ISO 9001:2008 CERTIFIED NEWSPAPER Lagab storms to stage win in Dukhan Sport | 18 Friday 19 December 2014 • 27 Safar 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6284 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and other top officials attending the parade on the Doha Corniche on National Day yesterday. (RIGHT) H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson, Qatar Foundation (QF) for Education, Science and Community Development, with children during a storytelling session at the QF Tent in Darb Al Saae, the main venue of National Day celebrations. Leaders attend National Day parade Patriotic fervour at its zenith as Emir and Father Emir greet thousands on the Corniche BY FAZEENA SALEEM people, including children, and even dresses, added colour to the parade. A Dignitaries, including the Emir’s A pageantry of pure-bred Arabian accepted maroon-and-white shawls and traditional Qatari sword dance — Al Personal Representative H H Sheikh horses and camels exhibiting Qatar’s DOHA: Patriotic fervour was at its scarves from some. Arda — by schoolchildren was another Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, H H Sheikh traditions led the parade. zenith as the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim While leaving the venue in car, both attraction of the show. National Service Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani and H H The Qatari Armed Forces, Internal bin Hamad Al Thani and the Father waved at the people who were loudly trainees also joined the march, along with Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, Security Force (Lekhwiya), Al Fazaa and Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa cheering along the Corniche. hundreds of soldiers from Qatar Armed were also present, along with the Prime the Emiri Guard marched behind, while Al Thani walked into the crowds and The parade began with the national Forces. Minister and Interior Minister H E battle tanks and multi-rocket launch- greeted thousands of citizens and anthem and a gun salute, followed by The parade started at 8am and con- Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa ers rolled along the Doha seafront and expatriates watching the National Day recitation of verses from the Holy Quran. tinued until 8.45am. The first 30 min- Al Thani, Advisory Council Speaker fighter jets flew overhead. parade on the Corniche early morning The Emir took salute as contingents from utes saw the march of armed forces and Mohammed bin Mubarak Al Khulaifi, The parade showcased infantry col- yesterday. security forces marched by. showcase of vehicles. The last 15 minutes ministers, heads of diplomatic missions umns of the army, police and Emiri With smiling faces, the Emir and the Young boys from schools dressed as sol- were dedicated to an air show and a dem- and senior army officers and officials Guard. THE PENINSULA Father Emir shook hands with many diers, accompanied by girls in traditional onstration by Coast Guards. from the Ministry of Interior. Continued on page 3 FIFA executives Oil tumbles after brief meet amid probe report furore rebound; Brent below $60 NEW YORK: Global crude oil prices slumped anew yesterday, a MARRAKECH: FIFA day after a short-covering rally, as traders placed fresh bets the President Sepp Blatter opened a market would resume a six-month rout on worries about a supply meeting of his 25-member exec- glut. Benchmark Brent and US crude tumbled $2 a barrel each in utive committee yesterday amid late trading after initially extending Wednesday’s short-covering, a storm of controversy over an which lifted oil prices by more than $3. With Brent back below the inquiry into the bids by Russia psychologically-key level of $60 a barrel and US crude under $55, and Qatar for the 2018 and 2022 traders braced for more selling in a market that has lost about half World Cups. its value since June. While the market seemed to slide on renewed With a vote on the FIFA lead- worries about oversupply, traders said some of the selling could have ership looming next year, foot- been due to position squaring ahead of today’s expiry of the January ball’s governing body has been front-month contract in US crude. stung by the resignation of its The slump set in at mid-morning and accelerated in the last 30 leading investigator, top US law- minutes of trade. yer Michael Garcia, over the han- dling of his report. Palestine draft talks to take time European media said a vote may be held today on a proposal UNITED NATIONS: Negotiations on a draft UN resolution that to publish the report, but Blatter sets terms for a final Israeli-Palestinian peace deal will take time, has insisted so far that it cannot ROTA Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani with the Qatari flag on Geographical South Pole. Jordan said yesterday, indicating that a Security Council vote was be published for legal reasons. not imminent. He had also said the report Jordan presented the measure on Wednesday to the Security Council would be at the centre of a on behalf of the Palestinians, who said they were open to negotiations two-day executive meeting in on the text. “It will take time,” Jordan’s UN Ambassador Dina Kawar Marrakech, although no details First Qatari reaches South Pole, told reporters. of the agenda have been provided. Jordan, along with Britain and France, were hoping to achieve a Garcia quit as head of inves- resolution that could be adopted by consensus at the council and will tigation chamber on Wednesday, not be vetoed by the US. But the US said yesterday it did not support hitting out at the “lack of lead- hoists flag to mark National Day the resolution. “It is not something that we would support,” State ership” by FIFA over the inquiry Department spokeswoman Jen Psaki told reporters. Washington has into the two bids. DOHA: Reach Out To Asia Pole. “I am proud to be the first and natural disasters. repeatedly vetoed council resolutions seen as undermining its close Qatar has strongly denied any (ROTA) Ambassador Sheikh Qatari to raise the flag of Qatar And this is the core of Sheikh ally Israel. wrongdoing in its successful cam- Mohammed bin Abdullah Al on the South Pole. Very few people Mohammed’s visit — advocacy for paign for the 2022 World Cup. Thani became the first Qatari have been privileged to visit the education. Three ‘top IS leaders killed’ In his resignation statement, to reach the South Pole, where South Pole. Essa Al Manaai, ROTA Garcia said he had found “seri- he hoisted a flag to commemo- “This milestone, I hope, will Executive Director, congratulated WASHINGTON: US-led air strikes against Islamic State (IS) in ous and wide-ranging issues” rate National Day. continue to inspire young peo- him and said, “ROTA extends its Iraq have killed three of the militant group’s top leaders but not sen- in the bid processes for both Sheikh Mohammed had ear- ple in Qatar as we celebrate our gratitude to our Ambassador ior commander Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi, US officials said yesterday. tournaments. lier led the first group of Qatari National Day,” he said. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Among those killed was Abd Al Basit, whom officials described as He resigned in protest at the climbers to Mount Everest to As a member of Qatar Al Thani, who became the first the group’s military ‘emir,’ and Haji Mutazz, a deputy to Baghdadi. The summary of his report released by raise Qatar’s flag. Foundation (QF), ROTA contrib- Qatari to raise the flag of Qatar strikes took place between December 3 and 9, they said. FIFA judge Hans-Joachim Eckert As part of a two-week excursion utes greatly towards QF’s mis- on the South Pole. Officials also confirmed last month’s killing of Radwan Taleb Al who had said no corruption was entitled ‘Ski the last degree to the sion to unlock human potential. “He is also the first Qatari to Hamdouni, whom local medical sources had described at the time as found and that no new votes were South Pole, bottom of the world’, Its approach to achieving this is raise the flag on Mount Everest. I the radical group’s leader in the northern city of Mosul. necessary. he skied from the 89th degree through skills development and congratulate not only him but also News of the killings, first reported by the Wall Street Journal, came FIFA rejected Garcia’s appeal to the 90th, travelling about 60 using its sport-based educational Qatar’s extraordinary youth who the same day the top US commander of coalition efforts against the against the summary yesterday, nautical miles across windswept programmes as tools to rehabili- continue to inspire us as leaders IS, Lieutenant General James Terry, hailed the impact of four months declaring it “not admissible”. terrain and below-freezing tem- tate children and youth suffering in the community.” of air strikes in Iraq. AGENCIES peratures to Geographical South due to wars, political disturbances THE PENINSULA AGENCIES FRIDAY 19 DECEMBER 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Colourful parade marks National Day The main attraction of the National Day celebration was a spectacular military parade on the Corniche in which Qatari army, air force, navy, Emiri Guards, Lekhwiya, Al Fazaa, Coast Guards, and other units of Ministry of Interior marched along with military vehicles and warfare equipment. Schoolchildren dressed in traditional and military costumes joined the colourful parade which also featured a breathtaking aerial show.