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Saturday 3 January 2015 • 12 Rabial I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6299 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Iraqi soldiers fight jihadists Saudi King has GCC customs pneumonia, condition stable CAIRO: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King union fully Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al Saud is suffering from pneu- monia and “breathing with the aid of a tube”, the royal court said yesterday. The long-ailing king was operational hospitalised on Wednesday for check-ups. He temporarily needed help Chamber urged to create awareness to breath through a tube yes- terday due to a lung infection DOHA: The long-awaited GCC of entry for imported goods meant but the procedure was success- customs union became fully for any member state. ful and his condition was now operational from January 1. Customs duty is to be paid stable, state media said. The move signifies a qualita- at this port and only once after AGENCIES tive leap towards a full-fledged inspection of the goods subject regional common market. to rules and regulations that are The first phase of the customs common for the region. Iraqi soldiers launch a rocket during clashes between Islamic State fighters and a coalition of combatants made union was launched in January Prohibited goods are to be up of the Iraqi army and pro-government fighters as they take part in an operation to retake Sayed Ghareeb, Oil hits fresh 2003 and its full implementation stopped. Certain goods are near Dujail, some 70km north of Baghdad from rebel control yesterday. has taken 12 years. Hurdles like exempt from customs duty. An how customs revenues would be imported consignment could then 5-year low shared by member-states accord- be moved to the country of desti- ing to their economic weight nation within the GCC. NEW YORK: Brent crude delayed the union’s final phase. As part of the customs union, reversed early gains yesterday Prominent businessman, Ali products manufactured within to fall to a fresh post-2009 low Hassan Al Khalaf, said Qatar the GCC states are considered Unmarked police vehicles below $56 a barrel, as a glut of oil Chamber should now take a lead national products and their move- that has halved prices since June and explain to foreign investors ment within the region is free, overshadowed investor position- about the GCC customs union. attracting no customs levy. ing at the start of the year for a The chamber must inform The UAE’s Alittihad newspaper possible eventual recovery. businessmen and investors about reported that customs revenues to curb traffic violations Brent slumped to its lowest the implications of the regional collected by each GCC state will DOHA: The authorities are in slots reserved for people with of the law-enforcement agencies in more than five years as Saudi customs integration for the local be transferred automatically to planning to use unmarked special needs and overtaking from as the population of people and Arabia and other large Gulf pro- trade and industry. the state concerned according to police vehicles as traffic patrols right. vehicles is increasing. ducers continue to pump oil amid A former bureaucrat, Al Khalaf its share with effect from January to curb increasing violations, Local Arabic daily Al Raya The daily quoted a traffic fast-growing US shale oil output, agreed to a suggestion by this 1 this year. The transfer is to be particularly on busy roads in the reported yesterday that since official, Captain Hamad Ali Al despite pleas from other members newspaper yesterday that the done within a month from the city and its sprawling suburbs. marked vehicles show police Misnad, as saying that the use of Organisation of the Petroleum chamber must have a committee date of arrival of an imported The unsuspecting civilian- presence and cause people near of unmarked vehicles for traffic Exporting Countries to rein in to address businessmen’s issues consignment. looking patrol vehicles will be them to drive properly, unmarked patrol is planned as chaos and production and shore up prices. related to customs. Abdul Qader Siddiqui from equipped with cameras to click cars will be used for patrolling, congestion on the roads have been “With no production cuts in the The customs union basically Jeddah’s Chamber of Commerce photographs of violations. recording violations and catching increasing. offing and a significant demand refers to a free trade bloc with was quoted as saying by Saudi Use of mobile phones by motor- those responsible. Violations and accidents hinder response years away, oversupply common external tariff — five Arabia’s Alyaum newspaper that ists while driving, not using seat Irresponsible motorists are smooth traffic, he said. looks to be with us for a while,” percent duty is to be levied on full implementation of the cus- belts, throwing trash from cars making the roads in Doha and To begin with, eight unmarked said RBN Energy analyst Rusty goods imported from countries toms union will further lift the and making children sit in front its suburbs less pleasant for peo- vehicles (Land Cruisers and Braziel in a note. “$100 a barrel outside the GCC. Air, sea and land economies of the GCC states and seats are some common violations. ple, so new measures to enforce Nissan Patrol) will be deployed for crude oil prices are in the rear view ports anywhere in the GCC that bolster internal trade. Other common breaches of traffic and road safety laws are traffic patrol, Al Misnad added. mirror, at least for a few years.” have direct connection with the THE PENINSULA road safety rules include driving needed. THE PENINSULA REUTERS outside world can be a single point Continued on page 3 and parking on sidewalks, parking Traffic safety is a major concern Continued on page 3 See also page 14

Italian ferry to be probed South Sudan vows Palestinian mission submits poll, amnesty to rebel leader ICC membership request to UN UNITED NATIONS: The Palestinian UN observer mission yester- JUBA: The government of day delivered to UN headquarters signed documentation, request- South Sudan has promised to ing membership in the International Criminal Court and 17 other hold elections this year despite international treaties. Chief Palestinian Observer Riyad Mansour the ongoing civil war, with the confirmed the handover to reporters. UN Secretary-General Ban president promising to give Ki-moon is to review the letters on Palestine joining the Rome rebel leaders an amnesty. Statute, which governs the ICC, and notify state members on the According to a government request within 60 days. statement yesterday, elections will See also page 5 be held “at some point between May 1 and July 2015”, with New complex for visa, traffic services President Salva Kiir “determined that the poll is transparent”. DOHA: A complex to offer all services provided by the Ministry “We will hold elections in 2015 of Interior, including visa issuance and renewal and traffic-related as we will not allow our democ- services, is to be built in Mesaieed Industrial City, the hub of Qatar’s racy to be held hostage to vio- downstream industries. lence. A budget has been approved The area’s population has been increasing as more industrial units and we urge all parties to par- are being set up. The complex is at the planning stage and expected ticipate,” government spokesman A helicopter flies over the Italian-owned Norman Atlantic ferry off the coast of the port of Brindisi yesterday. to be ready in 2019, according to a report of the Secretariat-General Ateny Wek Ateny said. of the Cabinet. THE PENINSULA Prosecutors ordered the vessel to be towed to Brindisi so that it can be searched for corpses and clues as to The statement said Kiir was what caused the huge fire on board on December 28, killing 13 people. Report on page 9 “in the process of securing an amnesty for people who have com- mitted crimes against the govern- ment”, but did not say when a full amnesty to rebel leaders would be granted. Mixed reaction to closure of car showrooms Fighting broke out in South Sudan, the world’s youngest DOHA: Opinion among businessmen on daily Al Arab in remarks published on “So they exploit customers in terms of provisions, the matter should be decided by nation, in December 2013 when the government’s recent action against Thursday that some firms were taking pricing and after-sales servicing, so puni- court, not government inspectors, he said. Kiir accused his sacked deputy some car showrooms for allegedly violat- undue advantage of customers’ ignorance. tive action will make them deal with cus- “Ordering closure of a showroom, that Riek Machar of attempting a ing consumer protection rules remains “It is not justified for a company to pass tomers properly.” too, of a big company, is not a matter that coup. divided. on a damaged car after repair and painting A former bureaucrat and prominent can be decided by a public servant,” he said. The fighting in capital Juba set While a section feels that only the court to a buyer as brand new,” he said. businessman, Ali Hassan Al Khalaf, how- The ministry should have a department to off a cycle of retaliatory massa- should have the authority to shut a business Another businessman, Jaber Al ever, said crucial decisions like punishing a supervise its inspectors, said Al Khalaf who cres across the country, pushing in punitive action, others have welcomed Mansouri, said the showroom closure move big company for breaching rules should not was director of commercial affairs at the it to the brink of famine. the move. “The closure of some car show- was laudable and shows there is justice and be left for execution to inspectors armed ministry years ago. Government forces loyal to Kiir rooms for allegedly taking consumers for transparency. with judicial powers. For a big company, its reputation is more and rebels loyal to Machar con- a ride has enhanced the credibility of the According to another prominent mem- The government has right to implement important than making profit, so decision tinue to fight, despite ceasefire Ministry of Economy and Commerce,” said ber of the trade and industry, Yusuf Al the consumer protection law as every coun- like closing their showrooms should not be deals. a businessman. Kuwari, the Qatari market is small and try in the world has one, but when it comes taken in a hurry, he added. AGENCIES Shaheen Al Mohannadi told local Arabic monopolies have created exclusive agencies. to punishing a company for violating its THE PENINSULA SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Deputy PM attends Brazil President’s inauguration Al Mahmoud reviews ties with US Vice-President Biden on the sidelines

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The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and (right) with US Vice-President Joe Biden in Brasilia. Tel Fax DOHA: The Deputy Prime palace in Brasilia. Rousseff and wishes of further was also present. Minister and Minister of Several heads of state and progress in relations. Rousseff was elected for a State for Cabinet Affairs government and senior officials Rousseff asked Al Mahmoud second term last October. H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin and personalities were present. to convey her greetings to the On the sidelines of the cer- Tel + 974 44298888 Zaid Al Mahmoud attended Representing Qatar, Al Emir and thanks for Qatar’s par- emony, Al Mahmoud met US the inauguration ceremony Mahmoud conveyed the greet- ticipation in the inauguration. Vice-President Joe Biden and Fax of Brazilian President Dilma ings of the Emir H H Sheikh Qatari Ambassador discussed issues of mutual inter- Rousseff at the presidential Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to Mohammed Ahmed Al Hayki est. QNA

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Tel Falling prices spur medicine imports Fax DOHA: Qatar has witnessed a huge jump of September 2014. of medicines,” said a staff of a private phar- in the imports of medicinal and pharma- According to the Supreme Council of macy in Najma. ceuticals products due to falling prices. Health (SCH), 657 drugs for chronic heart, Medicine imports are likely to see upward Tel The total value of imports of medicinal endocrine, muscular, rheumatism, derma- momentum as prices of more medicines are Fax and pharmaceutical products jumped 20.5 tology and digestive system diseases are expected to fall this year. percent to QR424m in the third quarter included in the first phase of implementa- The SCH will announce the second list in www.doha.hilton.com (July-September) of 2014 compared to tion of unified prices. the first quarter this year which will include QR352m in the second quarter in the same Prices of several commonly used medi- 652 drugs while the third list will include Tel 44233333 974+ year, according to the Quarterly Bulletin on cines have fallen by five to 70 percent, seven disease groups, including cancer, foreign merchandise issued by the Ministry bringing joy to customers who had been obstetrics and gynaecology. Fax 44233000 974+ of Development Planning and Statistics complaining about high prices in the Imports have also witnessed an increase recently. country. in year-on-year basis — the total value up by The decline in the prices of medicines “Some medicines went out of stock due about nine percent to QR424m in the third is the result of a GCC decision to unify to a surge in the demand because of the quarter of 2014 compared to QR388m in the import prices in member countries which falling prices. But that was a short-term corresponding period in 2013. came into effect in Qatar in the last week phenomenon and now there is no shortage THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax Qatari painter’s expo opens at Katara

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Dr Khalid Ibrahim Al Sulaiti (left), General Manager, Katara, and other officials at the opening of Nawal Al Mannai’s ‘Nature’ exhibition.

Tel DOHA: Thirty paintings Ibrahim Al Sulaiti said it is to nature we become more instinct which makes us better,” Fax by Qatari artist Nawal Al part of Katara’s goal to be a beautiful.” she said. Mannai are on display at an forum for culture and art and Coffee, tea, turmeric and The prolific artist has partici- exhibition titled ‘Nature’ in support and promote local art- beets are among the natural pated in 29 exhibitions and local Building No. 18 at Katara. ists in their creative journey as elements from which she has and international competitions Al Mannai uses colours drawn they contribute to enriching the derived colours she has used in where she won awards. from nature to create paintings country’s cultural and artistic her works. She has also been invited as that depict Qatari heritage and landscape. “Creativity is not acquired jury member in art contests landscape and combine tradi- On natural colours in her by simulation or recurrence here and abroad. tion and modernity. paintings, Al Manni said, and we need to find ideas to The exhibition is open to the Tel Launching the expo, Katara “There’s nothing like God’s reach the natural surround- public until January 15. Fax General Manager Dr Khalid creation. When we go back ings, as nothing emulates pure THE PENINSULA

Tel Fax Qatar residents have 100pc access to power www.marriottmarquisdoha.com DOHA: Qatar residents have 100 percent to electricity. Qatar Electricity and Water from 35m gallons a day to 65m gallons. Tel + 974 44195000 access to electricity and it is the leading Authority (Kahramaa) is working to Work on the project is expected to start Fax + 974 44195100 Arab nation with access to power, accord- increase the production of electricity and in the middle of this year and the plant will ing to the latest Arab figures released in water to meet the growing demand due to start operations in 2017. Yemen yesterday. the increasing population and the economic Additionally, about 95 percent work has The figures were released by Yemen development the country is witnessing, Al been completed on the Ras Abu Fontas A2 Prime Minister Khaled Bahah while Sharq reports. Sea Water Desalination Plant. The unit can addressing the Supreme Energy Council Kahramaa plans to increase daily water produce 36m gallons of water a day and is meeting in Yemeni capital Sana’a. He said production at the integrated water and expected to start operations in the middle Yemen residents had 45.5 percent access power plant in Ras Laffan Industrial Area of the year. THE PENINSULA SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Poor visibility likely this Hadad Challenge to start falcon festival morning 535 to vie for honours in the first competition of one-month event at Sabkhat Marmi DOHA: Hadad Challenge done electronically at Al Gannas day of the contest at Sabkhat DOHA: Visibility is expected will start the sixth Qatar Association headquarters in the Marmi. to be 2km or less early this International Falcon and presence of participants and the Overseas participants should morning due to foggy condi- Hunting Festival on Monday at media. present the entry visa of the fal- tions in certain places, weather Sabkhat Marmi near Sealine The timetable and groupings con which must be certified by forecasters have warned. in Mesaieed, organisers have will be announced on social media the customs authorities and the Day temperatures will be mod- announced. to inform participants about the Ministry of Environment. erate with the maximum between Mohammed Abdulatif Al schedule and the starting time of The panel said the festival 24 and 25 degrees C. The night Misnad, Vice-Chairman, Al each competition. ground has been equipped with will be cold with the mercury Gannas Association, and the fes- Al Misnad urged the partici- the best facilities for competitions. dropping to between 14 and 16 tival organising committee, said pants to come two hours before There is a sophisticated sys- degrees. the festival will start with Hadad the start of a competition. tem for communication between In Doha, the night temperature Challenge as this category of the He said while finalising the members of various committees will be 16 degrees. Messaieed and competition is the most antici- schedule, they took into account supervising the competitions to Al Wakra will be relatively colder pated and has the biggest number the fact some Qataris would also ensure accurate results, which with the minimum and maximum of participants from Qatar and participate in competitions abroad will be announced directly to the temperatures around 24 and 14 neighbouring countries. and will ensure that the schedule public in attendance. degrees, respectively. Of 1,406 who registered for the does not clash with school exam- Other categories include Al THE PENINSULA festival, 535 are participating in inations for contestants in the Mazain, Al Tala’a, Al Da’o, Hadad Hadad Challenge. young falconers category. Al Saluki, Young Saker and Old One of the participants in the young falconers category of the competitions. Participants have been divided “In preparing the schedule for Saker. Minister meets into 16 groups. The first seven the young falconers’ competition, Being held under the patronage The month-long festival is con- important aspect of Qatari tradi- groups will have 34 competitors we will ensure that it does not of H E Sheikh Joan bin Hamad sidered one of the largest in the tion are among the objectives of Arab Monetary each, the second five with 33 com- clash with school examinations Al Thani, the festival which is field of falcons and hunting in the the annual event. petitors each and the last four schedule,” he said. deeply rooted in Qatar’s culture region. It also aims to promote excel- Fund chief with 33 competitors each. Participants whose falcons have and traditions, will showcase Promoting the preservation lence in falconry and hunting and DOHA: The Minister of To ensure transparency, not been seen by the committee some of the most beautiful and of wildlife, protection of falcons share experiences of falconers in Finance H E Ali Sherif Al draws for all categories were can present them at 10am on the trained falcons. and maintaining falconry as an the region. THE PENINSULA Emadi yesterday met Dr Abdulrahman bin Abdullah Al Hamidy, Director-General and Chairman of the board of Arab Monetary Fund and dis- cussed cooperation. Demand for vehicles rises due to Intervention in Libya Omani minister leaves Doha stable prices, rising population vital: Niger president DOHA: Oman’s Civil Services NIAMEY: A solution to the Le Drian announced the pur- Minister Sheikh Khalid bin DOHA: Demand for cars and the population is one of the major fluctuations. crisis in Libya is not possible chase of three new Reaper drones Omar bin Said Al Marhoon others vehicles in Qatar has drivers of the automobile sector. Competition among dealers has without an international inter- from the US to help local forces yesterday left Doha following risen sharply due to increasing The population increased from created a balance in prices and vention, the president of neigh- monitor jihadist groups operating a three-day visit. population and stable prices. two million at the end of January there was no major increase in bouring Niger said yesterday. in the remote desert region. He was seen off at Hamad Imports of ‘motor cars and 2014 to 2.2 million at the end of the prices in 2014. “I do not see how the armed “When there was an interven- International Airport by the other motor vehicles for the December 2014. Experts expect the automobile terrorist militias can create the tion in Libya, no one consulted Minister of Administrative transport of persons’ in Qatar According to industry sources, sector to register healthy growth conditions for reconciliation us,” said Issoufou, referring to the Development H E Dr Issa Saad surged 38.5 percent in a year until about 90,000 new cars were sold in coming years driven by grow- among Libyans,” said Mahamadou international military campaign Al Jafali Al Nuaimi and other November 2014, with total value in Qatar in 2014 and the sales are ing population and government Issoufou. that helped overthrow Gaddafi. officials. QNA reaching QR1bn last November expected to reach 100,000 in the expenditure. “An international intervention “But we are the ones paying from QR733m in the same month current year. “This quarter, we maintain our is essential to the reconciliation the price today. The whole world the previous year. Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, forecast for nearly 100 percent of all Libyans,” including support- should listen to us.” Motorists will be “During November 2014, Hyundai Motor, General Motors growth in new vehicle sales over ers of former dictator Moammar He said there should be a UN ‘motor cars and other passen- and Isuzu Motor are the major the 2015-2018 period, to reach Gaddafi, who was deposed and resolution on intervention. Asked careful: Official ger vehicles’ were on the top players in Qatar’s fast-growing more than 200,000 units sold. killed in 2011 after an interna- whether Russia would block it, as of the imported group of com- automobile market. “Our positive outlook on the tional military intervention. occurred in 2011, Issoufou said the Continued from page 1 modities, with QR1bn, show- The four-wheel cars comprise Qatari market continues to be Since the overthrow of his situation was very different today. Al Misnad said some motorists ing an increase of 38.5 percent half the market share despite based on rising government regime, Libya has collapsed into “All countries know that observe traffic rules only when compared to November 2013,” high prices, followed by luxury expenditure, a growing population a chaos of warring militias and what is happening in Libya is they see a traffic patrol van and as said the Quarterly Bulletin on and sports cars. and increased spending on con- rival governments, and is awash unacceptable.” soon as the van has disappeared foreign merchandise issued by A unique feature of Qatar’s struction ahead of the 2022 FIFA with weapons that travel in an arc Last month, leaders in the sub- they are back to irresponsible the Ministry of Development automobile market is that sales World Cup in Qatar,” Business of unrest through northern Mali Saharan Sahel region of Africa driving. Planning and Statistics. have remain steady and the mar- Monitor International said in a and Niger. called on the UN to organise an Once the unmarked vehicles Experts say rapid growth in ket has not seen any significant report. THE PENINSULA Issoufou was speaking after international force “to neutral- equipped with cameras are used a meeting with French Defence ise the armed groups” in Libya to record violations, motorists will Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian who following a regional summit in be careful and the irresponsible has been visiting French troops in Mauritania. ones would be caught. Ex-Lebanon premier mourned Chad and Niger. AFP Cameras in these vehicles will click pictures of violations, which could be presented in court as proof of offence. According to Al Misnad, the use of unmarked police vehicles Media watchdog slams for patrolling is not a new con- cept. Many European countries use such vehicles. Unmarked vehicles will be jail for Tunisia blogger deployed on major thoroughfares in the country. They will also be TUNIS: Media watchdog the verdict was “very harsh”. active at night when traffic is Reporters Without Borders RSF’s Lucie Morillon called thin. The fleet will be increased (RSF) expressed “deep concern” Ayari’s conviction unacceptable. in future. THE PENINSULA yesterday after a military court “The conviction of a civilian sentenced a Tunisian blogger to blogger by a military court is three years in jail for defaming unacceptable for a country like army officers. Tunisia, undermining its process Intra-GCC trade “RSF expresses its deep con- of consolidating democracy,” she cern after blogger Yassine Ayari said. set to increase was sentenced in absentia”, it “(The charge of) attack- Continued from page 1 said in a statement, calling for his ing the honour of the army, the Intra-GCC trade was worth case to be transferred to a civil- main accusation against Ayari in barely $5bn in 1983 and now ian court that would “guarantee the military court, represents a stands at over $100bn. It is antici- impartiality and independence”. dangerous and draconian legal pated to increase. On November 18, the tribunal instrument” against freedom As part of the union, customs sentenced Ayari to three years on of expression, one of the main officials from one member state charges of having “defamed army achievements of the 2011 revolu- of the GCC can work in another. officers and senior defence minis- tion, Morillon added. Such exchanges have started, try officials”. Ayari, who has posted on Alyaum said. Ayari, 33, returned to Tunisia Facebook that he stands by every THE PENINSULA from abroad on December 25 and word he has written, has appealed Soldiers and policemen stand near the coffin of former prime minister Omar Karami during his funeral in Tripoli, was arrested on arrival, his law- against the charges and a new northern Lebanon, yesterday. Karami, 80, died following illness, in a hospital in Beirut. yer said. hearing has been set for January He had accused military offi- 6, Amor said. cials of financial abuse, the The blogger was also an activ- military prosecutor said in a ist during the regime of ousted statement. dictator Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. Cervical ‘cancer can be prevented’ The blogger had been unaware Ayari’s father, an army colonel, of the verdict against him for was killed in a clash with jihad- DOHA: Cervical cancer is one of the most and understands the simplicity, availabil- contributes to the process that causes some “undermining” the army, his law- ists in May 2011 in Rouhia in the preventable, meaning awareness can save ity and normalcy of the procedure,” said Dr cells on the surface of the cervix to become yer Sami Ben Amor said, adding northwest. AFP lives through early detection and diagnosis, Aisha Yousuf, Consultant, Obstetrics and cancer cells. according to healthcare experts. Gynaecology, Sidra. Early-stage cervical cancer generally pro- Cervical cancer is the second most com- “As a speciality institution covering chil- duces no signs or symptoms, which is why mon cancer among women world-wide and the dren’s and women’s health, a significant regular screening through Pap tests is crucial. Iraq-Iran rail study completed fifth most frequent among women in Qatar. It portion of our work is dedicated to raising Symptoms at more advanced stages include develops over time. awareness. We are also committed to empow- vaginal bleeding between periods or after BAGHDAD: Iraqi Republic the company will prepare designs. The obstetrics and gynaecology team at ering people to have better control over their menopause, a watery discharge, loss of blad- Railways (IRR) has confirmed He said, “The line will be used to Sidra Medical and Research Center has put health and where possible take preventative der control, weight loss, tiredness and lack that it had completed a study on transport passengers and goods to forward advice and shared guidelines to raise measures against diseases, illnesses and other of energy. linking Al Shalamjah railway avoid congestion in land routes’. awareness and improve education on cervical health issues.” Prevention measures should be discussed line to Iran’s Kermanshah rail- The ministry signed at the 2014- cancer in Qatar in support of Cervical Health Cervical cancer occurs in the cells of the with your doctor and include healthy sex- way line as part of a compre- end a memorandum of under- Awareness Month. cervix, the lower part of the uterus. ual behaviour, smoking cessation, HPV- hensive project between both standing to develop cooperation “Procedures available today makes it pos- A large majority of cervical cancers are vaccination and testing and regular screening countries. in rail transport, including the sible to reduce the risk of getting cervical caused by the human papillomavirus infec- through the Pap smear. An IRR spokesman said the railway lines between Shalamjah cancer. tion (HPV). There are more than 100 types of The Pap test is recommended for all women Iraqi Ministry of Transport is and Basra, and building of a 700- “We want to ensure every woman in Qatar HPV, many of which are harmless. in 21-65 age group. working with its Iranian counter- metre drawbridge to link the knows the importance of getting screened In some women, however, the virus THE PENINSULA part to complete the link, adding lines. AGENCIES SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Salim Matramkot

nother tourist spot has been added Ato Qatar’s growing list of leisure destinations. A jewel on Qatar’s pristine waters, Banana Island Resort Doha which opened on Thursday boasts of 141 Arabian-style luxury accommodation units in various sizes, designs and features. Visiting the crescent- shaped resort is like stepping into another world. The resort has a wellness centre, a botanical garden and restaurants offering Middle Eastern, Italian and international cuisines. A marina, diving centre, surf pool, lagoon pool and children’s pool with water slides, water sports, recreation options and entertainment are among other facilities for all visitors. A jewel in the sea SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Palestinians submit papers to join ICC Move to pursue war crimes complaints against Israel in The Hague court UNITED NATIONS: The joining the court will allow them But ICC chief prosecutor Fatou Palestinian envoy to the United to seek justice against Israel Bensouda has already said that Nations yesterday formally for its actions in the occupied Palestine qualifies to join the requested membership in the territories. Rome Statute. Israel is not a International Criminal Court, Mansour said the Palestinians party to the Rome Statute how- which would allow war crimes had also filed a request with the ever and does not recognise the complaints to be filed against ICC in The Hague to grant retro- court’s jurisdiction. Israel. active jurisdiction to the court to Despite the setback at the Membership of the Rome cover alleged war crimes commit- Security Council, the Palestinians Statute, which governs the ted during last year’s Gaza war. have said they will be looking at ICC, would open the way for Almost 2,200 Palestinians were other measures at the General Palestinians to pursue criminal killed in July and August during Assembly and other UN venues complaints in The Hague, but is the 50-day war in Gaza, including to press for recognition. firmly opposed by both Israel and more than 400 children, accord- “We are studying all of our the United States. ing to UN estimates. options and we will be mapping “This is a very significant step,” Mansour said the Palestinians our course accordingly,” said envoy Riyad Mansour told report- will also be seeking to launch Mansour. ers. “We are seeking justice for all legal action over Jewish settle- China, France and Russia the victims that have been killed ment construction, which he said were among eight countries that by Israel, the occupying power.” was a war crime under the Rome backed the resolution on ending Secretary General Ban Statute. the Israeli occupation by the end Ki-moon is to review the so- “This is a peaceful option, a of 2017, but the result fell short called instruments of accession civilized option and an option of the nine votes required for and notify state members on the that anyone who upholds the law adoption. request within 60 days. should not be afraid of,” he said. The United States and “We are honoured that we are The Palestinians were upgraded Australia voted against and the 123rd state-party of the ICC, from observer entity to a UN five other countries abstained, which will be effective in about Palestinian protesters run for cover from a water cannon during clashes with Israeli army which erupted following “observer state” in 2012, opening among them Nigeria, which had 60 days from now in accordance a demonstration against settlements in Qadomem, Kofr Qadom village, near the the West Bank city of Nablus, the possibility for them to join the been expected to vote in favor with the rules and procedures of yesterday. ICC and a host of other interna- but changed its stance at the last the ICC,” Mansour said. tional organizations. minute. The Palestinian envoy submit- Palestinian leader Mahmoud full statehood. The move is part The United States has branded Israeli Prime Minister The Palestinians are consider- ted the so-called instruments of Abbas signed requests to join the of a shift in strategy for the the move to seek ICC member- Benjamin Netanyahu urged ing further action at the Security accession to the United Nations’ ICC and 16 other conventions Palestinians, who are seeking to ship as “counterproductive” and the Hague-based ICC to reject Council, which started the year top legal affairs official, Stephen on Wednesday, a day after the internationalize their campaign warned it would only push the the request, arguing that the with five new countries seen as Mathias, at UN headquarters in Security Council failed to adopt for statehood and move away from sides further apart. Palestinian Authority (PA) did having a more pro-Palestinian New York. a resolution paving the way to the US-led negotiation process. But the Palestinians hope not rank as a state. stance, Mansour said. AFP Egyptian border guards Libya extinguishes fire at oil terminal BENGHAZI: Fires at seven storage tanks at one of Libya’s shoot dead Gaza youth main oil terminal have been put out, officials said yesterday, nine days after they were set off by a GAZA CITY: Egyptian soldiers was not revealed, is the first two months. Egypt reopened the militia rocket. firing from across the border Palestinian “to have been killed crossing for two days in November A rocket fired on December shot dead a Palestinian man in in a long time” along the bor- and again in December, for three 25 by Fajr Libya (Libya Dawn), a the Gaza frontier town of Rafah der between the Gaza Strip and days, to allow people stranded in coalition of Islamist-backed fight- yesterday, medics said, although Egypt, according to Qudra. Egypt to return to the Palestinian ers, ignited the first fire which the motive was not immediately On Tuesday, Egypt announced enclave and for Gazans to leave. then spread to six other tanks known. that work to double the width of a The Rafah crossing is Gaza’s at Al Sidra oil terminal. “The The border troops shot the buffer zone along the Gaza border only gateway to the outside world fires have been extinguished in 23-year-old man “in the back would begin next week to prevent not controlled by Israel. all seven tanks that were ablaze and the bullet settled in the heart. militants infiltrating from the Egypt suspects Palestinian after raging out of control for nine He died on the spot,” emergency Palestinian enclave. militants of aiding jihadist days,” said Ali al-Hassi, security services spokesman Ashraf al- Construction of the 500-metre attacks against its security forces spokesman for the so-called “oil Qudra said. (546-yard) buffer zone along 10 that have increased since the crescent” in eastern Libya. The shooting was confirmed kilometres (six miles) of the bor- army ousted Islamist president Around 70 volunteer firefight- by the spokesman of the interior der follows an October 24 suicide Mohamed Mursi last year. ers helped put out the flames Fire-fighters work to put out a fire at a storage oil tank in the port of Es ministry in Gaza, Iyad al-Bazm, in bombing that killed 30 Egyptian The Egyptian army has also with help from employees from Sider yesterday. a message on his Facebook page. soldiers. Some 800 homes are stepped up the destruction of tun- local oil companies under tough “A Palestinian citizen, aged 23, being demolished in the process. nels from Gaza it says are used to conditions, while pro-govern- Al Sidra with a total capacity of erupted on December 13. was killed by Egyptian army fire After that incident, Egypt smuggle arms, food and money by ment forces and militias fought 6.2 million barrels of oil. Fighters from Fajr Libya, on the Egyptian-Palestinian bor- declared a three-month emer- Palestinian militant group Hamas nearby, Hassi said. Al Sidra is one Experts have said Libya’s oil which controls much of Tripoli, der and the security agencies are gency in parts of North Sinai, a which controls the territory. of Libya’s key oil terminal with production dropped to less than as well as second and third cities investigating the incident to find remote but strategic region bor- Cairo says it has destroyed Ras Lanuf and Brega also in the 350,000 barrels per day from Benghazi and Misrata, have been out the motives,” it said. dering Israel and Gaza, and closed more than 1,600 tunnels since “oil crescent”. 800,000 previously, since clashes trying to seize Al Sidra and Ras The man, whose identity the Rafah border crossing for Morsi’s ouster. AFP There are 19 storage tanks at around the export terminals Lanuf terminals. AFP

Saudi arrests Shia suspected of Policemen go on trial for allegedly spying on Erdogan instigating unrest ANKARA: The trial opened at own lawyers are taking part in According to the indictment, appear to have been arrested dismissed the recordings as a “vile an Ankara court yesterday of the closed court hearing. the police are accused of placing during the waves of detentions montage”. DOHA: Saudi security forces 13 former Turkish police offic- The trial is linked to the sen- bugs in various locations used by in 2014 of police deemed loyal to Since becoming president in have arrested a man believed to ers accused of setting up bugs to sational corruption scandal of Erdogan while he was prime min- Gulen. August 2014, Erdogan has set belong to a Shia group blamed eavesdrop on President Recep December 2013 that rocked the ister in 2011. The devices are said The authorities in December out to crush Gulen, whom he for instigating protests and Tayyip Erdogan while he was government of Erdogan as well to have been placed inside elec- also raided a newspaper and tel- accuses of setting up a parallel unrest in the country’s Eastern prime minister. as his inner circle and was partly tricity plugs. evision channel with close links state through supporters in the Province, the Interior Ministry The defendants are accused of based on intercepted telephone According to the Hurriyet news- to Gulen, provoking a major rift police and the judiciary. said yesterday. carrying out and aiding political conversations. paper, five of the police are still with the European Union over an The start of the trial comes as Montadhar Ali Saleh Alsbaitiin espionage as well as the violation Erdogan denied the claims, on the run, meaning only eight of erosion of media freedoms. a Turkish parliamentary commis- was captured on Thursday night of the privacy of public officials, saying the graft allegations had the suspects were able to appear Leaked tapes emerged in sion is on January 5 set to decide in Awamiya, a Shia village that the official Anatolia news agency been concocted by his arch foe in court. February 2014 where Erdogan whether four ex-cabinet ministers has been the focal point of unrest reported. If found guilty, they Fethullah Gulen, who lives in self- One of the accused is Zeki allegedly told his son Bilal to who resigned in the wake of the since protests in early 2011 that could be jailed for up 36 years and imposed exile in the United States, Bulut, who was Erdogan’s former dispose of some 30 million euros corruption scandal should go on called for an end to discrimina- six months, it added. Erdogan’s to bring down his government. chief bodyguard. The police ($37 million) in cash. Erdogan has trial. AFP tion and for democratic reforms in the Sunni-ruled monarchy. He was one of 23 men wanted by Saudi authorities, who accuse them of serving the agenda of a foreign power—usually a refer- 7 killed in Al Shabaab ence to its Shia rival Iran. Saudi Arabia’s state news agency SPA, quoting the Interior Ministry spokesman, said no one attack at military base was hurt in the operation. The security forces will track down MOGADISHU: Somalia’s al three Al Shabaab insurgents dur- the other suspects, he said, urging Shabaab militants attacked a ing the attack. A spokesman for them to surrender. In December, military base in the outskirts of the Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab security forces killed four mili- the town of Baidoa last morning, said the group had briefly seized tants in eastern Saudi Arabia in a killing at least 7 Somali soldiers, the base and killed more than 10 raid on a hideout used by gunmen a Somali military official said. soldiers. Al Shabaab often cites a who shot dead a policeman in The attack came two days after higher death toll than the number the area earlier that month. The the United States said it had given by officials. shootout was the deadliest inci- killed the chief of Al Shabaab’s “We fiercely attacked the dent in recent years in Awamiya. intelligence and security wing, military base near Baidoa,” Saudi Shi’ites complain it is Tahliil Abdishakur. Sheikh Abdiasis Abu Musab, al harder for them to get govern- “Al Shabaab attacked our base Shabaab’s military operation ment jobs than Sunnis, or to build unexpectedly early in the morn- spokesman, said. Al Shabaab is places of worship, and say the ing today. We lost seven soldiers,” seeking to topple the Western- kingdom’s state-employed clergy Captain Ahmed Idow, a Somali backed Mogadishu government use abusive language to describe military officer, told Reuters by and impose its own strict version their sect in sermons and reli- telephone from Baidoa. of Islamic law in the country. A boy walks past the scene of a car bomb explosion near the Taleex junction of Somalia’s capital Mogadishu gious text books. REUTERS Idow said Somali soldiers killed REUTERS yesterday. SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial A bold move

ALESTINIAN President Mahmoud Abbas is not Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate known for decisiveness and determination. He is known for treading cautiously and his rivals have Poften accused him of dithering in times of crises. But the Palestinian leader has cast off that image with a single stroke – by choosing to join the International Criminal Court Tale of a constipated goldfish (ICC), a bold, dramatic but long-awaited move with huge consequences, and a move that will set the stage for potential war-crimes complaints against Israel. The end-of-the-year announcement came at a specially has raised my hopes for 2015 convened meeting in the West Bank city of Ramallah, a day after the Palestinians fell one vote short of the nine needed to pass a Unite Nations Security Council resolution demanding that Israel step up peace efforts and withdraw from occupied BY DEBORAH ORR but inattentive children none the wiser. referral vouchers? The short answer? lands. Abbas said his government would seek to join about 20 Fish, hamsters, mice, birds – it was the Human society, made up of humans. international treaties, including the framework that set up the MAN in Norfolk has spent same for all of them. I feel certain that It’s the great mystery of humanity – £300 on an operation to the majority of custom in most pet shops how it can be capable of the gentlest of ICC. As expected, Israel and the US have reacted furiously. restore his constipated gold- was people seeking a creature identical nurture and also the cruellest of barba- The State Department said the action was “entirely counter- Afish to good health. Speaking to the creature it was quietly replacing. rism (usually described, in a word that productive and does nothing to further the aspirations of the as someone who took years to twig that Nowadays, this is not considered very flatters to deceive, as “inhumanity”). Palestinian people for a sovereign and independent state.” I had breast cancer, I’m full of awe that desirable behaviour. Even goldfish, it is People often become attached to ani- Israel and the US might unleash a series of punitive someone could even notice that there now understood, need some level of mals because their human relationships measures against Palestinians for his action – like withholding was something ailing a fish, let alone attention to quality of life, and a decent- have failed, for one reason or another. that someone else could examine the sized tank with some sort of gizmo for But so what? There are worse needs tax payments to Palestinians, suspending aid and expanding fish, diagnose constipation and then doing something healthy to the water. than the need to care. It’s often for- settlements in occupied territories. Even if these measures carry out technologically sophisticated The goldfish bowl is now mainly a meta- gotten that loving and caring is more are carried out, piling more misery and financial ruin on surgery. And yet it all makes sense, in phor, indicative of a highly limited life important to humans than being loved Palestinians, Abbas’ decision is timely, an odd sort of way. If you’re going to spent in captivity and on display, every and cared for. bold and deserves the support of friends have fish as pets, then the only pos- bit as awful as being married to Tony As I say, little is known of the fish- Abbas’ of Palestine. The peace process is dead sible meaningful Blair. So, actually, quite a lot of effort saving man. But, whatever his motives, interaction you has gone into increasing our empathy for he chose to save a tiny life because it decision and hopes of its revival too are almost can have with goldfish in recent decades. This Norfolk was within his means to do so. That’s dead. Washington had made some them is to take enthusiast has merely taken the trend a sweet thing, even if it was way down to join the sincere efforts to restart the peace It may seem very seriously to some kind of majestic apotheosis. at the extremely modest end of heroic. ICC has process, but it would go only as far as your commit- And there is something majestic He and the team of fish-surgeons he’d Israel would allow it to. It’s true that, as absurd that a man ment to keep- here, I think. The news is dominated hired may not have saved much, but ing them going, so greatly by cruelty and selfishness that they saved the fish. opened a new US officials said, the state of Palestine paid £300 for his so that you can it’s quite touching, this story of a fish so I don’t know about anyone else, theatre of has to take birth through negotiations goldfish to have carry on looking well beloved by such a solicitous owner but when I think about this country’s war between but when one side is adamantly stalling at them. What that its little heart was monitored as its problems and this world’s problems, it that negotiation and the peace broker an operation when else is there? blockage was removed. Sure, it’s only a makes me feel utterly overwhelmed, Israel and the chooses to watch from the gallery, openly so many people And, when fish, and therefore the level of care and utterly powerless, even though I know aiding and abetting the violator, the you think about attention is absurd. It’s a silly story. And that it’s this that makes us vulnerable Palestinians. are in such need, it, this story has yet … care, nurture, responsibility, love to those who flush away human lives, let other side should be given the freedom but it is also a been a long time – these are such positive attributes that alone fish lives, and call it “leadership”. to plan its future. coming. When I they are always precious, even when So, I’m going to choose to see this Abbas has acted under pressure from reminder that was a child, lots directed at a wee fish. story as important and heartwarming, Palestinians and the decision to join the ICC is also meant to when people have of people kept Little is known about the owner of a reminder that when people have the save his own leadership. As Palestinian officials have put it, goldfish – quite the fish, except that he either has £300 opportunity to do something positive, they have been pushed to the wall and there is no option other the opportunity often goldfish to spare or truly excellent pet insur- they very often take it, even if it seems won at the fair ance. The level of sympathy you may ridiculous or futile to others, even when than go to the ICC. But having chosen this path, Palestinians to do something and transferred feel for this chap depends largely on how it actually is ridiculous or futile. The will have to fight unitedly and spiritedly, and will have to be positive, they very from tiny plas- desperately you need £300. And a lot of year ahead is going to be a hard one, ready for more sacrifices. tic bag to not- people in this country need £300 very full of bad news. But whenever I start The Palestinian decision poses a huge challenge to the often take it. much-larger desperately indeed. When a society is feeling as if things are too awful and ICC, which has been unable to do anything of substance goldfish bowl. so unequal that it can’t even achieve depressing to bear, I’m going to remind The cramped universal enjoyment of an “and finally” myself of the lucky goldfish that was since its formation, if going after African despots, and that space in the goldfish bowl was quite story as perfect as this one, then we lavished with human care. I’m going too unsuccessfully, can be can be called an achievement. The often hogged by an ornamental castle really are in trouble. For there is indeed to remind myself that if we are tender ICC will now have to face the collective fury of Israel, US and featuring an arch and some artificial an opportunity to go full Bolshevik on enough to see a pet fish as having a life some other friends of Israel if its judges turn their sights on pond weed. this one. What sort of a society has the worth living, then we are surely tender Tel Aviv. And that can even lead to the collapse of an already When the goldfish died, you flushed capacity both to monitor the heart of an enough to find a way to care decently crippled ICC it down the toilet and replaced it with anaesthetised goldfish and leave fami- for each other. Happy new year. . another, often keeping the sentimental lies to queue up at food banks clutching THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of Cuba will not change overnight the day n mid December, the US and Cuba US castigated the reconciliation with out the corrupt Fulgencio Battista say “see, we told you so”, they should took the first step to normalise the Castro brothers as having noth- regime and sent landowners and first consider that the Castro admin- their diplomatic ties for the first ing to benefit ordinary Cubans. There gangsters packing. But given recent istration has been in power since the Itime in more than 50 years. As were, as they pointed out, no political events in Havana over the past two late days of the Eisenhower adminis- I do not see how US President Barack Obama said strings attached to the rapprochement days, these Cuban-Americans might tration and the brothers have seen off the armed terrorist at the time, the events that caused that would force the Cuban authorities just have a valid point. every US president since then, while the rift took place before most of us to loosen their tight grip over society, An “open mic” event in Place de maintaining their grip on the island’s militias can create were born. An initial prisoner swap restore private ownership rules and la Revolucion in central Havana was political life. was accompanied by a declaration permit political debate. supposed to offer an opportunity to Change is not going to happen the conditions to reopen the US mission in Havana, Yes, it is possible to see these Cubans to express their opinions overnight. And if the Cuban-American while Washington also relaxed Cuban Americans as self-interested of what 2015 might have in store. lobby wants faster change, then they for reconciliation remittance rules for Cubans living in cadres meeting in smoky cafes in According to news reports, more should support abolishing US trade among Libyans. the US. Now they are to be permitted Miami’s Little Havana and remember than 50 were arrested at the event. embargo. More money and economic to send $2,000 (Dh7,356) back to the the times before Fidel Castro and his While most were later released, about opportunity will soon undermine the An international Communist island every three months. revolutionaries swept down from the a dozen or so were further detained. Castro brand of Caribbean socialism. intervention is But the vocal Cuban lobby in the Sierra Madre mountains and tossed But before the Cuban Americans Gulf News Mahamadou Issoufou essential. Niger’s President SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Tory-Labour coalition may be the solution The two parties have more in common with each other than with the insurgents. A national government would prevent a constitutional crisis.

BY IAN BIRRELL and the SNP surge in Scotland boost- ing the insurgents while corroding their n the 1929 general election, Labour own brands. These are volatile times won 37 percent of the vote and and anything could happen before vot- became the biggest party in the ers go to the polls on 7 May, especially IHouse of Commons, but without an given a Greek election with potential to overall majority. Ramsay MacDonald cob- spark a eurozone crisis. But most people bled together a minority government with in Westminster privately predict a hung Liberal support, including the first female parliament. cabinet minister, but he then struggled Party leaders, however, may have to to control his troops after seeking to cut build broader coalitions than our cur- government spending when caught in a rent two-party version. I have heard one global economic maelstrom after the Wall Downing Street insider punt the con- Street crash. cept of a Tory-Lib Dem-Green coalition, a Cabinet divisions grew as the economy senior Tory suggest a Conservative-SNP weakened, unemployment soared and the deal based on faster devolution, and a government grappled with a £120m defi- Labour figure float a Labour-Lib Dem- cit. Having pledged to balance the books, SNP-Plaid Cymru agreement reliant on MacDonald resigned in August 1931 and big tax rises and slower spending cuts. – encouraged by the palace – formed a Any of these fragile groupings could be national government to tackle the crisis, held hostage by single-minded militants with the Conservatives joining his coali- or single-issue obsessives capable of col- tion. Two months later, this coalition won lapsing the government. a landslide election victory. Labour believes a strategy of clinging The creation of a national government on to core voters can lead to triumph. split two parties, destroyed MacDonald’s Tory tacticians think they will be saved reputation on the left and, thanks to its by the weakness of Ed Miliband. They later policy of appeasement, is often argue that they can emerge as the biggest viewed as a disastrous experiment. But overall party and rule as a minority gov- British Prime Minister David Cameron meets staff at Covea Insurance at Dean Clough Mills in Halifax, northern England, as he launches 84 years later, as this year’s general elec- ernment until a second election later in a new Conservative Party election poster, ahead of the 2015 General Election. tion campaign effectively begins, could the year, when enough voters, frustrated we be on the point of seeing our latest by instability, will return to the fold for A government of national unity Gordon Brown out and Cameron in, but confronting the nation that conventional economic and political crisis causing a an overall majority. Both approaches are between Labour and the Conservatives was wary of claims of Tory modernisa- politics seems incapable of solving. These repeat of history with another national profoundly pessimistic and undeserving may sound far-fetched, especially amid tion – rightly, as it turned out. Yet now, include the creation of a modern political government? of victory; they may also turn out to be the froth and fury of a nascent election a sceptical electorate does not want to system, the resolution of Britain’s hap- The two main parties are on the slide, pipe dreams, compounded by the poten- campaign. It would certainly be tricky, hand either party untrammelled control hazard drift into federalism and a work- their historic decline speeded up by an tial of post-election challenges to party exacerbating internal divisions and lead- of the country. able funding solution to save the creaking economic meltdown that fuelled discon- leaders. ing to more defections. In keeping with the current mood, a NHS. tent with their style of traditional politics The possibility of a full-blown con- Yet, while there are serious disagree- national government would see Cameron Four months ago, the mainstream and fostered the rise of insurgent parties. stitutional crisis looms large. Curiously, ments, the two parties have more in remain prime minister and the Tories party leaders put aside their differences Labour remains marginally ahead but is this could be what the country needs to common with each other than with the retain control of the Treasury (repli- and joined together to save the nation distrusted on economic matters and held reboot its anachronistic political system. insurgents on many key issues – espe- cating how Labour held both posts in when it seemed Scotland would demand back by a leader who commands little Yet it would come at a time of great glo- cially if David Cameron survived and 1931). Labour’s leader would be deputy independence. It was a brief flicker of confidence. The Tories have the most bal uncertainty; it might also plunge an Miliband was replaced by someone such prime minister, with the party over- unity before they started to play the trusted leader, even on the sacred health elderly monarch into menacing political as Chuka Umunna. seeing education and health, although trivial pursuit of party politics again. service, yet voters think they care only waters. Instead, as Labour and Tory lead- Elections are a form of crowdsourc- presumably it would need to revert to Now it is possible to envisage that they for the rich, and remain wary of their ers explore the post-electoral landscape, ing, the wisdom of crowds ensuring the its previous stance on private sector might have to do the same again this stewardship of public services. they may find coalition deals with insur- result reflects national desire. Britain involvement. year to save the nation from another Both parties responded badly to the gent forces too costly, minority govern- did not trust Neil Kinnock in 1992, then Regardless of the personalities and constitutional crisis. It might even be disruptive political climate, their fum- ment too impractical and a far better was desperate to kick out the Tories five positions, however, the two parties could for the best. bling reaction to Ukip’s rise in England solution staring them in the face. years later. By 2010, the nation wanted start to hammer out those huge issues GUARDIAN NEWS

Volunteers bring smiles Seoul open to candid talks to hospitalised children BY CYNTHIA KIM and the regime accountable for crimes SAM KIM against humanity. The vote BY RYOTA AKATSU amounts to a “despicable ruckus,” ny talks between the Kim said Thursday. His Foreign laytime for children is not only fun, it also helps advance chil- leaders of North Korea Ministry said last month the dren’s growth both physically and mentally. and South Korea must United States would face North For children who suffer from severe diseases or disabilities Abe held without precon- Korea’s “toughest counteraction” Pand are hospitalised for a long time, volunteers take on the ditions, the government in Seoul for the human rights criticism. special and important role of playing with them. said a day after Kim Jong Un A group of top North Korean “Let’s move on to the next game. Are you not going to join?” The raised the possibility of a summit. officials visited South Korea bright, loud voice of a 6-year-old boy rang out in a sterilized room “The government’s stance is shortly before the October meet- at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine in Tokyo on that we will talk to North Korea ing of generals, a period when December 6. in a way that is free from for- Kim’s six-week absence from pub- He was playing with a volunteer from Volunteers Network of Play malities for candid discussion on lic view fanned a variety of theo- Activities for Sick Children. After making Christmas decorations, the all kinds of issues,” Unification ries from him suffering a gout-like boy began to play a card game. Ministry spokesman Lim Byeong illness to being overthrown. When there was only 30 minutes left to play with the volunteer, Cheol said at a briefing in Seoul. Kim, who reappeared with the boy began to rush to play more, teaching the game’s rules to the “If North Korea really has a will a cane in mid-October, has no volunteer he met on the day for the first time. to improve inter-Korea relations known child old enough to suc- Then the boy shouted, “I won!” with a broad smile. it should hold talks without any ceed him should he become The nonprofit organization dispatches its members to bedrooms and preconditions.” incapacitated. He took over the a play room at the pediatric ward of the center for 90 minutes begin- North Korea’s leader in his New country when his father Kim Jong ning at 2 p.m. every Saturday. Year speech flagged the potential Il died in late 2011. For children who are hospitalized for a long time, the group sends for a meeting with South Korean Kim has purged high-ranking volunteers on weekdays. About 60 members — including child care President Park Geun-hye, even officials to consolidate his power, workers, school teachers and students — are currently registered as as relations remain chilled by North Korean leader Kim Jong-un (centre) touring an orphanage in the including having his uncle and volunteers, and they play with an average of 600 children on about 50 his pursuit of a nuclear arsenal. capital Pyongyang yesterday. deputy Jang Song Thaek exe- occasions on Saturdays throughout the year. The two have not held any prior cuted in December 2013 on graft The group was established in 1991, and was approved as an NPO summit. charges. corporation in May 2006. “There is no reason why the this year.” decided yet whether to attend, More than half the senior “I was prompted to start the activities when I visited a facility to highest-level talks cannot be The two countries haven’t held Yonhap News said on December officials at Kim Jong Il’s funeral provide nursing care for children who need advanced medical care held, depending on the mood and a summit since 2007, when then- 20, quoting an unidentified presi- have been purged or have retired, and saw one child crying alone,” said Kazuko Sakaue, a child care environment,” Kim said in the South Korean president Roh dential official. Kim Kap-sik, a researcher at worker and the group’s head. “Parents attending to them seemed to speech broadcast on the Internet. Moo-hyun met his North Korean Officials from China and South the South Korean government- be exhausted. I thought those parents and children need support.” “If South Korea truly wants talks counterpart Kim Jong Il. Korea’s foreign and defense run Korea Institute for National Yukiko Kato, 42, saw her son hospitalized for about seven months and improvement in relations, the Shares in Seoul-traded com- ministries will meet in Seoul Unification, said in a December since he was 11 months old as he suffered from acute myeloid leukemia. suspended high-level contact can panies with operations in North on January 5 to discuss issues 24 report. While the boy was treated with anticancer drugs, Kato stayed at the resume and talks on specific mat- Korea rose yesterday after Kim’s including security on the Korean Kim Jong Un’s sister Kim hospital and tended to the child everyday. ters can also be held.” comments. Hyundai Merchant peninsula, South Korea’s Foreign Yo Jong may become the first Kato felt mentally exhausted after three months passed, and she Kim’s comments are his first Marine Co., a shipping line Ministry said in an emailed member of North Korea’s rul- asked the group to dispatch a volunteer on weekdays, too. public response to Park saying whose affiliate owns a resort in statement. ing dynasty to visit South Korea, Per the request, several volunteers took turns visiting the boy for last year she is open to a meet- the North, jumped 8 percent at North Korea’s relations with a South Korean newspaper 90 minutes twice a week. One of them was an experienced child care ing with North Korea’s leader. 12:35 p.m. local time, advancing South Korea are overshadowed reported last month, citing the worker and brought toys suitable for the boy’s age, such as a toy that Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl- the most in two months. by its refusal to abandon its organisers of a proposed food and makes sounds when the boy touches it, or one the boy could play by jae on December 29 offered talks Romanson Co. and Shinwon nuclear arms program. No talks arts festival in Seoul. using his fingers. with the regime in Pyongyang and Corp., which have plants in the have taken place since their A South Korea-based busi- Another volunteer suggested Kato go out for a change, saying, “Please said he could take part in those border city of Gaeseong, climbed military generals gathered at ness group with ties in North go to cafe and have a cup of tea while I play with your boy.” discussions. more than 1 percent. a border village in October — a Korea submitted a proposal to It has been about a year since the boy left the hospital. “Kim’s clearly speaking about Russian President Vladimir meeting that did not produce the Unification Ministry for the “I saw such a drastic change in my son through playing (with vol- a summit whether it be in Seoul, Putin invited Kim to a May cel- any agreement. March event, the Korea Economic unteers) and saw how he began to smile more often. He could not pull Pyongyang or Moscow,” Ahn Chan ebration to mark the 70th anni- Kim stepped up his saber rat- Daily reported, citing the group. himself up to standing when he turned 1 year old, but when I followed Il, who heads the World Institute versary of the end of World War tling late last year, threatening Kim Yo Jong is on the list of offi- the advice I received, he became able to do it,” Kato recalled. “I experi- for North Korea Studies in Seoul, II, Russian press agency Itar-Tass to conduct the nation’s fourth cials provided to the group by its enced raising a child and his hospitalization simultaneously for the first said by phone. “The mood between quoted his spokesman Dmitry nuclear test after a United North Korean counterparts, the time, so I was overwhelmed. I cannot thank the volunteers enough.” the countries should grow concili- Peskov as saying December 22. Nations human-rights commit- newspaper said. Junko Yamanaka, a pediatrician at the center, witnessed the group’s atory at least in the early part of Park was also invited and hadn’t tee voted in November to hold WP-BLOOMBERG activities for about 15 years. WP-BLOOMBERG SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Egypt warned Amal Clooney she risked arrest

CAIRO/LONDON: Egyptian officials results of that in this particular case “If the idea is: well, there were errors detainees with such a route, and which warned human rights barrister Amal where you had a handpicked panel led and now there’s going to be a retrial, but seems to have been tailored for their case. Clooney (pictured), that she risked by a judge who is known for dispensing then the retrial operates on the same The vague and unprecedented nature arrest after identifying the same seri- brutal verdicts,” Clooney. said “And this basis as the original one, that doesn’t of the decree has led to doubts about ous flaws in its judicial system that sub- one was no different.” really mean much,” Clooney said. She has how it would be used in practice. But sequently contributed to the conviction The three journalists — Peter Greste, waived most of her usual fees, and is paid based on her communication with rel- of three Aljazeera journalists now jailed Baher Mohamed, and Mohamed Fahmy, directly by Fahmy without the support evant officials in Egypt and Canada, and in Cairo. whom Clooney represents — were ini- of Aljazeera. on her experience of international law, In an interview with The Guardian tially sentenced to between seven and “I don’t see how the prosecution can Clooney is hopeful that deportation is after their appeal hearing this week, 10 years in jail last June by the contro- proceed again in a trial process even if a real option. Clooney, a lawyer for one of the trio, said versial Egyptian judge Mohamed Nagy the judges were to be constituted prop- “There are many different ways in they were victims of the same flaws that Shehata. erly this time around. I don’t see how which the transfer from Egypt to Canada she earmarked in a February 2014 report Shehata became notorious during they could fix the lack of evidence.” can occur, and as long as there is a genu- about Egyptian courts. the trial for rarely taking off his avia- As a result, Clooney has concluded ine commitment on both sides, I see no Written before Clooney became tor sunglasses, mocking Fahmy’s fian- “that we have to continue and double reason why a transfer can’t happen in involved in the Aljazeera case, officials cee, and for cracking a joke about World our efforts to achieve his release in other fairly quick terms.” deemed the report so controversial that Press Freedom day. A few months later, ways. Unfortunately we have to conclude Inside Egypt, Fahmy’s appeals team they threatened her team with arrest he also sentenced to death 188 people, that we can’t rely on these Egyptian was led by an Egyptian lawyer, Negad should they have tried to present its find- Clooney said, “in one mass trial which court processes to achieve a fair or swift Boraie, with contributions from Clooney ings inside Egypt. didn’t distinguish between each defend- result.” that related to international law. But out- “When I went to launch the report, ant’s criminal responsibility”. Shehata For Baher Mohamed, the third side Egypt, it is Clooney who is spear- first of all they stopped us from doing it failed to respond to several requests for detainee who holds only an Egyptian heading attempts to secure Fahmy’s in Cairo,” Clooney said. “They said: ‘Does interview. passport, his fate largely depends on deportation, and hopes next week to the report criticise the army, the judici- At the trio’s appeal on New Year’s those court processes, with the prospect meet the Canadian foreign minister, John ary, or the government?’ We said: ‘Well, Day, a new judge refused to throw out of a presidential pardon dwindling. But Baird, to try to convince him to expedite yes.’ They said: ‘Well then, you’re risking the case, but agreed to a retrial, after Clooney’s client, Fahmy, a Canadian citi- the process. arrest.’” the government can exert over state recognising problems with the initial zen, and his Australian colleague Greste, “We are very much hoping that the The report, compiled on behalf of prosecutors. process. But Clooney fears those flaws have another option: deportation to their Canadian and Egyptian officials we the International Bar Association, said Among other recommendations, — which included the presentation of a home countries. have contacted will engage with us fully Egypt’s judicial system was not as inde- Clooney and her co-authors suggested Gotye song, footage of a trotting horse, Fahmy and Greste have applied to to ensure that Mohamed is involved – pendent as it could be. It pointed out that ending the practice that allows Egyptian and pictures of Greste’s parents as evi- Egypt’s chief prosecutor to demand through his counsel – in the discussions officials in the ministry of justice have officials to handpick judges for certain dence of the trio’s guilt — are so serious they be sent to Canada and Australia and that a fair outcome can be achieved wide powers over nominally independ- politicised cases. “That recommenda- that they will compromise the integrity respectively under the terms of a new as soon as possible.” ent judges, and highlighted the control tion wasn’t followed, and we’ve seen the of any second hearing. presidential decree that provides foreign GUARDIAN NEWS Bahrain denounces foreign interference Opposition Shia protesters clash with police

MANAMA: Bahraini authori- and stopping violence for they Bahrain had received offers to ties denounced what they called threaten civil security and peace.” emulate the Syrian opposition foreign double standards and “The irresponsible statements and take up arms, which it had interference yesterday, days by some countries undermine refused. Anti-riot police and hun- after their main Western ally relations with them and do not dreds of demonstrators keeping Washington criticised the help in building trust,” the coun- up daily protests to demand the detention of the head of the cil, an advisory body to the gov- release of Bahrain’s main Shiite main Shia opposition group. ernment, added in its statement opposition leader clashed on Sheikh Ali Salman, head of the carried by the BNA state news Friday in villages near Manama, Al Wefaq Islamic Society, was agency. witnesses said. arrested on Sunday after leading Bahrain, which hosts the US They said an unspecified a protest rally against elections Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been gripped number of arrests were made and in November which his party by tension since 2011 protests led by people wounded as police fired boycotted. majority Shias demanding reforms buckshot and tear gas to disperse The US State Department and a bigger role in running the the protests staged after weekly expressed deep concern over the Sunni-led country. prayers in mosques. detention on Wednesday, saying it Prosecutors said on Thursday The demonstrators, includ- would further inflame tensions in Sheikh Salman was being interro- ing women and children, carried Protesters confront riot police during clashes in the village of Abu-Saiba, west of Manama, yesterday. the island kingdom off the coast gated in connection with charges portraits of jailed Al Wefaq leader of Saudi Arabia. including spreading ideas that Sheikh Ali Salman and chanted the protests from spilling over, Predominantly Shiite Iran, And the United States has Bahrain’s Shura Council did defy the regime and authorities. slogans calling for his release. witnesses said. across the Gulf from Washington’s expressed deep concern about not refer directly to the case or They said they had shown him Anti-riot police were deployed It was the sixth straight day ally Bahrain where the US Fifth Salman’s detention, warning it Washington, but said: “The dou- recordings of a speech he gave to in force on an avenue which links of protests since Salman, 49, was Fleet is based, has joined calls for could only inflame the persist- ble standards adopted by some his party’s general conference and several Shia villages to the west arrested on Sunday and charged the immediate release of the main ent violence that has gripped the countries and organisations do a television interview in which of the capital and manned check- the next day with seeking to use opposition leader in the Sunni- kingdom since 2011. not help in combating terrorism he said that the opposition in points on main roads to prevent force to change the regime. ruled kingdom. AGENCIES

Seven killed in 19 killed in rebel fire on Aleppo

Yemen clashes BEIRUT: At least 19 people were killed overnight by Syrian rebel fire on government-controlled parts of the northern city of Aleppo, ADEN: Clashes between the a monitor said yesterday. Yemeni army and tribesmen in The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the dead included at Marib province left seven dead least five children, three of whom were killed with their mother when and more than 15 injured late on a rocket hit the car they were in. Thursday, tribal sources said. The Britain-based group said at 32 people were wounded in Thursday The sources said that tribesmen night’s violence in the western part of the city. in the region had intercepted Once Syria’s economic hub, Aleppo has been ravaged by fighting that a brigade from the army that began there in mid-2012. The city is divided with government forces was traveling from the southern controlling the western part and rebels controlling the east. province of Shabwa towards the However, government forces have advanced steadily around the country’s capital, Sanaa. eastern outskirts of the city, threatening to besiege opposition-held The tribesmen believed the districts. More than 200,000 people have been killed in Syria since the troops were being led by followers beginning of the conflict in March 2011, according to the Observatory. of former president Ali Abdullah Saleh, who they believe supports the Shia Houthis and planned to Leftist group claims Istanbul attack arm the group in their region, the tribal sources said. ISTANBUL: The Turkish far-left group DHKP-C has claimed The violent clashes between responsibility for a grenade attack on police near the Turkish prime the two sides led to the death minister’s office in Istanbul. of five soldiers and two tribes- DHKP-C (Revolutionary People’s Liberation Party-Front) was also men and injured another 15 sol- People gather at Abu Hanifa mosque during a ceremony marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammad behind a suicide bombing at the US Embassy last year as well as attacks diers and tens of tribesmen, the (peace be upon him), in Baghdad’s Adhamiya district yesterday. on Turkish police stations. sources said. A man carrying an automatic weapon was detained on Thursday Westerns diplomats and near the historic Dolmabahce Palace in Turkey’s largest city after he Yemeni officials also say the Gunmen kill 3 Iraqi Sunni clerics threw a grenade at police. Houthis are getting support In a statement posted on “The People’s Cry” website, the group said from Saleh, who came under UN the attack over against the ruling AK Party over the killing of 15-year- Security Council sanctions last BASRA: Gunmen shot dead on preparations for celebrating one of the main Sunni political old Berkin Elvan, who died in March last year after nine months in a year for threatening Yemen’s three Sunni clerics in the Shia- the Prophet Mohammed’s (peace parties, said the attack was car- coma from a head wound sustained during an anti-government protest. peace and stability, something majority southern province be upon him) birthday. Interior ried out by “criminal militias,” an The DHKP-C also called Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan the he denies. of Basra, Iraqi officials said Minister Mohammed Ghabban apparent reference to Shiite fight- perpetrator of Elvan’s death said it would hold his AK Party to account. The Marib tribesmen man- yesterday. ordered an investigation into ers Baghdad has turned to for sup- aged to seize the equipment and Raikan Mahdi, the head of the the attack, the ministry said in a port in its battle against IS. Shia weapons belonging to the troops, security committee for the prov- statement. It blamed the violence militiamen have played key roles in UN extends Lebanon tribunal’s mandate a tribal source said. Tensions are ince’s Al Zubair district, said the on “forces serving the (Islamic operations against the jihadists, but easing now, the source said, after shooting by “unknown gunmen” State group) project,” a reference have also carried out kidnappings UNITED NATIONS: UN chief Ban Ki-moon is to grant the Special talks between the government also wounded two more clerics. to a Sunni jihadist organisation and extrajudicial killings Tribunal for Lebanon another three years to try those responsi- and the tribesmen, who agreed to Mahdi said the attack took that spearheaded a sweeping While pro-government forces ble for the 2005 murder of former Lebanese prime minister Rafik hand over the weapons they had place as the clerics headed from offensive that overran large parts have regained some ground from Hariri. seized to the ministry of defense. provincial capital Basra to Al of the country. IS, large areas are still outside The tribunal, which was inaugurated in 2009, will continue its work REUTERS Zubair after attending a meeting But the Iraqi Islamic Party, Baghdad’s control. AFP until March 2018, said a UN statement yesterday. AGENCIES SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Italy tows in migrant ship with 450 aboard Coastguard officers airdropped onto ghost ship deck

BRINDISI, Italy: Italian sail- The same site also noted, how- good medical condition. They have ors took control yesterday of a ever, that the Ezadeen had begun been provided with food, water merchant ship that had been its voyage in October from the and basic medical assistance,” a abandoned by its crew and left Syrian port of Tartus. Thousands Forex statement said yesterday. to power towards the country’s of refugees who made it to Italy The incident marked the third jagged coast with 450 migrants this year fled war-torn Syria, in a series of dramas Italy has aboard. though most came via North dealt with in several days. While sailors boarded the Africa. The first came with the deadly Ezadeen and set up a tow some Before it came to a halt, the fire that broke out on the Norman 40km off southern Italy, another nearly 50-year-old Ezadeen had Atlantic ferry on Sunday between crew brought the burned-out been moving at a brisk seven Greece and Italy. ferry Norman Atlantic into the knots, and was spotted by a coast- Bari prosecutor Giuseppe Volpe Italian port of Brindisi, six days guard plane 80 miles offshore said almost 500 people may have after a fire killed 13 passengers shortly after nightfall. been aboard — far above the 474 and forced the rescue of 477. A woman refugee on board was officially on the manifest, and Italian prosecutors fear that able to operate the ship’s radio prompting fears the current the ferry could contain the bodies and told the coastguard that the death toll of 13 may rise once the of still undiscovered illegal immi- crew had jumped ship, Italian ferry is fully searched in Brindisi. grants and unregistered passen- navy spokesman Captain Filippo Volpe said it had been “estab- gers, potentially raising the death Marini said. lished” that illegal immigrants toll far higher. “We are alone, there is no one, were aboard, something con- In the Ezadeen drama, six help us!” the woman cried, he firmed by several of the res- coastguard officers were lowered said. cued passengers. The search is Italian Red Cross volunteers set up a tent to accommodate some 500 Syrian would-be immigrants rescued from from a helicopter onto the deck The coastguard asked for expected to concentrate on trucks the Ezadeen ship being towed into the Corigliano harbour yesterday. of the Sierra Leone-registered assistance from Icelandic patrol parked in the car deck where the merchant ship as it approached boat Tyr, which was in the area fire started. the people smugglers who had Italian Red Cross. departure points in North Africa. Crotone, off the heel of Italy, the on a mission with Frontex, the Italy, which is struggling with sailed in from Turkey via Greek Many of the migrants on the Increasingly, the traffickers navy said. European Union’s border agency. a record wave of migrants mak- waters. ship were treated for hypother- appear to be abandoning their Once under control, the Italian The Tyr was able to draw ing the dangerous journey across The Moldovan-registered Blue mia or injuries including broken boats — and human cargoes — coastguard began towing the alongside the ship, but its speed the Mediterranean, faced yet Sky M got to within five miles — limbs. once at sea for Europe, with more 73-metre-long livestock ves- and rough weather conditions more drama on Wednesday after or 45 minutes sailing time — of More than 170,000 people have now using bigger vessels than the sel towards the Italian port of made boarding impossible. the navy stopped a first crewless running aground before six navy been rescued at sea by Italy in converted fishing boats and other Corigliano Calabro, where it was Once the Ezadeen had run out “ghost” ship with hundreds of officers were lowered on to the the last 14 months, and hundreds, craft they previously favoured. expected to arrive late yesterday of fuel, five Tyr crew members migrants on board. ship by helicopter, and succeeded possibly thousands, have perished The International Organisation or early today, the navy said. were winched on to the merchant In that case, the Blue Sky in bringing it under control. trying to make the crossing. for Migration estimated Friday The ship had been en route ship by helicopter to care for pas- M freighter carried nearly 770 The vessel’s passengers included The migrants are almost invar- in Geneva that people smugglers from Famagusta in northern sengers until Italian coastguard migrants drifting towards the some 60 children and two preg- iably under the control of ruthless grossed over $1m on just one of Turkish-controlled Cyprus to officers arrived to take control. rocks off Italy’s southeastern nant women, one of whom gave traffickers who earn thousands the two abandoned ships rescued the southern French port of Sete, “The migrants aboard were shore. The ship was on autopilot, birth on board as the boat neared of dollars for every person they off Italy alone. according to a shipping website. visibly distressed but overall in after having been abandoned by catastrophe, according to the put to sea from Libya and other AFP

Italian Ebola Sweden protesters demand end to mosque arson attacks patient leaves STOCKHOLM: More than a Association said from the larg- On Christmas Day, five peo- to have gone unreported. The mosque attacks come as thousand protesters took to the est demonstration in the capital ple were injured in another sus- In a government survey of hate debate intensifies in Sweden over Rome hospital streets in Sweden yesterday to Stockholm. pected arson attack on a mosque crimes in November two-thirds immigration in the traditionally urge an end to a spate of attacks “This is about people being in Eskilstuna, west of the capital of Swedish Muslim associations tolerant Nordic country, which is ROME: Italy’s only Ebola against mosques, amid growing denied their basic rights.... Stockholm. said their buildings had been expected to receive about 100,000 patient is fully recovered and tensions over the rise of an anti- Everyone needs to ask them- Swedish police said that they vandalised. asylum applications this year, a was released from hospital immigration party. selves, politicians and citizens if were stepping up security around Sweden’s Minister for Culture record. yesterday more than a month The demonstrations in this is the kind of society they mosques and continuing to search and Democracy Alice Bah Kuhnke Last month the far right after being flown to Rome from Sweden’s three largest cit- want.” for the culprits. said the latest attacks “aimed at Sweden Democrats — which dou- Sierra Leone where he worked ies, Stockholm, Malmoe and Eyewitnesses saw a man throw- “We are working flat out with intimidating and diminishing” bled their support to 13 percent as a doctor treating others Gothenburg, came a day after ing a petrol bomb at a mosque the investigation but we have no people. in September elections — came stricken by the disease. what was believed to be the third in Uppsala in eastern Sweden leads to report yet,” police spokes- “That’s why one of the most close to bringing down the left- The 50-year-old Sicilian man arson attack on a mosque in the early on New Year’s day, three woman Lisa Sannervik in Uppsala important things we can do is green government over its liberal has been identified only by his space of a week. days after a late-night blaze at said. to not let ourselves be intimi- refugee policies. first name, Fabrizio. He con- “We want to send the mes- a mosque in Esloev in the south, According to the anti-rac- dated,” she told demonstra- The party, which wants to tracted the haemorrhagic virus sage that these attacks on which police suspect was also ism magazine Expo, there tors in Stockholm, adding that cut immigration by 90 per- while working for humanitar- mosques... are a problem for all arson. have been at least a dozen con- the police would prioritise the cent, has increased its support ian group Emergency during the of society and not just Muslims,” The slogan “Go home Muslim firmed attacks on mosques in search for the culprits and step in opinion polls to around 16 worst Ebola outbreak on record. Mohammed Kharraki a spokes- shit” was also emblazoned across Sweden in the last year and a up the protection of places of percent. “For the first few days, partly man for Sweden’s Islamic the doors of the building. far larger number are believed worship. AFP to keep my mind active, I tried to examine every symptom I was expe- riencing scientifically,” Fabrizio told reporters in his first public appear- ‘Premier candle’ ance since contracting the disease. “Then there came a moment Ex-Irish minister to form when I lost consciousness of what was going on around me and I don’t remember anything that happened for about two weeks,” new party ahead of poll he said, thanking those who cared for him during his illness. DUBLIN: Ireland’s former the as yet unnamed party would He said that after he regains Europe minister Lucinda include a number of elected rep- his strength he may return to Creighton said she will form resentatives and seek to run at Sierra Leone to continue treat- a new political party ahead of least one candidate in every ing Ebola patients. Ebola survi- scheduled parliamentary elec- constituency. vors are generally believed to be tions next year that polls pre- She laid out a pro-small busi- immune to future infection from dict will signal a major shift ness platform that will likely see the strain that made them sick. away from dominant parties. her compete for votes with her Despite an upturn in the former party and fellow centre- France sends economy, government support right opposition party Fianna Fail slumped throughout last year at rather than the left-wing Sinn search experts to the expense primarily of inde- Fein, more aligned with anti-aus- pendents, raising the prospect terity parties gaining popularity jet crash scene that any new party could have a around Europe. considerable say in the forming a “My concern is that what we PARIS: France’s BEA crash fresh coalition in 2016. are seeing now in terms of the investigation agency said a spe- Creighton, the highest pro- economic agenda is an exact cialist black box search team file member of Prime Minister replica of what was there in the and equipment arrived on Enda Kenny’s Fine Gael party boom period,” Creighton, 34, told Friday at the search area for the to be expelled in 2013 for a news conference yesterday in a Indonesia AirAsia flight which opposing an easing of Ireland’s long anticipated announcement. crashed on Sunday en route Britain’s Prime Minister David Cameron makes a candle by pouring hot wax into a mould during his visit to restrictive abortion laws, said REUTERS from Indonesia to Singapore. the St Eval Candle Company in Wadebridge, south west England, yesterday. The agency said a ship carry- ing two hydrophones, or underwa- ter listening devices, was bound for the suspected crash site with French, Singaporean and Hundreds of artists call for release of Cuban colleague Indonesian experts on board. Investigators hope the black boxes will reveal the sequence of HAVANA: More than 700 art- be released, dissidents said. She by Cuba’s reaction to Bruguera’s simply sought to open space for would restore diplomatic ties, events both in the cockpit and the ists wrote to Cuban President had planned an open microphone event, which never took place. public discussion,” the artists’ let- potentially bringing an end jet’s systems, but safety experts Raul Castro yesterday calling event earlier this week that the Bruguera, who divides her ter said. to more than five decades of stress it is too early to say what for the release of a colleague who communist government called a time between the island and art Cuban officials do not typically hostility. caused the crash. was detained for a third time in “political provocation.” projects mostly in Europe and the comment on police activity such Elizardo Sanchez, head of the The BEA assists in investiga- three days in a crackdown that The dissidents, who have United States, told Reuters after as the detention of dissidents. dissident Cuban Commission tion of any air crash involving an has tested a new detente with limited public support on the her first arrest that her passport Brief detentions are Cuba’s for Human Rights and National Airbus aircraft because the com- the United States. Caribbean island, are denounced had been confiscated by Cuban standard response to opposition Reconciliation, told Reuters TV pany is France-based. It is also Cuban performance artist by the Cuban authorities as being officials. street protests, but they have some 60 people were detained seen as specialised in underwater Tania Bruguera was detained in the pay of the United States. “We firmly believe her deten- taken on greater significance in connection with Bruguera’s searches after leading a two-year again on Thursday after going to a In their open letter to Castro, tion, and the withdrawal of her just two weeks after Castro and thwarted on December 30 event search for an Air France jet that Havana prison to demand that fel- artists from around the world said Cuban passport, are inappropri- U.S. President Barack Obama in Havana’s Revolution Square. crashed in the Atlantic in 2009. low opponents of the government they were “profoundly troubled” ate responses to a work of art that announced on Dec. 17 that they REUTERS AGENCIES SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES

One dies as cargo Rescuers narrow AirAsia search vessel sinks in Philippines MANILA: A cargo ves- 29 ships, 17 aircraft narrow down their search to an area of 1,575 square nautical miles sel sank in rough seas in the Philippines, leaving one PANGKALAN BUN: or flight recorders, which crew member dead, the Indonesian recovery teams will be carried out by KNKT coast guard said yesterday. narrowed the search area for (National Transportation Safety Nineteen crew members of AirAsia Flight 8501 yesterday, Committee) which start working the MV Sea Merchant were hopeful they were closing in on today.” rescued off the town of Lobo the crash site, with 30 bodies “Divers are on standby at the in Batangas province, 106km and more debris recovered from navy ship Banda Aceh to go into south of Manila. The vessel the sea. the priority area to locate the was going to the central prov- French and Singaporean plane’s body,” he said, hoping for ince of Antique with 20,000 investigators joined the hunt a “significant result”. bags of cement when it was for the Airbus A320-200, which KNKT Chief Tatang Kurniadi battered by huge waves and disappeared from radar dur- said 40 divers, including 20 deep sank. The lone fatality was ing a storm on Sunday en route sea experts, arrived from Russia, the chief engineer. from Indonesia’s second city of along with two planes, one Surabaya to Singapore with 162 amphibious. Market blast toll people on board. The search is now focused on The teams have deployed side- the southwest of Pangkalan Bun, reaches two scan sonar equipment to survey a town in Central Kalimantan on the seabed and pinger locators Borneo. MANILA: The death toll to fine-tune search for the black Indonesian official S B in the bombing at a market boxes to determine why the plane Supriyadi said they were press- in the southern Philippines crashed into the Java Sea off ing on despite rough conditions, has risen to two, the mili- Borneo. with high winds and three-four- tary said. Thirty-six people Rough weather has ham- metre waves. were injured in the attack pered the search for the fuselage, “The search is proceeding in M’lang town in North believed to be in water of around in systematic way, despite the Cotabato province, 950km 25-32 metres. extreme weather,” he said. south of Manila. Nineteen Search and rescue agency chief He said ships may search were still in hospital, army Bambang Soelistyo said yester- through the night, but high waves spokeswoman Captain Joan day’s operation was focused on were hampering the use of equip- Petinglay said. Many victims an area of 1,575 square nauti- ment to find the black boxes. Indonesian divers prepare their gear on the deck of SAR ship Purworejo during a search for passengers on board were hit by nails, which could cal miles, a tenth of the size of Two South Korean Orion sur- AirAsia flight QZ8501, in the Java Sea yesterday. have been a component of the Thursday’s search, with 29 ships veillance planes spotted six bodies, improvised explosive device, and 17 aircraft engaged in the Indonesian Air Force spokesman the location, he said. Before take-off, the pilot of In his last communication, she said. operation. Hadi Tjahjanto said. Relatives were preparing to Flight 8501 had sought permis- Captain Iriyanto, an experienced “There are two main tasks in “After sweeping the area for hold funerals after three more sion to fly at a higher altitude to former Air Force pilot, said he China reports six this priority sector: To locate the over two hours, the Orions found victims were identified. avoid a storm. But his request was wanted to change course to avoid biggest part of the plane’s body,” three bodies sitting in one row,” A crisis centre for identifying not approved due to other planes the storm. Then all contact was bird flu cases he told a press conference. and another three minutes later. the victims has been set up at a above him on the popular route, lost, about 40 minutes after the “The second is to find the They informed warships by police hospital in Surabaya with according to AirNav, Indonesia’s plane had taken off. BEIJING: Six people position of the black boxes, radio and fired flares to indicate facilities to store 150 bodies. air traffic control. AFP from east China’s Zhejiang Province have contracted the H7N9 strain of avian flu, local authorities said yester- day. The provincial health and family planning com- Kim’s sister marries son of official mission said the cases were SEOUL: The sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has mar- Sri Lanka leader asks Tamils reported in the cities of ried the son of one of the most powerful officials, Yonhap news Jiaxing, Jinhua and Shaoxing. agency reported yesterday, citing sources. To prevent the spread of bird Kim Yo-jong, 27 or 28, was said by state media late last year to have flu, Zhejiang province has assumed a senior position in the ruling Workers’ Party. She is the only to re-elect ‘known devil’ banned live poultry trading in other member of the Kim family known to have an official job within urban areas. the government. JAFFNA: Sri Lanka’s embat- favourite but defections by allies, “As far as I know, Kim Yo-jong, Deputy Director, Workers’ Party, got tled President Mahinda including his one-time health Three killed in married to a son of the party Secretary Choe Ryong-hae,” the South Rajapaksa urged minority minister Sirisena, have thrown Korean news agency quoted a China-based source as saying. Tamils to back him in next the contest open and the presi- Indonesia mine A second source identified the husband as Choe’s second son, Choe week’s election, calling himself dent needs every vote he can Song, Yonhap reported. The senior Choe, a member of the ruling the “known devil”, as he pitched muster. JAYAPURA: Three secu- Workers’ Party, is seen as a confidant of Kim. Kim Yo-jong was seen for votes in the former war zone Although the economy has been rity personnel were found wearing what appears to be a wedding ring in a photo released by the yesterday. growing at rates of around seven dead with bullet and machete North’s official KCNA news agency yesterday. While he remains popular percent in the post-war era, vot- wounds at a US-owned among ethnic majority Sinhalese ers say ruling party cronies have Freeport-McMoRan cop- China minister sacked amid graft probe voters, Rajapaksa is detested by been the only ones to benefit. per and gold mine in east- members of the biggest minority He has also been accused of ern Indonesia, local police BEIJING: An assistant foreign minister has been dismissed and after overseeing the crushing of a growing authoritarianism, with said yesterday. One secu- placed under investigation, Beijing said yesterday, amid a much- 37-year Tamil rebellion. critics pointing to his sacking last rity employee and two police publicised anti-corruption campaign. The main Tamil party has year of the chief justice as proof of officers were on patrol Zhang Kunsheng, one of four officials with the title, was “suspected endorsed Rajapaksa’s main rival his anti-democratic credentials. at the Grasberg complex of violating discipline”, the foreign ministry said on its website, using Maithripala Sirisena in the Sri Lankan President Mahinda Local and international rights in Papua province before a phrase often employed as a euphemism for corruption. It was not January 8 election but the incum- Rajapaksa addressing an election groups have accused government they were found dead. Pro- clear who was conducting the investigation or what Zhang was alleged bent told voters in the northern rally in Jaffna yesterday. forces of killing up to 40,000 independence militants have to have done. Jaffna region that he was com- Tamil civilians while defeating the waged an insurgency against Zhang previously made headlines for giving a US diplomat a pub- mitted to improving their liveli- supplies,” he said, in a region that Tamil Tigers in the bloody finale Indonesian rule in Papua. lic dressing-down in 2012 over Washington’s criticism of a Chinese hoods, pointing to improvements was devastated by the separatist to a conflict that claimed more military garrison in the South China Sea. “We urge the US side to in infrastructure. conflict. Rajapaksa had been due than 100,000 lives. Japan urged to correct its mistaken ways, respect China’s sovereignty and territorial “This is my 11th visit to Jaffna to inaugurate the latest stretch of Rajapaksa has insisted that no integrity,” Zhang told the US embassy’s then-deputy chief of mission as president,” Rajapaksa, who has a reopened rail link from capital civilians were killed and refused to respect facts Robert Wang. The website showed that Zhang’s role as head of the been in power for nearly a dec- Colombo to Jaffna but cancelled cooperate with a UN-sanctioned protocol department which oversees diplomatic ceremonies, has been ade, told a rally. “The devil you his plans at the last minute, leav- international investigation into BEIJING: Japan should rec- temporarily taken up by ministry spokesman Qin Gang. know is better than the unknown ing his transport minister to do allegations of war crimes. ognise history and respect angel,” he said in Sinhala, speak- the honours. He arrived in Jaffna, 400km facts concerning the disputed S Korea urges North to resume talks ing through a translator. “I am He said Sirisena had shown lit- north of Colombo, a day after Diaoyu Islands, Foreign the known devil, so please vote tle interest in the region, adding the main opposition accused him Ministry Spokeswoman SEOUL: South Korea pressed North Korea yesterday to resume for me.” he had been “an infrequent visi- of using the military to prevent Hua Chunying said. Records talks, saying it is leaving the door open to any type of dialogue. The 69-year-old, who is South tor” to Jaffna which is the capital Tamils from voting. declassified by British Seoul’s Unification Ministry said it is important for Pyongyang to Asia’s longest-serving leader after of the Tamil-majority region. The largest Tamil party which National Archives show that return to the negotiating table following leader Kim Jong-un’s New coming to power in 2005, listed Tamils account for around 13 controls the highest level of local China and Japan had agreed Year’s Day pledge to make every effort to improve ties, Yonhap news infrastructure completed since percent of the 15 million entitled government in Jaffna, the Tamil to “maintain the status quo” agency reported. the end of the Tamil separatist to cast ballots and their choice of National Alliance, endorsed on the islands, she said, add- “The North will have to engage in dialogue without attaching pre- conflict in 2009. candidate could be crucial to the Sirisena after accusing Rajapaksa ing both had reached consen- conditions if it has a genuine will for the improvement of ties,” ministry “We gave you electricity, we outcome of what is shaping up to of failing to ensure ethnic rec- sus on handling the disputes spokesman Lim Byeong-cheol told a press briefing. gave you new schools and now be a tight contest. onciliation after crushing Tamil decades ago. AGENCIES AGENCIES we want to give you proper water Rajapaksa had been the clear separatists. AFP

China seeks answers after stampede SHANGHAI/BEIJING: news agency wrote. Xinhua noted condition. Chinese state media and the that the crush happened not far The waterfront has become public criticised the govern- from a much trumpeted new free a New Year countdown site in ment and police yesterday for trade zone described as the “pride recent years after authorities failing to prevent a New Year’s of the country”. “The disaster brought in performances such Eve stampede in Shanghai that served as a wake-up call that the as 3D light shows and fireworks. killed 36 people and dented the world’s second-largest economy is Celebrations in 2013 drew more city’s image as modern China’s still a developing country which than 300,000 revellers. global financial hub. has fragile social management,” Police have given few answers, Apart from Hong Kong run as it said in an English-language saying an investigation is going on. a separate territory, Shanghai is commentary. They did not allow foreign media China’s most international and Shanghai people echoed those into a briefing, underscoring con- cosmopolitan city with ambitions complaints. “There was not cern about negative coverage. to become a world financial centre enough policing and planning. It They have dismissed reports by 2020. is sad to see a stampede in a big that a rush to pick up coupons The official Xinhua news city like Shanghai,” said resident thrown from a restaurant over- agency said the government Tang Lifeng, 38. looking the Bund was the cause, could not shake responsibil- The site of the stampede was with focus shifting to overcrowd- ity for what happened. It asked cordoned off yesterday, with ing on a raised viewing area. why there were apparently so grieving relatives holding a can- “I thought that stampedes like few police on duty for the tens of dlelight memorial. Most victims this could only happen to Indians thousands thronging Shanghai’s were students in their 20s. on pilgrimages,” Cheng Daolin, a A woman lights a candle during a memorial ceremony for those killed in the stampede on the Bund in Shanghai, waterfront, known as the Bund. Officials said one Taiwanese manager at a Chinese engineering yesterday. “It was a lack of vigilance from was among the dead. Of the company, wrote on Weibo, China’s the government, a sloppiness,” the 47 injured, 13 were in critical answer to Twitter. REUTERS SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Homage to AirAsia victims Army forms Officials blame exclusive department soldiers for for legal battles

ISLAMABAD: While the con- troversy over the establishment firing at wedding of military courts continues, the army has already strength- ened its legal department and created a new post of Director Troops referred to Afghan military court General Law-fare Directorate, which will be held by a Major KANDAHAR: Afghan soldiers had earlier reported the mor- General. were responsible for firing mor- tars killed at least 20 guests, but In this regard, the military tars at a wedding party that Rasoulyar said the toll had been authorities have also started col- killed 17 women and children, revised down. lecting information on military officials said yesterday, in a mis- “Eyewitnesses told the delega- officers holding a graduate degree taken strike that overshadowed tion that militants had earlier in law. the transfer of nationwide secu- attacked a security checkpoint in These efforts at strengthening rity from Nato forces. the area,” Helmand police spokes- the legal department are three The deaths on Wednesday man Farid Obaid said. months old. And by now, Major evening in the southern prov- “Then the Afghan army troops General Mohammad Irshad has ince of Helmand came on the attacked with mortar rounds that been assigned the position of DG eve of a ceremony in Kabul when landed on the wedding ceremony.” LD and that he assumed charge President Ashraf Ghani congratu- The UN mission condemned on December 28. lated the Afghan army and police the attack, in which it said a house Members of the Lawyers Strategic Council of Pakistan hold up a banner and lit candles during a vigil for the By the second week of for taking over from Nato forces “was hit by at least one of three victims of AirAsia Flight crash in Lahore yesterday. September, the military authori- who have ended their combat mortars fired from an Afghan ties had held an “in house discus- mission. National Army check-post”. sion” on “legal challenges faced by “The troops fired mortar President Ghani expressed Pak Army and the way forward”. rounds on a wedding ceremony his condolences for the “tragic In this discussion, it was decided after the militants in the same incident”, and said investigators Differences on anti-terror fight persists to upgrade the military’s law area attacked an army check- would discover how the deaths directorate. point,” Mohammad Jan Rasoulyar, had occurred. Till recently, the legal directo- deputy governor of Helmand, said. The defence ministry said it ISLAMABAD: No doubt, the the long run. Still others rejected National Action Plan against ter- rate of the army was headed by a “Those Afghan army troops was awaiting the delegation’s offi- brutal massacre of schoolchil- the idea outright, but in whispers. rorism,” a top PTI leader argued. Judge Advocate General (JAG), a accused of firing the mortar cial report. dren in Peshawar united our Eventually, the massive tragedy After agitating at D-Chowk and brigadier rank officer, who over- rounds have been referred to a The Taliban had issued a state- disparate political parties in weighed on the core committee and staging rallies all over the country sees all the military-related litiga- military court.” ment on Thursday saying the demanding and agreeing to a it decided to wrap up the protest. sitting quiet isn’t an option for the tion within the army and in the Four soldiers, including one Afghan army was responsible. decisive action against the ter- That decision, perhaps, helped party, he said, claiming “now the civilian courts. commander, were arrested and The insurgent group has rorists. But did they also bury the prime minister assure the PTI pressure is on the government”. Sources said the September taken to the provincial capital claimed the end of Nato’s com- their hatchets to battle the ter- leadership twice - at the Peshawar By reneging on his commit- meeting was chaired by Chief Lashkar Gah. bat mission marks the defeat of rorists united? It seems not. APC and the subsequent one held ment to the PTI that a judicial of Army Staff (COAS) General Officials said that a delegation US-led forces, which have been After the All-Parties Conference in Islamabad on December 24 - commission determines electoral Raheel Sharif and attended sent to restive Sangin district fighting since 2001, adding that (APC) held in Peshawar, that that he would address their con- fraud, Nawaz Sharif would only by others such as the Chief of in Helmand, where the incident no peace talks could happen Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cerns regarding the setting up be strengthening the view that General Staff, Director General took place, had been told that at before all foreign troops leave the had called for the day after the of an independent judicial com- the PML-N leadership was never Military Intelligence, JAG, and least two rockets were fired at the country. tragedy, Imran Khan, summoned mission to probe results of 2013 interested in “a fair investiga- Director Military Intelligence. wedding ceremony from different About 17,000 foreign soldiers, a meeting of the core committee of general elections. tion”, said the PTI leader who has In this meeting, the COAS army outposts. most of them from the US, will his Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) A majority in the PTI thought that good contacts with Imran Khan. “formally approved creation of Some witnesses said the army still be deployed in Afghanistan and told it that he wanted to call with the military leadership directly His colleague, holding a sen- new Law-fare Directorate (LD) attack was triggered when wed- this year. off the party’s protest, going on in involved in the APCs, it would not be ior position in the party, sounded under a Director General (DG), ding guests shot celebratory gun- The United Nations said civil- Islamabad for 126 days. easy for the PML-N government to threatening when he said that “if an officer of the rank of Major fire into the air as the bride was ian casualties hit a new high in Sources in the PTI say Khan’s go back on the assurances. the military leadership wants us to General.” In addition, the meet- brought to the groom’s house. Afghanistan last year with about suggestion puzzled the committee “I still believe that the govern- remain peaceful, they have to ask ing approved that “a suitable DG A room where female guests 10,000 non-combatants killed or members. Some hailed it as “states- ment has no option but to listen to the PML-N leaders to listen to us, be attached forthwith to oversee had gathered was hit, with 17 wounded — 75 percent of them man-like thinking” while others us. Our return to street politics is and we aren’t asking something and evaluate the prospects of sug- women and children killed and 49 by the Taliban. doubted ending the record sit-in the last thing the military leader- in violation of the Constitution.” gested LD in 2-3 months.” other people wounded. Officials AFP will serve the party’s interests in ship would want in the way of its AFP INTERNEWS

Healthcare system in Majority of Pakistanis trust performance of armed forces ISLAMABAD: According to 40 percent respondents said they said they trust the performance performance of the National concerned, 76 percent Pakistanis Islamabad a Gilani Research Foundation trust its performance too much, of the army too much, 40 percent Assembly have fallen and said that they trust newspapers; Survey carried out by Gallup 38 percent said they trust its per- said they trust it to an extent, 12 remained consistently low. In 24 percent do not trust them. A Pakistan, 78 percent Pakistanis formance to an extent, 10 percent percent said they trust it less, 2009, seven percent respondents nationally representative sample deteriorates trust the performance of the trust it less, while seven percent while eight percent did not trust said they trust the performance of of adult men and women, from Armed Forces, whereas, 39 have no trust at all and five per- it at all and five percent did not the National too much, 32 percent across the four provinces was ISLAMABAD: The state of percent Pakistanis trust the cent did not respond. respond. Pakistani public’s trust trusted it to an extent, 35 percent asked: “We want to ask you about affairs of Pakistan’s healthcare performance of the National This question was also asked in the performance of the armed trusted it less, while 18 percent how much you trust the following system can be gauged from the Assembly. in previous years. In 2008, trust forces has risen again since 2011. did not trust it all and eight per- institutions?” Regarding newspa- fact that the capital’s health- According to a survey con- in the performance of the Armed Contrary to that, 39 percent cent did not respond. pers, 27 percent respondents said care system regressed last year, ducted by Gallup Pakistan in 2013, Forces was lower than in the years expressed trust in the perform- The report says that Pakistani they trust them very much, 49 instead of improving. Corridors 78 percent Pakistanis said they that followed. In 2008, 26 percent ance of the National Assembly public’s trust in the perform- percent said they somewhat trust of the out-patient departments trusted the performance of the respondents said they trust the whereas 57 39 percent Pakistanis ance of the National Assembly newspapers, 19 percent trust them (OPDs) and emergency wards Armed Forces; 17 per cent said performance of the army too said they distrust it. This question remained around this level very little, while five percent have of the two public hospitals of they did not trust it. much, 44 percent said they trust it was also asked in previous years. through 2010 and 2011, before no trust in newspapers at all. the city remained clogged with A nationally representative to an extent, 20 percent said they In 2008, 20 percent respond- rising slightly in 2012. In 2012, This question was also asked patients waiting in long queues sample of adult men and women, trust it less, while seven percent ents said they trust the perform- 13 percent respondents said they in previous years. In 1994, 11 per having no other place to go for from across the four provinces did not trust it at all and three ance of the National too much, trust the performance of the cent respondents said they trust medical treatment. was asked, “I will take names percent did not respond. 47 per trusted it to an extent, 22 National too much, 30 percent newspapers very much, 26 per cent The establishment of District of some organisations; kindly Trust ratings rose steadily percent trusted it less, while only trusted it to an extent, 19 percent trusted them somewhat, 24 per- Headquarters Hospital in Tarlai tell how much trust you have on after 2008 and remained high six percent did not trust it all and trusted it less, while 32 percent cent trusted them very little, while and the extension of Polyclinic the performance of the following through 2009 and 2010, before five percent did not respond. did not trust it all and six percent 18 percent did not trust them at hospital to share patient load organizations?” Regarding the falling slightly in 2011. The survey shows that since did not respond. all and 21 percent did not reply. remained a distant dream despite performance of Armed Forces, In 2011, 35 percent respondents 2008, trust ratings for the As far as trust on media is INTERNEWS repeatedly being discussed at high-level meetings. “A 19 per cent surge was wit- nessed in the number of patients Ditch to ward off terrorists in 2014 as compared to 2013,” said Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Law to ensure efficient Medical University (Pims) Vice- Chancellor Prof Javed Akram. He added that on an average, the patient load increased from use of foreign grants 5,500 in 2013 to 7,000 in 2014 per day both at the OPDs and emer- ISLAMABAD: A bill might be inefficiency of bureaucracy and gency wards of the hospital. tabled in Pakistan parliament asked Establishment Secretary “Out of the total, the majority to ensure efficient use of for- Nadeem Hassan Asif and Sethi were trauma patients who were eign grants, a sub-committee of to identify the officials responsible victims of various kinds of men- the Public Accounts Committee for the lapse so that action could tal illnesses - including from the said yesterday. be initiated against them. months-long sit-in, the Peshawar Secretary of the Economic Sethi told the meeting that to school massacre and others,” he said. Affairs Division Mohammad avoid such problems in future, the Meanwhile, 135,000 patients were Saleem Sethi told the PAC’s sub- proposed law would make it man- treated at the department for gas- committee on monitoring and datory that the executing agency troenteritis, 6,000 new patients of implementation during scrutiny must be competent to utilise the hepatitis C were registered, he said. of grants worth $568m which grant properly. According to Dr Asadullah remained undisbursed during 2000- Audit officials also informed the Nemati, a senior physician at 2008 that the ‘Foreign Assistance sub-committee that $153.7m of Pims, the capital has witnessed a Policy Frame work’ was ready to be Pakistan was outstanding against 25 per cent increase in the number introduced in parliament soon. least developed countries, includ- of respiratory tract infections with The audit authorities had pointed ing Sudan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, a 10 per cent rise in pneumonia out that at least “85 per cent of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, which cases mainly due to the prolonged grants had been lost from January they had utilised as export credit. dry spell and air pollution due to 2006 to June 30, 2008 (because) Export credit is a facility of trade the on-going construction work. government agencies failed to com- financing available to domestic An official at the Ministry of ply with counterpart requirements companies for their international Interior said the government is articulated in their commitments”. activities. Sethi said the countries, short of funds to establish the Mian Abdul Manan, a mem- which availed the facility, were now DHQ hospital and is seeking for- The Paramilitary Frontier Corps has dug a 480km long ditch along the border with Afghanistan in order to ber of the sub-committee, said seeking ‘waiving off’ the amount eign assistance in this regard. prevent infiltration of suspected militants, in Chaman. it was a crime that 85 percent outstanding against them. INTERNEWS of grants had lapsed because of INTERNEWS SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Govt to ensure safety Minister meets US official of northeast people Budget allocation for northeast will be increased

NEW DELHI: The central gov- adding that the law and justice central government for the devel- ernment has accepted the rec- ministry has also agreed to the opment of the northeast region ommendations of a committee proposal in this regard. and and its usage was the prime that has suggested immediate “As part of legal assistance, a content of the meeting. Singh measures to ensure the safety panel of seven lawyers, including assured that the budget for the of people from India’s northeast five women lawyers, has been con- region’s development will be in Delhi and other major cities. stituted by the Delhi State Legal increased, if required special focus “The government (has) Service Authority for providing will be given to it,” NEC member accepted the recommendations of legal assistance to the needy peo- M P Bezbaruah said over phone the M P Bezbaruah Committee ple from the northeast,” he said. from Shillong. with regard to immediate meas- Rajnath Singh said the Delhi Bezbaruah headed the ures,” union Home Minister government would also provide Bezbaruah Committee formed by Rajnath Singh told the media monetary assistance to the vic- the erstwhile central government said. The recommendations were tims of any violence in the city. to suggest immediate measures submitted to the union home “The Delhi government will to ensure safety of people from ministry on July 1. also be providing compensation India’s northeast living in Delhi Eight states — Arunachal and monetary assistance to the and other major cities. Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, northeast people under Delhi Bezbaruah said during the Finance Minister Arun Jaitley speaks with United States Congress (House of Representatives) member Tulsi Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Victim Compensation Scheme meeting most of the chief min- Gabbard during a meeting in New Delhi yesterday. Tripura and Sikkim — constitute 2011.” isters raised the issue of the the northeast region. “Recommendations made by “mismatch” between the funds “The government is committed the committee regarding special allocated in the budget and the (to the) safety and security of the police initiatives and additional amount which states actually Heavy firing people from the northeast region steps to be taken by the vari- receive. States asked to act living in Delhi and other metro- ous state police forces and Delhi “It was decided that the issues politan cities,” he said. Police have been accepted for like communications, road con- exchange in The committee headed by M immediate implementation,” the struction, skill development and to save girl child P Bezbaruah, a member of the minister said. capacity building will be the area Kashmir North Eastern Council, was set Meanwhile, the union min- of prime focus,” he said. up in February 2014 after 19-year- ister for Development of North The minister also directed the NEW DELHI: Women and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques JAMMU: Indian and Pakistani old Nido Tania, a student from Eastern Region (DoNER) NEC to submit reports every Child Development Minister Act.The minister also laid empha- border guards exchanged heavy Arunachal Pradesh, died here Jitendra Singh assured chief min- month on the development work Maneka Gandhi yesterday sis on the key actionable points fire last evening on the inter- after he was attacked. isters of the northeastern states being carried in the region. urged state governments to take mainly focusing on ensuring early national border in Jammu and The panel was formed to look that the central government will “The meeting was of great “urgent action” to save girl child. registration of pregnancies, insti- Kashmir’s Samba district, into the concerns of the people increase the budget allocation importance as the members of the During a video conferencing tutional deliveries, registration of police said. of the northeast living in other for overall development of the NEC had met after a long gap, with officials for state-wise con- birth, training and sensitisation of “Pakistan Rangers started parts of the country and suggest region, a member of the North which hinders the planning proc- sultation process on ‘Beti Bachao front line workers. unprovoked firing at four BSF suitable remedial measures. East Council (NEC) said. ess of development in the region.” Beti Padhao’ scheme, she directed Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Border Security Force) out- The minister said the Indian The minister met gover- Bezbaruah also said to make them to take urgent action and will launch the scheme Jan 22 in posts on the international border Penal Code (IPC) will also be nors and chief ministers of the the development planning of the submit a district action plan to Haryana’s Panipat, statement in Ramgarh sector of Samba dis- amended as suggested by the eight northeastern states in norteast region effective, minis- her. added. A workshop-cum-Seminar trict around 9.30 p.m. after which committee. Meghalaya’s capital Shillong for a ter Jitendra Singh urged all the According to an official state- will also be held for brainstorm- BSF retaliated effectively at all “The IPC will be amended for brainstorming session on a road- members of the NEC to meet ment, the minister emphasised on ing on several important issues these places,” a senior police offi- insertion of new sections of 153C map for the development of the every month and send the reports a comprehensive strategy to focus related to women and child devel- cial here said. and 509A as recommended by the region. to the DoNER ministry. on strict implementation and opment Jan 20-21 in Panipat. “Heavy firing exchanges were committee,” Rajnath Singh said, “The budget allocation by the IANS monitoring of Pre-Conception and IANS going on between the two sides when last reports came in,” he added. On Wednesday, a BSF trooper was killed and another injured in Pakistan firing in the same area. Two Pakistan troop- Delhi’s crime rate ers were also killed in retaliatory firing by the BSF. soars 99pc in 2014 700,000 migratory

NEW DELHI: Delhi wit- the fourth by Haryana. birds arrive in nessed an alarming increase of At least 6,180 cases of robbery 99.22 percent in crime in 2014 were reported in 2014, up from Chilika Lake over the previous year, but 1,106 in 2013. the police chief said this was The number of snatching and BHUBANESWAR: At least because his force was now reg- dacoity cases was 6,944 and 78 seven lakh migratory birds istering every case. respectively in 2014, up from have arrived at Odisha’s Chilika There were 147,230 registered 3,316 and 31 in 2013. Lake, India’s largest brackish incidents of crime last year, As many as 55,187 people were water lagoon, since October for including a 18.3 percent rise in arrested for dacoity, robbery, their winter sojourn, an official attacks on women. The total crime snatching, burglary and vehicle said yesterday. incidents stood at 73,702 in 2013. theft as against 46,714 in 2013. Highest concentration of birds To add to the scenario, only 29.5 Murders rose from from 486 in were seen at Nalabana island and percent of the cases were solved. 2013 to 561 in 2014. There were Mangalajodi, a wet land inside the Delhi Police Commissioner 2,069 cases of crime related to lake, Divisional Forest Officer, B S Bassi said that all types of women, up from 1,571 in 2013. A Chilka, B R Das said. The 1,000 sq crimes shot up: murder, rape, total of 4,179 cases of molestation km lake, about 100 km from here, molestation, kidnapping, robbery, took place in 2014 (3,345 in 2013). is spread over Puri, Khordha and snatching, dacoity and burglary. Kidnapping for ransom inched Ganjam districts along the east- The only dip was in fatal acci- up to at 37 from 28 in 2013. ern coast and is home to some dents on roads: 1,595 in 2014, the There were 12,276 house thefts, of the largest congregations of The wife of Uber taxi driver and accused rapist Shiv Kumar Yadav, is comforted as she collapses outside a lowest in five years. a shocking rise of 327 percent migratory birds in the country. “Our men sincerely investi- from the 2,870 cases filed in 2013. court in New Delhi yesterday, where her husband was making an appearance. Every year, about a million gated every case and tried to A total of 22,223 vehicles migratory birds from places as solve it at the earliest,” Bassi said were stolen in 2014, compared to join hands with us so that every place in the past two years but 13 Himmat were launched in 2014. far as Siberia, Iran, Iraq and at the Delhi Police chief’s annual 13,895 in 2013. Delhi witnessed a woman in Delhi gets trained in terrorists, including seven from “(These) were launched to Afghanistan come to the lake in press conference. 18.3 percent rise in crime against self defence. I want every woman Indian Mujahideen and three make the police more friendly October and return in March. With a population of about 17 women in 2014, with a whooping to have a brown belt in judo,” from Lashkar-e-Taiba, were with people,” said Bassi. He Last year, the birds had arrived million, Delhi -- which is dou- 31.6 percent rise in rape cases he said. Bassi said 87 criminals arrested in 2014. also said more apps will be in November, one month delay due ble the size of Singapore -- has which stood at 2,096. Bassi said carrying rewards on their heads Mobile and computer-based launched to help people avoid to the effect of cyclone ‘Phailin’ a 80,000-strong police force to every woman in Delhi must be were arrested and 23 major technologies like lost report going to police stations for small that hit the coast of the state on cater to a city ringed on three trained in self-defence. gangs busted in 2014. app, traffic police mobile app, complaints. October 12. IANS sides by Uttar Pradesh and on “We appeal to everyone to He said no terror attack took police clearance certificate and IANS Bollywood fans fall in love with PK despite protests

MUMBAI: If aliens were to to snub PK’s vociferous and occa- uses to attract audiences – song, few and forcing some to cancel with her Muslim boyfriend by Khan’s defence: “We respect all land in India today they would sionally violent critics, the movie dance, romance, melodrama, com- screenings. Complaints have also the film’s lead. At a time when religions.” Even Bollywood actors be greeted by a bewildering will become the biggest money- edy, incredible plot twists. The been filed with the police and in militant Hindu groups are con- have tweeted support. “Is PK spectacle — while hordes of film spinner in Bollywood box office rollicking satire also packs a mes- courts demanding a ban on the ducting a high-decibel campaign not an amazzziiiiing film?” said buffs gather outside cinemas to history, overtaking 2013’s Dhoom sage, something typical of films by film and the arrest of its director against Indian Muslim men mar- Salman Khan. Pooja Bedi tweeted: see the latest Bollywood block- 3 (£54.7m). director Rajkumar Hirani, who and star. rying Hindu women (a practice The hullabaloo appears to have buster, an angry mob waves saf- Aamir Khan, one of Bollywood’s first had international success The influential yoga guru Baba labelled “Love Jihad”), this is sowed confusion in the BJP camp. fron-coloured flags and calls for biggest stars, plays PK’s epony- with 3 Idiots, also starring Khan. Ramdev has even asked for a not a denouement that gets the In Mumbai, after a junior min- the arrest of the movie’s hero for mous lead, an alien who gets left Bollywood films have success- social boycott of everyone associ- approval of the religious right. ister announced a police inquiry allegedly defaming Hinduism. behind by his spaceship in the fully lampooned godmen before, ated with the film. “People think It does not help that Khan is an into PK, the BJP chief minister of PK, a hugely successful yet con- Rajasthan desert and stumbles most recently in Oh My God! a hundred times while talking Indian Muslim of Pashtun lineage. Maharashtra state ruled out any troversial film, is turning out to on to the hypocrisy and deceit in But PK hit the screens after against Islam,” he said. “However, So the hidden hand of Pakistan’s action against the film. And even be the strangest phenomenon to organised religion. PK then sets the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya when it comes to Hinduism any military intelligence agency ISI as angry Hindus smashed cinema emerge from a Bollywood studio. about exposing a Hindu “god- Janata party (BJP) came to power one gets up and says anything, has also been sighted. “Who foyers, BJP veteran leader Lal Even as Hindu leaders call for a man”, a term for a particularly last year on the wings of a strong this is shameful.” financed the PK film? According Krishna Advani hailed PK as “a ban on the film, it has grossed charismatic guru who may claim popular mandate for its leader, PK (the title is a play on the to my sources it is traceable to wonderful and courageous film”. more than 4.82bn rupees (£49.1m) to have paranormal powers. The Narendra Modi. Hindi word for being drunk) also Dubai and ISI. DRI [India’s rev- But the one person whose opin- worldwide in its first two weeks, extraterrestrial social crusader As a result, newly empow- has an elaborate side story that enue intelligence agency] must ion the public are usually keen to making it the second most suc- resembles Mad magazine’s jug- ered radical Hindu organisations has further upset Hindu nation- investigate,” tweeted BJP leader hear has remained silent. Though cessful Bollywood film of all time. eared mascot Alfred E Neuman, affiliated to the BJP pounced on alists — the heroine falls in love Subramaniam Swamy. Modi loves to hold forth on social As it began its third week in and often behaves like Mr Bean. PK after its release. Nationwide with a Pakistani, is heartbroken Indians, however, appear to and cultural issues, he has not cinemas on Friday, there was lit- PK contains all the ingredients protests are being organised out- when she thinks he has ditched have fallen in love with the film, uttered a word yet on the PK tle doubt that if film fans continue that a big-budget Bollywood film side cinemas, even vandalising a her, but is eventually reunited despite the protests, accepting drama. GUARDIAN NEWS SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Pakistani boat explodes after India navy chase Two more Pakistani boats located near Gujarat: Sources

NEW DELHI: A suspicious boundary, 365km from Porbandar When the boat exploded and Pakistani fishing boat exploded in Gujarat, shortly before the sank, an Indian Dornier was in into a ball of fire off the Gujarat onset of New Year. the air. Nautiyal called the inci- coast and sank after it was A Coast Guard ship warned dent the outcome of “good coor- intercepted by the Coast Guard, the boat to stop for investigation dination between the intelligence the government said yesterday. but it increased speed and tried and forces”. The dramatic incident took to get away. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard place on the night of December “A hot pursuit continued for has intercepted two more suspi- 31-January 1, and the Coast nearly one hour, and the Coast cious boats near Porbandar, two Guard’s Deputy Director General Guard ship managed to stop the days after four men blew their K R Nautiyal said he suspected fishing boat after firing warning boat after being cornered by “something serious”. shots,” the statement said. Indian ships, 365km away from He told the media that the “Four persons were seen on the the coast. According to reports, boat first tried to get away after a boat who disregarded all warnings two ships have been dispatched to Coast Guard ship asked it to halt by the Coast Guard ship to stop nail the suspicious boats. for a check of its crew and goods. and cooperate with investigation.” Intelligence agency NTRO After six hours, it switched off its The suspicious crew then hid intercepted suspicious radio com- lights early Thursday just inside themselves below the deck and set munication between the two boats, the Indian waters. the vessel on fire, resulting in an after which the Coast Guard sent The crew members, four of explosion and a major fire. the ships for the search operation, whom were spotted, then went “Due to darkness, bad weather reports said. to the deck below. It then blew and strong winds, the boat and This comes two days after a up, indicating it may have been persons on board could not be fishing boat, allegedly hailing from carrying explosives. saved or recovered. The boat Pakistan, blew itself up off the A defence ministry statement burnt and sank in the same posi- Gujarat coast on the night. The said the Pakistani boat, which tion in early hours of January 1,” vessel was reportedly intercepted had set off from near Karachi, the statement said. and chased by Indian Coast Guard Pakistan’s southern port city, The Coast Guard’s Nautiyal off the Porbandar coast in Gujarat was planning “some illicit trans- said the boat sank at 6.33 am According to military officials, action”. Its destination was after being cornered in the sea. vigil has been increased along unknown. The Coast Guard and “There must be something seri- India’s maritime boundaries for the navy got into the act following ous,” he said. “Otherwise there the last two months due to several A burning vessel off the coast of Gujarat in the Arabian Sea. The crew of a Pakistani fishing boat blew up and sank an intelligence tip about a suspi- was no reason to try to escape... inputs on possible threats from their vessel after trying to evade capture at the hands of the Indian navy in a high-speed chase at sea, officials said. cious Pakistani boast. or to switch off the lights.” the sea. The Indian Navy chief has The boat was spotted by a He said the Coast Guard will last month warned of increased Coast Guard for intercepting a Parrikar “complimented the the coast of Gujarat, in a timely Dornier aircraft and intercepted connect the dots when the Coast threats from the sea. suspicious Pakistani fishing boat Indian Coast Guard and those and precise manner, thereby, by Coast Guard ships near Guard ship which cornered the Defence Minister Manohar apparently loaded with explosives. involved in the operation for averting a possible danger”. the India-Pakistan maritime suspicious boat returns to base. Parrikar complimented the Indian An official statement said intercepting the rogue vessel off IANS

Minister’s custody Police had information about Bodo attacks GUWAHATI: Authorities in information about the killings. Singh said: “There was no living in 118 relief camps set up may try to carry out the sub- Assam had information that We also received inputs from the approval of the faction’s chair- in the four districts. versive activities in Golaghat, extended Bodo militants would go on central intelligence agency about man I.K. Songbijit for the kill- The police officer said the situ- Dibrugarh, Sivsagar, Tinsukia and KOLKATA: A court here yes- rampage but could not mobi- the killings. However, there was ings in Kokrajhar, Chirang and ation is turning normal in four Goalpara districts. terday again rejected the bail lise forces due to lack of time, no time for mobilisation of forces Sonitpur districts. It was B Bidai districts and that the state gov- Meanwhile, Commissioner and plea of West Bengal Transport a senior police officer said here to all the places which were who ordered the killings.” ernment has been setting up fixed Secretary (Home and Political) Minister Madan Mitra, who yesterday. located in remote areas,” Singh Bodo militants launched attacks and mobile police pickets in the Pratik Hajela said the people have was arrested in the Saradha Inspector General of Police said. on December 23 in the three dis- districts to ensure security to the started returning to their homes scam, and extended his judicial (Law and Order) S N Singh also “Police have, however, foiled one tricts of Kokrajhar, Chirang and people. from the relief camps in the four custody till January 16. said the killings of adivasis were of the strike attempts of the mili- Sonitpur, killing 76 people. Besides, he said the anti-talks violence-hit districts. Mitra, a close associate of Chief ordered by B Bidai, the self-styled tants. The militants had plans to The backlash of the violence faction of the United Liberation “About 28,000 people had left Minister Mamata Banerjee, was commander-in-chief of National target six locations. While they soon spread to neighbouring Front of Asom (ULFA) has plans the relief camps in last 24 hours presented before the court of Democratic Front of Bodoland’s could attack people in five loca- Udalguri district and many houses to carry out subversive activities (since Thursday). Now we have Judicial Magistrate M K Roy on (NDFB) faction opposed to peace tions in the three districts, we belonging to Bodos and adivasis across the state ahead of the 2,08,000 inmates in 118 relief the expiry of his earlier judicial talks. foiled one of their attempts in were burnt. Republic Day celebrations. camps,” Hajela said. remand. After hearing both the “We had received prior Kokrajhar district,” he said. Over 2.3 lakh people are still Singh said the terror group IANS prosecution and the defence, the court extended his custody. Opposing the minister’s bail plea, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) counsel claimed a huge amount was trans- Rehearsal ferred to Mitra’s bank account Rail commuters and he also encouraged investors to put money in Saradha. Denying the allegations, Mitra said he was ready to be hanged if go on rampage these charges were proved. He also claimed he never encouraged investors, but only assured the company of legal help to protest delay if it needed any. “The CBI claims that huge THANE/MUMBAI: ATVMs were ransacked and money has been transferred to my Hundreds of thousands of com- two ticket booking counters account, but I want to say that if it muters were hit hard in Thane vandalised. is proved that even a single penny and Mumbai yesterday after a The chaos resulted in a virtual was so transferred, then the court disruption in suburban train paralysis of the suburban train may hang me. I will be happy to be services in Thane sparked network — the lifeline of Mumbai hanged,” Mitra told the court. widespread violence, officials which ferries over seven mil- “I was a newly-elected MLA said. lion people daily — servicing the (legislator) and unaware of Police used batons to check mob crucial Mumbai-Thane-Raigad NBFCs (non-banking finance violence, while Maharashtra Chief region. companies) or chit funds. My Minister Devendra Fadnavis and After nearly six hours, Central boys told me that there is a com- other ministers appealed to angry Railway started skeletal services pany which is providing money to commuters to keep calm. The afternoon but the working day farmers, so I attended one of their services were partially restored was wasted for several thousands programme and offered them hours later. of stranded office-goers. legal help if they needed any,” Thousands rushing to work in Thane Guardian Minister and he said. The senior Trinamool south Mumbai and other areas Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde Congress leader was arrested were left stranded as the train and Minister of State for Home Dec 12 by the CBI for criminal services were disrupted after an Ranjit Patil rushed to Diva and conspiracy, cheating and deriving overhead pantograph snapped appealed to commuters to remain undue financial benefits in con- Policemen rehearse for the Republic Day parade amid dense fog on a cold winter morning in New Delhi near the Thakurli railway station peaceful. nection with the Saradha Group yesterday. India will celebrate its annual Republic Day on January 26. in Thane around 6.45 a.m. “We are aware of the acute chit fund scam. IANS Many commuters started problems the commuters are fac- impromptu protests by squatting ing on this section... The central on the railway track at the next government has been apprised of station, Diva. Police used batons this and steps are being initiated to clear the tracks, prompt- to mitigate the issues,” Shinder ing violence by commuters who said. “I appeal to commuters Pro-IS Twitter handler sent to judicial custody attacked rail officials and injured to cooperate with the authori- a motorman. Others threw stones ties,” he said. Furious commut- BENGALURU: A special court and a case was registered against supporter of IS through social ITC Ltd here. “We know Mehdi at vehicles parked outside the ers blasted the state and central yesterday sent IS (Islamic him under sections of the Indian media and Twitter handler @ was in touch with one combatant station. Ten coaches of Central governments and the railways State) Twitter handler Mehdi Penal Code (IPC), the Unlawful ShamiWitness where he was in Iraq and was of some help to Railway were damaged. for not seriously attending to the Masroor Biswas to 14-day judi- Activities (Prevention) Act and regularly tweeting from here on him, informing him of movement Additional security forces were complaints of Mumbai commut- cial custody after his 15-day the Information Technology (IT) the group’s unlawful activities in of forces and availability of pas- rushed but the crowds damaged ers who have been at the receiving police custody expired, a top Act for waging war against a Iraq and Syria. sages. He is a highly radicalised around half a dozen private and end for decades. police official said. friendly country. “With the help “Investigation so far has person and has deep knowledge government vehicles. There were “Grandiose schemes are “Our probe team has collected of social media experts, we have revealed that Mehdi is a propa- of what he was doing,” Reddi said. reports of three vehicles being set announced, but where is the sufficient evidence from him so far analysed about 12,000 mes- gandist of IS ideology and has Mehdi confessed to the inves- on fire. The protesters attacked implementation?” asked one irate (Mehdi) on his pro-IS propa- sages Mehdi tweeted/posted on been instrumental in influencing tigation team that he had been stalls and railway property. Also commuter, A R Patil. ganda for the banned terrorist his Facebook account, in which minds against our friendly coun- operating the Twitter account damaged were railway property “Even a minor problem like a outfit during his police custody he encouraged youth to join ISIS tries and against whom the terror after he got interested in the including seven Automatic Ticket broken pantograph can derail the over the last two weeks,” city though it is difficult to establish group is at war,” Reddi said. developments of the Levantine Vending Machines (ATVMs) entire system. How is this possi- Police Commissioner M N Reddi if recruitment took place,” Reddi Mehdi, who hails from Gopalpur region comprising Turkey, Syria, besides three booking counters ble? Why is there no alternative? told reporters here. said. town in West Bengal’s Nadia dis- Lebanon, Israel, Gaza Strip, at Diva and a level crossing gate. People have to suffer regularly The 24-year-old executive in a British News Channel 4 Dec trict, is employed in the foods Egypt and Libya. The protests spread to due to the apathy of the railways.” private firm was arrested Dec 14 11 unmasked Mehdi as a radical division of the Kolkata-based IANS Dombivali station where six IANS SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Oil hits new Rail fares rise in England five-year low on supply glut Output from largest producers rises

NEW YORK: Brent crude Front-month US crude for reversed early gains yesterday February delivery was down 63 to fall to a fresh post-2009 low cents a barrel at $52.64, after below $56 a barrel, as a glut of reaching an intraday high of oil that has halved prices since $55.11 shortly after the start of June overshadowed investor trading. positioning at the start of the Traders said a number of buy year for a possible eventual orders would have been placed recovery. ahead of the start of trading in Brent has slumped to its low- the new year, with some willing to est in more than five years as top bet prices will bounce this year as exporter Saudi Arabia and other expensive oil projects are poten- large Gulf producers continue to tially shuttered or cancelled. pump oil amid fast-growing US Prices faced additional pressure shale oil output, despite pleas on signs that output from some of from other Organisation of the the world’s largest oil producers Petroleum Exporting Countries continues to rise. members to rein in production Iraq, Opec’s second-largest pro- and shore up prices. ducer, said December exports hit Iran’s deputy foreign minister their highest since 1980, averag- on Thursday urged its regional ing 2.94 million barrels per day, rival Saudi Arabia to take action while output in Russia, the largest to support oil prices, saying pro- exporter outside Opec, hit a post- Passengers purchase tickets at King’s Cross station in London yesterday. Rail fares rose yesterday by an average of 2.2 percent in England and Wales. ducer countries across the Middle Soviet record high in 2014. East will be hurt unless the slump In Libya, a senior oil official is reversed. said a major fire in an oil storage But Saudi Arabia has indicated tank at the North African coun- it is prepared to ride out lower try’s largest crude export port US factory sector suffers end-of-year chill prices so it can retain market had been extinguished. share. “With no production cuts The jump in oil prices earlier in the offing and a significant Friday was also capped by surveys WASHINGTON: The US fac- broader strengthening of the US US economy. A gauge of factory sometime in 2015. demand response years away, showing weak factory activity in tory sector grew at its slowest economy. exports fell to 52 in December “It makes sense that manufac- oversupply looks to be with us China and Europe in December, pace in six months in December, “These were readings that in from 55 in the previous month. turing activity should be coming for a while,” said RBN Energy underlining tepid growth that has a sign that weakness in the glo- any ordinary time would be con- At the same time, the weak- off the boil,” said Paul Dales, an analyst Rusty Braziel in a note. slowed oil demand and weighed on bal economy is weighing on the sidered excellent,” Guy Berger, an ness in global demand also has economist with Capital Economics, “$100 a barrel crude oil prices are prices. United States. The Institute for analyst with RBS Securities, said pushed oil prices lower, enabling “But the strength of domestic in the rear view mirror, at least In the United States, bench- Supply Management (ISM) said in a note to clients. Prices for US American consumers to spend demand will ensure that industry for a couple of years.” mark oil prices took some support its index of national factory Treasuries rose and the US dollar more and boost the US economy. and the wider economy still per- Brent crude for February from data on Wednesday show- activity fell to 55.5 last month was up against a basket of cur- The economy went on a tear in form particularly well in 2015.” delivery was down $1.21 at $56.12 ing inventories fell by 1.8 million from 58.7 in November. rencies after the data. US stock the third quarter, when it grew The data suggested that employ- a barrel by 1323 GMT, almost 5 barrels in the last week, but an A reading above 50 indicates indexes also were trading higher. at a five percent annual rate, and ment in the factory sector rose more percent below the day’s high at increase of 2 million barrels at the expansion in the manufacturing Still, the data suggests weak- many economists expect a gen- in December than analysts had $58.54. Prices touched a post-2009 U.S. crude contract’s delivery hub sector, and the reading remains ness abroad and a surge in the erally strong showing in the sec- expected, marking the 18th consecu- low of $55.48, having averaged of Cushing, Oklahoma kept prices well above its two-year aver- value of the dollar, which is near ond half of 2014 will continue into tive month of expansion in manufac- around $110 a barrel between 2011 under pressure. age. That means the slowdown its strongest level since 2005, are this year, leading the US Federal turing employment sentiment. and 2013. REUTERS appears unlikely to derail a inflicting pain on key parts of the Reserve to raise interest rates AFP

Gold rebounds GM to recall 92,000 more vehicles UK recovery lopsided from one-month WASHINGTON: General The latest recall affects some as of December 10, 2014, the low, poised for Motors announced a recall of 83,572 trucks in the United States company did not know of any as manufacturing slips more than 92,000 additional from the 2011-2012 model year, accidents in the named models vehicles over ignition switch as well as vehicles from 2007 to related to the problem. LONDON: Hopes that Britain’s While holding above the 50 weekly decline problems blamed for 42 deaths. 2014 that were repaired with GM said it discovered the issue economic recovery will become threshold for growth, the manu- The largest US automaker has faulty parts. Including vehicles through an internal review fol- less reliant on big-spending con- facturing PMI fell to 52.5 from LONDON: Gold rebounded already recalled millions of cars in Canada and Mexico, the total lowing returns of parts under sumers ebbed further yesterday November’s 53.3, well short of the from a one-month low yester- over the defect, which could switch number of recalls comes to 92,221. warranty. as data showed manufacturing Reuters poll consensus of 53.7. day, as lower equities counter- off a car’s power steering and safety Models affected include the The company has set up an growth weakened at the end of Growth in new factory orders acted the impact of a stronger airbags while it is in motion. It is Chevrolet Silverado, Avalanche, independent compensation fund last year while lending to indi- also dropped to a three-month dollar and falling oil markets, also facing investigations by the Tahoe, and Suburban, as well as for victims of the defect, run by viduals soared. low and export orders stagnated. but still looked set to post its US Congress, regulators and the the Cadillac Escalade and the attorney Kenneth Feinberg, with Sterling hit a 16-month low For the fourth quarter, the PMI third straight weekly loss. Justice Department over why it GMC Sierra and Yukon. plans to pay $1m per fatality plus after the Markit/CIPS UK showed the weakest growth in a Spot gold fell to its lowest since waited more than a decade after Fewer than 500 vehicles are $300,000 to each surviving spouse Manufacturing Purchasing year-and-a-half—boding ill for December 1 at $1,168.25 an ounce first uncovering the ignition-switch expected to have the defect, GM and possible beneficiary. Managers’ Index, a closely- official manufacturing data for after the dollar strengthened, but problem to start recalling cars. said in a statement, adding that, REUTERS watched monthly business sur- the end of 2014. rebounded to $1,191.00 by 1549 vey, hit a three-month low in The BoE credit data showed GMT, up 0.8 percent. December, missing all forecasts consumer lending beat econo- Liquidity was thin in post-hol- in a Reuters poll. mists’ expectations to rise at an iday trading, with Chinese and New Year bow Separate data from the Bank of annualised 8.3 percent in the Japanese markets closed. Prices England showed lending to con- three months to November, a pace were heading for a 0.5 percent sumers surged at its fastest rate last seen in October 2005. weekly decline, the third straight in nearly a decade in the three There were also signs that busi- week of losses. months to November, and business nesses’ reluctance to borrow from US gold futures for delivery lending showed signs of picking up banks eased, particularly among in February rose 0.6 percent to despite a slowing housing market. smaller firms which have his- $1,191.20 an ounce. Taken together, the figures sug- torically found it hardest to get Bullion ended 2014 down nearly gested Britain’s upturn — one of credit. two percent, following a 28 per- the strongest among advanced Net lending to non-financial cent slump the previous year. economies in 2014 — will remain businesses dropped by 149 mil- Anticipated US interest rate biased towards consumption rather lion pounds, the smallest decline hikes and a recovering econ- than other sources of growth such since August, and lending to small omy may strengthen the dollar’s as investment and exports. businesses rose by 286 million - appeal in 2015. Higher rates weigh With a national election due the biggest increase since records on non-interest-bearing bullion, in May in which the economy started in May 2011. while a stronger dollar makes gold will take centre stage, signs of Year-on-year, both types of more expensive for holders of for- weaker manufacturing growth lending are down by around 2 eign currencies. may concern finance minister percent, the smallest declines “We have an overwhelming George Osborne. “This morning’s since records started in 2012. consensus that the dollar is going UK data releases show that the The BoE data also added to to go higher again and the U.S. long hoped-for economic rebal- evidence that Britain’s housing Fed is going to start raising rates ancing story is not playing out as market has cooled off mark- to normalise monetary conditions envisaged,” said James Knightley, edly. The number of mortgages at some point over the next six economist at ING. approved dropped to its low- to nine months,” Natixis analyst “With employment and real house- est since June 2013, though the Nic Brown said. “This means that Store employees bow to greet New Year’s shoppers as they rush into a department store to buy “lucky bags” hold disposable income set to rise size of the decline in November precious metals will remain under containing items worth three times their price tag to celebrate a new year of business in Tokyo yesterday. robustly in 2015 consumer spending was less than economists had pressure.” Lucky bags are sold each year to celebrate the New Year, Japan’s biggest holiday of the year. looks set to become the UK’s main expected. REUTERS growth engine once again.” REUTERS SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 India prepares Afghanistan faces economic time bomb reform plan Disputed presidential election, end to Nato mission hit growth; experts urge mine law reforms for ailing

KABUL: The Taliban insur- economic confidence. while Afghan forces are taking Refat, the head of a company that on foreign aid, but there is a diz- state banks gency may still be raging but Omiad Khan, sitting in his over the fight against the Taliban, produces and exports raisins, figs, zying list of obstacles to exploit- the poor state of the economy family business in the market, their wages still come from over- pistachios and the like. ing the potential, Afghan mineral PUNE: India’s top bankers could pose a bigger threat to said more money was leaving seas support. “Before, we only exported expert Javed Noorani said. have gathered in the western Afghanistan’s long-term viabil- Afghanistan these days, and less The Kabul government is to two countries (India and Afghanistan needs to reform its city of Pune in a one-of-a-kind ity, and huge mineral reserves coming in. expecting income this year of Pakistan) but now we export to law on mines, make the process huddle to discuss long-pending are unlikely to offer a quick fix. “As the withdrawal got nearer, around $1.8bn — less than the around 45 countries,” he said. of bidding for concessions more reforms vital to improving the In Kabul’s Sarayee Shahzada investors in Afghanistan moved value of Afghanistan’s opium Afghan producers are earning transparent, extend the rail net- health of ailing public sector market, moneychangers wave their money abroad — they crop, which feeds the coffers of significant money sending dried work and tackle rampant corrup- banks in Asia’s third-largest thick bundles of Afghanis, dol- transferred it to Dubai, China, the Taliban. fruits to the Gulf, Australia and tion in existing mines. economy. lars, rupees and dirhams, but the Pakistan, India, Turkey,” he said. Without the $8bn a year in Canada, helping create jobs in To do all this and set up a The country’s more than two customers are not packing the A recent survey of more international aid currently guar- a country of 30 million where proper mining sector will take at dozen inefficient state-run banks alleyways like they used to and than 9,000 Afghans by the Asia anteed until at least 2016, the 400,000 young people join the least 10 years, estimated Noorani, have been constrained by a pile business is well down on two years Foundation, a US NGO, found Afghan government is unable to employment market each year. who urged President Ashraf of bad loans and corporate gov- ago. unemployment and a weak econ- pay the salaries of the 350,000 sol- Haider says that boosting Ghani to develop a long-term ernance issues. They also lag After a decade of near double- omy were the biggest concerns, diers and police on the front line exports further needs more vision for the sector. their private sector rivals in digit growth, the Afghan economy beating insecurity and corruption. of battling the Taliban. reliable energy supplies, bet- Before that, the country needs profitability. has stalled in the last two years, Since 2002, America has However, Afghanistan’s Nato ter financing for factories and stability and will have to create For years, political interfer- hit by a disputed presidential pumped more than $104bn into decade has brought huge eco- more promotion of Afghan goods services and opportunities to keep ence and union opposition have election and the end of Nato’s Afghanistan — a figure that, when nomic growth — GDP has risen overseas. its young population, a third of thwarted major reforms. Many combat mission, which formally adjusted for inflation, surpasses from $2.5bn in 2001 to more than One sector which has caught whom live in poverty, away from industry observers remain scep- closed on Sunday. the Marshall Plan that helped $20bn, according to the World investors’ eyes more than the lure of extremism. tical about big changes being Now the tricky political and Europe rise from the ashes of Bank, boosted by transport, con- any other is mining. The US In the moneychangers market, implemented in the near future, security transitions are joined by the Second World War, according struction, telecoms and media. Geological Survey has estimated Haji Mubin Ahmad is blunt in his especially with the economy still an equally tough economic hurdle. to the Special Inspector General Agriculture — not including the value of Afghanistan’s mineral pessimism about the future. recovering from its worst slow- The fact is not lost on the mon- for Afghanistan Reconstruction opium — has also boomed to the deposits, including gold, iron and “Our economy still relies on down since the 1980s. eychangers who deal in “hawala” (SIGAR), a US watchdog. point where dry fruits have sur- copper, at between one and three international aid. Cutting the aid If reformed, however, the coun- transactions, an informal system But the bulk of this money passed carpets in the country’s trillion dollars. is like cutting the oxygen — we try’s mega state lenders offer of transferring funds interna- has gone on combat operations principal exports. This could in theory free the will die,” he said. investors the best exposure to tionally seen as a barometer of rather than reconstruction and That is good news for Haider Afghan government of its reliance AFP any sustained upswing in India’s economy. “When the country is trying to achieve accelerated growth Hyundai staff salute in economic development it is absolutely essential that banking Minister urges reforms are thought about, delib- erated upon and implemented tax reform as also,” Hasmukh Adhia, financial services secretary in the finance Austria jobless ministry, said on Friday. Besides the heads of all public sector banks, the two-day meet- rate jumps ing ending on Saturday will also be attended by Prime Minister VIENNA: Austria’s labour Narendra Modi, Finance Minister minister yesterday urged the Arun Jaitley and Reserve Bank of government to push ahead with India Governor Raghuram Rajan. tax reform to boost growth The issues to be discussed after the unemployment rate in include industry consolidation, December jumped to its highest restructuring of state banks for for at least two and a half years. better efficiency and governance, Rudolf Hundstorfer’s Social as well as asset quality. Democrats want to introduce Instead of “imposing any rec- a tax on the super-rich to help ommendation”, the government finance tax cuts for people on and central bank will be consult- lower incomes but coalition part- ing with all stakeholders in the ner the People’s Party opposes state banking sector, Adhia told such changes. reporters in Pune. Hundstorfer listed the tax State lenders recorded the reform, a housing construction highest level of stressed loans programme and a European at 12.9 percent of their total Union-wide ¤315bn ($380bn) advances in September last year, investment plan as crucial steps while the same ratio for private to fight unemployment. His state- sector banks was at 4.4 percent, ment echoed comments made according to the latest central after previous jumps in the job- bank data. less rate. State banks account for more He told ORF radio he did not than 70 percent of total outstand- expect any improvement in the job ing loans in the sector. market until the second half of the Hyundai Motor Group employees pledge allegiance to the Korean national flag during the company’s New Year ceremony in Seoul yesterday. REUTERS year and no real change of trend Hyundai and affiliate Kia Motors Corp aim to lift global vehicle sales by 2.5 percent in 2015. in unemployment until 2016. Data showed unemployment rose to 10.2 percent in December, compared with 8.7 percent in November and 9.5 percent in Brazil’s Rousseff vows to boost economy, tackle graft December 2013. Under season- ally-adjusted EU definitions, the rate is 5.1 percent, second-lowest BRASILIA: Brazilian guilty of illicit dealings. reliant on the extensive social politicians. was a top priority. “Brazil must in the bloc after Germany. President Dilma Rousseff “We are going to rigorously welfare programs put in place a Petrobras is also facing legal return to the path of growth,” she Austria’s main economic kicked off a second term on investigate everything that has decade ago by her Workers Party action in the United States over stressed, after arriving at the cer- research institutes slashed their Thursday, vowing to tackle cor- happened,” the leftist Rousseff predecessor Luiz Inacio Lula da investor losses emanating from emony in an open-top Rolls Royce. 2014 and 2015 growth forecasts ruption and revamp the econ- said, speaking at the ceremony Silva. The Petrobras scandal and the scandal that has seen the “We’ll do this with the least for the export-dependent econ- omy as her government reels attended by the US and Chinese the ongoing police investigation — firm’s stock plunge, and hit its sacrifice possible for the popula- omy last month as a tepid euro from a series of setbacks. vice presidents as well as 13 dubbed “Operation Car Wash” — creditworthiness and ambitious tion, especially the most needy.” zone recovery and the conflict Brazil’s economy, once boom- heads of state, most from Latin erupted just a few months before investment plans. Growth, forecast to come in barely in Ukraine tensions weigh on ing, has barely grown during America. the election. The scandal — and poor eco- above zero in 2014, has slumped sentiment. Rousseff’s time in office, and “We must investigate and So far suspicion has fallen on 39 nomic performance — sparked badly compared with 2010’s heady The dispute over tax reform her administration is embroiled punish, but without weaken- people, including former Petrobras mass street demonstrations dur- heights of 7.5 percent under Lula. threatens to bring down the coa- in a multimillion-dollar graft ing Petrobras or diminishing its directors and executives from ing Rousseff’s first term. The world’s seventh-biggest econ- lition of social democrats and con- scandal at state-owned oil giant importance,” she added, drawing construction firms, a network Rousseff has also come under omy boomed for a time under Silva, servatives should they not agree Petrobras. warm applause at the ceremony that allegedly laundered around fire for Brazil’s sluggish economic before suffering from a decline in on a package by a self-imposed But the former guerrilla prom- at Brazil’s Congress. $3.8 billion creamed off from growth, and though economists do Chinese-led demand for commodi- March deadline. ised to face the scandal head on, Rousseff won October’s hard- inflated contracts to give kick- not expect a major boost in 2015, ties just as Rousseff took over. REUTERS vowing to punish anyone found fought election thanks to voters backs to mainly pro-government she said reviving the economy AFP India infrastructure growth up India raises solar investment target

NEW DELHI/BANGALORE: Ministry of New and Renewable businesses in India, and together Prime Minister Narendra Modi Energy. with local firms will invest $6bn has ramped up his target for That would raise solar’s share in India for the fiscal year to solar energy as he bets on of India’s total energy mix to more March 31. Tripathy expects new renewables to help meet rising than 10 percent. In Germany, a and existing companies to invest power demand and overcome leader in renewable energy, solar about $14bn annually starting the frequent outages that plague accounted for about six percent next fiscal year through to 2022. Asia’s third largest economy, a of total power generated in 2014. Among First Solar’s top senior official said. India had earlier set an invest- projects are two plants with India gets twice as much sun- ment target of $100bn for the next Kiran Energy Solar Power and shine as many European coun- five years for all types of renewable Mahindra Solar One totalling 50 tries that use solar power. But energy, with wind taking up two- MW in Rajasthan. SunEdison the clean energy source contrib- thirds of the total. In an interview, is working on a 39 MW project utes less than 1 percent to India’s Tripathy said Modi’s new solar in India and hopes to partici- energy mix, while its dependence target was ambitious, “but if you pate in the solar expansion plan, on erratic coal supplies causes do not have a higher goal, you will said regional managing director chronic power cuts that idle not achieve anything”. Pashupathy Gopalan. industry and hurt growth. Canadian Solar and China’s Solar energy in India costs up Modi now wants companies JA solar said they are looking to 50 percent more than power from China, Japan, Germany at making cells or modules — from sources like coal. But the and the United States to lead used in solar panels — in India. government expects the ris- investments of $100bn over seven JinkoSolar Holdings said recent ing efficiency and falling cost of years to boost India’s solar energy announcements have also raised solar panels, cheaper capital and Labourers work during early morning at the construction site of a road in Mumbai yesterday. India’s annual capacity by 33 times to 100,000 their interest. increasing thermal tariffs to close infrastructure output growth accelerated to a five-month high of 6.7 percent in November. megawatts (MW), said Upendra US-based First Solar and the gap within three years. Tripathy, the top official in the SunEdison Inc have sizeable REUTERS SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

Commodity boom blasts For stocks entering new through Amazon forests BY NICK MIROFF year ‘the direction still up’ COMMODITY boom has helped pull millions out of poverty across South America over the past decade. It has also A unleashed a new scramble for oil, minerals and cropland BY JONNELLE MARTE bull run might come to a screeching halt as Yet not all markets have done well. that is accelerating deforestation and fuelling a new wave of land investors worried about political tensions in Sinking oil prices dragged down energy conflicts from Colombia to Chile. HE bull market continues, for now. Hong Kong and Russia, weak retail sales, stocks, making them the worst-perform- Now, as prices for oil and other commodities slide, economists Stocks fell on the last trading day and the slim chance that Ebola could spread ing equity sector in the United States. As and environmental researchers warn that the loss of forest cover of 2014, but the losses were not in the United States. The Dow plunged by the dollar rose against other currencies may be hastened, leading to new clashes as governments in the enough to derail what has been more than 460 points in one day before thanks to a surge of foreign investment region try to maintain growth rates and spending levels by driv- the longest winning streak for recovering much of those losses by the in US government bonds, many commod- ing deeper into the jungle. Tthem since the late 1990s. afternoon. ities, such as gold, silver and platinum, Satellite imagery of the Amazon basin, the world’s largest tropi- The Dow Jones industrial average gained Markets have reached new highs since plunged. cal forest and a critical bulwark against climate change, shows a 7.5 percent in 2014, marking six straight then, buoyed by the sense that the eco- Investors who diversified their portfolios stark divergence in the continent’s preservation efforts. In Brazil, years of gains. Only a slump in afternoon nomic recovery may finally be reaching the by taking a stake in international markets the pace of deforestation has been reduced 75 percent since 2004, trading on Wednesday prevented the Dow average American. Falling oil prices have were burned as those markets underper- largely the result of tighter regulation and new environmental from closing out the year above the much- cut down what drivers spend at the pump, formed amid fears of a global economic protections. watched 18,000 level. The Standard & Poor’s encouraging them to splurge on bigger and slowdown. “Geopolitical headlines certainly But in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia and the other five nations whose 500-stock index gained 11.4 percent for the newer cars and to hit the stores to snap up were big this year,” said Jim Holtzman of territories cover 40 percent of the Amazon basin, the loss of year, making three straight years of gains. holiday gifts. Legend Financial Advisors. vegetation increased threefold in the same period, wiping out a “We’re still really in a bull market,” said The economy added 2.7 million jobs in But none of that had much long-term combined area of forest cover larger than the state of Maryland. David Lafferty, chief market strategist for 2014 through November, putting the coun- impact on US markets, which were a haven Last year, the pace of deforestation in those nations jumped 120 Natixis. try on track to have the strongest annual for foreign investors and were often buoyed percent. With the exception of a few major dips, job growth since the late 1990s. Wages are by reassuring words from the Fed. “Commodity prices, directly or indirectly, have increased defor- markets climbed steadily higher in 2014, — finally — starting to grow, albeit from The Fed is expected to keep scaling estation in the Amazon,” said Kevin Gallagher, a development lifted by news of stronger US economic pretty low levels. And in a sign that people back its role in markets this year. The economist at Boston University who specializes in Latin America’s growth. Even the worsening recession in are feeling more optimistic about the labor shift will be spurred on by good news — trade relations with China. “Price increases create the percep- Europe failed to discourage investors, who market, more workers are quitting their the thinking that the economy is getting tion of scarcity, which pushes investors into new terrain,” he said. also shrugged off the Federal Reserve end- jobs and finding new ones. stable enough that it will no longer require More than 80 million Latin Americans were lifted out of poverty ing its bond buying program — a shift that “What was interesting this year was the as much stimulus from the central bank in the past decade, according to the World Bank, which reports some worried would make investors nervous US economy turning the corner in terms — but markets could get more volatile if that as of 2011, “for the first time in recorded history, the region and lead to increased volatility. of a recovery that would be felt on Main investors overreact to signals sent by the has a larger number of people in the middle class than in poverty.” This year, all eyes will still be on the Fed, Street,” said Quincy Krosby, market strat- Fed as it retreats. But a decline in commodity prices and a slowdown in the rate which is expected to raise short-term inter- egist for Prudential Financial, “as opposed Investors will also need to keep an of China’s growth will sap Latin America’s expansion, the bank est rates as the economy continues to sta- to 70 percent of Americans saying they still eye on the recession in Europe and on predicts, making it difficult “to expand the social gains amassed bilize. Stocks may keep climbing, thanks to feel as if we’re in a recession.” whether the European Central Bank is over the economic boom over the past decade.” the economy, but the Fed’s move could still That bump in consumer optimism was successful at halting the slowdown. Still, In several South American nations, the export bonanza has lead to volatility as investors adjust to a a big boost for stock markets, because the steady economic growth at home enabled populist leaders to significantly expand the role and the market that is not bolstered by the central consumer spending accounts for about could be enough to send markets back size of the state, by boosting social spending, developing infra- bank. two-thirds of US gross domestic product. up in the end, even if any gains reached structure and taking greater control of major national industries. Not that 2014 did not have its share of Indeed, the news that the economy grew by are unlikely to be as robust as they have Those measures have made leaders such as Bolivia’s Evo Morales scares. Concerns over a slowdown in emerg- 5 percent in the third quarter — the fastest been in recent years. and Ecuador’s Rafael Correa extremely popular at the polls, allow- ing markets sent stocks sliding in January rate in more than a decade — is what sent “The direction is still up,” Lafferty said, ing them to preside over long periods of political stability and and February before they rebounded. And the Dow above 18,000 for the first time on “but the ride is going to get bumpier.” economic growth. at one point in October, it looked as if the December 23. WP-BLOOMBERG But those presidents have pegged their ambitious development plans to export revenue that has been increasingly squeezed by falling commodity prices. The loss of income is likely to leave some countries progressively indebted to resource-hungry China. In Ecuador, the smallest member state of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, President Rafael Correa turned to Beijing after his country defaulted on its bonds in 2008 and found a deep-pocketed business partner. Now, Chinese loans account for more than 60 percent of the government’s financing, according to a Reuters analysis, and more than 90 percent of Ecuador’s oil exports are earmarked for China. Much of the oil never reaches Chinese shores, however, but is resold by Chinese traders on world markets, often ending up in refineries on the West Coast of the United States. But the recent slump in oil prices leaves Ecuador owing more and more crude to China, creating new pressure for the govern- ment to expand the drilling frontier in the Amazon. In 2014, the government auctioned off new sectors of its Amazon territory, much of it to Chinese firms. Chinese road-building crews and drilling rigs will cut into ancient forests where indigenous groups and un-contacted tribes living in “voluntary isolation” have violently resisted the oil industry. “The Correa administration seems intent on trying to drill its way to prosperity, which has turned what was once pristine rain forest into a natural sacrifice zone crisscrossed by oil wells, roads and palm plantations,” said Kevin Koenig of the group Amazon Watch. “Now Ecuador is financially beholden to China, so it’s seeking to auction off the rest of its Amazon forests for oil concessions,” he said. “That could spell disaster for its remaining forests and the indigenous peoples who call them home.” The struggling socialist government of oil-rich Venezuela, where the deforestation rate was the worst last year in South America, is similarly indebted to Beijing. But the resource push is hardly exclusive to the region’s left-leaning governments. In Colombia, illegal mining, petroleum extraction and the expan- sion of the country’s fast-growing palm oil industry have con- tributed to deforestation and violence involving Marxist rebels, government troops and paramilitary groups often acting on behalf of landowners, according to rights groups. WP-BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Free delivery creates holiday boon for US customers

BY DEEPA for consulting firm Kurt Salmon, would it share estimates on how The company’s stock declined 22 Wal-Mart does not break out shipping packages to online SEETHARAMAN and said in an interview. “It’s really much more Prime customers percent in 2014 even as the US its e-commerce division’s prof- shippers, retailers tried over NATHAN LAYNE eating away at the margin dollars bought compared with others, stock market, as measured by the itability or shipping costs. In 2014 to lean more heavily on at some of these retailers.” which would provide some insight S&P 500 index, gained more than October it said it expected the their brick-and-mortar opera- OR top US retail- Shipping remains a key bat- into how much Prime might boost 11 percent. next 18-24 months to bring heavy tions in what they dub the ers, free delivery is tleground in the escalating Amazon’s revenue. Forrester Target said in November that investments and operating losses omnichannel approach. That now the norm. That war between brick-and-mortar Research analyst Sucharita growing online sales were pres- in e-commerce as it builds fulfil- includes shipping online orders is good news for shop- retailers and Amazon.com Inc, Mulpuru estimates that Amazon suring margins, due in large part ment centers and makes other from nearby stores rather than pers, but not so much with both sides spending big on loses $1bn to $2bn a year on US to higher shipping expenses. outlays to drive sales. It expects faraway warehouses to cut down Ffor investors. logistics. Offering free shipping Prime shipments. Much like Amazon, Target offers online revenue to hit $12.5bn in on freight costs, or encourag- During the just-ended holiday has long been standard practice Other retailers, including free shipping year-round for users the year to January 2015 and grow ing customers to pick up online season, outlets from Target to during the holidays, but in 2014, Target Corp and Wal-Mart of its membership card. Online at about 30 to 40 percent over the orders in stores. Wal-Mart to Amazon expanded retailers leaned on it heavily all Stores Inc, are removing min- orders account for about 2.5 per- following three years. Wal-Mart, for example, offers their free-delivery options, add- year long. imum-spending thresholds on cent of Target’s overall revenue, “Most brick and mortar retail- free same-day in-store pickup on ing more items eligible for free The number of online purchases free shipping to entice consumers, or roughly $1.85 billion out of the ers that move online are run at more than 70,000 items. shipping. They also did away with in the United States with free consultants said. Just over half $74 billion in annual sales ana- a loss still because they haven’t For its part, Amazon has been minimum spending thresholds to delivery hit a high of 68 percent in of companies surveyed by Kurt lysts are forecasting for the cur- mastered the shipping piece,” rapidly building warehouses near qualify for the perk. the third quarter of 2014, accord- Salmon eliminated those thresh- rent fiscal year which ends on Jan. said Jarrett Streebin, CEO of major cities to bring items to cus- Yet as more US shoppers view ing to industry-data tracker com- olds for the 2014 holiday season, 31, 2015. shipping startup EasyPost. “If tomers faster while also adding free shipping as their right, Score, up from 44 percent the up from 5 percent the previous In a recent note, Wolfe (Wal-Mart) can’t make it work extra-fast options such as Prime retailers struggle to make a previous year. Amazon said this year. Research said a 1 percent move or cost-friendly, I don’t know who Now, a one-hour delivery service profit online. That struggle will week that it saved customers $2 But those perks come at a high in sales to Target’s online busi- can.” in New York. become evident in coming weeks billion in shipping fees over the price, analysts said. Amazon’s ness cuts profit margins by 5 basis Retailers have little choice but “The margins are worse for when companies report financial holidays. shipping costs during the first points. The retailer said it did to adapt. The bulk of US retail everybody but it doesn’t really results for the holiday quarter, Much of those savings came via nine months of 2014 rose 32 per- not see the cost of a free holiday- sales takes place in person, but matter because you have to play analysts said. Amazon’s Prime program, which cent, compared with 29 percent in shipping campaign as material to e-commerce is growing quickly. the game,” Cowen and Company “For most companies, it is a offers free shipping on most items the same period of 2013. fourth-quarter results, and added Online sales rose 16 percent in the analyst Oliver Chen said. “That’s very expensive proposition to for a $99 annual fee. This growing subsidy for cus- it expected to improve profitabil- third quarter compared with four the way the shopper is moving, try to offer fast and free,” Steve The company declined to share tomers might give investors more ity from online operations over percent for retail sales overall. whether you like it or not.” Osburn, director of supply chain the previous year’s figure. Nor reason to dump Amazon shares. time. To offset the high cost of REUTERS SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 CLASSIFIEDS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17

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JOGP!OBUJPOBMRBUBSDPN SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Alonso a top target for Mercedes if Hamilton leaves

LONDON: Fernando Alonso his vacation in the Austrian ski if McLaren, who are starting a test with the new engine and said would be top of the list for resort of Kitzbuehel when asked new partnership with Honda it was an electronics issue, rather Mercedes if Formula One about the talks. after years with Mercedes, than anything more serious linked champion Lewis Hamilton fails “I’m an optimist. The priority under-perform. to the power unit, of a kind that to agree a new deal with the is to continue with these drivers Wolff has emphasised repeat- all teams had experienced. team beyond this year, accord- (Hamilton and Nico Rosberg). edly that Mercedes want The Austrian also tipped ing to Motorsport Director Should it not be possible, then Hamilton to stay long-term and Mercedes-powered Williams, Toto Wolff. Alonso represents the first alter- his words could be seen also as the team he was with before Hamilton, who took his sec- native, then there’s (Finland’s a means of putting pressure on Mercedes and which employs his ond championship in 2014 after Valtteri) Bottas.” the Briton by suggesting the team wife Susie as a test driver as well winning 11 races, has yet to put McLaren said last month that have alternatives. The Austrian as Bottas, as being a main rival pen to paper on a new contract Spaniard Alonso, a double world paid tribute also to Alonso’s abili- in 2015 after they finished third despite both sides talking about champion, had signed a multi- ties, saying he was “dangerous (as overall last year. their eagerness to stay together year deal in joining them from a rival) in any car. “I put Williams at the top of the after the end of current contract. Ferrari. “If he has a car that can fin- list,” he said. “But I also fear a “There’s no hurry, we’ll dis- However, Alonso made little ish sixth, he will take it to third lot Red Bull. They have won four cuss it during the year,” Wolff secret of the fact that he was place,” said Wolff. titles in a row and will use every Gazetta dello Sport Spain’s double world champion Fernando Alonso told Italy’s interested in the Mercedes seat He dismissed Honda’s poor resource in order to fight again newspaper in an interview from and is likely to have exit clauses showing in their first post-season for the title.” REUTERS Capitals ring in New Year with Winter Classic victory Brouwer scores the powerplay goal in 3-2 win over Blackhawks

NEW YORK: Troy Brouwer Chicago Bulls’ forward Pau Gasol scored a powerplay goal with dunks the ball during the first 13 seconds left in regulation as quarter of their NBA game against the Washington Capitals rang the Brooklyn Nets at the United in the New Year with a thrill- Center, yesterday in Chicago. ing 3-2 win over the Chicago Blackhawks at the outdoor Winter Classic on Thursday. Brouwer, who won a Stanley Gasol inspires Cup with the Blackhawks, pro- vided a few more New Year’s Day Bulls to beat fireworks in the US capital when he spun quickly and blasted a shot past the out-stretched glove Nuggets of Chicago netminder Corey Crawford at Nationals Park. NEW YORK: Forward Pau “Probably the most dramatic Gasol blocked a career-high goal I’ve scored,” said Brouwer. nine shots to go along with 17 “Just the time, the event here ... points and nine rebounds as the Winter Classic ... and the fact Chicago topped Denver, set- it was against my former team. ting a franchise record with 18 “They (Chicago) were able to blocked shots in the process. come back and tie the game up Bulls forward Jimmy Butler led but the guys were pretty resil- the team with 26 points and eight ient working hard, able to draw assists, and guard Derrick Rose a powerplay and ultimately win scored 17 points despite missing the game on a PP goal.” his first eight shots from the field. After last year’s Winter Denver lost for the fifth time in Classic attracted a record NHL six games and dropped to 4-12 on crowd of more than 105,000 at the road this season. Michigan Stadium, Thursday’s Forward Wilson Chandler game was played in front of a scored 22 points to lead the quainter crowd of 42,382 at the Nuggets. Guard Ty Lawson added home of Major League Baseball’s 20 points and seven assists, guard Washington Nationals. Arron Afflalo scored 19 points, and The puck was dropped under forward Kenneth Faried notched brilliant blue skies and the 18 points and 19 rebounds. Capitals made an equally bright Kings 110, Timberwolves 107 start with Eric Fehr, who scored Sacramento guard Darren twice in the Capitals’ 3-1 win Collison made two free throws over the Pittsburgh Penguins at with 2.8 seconds remaining and the 2011 Winter Classic, and Alex Minnesota guard Troy Daniels’ Ovechkin putting them up 2-0. three-point shot at the buzzer Before the end of the period, came up short as the Kings Patrick Sharp would answer for defeated the Timberwolves. Chicago while Brandon Saad had The victory snapped a brief the only goal of second to leave Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals celebrates after his team defeated the Chicago Blackhawks to win the 2015 NHL Winter Classic at Nationals two-game losing skid for the the contest deadlocked at 2-2 Park on Thursday in Washington, DC. RIGHT: Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals celebrates after scoring a first period goal in the match. Kings, but was just their third going into the final frame. win in their past 12 games. In just seven years the outdoor For Minnesota, the loss was its game that started as nothing A concept that has captured The New Year’s Day Classic, The first regular-season out- staged in 2008 at Ralph Wilson 10th straight. REUTERS more than a one-off novelty has the imagination of casual hockey however, has grown well beyond door game took place in 2003, Stadium in Buffalo. Since 2003, grown into the league’s market- fans, the Winter Classic has an its initial sentimental appeal into when the Montreal Canadiens there have been 13 regular-sea- ing centre piece, a New Year’s appeal that lies in the game’s out- big business, and a cash cow for faced off against the Edmonton son outdoor games, seven of them NBA Results Day showcase that has become door roots, anchored by romantic the league, teams and the cities Oilers at Commonwealth Stadium played at football venues and six Chicago 106 Denver 101 the NHL’s signature event. nostalgia and wintery charm. that have played host. while the first Winter Classic was at baseball stadiums. REUTERS Sacramento 110 Minnesota 107

Qatar Cup for Shooting and Archery

Medallists at the Qatar Cup for Shooting and Archery pose for a group photo at the Losail Shooting Range in Doha, yesterday. The event tat started on Thursday is being competed by male and female participants. The archery events will take place on January 9 and 10. RIGHT: A shooter takes aims of the target during yesterday’s action. SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT WI fight back after Harmer grabs triple

CAPE TOWN: Debutant off- room immediately. Samuels Sheikh Khalid spinner Simon Harmer took looked in good form, scoring 43 bin Ali Al Thani in three wickets before West off 70 balls, but hung his head in action during the Indies captain Denesh Ramdin shame after playing a loose drive Qatar International led a fightback against South against the first ball sent down by Show Jumping Africa on the first day of the part-time bowler Stiaan van Zyl, Championship. Sheikh third and final Test at Newlands bowling at a gentle medium pace. Khalid rode Anyway yesterday. The ball went straight to Faf du II to a convincing West Indies, who are attempt- Plessis at cover. win in the FEI Art. ing to square the series, were 276 Worse for the tourists was to for six at the close. follow with the first ball after tea. 238.2.1 - 145cm “We showed the fight we have Harmer fired the ball down class, yesterday at been talking about,” said top- the leg side and Chanderpaul the Qatar Racing and scorer Leon Johnson, who made was smartly stumped by AB de Equestrian Club. 54. Villiers. “We are one or two wickets too Chanderpaul was out for nine – many down but we’re very happy his fourth successive failure in a with the position we’re in.” series in which he has scored only If the West Indies were happy, 41 runs in four innings. the same applied to Harmer, who Ramdin, whose previous high- was added to the South African est score in eight Tests against squad three days ago and told on South Africa was 32, struck the Thursday he would be making ball solidly in making his half- his debut in place of leg-spinner century before falling to Dale Imran Tahir. Steyn shortly before the close. Harmer took three for 67 and He mistimed a slower ball to was mainly responsible for the offer a return catch to the fast West Indies slipping to 172 for five, bowler. Sheikh Khalid shines as dismissing Devon Smith, Johnson Steyn took the first wicket of and Shivnarine Chanderpaul dur- the match when he had Kraigg ing an impressive first day of Test Brathwaite caught at gully. cricket. His two wickets for the day Harmer, 25, attributed his took him to 391 Test wickets and successful transition to the Test second place on South Africa’s all- Anyway II wins applause arena to a strong domestic cricket time wicket-taking list, one ahead competition in which he plays of Makhaya Ntini and behind only for the Eastern Cape Warriors Shaun Pollock, who took 421. franchise. Blackwood was picked as an Qatar’s Al Rumaihi and Al Marri also notch up victories He said the key to his success extra batsman in place of left-arm on Friday was finding the right seamer Kenroy Peters and justi- length. fied his selection with a dogged DOHA: Sheikh Khalid bin Ali “If it’s not turning you want to innings, although De Villiers put Al Thani yesterday emerged as attack with your length,” he said. down a thick edge off Harmer the top rider when he guided Ramdin (53) and Jermaine when he was on 13. AFP Anyway II to a convincing win Blackwood (45 not out) put on 94 in the FEI Art. 238.2.1 - 145cm for the sixth wicket to enable the class on day two of the Qatar tourists to finish with a respect- Scoreboard International Show Jumping able total after it seemed they had West Indies (I innings): Championship. squandered the advantage of win- K Brathwaite c Elgar b Steyn ...... 7 Producing a faultless routine, Qatar’s Mubarak ning the toss and batting first on Al Rumaihi on his De Smith b Harmer ...... 47 Anyway II cleared obstacles with an easy-paced pitch. L Johnson lbw Harmer ...... 54 ease and sealed the win with a way to the FEI Art Harmer took a wicket with the 238.2.2-135cm title M Samuels c du Plessis b van Zyl ...... 43 time of 60.34secs at Qatar Racing last ball of his fourth over. It was S Chanderpaul st de Villiers b Harmer ...... 9 at the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC). also the last ball before lunch and J Blackwood (batting) ...... 45 and Equestrian Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah came from a disappointing shot D Ramdin c&b Steyn ...... 53 Sharbatly combined well with Club, yesterday. by Smith, who chopped the ball J Holder (batting) ...... 5 Andrea to take the second spot into his stumps after battling to Extras (LB-3, NB-2, W-8) ...... 13 with a time of 61.30secs. 47. Total (for 6 wkts) ...... 276 Turkey’s Omer Karaevli rode Johnson played some handsome To bat: J Taylor, S Benn, S Gabriel. Dadjak Ter Puttenen to third spot strokes in making 54 off 84 balls Fall of wickets: 1-30, 2-80, 3-131, 4-162, with a time of 62.29secs. with nine fours before he was 5-172, 6-266. The top prize was worth deceived by a quicker ball from Bowling: D Steyn 21-5-59-2 (w-7); V Philan- QR74,500 while second-placed Harmer which curved in with the der 16-2-54-0 (nb-1); M Morkel 18-1-74-0 Sharbatly picked up QR59,600. arm and struck the batsman on (nb-1 w-1); S Harmer 25-5-67-3; S van Zyl Third-placed Karaevli had to his front pad deep in his crease. 8-2-13-1; D Elgar 2-0-6-0. be content with QR44,700. The leg before wicket decision South Africa: H Amla, A Petersen, D Elgar, F “You can see that Qatari riders was so obvious that Johnson did du Plessis, A de Villiers, S van Zyl, T Bavuma, are becoming very competitive,” not even contemplate asking for a Sheikh Khalid bin Ali V Philander, S Harmer, D Steyn, M Morkel Karaevli said. review, departing for the dressing Al Thani celebrates his “They are getting the right kind of training and performing triumph with friends really well,” he added. and family. Action at the Earlier, Qatar’s Mubarak Al Qatar International Show South African bowler Rumaihi produced a flawless Jumping Championship routine to clinch the top prize in resumes today at Qatar Simon Harmer (right) the FEI Art 238.2.2-135cm cat- Racing and Equestrian celebrates after egory with a convincing ride on Club at 1:30pm followed taking the wicket of Vivaldi K. He clocked a time of by competitions at 3:30pm West Indies batsman 40.06secs as he finished ahead of and 6:30pm. Devon Smith (not in Saudi rider Abdullah Albegami picture) during the who was astride Silvano. first day of third and In third place was Egypt’s Saed final Test in Cape Saad who was riding Batoya HBC. Town, yesterday. Al Rumaihi’s victory was worth QR12,500 while second- Al Marri clocked a time of Cassander Van Het Bremhof, The event is open to top 30 rid- placed Albegami walked off with 34.36secs to seal his win that was ridden by Qatar’s Abdulrahman ers from competition 7. QR10,000. Saad picked up the worth QR8,750. Nassar, finished in third spot with The three-day event is prize of QR7,500 for his efforts. In second place was BMC a time of 38.15secs. sponsored by Qatar Olympic Qatar’s Rashid Towaim Al White Nose - who was ridden by Action resumes today at QREC Committee, Grand Heritage ‘Kohli will probably be Marri yesterday walked off as the Saudi Arabia’s Meshari Al Harbi at 1:30pm followed by competi- Doha, Qatar Tourism Authority, day’s first winner when he rode - in the 15-entry contest. tions at 3:30pm and 6:30pm. Qatar Airways and Al Kass Sports Lucky Lady to victory in the FEI BMC White Nose clocked a The final piece of action - FEI Channel. The FEI series is being Art 238.2.2-120cm in a jump-off time of 34.85secs. The second- World Cup Competition - Arab organised by Qatar Equestrian an aggressive captain’ at QREC. place finish was worth QR7,000. League - will begin at 6:00pm. Federation. THE PENINSULA SYDNEY: Having featured field particularly with Johnson regularly in war of words with and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. new India captain Virat Kohli The 26-year-old fuelled that in the ongoing Test series, further during the third Test in Australia fast bowler Mitchell Melbourne when he said he delib- Johnson believes the volatile erately set out to provoke the Nadal looks to bounce back in Doha batsman will probably be more Australians because they could aggressive than previous skip- give it, but not take it, on the field. per Mahendra Singh Dhoni. “I like playing against Australia ABU DHABI: Rafael Nadal there are only small things I need Kohli replaced Dhoni after the because it’s really hard for them shrugged off his 6-2, 6-0 defeat to to adjust.” wicketkeeper’s sudden retirement to stay calm,” he told reporters Andy Murray at the Mubadala “6-2, 6-0 is too much. I had a lot from Test cricket after the drawn after he scored a brilliant 169 Spain’s Rafael World Tennis Championships of chances to have a closer result. third match in Melbourne. that included carting Johnson all yesterday, insisting he’ll be I have to improve, that’s obvious, Nadal returns “Ever since I’ve seen him play around the MCG. fighting fit when his 2015 season and I’m going to improve. This the ball to cricket, I’ve always seen him “I don’t mind an argument on starts in Qatar next week. match helps me and the defeat Andy Murray of pretty fiery,” Johnson told report- the field. It really excites me and The 14-time Grand Slam title does not affect me too much. Britain during ers in Sydney ahead of the fourth brings the best out of me, so they winner was making his first “I felt I was dominating the the Mubadala and final Test match, which starts don’t seem to be learning the les- appearance since undergoing an points a lot of times, but I am World Tennis on January 6. son.” Johnson, however, said the appendectomy late last year hav- missing competitive spirit. I am Championship “So he’ll definitely be an aggres- banter between the two sides had ing also missed most of the sec- going to keep working hard to get 2015 semi-final sive type of captain I think in the not been particularly venomous. ond half of the 2014 season with that.” in Abu Dhabi, way he sets fields, and I think “It’s just harmless stuff, that’s a wrist problem. Murray goes on to face world yesterday. you’ll see a lot different to what out there,” Johnson said. The Spaniard’s rustiness was number one Novak Djokovic in MS did. “There’s a lot of talk out in obvious against Murray, who had Saturday’s final after the Serb “He’s an interesting character. the media at the moment as bad played for more than two hours eased past Australian Open He is a fierce competitor and he sledging and pretty full on stuff in seeing off Feliciano Lopez champion Stan Wawrinka 6-1, really does like to get involved in but it’s all pretty harmless. in his first match at the Abu 6-2. was playing his first match in a level against such a class player it all.” “Virat’s just been telling us how Dhabi exhibition tournament on “I have been working very month having completed his 2014 was nice,” said Djokovic., who won Kohli, who led India in Dhoni’s many runs he’s scored and we’ve Thursday. hard on my speed and movement campaign by featuring in the seven titles in 2014. absence in the first Test in just been saying we’re two nil “This was not the best start around the court – maybe that International Premier Tennis Djokovic and Nadal will Adelaide, has been involved in a up in the series so that’s pretty possible against a tough rival in made the difference,” said Murray League. open their competitive 2015 cam- battle with virtually the entire much it. “It’s always been part of Andy Murray,” the 28-year-old after his win over Nadal. “I haven’t played in over a paigns at the Qatar Open in Doha Australian team this series, the game and always will be,” he Nadal told the Gulf News. “But Wimbledon champion Djokovic month, so to play at such a high from Monday. AFP exchanging heated words on the added. REUTERS SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Gerrard to leave Reds Asian Arab Junior – Weightlifting Championship at the end of season ‘It’s my wish one day I can return to serve Liverpool again’

LONDON: Liverpool captain is an example to everyone in the Steven Gerrard announced yes- game. terday he was leaving the club at “He is also someone who has the end of the season and would always put the club and team be heading abroad, in what he ahead of himself and I think that said was the “toughest decision will ultimately be his legacy.” of my life”. Gerrard’s career at Liverpool, The 34-year-old midfielder has which began when he joined the captained the Reds for 12 years club’s academy at the age of eight, (TOP AND BOTTOM) Weightlifters in action at the Asian Arab Junior - and never played for another club, had been the subject of specula- Youth Weightlifting Championship being held at Doha Marriott Hotel. winning the Champions League, tion for several months. Weightlifters from various Asian countries are taking part in the event two FA Cups, three League Cups Despite his extraordinary that will end on January 7. and the UEFA Cup among other achievements, he has also suffered honours. agonising near-misses, never lay- “I’m going to carry on playing ing his hands on the Premier and although I can’t confirm at League trophy and enduring this stage where that will be, I nothing but heartbreak in 14 can say it will be somewhere that years with England. means I won’t be playing for a “This has been the toughest competing club and will not there- decision of my life and one which fore be lining up against Liverpool both me and my family have ago- – that is something I could never nised over for a good deal of time,” contemplate,” Gerrard told the he said. club’s official website. “I am making the announce- Amid speculation that he might ment now so that the manager take a coaching role at Anfield in and the team are not distracted the future, the former England by stories or speculation about my captain said: “It is my sincere future. hope and wish that one day I can “Liverpool Football Club has Liverpool’s Steven Gerrard celebrates after scoring a goal against return to serve Liverpool again, been such a huge part of all our Leicester City FC during an English Premier League match at the King in whatever capacity best helps lives for so long and saying good- Power Stadium in Leicester, in this December 2, 2014 file photo. the club.” bye is going to be difficult, but I Liverpool’s principal owner feel it’s something that’s in the John W Henry and chairman best interests of all involved, fulsome tribute to the player, with in the game. He’s just unbelievable Tom Werner said there would including my family and the club striker Mario Balotelli compar- every day, a great leader and the always be a place for the club for itself.” ing him to legendary Italian mid- perfect example for every young a player whose contribution was Gerrard said he wanted to fielder Andrea Pirlo. player around the country.” “almost beyond measure”. “experience something different “Vision, technique but he is Gerrard promised he would be Manager Brendan Rodgers in my career and life and I also powerful as well. Stevie can do committed to the club until his Injuries hamper NZ, added: “This is an era where the want to make sure that I have no anything, he’s an amazing player. last game, and also paid tribute word ‘legend’ is vastly overused, regrets when my playing career It’s going to be very difficult for to the fans. but in his case it actually doesn’t is eventually over”. the team to find another player “It has been a privilege to rep- do him justice. He thanked Rodgers, the own- like him in the future,” he said. resent you, as a player and as SL ahead of 2nd Test “As a leader and as a man, he is ers, his team-mates and the staff, Striker Daniel Sturridge added: captain. I have cherished every probably incomparable to anyone saying: “I am leaving on great “Stevie will always be a legend, not second of it and it is my sincere WELLINGTON: Concerns not play in the Christchurch Test I have ever worked with. He takes terms. It is a very special place just for Liverpool but to England wish to finish this season and my yesterday over injuries to Tim because of a hamstring injury that professionalism to a new level and to be part of.” as well. “He will go down in his- Liverpool career on a high,” he Southee and Rangana Herath continues to be troublesome. the dedication he has to his work Gerrard’s team-mates also paid tory as one of the best midfielders said. AFP disrupted preparations for “He has to go through a fitness New Zealand and Sri Lanka on test in the morning and then we’ll the eve of the second Test in see,” Mathews said. Chelsea will Wellington. McCullum said being person- Premier League clubs set to Both camps have given their ally targeted by Sri Lanka was bounce back key bowlers until just before the “a good challenge”, and was more Test starts today to prove their concerned about whether strike fitness. bowler Southee would recover dominate in January window from mauling, With yet another green wicket from an ankle knock. promising plenty of bounce, the “Tim’s probably the major con- PARIS: The January trans- toss will be crucial with New cern at the moment. We’ll see fer window in Europe is poised says Terry Zealand and Sri Lanka both look- how he scrubs up in the morning Germany’s to open this weekend, with the ing to bowl first. and if we think he’s a risk that’s Philipp bulk of the spending set to be LONDON: Chelsea will Sri Lanka have signalled they not worth taking, then we won’t done by clubs in the English Lahm (left) bounce back from their shock now have a plan to combat the take it,” he said. Premier League. and Sami 5-3 Premier League defeat at dominance of the hosts’ captain Doug Bracewell will share the Among the continent’s leading Khedira Tottenham Hotspur, captain Brendon McCullum, who set up new ball with Trent Boult should nations, clubs in Spain will be celebrate John Terry said yesterday. the Black Caps’ eight-wicket win Southee be ruled out, but other- the first ones to be able to sign Khedira’s The league leaders took an in the first Test in Christchurch wise New Zealand are likely to reinforcements, with the window goal early lead at White Hart Lane, when he blasted 195 in the first field an unchanged lineup even there opened yesterday and shut- during a ground they traditionally enjoy innings. though Kane Williamson is nurs- ting on January 30. their FIFA visiting, but Spurs striker Harry Wellington’s Basin Reserve is ing a sore shoulder. In England, Germany and World Kane scored twice to help inflict a a favourite ground for McCullum The first Test win completed a France, the window opens on Cup 2014 second league defeat of the season where last year he led New golden year for New Zealand in Saturday, January 3 and will not qualifier on Jose Mourinho’s team. Zealand to victory over the West which they won five Tests for the shut until Monday, February 2, against “We’re very disappointed to Indies by an innings and 73 runs, first time, and McCullum wants while a shorter window in Italy Ireland in start the New Year with a defeat and scored 302 in a match-sav- to continue the momentum to opens from January 5. Cologne, but we’ll move on from this,’ ing knock to draw a Test against push them up the world rankings Premier League teams splurged Germany, Terry told the club website (www. India. with fifth spot beckoning. a record £835m ($1.3bn, 1.075bn chelseafc.com). “We have a few plans (for Despite moving up only one in this euros) in the summer and they “I thought at times we played McCullum) so we will look to place to seventh in their stellar October should again be the busiest in this some really good football, it just try and execute that and perfect year just gone, the Black Caps shorter window. 2013 file wasn’t our day so we’ll forget this it,” Sri Lanka captain Angelo have closed the gap on India and Most of the movement is photo. one and move on very quickly. Mathews said. Sri Lanka immediately ahead of unlikely to come before the final, Khedira “Once we got the goal they were “When a guy smashes you all them. crazy days of the window, but in may move on the back foot but they scored over the park and gets almost a Sri Lanka, meanwhile, consid- the meantime much of the talk from Real from nothing and were back in double hundred it’s quite hard ered shoring up their batting with will surround Manchester United, Madrid the game.” to set fields because he was not the possible inclusion of Dinesh who are said to have no upper in this Terry felt Chelsea should have orthodox. We have to be patient Chandimal in the middle order limit on the amounts they can month’s been awarded a penalty against and wait for his mistakes, which in place of Niroshan Dickwella, spend. transfer Spurs which would have put them will come.” as Mathews said they would leave The Old Trafford club spent a window. 2-0 up. Left-arm leg spinner Herath nothing to chance to square the net sum of £122m in the summer, “We should have had a penalty is central to Sri Lanka’s strat- series. but manager Louis van Gaal still at Southampton and we should egy, having removed McCullum “We’ve got no choice other than needs to strengthen at the back have had another one at 1-0,” he in three of the four innings when going out there and playing posi- in particular. “There won’t be a lot of activity, replace him with Brazilian pros- said. “The game’s finished then. they last met in a two-Test series tive cricket. If you lose 1-0 or 2-0 He has been linked with moves if any, in January,” he said. “I don’t pect Lucas Silva, of Cruzeiro. I’ve said before it’s difficult, some- just over two years ago. it doesn’t really matter as long for fellow Dutchman Ron Vlaar, think it is a good time to spend. Meanwhile, Barcelona cannot times you get them, sometimes He finished that series with 21 as you play good cricket, so we’re of Aston Villa, and Borussia Last year we never brought any- sign any new players until 2016 you don’t and in the last few wickets at 13.90 and was sorely looking to turn things around by Dortmund’s Mats Hummels, one in. after the Court of Arbitration for games we haven’t.” missed by Sri Lanka when he did winning this game.” AFP while Dutch midfielder Kevin “We brought in a lot of play- Sport upheld a one-year transfer Manchester City moved level Strootman of Roma is another ers (in the summer) who we felt ban imposed by FIFA for breach- on points with Chelsea at the top target. could develop and they are start- ing rules on signing youth players of the standings with a 3-2 win Elsewhere, Manchester City’s ing to adapt. My job is to coach in the team. over Sunderland secured by a late spending potential is limited and manage the players here and Instead they must focus their goal from former Stamford Bridge New Zealand’s Tim because of Financial Fair Play, but maximise that talent.” energy on offering new terms to favourite Frank Lampard. Southee bowls at Chelsea are set to sign Croatian In Spain, Real Madrid are right-back Daniel Alves, who is “It’s hard to see them claw a training session striker Andrej Kramaric from seemingly focusing their energy out of contract in the summer. us back, we were eight points ahead of the Rijeka for £7m and loan him to on the pursuit of Dortmund and Atletico Madrid have already in front and now we’re level on final Test match Dutch side Vitesse Arnhem. Germany star Marco Reus while moved to bring back former idol points,” Terry said. “It’s disap- against England in Southampton have agreed a dismissing suggestions they will Fernando Torres, who arrives pointing to have lost that lead but Auckland, in this deal to bring in Dutch winger allow Gareth Bale to depart. after a disappointing six months we said in the dressing room we’ll August 2013 file Eljero Elia on loan from Werder “We would never listen to any in Italy with AC Milan. come together, put a run together photo. Southee is Bremen and new managers -- offer for Bale regardless of the In France, Paris Saint-Germain and hopefully get a lead again.” uncertain to play in Tony Pulis at West Bromwich amount,” said Madrid president – hampered by Financial Fair Chelsea host Championship second Test against Albion and possibly Alan Pardew Florentino Perez. Play restrictions – need to sell (second tier) side Watford in the at Crystal Palace -- will be given Nevertheless, midfielder Sami before they can buy, while Lyon FA Cup third round on Sunday Sri Lanka starting funds. Khedira is out of contract in the President Jean-Michel Aulas has before a home game against today in Wellington. In contrast, Liverpool manager summer so can now negotiate dismissed claims that he will lis- Newcastle United, the other team Brendan Rodgers has said he will his next move, and the reign- ten to offers for leading scorer to beat them in the league this be quiet this month. ing European champions could Alexandre Lacazette. AFP season. REUTERS Most Popular Bangladeshi Newspaper

SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 PROTHOM ALO WEEKLY Published every Thursday 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Available in all leading stores in Qatar       Tel: 4465 0600 Email: [email protected]

Qatar’s national football team, the Gulf Cup champions, flex their muscles in Canberra, yesterday. The team is upbeat about their performance in the mega tournament set to start from January 9.

We have big ambitions: Belmadi Qatar go into Asian Cup knowing they beat Australia in Doha friendly in October

SYDNEY: Off the field, Qatar to make it past the group stage have been the talk of world on seven occasions. ‘Australia Profile on Qatar football for the past few years, They reached the quarter- upsetting some of the game’s finals in 2000 and in 2011, the lat- Team for 2015 traditional giants by winning ter as hosts, but are yet to make have the right the right to host the 2022 World the semi-finals. Asian Cup Cup. “We have big ambitions and On the pitch, it has been a this competition is a new step for blend to win’ Factbox on Asian Cup qualifiers different story with the oil and us in a long-term project,” said Qatar. gas-rich state hardly rating a Djamel Belmadi, who took over MELBOURNE: Australia cap- Asian Cup record mention. as Qatar’s Head Coach in March. tain Mile Jedinak is confident Previous appearances in finals: (8) Qatar’s success in persuading “All the signs point to Japan, the Socceroos have the right 1980, 1984, 1988, 1992, 2000, 2004, FIFA to grant them the World Australia and Korea Republic as blend of players to win this 2007, 2011. Cup has not translated to much favourites, but that doesn’t mean month’s Asian Cup on home soil Best performance: Quarter-finals 2000, success on the field. we don’t have a chance. and that the younger members 2011 This month’s Asian Cup in “Every competition is unique of the squad are strong enough Drawn in Group C with Bahrain, Iran and Australia offers the Arab nation and we’ll give everything to be up to handle the pressure. UAE. a chance to generate headlines. to the challenge.” “I don’t see any reason why Qatar’s Head Coach: Djamel Belmadi Although they are regarded Belmadi, a former Algerian Coach Djamel not,” the 30-year-old midfielder %Born in France, he represented Algeria in among the outsiders to win the international, is banking on a Belmadi in told reporters in Melbourne yes- tournament, all the recent signs combination of youth and natu- terday when asked if the less 20 internationals between 2000 and 2004. action during In his club career, he played for a handful of are encouraging. ralised players. his team’s experienced players had the men- In 2014, Qatar played 18 inter- Of the 23 players he picked tal fortitude to deliver in front of different teams in Europe including Marseille, training session, nationals, winning nine times, for the tournament, just one, the an expectant home crowd. Manchester City and Southampton. yesterday. drawing eight and losing just captain Meshaal Abdullah is in “A lot of the boys are going to %He turned to coaching in 2010, leading once. his 30s. be excited that it’s going to be Lekhwiya to back-to-back titles in the Qatari They beat Asian Cup hosts Congolese-born Mohammad on home soil,” the Crystal Palace league. He took over as head coach of the Australia 1-0 in a friendly dur- Abdullah and Ghana-born skipper added. Qatar national team in March 2014. ing October, then a month later, Mohammad Montari were both “We understand that’s going Key player: Boualem Khoukhi (Al Arabi). they won the Gulf Cup of Nations, included even though neither has to come with added expectation. Age: 24. Winger. which featured six of the 16 coun- been capped by Qatar before. Are we capable of handling that? %Born in Algeria, Khoukhi moved to Qatar tries that have qualified for the They will join Boualem I believe so.” in 2009. He was called into the Qatar team Jan. 9-31 Asian Cup. Khoukhi, who moved to Qatar A week out from the first for the 2013 West Asian championship and Two of those teams, Bahrain from Algeria in 2009 and is sud- major soccer tournament hosted scored six goals in the tournament, including and United Arab Emirates, are in denly looming as one of the team’s by Australia, Jedinak had his two in the final, won by Qatar. In the 2014 Qatar’s group at the Asian Cup, trump cards. The 24-year-old first training session with the Gulf Cup, Khoukhi scored Qatar’s winner in along with three-time champions scored six goals, including two in Socceroos as they prepare for the final against Saudi Arabia. Iran, raising hopes they can make the final, to help Qatar win last their opening Group A fixture % it to the knockout stage. year’s West Asian championship against Kuwait in Melbourne FIFA world ranking Dec. 2014: 95 Of the nine times Qatar have then netted Qatar’s winner in on January 9. South Korea and How they qualified: Finished runner-up previously qualified for the Asian the Gulf Cup final against Saudi Oman are the other two teams in in Group D qualifying pool with four wins, a Cup since 1980, they have failed Arabia. REUTERS the group. REUTERS draw and a loss from six matches. Squad Goalkeepers: Saad Al Sheeb (Al-Sadd), Ahmed Sufyan (El-Jaish) Defenders: Ahmadi Ali Mukhtar (Al-Sadd), Irans’ reputation as Asian giant on the line Abdelkarim Hassan (Al-Sadd), Ibrahim Majid (Al-Sadd), Mohammed Musa (Lekhwiya), SYDNEY: Recent form dic- quarter-finals eight times since with him, something of a rarity Nekounam has been the back- before making his senior inter- Khalid Muftah (Lekhwiya), Abdulrahman tates that Iran, the top ranked 1980, they have yet to book a in Arab football. Queiroz guided bone of Iran’s national team for national debut for Iran in 2012, Issa (El-Jaish), Abdulaziz Hatem (Al- team in Asia, are one of the return trip to the final. Iran to the World Cup in Brazil more than decade, playing in scoring his country’s only goal at Arabi), Qassem Burhan (Al-Gharafa), Bilal favourites to win the Asian Cup Drawn in Group C for the where they failed to win a match three previous Asian Cups, and the 2014 World Cup. Mohammed (Al-Gharafa) but despite their pedigree they tournament in Australia with but drew with Nigeria before con- is approaching 150 caps. Attacking midfielder Ashkan Midfielders: Khalfan Ibrahim (Al-Sadd), have developed a reputation for Qatar, United Arab Emirates and ceding a last minute goal to Lionel A pioneer as a much as an icon, Dejagah moved from Iran to Ali Assadalla (Al-Sadd), Karim Boudiaf underperforming in the region’s Bahrain, Iran look set to reach Messi in a 1-0 loss to Argentina. he is one of the first Iranians to Germany when he was one. He (Lekhwiya), Mohammed Muntari (El-Jaish), premier tournament. the knockout phase again but are Queiroz was given an extended play professional in Spain, and represented Germany at youth Majed Mohammed (El-Jaish), Khaled Al The Middle East powerhouse desperate to go further, pouring in contract and immediately set is among several current team level before being picked for Iran Zereiqi (El-Jaish), Boualem Khoukhi (Al- have won the Cup three times, a money and looking further afield his sights on the Asian Cup. members plying their trade in in 2011. Arabi), Ahmed Abdelmaqsoud (Umm Salal) feat matched by Saudi Arabia and to strengthen ‘Team Melli’. Captained by veteran midfielder Europe. Iran’s new focus on foreign- Forwards: Hassan Al-Haidos (Al-Sadd), bettered only by Japan, but the Iran again failed to flatter at Javad Nekounam, Iran’s team Striker Reza Ghoochannejhad based coaches and players start- Ismaeel Mohammad (Lekhwiya), Mohammed last of their three successive titles the 2011 Asian Cup, crashing boasts a potent mix of youth and emigrated to the Netherlands ing to bear fruit but could pay off Tresor Abdullah (Lekhwiya), Meshaal came in 1976. out in the quarter-finals, but experience and now a strong when he was four and represented at the Asian Cup and help team Abdullah (Al-Ahli) Despite reaching the the country’s officials kept faith European flavour. The 34-year-old Holland at various youth levels end their drought. REUTERS

Paris Saint- Germain’s Argentinian Lavezzi, Cavani finally return to PSG foward Ezequiel PARIS: Attacking duo Ezequiel Their absence from that winter ground in his Ferrari at 1400 be drawn on a possible transfer Lavezzi Lavezzi and Edinson Cavani camp had further fuelled specu- GMT yesterday, with Cavani of either player when the window arrives at finally returned to the Paris lation that one or both could be arriving around 10 minutes later, opens today. the club’s Saint-Germain training ground leaving the club during the according to journalists at the “We can’t say that today. We’re headquarters, yesterday afternoon after miss- January transfer window. scene. going to wait until they arrive,” he yesterday at ing their team’s first training The two players only arrived After the pair had failed to said. “We’ll expect some explana- the Camp- session of 2015. back at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle show up for the Inter friendly, tion, and then we’ll make sporting des-Loges The South American duo were airport on a flight from Buenos coach Laurent Blanc said he decisions as a club.” in Saint- the notable absentees from train- Aires at 11:00 (1000 GMT), the would be awaiting “some expla- Inter Milan coach Roberto Germain- ing yesterday morning, having precise time the training session nation” from both Cavani and Mancini, meanwhile, said that en-Laye, already missed a training camp in the Paris suburbs was due to Lavezzi. the Italian club had not been in western in Morocco which culminated in a begin. “They’ll arrive on (January) contact with Lavezzi. “Lavezzi Paris. 1-0 friendly win over Inter Milan Lavezzi was eventually seen 2 in the morning in Paris,” is a great player, but he’s a PSG on Tuesday. arriving at the PSG training explained Blanc, who refused to player,” said Mancini. AFP SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 BREAK TIME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Paddington (2D/Comedy) SHOWING AT VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER TV 1 – 10:00am, 12:05, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00 & 11:55 pm LISTINGS TEL: 444933989 444517001 Legend of the Never Beast (3D/Animation) – 10:30am & 2 1:30pm; Legend of the Never Beast (2D/Animation) – 11:45am & 3:15pm: Vice (2D/Action) – 5:15, 7:15, 9:15, 11:15pm Iron Clad: Battle of the Blood (2D/Action) 3 – 11:00am, 1:10, 3:20, 5:30, 7:40, 9:50 & 11:55pm 02:50 Storage Hunters 5:00 NEWSHOUR 16:00 Community 09:00 Good Health Annie (2D/Comedy) – 11:20am, 1:40 & 4:00pm 03:15 The Liquidator 6:30 101 East 16:30 Til Death Show 4 Unbroken (2D/Drama) – 6:30, 9:00 & 11:45pm 03:40 Dukes Of Haggle 7:00 News 17:00 Late Night With 09:30 Khana khazana Penguins of Madagascar (3D)/Animation) 04:05 How It’s Made 7:30 Talk To Al Jazeera Seth Meyers 13:00 Bollywood Cut 5 – 11:00am & 11:00pm; 04:30 How It’s Made 8:30 Fault Lines 18:00 Men At Work 15:30 10 on 10 Laggies (2D/Comedy) – 3:00, 5:10, 7:20, 9:30 & 11:40pm 05:00 Treehouse Masters 9:00 Witness 18:30 How I Met Your 16:00 Neeli Chatri Swelter (2D/Action) – 10:40am, 2:50, 7:10 & 11:40pm 06:00 Close-Up Kings 10:30 Inside Story Mother Waale 6 The Woman in Black (2D/Drama) – 12:40, 5:00 & 9:20pm 06:50 Magic Of Science 11:30 Listening Post 19:00 2 Broke Girls 18:00 Soul Music Night At The Museum: Secret of The Tomb 07:15 Magic Of Science 12:00 News 19:30 Young & 18:30 Trendsetters of 7 (2D/Comedy) – 1:50, 6:50 & 11:55pm Troy Counting the Cost Hungry Bollywood P.K. (Hindi) (2D/Comedy) – 10:50am, 3:50 & 9:00pm 07:40 12:30 20:00 The Tonight 19:00 Sa Re Ga Ma Into The Woods (2D/Comedy) 08:30 Get Out Alive With 13:00 NEWSHOUR Show Starring Pa Li’l Champs 8 – 10:30am, 3:10, 7:55pm, &12:30am Bear Grylls 14:00 News Jimmy Fallon 20:00 Look Whos Omar Wa Salwa (2D/Arabic) – 12:50, 5:45, 10:20pm 09:20 Hell Road Russia 14:30 Inside Story 21:00 The Daily Show Talking With The Hobbit: The Battle of The Five Armies 10:10 Manhunt 15:00 Lifelines: The Quest Global Edition Niranjan 9 (IMAX 3D/Adventure) 11:00 Fast N’ Loud For Global Health 21:30 Community 20:30 Parwaaz – 11:30am, 2:30, 5:30, 8:30 & 11:30pm 16:00 Gold Rush 16:00 NEWSHOUR 22:00 Saturday Night 22:00 Doli Armaano Vice (2D/Action) – 10:30am, 3:00, 7:30, 9:45 & 11:55pm 16:50 Gold Rush 17:00 News Live Ki 10 Unbroken (2D/Drama) – 12:30 & 5:00 PM 17:40 Alaskan Bush 17:30 Wildlife Warzone 23:00 The Big C 22:30 Sapne Suhane Legend of the Never Beast (3D/Animation) – 3:00pm People 18:00 NEWSHOUR 1 18:30 Get Out Alive With 19:00 News Into The Woods (2D/Comedy) – 5:00pm Bear Grylls 19:30 People & Power Vice (2D/Action) – 7:15 & 11:30pm 19:20 Hell Road Russia 20:00 News Unbroken (2D/Drama) – 9:00pm 20:10 Manhunt 20:30 Inside Story Annie (2D/Comedy) – 2:30pm 2 21:00 Dukes Of Haggle 21:00 NEWSHOUR 04:00 Men At Work 09:00 Switched At Legend of the Never Beast (3D/Animation) – 4:30pm 23:05 Airplane Repo 22:00 News 06:00 Timer-PG15 Birth MALL Laggies (2D/Comedy) – 6:15pm 23:55 Street Outlaws 22:30 Listening Post 08:00 Old Stock- 10:00 Grey’s Anatomy Iron Clad: Battle of the Blood (2D/Action) – 8:15pm 10:00 Home Alone 11:00 Warehouse 13 Cousins (2D/Malayalam) – 10:30pm 12:00 It’s A Disaster 13:00 The Ellen Iron Clad: Battle of the Blood (2D/Action) – 2:30pm 14:00 Parental DeGeneres 3 Swelter (2D/Action) – 4:30 & 6:30pm Guidance-PG Show P.K. (Hindi) (2D/Comedy) – 8:30pm 16:00 Old Stock- 14:00 C.S.I. The Woman in Black (2D/Drama) – 11:30pm 18:00 What To Expect 18:00 C.S.I. Legend of the Never Beast (3D/Animation) – 2:30 & 4:30pm When You’re 19:00 Switched At 1 08:00 Antiques Roadshow 10:35 Read It & Weep Expecting- Birth Unbroken (2D/Drama) – 6:15pm 08:55 Antiques Roadshow 12:15 Dog With A Blog 20:00 Bachelorette 20:00 The Blacklist Cousins (2D/Malayalam) – 8:45pm 09:45 Antiques Roadshow 12:40 Mako Mermaids 22:00 The Love Guru- Special Vice (2D/Action) – 11:15pm 10:40 Antiques Roadshow 13:05 Binny And The 00:00 21 & Over-18 21:00 The Strain Into The Woods (2D/Comedy) – 2:30pm 2 11:30 Antiques Roadshow Ghost 22:00 Sons Of Anarchy Paddington (2D/Comedy) – 4:45 & 6:30pm 12:20 Holmes On Homes 13:30 Girl Meets World 23:00 Supernatural LANDMARK Iron Clad: Battle of the Blood (2D/Action) – 8:30pm 13:05 Holmes On Homes 13:55 I Didn’t Do It P.K. (Hindi) (2D/Comedy) – 10.30pm 13:55 DIY SOS: The Big 14:20 Sabrina: Secrets Of Iron Clad: Battle of the Blood (2D/Action) – 2:30pm Build A Teenage Witch 3 Laggies (2D/Comedy) – 5:00pm 14:45 How To Cook Like 14:55 Gravity Falls The Woman in Black (2D/Drama) – 7:00pm Heston 15:20 Dog With A Blog Vice (2D/Action) – 9:00pm 15:10 Come Dine With Me: 15:45 Jessie 05:15 Zambezia-PG 08:00 Battleground South Africa 16:10 Austin & Ally 07:00 Safe Haven- Brothers Swelter (2D/Action) – 11:00pm 16:00 Bargain Hunt 16:35 Girl Meets World 09:00 Closed Circuit- 10:00 Megacities Legend of the Never Beast (3D/Animation) – 2:30pm 16:45 Bargain Hunt 17:00 Liv And Maddie 11:00 The Hunger 12:00 Diggers 1 P.K. (Hindi) (2D/Comedy) – 4.15 & 10.45pm 17:30 Antiques Roadshow 17:25 Disney Sing-Along Games: 12:30 Diggers Vice (2D/Action) – 7:00 & 9:00pm 18:25 Antiques Roadshow 19:30 Binny And The Catching Fire- 13:00 Hard Time Laggies (2D/Comedy) – 2:30 & 6:30pm 19:15 Phil Spencer: Secret Ghost 14:00 The Hobbit: The 14:00 Chasing UFOs ROYAL Legend of the Never Beast (3D/Animation) – 4:30pm Agent - Specials 19:55 Gravity Falls Desolation Of 15:00 Predator CSI 2 Unbroken (2D/Drama) – 8:30pm 20:05 Bill’s Kitchen: 20:20 Wizards Of Waverly Smaug-PG 17:00 Naked Science PLAZA Swelter (2D/Action) – 11:15pm Notting Hill Place 17:00 Closed Circuit- 18:00 Inside Unbroken (2D/Drama) – 2:30pm 20:30 Rick Stein’s India 20:45 Suite Life On Deck 19:00 The Immigrant- 19:00 Predator CSI 3 Swelter (2D/Action) – 5:00pm 21:20 Antiques Roadshow 21:10 Hannah Montana 21:00 House Of 20:00 Ancient Iron Clad: Battle of the Blood (2D/Action) – 7:00 & 11:00pm 22:15 Antiques Roadshow 21:35 That’s So Raven Versace-PG15 Megastructures 23:05 Antiques Roadshow 22:00 Suite Life On Deck 23:00 Filth-R 21:00 Naked Science The Woman in Black (2D/Drama) – 9:00pm

HYPER C RSO S W O RD 12345 67891011121314 DOWN 29 State of sleep 1 Mangle 30 Student loan 15 16 2 ___ Tower source, familiarly (Pacific landmark) 31 Third-year 17 18 3 More green hurdles, for some 4 Spelling 33 2008 Libertarian 19 20 21 problems? presidential 5 Brass maker: candidate 22 23 24 25 Abbr. 35 Lycée breaks 6 Year that Chaucer 36 Temporal ___ 26 27 28 died 38 It may come with 7 It follows a a cookie 29 30 31 32 33 pattern 41 Kentucky county 8 Stick in a 1976 34 35 36 9 2001-05 Pontiac Oscar-winning Yesterday’s answer made in Mexico documentary 37 38 39 10 Org. in 42 Forest ranger? How to play Hyper Sudoku: 1950s-’60s TV’s 44 Melvin who was A Hyper Sudoku Puzzle is solved by filling the numbers from 1 to 9 into the blank cells. A Hyper 40 41 42 “Naked City” called “The King Sudoku has unlike Sudoku 13 regions (four regions overlap with the nine standard regions). In all 11 Govt. lender of Torts” regions the numbers from 1 to 9 can appear only once. Otherwise, a Hyper Sudoku is solved like 43 44 45 46 47 48 12 Where Syracuse 46 Ruy ___ (chess a normal Sudoku. is a port opening) 49 50 51 13 Elderly 47 Relative of ocher How to play Kakuro: 14 Relative of ocher 48 Something from The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any 52 53 54 55 23 Where many the oven size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells accidents occur 50 Shot deliverer like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, 24 Lies out 56 57 53 Radiation unit some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some 25 Philadelphia 54 French cells will contain two numbers. tourist attraction However, in a crossword the numbers reference 58 59 possessive 27 Target of a squat, clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! 55 Use a laser on for short They denote the total of the digits in the row or 28 1960s dance, column referenced by the number. ACROSS 36 Spelunker’s aid Within each with “the” collection of cells 1 Prop for Kermit the Frog 37 High LCHA IM KRUGMAN - called a run - any 6 It’s big in the suburbs 38 Something cited in a of the numbers 1 15 Kind of acid citation LEADTO DIETRI TE to 9 may be used 16 Something you shouldn’t 39 Suffix with transcript- but, like sudoku, knock? 40 Über ___ ATMOST ABNORMAL each number may 17 What dots may represent 41 Origin of the word only be used once. MUMBO J UMBO EN L 18 “Stay cool!” “behemoth” ASYE UTILIZE Yesterday’s 19 ___ mix 43 Architect ___ van der answer 20 Ready to play, with “up” Rohe SHEERAGONY 21 N.F.L. stat: Abbr. 44 Knockout UNBEATEN I GLOO 22 ___ pants 45 Where Chekhov llived and Tolstoy summered 24 Source of the phrases SCULLER CAREENS Baby Blues By Jerry Scott and Rick Kirkman “cakes and ale” and “milk 49 Big Apple ave. of human kindness”: Abbr. 50 Half of a matched set MANE T T UNEDOU T 25 Belize native 51 Inadequate CATCHACOLD 26 What “II” or “III” may 52 Girl in “The Music Man” indicate with a floral name TOWROPE ANI L 28 Profession of Clementine’s 55 Nil HES NOHARMDONE father in “Oh My Darling, 56 Desktop item Clementine” 57 Elite unit ALPACINO SI ZEUP 29 R.A.F. award 58 Capital on the Raccoon CLARINET ORELSE 32 Shrimp River 33 Small job for a gardener? 59 Something from the oven KEYTAGS NASSER 34 Noble one ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE SATURDAY 3 JANUARY 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Freezing Kashmir

Fajr (Dawn) 4:59 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:20 Zuhr (Noon) 11:38 Asr (Afternoon) 2:37 Maghrib (Sunset) 4:57 Isha (Night) 6:27

WEATHER Weather Today Sunday Monday Conditions: Partly Cloudy Clear Clear Misty to foggy at places at first High: 25° High: 26° High: 25° becomes moderate Low: 18° Low: 19 Low: 18 temperature daytime with some clouds and relatively cold by night with hazy.

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:20 16:57 04:15 & 14:45 11:15 & 21:15 03-12/15 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 27/18 Clear 28/19 Clear MAKKAH 33/21 Partly cloudy 30/18 Clear A man walks past tree branches covered in ice on a cold morning on the outskirts of Srinagar, the summer capital of Kashmir, in India yesterday. KUWAIT 23/09 Clear 23/09 Clear BAHRAIN 24/14 Clear 27/13 Clear SANAA 22/04 Clear 22/05 Clear RIYADH 25/10 Clear 28/11 Clear DUBAI 26/17 Clear 24/17 Partly cloudy BAGHDAD 18/07 Partly cloudy 17/07 Partly cloudy Elvis Presley’s personal jets THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER ATHENS 13/05 Partly cloudy 14/07 Partly cloudy could fetch more than $10m WASHINGTON 06/08 Chance of Ice 18/04 Rain SYDNEY 31/20 Partly cloudy 33/20 Clear LONDON 11/01 Rain 06/01 Partly cloudy NEW YORK: Elvis Presley’s pair of personal jets, one com- PARIS 14/05 Rain 06/01 Partly cloudy plete with gilded wash basin ISTANBUL 06/03 Cloudy 08/03 Chance of showers and plush sleeping quarters, MANILA 28/23 Chance of rain 29/24 Partly cloudy will go under the hammer in a DHAKA 26/18 Partly cloudy 26/17 Chance of storm sealed-bid auction for a piece of DELHI 18/08 Partly cloudy 18/09 Partly cloudy mile-high rock and roll memo- ISLAMABAD 18/06 Partly cloudy 17/04 Clear rabilia, Julien’s Auctions said yesterday. Jets “Lisa Marie” and “Hound Dog II” that the late King of Rock and Roll designed himself will be offered together to bidders and are expected to fetch between $10m and $15m, the Beverly Hills, California, auction house said. They are no longer airwor- thy, but have been on view for visitors at Graceland — Presley’s Memphis, Tennessee estate — for the past three decades. Presley bought the Convair 880 jet from Delta Air Lines in 1975, two years before his death at age Lisa Marie 42, for $250,000. He named it The , a Convair 880 jet owned by entertainer Elvis Presley (inset), is displayed at Graceland in Memphis, “Lisa Marie” after his daughter. Tennessee. Presley spent more than $300,000 refurbishing the jet He purchased the eight-to-10 preferred to travel at night, up jets, independent of the Presley with a penthouse bedroom, exec- passenger “Hound Dog II,” a to 3,000 miles (4,800 km). museum. utive conference room, bar and Lockheed Jetstar, also in 1975 for Only 65 of the Convair 880 An agreement between videotape system linked to four about $900,000 while waiting on model jets were produced from Graceland and the jets’ current Lead singer Bono of the rock band U2 performs during the opening night of TVs. He had the plane painted the refurbishment of the “Lisa 1959 to 1962. owners, whose identity was not the North American leg of their 360 degree tour at Soldier Field in Chicago, red, white and blue with his Marie.” The buyer also has the option disclosed, is set to expire at the in this 2009 file photo. Bono, who was injured in a cycling accident last year, motto “TCB” — “Takin’ Care of The four-engine 28-passenger to purchase several acres adja- end of April. said his recovery has not been easy and he may never play guitar again. Business” — on the tail. Convair could fly Presley, who cent to Graceland to display the REUTERS Bono says may never play guitar again after bike fall NEW YORK: U2 frontman Bono said he may never play the guitar again after a bicycle accident that injured his hand, shoulder, elbow and face, the Irish rocker said on his website. Bono fell off his bicycle in New York’s Central Park in November and underwent hours of intensive surgery to wash out his elbow and repair the bone with three metal plates and 18 screws. Bono said in a post on his website late Thursday that the accident was more serious than he thought, and may prevent him from playing the guitar ever again. “Recovery has been more difficult than I thought. As I write this, it is not clear that I will ever play guitar again,” he wrote in a New Year post titled “Bono’s A to Z of 2014.” “I personally would very much miss fingering the frets of my green Irish falcon or my (RED) Gretsch. Just for the pleasure, aside from writing tunes,” he added. He said the injury has forced him to cancel all public appearances The interiors of the Hound Dog II (left), a Lockheed Jetstar, and Lisa Marie, a Convair 880 jet. and communications for the first half of 2015. U2 said this month they were planning a 2015 tour, set to start in May, which will be the Irish band’s first since 2009-2011, which was the highest-grossing tour in history. After the accident, U2’s three other members said they expected Lantern causes Bangkok Airways flight cancellation the singer to make a full recovery and that the band would be playing again soon. Bono said he would focus on getting better ahead of the BANGKOK: Bangkok Airways was forced Flight PG906, an airline statement said. In the latest incident no damage was scheduled tour start. to cancel a flight over the new year period The incident comes at a time of heightened caused to the aircraft which was later flown “U2 is a live band. Live is where we live or die... We have some after a traditional fire lantern was found stuck concern over fire lanterns — small paper bal- without passengers back to Bangkok for fur- extraordinary ideas up our sleeve for this tour I’ve just got to be rebuilt to the plane’s engine, the airline said yesterday. loons usually powered by a candle which are ther testing. “Today our technicians checked by 14th May,” he said. The Airbus A320 had flown into Chiang Mai traditionally released by Thais during festi- the aircraft and found that the engine was He posted an X-ray photo of his elbow on the band’s site, showing airport in the country’s north on Thursday vals and celebrations. fine and safe,” Bangkok Airways said. several titanium pins connected to his arm bone. night from Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport Scores of flights from Chiang Mai had to be The incident comes after an AirAsia “Here is my titanium elbow for a laugh,” he quipped. and was due to return to the capital. cancelled in October during a festival because jet flying from Surabaya in Indonesia to He said despite the physical injuries he sustained, the more serious As the plane taxied to its stand, lanterns lanterns drifted into the airport’s airspace Singapore crashed into the sea on Sunday damage was to his ego. “I broke my hand, my shoulder, my elbow and were spotted floating over the airport and and aviation chiefs have previously warned during a storm with 162 people aboard. On my face but the real injury this year was to my Irish pride as it was one was apparently sucked into the engine. that lamps could be hazardous to aircraft. Tuesday another AirAsia jet — this time in discovered that under my tracksuit I was wearing yellow and black “After the aircraft parked at the gate, “We have collected 200 lanterns inside the Philippines — skidded off the runway on Lycra cycling shorts,” he wrote. technicians found a lantern stuck to engine Chiang Mai airport over New Year’s Eve,” arrival at a popular resort island, causing no “Yes, LYCRA. This is not very rock ‘n’ roll.” number two and the airline decided to cancel” Visutr Chantana, the airport’s director said. injuries but shutting the small airport. AFP AFP