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Monday 8 December 2014 • 16 Safar 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6273 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Emir meets Eritrea president Prime Minister GCC summit opens telecom conference

DOHA: The Prime Minister and to focus on Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani opened the World Conference on International Telecommunications 2014 yes- terday at the National terror threat Conventions Centre here. Speaking at the event, the Prime Minister said Refugee crisis to be taken up: Zayani Qatar’s hosting of the World Conference on International : The 35th GCC sum- “summit of joy” being held in an Telecommunications reflects the mit that opens here tomorrow atmosphere of joy for maintain- attention the leadership and gov- will focus on regional conflicts ing the solidarity of the GCC ernment accord to telecommuni- and the threat by terror groups countries. cations, adding that technological to the stability and security “It is the joy which the GCC peo- development is viewed as a signifi- of member states, among ple felt after reaching the Riyadh cant part of Qatar Vision 2030. other issues, Gulf Cooperation Supplementary Agreement dur- He added that technological Council Secretary General Dr ing the GCC leaders meeting in development contributes to build- Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani Riyadh on November 16, held at ing a knowledge-based society has said. the invitation of the Custodian through its support for empow- In an interview with the Qatar of the Two Holy Mosques King ering the economy as telecommu- News Agency, Al Zayani said that Abdullah bin Abdulaziz of Saudi nications is a basic services that the Doha summit is taking place Arabia,” said Al Zayani. enables other sectors to be suc- “at a very important time and in Several important reports by cessful in achieving its goal. extremely critical circumstances, the ministerial committees and QNA which undoubtedly requires the General Secretariat of the See also page 3 more solidarity among the GCC Council in the fields of security, The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani with Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki in Doha yesterday. countries.” military, economy and develop- The unstable condition in some ment will be presented at the Arab countries and the worsen- summit. ing situation of refugees and the Al Zayani said that the GCC displaced in a number of Arab countries have taken a series states and the growing regional of effective measures to com- Doha among New7Wonders cities interventions in Arab affairs will bat acts of terrorism at all lev- also come up for discussion, said els internally, regionally and DOHA: Doha was yes- nominees from 220 countries and at 7am GMT yesterday. They will of Nature and the New7Wonders Al Zayani. Lack of a unified Arab internationally. terday declared one of the have seven that represent the glo- now be checked, validated and of the World in becoming part of stance on terrorism will also be At the national level, the GCC New7Wonders Cities after a bal diversity of urban society. For independently verified. Once the Global Memory for humanity for discussed. countries issued laws on com- two year voting process by the the first time in human history, verification process has been com- ever.” In choosing the candidate He said Qatar has an active bating terrorism and to fight its global campaign. more than half of our planet’s pleted, New7Wonders will then cities, organisers said the candi- and effective role in the march of financing, including a security Bernard Weber, Founder- population lives in cities and this work with the confirmed cities dates “must be recognised cities, the Gulf Cooperation Council and strategy to combat extremism President of New7Wonders, election emphasises the dramati- to organise ‘official inauguration’ however large or small, however its achievements in all spheres. and terrorism, and the GCC con- yesterday announced Beirut cally challenging character of our events. famous or lesser known.” People of GCC countries have vention to fight terrorism. (), Doha (Qatar), Durban changing world.” “We congratulate each of The 28 official finalists have absolute faith that the Emir At the international level, the (), Havana (Cuba), Other cities that were included these cities on achieving their been chosen by the New7Wonders H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad GCC countries joined many inter- Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia), La Paz in the final 14 were Barcelona, New7Wonders status, and we panel of experts under the leader- Al Thani and other GCC leaders national conventions and legal () and Vigan () Chicago, London, Mexico City, look forward to celebrating their ship of Prof Dr Federico Mayor, will deepen integration, interde- instruments in an effort to shore as the New7Wonders Cities. Perth, Quito and Reykjavik. election to the “canon of 7” with former Director-General of pendence and solidarity within up international efforts to combat Announcing the results in The results announced yester- their citizens in 2015,” said Weber, Unesco, the organisation said. the council, he added. terrorism. THE PENINSULA Dubai yesterday, Weber said, day were based on the counting of adding, “the New7Wonders Cites THE PENINSULA He called the summit as the Continued on page 4 “We began with more than 1,200 votes since the campaign ended will now join the New7Wonders Continued on page 5

Huangs in US Greenpeace links Philippines 90,000 new cars typhoon to sold this year climate change DOHA: About 90,000 new cars fluctuations. This is making the have been sold in Qatar this Qatari market unique, he added. MANILA: Greenpeace global year and the sales are expected Competition among car deal- chief Kumi Naidoo said yester- to reach 100,000 next year, say ers has created a balance in prices day increasingly violent storms industry sources. This is con- and there was no major increase, hitting the Philippines showed sidered the highest sale ever said the official. the world had to act on climate witnessed by the local market. With prices under control, the change, as Typhoon Hagupit Quoting industry experts, Al competition now is in after sales barrelled across the country. Sharq reported that stiff competi- service and providing fast and Naidoo was in the Philippines tion among car dealers has helped better maintenance and repair. to “bear witness” to the damage stabilise prices. Car dealers are trying to keep cus- done by Hagupit, the strongest “This year sales have reached tomers without losing thin profits, storm to hit the Philippines this 90,000 for different models he said. Official of another lead- year, and planned to visit some of including passenger cars and ing company said that many fac- the worst-affected areas on today. commercial vehicles. This fig- tors have helped stabilise prices “Nature does not negotiate, ure is expected to reach 100,000 like competition among dealers We actually have to wake up in 2015,” the daily said quoting and quality of the services. He and smell the coffee. We need to a senior official of Al Fardan added that four-wheel drive cars understand that we are running Automobiles. comprise half the market share out of time,” he said, in a warn- From Left: Emmannuel (son), Matthew Huang, Josiah (son), and Grace Huang walk off the stage during their He said according to current despite their high prices, followed ing to UN negotiators meeting in first public appearance after leaving Qatar, at Lake Avenue Church in Pasadena, California, yesterday. The estimates, sales are steady and the by luxury and sports cars. , , to hammer out the couple were convicted and later cleared of wrongdoing in the death of their adopted African-born daughter market has not seen significant THE PENINSULA broad outlines of a new world pact in Qatar and left the country on Wednesday after a travel ban was lifted. on global warming. Naidoo, the international exec- utive director of the environmen- tal group, said that the typhoon passing over the Philippines was an example of the massive dam- Syria accuses of bombing international airport age poorer countries would expe- rience if climate change worsens. DAMASCUS: Syria accused outbreak of the country’s armed International Airport,” the army Ghouta, large parts of which are Israel was carried out to help He said the storms hitting the Israel of bombing its main uprising in 2011, including raids said in a statement read out on in rebel hands. the terrorists in Syria, after our Southeast Asian archipelago were international airport yester- reportedly targeting Iranian state television. There was no immediate reac- armed forces secured important getting stronger and stronger, day as the UN announced talks rockets bound for Lebanon’s It said the strikes caused dam- tion from the Israeli authorities, victories in Deir Ezzor, Aleppo showing the urgency for world with rebel leaders on a ceasefire Hezbollah. age but that nobody was hurt. but the Syrian army reiterated its and elsewhere,” the army said. governments to act quickly. in its war-battered second city “This afternoon, the Israeli Operations are both civilian claim the Jewish state is helping Yesterday’s air raids proved Naidoo blamed “all coal and of Aleppo. enemy targeted two safe areas in and military at the airport, which rebels fighting to oust President “Israel’s direct support for ter- gas companies and other pollut- Israel has launched a series Damascus province, namely the lies southeast of Damascus near Bashar Al Assad. rorism in Syria,” it said. ing companies”. AFP air strikes inside Syria since the Dimas area and the Damascus flashpoint areas including Eastern “This direct aggression by AFP MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Qatar Foundation National Day activities lined up sets up National Day tent at 18 expat schools, community teams to take part in activities at four venues on December 18 Darb El Saai DOHA: Eighteen expatriate DOHA: Qatar Foundation for schools and many community Education (QF) is welcoming organisations are participat- visitors to a special tent at Darb ing in National Day activities, El Saai as part of National Day including cultural and musi- celebrations over almost two cal extravaganzas and sport weeks. competitions. The tent will feature activities, Activities by the National showcasing QF’s support for the Day Celebrations Organizing national identity and nurturing Committee, in association with the sense of belonging. the Ministry of Interior, will be From today until December held in Al Wakra, Industrial Area, 20, the tent will include interac- Rayyan and Al Khor on December tive activities by QF’s members 18 from 8am to 10pm. and centres for young people. “The National Day celebra- Activities are colour-coded to tion is not merely a festival or demonstrate the purpose of each. celebration, but is a day to com- There are also exhibits and memorate noble values and musical shows, highlighting QF’s principles taught to us by the cycle that starts with instilling great founder of modern Qatar the love of learning in young peo- Sheikh Jassim bin Muhammed Al Col. Abdullah Khalifa Al Muftah (centre), Director, Public Relations Department, Ministry of Interior and Convener, Associated Activities of Qatar National ple, a reading corner to introduce Thani,” Col. Abdullah Khalifa Al Day Celebrations 2014, and Faisal Al Hudawi, Coordinator, Community Reach Out Office, with representatives from communities and schools at the them to Qatari heritage to create Muftah, Director, Public Relations press conference yesterday. ABDUL BASIT a bond with Qatar’s culture and Department, and Convener, history. Associated Activities of Qatar cultural and musical perform- Traditional, cultural and folk- Tug-of-war and racing compe- a match at West End Park. QF member Al Shaqab will give National Day Celebrations 2014’, ances at West End Park amphi- lore shows by the Nepalese and Al titions will be held between noon Blood sugar check-ups, a traf- special riding and grooming les- told a press conference yesterday. theatre, while the Pakistani and Khor community teams and per- and 3pm in which teams repre- fic awareness competition, first- sons and horse healthcare tips He said the National Day theme Bangladeshi communities, along formances of MES Indian School, senting communities, schools and aid training, seat belt and driving to allow visitors to explore the is ‘Honesty and Loyalty’, which with students of PEC, Bright Future, Birla, DPS-MIS companies will take part. convincer will also be held at the world of horses, rooted in Qatari was one of the values of Sheikh School, Bhavan’s, Shantiniketan and National KG will take place In the afternoon programme, venues. heritage. Jassim. and TNG will be hosted at Wakra at Al Khor Sports Club. students will compete in thematic The top four winning school To help children choose a Thanking schools and com- Sports Club. Celebrations in the four venues performances, general shows and teams in the competitions will career path that serves national munities, he said through the The Indonesian, Malaysian will include colourful thematic songs, followed by cultural extrav- receive QR7000, QR5000, QR3000 development, the tent offers class event “we aim to provide a joy- and Filipino community teams parade by participating schools aganza by communities. Each and QR2000. Football match win- activities on many professions. ous environment for the expatri- and students of Philippine School showcasing rich Qatari culture, community will stage shows and ners and runners-up will receive QF Radio, QF’s in-house broad- ate communities to take part in Doha, Philippine International customs, traditions, heritage and performances featuring Qatar’s QR3000 and QR2000. Entry is cast station, will provide children the celebrations in places closer School Qatar, Noble and Doha distinct features. rich culture and tradition and of free for all nationalities. There with the opportunity to play the to them.” Modern Indian School will be The morning programme will their countries. will be special seating arrange- role of a radio reporter and inter- The Indian and Sri Lankan hosted at Rayyan Sports Club’s include inter-school cultural com- A football tourney will be held ments for families at all venues. view visitors. It will also provide community teams and students indoor stadium, where they will petitions with group songs and a at Al Wakra, Rayyan and Al Khor Arrangements will also be made special coverage, featuring pro- of Ideal, Pak Shama, Sri Lankan present cultural and musical thematic Qatar show followed by sports clubs between company, for companies wishing to bring grammes and live broadcasts and Scholars schools will hold items. performances by communities. community and school teams and their workers. THE PENINSULA from the venue on its Arabic channel on 93.7 FM and English channel on 91.7 FM. Activities include leading chil- National Day: Commercial Bank offers competitive rates to Qataris dren into the tent to the sound of the Qatar Leadership Academy Chorus’ rendition of the National DOHA: Commercial Bank has of 3.99 percent, with a payment holiday of Qatari customers also qualify to receive National Day with Qatari customers with Anthem, and exhibits for schools. announced competitive rates on per- up to six months. ‘Free for Life’ Commercial Bank Credit an exclusive, limited time offer on our Inside the tent, children will be sonal and vehicle loans and deposit A vehicle loan bundle is available, Card with each personal and vehicle loans most popular products. quizzed at various stages with the accounts for Qataris in celebration of including a rate of 2.39 percent, a payment or deposit made during the offer period, “This is one way of saying thank you opportunity to win prizes. Qatar National Day. holiday of up to three months and a spe- subject to terms and conditions. to our customers for choosing to use the The tent will also provide visi- According to a statement, customers cial competitive offer on motor insurance. Bouchra Sebbata, Head, Sadara bank during this joyful period,” Sebbata tors with opportunities to partici- can enjoy a personal loan to buy a special National Day offers are also available on Privileged Banking, said: “As a Qatari added. pate in arts and crafts workshops. gift to celebrate National Day at a low rate Commercial Bank Time Deposit Accounts. bank, Commercial Bank is celebrating THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

Ministry unveils beta version ITU telecom world forum opens of Qatar’s ICT Technological development key to building knowledge-based society: Premier observatory DOHA: The Prime Minister we could not have imagined a few DOHA: The Ministry and Interior Minister H E years ago — are shaping the ICT of Information and Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin landscape,” said the Minister of Communications Technology Khalifa Al Thani said techno- Information and Communications (ictQATAR) yesterday logical development contributes Technology H E Dr Hessa Sultan announced the beta version to building a knowledge-based Al Jaber. of Qatar’s ICT Observatory, society through its contribution “Opportunities of the new dig- a central platform of ICT- to empowering the economy. ital age are infinite, but they also related data and statistics on This came as he inaugurated the bring about challenges. With the Qatar. International Telecommunication emergence of the smart city con- It is accessible to businesses, Union (ITU) Telecom World 2014 cept, we are witnessing the start entrepreneurs, researchers, at Qatar National Convention of an interconnected ecosystem. decision and policymakers, Centre yesterday. ICT is converging with other sec- government entities and the Experts and innovators from tors such as logistics, transporta- public. 165 countries have gathered tion, health, banking, education, The observatory is part of at Qatar National Convention finance and media,” she said. a government-wide effort to Centre to discuss trends, devel- She said the telecom sector open up more data to the pub- opments and innovations in the needs to re-evaluate operating lic to further increase gov- field of information and commu- models and refine offerings in the ernment transparency and nication technology. digital world. accountability. The Premier said Qatar’s Regulators must work on intro- The observatory is a trusted hosting of the conference on ducing laws that are more respon- source of information on international telecommunica- sive to technological advances to Qatar’s ICT landscape, supports tions reflects the attention the encourage operators to invest in important policymaking and leadership and the government networks. evaluation, reduces research accord to telecommunications and “Governments must set the and data investments among technologies. regulatory framework to protect enterprises and other organisa- Qatar enjoys an ideal status consumer privacy while allowing tions and promotes discussion to host the conference and assist businesses to grow. The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with other officials on ICT-related topics. in enriching discussions on tel- “In the coming years, we will after inaugurating the forum at Qatar National Convention Centre yesterday. SYED OMAR “These initiatives will help ecommunications issues, he said, focus on implementing strategic spur innovation and support adding the event provides an and pivotal programmes that live in developing countries, una- Qatar has the second highest level best-connected country in the researchers in Qatar and opportunity for the exchange would contribute to diversifying ble to access life-enriching ben- of household broadband penetra- world,” the chairman added. around the globe,” said the of ideas and discussions on new the economy and further sup- efits of the online world. tion of any developing country “Qatar is on its way to becoming Minister of Information and opportunities that could contrib- port other sectors witnessing a “Globally, there are over 200 after Korea — 94.6 percent. a smart nation – showing what is Communications Technology ute to changing and helping the rapid growth in the light of our million fewer women online than “We are 17th in the world in the possible when mobile technology H E Dr Hessa Sultan Al Jaber. world. preparations for hosting impor- men. That is not good enough. number of people per capita using is incorporated into every aspect “These efforts are critical to “We are witnessing a second tant events that will leave their “Together, let us help remove the Internet. of national development. advancing a knowledge-based digital revolution and a time of mark on the country’s economic some barriers that prevent “We have nationwide 4G LTE “We are uniquely placed to be a economy in Qatar,” she added. industry transformation in infor- growth,” she said. people from getting online and coverage; 185 percent mobile pen- hub to connect and share benefits The final portal will be mation and communications “Only about 40 percent of the enjoying benefits it brings,” said etration; and high-speed fibre of new breakthroughs between released in March 2015 and the technology. world population today has access Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed connecting more than 85 percent East and West, the developing Arabic version by 2015-end. “Cloud computing, the Internet to the Internet. bin Saud Al Thani, Chairman, of the homes in Qatar,” he said. world and developed countries,” THE PENINSULA of things, hyper connectivity and “This leaves a huge number of Ooredoo Group. “But this is just the begin- he said. big data analytics — technologies people, of whom over 90 percent “We have made great strides. ning. Our aim is to become the THE PENINSULA World record of 4.1 Gbps speed set DOHA: Ooredoo Qatar, Nokia aggregating 10 carriers with 200 Networks and Mobile MHz bandwidth. created a world record by “We broke our own speed achieving a speed of 4.1 Gbps record which shows our capabil- over TDD-FDD LTE, at the ity to help operators address the ITU Telecom World 2014. ever-increasing demand for faster For a user, the speed means he data download and upload speeds. will be able to download a full- “TDD-FDD LTE not only deliv- length 5 GB high-definition movie ers high uplink and downlink in 11 seconds and simultaneously throughput, but also helps balance upload a five-minute 30 MB video the load between two networks, Officials at the ITU conference. clip from a concert in less than a efficiently using the spectrum,” second. said Zhang Qi, Vice-President, The highest speed available in TD-LTE, Nokia Networks. Qatar is 225 Mbps on Ooredoo’s The record was achieved using 4G+ network. Nokia Networks’ commercial Es’hail 2 scheduled for launch in 2016 The speed was achieved in the Single RAN Advanced hardware, DOHA: Es’hailSat, Qatar excellence in the region. and the Mena region and we have satellite will further boost broad- lab and users will have to wait for including the Flexi Multiradio 10 Satellite Company, is tak- The company’s satellite started to plan, design and manu- band delivery, broadcasting and glo- some time to use it as infrastruc- Base Station for high-capacity ing part in the ITU Telecom fleet will enable custom- facture Es’hail 2. bal connectivity in Qatar, the entire ture and devices needed to sup- throughput, software to aggregate World exhibition hosted for ers to substantially increase “Scheduled for launch in 2016, region and beyond,” he added. port it is not available. carriers on TDD- and FDD-LTE the first time in Doha. their broadcasting and com- the second high-powered advanced THE PENINSULA “We are building the biggest, spectrums, with LTE-Advanced Es’hailSat is showcasing munications capabilities and fastest network in Qatar, so that Multiple Input Multiple Output Es’hail 1, the first satellite supports Qatar National customers across the country can technology. for Qatar, which commenced Vision 2030 and commitment access next-generation wireless “The ground-breaking through- operations on National Day to meet the sophisticated data services. put is a milestone that boosts on December 18 last year. infrastructure the country “We are proud that the first our efforts as we drive the com- Es’hail 1 is providing sat- is putting in place to host ITU Telecom World in Qatar mercialisation and globalisa- ellite connectivity and high FIFA’s World Cup in 2022. should showcase this record- tion of TD-LTE and TDD-FDD quality, premium DTH tel- Ali Al Kuwari, CEO, breaking success with the sup- converged technology across the evision content from the Es’hailSat, said: “As an port of Ooredoo. By deploying our globe. In collaboration with Nokia 25.5/26 degrees east neigh- important pillar in the ICT advanced LTE network in Qatar, Networks, our long-standing and bourhood for leading chan- infrastructure develop- we are laying the foundation for trusted partner, we continue to nels such as Al Jazeera and ment in the region, we are the future,” said Waleed Al Sayed, exploit the immense capacity beIN SPORTS. delighted to participate in Chief Operating Officer, Ooredoo potential of TD-LTE,” said Madam Es’hailSat was established Qatar National Pavilion at Qatar. Huang Yuhong, Deputy General in 2010 and brings a new the forum. Supported by the Global Manager, China Mobile Research dimension to Qatar’s diver- “Our first satellite Es’hail TD-LTE Initiative, the speed Institute, and Secretary-General sifying economy with the 1 is providing high-quality was achieved by combining TDD- of Global TD-LTE Initiative. creation of a world-class sat- broadcasting and commu- and FDD-LTE spectrums and THE PENINSULA ellite operator and centre of nications services for Qatar Vodafone launches first virtual store DOHA: Vodafone Qatar yes- of a button, and have their exists and try to turn it into employees have gone home, you terday unveiled the country’s purchases delivered at their something better, easier and can still shop with us. first virtual store experience doorstep or made available to simpler. “Scan&Go covers a large at the Telecom World 2014. pick up at any Vodafone shop. This is what we’ve attempted portfolio of Vodafone’s products Sheikh Faisal bin Thani Through Scan&Go, custom- to do when we conceptualised and services and demonstrates bin Faisal Al Thani, Vice- ers can buy a mobile phone; join the virtual store shopping our strategy to own digitisa- Chairman, Vodafone Qatar, and Vodafone Postpaid and Prepaid experience. With this proof tion and innovation and inte- many officials were present. plans; recharge their Prepaid of concept which will be seen grate into one’s lifestyle. I love Scan&Go, Vodafone’s virtual credit; get Mobile Internet and soon in Doha, we can take the the idea of fusing the physical store showcased as a proof of International Calling Cards Vodafone experience to places world and the digital world,” concept, will roll out by mid- and more. Users can make we’ve never been before. Our Al Haroon said. December, allowing everyone purchases via Credit Card virtual pop-up stores can be According to Qatar’s ICT to enjoy a unique shopping through the Vodafone Mobile set up almost anywhere. Landscape 2014 report by the experience. Shop or pay cash on delivery. “We wanted to bring the Ministry of Information and Scan&Go takes retail con- Khalifa Al Haroon, Head of ultimate convenience to peo- Communications Technology, venience to newer heights. Innovation, Vodafone Qatar, ple with busy lifestyles or Qatar beats many mature ICT Customers will need their said: “We’re proud to be the those who love technology countries, considered bench- smartphone and a QR Code first in Qatar to offer such a and underline our efforts to marks in ICT device penetra- Reader App to access a world unique and simple shopping ensure a delightful experience tion such as the UK, , of shopping now in arm’s reach. experience. For us, innovation for them every step of the way. Sweden, Singapore, the UAE By scanning a QR code does not necessarily mean “With Scan&Go, we’re and Saudi Arabia when it linked to a Vodafone product, reinventing the wheel. It is open when we’re closed. comes to owning smartphones, customers can browse at their more of an evolutionary proc- What I mean is when our laptops and tablet devices. convenience, shop at the press ess. We take something that physical stores are closed and THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Ministry proposes GCC committed to Yemen model for markets unity: Secretary-General DOHA: The Ministry of Economy independent workshops and the and Commerce said yesterday position of car dealerships on the that it had prepared a study on issue. Continued from page 1 the demand for grocery stores in The ministry also studied the The GCC secretary- Qatar and proposed a model for market structure and the com- general underlined that markets. petitive position of the automobile the GCC countries are In a statement highlighting the agencies, conducted a follow-up on committed to the unity of its achievements over the past one modern retail market, studied sup- Yemen, respect its sover- year, the ministry said its commer- plier contracts with retailers, and eignty and independence cial fraud combat and quantitative continued to collect data on the and reject any interference licences and market control sec- market. in its internal affairs. tions organised several inspection It held meetings with officials of “The GCC countries campaigns. insurance companies to study the support peaceful dialogue Inspectors conducted 49,141 raids, reality of competition in the motor away from violence and detected 2,976 violations and with- insurance market and the legality of chaos, and countries sup- drew 16,686 samples for testing, in the conditions included in insurance port Yemeni President cooperation with competent bodies. contracts. AbdRabbuh Mansur Hadi Among the accomplishments was The ministry also collected data to complete the transi- a study on the reality of competi- on the production of dairy and poul- tion stage in accordance tion in automobile after sales market try meat from local companies to with the GCC initiative,” by exploring and analysing terms of identify key obstacles that prevent he said. warranty contracts and their role the development of national produc- He said the GCC lead- in the reduction of competition, tion of these products. ers attached great impor- in addition to terms of approving THE PENINSULA tance to the GCC railway network project that will facilitate the movement of The Assistant Foreign Minister H E Mohammed bin Abdullah bin Mutib Al Rumaihi inaugurating the 35th GCC goods and people between exhibition ahead of the GCC Summit, at City Center yesterday. ABDUL BASIT Qatar attends climate change meet the member countries and support joint investments. with the General Secretariat, on operational during 2018. between member states to reach LIMA: Qatar is participating in Qatar’s delegation comprises He said significant an action plan and a schedule for On GCC Interconnection Grid, the best way to implement it on the 20th conference of the parties representatives of the Ministry of progress had been made the completion of engineering Al Zayani said committees are the ground, taking into account to the United Nations Framework Environment, the Foreign Ministry in implementation of the designs for the project. working on the project as recom- requirements of the environment, Convention on Climate Change and the Ministry of Economy and project. The member states The project is expected to mended by the GCC leaders. he added. (COP20) underway in the city of Commerce, as well as Civil Aviation had agreed, in coordination be implemented and become Consultations are underway THE PENINSULA Lima, capital of Peru. Authority, Qatar General Electricity Events include a meeting of the and Water Corporation —Kahramaa ad-hoc working group on the Durban — and Qatar Fuel Additives Platform for Enhanced Action in Company. addition to annual sessions of the Qatar has hosted the 18th United King fish prices at QR100 a kg due to shortage technical organs of the convention Nations Framework Convention on on climate change, the subsidiary Climate Change (COP18), which DOHA: A severe shortage of king fish should also intervene,” Ahmed Al Emadi, prices of king fish have witnessed such a body for implementation and the was one of the most successful con- in the local market has pushed the a Qatari who had come to buy the fish, sharp rise while those of other popular subsidiary body for scientific and ferences and a milestone in the prices to nearly QR100 a kg, perhaps an this newspaper. varieties such as hamour and zubaidi are technological advice which discusses country’s history in hosting such all-time-high. Al Emadi, visibly upset after seeing the relatively stable. issues and decisions forwarded by the international events. This is about a nine-folds jump in the prices displayed at the hypermarket, said: Another Qatari, who refused to give his conference. QNA prices within 10-15 days as king fish (small “At least I am not going to buy at this arbi- name, said: “I wanted to buy king fish, but size) was sold at QR11.5 a kg a couple of trary price. This is monopoly. If there are now I am going to buy meat since QR99.5 weeks ago, said a salesman at one of the no supplies, how come they are selling it.” a kg is not worth paying for this small Ministry detects leading hypermarkets. Generally demand for seafood goes up size of fish.” According to reports, the prices of king during the winter months as consumers He said the prices of fish should also 81 violations fish reached QR90 a kg during the first prefer to eat fish to meat. However, the be controlled by the government in the week of August last year. The sudden jump catch also goes up as fish have a tendency similar manner it monitors the vegetable during raids in the prices of the fish, one of the most to move upward in the sea during the win- prices. “Otherwise, we will continue to see DOHA: Inspectors favourite varieties of seafood among citi- ter season, according to experts. such fluctuations.” from the Ministry zens and expatriates, has led some custom- A vendor, who did not wish to be named, Given the exorbitant prices, sales of king of Economy and ers calling for an immediate intervention said: “A significant reason for the sudden fish remained low as people opted for other Commerce detected by market watchdogs. jump in the prices of king fish is due to fall varieties and substitutes. “Usually, we sell 81 violations during “This is unbelievable. How the prices in supplies as fishermen are reluctant to go about four to five boxes of king fish daily raids in November. can fluctuate so much with in such a short to the sea due to cold and windy weather at normal prices, but today we received These included no time? This is happening just because there conditions.” only two boxes and nearly one full is still announcements of is no regulation from municipal authorities. However, he did not give any satisfac- unsold,” said the salesman. prices and services, The Consumer Protection Department tory reasons when asked why only the THE PENINSULA poor display of items and their descriptions, wrong information on items for sale, and sell- ing expired food. The ministry will disclose AZF launches Fayez Programme the names of the vio- lators if a decision to DOHA: Aspire Zone the results of a questionnaire National Vision 2030 and Motivational speaker Carl close any of the outlets Foundation (AZF) has in which employees identified the National Development Massy conducted a team- is taken. The decision launched Fayez (winner) their requirements and chal- Strategy 2011-2016, both of bonding session at the open- will be published on the Programme which saw the lenges they might face with which articulate the need to ing event which saw a great ministry’s website. participation of hundreds of regard to a better productive “build a capable and motivated response and interaction from THE PENINSULA senior staff and members of working environment. workforce” and a fundamental staff. Aspire Academy, Aspetar Speaking at the launch, pillar for the strategic develop- AZF officials responsible for and Aspire Logistics. Khalid Abdullah Al Sulaiteen, ment of our country. the programme said it was the The program aims to achieve AZF CEO, said, “We are keen “It is a cornerstone in our beginning and that the pro- a win-win formula for all par- to pursue the insight of our organisational culture that gramme runs for three years ties; staff in different roles and political leadership, and always working as one is the only to complete its development functions, for the foundation give emphasis to its values that way to achieving our ambitious plan. The programme is a con- and its members, and for all consider human resources and vision to be the global refer- tinuation of AZF’s efforts for segments of the community, workforce as its most signifi- ence for sports excellence by the development of employees, so that each parties is a Fayez’ cant resource and the most 2020, which requires all of us making Aspire a favourite des- winner. valuable asset. to work as a team in a harmo- tination as an employer. The programme is based on “This is outlined in Qatar nious environment.” THE PENINSULA 19 violations of buildings law DOHA: Inspectors from the Ministry of Municipality and Urban Planning found 19 viola- tions related to buildings and encroachment in new industrial areas. Inspectors conducted a campaign to check vio- lations in Aba Salil and Berkat Al Awamer. The campaign was held in collaboration with inspectors from Doha and Al Wakra municipalities. Inspectors found that many violators were not complying with land util- ity contracts, particularly Wadi Aba Salil and Berkat Al Awamer. The law prevents sub- letting to tenants, transfer of contracts and stipu- lates that land should be used for the purpose it is given for and according to the contract, within three months of signing the deal without any changes to the approved plan. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Top animator provides insight into his career

DOHA: ‘In Conversation’ ses- sion of Roger Allers, writer- Roger Allers, maker of The Prophet director of Kahlil Gibran’s The Prophet, with fellow animator attends Ajyal Closing Night gala Mohammed Saeed Harib at the Closing Night gala at Ajyal Youth Film Festival, offered insights into the career of one of the world’s most admired ani- mators whose passion for the art goes back to when he was four. FROM LEFT: Rene Daher, Consul, the French embassy, Jean Marie Safa, First Counsellor to the Ambassador, Allers said Disney’s Peter Pan Laurent Mallet, CEO, Capago Mena, Eric Chevallier, French Ambassador, Mana Ibrahim Al Mana, President, influenced him so much that he Capago, Chérif Castel, Cultural and Cooperation Counsellor, Jeremy Georget, Capago Manager, Doha, and Jean had always wanted to be a ‘Disney Philippe Gourdier, Deputy Manager, French Visa Application Centre, during the press conference at Capago Mena animator.’ premises, Al Jaidah Square Building yesterday. KAMMUTTY VP However, he went through set- backs, including an early rejec- tion by the art school and the first three of his feature film which were never screened. Qatar visitors to double His advice to animators was “to follow your passion, talk to people DOHA: The number of people of refusals, about one percent. Applications for tourist visas to learn more, find opportunities travelling to France from Qatar France is most probably the No. represent more than 80 percent and never to give up. It always Roger Allers in conversation with Mohammed Saeed Harib at Ajyal Youth has doubled this year, with only 1 country in the Schengen area of the total issued in Qatar. helps to know what everyone Film Festival. one percent of visa applications with regard to the number of France remains the most vis- does in the studio,” said Allers. having been refused. visas issued. ited country in the world with “So find time to talk to others to co-funded by Doha Film Institute. deep themes – the loss, finding The number of applications “Assessment after a year since more than 84 million travellers learn what they do.” “The film is not just my vision; that connection within, dealing increased at least by 50 percent the opening of Capago Mena is per year. There is also a steady Allers, who started his career it is the vision of all directors.” within and finding one’s place to 27,000 compared to 18,000 in according to us very positive. increase of business visits that has working with a studio doing the Allers said his task, entrusted in the world. It is about finding 2013, French Ambassador Eric “We are constantly looking at reached 12 percent of the visas. entire breadth of animation work, by producer Salma Hayek- one’s way to live responsibly for Chevallier told a press conference how to make it better in terms of The French Institute in Doha got the first break with The Lion Pinault, was to create a “narra- the community.” yesterday. It marked the first customer service and treatment and Capago have signed an agree- King he co-directed. The Academy tive that binds the poems,” adding On his experience of working anniversary of the establishment of visa applications. ment to promote French culture. Award-nominated animator (The that The Prophet is different on The Prophet and the evolution of Capago Mena (visa collection “You are most welcome in On December 11, the first anni- Little Matchgirl) said he had been from other animated films as it of the industry, Harib said it was centre for France). France. The Capago premises versary of Capago will be marked influenced by The Prophet he had presents philosophical observa- a great time for animators and “The figures speak for them- show you the diversity of French and visa applicants will have the read as a student. tions on life. filmmakers to be in the Middle selves and confirm the French regions. We are here at the opportunity to see an exhibition of He said the book finds reso- Philosophical takes, however, East, the testament being collabo- success in terms of visa delivery embassy and Capago at your serv- portraits by French photographer nance in people across the world, have not been new to him. Allers ration of talent on the film that in Doha. ice, especially our Qatari guests, Stephane Delemer. and he was “very excited” with said The Lion King connected to has gained world-wide acclaim. “There is a very low percentage who wish to visit France,” he said. THE PENINSULA the opportunity to create the film, audiences because “it explores THE PENINSULA New7Wonders Cities to be a forum to discuss urban planning Continued from page 1 potential; historical legacy and/or recreation spaces.” to discuss everything from urban Established in 2001, the foundation Some of the criteria considered potential for growing and sustaining a Started two years ago, New7Wonders planning to metropolitan governance, aims to contribute to the protection for choosing the 28 finalists included historical legacy in the future. Cities is the third global vote and follows from tourism to architecture,” said of the world’s human-built and natu- “strengths and/or potential for sus- The criteria also included city the New7Wonders of the World and Bernard Weber, Founder-President, ral heritage and foster respect for the tainable growth, in terms of cultural, strategy that aims for a balance of New7Wonders of Nature campaigns. New7Wonders, launching the campaign planet’s diversity. environmental, economic and tourism infrastructure, living, working and “New7Wonders Cities will be a forum in 2012. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Condolences sent to Belgian King DOHA: The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday QTA to host fifth international sent a cable of condolences to King Philippe of Belgium on the death of former queen Fabiola. The Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani sent a similar cable to King Philippe. The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani also sent a cable to King Philippe. motor show on February 6-10

Premier meets ITU Secretary-General DOHA: Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) will host DOHA: The Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah the fifth edition of Qatar bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday met the Secretary-General of International Motor Show at International Telecommunications Union, Dr Hamadoun Toure, on the Qatar National Convention sidelines of the ITU conference and reviewed cooperation. Centre on February 6-10, officially sponsored by Kyrgyz President arrives Commercial Bank of Qatar. Evolution resonated perfectly DOHA: The President of Kyrgyzstan, Almazbek Atambayev, yesterday as the show continues to refine arrived on an official visit to Qatar. The Minister of Energy and Industry its offer and presentation just H E Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, the Qatari Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan like the leading automobile and the Non-resident Ambassador to Qatar welcomed the president and brands that will showcase their his delegation at Hamad International Airport. latest models and technology. “The fifth edition is the most FROM LEFT: Ibrahim Abdullah Al Malki, Chief Entreprise Officer, q.media, Hamad Al Abdan, Director, Exhibitions, Qatar opts out of Lebanon mediation attractive for Qatari companies Qatar Tourism Authority, Aleix Salvado, Qatar Business Manager, Fira Barcelona, and Dean Proctor, EGM, and international exhibitors Retail and Consumer Banking, Commercial Bank at the press conference yesterday. BAHER AMIN DOHA: The Foreign Ministry yesterday said it will not continue media- compared to previous shows,” tion efforts to rescue Lebanese soldiers kidnapped last August in Arsal. In Hamad Al Abdan, Director, were always important elements to make this such an outstand- and Consumer Banking, a statement, it said its mediation efforts were out of humanitarian reasons Exhibitions, QTA, told a press for attracting event planners ing success.” Commercial Bank, said, “The and Qatar’s keenness to protect the lives of innocence, adding that Lebanon conference at Marriott Marquis to come hold their events in Aleix Salvado, Qatar Business bank’s sponsorship of the show had sought Qatari mediation. The ministry said it will not continue efforts yesterday. Qatar,” he said. Manager, Fira Barcelona, ech- demonstrates our dedication due to the murder of a Lebanese soldier at the hand of its captors, and said “The past editions have given “The country offers virtually oed similar views and said: “The to serving the needs of Qatar’s Qatar will exert all diplomatic efforts it can to save lives. QNA us a solid learning and experi- everything meeting planners fifth edition is a spectacular growing local and expatriate ence that give us the confidence and delegates need for success event that will amaze visitors, markets through our consumer to say that visitors will experi- and memorable experience.” including those who were at last lending business. The bank ence a whole new level of thrills Ibrahim Abdullah Al Malki, year’s event. We are confident is proud to support the event and entertainment in the fifth Chief Entreprise Officer, that this edition will be the most and our continued sponsorship edition. Our location, the inter- q.media, said, “The fifth edition memorable by far.” reflects the bank’s long-standing national business environment, of any annual event is a land- QTA, q.media Events, Fira commitment to vehicle finance our developing infrastructure, mark as it proves the popularity Barcelona and other associates in Qatar where our department availability of venues, number of and sustainability of the event. are making preparations to and sales team continue to lead growing hotels, and our readi- Today, it is a privilege to be part ensure the success of the event. in service and innovation.” ness to hold international events of a team that has strived hard Dean Proctor, EGM, Retail THE PENINSULA Joy Alukkas launches Festival Of A Million

DOHA: Joy Alukkas has start of the New Year. Customers promotion. The jeweller January 31 across all Joy announced one of the biggest pro- have the chance to win vouchers also offers zero percent Alukkas showrooms. motion, Festival Of A Million, to and gold coins for every QR500 they deduction on exchange Under the ‘Season of commemorate year-end and the spend — through a scratch & win of Joy Alukkas old gold Giving’ initiative, Joy and 10 percent cash back Alukkas offers specially on every purchase of dia- designed pendants in dia- mond and polki jewellery mond, gold and pearl at until January 31. attractive prices to com- “The initiative is one of memorate the festive spirit the most attractive this and come with a specially season to enjoy shopping designed gift card. with Joy Alukkas,” said John Paul Joy Alukkas, Baju C C, Regional Head, Executive Director, Joy Qatar. Alukkas Group, said: “The It offers shoppers the festival is a grand celebra- chance to win 1m gift tion of year-end and the vouchers and 100,000 gold beginning of the New Year. coins at any Joy Alukkas We have had a great year, showrooms around the thanks to our customers’ world. “It’s the season of support and patronage and giving and in addition to this is our gift to them.” our special designs for Joy Alukkas will also the festive spirit, we are showcase 2015 designs, offering a bouquet of win- made in gold, diamond, nings and offers to reward polki, precious stones, our customers. We have pearl and platinum, among planned a big mix of offers others, created by master so that there is something craftsmen from all over for all types of jewellery the world to ensure jewel- buyers,” said Joy Alukkas, lery lovers have choice and Chairman & MD, Joy variety they are seeking to Alukkas Group. add to their collections. The festival runs until THE PENINSULA Safari 10/20/30 promotion begins

DOHA: The Safari 8GB Micro SD card 10/20/30 promotion starts (QR10), 8GB flash drive today at its outlets, with (QR10) and 16GB (QR20), offers on a wide range of Geepas Multimedia USB products at super com- Speaker (QR30), and petitive prices. Mobile Monopod selfie Special offers on high- extension rod with remote priced items also continue for QR30. along with new on-the-spot There is a grand display and surprise promotions. of readymade trousers and “Super quality at afford- shirts at attractive prices, able prices is our dictum. along with winter items This has resulted in the such as blankets, bed- loyalty of our custom- spreads and footwear, and ers and motivates us to a wide variety of luggage. strive for better services. A Musical Night will Satisfying our customers be held for three days at by exceeding their expecta- Food Court, Safari Mall, tions has been our top pri- Abu Hamour, from today ority,” said Zainul Abideen, at 6pm where top singers Director and General will showcase their talents. Manager, Safari Group of Entry is free. Companies. At the ongoing Unilever “This Christmas season promotion, purchases we have lots of decorative worth QR20 and above items — Christmas trees, enable customers to par- Santa Claus, Twinkling ticipate in a draw and lights and stars to spread win QR100,000 Safari the joy of the season.” Gift Vouchers. It ends on Products at sur- December 31. prising prices include Another offer is a Panasonic iron box for chance to win 5kg of gold QR30, Eurosonic elec- until March 7, 2015 at all tric pizza maker (QR30), Safari outlets. Customers Rechargeable emergency who purchase goods worth lanterns (QR30), PVP QR50 or above will receive Game station (QR30), a raffle coupon to partici- MP3 Player 4GB (QR10), pate in the draw. MP4 Player 8GB (QR30) THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Iran charges Washington Post scribe Kerry slams Tehran for flouting law

TEHRAN: Jason Rezaian, denied his request to be released a Washington Post reporter on bail,” Kerry said in a state- detained in Iran for more than ment. He called on the Iranian four months, was officially authorities to drop the charges charged on Saturday in a day- “and release him immediately”. long proceeding in a Tehran Kerry said denying access to courtroom, according to a an attorney “is a clear violation source familiar with the case. of Iran’s own laws and interna- The nature of the charges was tional norms.” “I am personally not immediately clear, at least to dismayed and disturbed at these those not present in the court- reports as I have repeatedly raised room. The court appearance came Jason’s case.” two days after word arrived in the The proceedings appear to dash West that Rezaian’s detention has any hope that Rezaian could be been extended until mid-January freed in the near future. It could because the investigation against take as long as a month for the him is continuing. charges to be delivered to the full Female supporters of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) sit next to a damaged building during a protest against the delay in acquiring The charges were the first court, which would then set a trial building material in front of the United Nations office in Gaza city yesterday. Palestinian officials said last month that at least 100 trucks of building lodged since Rezaian, an Iranian date, the source said. materials a day are needed to complete the reconstruction of Gaza within three years. American who holds dual citi- Theoretically, at that point zenship, was arrested July 22. Rezaian’s attorney would be per- His family has hired an attorney mitted to review the charges and for him, but the lawyer has not might be allowed to speak with Israel opens eight probes into Gaza war been permitted to visit him. The his client, the source said. There State Department has repeatedly are divergent views in Iran about raised the case of Rezaian, and the arrest of Rezaian, who has JERUSALEM: Israel’s mili- civilians. The new probes will to bring Israeli war criminals Sea Scrolls are buried, Israel’s other Americans jailed in Iran, been The Washington Post’s bureau tary said it had opened eight also examine the deaths of two to justice”. Israel launched its Antiquities Authority said. during lengthy talks with the chief in Tehran since 2012. new criminal investigations into Palestinian ambulance driv- Gaza offensive on July 8 with the The arrests came after a year- government about a deal to curb In a recent interview with its Gaza war operations, includ- ers on July 25 in Israeli strikes declared aim of halting cross- long operation to stop looting in Iran’s nuclear capacity and ease France 24 television, the secretary ing cases involving the deaths of and a July 29 incident in which, border rocket salvoes by Hamas, the Judean Desert, thought to international sanctions. of Iran’s Human Rights Council, 30 Palestinians. according to a rights group, a an Islamist movement considered be the source of scroll fragments The source said that Rezaian Mohammad Javad Larijani, said The internal inquiries could Palestinian carrying a white flag a terrorist organisation by the which have recently trickled onto spent about 10 hours in court he hoped that Rezaian’s case will help Israel challenge the work was killed. West. The fighting was ended by the local antiquities market, said on Saturday while his case was be presented to court “as soon of a UN Human Rights Council Four other inquiries will look an Egyptian-brokered truce. Uzi Rotstein, an Israeli antiquities reviewed by a judge. A translator as possible. Let us hope that this commission of inquiry into pos- into looting allegations. Late on Saturday, the Israeli inspector. accompanied Rezaian, who does fiasco will end on good terms.” sible war crimes committed by its In September, the military navy detained for questioning Rotstein said he spotted the not read Farsi, said the source, Washington Post Executive forces and Palestinian militants opened five criminal investiga- 12 Palestinian fishermen on five alleged antiquities looters by speaking on condition of anonym- Editor Martin Baron expressed in the 50-day conflict in July and tions into its Gaza war operations, boats that strayed from an Israeli- chance in late November He was ity because of the sensitivity of the outrage over Rezaian’s continued August. Israel has said it would including attacks that killed four designated fishing zone off Gaza, in the desert training as a vol- case. Rezaian signed a document detention. Rezaian’s family is con- not cooperate with the panel, Palestinian children on a beach the military said. It was the larg- unteer in a hiker rescue squad saying he understood that he was cerned about the effect imprison- accusing it of bias. and 17 people at a UN school. est such group taken into custody when he took a photograph of a being charged, the source said. ment may have on his health, as More than 2,100 Palestinians, About 85 incidents are under since the ceasefire went into effect. far-off cave on the side of a cliff US Secretary of State John he has high blood pressure, mul- most of them civilians, were killed various stages of legal review by Nezar Ayyash, head of the and noticed two men standing by Kerry said he was “distressed” tiple infections, back issues and in the fighting, according to the the military. Gaza fishermen’s union, denied it. “No one has any business being at how Rezaian’s case had been emotional stress caused by his Gaza health ministry. Sixty-seven Israel has said Hamas bears the 10km maritime limit was there on a Saturday morning,” handled, and slammed Iran for lengthy time in Tehran’s notori- Israeli soldiers and six civilians in ultimate responsibility for civil- breached. In past incidents, fish- said Rotstein. flouting the law by denying him ous Evin prison. Israel were killed. ian casualties because the group’s ermen have been released shortly He said the suspects climbed access to a lawyer. Rezaian was arrested with his The military said late on fighters operated in crowded after being detained. down a steep 70-metre descent to “The is deeply wife, Yeganeh Salehi, also a jour- Saturday that it would investi- neighbourhoods. Meanwhile, six Palestinians reach what is known to archaeol- disappointed and concerned by nalist, but she was released on gate a July 20 air strike on the Fawzi Barhoum, a Hamas were charged in an Israeli ogists as the previously excavated reports that the Iranian judiciary bail early in October. She is the Abu Jama family home in the spokesman in Gaza, said the new court yesterday of digging ille- Cave of the Skulls, destroying has charged Washington Post jour- only one who has been permitted town of Khan Younis in which 27 Israeli investigations were aimed gally for antiquities in a remote archaeological strata in the cave nalist Jason Rezaian with unspec- occasional visits with him. Palestinians were killed. Human at circumventing the UN inquiry. desert region where archaeolo- dating back 5,000 years. ified charges, and that the judge AGENCIES rights groups said the dead were He called for “independent probes gists believe undiscovered Dead REUTERS/AP

Religious festival UAE woman 135 arrested for terror who stabbed US teacher was offences in Saudi

‘lone terrorist’ RIYADH: Saudi Arabia said The kingdom’s Grand Mufti yesterday that it has arrested Sheikh Abdul Aziz Al Sheikh DUBAI: A UAE woman who 135 suspects for “terrorism” has said Al Qaeda and IS “have killed an American teacher last offences, after the kingdom’s nothing to do with Islam and week has been inspired by “ter- participation in air strikes (their proponents) are the enemy rorist ideology” acquired through against Islamic State group number one of Islam”. the Internet but investigators extremists raised concerns Last week an IS-linked media have found no links to militant about possible retaliation. group released a video claiming to groups, the state news agency The suspects include 26 for- show the shooting in Riyadh of a WAM reported yesterday. eign nationals, among them “16 Danish national by its “support- Police on Thursday said they Syrians and three Yemenis”, inte- ers”, the US-based monitoring had arrested the UAE national rior ministry spokesman General group SITE said. Denmark has after the kindergarten teacher, Mansour Al Turki said, cited by confirmed that one of its citizens identified as Romanian-born the official Saudi Press Agency. was shot and wounded in the Ibolya Ryan, a mother of 11-year- The detainees belong to “sus- Saudi capital on November 22. old twins, was stabbed and killed pect groups... that terrorism A week after the Dane was in a toilet at an Abu Dhabi mall. Iranian Shia pilgrims holding a portrait of the late founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, united”, and their arrests followed shot, someone stabbed and The woman also placed a make- wait to have their passports stamped as they enter through the Zurbatiyah border crossing, near the “repeated attempts to harm the wounded a Canadian while he shift bomb outside the front door security and stability of the home- shopped at a mall in Dhahran on city of Kut, southeast of , yesterday, ahead of the Arbaeen religious festival in Karbala. Arbaeen of an apartment of an Egyptian- land”, Turki said without specify- Saudi Arabia’s Gulf coast. Police marks the 40th day after Ashoura. American doctor living in the ing when they were detained. arrested a Saudi suspect. UAE less than two hours after Forty of the suspects had A source familiar with the sit- Monday’s killing. The bomb was gone to “zones of conflict, joined uation said last week that they safely dismantled. WAM, quoting extremist groups and trained in were “still trying to figure out a security source, said that inves- the handling of weapons... before what the motive is”, but many tigation of the woman showed that Saudi extends detention of women drivers returning to the kingdom to people were wondering if the the “crimes she had committed are destabilise the country,” Turki attacks signalled a trend. the result of a personal instigation DUBAI: Two Saudi women women driving by crossing into next day to deliver food, water and said. He added that 54 others In October, a Saudi-American and a lone terrorist act”. detained nearly a week ago for her country from the UAE. The a blanket to Al Hathloul, her sister were implicated in the “financ- former employee of a US defence “The suspect had been visiting violating the kingdom’s female kingdom’s interpretation of Islam Hannah Al Amoudi said. ing, recruitment, propaganda and contractor shot dead an American some terrorist electronic web- driving ban were ordered held for holds that allowing women to drive Human Rights Watch said both manufacture of explosives... in aid colleague and wounded another in sites, which are widespread on the 25 more days yesterday, a rela- encourages licentiousness. No such women were then detained appar- of extremist groups”. Riyadh. The suspect had recently Internet and which had enabled tive told The Associated Press. ban exists in the rest of the Muslim ently for driving, though it is not Seventeen suspects were linked been fired, officials said. the detainee to acquire the ter- The women, who were arrested world, including the Gulf. clear if they will face criminal to unrest and armed attacks on That was the first deadly strike rorist ideology and to study bomb- on December 1 after driving into In a video uploaded to YouTube charges. Al Amoudi said authori- security forces in Awamiya, a against Westerners in Saudi Arabia making,” the security source said, Saudi Arabia from the United on November 30, Al Hathloul ties notified the family yesterday community in Eastern Province since several were killed in a wave according to WAM. It said explo- Arab Emirates, are supporters of a filmed herself driving toward the that they were extending her sis- just west of Dammam city. of Al Qaeda violence between sives seized by police showed they grassroots campaign launched last Saudi border in what she said was ter’s detention another 25 days. Awamiya has been a focus for 2003 and 2007. Both and are of the primitive kind. WAM year to oppose the ban. The two “an effort to sustain the campaign They did not provide the legal clashes between security forces Denmark are among the Western said the investigation also showed women have a combined Twitter for women’s driving”. “She wanted reasons for holding her. and minority Shia protesters. states taking part in an aerial cam- that the woman had not planned to following of more than 355,000. to highlight the absurdity” of not Al Hathloul is in a correctional Turki said the detained foreign paign against IS in Iraq. kill an American but was looking Organisers behind the October being allowed to drive into her facility for juveniles and Al Amoudi suspects included an Egyptian, a In November, Saudi Arabia for a foreigner to attack at random. 26 campaign say the ban on women own country, an activist said on is in a prison. The women have Lebanese, an Afghan, an Ethiopian, blamed IS-linked suspects for “As such, these crimes are con- driving underpins wider issues condition of anonymity for fear been interrogated without the a Bahraini and a stateless person. the killing of seven Shias, includ- sidered to be of one’s personal regarding guardianship laws in of government reprisal. presence of an attorney, but were The arrests come as Saudi Arabia, ing children, in Eastern Province. instigation and a lone terrorist Saudi Arabia that give men pow- Saudi border guards confiscated allowed to see relatives and speak the , Security forces in the Sunni- act that is so far not linked to erful sway over women’s lives. Al Hathloul’s passport and kept her to relatives on the phone. There and Bahrain take part in US-led dominated kingdom arrested 73 any terrorist organisation,” the Loujain Al Hathloul, 25, set at the border for nearly 24 hours. was no official Saudi comment on air strikes against the IS extremist Saudis and four foreigners in con- agency said. REUTERS out to defy the kingdom’s ban on Maysa Al Amoudi, 33, arrived the the arrests. AP group in Syria. nection with the attack. AFP MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Helping Afghanistan Let the next generation HE US and Britain have said that that they would not abandon Afghanistan even after international combat troops are withdrawn at the Tend of this month after a 13-year long engagement. speak up for Europe US Secretary of State John Kerry and British Prime BY TIMOTHY GARTON ASH and political elites. That expresses itself sexual revolution I’m not sure, but there Minister David Cameron said it was in their national both in more apathy and in more votes is something in this. There is a lived, eve- interests to continue supporting Afghanistan as it enters a WAS mad at you,” says Mario, for anti-establishment, anti-system par- ryday Europe of transnational intermin- ‘transformation decade’. an Italian student. He was ties of every colour – from Hungary’s gling. In the EU-wide Eurobarometer Indeed, Afghanistan is entering a transformation decade, angry about a column I wrote Jobbik and France’s Front National, opinion polls, the most popular answer and the nature of this transformation will be decided in “Ijust after the European elec- through Britain’s Ukip, and Germany’s to the question “What does the EU mean the coming years. The war-torn country now has a new tions in May arguing that to choose Alternative for Germany, all the way to you personally?” is “freedom to travel, Jean-Claude Juncker as president of the to ’s Five Star Movement, Spain’s study and work anywhere in the EU”. government with Ashraf Ghani as president and Abdullah European commission was the wrong Podemos and Greece’s Syriza. Although those who “tend to dis- Abdullah as Chief Executive Officer. Abdullah is a former answer to the continent-wide discon- If this is so within the member states trust” the EU outnumber those who foreign minister and brings with him huge experience, while tent those elections revealed. Well, as the of the EU, how much more is it true “tend to trust” it by nearly two to one, Ghani is an economist who previously worked as a finance commission president, Juncker, proposes of the European institutions? Planet the younger the respondents, the more minister and at the World Bank. Ghani and Abdullah were a prestidigitatedinvestment package to Brussels has become the showcase exam- likely they are to express trust – though boost the European economy, and the ple of remote elites. The television shots that’s still only 46% of 15- to 24-year- rivals during the presidential election. The latter had accused former Polish prime minister Donald from European summits show endless olds. One in two young people in Greece the Karzai government of fraud during the election, but Tusk prepares to chair his first summit middle-aged men in suits getting in and and Spain are unemployed, and they can was inducted into the government as part of a compromise of EU heads of government, it’s worth out of large black cars. reasonably ask: “What has Europe done formula. Together, they have an opportunity to rewrite the asking again who is going to save the Despite direct elections to, and for me lately?” history of Afghanistan by formulating an effective strategy to European project. My answer: it will not enhanced powers for, the European Nonetheless, there are many young rid the country of Taliban. be saved without the more active engage- parliament, there is scant sense of pop- Europeans – including a whole post-1989 ment of Mario and his contemporaries ular representation. And there is no cohort of central and east Europeans – The world will be watching Afghanistan after the – the Erasmus and easyJet generation. pan-European political theatre. Fewer who have been great beneficiaries of the US pullout from the country by year-end. The US Of course, the rescue also requires than 500,000 Europeans watched any European project. Yet we hardly hear Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel has said that the Obama good policies from above. But Super of this spring’s three pan-European tel- their voices on Europe. In part, I think administration will leave up to Mario – that’s Draghi, chairman of the evised debates between the main party this is precisely because they already 1,000 more troops than originally European Central Bank, not Balotelli, groupings’ Spitzenkandidaten (lead have the Europe that earlier generations planned in Afghanistan beyond the Instagram candidates) for the post of European aspired to. They like Europe, but it is not The world footballer – commission president, whereas more their great cause or dream. Instead, they year’s end. This will mean the can’t do it on his than 67 million Americans watched the become passionate about other issues needs to delayed withdrawal of up to 1,000 own, even with first US presidential debate between and places: the environment, sexual US troops — so that up to 10,800 The remote elites another €1tn on Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012. equality, global poverty, animal rights, keep a close troops, rather than 9,800 – will his balance sheet. This brings me to a third ground for online freedom, climate change, China, remain in Afghanistan through of Planet Brussels It needs young gloom: there is no shortage of manifes- Africa. If the basic freedoms they value Mario too. tos, plans and books dedicated to saving in the EU were suddenly revoked, they watch on the end of this year, and for the have had their I have never the European Union, but most of them would surely mobilise to defend them Afghanistan first few months in 2015. It’s a day. Those who known a time are written by people the wrong side of – but Europe’s decline, if it happens, is welcome decision. when there was so 50. Appeals for more “leadership” pour probably not going to be like that. The after the US Will Afghan forces be able to have grown up much intellectual from retired leaders, who imply that eve- institutions will remain, but gradually face the challenges from Taliban pessimism about rything was better in their day. I see few be hollowed out, like those of the Holy pullout. after the US exit? That is the taking European the future of the proposals coming from the generation of Roman Empire. There may be no suf- EU among those young Mario. On the face of it, this is odd, ficiently dramatic wake-up call until it most important question facing freedoms for (including myself) because his is the first generation to have is too late. the new government in Kabul. An granted must now who have been its enjoyed Europe as a single space of free- Yet I also think we older Europeans answer is difficult. The country ardent supporters. dom, from Lisbon to Tallin and Athens to don’t ask them often enough what kind has been witnessing a resurgence of the Taliban recently, be heard. Here are three big Edinburgh. When I invited suggestions of Europe they want. I was recently with the terrorists striking at several key targets across reasons for this for this column on Twitter, Dan Nolan asked by a European academic institu- the country. The full strength of Taliban and their ability pessimism. First, replied: “Compulsory Erasmus for all”. tion to participate in formulating a new the eurozone. Loukas Tsoukalis, a pro- He linked to an interview with version of the Schuman declaration, the to weaken the government will be known only after the European expert, notes that “the design Umberto Eco in which that great sage seminal 1950 proposal for the first steps complete exit of the US forces. It will be a make-or-break was wrong, and so was membership”. Too argued that the university exchange pro- to today’s EU. I replied that I thought game. If Afghan forces are able to restrain or defeat the many, too diverse economies were hitched gramme Erasmus “has created the first we would do better to ask the post-89er, enemy, a new future awaits Afghanistan, the credit for which together in a common currency without generation of young Europeans. I call Erasmus generation. The last I heard, will go to Ghani and Abdullah. If Afghan forces buckle under a common treasury. These fundamen- it a sexual revolution: a young Catalan this institution was planning to approach tal design flaws have been exacerbated man meets a Flemish girl – they fall in a clutch of former European heads of pressure, the consequences will be disastrous. It will wipe by German-led austerity policies, which love, they get married and they become state to draft such a declaration. out years of gains, and billions of dollars spent on rooting out underestimate the differences between European, as do their children. The Well, good luck with that. Another one terror from the country. national economic cultures, and the Erasmus idea should be compulsory – of those is just what we need. The world needs to keep a close watch on Afghanistan need for more investment and demand. not just for students, but also for taxi So I’m really grateful to young Mario after the US pullout. The government in Kabul must be given Second, the politics. Election after elec- drivers, plumbers and other workers.” for caring enough to be mad at me. Go every support – including financial and military – to defeat tion, opinion poll after opinion poll, has Quite what the 17th-century Catholic on, be angry. Be mad at us. But change . revealed that European voters are deeply priest Desiderius Erasmus of Rotterdam Europe. It needs it. the Taliban disillusioned with their current politics would make of becoming a synonym for THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of Hope for a European solution to Ukraine crisis the day

RENCH President Francois the offer of new talks from the Kiev issue warnings to his fellow country- visit has also been approved Hollande deserves kudos for government of President Petro men that the nation faces a depressed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel being the first European leader Poroshenko in an attempt to solve fiscal scenario, and has warned that — a clear sign that every effort is being Russia had created Fto travel to Moscow to try and the worst crisis between Russia and belts need to be tightened with tough made by both sides to lay the ground- difficulties for both defuse the current standoff between the rest of Europe since the end of times ahead. work for more talks in , begin- East and West over the ethnically the Cold War. Up until now, Putin has held a ning tomorrow. Ukraine and its fellow and politically divided Ukraine. That If there is hope for any solution, it hard line in supporting the eastern But Hollande has also his own Soviet republics of conflict has been simmering along for may come from the fact that western- Ukrainian separatists. That unflinch- economic reasons to try and end this the past nine months, claiming more imposed economic sanctions are now ing support, however, does now seem crisis – there is a little matter of $1.5 Moldova and Georgia than 4,300 lives when the fight by pro- biting, with the rouble at worrying lows to be less so, given that the Russian billion (Dh5.50 billion) worth of two after they had made Kremlin separatists turned violent as with Russia essentially isolated. And president has admitted for the first warships sitting in a French harbour they try to establish Russian satellite given the slide in the price of oil, there time that the separatists may have that needs to be delivered to Russia their own sovereign states based in the ethnically Russian is even less room now for the econo- violated the shaky ceasefire in place – as soon as the Ukraine crisis is out decisions to sign strongholds of Donetsk and Luhansk. mists in Moscow to grow the econ- in Donetsk and Luhansk. of the way. Hollande’s visit also comes against omy. Putin too has been forced to Hollande’s last-minute decision to Gulf News trade agreements Angela Merkel with the EU. German Chancellor MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Doha Summit: Towards a new strategic contract Qatar’s presidency of the GCC in 2015 will see a qualitative turning point in Gulf relations and in drafting the new Arab-regional order. GCC countries are meeting in Doha to plan a unified strategy to face the many challenges that surround them. BY DR MOHAMED KIRAT bin Hamad Al Thani. A state- Along with other regional conflicts ment on the GCC website said — from Yemen to Libya — another HE AMBASSA- an agreement was made to begin issue that will be focused on at the DORS from Saudi “a new page that will present a meeting will include countering Arabia, the UAE, strong base, especially in light of ISIL in Iraq and Syria. and Bahrain were the sensitive circumstances the The Doha summit will adopt recalled in March region is undergoing”. At the a new approach surrounding the last year over meeting, Qatar reportedly made relationship between the six mem- TDoha’s support for the Muslim a new commitment to honour ber states of the GCC, and Brotherhood and accusations an agreement not to interfere in and Iran, primarily. This will be of interference in the internal the internal affairs of other GCC the summit that will lay out new affairs of other member states. states. “The agreement was basi- policy orientations different from The dispute was said to be over cally that, based on the collective the previous ones that accompa- after an extraordinary meeting security of the GCC, the behav- nied the Arab revolutions. It will of GCC leaders in Riyadh last iour of one single state should be the summit of finalising a new month. The meeting was seen as not undermine the security of the strategic contract towards a new a final attempt to reach a com- other members. You can find this order in the Arab world and a promise before the GCC summit, in any regional or international new Arab position in the regional in Doha on December 9-10. The structure.” balance of power. If the summit return of three Gulf ambassadors The country’s state-backed successfully overcomes the doubts to Qatar after an unprecedented Al Jazeera channel had allowed that have marred the relationship dispute will allow the annual controversial preacher Yousuf between Saudi Arabia, the UAE, GCC summit to meet as planned Qaradawi to criticise the UAE Kuwait, and Bahrain on the one in December to focus on pressing on air, an act Emirati officials hand, and Qatar and Oman on regional and international issues. took as a threat to their security the other, the GCC will engage in Last month, the UAE declared and territorial integrity. Qatar’s a qualitatively new era following the Muslim Brotherhood a ter- support for the Brotherhood was this historic summit. rorist organisation, along with a also troubling to Saudi Arabia Relations with Egypt will be number of other groups. Instead and the UAE, which considers the centre stage at the Doha summit, of making a decision that could group to be a potentially desta- in fulfilment of the Saudi King’s have resulted in Qatar leaving the bilising force. Qatari officials appeals made at the Riyadh sum- GCC, a compromise was found to viewed their relationship with the mit which he had convened. This move forward, with leaders from Brotherhood and other Islamist is an absolute priority for Saudi Preparations for GCC summit in Doha in full swing. SYED OMAR every state except Oman arriv- groups throughout the region as a and Emirati diplomacy and is not ing in Riyadh for a fresh round of way to expand its influence. up for bargain. requires Qatar — and any other Gulf and regional strategy, and point in Gulf relations and in draft- talks at the behest of the ustodian Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and In the mind of Saudi-UAE Gulf country — to stop support- will issue a clear stance on Egypt. ing the new Arab-regional order, of the Two Holy Mosques King Bahrain see Iran as a destabilis- diplomacy the issues are too ing the Muslims Brotherhood Iran is the other issue in the providing that the commitments Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud ing force and are concerned about pressing to have room for incite- anywhere. regional challenges that will be made at the Riyadh summit are of Saudi Arabia. The UAE delega- Tehran gaining greater influence, ment and ridicule. Saudi and the While Qatari policy may have addressed by the Doha summit, fulfilled, led by those related to the tion was represented at the meet- especially following a possible deal UAE want to convince Emir H assumed at one point that the which will be marked by reach- issue of Egyptian-Qatari relations. ing by Sheikh Mohammed bin with the international community H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Muslim Brotherhood constituted ing out to the Islamic Republic GCC countries are meeting in Rashid, Vice President and Ruler over its nuclear programme later Thani of Qatar to join the strate- a ready-made springboard for of Iran to encourage it to adopt Doha to engage in a unified strat- of Dubai; Sheikh Mohammed this month. Holding the GCC meet- gic contract that will launch the regional and international influ- moderation. Gulf doubts regard- egy to face the many challenges bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu ing in December as planned will new Arab order and position in ence, the Qatari policy desired in ing Iran’s ability to move away that surround them. Dhabi and Deputy Supreme allow the GCC dignitaries to focus the regional balance of power vis- the Gulf today is for Qatar to join from hardliners persist, but the Commander of the Armed Forces; on issues other than internal chal- à-vis Iran, Turkey, and Israel, and regional decision-making and the Gulf decision has been to high- (The writer is a professor of public and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, lenges, to move from cooperation which requires restoring Egypt strategic contract as part of the light appreciation, support, and relations and Mass Communication the Minister of Foreign Affairs. to unity. Saudi Arabia, the archi- as an essential Arab state in this bid for inter-Gulf harmony. backing for a moderate Iran. at the College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar was represented by tect of the project, wants to make balance. This in turn, accord- The Doha summit will be an Qatar’s presidency of the GCC in Qatar University.) the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim a push towards great integration. ing to Saudi-Emirati diplomacy, important turning point in the 2015 will see a qualitative turning THE PENINSULA Grace Mugabe: From ‘First A win for Russia, Ukraine and the West Shopper’ to ‘Mrs President’? BY MICHAEL O’HANLON and agree that Ukraine would not be a candidate JEREMY SHAPIRO for Nato membership, now or in the future. HE wife of Zimbabwe’s veteran leader Robert Mugabe • A new pan-European security structure, has been called “Gucci Grace” and “First Shopper”, but ECENT reports of more troop and building perhaps on the Organisation for some suspect she may be looking for a new title — “Mrs equipment movements into the Security and Cooperation in Europe, would be TPresident”. As the battle to succeed her 90-year-old hus- separatist-held regions of Ukraine established with an eye toward upholding the band heats up, 49-year-old Grace has been elected to a top post as Rsuggest that Russia is once again territorial integrity of European states writ head of the ruling ZANU-PF party’s women’s wing. seeking to stir up trouble. The natural large. This association should give Moscow some Jockeying for the leadership of ZANU-PF, which has ruled Western reaction has been to respond with sense of equal partnership and could include Zimbabwe for 34 years, has seen vicious factional infighting—with firmness. Sanctions may be tightened; defen- Nato members and former Soviet states. Grace’s late entry startling analysts who had seen it as a two-horse sive weaponry may be provided to Ukraine’s • Nato would be unapologetically retained race. The former typist, presumably with Mugabe’s backing, has under-equipped and overmatched military. with its current membership. But because of already put paid to the ambitions of one of the top contenders, Vice Given such bullying Russian tactics, this reac- the new security arrangement, it could eschew President Joice Mujuru. tion is not only natural but perhaps inevitable. further enlargement and increasingly play After her nomination as head of the ZANU-PF women’s league in Yet the Western policy response is half- only a supporting role in European security, August, Grace immediately launched a sustained campaign against wrong, and the incorrect part of it risks refocusing on missions outside of Europe. Mujuru, accusing her of corruption and plotting to topple her hus- making 2015 just as bad a year for Ukrainian • The European Union would agree to band. Last month, Mujuru, a former guerrilla fighter who had held security and East-West relations as was 2014. work with Russia to make any possible future cabinet posts in every Mugabe government since independence in Western policy makers do not deserve blame Ukrainian relationship with the union, includ- 1980, was ousted from the party leadership. That leaves Justice for the unconscionable tactics that Russian ing membership, compatible with Ukraine’s Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa as the remaining top contender President has employed in participation in Russia’s Eurasian Economic — unless, as many are beginning to believe, Grace herself has been Crimea and eastern Ukraine. But their actions Union project. chosen by her husband to ensure a Mugabe dynasty in Zimbabwe. risk reinforcing an action- reaction dynamic • Sanctions on Russia would be gradually Born on July 23, 1965, in South Africa, Grace Marufu became that will quite probably make the No. 1 victim Russian President Vladimir Putin at Moscow’s — and, in the end, completely — lifted as the Mugabe’s mistress while working as a secretary in his office in the of this crisis to date — the people of Ukraine Vnukovo airport on Saturday. elements of this agenda came into effect. early 1990s. Both were already married. They wed in 1996 after — worse off than before. To be sure, Putin could claim that this agree- Mugabe’s first wife Sally died. Grace’s husband, an air force officer, This is not a moral question. It is entirely the pressure on through sanctions while ment accomplished his core goals and portray it divorced and was posted to China. She has three children with justifiable to provide weapons to a sovereign threatening more to come, should he escalate. as a great victory. Perhaps his popularity would Mugabe, 41 years her senior, and a son from her previous marriage. nation seeing its territory assaulted by a But the Russian leader enjoys 85 percent pop- then rise to 88 percent or 90 percent — for a As First Lady, Grace shied away from the public in the early years, much more powerful neighbour. But regard- ularity at home, where many see his actions while. Then, as time went on, this accomplish- while her lavish tastes and love for shopping abroad earned her the less of right and wrong, the result of provid- as reasonable retribution against a supposedly ment would be internalised, and Russian voters sobriquets “Gucci Grace” and “First Shopper”. In 2009, she punched a ing weapons will not be a robust self-defence triumphalist Nato that has expanded right would likely hold Putin accountable for what British photographer in HK for taking pictures of her at a luxury hotel. capability for Ukraine. The Ukrainian military up to Russia’s borders since the Cold War, he should have been doing all along: improving But she told a South African Broadcasting Corporation programme last faces Russian armed forces more than five a narrative reinforced by a tightly control- their way of life through good economic and year that she is no longer concerned about what people think of her. times as large and perhaps 10 to 20 times as led Russian media. At this point, Putin is a political leadership. “I have developed a thick skin, I don’t even care,” she said. “My hus- powerful. Indeed, should such arms encour- moderate on the Russian political spectrum. Long-term Russian weakness means that band says ignorance is bliss.” However, efforts to change perceptions of age Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to In keeping with some of the ideas put forth the West can afford to compromise now. her have dominated state-run media since her entry into active politics, directly challenge Russian forces on his terri- by former secretary of state Henry Kissinger, Russia will not have the power to dominate its with her supporters showering her with new nicknames—such as “Dr tory, the most likely outcome is escalation of and building as well on suggestions from neighbours for very long, no matter what the Amai (Doctor Mother)”, “unifier” and “queen of queens”. the military crisis and a dramatic increase in former national security adviser Zbigniew West does. Yet it could have the power and the It was announced that Grace had been awarded a doctorate by the death and destruction in Ukraine. Meanwhile, Brzezinski — two great US strategists not will to foment trouble for many years absent a University of Zimbabwe, where her husband is chancellor, report- Russian propaganda would continue to vilify thought of as appeasers or wishful thinkers durable deal of the type proposed above. edly just three months after enrolling. Then a road was named the West and sow the seeds of future crises — the deal that we should propose to Russia Moreover, as much as it may grate now, after her at the venue of the ZANU-PF congress. Her 90-year-old elsewhere in Russia’s neighbourhood. would include elements like these: pursuing a win-win-win outcome for Russia, husban was confirmed, as expected, as the party’s leader, but the Before taking such actions, and before add- • Russia can make its historically based Ukraine and the West is far smarter than fight for positions on the powerful politburo could be decisive for ing permanent Nato deployments to the Baltic claim on Crimea but would have to accept a zero-sum thinking. There is too much threat the campaign to succeed him. states — another understandable, but poten- binding referendum under outside monitoring to Central Europe, and too large an agenda Political analyst, Earnest Mudzengi said Grace Mugabe lacks popular tially counterproductive, reaction to the crisis that would determine the region’s future, with crying out for Russian-Western cooperation appeal and has stirred disharmony in ZANU-PF. “She was literally — Nato leaders should attempt to work with independence as one option. — from Iran to the broader Middle East to hand-picked. She has created enemies and enemies are being created Moscow to create a new European security • Russia would agree to verifiably remove its Afghanistan to North Korea — for US security as we speak, just look at the purges in ZANU-PF,” Mudzengi said. “She order acceptable to both sides. Many Western military “volunteers” from eastern Ukraine. to benefit from any intensification or prolon- does not have popular support and does not fit in the framework of how voices will view any such effort as rewarding • Russia would permanently commit, once gation of the crisis of 2014. We did not start ZANU-PF leaders are chosen because normally they would require Russia and Putin for their miserable behaviour the Crimea matter was settled, to uphold this conflict, but we can take steps that dra- that someone must have liberation war credentials or that they must of the past year. However, this approach would Ukraine’s territorial security, as promised matically improve the chances of ending it. have worked tirelessly for the party.” But the Mugabe family has a be designed not as a reward but to protect under the 1994 Budapest Memorandum cover- (O’Hanlon and Shapiro are scholars in the lot to protect when the president finally leaves power or dies—he and Ukraine’s security — and our own. ing the denuclearisation of Ukraine and other foreign policy programme of the Brookings Grace are major land owners, having several farms taken from white If the Russian people were souring on Putin, former Soviet republics. Institution.) farmers during controversial land reforms. AFP there would be an argument for simply keeping • Ukraine and the United States would WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST

UK embassy in Syrian troops repel jihadist advance Cairo suspends services for Rebels blow up tunnel near ancient mosque in Aleppo; UN envoy in bid to push ceasefire security reasons BEIRUT: Syrian troops have IS-controlled Raqa province and repelled an attack by jihadists the border with Iraq, and is a key CAIRO: The British embassy in from the Islamic State group prize for the jihadist group which Cairo suspended public services on a key military airport in the declared an Islamic “caliphate” yesterday for security reasons, a eastern province of Deir Ezzor, a straddling the two countries in spokesman for the mission said. monitoring group said yesterday. June. Embassy spokesman David Elsewhere, rebels fighting to On another front, the army Kinna declined to give details but oust President Bashar Al Assad secured a fresh advance in Aleppo said the decision was taken in the blew up a tunnel near an ancient province, said the Observatory, best interest of the embassy and mosque in the northern city of adding troops killed at least 24 its staff. “We have suspended the Aleppo, as loyalists tightened the Syrian rebels and jihadists fight- public services at the embassy for noose around opposition positions ing northeast of the country’s sec- security reasons,” he said, adding in the same province. ond city. “The army... took Breij that the mission was trying to “Troops and pro-regime militia area northeast of Aleppo city,” resume work as quickly as possible. stopped the attack that Islamic said Observatory director Rami “Please do not come to the State launched on the Deir Ezzor Abdel Rahman. embassy building,” the mission military airport,” the Syrian The advance meant the army said in a separate statement, add- Observatory for Human Rights was closing in on rebels in the ing that its consulate office was said, adding both sides suffered east of Aleppo city. “There is a functioning in the Mediterranean heavy losses. The jihadists had very real threat that the opposi- city of Alexandria. withdrawn to the edges of the base, tion’s supply route will be cut off,” Egypt’s foreign ministry said a day after managing to seize a Abdel Rahman said. the halt in public services at the southeastern part of the complex. Meanwhile in the heart of British embassy was “a preven- The Observatory said more Aleppo city, rebels blew up a tive security procedure” but also than 100 jihadists had been killed tunnel near an ancient mosque, provided no further details. in fighting for the base since claiming to be targeting army Militants have stepped up Wednesday when they launched positions, said the Observatory. attacks targeting Egyptian secu- a bid to take the airport. State television also reported rity forces since the overthrow Pro-regime forces also suffered the explosion, and said the rebels of Islamist president Mohamed heavy casualties, with some 59 had blown up the Sultaniyeh Mursi in July last year. troops killed, it said. mosque itself. The Observatory Syrian refugees walk at the Al Zaatari refugee camp in the Jordanian city of Mafraq, near the border with Syria. London’s wider advice for Egypt State news agency SANA said said the mosque was not damaged, urges Britons not to travel to North Syrian army units had “repelled but that 12 troops were killed in travel very soon to Gaziantep (in “We are ready for a meeting and De Mistura announced his Sinai, parts of South Sinai, and an attempt” by IS fighters to the blast. Turkey) to discuss his plan with for dialogue with anyone to discuss plan to press for what he called to areas bordering Libya. “There attack positions at the base, but Much of the Old City of Aleppo, key rebel groups from Aleppo”, the Syrian issue.” But Rifai, who a “freeze” in fighting in late is considered to be a heightened provided no further details. The home to multiple ancient reli- Juliette Touma said. is part of major rebel umbrella October, after years of failed threat of terrorist attacks globally Deir Ezzor base is a key regime gious and cultural sites, has been She did not specify when organisation the Revolutionary efforts to negotiate an end to against UK interests and British outpost from which warplanes destroyed by more than two years exactly the talks would take place. Command Council, did not confirm the war. nationals from groups or individ- and helicopters mount raids on of savage fighting. De Mistura has been pushing whether his group or any other fac- Assad has previously said he uals motivated by the conflict in jihadist positions in several parts The UN’s envoy to Syria will efforts for ceasefires in limited tion would meet the UN envoy. is willing to discuss the plan and Iraq and Syria,” the Foreign and of the war-wracked country. meet in Turkey with rebel leaders areas of Syria to lay the ground- Rebels in Aleppo city also do Aleppo, which has been divided Commonwealth Office said in a IS fighters control most of Deir from Aleppo to discuss a possible work for peace talks to resolve the not include among their ranks into rebel- and regime-held ter- recent update on its website. Ezzor province, but half of its cap- freeze in fighting in the war-torn country’s devastating civil war. any jihadists from the Al Qaeda ritory since July 2012, has been It identified Sinai-based Ansar ital remains in government hands. city, his spokeswoman said. Speaking to AFP from Turkey, affiliate Al Nusra Front, or from cited as a possible starting point. Beit Al Maqdis, which pledged The oil-rich region lies between Staffan de Mistura “will rebel leader Sobhi al-Rifai said: the Islamic State group. AFP allegiance to the Islamic State group in November, as the most “active terrorist group” in Egypt. No foreign missions nor inter- Turkey education protest ests have been directly targeted by militants in Egypt since Mursi’s ouster, but embassies have Sudan arrests two stepped up security measures. AFP Court sentences opposition figures four Brotherhood KHARTOUM: Sudanese secu- release of Farouk Abu Issa and members to death rity forces have arrested two all political detainees and those opposition figures who joined an convicted for political reasons,” CAIRO: An Egyptian court alliance aimed at uniting opposi- NCF spokesman Mohamed Diaa yesterday sentenced to death tion to the government, a mem- Eddin said. four members of the black- ber of one group that signed the The alliance would press ahead listed Muslim Brotherhood over document said yesterday. with its work “despite these repres- the killing of protesters who The National Intelligence and sive security measures,” he said. stormed the group’s Cairo head- Security Services (NISS) detained Mariam Al Mahdi, deputy head quarters in June last year. Farouk Abu Issa, head of the of the Umma Party, also hit out at A crowd of angry protesters opposition National Consensus the arrests. He father and Umma stormed and torched the head- Forces (NCF), and civil activ- Party chief Sadiq Al Mahdi signed quarters on June 30, 2013, as ist Amin Makki Madani late on the agreement in Addis Ababa. millions took to the streets in Saturday, NCF official Siddig “We reject this nonsensical move Cairo and other cities demand- Youssif said by telephone. by the regime, because these citi- ing Islamist president Mohamed “We have had no communica- zens have just exercised their rights Mursi’s resignation. tions with them and we do not to seek stability, peace and demo- A Cairo court sentenced the know where they are,” Youssif cratic transition,” she said. NISS four men to death after finding said. It was not possible to reach agents arrested Mahdi in August them guilty of “killing, inciting Turkey High School Students Union supporters raise their fists and chant slogans as they protest against the the authorities for comment. and held her for a month after she to kill, possessing guns and live ruling Justice and Development Party government’s education policy in Ankara yesterday. Issa and Madani were the sig- returned from Paris, where her ammunition and joining armed natories of a document in Addis party had been holding talks with groups to terrorise people,” a judi- Ababa on Wednesday aimed at rebels seeking to oust Bashir. cial official said. uniting opposition to President Bashir said he would seek ree- Prosecutors said 12 protesters Omar Hassan Al Bashir’s 25-year lection in April, a move roundly were killed when they clashed rule. Other signatories included criticised by the opposition. He with Mursi supporters during the the Umma Party, rebels, civil soci- oversaw Sudan’s split from Juba storming of the offices. More than 13 killed in failed US bid to ety organisations and the NCF, in 2011 under a peace deal that 90 protesters were wounded. which groups a number of opposi- ended 22 years of civil war. The Yesterday’s sentences are pre- tion parties together. separation also saw Khartoum liminary and will be forwarded Issa signed on behalf of the NCF lose most oil producing areas, and to the country’s mufti, or top rescue hostages in Yemen and Madani signed for several civil the country’s already battered Muslim cleric, to be ratified. society groups. The document economy suffered further. Decisions on 14 other defend- called for a transitional govern- In January, he announced a ants in the case, including Muslim SANA’A/ADEN: A woman, a itself in parts of south and east assign blame for Korkie’s death, ment in Sudan, where Bashir has national dialogue aimed at end- Brotherhood chief Mohamed 10-year-old boy and a local Al Yemen, including Shabwa where government spokesman Nelson ruled since seizing power in an ing the conflicts wracking South Badie and his deputies Khairat Qaeda leader were among at the raid took place. Kgwete said on local television, Islamist-backed coup in 1989. Kordofan and Blue Nile in south- Al Shater and Saad Al Katatni, least 11 people killed alongside However, since Islamic State in when asked if Pretoria blamed the The NCF urged security forces ern Sudan and Darfur in the west, will be made at the next hearing two Western hostages when Syria and Iraq began distributing United States. “We recognise that to release the detainees immedi- as well as tackling the troubled on February 28, the official said. US-led forces fought Islamist films of its militants beheading this was an attempt to secure the ately. “We demand the immediate economy. AFP AFP militants in a failed rescue mis- Western hostages, the focus on freedom of Korkie and the hostages sion in Yemen, residents said AQAP, which has traditionally used who had been kept in captivity.” yesterday. hostage-taking as a way to raise Apart from the woman and the US special forces raided the vil- funds, had diminished until now. boy, reports on social media feeds lage of Dafaar in Shabwa prov- At least two more hostages of known militants said an AQAP ince, a militant stronghold in are being held by the group. The commander and two members of Netanyahu for pressure on Iran over nukes southern Yemen, shortly after Yemen-based group, loyal to the the group were killed. Six other midnight on Saturday, killing wider Al Qaeda organisation members of the same tribe also WASHINGTON: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin “Now we must use the time available to increase several members of Al Qaeda in founded by the late Osama bin died, the reports said, although Netanyahu said yesterday that an extension of the pressure on Iran to dismantle its nuclear weap- the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Laden, has denounced Islamic they could not be immediately nuclear talks with Iran should be used to further ons capability,” he said. American journalist Luke State, but Western sources say verified. increase pressure on the country to give up its Netanyahu, who spoke in a videotaped address to a Somers, 33, and South African there may be operational connec- The commander, identified atomic weapons ambitions and capabilities. Mideast policy conference at the Brookings Institution teacher Pierre Korkie, 56, were tions between the two. as Jamal Mubarak Al Hard Al Netanyahu said it was fortunate that interna- in Washington, did not elaborate on how the pres- shot and killed by their captors “AQAP and Daesh (Islamic Daghari Al Awlaki, appeared to tional negotiators did not meet last month’s deadline sure should be increased. Some Israeli officials and during the raid intended to free State) are essentially the same be the same person as Mubarak for a deal because he said an agreement reached US lawmakers have called for the US to impose more them, US officials said. organisation but have different Al Harad, named by the Yemen then “would have effectively left Iran as a threshold sanctions on Iran but the Obama administration is AQAP, formed in 2006 by the methods of execution and tac- Defence Ministry on Saturday as nuclear power.” resisting this, saying more sanctions would violate the merger of the Yemeni and Saudi tics,” a senior Yemeni intelligence the leader of an AQAP group. Negotiators from the five permanent members terms of an interim agreement reached with Iran and branches of the network, has for official said. “They have killed Several of those said by mili- of the UN Security Council and Germany have crater the ongoing negotiations. years been seen by Washington hostages before, like the Yemeni tants to have died were from the extended the talks with Iran until July 2015, with the Netanyahu also said that cooperation between Israel as one of the movement’s most special forces soldiers in Abyan Daghari and Awlaki families, goal of reaching a framework for a deal by the end of and moderate Arab states in the fight against Islamic dangerous branches. in 2011. There are some AQAP important tribes in Shabwa prov- March. Netanyahu, who noted that Israel’s “voice” extremism could “open the door to peace” between Western governments fear cells that have pledged allegiance ince. Yemen’s government said on and “concerns” played a critical role in preventing Israel and the Palestinians. However, he said that the advances by Shia Houthi fighters to the caliphate but there is divi- Saturday that the hostages were a bad deal from being reached in November, said it Palestinian leadership must end incitement against with links to Iran have bolstered sion over the legitimacy of Daesh being held in the house of a man is imperative now to use the extra time to step up Israel if that is to occur. “The collapse of the old order support among Yemeni Sunnis in its vision, but not tactics.” named Saeed Al Daghari. and reinforce demands that Iran prove its nuclear has made clear to pragmatic Arab governments that for AQAP, which has established South Africa does not want to REUTERS programme is peaceful as it claims. Israel is not the enemy,” he said. AP MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Merkel blasts Russia over Ukraine crisis Fighting rages in east Ukraine

KIEV: Ukraine yesterday newspaper Die Welt. reported the death of eight Merkel added that “Russia more civilians and two sol- had created difficulties” for diers in fighting with pro-Rus- both Ukraine and its fellow sian insurgents as German Soviet republics of Moldova and Chancellor Angela Merkel Georgia after they had made accused the Kremlin of inter- “their own sovereign decisions” fering in Kiev’s pro-European to sign trade agreements with drive. the EU. The latest casualties across the The pro-Russian revolt erupted Russian-speaking Donetsk and weeks after the February ouster Lugansk regions came two days in Kiev of a Kremlin-backed pres- ahead of the planned start of a ident who had ditched a landmark ceasefire aimed at winding down EU pact that would have paved one of Europe’s deadliest conflicts the way to Ukraine’s membership in decades. in the 28-nation bloc. The United Nations believes The Kremlin flatly denies the the eight-month uprising in east- charges and accuses Washington ern Ukraine has killed more than of orchestrating last winter’s pro- 4,300 people and driven nearly a European protests in Kiev and Clashes during a demonstration yesterday over recent grand jury decisions in deaths of African-Americans at the hands of police. million more from their homes. across more nationalistic parts It has also paralysed much of of western Ukraine. Ukraine’s industry and left the Putin this week said Ukraine nation of 45 million dependent on will eventually regret the episode More protests expected in US cities tens of billions of dollars in emer- and realise the mistake it made gency global aid. when it finally ratified the EU The diplomatic fallout from the deal three months ago. NEW YORK: A fifth day of the country, including New York, have highlighted the strained said, and six people were arrested. violence threatens to be equally A dramatic recent upsurge nationwide protests against Chicago, Philadelphia, Miami and relations between police and Several police vehicles were damaging and lasting. in violence that some Ukranian police violence was set to begin Minneapolis. African-Americans and rekindled damaged and the disturbance Charges of Kremlin backing officials and media believe killed yesterday after overnight Nightly demonstrations, which a national debate over race rela- forced the closure of the local Bay for the insurgents have eroded hundreds of fighters — and pos- clashes in two West Coast cities were mostly peaceful until the tions in the United States. Area Rapid Transit station. much of the trust built between sibly Russian special forces cov- as New York’s police commis- unrest on the West Coast, have The protests turned violent In Seattle, protesters threw Moscow and the West in the post- ertly operating in the east — have sioner said an internal inves- followed a New York grand jury’s overnight in Berkeley, a city near rocks and attacked police who Cold War era and left Russian pushed all sides towards agreeing tigation into a chokehold death decision not to indict a white San Francisco that has been a blocked them from marching onto President Vladimir Putin more a new truce. could last four months. police officer who put an unarmed hotbed of protest movements State Route 99, resulting in seven isolated than ever in his dominant Ukrainian President Petro After a relatively calm night black man in a banned chokehold since the 1960s. A man smashed arrests for assault and other 15-year rule. Poroshenko has proclaimed in New York City, 13 people were that killed him. a grocery store window with a charges, said Seattle Detective The West fears that the Russian tomorrow to be a “day of silence” arrested overnight in angry dem- New York Police Commissioner skateboard as others proceeded Patrick Michaud. strongman is trying to create a in the war zone and the rebel onstrations in Seattle, where Bill Bratton said yesterday he to loot the store and at least two The streets of New York were “frozen conflict” that keeps the command has since pledged to crowds threw rocks and attacked would review the results of an other businesses. mostly quiet on a rainy Saturday Ukrainian leadership off-balance respect it. police, and in the California uni- internal investigation of the July Police fired tear gas after a after three nights of demonstra- and continually dependent on The two foes hope to iron out versity town of Berkeley, where incident to decide whether any splinter group of protesters pelted tions following the decision by the Moscow. the final details of what is meant windows were smashed, stores police wrongdoing was involved officers with rocks, pipes and bot- Garner grand jury. Russia’s violation of “the ter- to be a brand new truce agree- looted and tear gas fired at in Eric Garner’s death. tles, said Officer Jennifer Coats of Protesters and police alike ritorial integrity and sovereignty ment tomorrow in the Belarussian protesters. The killings of Garner and the Berkeley Police Department. have showed restraint and no of Ukraine must not be allowed capital Minsk. Protests were planned yes- Michael Brown, an unarmed One officer hit by a sandbag suf- major violence has flared. to stand,” Merkel told German AFP terday in dozens of cities across black teen, in Ferguson, Missouri, fered a dislocated shoulder, she REUTERS

Gunmen free Scottish independence leader to run for UK parliament

200 inmates LONDON: Alex Salmond, who Scotland voted by 55 percent previously serving as an MP from with a 14-percent lead over the Westminster difficulty there lies quit as Scotland’s first minister to 45 percent to remain part 1987 to 2010. left-wing SNP. an opportunity for Scotland,” after losing the independence of the UK in the September 18 “With so much commitment Salmond’s party currently holds Salmond said. “A strong group of after breaking referendum, announced yester- referendum. among the people and with so six of Scotland’s 59 seats in the SNP MPs will have the capacity day he will run for a seat in the Salmond announced the day much at stake for Scotland, I 650-member British parliament. to rumble up Westminster. British parliament in the May afterwards that he would step think it’s impossible to stand on It is hoping to take dozens “That offers the prospect of real into prison general election. down as first minister in the the sidelines,” he told a local con- of seats from the main opposi- power for Scotland.” The SNP says Salmond, who led the cam- devolved Edinburgh parlia- stituency meeting in Scotland. tion centre-left Labour Party, it will not work with Cameron’s ABUJA: Gunmen broke into a paign for Scotland to leave the ment, and as leader of the pro- The seat he is bidding for was which won 41 in 2010, and holds centre-right Conservatives but is prison in the central Nigerian United Kingdom, said he wanted independence Scottish National won in the 2010 general elec- the balance of power in a hung open to deals with other parties. city of Minna, freeing around to return to politics in London Party (SNP). tion by the centrist Liberal parliament. Scotland is set to get sweeping 200 inmates, a police spokes- to “make sure that Scotland gets Eleven weeks on, the 59-year- Democrats, the junior partners “It is likely there will be no over- new powers including setting its man and security sources said. what it’s promised” from the post- old said would bid for a seat in in the governing coalition led by all majority in the Westminster own income tax rates. The sources said the gun- referendum settlement. the British parliament, after Prime Minister David Cameron, parliament, and therefore in that AFP men stormed the facility late on Saturday in Niger state, near to the capital Abuja. Islamist sect Band Aid 30 Boko Haram and Al Qaeda-linked group Ansaru have been behind Six Guantanamo several prison raids in recent France govt vows to years, although it was unclear whether they had anything to do men sent to with this one. The police spokesman for Niger fight anti-Semitism state said the breakout was still Uruguay being investigated. “It’s unclear if this is Boko CRETEIL: France’s interior stormed the flat of a young couple, MONTEVIDEO: Six men Haram or some criminal gangs,” minister vowed yesterday to raping the woman and stealing detained at Guantanamo one of the security sources said. “I make the fight against anti- jewellery and bank cards. for more than a decade have doubt there were many high pro- Semitism a “national cause” According to the male victim, been resettled in Uruguay, as file Boko Haram suspects being after the country was rocked by the attackers told them they had US President Barack Obama held in Minna.” an attack on a couple apparently not chosen the place at random. attempts to fulfill his long- In central Kogi state last because the man was Jewish. “We know that your brother delayed promise to close the US month, gunmen used explosives Speaking at a rally in the Paris is the manager of a big clothing military prison. to blow their way into a prison suburb of Creteil, where the chain. We know he has the cash The Pentagon said yesterday in the city of Lokoja, killing one attack took place last Monday, till,” one of them said, according that with their departure, 136 person and freeing 144 inmates. Bernard Cazeneuve said: “We to the victim, who was inter- detainees now remain at the US Suleiman Muhammad, a resi- need to make the fight against viewed on French television. naval base in Cuba, of whom 67 dent of Minna living near the racism and anti-Semitism a “In any case, you Jews, you have been approved for release by prison, said he heard gunshots national cause by getting all bod- have money,” the assailant added, Obama’s government and that of but no explosions and saw the ies concerned involved.” according to the victim. his predecessor, George W Bush. guards fleeing shortly after the “The Republic will defend you France is home to some Among the six was Syrian first assault. with all its force because, with- 500,000-600,000 Jews, the third prisoner Jihad Diyab, 43, who Boko Haram has spread inse- out you, it would no longer be the largest Jewish population in the had staged a hunger strike and curity across north and central Republic,” he added. world, after Israel and the United requested a US court to order Nigeria, setting off bombs, attack- Speaking at the same rally, States. prison officials to stop force- ing towns and killing thousands Roger Cukierman, the head of the Tensions over the recent Gaza feeding him. of people. France’s main Jewish organisa- conflict spilled out into the streets The men — including three The Council for Foreign tion (CRIF), said that “Jews feel in July with looters destroying other Syrians, a Palestinian and a Relations (CFR) this week esti- in danger. Some are already leav- Jewish businesses and shouting Tunisian — received an “approved mated that some 10,340 violent ing France”. anti-Israeli slogans. for transfer” from US authorities deaths between November 2013 Cazeneuve said anti-Semitic The number of French Jews and left the military base on a and November 2014 were linked acts and threats have more than who have moved to Israel in the US Air Force plane at 11am on to Boko Haram-related violence. doubled in the past 10 months first 10 months of 2014 has more Saturday, Pentagon spokesman There are also criminal gangs and called for the authorities to than doubled compared to last Myles Caggins told AFP, arriving made up largely of Fulani cattle ensure that “none of them goes year, a leading Jewish agency said in Uruguay before midnight. rustlers in central Nigeria that unpunished”. last week, attributing the spike to They will be granted refugee have killed many hundreds over The Band Aid 30 charity single video is projected on the Palace of In what President Francois a sluggish economy and a rise in status in Uruguay, the foreign the past two years. Westminster in London yesterday. Hollande has described as an anti-Semitic sentiment. ministry in Montevideo said, con- REUTERS “unbearable” attack, assailants AFP firming their arrival. AFP MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Typhoon tears down homes in Philippines Two killed, several houses blown away; classes suspended for today in Manila, tens of thousands evacuated

TACLOBAN, Philippines: yesterday. “Trees and power lines Yolanda. Many of our countrymen of Manila. In the chaotic city of year’s typhoon had also been torn Filipino activists said the fre- Typhoon Hagupit tore apart were toppled, tin roofs were blown are now more supportive of evac- 12 million, authorities suspended apart, vice mayor Jerry Yaokasin quency of typhoons had settled homes and dumped fierce rains off and there is flooding.” uation,” national disaster agency classes for today, tens of thou- said. “We were better prepared any debate in the Philippines across the eastern Philippines Fearful of a repeat of last year spokeswoman Mina Marasigan sands of slum dwellers were evac- after Yolanda, up to 50,000 people about whether man-made global yesterday, killing at least two when Super Typhoon Haiyan said referring to Haiyan by its uated from their coastal shanty were packed in evacuation cen- warming exists. people while creating more mis- claimed more than 7,350 lives, local name. homes and dozens of flights were tres,” Yaokasin said. “In the hour of our peril, now ery for millions after a barrage the government undertook a “This storm was also weaker, cancelled. “But the transitional shelters is the time for politicians to back of deadly disasters. massive evacuation effort ahead our local government units and The storm was also expected to made of nipa (palm thatch) were up their expressions of solidarity The typhoon roared in from of Hagupit that saw millions of national government were more dump intense rains across poor blown away. Our biggest challenge with real action at the UN cli- the Pacific Ocean and into remote people seek shelter. prepared and people now listened farming and fishing communities is how to provide for those who mate talks,” said Jasper Inventor fishing communities on Samar Authorities said the efforts, to our calls for evacuation. This as well as popular tourist sites on were displaced because of that.” of Greenpeace. “It has become an island on Saturday night with described the United Nations all made a big difference in the the western islands, before exit- The Philippines endures about issue of our survival.” wind gusts of 210km an hour, local as one of the biggest peacetime low casualties.” ing into the South China Sea on 20 major storms a year which, Haiyan was the world’s deadli- weather agency Pagasa said. evacuations ever, had undoubtedly Hagupit still claimed the lives Tuesday. along with regular earthquakes est natural disaster last year, and The wind strength at landfall saved many lives. of two people, a baby girl and an On the central and eastern and volcano eruptions, make it Hagiput crucially had no repeat of made Hagupit the most powerful Hagupit’s maximum wind gusts elderly man who died of hypo- islands of the archipelago that one of the world’s most disaster- the storm surges that did the most storm to hit the Philippines this also dropped sharply yesterday thermia, according to the disaster suffered the most damage from plagued countries. damage during the super typhoon. year, exceeding a typhoon in July morning to 170km an hour, with agency. Haiyan 13 months ago, Hagupit The storms regularly claim In 2011 and 2012, there were con- that killed more than 100 people. sustained winds of 140km an hour. Hagupit was also only halfway had again destroyed thousands many lives and are becoming secutive December storms in the “Many houses, especially in the This made Hagupit far weaker across the Philippines by yester- of homes. more violent and unpredict- Philippines that together claimed coastal areas, were blown away by than Haiyan, which was the day night and authorities were In Tacloban, one of the cit- able because of climate change, more than 3,000 lives and were strong winds,” Stephanie Uy-Tan, strongest storm ever recorded on continuing to prepare for worst- ies worst hit by Haiyan, palm- according to the United Nations the world’s deadliest natural dis- the mayor of Catbalogan, a major land with winds of 315km an hour. case scenarios, including poten- thatch temporary houses built by and many scientists. asters of those years. city on Samar, said by phone on “We learned our lessons from tially heavy flooding in the capital aid agencies for survivors of last At global climate talks in Peru, AFP Survivors find homes in ruins again

TACLOBAN: A year after los- Typhoon Haiyan. “We were on claimed so many lives last year ing all their belongings to one edge the entire night because the in the central Philippines. of the world’s strongest storms, winds were so strong. We could Mass evacuations before it thousands of weary people in see roofs flying,” 39-year-old pea- arrived also helped to ensure the Philippines emerged from nut vendor and Haiyan survivor there was no repeat of the mass evacuation shelters yesterday to Vicente Roquero said at an evacu- casualties in the areas devastated find their homes again in ruins. ation centre in Tacloban on Leyte by Haiyan. Typhoon Hagupit hit the cen- island. “There is a collective sigh of tral Philippines late on Saturday Haiyan’s monster winds relief,” Jerry Yaokasin, vice mayor with gusts of 210km an hour, and tsunami-like storm surges of Tacloban, a city of 220,000 peo- destroying flimsy houses, tearing claimed more than 7,350 lives, and ple that was one of the worst-hit roofs off others, knocking down left more than one million people last year, said. power poles and smashing bridges. on central Philippine islands in “The initial assessment is that During a terrifying night, it cut need of new and safe homes. there are no casualties. We were across Tacloban city and dozens Hagupit, which was due to better prepared... up to 50,000 of other communities that were take three days to cut across people were packed in evacuation only just starting to recover from the Philippines, did not generate centres.” last year’s catastrophic Super the massive storm surges that But many people — who have since Haiyan lived in tents, tem- porary shelters and shanty homes — again faced the trauma of losing their homes. “The temporary houses destroyed by the typhoon is our big problem right now... our big- gest challenge is how to provide for those who were displaced because of that,” Yaokasin said. After losing her coastal shanty home to the storm surges of Haiyan, Maria Anna Alvarez, 34, A man on top of his damaged house in Tacloban after Typhoon Hagupit tore apart homes and sent waves crashing had been barely surviving — liv- through coastal communities across the eastern Philippines yesterday. ing with a dozen other relatives on the outskirts of Tacloban in a destroyed. “We were hoping for resilient... the important thing is others as soon as the winds tent provided by an aid agency. a merry Christmas... but it looks we’re alive.” subsided. She returned from an evacu- like that wish won’t come true,” Tereso Sano, a 42-year-old “It’s a difficult feeling, knowing ation centre yesterday morn- Alvarez said. unemployed driver, said he you don’t have a roof above your Philippine Interior Secretary Mar Roxas falls as he rides a motorcycle during ing to see the tent, and those of “Nothing was left of our place, would start rebuilding the home head,” Sano said. an inspection of the damages in the town of Taft, Samar island, yesterday. 300 other families living nearby, but we have no choice but to be nearby he shared with seven AFP leader cuts short tour Beijing slams Manila ‘pressure’ to tackle over dispute arbitration

water crisis BEIJING: China denounced the Philippines was not participating in arbitration. “Some peo- yesterday for putting it under pressure with ple, who do not know the truth, have questioned MALE: Maldivian President an international arbitration case over disputed China’s position of not accepting or participating Abdulla Yameen cut short his waters, and refused again to participate a week in the arbitration,” he told a news conference. trip to Malaysia to deal with ahead of a deadline to respond in the case. “Some others, who harbour ulterior motives, a drinking water crisis in the In a position paper, China outlined its argu- have made one-sided and misleading readings of honeymoon islands’ capital that ments against the jurisdiction of the Permanent the rules of international law, and, on that basis, triggered unrest on the streets, Court of Arbitration at The Hague to take up made accusations or insinuations that China does his office said yesterday. the case filed by the Philippines last year that not abide by law and perversely brand China a Residents of the main island of could have implications for China’s claims over ‘challenger’ to international rules.” Male faced a third straight day the South China Sea. He accused the Philippines of lying when it said without adequate supplies of tap “Its underlying goal is not ... to seek peace- it had discussed arbitration with China, and of water after a fire at a desalination ful resolution of the South China Sea issue, but failing to respond to Chinese proposals for talks. plant led to severe shortages and rather, by resorting to arbitration, to put political “The Philippines is keenly aware of the impor- mounting anger. pressure on China, so as to deny China’s law- tance of addressing the issue through peaceful “President Yameen has cut ful rights in the South China Sea through the negotiations. But it still unilaterally initiated a short his unofficial visit to so-called ‘interpretation or application’ of the compulsory dispute settlement procedure. Of Malaysia and arrived back in Convention,” China’s foreign ministry said. course China cannot accept this.” Male (on Saturday night),” his China claims almost the entire South China China’s participation is not required as the office said in a statement. Sea, rejecting claims to parts of it from , tribunal is not meant to resolve the dispute but Yameen was working with offi- the Philippines, , Malaysia and Brunei. It address the validity of China’s “nine-dash line” cials to ease the crisis, including has a dispute with Japan over islands in the East as well as the classification of various features by distributing tonnes of bottled China Sea. China has long rejected arbitration, under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea water flown in from neighbouring insisting it would resolve disputes bilaterally. The to which China is a signatory. and Sri Lanka as well as ally tribunal has given China until December 15 to China’s claim is represented on its maps by a China, it said. reply in the case. nine-dash line that loops out from its coast. Bangladesh yesterday said it Xu Hong, head of the ministry’s legal and trea- A ruling in the Philippines’ favour could under- was sending 100,000 litres of bot- ties department, said the timing of the paper had mine parts of China’s claim to the sea, which crit- tled water and five portable desal- nothing to do with the deadline, and it had taken ics say has an obscure basis under the Convention. ination plants on a naval ship to time to prepare China’s arguments for why it REUTERS help the island chain. The Bangladeshi navy said the ship left Chittagong yesterday morning and would reach Male in four days. Yameen on Saturday appealed Sri Lanka cuts fuel prices ahead of polls to Maldivians to remain “patient and united, while working with COLOMBO: Sri Lanka slashed cooking gas was cutting diesel and gasoline prices by nearly the government to resolve the prices yesterday just one day after the cost of five percent, also the second recent reduction. national crisis”. diesel and petrol was also cut ahead of next It denied the move was an election sweetener The government has declared month’s presidential election. instructed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s Sunday and Monday public holi- The ministry of internal trade said it was government, insisting the cut was connected to days to dampen the anger that reducing the price of a standard cylinder of falling global oil prices. has led to fights among resi- gas used for cooking by 11.6 percent to Rs1,896 The reduction comes despite the fact that the dents and attacks on shops that ($14.50) from yesterday, the second such cut in corporation has accumulated losses of Rs240bn rationed bottled water. recent months. The loss-making state-run Ceylon ($1.84bn), according to company officials. AFP Petroleum Corporation announced on Saturday it AFP MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Govt urges US hands Pakistan militants held in Kabul PTI to end US military confirms transfer of former Taliban commander and two guards from Afghanistan protest KABUL/DERA ISMAIL was handed over to Pakistani several dozen foreign prison- rockets into the Bagram base “We are working on gather- KHAN: The United States authorities along with his ers who the United States will on Saturday, damaging a build- ing information on how this took has handed to Pakistan three guards,” one Pakistani secu- no longer be allowed to keep in ing and a road, a spokesman for place,” said Nazifullah Salarzai, before talks prisoners including a sen- rity official said. “They reached Afghanistan when the mission for international coalition forces said. the spokesman for Afghanistan’s ior Taliban militant held in Islamabad.” the US-led force there ends later A message on a Taliban-linked new President Ashraf Ghani. ISLAMABAD: Information Afghanistan, as Washington The transfers coincide with this month. Twitter account suggested that Relations between the two Minister Pervez Rashid has rushes to empty its Afghan a visit by outgoing US Defence “We’re actually just going Hagel was the target. He was neighbours are rocky because urged the Pakistan Tehreek-i- prison before losing the legal Secretary Chuck Hagel to through and returning all the not at Bagram at the time of the each suspects the other of har- Insaf (PTI) to end its on-going right to detain people there at Afghanistan. third-country nationals detained attack, a US military spokesman bouring Taliban insurgents seek- protest before proceeding for the end of the year. They also follow a spate of in Afghanistan to resolve that said. ing to topple their respective talks with the government. US forces captured Latif US drone strikes against the issue,” a US embassy spokes- Recognisable by his curly locks government. “Protests and talks cannot go Mehsud, the former number two Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan woman said. and youthful looks, Mehsud was But Ghani’s ascent to power together,” he said while address- commander in Pakistan’s faction (TTP), or Pakistani Taliban, The quandary over what to do snatched by US forces last year has raised hopes for more coop- ing a meeting of the Federal of the Taliban, in October 2013, and Al Qaeda. On Saturday, the with the detainees held at the not far from Kabul. eration in tackling the insurgency. Executive Council of a faction of in an operation that angered Pakistani military killed an Al prison north of Kabul has rekin- At the time, Karzai’s spokes- In recent weeks, drone strikes the Pakistan Federal Union of then Afghan president Hamid Qaeda commander accused of dled outrage over the US policy man told the Washington Post and a tribal revolt against the Journalists yesterday. Karzai. plotting to bomb the New York of rendition in the early phases Mehsud was travelling with a militants have squeezed the The minister asked the PTI Mehsud, a Pakistani, and his subway. of the Afghan war. convoy of Afghan intelligence offi- Pakistani Taliban in hideouts in leadership to take steps for mak- two guards were secretly flown The TTP is separate but allied The fate of the remaining cials who wanted to recruit him Afghanistan’s remote and moun- ing the “atmosphere conducive to to Pakistan, two senior Pakistani to the Afghan Taliban. Both work prisoners was undecided and for peace talks, and that the US tainous east. resumption of dialogue”. security officials said. The US alongside Al Qaeda. they could be returned to their forcibly removed him. In the latest strike, a US drone PTI leader Dr Arif Alvi, who military confirmed it transferred The US Embassy in Kabul said home countries, brought into The arrest enraged Karzai, who in Afghanistan’s southern Kunar remained a member of the par- three prisoners to Pakistan’s cus- the three prisoners had been the US legal system or to the saw it as a challenge to Afghan province killed nine Taliban ty’s negotiating team, expressed tody on Saturday, but would not held at a detention centre near Guantanamo Bay prison in Cuba, sovereignty. In a statement, the from Pakistan’s Swat region on surprise over the minister’s call, reveal their identities. Bagram airfield, the largest US the commander of the detention US military said Afghanistan Saturday, the Taliban and police saying: “The atmosphere has been “TTP senior commander base in Afghanistan. centre told Reuters in September. “was not involved” in Saturday’s said. conducive to talks for past many Latif Mehsud who was arrested The facility is believed to house Taliban militants fired two transfer. REUTERS months as there has been no vio- lence or any unconstitutional act committed by the PTI.” He said the PTI had been hold- Honour guard ing peaceful sit-ins and public meetings at various places in the Qaeda suspect among country and the protests could not be called off at any cost. On the other hand, he alleged, the government had used force 4 killed in drone strike against PTI workers and put them behind bars. Yet, he said, DERA ISMAIL KHAN: A He was close to Osama bin PTI was “peacefully waiting” for senior member of Al Qaeda and Laden and Ayman Al Zawahiri, the resumption of talks. three other suspected militants the former and current heads of Finance Minister Ishaq were killed in Pakistan yester- Al Qaeda, and was a key figure Dar, who led the government’s day when a US drone attacked in running the group’s operations negotiating team before talks a house they were in, Pakistani and finances in Pakistan and in with the PTI collapsed in military officials and Taliban Afghanistan, where he also helped September, has already said said. direct attacks against Nato that dialogue could resume The attack came a day after troops, the Taliban said. soon after Prime Minister Pakistani forces killed a major Al Qaeda is closely allied Nawaz Sharif’s return to the Al Qaeda leader, Adnan Ql with the Taliban and often country from the UK. Shukrijumah. The US Federal work together. One Pakistani Despite public pronouncements Bureau of Investigation had official said Farooq, also called of their willingness to resume offered $5 million for his capture Ustad Farooq, was in charge talks, both sides have been accus- in connection with a plot to bomb of Al Qaeda’s regional media ing each other of putting hurdles the New York subway system. department. in the way of dialogue. Four Pakistani military officials “He is the first Pakistani to be A source in the PML-N said said a senior member of Al Qaeda appointed to a senior-level posi- that the prime minister was was among the dead in the strike tion in Al Qaeda,” a military offi- expected to have a consultative by a missile-firing drone yester- cial said. meeting with his close aides in a day. They identified him as Omar “He has been key in push- day or two to discuss the agenda Farooq and said he operated in ing al Qaeda to focus on South for talks with the PTI. Afghanistan and Pakistan. Asia and helped evolve al Qaeda’s Meanwhile, hitting out hard Three Taliban fighters said South Asia policy and specifically at the PTI chief for his alleged Farooq, 38 years old, was from its anti-India activities. It was on failure to present proof of rigging Karachi, where he had been a his advice that al Qaeda officially in a Lahore constituency before religious teacher before joining declared the Pakistan army an an election tribunal earlier in the Al Qaeda after the 2001 attack apostate army.” day, the information minister said on New York. REUTERS Afghan troops in ceremonial uniforms take part in an arrival ceremony for US Secretary of Defence Chuck Khan had been against exposed Hagel at the Presidential Palace in Kabul. before the nation. INTERNEWS Islamabad aiming for jet boost to defence exports

KARACHI: A revamped version of long-running energy crisis and growth edition of the JF-17 in 2010, having histori- Pakistan’s JF-17 jet fighter took centre remains sluggish, predicted at 4.3 percent cally relied on US imports during its wars stage at a defence exhibition in Karachi this financial year. with India. this week as the restive nuclear-armed The new JF-17, which is manufactured at It has deployed F-16s in recent attacks on state looks to boost its role as a military the Pakistan Aeronautical Complex (PAC) insurgents in the tribal regions that border exporter on the world stage. just west of Islamabad, was among the Afghanistan, but not its own home-made Pakistan’s large, well-funded military key exhibits at the four-day International fighters. has long been a major importer of defence Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) After the Cold War ended Pakistan began equipment, particularly from key ally China. event. to deepen defence and economic ties with But Pakistan is hoping the updated JF-17, The plane will initially be handed over ally China, culminating in the test flight of conceived and initially developed with the to the Pakistan Air Force (PAF), which is the jet’s prototype in Chengdu in 2003. help of China, along with Pakistani-made currently carrying out air strikes against China earlier this month promised invest- tanks and surveillance drones, will help Taliban militants in the northwest. “We will ment worth $42bn in Pakistan mainly cen- grow military exports and bring in much- hand over 16 Block-II JF-17s to the PAF tred on the energy sector. needed foreign exchange revenue. every year,” said Air Marshal Javaid Ahmad. Ahmad did not disclose the jet’s sale price, Pakistan’s forex reserves are slowly recov- He said the first five would be delivered but added: “Several developing countries ering after falling to just $3bn in November this month and the plant has the capacity have shown keen interest in buying JF-17s 2013, from nearly $15bn in 2011. to produce 25 aircraft per year. from Pakistan.” But the economy is still shackled by a The air force started using the first AFP

Sindh Cultural Day Zardari reiterates support for political system

LAHORE: The PPP cannot afford to weaken the politi- cal system in place in Pakistan because its vulnerability will be analogous to the weakness of the party and indeed of the peo- ple of the country, said former president Asif Ali Zardari while addressing current and former lawmakers, ticket holders, dis- trict presidents and office-bear- ers hailing from south Punjab at Bilawal House. He said that he had been striv- ing hard for the evolution of the political system because a devel- oped system could ensure desir- able political stability, economic prosperity and integrity of the R esidents dance during an event to mark Sindh Cultural Day in Karachi yesterday. Sindh is renowned federation where people would for its various handicrafts and arts. enjoy equal rights. INTERNEWS MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA PM seeks to replace Planning Commission Most CMs favour alternative body: Finance Minister

NEW DELHI: The Planning some chief ministers wanted that flexibility “rather than a control- Commission should be replaced revamp should be carried out led and command structure”, he by an organisation that thinks within the existing body. said. creatively, strengthens the fed- “A few, while agreeing with the He said Banerjee sent a letter eral structure, and is able to general principles of change, felt if to the prime minister favouring energize governance at the state the present Planning Commission decentralisation and strength- level, Prime Minister Narendra could evolve into that structure,” ening of states. She had also Modi said yesterday. he said. suggested enhancing role of inter- In his concluding remarks at West Bengal Chief Minister state council and giving it a role the consultation meeting with Mamata Banerjee did not attend in the planning process. chief ministers on the eplacement the meeting and the state was He said the issue of five-year of the Planning Commission, represented by its finance plans will be addressed once the Modi referred to his predeces- minister. government takes a final deci- sor Manmohan Singh’s remarks Jaitley said the meeting was sion on reshaping the Planning that the body had no futuristic followed by a retreat where the Commission. vision in the post-reform period prime minister and chief minis- Jaitley also said the prime min- and, hence, must be reinvented ters had “an informal meeting” ister in his remarks at the meet- to remain more effective and rel- with no bureaucrats present. ing said that the plan panel would evant in the present situation. He said there was no specific have to reinvent itself to remain He termed the meeting fruitful agenda for the retreat and any more effective and relevant in the and said all chief ministers had issue could be discussed. present context. Arms and ammunition recovered from recent clashes displayed at the headquarters of Indian Army’s 15 Corps offered significant suggestions, Answering a query about the Modi, in his speech, cited his in Srinagar yesterday. said an official statement. final decision of the government predecessor Manmohan Singh’s Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on reshaping the planning panel, remarks made in April that the said that most chief ministers Jaitley said it will “take a consid- commission has no futuristic have favoured replacing the ered view after consultations are vision in the post-reform period. LeT blamed for Kashmir terror Planning Commission with an over”. He did not specify a time Modi said the panel should be alternative structure which has frame. replaced by an organisation which SRINAGAR: The Indian Army from the LeT terrorist group, he attacks of the day in Uri sector representation from the central The minister said there was a can strengthen the federal struc- yesterday blamed the Pakistan- said. The LeT, led by Hafiz Saeed, in Baramulla district. government and the states and large consensus at the meeting ture and energise states. based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had also masterminded the 2008 The attack began before dawn expert participation also. that “the context has changed and According to Modi, the process for the deadly terror attack in Mumbai terror attack that left when a suicide squad struck at an Briefing reporters after the there is need to decentralise both of policy planning has to change Kashmir which killed eight sol- 166 Indians and foreigners dead army camp killing eight soldiers meeting of chief ministers called power and planning”. from “top to bottom” to “bottom diers and three policemen. in India’s commercial capital and and three policemen who tried to by Prime Minister Narendra He said there was also a large to top”, the finance minister said. A senior army officer based almost triggered a war between intervene. All six terrorists were Modi to discuss reshaping of the consensus that states have to be “The prime minister also noted here also said that the terrorists India and Pakistan. killed hours later after a fierce gun Planning Commission, Jaitley strengthened. He said most chief that in countries such as the US, who stormed a military camp in Lt Gen Saha said the terror- battle. The same day, terrorists also said that most chief ministers ministers felt that there was a fal- think tanks that function inde- Uri on Friday were trained like ists appeared to be prepared to carried out attacks at three other were also of the view that the lacy that “one size fits all” and the pendently of the government have Special Forces and sought to link wage a long battle. “The kind of places, leaving a total of 21 people new institution should not be requirement of each state was dif- a major role in policy-making,” he the killings to the Jammu and ammunition they had shows they dead including those killed in Uri. a “merely central government ferent and the states know what added. Kashmir assembly elections. were in for a big haul. Six AK-47 “The type of infiltration and structure”. suits them the best. “The prime minister said that “These terrorists were highly rifles, magazines and 1,415 rounds attacks ... proves these attacks “Most favoured an alterna- Jaitley said the chief minis- when he was chief minister of trained like Special Forces to were recovered along with food were highly coordinated,” Lt Gen tive structure where the Centre, ters felt that the strategy has Gujarat, his heart was with the carry out the attacks,” Lt Gen items suggesting they wanted to Saha said. “All the incidents lead- states and experts participate... A to be to empower the states and chief ministers and he had felt Subrata Saha, General Officer stay for a long battle.” ing to the attacks, including the very large majority was in favour strengthen federalism. the need for a better platform Commanding of the Srinagar- The terrorists are believed to ceasefire violations, could not have of changed structure,” he said. Most states favoured a system to articulate the view of states,” based 15 Corps, told the media. have crossed the Jhelum river in happened without coordination Without naming the Congress which strengthens their abil- Jaitley said. There was enough evidence to Uri as the water level was low from across (the border),” he said, or its chief ministers, Jaitley said ity to deliver and wanted more IANS indicate that the attackers were there to carry out the deadliest alluding to Pakistan. IANS

Row over Sushama’s Delhi cab driver accused of rape arrested call to declare NEW DELHI/MATHURA: said they traced the driver’s cell- Gita national A cab driver accused of raping phone number, and it was reg- a 25-year-old working woman istered in the name of a person in Delhi on Friday night was called Gaurav. holy book arrested yesterday from his The driver also did not have a hideout in Uttar Pradesh’s driving licence issued by the Delhi NEW DELHI: External Mathura town, police said. Transport Authority, which is Affairs Minister Sushma The driver was being brought recommended for those engaged Swaraj yesterday applauded to Delhi and will be presented in driving cabs in the capital. Prime Minister Narendra before court today. In her complaint, the woman Modi’s gesture of present- Shiv Kumar Yadav was taken said she finished her day-long ing the Hindu scripture into custody from his hideout in shift around 7pm on Friday and Bhagavad Gita to world Mathura, about 135km south of went to a hotel in Gurgaon for leaders, saying the book has the capital, Delhi Police spokes- dinner with her friends. been elevated to the status person Rajan Bhagat said in The woman was later dropped of a national scripture. Delhi. The 32-year-old driver, a in Vasant Vihar area by her She proposed the need for resident of Mathura, was caught friends from where she hired a a formal announcement to in a joint operation by Delhi and private cab around 9.30pm., police this effect in order to offi- Uttar Pradesh Police force. said quoting from the complaint. cially establish the book’s A police official said in Mathura “While on my way home, I fell status to that of a national that Yadav was being inter- asleep on the back seat of the scripture. rogated at the Highway Police cab. A few minutes later, I real- “Prime Minister Modi Station after he was nabbed from ised that the car was stopped at gifted the Bhagavad Gita Chandrapuri colony. Police said a secluded place and the driver to US President Barack they have also seized a white car. was molesting me,” the woman Obama, which means it has “He is being brought to Delhi,” said in her complaint. She said already received the honour Bhagat said. the driver slapped her many times of a national scripture. What The driver, employed with when she objected to his molesta- we require is only a formal international cab-booking com- tion attempt. announcement now to offi- pany Uber, is accused of raping Residents hold placards and chant slogans as they take part in a protest against the alleged rape of a passenger “I tried to unlock the cab door cially declare the Gita as a the woman who was returning by a driver working for the Uber taxi company in New Delhi yesterday. but failed. The driver threat- national scripture,” Sushma home in north Delhi’s Inderlok ened to kill me and raped me,” Swaraj said in a public meet- area from Gurgaon, where she “Our thoughts are with the vic- “Safety is Uber’s highest prior- However, Deputy Commissioner the woman said. Police said the ing to commemorate 5,151 is employed as an analyst in a tim of this terrible crime and we ity, and in India, we work with of Police Madhur Verma said: “The driver later dropped the woman years of the Bhagavad Gita finance company in Sector 21 for are working with police as they licenced driver-partners to pro- driver of the cab, booked through near her home and once again at the Red Fort. the past three years. investigate. We will assist them in vide a safe transportation option, Uber, had not been subjected to a threatened her with dire conse- The pitch for declar- After the name of Uber came any way we can. It is also our pol- with layers of safeguards such as police verification. The company, quences if she approached police. ing the Gita as a national up in the case, the app-based ride- icy to immediately suspend a driv- driver and vehicle information, which did not get his background Police said the woman made holy book provoked the sharing service yesterday issued er’s account following allegations and ETA-sharing to ensure there check done, was asked to join the a call to the police control room Trinamool Congress to say a statement, saying it has given of a serious incident, which we is accountability and traceability investigation Sunday.” around 1.30am on Saturday and the Constitution was the police all details of the driver and have done,” Uber spokeswoman of all trips that occur on the Uber He said the cab also did not informed officials about her “holy book” in a democracy. GPS information. Evelyn Tay said in a statement. platform,” the spokeswoman said. have the mandatory GPS. Police ordeal. IANS “Our Constitution says India is a secular coun- try. The Constitution is the Holy Book in a democ- racy,” the Trinamool wrote Left parties’ strike from today Police-Maoist gunfight in Kerala on Twitter. Congress leader Manish KOLKATA: Six Left parties yesterday decided to start a coun- Tewari said: “If anybody trywide mass movement from today in support of their nine-point WAYANAD, KERALA: A Maoists and there was no casu- no need for any panic or fear as has seriously read and inter- demand including stopping introduction of RSS and Hindutva ide- gunfight broke out yesterday alties during the battle,” he said. our police are fully geared and nalised the teachings of the ologies in education and preventing FDI in insurance sector. in a forest in Kerala’s hilly Following the gunfight, addi- ready to tackle them,” added Gita, they would not make The six parties met here during the day to finalise details of the the Wayanad district between tional police forces was rushed Chennithala. such a frivolous statement,” week-long agitation slated to end on December 14. the state police’s anti-Mao- to the area. The presence of Maoists in the he said. The outfits - Communist Party of India-Marxist, Communist Party ist Thunderbolt unit and the The Kerala Police have been Wayanad district that borders The Left Front chairman of India, Revolutionary Socialist Party, Forward Bloc, Socialist Unity left-wing rebels, state Home maintaining a close watch in the Karnataka has been reported and CPI-M politburo member Centre of India (Communist) and Communist Party of India-Marxist Minister Ramesh Chennithala tribal areas as these were the before and one reason according Biman Bose termed it “noth- Leninist (Liberation) - are also railing against the spread of communal said. places that the Maoists used to to those in the know of things is ing but yet another attempt violence in the name of ‘love jihad’ and encroachment of the rights The minister said the exchange frequent. Two companies of the that these Maoists have been able to implement the ideologies of minorities. Briefing media persons after the deliberations, West of fire took place last evening Thunderbolts are camping in the to get ground support and hence of RSS and Hindutva in the Bengal’s opposition Left Front chairman and CPI-M politburo member in the tribal settlement area of forest area. tracking them down has become country”. AGENCIES Biman Bose said 11 allied parties in the state would also take aprt in Vellamunda area. “Things are absolutely under difficult. the movement. IANS “Police have been tracking the the control of police and there is IANS

MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Santa fun run

Fajr (Dawn) 4:45 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:07 Zuhr (Noon) 11:26 Asr (Afternoon) 2:24 Maghrib (Sunset) 4:45 Isha (Night) 6:15

WEATHER

Today Tuesday Wednesday Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Clear Partly cloudy and hazy.

High: 26° High: 26° High: 26° Low: 17° Low: 17° Low: 17°

DOHA - SUN & SEA

SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:07 16:45 06:15 17:15 13:30 23:15 04-14 KT Thousands of runners pose for a group photo after completing an annual Santa fun run from Darling Harbour to the Sydney Opera House in THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW yesterday. The annual event is a fundraiser to assist disadvantaged children with equipment and programmes to help them live a fuller life.

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 24/20 Clear 23/20 Clear MAKKAH 34/23 Partly cloudy 34/23 Clear KUWAIT 25/10 Clear 26/12 Clear Paris mayor declares war on diesel cars BAHRAIN 23/16 Clear 25/17 Clear SANAA 23/06 Clear 23/05 Clear PARIS: The mayor of Paris referring to the constantly choked limit the traffic on some of the She said she also wanted to roll RIYADH 20/14 Partly cloudy 20/14 Partly cloudy yesterday laid out a plan to ring road around the capital. most polluted streets — like the out a system of electric-powered DUBAI 29/15 Clear 29/14 Clear limit cars in the city’s historic “Today, 60 percent of Parisians iconic but traffic clogged Champs- bikes along the same lines as the BAGHDAD 24/11 Clear 24/14 Partly cloudy centre and said she wanted to don’t have their own car whereas Elysees — to “clean vehicles”. city’s popular velib temporary ban diesel vehicles by 2020. in 2011, it was 40 percent. It’s As an “experimental” measure, bike hire network. The plan will THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW “In the four central districts, moving quickly,” she said. she suggested allowing only ultra- be discussed in the town hall on apart from bikes, buses and taxis, Central Paris has a rela- low emitting cars on these major February 9. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER the only vehicles allowed will be tively high population density thoroughfares. She also intends to Top city transport official residents’ cars, delivery vehicles in European terms and tourists extend zones where the speed limit Christophe Najdovski said last ATHENS 15/12 Partly cloudy 14/09 Rain and emergency vehicles,” Anne are often surprised by the traffic is fixed at 30km an hour so that it month that there would be WASHINGTON 05/04 Rain 08/05 Chance of rain Hidalgo said in an interview with levels in and around the historic becomes “the norm in Paris”. restrictions on the most pollut- SYDNEY 24/18 Mostly cloudy 25/19 Chance of rain the Journal du Dimanche weekly. sights of the world’s most visited “Driving at 50km per hour on ing cars in central Paris from the LONDON 06/01 Clear 10/07 Mostly cloudy Hidalgo said the proposed anti- city. The city also experiences the main arterial roads would middle of 2015. pollution scheme would start at periodic pollution spikes forcing become the exception,” she said. During the last spike in pollu- PARIS 06/02 Chance of rain 06/03 Clear weekends but could be “quickly” authorities to impose temporary And in a bid to get people out tion, in December 2013, the air ISTANBUL 14/10 Chance of showers 13/08 Chance of showers rolled out for the rest of the week. speed limits on motorists and of cars and on to bikes, the mayor quality was so bad, it was equiva- MANILA 27/22 Thunderstorm 27/24 Mostly cloudy “I want diesel cars out of Paris even to ban vehicles from running said the amount of cycle lanes lent to heavy passive smoking, DHAKA 26/15 Partly cloudy 27/16 Clear by 2020 and if possible beyond on certain days. would be doubled by 2020 as part according to an expert report. DELHI 26/11 Partly cloudy 25/10 Clear the peripherique,” said the mayor, Hidalgo said she wanted to of a ¤100m bike development plan. AFP ISLAMABAD 19/06 Clear 19/06 Clear

Trashed laptop Flying united DiMaggio letter to Marilyn batteries to power homes Monroe sells for $78,000

NEW YORK: Researchers, NEW YORK: A letter that remains a bit mysterious and including an Indian-origin sci- baseball great Joe DiMaggio there has never, ever been anyone entist, from IBM have used wrote to actress Marilyn like her,” auction company presi- discarded laptop batteries to Monroe before their divorce dent Darren Julien said through create an emergency lighting sold for $78,125 in an auc- a spokeswoman. system called UrJar for street tion of Monroe memorabilia in “Items that were impor- vendors and houses located in California yesterday, according tant to her career and life are slums in Bengaluru in India. to a news release from the auc- getting harder and harder to The team, along with a hard- tion house. find.” ware firm RadioStudio, tested DiMaggio wrote the letter The auction of more than 300 three-year-old batteries dis- to Monroe following her news Monroe personal belongings on carded by an IT company and conference announcing their Saturday included a series of found that they had enough divorce, which occurred nine love letters written to Monroe capacity to power LED (Light months after their January by playwright Arthur Miller Emitting Diode) lights, a small 1954 wedding. Julien’s Auctions before he became her husband fan or even a mobile charger. in Beverly Hills did not disclose in 1956. Cutting open the battery packs, the buyer. A letter Monroe wrote in and extracting individual cells DiMaggio, a Hall of Fame response to Miller brought that could still work, the team player for the New York $43,750, the auction house said. reconnected them to make new Yankees, did not want to end Miller and Monroe divorced power units. the marriage and asked Monroe less than five years after their Using these battery packs, to reconsider, calling the letter marriage. three UrJar prototypes were cre- “heartbreaking”. The top-selling item at the ated which were handed out to Monroe was an actress with a auction was a silk overcoat that participants to test for some time. sometimes-tumultuous personal Monroe often wore in photo- The prototypes come at an life that included three marriages. graphs. It sold for $175,000. A average cost of `600, the team She died in 1962 at age 36 in Los Monroe black cocktail dress and found, including an enclosure, the Angeles from a drug overdose, opera coat sold for $93,750, the electronics, an LED light bulb and Pigeons flying over the Luigi Ferraris Stadium in Genoa, Italy, yesterday. authorities said at the time. auction house said. a mobile charger. IANS “Marilyn is an icon who REUTERS Prince William to break new ground with three-day US trip

LONDON: Prince William and Charles, is starting to do more of touring one of her realms, this upstage him everywhere he goes, It will be the first time either become an air ambulance pilot in his pregnant wife Kate head to the long-haul work for the British time they will be expressly vis- because British and other media William or Kate will have been to his day job, is also preparing for New York yesterday for a glitzy monarchy as Queen Elizabeth II iting on behalf of the British seem to be obsessed with what New York or Washington. a trip to Japan and China in late visit that marks a step-up in approaches her nineties. government. Kate wears and the baby bump,” The couple will attend their February-early March, without their role representing Britain “It’s a significant trip which The visit will undoubtedly Jobson said. first NBA basketball game Kate, who is due to give birth in abroad, royal commentators is trying to establish William revive memories of the 1985 “They’ve obviously got a more today, the league said, when April. That visit is being viewed in said. further in a diplomatic, states- trip made by William’s parents, serious agenda, which is that they will see LeBron James and Britain as an attempt to improve The three-day trip will see the manlike role,” Robert Jobson, Charles and Diana, when the this is the future king meet- his Cleveland Cavaliers visit the top-level diplomatic relations Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, author of The New Royal Family princess, wearing a dazzling gown, ing the president of the United Brooklyn Nets. with Beijing. both 32, mix diplomacy with sup- on William, Kate and their baby danced with US president Ronald States and entering the special Sir Peter Westmacott, British “In terms of foreign travel, porting their favourite causes son Prince George — who will not Reagan and Hollywood star John relationship.” ambassador to the US, told CBS I would guess that he and his and promoting British business be on the visit — said. Travolta. After the meeting with Obama, News that he was confident the younger brother Prince Harry interests. The official visit will be only Jobson said palace officials were William will address the World protests that have taken place would be the ones that do it in Crucially for William, he will the second undertaken by keen to balance the spotlight bet- Bank on illegal wildlife trading. over several nights in New York future because they have got huge meet US President Barack Obama William and Kate outside the ter than they did with Charles “It is quite a coup for William demanding justice for black men appeal,” Junor said. in the White House today for Commonwealth family of nations, and Diana. “They don’t simply that he has been invited to the killed by white policemen would “He’s definitely a draw, people talks about illegal wildlife trad- following a brief stop in California want it to be dominated by the White House by Obama because not overshadow the visit. love him the world over. They will ing, an issue close to the prince’s at the end of their 2011 Canada Kate factor,” he said. this is his topic, something he “We obviously hope not because use him, for sure,” said the author, heart. tour. “They’re trying to keep William has specifically raised awareness this is a visit to which we attach a who wrote “Prince William: Born William, second in line to the And rather than visiting on and Kate’s programme designed about,” royal biographer Penny great deal of importance,” he said. to Be King”. throne after his father Prince behalf of Queen Elizabeth or carefully so that she doesn’t Junor said. William, who is training to AFP Monday 8 December 2014 16 Safar 1436 Volume 19 Number 6273 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 UAE’s money Mena IPO activity gains momentum exchange Performance inching closer to pre-crisis level of 2008; MSCI market upgrade a booster shot industry faces DOHA: The IPO activity in raising $9.6bn from 21 IPOs. This building to host upcoming global to $2.4bn from $1.9bn in 2012. limit, especially in Qatar, is Mena region is inching closer to was the market’s best perform- events such as FIFA 2012 in Qatar This growth momentum gained expected to improve the flow of shake-out pre-crisis levels of 2008, induced ance in terms of proceeds after and Expo 2020 in Dubai,” the ana- considerable pace in 2014 after foreign funds into regional equity by positive sentiment in the the 2008 economic crisis when it lysts said. Improved valuations, Qatar and UAE were included markets. This would also set the region’s equity markets. IPOs had raised $12.4bn from 45 issues. upbeat fundamentals of the Mena in the MSCI Emerging Markets momentum for IPO markets. DUBAI: Some money exchange raised $9.6bn in 2014 against However, the average deal size in region as well as relaxed regula- and Saudi Arabia announcing The GIH report noted GCC firms in the United Arab $12.4bn in 2008, after averaging 2014 was significantly higher than tory norms are key catalysts with the opening of its markets. These countries had the largest share Emirates may have to merge $1.8bn during 2009-13. Analysts that of 2008 by 66 percent. In the would continue driving equity activities, amid acceleration in of IPO listings in Mena, constitut- and others could be forced to expect the momentum will con- last few months, the IPO market markets, boosting the IPO activ- Mena’s GDP, resulted in a rally ing nearly 91.7 percent of capital close as they struggle with ris- tinue, driven by MSCI’s market witnessed intense activities, rais- ity in 2015, with GCC countries in stock markets with Qatar and raised from 67 IPOs. During the ing capital and compliance costs upgrade of Qatar and UAE. ing $8.3bn. in the lead. Dubai markets up 32 percent and first nine months of 2014, the and some banks refuse to do Global Investment House’s “We expect the momentum Led by improved economic 50 percent, respectively, until first countries accounted for 90.1 per- business with them, the head of (GIH) Mena IPO analysis noted to continue, driven by MSCI’s sentiment across the globe and nine months of 2014, while Saudi cent of the capital raised through an industry body said. IPO market in the region picked upgrade of Qatar and the UAE increased liquidity, the IPO mar- markets rose 27 percent dur- IPOs in Mena, raising nearly The UAE’s majority expatri- up in 2014 after lackluster per- to Emerging Markets, liberalisa- ket began recovering in 2013, with ing the same period, leading to $2.7bn from 11 IPOs. Qatar’s ate population transferred a net formance in previous five years. tion of Saudi stock market, sus- the number of listings doubling to a revival in IPO activity across share accounted for 5.6 percent Dh66bn ($18bn) abroad in 2013, The market performed vigorously tained investment in developing 24 from 12 in 2012. The proceeds the region. of the total capital raised during according to central bank data, during January-November 2014, social infrastructure, and capacity rose 26.1 percent year-on-year Increased foreign ownership 2009-14. THE PENINSULA much of it through the estimated 120 exchange firms in the region’s main financial hub. But this year the industry has battled multiple headwinds. Money exchanges remitting money abroad were given two Iran unveils budget years from January to meet a new minimum capital require- ment of Dh5m imposed by the central bank, posing a challenge based on lower oil for smaller players. Exchange houses are also increasingly expected to exercise greater scrutiny on their custom- price of $70/barrel ers and the money they handle in a region considered a high risk TEHRAN: Iran unveiled a currently exports around 1.3 mil- for terror financing and money draft budget yesterday for next lion barrels per day. laundering. In May 2013, the US year based on oil prices remain- However, Rouhani said oil rev- treasury department prohibited ing around $70 per barrel, with enues earmarked for the budget dealings with Al Hilal Exchange President Hassan Rouhani say- would be $24bn next year, down for aiding Iranian attempts to cir- ing the country would become from $27.5bn, meaning less than cumvent international sanctions less dependent on crude. half the government’s income against Iran. With international prices at would come from exported crude. Complying with capital and five-year lows on the back of over- Iran had already announced compliance regulations has supply worries and a stronger dol- some tax rise plans on the back added between 20 to 40 per lar, major oil producers are having of the recent oil price fall, along cent to industry costs this year, to juggle their finances to com- with increases in non-oil exports. said Osama Al Rahma, chair- pensate for lower than expected Next year’s non-oil-based man of the Foreign Exchange & revenues. revenues will constitute more Remittance Group UAE. “This Rouhani admitted the budget than half the government’s total is why I’m expecting some won’t for the fiscal year starting in income, rising to 53 percent from be able to meet such huge opera- March 2015 “would be under the current 47 percent, according tional costs, especially if you add pressure” given the big fall in oil to forecasts. Total spending will this along with inflation and cost prices in recent months, from rise 8.5 percent. of doing business,” he said. “You above $100 to less than $70. Rouhani did not state a figure might see consolidation and you “Such a drop is unprecedented,” for the price of oil per barrel laid might see exits.” he said in a speech to parliament down in the budget, but the offi- Iranian parliament members arrive before President Hassan Rouhani presented the budget in Tehran yesterday. Some banks were also refus- carried live on state television, cial IRNA news agency said it was ing to deal with exchange firms, noting that the government had fixed at $72 — down from around he said. This has made it tricky been cautious in its forecasts. $100 in the current budget year. Defence expenditure to increase by 33.5pc for them to access banking serv- “In the short term, we will have Other changes have also been ices they need to operate, such as a decrease in our revenues. Our necessary. Money from oil sales DUBAI: President Hassan Rouhani will hike Defence expenditure will rise 33.5 percent to obtaining US dollars. economy must move towards non- put into the National Development military spending by more than a third in the about 282 trillion rials, most of which will be “International banks have oil exports. The oil price drop is Fund used to finance major infra- next fiscal year despite presenting a “cautious, assigned to the elite Revolutionary Guards. The started pressurising local banks a new opportunity to accelerate structure projects will drop from tight” budget in response to falling oil prices and Guards’ budget will increase by about half to 174 to do the same. The main issue this.” 31 percent to 20 percent “to avoid punishing sanctions. Rouhani proposed a gen- trillion rials. Iran is stockpiling rockets, missiles behind it is de-risking,” said Iran has the world’s fourth too much pressure on the budget”, eral budget of 8,400 trillion rials. and other conventional weapons. REUTERS Rahma, who is also CEO at Al largest proven oil reserves and Rouhani said. AFP Fardan Exchange. REUTERS

Selfies with Alibaba head Sonatrach maps out energy output expansion, to invest $80bn by 2019

ALGIERS: Algerian state and gas conference in Algiers, state news agency said. However, energy company Sonatrach said Sonatrach’s interim chief Said there was no indication on what yesterday it will intensify its Sahnoun said the company would measures will be taken to attract exploration efforts by drilling invest about $80bn by 2019 to investors that largely shied away 125 wells a year and expanding boost production to 225 million from Algeria’s previous energy its transportation network to tonnes of oil equivalent, adding bidding round. help boost production over five that he does not expect lower oil Sid Ali Betata, head of Algeria’s years. prices to affect spending plans. hydrocarbons agency, said a new The North African Opec state’s Last year Algeria’s total pro- round was still being studied, crude oil and gas production has duction was 192 million tonnes of with no date or further details stagnated in recent years, sty- oil equivalent, including 121 mil- available as yet. “There will be mied by a lack of foreign inves- lion tonnes from natural gas, 54.5 no new bidding round before we tors because of bureaucracy and million tonnes from crude oil and change the legal framework,” said security concerns, but neither 9.5 million tonnes from conden- one senior Sonatrach source who Sonatrach nor the energy minis- sate. “I remain optimistic about asked not to be identified. try provided details on incentives our energy output for the coming Only four of 31 areas on offer for potential oil partners. years and we are ready to work were taken by foreign consorti- Sonatrach’s plans are crucial with all of our partners,” Sahnoun ums that included Spain’s Repsol, for a country that relies heavily said. Royal Dutch Shell and Norway’s on energy exports to pay for social The Sonatrach head said devel- Statoil in Algeria’s first attempt programmes that have helped to opment plans included building to draw investors since a disap- Delegates take ‘selfies’ with Alibaba Group Executive Chairman Jack Ma as he arrives for the Fifth Conference maintain stability in an often up transportation network and a pointing 2011 round. of Zhejiang Chamber of Commerce in Beijing. Ma was awarded Honorary Chairman of Zhejiang Chamber of volatile region. Domestic energy focus on less mature fields around Algeria expects to start pro- Commerce during the conference. consumption is also growing. Illizi, Berkine, Hassi Messaoud duction at six gasfields in the next Speaking at a North Africa oil and Hassi R’mel areas, the APS three years. REUTERS MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS International Swings expose financial lending to market fragility: BIS China soars Divergent monetary policies impact world economy in 2014 LONDON: China has become ZURICH: Sudden swings in the largest emerging market financial markets recently sug- destination for international gest they are becoming increas- Investment banks lag rivals on bank lending, accounting for ingly sensitive to unexpected more than a quarter of cross- events, the global organisation profitability, efficiency: Study border claims on all emerging of central banks said yesterday, market economies, a central warning “more than a quantum LONDON: Investment banks have been less profitable, more vol- banking report shows. of fragility” underlies the cur- atile and had consistently higher costs than commercial banks, Cross-border claims on China rent bullish mood. according to a study of business models of the past decade. The increased by $65bn in the second MSCI’s all-country world stock BIS said a study of 222 lenders showed big variances in profitability quarter of 2014 to $1.1 trillion, and index is hovering around multi- and efficiency across models, and investment banks had been less were up nearly 50 percent in the year highs after rebounding from efficient and more unpredictable. The study identified three types of year to the end of June, accord- sell-offs in August and October. business models: a retail-funded commercial bank, funded mainly by ing to a quarterly report from the The downturns were triggered deposits; a wholesale market-funded commercial bank; and a capital Bank for International Settlements by uncertainty over the global eco- markets-oriented bank, commonly known as an investment bank, yesterday. “China has become by The Bank for International Settlements in Basel. nomic outlook and monetary pol- heavily engaged in trading. Return on equity (RoE), a key meas- far the largest (emerging market) icy, as well as geopolitical tensions, ure of profitability, averaged 10 percent across the banks between borrower for BIS reporting banks. and the Bank for International 2005 and 2013. The study said RoE averaged 12.5 percent for retail- and market volatility remained the recent appreciation of the Outstanding cross-border claims Settlements (BIS) said the sharp funded commercial banks, 8.1 percent at trading banks and 5.8 “exceptionally subdued” thanks dollar, could have a “profound on residents of China totaled $1.1 and sudden dips pointed to frailty percent at the wholesale-funded commercial banks. Trading banks to ultra-loose monetary policies impact” on the global economy, trillion at end-June 2014, compared in the markets. had the most volatile profitability, and their RoE swung repeatedly being implemented by central particularly in emerging markets with $311bn on and slightly “These abrupt market move- between the top and bottom of the relative ranking. Banks are try- banks around the world. where many companies have large more than $200bn each on India ments (in October) were even ing to improve profitability and cut costs, but many are struggling Since then, the US Federal dollar-denominated liabilities. and Korea,” the report says. more pronounced than similar to do so in the face of tougher regulations and higher compliance Reserve has brought its monthly Separately, the BIS report said It said China’s share of BIS developments in August, when costs that have come in since the financial crisis. REUTERS bond-purchase program to an that international banking activity reporting banks’ foreign claims on a sudden correction in global expected end. However, Japan’s expanded for the second quarter all emerging markets stood at 28 financial markets was quickly central bank has spurred global running between end-March and percent in mid-2014, up from just succeeded by renewed buoyant recent developments suggest mar- underscore how sensitive mar- markets by expanding its massive end-June. Cross-border claims 6 percent at the end of 2008. market conditions,” the BIS said kets are becoming “increasingly kets have become to even small stimulus spending while China of BIS reporting banks rose by The BIS, often referred to as in its quarterly review. fragile”. surprises,” it said in the report. unexpectedly cut interest rates, $401bn. The annual growth rate the central bankers’ central bank, “This suggests that more than a “Global equity markets plum- The comments followed adding to stimulus measures from of cross-border claims rose to 1.2 says China’s status as the principal quantum of fragility underlies the meted in early August and mid- the organisation’s warning in the European Central Bank. percent in the year to end-June, emerging market destination for current elevated mood in finan- October. Mid-October’s extreme September that financial asset The BIS said these divergent the first move into positive terri- international bank lending reflects cial markets,” it said, adding that intra-day price movements prices were at “elevated” levels monetary policies, coupled with tory since late 2011. REUTERS a “remarkable evolution” since the financial crisis of 2008-9. However, concerns are mounting among international investors of a credit BIS raises ‘hot money’ concerns about emerging market debt bubble developing in China, with the country’s property market seen as the biggest risk to the economy. LONDON: Cross-border debt affiliates, according to a quarterly report’s authors, said that loans Brazilian, Chinese and Russian had taken on large amounts of Outside China, cross-border issued by emerging market report from the BIS. from offshore subsidiaries to firms alone created $35bn of dollar-denominated external debt, claims on emerging market econo- companies may be less stable When the overseas subsidiary parent companies should not be internal flows in the first quarter which they might struggle to pay mies rose 2.7 percent, or $33 bil- than it initially appears due to transfers the bond proceeds to a considered as stable as FDI in its of 2013, the BIS showed. back as their domestic currencies lion, in the three months to the the increasing role of overseas parent company in the form of more typical form of large equity Overseas bond issuance also weakened against the greenback. end of June, the BIS said, with the subsidiaries, a central banking an inter-company loan, this is investments. “Far from being exposes companies to currency The dollar has appreciated by increase coming mainly from Asia. report shows. treated as foreign direct invest- stable or ‘good’ flows, such loans risk — another factor which con- 11 percent against a basket of However, cross-border lending to Emerging economy firms ment (FDI) on the balance sheet have more in common with ‘hot ventional accounting methods currencies since the start of the Russia declined 10 percent. Russia excluding banks issued nearly of the main company, the BIS money’ that could be withdrawn may not capture, the BIS said. year, while Russia’s rouble has has seen its finances come under half of their international debt said, which could give a false if creditors demand their money Claudio Borio, head of the lost more than a third of its dol- strain from western sanctions over between 2009 and 2013, or impression of stability. back,” he said on a conference call bank’s monetary and economic lar value. the Ukraine crisis and the falling some $252bn, through offshore Hyun Song Shin, one of the on Friday. department, said EM companies REUTERS price of oil. REUTERS SelectUSA official in Call for rate cut Qatar to showcase Washington grows as Aussie Investment Summit DOHA: SelectUSA executive director economy falters ambassador Vinai Thummalapally visited Qatar and met with business and govern- SYDNEY: Pressure is build- The new forecasts are in part ment leaders to highlight investment oppor- ing on Australia’s central bank driven by a plunge in commodity tunities in the United States. to cut interest rates from their prices and the lack of a similar SelectUSA is a US Government-wide pro- record lows as growth in the decline in the exchange rate to gramme that offers assistance to interna- resources-driven economy, soften the blow. Lower prices, tional companies as they seek to expand their already faltering on the back of particularly for Australia’s biggest business into the United States. “Our thriv- China’s slowdown, takes a fur- export iron ore, were also eroding ing trade and investment partnership with ther hit, analysts say. the national income, Treasurer Qatar continues to grow, providing tremen- The Reserve Bank of Australia Joe Hockey said. The mining dous opportunities for Qatari and American (RBA) has repeatedly said it will investment boom has helped businesses,” said US Ambassador to Qatar continue to maintain a “period Australia avoid recession for more Dana Shell Smith yesterday. Thummalapally Vinai Thummalapally (seventh from left) and the US Ambassador Dana Shell Smith (fifth from left) of stability in interest rates”, but than two decades, but the rebal- introduced SelectUSA and investment opportu- with Qatari business leaders and the US officials yesterday. softening GDP growth figures last ancing towards non-resources led nities in the United States during his meetings week sparked a flurry of econo- growth has been uneven. in Qatar. He announced that the Department they need to be competitive. Success in the US US exports growing to nearly $5bn in 2013. mists forecasting further mon- While record low interest rates of Commerce is hosting the second SelectUSA market can help drive success globally.” Currently, the US accounts for 20 percent of etary policy easing. That would have fuelled a surging housing Investment Summit in Washington, DC from Housed in the Department of Commerce, Qatar’s total imports, making it Qatar’s number take the cash rate below 2.5 per- market, consumer confidence March 23 to March 24. The Summit will show- SelectUSA serves as a single point of contact one import trading partner. American trans- cent, where it has been for 16 has floundered amid tepid wages case investment opportunities from every cor- to ensure Qatari investors will have the oppor- portation equipment constitutes more than half months. “The GDP read... is cre- growth and following a tough fed- ner of the United States, while high-profile tunity to learn more about how, where and of US exports to Qatar in 2014. ating a very dark shadow over the eral budget in May in which the business and government leaders share their why to invest in the United States. Interested Earlier, addressing a meeting hosted by state of the Australian economy government pledged to cut back insight on the latest business trends. participants can register for the Summit at the American Chamber of Commerce, Qatar, with income growth now in reces- on welfare and spending. “This visit has provided great insight into www.selectusasummit.com. New this year: the Thumalappally noted the US economy is show- sion,” IG markets strategist Evan There has also been a slower- how we can expand our services for Qatari com- day before the summit on March 22, first-time ing strong signals of recovery. The $17 trillion Lucas said. than-expected pick-up in business panies as they consider investing in the United investors can learn the basics of investing in economy is projected to grow by 3.4 percent. The data showed the economy investment outside the mining States,” said Thummalapally. “There is a wide the US. The US saw $200bn foreign investments in 2013. expanded by just 0.3 percent in sector, while the unemployment variety of opportunities for companies of all US-Qatari commercial ties have expanded “We are looking for a better number for this the third-quarter, far below con- rate has been rising, hitting an sizes to find the resources, customers, and ideas at a rapid pace over the last three years, with year,” he said. THE PENINSULA sensus estimates of 0.7 percent, to almost 12-year high of 6.2 percent take the annual growth rate to a in October. These factors have below-trend 2.7 percent. seen Australians continue to save “The pressure on growth in at near record levels and balk at 2015 is ratcheting up as key com- taking on more debt. modities remain in bear markets “The baton change in the econ- and if housing cools, this will only omy has been delayed and we QBA hosts visiting Pakistani delegation accelerate,” added Lucas. are now facing the environment The slowdown in China, where mining is a lot weaker than DOHA: The Qatari Businessmen Association (QBA) hosted Australia’s largest trading part- expected because of commodity Shabaz Sharif, Chief Minister of Punjab province in Pakistan ner, is already weighing on the price falls globally,” Macquarie and his accompanying delegation, in Doha. The meeting resources sector and hurting the Bank’s head of Australian eco- was attended by Shahid Khaqan Abassi, the Minister of wider economy. Continuing fears nomic research James McIntyre Petroleum and Natural Resources, Pakistan and Shehzad about the health of the world’s said. “And we haven’t been posi- Ahmed, the Pakistan ambassador to Qatar. second-largest economy, which tioned adequately on the non- Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani, Chairman, QBA and the helped fuel Australia’s unprece- mining side to pick it up.” Association members Nasser Sulaiman Al Haidar, Maqbool dented mining investment boom, The RBA’s willingness to con- Habeeb Khalfan, and Sarah Abdullah, QBA’s Deputy General has been reflected in the local dol- sider measures to curb investor Manager received the Pakistani delegation. lar’s high sensitivity to fluctuating lending for housing, which would Sheikh Faisal discussed the ways to boost trade partnership Chinese data. allow the central bank to drop and investment relations between Qatari businessmen and the Just last week, the exchange the cash rate without fearing counterparts. rate slumped to a fresh four- that residential property would The visiting delegation shared details of investment oppor- year low after weak manufactur- become overheated, has also Sheikh Faisal bin Qassim Al Thani (fourth left) and Pakistan’s ambassador to Qatar tunities available at different sectors in Pakistan. ing figures raised concerns about opened the door to easing. Shehzad Ahmed (second right) with visiting Pakistan delegation and QBA members. THE PENINSULA China’s growth outlook. AFP MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Xiamen XGMA China to slash awaits approval to join aviation growth target conglomerate

BEIJING: Aviation Industry Corporation of China (AVIC) is after 3 years awaiting regulatory approval to take control of loss-making Xiamen XGMA Machinery Co Stimulus expectations heat up Ltd, giving the firm a chance to diversify into the aviation indus- BEIJING: China is poised to officials to decide policy for the try amid a sustained downturn in cut its growth target for the first coming year, with topics expected China’s construction machinery time in three years and ramp up to include monetary policy, the market. The move, coming less stimulus as the economy comes consumer price index (CPI) than four months after Zoomlion under increasing downward target, and further economic Heavy Industry Science and pressure, analysts say ahead of reforms. “We expect the govern- Technology Co Ltd bought con- a key policymakers’ conference ment to lower its 2015 economic trol of a domestic farm machin- expected this week. targets for GDP growth to 7.0 per- ery builder, highlights challenges President Xi Jinping and other cent from 7.5 percent in 2014 and facing Chinese machinery mak- top leaders are trying to put CPI inflation to 3.0 percent from ers due to a supply glut created China’s increasingly affluent con- 3.5 percent,” Nomura economists by Beijing’s 4 trillion yuan stimu- sumers at the centre of the world’s wrote. lus program announced in 2008. second-largest economy, rather “We believe the government will Rivals such as Sany Heavy than investment and exports, need to ease policy further —even Industry Co Ltd and XCMG and are ready to tolerate slower to meet a lower GDP growth tar- A customer pushes a shopping cart carrying a girl at a hypermarket in China’s Hefei in Anhui province. Construction Machinery Co are expansion in GDP to achieve more get — due mainly to strong head- also feeling the pinch. Xiamen sustainable growth. winds from the property market XGMA, a much smaller player, But how much lower is the correction, severe overcapacity Lu Ting said. the future to replace banks as the price inflation have both been slipped into a 590m yuan ($95.94m) question, with China’s econ- in upstream industries and high They are likely to take a similar pillar of the financial system,” he weak in China, and the latter has net loss for the year. In a stock omy assailed on multiple fronts local government debt.” step during the first half of next said. “Or else it’s very likely that been negative for more than two exchange filing, Xiamen XGMA including a deflating property China last lowered the target in year, he added, while also reduc- a credit contraction-led economic years. said it would be joining AVIC’s bubble, high debt levels, and the 2012 to 7.5 percent from 8 percent ing the amount of cash banks slowdown will emerge.” Capital Economics economists sprawling family after its previ- threat of deflation hovering in and a drop to 7 percent would be must keep on their books — the But the slowing growth outlook Julian Evans-Pritchard and Mark ous state parent handed over its the background. Economists will the lowest since 2004. reserve requirement ratio 1 to free has not dented enthusiasm for Williams see CPI falling to a 54 percent stake in the firm to two be looking for clues in next year’s Slowing growth this year up money for lending. Chinese shares, with the bench- near-five-year low of 1.5 percent subsidiaries of AVIC for free. gross domestic product (GDP) prompted the central bank to The Chinese Communist Party’s mark Composite index in November, down from 1.6 per- The State-owned Assets growth target, which is likely to carry out a surprise interest rate powerful Politburo gathered on leaping 38.8 percent so far this cent in October, with further falls Supervision and Administration be decided at the annual Central cut last month, reducing bench- Friday ahead of the economic con- year. Much of the improvement ahead. Still, they described wor- Commission of the State Council Economic Work Conference. mark borrowing costs for the first ference, with the official Xinhua has come in the wake of the inter- ries about the threat of deflation (SASAC) and Xiamen’s own par- The gathering — which is time in more than two years. news agency citing a statement est rate cut and amid expectations as “overdone”. ent, the local SASAC of Xiamen, not announced in advance — is The move wrong-footed many that in 2015, the government will for more stimulus. “With the prices of industrial are the brokers of the deal, it said, expected this week, although its economists, who had expected “keep the economy operating Growth in industrial produc- inputs falling, but factory gate adding the transaction still needs conclusions will probably not be policymakers to continue with within a reasonable range”. tion, which slowed in October, is prices of finished consumer goods approval. AVIC Heavy Machinery formally unveiled until March. a series of fine-tuning measures It gave no details on precise likely to have taken another hit flat, many firms are actually bet- Co Ltd, a listed vehicle of the Separately, main monthly eco- introduced from April onwards on measures that might be taken. in November, economists say, as ter off,” they wrote. Chinese aviation group also issued nomic statistics are due this week, concerns that the economy needed ANZ economist Liu Li-Gang China ordered factories in and “Meanwhile, since much of the a statement, saying the proposed with analysts expecting weaken- a boost. said that authorities need to push around Beijing to close to ensure downward pressure on inflation restructuring should turn Xiamen ing industrial production growth The cut showed that top leaders broader reforms beyond tweaks to blue skies for the Apec summit. is the result of global price falls, city into a manufacturing base and chronically low inflation. “are certainly worried to a certain monetary policy. The figure is due on Friday, two consumption in real terms should which would include aviation main- The closely watched economic point” about the economy, Bank of “China should allow rapid devel- days after the monthly inflation receive a boost.” tenance, special vehicles and con- conference brings together key America Merrill Lynch economist opment of its capital markets in statistics. Consumer and producer AFP struction machinery. REUTERS

IMF warns Turkey of middle ECB loans offer clues in QE guessing game BRUSSELS: The guessing game TLTROs could swing the ECB’s income trap over the timing of eurozone Governing Council between money printing will intensify January and March, depending WASHINGTON: The as the European Central Bank on how the number looks,” said International Monetary Fund unveils a closely watched gauge Citigroup economist Guillaume (IMF) has warned Turkey of of policy in the coming week, the Menuet. lower medium-term growth and highlight of a calendar domi- The first TLTRO was taken up prospect of “middle income trap” nated by Europe’s malaise. only to the tune of €83bn. Hopes if it does not reform its savings On the other side of the Atlantic, are higher for this time but fore- rate and competitiveness. investors will continue placing casts hover around the €150bn Turkey’s economy, under cur- their bets on a different but equally mark, leaving the ECB short of rent policies, should grow only 3.5 crucial event: when the US Federal the €400bn it was prepared to offer percent over the next five years, Reserve might raise interest rates. banks in total. limiting its ability to catch up with US data and several Fed cen- Today in Brussels, ECB richer developed countries, the tral bankers will give a sense of President Mario Draghi will tell IMF said in its yearly assessment the speed of the recovery and eurozone finance ministers no of Turkey’s economy. when a rate rise might be mer- amount of stimulus can replace The IMF also repeated calls for ited, while oil prices and Chinese reforms to tax, labour and pension Turkey to keep its monetary and data will provide plenty more for systems to bring down near-record fiscal policies tight to limit inflation markets to digest. “The key story unemployment. and boost domestic savings, tak- is going to be in the eurozone,” New forecasts by the ECB pre- ing advantage of continued capital said James Knightley, ING’s sen- dict the eurozone, which generates flows to emerging markets. ior economist, referring to the a fifth of global output, will grow “The current international results of the ECB’s targeted just 1 percent in 2015 rather than environment provides a poten- long-term refinancing operations the 1.6 percent predicted three tially brief window of opportunity (TLTROs) on Thursday. months ago. German October for such adjustment, which should The cheap loans for banks are industrial production data and People walk past the new ECB headquarters in Frankfurt. therefore not be delayed,” IMF said. one of the ECB’s main ways to French business sentiment for Falling oil prices have taken flush money into the stagnating November, due today, are likely to help Greece in the coming weeks borrowing costs near zero since Committee (FOMC) meeting but some pressure off Turkey’s high eurozone economy. “If the take-up show the weakness of the rebound since a new credit line for Athens December 2008. Some see the first will be treated to a host of data inflation and current account defi- is poor, that could increase market as the bloc struggles to overcome will not by ready by an original rate hike in September of next year before then including November cit, but structural problems remain talk that the ECB is going to step its debt and banking crises. December 8 deadline. It’s a dif- but others see rates rising in July. retail sales and October whole- and analysts have voiced concern in and use other tools,” Knightley Falling oil prices will also have ferent story in the United States, With a weak global economy, sale inventories. Fed policymaker about political meddling in the said. That means a sovereign bond- an impact on the ECB’s thinking where the economy is recover- some investors fear that strong Dennis Lockhart speaks, while economy ahead of a parliamentary buying programme like those used as it deals with very low inflation. ing strongly. US employers added short-term growth may give way to producer prices for November and election next June. After raising in the United States, Britain and Brent crude slipped 57 cents to the largest number of workers in a slower economic expansion from consumer sentiment will be pub- interest rates sharply in January to Japan, but which Germany fears settle at $69.07 a barrel on Friday, nearly three years in November mid-year, leaving inflation below lished during the week. halt a slide in the lira, the central would encourage reckless state averaging below $70 in the week and wage gains picked up, which the Fed’s target levels and influ- Many expect the Fed to soon bank cut rates in May, June, July borrowing and fuel inflation. for the first time since 2010. could push the Federal Reserve encing the timing of a rate hike. eliminate its guidance that it will and August, hurting its credibility, Such a programme may come Eurozone finance ministers will closer to raising interest rates. Investors are waiting for the keep rates near zero for a “consid- according to the IMF. QNA early next year. “The take-up of also try to decide on how to best The Fed has held overnight December 17 Federal Open Market erable time.” REUTERS

Oil plunge not to hit Dubai project funding Yemen’s foreign reserves fall DUBAI: Yemen’s gross foreign currency reserves slipped to DUBAI: Dubai is confident percent annual gross domestic $4.9bn in October, the lowest level since June, as oil exports fell, that it will be able to raise product growth in coming years, exposing the country’s fragile public finances, central bank data equity and debt to finance all its Shuaa Capital head to step down Saleh also said. Dubai, whose showed yesterday. huge development projects over ABU DHABI: Shuaa Capital’s executive chairman and board property market crashed in 2008, A plunge in oil prices and frequent attacks on oil pipelines by the next five years despite the director, Sheikh Maktoum Hasher Al Maktoum, will step down has recovered strongly from a tribesmen have hurt the state budget. As a result, the central bank’s plunge in oil prices, the head from both roles in February, the Dubai-based investment bank severe debt crisis in 2009-2010, foreign reserves dropped to 4.7 months of imports in October from of the emirate’s Department of said yesterday. Maktoum will depart after the disclosure of its and has announced real estate 4.8 months, or $5.1bn in September. The reserves include a $1bn Finance (DoF) said. full-year results for 2014, Shuaa said in a statement. A member and infrastructure projects worth loan from Saudi Arabia, which it provided to Sanaa in 2012. “The government in its forth- of Dubai’s ruling family, Maktoum served in his present capacity tens of billions of dollars before it The central bank governor said on Friday that Riyadh had not coming budgets has enough head- since May 2011. During his tenure, the firm underwent a signifi- hosts the World Expo exhibition asked for an early repayment of the loan and foreign reserves were room to fund the projects through cant turn-around in fortunes having been buffeted. REUTERS in 2020. In contrast to the rest of still sufficient and in line with conditions of a $553m loan agreed a healthy debt-equity mix,” the region, it has only a small oil by the International Monetary Fund in July. director-general Abdulrahman industry, although it benefits from Crude oil exports, which together with liquefied natural gas Al Saleh said. “In addition, DoF The finance department does not on the department’s website as trade and tourism flows when account for around 54 percent of government budget revenue, has built a strong yield curve to believe the state of the oil mar- saying to a United Arab Emirates economic growth in neighbour- plunged 45.8 percent year-on-year to $115m in October, the lowest raise both long-term and short- ket is directly relevant to Dubai’s newspaper, The National. ing oil exporting states is strong. level since May, the data showed. REUTERS term funds at attractive rates. long-term plans,” he was quoted The emirate aims for 4.5-5 REUTERS MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS N Korea denies carrying out Sony hacking Pyongyang justifies the act as a ‘righteous deed’; Sony says cyber attack ‘unparalleled’ crime

SEOUL/PYONGYANG: infuriated Pyongyang, which act while hurting the dignity of discuss what people most want to Lynton forwarded a message concurred with Mandiant’s North Korea denied involve- earlier warned of “merciless the supreme leadership of the know: The extent of the damage from Mandia to employees. analysis the attack went unde- ment in a cyber attack on Sony retaliation”. (North).” to the studio’s network or who Mandia, whose firm has probed tected by standard anti virus Pictures, but praised it as a The latest hacking attack on Forensics experts hired by Sony was behind the campaign, the some of the biggest cyber attacks software, but declined to dis- “righteous deed” potentially the US movie studio is known to Corp to investigate the massive most destructive cyber attack to date, said in his email that cuss progress in the agency’s carried out by its supporters to have included the leaking of sen- cyber attack at its Hollywood stu- reported to date against a com- “The scope of this attack differs investigation. protest against a film featuring sitive personal information on dio said the breach was unprec- pany on US soil. from any we have responded to Daniel Clemens, chief execu- its leader Kim Jong-Un. some 47,000 individuals, includ- edented, well-planned and carried The destructive attack in the past, as its purpose was to tive of boutique cybersecurity “The hacking into the Sony ing celebrities. out by an “organised group,” knocked much of Sony’s network both destroy property and release firm PacketNinjas, said that Pictures might be a righteous The attack also made unre- according to an email obtained off line with malware that wipes confidential information to the while the attack was unprec- deed of the supporters and leased Sony films available on by Reuters on Saturday. drives of PCs, making them una- public.” edented in impact, “There are sympathisers with the (North) illegal file-sharing websites, Kevin Mandia, the top execu- ble to operate. It is expensive to He added that “The bottom many things Sony could have in response to its appeal,” the with media reports indicat- tive at FireEye Inc’s Mandiant repair them because each drive line is that this was an unparal- done to prepare and defend North’s top military body, the ing the pattern matches past forensics unit, made the com- needs to be manually replaced leled and well planned crime, car- against this attack.” National Defence Commission, attacks carried out by the iso- ments in an email to Michael or re-imaged. ried out by an organized group, He added that if the govern- told the state-run KCNA news lated state. Lynton, chief executive of Sony People close to the investiga- for which neither SPE nor other ment launches probes into the agency. The NDC rejected the media Pictures Entertainment (SPE). tion have told Reuters that North companies could have been fully breach, they are likely to find that The Interview — a comedy film reports as “false rumour” but They are among the first com- Korea is a principal suspect, yet prepared.” Sony did not have all necessary by Sony involving a fictional CIA went on to slam Sony for produc- ments about the investigation to a North Korean diplomat has FBI spokesman Joshua safeguards in place to fend off and plot to assassinate Kim — has ing the film “abetting a terrorist be made public, yet they do not denied that his nation is involved. Campbell said the agency uncover hackers. AGENCIES RasGas warehouse sees incident-free seven years

DOHA: RasGas Company safety record established by our Limited’s (RasGas) warehouse warehouse demonstrates RasGas’ in Ras Laffan recently cel- continuous commitment to excel- ebrated the completion of one lence in every aspect of our million manhours without a lost operations. time incident (LTI) over a span Safety is a core value in RasGas of seven years. and implementing safe work Warehousing is a vital link in behaviours is an integral part RasGas’ supply chain as it ensures of our day to day actions,” said the continuity of RasGas’ opera- Hamad Rashid Al Mohannadi, tions. It includes the maintenance RasGas Chief Executive Officer. of appropriate stock levels and Speaking on the occasion, guaranteeing the safe keeping of Al Mohannadi confirmed that equipment and supplies. The com- RasGas never compromises on plexity involved in the natural gas safety, and that the well-being of industry’s warehouse environment all its employees remains a pri- makes it amongst the highest LTI mary focus. rates amongst other industries. “Achieving such significant This milestone demonstrates milestones of zero incidents is RasGas’ warehouse team’s abil- only possible with our employees’ ity to establish a strong culture constant awareness of workplace RasGas officials with warehouse staff. of safety awareness whilst achiev- hazards and approaching them in ing the highest standards in the a safe and responsible manner,” Supply Department Manager, shelving and use of the laydown RasGas’ warehouse in Ras storing vital equipment for the liq- areas of inventory management said Brett Doherty, RasGas Chief responsible for the warehouse, area, we adhere to stringent Laffan provides support and serv- uefied natural gas (LNG) Trains and procurement. Safety, Health, Environment and said “From material loading safety measures approved by the ices for all internal and external 1-7, Al Khaleej Gas 1 and 2, and “As a world-class energy sup- Quality Officer, who also attended and unloading, to chemical han- ministries of Civil Defence and user departments including the Helium 1 and 2 projects. plier striving for excellence, the the event. Abdulla Al Mahmoud, dling and storage, racking and Environment.” onshore and offshore facilities, THE PENINSULA Most Gulf markets slip, Oman tumbles on lower oil prices

DUBAI: Oman’s stock market Ooredoo Oman and Omantel fell shut down its ethylene glycol plant sank yesterday after Standard 8.4 and 3.4 percent respectively. in April 2015 for between 35 and & Poor’s cut its outlook for the Last month, Oman’s advisory 60 days of planned maintenance, country’s sovereign rating and Shura Council proposed raising which would cost it about 450m local cement firms said natu- the royalty rate for the sector riyals ($120m). ral gas prices would double — to 12 percent of revenue from 7 Overall, however, the market examples of the pain which the percent. was mixed and a number of stocks weaker Gulf oil exporters may The main Muscat stock index posted gains. face because of the slide in oil tumbled 4.2 percent on Sunday to Saudi Arabia’s National prices. 6,304 points, its lowest level since Industrialisation Co (Tasnee) Brent crude slipped 0.8 June 2013. added 0.5 percent after saying percent to $69.07 a barrel on Credit rating agency S&P on it had completed a 1.8bn riyal Friday after Saudi Arabia Friday revised its outlook for deal to raise its majority stake slashed its oil prices for Asian Oman’s rating to negative from in its Cristal subsidiary by a and US buyers. stable, saying the deterioration further 13 percentage points. With Oman estimated to need in its fiscal or external positions Dubai’s index was nearly flat an average price of over $100 could be sharper than expected with an equal split between los- to balance its state budget, the because of the oil price slide. ers and gainers; trading volume government is casting about for Shares in most local banks, for was low. ways to raise revenues next year. whom a lower sovereign rating Abu Dhabi’s benchmark edged One method is to cut state would mean higher borrowing up 0.3 percent on the back of blue Participants at the second training course organised by Qatar Development Bank recently. subsidies. Shares in both Raysut costs abroad, dropped by more chips. Cement and Oman Cement tum- than 4 percent. First Gulf Bank rose 0.8 per- bled their daily 10 percent limit cent, Abu Dhabi yesterday after the companies SAUDI ARABIA, UAE Commercial Bank gained QDB hosts training for SMEs said the state-guided price they Elsewhere in the region, weak 1.3 percent and developer paid for gas would double next oil prices weighed on most mar- Aldar Properties climbed 1.7 DOHA: Qatar Development products based in Qatar and in Business Incubation Center. year. kets and Saudi Arabia’s main percent. Bank (QDB) concluded its sec- the wider region, highlighting QDB CEO Abdulaziz bin “That affected the mar- index edged down 0.2 percent. Egypt’s bourse edged up 0.8 ond training course for 2014, the importance of expanding and Nasser Al Khalifa said the qual- ket heavily as both companies S&P also cut its outlook for percent. Investment firm Pioneers which comes as part of a series launching new projects as global ity of Qatari products enjoy are considered dividend-yield Saudi Arabia on Friday, to stable Holding was the main support, of Qatar-based ‘Comprehensive demand increases. The training international confidence. QDB is stocks,” said Adel Nasr, broker- from positive. surging 8.0 percent. Industrial Training discussed the most important committed to helping propel the age manager at United Securities But Saudi Arabia’s state The company posted a 15 Programmes.’ Nearly 30 Qatari legal issues and key environmen- sector’s development and rais- in Muscat. finances are much stronger than percent increse in third-quar- small and medium-sized enter- tal conditions that must be taken ing a new generation of SMEs In Raysut Cement’s case, for Oman’s, and analysts believe it ter net profit last week and prises (SMEs) participated in into account when launching a through training and educational instance, the gas price increase would be able to fund moderate Denmark’s Arla Foods Amba, the intensive four-day course project for the manufacture of programmes in the field of alumi- will raise costs by 4.5 million rials budget deficits much more easily one of Pioneers’ competitors in focusing on the aluminum aluminum. num and other strategic sectors. ($11.7m), the company said. That in coming years. a bidding war for Arab Dairy industry in Qatar. The workshop also reviewed “By encouraging the launch represents 16.3 percent of its 2013 Shares in Saudi Basic Product Company, dropped its The training took place on how to take advantage of the of new businesses and helping profit. Industries fell 1.4 percent and bid last Wednesday. November 23 to 26 and detailed bank’s advisory services, includ- to refine local entrepreneurs’ Other Omani industrial com- its subsidiary Yanbu National Property developer Talat the dynamics of the aluminum ing; assistance in the develop- work, Qatar Development Bank panies including Salalah Mills Petrochemical Co (Yansab) tum- Moustafa Group added 1.5 per- industry and its prospects in ment of feasibility studies, market will help create the foundations Co and National Detergent Co bled 7.6 percent. cent to 10.66 pounds and was the Qatar. It also discussed avail- research, advice on launching towards the creation of com- also posted announcements on Yansab’s board proposed a cash main support after brokerage able investment opportunities competitive entrepreneurial petitive SMEs and new indus- Muscat’s bourse yesterday esti- dividend of 1.5 riyals per share Blominvest last Friday affirmed and showcased local and regional projects in both domestic and trial clusters, which in turn will mating increases to their costs for the second half of 2014 last its “accumulate” rating for the achievements to date. international markets, as well strengthen the aluminum indus- due to higher gas prices next Thursday, down from 2.0 riyals a stock with a target price of 11.29 The course also reviewed alu- as to providing connections with try and private sector overall”, he year. year earlier. pounds. minum industry projects and strategic partners, such as Qatar said. THE PENINSULA Telecommunications firms The company also said it would REUTERS MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Singapore firms buy property Bank on ‘Super Mario’ from New York as curbs bite

BY POOJA THAKUR

INGAPORE developers struggling to sell apartments in to give Europe a jolt their home market are buying property overseas, turning the island-state into the largest foreign investor from the S BY PAUL TAYLOR region this year. fear could trigger 1920s-style forced him to move gradually. lending, buy bundled business Companies including City Developments and Keppel Land hyperinflation, create asset price The prevailing Anglo-Saxon loans and covered bonds. pumped $2.32bn into overseas markets in the nine months through ROM his office on bubbles and give euro zone lag- view is that ECB action, if it After Reuters reported criti- September, a threefold increase from the same period last year the 41st floor of gards an excuse to avoid painful comes, will be too late and prob- cism of Draghi by some council and the most in at least eight years, according to data from Real the gleaming new economic reforms. Many believe ably too little. members, he secured unani- Capital Analytics, a research firm that specializes in investments European Central it amounts to illegal financing of Draghi’s 2012 pledge to do mous backing on November 4 to in commercial property. Bank headquarters, governments through the back “whatever it takes” to preserve expand the ECB’s balance sheet The Singapore developers are looking abroad as government FMario Draghi’s view stretches door. the euro was a turning point towards the level it reached at measures to rein in property values have caused residential prices far beyond Frankfurt’s high-rise Draghi confronted such con- that halted market turmoil dur- the height of the eurozone debt to fall for four straight quarters, the longest period of declines financial centre and he doesn’t cerns head-on last week, saying ing the euro debt crisis, showing crisis in 2012 — up to one trillion since 2009. like what he sees. that to allow inflation to remain the ECB to be the only federal euros higher than today. “Many Asian countries such as Singapore are facing property The darkening outlook for far below the ECB’s target of European institution able to act. Since then, he has kept mov- cooling measures at home, so they are venturing to Western mar- the euro zone’s flat and nearly almost two percent would breach But he would have to pledge to ing the cursor forward. Last kets where they can find returns and are seeing a strong recov- inflation-less economy, exacer- its mandate. “Not to pursue our buy “however much for however Thursday, Draghi secured agree- ery,” said Terence Tang, managing director of capital markets bated by tumbling oil prices, is mandate would be illegal,” he long it takes” to satisfy those ment to say the bank would alter and investment services for Asia at Colliers International, a real driving him inexorably towards said, turning the legal argument critics who believe European- “early next year the size, pace and estate broker. radical action. on his German critics. style QE will be too timid and composition of our measures” if City Developments, Singapore’s second-largest developer by Bank on the ECB president to The bank has just lowered its circumscribed. needed to combat low inflation. market value, said in September that it invested in a plot of land fight the risk of deflation with inflation forecast for next year “Mario Draghi’s penchant Central bank sources in Tokyo valued at $279m. Keppel Land, Singapore’s third-big- an expanded programme of asset to 0.7 percent and that did not for seeking German approval said Bundesbank chief Jens gest developer, in July said it made its maiden investment in the buying early next year, probably take account of the latest fall in has been his biggest mistake as Weidmann and the German US with a prime residential development in New York City. The in March, despite deep misgiv- oil prices. head of the ECB,” said Christian member of the ECB’s executive project, which it said at the time was valued at about $70m, is on ings in Germany’s Bundesbank Rebutting German concerns Odendahl, chief economist at the board, Sabine Lautenschlaeger, Manhattan’s Upper East Side and will be developed by Macklowe and from German public opinion. one by one, Draghi said quanti- Centre for European Reform in voted against hardening the ref- Properties. Draghi has worked for months tative easing had proved effec- London. “He should end it. If he erence to expanding the bank’s At the same time, the developers have become increasingly vocal to build support for what would tive in the United States and waits until the German public balance sheet from an “expecta- about the difficulties they face in Singapore, where their margins be the biggest leap in the Britain, was clearly within the comes around to looser ECB tion” to an “intention”. have been squeezed by falling property prices. Government meas- 15-year-old bank’s history — bank’s remit of ensuring price policy, it might be too late.” ECB experts say if the bank ures to stem growth in the market and prevent a speculative bubble printing money to buy eurozone stability and did not require a Draghi has taken interim buys bonds of all its members in have brought residential prices down about four percent from the sovereign bonds on a large scale, unanimous decision. steps, persuading the Governing the secondary market in propor- peak in September 2013. so-called quantitative easing or However, the reluctance of the Council on which 18 national tion to the percentage of each “In Singapore, the residential market is virtually dead,” said QE. ECB’s biggest shareholder and central bank governors hold a country’s shareholding it should Desmond Woon, executive director at luxury-home developer Ho Germans are historically aller- its allies in the Netherlands, majority, to flood banks with be legally safe. Bee Land. “With the government measures in place, it has become gic to such a policy, which some Luxembourg and the Baltics has cheap long-term funds for REUTERS very hard to do development of residential properties.” The government’s curbs have included a cap on debt at 60 percent of a borrower’s income and higher stamp duties on home purchases. Additional taxes for foreigners buying residential property were raised to 15 percent in 2013 from 10 percent, on top of the basic buyer’s stamp duty rate of about 3 percent. All home sellers need to pay 16 percent in levies if they sell within the first year. City Developments warned last month that Singapore’s housing market may face “fire sales” and mortgage defaults as sales and prices fall. The overseas investments by developers have helped catapult Singapore into the top place among Asian countries investing in overseas real estate so far this year, according to figures from New York-based RCA. The country’s sovereign wealth fund, GIC, isn’t allowed to invest in Singapore property and has instead been a major buyer of over- seas real estate. GIC’s 20-year investment horizon gives it a differ- ent profile from the listed Singapore developers. In total, Singapore entities invested $9.8 billion in overseas com- mercial property in the nine months to September, overtaking China with $8.4bn of overseas investments and Hong Kong with $7.3bn, RCA said. Ho Bee, which has invested in office towers in London and is developing homes in Melbourne and Gold Coast in Australia, is scouting for more buying opportunities in Sydney and London, Woon said. The flipside of the developers’ growing interest in over- seas real estate has been a drop in bidding at Singapore land auc- tions as the market cooled. Results of a land auction announced in August showed only three bids were submitted, the fewest in 18 months, and well below 2009 when there were about 16 bids at the auctions, according to Nicholas Mak, executive director at SLP International Property Consultants. Developers are willing to take on the additional risks associated with overseas investments, Tang at Colliers said. “Mainland Chinese and Singapore developers are going to New York, Australia and the UK,” Tang said. “They are ready to take a development risk, which is the highest point of the risk curve, as they need higher returns and because they are seeing these markets showing signs of a recovery.” They are also finding higher yields. Profit margins for developing homes in Singapore are between five percent and 10 percent while margins in Australia are between 10 percent and 20 percent, Ho Bee’s Woon said. Office properties in London can yield between 4 percent and 6 percent while Singapore office yields are about 4 percent, he said. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Italian glassmakers’ art shattered by slump, tax BY CHIARA VASARRI XIV brought some of them to to make a profit, Mazzuccato said. the island’s beauty and its location sitting at a table in a scene remi- “The Chinese have become bet- France to steal their secrets and His company’s revenue tumbled to near Venice. niscent of the Last Supper. ter at imitating mid-to-low level ANIELE Mazzuccato’s help adorn the “Hall of Mirrors” ¤740,000 ($919,000) last year from On a recent sunny Tuesday That was before knockoffs from products,” said Rossana Barbini, livelihood has become at the Versailles Palace. Murano about ¤3m in 2008. afternoon the few tourists who China began flooding the world who owns a glassware shop in as fragile as the famed chandeliers hang from ceilings of The number of people he made the short vaporetto boat market and before Europe’s sov- Murano. “There’s lots of compe- Murano chandeliers Istanbul’s Pera Palace Hotel, the employs has shrunk to a third trip from Venice to Murano, ereign debt crisis plummeted Italy tition on low-priced products.” he makes. last stop of the legendary Orient of what it was in 2008 and debt admired the brightly painted into its longest recession since the While some entrepreneurs, DThe glassmaker has sold his Express, which has played host to has far outstripped sales. He now facades of the island’s homes and Second World War. Forced to keep like Mazzuccato, said they’re not apartment to keep his factory the likes of Ernest Hemingway employs about 10 people, down wandered around the few shops its finances in check, the govern- affected by counterfeiting because going and now sleeps in the back and Alfred Hitchcock. from 33 in 2008. Half of his staff that sell glass necklaces, lamps, ment has few resources for dying they produce high-end products room of his foundry on the tiny Over the years, however, the works only a few days a week. His paperweights and myriad other industrial districts like Murano. and work only on commission, island of Murano, a mile north of sparkle of Murano glass has company has about ¤1.5m of debt, intricate trinkets. While some “We used to benefit from tax other artisans say fighting imita- the Italian canal city of Venice. dimmed, squeezed by shrinking and has been in the red since 2008, wandered into the foundries with breaks, including a 45 percent dis- tions is essential. “We cannot stop The 47-year-old, who comes from demand on the high end and cheap except for one year, he said. their hot furnaces to watch arti- count on gas,” said Fabiano Amadi, globalisation; we cannot prevent a family of glassmakers, says lack knockoffs on the low end. Mazzuccato — who learned sans blowing into or delicately as his steps echo in the half empty someone from selling fake Murano of credit, an economic slump and In the last 14 years, the number his craft in 1982, opened his own twirling pipes with molten glass to factory where he now works with glass. Still, we have the right and crisis-driven tax increases are of people employed in the island’s factory in 1993 and says he’s the create varying shapes, few made a team of six. “Now I pay about the duty to inform the client so killing the island’s centuries-old glassware factories has shrunk to youngest local entrepreneur — fears any purchases. ¤5,000 a month.” The space he that he can make an informed traditions. about 400 from 2,000, according to Murano’s heyday may be behind. “When tourists knock on moved into recently housed over choice,” said Gambaro. “We are just waiting to die,” the FILCTEM-CGIL union, which The island became the world’s the door here, it’s because they 200 people in the 1980s. It also In 2010, Italy’s Finance Police Mazzuccato, whose father was a represents the sector’s workers. glass-making Mecca after Venetian are looking for a toilet,” said hasn’t helped that much of what seized more than 11 million fake glassmaker and whose mother Over the past two years, about 80 authorities forced artisans to move Mazzuccato. passes off as Murano glass these Murano glass artifacts that had came from a long line of Murano percent of artisans and foundry their foundries there in 1291, wor- In the 1970s, the island was days isn’t made on the island. been made in China. The crea- artisans, said as he chain-smoked employees had to temporarily rely ried a fire could break out and burn so full of glassmakers that at “About 70 percent of the glass tion, back in 1994, of a trademark in his office that was strewn with on wage- guaranteed layoff plans, down the city, whose buildings were lunchtime “you had to be very sold in Venice doesn’t come from that identifies real Murano glass invoices and glass ashtrays. said Riccardo Colletti, secretary of mostly made of wood at the time. careful not to fall into the canals Murano,” said Luciano Gambaro, and can be requested by entrepre- Murano craftsmanship has the union’s Venice section. Today, the once-busy island lies while crossing the bridges,” said head of the Consorzio Promovetro neurs and artisans operating on been passed on from generation Skyrocketing energy and labour quiet. Giovanni Camozzo, owner of the Murano association, which pro- the island has helped, although to generation. So renowned were costs, coupled with difficulty getting Younger entrepreneurs have Trattoria ai Frati, a restaurant motes the island’s glass products more can be done, according to the island’s master glassmakers credit amid Italy’s recession, have started converting old factories founded in 1859, with a painting and represents more than 50 Gambaro. that in the 17th century Louis made it impossible for entrepreneurs into hotels to take advantage of of Murano’s best-known residents craftsmen and businesses. WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 12,640.67 0.84 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 18,853.44 0.84 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,324.25 0.17 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,229.52 0.77 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,209.72 0.92 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5345.407 44.173 0.83 5672.3 5072.7 QE All Share Industrials 4,184.4 1.14 % QR141.1412 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,329.15 0.29 % Cac 40 Index/D 4411.32 19.46 0.44 4598.65 3789.11 QE All Share Real Estate 2,511.11 0.61 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.6747 QR 5.7538 QE All Share Insurance 3,739.44 1.26 % Dj Indu Average 17912.62 33.07 0.18 17924.2 15340.69 QR 1.9283 Euro ...... QR 4.4555 QR 4.5174 QE All Share Telecoms 1,446.17 0.59 % CA$ ...... QR 3.1792 QR 3.2417 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,275.74 0.37 % Hang Seng Inde/D 23832.56 403.94 1.72 25362.98 21137.61 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.7026 QR 3.7545 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5250.14 93.57 1.81 5195.97 4275.26 Yen ...... QR 0.0301 QR 0.0307 Aus$ ...... QR 3.0234 QR 3.0838 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 32090.93 218.2 0.68 32224.79 25273.11 CRUDE OIL 07-12-2014 04-12-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0583 QR 0.0594 Index 12,640.67 12,748.18 Nikkei 225 Index 17887.21 166.78 0.94 17881.76 13885.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0355 QR 0.0362 Change 107.51 135.85 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0810 QR 0.0826 S&P 500 Index/D 2074.33 7.78 0.38 2076.28 1737.92 % 0.84 1.08 $ 70.30 SL Re ...... QR 0.0275 QR 0.0281 YTD% 21.78 22.82 Straits Times/D 3304.82 1.43 0.04 3387.84 2953.01 Taka ...... QR 0.0466 QR 0.0477 Volume 5,651,607 9,643,883 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0364 QR 0.0371 Value (QAR) 291,688,208.61 565,597,969.96 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3229 QR 0.3293 Trades 3,628 5,746 $ 67.31 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01 Up 11 | Down 26 | Unchanged 03

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 07-12-2014

Commodities take a breather after torrid November

OMMODITIES have stabilise the price. Having broken the USA, China and India), while from these areas receive are fallen to a five-year support, however, the risk of see- Weekly Commodity Update the losers can be found among discounted to WTI crude with low, leaving pro- ing further losses before support producers such as Russia and the infrastructure struggling to ducers of most raw eventually gets re-established is , where a lack of invest- keep up with the ongoing increase materials with little rising. BY OLE S. HANSEN ment and diversification leaves in production. The chart below Cto cheer about during the past Precious metals finally got the these countries exposed to the shows that shale oil prices are month (and especially during Swiss gold referendum out of the (Head of Commodity sharp reduction in government rapidly approaching the $60 per the last week). Most notable was way and the resounding “No” ini- Strategy, Saxo Bank) revenues. barrel mark, below which only 82 the accelerated selling that hit tially triggered a sell off in which The US shale industry: what to percent of producers will manage the energy market following last silver reached a five-year low. Traders are increasingly moving continues. look out for? to break even. week’s Opec meeting. Sellers, however, were forced to into a defensive mode where prof- Following a torrid November With Opec signalling its will- As a result of this, we have The cartel’s unwillingness to cover shorts as the combination its are being protected and losses (which yielded the biggest ingness to endure some pain in seen a dramatic slump in the cut production — thereby signal- of a weaker dollar and signs of are less tolerated than they are monthly losses in almost six order to put pressure on other share prices of some major shale ling a “battle” for market share physical demand in Asia helped during any other time of the year. years), December kicked off producers — not least the US oil producers in recent weeks. against other, non-Opec produc- trigger a major short squeeze in The strong recovery in gold with similarly weak trading, with shale oil industry — the focus nat- Going forward, the market ers — was the final straw, and it both metals. and silver on Monday was a crude oil futures slumping to a urally shifts to the US for clues will be looking towards smaller triggered a slump in oil prices to This squeeze was, again, felt good reflection of this attitude, new five-year low before estab- as to how the industry there is energy companies (not necessar- a new five-year low. A monthly heavily in silver as low liquidity and commodities that feature lishing a bid supported by both dealing with deteriorating prices. ily those mentioned above) and collapse of this magnitude in helped trigger a Monday trading extreme positioning one way oversold conditions and a weaker US crude oil production is their ability to attract continued Brent crude has only been seen range of more than 13%. The sec- or the other could find them- dollar. running at its highest level since financing. The cost of borrowing on four occasions since 1988. tor could still struggle as atten- selves at the receiving end of The impact of a prolonged at least 1983, and given the cur- for this sector has been on the Industrial metals were the sec- tion returns to the diverging counter-moves. period of lower energy prices rent oversupply in global mar- rise for a while, and the US high- ond-worst performer as the sharp action between the US Federal The energy sector and the should positively impact the glo- kets, traders will be looking for yield corporate energy bond index declines in energy, together with Reserve and other central banks, ongoing price slump continue to bal economy over the next six to clues as to how production data is currently priced almost 725 weaker-than-expected manufac- as well as the continued down- attract most of the attention in nine months as a massive redis- develop over the coming weeks basis points above US treasuries. turing data from both China and ward pressure on inflation caused commodities. Last Thursday’s tribution of money from pro- and months. Additional clues as to whether Europe, had copper on the defen- by lower commodity prices. surprise decision by Opec to do ducers to consumers increases US shale oil production from a slowdown in production is hap- sive. The break of key support December has arrived, and nothing in terms of cutting sup- consumer confidence and reduces the three major production areas pening will come from the weekly on Friday triggered an extension with it we could increasingly ply has sent crude oil prices into input cost for manufacturers. currently accounts for almost oil rig count, which has seen a fall to the lowest level in four years see low liquidity moves trigger- a tailspin as the battle for market The winners are likely to be half of the country’s total out- during the past couple of weeks. before a weaker dollar helped to ing higher levels of volatility. share in an oversupplied market the biggest consumers (such as put. The prices that producers THE PENINSULA MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

IOC counts on Paris bid for Belgium hold Aussies in 2024 Games MONACO: Top International Olympic Committee (IOC) members are increasingly con- fident that Paris will bid for the 2024 Olympics ahead of a Champions Trophy thriller deadline of September next year to enter the race, officials said yesterday. Boon fires last-gasp penalty corner to help force a dramatic 4-4 draw “We expect Paris to be a candi- date” and that France’s President Francois Hollande will overcome BHUBANESWAR: Tom Boon “Hopefully, we can be part of opposition from the mayor of the slammed in a last-gasp penalty something very special if we keep French capital, one IOC member corner to help Belgium force a improving like this,” Jackson said. said. dramatic 4-4 draw from world “We want to go from here with Another source close to the number ones Australia in the some good medals.” Olympic leadership said that Champions Trophy field hockey Pakistan coach Shahnaz Sheikh when Hollande met IOC presi- tournament in Bhubaneswar said the better fitness and speed dent Thomas Bach last week he yesterday. of European teams were the main “indicated” that a bid was likely. Ruthless England destroyed causes of his team’s two back-to- The socialist mayor of Paris, Pakistan 8-2 in another pool A back defeats. Anne Hidalgo, will make a final match of the eight-nation tourna- “We Asians just can’t match decision however, French govern- ment at the Kalinga stadium, to the power of the Europeans,” the ment officials have said. build on the 3-1 win over World former international said. “This If Paris wins 2024, it would Cup holders Australia in their tournament will be a good learn- be exactly 100 years after it last opening game. ing experience for my boys.” staged the summer Games. Australia, who have won the Pakistan, who did not qualify But Paris was hurt by its defeat last five Champions Trophy titles, for the World Cup, also failed to to London in the race for the appeared headed for an easy vic- earn a direct entry to the 2016 2012 Olympics and Hidalgo has tory over Belgium when they ran Olympics after losing to India in expressed doubts about a new up a 3-0 lead by the 21st minute. the Asian Games final in October. attempt. She has promised a deci- But the fast-improving In pool B matches later on sion in January. Belgians, ranked fourth in the Sunday, the Netherlands take There is already a long list of world, scored twice in quick on Germany and India play potential candidates for the 2024 succession to make it 2-3 at . Games readying their bids ahead half-time. The preliminary group stage of a September 15, 2015 deadline Flynn Ogilvie scored his first determines the line-up for the announced by the IOC at the international goal to extend knock-out rounds that will be weekend. A final decision will be the Kookaburras’ lead to 4-2 in contested by all eight sides. AFP taken in mid-2017. the 37th minute, but John-John In Europe, Berlin and Hamburg Dohmen narrowed the margin for in Germany and the Italian capi- Belgium soon after. Champions Trophy tal Rome are also studying bids. The determined Belgians forced The United States is to a series of penalty corners in the Results choose between Los Angeles, Results from day two of the last quarter and were rewarded Belgium’s John-John Dohmen (left) tussles with Australia’s Fergus Kavanagh during their Hero Hockey Champions San Francisco, Washington DC eight-nation Champions Trophy with just three seconds remaining Trophy 2014 match at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar yesterday. and Boston. The United States in the match when Boon recov- field hockey tournament in last held the summer Games in ered a miscued drag-flick after veterans Liam de Young and Rob to take a 5-0 lead over hapless before Muhammad Irfan netted Bhubaneswar yesterday: Atlanta in 1996. a penalty corner and smashed in Hammond earlier this year and Pakistan by half-time. a last-minute penalty corner to Preliminary rounds Durban in South Africa could the equaliser. missing the injured duo of Jamie Two more goals on either side score Pakistan’s second goal. Pool A press to become the first African Belgium, who defeated Pakistan Dwyer and Mark Knowles, were of the third and fourth quarters English veteran Ashley Jackson Australia 4 Belgium 4 host of the Games. Istanbul is also 2-1 in their opening match on left with just one point. increased the tally to 7-0 before said his team were already look- England 8 Pakistan 2 considering a new bid. Saturday, have four points from England, who finished a cred- Muhammad Qadir put Pakistan ing ahead at the rest of the tour- Cities must make applications Playing later two games. ible fourth at the World Cup in on the board three minutes from nament after recording their by September 15 and then have The new-look Kookaburras, the Netherlands in June, pumped the end. biggest Champions Trophy win Pool B until January 8, 2016 to place rebuilding after the retirement of in four goals in the second quarter Chris Griffith made it 8-1 over Pakistan. The Netherlands vs Germany; Argentina vs India guarantees. AFP Clippers win seventh straight game, beat Pelicans 120-100

LOS ANGELES: Blake Griffin The Clippers led by 18 early in Redick capped his red-hot Kerr, have now bettered their scored 30 points, going over the second quarter only to watch opening quarter with a buzzer- previous franchise record win- 7,000 for his career, and the Los the Pelicans tie it at 54-all at half- beating 3-pointer, giving the ning streak of 11 games, set from Angeles Clippers rallied after time. New Orleans shot 74 per- Clippers a 34-18 lead after they December 1971-January 1972. blowing an 18-point, first-half cent and made 5 of 6 3-pointers shot 65 percent. Kerr received a warm welcome lead to beat the New Orleans in the quarter, when Anderson led The Pelicans got back in it in in Chicago, where he won three of Pelicans 120-100 on yesterday the way with 12 points. Babbitt the second with their five 3-point- his five NBA championships as a night for their seventh straight hit a 3-pointer for the tie with 28 ers. Anderson had two 3s, Austin player with the Bulls. victory. seconds left. Rivers added one and Babbitt hit Green’s efforts helped make J J Redick scored 13 of his 21 Griffin’s layup late in the sec- the tying 3 just before half-time. up for the continuing struggles points in the first quarter, Jamal ond gave him 7,001 points, mak- In Chicago, Draymond Green’s of Golden State star Stephen Crawford added 20, Chris Paul ing the four-year veteran the career-high 31 points helped the Curry, who notched seven assists had 18 points and 16 assists, and second-quickest in franchise his- Golden State Warriors stretch but connected on just five of 14 DeAndre Jordan had 18 rebounds tory behind Bob McAdoo to reach their NBA winning streak to a shots from the field in an 18-point for Los Angeles. Griffin was one that mark. club record 12 games yesterday effort. AGENCIES of just two starters to go to the The Pelicans took their only with a 112-102 victory over the free throw line, where he made lead of the game, 56-54, to start Bulls. NBA Results 10 of 15. Anthony Davis scored 26 the third on a hook by Omer Asik. Green made seven three-point- Philadelphia 108 Detroit 101 points, Ryan Anderson added 16 From there, the Clippers gradu- ers and provided seven rebounds, Golden State 112 Chicago 102 off the bench and Luke Babbitt ally pulled away to another dou- four steals and three blocks for Houston 100 Phoenix 95 had 12 after making four of five ble-digit lead on a 3-pointer by the Warriors, who improved their Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (left) tries to dribble past New San Antonio 123 Minnesota 101 Orleans Pelicans forward Ryan Anderson during the second-half of a NBA 3-pointers for New Orleans, Paul. They stretched it to 93-78 league-leading record to 17-2. Orlando 105 Sacramento 96 game at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday night. which has dropped two straight at the end of the third on Paul’s The Warriors, under the guid- and five of six. running layup. ance of first-year coach Steve LA Clippers 120 New Orleans 100 Maple Leafs roll past Vancouver Canucks 5-2

TORONTO: Ryan Miller sat success. “I was just trying to stay “He’s probably used up his luck the cross-bar in quick succession on the bench and didn’t look up. patient tonight and stay on my in some of those other games,” on the power play in the third Already chased from the game, feet as much as possible.” Desjardins said. “It (didn’t go) period. Henrik Sedin believed he he had to listen to the call of It also helped that Canucks his way tonight. He’s a good and his teammates could win the Sidney Crosby beating him for defenseman Yannick Weber put goaltender. He had tough shots game if they had scored there to the gold medal at the Olympics the puck in his own net on a tonight. It wasn’t his fault.” make it 4-3, but Bernier was glad four years ago as it was replayed goal that was credited to Jake The Leafs struggled to generate the iron helped him out. on the Air Canada Centre’s Gardiner and that Richard Panik momentum for much of the first “They got two back-to-back video screen. scored less than a minute later two periods and got into penalty there,” Bernier said. “Sometimes It was just that kind of night to give the Leafs some room to trouble, especially in the second you need that luck.” for Miller and the Vancouver breathe. period. One of those penalties The Leafs could consider them- Canucks, as they lost 5-2 to the Peter Holland and Joffrey belonged to Robidas for elbowing selves lucky to come out of this Toronto Maple Leafs yesterday Lupul also scored for the Leafs, Canucks forward Shawn Matthias one with two points. It was an night. who rebounded well from a poor in the head. Robidas said he all-too-familiar story with them “I just didn’t make the saves the effort Thursday night against wasn’t trying to hurt Matthias, being outshot badly and leaning guys needed,” said Miller, who was the New Jersey Devils. David who left and did not return. on Bernier to get the job done. But pulled after allowing four goals Clarkson added an empty-netter Even with their parade to the again, it worked. AGENCIES on 14 shots. for his eighth goal of the season. penalty box, the Leafs stood tall. The Canucks outshot the Maple Daniel Sedin and Christopher Bernier was their best player NHL Results Leafs 46-28 but were stifled by Tanev had Vancouver’s goals in a on the penalty-kill as they went Pittsburgh 3 Ottawa 2 goalie Jonathan Bernier, who was game the Canucks believed they 6-for-6. St Louis 6 NY Islanders 4 stellar in making 44 saves. deserved better despite falling “If you’re in games like ... Philadelphia 2 Los Angeles 1 “We can thank him for the win into a deep hole. tonight and your penalty killing tonight,” Toronto defenseman “Even down 4-0, I thought we doesn’t rise to the occasion, your Toronto 5 Vancouver 2 Stephane Robidas said. “It’s one created enough chances to come Vancouver Canucks left-wing Daniel Sedin (centre) is congratulated by chances of winning are almost Detroit 3 NY Rangers 2 of those that he stole the game back in the game,” Vancouver’s his team-mates after scoring a goal against the Toronto Maple Leafs at nil,” Maple Leafs coach Randy Columbus 3 Tampa Bay 1 for us.” Henrik Sedin said. “We hit a few the Air Canada Centre in Toronto on Saturday night. Carlyle said. “Our PK guys did a Florida 3 Buffalo 2 Bernier was on his game early posts and weren’t able to score heck of a job for us, and our goalie Washington 4 New Jersey 1 and often. more than two.” Conference tour Sunday night at Desjardins against the Leafs, as was outstanding.” Chicago 3 Nashville 1 “Tonight I felt really good. I Backup goaltender Eddie Ottawa. Vancouver coach Willie he entered with a 32-15-3 record, It certainly wasn’t the sharp- Dallas 4 Montreal 1 was seeing pucks well,” Bernier Lack stopped all 13 shots he Desjardins didn’t say which goalie 2.47 goals-against average and est of efforts from the Leafs, who said, citing his familiarity with faced in relief for the Canucks, would start against the Senators. .921 save percentage in his career needed a couple of breaks like the Boston 5 Arizona 2 the Canucks as a reason for his who continue their Eastern It was a rare bad night for against Toronto. Canucks hitting the post and then San Jose 3 Calgary 2 MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

FIA Prize Giving in Doha Equal pay for women

Mercedes Formula many World One World Champion Lewis Hamilton Cups away, of Britain, FIA President Jean Todt and President says FIFA of Qatar Motor and Motorcycle OTTAWA: Women should not Federation (QMMF) expect to be paid the same as Nasser bin Khalifa men for many World Cups to Al Attiyah join other come, said FIFA secretary gen- drivers for a group eral Jerome Valcke, adding that any comparisons between the photograph at the two tournaments was not worth 2014 International debating. Automobile Valcke, who conducted the Federation (FIA) 2015 women’s World Cup draw Prize-Giving on Saturday, noted that women ceremony in Doha on will see prize money jump from Friday night. the $10m at the last World Cup in Germany to $15m next year in Canada but it will be a long, long time before there will be the same type of pay parity that women enjoy at the tennis grand slams. “The comparison between the prize money of the men’s World Cup in Brazil to the women’s LEFT: Formula One World Champion World Cup in Canada, that’s not Lewis Hamilton of Britain holds his trophy even a question I will answer during the 2014 International Automobile because it is nonsense,” Valcke Federation (FIA) Prize-Giving ceremony in said at a news conference “We Doha. RIGHT: Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, the played 30th (men’s) World Cup 2014 FIA Middle East Championship winner, in 2014 and we are playing the seventh women’s World Cup so at the same ceremony at the Katara Cultural things can grow step-by-step. Village in Doha. The FIA Annual General “We are still another 23 World Assembly marked the end of the annual Cups before potentially women meeting week attended by Sport and should receive the same amount Mobility FIA Member Clubs from around as men. the world and which culminated with the “The World Cup pays for all the FIA Prize-Giving ceremony in Doha. FIA 20 World Cups FIFA organises, President, Jean Todt, along with Senate the under-17, under-20 men and President Nick Craw and Deputy Presidents women, club football, beach soc- Brian Gibbons and Graham Stoker, on cer all is financed by the men’s behalf of the General Assembly, thanked World Cup which brings directly hosts Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah and the $4.5 billion to FIFA.” Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation The women’s game continues (QMMF) for their warm hospitality and to grow in popularity with next assistance. His Excellency, Salah bin year’s finals featuring 24 nations, Ghanem bin Nasser Al Ali, Minister of Youth up from 16 in 2011, for the June and Sport, was also present during one of 5 to July 6 at six venues across Canada. The Canadian Soccer the events of General Assembly in Doha. Association said it expects attend- ance to come in a close to 1.5 mil- lion. Still women’s soccer has been a tough sell. When Valcke took over as FIFA’s television rights and mar- keting director in 2003, one of his first projects was to see what appetite there was women’s soc- cer as a standalone product. Lochte, Le Clos welcome Pehlps’ return The results were not encouraging. DOHA: and Chad le Clos and when he comes back he is going to be “I went to various companies have both welcomed the news that coming back!” fter the ban, Phelps, 29, also around the world trying to sell banned Olympic legend Michael Phelps agreed he would withdraw from the United women’s football on its own out will return to the pool at the French States team for the World Championships of the men’s events,” said Valcke. leg of the FINA World Cup series next (50m) in Kazan, Russia in August 2015. “And I failed. August. Lochte added: “It doesn’t matter if it’s “There was not a single com- The 22-time Olympic medallist was short course or long course - especially pany that said I am interested to banned for six months by USA Swimming when you are at a certain point of swim- just buy women’s football. in October after being charged with driv- ming - all that really matters at the end of “Most of the partners said, OK ing under the influence of alcohol (DUI), the day is racing. There’s no doubt about it, we are ready to support women’s excessive speed and crossing the centre line Michael does it the best of anyone in this football, we are ready to do more while driving inside a tunnel. entire world. He’s the racer. So him going than what we are doing but what But French swimming federation presi- to the World Cup in France in August is we wish to receive is the men’s dent Francis Luyce confirmed on Saturday good. It is just a stepping stone for him and football because that is where we that 18-time Olympic gold medallist Phelps what he is going to accomplish out in Rio want to put our money.” will compete in the short-course meet at (Olympics).” Chartres-Paris on August 15-16. The Baltimore athlete announced his Luyce said he had been informed of retirement after the 2012 London Olympics Australia’s Phelps’ participation by Dave Neilburger, - although team-mate and rival Lochte American vice-president of world swim- was always very vocal about a possible Wanderers may ming body FINA, during the world short- comeback. course swimming championships currently So it transpired with Phelps returning boycott Club underway in Doha. to the pool to claim three gold medals at US swimmer Ryan Lochte (left) and South Africa’s Chad le Clos during competitions at FINA Lochte and fellow American Phelps the Pan Pacific Championships in August World Championships (short course) in Doha on Saturday. are long-time friends and rivals and the in Australia to book his place on the team World Cup 11-time Olympic medallist said: “There was for Kazan. the butterfly but he knows he faces another top of his game.” The pair have met in the MELBOURNE: Players for no doubt in my mind (he would be back Le Clos, meanwhile, seared himself on battle when Phelps returns for the second shorter pool, Le Clos revealing: “In 2011 we Australian soccer team Western again). I knew for a fact he was going to the world’s consciousness when his last- time. did a 200 fly short-course together. I got Sydney Wanderers are mulling come back. He misses the sport, he misses gasp victory over his idol in what was then “He is a great champion. He wouldn’t second and he got third and the Japanese a boycott of this week’s FIFA the excitement of being on the blocks and Phelps’ final 200m butterfly prompted tears have made it public about coming back if guy won. Club World Cup in Morocco racing the best people on the blocks.” from the South African and unbridled joy he wasn’t going out to win gold medals,” “It was such an anti-climax to beat over a pay dispute, the country’s He added: “Then he got suspended but I from his father Bert. Le Clos said. Michael Phelps and come second so I don’t players association has said. know he is in the water right now training The 22-year-old has gone on to dominate “He is going to try to come back at the count that as a win.” AFP The Wanderers, who quali- fied as Asian club champions, are scheduled to play Mexican side Cruz Azul on Saturday with the winners going on to face Real Hackett confirms comeback at age 34 Madrid in the semi-finals. Wanderers players were in dis- MELBOURNE: Australian and he had set himself modest News Ltd websites yesterday pute with club management over swimming great Grant Hackett goals, with fresh memories of showed pictures of the 6-ft-6in distribution of the prize money has confirmed his comeback to compatriot Ian Thorpe’s failed bid (1.98m) Australian looking lean for qualifying for the tourna- the pool after six years and has to make Australia’s Olympic team and toned. ment, Professional Footballers entered next April’s national for the London Games. Hackett won 10 world titles and Australia (PFA) chief executive trials, local media reported. “(Ian) didn’t make comebacks also a silver medal in the 1,500m at Adam Vivian said in a statement Hackett, who won 1,500 metres look overly attractive, it was prob- the 2008 Beijing Games, and held on the PFA’s website (pfa.net.au). freestyle gold at the 2000 Sydney ably more of a deterrent,” Hackett the world record in the distance The Wanderers have already Olympics and defended the title said in comments published by until China’s reigning Olympic secured $1m for qualification. The four years later at Athens, had News Ltd media on Sunday. champion Sun Yang broke it at eventual winner receives $5m. fuelled speculation of a return “That is probably why I’m the 2011 world championships. “The players have made every months ago after being spotted more reserved and more humble Sun was also coached by attempt to reach an agreement on training on the Gold Coast with because of watching that. Cotterell, but is no longer trained a fair and equitable share of the his old coach Denis Cotterell. “At the age of 34, which is by him after Australia’s swim- prize money,” Vivian said. Rated one of the greatest dis- extremely old for swimming par- ming administration banned the “Despite these intentions the tance swimmers ever, 34-year-old ticularly after six years off, it Chinese from local pools this club has consistently refused to Hackett has endured a torrid year, becomes a challenge for me in my week. negotiate in good faith. and flew to the United States in own mind of ‘how fast can you go Sun tested positive to a banned “As a result of this the players, February to spend time in rehab at this age?’ The most interesting stimulant at national trials in with the full support of the PFA, to treat a dependency to Stilnox, thing is my body can still handle May and was suspended for three have unanimously taken the deci- Australian swimmer Grant Hackett walks through the arrivals hall at Beijing a sleeping medication. doing a fair bit of work which is months but Chinese authorities sion to consider their participa- airport at the 2008 Olympic Games in this August 3, 2008, file photo. Hackett said his comeback was great, that is why I think I’ve been kept the case under wraps until tion in the tournament.” more about personal well-being able to get fit relatively quick.” November. REUTERS AGENCIES MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Second Willett bags $1.25m prize Batch of Italian Super The Briton claims biggest win of his career with slick finish in SA Cup tickets CAPE TOWN: Briton Danny the last. I’ve only won one before Willett landed six birdies and and it was a five-hole play-off so it Nedbank Golf Danny released the biggest win of his career as was a bit more nerve-wracking,” Willett of he claimed the $1.25m first prize Willett said at the presentation Challenge Scores England DOHA: The Organising at the Nedbank Challenge fol- ceremony. poses Committee of the Italian Super CAPE TOWN: lowing a faultless final round at “We stuck to our game-plan, we Top scores with the Cup TIM -Doha 2014 announced Sun City yesterday. said we were going to go aggres- from the European Tour trophy after yesterday that a new batch Nedbank Golf Challenge at It is a second European Tour sive and see if we could shoot winning the of 3,000 tickets will be up for victory for the 27-year-old another low score and put it out the par-72 course yesterday in grabs starting today in Villaggio Nedbank Englishman, who showed no sign of reach for the other players. Sun City Mall, after selling out a total of Challenge of nerves to produce a final round Luckily we did and it was a really 270 Danny Willett (Britain) 71 68 65 66 4,060 tickets that were released 66, the best score of the day, for a good win.” at Sun City last week on Qatar Football tournament total of 18 under par If Willet did have any nerves, 274 Ross Fisher (Britain) 66 70 70 68 yesterday. Association’s (QFA) website and a four-shot win over compa- he did not show it as he built 276 Luke Donald (Britain) 71 63 69 73 Willett www.qfa.com.qa. triot Ross Fisher. momentum with three birdies landed six The match, that will be set for 279 Marcel Siem (Germany) 68 72 71 68 Willett and Fisher were part of in his first five holes that opened birdies and kick off on December 22 at 8:30pm an English trio that also included up a four-shot lead that he never 281 Kiradech Aphibarnrat (Thailand) 72 73 the biggest in Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium (Al overnight leader Luke Donald, relinquished. 68 68 win of his Sadd Club), will feature Napoli, celebrating his 37th birthday, While Fisher and Donald bat- 282 Miguel Angel Jimenez (Spain) 70 74 69 career as he Copa Italia Champions, and Serie as the only realistic winners tled with the course at times, 69 claimed the A winners Juventus, two of the yesterday. Willett never looked troubled and $1.25m first best and most exciting rosters in 285 Tim Clark (South Africa) 70 71 72 72 Fisher, the leader after the first three further birdies on the back prize at the the world. round, ended his tournament with nine cemented his win. Louis Oosthuizen (South Africa) 70 73 Nedbank Commenting on the occasion, a 68, equalling the second-best After his first European Tour 69 73 Challenge Khalid Mubarak Al Kuwari, round of the day, but three bogeys victory at the BMW International Jonas Blixt (Sweden) 71 73 70 71 following Executive Director, Operations in the first 10 holes saw Donald Open in 2012, Willett proposed to a faultless (Acting) of QFA, and Vice slip to third as he carded 73 to his now wife Nicole. Thongchai Jaidee (Thailand) 71 70 71 President of the Organising final round finish 12 under. Asked how he would top that, 73 Committee of Supercoppa TIM at Sun City “Words can’t describe it, you the Sheffield-born player said: “I 286 Shane Lowry (Ireland) 72 72 71 71 Doha 2014, said: “Our goal as hope that when you win you have don’t know ... she can take a dive yesterday. an Organising Committee is to a bit of breathing space coming to into this cheque!” REUTERS 287 Brendon Todd (US) 73 68 75 71 ensure the success of this highly anticipated game which features two of Italy’s football giants, Hero World therefore, the presence of the fans is one of the most important ele- Event host Woods soldiers on Challenge Scores ments of any successful football match.” ORLANDO: Scores after He added: “Due to the high Saturday’s third round of demand witnessed on the online the Hero World Challenge at ticket sales, we decided to release at Hero World Challenge the second batch at Villaggio Mall Isleworth (USA unless noted, par 72): to guarantee that the largest pos- WINDERMERE, FLORIDA: his foundation at even-par 216. Tiger Woods sible number Italian football fans 196 Jordan Spieth 66-67-63 Tournament host Tiger Woods Woods knelt before hitting on the alongside are able to be part of this excit- battled nausea and fever but sol- first tee and coughed into a towel his caddie 203 Keegan Bradley 72-66-65, Henrik ing event. Tickets will be sold diered through the third round before setting off. Joe LaCava Stenson 67-68-68 in Villaggio, Gate 2 (outside of of the Hero World Challenge to Befitting the old golfing adage during the third 205 Patrick Reed 73-63-69 Carrefour) everyday from 8th – shoot a three-under-par 69 at ‘beware the sick golfer’, Woods 15th December from 3:00pm until round of the 206 Justin Rose (ENG) 72-64-70 Isleworth on Saturday. birdied the first hole by sinking an Hero World 10:00pm.” Woods, in last place in the eight-foot putt that his mother, 208 Jason Day (AUS) 71-67-70 There will be two ticket cat- Challenge at 18-player field, coughed repeat- Kultida, urged in with a com- egories offered for fans, Grade the Isleworth 209 Graeme McDowell (NIR) 68-73-68, Matt edly into a towel and vomited manding “turn, turn.” A, worth Q.R 300 and Grade B Golf & Country Kuchar 69-70-70, Rickie Fowler 67-70- along the third fairway, but car- That brought a beaming smile 72, Bubba Watson 69-68-72 worth Q.R 200. ried on in his return to competi- from her, but it was not easy going Club in For more information, you can 210 Zach Johnson 67-71-72 tion after an absence of some four for Woods on a hot, sunny day at Windermere, visit QFA’s official website on months due to back pain. the exclusive enclave. Florida. RIGHT: 212 Billy Horschel 73-72-67, Hideki www.qfa.com.qa. The 14-times major winner Woods, in the midst of another Lindsey Vonn Matsuyama (JPN) 68-73-71, Chris Kirk closed with three consecutive swing change, stumbled again of the USA 70-68-74, Jimmy Walker 68-69-75 birdies to the delight of the large with his chipping, which cost reacts to a 213 Hunter Mahan 71-71-71 Canada gallery following him at the lay- him numerous strokes in the reporter’s 214 Steve Stricker 67-73-74 out that was his longtime home first two rounds. From the rough question course. a few yards off the left side of comparing 216 Tiger Woods 77-70-69 thanking “I wasn’t doing too good. But the green at the par-four sixth, her comeback I thought I could hang in there,” Woods chunked his chip, mov- in skiing and their luck Woods whispered to reporters ing the ball only about a foot and Tiger Woods after the round, explaining he had ended up with a bogey. comeback in lost his voice. He showed more yips on his golf in Lake after World “I wasn’t in pain. I just was a chips on the back nine before Louise, Alberta, little bit under the weather,” said mounting his explosive finish. Canada, Woods, who played Friday after Woods was asked if he could Cup draw running a 102-degree fever. take away any positives from the yesterday. “Today was nausea and the difficult day. GATINEAU, QUEBEC: vomiting before and during the “Not bad. Only 15 back,” he three birdies in a row to start the Australian Open for his first Canadian coach John Herdman round. I’m taking antibiotics and joked hoarsely. the day and another trio from win of 2014 and said this week was thanking his lucky stars hoping they’ll kick in.” Meanwhile, y oung American the 12th. he could tick off the last box of on Saturday after his team Woods finished with a flourish, Jordan Spieth was on course to He crowned a brilliant round his to-do list with a victory at avoided the so-called ‘Group of belting an eight-iron 170 yards to satisfy his 2014 season’s objectives by sinking a 50-footer at the last Isleworth, having set a goal of two Death’ and landed in a challeng- within four feet of the cup at the by storming to a seven-shot lead for his ninth birdie in a bogey-free tournaments wins this year. ing but familiar pool at the 2015 18th and made birdie. at the Hero World Challenge. 63 that put him at 20- under 196 Tied for second place on Women’s World Cup draw. Despite his rip-roaring fin- Spieth, who two years ago and on the brink of a second title 13-under were compatriot Keegan Herdman got just about eve- ish, Woods remained last in became the youngest winner on of the year. Bradley (65) and Henrik Stenson rything he had wished for as he the tournament that benefits the PGA Tour in 82 years, made The 21-year-old Texan won of Sweden (68). AGENCIES watched the balls pulled from the pots during an intimate cer- emony conducted by FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke at the Canadian Museum of History. At number eight Canada is the highest ranked nation in Doha Bank hosts sports events Group A that includes China, the Netherlands and . DOHA: Doha Bank recently work culture. Doha Bank is keen Certainly it was much better hosted a bowling and billiards to create platforms that not only news than four years ago when tournament for its staff mem- nurture a spirit of collaboration Canada was lumped in with twice bers and their families as part amongst our employees but pro- champions Germany, African of its year-round employee mote their physical health and champions Nigeria and France engagement programme. well-being and build a sense of and failed to win a game. The annual bowling and bil- belonging.” This year Herdman could smile liards tournament provided an The arena came alive with and offer his sympathies to the engaging platform for the bank’s energy and excitement as 50 top ranked United States who staff to come together and enjoy bowling teams – each compris- were drawn into a group alongside a fun day out as more than 500 ing players in uniquely designed fifth-ranked Sweden, who con- men, women and children – rep- uniforms - put their best foot for- ceded just one goal in 10 qualifying resenting employees from various ward in their quest for the top matches, 10th ranked Australia business divisions and at all levels spot after Neil Buckley, Head of and always tricky Nigeria. of the organization as well as their Technology and Operations, set “I think the soccer gods lis- families – gathered at the Qatar the ball rolling with the ceremo- tened to us last night,” Herdman Bowling Center for an evening of nial first roll. told reporters. “We avoided that competition and camaraderie. Following the group stages, group of death. I mean, wow, “The tournament presented it was left to the eight quarter- that’s a tough group.” a wonderful opportunity for finalists to battle it out for the top Herdman, who coached New employees and their families to prize and, at the end of a thrilling Zealand at the 2007 and 2011 bond with each other while enjoy- contest, Team Paara Dige - com- World Cups, had said on Friday ing a range of sporting activities prising Manjula Sandanayake, that his dream draw would see and entertainment,” A Rahman Thivanka Samithadasa, Susantha Canada and his former-team Ali Al Mohammed, Head of Bandara and Dinesh Jayalath - A group photograph of Doha Bank employees who featured in bowling and billiards events which were organised together in the same pool, play- Human Resources Doha Bank, emerged the tournament’s win- by the bank. ing in the opener. said. ners, with Team “We’re On He got half his wish when the “Sport is a universally under- Strike” finishing runner-up and 19th ranked Kiwis dropped into stood language that brings peo- Team Avengers claiming the third format, with over 70 staff putting Mohamed Shaker Mohideen and not to miss out on the fun as they Group A but it was 14th ranked ple closer together, and as a spot. their cueing skills to test. M. Azeem from Central Market had their own mini tournament China that was awarded the relationship-driven organisa- The pool tournament attracted Abhishek Srivastava, from branch bagged top honours in the where over 30 cash prizes were up honour of facing Canada in the tion that embeds teamwork and equally enthusiastic participation Direct Sales Unit came out doubles event. for grabs, a bank statement said. opener on June 6 in Edmonton. shared responsibility into its daily in both the singles and doubles the winner in the singles while Kids present at the venue were THE PENINSULA AGENCIES MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Dhoni’s captaincy under the microscope NEW DELHI: Tours of lead the team in the first Test but But India’s most successful “If he can bat well in Test the hosts are also fretting over Australia have traditionally with the match being rescheduled has also presided over a matches and have that certainty the fitness of their own captain, been tests of character for visit- Dhoni has had enough time to series of dismal away perform- about himself as a player, then I Michael Clarke. ing Indian cricketers and skip- recover. ances. When India beat England have no doubt that he’s the obvi- On Friday, Test opener Shikhar per Mahendra Singh Dhoni Dhoni took over the captaincy at Lord’s in July, it was their first ous candidate to take over from Dhawan was asked how different (pictured) will no doubt be of the limited overs side in 2007 away Test victory in over three Dhoni once he’s finished.” it would be to play under young put through the wringer when after Rahul Dravid cracked under years. Dhoni reads limited over games Kohli, he said in an interview the four-Test series starts in the pressure of leading a team Dravid is among those who have like no other, but has struggled in posted on ESPNcricinfo: “Virat Adelaide tomorrow. representing a country of 1.2 bil- vouched for Kohli’s leadership the longer version where his usual is, of course, doing his first Test Dhoni, having recovered from lion cricket fans, arguably the qualities after the 26-year-old led pro-activeness deserted him and match now, if he going to do or a thumb injury, joined his team most difficult job in the game. India to a 5-0 ODI whitewash of he would often wait for the game not I don’t know about that. He’s mates on Saturday and is expected Under Dhoni’s captaincy, India Sri Lanka last month. to change course rather than a different captain than Dhoni to lead them in Adelaide after the won the Twenty20 World Cup in “I think he’s (Kohli) got a good force the issue himself. bhai. He’s more charged up, series was pushed back following 2007 and the 50-over World Cup cricket brain,” the former India Arch-rivals Pakistan inflicted more aggressive. Of course they the tragic death of Australia bats- four years later and remained the captain told ESPNcricinfo. “He’s a morale-sapping 2-0 defeat on both are aggressive in a different man Phillip Hughes. top ranked test team for a year spent quite a bit of time learning Australia in the United Arab way. I enjoy playing under both.” Virat Kohli had been in line to and half in between. from Dhoni. Emirates in November, while AGENCIES

Scoreboard Tributes planned for Hughes ENGLAND Sangakkara shines M Ali c Sangakkara b Dilshan ...... 19 at Australia-India Test A Hales c Jayawardene b Prasad ...... 0 J Taylor c K Perera b A Mendis ...... 90 ADELAIDE: J Root b Herath ...... 36 Cricket Australia said yesterday they will stage a R Bopara b Dilshan ...... 22 number of tributes to the late Phillip Hughes at this week’s first E Morgan c Sangakkara b Dilshan ...... 62 Test against India at the Adelaide Oval. in Sri Lanka’s win J Buttler c Jayawardene b Herath ...... 15 The Australian players will wear Hughes’ Test cap number 408 on B Stokes c T Perera b A Mendis ...... 6 their playing shirts for the match, while players and team management C Woakes b Herath ...... 6 will also wear black armbands in honour of their former team-mate. C Jordan c T Perera b A Mendis ...... 1 Prior to the start of play tomorrow, the Australian and Indian teams Hosts go 3-1 up in seven-match series S Finn () ...... 1 will stand before a large 408 painted on the Adelaide Oval’s playing Extras (LB-1, W-6) ...... 7 surface as they observe a video tribute to Hughes, narrated by former Total (all out in 50 overs) ...... 265 Australia Test captain and prominent cricket commentator Richie COLOMBO: Kumar Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-29, 3-122, 4-170, Benaud. Sangakkara laid the founda- 5-173, 6-203, 7-219, 8-238, 9-245. Following the tribute, which will be displayed on screens at the tion before Angelo Mathews Bowling: Mathews 6-0-21-0; Prasad 6-1- Adelaide Oval, the team and spectators will be asked to stand for 63 completed a nervy chase as 29-1 (w2); Dilshan 10-0-64-3 (w2); T Perera seconds of applause in recognition of Hughes’s final unbeaten score. Sri Lanka beat England by six 2-0-19-0 (w1); Herath 10-0-36-3; J Mendis Hughes, 25, died on November 27 from bleeding on the brain, two wickets in the fourth one-day 7-1-39-0; A Mendis 9-0-56-3 (w1). days after being knocked unconscious by a bouncer while batting for international to go 3-1 up in the SRI LANKA South Australia in Sydney, plunging the cricketing world into mourning. seven-match series yesterday. T Dilshan c Morgan b Woakes ...... 16 “It’s been an incredibly sad time since Phillip’s passing,” Cricket Sangakkara hit a sparkling K Perera c Jordan b Ali ...... 31 Australia chief executive James Sutherland said. 86 but it was Mathews’ fine, if K Sangakkara c Woakes b Jordan ...... 86 “With the international season re-commencing on Tuesday, it is not flawless, captain’s knock of M Jayawardene b Jordan ...... 44 appropriate to pause once more and honour a modest hero who thrilled 51 not out that helped the hosts A Mathews (not out) ...... 51 the nation and in so doing won an enduring place in our hearts. overwhelm the 266-run victory L Thirimanne (not out) ...... 19 “We hope that the cricket community can come together to join the target with two balls to spare at Extras (B-4, LB-4, W-12) ...... 20 Australian and Indian teams in the pre-match tribute. Colombo’s R Premadasa Stadium. Total (for 4 wkts in 49.4 overs) ...... 267 “This is an opportunity for those that embraced him so fondly to James Taylor’s career-best 90 Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-69, 3-165, 4-214. say goodbye.” and Eoin Morgan’s belligerent 62 Bowling: Finn 9.4-1-61-0 (w3); Woakes had powered England to 265 all 9-0-53-1 (w1); Ali 10-0-44-1; Jordan 10-0- out in 50 overs, nine of the wick- 35-2 (w3); Root 6-0-29-0 (w3); Bopara 3-0- FACTBOX-Australia vs India ADELAIDE: ets claimed by spinners. 16-0; Stokes 2-0-21-0 (w2). Factbox on the first test between Australia and Sri Lanka looked in trouble at India, which begins at Adelaide Oval on Tuesday: 69 for two but Sangakkara and AUSTRALIA Mahela Jayawardene, who have World ranking: Second played over 800 ODIs between LEFT: Sri Lanka’s captain Angleo Captain: Michael Clarke them, added 96 runs for the third Mathews (right) shakes hands Coach: Darren Lehmann wicket to put the chase back on with England’s skipper Eoin Squad: Clarke, Brad Haddin, , Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell track. Morgan after winning the fourth Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Chris Rogers, Peter Siddle, , David Warner, Shane Watson. Jayawardene dragged a Chris ODI in Colombo yesterday. INDIA Jordan delivery onto his stumps World ranking: Sixth to depart, while Sangakkara per- Captain: Mahendra Singh Dhoni ished chasing a wide delivery from Coach: Duncan Fletcher the same bowler. for a boundary to bring up his 50 a golden duck and the in-form many sixes, developed cramps and Squad: Dhoni, Virat Kohli, , Murali Vijay, K.L. Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya England maintained the pres- and seal victory. Moeen Ali (19) was sent back by became one of the three victims of Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, , Naman Ojha, , Karn sure and were nearly rewarded Pallekele hosts the fifth match Tillakaratne Dilshan (3-64). spinner Ajantha Mendis. Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, , , but Alex Hales spilled a Mathews on Wednesday. The 93-run partnership At 170 for three in the 35th Varun Aaron. catch in the 46th over from an Earlier, regular England cap- between Taylor and Joe Root over, England looked set for a Australia vs India Tests at Adelaide Oval Last five results exasperated Jordan. tain Alastair Cook’s suspension, (36) steadied the innings before huge total but the Sri Lankan Matches 10 January 2012: Australia won by 258 runs Despite conceding 20 extra due to a slow over-rate offence, left-arm spinner Rangana Herath spinners, who bowled the final 21 Australia wins 6 January 2008: Match drawn runs including 12 wide balls, the handed Taylor an opportunity and (3-36) dismissed Root. overs of the innings, showed con- India wins 1 December 2003: India won by four wickets visiting bowlers showed enough the 24-year-old grabbed it. Taylor, who completed his siderable discipline to restrict the Draws 3 December 1999: Australia won by 285 runs fight to take the game to the last Opting to bat first, England maiden ODI fifty in 69 balls visitors. REUTERS January 1992: Australia won by 38 runs over but Mathews hit Steven Finn wobbled early as Hales fell for with the help of two fours and as Another blow as Hafeez

Pakistan’s Mohammed banned from bowling Hafeez (left) and DUBAI: Pakistan’s hopes pair instead of using wicket- Mohammed of gaining a morale boosting Probable Teams keeper batsman Sarfraz Ahmed Irfan are one day series win over New at the top of the order. seen during Pakistan: Misbah-ul Haq (capt), Mohammad Zealand ahead of the World Cup “We want to go in with genuine a net session next year have been hurt by Hafeez, Ahmed Shehzad, Asad Shafiq, Bilawal openers and want the first four Bhatti, Haris Sohail, Mohammad Irfan, Nasir in Dubai yesterday’s announcement that batsmen settled before going to yesterday. Mohammad Hafeez has been Jamshed, Sarfraz Ahmed, Shahid Afridi, Sohail the World Cup. New Zealand have Tanvir, Umar Akmal, Umar Gul, Wahab Riaz, Pakistan suspended from bowling because adaptability and they have all- Younis Khan, Zulfiqar Babar. take on New of an illegal action. rounders and good spinners who Zealand The 34-year-old -- who joins New Zealand: Kane Williamson (capt), Corey can win matches for their team,” today in the top Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal Anderson, Dean Brownlie, Anton Devcich, said Misbah. in being suspended for the same Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Mitchell New Zealand’s stand-in cap- first game of offence -- will still be able to bat McClenaghan, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, tain Kane Williamson -- Brendon five-match in the five-match one-day series Adam Milne, James Neesham, Luke Ronchi, McCullum left after the Tests One-Day which begins in Dubai today. Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori. to prepare for the home series International However, he gives Pakistan an confidence and momentum. “This against Sri Lanka -- said Pakistan series. option of an extra bowler and is one of our last chances before remain a dangerous side even his suspension will badly hurt the World Cup, to look how we without Ajmal. the team’s preparations for next will go into the World Cup so the “We know it’s a big challenge year’s World Cup. focus is on that,” said Misbah on because Pakistan play well here, “It’s a setback for us,” said Saturday. they have depth and even without team manager and chief selec- “Pitches are different here Ajmal whichever side they put out tor Moin Khan after Hafeez was (from Australia and New Zealand is strong,” said Williamson. suspended by the International where the World Cup is being New Zealand play two Tests Cricket Council. hosted) but I still think the con- and seven one-day internationals “Hafeez’s suspension can affect fidence and the momentum of this against Sri Lanka starting later ODI recall delights Younis our preparations for the World series will help us and it will not this month. “There is so much Cup but we have no doubt over matter even if we are playing on cricket before the World Cup and DUBAI: Veteran Pakistan Zealand since October. Younis six years. Younis hoped Pakistan his ability as a batsman and he different pitches here.” this series is the focus but we are batsman Younis Khan yester- hoped he would justify his recall would defeat New Zealand in the will play on Monday.” Pakistan have recalled experi- conscious of the big event,” said day expressed his delight at in the five-match one-day series the one-day trophy after both the Both the teams will remain enced batsman Younis Khan after Williamson. being recalled to the one-day against New Zealand starting in preceding Tests and Twenty20 focused on the World Cup to dropping him from the three- All-rounder Corey Anderson team which raised hopes of a Dubai today. series finished all square at 1-1. be held in Australia and New match one-day series against will return after missing the sec- final campaign in next year’s “I am a happy man to be back,” “We don’t want to share this Zealand in February-March. Australia which they lost 3-0 ond Twenty20 as a precaution- World Cup being co-hosted by said Younis, who played just one one-dayers. I hope Pakistan will The series promises to be a in October -- also played in the ary measure after being hit by Australia and New Zealand. limited over game in August this do well in the one-dayers. We keenly-fought contest after they United Arab Emirates. a bouncer in the first Twenty20 The 37-year-old was recalled to year after a 17-month hiatus due have fantastic players in one-day- ended honours even in both the Misbah believes Younis will on Thursday. The remaining the one-day squad, as well as the to lack of form. ers. Everyone saw what happened three-Test series and the two- provide valuable experience. one-day matches will be played 30-man World Cup preliminary “I hope I do well in this series in the T20s. In 50-over cricket, match Twenty20. “His experience will help us,” in Sharjah (December 12 and 14) squad, after scoring four scintil- and then the World Cup, it is very we have some fantastic players, Pakistan skipper Misbah-ul said Misbah, also hinting Pakistan and Abu Dhabi (December 17 and lating centuries in the Test series important,” said Younis, who has who I think will perform well for Haq admitted his team can build will go with a specialist opening 19). REUTERS against both Australia and New not scored a one-day hundred for Pakistan,” said Younis. AFP MONDAY 8 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

FINA World Federer hails FINA worlds conclude Swimming new IPTL as Championships “crazy but (25m) Results fun” with 23 world records Women’s 4x50M Freestyle Netherlands (Inge Dekker, Femke Heemskerk, NEW DELHI: World number Maud Van Der Meer, Ranomi Kromowidjojo) two Roger Federer hailed the Sjostrom shines on final day, Brazil top medals table 1:34.24; USA (Madison Kennedy, Abbey new International Premier Weitzeil, Natalie Coughlin, Amy Bilquist) Tennis League as “crazy but 1:34.61; Denmark (Jeanette Ottesen, Larsen fun” after sauntering through BY FAWAD HUSSAIN Brazil’s domination yesterday by Julie, Ostergaard Mie, Pernille Blume) 1:35.48. his debut matches in the Indian winning the men’s 100m freestyle Men’s 100M Freestyle capital yesterday. DOHA: Two world records race followed by Etiene Medeiros, A laughing and joking Federer Cesar Cielo Filho (Brazil) 45.75; Florent by Swede Sarah Sjostrom’s who broke the five-year old world downed Czech world number Sarah Sjostrom Manadou (France) 45.81; Danila Izotov (Russia) and Brazilian swimmers grab- record in women’s 50m back- seven Tomas Berdych in the new 46.09. bing four gold medals on the stroke, to add a gold medal for of Sweden reacts team competition’s third leg in final day to top the medals her country. She raced to victory after winning Women’s 50M New Delhi, where the Swiss vet- table were the highlights of the in 25.67 seconds, just 0.3milli- the women’s Etiene Medeiros (Brazil) 25.67 (WORLD eran was playing for the first 12th FINA World Swimming seconds ahead of Croatian Sanja 100m butterfly RECORD); Emily Seebohm (Australia) 25.83; time. Championships (25m) yesterday. Jovanovic’s record. at the 12th FINA Katinka Hosszu (Hungary) 25.96. The normally composed and World Swimming Altogether five more world Felipe Franca Silva brought the Men’s 200M Backstroke focused Federer was clearly records were smashed at the third gold by winning the men’s Championships enjoying himself during his Hamad Aquatic Centre here yes- 50m breaststroke while a premier (25m) at Hamad Radoslaw Kawecki () 1:47.38; Ryan three matches in front of Indian terday, taking the total tally to medal in 4x100m men’s medley Aquatic Centre in Lochte (USA) 1:48.20; Mitchell James Larkin fans, including Bollywood stars 23 — which surpasses the 18 world took Brazil to the top of the table. Doha yesterday. (Australia) 1:48.35. Amitabh Bachchan and cricket- records that fell in Manchester Sweden’s Sjostrom displayed Women’s 200M Backstroke ing great Sunil Gavaskar. in 2008. brilliance while breaking world Watanabe Takuro (Japan) 2:16.92; Rie Kaneto After winning his doubles and Qatar Swimming Association records in women’s 100m butter- (Japan) 2:17.43; Moller Rikke Pedersen mixed doubles matches with (QFA) President Khalil Al Jabir fly and women’s 200m freestyle (Denmark) 2:17.83. Indian team-mates Sania Mirza was delighted on the roaring suc- races. She clocked 54.61 seconds and Rohan Bopanna, Federer cel- cess of the championship. in the 100m butterfly, overcoming Men’s 100M Individual Medley ebrated with a court-side dance, “It’s a result of our hard work,” Frenchwoman Diane Bui Duyet’s Markus Deibler (Germany) 50.66; Vladmir before team-mate France’s Gael Al Jabir told reporters after the record of 55.05 seconds which was Morozov (Russia) 50.81; Ryan Lochte (USA) Monfils joined in. closing ceremony. set back in 2009. 51.24. “It’s crazy but it’s good fun. I “We did a lot of homework and The 21-year old then excelled Women’s 100M Butterfly definitely think there’s a place for stayed in touch with FINA and to finish the 200m freestyle in just this,” Federer said, adding, “It’s officials and athletes to know one minute and 50.78 seconds. Sarah Sjostrom (Sweden) 54.61; Ying Lu competitive, it’s serious but it’s about their priorities. The ath- “I made a lot of mistakes yes- (China) 55.25; Jeanette Ottesen (Denmark) still light-hearted.” letes were comfortable and that is terday (on Saturday) and today 55.32. Federer’s Indian Aces defeated why they performed and broke so I was focusing on avoiding mis- Men’s 50M Breaststroke the Singapore Slammers 26 points many world records. We are now takes. That helped me in gaining Felipe Franca Silva (Brazil) 25.63; Adam Peaty to 16 in the competition which looking forward to hosting more my pace but still I was not expect- (Great Britain) 25.87; Cameroon Van Der Burgh has a quick-fire format, including such events,” he said. ing such a performance and I am (South Africa) 25.87; Damir Dugonic (Slovenia) one-set matches hurried along by Brazil made a dramatic come- very happy of my achievement.” 26.03. a 20-second serve clock. back on the fifth day of the cham- Sjostrom overshadowed Hosszu Federer, who has never played Women’s 50M Freestyle pionships by winning four gold who was looking for her fifth in India before, said the experi- medals. They climbed to the top gold medal. Hugary’s golden girl Ranomi Kromowidjojo (Netherlands) 23.32; ence “was big, it was loud, it was of the medals table with an aggre- was confined to just a silver and Bronte Campbell (Australia) 23.62; Dorothea different”. gate of 10 medals (seven gold, one bronze medal on the last day. Brandt (Germany) 23.77. Federer said he was unsure silver and a couple of bronze med- “Overall I am satisfied with my Men’s 200M Butterfly how much extra tennis he would als), surpassing Katinka Hosszu- performance,” said Hosszu before play next year, and would make a Chad Le Clos (South Africa) 1:48.61; Daiya powered Hungary which had to giving a thumbs-up to Doha’s hos- Gold medallist Felipe Franca Silva of Brazil (centre), silver medallist Adam decision on his schedule after the Seto (Japan) 1:48.920; Pawel Korzeniowski settle for second position with a pitality. “I was comfortable con- Peaty (left) of Great Britain and bronze medallist Cameroon Van Der Australian Open in January. (Poland) 1:50.21. total of 11 medals (six gold, three testing here and I am thankful to Burgh of South Africa pose during the podium ceremony after the men’s “I gotta be careful not to over- silver and two bronze medals). supporters for giving me the huge 50m breaststroke event at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Doha yesterday. Men’s 1,500M Freestyle play, clearly. I gotta still decide The Netherlands finished third. support,” she said. Gregorio Paltrinieri (Italy) 14:16.10; Oussama on Davis Cup, what I’m going to However, the United States Meanwhile, South Africa’s Mellouli (Tunisia) 14: 18.79; Ryan Cochrane do there,” the 33-year-old said won the most number of med- swimming star Chad le Clos (Canada) 14:23.35. courtside. als — 17 — and walked away with completed a sweep in the butter- Women’s 200M Freestyle “But I’ll have a look after the the team trophy, according to the fly events by winning the 200m Australian Open. That’s when I FINA website. race — his fourth gold medal in Sara Sjostorm (Sweden) 1:50.78; Katinka will decide how much I’m going Cesar Cielo Filho heralded the championships. He finished Hosszu (Hungary) 1:51.18; Femke Heemskerk to play next season,” said Federer, the race in one minute and 48.61 (Netherlands) 1:51.69. who holds a record 17 Gram Slam Medals Table seconds — a new championship Men’s Medley 4x100M titles. record. Brazil (, Felipe Franca Silva, “I’m going to play a full sched- G S B T Earlier, the day started , Cesar Celo Filho) 3:21.14; ule like normal but the question is with a new world record with how much more will I add or not.” Brazil 7 1 2 10 USA (, Cody Miller, , Netherlands bettering their pre- Federer is expected to take on Hungary 6 3 2 11 Ryan Lochte) 3:21.49); France (Florent vious record of one minute and Manadou, Giacomo Perez-Dortona, Mehdy Novak Djokovic on Monday night NED 5 1 6 12 34.24 seconds in the women’s Metella, Clement Mignon) 3:22.26. in Delhi for his Indian Aces team SA 4 1 - 5 4x50m freestyle before the competition moves on Women’s Medley 4x100M Spain 4 - - 4 Germany’s Markus Deibler to the final leg in Dubai. AFP Japan 3 3 4 10 was the other swimmer to create Denmark (Ostergard Nielsen, Moller, Jeanette a new world record when he won Ottesen, Pernille Blume) 3: 48.46; Australia France 3 2 3 8 the men’s 100m individual medley (Madi Wilson, Sally Hunter, Emily Seebohm, Roddick made Sweden 3 1 - 4 Katinka Hosszu holds her trophy for best female swimmer at the 12th FINA with a time of 50.71, 0.05 millisec- World Swimming Championships (25m) at the Hamad Aquatic Centre in Bronte Campbell) 3:50.31; Japan (Sayaka USA 2 9 6 17 Akase, Kanako Watanabe, Rino Hosoda, Miki onds ahead of his own earlier feat. yesterday. RIGHT: Chad Le Clos holds his trophy for best male swimmer. honorary Denmark 2 1 3 6 THE PENINSULA Uchida) 3:50.50. member of Lekhwiya take Wimbledon LONDON: Andy Roddick has on El Jaish in Al Gharafa finish on winning note been made an honorary member of the All England Club, accord- final today DOHA: Al Gharafa Club fin- goalkeeper Hamdi Missaoui, who ing to former British number ished their campaign in the doesn’t belong to Al Gharafa but one Tim Henman. DOHA: After seven days of 17th edition of the Asian Clubs’ joined us just at the tournament, The American, a three-time intense competition, the 17th League Championship on a win- for his efforts.” runner-up at the Grand Slam edition of the Asian Clubs’ ning note at the Ali Bin Hamad On the upcoming World tournament, visited the grass- League Championship reaches Al Attiya Sports Hall here Championship, Elfakharany court club on Friday for “a spot its climax today. yesterday. said: “Unfortunately, I am no of tea” with Henman while in The placements matches for Al Gharafa Club secured fifth longer a member of the Egyptian London competing at the Statoil positions one to four will be con- place, the highest they could fin- national team, as the federa- Masters event at the Royal Albert tested at the Ali Bin Hamad Al ish after being knocked out of the tion has decided to put faith in Hall. Attiya Sports Hall today. The semi-finals, courtesy of a hard- the newer generation. I respect “I was able to take him to tournament final will begin at fought 36-33 win over Iran’s their decision and of course I will Wimbledon a couple of days ago 6.30pm. Manyazium Ferdows Club in the be there for them in case they because he’s being made an hon- Two impressive Qatari teams, 5/6-place match. need me. I’ve been in five World orary member, which he was Lekhwiya Sports Club and El It took the Doha-based club 30 Championships before and I am so excited about, having been a Jaish Sports Club, will battle it minutes before they were able to sure that the 24th edition of the three-time finalist,” Henmanm out for the winners’ trophy edge past the Iranians who once tournament in Qatar will be the said in an interview with the Handball aficionados can enjoy again displayed their trademark best ever.” Tennis Podcast. the duel of two remarkable play- fighting spirit as they led 19-18 Meanwhile, Iranian side Honorary membership of makers and ball speed genera- at the break. Nevertheless, a 4-0 Samenalhojaj began the 7/8 place the elite club usually requires a tors — Sulc and Megannem — as run by Al Gharafa in the first match with new faces in their Wimbledon title, but Henman well as extraordinary snipers — five minutes of the second-half starting six — due to the suspen- said former world number one Bagaric and Elahmar — in today’s restored the Qataris’ position in sions of Sajad Esteki and Hossein Roddick, who quit in 2012 aged encounter the drivers’ seat. Rahmati and injuries to Marcin 30, deserved the accolade. The bronze medal match will After six matches in eight days, Lijewski and Dan Beutler. But “If you win the tournament you commence at 4.15pm. It will be all players from both teams could their Saudi Arabian opponents Al become a member automatically played between two Kuwaiti barely walk in the dying minutes Khalij Club, who themselves had but I think with his impact in that teams who clearly differ in their of the game, so it came down to been playing with exhausted play- event and his rapport with the gameplay. experience for the winner to be ers and minor injuries for some British crowd it was felt that it While Al Kuwait Club are a decided, a factor which didn’t days now, could not take advan- would be a really nice gesture,” team with great attacking skills, favour Manyazium Ferdows Club. tage of that setback. Henman added. strong individual players and Speaking on his team’s per- In the first-half of the game “He was given a few gifts, one patience, Al Qurain Sporting Club formance, Al Gharafa’s Hany Samenalhojaj held a slight advan- of them being a club tie, which have made a name for themselves Elfakharany said: “Fifth place is tage. They managed to gain a is completely useless because he with their unpredictable defen- a decent result for Al Gharafa in four-goal lead at the break. In doesn’t know how to tie a tie!” sive systems. Al Qurain are hardly our first ever appearance at the the second half, tiredness lim- Roddick, runner-up in 2004, found around their own six-metre Asian Clubs’ League. We could ited Al Khalij’s game drastically 2005 and 2009, is making his line, instead they attack their have finished higher but with and it became an easy fight for first appearance on the seniors opponents early and try to throw An Al Gharafa player tries to score against Manyazium Ferdows Club such a short roster it was impos- the Iranians who in the end won tour this week and on Saturday them off balance to execute coun- during the 5/6-place match of the 17th Asian Clubs’ League Championship sible to meet the needs of such 36-27 to finish the tournament in reached the final when he beat ter-attacks with balls won. at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Sports Hall in Doha yesterday. a strong, lengthy and demanding seventh place. 2002 Wimbledon semi-finalist THE PENINSULA tournament. I want to thank our THE PENINSULA Xavier Malisse. REUTERS Monday 8 December 2014 16 Safar 1436 Volume 19 Number 6273 Sport Price: QR2 SRI LANKA’S WEEKLY NEWS UPDATES Belgium hold Sangakkara    Australia in shines in SL thrilling draw victory LANKADEEPA MIDDLE EAST WEEKLY PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY DAR AL SHARQ                  !"#$%&'()#*#+,'-*,)# Sport | 23 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 West Ham climb to third, Leicester lose again

LONDON: England forward Lukasz Fabianski sent off shortly serious foot and ankle injuries drawing a save from Adrian while Andy Carroll returned to goal- after they fell behind for imped- since joining West Ham in 2012, Cheikhou Kouyate and Alex Song scoring form with two thumping ing Sakho. was too powerful for Swansea’s were wasteful in promising posi- headers in West Ham United’s West Ham have 27 points, defence, especially in the air. tions for the hosts. 3-1 victory over Swansea City one ahead of fourth-placed “It was a great feeling, it is fan- With half-time looming Carroll that lifted the London club to Southampton and two clear of tastic to be back on the pitch and restored parity when he met Carl third in the Premier League fifth-placed Manchester United play as many games as I have in Jenkinson’s deep cross with a yesterday. who face each other today. the last few weeks,” Carroll said. thunderous far post header. Carroll, without a goal since Aston Villa also came back West Ham dominated the open- Sakho was introduced from the March, headed his side level just from a goal down to condemn bot- ing exchanges with their newly- bench at the break and was lively before half-time after Wilfried tom club Leicester City to their adopted fluent, passing football following his return from injury. Bony had put Swansea ahead eighth defeat in 10 matches — but only managed to draw one Bony clipped the top of the against the run of play. Alan Hutton scoring the winner sharp stop from Fabinaski. crossbar with a fierce drive but He struck again early in the in a 2-1 victory. They were left to rue their West Ham responded with Carroll second-half before top-scorer Ciaran Clark equalised for the failure to create the chances leaping highest to cannon Stuart Diafra Sakho lashed home a hosts after Leonardo Ulloa gave their possession warranted when Downing’s corner past Leon third as West Ham, one of this Leicester the lead with his first Jefferson Montero’s smart cut Britton’s attempted clearance. season’s surprise packages, regis- goal since September. back was steered in by Bony for Within minutes Fabianski was West Ham United’s English striker Andy Carroll (right) celebrates after tered their third successive league Villa are now unbeaten in five his seventh goal of the season. shown a straight red card after scoring a goal against Swansea City during an English Premier League victory. games. Both sides created chances dashing out of his area and barg- match at the Boleyn Ground in Upton Park, London, yesterday. Swansea had goalkeeper Carroll, who has endured with the lively Gylfi Sigurdsson ing Sakho. REUTERS Messi matches Ronaldo hat-trick Argentinian fires Barcelona past Espanyol

MADRID: A third Lionel Messi hat-trick in four games helped Barcelona keep the pressure on La Liga leaders Real Madrid as they recorded a 5-1 victory over local rivals Espanyol yesterday. After falling behind to Sergio Garcia’s early strike, Barcelona then took control of the Catalan derby. Messi’s 21st Liga treble, which took him to within two of Cristiano Ronaldo’s record of 23 set on Saturday, a Gerard Pique header and neat finish from Pedro, was enough to see Barca take the spoils and leapfrog Atletico Madrid in second place with 34 points. Real still lead the table with 36 points after a 3-0 win over Celta Vigo on Saturday. Despite having not won at the Camp Nou since 2009 it was the Barcelona’s forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch with the ball after his visitors who started the brighter, hat-trick against RCD Espanyol at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona creating the game’s first chance yesterday. after eight minutes, however Jordi Alba was able to clear Garcia’s the resulting free-kick bounce behind them, Barcelona came out cross with Lucas Vazquez poised off the crossbar with goalkeeper firing in the second period, and to tap in from close range. Kiko Casilla beaten, and it only thought they had a penalty within Barcelona did not heed the seemed a matter of time before 60 seconds of the restart when early warning, and they soon the home side equalised. Eric Bailly brought down Neymar, found themselves behind. Casilla then denied Pique and however Iglesias Villanueva was Felipe Caicedo challenged Alba as Barcelona pushed on, unmoved. Sergio Busquets just inside the however they were almost made The Brazilian, who was a men- Barcelona half, and as the Camp to pay five minutes before the ace throughout, then combined Nou waited for a whistle that break. with Luis Suarez to find Messi on never came from referee Ignacio Espanyol broke at pace, how- the edge of the box five minutes Iglesias Villanueva, Sergio Garcia ever Victor Sanchez’s heavy touch after the break, and the 27-year- ran directly at a static Pique when latching onto Vazquez’s old rifled a right-footed effort past before firing past Claudio Bravo through ball allowed Bravo to a hapless Casilla to knock the to stun the hosts. close down the space and keep wind out of their opponents’ sails. It was Espanyol’s first goal his side in the game. Two minutes later the advan- at the home of their illustrious It was to prove a pivotal save as, tage was doubled as a Rakitic neighbours since Ivan De La on the stroke of half time, Messi corner was met by Pique, and Pena’s double saw them record a equalised with the kind of goal from there on there was only one 2-1 win there five years ago. that Barcelona have made their winner. Barcelona then reacted, with trademark. With 13 minutes remaining an Xavi Hernandez, Neymar and Jordi Alba cut inside from the Alba diagonal ball found substi- Ivan Rakitic all seeing chances left, feeding Xavi Hernandez, tute Pedro Rodriguez, who had come and go as they began to who in turn laid the ball off to earlier replaced Suarez, and the dominate play. the Argentine who swept home Spain international made no mis- After being brought down on from just outside the box. take to further stretch Barca’s the edge of the box, Messi saw With the momentum firmly lead. AFP