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Thursday 15 January 2015 • 24 Rabial I 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6311 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Handball Championship begins today Muslim scholars Stiff penalty condemn Charlie Hebdo cartoon for delay in DOHA: A leading association of Muslim academics has criti- cised the decision by French weekly Charlie Hebdo to publish a new cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), salary transfer claiming it would “stir up hatred”. “It is neither reasonable, nor logical, nor wise to publish draw- Cabinet okays ministerial decision ings and films offensive or attack- ing the prophet of Islam,” the DOHA: The Ministry of Labour on payment of the workers’ wages. International Union of Muslim and Social Affairs has proposed WPS aims to ensure that Scholars, based in Qatar and strict penalties on employers employers fulfil their obligation headed by Dr Yousuf Al Qaradawi, who fail to transfer salaries of of paying the workers’ wages in said in a statement. their employees to the bank a timely manner, and in accord- It was the first edition of the within a maximum seven days ance with their contracts and the magazine to be published since from the due date. applicable regulations in the state. gunmen killed 12 people in an The penalties are included in The draft authorizes the depart- attack on its Paris offices last week. the draft ministerial decision on ment at the Ministry of Labour Publication of the drawing Wage Protection System (WPS) and Social Affairs to take the nec- would give further “credibility” to approved by the State Cabinet yes- essary measures to implement the the idea that “the West is against terday. The Cabinet in its regular Wage Protection System (WPS) Islam”. It added that the images meeting also discussed measures for workers under the labour law. One of the artworks installed at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall to celebrate the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship would further “stir up hatred, for issuing the draft law amending A regular meeting of the that begins in Doha today. The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will open the event. See pages 2, 27 & 28 extremism and tension”. AFP some provisions of the labour law. Cabinet chaired by the Prime See also pages 8 & 12 The amendments make it man- Minister and Interior Minister datory for employers to transfer H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser salaries of their employees to a bin Khalifa Al Thani also dis- financial institution in the country. cussed the necessary measures Oil up 5pc from Roof collapses at Landmark 100 licences As per the draft ministerial for issuing a draft law amending decision, the ministry can either some provisions of the labour law multi-year lows BY FAZEENA SALEEM “Civil defence is checking into revoked for stop issuing new work permits to (No. 14 for the year 2004). the safety of the Landmark after the erring employers, or stop all The Cabinet thereafter, NEW YORK: US oil prices DOHA: Panic spread among collapse of a small part of gypsum traffic violations dealings with them, except attes- reviewed the Advisory Council’s shot up more than five per- visitors at the Landmark shop- ceiling at the corridor,” MOI said tation of the labour contracts. recommendations on the draft law. cent in a move attributed ping mall when part of the gyp- on its Twitter account around DOHA: The Traffic Department The curbs can be lifted by the According to the amendment, to bargain-hunting after sum ceiling collapsed at its busy 10.30 am yesterday. revoked 100 drivers’ licences Minister or his representative only workers who have been hired on the contract sank to a new corridor yesterday morning. An employee of a store at the during 2014 for serious viola- after the employer in question annual or monthly salaries are to multi-year low the prior day. The corridor, with an artificial Landmark told this daily yester- tions of the traffic law, a local pays all outstanding wages and be paid once a month, but all other US benchmark West Texas roof with a drawing of the sky, day: “The area is busy even during Arabic daily reported yesterday. submit a proof of it. The minister workers must be paid at least once Intermediate for February leads to the food court, cinemas mornings due to the food court The licences have been can- or his representative will take a every two weeks. delivery jumped $2.59, to and children’s play area making it and cafes. Luckily no one was celled permanently after an decision on what action has to be The Minister of Labour and $48.48 a barrel, on the New the busiest spot. The area is also hurt. If it was in the evening the evaluation of the traffic accidents taken against the erring employer Social Affairs will issue the York Mercantile Exchange. located near three popular cafes scene could have been different as in the country. A driver working as per the law. required regulations to ensure European benchmark Brent at the shopping mall. many people cross that place to with a leading company in Qatar The Labour Inspection payment of workers’ salaries in oil gained $2.10, to $48.69. AFP No one was injured in the inci- the play area and cinemas.” also faced similar action recently. Department may request a time in compliance with the law. See also page 17 dent according to the Ministry of Continued on page 6 Continued on page 6 detailed report from the employer THE PENINSULA Interior (MOI). THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 HOME 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com QM unveils artworks to celebrate Qatar 2015 Three art pieces installed at Lusail multipurpose hall

DOHA: Qatar Museums (QM) bronze sculpture entitled “The yesterday unveiled three pub- Challenge 2015”, produced in five Emir to open lic art pieces especially com- months by Iraqi artist Ahmed Al missioned to celebrate the Bahrani. championship 24th Men’s Handball World The third is a “calligraffiti” Championships in Doha. piece by Tunisian artist eL Seed DOHA: The Emir H H The artworks are a result who blends traditional Arabic Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad of collaboration between QM calligraphy with contemporary Al Thani will patron- and the Qatar 2015 Organising street art. ize the opening of the 24th Committee. It includes poetry quotes by IHF Men’s Handball World They are installed at the Lusail Sheikh Jassem bin Mohammed Championship – Qatar 2015 multipurpose hall as part of an bin Thani, the Founder of Qatar. at the Lusail Sports Hall this ongoing public art programme to This is Seed’s second project in evening. bring culture to the streets. Qatar. His first in 2013 involved Several heads of state and They include two murals cre- painting four underground tun- heads of delegations of the ated by Qatari artist Mohammed nels on Salwa Road with artis- countries participating in the Al Nasif and inspired by Qatari tic graffiti themes and quotes on tournaments will attend the culture, development and identity, education, history and opening. progress. other aspects of life in Doha. QNA The second artwork is a large THE PENINSULA

Top global artistes to perform at Twenty-Four Funzone until February 1

DOHA: International artistes Sport enthusiasts will enjoy Back on the ground, visitors will entertain guests at the daily sport highlights, activities can also enjoy billiards and air Twenty-Four Funzone from and challenges like Speed Ball, hockey tables and admire the tomorrow until February 1. Goal Wall, Pool Tables, and table graffiti artist walls which will be The Funzone beside Doha Golf football. There will also be video set up outdoor. Club is a huge pop-up big top ded- games. All guests will be invited to icated to art, fun and sport. Guests who would like a solo share Funzone experiences with On Saturday, Chico and The thrill will be invited to leap from family and friends using funny Gypsies will stage a word-class a 40-metre-high platform with photocalls or the ‘selfie wall’, con- concert. the Funzone’s onsite bungee nected to personal social media During the following days, jump. accounts, thanks to connected Cirque Eloize, All Star Band, Those wishing to share extreme wristbands. mentalist Frederic Sharp and experience with a friend can A wide range of food will be other international artistes will pair up to be thrown 35-metre available at the venue. entertain fans with music, circus, through the air inside the reverse Twenty-Four Funzone is open trial biking and magic shows. bungee. from 8pm to 2am everyday for A special concert by Kool & And for those who prefer a those aged 18 and above. Entry The Gang, the famous 1980s band, more peaceful aerial view of fee is QR100 convertible to food performing their brand of crazy Doha, a hot-air balloon ride could and beverages. funk will close the events. be the perfect option. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Woqod opens second vehicle inspection centre

DOHA: Qatar Fuel (Woqod) yesterday inaugurated its sec- ond centre for vehicle inspec- Reduction in retail fuel tion (Fahes), in Mesaimeer. The centre close to the com- pany’s fuel station, offers a single prices unlikely: Official window service system, ensuring motorists’ comfort and smooth workflow. BY MOHAMMAD SHOEB prices. Overall, the government The facility, equipped with will have lower revenues from oil all contemporary technologies, DOHA: Qatar Fuel (Woqod) exports due to the lower price of is built at an estimated cost of yesterday said it is highly crude and refined products.” QR18m, over an area of 6,500sqm. unlikely that the retail prices To a question whether the cur- At the centre, dubbed ‘Smart of petrol and diesel will be rent oil scenario will have any Fahes’, motorists can get their reduced, despite a significant positive impact on the compa- vehicle technical inspections done fall in global oil prices, as the ny’s profitability, he said Woqod while sitting in their cars. This products are already heavily is well-diversified and does not is being seen as a relief by them subsidised. rely only on its fuels business. because at other facilities, they “The price we are selling (fuel) “What we are trying to do are required to get down from at pumps is still way below the is spread our risks by having their cars even during scorching international price for petrol and diverse business portfolios, for summer. diesel,” an official said. “If you example Fahes (vehicle technical It is the second of Smart look at the mid-Arabian Gulf inspection centres), Sidra (chain Fahes projects after the open- Platts prices of diesel, for exam- of retail outlets) and others, so ing of the first in Wadi Al Banat ple, it is about QR2.50 per litre, that whenever there is fluctua- last December. Four are in the Officials touring the facility in Mesaimeer after the inauguration ceremony. SALIM MATRAMKOT but we are selling it at QR1.50 per tion of fuel prices in the market design and construction phases litre. It’s possible only because of over which we have no control, in Al Wakra, Al Shamal, Al was attended by Woqod Board centres are a pioneering experi- agencies and ensuring high reli- the state subsidies.” the company is assured that the Shihaniyyah and Al Khour and members, Woqod CEO, Ibrahim ence in the technical inspection of ability of the electronically pro- Asked who will be the end-ben- overall effect on its businesses are expected to open this year. Jaham Al Kuwari, representatives vehicles, as they are built accord- duced reports (paper reports have eficiary of the reduced prices, he is limited.” Diesel prices were As part of a plan, Woqod will from the Traffic Department, ing to the highest modern stand- been done away with). said: “Retail customers are get- increased to QR1.50 per litre last also establish several smart concerned public authorities and ards of the single window system Through the single window sys- ting heavily subsidised petrol and May from QR1 effective since late inspection centres at its fuel sta- departments, Woqod’s manage- to ensure comfort and smooth tem, the centres also allow clients diesel — QR1 and QR1.5 per litre, January 2011. As for bulk prices tions where there is sufficient ment team and guests. workflow,” he said. to pay for traffic violation tickets respectively. Given the decline in for projects, local projects get space to them. Al Kuwari said: “We are Fahes Smart inspection cen- and insurance premiums, if they global oil prices, the government diesel at QR1.50 per litre (same The second centre was opened pleased to inaugurate the second tres guarantee the accuracy and want, with the centres playing an will have a reduced gap between as retail price) and joint venture under the patronage of Sheikh centre for vehicle inspection in centralisation of inspection data, intermediary role between the cli- the subsidised prices petrol and projects at QR1.80. Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Mesaimeer region. thereby minimising the manipula- ent and insurance companies. diesel and the international THE PENINSULA Chairman, Woqod. The ceremony “We are proud that these tion of data by employees or other THE PENINSULA

Cayman 991, Boxster models of 2014 and 2015 recalled Two win first round of Tala’a competition DOHA: Two participants emerged The same schedule will be followed a generation with interest in their the final round. In the Hudud Al DOHA: The Ministry of Economy and Commerce, in winners in the Tala’a contest, today, with the morning devoted to heritage and commitment to its role. Tahaddi Challenge, falcons seek to collaboration with the dealer of Porsche cars in Qatar, which began yesterday at the Qatar Tala’a and the afternoon to Hudud He also commended organisers for obstruct the flight of homing pigeons has announced recall of Cayman 991 and Boxster models Falcons and Hunting Festival in Al Tahaddi. a job well done. especially trained to fly away, causing of 2014 and 2015 due to a defect in engine cover which is Sabkhat Marmi, Mesaieed. Ibrahim Al Nasr, a member of the Mohammed bin Mubarak Al them to land. unstable and may hurt the motorist. The ministry will Mohammed Al Temtam Al Marri Shura Council, stressed the contri- Ali, Head, the Tala’a Organising It tests falcons’ speed and ability to coordinate with the dealer on the repair of the defect and and Abdulhadi Al Mahran Al Marri bution of the festival to supporting Committee, said the event did not identify the locations of their preys be in touch with customers to know the satisfaction level won the first round of the competi- falconry which is an important com- begin until the panel was confident and involves an electronic Habari about the repair. The ministry has also urged all custom- tion in the morning. ponent of national heritage. about the weather to hold it at 7am. bird or bustard put about one kilo- ers to report any violations to the Consumer Protection Fahed Al Musaifri won and the He praised the festival for bring- He said 100 contestants were metre away. The qualifying time is and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department which receives Hudud Al Tahaddi Challenge in the ing amateur falconers together and divided into four groups of 25, with counted from the moment the falcon complains and suggestions through its hot line 8005000 afternoon and will move to the final motivating them to adhere to their one group competing each day. The is released. and email- [email protected] THE PENINSULA round. identity and traditions, thus raising top 10 participants will qualify for THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Sheikh Thani honoured with first Dentons award Top philanthropist’s efforts recognised by law firm DOHA: Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani, a prominent businessman and philanthro- pist, has been presented with the first Dentons Social Impact Award 2014, given by the global law firm. Matthew Jones, CEO, Dentons UKMEA, said the award was launched “to recognise efforts of those who work tirelessly for the disadvantaged around the world.” It was given in recognition of Sheikh Thani’s achievements and outstanding contributions to social and humanitarian projects and charitable work that covers several parts of the world. Sheikh Thani’s long-standing support of those most in need in Qatar and around the world make him the most deserving recipient of the award, Jones said as he Sheikh Thani bin Abdullah Al Thani receiving the award from Matthew Jones, conferred the award on him on CEO, Dentons UKMEA, at a ceremony at Ezdan Hotel. Qatar Charity volunteers with Syrian children after the distribution of winter clothing. Monday. “His Excellency’s outstand- the global institutions known for award. This appreciation and the ing humanitarian and charitable fairness and credibility, is a new award reflect the humanitarian work provides critical support addition to Sheikh Thani’s unpar- and social responsibility dimen- QC distributes aid to Syrian refugees to the world’s most vulnerable alleled achievements in various sion of companies which need people — those who live in pov- fields. “I am honoured that our to be carried by all individuals DOHA: Qatar Charity’s (QC) benefactors to save the lives of emergency aid for Syrian refugees erty; those with special needs humanitarian and social efforts and firms for society whatever team is distributing emergency their Syrian brothers,” Shahwani in Lebanon and on the Turkish- and mental health issues; those have received this recognition and their nationality, financial status aid to Syrian refugees in neigh- said, adding thousands of Syrians Syrian border to help them face displaced by war and natural dis- attention from reputed interna- or religion. This is in line with bouring countries, following a are living in the open or in light- the Al Huda snowstorm that hit asters; those without access to tional organisations. This means directives of the leadership to the wave of snowstorms and loss of weight tents that offer little pro- the Levant at the end of last week. food, clean water, medicine and that we have succeeded in our business community in Qatar to life and property in the region. tection from the low temperatures, This allocation is expected to ben- education,” Jones said. He also attempt to deliver our services to assume their social responsibility Around 20,000 people are which in some areas have fallen efit over 73,000 people. praised the work done by Sheikh the needy and afflicted people in towards local and global societies.” expected to benefit from the aid below zero and forecasters warn- QC has spent QR187m on Thani’s charitable foundations and different parts of the world, not The award was presented in a over the next few days. ing against the worst snowstorms aid until 2014-end, benefit- organisations. only locally or regionally,” Sheikh ceremony at Ezdan Hotel. The delegation of volunteers, is in 80 years this weekend. ting 4,033,000 Syrians. About The award, given by one of Thani said as he accepted the THE PENINSULA headed by Sheikh Shaqr Shahwani He appealed to philanthropists 57 percent of the projects were and Abdul Aziz Al Mohannadi. and benefactors to rescue their for Syrians in the country and Distributions took place at vari- Syrian brothers and sisters need- included food, shelter, health and ous points along the Jordanian- ing shelter, food, medicine and sponsorships. Half of these projects Syrian border, in the provinces of clothing and said QC is collecting were inside Syria to support the New rules for perfumes from February 15 Zaatari and Mafraq, with a focus donations through its ‘Before the increasing number of displaced on Um Alqotain and Al Dafianeh Freeze’ campaign. people, and the humanitarian DOHA: Qatar General Authority for Specifications The authority has given a grace period of seven areas, where thousands benefited At the beginning of this year, organisations which faced difficulty and Standardisation has decided to implement months to traders to adhere to new specifications. from children’s and winter cloth- QC announced the allocation of in accessing them. The remaining new technical regulations for perfumes containing It had announced earlier that it would introduce ing, shoes, hats, blankets, meat and QR36.5m for aid for the Syrian 43 percent supported Syrian ref- Ethanol. The regulation — QS No. GSO 1046:2001 new technical specifications for imported cosmetics other food items. people. The announcement was ugees in neighbouring countries, for cosmetics and perfumes containing Ethanol — (non-medical). The importers were required at the “The delegation responded to a made in conjunction with the particularly Lebanon, Iraq and will be implement from February 15 to protect the time to get a copy of the specifications to adhere to distress call from the field to all announcement of QR2m in Turkey. THE PENINSULA health of users and combat commercial fraud. new provisions. THE PENINSULA

THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Macedonian President arrives Al Sebsi hails Non-residential lease Qatar’s support TUNIS: The Tunisian President, Al Baji Qa’ed Al Sebsi praised Qatar’s support to Tunisia since deals to be extended the revolution of January 14, 2011. DOHA: The Cabinet yester- also endorsed its draft deci- and Japan, and the attached This came as he met day approved a proposal of the sion amending regulations of protocol and a draft air services Qatari Ambassador Ministry of Municipality and some administrative units of agreement between Qatar and Abdullah bin Nasser Al Urban Planning for extending Qatar Tourism Authority, and Latvia. Humaidi who attended lease contracts for non-resi- a draft decision of the Minister The session took decisions a ceremony at the dential purposes for one year of Economy and Commerce on after reviewing a letter by the Presidential Palace in as of February 15, 2015. creating sections in the admin- Minister of Justice on a proposal Carthage on the occasion The provisions of legal exten- istrative units and setting their to amend Article 182 of the Penal of the fourth anniversary sion excludes the administra- terms of reference. Code promulgated by Law No. of the revolution. tive headquarters of commercial The meeting approved acces- (11) for 2004; a memorandum Al Humaidi conveyed companies and legal people sion to the Nagoya Protocol on of the Minister of Finance on the congratulations of the engaged in private trade, the Access to Genetic Resources the results of 11th conference Emir H H Sheikh Tamim Macedonian President Georgi Ivanov yesterday arrived to attend the opening of offices of lawyers, accountants, and the Fair and Equitable of the federation of tax authori- bin Hamad Al Thani and the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship Qatar 2015. Ivanov and his delega- engineers, veterinarians, clinics Sharing of Benefits Arising ties in Islamic States in Tunisia wishes of good health to tion were welcomed by the Minister of Youth and Sports H E Salah bin Ghanem and the offices of agriculture, from their Utilization annexed last month; and a letter of the him and the Tunisian bin Nasser Al Ali, Qatari Ambassador to Macedonia, Zaid Hassan Abdullah Al animal husbandry and fishery to the Convention on Biological Ministry of Communications people more progress and experts. Diversity. and Information Technology prosperity. Mahmoud, and other officials at Hamad International Airport. The weekly session, chaired The Cabinet approved a draft on the outcome of the 18th by the Prime Minister and agreement on the avoidance of meeting of the Council of Arab FM receives Interior Minister H E Sheikh double taxation and prevention Ministers of Communications Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa of fiscal evasion with respect to and Information Technology in new envoys Appreciation and Incentive Al Thani at the Emiri Diwan, taxes on income between Qatar Cairo last December. QNA DOHA: The Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid Awards for 2015 launched bin Mohamed Al Attiyah yesterday received a DOHA: The Ministry of Culture, at the Emiri Diwan, which reflects copy of the credentials Arts and Heritage yesterday his appreciation for science, arts and of the new Albanian launched Qatar’s 2015 appreciation literature. Ambassador Edmond and incentive awards in sciences, Dr Al Kuwari also praised the Chasha. arts and literature. Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad He also received a copy The Minister of Culture, Arts and bin Khalifa Al Thani who launched of the credentials of the Heritage and Chairman of the board the awards and said the leadership new Spanish Ambassador of trustees for the awards H E Dr believes that the real investment is Escobar Grario. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, that in humans. The Minister wished Qatari scientists and innovators in The Minister also launched a web- both ambassadors success different fields were present. site for the awards in Arabic and in their assignments. The Minister expressed gratitude English. A third edition in French and appreciation to the Emir H H will be launched soon. CMC discusses Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani The website includes details about for supporting the awards and moti- the awards, including their objec- traffic vating scientists and innovators and tives, criteria and categories and the said the Emir gave a fantastic and option of posting data and updates violations exceptional model in recognising on social networking websites such Qatari scientists and innovators last as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Continued from page 1 year when he honoured the winners QNA Citing a report tabled by the services committee of the CMC at its weekly session on Tuesday, the daily said drivers involv- ing in serious violations of the traffic law could face severe punishments, including cancellation of the licence and impound- ing of vehicles. Officials at the scene of the accident. The report also noted that violations of the law have declined significantly Call to ensure visitors’ safety at malls due to intensive monitoring by the Traffic Department. Continued from page 1 to shopping malls. “The pictures show that a major Traffic patrolling teams Social networking sites shared photos and videos portion of the gypsum ceiling has collapsed. This has have been deployed at 18 of the incident. They showed portions of the col- happened due to the ignorance of the mall mainte- signal-controlled intersec- lapsed gypsum ceiling, Ambulance Service and Civil nance. Permanent solutions should be found for such tions while 50 teams are Defence staff at the venue. A witness said on Twitter, problems and whoever is responsible should be taken monitoring roundabouts “I was at Starbucks and it happened in front of me. into account,” said a Twitter posting. and other parts of the city, A big part of the gypsum collapsed and thankfully Another commentator said, “People will be more said the daily. people immediately ran way and no one was injured.” scared to go to shopping malls while hearing of fire The session discussed Faizal Al Marzooqi, a Qatari columnist, tweeted, accidents and roof collapses. So there should be some traffic-related issues and “If we check all shopping malls, will be able to find strong action to ensure the safety of people.” came out with recom- many defects. Especially the Landmark from the In April 2013, part of the roof of a popular ice mendations to reduce beginning looked like a garage.” cream parlour collapsed at Landmark shopping mall. accidents. Many called for action to ensure safety of visitors No one was injured. 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QA to launch direct Doha-Sofia flights in March DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) Bucharest. globe served by QA from Hamad connections instead of five will launch direct flights from The launch will add an addi- International Airport. from March 1, while capac- Doha to Sofia in March. tional choice and more options for Frequencies are also increasing ity to Zagreb will increase The destination is cur- passengers when travelling to any from Doha to Ankara, which will with an additional direct rently served by the airline via of the 146 destinations around the be served by a six weekly flight flight per week, increasing the frequency from four to five direct flights. “QA is expanding rap- idly, not only in terms of new destinations and our network offering, but also with the service we offer. Complementing our five- star service are our trans- fer facilities at Hamad International Airport, coupled with the experi- ence of flying on board one of the youngest fleets in the industry,” said Akbar Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, QA. The further expansion by the airline into Eastern Europe follows news that QA is increasing the fre- quency on its Doha to Istanbul Sabiha Gkçen Airport to a double-daily service from March 29. QA currently operates to Istanbul Sabiha Gkçen Airport, Istanbul Ataturk Airport and Ankara. With the launch of addi- tional frequencies, passen- gers from the Middle East, Asia Pacific and Africa can take advantage of addi- tional connections to all these European cities via Doha. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Ooredoo’s programme Museum of Flight engages wins EMMA award DOHA: Ooredoo Group’s Global tap into the group’s employee pool Talent Mobility Program has and accelerate the deployment of children with STEM sessions been voted as the best in the functional and technical experts technology and media sector for to transfer knowledge and build DOHA: Hundreds of Qatari the Europe, Middle East and local capabilities. Employees have students recently learned about Africa region (EMEA) at the also benefited, gaining experience the science, history and engi- Expatriate Management and in new markets, while receiving neering behind flight through Mobility Awards (EMMAs) in support from the company. a travelling aviation road show London. The best mobility programme co-sponsored by Boeing and In 2013, the programme under- in technology and media award Qatar Aeronautical College went a major transformation, recognises how an in-house (QAC). enabling the delivery of talent mobile team has delivered the For the second year, Boeing deployment strategies and solu- best services within the industry. and QAC sponsored the US-based tions to accelerate corporate The winning categories were Museum of Flight to hold interac- initiatives and tackle business chosen by a panel comprising tive educational programmes at challenges. some of the most highly-regarded Al Khor Fly-In. “Ooredoo is a truly global com- names in global mobility industry. The museum also visited Qatar pany today, and a major part of Ooredoo won the recognition Academy in Al Khor where our successful transformation has against strong competition from fourth-through-eighth grade been our investment in our team. leading multinational organisa- students were educated on the “By providing our employees tions. “Ooredoo demonstrated an principles of science, technology, with resources to transfer across incredible, passionate and dedi- engineering and mathematics our footprint, we have enriched cated journey in creating a global (STEM) that form the founda- their career development and function backed by strong evi- tion of aviation. ensured that our operations have dence of achievements and ben- “The interactive, hands-on access to the experience they efits to the company,” the judges activities provided a unique need,” said Mohanna Al Nuaimi, said. EMMAs have become one of experience that made our stu- Chief Human Resource Officer, the most prestigious awards event dents confident to think out of Ooredoo Group. With operations of the mobility industry calendar. the box. Awesome two days for in the Middle East, North Africa In its eighth year, the awards our students at Qatar Academy and Southeast Asia, Ooredoo has attracted more entries and higher Al Khor”, said Ghada Bou Zein benefited by investing in mobil- profile attendance than before. Eddine, Director of the academy. A museum volunteer explaining to children the principles of science, technology, engineering and mathematics ity, enabling business leaders to THE PENINSULA The museum’s demonstrations (STEM) that form the foundation of aviation. included the Flying Gizmo Show which helps students discover the Khor Fly-In event in scientific them pursue careers in the sci- help shape future leaders in the history and science of flight, and projects related to robots and ences or aerospace. aviation industry. We look forward 34 take part in WISE Learners’ Robot Garage which introduces basic application of laws of phys- “Boeing is committed to inspir- to continued collaborations with the basic engineering ideas behind ics,” said Ali Al Malki, Director- ing and educating young minds QAC and Qatari youth to achieve Voice Programme 2014-15 robotics. General, QAC. Boeing and QAC through community engagements Qatar National Vision 2030,” said “The museum trained QAC have a longstanding partnership and events such as this road show. Jeffery Johnson, President, Boeing DOHA: The WISE Learners’ programme. Learners exam- students to engage visitors to Al to inspire Qatari youth and help We hope the event will further Middle East. THE PENINSULA Voice Programme 2014-15 ends ined pressing issues in educa- its first residential session in tion and explored innovative Doha this week. The 10-day mod- approaches that addressed them. ule brought together 34 young They began planning collabora- Qatar Airways to launch freighter services to Basel learners from around the world, tive group projects which identify including six Qataris. It aimed to innovative educational solutions DOHA: Qatar Airways Cargo will launch 330 freighter and will operate from Brussels to “The pharmaceutical industry is witness- provide them with a foundational to challenges in the sectors of twice weekly Airbus 330 freighter services Basel with a final stop in Doha on Wednesdays ing rapid growth and with the rising demand understanding of key concepts health, environment, technology to Basel, Switzerland, on January 28, the and Saturdays. there is the need to ensure that pharmaceuti- and evolving trends in education, and the arts. As well as various company said yesterday. Basel has a large pharmaceutical indus- cals and healthcare products are transported and training in leadership and online activities, the learners will The airline will also commence a Pharma try and is home to the headquarters of many with the utmost care while avoiding any tem- communication skills. participate in a second residential Express service this month – the first of its major pharmaceutical firms, while the Swiss perature fluctuations. By investing in sophisti- The focus on education, lead- session in Madrid, in June. kind in the industry, offering air freight to the chemical industry also operates largely from cated technology and a team of highly qualified ership and communication is Selected projects will be pharmaceutical industry worldwide. Basel. Brussels and the region of Flanders in staff, QA Cargo can now offer healthcare firms designed to support participants presented at the 2015 World Pharma Express will link two key pharma Belgium house 146 life science companies with and their logistic partners a service for ship- as they research and develop Innovation Summit for Education origins, Brussels and Basel, with the exten- biotech activities, of which 50 are related to ping temperature-sensitive pharmaceuticals innovative education projects (WISE) Summit in Doha in sive QA’s network via Doha. The Pharma healthcare, 46 active in the bio-based economy all over the world,” said Ulrich Ogiermann, throughout the year-long November. THE PENINSULA Express route will be served by the Airbus and 50 are life science providers. Chief Officer, QA Cargo. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Anger, calls for calm over new cartoons Turkey blocks Charlie Hebdo websites; move to spark more ‘terror’, says Hezbollah Sanctities need CAIRO/ISTANBUL: Muslim offices, protesters hung banners respect: Iran clerics in the Middle East who on a nearby wall that read: “The denounced last week’s attack Charlie provocation continues.” GENEVA: Iran’s foreign on Charlie Hebdo criticised the Police had stopped trucks car- minister Mohammad Jawad French satirical weekly yes- rying the newspaper from the Zarif, ruffled by the latest terday for publishing, On the printing press to ensure it did not Charlie Hebdo cartoons, said front of its “survivor’s edition”, contain the image, Milliyet newspa- yesterday that serious dia- new cartoons depicting Prophet per reported. Insulting the Prophet logue with the West would be Muhammad (PBUH) in its first (PBUH) is punishable with a prison easier if it respected Muslim issue after the killings. term under a clause in the Turkish sensitivities. While mainstream Muslim penal code that bars disrespect of “We believe that sancti- leaders around the world have religious values. ties need to be respected and strongly condemned the attack Also, a Turkish court yes- unless we learn to respect one on the newspaper, many said its terday ordered a block on web- another it will be very difficult decision to print more cartoons sites featuring the controversial in a world of different views was an unnecessary provocation front cover of the first issue of and different cultures and civi- and sign of disrespect that would Charlie Hebdo. The court in the lisations,” Zarif said. create a new backlash. southeastern Turkish city of “We won’t be able to engage Such cartoons “fuel feelings of Diyarbakir, responding to a peti- in a serious dialogue if we start hatred and resentment among tion brought by a single lawyer, disrespecting each other’s val- people” and publishing them ordered the block on websites ues and sanctities,” Zarif said. “shows contempt” for Muslim displaying the cover, the state “And I think we would have a feelings, said the Grand Mufti Anatolia news agency reported. much safer, much more prudent of Jerusalem and Palestinian In Iran, a leading conservative world if we were to engage in lands, Mohammed Hussein, in a cleric, Grand Ayatollah Nasser serious dialogue, serious debate statement. Makarem-Shirazi, said the pub- about our differences,” he added. Algeria’s independent Arab lan- lication of new satirical images “Then we will find out that what guage daily Echorouk responded “amounts to declaring war on all binds us together is far greater with a front page cartoon of its Muslims”. than that what divides us.” own, showing a man carrying a Egypt’s Al Azhar, a thousand- The minister added that the “Je suis Charlie” placard next to year-old seat of Islamic learning world was “now faced with very a military tank crushing placards that has referred to the Paris serious problems of extremism from Palestine, Mali, Gaza, Iraq attack as a criminal act, called Protesters shout slogans during a demonstration against the publication by Turkish daily newspaper Cumhuriyet not only in the Middle East but and Syria. Above, the headline on Muslims yesterday to ignore of a four-page pull-out containing cartoons and articles translated into Turkish from the Charlie Hebdo issue, near unfortunately in Europe. You’ve reads: “We are all Mohammad”. the magazine’s cartoons, labelling the newspapers’ premises in Istanbul, yesterday. seen demonstrations here in In Turkey, Cumhuriyet, a them “hateful frivolity”. Europe which are extremely staunchly secular opposition Many people on the streets in published anywhere, but they’ve Saudi cleric Iyad Ameen “What the French magazine did dangerous and we need to be newspaper, printed excerpts of the Middle East said it was time made their decision to do it yet Madani, Secretary General of again is very offensive to the able to deal with that”. Charlie Hebdo, one of five inter- to move on. “The cartoons have no again, to show their freedoms the Organisation of Islamic feelings of more than 1.5 billion Meanwhile, Syrian President national editions of the satirical meaning, they should not affect aren’t changed,” he said. Cooperation, denounced the new Muslims across the world, and to Bashar Al Assad urged states newspaper. Cumhuriyet dedicated us. We as Muslims are bigger and “Now that they’ve made their cartoon as “insolence, ignorance all those who follow monotheis- fighting terrorism to share four of its pages to Charlie Hebdo stronger than some cartoon. We point, I really hope this is the last and foolishness”. “Freedom of tic religions,” said Hezbollah in a intelligence, saying European articles and cartoons. It printed should not pay attention, and if time they do this. I don’t think speech must not become a hate- statement. policies were responsible for a small, black-and-white version we react we should react with it will lead to more violence, but speech and it is not an offence “It is an act that contributes attacks by Islamist gunmen in of the cover in one of its columns, word for word and cartoon for they missed an opportunity to to the others. No sane person, directly to supporting terrorism, France last week. “There should but did not use the image in the cartoon,” said Samir Mahmoud, leave the subject in the past and regardless of doctrine, religion or extremism and fundamentalists,” be ... an exchange of information special section itself, after “many a retired engineer in Cairo. move forward.” The newspaper’s faith, accepts his beliefs being rid- the Shia movement added. The between the countries concerned consultations,” its editor in chief Emad Awad, a Christian in defenders said the cover balanced iculed,” he said on a visit to Iraq. Hezbollah statement comes five with fighting terrorism,” Assad Utku Cakirozer said on Twitter. Cairo, said he understood the a determination to demonstrate Lebanon’s powerful Hezbollah days after chief Hassan Nasrallah said. “We told the West: ‘You Police had cordoned off the anger of his Muslim neighbours that it remains committed to its movement blasted Charlie said Sunni jihadists have caused cannot support terrorism and street where Cumhuriyet is but hoped there would be no satirical mission and free speech, Hebdo’s new cartoon as “very more offence to Muslims than any provide a political umbrella for located in Istanbul due to secu- more unrest. “I reject completely with an appropriately mournful offensive”, warning it will lead to book, cartoon or film. it because that will reflect on rity concerns. At its Ankara that pictures of the Prophet be tone and a peaceful message. more “terrorism and extremism”. REUTERS/AFP your countries and nations,’” Assad said. AGENCIES Kerry backs Russian bid for new Syria peace talks Libya peace talks GENEVA: US Secretary of He said de Mistura was It invited 28 opposition figures, Syria,” Kerry said. “So we hope State John Kerry yesterday “engaged in a very complicated including individual members of that the Russian efforts could voiced backing for a Russian-led but very important effort to try the internationally-recognised be helpful, we hope that the UN start in Geneva bid for new talks to end Syria’s to move the process of Syria” Syrian National Coalition, as efforts led by Special Envoy de devastating conflict. starting with Aleppo, the coun- well the opposition leaders toler- Mistura can have an effect.” GENEVA: Peace talks between or the day after tomorrow,” said Kerry met with UN peace try’s former economic hub, which ated by Assad. But several lead- Kerry said de Mistura was Libya’s warring factions kicked Leon, who is overseeing the dia- envoy Staffan de Mistura for has been ravaged by fighting since ing opposition figures, apparently “headed to Damascus next week”, off in Geneva yesterday in what logue in the Swiss city. talks on the Syrian crisis and mid-2012. doubting Moscow’s credibility as adding: “This issue still remains their United Nations mediator “There is a gap between the lauded his efforts. “The United Russia, a key ally of Syrian a mediator, said they would not very much on our front burner.” warned could be a last chance parties, which is becoming more States is particularly concerned President Bashar Al Assad, has attend. More than 200,000 people have to prevent all-out chaos in the complicated with more fighting on about the continued catastro- been trying to relaunch peace “It is time for the Assad regime been killed in Syria since the country. the ground.” Analysts warn that phe that is unfolding in Syria talks involing de Mistura that to put their people first and to beginning of the conflict in March The North African nation the negotiations are unlikely to where nearly three-quarters of would include meetings between think about the consequences of 2011, according to the Syrian has been gripped by deepening have any real impact unless the the entire country are displaced representatives of the regime and their actions which are attract- Observatory for Human Rights. conflict since the overthrow of leaders of all the armed groups people,” Kerry said. the fractured opposition. ing more and more terrorists to AFP dictator Muammar Gaddafi in — some of whom are absent a Nato-backed uprising in 2011, from the negotiations — become with rival governments and pow- directly involved. The talks are erful militias battling for control aimed at reaching agreement on of key cities and the nation’s oil a unity government to replace the wealth. rival administrations, whose bat- Woman dies It has taken the UN months tle for power has left hundreds to get the opposing sides back to dead over the past six months. the negotiating table after a sin- They also seek to “put in place in Egypt of gle round of talks in September. the necessary security arrange- “It’s going to be a long process, it’s ments for bringing about a total H5N1 bird flu going to be difficult,” the UN spe- cessation of armed hostilities” and cial envoy for Libya, Bernardino to “secure a phased withdrawal of CAIRO: A 65-year-old Leon, said. “We are not expecting all armed groups from all major Egyptian woman has died from to have a breakthrough tomorrow towns and cities”. AFP the H5N1 strain of bird flu, the health ministry said yesterday, the second victim of the virus this month. The World Health Organisation US, Iran hold talks (WHO) says there has been a Case of US scribe recent jump in the number of to hasten N-deal H5N1 infections in people in goes to Iran court Egypt, but says there does not GENEVA: Top diplomats from TEHRAN: The case of a appear to have been any major Iran and the United States met US-Iranian correspondent for genetic change in the flu strain to yesterday for talks aimed at the Washington Post who has explain the rise in human cases. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas with Grand Imam of Al Azhar Sheikh Ahmed El Tayeb in Cairo yesterday. speeding up negotiations for a been detained since July is to go The latest victim came from nuclear deal as a third deadline before the Islamic republic’s rev- the central province of Assiut, for an historic accord looms. olutionary court, Tehran’s pros- the health ministry said. Egypt’s Hamas MPs slam Abbas in sign of rift US Secretary of State John ecutor general said yesterday. H5N1 cases have largely been in Kerry and his Iranian counter- “With the investigation closed, poor rural areas in the south, part Mohammad Javad Zarif hud- the charge sheet has been drawn where villagers tend to keep and GAZA CITY: Hamas MPs in the president nor anyone else can the 50,000 civil servants Hamas dled in an upscale Geneva hotel, up and the case of Jason Rezaian slaughter poultry in the home. Gaza held an exclusive meeting forbid parliament from meeting,” recruited after its takeover of ahead of full negotiations with has been sent to the revolution- Seven other cases are currently yesterday apparently defying Hamas MP Salah Al Bardaweel Gaza in 2007, who took the jobs global powers here on Sunday. ary court,” said Abbas Jafari- being treated and three have the Palestinian Authority and said in a symbolic statement. of 70,000 Fatah employees. They are seeking to break a Dolatabadi, quoted by Fars news recovered this year, the minis- criticised President Mahmoud Hamas holds 78 of the Partial payments of $1,200 each stalemate which has caused them agency, without giving details try said. Abbas, in a further sign of a Palestinian parliament’s 132 were made to 24,000 Hamas civil to miss two previous deadlines for or any date. Iran’s revolution- At least 10 people died from failing unity pact. seats, and 25 of its MPs live in servants in late October. But the a full agreement to rein in Iran’s ary court normally handles cases the disease in Egypt in 2014. They were meeting for the first the Gaza Strip. Another 20 non- other 26,000, who work in security suspect nuclear programme. Zarif involving political or national The Geneva-based WHO said on time since the April unity deal, Hamas MPs live in Gaza, but did functions, have received nothing. told reporters yesterday’s talks security crimes. Tuesday that between December which ostensibly put an end to not attend the meeting. Hundreds of Hamas employees were “important”. “I think it will Rezaian’s mother, who is in 4 to January 6, there had been 18 years of infighting between Gaza Senior Hamas leader Mahmud began a sit-in in front of the head- show the readiness of the two Iran, has been able to see him new laboratory-confirmed human rulers Hamas and Abbas’s Fatah Zahar, also present, said the new quarters of the unity government, parties to move forward to speed twice. Rezaian, a dual national cases of H5N1 infection in Egypt, party. Even months after Hamas government was a “failure”. “We vowing to stay until their salaries up the process.” and the Washington Post’s bureau including four deaths. This was and the Fatah-dominated PLO send a clear message: Either the are paid. Hamas MP Yahya Mussa But asked if there would be a chief in Tehran, was charged in the highest ever monthly number appointed a mutually-agreed government must take up its said at yesterday’s meeting that comprehensive deal by the new early December. But the specific of human cases in Egypt, the UN central government, disputes that responsibilities or resign,” he said. “Abbas and his government are July 1 deadline, he remained cau- accusations against him remain public health agency said. emerged shortly after the deal Hamas demanded the new committing a crime against Gaza tious replying: “We’ll see.” unclear, according to the Post. REUTERS appear to be worsening. “Neither government pay the salaries of workers.” AFP AFP AFP THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 ASIA / PHILIPPINES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Japan okays 4 dead in Bangladesh unrest AirAsia fuselage located largest-ever DHAKA: Four passengers aboard non-partisan caretaker government. a Bangladesh bus were burned The office of prime minister has defence budget alive yesterday when anti-govern- been held by Hasina or BNP leader Hopes rise of finding more bodies; black box being examined ment protesters threw a petrol Begum Khaleda Zia for all but two TOKYO: Japan approved bomb at the packed vehicle, taking of the past 23 years and the rivalry JAKARTA: A military vessel plucked from the Java Sea, with in relatively good condition. “In its largest-ever defence the death toll from a bloody nation- between them is bitter. yesterday located the fuselage most brought to Surabaya for one week, I think we will be budget for the next fis- wide blockade to 18. Police said eight activists affiliated of the AirAsia passenger jet that identification. Searchers believe getting a reading,” Mardjono cal year yesterday, as Bangladesh has been wrecked by with Islami Chatra Shibir, the student crashed more than two weeks more bodies will be found in Siswosuwarno, head investigator hawkish Prime Minister political violence for decades, and wing of Jaamat-e-Islami Bangladesh, ago off the coast of Indonesia, the plane’s fuselage. Divers will for the National Transportation Shinzo Abe looks to the latest crisis erupted on January part of the opposition alliance, were raising hopes that more bodies check the wreckage for bodies Safety Committee, said. strengthen surveillance 5 when demonstrations broke out on arrested over yesterday’s bus attack. will be found. today, said Fransiskus Bambang The so-called black boxes — of territorial waters in the anniversary of last year’s disputed Ten of the 50 people aboard the The fuselage, the part of the Soelistyo, head of the National which are actually orange — con- the face of a continuing elections. bus were in a critical condition, plane that holds pilots and pas- Search and Rescue Agency. tain a wealth of data that will be spat with China. The main opposition Bangladesh Rabiul Alam, the officer in charge sengers, was discovered around Indonesian investigators crucial for investigators piecing For the year to March Nationalist Party (BNP), that boy- of Mithapukur police station, told 3km from where the tail of the started examining the black box together the sequence of events 2016, Tokyo will spend 4.98 cotted the 2014 vote, has called the Reuters. On Tuesday night, one of aircraft was retrieved last week- flight recorders recovered from that led to the plane plunging into trillion yen ($41.97bn), the blockade to try force Prime Minister Khaleda’s advisers, Riaz Rahman, end at the bottom of the Java Sea, the Airbus A320-200, and hope the sea. The flight data recorder government said, indicating Sheikh Hasina’s government to was shot and his car was set on fire. Indonesian officials said. to unlock initial clues to the cause took only 15 minutes to download, a budget rise for the third hold a new general election under a AFP “A marker was placed on of the disaster within days. Divers but investigators will now need to straight year. “This is the the engine. Beside the engine retrieved the flight data and cock- analyse up to 25 hours of data and largest budget ever,” said is the fuselage, the wing and pit voice recorders this week from several thousand flight parame- a ministry official, adding a lot of debris,” Ony Soeryo the plane’s sunken wreckage. ters covering things such as flying the highest allocation pre- Wibowo, an investigator with the The recorders were lifted from speed, altitude, fuel consumption, viously was 4.96 trillion yen National Transportation Safety the bottom of the Java Sea and air pressure changes and inputs to earmarked in 2002. Committee, said. So far 50 bod- sent to the capital, Jakarta, for the aircraft controls. The trend reflects Abe’s ies, of the 162 killed, have been analysis. Both were found to be REUTERS wish to build a more active military, a push support- ers say is in response to the raising of tensions with Pope calls for unity China, with which Tokyo is at odds over the ownership Hong Kong leader of islands in the East China Sea. Japan is increasingly wary of Beijing, which is warns of ‘anarchy’ seen by several countries in the region as becoming HONG KONG: Hong Kong leader Leung Chun- aggressive over various sov- ying warned pro-democracy protesters yesterday ereignty claims. they risked “anarchy” as he sought to bolster his Among items on the support in his first policy address since demon- Japanese defence ministry’s strations rocked the financial hub last year. shopping list are 20 “P-1” Before Leung gave his annual speech, opposition maritime patrol aircraft, lawmakers disrupted proceedings, calling on him to with a combined price tag step down. Some held up banners demanding full of 350bn yen. It will also buy democracy and then walked out of the legislature five V-22 “Osprey” — cross- under yellow umbrellas - a symbol of the protests. over aircraft along with six The session had be adjourned briefly as security high-tech F-35A stealth guards hauled off two democratic lawmakers. About fighters. 70 pro-democracy protesters gathered outside the The ministry is looking Legislative Council, along with dozens of Leung’s to obtain a fleet of “Global supporters. Hawk” drones over a five- The policy blueprint has been a key platform for year period, and part of the leaders in the Chinese-controlled city to hand out purchase will come out of Pope Francis greets an elderly woman in Madhu, a billions to the less-advantaged in the form of tax this budget. It is also buy- former war zone in northern Sri Lanka, yesterday. breaks, or to signal shifts in economic, property and ing 30 units of amphibi- The Pope reiterated his call for reconciliation by can- political policies. ous vehicles and one E-2D onising the country’s first saint, calling 17th century “As we pursue democracy, we should act in accord- airborne early-warning ance with the law, or Hong Kong will degenerate into aircraft to be assigned to missionary Joseph Vaz a model for national unity. anarchy,” Leung, dressed in a dark suit and sky-blue protect the Nansei Shoto The Pope is due to arrive in the Philippines today. tie, told city legislators. islands. AFP AFP THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Boko brutalities

HE name Boko Haram is usually translated as US must end use of paralytic ‘Western education is forbidden’. But this militant Nigerian organisation has been specialising in the Tmost forbidden and reprehensible of crimes: killing innocent people. drugs for executing prisoners As the world got busy with the killing of 12 people by terrorists in Paris last week, Boko Haram was busy with BY MARK HEATH, MD used midazolam (in conjunction with the surrounding tissues. If Oklahoma its own slow and grisly massacre. The group launched an hydromorphone) have been blatantly had kept up with the “advanced stand- offensive on January 3 in the northeastern state of Borno, HEN the state uses a par- botched disasters: instead of quickly and ard” of other states which have removed overpowering a military base in the town of Baga that was alytic drug in the course peacefully dying, the prisoners endure paralysis from the executions – includ- hosting multinational forces. Days later, it carried out what of executing a condemned slow and prolonged deaths from gradual ing Texas, Missouri, Ohio, Arizona, and prisoner – and success- deterioration of the body’s life support Georgia – it would not have paralyzed Amnesty International has called the “deadliest act” in the W fully delivers it into the person’s circula- systems and suffocation. Lockett and there would have been no group’s history. Baga, a fishing town that borders Lake Chad, tion –the prisoner will appear tranquil Midazolam does not have the same possibility of him dying from conscious was virtually razed to the ground; estimates of the dead are in and comfortable, and will die of suffoca- effect in the brain as barbiturates such paralysis and suffocation. the hundreds. Subsequent attacks have killed more, including tion whether they are unconscious or as thiopental and pentobarbital, even When the anesthetic and paralytic at least 19 who died in Borno’s capital town of Maiduguri when they are wide awake, “locked in” and though all work on the same inhibitory are maladministered into the tissues suffering the torture of that suffocation. receptor – called the gamma aminobu- outside of the vein, the rapid absorp- a 10-year-old girl was used as a suicide bomber. From the point of view of the witnesses, tyric acid (Gaba) receptor – and all tion of the paralytic can paralyze and Boko Haram has done enough damage to itself, its cause, to the prison staff and the courts, para- cause an inhibition of neuronal activity. suffocate the prisoner before the anes- Nigerians, Africa and the faith they represent. Their struggle lytic drugs will make the execution seem But barbiturates directly activate the thetic renders them unconscious. It is for their objective has degenerated into mindless killings and humane and legal ... whether or not it is. Gaba receptor and directly inhibit neu- therefore critical that the intravenous attacks against their enemies and this brutality is credited Whatever drug Oklahoma and other rons without any assistance or coopera- catheter is properly inserted and that into the account of Islam and Muslims all over the world. It’s states decide to use to kill prisoners, tion from other chemicals; midazolam, all of the drugs are injected directly into they should abandon the barbaric use however, is weaker than barbiturates the circulatory system. The Oklahoma time for this extremist outfit to realise this truth and go for of paralyzing because it requires the co-presence and prison admitted that the drugs and IV a more peaceful strategy. According to reports, since January drugs entirely. If assistance of a neurotransmitter (called fluid “infiltrated” and “extravasated” 2014, more than 5,000 have been killed in the fighting Boko the state claims Gaba) to help it inhibit neuron activ- into the tissues of Lockett’s groin has triggered, a number that rivals that midazolam ity. Thus, prisoners who are given high because of the misplaced catheter, and Boko Haram civilian casualties in Iraq and Oklahoma and will produce a doses of FDA-approved barbiturates that is why the execution was pro- Afghanistan. And there are no smooth, peaceful, quickly cease breathing and quickly longed and botched. This is, of course, other states should humane death, die, while prisoners who receive mida- why incompetent medical practition- has done signs of an end to the violence; on not be executing then they should zolam – even in combination with the ers should be excluded from the execu- enough the contrary, it is only intensifying. be willing to allow respiratory depressant hydromorphone tion process; but the state of Oklahoma The responsibility for the prisoners with witnesses and the – exhibit persistent and prolonged res- instead hired clinical clowns who damage to current crisis must also be courts to observe piratory activity. repeatedly and unsuccessfully stabbed shared by President Goodluck midazolam; they the process with- There is another big difference and needled Lockett, failed to acknowl- out the opacity of between midazolam and barbiturates. edge or recognize that they were unable itself, its cause, Jonathan, who has shut the should not proceed paralysis. If states Barbiturates, in clinical doses – and to achieve intravenous access and none- Nigerians, door of negotiations, making it in the absence of can’t be confident even more so in the high doses used in theless proceeded to inject the drugs virtually impossible to formulate that midazolam executions – can cause circulatory and into him. Africa and a comprehensive strategy to qualified medical will produce a hemodynamic collapse; they depress the Only a subset of physicians – typi- the faith they counter the threat from militants. practitioners; they smooth and rapid pumping strength of the heart; and they cally intensive care doctors, invasive Leaving aside Boko’s brutalities, death – and they can reduce or collapse the blood pres- cardiologists, surgeons, and anesthesi- should only use shouldn’t be, sure, producing a state of circulatory ologists – are experienced and proficient represent. Jonathan has failed to address given the experi- shock. So in addition to stopping the in obtaining central intravenous access, the issues raised by the militants FDA-approved ence so far – they prisoner from breathing, barbiturates and only intensivists and anesthesiolo- — including the long-standing shouldn’t be using can push the circulatory system toward gists are proficient in ensuring that underdevelopment in the north that has been fueling drugs. it at all. shutting down, producing a simultane- a paralysed prisoner is adequately radicalisation. Boko Haram cannot be exterminated without There are, in ous “double strike” on the body’s life induced and maintained in a state of first addressing the issues they have raised. And that wouldn’t fact, real differ- support systems. Midazolam is much general anesthesia. If Oklahoma insists ences between utilizing barbiturates more “gentle” in its effects on the cir- on continuing the relict, needless, and mean succumbing to the pressure of militants, but just (thiopental and pentobarbital) and culatory system – so much so that doc- barbaric practice of paralyzing execu- addressing a development issue. midazolam (a benzodiazepine related to tors frequently select it (along with tions, it should promulgate protocols With elections scheduled for next month, Nigeria is set to Valium) to kill prisoners in state cus- other anesthetics) to induce general and procedures that explicitly require plunge deeper into crisis. The violence and lack of security in tody, which we can see when we focus anesthesia on patients with weak or that the medical practitioners who key northeastern states could affect voter turnout in the areas our attention on the executions in which failing hearts. obtain IV access are certified, com- prisoners were not paralyzed. Of the During the botched execution of petent, and proficient in obtaining IV of opposition to Jonathan, thereby undermining his legitimacy numerous non-paralyzed executions Clayton Lockett, he was subjected to access and providing anesthetic moni- if he is reelected. that have used FDA-approved barbitu- conscious chemical paralysis, chemi- toring. While some ethicists claim that Nigeria has been grappling with the Boko menace for rates (either thiopental or pentobarbi- cal entombment and suffocation physicians should not and cannot be some time, and it’s clear that the government in Abuja is ill- tal) every one of them has proceeded because paralytic drugs are very rap- involved in executions, the reality is that equipped to tackle or contain this evil force. This means the quickly ands smoothly and without idly absorbed into the circulatory many highly competent physicians are government should look at the possibility of foreign mediation evidence of suffering. By contrast, the system even if they are accidentally willing to supervise and participate in non-paralyzed executions that have injected outside of the vein and into executions. THE GUARDIAN – both African and international – to solve this problem. The other side Quote of Kerry’s visit the day ONTINUING the recent and American influence over IFIs that particular: Afghanistan and India. by the Afghan and Pakistani security trend of workmanlike and Pakistan is indebted to. On Afghanistan, with the US having establishments) and the old suspicions somewhat productive Also read: Kerry meets Nawaz, reit- a significantly different military mission that plague the bilateral relationship, an Cmeetings between Pakistani erates commitment to fight terror there beginning this year, Washington American role is necessary to try and Freedom of speech and US officials, US Secretary of In Islamabad this week, that three- appears keen to nudge the Pakistani make the most of the new beginning must not become State John Kerry’s visit to Islamabad part recipe was again in evidence as and Afghan states closer and to ramp that the post-Karzai era in Afghanistan has gone off smoothly. There were no America’s top diplomat met the senior up the bilateral relationship. and the Pakistani military operation in hate-speech. histrionics, no surprises and, thankfully, political and military leadership here. This makes sense for it is Pakistan North Waziristan may represent. no American demands for Pakistan to While the civil-military imbalance in and Afghanistan that must directly Surely, reconciliation between the No sane person, ‘do more’. Pakistan may have worsened, at least bear the consequences of each oth- Afghan government and the Afghan The two countries appear to have both sides appear to be on the same er’s security decisions and so routing Taliban and the bi-directional cross- regardless of found a recipe for relatively stable rela- page when it comes to keeping ties substantive relations through a distant border militancy problem should be at doctrine, religion tions: focus on security matters; keep with the US stable and productive. superpower is not necessarily the desir- the top of the security agenda and it is American aid — military and civilian Also continuing the trend estab- able formula. there that a delicate three-way dance or faith, accepts — flowing; and recognise the eco- lished in recent interactions between However, given the long-running between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the his beliefs being nomic importance of the relationship senior Pakistani and American lead- divergences in the security interests US will have to play out if results are to Iyad Ameen Madani in terms of Pakistani exports to the US ers was the focus on two countries in of the two countries (as articulated be achieved. DAWN ridiculed. OIC Secretary-General THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 QATAR PERSPECTIVE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 How to invite foreign guests to events

JABER AL HARAMI

he invitation to Fatima our differences in opinion, since Nau’ot by the Ministry we are not in the habit of cursing of Culture, Arts and others. THeritage to the Doha Qatar never rejects objective International Book Fair made criticism, but does oppose subjec- us question the way guests are tive ones. It welcomes objectivity selected and invited. Fatima and confirms that it is not infal- Nau’ot is known for her anti- lible, as long as it is working on Islamic views and for persistently initiatives that serve the nation. attacking Islam and Muslims Our main disagreement is with figures. She also did not miss an those who curse Qatar, not over opportunity to attack Qatar. difference of opinion or views. Her invitation was cancelled When such people have nothing after strong opposition from the else to say, they start using offen- public to allow this “category” of sive words against Qataris. They people to enter Qatar regardless also do not hesitate to use offen- of their status. This makes us sive language because they were think how invitations are usu- beaten in civilised debate and ally extended to participants and objective discussion on Qatar’s guests for events in Doha. trends, policies and initiatives. This incident is not the first Prior to all this, we disagreed one. The figures in question are with such writers because they subject to opposition from the insulted religion, swore at Islamic public because their views will values and improperly depicted never agree with that of Qatari our beliefs. society or the larger Muslim Our society will never accept society. such attitudes in the garb of I do not want to mention encouraging creativity and claim- every public authority that has ing open-mindedness and free- extended such invitations in the dom of speech while it challenges past, and has been forced to can- the principles of our nation and cel the invitation under pressure aims at destroying its roots. through media, social media cam- We do not want to see various paigns and other means. conferences and events held in In fact, the cancellation will go Doha turning to open invitations in favour of the inviting authority, for x, y and z, without knowing Japanese pop culture at Doha International Book Fair. including of course, the Ministry who they are and what they are of Culture who responded to pub- coming for exactly. lic demand. Unfortunately, those who over- defy Islamic values, in addition to a surprise to everyone. Her pres- We hope that organizers of that objective. In many cases, Our objection to the invitation see the invitations are often not expressing views that are against ence wouldn’t have added any events, conferences and tourna- we don’t prepare any beneficial of some figures to attend events familiar with the event and do the nation and its leadership, and value to the Doha International ments will properly select com- tour programmes for our guests held in Qatar is not because we not know the people being invited. nursing a grudge against Qatar. Book Fair, it would have rather mittee members who will be able so that after the event, they go have ideological differences with They may just approve a list of If they had their way, they would reflected negatively on the event. to play an effective role and not back to the hotel without seeing them, or disagree on some intel- names prepared by others or list not hesitate to change colours and Organisers of conferences, simply do a “job” without under- the true spirit of Qatar, which is lectual issues, but because of their “inherited” over time. will pay tribute to the country. meetings or seminars must select standing the real purpose behind in my opinion unacceptable. openly offensive attitudes that are It could also be because of per- What was hidden in the past well-respected, knowledgeable, it. Such events should be invested So we should reconsider the detrimental to our country and sonal relationships that link some is no longer feasible, especially and well-mannered individuals in properly to highlight the civi- invitation process of prominent its leadership. Unfortunately, locals to the people invited with- in the light of freedom provided sensitive to other people’s religion lised image of our country, and personalities including media such people don’t respect privacy, out knowing their offensive views by information technology, often and culture. We are not looking inviting dignitaries is only a part professionals who will attend harbor deep grudge and hatred toward the state, its people, and known as the “media highway”. for quantity, but for quality. We of that. In addition, we should events in Doha, and that minis- against everything related to its open-handed initiatives. Therefore, everything is clear and should invite influential thinkers take the opportunity of showing tries and government institutions Qatar. Qatar has always taught Yes we are for openness and we it is no longer possible to fool the whose presence makes a differ- our invited guests the positive that host conferences shouldn’t us to be open-minded and not to are not narrow-minded but we Arab people with deceitful words. ence and individuals with a good aspects of our state by organising be blindly following the same old disagree with others regardless of never accept people who openly Fatima Nau’ot’s invitation was record are most welcome. programmes and tours to meet methods.

PROF ALI AL HAIL Hostility towards Islam in Europe

and economic factors behind these Is war on Islamic State an KHALID ABDULLAH AL ZIYARA hostile acts toward Muslims, whose number has increased from hundreds of thousands in alternative to war on Israel? the 1950s of the past century to nearly 16 million in European f we want access to many varied assumptions of attacking Israel by Hezbollah invisible at least Union countries. that surround the emergence of diversified now. The same thing could happen with mini- This observable fact is on the Ifactions representing the Islamic State (IS), mising the threat that Iran could pose to Israel rise. Also, there is no disputing which appear to have regional and global sup- because of the Iranian nuclear programme (this the fact that the fear of Islam port in varying proportions, we inevitably become is another hypothesis). and the spectre of “Europe’s astonished. However, there is no suspecting the fact (this Islamisation” is an invitation to If we assumed that the IS is an Iranian-Syrian- is not a hypothesis) that since the fall of Saddam more extremism. First and fore- Russian-Chinese invention, (the Syrian regime Hussein’s Sunni regime in Iraq, Iran became con- most, political courage is needed lifeline theory) with the aim of relieving the cerned with Sunni Arabs’ view and the views of to deal with these two phenomena, regime from regional and international isolation many Arab regimes which considered Iran its Islamophobia and racism against claiming that the IS is Islamist terrorism organi- first enemy (and not Israel) of the Arab world, Muslims in Western societies. sation that harbours the ideology of Al Qaeda especially the Gulf countries. The Islamophobic hatred of and Sunni fanatic extremists, the theory would When I met the Iranian Cultural Consul in his Muslims in Europe is very wor- possibly be correct and the aim Doha office, he told me: Israel rying. Fighting and reducing this becomes clear. and the West, which is cer- phenomenon is essentially a joint As the aim is to restore Recently, Russia tainly directly led by America, responsibility of Muslim commu- the relations between the AIPAC and global Israeli lob- nities and European governments, Syrian regime and a number accused the United bies, Europeans are interested particularly after the trend of of Arab countries became one in constantly creating animos- extremism crossing homelands, of a qualitative change or an States of supporting ity between Sunnis and Shias which has been exploited in a rude evolution, because in a way or in the region as an alterna- and irresponsible way to distort another, the Syrian regime, tive to the hostility against the image of Islamic communi- with the help of the Russians, the Islamic State Israel. ties and imposing restrictions on the Iranians, Hezbollah, the Under all of these hypotheses them. Shia-led regime in Iraq and against Bashar Al and conjectures, where does the Moreover, the sentiments of the Chinese, will eventually truth lie? Did IS create itself European citizens have been return. Assad’s regime in by benefitting from regional fter the brutal right-wing protests against what it considers played on through the bias insist- Whether IS was made by and international downfalls, terrorist attacks against the Islamisation of Europe. ence on a number of allegations Iran or others or created Syria. This could or has been created by these AMuslims in Norway, it has The number of protesters, who and half-truths. itself, we can assume that Iran powers? become clear that in Germany are joining these racial protests The crimes, which have tar- specifically is the sole inven- Recently, Russia accused the too, right-wing terrorists are that take place every Monday, has getted Muslims and mosques tor of the idea of conveying be true. United States of supporting actually capable of executing the been significantly increasing. As in Germany, and France, have to the West that Shia Islam IS against Bashar Al Assad’s worst attacks against Muslims. a result, there are hundreds of dramatically increased in recent has nothing to do with terrorism, and they are regime in Syria. This could be true. However, it The acts of hatred against Islam participants. years. Therefore, German rather a victim and this is the most important for doesn’t necessarily mean a US and Western coa- have been inflamed by the recent German Chancellor Angela Muslims began to be very con- Iran. Therefore we notice, (though it is publicly lition with IS, as much as it is more “common attack on the Charlie Hebdo mag- Merkel has criticised many pro- cerned about their homeland, the denied), Iran’s alignment with the American led interests” between the America-led West and IS azine in which 12 journalists were tests against Muslims in several “free” Germany. coalition against IS, proven by the Iranian air- to weaken Russia and its Syrian ally. killed by the two Kouachi broth- cities including the east German When efforts are concen- craft bombing of IS locations in Iraq almost two Didn’t the America-led West support Al Qaeda ers in addition to four Jews and a city of Dresden that witnessed trated and integrated to fight months ago. and the Afghan Jihad that transpired the Taliban police officer. 10,000 participants last Monday. and reduce Islamophobia then the If we also assume that the establishment of IS movement out of its cloak? So, it was definitely There were clear signs for Merkel said very clearly that misunderstanding of westerners aims to at least neutralise Sunni governments in the framework of common interests or inter- of frightening development in there is no place for religious about Islam and Muslims can be or Sunni and Shia hostility to Israel, portraying section of interests, which seems evident in the Europe, but they was no proper hatred in Germany whatever peo- eliminated. that IS is now the sole enemy of the Arab world— Syrian crisis. interpretation of this tension, or ple’s religion. People are usually against what both Sunni and Shia. Therefore, we must wage a In addition to all these conflicts and chaos the potential risks to Muslims. Amid the rise of Islamophobia, is foreign to them. When taking war against it. This theory then possibly could be through the popular Arab revolutions that were Instead, there was denial of this the German Migration Council this fact into consideration, we correct as well. countered by new revolutions, is the nicely played danger that was being ignored till asked the parties represented may initiate dialogues to create a What confirms such a hypothesis is a study armed conflict between IS and America-led coali- this very moment. in the parliament “Bundestag” new environment to support con- published by the National Zionist Centre for tion, all in order to keep “Israel” the strongest in Since three months ago, many to recommend forming an inde- stituents of peaceful co-existence Strategic Research in Tel Aviv that the creation the region. German cities witnessed pro- pendent commission, presided in communities. And may God of IS has united Israel through the West with the If this hypothesis seems reasonable then the and anti-Islam protests, based by Turkish born Aydan Özoguz, keep all of us safe! Shias, whether directly or indirectly, especially promotion begins that the “Islam” represented by on a call from the “Patriotic Germany’s Integration Minister, Hezbollah and Iran who are currently involved in IS is the first and only enemy of the Arab world Europeans against Islamisation of to come up with a new plan to The views expressed in the articles on this directly fighting IS? This will make the possibility and not “Israel”. Europe” movement, also known address the rights of immigrants. page do not reflect the viewpoint of the as Pegida, which organises weekly Certainly, there are political newspaper. THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INTERNATIONAL 1,000 French sites hacked Charlie Hebdo flies off shelves PARIS: More than 1,000 French websites have been targeted by self-described Islamist hackers in the week since the attack by jihadists on the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo left 12 people Al Qaeda’s Yemen branch claims attack; French comedian to stand trial dead, Internet security experts said yesterday. Most of the hacks targeted relatively small sites operated by local government, PARIS: Charlie Hebdo made a universities, churches and businesses whose home pages were defiant return yesterday with a defaced with messages that included “There is only one God, new issue that sold out across Allah”, “Death to France”, and “Death to Charlie”. Experts said France in record time, as Al that “cyber-jihadist” hackers from North Africa and Mauritania Qaeda posted a video claim- have claimed responsibility for the hijacking of over 1,000 sites ing last week’s deadly attack since the January 7 Charlie Hebdo attack, and have threatened a on its cartoonists. The satirical surge of activity on January 15. “For now it has been more cyber- magazine once again featured vandalism than sophisticated, high-level attacks. We’re not yet Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) dealing with very structured groups,” Francois Paget, an expert on its cover under the headline with software security company McAfee said. Because of that, “All is forgiven”. according to other industry insiders, it was difficult to know Many Parisians joined long what form the threatened hacking on January 15 might take. queues outside newspaper kiosks in the pre-dawn cold to get their hands on one of 700,000 copies PEGIDA opens branch in Spain released in a run that will even- MADRID: An anti-Islamic movement that is growing in tually total five million. “This Germany has opened a branch in Spain following last week’s issue is symbolic, it represents attacks in France, the group said yesterday. The Spanish wing of their persistence, they didn’t PEGIDA was launched on Twitter on January 8, the day after an yield in the face of terror,” said attack by Islamist gunmen on French satirical magazine Charlie Catherine Boniface, a 58-year- Hebdo in Paris. “Islam has no place in free and democratic socie- old doctor, disappointed to have ties like Europe,” the group said in one of its first Twitter mes- come up empty-handed at one sages that day. The Spanish branch of the “Patriotic Europeans Paris newstand. Against the Islamisation of the Occident” (PEGIDA) has just Al Qaeda’s Yemen branch over 800 followers on its Twitter page and over 2,700 likes on its (AQAP) claimed responsibility Facebook page. “We are preparing a demonstration by PEGIDA for the attack by Islamist gunmen Spain, where members of PEGIDA Germany will attend. We will on the Paris offices of the weekly publish the date on Twitter and announce it by email,” the group last Wednesday that left 12 peo- said. Launched in Germany in October with a march of just 500 ple dead including the country’s people, PEGIDA has since swelled rapidly, prompting German best-loved cartoonists. “(AQAP) A sign which translates as “Charlie Hebdo - Sold Out - Next deliveries on Thursday, Friday and Saturday” is Chancellor Angela Merkel to deplore its rise in a New Year’s was the party that chose the tar- displayed at a news agent in Strasbourg yesterday. address, saying the group’s leaders have “prejudice, coldness, get and plotted and financed the even hatred in their hearts”. plan... It was following orders French prosecutors have opened bought all their weapons — million after the sales rush on by our general chief Ayman Al over 50 cases for condoning ter- including assault rifles and a Wednesday — dwarfing its normal Zawahiri,” said one of its leaders rorism since the attacks that rocket launcher — near the Gare run of around 60,000 copies, and British Jews fear future in Europe in the video, adding it was “venge- claimed 17 lives, including the du Midi station in Brussels for the edition will also be available in LONDON: Almost half of Britain’s Jews fear they have no long- ance” for the weekly’s cartoons of arrest of controversial come- less than ¤5,000 ($7,000). English, Spanish, Italian, Arabic term future in Britain or Europe, according to a survey pub- the Prophet. Brothers Said and dian Dieudonne Mbala. He is France bade farewell to one of and Turkish. Proceeds will go to lished yesterday. The poll of 2,230 British Jews by the Campaign Cherif Kouachi who carried out due to stand trial after writing its most beloved cartoonists yes- victims’ families. Charlie Hebdo, Against Anti-Semitism (CAA) found that 45 percent feared Jews the attack are known to have “I feel like Charlie Coulibaly” on terday. Cabu, 76, one of the eight which last month did not have may have no future in Britain, and 58 percent were concerned trained with the group. Facebook — mixing the popular journalists killed at the magazine, enough money to pay staff wages, they have no long-term future in Europe. The online survey Amedy Coulibaly, who killed “Je Suis Charlie” homage to the was buried in the Champagne could raise as much as ¤10m in was conducted from December 23 to January 11 -- a period that a policewoman and attacked a slain journalists with a reference region. Charlie Hebdo’s surviv- sales and donations. spanned the attacks in Paris —leading France to increase secu- Jewish supermarket in attacks he to the supermarket gunman. ing staff moved into the offices of US Secretary of State John rity at Jewish schools and synagogues. “The results of our survey said were coordinated with the Under France’s ultra-fast- Liberation newspaper to compile Kerry will meet French President are a shocking wake-up call straight after the atrocities in Paris,” Kouachi brothers, has claimed track court system, a 21-year-old the new issue, which they admit- Francois Hollande tomorrow to said CAA chairman Gideon Falter. “Britain is at a tipping point. links to the Islamic State group. in Toulouse was sent to prison ted had been an emotional expe- discuss the attacks. The United Unless anti-Semitism is met with zero tolerance, it will grow and IS described Charlie Hebdo’s for 10 months on Monday for rience. Cartoonist Renald “Luz” States did not send a senior offi- British Jews will increasingly question their place in their own decision to print the cartoon as expressing support for the jihad- Luzier said he cried after drawing cial to the historic march against country.” But CAA stressed that “Britain is not yet at the levels “extremely stupid”. ists while travelling on a tram. the front cover. extremism on Sunday, which the seen in most of Europe”. According to the Jewish Agency, the Under government orders Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Distributors quickly boosted White House has admitted was a number of British Jews emigrating to Israel increased by 20 per- to crackdown on hate crimes, Nieuws reported that Coulibaly the print run from an initial three mistake. AFP cent last year, from 520 in 2013 to 620 in 2014, but in the longer term the agency said the number was stable. AGENCIES

Italy president resigns in test US House votes to block Obama immigration plan WASHINGTON: The US administration to provide work the constitution itself.” Some 11.3 focus on deportations. “It makes the Department of Homeland House yesterday defied Presi- permits for millions of undocu- million people were living illegally no sense to divert Homeland Security and endangering our for Renzi dent Barack Obama by adopting mented workers. in the United States as of March Security measures to hunt down security,” said Senate Democratic Republican measures blocking One amendment would also 2013, the Pew Research Center and deport such individuals,” leader Harry Reid. ROME: Italy’s veteran President his controversial immigration freeze the programme Obama estimated. The last comprehen- the large Service Employees “Republicans should stop play- Giorgio Napolitano resigned yes- reform efforts, but the bill is launched in 2012 that shields cer- sive immigration reform by US International Union argued. ing games and pass a clean bill to terday, setting the stage for the unlikely to survive in its cur- tain undocumented minors from lawmakers dates back to 1986. The White House has prom- fund (DHS).” The House action election of a new head of state, a rent form. deportation. Another prioritizes Since then, all attempts at ised a presidential veto of the sets up a showdown between thorny process which could prove Lawmakers voted 236 to expulsions among certain cate- major revisions have failed, most amended legislation, which has newly empowered congres- a political headache for Matteo 191 to fund the Department of gories of undocumented criminal recently in 2013 amid conserva- virtually no chance of passing the sional Republicans and Obama. Renzi’s government. Homeland Security through offenders. “We do not take this tive opposition. Democratic law- Senate where Democrats have a Congress has until February 27 The 89-year old had announced September 30, the end of fiscal action lightly, but simply there is makers, labor unions and rights blocking minority. “Republicans to formalise funding for DHS, in December that he would be year 2015. But the bill included no alternative,” House Speaker groups have complained bitterly have only been in control for a which oversees border security, leaving office well before the end several amendments torpedoing John Boehner said. about the obstruction, but they let week and already they are pick- immigration and customs, and of his term in 2020 because of his the plan Obama unveiled last “This executive overreach is an loose Wednesday over what they ing an unnecessary political the Secret Service tasked with advancing age. He had been per- November, which authorised the affront to the rule of law and to believe is a misguided Republican fight that risks shutting down protecting the president. AFP suaded in 2013 to stay on for an unprecedented second term after deadlocked elections sparked a political crisis in the eurozone’s Snow in UK, Northern Ireland third-largest economy. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi paid tribute to the outgoing Insurgents launch president, expressing “gratitude and emotion for what Giorgio Napolitano has done over the past nine years, showing quality and Ukraine offensive political intelligence”. Parliament will meet on TONENKE, UKRAINE: Pro- nine-month campaign. A long- January 29 along with 58 regional Kremlin insurgents unleashed range Grad rocket killed 12 peo- deputies for the first round of vot- a massive rocket assault in ple on Tuesday when it exploded ing to choose the next president. Ukraine yesterday as Kiev and near a commuter bus travelling Potential candidates include Moscow traded blame for a bus toward Donetsk from a govern- former prime ministers Romano shelling that killed 12 in the ment-controlled city on Ukraine’s Prodi and Giuliano Amato, as war’s bloodiest incident since a southeast coast. well as Economy Minister Pier September truce. Images of the yellow bus’s shat- Carlo Padoan, Defence Minister The heavy calibre shells and tered frame standing in a field of Roberta Pinotti and former Rome grenades whistled through the bloodied snow underscored how mayor Walter Veltroni. AFP sky every few minutes and dug distant a truce remains after the huge craters in the snowy fields death of more than 4,700 peo- British PM urged to along a front line that skirts a ple and effective destruction of devastated village 10km north- Ukraine’s industrial base. join poll TV debates Cars parked on a road are covered in snow near Londonderry (Derry) in Northern Ireland yesterday. More than west of Donetsk. Ukrainian President Petro 100 schools and nurseries have been shut and many roads closed as snow and wintry weather swept across Blasts inside Tonenke itself — Poroshenko told the nation that LONDON: With campaigning the UK. Dozens of schools in Northern Ireland have also been closed because of bad weather. abandoned by all but a handful of Tuesday’s rocket was fired by rebels, already under way for May’s its 300 residents — flattened build- while responsibility rested on “those general election, British Prime ings and mangled paved roads that who stand behind them — those Minister David Cameron faced stetch toward a disputed airport on whose hand feeds them and arms pressure yesterday to join TV the edge of Donetsk. them, drills them and inspires them debates with other party lead- “This is all-out war,” a volun- to commit bloody crimes”. ers despite indicating he will Alarm sends astronauts to shelter at ISS teer soldier who adopted the nom The transparent reference to not take part. de guerre “The Pastor” said on his Moscow was followed by Kiev Cameron, who has led a coali- MIAMI: Astronauts at the At first, it seemed that high returned to the Russian side and way out of a Donetsk suburb used claims that the fighters employed tion government with the Liberal International Space Station pressure outside the space sta- closed the hatch behind them. by Ukrainian troops to support a a massive 30-barrel flamethrower, Democrats since 2010, is hop- (ISS) rushed to take shelter tion could have led to ammonia While the Russian space skeleton force holding on to the a type used by Russia but not ing to win a clear majority this yesterday after a system failure leaking inside, so the crew put agency told news outlets in airport since May. “The attacks Ukraine. Kiev said insurgents time round but most polls put his signaled a possible ammonia on breathing masks and moved Moscow that the cause was a start early in the morning and end used it for the first time overnight Conservatives neck-and-neck with leak, but Nasa said later it may to the Russian side for safety. toxic ammonia leak, Nasa said deep into the night. There is a quiet to attack the eastern village of the main opposition Labour party. have been a false alarm. Ammonia is used in the cooling there was no data to confirm spell of one or two hours at most. Vesele. This type of system “only He has so far resisted calls to The six-member crew donned and heating systems at the orbit- that, and stressed that the crew It has never been like this before.”” exists in the operational service of take part in TV debates, argu- emergency masks and hurried to ing outpost. was safe. The six astronauts tak- The type of long-distance the Russian army. It is not oper- ing that they should include the the Russian side of the orbiting The crew was allowed to come ing shelter in the Russian seg- exchanges piercing the skies ated by us,” Ukrainian defence Green Party alongside the anti- lab two separate times after the briefly back to the US side, but ment have enough food for at around the militants’ capital yes- ministry spokeswoman Viktoria EU UK Independence Party. problem was noticed at around when Nasa noticed that pressure least a week, Nasa said. terday have caused hundreds of Kushnir said. AFP 4am (0900 GMT). in the cabin was rising, the crew AFP civilian casualties throughout the AFP THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Punjab govt Musharraf indicted schools lack funds to for rebel’s murder tighten security ISLAMABAD: The Punjab Baloch leader Bugti’s 2006 killing kicks up dust government is forcing heads of schools and colleges in the QUETTA, PAKISTAN: Shah added the court province to implement security A Pakistani court yes- would resume hearings in the measures as soon as possible but terday indicted Pervez case on February 4. has not provided them the extra Musharraf over the 2006 Baloch nationalist leader funds they need for the task. killing of a separatist Nawab Akbar Bugti was This has forced some college leader, the latest legal hur- killed in a military opera- principals to ‘arrange’ funds from dle facing the former mili- tion in 2006, sparking deadly elsewhere, including asking staff- tary ruler since his return nationwide protests and ers to pay the price of security. from self-imposed exile two inflaming a separatist insur- The heads of educational insti- years ago. gency in resource-rich but tutes are dismayed over the situ- The charges by the court impoverished Balochistan ation as there is a serious dearth in the southwestern city of province. of funds and they are left with no Quetta are unlikely to cause Musharraf has been staying option but to take all the meas- any immediate problems for with his daughter in Karachi ures on a self-help basis. the 71-year-old, who has not where he travelled for tests at Punjab Professors and attended a single hearing in a navy-run hospital in April Lecturers Association (PPLA) the case since it began in last year and the indictment Rawalpindi Division President 2013. took place in his absence. Liaqat Hussain said that all col- He was previously indicted He is on bail in four other leges were instructed to take for treason in March last Pervez Musharraf (right) with his major cases linked to his time steps like constructing five foot year over his imposition of wife Sehba, in this file picture. in power including the 2007 high boundary walls, installing emergency rule in 2007, but assassination of opposition barbed wire and hiring guards, proceedings have stalled leader Benazir Bhutto in a without the availability of funds. since then as the country’s civil authorities gun and suicide attack. The colleges do not have enough and judiciary appear to lack the will to take Facing impeachment following the 2008 funds for all this, he said. on the powerful military. elections, Musharraf resigned as president “In the first week after the “The anti-terrorist court has indicted and went into self-imposed exile in Dubai. December 16 attack, we were told Musharraf along with former interior min- Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s authority by the Education Department ister Aftab Ahmad Khan Sherpao and former has been eroded since a movement to top- that the government will allocate home minister (of) Balochistan province ple him over alleged election fraud began last a huge amount for the purpose Shoaib Nosherwani in Nawab Akbar Bugti’s year, and analysts believe his government now but now they are asking us to use murder case,” public prosecutor Taimur Shah lacks the will to offend the military by push- the available funds,” he said. told AFP. ing for Musharraf’s prosecution. AFP Pakistani journalists gather outside court during a hearing in Quetta yesterday. PPLA General Secretary Tanveer Ahmad Shah said though the government has provided some funds to some colleges, the major burden is on the colleges themselves. He added that the colleges will 1.6m Afghan refugees put Islamabad in a quandary have to install CCTV cameras and hire security guards, and PESHAWAR: Caught between the secretary of state and frontier Commissioner for Refugees that India could take advantage Afghans, but officials put the owing to a dearth of funds they a rock and a hard place is how regions had been called to discuss (UNHCR) will not be involved in of the situation. number between two and three are requesting ‘well-off’ people officials describe the predica- the issue of unregistered Afghan the process which will be funded ‘Kabul may not cooperate with million. The POR card will expire and staff members to donate for ment of the federal government nationals and also of the regis- by the federal government. The Islamabad on the issue of act- by the end of December. the cause. which is looking at the prob- tered refugees. temporary registration will be for ing against outlawed Tehreek- Repatriation of registered refu- A Rawalpindi college prin- lem faced by millions of regis- It was attended by the federal a period of four or six months. i-Taliban Pakistan chief Mullah gees is in progress with the help cipal, who requested anonym- tered and unregistered Afghan secretaries of defence, interior ‘Temporary registration Fazlullah and other wanted per- of UNHCR. The process has been ity, said that they have been refugees. and foreign affairs, chief secre- means that Pakistan will cope sons if Pakistan presses for imme- very slow and last year only 16,000 instructed by the provincial Repatriation of the refugees to taries and home secretaries of with another influx of refugees diate expulsion of the refugees. refugees could be repatriated. Education Department to arrange Afghanistan at the expiry of the the four provinces, chief commis- and repatriation of unregistered Pakistan has been ask- The sources said the provinces two security guards for at least umpteenth-time extended dead- sioner refugees and senior officials Afghans may take two to three ing Afghanistan to hand over had been opposing a further two months for each college as line, government officials warn, of intelligence agencies. years, the official said, adding that Fazlullah whose group has been extension in the deadline for the upcoming months are more may annoy Kabul and push it According to sources, the gov- the government would be respon- accused of being involved in ter- repatriation. sensitive. back into the Indian fold. ernment is likely to conduct a sible for providing shelter, food, rorist attacks in Pakistan, includ- During the meeting, the Khyber “We are ready to take all secu- Everyone at a January 6 meet- ‘temporary‘ registration of undoc- security and health facilities to ing the Peshawar Army Public Pakhtunkhwa government sug- rity measures provided we are ing on the issue was clueless, umented Afghans before sending the unregistered Afghans. School massacre. gested that registered refugees given funds”, he said. said an official who attended the them back to their country and According to the sources, the Police and other agencies have living in urban areas be shifted “The government will have to recent huddle in Islamabad. a summary for the purpose was federal government is in a fix been blaming the Afghans for the to their camps. The province cur- carry out proper fund allocation ‘Everyone agreed that the con- awaiting Prime Minister Nawaz over the issue of registered and deteriorating law and order situ- rently hosts about 900,000 of the in order to actually address the tinued presence of Afghans poses Sharif’s approval. unregistered Afghans. At the ation. Pakistan is currently host- 1.6 million registered Afghans. issue,” he added. a grave national security chal- It has been proposed that the meeting, some senior functionar- ing 1.6 million Afghan refugees Data compiled by the agencies How can you expect the imple- lenges, but how to deal with the task of registration be given ies expressed apprehensions that who have been issued Proof of concerned show that 67 per cent mentation of directives when even issue, no-one seems to have any to the National Database and a tough decision might annoy Registration (PoR) cards. of the total documented Afghans the basic infrastructure is non- answer, ‘ said the official. Registration Authority (Nadra). Kabul at a time when both sides The government has no accu- are living in cities and towns and existent? he said. The meeting presided over by The United Nations High wanted to improve relations and rate data about undocumented 37pc in camps. INTERNEWS INTERNEWS

INYT censored New law planned against hate speech

ISLAMABAD: In an apparent this issue, the official said. The move to accelerate implementa- ministry will propose severe pun- tion of the National Action Plan ishment under Section 153-A of to counter terrorism, the gov- the PPC, which defines the pro- ernment of Pakistan plans to motion of enmity between differ- introduce new laws to combat ent groups. hate speech in the country. Changes are likely to be made Under the proposed ‘Hate to Clause A in this section, which Speech and Inciting Literature’ states, “Whoever, by words, either laws, it will not be permitted to spoken or written, or by signs, express hatred towards some- or by visible representations or one based on ethnicity, religion, otherwise, promotes or incites on sect, nationality, race or colour, grounds of religion, race, place of according to senior officials in both, residence, whatsoever, dis- the Interior Ministry and the harmony or feelings of enmity, Ministry of Law, Justice and hatred or ill will between differ- Human Rights. ent religious, racial, linguistic “Under this new legislation, or regional groups or castes or the expression of hate speech, communities.” threatening communication and The Interior Ministry official abusive literature will be forbid- added that changes to Section den,” a senior Interior Ministry 107 of the PPC, dealing with official said. ‘abetment of a thing’, and some “Clerics will be barred from clauses of the ATA 1997 will likely delivering lectures on loudspeak- be recommended. The Madrassa ers in mosques and Madaris.” Reforms and Regulation Pakistani men yesterday read a local edition of the International New York Times with a blank space that was supposed to be reporting on the first issue The official said some clauses in Committee is expected to give a of the French magazine Charlie Hebdo since last week’s attack, in Islamabad. At the bottom of the blank space, the newspaper said ‘the article was the Pakistan Penal Code 1861 and final nod to the proposed legisla- removed by our publishing alliance in Pakistan’. the Anti-Terrorism Act 1997 will tion this week. likely be amended. Additionally, Pakistan’s foremost religious the proposed new laws will follow body, the Council of Islamic the formulae of Indian and British Ideology, has already called for a hate speech laws, which work to ban on hate speech pertaining to Anti-terrorism force to get cellphone tracking device prevent discord among ethnic and religious identity. religious minorities, he added. It has recommended to the PESHAWAR: The Khyber SIM cards in the province as Mushtaq Ghani, who presided The minister said his govern- Hate literature taught by Interior Ministry to ban those Pakhtunkhwa province govern- penal offences. Currently, there over a meeting of technical com- ment would immediately provide some unregistered Madaris and who are promoting hate speech ment will equip the counter- is no law to declare such acts mittee on law and order here yes- two locators to the counter- makatib, as well as hate speech on in mosques and Madaris, suggest- terrorism force with cellphone criminal. terday, said that equipment would terrorism force to help iden- social media will also come under ing that only Azan and Qutba on tracking devices to check inci- Recently, provincial police be purchased for the counter-ter- tify location of cellphones used the new laws’ purview, he said. Fridays be allowed on loudspeak- dents of extortion and kidnap- chief Nasir Khan Durrani had rorism force. for terrorism-related activities, The Interior Ministry has ers at these sites, according to CII ping for ransom in the province. requested the federal government The committee was set up in kidnapping for ransom, and sought the opinion of clerics from member Allama Tahir Ashrafi. It will also legislate to declare to legislate on the matter. light of the National Action Plan extortion. different schools of thought on INTERNEWS the use and sale of unregistered Provincial information minister against terrorism. INTERNEWS THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

Message of peace Probe ordered Parrikar justifies as 104 bodies found floating DRDO chief’s removal in Ganga Defence minister wants younger man as head LUCKNOW: The Uttar NEW DELHI: A day after was likely to be named the new November but the previous cabi- Pradesh government yesterday Avinash Chander was sacked as DRDO chief. net had approved a three-year ordered a probe after over 100 chief of the Defence Research Basu, who heads the Bhabha extension to his term, with the bodies were found in a channel and Development Organisation Atomic Research Centre, was additional years being on con- of the Ganga in Unnao district, (DRDO), Defence Minister behind the nuclear system that tract,” Parrikar told reporters. an official said. Manohar Parrikar said yester- is driving the Arihant-class sub- The minister added that the Thirty bodies were recovered day that he recommended the marines of the Indian Navy. post would be filled by someone from the river’s channel till late removal and that the organi- A search panel headed by till a permanent replacement was Tuesday but by yesterday morn- sation should be headed by a the cabinet secretary will pick found. “As of now, the person to ing the number swelled up to 104. younger person. Chander’s replacement from replace him has not been decided. Director General of Police (DGP) Amid criticism from the among top DRDO scientists. We will fill the post temporarily AK Gupta has sought a detailed Congress about the way Chander Chander’s sack notification by someone who has the urge for report after recovery of the bod- was asked to go, Parrikar insisted was put up on the Department of development.” ies in the Ganga, near the Periyaar that there was no “controversy”. Personnel and Training (DoPT) The DRDO had faced criticism Ghat, where bodies are gener- The Appointments Committee web site Tuesday but removed from Prime Minister Narendra ally cremated. Kanpur Inspector of the Cabinet (ACC) approved later. DRDO officials said they did Modi in August last year when he General of Police Ashutosh Pandey the termination of Chander’s con- not receive any official informa- said the “chalta hai” attitude will said the bodies belonged to the fam- tract with effect from January tion on Chander’s removal. not help and asked the DRDO to ilies who could not afford a decent 31, 15 months ahead of schedule. Chander is widely known as come up with cutting edge tech- cremation as per Hindu traditions Chander, 64, retired on November the man behind the Agni series nology. In the same speech, Modi and dumped them in the river. 30 but was given a contract for 18 of missiles. also laid emphasis on promoting Gupta, however, has reportedly months till May 31, 2016 as head Congress leader Digvijaya young talent in the DRDO. asked police to probe all angles of DRDO. “I recommended that Singh sought an explanation for The DRDO was set up in 1958 before arriving at a conclusion. a person on contract should not Chander’s sudden removal. to develop indigenous military The district administration be occupying such a senior posi- “Avinash Chander ... dis- technology and cut back on arms used JCB machines to fish out tion. This senior position should missed 15 months before his imports. the decomposed bodies from the be filled by other eligible senior term expired. Would government The National Democratic river bed and the encatchment persons. There is no controversy please explain?” he asked. Alliance (NDA) government areas, a step protested by resi- here,” Parrikar said. “I believe Chander was the secre- headed by Modi has been empha- dents and the BJP. Officials said DRDO should be headed by a tary, Defence Research and sising on promoting ‘Make in that all bodies will be cremated younger man... I had proposed for Development and director general India’ in the defence sector. as per tradition by the district his removal and they have agreed of DRDO as well as the scientific India meets nearly 80 percent administration. IANS to it.” adviser to the defence minister. of its military needs with foreign Government sources said “The tenure of the DRDO chief imports. India is the world’s ninth People from all walks of life and different nationalities hold candles and nuclear scientist Sekhar Basu would normally have ended in biggest military spender. IANS pencils during a memorial service around the statue of Mahatma Gandhi SC seeks report at Gandhi Ashram in Ahmedabad. on Ganga cleaning

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Bihar woman Court asked if the Narendra Kerala students develop 200 km-per-litre vehicle Modi government intended to complete the task of cleaning the harassed via 750 Ganga river in its present term THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Three Sagaram, team leader of the project. and Environment (KSCSTE) under the or carry it to the next term and mobile numbers sixth semester mechanical engineering The vehicle is powered by a Honda GX35 Technology Development and Adaptation keep the issue alive. students here have designed and devel- engine and uses light weight materials, Programme. The court sought details on the oped a prototype vehicle which runs more advanced aerodynamic techniques besides “The trial run was conducted and this is status of various sewage treatment PATNA: A woman in Bihar than 200 kilometres per litre of petrol. advanced tuning for extreme efficiency. a vehicle that will take one passenger and plants that were being set up to here has claimed that a man “It is a wonderful innovation and needs The design of the body of their vehicle is has two wheels in the front and one at the prevent untreated effluents from called her from 750 mobile to be promoted considering the energy inspired by the golf ball which has a highly rear. The steering wheel is similar to that flowing into the Ganga. “You want phone numbers in the last six crisis and rising oil prices”, said B Anil, aerodynamic construction. of a three wheeler. The driver can sit in a to do it in this term of government years asking her to accept him the Principal of Government Engineering The vehicle weighs just around fifty kil- reclining position and steer the vehicle. We or the next or keep the issue alive,” as her lover. College, Barton Hill, Thiruvananthapuram, ograms. The other two students Ronith will be making some more changes as we the bench asked. The woman finally filed a com- to reporters, yesterday. Stanly and S Vishnu Prasad along with a have time till July to complete the project,” The court’s query to know the plaint with the women’s helpline, Incidentally, this prototype will be shipped faculty of theirs will be taking part in the said Kumar. time frame in which the govern- an official said yesterday. tomorrow for the International Fuel competition. The vehicle has advanced safety features ment wanted to accomplish the The woman said in her com- Efficiency Contest, “Shell Eco Marathon”, The project was undertaken under the including collision warning system, engine task of cleaning the Ganga was plaint that she used to block the to be held at Philippines February 26 to guidance of two of their teachers Santhosh temperature monitor, seat belt. rooted in its earlier observation man’s phone number time and March 1. Kumar and Anver Sadath. The vehicle’s chassis is made out of light- that the project to clean the river again, and he called by changing “This is the only entry from Kerala for the Santhosh Kumar said that this project weight aluminium and the body is made out that was started in 1985 has not his number every time. The man competition in which more than 120 teams was part of a study that was funded by the of extremely strong fibreglass and polycar- resulted in any improvement in was the woman’s classmate. from 16 countries will take part,” said Bibin Kerala State Council for Science, Technology bonate. IANS the last 30 years. IANS “I was tired of receiving his call from new numbers. He was not ready to change his habit and stop calling me. I was so harassed by his calls that I approached the women’s helpline,” the woman said in her complaint. SC sets aside stay on Salman Khan’s conviction Premila Kumari, an official with the helpline, said an inquiry NEW DELHI: In a setback Salman Khan was convicted in cause irreversible consequences/ Pronouncing the verdict, the same. If the court comes to a by the police cyber crimes unit to filmstar Salman Khan, the the blackbuck hunting case April injustice to him which cannot be the court said: “If some foreign definite conclusion that the irre- confirmed that the man used 750 Supreme Court set aside the 10, 2006. undone if he ultimately succeeds,” country is not granting permis- versible consequences/injustice numbers to call her. Rajasthan High Court order Britain’s immigration rules the apex court said. “It would be sion to visit the said country on would cause to the accused which “The man has been harassing putting on hold his conviction in say “entry clearance to the UK is open to the state (of Rajasthan) to the ground that the respondent could not be restored, it was well me for the last six years,” the the blackbuck hunting case, and to be refused if an applicant has oppose such prayer on the ground (Salman Khan) has been con- within the domain of the court to woman said. asked the high court to consider been convicted of an offence for that non-suspension of conviction victed of an offence and has been stay the conviction.” The helpline traced the man the matter afresh. which he has been sentenced to a will not cause any irreversible sentenced for five years of impris- The apex court also noted that and called him to the office for a The high court on November period of imprisonment of at least consequences or injustice to the onment under the Indian law, the the high court while passing its meeting with the woman. 12, 2013 had suspended the con- 4 years”. respondent and the same can be said order cannot be a ground to order did not give any finding that “The man has given in writing viction of Salman Khan in the The apex court bench sent the undone if he (Salman Khan) ulti- stay the order of conviction.” “if the conviction is not stayed, that he will not call her or har- blackbuck hunting case on the matter back to the high court for mately succeeds.” “If an order of conviction in irreparable harm/irreversible ass her by changing his mobile filmstar’s plea that it was com- fresh consideration. “It would be The apex court verdict came on any manner is causing irrevers- consequences or injustice would phone number any more,” Premila ing in the way of the UK Border open to the respondent (Salman a plea by the Rajasthan govern- ible consequences or injustice to be caused to the respondent Kumari said. Agency issuing him visa to travel Khan) to show that if the order ment challenging the high court the respondent (Salman Khan), it (Salman Khan)”. IANS to Britain for a film shoot. of conviction is not stayed it will order. was open to the court to consider IANS

Snowfall in Shimla Naqvi held guilty SC gives Italian Marine in model code of conduct, gets bail three months to recover NEW DELHI: The Supreme recovery and rehabilitation after LUCKNOW: BJP leader and Court extended by three months he suffered a brain stroke. central minister Mukhtar Italian Marine Massimilano Latorre along with another Abbas Naqvi got bail after a Latorre’s stay in Italy for his Marine, Salvatore Girone, are court sentenced him to a year recovery following a heart sur- accused of killing two Indian in prison for violating the model gery earlier this month. fishermen off the Kerala coast in code of conduct in 2009. The court extended the stay of February 2012, allegedly mistak- The chief judicial magistrate Chief Master Sergeant Latorre ing them for pirates. ordered the detention of the min- after his counsel Soli Sorabjee Latorre had urged the apex ister of state for minority affairs told the court that the Marine court January 7 to extend his stay and parliamentary affairs but required three months to become in Italy. later released him on a personal medically fit after the heart sur- Additional Solicitor General bond of Rs.20,000. gery he underwent January 5. PS Narasimha’s plea to allow The verdict came in a case The court, however, took on the extended stay by two months related to a protest reportedly record an undertaking by the only was resisted by Sorabjee as led by the Bharatiya Janata Italian ambassador assuring the he told the court to let Latorre Party leader in 2009 at Rampur court of the Marine’s return on come back fit and healthy to face in Uttar Pradesh. Naqvi, who was the expiry of the extended period. trial in the fishermen killing case. in Rampur yesterday, denied he Sorabjee told the court that the As the court inquired what was present at the 2009 protest undertaking by the ambassador was the stage of the trial against and said he will appeal in a higher was similar to one given by him in the two Marines, it was told that People enjoy the snowfall in the northern hillstation of Shimla yesterday. Snow fell in some parts of northern court. Police had registered a September 2014, when the court the pleading in the case against India as foggy conditions elsewhere disrupted rail, road and air traffic. case against Naqvi and 200 other had allowed Latorre to go to Italy Latorre and Girone have com- people. IANS for four months for treatment, pleted. IANS

THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Paris Philharmonic Hall Saudi plans public run to Fajr (Dawn) 5:01 Shorook (Sunrise) 6:21 tackle rising Zuhr (Noon) 11:43 Asr (Afternoon) 2:45 obesity Maghrib (Sunset) 5:06 RIYADH: Levels of diabetes Isha (Night) 6:36 and obesity are rising in Saudi Arabia, an official said yester- day, as Riyadh announced its first publicly organised run to WEATHER promote a more active lifestyle. The “Run 4 Riyadh” will take place in the Saudi capital on Today Friday Saturday Weather Conditions: February 28 over 5km, from King Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Partly cloudy Abdullah Park to Prince Faisal bin Hazy to misty Fahd Stadium. Running will not be at places at first obligatory — participants can also walk or jog, organisers said. becomes moderate High: 23° High: 21° High: 21° The run “is a great motivation Low: 13° Low: 15° Low: 16° temperature towards a healthier, more active daytime with some life”, Riyadh Governor Prince clouds cold by Turki bin Abdullah said at a press night. conference. The run is only open to males and a separate women’s DOHA - SUN & SEA event organised by a local uni- SUN TIDE SEA versity will be held on a different A general view shows the new Paris Philharmonic Hall (Philharmonie de Paris) by French architect Jean Nouvel date. SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND before its inauguration, yesterday. An oil-rich desert nation, Saudi 06:21 17:05 01:30 & 10:45 05:45 & 18:30 4-12/18 KT Arabia lacks public sport facili- ties but Western-style fast food THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW restaurants are widespread. The kingdom is confronted HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER by the “epidemic spread of sev- MUSCAT 27/16 Clear 27/16 Clear Surrogate mothers seek custody of babies eral diseases such as diabetes, MAKKAH 25/18 Chance of rain 29/18 Partly cloudy obesity, blood hypertension and BANGKOK: The surrogate mothers of nine children adequately, she added, though she rejected high cholesterol levels”, Adnan KUWAIT 19/09 Clear 20/07 Chance of showers babies fathered by a Japanese man and taken into the accusation. “We never said the mothers cannot bin Sulaiman Al Abdulkarim, BAHRAIN 21/13 Clear 22/14 Clear care by Thai authorities last year have launched get the children back... but they need to pass through Riyadh’s director-general of SANAA 23/07 Clear 23/07 Partly cloudy legal proceedings to regain custody of the infants, the ministry’s process,” Suvanna said. That process health affairs, said in a statement. RIYADH 23/13 Clear 24/12 Clear an official said yesterday. includes proving they can care for the children and Over the past 30 years, diabetes DUBAI 24/16 Clear 24/17 Clear The alleged father, who was at the time was have a child-safe family background, the official added. has spread from two percent of BAGHDAD 18/04 Partly cloudy 16/04 Clear reported by Japanese media to be the son of an IT Thailand’s shadowy commercial surrogacy industry the population to 13 percent, he millionaire, left Thailand as a surrogacy scandal was thrust into the limelight in August 2014 following said, while obesity affects around THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW erupted in August following the discovery of nine accusations that an Australian couple abandoned a one-third of men and women. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER babies in a Bangkok apartment. baby born with Down’s syndrome, but took his healthy Organisers said they hope the Tests revealed he is the biological father of at twin sister. The couple denied deliberately leaving the run, which costs SR50 ($13.33) ATHENS 17/06 Clear 16/07 Clear least 15 babies born to surrogates in the kingdom, boy, called Gammy, with the Thai surrogate mother, to enter, will be held annually. WASHINGTON 05/-2 Partly cloudy 04/-4 Partly cloudy although his motives for fathering so many children who was paid around $15,000 to carry the twins. AFP remain unclear. Thai social services have been caring Paid surrogacy is officially banned by the Medical SYDNEY 27/18 Clear 30/18 Partly cloudy for the nine infants for the last six months, although Council of Thailand and authorities moved to close LONDON 07/07 Partly cloudy 09/04 Rain the mothers have been allowed regular visits. several IVF clinics in the weeks after the scandal. A PARIS 11/06 Chance of rain 08/01 Partly cloudy Six of the mothers, who police said were each paid new law to tighten loopholes is also under considera- ISTANBUL 08/04 Partly cloudy 07/03 Partly cloudy around $12,500 to be surrogates, have now launched tion by the kingdom’s National Legislative Assembly. MANILA 30/22 Partly cloudy 29/21 Partly cloudy civil proceedings to get their babies back. It carries tough penalties that could see anyone DHAKA 27/16 Clear 27/16 Clear “They are seeking custody of the children,” found guilty of involvement in the trade jailed for 10 DELHI 15/06 Partly cloudy 16/06 Partly cloudy Suvanna Pinkaew, an official from the Ministry of years. Dozens, possibly hundreds, of foreign couples ISLAMABAD 16/04 Clear 18/05 Clear Social Development and Human Security, said. are thought to have been left in limbo after entering Their lawsuit, filed at a juvenile and family court, into surrogacy arrangements through clinics in the alleges that authorities are failing to care for the kingdom before the summer’s scandals. AFP Thursday 15 January 2015 24 Rabial I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6311 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Opec was QP, Shell halt $6.4bn project right not to $6.4bn Al Karaana petrochemical project commercially unfeasible, says joint statement cut: Kuwait

DOHA: Qatar Petroleum (QP) end of the first quarter last year, KUWAIT CITY: The depth and Shell said they had decided but this did not happen. of the oil price drop was unex- not to proceed with their $6.4bn That suggests the oil price tum- QP to pursue expansion of pected, Kuwait’s oil minister Al Karaana petrochemical ble may be prompting companies said yesterday, repeating too project, the region’s second big formally to shelve projects that petrochemical industry that Opec had made the right energy project to be shelved were in any case looking uncer- decision in not cutting its out- since oil prices began to plunge tain because of changes in the put. The comments by Ali Al late last year. industry and shifting demand DOHA: Saad Sherida Al This significant step was Omair reflect how even core Prices quoted by contractors to projections. Kaabi (pictured), President & driven by QP’s efforts to achieve Gulf Opec producers who had build the huge complex showed Early this month, industry CEO of Qatar Petroleum (QP) the best utilisation of Qatar’s led the decision in November, the project was “commercially sources said that Saudi Arabia’s said yesterday that QP will be natural resources, particularly blocking a call for a cut by oth- unfeasible, particularly in the cur- state oil giant Saudi Aramco had conducting feasibility studies in the petrochemical sector ers, did not predict the scale of rent economic climate prevailing suspended plans to build a $2bn to assess utilising the avail- and in a manner that supports the price collapse of about 60 in the energy industry”, the two clean fuels plant at its largest oil able ethane feedstock after the local industries, and maximizes percent in the last six months. companies said in a joint state- refinery in Ras Tanura. decision not to go ahead with its contribution to the national Omair told the Kuwaiti par- ment yesterday. Many other multi-billion dol- the Al Karaana Petrochemicals economy. liament the “unexpected fall in State-owned Qatar Petroleum lar projects in the region are still Project. Based on the results of the oil prices affects Kuwait and the and Shell had agreed on the going ahead, however, including The studies will be carried out studies, the best option will other crude-exporting countries,” project in December 2011; they the Sadara joint venture petro- by QP in cooperation with Qatar be selected in a manner that state news agency Kuna reported. were to build a petrochemi- chemical complex of Aramco and Petrochemical Company (Qapco), ensures that maximum economic Some non-Gulf Opec producers cal complex in the Ras Laffan Dow Chemical, which has an esti- Qatar Chemical Company benefits to the State and to all have already voiced their growing Industrial City, with the Qatari mated value of around $20bn. (Q-Chem) and RasLaffan shareholders in these companies scepticism on whether the deci- company owning 80 percent and Existing partnerships between Olefins Company (RLOC), with in the long term. sion was correct or not. Shell 20 percent. Qatar Petroleum and Shell the aim to expand and further Al Kaabi stressed that this Saudi Oil Minister Ali al-Naimi The Al Karaana project had include Pearl GTL, the world’s develop the petrochemical plants approach will also maximise the has said he convinced his fellow appeared to face delays even largest integrated gas-to-liquids under Industries Qatar (IQ) and benefit from available synergies and will significantly reduce cap- Opec ministers that it is not in before oil prices started to tumble. plant, located at Ras Laffan in the Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding by utilizing the existing facilities ital and operational costs. the group’s interest to cut oil out- Requests for banks to help finance Gulf state. Company (MPHC). and infrastructure in this sector, THE PENINSULA put however far prices may fall. it were due to be sent out by the REUTERS “We harbour no ill will towards anyone, and it is not possible for Kuwait to participate in what others see as oil price wars,” the Plan to lift rouble Kuwaiti minister was quoted as GM expects saying. Iranian President Hassan Rowhani said on Tuesday that Oil in biggest daily countries behind the fall in glo- better profit bal oil prices would regret their decision and warned that Saudi this year Arabia and Kuwait would suf- gain in two years fer alongside Iran from the price DETROIT: General Motors drop. said yesterday that it expects NEW YORK: Oil futures London, Brent North Sea crude The firm stance of Saudi Arabia, improved earnings and margins spiked in late trade yesterday, for February delivery lost 53 cents the UAE and other Gulf Arab pro- in 2015 after paying out nearly marking the strongest daily to $46.06 per barrel. US bench- ducers in the Organization of the $2bn for recalls and victims gain in more than two years on mark West Texas Intermediate Petroleum Exporting Countries — compensation last year. short covering ahead of options for delivery in February dropped who account for more than half of GM said it foresees “mod- expiration. just three cents at $45.85 a barrel. the group’s production — is caus- est” growth in the overall auto Both US and Brent crude oil The US Department of Energy ing dismay among some other oil industry worldwide this year, but shook off a US government report revealed that commercial crude exporters who need higher oil that it is counting on continued which showed that US crude oil stocks surged 5.4 million barrels prices to balance their budgets. improvement of its own opera- stockpiles rose far more than in the week to January 9. Gulf countries have sufficient tions in North America, China expected last week due to rocket- That was far bigger than mar- financial reserves to weather the and Europe to offset downturns ing domestic production, as trad- ket expectations for a gain of 1.75 fall in oil prices. A diplomatic push in Latin America and Russia. ers instead focused on technical million barrels, according to ana- by Opec price hawks Venezuela “We had a pivotal year in 2014,” trades. lysts polled by Bloomberg News. and Iran for an Opec oil output said Mary Barra, marking the end Brent crude rose $2.10 to Rising inventories signal weak cut has failed to soften the refusal of her first year as chief executive. settle at $46.38 a barrel. The demand in the United States, of the group’s Gulf members to do “We’ll build on this momentum benchmark hit a low of $45.19 on which is the world’s top crude con- so for now, delegates told Reuters in 2015 and continue executing Tuesday, the lowest since March sumer. Gasoline or petrol reserves this week. our plan to become the most- 2009, amid increasing U.S. stocks meanwhile rose 3.2 million barrels, Kuwait echoed UAE’s com- valued automotive company.” and a continuing global supply easily outstripping predictions for ments on Tuesday, showing no sign The largest US automaker sold glut. US crude oil settled at $48.48 a gain of 1.3 million. of backing down from Opec’s insist- 2.94 million cars and trucks in the up $2.59. “Crude inventories and gaso- ence to defend its market share and US last year, a 5.3 percent gain. In US government data showed line inventories are strong while stick to its November decision. “We its now-largest market, China, it crude stocks rose 5.4 million bar- refinery demand dropped, which see that Opec decision was right,” sold 3.5 million vehicles last year, rels, more than 10 times what ana- could signal the beginning of the Omair said. “If Kuwait reduced it’s up 12 percent from 2013. The com- lysts had expected. Inventories at seasonal slowdown during main- production it is possible that our pany has not announced its global the Cushing, Oklahoma, delivery tenance,” noted Saxo Bank ana- market shares... would go to other total, but analysts are waiting to hub for the US futures contract, lyst Ole Hansen. Oil sentiment producers.” see if that hits 10 million cars and rose 1.8 million barrels. also soured Wednesday after the He said there had not been any trucks sold, which would make GM But the big builds in inventories World Bank slashed its global requests for an emergency meet- a challenger along with Volkswagen A honey vendor takes a 1,000 Russian rouble from a customer at an may have been offset by figures 2015 economic growth forecast ing. The group is set to meet next to Toyota’s crown as the world’s open-air food fair in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, yesterday. The Russian rouble showing an increase in demand, to 3.0 percent from 3.4 percent, in June. Iran and Algeria have largest automaker. AFP again weakened, tracking lower oil prices, but was lifted by a Finance said Andrew Lipow, president of raising fresh doubts about future both called on Opec to cut out- Ministry plan to convert $7.6bn in forex reserves. Lipow Oil Associates. crude demand. put in the face of the slide in oil In late afternoon deals in AGENCIES prices. REUTERS

Microsoft unveils low-cost smartphones in some markets Qatar’s inflation declined in December WASHINGTON: Microsoft yesterday unveiled two new low- DOHA: Qatar’s month-on- or declined by varying degrees Communication” by 0.5 percent; due to hikes in rentals of residen- cost smartphones aimed at pushing its Windows Phone oper- month inflation (CPI) for compared to prices in the previ- and “Entertainment, Recreation tial buildings; “Furniture, Textiles ating system to users in Europe, Asia, the Middle East and December, 2014 has declined ous month. and Culture” by one percent. and Home Appliances” by 3.6 per- Africa. by 0.3 percent compared to The CPI of December, 2014 However, the price indi- cent; “Medical care” by 0.8 percent; The two Lumia handsets — made by the unit of Finnish-based the CPI of November, 2014, was estimated at 118.6, showing a ces of “Rentals, Fuel and “Transport and Communication” Nokia which Microsoft acquired last year — will begin rolling out data released by the Ministry marginal decrease of 0.3 percent, Energy”, “Medical care”, and by 1.2; “Entertainment, Recreation in February, with prices starting at ¤69 to 79 ($81 to $93). of Development Planning and when compared to the CPI of “Miscellaneous Goods and and Culture” and “Miscellaneous The launch is part of a goal by Microsoft aimed at “bringing Statistics revealed yesterday. November 2014, and an increase Services” remained stable at the Goods and Services” by 0.4 percent devices to as many people and price points as possible,” said Jo However, on year-on-year by 2.7 percent in comparison to previous month’s level. each. Harlow, corporate vice president for phones at Microsoft. basis, the overall CPI (inflation) the CPI of December 2013. On year-on-year basis, the price The CPI of December 2014, “With the Lumia 435 and Lumia 532, we’ve realized our goal of of December, 2014 has increased The decline of CPI of December, increases were observed in all of excluding “Rentals, Fuel and creating the most affordable Lumia devices to date, opening up the by 2.7 percent compared to the 2014 was attributed to the price the groups except “Food, Beverages Energy” group stood at 127.9, opportunity to reach those people who are buying a smartphone for CPI of December, 2013. falls recorded in “Food, Beverages and tobacco” where the index showing a decrease of 0.4 per- the very first time.” According to the Consumer and Tobacco” by 0.4 percent; showed a decline of 0.4 percent. cent compared to the index of Both smartphones come with latest Windows Phone 8.1 operating Price Index (CPI) report for “Garments and Footwear” by Price increases have been regis- November 2014 and an increase system, Microsoft’s Office suite including Word, Outlook for email, December 2014, prices of various 0.1 percent; “Furniture, Textiles tered in “Garments and Footwear” of one percent in comparison to Skype, and up to 30GB of free cloud storage. AFP goods and services in all major and Home Appliances” by by 2.6 percent, “Rentals, Fuel and the CPI of December, 2013. groups have either remained flat 0.3 percent; “Transport and Energy” by 7.3 percent, mainly THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Citigroup loses appeal Discount offers over fund arbitration Abu Dhabi Investment Authority wins second attempt

NEW YORK: Citigroup Inc declined comment. The case arose But the ADIA in August 2013 yesterday lost an appeal aiming from Citigroup’s efforts to shore sought a second arbitration, rais- to block Abu Dhabi Investment up its capital base, in the wake of ing two claims it had raised in Authority (ADIA) from pursu- billions of dollars of writedowns the first: breach of contract, and ing a second arbitration over tied to subprime mortgages. breach of an implied covenant of the sovereign wealth fund’s Citigroup ultimately required good faith and fair dealing. $7.5bn investment in late 2007 three federal bailouts, which it Citigroup sued to block ADIA’s to shore up the then-struggling has since repaid. case, which sought $2bn of dam- bank. In November 2007, the ADIA ages or to rescind its investment. The 2nd US Circuit Court of invested the $7.5bn in exchange But US District Judge Kevin Appeals in New York ruled that for a 4.9 percent stake in Castel in Manhattan rejected its Citigroup had not demonstrated Citigroup, surpassing Saudi bid in November 2013. a basis for an injunction based on Prince Alwaleed bin Talal as the As part of its investment, the its argument that the case was New York-based bank’s largest ADIA received securities from precluded after a federal court individual shareholder. Citigroup that could be con- confirmed the results of an earlier Two years later, the fund began verted to common stock at prices arbitration it won. arbitration proceedings in which between $31.83 and $37.24 from US Circuit Judge Peter Hall it accused Citigroup of fraudu- March 2010 to September 2011. wrote that “it is the arbitra- lently inducing its investment, in Citigroup shares trade at a lit- tors, not the federal courts, who part by issuing preferred shares tle over one-tenth of their level ordinarily should determine the to other investors that diluted its when the Abu Dhabi fund made claim-preclusive effect of a fed- stake. its investment, after accounting eral judgment that confirms an An arbitration panel rejected for a reverse stock split. Yesterday arbitration award.” the ADIA’s claims in October 2011, morning, the stock was trading at Sanford Weisburst, a lawyer and US District Judge George $48.83 a share. for the fund at Quinn, Emanuel, Daniels in Manhattan confirmed The case is Citigroup Inc v. Abu Urquhart & Sullivan, said the that ruling in 2013. Daniels’ ruling Dhabi Investment Authority, 2nd fund was pleased with the rul- was upheld by the 2nd Circuit in US Circuit Court of Appeals, No. ing. A Citigroup spokeswoman February. 13-4825. REUTERS Sales discount offers on display on windows of shops in the city centre of Zurich in Switzerland yesterday.

Venezuelan leader Islamic Holding Group’s QIB adds Fanar heads to Moscow to its evening for oil talks net profit touches QR16.1m branches network MOSCOW: Venezuela’s DOHA:The net profit of President Nicolas Maduro will Islamic Holding Group touched DOHA: Qatar Islamic Bank meet Russian leader Vladimir QR16.1m for the full-year 2014, (QIB) has added Fanar to Putin today as he ends his tour up 78 percent compared to its network of evening shift aimed at trying to persuade big QR9m posted a year ago. branches in order to extend oil producers to cut output to The Group announced the services to client according to stop the price rout. results of its operations for the their best-suited timings. This Prices of oil, cornerstone of year 2014 after yesterday’s board move comes in response to both the Russian and Venezuelan meeting. The board meeting was request by customers who due to economies, have touched their chaired by Dr Yusuf Ahmad Al work conditions are not able to lowest in almost six years and Neama (pictured), Chairman and complete their banking require- Maduro traveled this week to Managing Director of the Group. ments during regular hours. Iran, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and The Group’s total earnings per Fanar branch will now open Algeria to gather support for his share rose to QR4.02 in 2014, evening from Sunday to diplomatic push. “The situation compared to QR2.26 for the same Wednesday 05:00 pm to 07:30 on the global oil markets along period in 2013. The board rec- pm and Saturdays from 09:00 Qatar Islamic Bank branch at Fanar. with some other issues will be ommended the general assembly am – 12:00 mid-day. It will be among the topics to be discussed,” to distributed a cash dividend of providing complete range of in the evening session will enable using the innovative QIB Mobile Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov QR3 per share. noted the Group will continue to services for QIB clients, simi- more QIB clients to perform their application which is compatible told Itar Tass news agency. “The results confirm that the explore all investment opportuni- lar to services provided during banking requirements that meet with all devices and operating Venezuelan and Algerian offi- Group’s operations are on the ties in various fields and will do the day working shifts, such as their expectations from the lead- systems (iOS, Android, Windows cials have this year initiated talks right track and are working to all that is necessary for positive opening an account of any type, ing Islamic bank in Qatar. and Blackberry). For inquiries over production levels between consolidate its position in the interaction with large growth obtaining financing, receiving Customers can perform bank- concerning new products and Russia and producers group local market and works great opportunities provided by the debit and credit cards and a ing transactions by logging to additional services customers can OPEC, but officials in Moscow efforts to upgrade the various national economy. host of Takaful services. their QIB internet banking at call 44448444. have said the country, in which activities”, Dr Yusuf said. He THE PENINSULA The extended working hours https://ibank.qib.com.qa and THE PENINSULA around 40 percent of output is in private hands, would find it tech- nically tough to cut. Sainsbury’s to Myanmar set to open first stock exchange by October cut 500 jobs YANGON: Myanmar’s deputy run the Yangon Stock Exchange finance minister has said the following years of discussions. LONDON: British supermar- country will launch its first offi- Myanma Economic Bank ket group Sainsbury’s is to axe cial stock exchange by October, will own the controlling 51 per- 500 jobs as part of a plan to cut as the emerging economy takes cent-stake in the Yangon Stock costs by 500 million pounds another step towards opening Exchange Joint-Venture Company ($760m, ¤645m), it announced up after decades of isolation. with the remainder divided yesterday. Maung Maung Thein said the between the Japanese partners, The savings will fund future former junta-run nation was on the state-backed Global New Light investments and the job cuts will track to launch the bourse in the of Myanmar reported yesterday. be spread across store support country’s main commercial hub The newspaper quoted Maung centres, the supermarket said in of Yangon. Maung Thein as saying Myanmar a statement. “Our target date is October was one of only nine countries in “I recognise that these changes 2015 at the latest. But it may be the world, including North Korea will be difficult for our colleagues earlier,” he told AFP on Tuesday and Brunei, without a stock and I can assure you the deci- from the capital Naypyidaw, add- exchange. “We will be able to exit sion to make them was not taken ing that “no more than five com- the list of countries with no stock lightly,” said chief executive officer panies” would be listed on the exchange soon,” he said. Mike Coupe. stock exchange to begin with. Since the end of outright mili- “However, I’m certain that we Myanmar’s central bank signed tary rule in 2011, Myanmar has will be in a stronger position to a joint venture agreement with moved to liberalise its economy deliver our new strategy and bet- Japan Exchange Group and as part of wider reforms aiming ter equipped to win in these times Daiwa Institute of Research, the to lure international companies as of change as a result.” People walk past a building in downtown Yangon where Myanmar’s government hopes to locate the country’s research arm of Daiwa Securities the once cloistered nation seeks to AGENCIES first stock exchange. Group, last month to set up and rebuild its economy. AFP Europe at risk of being cut off from Russia: Gazprom

MOSCOW: Russia’s gas giant could be a problem with Ukraine Gazprom said Miller was accord reached in November in Dmitry Medvedev warned ear- made provision for paying the Gazprom said yesterday that reducing transit supplies to referring to the peak period of Brussels but that Ukraine was not lier yesterday that Russia could loan in its 2015 budget. there was still a risk that Europe due to Kiev’s problems energy consumption at the end complying with its terms. demand rapid repayment of a $3.0 “Therefore we will have to take Europe could see a drop in sup- with paying for enough gas for of January and in February. Ukraine’s state gas company bn loan to Ukraine while the pro- a decision on this matter in the plies of Russian gas piped via its own citizens to get through “Ukraine, due to financial dif- Naftogaz “is acquiring gas in lower Kremlin Viktor Yanukovych was near future,” Medvedev said. Ukraine this winter. the winter. ficulties, was not able to buy the volumes than in the Brussels still president in December 2013. “We don’t want Ukraine to “The transit risks in Ukraine Twice in the past decade necessary volume of Russian gas accord,” Gazprom complained. Russia agreed to give Ukraine a default and for the already des- remain this winter,” Gazprom Europe faced gas shortages during in November and December last Ukraine is taking gas out of $15bn loan but handed over only perate position of the Ukraine chief Alexei Miller was quoted the peak winter heating season year and significantly depleted its its underground stores at a rapid the first installment of $3.0bn economy to get worse,” Medvedev as saying after meeting the new after Ukraine, which was locked reserves of gas in underground rate, leaving supplies that are “not before Yanukovych was swept said at a televised discussion on European Commissioner for in price disputes with Russia, storage,” Miller said. enough to reliably get through the from power. the economy. Energy Union, Maros Sefcovic in allegedly took supplies destined Gazprom said for its part that winter period,” Gazprom said in a Medvedev, speaking at a busi- “But debts need to be paid,” he Moscow. for Europe from pipelines that it had met its obligations on sup- statement. ness forum, complained that added. Miller suggested that there cross its territory. plies to Ukraine under a gas Russian Prime Minister Ukraine in its budget had not AFP

THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Farmers’ protest Tesco gets new Wall St extends losses junk status credit rating hit by global concerns LONDON: Britain’s Tesco suf- fered a fresh blow yesterday as Standard & Poor’s became the second ratings agency after Gulf markets mixed; Qatar index falls 0.5pc Moody’s to slash the troubled supermarket’s debt to junk sta- NEW YORK/DUBAI: US Saudi Arabia’s index added while Kuwait’s index edged up 0.2 tus, despite its turnaround plans. stocks fell yesterday, on track 0.7 percent, partly because of a percent. In a gloomy week for the for a fourth day of losses, as a rebound in beaten-down pet- Shares in Kuwait Foods Co, also nation’s supermarket sector, S&P World Bank forecast sparked rochemicals. Shares in Yanbu known as Americana , tumbled announced in a statement that it concerns about weak economies National Petrochemical Co 3.6 percent after sources familiar has lowered Tesco’s long-term and December US retail sales (Yansab) surged 4.8 percent after with the matter told Reuters on credit rating to ‘BB+’ from ‘BBB-’, missed expectations. it reported a 39.7 percent rise in Tuesday that the firm’s sale was which was the lowest investment The S&P 500 broke below its fourth-quarter net profit. close to being put on hold, partly grade. The outlook on the stock 120-day moving average, a techni- Yansab, a unit of Saudi Basic due to differences on price. is however stable. cal support level, and came within Industries, which climbed 1.0 per- Private equity funds KKR The downgrade, which mir- about 4 points of the low for the cent, made a net profit of SR617.8m and CVC were among the main rors a similar action by Moody’s year of 1,992.44. ($164.6m) in the three months to contenders for the business; last on Friday, came despite Tesco’s S&P 500 materials, energy and December 31 while analysts polled September, Saudi Arabia’s Savola revival plans that had been wel- financial sectors all were down by Reuters had on average forecast Group said it had appointed JP comed by investors last week. more than 2 percent, leading the SR558.3m. Morgan to advise on a potential Tesco is the world’s third- day’s decline. Copper touched its Much of the rise, however, was purchase of a stake. Savola fell 1.0 biggest supermarket group after lowest since July 2009 and was due to a temporary plant shut- percent on Wednesday. France’s Carrefour and global last down 6.2 percent at $5,497 a down in the year-earlier period, Qatar’s index edged down leader Walmart. “Tesco’s manage- tonne after the World Bank cut so Yansab’s earnings did not 0.5 percent as shares in Qatar ment recently announced several its growth forecasts for this year indicate that Saudi petrochemi- National Bank (QNB) dropped measures to improve the group’s and next. cal firms can remain unaffected 2.1 percent after it posted a 3.3 UK operations and reduce lever- The S&P 500 index is now down by the plunge in oil prices, which percent rise in fourth-quarter net age,” S&P said. more than 4 percent from its last threatens their margins. profit. “However, in our view these record high on Dec. 29, and the Saudi Investment Bank climbed QNB, the largest lender in the measures do not go far enough year so far has been marked by 6.5 percent, having reported a Gulf, made a net profit of 2.45 to support an investment-grade increased volatility. 14.8 percent rise in fourth-quar- billion riyals in the quarter; the rating, considering the challenges “It’s a multitude of factors, but ter profit, in line with analysts’ average forecast of analysts polled the group faces in sustainably on top of the list, global growth estimates. by Reuters was 2.57 billion riyals. turning around its operations and has been and will continue to Dubai’s market was nearly flat Egypt’s bourse continued its materially improving its profit- decelerate going into 2015, which but builder Arabtec , which dom- rally, jumping 2.5 percent to ability in the highly competitive will have further implications for inated trading, rose 1.6 percent. 9,544 points, just below major UK grocery market.” the oil and commodities markets,” Arabtec will hold a board meet- technical resistance at 9,572-79 However, investors shrugged said Chad Morganlander, portfolio ing on Thursday to discuss the points, the peaks in November off the news, sending Tesco’s manager at Stifel, Nicolaus & Co company’s projects and investors and December. share price 0.94 percent higher to in Florham Park, New Jersey. may be expecting an update on Car assembler and distributor close at 214 pence on the London Most Gulf stock markets were its giant $40bn project to build GB Auto surged 4.8 percent after stock market. The British capi- neutral to slightly positive yester- one million housing units in rising its daily 10 percent limit tal’s benchmark FTSE 100 index day, although negative news and Egypt. in each of the two previous ses- of top companies, on which the earnings reports dragged down Abu Dhabi’s benchmark inched sions, following its announcement group is listed, sank 2.35 percent some individual stocks. Egypt’s down 0.1 percent with a roughly of plans to invest $1.5bn in new Farmers driving tractors dump shallots on the RN12 highway linking on global economic worries and bourse extended its winning equal split between gainers and factories and carry out a $134m Brest and Rennes near Morlaix, western France, yesterday, as they slumping copper prices to finish streak on the back of cheap oil. losers. Oman rose 1.0 percent, rights issue. REUTERS demonstrate against unfair competition. According to the farmers, at 6,388.46 points. some seedlings sold as shallots are actually onions. Tesco had last week unveiled cost-cutting plans to shut 43 unprofitable stores, sell assets and axe its dividend, in a bid to revive its fortunes and recover from an accounting scandal. The nation’s biggest retailer Samsung to invest $46bn this year also posted sliding sales in the key Christmas trading period, as it SEOUL: Samsung Group, invested between 49 trillion and expenditures and only releases will also likely invest an amount call. Analysts predict Samsung continued to suffer from intense South Korea’s top family-run 50 trillion won in 2014, according the figures by its subsidiaries. equivalent to what it spent last Electronics probably spent 15 tril- competition in its home market. conglomerate, is expected to to market analysts, moderately Lee Sang-hoon, head of year, the official said. Samsung lion won for research and devel- Tesco, facing pressure in spend 50 trillion won ($46.3bn) increasing the expenditure every Samsung’s management division, Electronics’ investment accounts opment in 2014, slightly up from Britain from supermarket price for facility and R and D invest- year from 42 trillion won in 2011, had said at the beginning of last for 80 percent of the group’s total 14.7 trillion won in 2013. wars and German-owned dis- ment this year, a company offi- according to South Korean news year that the group would spend capital expenditures. Lee Jay-yong, the son of counters Aldi and Lidl, also faces cial said, a similar amount from agency Yonhap. “It seems to be “around that much” in response The tech firm said that 24 tril- Chairman Lee Kun-hee, is due various probes after the giant last year, following a reshuffle an amount similar to that of last to reporters’ questions asking if lion won will be spent on three to meet with newly-appointed admitted overstating its profits with its chairman, Lee Kun- year,” said a Samsung official. the amount was 50 trillion won. flagship divisions, memory chip, executives early next week dur- by £263m earlier this year as a hee, still sick in bed. Samsung does not disclose Samsung Electronics Co., the display and mobile, at the sec- ing a four-day workshop. result of accounting errors. Samsung is estimated to have its combined annual capital crown jewel of Samsung Group, ond-quarter earnings conference AGENCIES AFP

A sign at a JPMorgan Chase building in New York. Big legal costs dent JPMorgan’s profits

NEW YORK: JPMorgan Chase yes- on a conference call with reporters. “We try in Texas and other petroleum centers and terday reported a dip in fourth-quarter to resolve it.” Dimon said banks are “under that there will probably be higher defaults earnings as hefty legal expenses once assault” by regulators, with five or six agen- in loans from some oil companies. again weighed on results. cies typically punishing companies in cases But he expects higher consumer spending Quarterly earnings at the biggest US that once would have only led to rebukes due to cheap oil. bank by assets fell 6.6 percent from the from one or two. “There are offsets to the negatives in the year-ago period to $4.9bn. Quarterly rev- JPMorgan’s biggest division, consumer oil sector,” Dimon said. Bank officials remain enues dropped 2.8 percent to $22.51bn. and community banking, saw earnings drop confident in the US recovery and in the The bank recorded a $990m charge about 11 percent to $2.2bn, in part due to bank’s ability to benefit when the Federal for legal expenses. JPMorgan in October higher provisions for credit losses in some Reserve raises interest rates, which Lake was fined about $78m by the European segments. On the positive side, JPMorgan said is expected in June or soon thereafter. Commission for rigging interest rates. reported higher car loans and credit card Annual earnings came in at a record The bank has also acknowledged a crimi- loan balances, a sign of rising consumer $21.8bn, up 21.4 percent from 2013’s profits. nal probe by US prosecutors into its foreign confidence. “Our businesses continue to demonstrate exchange business. JPMorgan reached a set- “Definitely it’s the case that we’re seeing strong momentum and expense discipline,” tlement in a class-action suit over its forex strong spend,” said JPMorgan chief financial Dimon said. “Each of our businesses and trades, a source said earlier this month. officer Marianne Lake. the company are very well positioned going Huge legal charges have weighed on earn- Corporate and investment banking earn- into 2015 for long-term growth and success.” ings over the last few years, even pushing ings rose 3.3 percent to $972m as strong The quarterly results translated into JPMorgan to a rare loss in the 2013 fourth debt underwriting fees offset declines in earnings per share of $1.19, below the quarter. equity underwriting fees. $1.31 projected by analysts. Dow member “Obviously, companies make mistakes,” Dimon acknowledged that the big drop in JPMorgan’s shares tumbled 4.5 percent to JPMorgan chief executive Jamie Dimon said oil prices adds pressure to housing markets $56.16 in mid-morning trade. AFP THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

EU budget updates likely Japan’s liberalisation of to help Italy and France

BY REBECCA CHRISTIE gas market set for 2017 HE European Commission updated the way it enforces budget rules to help countries boost invest- ment and make long-term economic changes, meas- BY TOMOKO NUMAJIRI Co. The liberalisation is targeted prices and services. using Tokyo Gas’ pipelines and Tures that could help Italy and France pass their next at about 24 million households The reform will follow the full paying a fee. round of deadlines. N INDUSTRY and 1.2 million shops owned by liberalisation in the electricity Compared to the electric The new budget guidance, which doesn’t need approval ministry panel is individuals, with an estimated sector scheduled for April 2016. power field, which requires the from European Union governments or the European calling for Japan’s market scale of about 2.4 trillion Customers will be able to pur- construction of power plants, it Parliament, gives the Brussels-based commission more room retail gas market yen ($20.5bn). chase gas from several sources is considered easier for compa- to tailor its recommendations for countries suffering eco- to be liberalised by The panel has not reached a by around 2017. nies to enter the city gas market. nomic downturns. Aaround 2017. conclusion about the possibil- The industry ministry panel The government will further Countries could qualify for extra time to meet EU budget The aim of the reform is to ity of spinning off the “pipeline said in the report that the cur- encourage entrance by new targets, depending on how their economy is performing and hold down prices and improve divisions” in charge of manag- rent system prevents expansion companies that do not have how their debt stacks up. services by reviewing the cur- ing the gas pipelines at existing of customers’ choices, realiza- their own storage facilities by Investment initiatives could win budget leeway if countries rent regional monopoly of sup- large gas firms into a separate tion of reasonable prices and having existing gas compa- stay below the EU’s 3 percent deficit target and can show pliers and encouraging greater entity. diversification of types of nies with facilities offer spare that their economic growth is signficantly below its potential, competition. This idea is intended so new- contracts. capacity. according to Tuesday’s guidelines. The Economy, Trade and comers will not be at a disadvan- In the United States and Another issue is the need for a Countries also could earn credit for structural reforms, Industry Ministry will submit tage to existing companies. Europe, where such liberalisa- system in which companies can or be able to pursue smaller fiscal adjustments in times of a bill to revise the Gas Business The panel will continue to tion is spreading, customers can use gas pipelines fairly. economic weakness. Law to the ordinary Diet ses- discuss the issue of the three opt for such discount plans as It is expected that electric “We need growth as much as we need sound and sustain- sion that convenes on January major companies of Tokyo Gas, long-term contracts and combi- power companies, which import able public finances,” commission Vice President Valdis 26. Osaka Gas Co., and Toho Gas nations with electric power. natural gas for thermal power Dombrovskis said at a press conference in Strasbourg, France. Gas sales have already been Co., with the aim of eventu- Liberalising the gas market generation, and gas companies “While we will continue to ensure that all EU member liberalized gradually for large-lot ally spinning off their pipeline will benefit households and pri- will enter each other’s markets states are treated equally, this does not mean that all of them users. If the market is fully liber- divisions. vate shops, which account for more frequently. will benefit from the same flexibility.” alised, households will be able to The full liberalisation of the about 40 percent of the nation’s In the Tokyo metropolitan The European Central Bank is considering fresh stimulus choose gas suppliers freely. retail gas market is aimed at sales volume. area, which has a high demand, for the euro-area economy to combat the threat of defla- For instance, a customer who encouraging new entries in the When a person living in Tokyo Gas and Tokyo Electric tion, while also calling on nations to take growth-boosting lives within Tokyo’s 23 wards field, such as electric power com- Tokyo’s 23 wards contracts Power Co. have already started measures. will be allowed to contract with panies and oil wholesale firms, with Osaka Gas, the company competing. ECB President Mario Draghi has said nations need to take a gas firm other than Tokyo Gas and increasing competition in will send gas to the customer, WP-BLOOMBERG advantage of budget flexibility where possible to make invest- ments that improve their long-term prospects. France and Italy have until March to convince the com- mission that their 2015 budget plans are in line with EU spending rules. France is at risk of sanctions for repeatedly breaching the EU deficit rules, while Italy is under extra scrutiny because its overall debt levels remain high even though its annual spending is under the limit. Tuesday’s budget guidance applies differently to countries in the “corrective arm” of the EU’s stability pact, compared with nations in the “preventive arm.” It also offers five levels of economic outlook: good times, normal times, bad times, very bad times and “exceptionally bad times.” The commission said its “investment clause,” which gives countries more time to meet their medium-term objectives, could be used for national spending on projects that also involve EU funds. They will still need to stay below the deficit ceiling of 3 percent of gross domestic product, and countries in the “cor- rective arm” won’t be eligible for this leeway. At the same time, all EU nations will be allowed to make capital contributions to the proposed European Fund for Strategic Investments without triggering any debt thresholds. Proposed legislation on the fund, the centerpiece of the commission’s 315 billion-euro ($371bn) investment plan, was introduced on Tuesday in Strasbourg and requires approval from nations and the European Parliament to move forward. As proposed, only the commission and the European Investment Bank will have seats on the fund’s steering board. The board will decide on the fund’s strategy and oversee an panel of investment professionals that will make decisions on individual projects. “The selection process will not be political,” commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen said today. The investment program won’t have geographic or sector- specific quotas because investors “have said very clearly to us that the reliability of investment projects must be highest level” for the EFSI to gain investor trust. Nations that put capital into the fund would get seats on the steering board, in proportion to the size of their contri- bution. Katainen said outside investors also could contribute capital and that it was not yet decided how they might be represented on the board. WP-BLOOMBERG

Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Investors may wait longer for higher dividends

BY PETER RUDEGEAIR dividends or share buybacks started overseeing dividend pay- be the most disappointed with low 50 percent in recent months, big effect on how regulators look when assets are riskier, ana- ments and share buybacks in dividend increases in 2015, ana- investors are concerned about at bank’s safety levels. NVESTORS had hoped that lysts said. 2009. lysts said. rising loan defaults in the com- The Federal Reserve adjusts the biggest US banks would Banks’ likely difficulty in rais- The Federal Reserve was look- Citigroup has paid the lowest ing year. banks’ capital requirements based boost dividend payments ing dividends or buying back more ing to prevent a repeat of 2007 and percentage of its profit as divi- “Commercial losses are unsus- on the riskiness of their assets, Isubstantially in 2015, but shares would be only the latest 2008, where banks paid out more dends to investors of any of the big tainably low,” said Ryan Nash, a using an adjustment known as recent events including slump- headache for investors. than they earned. banks since the crisis - just 1 per- bank analyst at Goldman Sachs “risk-weighted assets,” with risk- ing oil prices will make it harder Since the 2008 financial cri- Banks have trouble cut- cent in 2013. Citigroup declined Group Inc last week. ier assets requiring more capital. for banks to pay out more. sis, partly caused by banks’ bad ting dividends in tough times to comment. “Somebody is going to have Charlie Peabody, a vet- The big banks are already hold- lending and bond underwriting because they fear the move will an impact from the fact that oil eran bank analyst at Portales ing more capital than regulators practices, banks have entered signal weakness to customers RISKIER BUSINESS prices are $47 a barrel just now. Partners, calculates that a 30 have said they will need by the end huge legal settlements and have and investors, further weaken- Before the last few weeks, It’s hard to say who it is.” percent increase in Citigroup’s of 2018. struggled to boost their revenue. ing their business. investors and bank executives Trading assets have become risk-weighted assets — an event As banks begin reporting Historically low interest rates Investors are unsure when that had been hopeful about higher riskier as well, as prices across he thinks is likely over the next fourth-quarter earnings this have also depressed earnings. will change. payouts because of the increase markets have oscillated wildly. two years — would reduce the week, starting with JPMorgan Paying higher dividends was “Banks are set up to be able in capital. Loan defaults have been From the beginning of 2013 bank’s regulatory capital ratios Chase & Co and Wells Fargo & Co, supposed to be a spur to boost to pay out more and they will falling thanks to an improving US through most of 2014, the aver- from 10.47 percent to 8.05 per- investors could learn that banks stock valuations in the sector. do that — we just don’t know economy, particularly for commer- age daily trading range for the cent, below its internal minimum became even more over-capital- Banks pay out a much lower when,” said Tony Scherrer, direc- cial loans, giving regulators more Standard & Poor’s 500 index was of 9.5 percent and too low to ized in the last three months. percentage of their earnings than tor of research at Smead Capital comfort about banks paying out 15 points; in the last three weeks expand dividends or repurchases. But hopes that some of that they used to. Management, which owns shares earnings to investors. it has jumped up to a daily average A decline in expected payouts capital will find its way to Between 1999 and 2006, big in Bank of America Corp, Wells For instance, in the third quar- of 25 points. for Citigroup could be a big prob- shareholders seem likely to be banks on average paid about Fargo & Co and JPMorgan Chase ter Wells Fargo not only did not Treasury yields have fallen lem for its shares. A poll of inves- unfulfilled. three-quarters of their income & Co. lose a single dollar on commer- unexpectedly as well, which in tors at a November conference Expected loan losses are rising, out as dividends or share buy The biggest banks are seeking cial loans that went bad; in fact, addition to making bond markets hosted by Bank of America Corp especially in the energy sector, backs, according to analysts at approval for their 2015 dividend it recovered $24m from borrowers more volatile, also cuts the income found that two-thirds believed the and trading markets are becom- Credit Suisse, but the ratio in the plans with the Federal Reserve who had defaulted. banks can earn on the portfolios biggest catalyst for Citigroup’s ing more volatile, which makes last few years has been under 50 now, and will learn the results in But energy companies have of securities they hold, and drives stock price going forward was get- bank assets riskier. percent. March. accounted for a growing share of down some lending rates. ting permission from regulators to Regulators are less willing The decline in payouts comes Of the largest US banks, commercial loans at many banks, Any increases in credit losses return more capital to sharehold- to approve big increases in in large part because regulators Citigroup Inc’s shareholders may and with oil prices having fallen and market riskiness will have a ers. REUTERS THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 11,877.43 0.50 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 17,715.07 0.50 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,970.65 0.16 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,049.94 0.45 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,175.19 0.52 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5332.239 -49.858 -0.93 5447.6 5301.2 QE All Share Industrials 3,753.49 0.64 % QR144.209 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,300.31 0.08 % Cac 40 Index/D 4282.33 -7.95 -0.19 4311 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,184.49 0.41 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.4912 QR 5.5678 QE All Share Insurance 3,739.24 0.07 % Dj Indu Average 17613.68 -27.16 -0.15 18103.4 15340.69 QR 1.9576 Euro ...... QR 4.2499 QR 4.3093 QE All Share Telecoms 1,373.64 0.73 % CA$ ...... QR 3.0134 QR 3.0726 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 6,924.47 0.28 % Hang Seng Inde/D 24112.6 -103.37 -0.43 24254.11 23312.5 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.5386 QR 3.5885 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5194.54 -37.47 -0.72 5278.86 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0309 QR 0.0315 Aus$ ...... QR 2.9328 QR 2.9915 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 33585.75 214.46 0.64 33513.92 32134.82 CRUDE OIL 14-01-2015 13-01-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0580 QR 0.0592 Index 11,877.43 11,936.58 Nikkei 225 Index 16795.96 -291.75 -1.71 17540.92 16808.26 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0358 QR 0.0366 Change 59.15 24.89 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0809 QR 0.0825 S&P 500 Index/D 2023.03 -5.23 -0.26 2093.55 1737.92 % 0.50 0.21 $ 46.35 SL Re ...... QR 0.0274 QR 0.0280 YTD% 3.32 2.84 Straits Times/D 3326.16 -14.91 -0.45 3375.13 3267.89 Taka ...... QR 0.0464 QR 0.0473 Volume 9,130,509 10,871,675 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0363 QR 0.0370 Value (QAR) 618,898,896.88 537,282,437.65 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3128 QR 0.3191 Trades 6,610 6,810 $ 43.27 Up 15 | Down 24 | Unchanged 01 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 14-01-2015

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A C C-A/d 1477.05 33.6 39163 CHOWGULE ST-T/d 29.25 -0.25 176896 GOODRICKE-B/d 153.75 -0.8 11848 KAKATIYA CEM-B/d 117.4 1.3 5804 ORIENT.CARB.-T/d 430 0.3 7498 IMPERIAL TOBAC/d 2967 4 676452 AARTI DRUGS-B/d 1029.25 -3.45 5804 CIMMCO-B/d 77 3.5 58909 GOODYEAR I -B/d 620.15 -3.9 5071 KALPAT POWER-B/d 228 -6.95 43048 ORIENT.CARB.-T/d 430 0.3 7498 KINGFISHER/d 333.8 0.7 3261908 ABAN OFFS-A/d 467.5 -16.05 235365 CIPLA-A/d 631.1 -5.2 91836 HCL INFOSYS-B/d 49.6 -1.75 278112 KALYANI STEL-T/d 159.95 -3.4 26587 PUNJAB CHEM.-B/d 115.8 -0.1 5083 LAND SECS GROU/d 1219 11 714672 ADOR WELDING-B/d 220.65 0.1 7846 CITY UNION BK-/d 94.95 -1.55 73006 HIM.FUT.COMM-T/d 17.7 -0.15 764637 KANORIA CHEM-B/d 38.6 1.55 11331 RADICO KHAIT-B/d 85.2 -2.15 23981 LEGAL & GENERA/d 244.2 -2.7 2489525 AEGIS LOGIS-B/d 433.65 5.95 10828 CMC LTD-A/d 1915.05 15.25 5548 HIMAT SEIDE-B/d 89.55 -0.85 30604 KG DENIM-B/d 18.4 0.1 38330 RALLIS INDIA-A/d 219.9 3.3 49836 LLOYDS BNK GRP/d 73.45 -0.56 22213265 AHMED.FORG-B/d 336.8 -1.95 55654 COLGATE-A/d 1938 2.55 13140 HIND MOTORS-T/d 7.91 0.09 57867 KILBURNENGG-T/d 43 0.9 9900 RALLIS INDIA-A/d 219.9 3.3 49836 MARKS & SP./d 453.5 -9.5 1593485 ALEMBIC-B/d 45.3 -1.45 238109 CONTAINER COR-/d 1371.1 10.15 9080 HIND ORG CHEM-/d 22.45 0.15 65846 KINETIC ENG-B/d 47.2 -2.15 7083 RELIANCE INDUS/d 455.45 -14.75 55413 NEXT/d 6968.6 -85 129397 ALOK INDUS-A/d 10.85 0.06 2730691 DAI-TICHI KAR-/d 186.25 3.75 18536 HIND UNILEVER-/d 921.95 37.25 301312 KOPRAN-B/d 58.75 -1.35 125668 RUCHI SOYA-B/d 36.15 -1.25 34368 PEARSON/d 1194.76 -1 708946 APOLLO TYRE-A/d 218.8 -5.35 185575 DHAMPUR SUGAR-/d 44.65 -0.5 9764 HIND.PETROL-A/d 573.95 -14.05 88247 LLOYD METAL-B/d 10.3 0.41 5599 S BK BIKANER-B/d 670.3 5.85 54308 PRUDENTIAL/d 1476.5 -15 784515 ASAHI I GLASS-/d 123.1 6.45 103944 DR. REDDY-A/d 3208 -15.85 21574 HINDALCO-A/d 142.1 -9.35 1321490 LOK.HOUS&CON-T/d 13.15 0.4 14140 SAUR.CEM-B/d 42.7 0.45 98506 RENTOKIL INITI/d 120.8 -1.4 345672 ASHOK LEYLAND-/d 58.95 -0.65 2227540 E I H-B/d 114.35 -0.95 15301 HOUS DEV FIN-A/d 1121.3 0.35 43799 LUMAX IND-B/d 427.75 -7.5 4377 STERLING TOOL-/d 330.6 -22.55 5512 ROLLS ROYCE PL/d 856.5 -6 2925187 BAJAJ HOLD-A/d 1495.9 30.3 8312 E.I.D PARRY-A/d 184.5 -1.95 12356 I F C I-A/d 35.9 -0.45 456671 LUPIN-A/d 1428 -2.6 16872 TIL LTD.-T/d 463 1.35 7345 RSA INSRANCE G/d 438.8 -5.7 1278260 BALLARPUR IN-B/d 15.8 -0.3 247892 EIMCO ELECON-T/d 472 -17.9 5712 IDBI-A/d 73.35 -0.65 364709 LYKA LABS-T/d 30 -0.9 20431 TIMEXGROUP-T/d 14.45 -0.35 31504 SAINSBURY(J)/d 247.84 -1.2 3163286 BATA INDIA-A/d 1415.55 22.95 14479 ELECTROSTEEL-B/d 18.6 -0.2 57084 IFB IND.LTD.-B/d 460.35 -6.45 15570 MAH.SEAMLESS-B/d223.75 3.3 16857 TINPLATE-B/d 61.95 -0.1 14306 SCHRODERS/d 2656 -24 91328 BAYER CROP-A/d 3585.7 142.85 16493 EMCO-B/d 38.05 -0.75 76124 INDIA CEMENT-A/d 88.9 -0.85 413218 MANGALAM CEM-B/d 328.3 -2.5 28654 UCAL FUEL-B/d 134.15 -2.85 15395 SEVERN TRENT/d 2091 -4 212928 BEML LTD-A/d 888.45 18.05 352039 ESCORTS FIN-B/d 5.94 0.54 29161 INDIA GLYCOL-B/d 102.15 -4.45 27056 MARAL OVERS-B/d 21.2 0.2 8689 UCAL FUEL-B/d 134.15 -2.85 15395 SMITH&NEPHEW/d 1153 -6 1326995 BH ELECTRONIC-/d 3286.8 -46.1 34200 ESCORTS-A/d 124.15 -2.25 121903 INDIAN CARD-B/d 125 11.2 6349 MASTEK-B/d 412.45 -7.7 67373 UNITECH P -A/d 15.6 -0.5 6212316 SMITHS GROUP/d 1080 -6 356933 BHANSALI ENG-T/d 15.5 1.15 4867 ESSAR OIL-T/d 103.45 0.45 31253 INDIAN HOTEL-A/d 115.3 -2.85 30703 MAX INDIA L-A/d 407.55 2.65 119399 STANDRD CHART /d 905.25 -26.3 5642567 BHARATGEARS-B/d 71.8 0.15 11726 EVEREADY INDU-/d 183.8 8.15 141625 INDO-TCOUNT-T/d 351.3 -1.2 8272 MRPL-A/d 46.95 -1.15 47272 LONDON TATE & LYLE/d 652 1 520147 BHARTIYA INT-B/d 416 3.95 10699 F D C-B/d 155.3 -1.05 4749 INDUSIND-A/d 817.35 -5.2 137557 NAHAR SPG.-B/d 93.95 -1.65 5741 TESCO/d 218.2 6.2 21041365 BHEL-A/d 267.85 10.15 549757 FEDERAL BANK-A/d 148.05 -0.25 159436 J.B.CHEMICAL-B/d 200.5 -0.7 8605 NATION ALUM -A/d 47.6 -1.25 201475 3I GROUP/d 429.8 -6.2 404197 UNILEVER/d 2716 13 1465225 BOM.BURMAH-B/d 454.5 -15.3 61738 FERRO ALLOYS-B/d 6.3 -0.37 18584 JAGSON PHAR-B/d 37.55 -0.25 11496 NAVNEET EDU-B/d 116.85 3.05 106144 ASSOC.BR.FOODS/d 3090 -42 187996 UNITED UTIL GR/d 949.5 6.5 666923 BOMBAY DYEING-/d 64.4 -0.95 180265 FINOLEX-A/d 290 -10.8 61950 JBF INDU-B/d 243.95 -4.6 46778 NEPC INDIA-T/d 3.02 0.03 31242 BARCLAYS/d 230.85 -2.15 11678248 VODAFONE GROUP/d 227.25 -1.75 16353493 CANFIN HOMES-B/d 620.45 -0.2 30578 FORBES-B/d 2283.1 108.7 13380 JCT LTD-B/d 3.61 -0.08 220287 NEULAND LAB-B/d 517.2 6.6 5291 BG GROUP/d 801.6 -21.8 3538986 WHITBREAD/d 4769 -21 118134 CAPRIHANS-B/d 87.95 -0.15 6912 GAIL-A/d 426.55 -1.9 163695 JENSON&NICH.-B/d 5.93 -0.09 163243 NRB BEARINGS-B/d 135.3 -1.6 6170 BP/d 384.3 -12 12357735 CAST.BO/d 505.5 -4.85 37627 GALADA POWER-T/d 13.35 -0.65 11636 JIK INDUST-B/d 0.97 -0.07 9500 O N G C-A/d 343.85 4.2 358547 BRIT AM TOBACC/d 3563.5 -21 911713 CENTURY ENKA-B/d 176.5 -5.25 19251 GAMMON INDIA-T/d 23.9 -0.7 181322 JINDAL DRILL-B/d 164.9 0.15 5199 OCL INDIA-B/d 500 -3.1 5315 BT GROUP/d 406.225 6.4 6117521 CENTURY TEXT-A/d 545.9 -3.05 71350 GANGOTRI TEX-B/d 1.75 0 25000 JKTYRE&IND-B/d 126.75 -6.7 511347 OIL COUNTRY-B/d 35.6 0.15 4008 CENTRICA/d 264 -7.8 4452185 CHAMBAL FERT-B/d 60.3 -0.45 52506 GARDEN P -B/d 31.5 0 5436 KABRA EXTR-B/d 95.75 0.25 26017 ORCHID CHEM-B/d 62.75 -0.7 70348 GKN/d 349.4 -7.4 3194830 CHOLA INVEST-B/d 523.15 27.35 4446234 GODFREY PHIL-B/d 560.25 -14.2 8556 KAJARIA CER-A/d 637.8 16.5 85936 ORIENT HOTEL-T/d 23.7 0.2 5058 HSBC HOLDINGS/d 596.453 -7.7 9313659 THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 NBA: Phoenix Del Potro ousts top seed Suns prevail over Cavs

PHOENIX: The Phoenix Suns spoiled LeBron James’ return to NBA action yesterday, hold- Fognini to enter quarters ing off “King” James and the Cleveland Cavaliers 107-100. James, sidelined for a fort- Pironkova records 14th straight win in Sydney to march into semis night with back and knee injuries, scored 33 points in just under 37 minutes on the floor. SYDNEY: Defending cham- He delivered 12 points in the pion Juan Martin del Potro Sydney International fourth quarter as the Cavaliers came from a set down to dump erased a 19-point deficit and even top seed Fabio Fognini out of Results took the lead four times in the the Sydney International and SYDNEY: Collated results final eight minutes, but in the end advanced to the quarter-finals from the fourth day of the the Suns prevailed. yesterday. Sydney International ten- Markieff Morris scored a The Argentine Grand Slam nis tournament yesterday (x career-high 35 points to lead the champion has won his first two denotes seed): Suns. matches in 10 months at the tour- Women’s Round 2: Angelique Kerber PJ Tucker had 10 points for nament following wrist surgery as (GER x5) bt Daria Gavrilova (RUS) 6-7 (6/8), Phoenix and made two key plays he fights his way back to the top 7-6 (7/2), 6-3; Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) bt that led to four straight free echelon of men’s tennis. Dominika Cibulkova (SVK x7) 1-6, 6-3, 6-4. throws down the stretch to help Del Potro, a one-time world Quarter-finals: Karolina Pliskova (CZE) them hang on for the win. No.4 but whose ranking has bt Carla Suarez Navarro (ESP) 4-6, 6-4, The Cavaliers had hoped James’ dived to 338 due to his inactivity, 6-0; Tsvetana Pironkova (BUL) bt Barbora return would make for a quick defeated the world No.18 Italian Zahlavova Strycova (CZE) 6-4, 6-1; Petra reversal of fortunes. Fognini 4-6, 6-2, 6-2. Kvitova (CZE x2) bt Jarmila Gajdosova (AUS) They lost seven of the eight “I thought I played better. I feel 4-6, 6-3, 6-4; Angelique Kerber (GER x5) bt games he missed during the long- better on the court, especially in Garbine Muguruza (ESP) 0-6, 6-1, 6-4. est stretch on the sidelines of his the end of the match,” said del career. Men’s Round One: Jerzy Janowicz (POL) bt Tsvetana Pironkova of Bulgaria Potro, who defeated Ukraine’s The Cavaliers also had key Nick Kyrgios (AUS) 6-1, 6-7 (6/8), 7-6 (7/5). plays a backhand shot against Sergiy Stakhovsky in Tuesday’s reserve Shawn Marion back opening round. Round Two: Mikhail Kukushkin (KAZ) bt Barbora Zahlavova Strycova after missing two games with a “I serve well, I hit good fore- Pablo Cuevas (URU x6) 7-5, 7-5; Juan Martin of Czech Republic during their strained hip. hands, and my backhands Del Potro (ARG) bt Fabio Fognini (ITA x1) 4-6, women’s singles match on day James made 11-of-18 shots improved from yesterday to this 6-2, 6-2; Simone Bolelli (ITA) bt David Goffin four of the Sydney International from the field, including three of match a little bit. (BEL x2) 6-3, 6-3; Leonardo Mayer (ARG in Sydney, yesterday.RIGHT: his eight three-point attempts. “I need to keep playing with x5) bt Jerzy Janowicz (POL) 4-6, 6-1, 7-6 Juan Martin Del Potro of He made eight of 13 free throws, these guys, hitting the ball as fast (7/3); Julien Benneteau (FRA x4) bt Vasek Argentina acknowledges the pulled down seven rebounds and I can and keep trying. Pospisil (CAN) 7-6 (7/3), 6-3; Viktor Troicki crowd after defeating top seed handed out five assists. “My wrist is the same. It’s not (SRB) bt Pablo Andujar (ESP) 4-6, 6-3, 6-3; Fabio Fognini of Italy in their But Kevin Love and Kyrie getting worse, so I have confi- Gilles Muller (LUX) bt Jeremy Chardy (FRA men’s singles second round Irving scored just nine points x7) 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4; Bernard Tomic (AUS) dence with that. Of course I’m match in Sydney. each. very happy to beat my first top bt Philipp Kohlschreiber (GER x3) 6-3, 6-4. With the defeat, the Cavaliers 20 player of the year.” fell below .500 (19-20) for the first The Argentine is playing in too much and the tape goes out, became the third top seed ousted the world No.25 Czech had to start from quallies again,” time since November 24. the Sydney tournament on a but nothing special,” he said. “It’s knocked out yesterday when he 6-4, 6-1. Pironkova said. They’ll try to turn things wildcard for his first event since like spray to keep the tape on.” fell in straight sets to Australian It continued an amazing run at Pironkova now faces two-time around in Los Angeles, where last February following an injury- The former US Open champion Bernard Tomic 6-3, 6-4. the tournament by the Bulgarian Wimbledon champion and second they face the Lakers on Thursday ravaged 2014 season during which will meet Kazakhstan qualifier Tomic will play Gilles Muller world No.67, who was a shock win- seed Petra Kvitova in a repeat of and Clippers on Friday. AFP he had surgery on his left wrist. Mikhail Kukushkin, who upset in the quarters after Muller ner in 2014 after battling through their semi-final match-up last Del Potro grew stronger Uruguayan sixth seed Pablo defeated French seventh seed the three rounds of qualifying to year which the Bulgarian won. through the match after receiv- Cuevas 7-5, 7-5 in the last eight. Jeremy Chardy 2-6, 7-6 (7/1), 6-4. beat Germany’s Angelique Kerber Kvitova fought back to oust NBA Results ing treatment on his wrist from Second seed David Goffin also Meanwhile, Tsvetana in her eighth match at Sydney Australia’s Jarmila Gajdosova 4-6, LA Lakers 75 Miami 78 the trainer in the opening set, and followed Fognini out of the tour- Pironkova’s stretched her Sydney Olympic Park. 6-3, 6-4 in a night match. Sacramento 104 Dallas 108 he looked close to his best form nament, after losing to Italian International winning streak to Pironkova, 27, has once again World No.22 Karolina Pliskova Phoenix 107 Cleveland 100 in the deciding set to eliminate Simone Bolelli. 14 matches with a straight sets had to do things the hard way to also won through to the semi- Utah 105 Golden State 116 Fognini. Bolelli downed the Belgian 6-3, victory over Barbora Zahlavova reach the last four after coming finals after seeing off Spain’s Indiana 101 Minnesota 110 Del Potro played down concerns 6-3 and next faces Serbian quali- Strycova to reach the semi-finals through qualifying to reach the Carla Suarez Navarro, 4-6, Philadelphia 87 Atlanta 105 over the treatment he received fier Viktor Troicki in the last four. yesterday. main draw. 6-4, 6-0. The 22-year-old from from the trainer on the court. Troicki eliminated Spaniard The Bulgarian, who again had “I’m super excited. To be hon- the Czech Republic now faces Washington 101 San Antonio 93 “I’m feeling okay. It was noth- Pablo Andujar 4-6, 6-3, 6-3. to fight her way through quali- est, I didn’t really believe that I Angelique Kerber for a place in ing dangerous. Because I sweat German Philipp Kohlschreiber fying to reach the main draw, could go this far again because I Saturday’s final. AFP Auckland Open Predators Men’s Results Djokovic, Williams top seeds in Melbourne MELBOURNE: World number Results from the Auckland Open ones Novak Djokovic and Serena Australia Open hunt down Men’s Singles Round 2 matches Williams were named the top yesterday. Seedings seeds yesterday for next week’s Men’s Singles Lucas Pouille (France) bt Michael Venus Australian Open, but two-time Canucks 1. Novak Djokovic (SRB), 2. (New Zealand) 7-5, 6-4; Donald Young (US) champion Victoria Azarenka did Roger Federer (SUI), 3. Rafael bt Diego Schwartzman (Argentina) 2-6, 6-4, not make the top 32. NEW YORK: Nashville Nadal (ESP), 4. Stan Wawrinka 6-1; Adrian Mannarino (France) bt 3-Roberto Djokovic is bidding for a fifth title improved to 17-2-1 at home with Bautista (Spain) 6-2, 2-1 (Bautista retired); (SUI), 5. Kei Nishikori (JPN), 6. at Melbourne Park after crash- World No.1 a 5-1 win over Vancouver, pull- 8-Steve Johnson (US) bt Pablo Carreno Andy Murray (GBR), 7. Tomas ing in the quarter-finals last Novak Djokovic ing away with a flurry of goals (Spain) 6-7(3), 6-4, 6-1; 4-Kevin Anderson Berdych (CZE), 8. Milos Raonic year to eventual champion Stan (CAN), 9. David Ferrer (ESP), in the third period. (South Africa) bt Jan-Lennard Struff of Serbia has Wawrinka, while Williams is 10. Grigor Dimitrov (BUL), The Predators blew it open (Germany) 7-6(6), 6-1; Alejandro Falla been named as gunning for the sixth Australian the top seed for 11. Ernests Gulbis (LAT), 12. with three goals in a 4:07 span (Colombia) bt Kenny De Schepper (France) Feliciano Lopez (ESP), 13. crown. the upcoming when Filip Forsberg, Mike Fisher 6-2, 6-4. Roberto Bautista Agut (ESP), Evergreen Roger Federer, who Australian and Craig Smith scored. has a record 17 Grand Slam titles, 14. Kevin Anderson (RSA), 15. Islanders 3, Rangers 0 Open which will is the second seed ahead of injury- Tommy Robredo (ESP). Goaltender Jaroslav Halak be played in Kooyong Classic plagued Rafael Nadal, Wawrinka Women’s Singles stopped 27 shots as the New York and Japan’s Kei Nishikori. Melbourne. 1. Serena Williams (USA), 2. Islanders dominated the New Results Maria Sharapova, who won the Maria Sharapova (RUS), 3. York Rangers 3-0 at Madison Brisbane International last week- Simona Halep (ROM), 4. Petra Square Garden. MELBOURNE: Results from end, takes the number two seed- Kvitova (CZE), 5. Ana Ivanovic The Islanders got goals from the second day of the Kooyong (SRB), 6. Agnieszka Radwanska ing among the women, ahead of Anders Lee, Nikolai Kulemin and Classic yesterday: (POL), 7. Eugenie Bouchard Simona Halep, Petra Kvitova and Frans Nielsen. Round One: Kei Nishikori (JPN) bt Jordan (CAN), 8. Caroline Wozniacki Ana Ivanovic. (DEN), 9. Angelique Kerber Rangers goaltender Henrik Thompson (AUS) 6-4, 3-6, 7-6 (7/4); Last year’s champion Li Na has Lundqvist turned aside 29 of 32 Fernando Verdasco (ESP) bt Gilles Simon (GER), 10. Ekaterina Makarova retired. (RUS), 11. Dominika Cibulkova shots and was removed from the (FRA) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3); Alexandr Dolgopolov Azarenka ended 2014 ranked 32 (SVK), 12. Flavia Pennetta game by coach Alain Vigneault to (UKR) bt Filip Krajinovic (SRB) 6-4, 6-3; in the world, but a first-round loss for seedings at the Melbourne 2012 and 2013, but battled a string (ITA), 13. Andrea Petkovic start the third period. Cam Talbot Richard Gasquet (FRA) bt Feliciano Lopez at the Brisbane International saw Park. The Belarussian won back- of fitness and personal issues last (GER), 14. Sara Errani (ITA), made 12 saves in relief. (ESP) 7-6 (8/6), 3-6, 6-2. her drop to 41, outside the cut-off to-back Australian Open titles in year. AFP 15. Jelena Jankovic (SRB). Bruins 4, Lightning 3 David Pastrnak delivered his second straight two-goal game, powering Boston past Tampa Bay 4-3. The 18-year-old who had seven shots on goal in his eighth NHL Ajmal clears unofficial bowling action test game, had a couple of prime chances to finish the hat trick but came up short. Milan Lucic KARACHI: Suspended month withdrew from the World Ajmal’s first assessment in ruled out Ajmal’s participation in and Brad Marchand also scored Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal Cup to be held in Australia and August last year revealed his arm the World Cup, saying it was too for Boston. AGENCIES (pictured) yesterday claimed New Zealand in February-March. extension went to 43 degrees. late to consider it. to have cleared a private bowl- His withdrawal came after Ajmal, however, remained Ajmal was included in the pre- ing action test, but it remains remedial work carried out under unsure whether he would be able liminary 30-man squad for the NHL Results uncertain whether he will fea- former Pakistan spinner Saqlain to feature in the World Cup or World Cup, but after his with- Dallas 5 Ottawa 4 ture in next month’s World Cup. Mushtaq to alter his bowling not. drawal was dropped from the Arizona 2 San Jose 3 The private test was conducted action fell short. “Look, I want to be as confi- 15-man party announced last St Louis 4 Edmonton 2 in a laboratory in Edgbaston in Ajmal said he is confident he dent in my bowling as I was before week. England and Ajmal now needs to can clear the official test after (suspension) and want to be effec- However, under the ICC rules Nashville 5 Vancouver 1 clear an official reassessment in success in the private assessment. tive, so (whether) I can still play all teams can replace a player Winnipeg 8 Florida 2 an International Cricket Council “I cleared the private test,” said the World Cup or cannot play, before the February 7 deadline, Boston 4 Tampa Bay 3 (ICC) accredited laboratory in Ajmal. “The tests were conducted remains to be seen. a week before the global tourna- Buffalo 1 Detroit 3 Chennai, India on January 24. in Edgbaston and all my deliver- Under the ICC rules all bowl- “I want to do what is best for ment starts. NY Rangers 0 NY Islanders 3 The 37-year-old was suspended ies including the ‘doosra’ (his ers are allowed to straighten their my country and for my team.” Pakistan team will play its first Pittsburgh 7 Minnesota 2 over illegal bowling action in trademark swing) were within bowling arm by 15 degrees, beyond Pakistan Cricket Board chair- match against title-holders India September last year and last 15 degrees.” which the action is deemed illegal. man Shaharyar Khan on Tuesday in Adelaide on February 15. AFP Carolina 3 Colorado 2 THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

QREC Award Ceremony and Gala Dinner

Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Chairman H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani (second from left) sits with guests during the QREC Award Ceremony and Gala Dinner at The St Regis Doha on Tuesday night. BELOW: QREC Chairman H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani presents mementos to sponsors.

Minister of State H E Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani presents an award to jockey Harry Bentley at the QREC in Doha yesterday.

Minister of State H E Sheikh Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani presents an award to trainer Jassim Al Ghazali at the QREC in Doha yesterday.

Horse Racing Results Sprinter Championship win L/B P/A MAIDEN PLATE Distance: 1200m (Read as rank, horse, trainer, jockey) 1. Khafouqi, Jassim Al Ghazali, Stephan Ladjadj 2. Sirat Al Naif, Y. Bentaher, icing on cake for Al Ghazali Marvin Suerland 3. Dheram Al Naif, Jassim Al Ghazali, Harry Bentley THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE (F & M) Horses trained by Qatari win six races; Bentley victorious in four races Disatnce: 1200m 1. Awattan, Jassim Al Ghazali, BY RIZWAN REHMAT Harry Bentley 2. Inis Airc, Ahmed Kobeissi, S. Golam DOHA: British jockey Harry Bentley rode Arraab to Sprinter 3. Golden Zephyr, A. Al Qathiri, Marco Monteriso Championship glory yesterday — giving Qatari trainer Jassim THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP RATED 55 - 75 Al Ghazali his sixth win of the day at the Qatar Racing and Distance: 2000m Equestrian Club (QREC) here. 1. Lieutenant Kafee, Jassim Al Arraab, after a tense surge in Ghazali, Harry Bentley the last 300m, crossed the win- 2. Mindblowing, Jassim Al ning post ahead of Mutazz and Al Ghazali, J.P. Guillambert Ghazali-trained Tuyoorna in the 3. Nile Knight, Abduljabar Ali, 1100m turf race that was worth Gerald Avranche QR114,000 to the winner. THOROUGHBRED MAIDEN PLATE Arraab, Al Ghazzali’s six-year- Distance: 1600m old entry, clocked a time of 1:12.57, 1. Charlie’s Wish, S. Ibido, Marco finishing just a head’s length Monteriso ahead of Mutazz, who had Marvin 2. Dark Leopard, Jassim Al Suerland in the saddle. Tuyoorna Ghazali, Harry Bentley was ridden by Stephan Ladjadj. 3. Man Amongst Men, O. Al Minutes earlier, Al Ghazali Dhafa, Cedric Segeon had picked out another hand- P/A GRADUATION PLATE (F&M) some winner in Botanica, who Distance: 1600m cornered Al Khariab Cup glory 1. Bayalina, Jassim Al Ghazali, with a hard-fought win against Harry Bentley Makruma and City Zen. 2. Al Koufa, J. Smart, R. Mullen With experienced jockey 3. Nahla (QA), Jassim Al Richard Mullen in the saddle, Ghazali, Stephan Ladjadj Botanica outran Makruma, who THOROUGHBRED HANDICAP RATED 50 was ridden by W J Lee, and City - 70 Zen, ridden by Ladjadj, to finish Distance: 1200m with a time of 1:36.63. 1. The Scuttler, M. Salama, It was Al Ghazali’s fifth suc- Cedric Segeon cessful run of the day and his Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) Chairman H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani presents a memento to Minister of State H E Sheikh 2. Sunley Pride, Debbie third successive winning entry Hamad bin Nasser bin Jassim Al Thani in the presence of other officials at the QREC in Doha yesterday. PICTURES: JUHAIM Mountain, Evert Pheiffer in the Al Khariab Cup that was 3. River Goddess, Jassim Al launched in 2011. French jockey Cedric Segeon Bayalina finished the 1600m Earlier, in the first three races Awattan finished 1-and-1/4 Ghazali, Gerald Avranche “Thank God that I got six win- grabbed the headline as he rode race ahead of Al Koufa, who of the day at the QREC, trainer length ahead of Inis Airc who AL KHARIAB CUP — THOROUGHBRED ners today,” Al Ghazali said after The Scuttler to a hard-fought was ridden by Mullen, and Nahla, Al Ghazali was the cynosure of all was ridden by S Golam in the CONDITIONS (F&M) the final race yesterday. win in race six at the QREC who has Ladjadj in the saddle. eyes as he headlined three succes- 1200m race. In third place was Distance: 1600m “I think today’s good form is for yesterday. Bayalaina, who finished two sive winners. Golden Zephyr, ridden by Marco tomorrow (Thursday’s) races. I The Scuttler finished the lengths ahead of Al Koufa, clocked In race three, Lieutenant Kafee Monteriso. 1.Botanica, Jassim Al Ghazali, R. Mullen had six winners, one second and QR65,000 race ahead of Sunley a time of 1:46:79. emerged a runaway winner with In the first race of the day, two third finishes...for me eve- Pride — who was ridden by Evert In an impressive run, trainer S British jockey Bentley. Trained Ladjadj powered Khafouqi to an 2.Makruma, Majid Safedeen, W. rything is okay now,” Al Ghazali Pheiffer — and River Goddess, Ibido managed to break trainer Al by Al Ghazali, Lieutenant Kafee easy win that took just 1:20:91 on J Lee said. “I am happy with this show.” who had Gerald Avranche in the Ghazali’s stranglehold by watch- finished three lengths ahead of the official timer. 3.City Zen, Jassim Al Ghazali, Mullen was delighted with his saddle. ing his entry Charlie’s Wish ride Mindblowing, who was ridden by Khafouqi won three lengths Stephan Ladjadj win in the Al Khariab Cup win. The Scuttler, trained by M to victory in race four. J P Guillambert. ahead of Sirat Al Naif — ridden P/A SPRINTER CHAMPIONSHIP (Gr 3 PA) “He (Botanica) is quite a keen Salama, finished with a time of Ridden by Marco Monteriso, In third place was Nile Knight by Suerland — and Dheram Al Distance: 1100m horse. We just got behind the 1:12:56. Charlie’s Wish finished the 1600m with jockey Avranche in the Naif who had Bentley in the 1.Arraab, Jassim Al Ghazali, leader. I think this is as far as he Minutes earlier, the Al Ghazali- race ahead of Dark Leopard saddle. saddle. Harry Bentley wants to go,” Mullen said. “It was Bentley duo rocked once again as (Bentley) and Man Amongst In race two, Awattan was rid- Today the riders return for 2.Mutazz, Abdullah Al Jaber, a good performance.” the 22-year-old British jockey Men, ridden by Segeon. Charlie’s den by Bentley with confidence as action on H H Sheikh Abdulla Marvin Suerland It was the Briton’s eighth first- rode Bayalina with a clinical fin- Wish finished with a time of the five-year-old gave Al Ghazali bin Khalifa Al Thani Day races. 3.Tuyoorna, Jassim Al Ghazali, place finish this season. ish to take race five. 1:36.35. his second win of the day. THE PENINSULA Stephan Ladjadj THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Sheikh Joaan upbeat Al Attiyah extends lead, about Qatar’s show

(Continued from Page 28) men’s team of head coach Valero Q: You had permanently been Rivera even managed to win dou- inspecting the Qatar 2015 ven- ble gold in 2014, raising both tro- inches closer to triumph ues during the record-break- phies at the Asian Championship ing fast construction process. and the Asian Games for the What is your impression on first time in history. So we are those arenas? all confident and optimistic that Dakar Rally: Defending champion Roma wins ninth stage A: Sustainable development the team will play with all their is one of the most important capabilities to ensure the best aspects we take into very serious World Championship result. The CALAMA, Chile: Defending “That’s cost us the race,” he consideration in Qatar. We will World Championship will be a champion Nani Roma gained a lamented. “You know, sometimes have three brand-new and state- milestone from the sports point consolation victory in the Dakar it goes like this in the Dakar and of-the-art arenas with capacities as well, not the finishing line, as Rally ninth stage as Qatari there’s nothing you can do about ranging between 5,000 and 15,000 we hope to launch a great future Nasser Al Attiyah increased it. seats. Those will be the key pillars for Qatar Handball. Hosting his overall lead after “a terrible “It’s not impossible for Nasser in future bids for various sports the World Championship is the mistake” by main rival Giniel de to make a mistake, but with the and will remain active hubs. highlight of our master plan, but Villiers. lead he has now he can take it Lusail Multipurpose Hall, our potential goes beyond this Spain’s Roma – whose hopes really easy.” the largest of all new arenas, is event. The number of handball of a second straight overall win With four days to come before being built in order to be able players in Qatar is significantly evaporated on the first stage finish in Buenos Aires Al Attiyah to host sports as well as cul- increasing since we have been because of electrical failure – can now start to realistically con- tural events. Ali bin Hamad awarded to host the 2015 World completed the 538 kilometre template his second title. Al Attiyah Sports Hall in al- Championship. International (450km timed) drive from the “It was not easy, but, ok, I think Sadd district of Doha, with a top coaches; headed by Valero Chilean Pacific coastal city of we made a good job of it and I capacity of 7,700 seats. Duhail Rivera, the most successful coach Iquique to Calama in the Andes hope it will be enough to win the Handball Sports Hall in Duhail in handball, have come to Qatar six-and-a-half minutes clear of Dakar,” said the driver who has district of Doha with a planned knowing the huge potential for Al Attiyah. represented Qatar in shooting at capacity of 5,500 seats. The hall handball in Qatar. In general, we The 2011 Dakar winner’s bold the Olympics. is part of the Qatar Handball are confident that by bringing the showing bolstered his bid for a In third in the drivers stand- Association (QHA) Complex. All most important handball global second title. ings comes Saudi Arabia’s Yazeed three venues of the 24th Men’s event in Qatar, we will open a new Mini thought they had sealed a Al Rajhi in another Toyota, 40 Handball World Championship perspective for the development 1-2-3 in the stage but their hopes minutes behind Al Attiyah. are designed and built in compli- of the sport. were dashed late on in the day as Mini’s domination of podium ance with the guidelines provided Q: In spring, you and IHF Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit, was completed by Russian by the International Handball President Dr. Hassan Moustafa who started the stage in a lowly Vladimir Vasilyev. Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah cleans his vehicle before the start of the Federation (IHF). In addition, unveiled Fahad, the mascot of 70th spot, recorded a superb time In the bikes section, Portugal’s eighth stage of Dakar Rally 2015 between Uyuni, Bolivia and Iquique, they use sustainable green tech- the event. What does Fahad to snatch third in a Buggy. Helder Rodrigues claimed his Chile, in this January 11 file photo. nology specifically for the cooling represent and characterise in Al Attiyah has a near second stage win of 2015 as Marc and ventilation that will help to your opinion? 24-minute cushion over Toyota’s Coma had his overall lead cut by minimise the carbon footprint A: Fahed is more than a mas- South African driver de Villiers, three minutes. riders’ title race is now only five- Dakar rally dream go up in smoke and environmental impact when cot. He is a seven-year-old boy who was kicking himself after Rodrigues crossed the finish and-a half minutes. with engine trouble in the eighth the stadia are in use for playing and the first human figured losing his way, eventually taking line in the Andes almost four In third in the overall standings stage, lost a further 20 minutes purpose. We are proud to confirm mascot to become the handball fourth. minutes clear of his team-mate is Chile’s Pablo Quintanilla – who overall. that all the progress in venue con- ambassador for Qatar and the De Villiers blamed “a terrible, and fellow countryman Paul won Monday’s marathon stage on Today’s 10th stage is a 358km struction are achieved without a event. He showcases the hospi- terrible navigation mistake” on his Goncalves. home turf – almost half an hour timed run from Calam across the single major accident. tality, our traditions, the friend- unscheduled and unwanted drive- In third came Coma, whose adrift of the front pair. Argentine border to Salta. Rally Q: What is the perspective ship, and the sporting ambitions about in the Chilean countryside. advantage over Goncalves in the Joan Barreda, who saw his ends on Saturday. AFP of the Qatar team during their of Qatar in a highly positive and “home matches” in Doha? charming way. Fahad will be the A: The Qatar Handball face of the World Championship; Association has won gold medals he will transport our ideals and with its youth, junior and sen- dreams to the spectators in the ior teams in the previous years venues and via TV all over the Ibrahimovic sends PSG at all Asian Championship. The world. THE PENINSULA into League Cup semis

PARIS: Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s by modest Bastia last Saturday, hotly-contested second-half with Blanc having disciplined big goal gave holders Paris Saint name players Edinson Cavani and Germain (PSG) a place in the Ezequiel Lavezzi for returning last four of the League Cup late from holiday. after a 1-0 win over St Etienne Blanc, who has guided PSG on Tuesday. into the Champions League last Ibrahimovic’s 72nd minute goal, 16 where they will play Chelsea, which he chested over the line said that he had not been very despite the efforts of goalkeeper confident before the match after Stephane Ruffier to claw it away, what he had seen against Bastia. was disputed both by the home “After the Bastia match I had players and the spectators. the impression that we no longer Angry fans hurled projec- knew how to play and there was a tiles on to the pitch, including a bad atmosphere,” said Blanc. plastic water bottle thrown at a “Tonight, though, I saw positive linesman, and St Etienne coach things and we have won at a place Christophe Galtier urged the where it is difficult to do so. crowd to calm down. Earlier, Bastia continued their The match was held up for good run of form, recovering from around 10 minutes while order going a goal behind early on to Asian pioneer YE Yang will be making his debut at the Commercial Bank was restored. storm into their first League Cup Qatar Masters to be staged from January 21 - 24, 2015 at the Doha Golf The victory, though, is welcome semi-final since 2000 with a 3-1 Club in Doha. both for PSG and especially for victory over Rennes. the coach Laurent Blanc, who The Corsican side, who unusu- Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish midfielder Zlatan Ibrahimovic (left) is has come under pressure in the ally for a top tier side in Europe, congratulated by his team-mate French midfielder Blaise Matuidi (centre) past four weeks after a series of fielded six homegrown players in Korea’s Yang to make and Italian midfielder Thiago Motta, after scoring a goal during the disappointing results and player their starting line-up and another French Ligue Cup match against Saint-Etienne (ASSE) on Tuesday at trouble. five on the bench, were helped the Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium in Saint-Etienne. PSG came into the game on considerably by their opponents the back of a 4-2 league defeat having two men sent off. AFP debut at Qatar Masters

DOHA: Korean legend YE the second Korean to win on the Yang, Asia’s first and so far only US PGA Tour when he claimed male Major winner, will make the Honda Classic. After his his tournament debut at next Major breakthrough at the PGA week’s US$2.5m Commercial Championship in August 2009, he Mega Marathon 2015: Qatar gears Bank Qatar Masters. won his third European Tour title Yang, who held off Tiger at the Volvo China Open in April Woods to win the 2009 US PGA 2010. Championship, will be part of a “I’m very honoured to be play- strong Asian contingent at Doha ing in the Commercial Bank up to smash world record of runners Golf Club that also includes six- Qatar Masters for the first time time European Tour winner and hope I can play well on my DOHA: The Qatar Mega the Qatar Mega Marathon 2015 Marathon and aim to promote safety and security.” Speaking at Thongchai Jaidee of Thailand debut,” said Yang, who won four Marathon 2015, under the to promote and protect the core a positive image of the State of the press conference, Al Rumaihi and young compatriot Kiradech Japan Tour titles from 2004 to patronage of H H Sheikh values of sport amongst young Qatar and strengthen Qatar’s also called for the participation Aphibarnrat. 2006, the year he also won the Muhammed Bin Khalifa Al people, as well as participants position as the region’s sports in this huge sporting event under Defending champion Sergio Korea Open. Thani (Chairman of Al Sadd involved in the event. capital.” the slogan ‘Run With Qatar’. Garcia, Henrik Stenson and “I’ve heard the Doha Golf Club Sports Club), has announced Making the announcement at Also speaking at the press He concluded: “Through the Justin Rose – three of the world’s is a very good course and that yesterday that it has brought on a press conference at Al Sadd conference, Mohammed Hajaj Al Qatar Mega Marathon, we aim to top six –are among the tourna- there are many top players com- board the International Centre Sports Club, Jassim Al Rumaihi Shahwani (Vice President, ICSS) achieve a huge participation from ment favourites. peting this year.” for Sport Security (ICSS) to (General Secretary, Al Sadd praised the idea of organising the all areas of the Qatari society and Yang, who turns 43 on Thongchai is coming off one of help safeguard the event. Sports Club) conveyed his delight Qatar Mega Marathon 2015 as allow Qatar to enter the Guinness Thursday, and Rose, the 2013 US his finest seasons, spending much Building on its previous in having ICSS join the Qatar one of the key events taking place World Records by the most run- Open winner, are among several of lastyear in the world’s top 40 involvement with various large- Mega Marathon 2015, saying: “It in the context of National Sport ners participating in a marathon. Major winners in the field, includ- after winning his sixth European scale mass participation events takes the Marathon to an inter- Day 2015 events. The Qatar Mega Marathon ing Ernie Els (2002 and 2012 Tour title at June’s Nordea including the Boston Marathon, national level and we give thanks He added: “The ICSS is proud embodies the true spirit of sport, Open Championship; 1994 and Masters in Sweden, where he beat the ICSS will add its global sport to ICSS in joining such a huge to cooperate and contribute to which encourages respect for 1997 US Open), Darren Clarke Victor Dubuisson and Stephen safety and security expertise to event taking place on the eve of the success of this joint initiative winning and losing, durability, (2011 Open Championship), Gallacher in a play-off. the event, which will attempt to National Sport Day 2015.” between Al Sadd Sports Club patience and challenge. Charl Schwartzel (2011 Masters “I had a really good season and break the world record for the Al Rumaihi added: “The idea and Qatar Athletics Federation. “Therefore, the goal we aspire Tournament) and Paul Lawrie I’m hoping to continue playing ‘most runners in a marathon in behind organising the Qatar Mega The Qatar Mega Marathon is a to reach doesn’t stop at breaking (1999 Open Championship), a consistently in 2015,” he said. the world’. Marathon is to send a message great chance to show another the world record, he said. two-time winner in Doha. I had good results last month, As part of the partnership with to the world and present Qatar’s side of the sport in Qatar and “If we do not break the record, In November 2006, Yang won so now I’m looking forward to the Qatar Mega Marathon 2015, ability to challenge and create this collaboration reinforces our the honour of the attempt will be his first European Tour title at playing well at the Commercial the ICSS’s Save the Dream ini- miracles. We accept this chal- strong commitment at the ICSS enough.” the HSBC Champions in China Bank Qatar Masters,” added the tiative with also collaborate with lenge through the Qatar Mega to enhance best practice in sport THE PENINSULA and in March 2009 became only golfer. THE PENINSULA THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Barca planning future with Messi: Enrique MADRID: Barcelona coach Luis Enrique is insisting a future without star player Lionel Messi has never been considered as speculation over the Argentine’s future continues to mount. Tensions have been simmer- ing at Barcelona with the coach insisting Messi play a wider role in the line-up. Messi had appeared to rule out a move following a stunning indi- vidual performance in Sunday’s 3-1 win over La Liga champions Atletico Madrid. “I have never demanded any- thing to ensure that I stay because I have never had any intention of leaving,” he told Barca TV. However, the following day he fuelled the rumour mill once more by saying “I don’t know where I’ll be next year” during a press con- ference ahead of the Ballon d’Or gala in Zurich. “I don’t know what the future will bring,” said Enrique when Saudi Arabia’s Naif Hazazi in action against North Korea during a Group B Asian Cup match in Melbourne yesterday. RIGHT: China’s Sun Ke (centre) celebrates with team-mates after scoring asked if he thought Messi would a goal against Uzbekistan during a Group B Asian Cup match at the Brisbane Stadium yesterday. win a fifth Ballon d’Or whilst at Barcelona. “We all think that Messi will be at Barcelona for the coming years, it is what all the fans want. We are not even planning a squad without Messi.” The speculation has arisen due Red letter day for China, to a reported breakdown in com- munications between Messi and Enrique. Messi was left on the bench as Barca fell to a shock 1-0 defeat in their opening game of the year away to Real Sociedad and then Saudis floor North Korea missed training the next day, claiming to have suffered from a stomach bug. Jordan protest after dope test makes striker ill, AFC muffles Queiroz Later that day he followed Chelsea and two of their players Thibaut Courtois and Filipe Luis MELBOURNE: Super-sub Sun drink “several litres of water” as Chinese, runners-up in 1984 and But Naif Hazazi equalised with Pyongyang frequently lavishes on social media site Instagram Ke fired China into the Asian he tried to provide a urine sample again as hosts in 2004 but still a clinical finish against the run cars and apartments on athletes and sources in the Catalan press Cup quarter-finals yesterday as following Monday’s 1-0 defeat by chasing a first Asian Cup title. of play eight minutes before the who bring glory to the state, but then claimed Messi had met with North Korea crashed out and Iraq, according to the Jordanian China did it the hard way, interval. The Saudi forward’s the North Korean players at Barca President Josep Maria Jordan fumed over a botched FA. going behind to Odil Ahmedov’s joy was unbridled, having fluffed least had the consolation of being Bartomeu to ask for the former dope test that left a player ill. Asian Cup organisers insisted deflected shot after 22 minutes. a penalty against China at the cheered to the rafters by a crowd Barca captain Enrique to be Sun’s superb solo effort after the correct protocol had been fol- They dragged themselves back weekend. of 12,000 in Melbourne for their replaced as coach. 68 minutes, moments after com- lowed as they busied themselves into the match, however, Wu Xi Mohammed Al Sahlawi poked plucky display. Both Messi and Bartomeu have ing on, gave China a pulsating 2-1 putting out fires after several ref- equalising with a sharp finish the Gulf side in front seven min- “We began well but we con- since denied those claims, with victory over Uzbekistan and sent ereeing controversies. 10 minutes into the second half utes after the break, before profit- ceded a soft second goal and that the former particularly aggrieved them into the knock-out stages Iran coach Carlos Queiroz, before Sun’s cracker triggered ing from some horror defending caused us a lot of mental stress,” that the reports surfaced in the for the first time since 2004. who launched a scathing attack wild celebrations on the Chinese to roll in a third as North Korea Jo said. “After that we just lost Catalan press. But there was bitter disap- on match officials after his side’s bench. began to unravel. concentration.” AFP “It hurts me because it comes pointment for North Korea, who 2-0 win over Bahrain, reacted A second defeat ultimately Nawaf Alabid added a fourth from here, from Barcelona, from scored their first Asian Cup goal sarcastically after being asked by sank North Korea after China’s and Saudi Arabia, who won the people that love the club, or say for 23 years but still lost 4-1 to the Asian Football Confederation barnstorming comeback, while last of their three Asian Cup titles Asian Cup Results they do. It doesn’t come from Saudi Arabia and were eliminated. not to comment on referees in his the Saudis breathed new life into in 1996, face 2011 semi-finalists Group B Madrid like it has in the past,” Away from the pitch, Jordan official news conferences. their campaign after being upset Uzbekistan for the right to join China 2 (Wu Xi 55, Sun Ke 68) Uzbekistan 1 said Messi. lodged a formal protest after “I don’t know if we’re entitled 1-0 by the Chinese, who have sud- China in the knockout stages on (Odil Ahmedov 22) “It is not good that they look claiming a bungled doping proce- to give opinions about refs,” said denly emerged as dark horses. Sunday. for rivalry between Luis Enrique North Korea 1 (Ryang 11) Saudi Arabia 4 (Naif dure had left one of their players the former Real Madrid manager, North Korea took an early lead “I knew North Korea would be and I because there isn’t any.” Hazazi 37, Al Sahlawi 52, 54,Nawaf Alabid vomiting, in a “semi-coma” and dubbed the “Rottweiler”. when Japan-based midfielder dangerous and they gave us trou- And Enrique repeated his 77) suffering with hypothermia. “After 32 years of my work in Ryang Yong-Gi slammed in the ble,” he said. “But I was confident assertion that there is no division Today’s Matches Striker Ahmad Hayel could football I was never told I cannot rebound after Pak Kwang-Ryong’s we would wear them down. We in the Barcelona dressing room miss the game against Palestine give an opinion about the game.” fierce drive had been parried by had to take some risks. Sometimes Bahrain vs United Arab Emirates (10am) ahead of a demanding schedule on Friday after he was made to It was a red letter day for the goalkeeper Waleed Abdullah. you have to assume risks to win.” Qatar vs Iran (12pm) in the coming weeks. AFP Qatar out to Belmadi sidesteps right some wrongs question over future SYDNEY: Coach Djamel against Iran Belmadi deflected questioning about his future with trigger- happy Qatar yesterday as he SYDNEY: Coach Djamel faced a must-win Group C game Belmadi is hoping his Qatar against heavyweights Iran at team can put their disappoint- the Asian Cup. ing 4-1 loss at the hands of the The Algerian won the Gulf Cup United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the future World Cup hosts behind them as they prepare in November but his Asian Cup to take on three-time AFC plans threaten to unravel after Asian Cup winners Iran at the last week’s 4-1 reverse to neigh- Stadium Australia here today. bours UAE. The Algerian was still at a loss Despite the Gulf Cup win Qatari coach Djamel Belmadi to explain the Group C defeat in Belmadi, who was appointed last gestures at a press conference in Canberra on Sunday as the Gulf March, will be aware of Qatar’s Sydney yesterday. BELOW: Iran’s Cup champions prepared for the itchy trigger finger with 30 dif- coach Carlos Queiroz speaks at a crucial meeting with ‘Team Melli’ ferent coaches taking the hot seat press conference yesterday. off the back of their first defeat since 1990. in 11 games. “You would have to ask the “We lost the opening game Qatari football federation,” he said because we played (it) like a at a press conference. “I’m talking friendly game,” said Belmadi. “It about the game tomorrow. I don’t was not our day or our real level, have anything to say about that.” especially after the good competi- Belmadi said his biggest job tion in the Gulf Cup.” had been to lift Qatar’s down- “We expected something dif- Qatari coach Djamel Belmadi (second from right) gives instructions to his players during a training session in cast players after they lost big to ferent. But now it’s the past and Sydney yesterday. UAE despite opening the scor- we have to make a reaction. Of ing through “Qatari Maradona” course we are all disappointed. impossible. But for us, it’s not “It will be a decisive game learn and to learn fast. The same Khalfan Ibrahim. They have got the ambition to impossible and we’ll try to show against a big team that quali- team played at the Gulf Cup and “We played like a friendly game. make a different game tomorrow. it tomorrow,” he said. fied for the World Cup and who we ended up winning it. It wasn’t our day. Especially after Carlos Queiroz’s Iran, who con- “My main job was to work more The Qataris face an Iran side played against strong teams at “We have a plan and like always the good competition we had at tested a World Cup last year. But psychologically than something that won their first game 2-0 the World Cup. We are prepared we will try to find the solution the Gulf Cup, we expected some- he said the task was not beyond else. Of course, we had to analyse against Bahrain and for whom and we know it’s going to be a because it’s a good team, well thing different,” he said. his players. what happened in this game and victory today would mean secur- tough game,” he said. organised, really aggressive and “But now it’s in the past and we “I know this group that I have. to correct it. ing a place in the quarter-finals. “But we’re also used to playing they don’t give you too much need a reaction. Of course we are I chose them and I know that we “But I know this group that I With Carlos Queiroz’s side against teams that are stronger space, so we will have to find a all disappointed and the players are able to change things and I have. I have chosen them and I having impressed at the FIFA on paper than us, like Morocco solution. Every team has some more than anyone. They have now know that we can do much, much know that we are able to change World Cup finals in Brazil in June, and Australia. The team is rela- weakness, like the others. We will the ambition to make a different better, even when things look dif- things and we can do much, much Belmadi knows his team faces a tively young and the average age try to find this weakness and try game tomorrow.” ficult, for some people impossible. better even when things look tough challenge to pick up their is 23 and even though we’re here to find the way to score and to win Belmadi added that it was a For us it’s not impossible,” he said. difficult, even for some people first win of the tournament. for the competition we’re here to this game.” THE PENINSULA “decisive” match for Qatar against AFP THURSDAY 15 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 World championship kicks off today Handball: Glittering opening ceremony to kick-start event at Lusail Multipurpose Hall

DOHA: A 90-minute opening confirmed in June 2014 – starting A worker puts ceremony featuring interna- with host Qatar and 2013 World tional stars and a huge fireworks Champions Spain, who were the the finish- display will kick-start the 24th first two teams to clinch their ing touch to Men’s Handball Championship berths – upon the conclusion of ‘Fahed’ the (Qatar 2015) at the newly-con- the various continental qualify- Qatar 2015 structed Lusail Multipurpose ing events. mascot out- Hall here today. Three teams which at first did side the Lusail The never-seen pyrotechnic not qualify -- Germany, Saudi- Multipurpose displays will launch the 2015 edi- Arabia and Iceland— entered the Hall. RIGHT: tion of the International Handball stage after subsequent decisions Macedonian Federation’s (IHF) World by the IHF Council. Now the field player Kiril Championship to be contested of participants is composed of 15 Lazarov dur- by twenty-four teams at three teams from Europe, led by world ing a training newly constructed state-of-the- champions Spain and continen- session in art arenas. tal champion France; three Asian prepara- Qatar 2015 will truly be a his- teams including host Qatar, who tion for the toric milestone for the world of became Asian champions for the Qatar 2015 handball as it will be the first sin- first time last January; three Pan- 24th Men’s gle city to host a Men’s Handball American teams including 2016 World Championship. Olympic host Brazil and conti- Handball After 18 competition days the nental champions Argentina; and World World Champion will raise the three teams from Africa, led by Championship, massive trophy on February 1 at continental champions Algeria. at the Ali the Lusail Multipurpose Hall. These 24 teams will start in Bin Hamad After numerous inspections four preliminary round groups, Al Attiya by the highest ranked IHF rep- which will contested in three Arena in Al resentatives and hosting two venues: the Duhail Sports Hall, Sadd, Doha, major test events – the IHF Super Lusail Multipurpose Hall and yesterday. Globe in September and the Asian Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena. Clubs’ League championship in The four best ranked from each November and December – Doha group proceed to the eighth- in contrast to the 2013 World for the Olympic Qualification previous World Championships. Championship opening matches. is indeed ready. finals where the group winners Championship in Spain, with a Tournaments to be played in Just in recent years, hosts In 2013, he was the head coach Four years after the IHF will face the fourth ranked teams placement round for positions 5 spring 2016. Spain (2013), France (2001) and for the Spanish team. Council awarded the event to the and the second ranked will duel to 8. In addition to the world cham- Germany (2007) have taken the The Qatari team enters in the Qatar Handball Association, Doha with the third ranked. The teams This determination of the final pions, the winners of the conti- title. Croatia reached the final on field of play with great hopes and opens the gates to the world with that finish in positions 5 and 6 in ranking is of crucial importance nental qualifications from Asia, home ground in 2009 and Tunisia full of confidence after winning the country’s first ever team sport each group will compete in the for the road to the 2016 Olympic Africa, Pan America and Europe sensationally reached the semi- the Asian title and the handball world championship, part of the Presidents’ Cup in the Duhail Games in Rio de Janeiro. While will also be awarded with a direct final in 2005. tournament at the 2014 Asian country’s National Vision 2030 Sports Hall for ranking positions the new World Champions will spot to Rio 2016. Qatar’s coach Valero Rivera will Games. Qatar is the fourth coun- to become the number 1 global 17 to 24. book their direct ticket for the Like the Organising Committee, also make history today when he try outside of Europe to host a hub for organising mega sport- The knock-out stage will be Olympic handball tournament as Qatar’s national team is ready for leads Qatar in the opening match Men’s World Championship after ing events. completed by the quarter-final the first team after host Brazil, the big clash on home ground – against Brazil, to become the Japan (1997), Egypt (1999) and After an 18-month qualification and semi-final rounds, the bronze the teams that finish in posi- and history has shown that hosts first men’s team coach to take Tunisia (2003). process the 24 participants were medal match and the final – and, tions 2 through 7 will qualify have made brilliant results in the part in two consecutive World THE PENINSULA 24th Men’s Handball Championship Schedule Prolific ‘Yugoslav Group A: Belarus, Brazil, Chile, Qatar, Slovenia, Spain Day Time Match Venue school’ set to January 15 8.30pm Qatar vs Brazil Lusail 5.00pm Spain vs Belarus Duhail The members leave impact at January 16 5.00pm Slovenia vs Chile Al Attiyah of the Qatar 5.00pm Belarus vs Slovenia Lusail handball team Doha worlds January 17 7.00pm Chile vs Qatar Lusail celebrate after DOHA: The former geographi- 5.00pm Brazil vs Spain Duhail winning the gold medal cal area of Yugoslavia has pro- 5.00pm Belarus vs Brazil Lusail duced a lot of famous players January 19 7.00pm Slovenia vs Qatar Lusail match dur- ing the 17th and coaches during the past few 5.00pm Spain vs Chile Duhail Asian Games decades and has been coined one of the most prolific schools in 5.00pm Chile vs Belarus Lusail in Incheon in the history of handball. January 21 7.00pm Qatar vs Spain Lusail this file picture 5.00pm Slovenis vs Brazil Duhail These players and coaches of October 4, have helped this sport grow, and 5.00pm Brazil vs Chile Lusail 2014. you could argue, have helped it January 23 7.00pm Qatar vs Belarus Lusail become a global sport. Even two 5.00pm Spain vs Slovenia Duhail decades after the breakup of Group B: Austria, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Iran, Tunisia Yugoslavia, the Balkan region is 3.00pm Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Iran Lusail bustling with regional competi- January 16 5.00pm Macedonia vs Tunisia Lusail tions and joint projects. 7.00pm Croatia vs Austria Duhail All of this makes the area between Slovenia and FYR 7.00pm Tunisia vs Croatia Duhail Macedonia, one of the most January 17 7.00pm Iran vs Macedonia Al Attiyah important in the handball com- 9.00pm Austria vs Bosnia Al Attiyah munity. With four teams, seven 7.00pm Croatia vs Iran Duhail Hosts Qatar face Brazil coaches and a few assistant January 19 7.00pm Bosnia vs Macedonia Al Attiyah coaches, the ex-Yugoslav coun- 9.00pm Austria vs Tunisia Al Attiyah tries are a driving force at the 24th Men’s Handball World 7.00pm Macedonia vs Croatia Duhail Championship in Qatar. January 21 5.00pm Iran vs Austria Al Attiyah in Group A opener The majority of the Balkan 7.00pm Bosnia-Herzegovina vs Tunisia Al Attiyah handball population will be paying 7.00pm Croatia vs Bosnia-Herzegovina Duhail BY ARMSTRONG VAS close attention to the Preliminary January 23 5.00pm Tunisia vs Iran Al Attiyah Group B in which three teams 7.00pm Macedonia vs Austria Al Attiyah DOHA: Hosts Qatar aiming for their best ever – Croatia, FYR Macedonia and Group C: Algeria, Czech Republic, Egypt, France, Iceland, Sweden performance at the world championship will look Bosnia and Herzegovina-- will up to the magic wand of their Spanish-born coach fight for a place in the eight-finals. 7.00pm Algeria vs Egypt Al Attiyah Valero Rivera (pictured) when they open their Apart from the teams coached January 16 9.00pm Sweden vs Iceland Al Attiyah campaign against Brazil in the Group A clash here by Slavko Goluza, Ivica Obrvan 9.00pm France vs Czech Republic Duhail today. and Dragan Markovic, two more 7.00pm Iceland vs Algeria Al Attiyah The 61-year-old from Zaragoza, who coached his coaches from the former Yugoslav January 18 9.00pm Czech Republic vs Sweden Al Attiyah home nation to the championship in 2013 in his area will attempt to reach 9.00pm Egypt vs France Duhail home town of Barcelona, is targeting a place in the the knockout stage with their quarter-finals for his team, the best result till date squads – Borut Macek with Iran 7.00pm Czech Republic vs Egypt Al Attiyah for Qatar for any World Championships. and Sead Hasanefendic on the January 20 9.00pm Sweden vs Algeria Al Attiyah The hosts have not been able to make it to Tunisian bench. 9.00pm France vs Iceland Duhail the quarter-finals in the previous four World The two most successful World 7.00pm Sweden vs Egypt Al Attiyah Championships. Championship campaigns by January 22 9.00pm Iceland vs Czech Republic Al Attiyah The best performance came in Portugal where African handball teams can be 9.00pm Algeria vs France Duhail they picked up the 16th spot, in 2005 they came a accredited to coaches from this 7.00pm Egypt vs Iceland Al Attiyah distance 21st and in 2007 and in 2013 picked up the prolific handball region. 23rd and 20th places. first, then Chile, Slovenia, world champions Spain In 2001 at the World January 24 9.00pm France vs Sweden Al Attiyah However, recent form and good results have given and Belarus in that order. It’s going to be a very Championship in France, Balkan 9.00pm Algeria vs Czech Republic Duhail the hosts lot of hope. difficult competition. But I’ve full faith in our work coach Zoran Zivkovic took his Group D: Argentina, Denmark, Germany, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia Qatar finished their final preparations unbeaten and my boys. We’ve had dedicated preparations for Egyptian side to fourth place 3.00pm Russia vs Saudi Arabia Duhail after they had already proved their ambitions for the event. I don’t think it would’ve been possible to in an impressive outing. Four January 16 7.00pm Poland vs Germany Lusail the international stage by winning both the Asian start so early in any other country,” Rivera said. years later Tunisian head-coach 9.00pm Denmark vs Argentina Lusail Championship and the Asian Games handball tour- “For example, at the ’08 Beijing Olympics, I got Hasanefendic matched this suc- 7.00pm Argentina vs Poland Duhail nament, each for the first time in 2014. just 15 days to train the Spanish side which, never- cess by taking the fourth spot on Coach Rivera remains upbeat ahead of the open- theless, won bronze. In Spain, the situation is more home soil, only narrowly losing January 18 7.00pm Germany vs Russia Lusail ing clash. or less the same during any major competition. But by one to France in the bronze 9.00pm Saudi Arabia vs Denmark Lusail “The team has shaped up well and I’m pleased the experience in Qatar has been in direct contrast medal game. Having took bronze 7.00pm Argentina vs Saudi Arabia Duhail with our boys’ performances. There are still a few to it. I got almost a year to prepare the players. It’s in Spain in 2013, Croatia come to January 20 7.00pm Poland vs Russia Lusail areas for improvement, but my team is ready. It’s something I couldn’t have even dreamt of during my Qatar with the highest expecta- 9.00pm Denmark vs Germany Lusail now only a matter of being at our best on game coaching stints in Spain,” added. tions. With Olympic gold medalist 7.00pm Poland vs Saudi Arabia Duhail days,” said Rivera, who took over as Qatar coach in On the other hand, Brazil are hoping to show their Slavko Goluza on the bench, the April, 2013. improvement after reaching the quarter-finals in Croats aim to build on the suc- January 22 7.00pm Germany vs Argentina Lusail After the opening clash with the South Americans 2013. They missed advancing to the quarter-finals cess of the past on their road to 9.00pm Russia vs Denmark Lusail the hosts will then play Chile on Saturday before after a narrow 27-26 defeat against Russia. Rio de Janeiro. FYR Macedonia, 7.00pm Russia vs Argentina Duhail taking on Slovenia on January 19, followed by world The opening match of Qatar 2015 will be a duel who have Ivica Obrvan calling the January 24 7.00pm Saudi Arabia vs Germany Lusail champions Spain on January 21 and Belarus in the of two Spanish-born coaches as Brazil’s head coach shots, will be one of the biggest 9.00pm Denmark vs Poland Lusail concluding group match on January 23. Jordi Ribera also comes from the famous handball threats along the way for Goluza’s “We’re in a very strong group. We’ll play Brazil school of the Iberian country. THE PENINSULA side. THE PENINSULA Thursday 15 January 2015 24 Rabial I 1436 Volume 19 Number 6311 Sport Price: QR2 Most Popular Bangladeshi Newspaper Del Potro ousts Saudi Arabia Fognini to floor North PROTHOM ALO WEEKLY Published every Thursday enter quarters Korea Available in all leading stores in Qatar       Tel: 4465 0600 Email: [email protected] Sport | 23 Sport | 26

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 One city, one big sports event Qatar organisers promise to deliver the best ever world handball championship

DOHA: H E Sheikh Joaan bin officials, all fans and all media Hamad Al Thani, President representatives by creating a of the Qatar 2015 Organising perfect atmosphere in the are- Committee, speaks about the nas, by showing our well-known 24th Men’s Handball World hospitality. We want the world to Championship that starts remember a unique and spectacu- today at the brand new Lusail lar event. Multipurpose Hall. Question: Which means a Question: The first ever huge legacy for Handball and Men’s Handball World for Qatar? H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Championship in Qatar starts Answer: The legacy will be Thani, President of the Qatar 2015 today. How strong is your per- a strong reputation that Qatar Organising Committee, is seen sonal anticipation? keeps its promises and deliv- with Qatar 2015 Director General Answer: I have been counting ers what it has promised to the Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, down the days with great antici- world’s handball community. during an inspection of one of the pation! It is a mixture of excite- The 24th Men’s Handball World venues of the 2015 24th Men’s ment and the knowledge that we Championship will be a top event Handball World Championship did our best and deserve the best. that the local and international which starts today at the brand I believe that the work and handball community will never achievements of the State of forget – including the amazing new Lusail Multipurpose Hall. Qatar along with 2015 Men’s arenas built aesthetically and Handball World Championship in compliance with IHF regula- in Qatar Organising Committee tions, not forgetting to mention are a manifestation of all our the new handball trophy that has effort towards a healthy society been conceptualised and designed while spreading awareness on the in Qatar. importance sports have in our life. In addition, we have motivated The championship will have a the local talents to get involved great impact on our society as it in this event. opens up also working opportu- Question: Which interaction nities for experts in the field of do you expect for the Qatari proved to be an organic part of sports and gives the young tal- people? the success of the test events and ented an opportunity to contrib- Answer: An integral part of of the preparation for the main ute to a great event at the heart our strategy is engaging the fans championship. of our country. by inviting schools, sports clubs We are very satisfied that And with the continuous efforts and people from various com- Handball has attracted such a of the Qatar National Olympic munities to engage in various big and diversified group of vol- committee and the various sports activities. unteers offering their best to the associations, the calendar of The main objective is to organisation of the game of the international top sports events is enhance sports education in a fun fast! expanding. Qatar in my opinion is and exciting way while introduc- Question: What in your the new home of sportsmanship. ing handball to the young genera- opinion is the “unique selling We are working hand in hand tion perfectly meets this purpose. point” of the 2015 Men’s World to make the Championship an Question: How critical was Championship, what makes unforgettable event to be added the role of volunteers? Qatar so special? to the book of achievements of Answer: Volunteers are indis- Answer: The 2015 World Qatar. pensable and absolutely necessary Men’s Handball Championship in We are working to be the per- for every sports’ organisation Qatar will be the first ever World fect host for all 24 teams, all event. In our case volunteers Championship to be held in one city, this offers a clear advantage for teams and spectators. All venues, accommodation and city landmarks are within a short drive. The weather condi- tions in Qatar during the month of January are like a “summer in the heart of winter”. This will enable fans that will travel from all over the world to experience not just a celebration of handball but also explore the unique beauties our Nation has to offer. Qatar 2015 also enjoys the full support of the IHF and the IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa, who often said that Qatar will host “the best World Championship ever”. Question: What is your vision on this event, the vision of the Qatar governing bodies? An exterior view of the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena at Al Saad Club in Answer: We want to leave a Doha. The Qatar 2015 men’s Handball World Championship 2015 takes lasting legacy. Qatar has show- place in Qatar from January 15 to February 1. BELOW: Macedonian cased its commitment to Sports national handball team player Renato Vugrinec in action during a training excellence on many occasions. We session in preparation for the Qatar 2015 24th Men’s Handball World share common goals with local, Championship. regional, continental and global stakeholders to make sure that the World Championship will offer a unique opportunity for the development of Sport. Our goal is to turn the World Championship into a memorable milestone and a unique experi- ence for everyone: the athletes, the sport officials, the media, the fans, the volunteers, the national and international federations. We carefully studied how we could use the existing infrastruc- ture and what our additional requirements would be for the event. We have identified what the athletes want to see in a handball venue; they are the protagonists and we made sure to cater their needs in the best possible way. CONTINUED ON PAGE 25