled oil companies in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Venezuela, Iran and Russia own far more of the world’s oil than do giant Western corporations like Exxon or BP. African countries control their own mines, and Latin American countries their own crop land. The era of resource theft by rich countries is over and done. Yet still, somehow, these countries are not very rich. Only a small handful of tiny nations whose economies are based on natu- ral resources — Brunei, Kuwait and Qatar among others — are actually rich. Most are poor, despite controlling all of their own wealth. This sad fact is known as the resource curse. So it’s unlikely that resource-rich countries would have become industrialized but for the depredations of colonialism. And it seems quite possible that colonial nations such as France and the UK would have gotten rich without their resource plunder, as did Germany, South Korea, Switzerland and Taiwan. Does that mean colonialism was a benign institution? Definitely not. At a bare minimum, the tens of millions killed by colonial conquests and famines leave an indelible stain on the West. And while colonialism had benefits in some places, in many others it left a nasty legacy that is felt to this day. Many economic studies show that regions where colonizers focused on extracting resources were later cursed with pernicious political institutions. Those regions, even today, exhibit poor economic performance. So colonialising nations did steal resources, and it did hurt colonies by doing it. But the real tragedy is how unnecessary that all was. The UK and France would have gotten rich without plundering Africa, India and Southeast Asia. All of that violence and conquest was probably for nothing. BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Stress tests of 2015 show that EU will endure

By Leonid Bershidsky mer as Greece resisted attempts That’s easy to understand: The agreement, which allows travel- cent support “the free movement general election in May. France’s by northern European countries euro lost just 10 percent of its lers to avoid passport checks of EU citizens who can live, work, National Front failed to win a N recent years, there hasn’t to force it into a managed bailout. value against the dollar, and its between European countries, has study and do business anywhere single region in regional elec- been much to like about the Luminaries including the Nobel share in global foreign exchange not been suspended. in the EU.” tions. Germany didn’t have a big European Union, with its low laureate Paul Krugman and Hans reserves only dropped to 20.3 per- Despite the political uproar — Europe has been groping for election, but despite all the worry Igrowth, high unemployment, Werner Sinn, a German govern- cent in the first three quarters of 58 percent of all Europeans and 76 solutions. It has promised Tur- about the refugees, the Alterna- political squabbles, xenophobia, ment adviser, favoured a Greek 2015, from 22 percent, accord- percent of Danes, Czechs and Ger- key €3bn to make a better effort tive fuer Deutschland party, which stifling bureaucracy and con- exit from the euro. The Greeks, ing to IMF data. The Danish and mans believe immigration is the to keep refugees in their camps, would like to keep them out, con- stant threats of a break-up. But however, didn’t want to leave, and Norwegian krones, the Australian, biggest problem facing the EU — 1 and it has decided to invest more sistently polls below 10 percent, 2015 may have been the year the their firebrand government was Canadian and New Zealand dol- million is a fraction of the bloc’s in common border protection. enough to get it into parliament EU pulled through the worst of forced to back down. lars all retreated more this year. population of 506 million. Even It’s not clear how well that will but too little for real influence. its troubles: It has now been suf- Greece experienced a 0.9 per- At the same time, economists 2 or 3 million migrants wouldn’t work, but stepped-up efforts to In Spain, the hard-left Podemos, ficiently stress-tested to survive cent contraction in the third polled by Bloomberg predicted overstrain the union, which added prevent more migrant deaths at which at times seemed poised to anything. quarter of 2015 because of the 1.5 percent economic growth for 1.3 million residents last year. sea appear to be paying off. For win the December national elec- There were three types of tri- upheavals that almost tore apart the euro zone this year — the Even in countries that accept January through September, 2,980 tion, got into parliament but won als: the viability of the euro zone, the euro zone, and economists best result since 2011, and only most of the newcomers, no major people drowned in the Mediter- too few seats to do anything use- the survival of the Schengen bor- expect its output to shrink 0.7 slightly less than the 1.8 percent hardship is expected. According ranean, according to the UN. In ful. In Portugal, extreme leftists derless travel area and the ten- percent for the year. The coun- expected for the EU as a whole. It to Peter Praet, a member of the the two and a half months that have become junior partners in a sion between member countries’ try, however, is adopting economic even holds up well compared with European Central Bank executive followed, there were 645 casual- ruling Socialist coalition. domestic politics and the union’s reform legislation and getting the US, which is expected to post board, Germany will need to spend ties — a rate of 8 deaths a day, The only EU country where values. In each case, the edifice support to recapitalize its banks. growth of 2.5 percent this year. an additional 0.3 to 0.4 percent of compared with 11 earlier this year. radicals — in this case, xenophobic creaked but remained standing. Although Greeks have the least Schengen: As refugees from economic output in 2016 and 2017 Values vs. Politics: The refugee ones — won big this year is Poland. Despite the shocks, the European positive opinion of any EU citi- Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other to accommodate and integrate the influx, however, has been a huge Jaroslaw Kaczynski, the de facto economy is more or less back to zens — just 22 percent say they Middle Eastern war areas flooded refugees. But the spending also political test for the EU. So far, its leader of the ruling Law and Jus- pre-crisis levels, with employment like it, according to a November into Europe, one of the united con- will boost output. older and stronger members have tice party, has even warned Poles rising and growth returning. Eurobarometer poll — they have tinent’s achievements, borderless Mild border controls were passed it with good grades. East- that refugees carried “all sorts of The Euro: This year, the Euro accepted EU aid and are more or travel, seemed in jeopardy. The introduced in some parts of ern Europe has buckled, showing parasites and bacteria.” Break-Up Index, calculated by less gamely taking their bitter United Nations estimates that Europe this year, but that was it was ready to accept the union’s It has been a tough year, but Sentix, a German company that medicine. about 1 million refugees arrived mainly a response to the bureau- economic benefits, such as billions Europe has endured. The EU and measures investor sentiment, rose The third Greek bailout is ugly, in 2015, and Germany alone took cratic overload that the refugee of euros in farm subsidies, but its most important institutions to the highest levels since its 2012 contentious and even outrageous in almost that many. For January influx created and to appease fears not the humanitarian principles have enough support, and enough inception: to some both inside and outside through November, the number of fuelled by the media. Europeans, membership imposes. common sense built into them, to The probability of the cur- Greece, but it reflects Greeks’ asylum applications in Germany according to the Eurobarometer Xenophobic parties were dealt outlive their critics. rency union’s break-up looked preference for keeping the com- increased 132 percent from a year survey, are highly unwilling to give heavy blows. In Western Europe. very real in the spring and sum- mon currency. earlier. And yet the Schengen up their freedom of travel: 78 per- UKIP won just one seat in the UK BLOOMBERG FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17

QE Indices Summary QE Index 10,429.36 0.06 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 16,210.94 0.06 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,855.82 0.27 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,776.78 0.01 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,805.98 0.07 % GOLD Services Buying Selling QE All Share Industrials 3,187.05 1.15 % All Ordinaries 5344.556 -21.891 -0.41 5963.5 4936.3 QR124.7408 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,430.95 0.09 % Cac 40 Index/D 4662.15 -14.99 -0.32 5283.71 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,332.5 1.75 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.3674 QR 5.4426 QE All Share Insurance 4,033.56 1.22 % Dj Indu Average 17603.87 -117.11 -0.66 18351.4 15370.3 QR 1.6325 Euro ...... QR 3.9469 QR 4.0021 QE All Share Telecoms 986.46 0.48 % CA$ ...... QR 2.5999 QR 2.6513 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,000.82 0.69 % Hang Seng Inde/D 21914.4 32.25 0.15 28588.52 20368.12 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.6470 QR 3.7011 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 6832.47 -24.14 -0.35 6921.44 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0300 QR 0.0306 Aus$ ...... QR 2.6393 QR 2.6930 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 32816.31 -8.72 -0.03 36471.59 28648.23 CRUDE OIL 31-12-2015 30-12-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0545 QR 0.0556 Index 10,429.36 10,435.67 Nikkei 225 Index 19033.71 51.48 0.27 20952.71 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0345 QR 0.0351 Change 6.31 37.34 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0777 QR 0.0785 S&P 500 Index/D 2063.36 -15 -0.72 2134.72 1867.01 % 0.06 0.36 $ 36.69 SL Re ...... QR 0.0250 QR 0.0255 YTD% 15.11 15.06 Straits Times/D 2895.81 27.07 0.94 3549.85 2808.31 Taka ...... QR 0.0460 QR 0.0469 Volume 5,349,635 3,902,768 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0341 QR 0.0348 Value (QAR) 213,343,280.90 152,024,381.36 Straits Times/D 3324.09 0.44 0.01 3387.84 2953.01 $ 32.75 SA Rand ...... QR 0.2317 QR 0.2363 Trades 2,705 2,826 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01 Up 27 | Down 13 | Unchanged 02

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 31-12-2015

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A B G Infra-Xc/D 161.6 -6.8 3675 Cipla-A/D 649.5 -3.35 67382 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 20.55 -0.55 2590409 Kanoria Chem-B/D 75.8 -1.35 13216 Orchid Pharm-B/D 64.9 5.85 934133 Bp/D 355.3 0.15 2403685 A C C-A/D 1359.55 9.75 3629 City Union Bk-/D 92 0.6 6995 Himat Seide-B/D 215.65 0.65 72648 Kg Denim-B/D 59 -0.15 13829 Orient Hotel-T/D 26.8 1.6 154574 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3784 -5.5 171872 Aarti Drugs-B/D 595.3 2.45 3324 Colgate-A/D 970.35 -2.55 21108 Hind Motors-T/D 7.36 -0.12 86761 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 83.5 0.5 3036 Orient.Carb.-T/D 571 15.75 4361 Bt Group/D 472.95 2.4 1295406 Aban Offs-A/D 226.6 0.2 266489 Container Cor-/D 1312.95 30.6 13109 Hind Org Chem-/D 16.1 0.15 26568 Kinetic Eng-B/D 108.7 -4.7 17201 Orient.Carb.-T/D 571 15.75 4361 Centrica/D 217.6 -3.3 1263385 Ador Welding-B/D 321 -3.1 1198 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 483.9 22.8 5365 Hind Unilever-/D 862.35 2.9 59965 Kopran-B/D 74.95 -0.85 115580 Oudh Sugar-B/D 35.85 1.65 5189 Gkn/D 307.2 -2 161440 Aegis Logis-B/D 105.55 -1.2 30089 Dcm Financia-T/D 1.04 -0.04 15740 Hind.Petrol-A/D 835.95 1.35 282148 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 436 8.8 1644 Patspin India-/D 12.07 0.57 21921 Hsbc Holdings/D 535.6 -2.2 1435347 Alembic-B/D 47.7 -0.65 177878 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 91.9 0 5239 Hindalco-A/D 84.75 0.15 666434 Lakshmi Mach-A/D 3874.8 78.2 6238 Radico Khait-B/D 119.1 3.95 151585 Imperial Tobac/D 3592.333 2.5 199051 Alok Indus-A/D 6.23 -0.05 812657 Dhampur Sugar-/D 66.45 3.3 52544 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1262.65 29.45 242669 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 55.85 -0.95 2208 Rallis India-A/D 176.75 -0.1 33862 Kingfisher/D 331.1 -2.7 757891 Apollo Tyre-A/D 156.15 0.95 76124 Dr. Reddy-A/D 3103.15 -18.25 97768 I F C I-A/D 27.65 0.3 788220 Lgb Broth-B/D 519 5.6 1071 Rallis India-A/D 176.75 -0.1 33862 Land Secs Grou/D 1185 -3 115830 Asahi I Glass-/D 162 -0.5 4756 E I H-B/D 130.15 2.75 27714 Idbi-A/D 88.9 -1.3 437146 Lloyd Metal-B/D 7.5 -0.11 1595 Reliance Indus/D 506.5 -4 247295 Legal & Genera/D 268.87 -0.7 1207794 Ashok Leyland-/D 88 -1.5 612426 E.I.D Parry-A/D 199 1.9 36649 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 477.15 2.75 1784 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 7.81 -0.1 29101 Ruchi Soya-B/D 29.35 -0.2 40915 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 73.2031 -0.4 9918892 Ballarpur In-B/D 21 2.2 4258356 Eicher Motor-A/D 16801 273.65 3033 India Cement-A/D 96.5 5.65 820622 Lumax Ind-B/D 465.6 12.8 2242 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 522 1.75 5617 Marks & Sp./D 453.4 -3.2 404657 Bata India-A/D 521.4 16.1 61325 Eimco Elecon-T/D 472 10 2196 India Glycol-B/D 102.5 0.1 5582 Lupin-A/D 1826.25 -9.2 33940 Salora Inter-B/D 62.8 0.25 10346 Next/D 7293.25 15 78248 Beml Ltd-A/D 1279.25 -0.65 17181 Electrosteel-B/D 22.7 0.55 264233 Indian Card-B/D 259.5 4.3 10515 Lyka Labs-T/D 128.1 -0.9 60274 Saur.Cem-B/D 73.65 0.2 106661 Pearson/D 736.5 -3.5 256762 Bh Electronic-/D 1372.9 18.8 50751 Emco-B/D 34.3 0.5 131785 Indian Hotel-A/D 116.7 1.4 284549 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 337.5 4.8 7214 Tanfac Indust-/D 40.1 -1.7 10230 Prudential/D 1532.5 -13.5 194095 Bhansali Eng-T/D 25.6 0.5 138829 Escorts Fin-B/D 4.12 -0.08 75903 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1099.55 40.5 13678 Mah.Seamless-B/D 175 -2 2517 Tanfac Indust-/D 40.1 -1.7 10230 Rank Group/D 285.3 -2.9 9259 Bharat Bijle-B/D 857.5 1.5 4228 Escorts-A/D 171.6 0.15 56861 Indusind-A/D 966.4 -2.05 59858 Mangalam Cem-B/D 195.3 0.2 5123 Thirumalai-B/D 217.4 1.8 3254 Rentokil Initi/D 159.9 -0.9 244040 Bharatgears-B/D 90.45 0.6 2980 Essar Oil-T/D 258.05 1.05 126469 J.B.Chemical-B/D 279.05 1.4 30620 Maral Overs-B/D 34.9 -0.9 5524 Til Ltd.-T/D 522.8 0.8 4671 Rolls Royce Pl/D 578 -1.5 277057 Bhartiya Int-B/D 523.75 6.25 9703 Eveready Indu-/D 302 1.65 5964 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 53.65 -2.35 7226 Mastek-B/D 186.8 1.5 38321 Timexgroup-T/D 37.15 1.55 262123 Rsa Insrance G/D 428.5 -2.9 169706 Bhel-A/D 169.25 -0.25 233092 F D C-B/D 230.75 -0.75 10424 Jagson Phar-B/D 48.95 -1.3 25440 Max India L-A/D 509.15 6.65 22486 Tinplate-B/D 73.05 0.35 29443 Sainsbury(J)/D 256.393 -5.2 1801336 Bhuwalka Stl-X/D 7.96 0.26 3221 Federal Bank-A/D 56 -0.4 188430 Jamnaauto-B/D 139.6 0.8 291962 Mrpl-A/D 67.95 2.95 299023 Ucal Fuel-B/D 137.3 6.6 41230 Schroders/D 2984 -11 8738 Bom.Burmah-B/D 500.7 9.5 15296 Ferro Alloys-B/D 6.24 -0.62 279848 Jbf Indu-B/D 236 -1.45 32405 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 37.3 2.15 13937 Ucal Fuel-B/D 137.3 6.6 41230 Schroders/D 2984 -11 8738 Bombay Dyeing-/D 64.3 0.3 152600 Finolex-A/D 299.9 -4.7 8392 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.43 -0.01 74481 Nagreeka Ex-B/D 37.3 2.15 13937 Ultramarine-B/D 116.8 0.4 9328 Severn Trent/D 2180 -23 87707 Camph.& All-B/D 584 2.25 5034 Forbes-B/D 1590 5.75 4423 Jct Ltd-B/D 9.59 -0.14 1614098 Nahar Spg.-B/D 131.2 6.7 77248 Unitech P -A/D 6.66 -0.05 8237003 Smith&Nephew/D 1204 -8 159799 Canfin Homes-B/D 1075.8 -7.3 3112 Gail-A/D 375.4 8 227460 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 12.49 -0.23 54085 Nation Alum -A/D 40 -0.75 61232 Univcable-T/D 84.4 2.35 23608 Smiths Group/D 950.5 -7 73925 Caprihans-Xc/D 91.9 3.05 3669 Galada Power-B/D 18.35 -0.2 3949 Jik Indust-T/D 0.91 -0.04 7100 Navneet Edu-B/D 96.3 -0.05 13186 Standrd Chart /D 568.5 2.4 409359 Castrol India-/D 441.9 -1.9 33106 Gammon India-T/D 17.75 0.15 96000 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 111.5 3.6 283288 Nepc India-T/D 1.93 -0.01 17600 LONDON Tate & Lyle/D 599 -5.5 110103 Century Enka-B/D 202.6 0.1 11104 Gangotri Tex-B/D 1.73 0.08 3190 Jmc Projects-T/D 251.9 2.8 1392 Neuland Lab-B/D 797 -0.75 2520 Tesco/D 150.1 -0.45 2344056 Century Text-A/D 597.4 -4 53029 Garden P -B/D 30.5 -0.6 26394 Kabra Extr-B/D 104.2 -0.1 8410 Nrb Bearings-B/D 140.7 3.1 4226 Unilever/D 2947 7 202011 Chambal Fert-B/D 62.5 2 88168 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1373.6 51.7 86137 Kajaria Cer-A/D 982 6 3274 O N G C-A/D 241.9 1.95 388999 3I Group/D 481.7 -1.5 346044 United Util Gr/D 932 -14 180774 Chola Invest-B/D 636.95 -4.2 1023 Goodricke-B/D 215.1 7 92405 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 150 -1.1 2491 Ocl India-B/D 491.6 -1.05 1356 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3365 -13 20088 Vodafone Group/D 221.125 3.65 14960517 Chowgule St-T/D 21.1 0.05 9915 Goodyear I -B/D 568.5 0.25 3934 Kalpat Power-B/D 256.95 -2.55 5640 Oil Country-B/D 31.3 0.95 33531 Barclays/D 219.69 -1.05 2013339 Whitbread/D 4425.4419 -19 29835 Cimmco-B/D 86 -0.9 2666 Hcl Infosys-B/D 60.65 -0.05 301570 Kalyani Stel-T/D 167.4 -0.3 30855 Onward Tech-B/D 103.9 -3.9 16840 Bg Group/D 991.7 0.2 624504 FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com CLASSIFIEDS

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EASY SUDOKU CROSSWORD 1234 5678 910111213 PACER PACK CMVI

14 15 16 AGATE AGUE H I ES ROD I N TALE AL I A 17 18 19 TRICE HILLBILLY 20 21 22 23 BALK WON ATA LEWIS SCHERZO 24 25 26 27 TOATEE ACE ADHD 28 29 30 31 32 33 AMC ILLWILL FOO

34 35 LOSE DI E TEDI UM COEX I ST P I XEL 36 37 38 39 40 41 VAS SAC FLAB 42 43 44 45 CHILLPILL BIMBO BELT ADAM ECONO 46 47 48 49 GALE WOKE S I REN 50 51 52 53 BRED SLED STERE Yesterday’s answer 54 55 56 57 58 59 ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 60 61 62 63 66 Tolerate 30 Pastel shade 67 Conductors’ announcements 31 Import from Holland Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1 to 64 65 66 9 in each empty cell so every row, every column 68 Canadian fill-up choice 32 Existential declaration and every 3x3 box contains all the digits 1 to 9. 67 68 69 69 English Channel feeder 33 Coastal hurricane dir. 36 Subjects of heightened interest, for short? ACROSS 35 Suze with financial advice DOWN 37 Luau necklace 1 Twosome in the news 36 Good pace, informally 1 Start of many course titles 39 Sad sorts 5 ___ California 38 One of the Wayans brothers 2 Falafel sauce 40 From 9 “No drama” president 41 Salinger heroine 3 2012 Super Bowl M.V.P. who hosted “S.N.L.” 43 Rots slowly 14 Simba’s mate in “The Lion 42 Farmhand’s material HYPER SUDOKU 4 Deface 45 Call on King” 44 Fancy neckwear 5 Banking problems 47 It’s big in Japan 15 Play to ___ 46 Indication that “That’s how 16 Half of the Dynamic Duo things are” 6 Had a midday meal 48 Singer O’Shea who shared the stage with the Beatles 17 Serious injury for a firefighter 50 Collagist’s supply 7 What may be up when the police arrive? on the 2/9/64 “Ed Sullivan 20 Part of a golf cup 51 Bard’s contraction 8 Kind of photography Show” 21 Letter after kay 52 Do-over call 9 Common pizza seasoning 49 Mariner 22 Gerund ender 54 Temple University 10 Dole out in politics? 53 “Ta-da!” 23 Sri Lanka export athlete 11 Border on 54 Controls 24 ___ roll 57 Figures at raves 12 Bog 55 Iota 25 Mary’s boss on “The Mary Tyler 58 LIII doubled 13 Actress Kendrick of “Pitch 56 Building block Moore Show” 59 Outburst from Scrooge Perfect” 61 Sales worker 26 Santa ___ (some winds) 60 Question answered by this 18 Novelist Ephron 62 USA competitor 28 “Pale” or “prairie” plant of the puzzle’s circled letters 19 Sicilian province 63 “Game of Thrones” airer central U.S. 64 French-speaking African land 27 Shakespeare’s Avon, for one 34 Fine distinction 65 Skeptic’s reply 29 Fooling

Yesterday’s answer

How to play Hyper Sudoku: A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like a normal Sudoku. BABY BLUES BABY

NOVO How to play Kakuro: SCREEN 1 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (3D/Action) 10:00am, 3:20 & 8:45pm SHOWING AT KAKURO The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any 2D 12:40, 6:00 & 11:30pm VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells SCREEN 2 Extraction (2D/Thriller) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00 & 11:55pm TEL: 444933989 / 444517001 like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, SCREEN 3 Point Break (3D/Action) 11:00am, 4:00 & 9:00pm 2D 1:30, 6:30 & 11:30pm some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some SCREEN 4 Joy (2D/Comedy) 10:30am, 1:00, 3:30, 6:00, 8:30 & 11:00pm cells will contain two numbers. SCREEN 5 Savva: Heart of The Warrior (2D/Animation) 10:00, 11:50am, 1:40 & 3:30pm However, in a crossword the numbers reference Bone Tomahawk (Adventure) 5:20, 8:00 &10:45pm clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! SCREEN 6 Snowtime (2D/Animation) 10:15am, 12:10, 2:00, 3:50 & 5:40pm They denote the total of the digits in the row or The Good, The Bad And The Dead (2D/Action) 7:35, 9:30 & 11:30pm column referenced by the number. SCREEN 7 The Peanuts Movie (2D/Animation) 10:00, 11:50am, 1:40 & 3:30pm Bleeding Heart (2D/Drama) Within each 5:20, 7:10, 9:00 & 11:00pm SCREEN 8 Santa Claws (2D/Family) 10:10am, 12:00noon, 1:50 & 3:40pm collection of cells Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30pm - called a run - any SCREEN 9 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (3D IMAX/Action) 10:15am, 12:45, 3:30, 6:15, of the numbers 1 9:00 & 11:45pm to 9 may be used SCREEN 10 Extraction (2D/Thriller) 10:30am, 3:00, 7:30 & 11:55pm but, like sudoku, Point Break (3D/Action) 12:30, 5:00 & 9:30pm each number may MALL only be used once. SCREEN 1 Santa Claws (2D/Family) 2:30pm The Big Short (2D/Drama) 4:30pm Yesterday’s Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 6:45pm Extraction answer (2D/Thriller) 9:00pm Ho Mann Jahaan (2D/Pakistani) 10:30pm Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate SCREEN 2 Snowtime (2D/Animation) 3:00pm The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 4:45pm Joy (2D/Comedy) 6:30pm The Big Short (2D/Drama) 8:45pm Bone Tomahawk (2D/Adventure) 11:15pm SCREEN 3 The Peanuts Movie (2D/Animation) 2:30pm Savva, Heart of The Warrior (2D/Comedy) 4:15pm ALL IN THE MIND Bleeding Heart (2D/Drama) 5:45pm The Good, The Bad And The Dead (2D/Drama) 7:15pm Su Sudhi Vatmeekam (2D/Malayalam) Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, 9:00pm Extraction (2D/Thriller) 11:30pm vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards. LANDMARK

SCREEN 1 Joy (2D/Comedy) 2:30 & 9:15pm Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 4:45pm The Big Short (2D/Drama) 7:00pm The Good, The Bad And The Dead (2D/Drama) 11:30pm SCREEN 2 The Peanuts Movie (2D/Animation) 3:00pm Savva, Heart of The Warrior (2D/Comedy) 5:00pm Extraction (2D/Thriller) 7:00 & 11:15pm Bone Tomahawk (2D/Adventure) 9:00pm SCREEN 3 The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 2:15pm Hoy en la Historia Snowtime (2D/Animation) 3:45pm Santa Claws (2D/Family) 5:15pm Bleeding Heart (2D/Drama) 7:00pm Su Sudhi Vatmeekam January 1, 2015 (2D/Malayalam) 8:45pm The Big Short (2D/Drama) 11:15pm Lithuania became the 19th ROYAL PLAZA member of the Eurozone. It was the last of the three Baltic states to SCREEN 1 Santa Claws (2D/Family) 2:00pm adopt the euro, after Estonia in Snowtime (2D/Animation) 3:45pm Extraction (2D/Thriller) 5:15pm 2011 and Latvia in 2014 The Big Short (2D/Drama) 7:00 & 11:30pm Bone Tomahawk (2D/Adventure) 9:15pm 1772:    £   SCREEN 2 Savva, Heart of The Warrior (2D/Comedy) 2:30pm     The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 4:15pm      The Good, The Bad And The Dead (2D/Drama) 6:00pm 1901: The Commonwealth of Joy (2D/Comedy) 7:45pm Extraction (2D/Thriller) 10:00pm Australia came into being Bleeding Heart (2D/Drama) 11:30pm ALE, APERITIF, APPLEJACK, BEVERAGE, BITTER, 1995:   BOURBON, BRANDY, CAPPUCCINO, CIDER, CLARET, ASIAN TOWN      ! " COCKTAIL, COCOA, COFFEE, CORDIAL, CREAM, ELIXIR, Dilwale (Hindi) 4:00pm Pasanga 2 (Tamil) EXPRESSO, GIN, GINGER BEER, JUICE, LAGER, 2006: Russian gas giant Gazprom 12:45, 3:15, 5:45 & 10:45pm Thanga Magan (2D/Tamil) 1:30 & 8:15pm LIQUEUR, MARSALA, MARTINI, MILK, MINT JULEP, cut supplies to Ukraine after failing to reach agreement over a price Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 3:15 & 6:15pm NIGHTCAP, OUZO, PERNOD, PILSNER, PUNCH, RETSINA, increase; the shortage had a Su Sudhi Vatmeekam (2D/Malayalam) 12:45, 3:15, 5:45, 7:00 & 8:15pm SANGRIA, SCHNAPPS, SCOTCH, SHANDY, SHERRY, Su Sudhi Vatmeekam (2D/Malayalam) 9:15, 10:45, 11:45pm, 12:00midnight knock-on effect on EU countries SODA, SPIRITS, STOUT, TEA, TEQUILA, TODDY, TONIC, & 01:15am VODKA, WATER, WINE. # $%  # ''(%#)*+,- FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Tony McCoy Pacquiao to fight Bradley in April, says Arum leads British LOS ANGELES: Filipino boxing Pacquiao aggravated a shoulder Bradley, 33-1-1 with 13 knock- icon Manny Pacquiao will return injury in the Mayweather bout outs, has since regained the WBO to the ring on April 9 in Las Vegas and underwent surgery five days welterweight belt and will be sports stars to take on Timothy Bradley for a later. coming off a ninth-round techni- third time, promoter Bob Arum This week in a question and cal knockout of Brandon Rios on in New Year said yesterday. answer with fans on his Facebook November 7. Top Rank promotions chief page Pacquiao said his shoulder Other fighters reportedly on Arum confirmed to AFP that was “100 percent”. the short-list as April opponents Honours List the bout was slated for the MGM Arum, too, said the shoulder for Pacquiao included England’s Grand. “seems to be 100 percent”. Amir Khan, a former unified LONDON: Legendary jump While Pacquiao has spoken this “He’s playing basketball with it, super lightweight title holder or jockey Tony McCoy (pictured) year of retiring after an April scuba diving with it,” Arum said. Terence Crawford, the current was awarded a knighthood in bout to pursue his political career, Although not all the paper- WBO super lightweight world the New Year Honours List out Arum said he would not market work has been finalized, Arum champion. on Wednesday, in which Brit- the bout as Pacquiao’s last. said there were no obstacles to Arum said financial stake- ish sports stars including Chris “I’m not certain it is his last the fight taking place, with major holders in the bout, including Froome were recognised for their fight,” Arum said. “It may well be terms such as guaranteed money satellite and cable television achievements. his last fight, it may not be his and the purse split decided. providers, voiced a preference Two-time Tour de France win- last fight. You cannot in good con- “These fighters have fought for for Bradley. ner Froome, 1964 Formula One science sell it that way.” me for many years,” he said, add- And as for fans who feel Pac- world champion John Surtees and A congressman since 2010, Pac- ing that the fight would be for- quiao has already proved himself five-time world snooker champion quiao announced in October that mally announced with Stateside against the American, Arum said Ronnie O’Sullivan were among he would seek a seat in the Philip- press conferences in January. Bradley has changed significantly those honoured. pines senate in 2016. Pacquiao and Bradley have met -- especially since linking up with Stars from football, tennis The 37-year-old, who owns a twice before, with the American trainer Teddy Atlas prior to his and boxing were among those record of 57-6-2 with 38 knock- taking a controversial split deci- win over Rios. made commanders (CBE), offic- outs, hasn’t fought since a May sion in a fight many thought Pac- “This is a different Bradley ers (OBE) or regular members 2 unanimous decision loss to quiao had won in June of 2012. because his style is completely dif- (MBE) of the Most Excellent unbeaten Floyd Mayweather in Pacquiao avenged the polariz- ferent,” Arum said. “Teddy Atlas Order of the British Empire, an their long-awaited bout that shat- ing defeat and regained the World has turned him into a completely Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines smiles as he reacts order of chivalry. tered revenue records for the Boxing Organization welterweight different fighter. The question is, to a question from members of the media during a press conference McCoy, who becomes entitled sport, generating some 4.5m pay- world title with a 12-round unani- can Manny beat this Bradley.” shortly after arriving from the US at the international airport in Manila to use the prefix Sir, rode 4,358 per-view purchases and $600m in mous decision over Bradley in in this May 14, 2015 file picture. winners in his extraordinary gross revenue. April of 2014. AFP career. The 41-year-old retired from racing in April after being crowned British jump racing champion jockey for a 20th con- secutive year. “It is an unbelievable privilege and honour to receive a knight- Warriors suffer second loss of season hood in the New Year Honours List. I certainly wasn’t expecting it,” the Northern Irishman said. NBA: Golden State fizzle out without red hot Curry against Mavericks, Lakers down Celtics “I consider myself lucky to have had a job I loved. LOS ANGELES: The Golden “completely remarkable”. a pivotal role in his NBA career. “The support from the public State Warriors fizzled without red In another signficant stop on After the Lakers’ 2008 NBA title and racing community since my hot Stephen Curry on Wednesday, the Kobe Bryant farewell tour, bid ended in a blowout loss to the retirement has been overwhelm- falling 114-91 to the Mavericks in the Los Angeles Lakers super- Celtics in Boston, he and the ing. Dallas in just their second defeat star produced a double-double of Lakers turned the tables with a “A of the NBA season. 15 points and 11 rebounds to help seven-game Finals triumph over knighthood The Mavericks made the most the Lakers to a 112-104 victory the Celtics in 2010. really tops of Curry’s absence with a lower over the Celtics in Boston. “When we lost (to the Celtics) off what’s left leg injury, racing to an early Cheered in pre-game intro- in 2008, that was the turn for me,” been a crazy 17-point lead that they stretched ductions -- then booed when he Bryant said. “That was when it and memo- to as many as 30 in the third touched the ball -- the 37-year- was like, ‘Listen, I have to figure rable year.” quarter. old veteran came away with more this leadership thing out by any Tour “Our guys did a very good job of emotional memories from his last means necessary.’” de France staying very focused even though appearance at the Celtics’ TD In Chicago, Bulls guard Jimmy defending Curry didn’t play,” Dallas coach Garden before he retires at the Butler tipped in an alley-oop pass champion Rick Carlisle said. end of the season. with 1.2 seconds left in overtime Froome “We knew there was a chance “Being able to say thanks to to lift the hosts to a 102-100 vic- said he was he wouldn’t and if he didn’t we the fans was a beautiful moment,” tory over the Indiana Pacers. “extremely didn’t want to have any kind of said Bryant, who patted his chest Butler scored 23 of his 28 points humbled and proud” to be made emotional letdown. The rest of in recognition of the pre-game in the second half and overtime an OBE after he became the first their team is a great team.” ovation. and guard Aaron Brooks came Briton to win cycling’s premier The Mavericks led 60-42 at He was even more touched, off the bench to score a season- road race on two occasions with halftime and with forward Har- however, by the jeers that rec- high 29 points for Chicago, who his victory in July. rison Barnes, backup guard Lean- Chandler Parsons (25) of the Dallas Mavericks takes a shot against ognized the long Celtics-Lakers pulled off the victory despite the O’Sullivan, 40, arguably the dro Barbosa and reserve center Brandon Rush (4) of the Golden State Warriors at American Airlines enmity, a rivalry that he said had absence of star guard Derrick most naturally-gifted snooker Festus Ezeli also all sidelined by Center in Dallas, Texas, on Wednesday. shaped his career. Rose because of right hamstring player of all time, was recognised injury, Warriors interim coach “As soon as I touched the ball tendinitis. with the OBE. Luke Walton had few options. and they booed, I’m like, ‘Oh, I’m In San Antonio, the Spurs He won the 2001, 2004, 2008, Golden State guard Klay Dallas built the lead to 83-53 Mavericks forward Dirk home,’” said Bryant, who didn’t routed the Phoenix Suns 112-79 2012 and 2013 world crowns. Thompson had one of his worst with 5:05 left in the third as they Nowitzki had 18 points and score until his ninth shot but to remain unbeaten at home, Last year he said he did not feel nights of the season, connecting thwarted a Warriors team that eight rebounds and center ZaZa made a key contribution to a 21-5 improving to 19-0 on their own he had done anything to merit an on just four of 15 shots from the have averaged 114 points per Pachulia posted his 17th double- third-quarter scoring run. court this season. honour, only snooker titles. floor and one of two from the free game. double of the season with 14 Bryant was treated to another The lowly Philadelphia 76ers “It came as a great surprise to throw line for 10 points, his lowest Dallas guard JJ Barea, making points and 15 rebounds. ovation as the game ended, nabbed their third win of the sea- receive my OBE,” he said. contribution since November 11. his fourth straight start in place The Warriors, who will try to chants of “Ko-be! echoing around son, never trailing in the second “I am extremely grateful for Thirty-two of the Mavericks’ of injured Deron Williams, scored bounce back against the Rock- the arena before he exchanged half en route to a 110-105 victory this recognition which is a great 60 first-half points came in the a game-high 23 points including ets in Houston on Thursday, fell embraces with several Celtics over the Kings in Sacramento. honour and has made both myself paint, where they held a 22-point five of seven from three-point to 29-2 -- still a record-setting players. and my family very proud.” advantage at the interval. range. season start that Carlisle called Bryant said the Celtics played AFP Surtees, the only man to win world titles on two and four wheels, has been awarded a CBE Al Rayyan International Championship in recognition of his services to motor sport. The 81-year-old won seven world motorcycling champion- Ovechkin shines as Capitals ships between 1956 and 1960, before switching to car racing, winning the Formula One world title with Ferrari in 1963. rally past Sabres, Devils win From the world of football, Denis Law, a star of the 1960s NEW YORK: Alex Ovechkin Manchester United teams and scored two third-period goals as Scotland’s joint-top scorer with the Washington Capitals rallied 30 goals, was awarded the CBE. past the Buffalo Sabres for their Francis Lee, who won the ninth successive win. league title with Manchester City Washington, trailing 2-1 in the in 1968 and was the club chair- third period, scored four goals to man in the 1990s, was also made a improve to 16-1-1 over their last CBE. England’s women footballers 18 games. finished third at the World Cup in Left winger Andre Burakovsky Canada earlier this year and cap- and right winger Justin Williams Action from the Main Arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation in Al tain Steph Houghton was made also scored for Washington. Rayyan yesterday. The Al Rayyan International Championship, a World an MBE along with veteran mid- The Capitals (28-6-2) moved Cup Finals qualifier event, will begin from today and will end on January fielder Fara Williams. ahead of idle Dallas for the NHL 3 in the Main Arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation in Al Rayyan. Sue Barker, who won the 1976 points lead. French Open tennis title and is Elsewhere, Cory Schneider now one of BBC television’s main made 36 saves for his third shut- sports presenters, was made an out of the season and 20th of his OBE. career to lead the New Jersey Carl Frampton, the IBF super- Devils to a 3-0 victory over the Toronto Maple Leafs centre Peter Holland (24) defends as Pittsburgh bantamweight champion, was Ottawa Senators. Penguins centre Evgeni Malkin (71) carries the puck into the Toronto awarded the MBE. Left winger Mike Cammalleri zone during the third period of their NHL game at Consol Energy Center. “I am happy and proud, and scored two goals for the Devils, Toronto won 3-2 in a shootout. I am pleased that my sport of giving him 14 on the season, while professional boxing has got some winger Lee Stempniak added an recognition,” he said. Tracey Nev- empty-netter with 15.6 seconds Toronto’s only shootout attempts NHL Results ille, the England women’s netball left. as the Maple Leafs beat the Pitts- Toronto 3 Pittsburgh 2 team coach, was awarded an Goalie Andrew Hammond burgh Penguins. Washington 5 Buffalo 2 MBE. She is the sister of former made 18 stops for Ottawa. Winger David Perron scored New Jersey 3 Ottawa 0 Manchester United and England Meanwhile, Center Peter Hol- for Pittsburgh in the shootout. footballers Gary and Phil Neville. NY Rangers 5 Tampa Bay 2 land and right winger Pierre- Alexandre Parenteau scored on AGENCIES San Jose 4 Philadelphia 2 AFP FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Football Fixtures EPL Messi ends 2015 in fine style Tomorrow (GMT) West Ham United vs Liverpool (1245) The feared Barcelona striker scores on his 500th appearance; Atletico Madrid win Arsenal vs Newcastle United (1500) Leicester City vs AFC Bournemouth (1500) MADRID: Lionel Messi scored on his 500th Barcelona appear- Manchester United vs Swansea City (1500) ance as the European champions moved back to the top of the table Norwich City vs Southampton (1500) with a 4-0 win over Real Betis as Sunderland vs Aston Villa (1500) La Liga returned from a curtailed winter break on Wednesday. West Bromwich Albion v Stoke City (1500) Atletico Madrid remain level Watford vs Manchester City (1730) on points with Barca thanks to two goals in the final two minutes Sunday, January 3 (GMT) from Angel Correa and Antoine Crystal Palace vs Chelsea (1330) Griezmann to emerge 2-0 victors at Rayo Vallecano. Everton vs Tottenham Hotspur (1600) And Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and missed a penalty as La Liga Real Madrid eased the pressure Sunday, January 3 (GMT) on under-fire coach Rafael Beni- tez with a 3-1 win over Real Socie- Rayo Vallecano vs Real Sociedad (1100) dad to stay two points behind the leaders. Granada CF vs Sevilla (1500) Barca celebrated their fifth Real Betis vs Eibar (1500) trophy of 2015 before kick-off after adding the Club World Cup Sporting Gijon vs Getafe (1500) to their haul last time out with Athletic Clubs vs Las Palmas (1715) Messi captaining the side in the absence of Andres Iniesta. Deportivo Coruna vs Villarreal (1715) “It has been a spectacular year Valencia vs Real Madrid (1930) and we wanted to finish it this way,” said Messi. Portuguese League “It will be difficult to improve on what we have done, but we Tomorrow (GMT) always try. We have a great squad Academica vs Uniao Madeira (1600) that are desperate to continue winning.” Boavista vs Moreirense (1600) Yet, on a day dominated by con- troversial refereeing decisions, Nacional vs FC Arouca (1600) they were handed a gift to open Maritimo vs Estoril (1600) the scoring after a decent start by Betis. Vitoria Setubal vs Braga (1615) Antonio Adan clearly played Pacos de Ferreira vs Belenenses (1800) the ball before catching Messi as Barcelona’s Argentinian forward Lionel Messi kicks the ball during the Spanish league football match against Real Betis Balompie at the Camp Nou he punched the ball to safety, but Stadium in Barcelona on Wednesday night. Barcelona won 4-0. Vitoria Guimaraes vs Benfica (1830) referee Inaki Vicando Garrido Sporting vs Porto (2045) surprised everyone by pointing to the spot. ble start after blasting his first appointing first six months in before half-time when he con- make it 3-1 three minutes from Sunday, January 3 (GMT) Neymar hit the bar with the penalty of the day over the bar to charge at the Bernabeu with the verted his second penalty after time. resulting penalty, but Heiko put Madrid in front from another former Liverpool boss even claim- Yuri was again penalised for Atletico looked to be heading Rio Ave v CD Tondela (1700) Westermann could only turn the spot-kick just before half-time. ing there is a media conspiracy blocking Gareth Bale’s cross with for a second consecutive disap- SPL rebound into his own net under Bruma levelled for an injury-hit against him on Tuesday. an outstretched hand. pointing result after losing 1-0 at pressure from Ivan Rakitic. Sociedad minutes after the break, But his side had luck on their Despite the adversity they Malaga before the 10-day winter Tomorrow (GMT) From Betis’ misfortune the but Ronaldo delivered when his side in the first-half as Sociedad’s faced, Sociedad kept the ball off break as Rayo’s defence - fresh floodgates opened as a lovely one- side needed a goal once more to lost top-scorer Imanol Agirretxe Madrid for long spells and hauled from conceding 10 to Real Madrid Dundee vs Dundee United (1230) two between Neymar and Messi restore the lead 23 minutes from and playmaker Sergio Canales to themselves level in spectacular last time out - stood firm for 88 Celtic vs Partick Thistle (1500) allowed the later to tap home his time before Lucas Vasquez added injury and saw referee Jose Luis style four minutes after the break minutes at Vallecas. 425th goal for the club. a late third. Gonzalez award Madrid two con- when Bruma curled home his first However, Diego Simeone’s Inverness Caledonian Thistle v Luis Suarez added a third “We controlled the game and troversial penalties. league goal for the club into the substitutions swung the game Ross County (1500) with a cool finish from Sergio had a lot of chances, which, if we The first spot-kick was given top corner. in Atletico’s favour as Thomas Kilmarnock vs Hearts (1500) Busquets’s pass inside the first had taken them, would have made for an apparent push by Yuri Yet, despite all their troubles, Partey teed up Correa to smash minute of the second-half. the second-half more comfort- Beriche on Benzema at the back Ronaldo remains ever reliable home his first goal in three Motherwell vs Hamilton Academical (1500) And the Uruguayan rounded off able,” said Benitez. post. source of goals and he delivered months. And another substitute Sunday, January 3 (GMT) the scoring seven minutes from “I congratulate the players for Yet, for the first time in his once more with a sweetly struck Jackson Martinez then played in time as Barca set a new record their attitude from start to finish. Madrid career, Ronaldo failed to volley from Marcelo’s corner for Griezmann to register his 13th St. Johnstone vs Aberdeen (1230) tally for the calendar year of 180 We worked hard, reacted well and even hit the target from the spot his 25th goal of the season. goal of the season with a lovely goals. got the three points.” as he blasted wildly over. And Vazquez ensured all three dinked finish two minutes later. French Cup At the Santiago Bernabeu, Rumours over Benitez’s future The World Player of the Year points when he coolly controlled Last 64 Ronaldo recovered from a terri- refuse to go away after a dis- made amends three minutes and finished Bale’s fine cross to REUTERS Tomorrow (GMT) GFC Ajaccio vs US Sainte-Marienne (1230) Wenger rejects Barcelona China to bid for Avranches(III) vs Saint-Malo(IV) (1400) doubts about want more 2023 Asian Cup Blanc Mesnil v Nantes (1430) Concarneau(IV) vs TA Rennes(V) (1500) Arsenal’s title BEIJING: China is preparing to bid for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, FC Villefranche(IV) vs Sarre Union(IV) (1600) trophies in the continent’s biggest football Chambly(III) vs Stade de Reims (1700) credentials championship, the country’s top 2016, says soccer authority said as it hopes Dunkerque(III) vs ES Troyes AC (1700) LONDON: Manager Arsene to one day host the World Cup. Wenger has rejected doubts about The Chinese Football Asso- Entente SSG(IV) vs Toulouse (1700) Arsenal’s title credentials, saying Messi ciation is soliciting input for a FC Mantes 78(IV) vs Stade Briochin (1700) statistics back him up about the possible application to host the Premier League leaders on New BARCELONA: Four-time World tournament, it said in a letter to Granville(V) vs Stade Laval(II) (1700) Year’s day. Player of the Year Lionel Messi its members posted on its website. Pagny(V) vs Sochaux(II) (1700) Monday’s comfortable 2-0 win has warned Barcelona’s rivals The bid will require at least six over Bournemouth ensured the that the European champions cities and eight stadiums to host Racing Besancon(V) vs Angers SCO (1700) Gunners end the year on top of are determined to match their a total of 51 competitions in the Moulins(IV) vs Chamois Niort(II) (1730) the table, above Leicester City five-trophy haul from 2015 in the month-long contest, which is held on goal difference. Arsenal have coming year. every four years. Toulouse Rodeo vs Stade Montois(IV) (1800) ended the year on top of the Pre- Messi scored on his 500th China is the world’s most CS Sedan Ardennes(III) v Bastia (1945) mier League table on three previ- appearance for the club as Barca The match ball can be seen before the game between Everton and populous country and its second- ous occasions in the last 14 years rounded off the year in style with Stoke City at Goodison Park in this December 28, 2015, file photo largest economy, but its football Sunday, January 3 (GMT) but they could not go on to win a 4-0 win over Real Betis to move team languishes in 84th place in the title in any of those seasons. back to the top of La Liga on the FIFA world rankings, and it Epernay(V) vs Montpellier HSC (1315) “It shows you that we have Wednesday. is on the verge of elimination for FC Lorient vs FC Tours(II) (1315) a good chance as the statistics The Catalans lead Atletico own net from the rebound and said of Barca’s achievements in Russia 2018 after a 0-0 draw with show you that eight of the past Madrid on goal difference and thereafter Barca were only denied his first full year in charge. Hong Kong in November. Frejus(III) vs Girondins Bordeaux (1315) 11 years the team who was top on Real Madrid by two points as well an even greater rout by a series of “The objective is to win again, President Xi Jinping has called Limoges Foot 87(V) vs New Year’s Day won it,” Wenger as having a game in hand on their fine saves by Adan and the wood- to win the first game in 2016 and on the nation to up its game with Olympique Lyon (1315) said. “I believe that we are mature rivals from the Spanish capital. work. again be challenging to win titles the goals of eventually hosting enough and that we have the And having won the Champions A lovely one-two between Ney- throughout the season for this and winning a World Cup -- a Raon-l’Etape(V) vs St Etienne (1315) requested quality to fight and League, La Liga, Copa del Rey, mar and Messi allowed the later team, the fans and the club. tournament in which it has only compete. UEFA Super Cup and the Club to slot home his 425th Barca “We prepare for the new year appeared once, in 2002. Wasquehal(IV) vs Paris St Germain (1315) “You question our mentality, I World Cup in the past 12 months, goal before a Luis Suarez double with plenty of desire and excite- The drive has seen schools and CS de Volvic vs Ajaccio(II) (1330) don’t. We have to rise above that Barca also set a new record of 180 rounded off the scoring in the ment for the big games to arrive government organisations look- and show that we can deal with goals in a calendar year. second-half. as quickly as possible. We need ing to promote the game, while FC Annecy(V) vs all that and I believe we have to “It has been a spectacular year “We just came back from the to try to maintain the same level Chinese Super League clubs have Evian Thonon Gaillard FC(II) (1330) be guided by playing better foot- and we wanted to finish it this holidays so it is normal that the as 2015. It has been a good year lured foreign players and coaches Muret v Trelissac(IV) (1330) ball and being a real team in every way,” said Messi. rhythm dips a bit and the games I would give it a nine because we with lucrative deals. game and show that we can be “It will be difficult to improve at the Club World Cup always can always improve. As a player Chinese football long suffered Sarreguemines(V) vs Valenciennes(II) (1330) competitive. The most important on what we have done, but we take their toll,” added Messi. my philosophy was always to give from endemic corruption, with a FC Mulhouse(IV) vs thing is to feel, at the end of the always try. We have a great squad “Possibly it wasn’t a great my all and I never had any regrets history of match-rigging and brib- Bourg en Bresse 01(II) (1400) season, that we have given abso- that are desperate to continue game, but we managed to do the when the season ended, and it is ery, but authorities have sought to lutely everything to be successful. winning.” most important thing which was the same as a coach. clean up the game in recent years. Chantilly vs En Avant Guingamp (1500) “I will remind you that only one Barca were given a helping to win and start another impor- Enrique is eager to keep his China hosted the Asian Cup in team won the league without los- hand on their return to action tant period well.” trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar 2004 and reached the final, but Amiens(III) vs Lille (1600) ing a game. That is Arsenal Foot- after a shorter than normal And Barca boss Luis Enrique motivated. lost 3-1 to neighbour and rival US Saint-Omer vs ball Club. It is not the date (New 10-day winter break in Spain, echoed the sentiments of his star “We can enjoy being a unique Japan, triggering a riot by fans. Boulogne-sur-Mer(III) (1600) Year’s Day) that is decided you win though, as they were awarded a player as he focused on starting team but now the objective is to Cities must have an interna- the league. Arsenal last won the controversial penalty when Anto- the new year with victory away to forget the past and win the next tional airport and at least 10 five- Monaco vs Saint-Jean Beaulieu (1700) league in 2004 when the famous nio Adan clashed with Messi after Espanyol in the Barcelona derby game in 2016. We need to be in star hotels to be considered for Caen vs Olympique Marseille (1945) “Invincibles” side romped to the punching the ball to safety. tomorrow. position to win trophies at the end inclusion in the 2023 bid, the CFA title without losing a single game Neymar’s resulting spot-kick “Firstly, I have to congratulate of the season,” he said. statement said. Monday, January 4 (GMT) that campaign. came off the bar, but Heiko West- the players and the fans that get Nice vs Stade Rennes (1945) REUTERS ermann turned the ball into his to enjoy this unique team,” he AGENCIES REUTERS FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Marsh finds Revived Sri Lanka turn pace to scratch ‘pad rash’ itch tables on New Zealand MELBOURNE: Having spent much of the home summer suf- fering “pad rash” from waiting to Visitors notch eight-wicket win to keep ODI series alive bat, Australia all-rounder Mitch- ell Marsh has put the pent-up NELSON, New Zealand: A Scoreboard energy to good use when thrown cracking 91 by Tillakaratne the ball. Dilshan after a fiery net session New Zealand Vandersay 10-1-55-2 (w3, nb1), Siriwardana With paceman Peter Siddle set Sri Lanka up for an eight- M Guptill c Dilshan b Chameera ...... 30 5-0-33-1 hampered by an ankle injury, wicket victory over New Zealand T Latham c Pradeep b Vandersay ...... 42 Sri Lanka Marsh stepped up to take 4-61 to in Nelson yesterday to keep their K Williamson c Chameera b Siriwardana .....59 D Gunathilaka c Taylor b McClenaghan ...... 65 help close out victory in the sec- one-day series alive. R Taylor c Mathews b Vandersay ...... 0 T Dilshan run out Taylor/Ronchi ...... 91 ond test against West Indies on Sri Lanka knocked off their H Nicholls b Chameera ...... 20 L Thirimanne (not out) ...... 87 Tuesday on a Melbourne Cricket 277-run target with 22 balls to M Santner runout Chameera ...... 38 D Chandimal (not out) ...... 27 Ground pitch offering little for spare in a remarkable turnaround L Ronchi c Kapugedera b Pradeep ...... 7 Extras (W6, NB 1) ...... 7 bowlers. after being outplayed in the first D Bracewell c sub (Senanayake) b Pradeep 30 Total (2 wickets; 46.2 overs) ...... 277 High-fives from team mates two matches. A Milne (not out) ...... 17 Fall of wickets: 1-98, 2-209 were no doubt plentiful in the In addition to Dilshan’s hero- T Southee (not out) ...... 18 Did not bat: A Mathews, M Siriwardana, C dressing room, with Marsh hav- ics, Lahiru Thirimanne cracked Extras (LB4, W10, NB1) ...... 15 Kapugedera, N Kulasekara, N Pradeep, D Cha- ing played a big part in prevent- an unbeaten 87 and Danushka Total (8 wkts, 50 overs) ...... 276 meera, J Vandersay ing them all from having to come Gunathilaka made 65. Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-102, 3-102, 4-143, Bowling: Southee 6-0-44-0 (w3), Milne 6-0- back on a fifth day to take care of Dinesh Chandimal was not out 5-163, 6-191, 7-215, 8-257 50-0 (w1), Bracewell 6.2-0-45-0 (w1), Mc- the West Indies tail. 27 at the end as the match fol- Did not bat: M McClenaghan Clenaghan 9-0-39-1 (nb1), Santner 10-0-59-0, His fast bowling colleagues lowed the same formula as the Bowling: Pradeep 10-0-55-2 (w1), Chameera Williamson 8-0-38-0 (w1), Guptill 1-0-2-0 and selectors will also have been first two where the team that 10-0-38-2 (w1), Dilshan 8-1-43-0, Kulasekara Result: Sri Lanka won by 8 wickets impressed with the 24-year-old’s lost the toss batted second and 5-0-31-0 (w4), Mathews 2-0-17-0 (w1), Series: New Zealand 2-1 pace. The speed gun clocked some dominated. of his deliveries at over 140 kph. Gunathilaka said it was a must- Australia coach Darren Leh- win game and non-playing speed- tainly this New Zealand side is where Dilshan took 92 balls for mann remarked that Marsh could ster Suranga Lakmal sharpened a very strong side and they are a his 91 and stood in partnerships shape as a de facto third seamer the players up when he hit several very good bowling attack.” of 98 with Gunathilaka and 111 for the third and final test at the in the nets the previous day. New Zealand now lead the with Thirimanne. New Zealand Sydney Cricket Ground if selec- “That’s true, we talked about series 2-1 with two matches strike bowlers Tim Southee and tors picked two spinners. that and how now we are okay,” remaining. Batting first in the Adam Milne were belted out of the “It’s quite flattering to hear he said. “Angelo (Mathews) and opening matches on faster wick- attack in five overs.Doug Bracewell that, but the biggest thing for me (Milinda) Siriwardana were hit ets in Christchurch, Dilshan, was brought on in the sixth over to is just playing my role,” Marsh on the head and Dilshan hit in Thirimanne and Gunathilaka arrest the onslaught only to have told reporters in Melbourne. the face. posted a total of 43 runs from Gunathilaka smack his first ball Tillakaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka celebrates his half century during the “Over the last 18 months I’ve “We talked about how we have their combined six innings. for six to bring up Sri Lanka’s 50. third One-Day International match against New Zealand at Saxton Oval worked really hard with (bowling to be positive and we can’t have But they were more at home on in Nelson yesterday. coach) Craig McDermott to try negative thoughts because cer- the accommodating Saxton Oval AFP and get a few extra K’s (kph) on my bowling and certainly over the last few months I’ve felt like I’m just getting a bit faster and faster in every game that I play. “Obviously the more I bowl the South Africa hoping for happier New Year more I’m learning about my body and how far I can go. CAPE TOWN: South Africa will a clinical and confident all-round Pretoria. Meanwhile, South Afri- in one-day and Twenty20 inter- “Hopefully I’ve set the tone now hope the new year brings about display. Captain Alastair Cook, can captain Hashim Amla will be nationals has been similarly poor for the rest of the summer.” a change in luck as they seek to however, has cautioned against under pressure in the second Test. with his most recent 19 innings Having succeeded Shane put behind them a disappointing too much euphoria. Amla and South Africa have in these formats yielding a single Watson as Australia’s first-choice 2015 and get back to winning ways “There is also the issue of not produced a single convincing century - against New Zealand in all-rounder, Marsh has been more against England in the second test complacency and we’ve got to be Test performance since defeat- August - and no fifties. than just a handy option to tie up at Newlands starting tomorrow. careful with recovery,” Cook told ing a weak West Indies team at Amla took over the Test cap- an end, taking wickets in all five One of the iconic venues of reporters. the same venue in the 2015 New taincy in 2014 and made a good tests of the home summer. world cricket, nestled in the England won the match in Dur- Year fixture. Their 241-run defeat start with series wins against There have been leaner pick- shadow of Table Mountain, is tra- ban without leading wicket taker in the first Test against England Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe and West ings with the bat, though his ditionally a happy hunting ground James Anderson, who is likely to at Kingsmead in Durban on Indies, contributing heavily with chances to shine have been lim- for the home team but they are return for the second game at the Wednesday was their fourth loss the bat as well. ited. low in confidence after losing the expense of Chris Woakes. in seven matches, with the other But his recent form and an In the first test in Hobart, first Test in Durban by a hefty South Africa’s top pace bowler three fixtures severely affected by early history of reluctance to lead he waited an eternity for West 241 runs. Dale Steyn is doubtful due to a rain and ending in draws. Three - he gave up an early provincial Indies’ bowlers to break a With just a two-day break shoulder injury and he will proba- of the defeats were in India. captaincy in order to concentrate record 449-run stand between between the matches South Africa bly be replaced by Kagiso Rabada South Africa’s batting has been on his batting, as well as the vice- Adam Voges and his brother will be wrestling with the demons or Chris Morris while Quinton dismal during this period, with captaincy of the national side at Shaun Marsh before getting of another flop which meant they de Kock will return behind the South African captain Hashim only three totals over 200 in 10 one stage - have caused questions his chance. ended the year on a run of seven stumps to lighten the load on gun Amla leaves after being bowled completed innings and just one to be asked about his future as He then scored one run before games without victory. batsman AB de Villiers. individual century - Dean Elgar’s Test captain. his captain Steve Smith declared. out by England bowler Steven They looked mentally fragile “His workload was a bit more undefeated 118 at Kingsmead - Following the Durban defeat Another declaration denied Finn during day four of the first and devoid of the fighting spirit than we had expected,” captain and three half-centuries. he insisted he had “enjoyed every him a bat in the first innings in that characterised their rise to Hashim Amla said of De Villiers’ Test match at the Kingsmead Amla himself has hit the longest minute” of the job but expressed Melbourne, though he scored an the top of the Test rankings. dual role at a time when South Stadium in Durban on Tuesday. batting slump of his international his disappointment at not being unbeaten 18 in the second after England might only be sixth Africa have made it clear they career, scoring 150 runs in 10 Test able to lead from the front in a Smith generously promoted him in the standings but they looked want to rest their talisman more. lowed by two more in the high innings at an average of 15.00 with struggling batting line-up. up the order. more like a team at the top with The Newlands Test will be fol- altitude of Johannesburg and a highest score of 43. His form AFP AFP

Shooting: Qatar Cup begins from January 3

DOHA: The Qatar Cup will begin for top honours. Shooters will from January 3 at the Losail compete in the Shotgun category Shooting Range, organisers of the which begins from January 7. event informed here yesterday. The competition, organised Competitions will be held in the by Qatar shooting and Archery Pistol, Rifle and Shotgun catego- Association, in Shotgun ends on ries. January 16. The Rifle and Pistol competi- Shotgun categories are Trap, tions will kick from the first day Double Trap and Skeet. of the championship and will end In Pistol, shooters will be com- on January 18. peting in the 10m Air Pistol, 25m Some of Qatar upcoming shoot- Rapid Fire Pistol, 25m Center Reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen playing chess with Aspire Academy student athletes and members of Academy staff. ers and veterans will be seen in Fire Pistol, 10m Standard Pistol action in the championship. and 50m Pistol. Rifle competitions The competition will be held will be in 10m Air Rifle and 50m in two sections, junior and sen- Rifle Prone besides other posi- ior section. tions. Both men and women will vie THE PENINSULA Aspire Academy students challenge Carlsen

DOHA: Magnus Carlsen, the used the opportunity to take pic- world’s current chess champion tures with the world no. 1, who and the winner of this week’s is very interested in football and Qatar Masters Open Chess currently plays for a club in the Championship, visited Aspire 6th Norwegian division. Academy this week where he “I like to be active and doing played chess with 15 student-ath- different sports but chess is, of letes and members of Academy course, my profession” continued staff simultaneously. Carlsen, who also used the oppor- “I hope it was a good experi- tunity to take a session with the ence for all of them. The level of Footbonaut – a high-tech ball- chess in Qatar and the Middle feeding machine used by the stu- East is improving and the more dents of the Academy – while on people get involved, the better a guided tour of the facilities. it is for the development of the “I have only grasped the sur- sport”, said the 25-year-old Nor- face, but for aspiring and profes- Khalid Al Muhannadi, winner in the Skeet event at the Emir Cup for wegian, who won all of his games sional athletes the Academy must Shooting and Archery, aims at a target at Losail Shooting Range in this and signed autographs for the be a great place to train and com- file picture of March 22, 2015. student-athletes afterwards. pete.” Aspire students and staff also THE PENINSULA Magnus Carlsen trying his hand at football at Aspire Academy in Doha. 24 Sport FRIDAY 1 JANUARY 2016 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Djokovic prepares for season-opener The world number one starts training at Khalifa Tennis Complex ahead of next week’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open

DOHA: World number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia yes- terday hit the practice court at Doha-bound Nadal Khalifa Tennis Complex where he opens the new season as the top seed next week. The Serbian, who enjoyed a confident of being record-breaking season in 2015, is the top draw at January 4-9 Qatar ExxonMobil Open. Djokovic will be joined former ‘very competitive’ world number one Rafael Nadal of Spain, Thomas Berdych of the ABU DHABI: Rafael Nadal is confident he will be “very competi- Czech Republic and defending tive” in 2016 after a difficult 2015 during which the world number five champion David Ferrer of Spain. struggled with his early form. Next week’s event - organised The Spaniard, who will be playing at next week’s Qatar ExxonMobil by Qatar Tennis Fedetaion (QTF) Open, made a strong push at the end of last season to finish inside - will be the 24th edition of the the top-five but his results in 2015 were the worst he has recorded in Qatar ExxonMobil Open. more than a decade as he admitted he was struggling with confidence. Doha will be one of three sta- But the 29-year-old revealed he had a strong off season where he tions to launch the 2016 tennis practised hard in Mallorca and is ready to step on the court at the season - with Chennai and Bris- Mubadala World Tennis Championship exhibition event in Abu Dhabi bane - in the first week of Janu- on Friday before heading to Doha for his official season-opener. ary. “The off season has been great. In Mallorca we had unbelievable The Doha event carries an weather and we were able to practise as much as we wanted,” he told overall prize money of $1,189,605. reporters in the UAE capital yesterday. “I had the chance to enjoy it. The singles event has a playing I’m happy for everything. I feel that I worked well enough, I finished field of 32 while 32 players appear the 2015 season with good feelings and I just keep practising with these in the doubles. positive feelings. I’m excited to start another new season. I feel myself “Here we come to a new sea- well and I hope to be ready for what’s coming. son. I’m so happy to kick it off in World number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia during a training session at Khalifa Tennis Complex in Doha “I don’t know if I’ll start well from the beginning but I feel ready. Qatar again where the event is so yesterday. Djokovic is the top seed at next week’s Qatar ExxonMobil Open which will be held at the same Then the results you never know what’s going on. But I feel that I’m well organised. I was well treated venue from January 4 to 9. doing the right things, I’m playing well and I hope to start with good last year,” Djokovic said in a state- feelings. I’m going to be passionate. I’m confident that I’m going to be ment before arriving in Doha with very competitive.” his nine-member entourage. The 28-year-old also won the Having already successfully launched numerous comebacks through- “I’m so excited to comeback US Open crown in September fol- out a career that has been marred with injury, Nadal is not viewing and perform at my best in this lowing his Wimbledon triumph his current situation in similar light. opening season tournament. Stay in July. “Not a big comeback, I am number five in the world actually,” he tuned,” he added. Ferrer, meanwhile, will be in said of what he expected of himself in 2016. The Serbian has arrived with Doha to attempt his second title- “It seems like I’m number 50 or something like this. I didn’t have never-seen-before spotlight hav- winning run. Ferrer will be look- the best season possible last year. But without having the best season ing bagged unparalleled success ing to launch his new season on possible, to be able to finish number five is actually not bad news. in the 2015 season. a positive note as he did in 2015 “I’m happy the way I finished the season. I don’t expect an amazing Last year in February, Djokovic when he beat Berdych in the final. comeback, I expect an improvement of my level of tennis and my level became the first man in the Open After his title win in Doha last of competition and if I made that happen I hope to be competing for Era (since 1968) to win five Aus- January, Ferrer bagged wins in the good things.” tralian Open titles. Vienna, Kuala Lumpur, Acapulco World number one Novak Djokovic will also commence his season Djokovic went on to win 11 and Rio de Janeiro also. in Doha next week and the Serb, whose tremendous 2015 saw him win titles in 2015 - the Barclays “Novak will return to Doha as three more Grand Slams and put together one of the most impressive 11 ATP World Tour Finals, ATP world No.1 for the second consec- months of tennis in history, will be looking to pick up where he left off. World Tour Masters 1000 Paris, utive year,” Tournament Director Asked if he expects another dominant display from Djokovic, Nadal ATP World Tour Masters 1000 Karim Alami said in an earlier said: “What Novak has been doing the last couple of years is just amaz- Shanghai, Beijing, ATP World statement. ing and we have to congratulate him for that. Tour Masters 1000 Rome, ATP “Nadal will be looking to win “If he is able to maintain that kind of level then only thing that you World Tour Masters 1000 Monte his second Doha title while Ferrer can say is applaud him. That’s it. The rest of the players, we work hard Carlo, ATP World Tour Masters will aim to defend his title he won Spain’s Rafael Nadal attends a press conference during Mubadala and I hope to be competitive enough to compete against everybody 1000 Miami, and ATP World Tour last year,” Alami added. World Tennis Championship 2015 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, this year, including Novak, and we’ll see if I can make that happen.” Masters 1000 Indian Wells, Aus- yesterday. Nadal will arrive in Doha on Sunday. tralian Open. THE PENINSULA AFP Missing players no problem for QSL leaders Al Rayyan

DOHA: Qatar Stars League “But we know who we are up (QSL) points leaders Al Rayyan against and the players are geared will miss the services of three key up too. They did their best in players in their clash against Al training and I hope they will do Kharaitiyat but coach Jorge Fos- the same in the game too,” Osim sati is not losing sleep over the said. matter. “If we have to get a result Al Rayyan, who are leading the against Al Rayyan, we will have points table with a tally of 39 from to perform very well. It will be 14 games, take on Al Kharaitiyat difficult to get anything against tomorrow at Al Gharafa Stadium. Al Rayyan if you don’t give it your “Musa Haroon, Victor Caeres all. So in this game we will not and Sebastian Soria will not be have any other choice,” he said there but we don’t work with 11 yesterday. players,” Fossati thundered in a “The fact that we play Al pre-match press conference yes- Rayyan has helped us prepare terday. for the game. “I told many times that we trust “We haven’t had to motivate in our group of players, not just the players. 17 points is not a lot the playing 11. In the last games Al Rayyan coach Jorge Fossati is seen during a pre-match press but it is a lot better than 10 or 9. Al Rayyan captain Rodrigo Tabata (left) vies for the ball possession we have been able to get the victo- conference at Al Sadd Stadium in Doha yesterday. Al Rayyan take on Al “We are in a better situation against Abdulkareem Salem of Al Sailiya during their QSL match at Al ries despite the injured players. I Kharaitiyat tomorrow at Al Gharafa Stadium. now and I hope that they play- Gharafa Stadium in this December 2015 file photo. don’t want to talk about the miss- ers will be able to play this game ing players,” Fossati added. “I am 100 per cent confident in game. We will play on Saturday but we turned things around in without pressure,” Osim told the players who will play. They and look for the win. the last 15 minutes. But we will media reporters. “And if we com- have all the quality to help the “And after that we will try to go into this match, thinking about bine a good performance from us team and make a very good job,” use the break to recover and pre- the victory because I have the with maybe a little dip in form he said. pare for the rest of the season,” confidence in my players,” he said. from Al Rayyan, then we could Fossati said his players will he said. Al Kharaitiyat coach Amar get a positive result,” he added. have to double up their efforts in “It’s a new game, but we have Osim knows his team is playing “There have been many sur- what is the second phase of the old mentality. For us nothing a ‘tough side’ tomorrow. prising results this season so why league. changed. We will continue with “We slowed down the pace not believe that we can get one “About the second round, it will the training. We respect our of training after the last game result against Al Rayyan too?,” be very difficult to have the same opponent but we also have lot of against Qatar Sports Club. But Osim said. situation which we had in the first respect for our players. last week we trained normally. Al Rayyan beat Al Sailiya 2-1 round. To maintain this difference “Al Kharaitiyat have had a good And now we have to play this in their last QSL fixture whereas of points which we have now will season until now. They have been game which is not going to be Al Kharaitiyat edged past Qatar be tough,” Fossati said. difficult opponents for every- easy,” Osim said yesterday. SC 3-2 in round 14. “We won 99 per cent of our body, except Lekhwiya. But that “And the fact that we are play- The game at Al Gharafa Sta- games and other clubs - Lekhwiya, was an extraordinary result for ing the best team in the league dium tomorrow starts at 6:45pm. Jaish, Al Sadd - dropped many Lekhwiya. makes the preparation easy. It Al Kharaitiyat coach Amar Osim fields questions during a pre-match THE PENINSULA points which is not like them. All “When we played early this sea- wouldn’t have been easy to moti- press conference in Doha yesterday. we can do it to take it game by son, they were winning the game vate players for just one game.