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FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 • 14 Rabia I 1437 • Volume 20 Number 6655 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Emir condoles with Saudi King on victims 25 die in Jizan hospital fire; probe to ascertain cause

DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh a speedy recovery. the Maternity Department of the Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yes- At least 25 people died and 123 hospital in the south of the king- terday sent a cable to Custodian injured in the blaze, Qatar News dom, the Civil Defence Agency of the Two Holy Mosques King Agency reports. About 21 brigades tweeted. Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and security and service teams Later, in an update, it said the of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, arrived at the scene and the blaze had been extinguished and expressing deep condolences and injured were shifted to hospitals. an investigation was under way. sincere sympathy over the vic- Investigation was under way Twenty-one teams of emer- tims of a fire that broke out at to ascertain the cause of the fire, gency workers assisted in putting Jizan General Hospital. officials added. The Civil Defence out the blaze in Jizan, the capital The Emir prayed to the Directorate tweeted that the fire of the Jizan province, the agency Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani gives the command to Almighty God to bestow his was brought under control. added. The teams evacuated the start early operations at Hamad Port in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet mercy on them, rest them in The blaze broke out in the children and patients from the Affairs H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin Zaid Al Mahmoud (right), Minister of Transport H E Jassim Seif Ahmed Al peace and bless the injured with intensive care unit (ICU) and ICU, the health ministry said on Sulaiti and other officials. its Twitter account. Al Riyadh daily quoted a Civil Defence spokesman as saying that the agency was alerted of the fire at 2am (2300 GMT Wednesday). Premier inaugurates Hamad Al Ekhbariya TV interviewed a witness who said the cause of the fire seemed to be electrical, and that it took only three minutes to Port’s early partial operations sweep through the hospital. The 25 dead included one child, DOHA: Prime Minister and project was screened. The Pre- Qatar National Vision 2030. the TV quoted Major General Interior Minister H E Sheikh mier gave the command to start In a statement after the cer- Saad bin Al Ghamdi, Director, Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- early partial operations and was emony, he said the existence of Civil Defence in Jizan, as saying. lifa Al Thani yesterday attended briefed on the offloading of the the port adjacent to the economic Ahmed Al Sahli, Director of the inauguration of early partial first commercial cargo ship after zone will help in the export and Health Affairs in the region, told operations at Hamad Port. its arrival. He also toured facili- re-export process, adding that Al Arabiya that many people had The port will handle limited ties and administrative buildings the opening ahead of sched- been able to escape easily because types of ships and cargo as stipu- and was updated on the project’s ule is another achievement by the doors were open and safety lated in the operations decision, progress and work phases that the steering committee of the equipment was in place. Qatar News Agency reports. resulted in the achievement. project. Saudi Civil Defence officials inspect the damage at Jizan General Hospital Another picutre on page 4 At the beginning of the cer- The Premier said the early Continued on page 2 following a pre-dawn fire in the port city of Jizan yesterday. emony, a film documentary on opening of the port will help eco- AGENCIES the development of the port nomic diversification and achieve THE PENINSULA

Qatar welcomes UN resolution on New residency law in force from Dec 14, 2016 DOHA: The Law No. 21 of 2015 after his departure. As per the two sides. Both sides are obliged can approach the grievances com- be applicable to contracts signed Libya agreement regulating the entry, exit and res- new law, the worker can return to respect the contract period, mittee to be set up under the law before its implementation. idency of expatriates will come to the country two or three days whether it be two or five years. to look into such complaints. The law also allows expatriate DOHA: Qatar yesterday wel- in force on December 14, 2016, Al after his departure if he gets a An exit permit from the spon- The law has stipulated that workers to change jobs subject to comed the United Nations resolu- Sharq reports. new contract and fulfils entry visa sor will no more be required for in case of an emergency, the conditions. tion regarding the UN-brokered The law was published in the requirements and if there is no an expatriate worker to leave the worker can leave immediately Expatriate workers with fixed Libyan political agreement signed official gazette (Issue No. 29) on court verdict against him. country. He only needs to inform after notifying the employer job contracts can change their in the Moroccan city of Skhirat December 13, said the daily. It is Brig Mohammed Ahmed Al the employer that he will be leav- and by approval of the authori- work and sign new contracts if on December 17. to be implemented one year after Atiq, Assistant Director General, ing, the daily quoted the official ties concerned. The new law has they wish so at the end of the con- In a statement, the Foreign the date of publication in the offi- Department of Boarder Passports as saying. raised the fine on employees for tract period. For this they don’t Ministry said the UN decision is a cial gazette, the daily added. and Expatriates Affairs at the The Ministry of Interior ear- keeping the passports of expatri- need approval from their current clear evidence of the international Issued on October 27, the law Ministry of Interior, told a press lier explained that to leave the ate employees from QR10,000 to employer. However, an approval is society’s keenness on the success has replaced the Kafala (spon- conference at the Ministry of country, an employee needs to QR25,000 for each passport. needed from the Ministry of Inte- of the deal and institutions ema- sorship) system with a contract- Labour yesterday that the Kafala apply its departments concerned With implementation of the rior and the Ministry of Labour nating from it. It said Qatar will based system and cancelled the system will end with implementa- through Metrash 2 and inform his new law, there will be a new con- and Social Affairs. If the job con- spare no effort to do whatever it exit permit system. tion of the new law. employer three days in advance. tract for every employer based on tract is open-ended, a worker can takes to support peace, security It has also removed the two- There will be a job contract The employer has no right to the new system. change job after five years with and stability in Libya. The min- year period required for an expa- to be signed by every expatriate stop the worker from leaving the The contract will be different approval from both ministries. istry expressed Qatar’s aspiration triate worker to return to the worker with his employer which country and in case of any objec- from the one based on the Kafala that the resolution will be the country to take up a new job, will rule the relation between the tion from the employer, both sides system. However, the law will not THE PENINSULA basis of Libya’s unity, safety, secu- rity and stability and called on all political factions to double efforts to implement the deal. Bluebuster tops in Doha QNA Djokovic to arrive Arab foreign ministers slam on Wednesday kidnapping of Qataris in Iraq DOHA: World No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia is expected to arrive in Doha for the season CAIRO: Arab League Foreign Ministers, homeland and families. opener on December 30. in its extraordinary meeting here at the The council hoped that contacts under- The winner of three Grand headquarters of the General Secretariat taken by Qatar with the Iraqi government Slam titles and the season-end- of the League yesterday condemned the would yield positive results to ensure the ing championships in London this kidnapping of Qatari nationals in south- safety of Qatari citizens and end their year will launch the new tennis ern Iraq. detention. season at Khalifa Tennis Com- In a statement issued at the end of the The council called on the Iraqi govern- plex where he is to feature in the meeting, the council noted that it is fol- ment to shoulder its legal responsibilities Qatar ExxonMobil Open. lowing with deep concern the abduction of and take necessary measures to ensure the Experienced Tomas Berdych of Qatari and condemned the shameful act safety of the kidnapped Qatari citizens and the Czech Republic will arrive two which is contrary to Islamic religion pro- ensure their release as soon as possible, days before on Sunday and former visions and divine laws and constitutes a especially as they had entered the Iraqi ter- world No. 1 Rafael Nadal of Spain, criminal violation of human rights, as well ritory through an official entry visas issued who has been beginning his sea- as contrary to Arab values and ethics and by the Iraqi embassy in Doha, based on the son here for the past few years, offend fraternal relations between Arabs. consent of the Iraqi Interior Ministry, and will land on January 3, the Qatar Experienced rider Vladimir Tuganov in action on the opening day of the Qatar International The council also expressed full solidarity the kidnapping has occurred on the ter- Tennis Federation said yesterday. Show Jumping Championship at the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s Outdoor Arena yester- with the Government of Qatar and said it ritory under the sovereignty of the Iraqi See also page 23 day. Tuganov produced a flawless routine with Bluebuster to win the feature competition. supports all actions to be taken to secure government and its security control. Report on page 24 the release of its citizens, restore their free- THE PENINSULA dom and ensure their safe return to their QNA FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Condolence cables sent to Saudi King Minister: Hamad Port DOHA: Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani sent a cable of condolences set to become main and sympathy to Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of the trade link to world Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on the victims of the fire that broke out Continued from page 1 at Jizan General Hospital yes- eral goods, vehicles and construc- terday, praying to the Almighty Minister of Transport H E Jas- tion equipment. God to bestow his mercy on them, sim Seif Ahmed Al Sulaiti said: “It “In doing this, we increase rest them in peace and bless the gives me great pleasure to wel- our container capacity at Doha injured with a speedy recovery. come you all today (yesterday) to Port while continuing to prepare Prime Minister and Interior witness yet another significant Hamad Port to receive the world’s Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah milestone for Qatar, coinciding largest cargo ships in 2016.” bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with National Day celebrations. Maintaining Qatar’s seafaring sent a similar cable to King Sal- “In February 2015, Hamad Port past and culture, Hamad Port man. was officially named and we com- is on its way to become Qatar’s menced flooding of its basin. This primary trade link to the world, The newly acquired general cargo roll-on/roll-off (RORO) vessel docked at Hamad Port. The vessel with built-in Education Minister July we received our first ship he said. ramps will allow the cargo to be efficiently rolled on and off the vessel when in the port. It is also expected to reduce delivering cranes for the project, The new port is unique and the movement of trucks from Qatar’s busy roads as it can be used to carry wheeled cargo, such as automobiles, appoints official and today the port’s early partial characterised by world-class sys- trucks, semi-trailer trucks and big trailers loaded with goods and construction materials from one part of the operations start. tems and technology that will country to another by using sea routes. DOHA: Minister of Educa- “This is another moment of enhance Qatar’s logistics capabil- tion and Higher Education gratitude from the Qatari people ity and support the development and Supreme Education Coun- to Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin of local industry. It has a general cargo termi- sea and road to GCC and other The creation of an integrated cil Secretary-General H E Dr Hamad Al Thani, Father Emir It will modernise the way Qatar nal to handle 1.7 million tonnes of Arabian Gulf states. It will have logistics park in the port area will Mohammed Abdul Wahed Ali H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa handles imports and exports general goods, one million tonnes an advanced safety and security provide connection to Qatar and Al Hammadi issued a ministerial Al Thani and Deputy Emir H H through sea routes, increasing of food grains and 500,000 vehi- system, a customs inspection GCC rail freight network. decision, appointing Turky bin Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al its maritime trade and facilitat- cles. It will also have livestock and area with latest technologies for Along with new expressway Abdullah Al Mahmoud as Direc- Thani for unlimited support for ing growth and diversification of multi-use terminals, an offshore speedy clearance of goods. interchanges, the port will facili- tor of the Planning and Quality the success of all giant develop- its economy. supply base, a Coast Guard facil- The establishment of an eco- tate cost-effective cargo handling Department at the SEC. ment projects, as we open today Hamad Port is an important ity, and a port marine unit, said nomic zone adjacent to the new and will position Qatar as the new QNA the port’s general cargo and roll- addition to Qatar ports, and will the Minister. port will facilitate manufacturing regional shipping hub. on roll-off facilities and establish operate six million containers a Hamad Port will provide industries and help Qatar increase ACRPS booth shut operations for the delivery of gen- year once fully operational. trans-shipment links by rail, its non-oil and gas exports. THE PENINSULA down at Jeddah book exhibition DOHA: The Doha-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS) said yesterday Flower expo opens at farmers’ market its booth at the Jeddah Interna- tional Book Fair was shut down by organisers on the second day Flower, fruit plants for sale at three-day event of the exhibition which ended yes- terday. DOHA: A wide variety of flowers are Thursdays to Saturdays from 7am to 5pm. An ACRPS statement said the showcased at a three-day exhibition They open in winter and usually continue organisers didn’t cite any reason. opened yesterday at farmers’ market (Al until May. “The ACRPS had obtained all Mazrouah Yard) near Umm Salal Sta- Some 46 types of locally-grown farm legal and official approvals to par- dium. fresh vegetables are available at low prices ticipate in the fair,” it said. Floral arrangements and landscape at the markets. The ACRPS is one of the most designs are on show and flower and fruit This year, over 70 local farms are tak- prominent research centres in the plants are for sale at the event. ing part. Arab world, has published over The exhibition is organised by the Agri- According to the Ministry of Environ- 150 titles, and publishes five peer- culture Affairs Department at the Minis- ment, 321 tonnes of fresh vegetables and reviewed periodicals. try of Environment, with the Public Parks 215 tonnes of fresh fruits were sold at the All publications have been Department at the Ministry of Municipal- three markets last month. produced with a high standard ity and Urban Planning. Of these, Al Mazrouah in Umm Salal, in composition, translation and The farmers’ markets officially opened being a larger market, accounted for 130 editing. for a new season early last month, sell- tonnes. They are of academic nature ing locally produced vegetables and fruits As for fruits, the market had a share of and include studies in political along with fish, livestock and other items, 73 tonnes out of 215 at all three markets. science as well as translations of at discount prices at three locations in the The Agricultural Affairs Department new research in social sciences, country. supervises the markets which aim to the statement added. Other markets are in Al Wakrah and Al encourage local farmers and growers. Khor-Al Dhakira. One of the flora arrangements at the exhibition at Al Mazrouah Yard in Umm Salal. BAHER AMIN THE PENINSULA The three markets are open from THE PENINSULA

Registration Qatar Red Crescent Society begins for falcon, opens TB centre in Somalia hunting festival DOHA: Registration for the DOHA: As part of constant about QR1.62m, co-funded by sixth Qatar International efforts to enhance the health sec- QRCS and World Vision. It tar- Falcon and Hunting Festival tor in Somalia, Qatar Red Cres- gets treating 1,640 patients and begins today at Al Gannas cent Society (QRCS) has begun protecting 30,000 patient close- Society headquarters at Katara operation of the Tuberculosis and contact families. Building No. 33, organisers Multi-Drug-Resistant Tubercu- Activities done so far included have announced. losis Centre in Banaadir region, full rehabilitation, equipment, and A total of 1,406 participants Mogadishu, in coordination with furnishing of the centre’s build- from all over the GCC reg- the Somali ministry of health, ings, operation, establishment of istered at last year’s festival World Health Organisation, a TB management team, promot- and given the success of the World Vision and Organisation ing capacity-building for health previous edition, the number of Islamic Cooperation. personnel, patient support, opera- of participants is expected to The centre is the only TB treat- tional research and medical and be bigger and the competitions ment hub in the eastern, central paramedical training. more exciting. and southern parts of the country, After registering patients, sam- Under the patronage of with another in Hargeisa, north- ples were sent to the reference Officials with Ashghal employees during the training session. H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad ern Somalia. Access to TB cen- laboratory in Kampala, Uganda Al Thani, the annual festival tres in neighbouring countries is for tests for disease and diagnosis. is one of the most anticipated largely limited. Under an agreement with the falconry events in the region, By contributing to Mogadishu’s MOH National Tuberculosis Pro- Training in road occupancy law organised by Al Gannas Society centre, QRCS seeks to reduce and gramme (NTP), 18 patients were in cooperation with Katara Cul- control the morbidity and mortal- sampled and results are expected tural Village Foundation. ity caused by TB and MDR-TB within two weeks. Confirmed Those interested to join the by introducing and scaling up TB patients will undergo two-year organised for Ashghal employees competitions may register at and MDR-TB intervention, diag- treatment. More patients will Al Gannas headquarters from nosis and management. be enrolled over the coming few DOHA: The Rule of Law and implement temporary closure of a lege of Law at Qatar University 4pm to 8pm from today until Lasting one year, the first weeks. Anti-Corruption Centre organised road and provide traffic diversions gave the presentation. He show- Monday. phase of the project will cost THE PENINSULA a training course for employees if required. cased samples of issuing violations, For participants from other of the Public Works Authority The department is also respon- and concluded with an interactive countries, they can contact the (Ashghal) on Law No. 14 of 2015 sible for supervision and monitor- session with the trainees. organising committee via SMS, on road occupancy. ing of these works. On the second day, Ahmed phone, fax or email. The two-day training session at As per the law, the licensee shall Matar Al Dousari, Environmental They should provide their Ashghal’s Assets Affairs building comply with the conditions, tech- Prosecutor at Public Prosecution name, nationality, contact was attended by employees who nical procedures and the period reviewed and discussed practical number, passport number, the have been nominated to become specified in the licence. cases related to the law. contest and the type of falcon, enforcement officers of the above They must also abide by the The training also aimed to help its photo and permit for the fal- law. guidelines for excavation works Ashghal’s new law enforcement con authenticated by customs The law forbids laying util- as approved by the department. officers to understand all legal and environment authorities. ity pipes or maintaining them or The law also binds on the licen- aspects that surround their job, Participants can commu- occupying the road with anything see to restore the public road to gain legal skills in working with nicate with the registration that might affect traffic safety, the previous status after comple- violations and fixing them, and committee through mobile unless a permit is obtained from tion of works. learning the key data that needs to 33053334; fax 44081747; tele- the department concerned at Ash- The first day of the train- be included in the violation record. phone 44081850 or email qiff@ ghal. ing included a presentation that Ashghal said yesterday that it katara.net The department concerned explained the law and violations. It will coordinate with the centre to The festival begins on Janu- at Ashghal coordinates with the also explained how to prove, issue hold similar training sessions in ary 1 at Sabkhat Marma in Traffic Department to issue the and deal with violations. English in the coming months. Mesaieed. Staff at the centre. licence for contractors, consult- Dr Bashir Saad Zaghloul, ants or other relevant entities to Teacher of Criminal Law at Col- THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 ISLAM www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Prophet: The greatest human being

By Dr Sarah Syed Those who opposed him with the established the Oneness of Allah, hunger and thirst of wealth and destroyed the idols and the way rophet Muhammad power confronted him in battles of life that was brimming with (peace be upon him) that eventually followed. corruption and persecution, and is the greatest human While driving from Madinah heralded rule that extended to at Pbeing that has and will to Makkah which takes about least half the world, despite hav- ever live. This is not an opin- 5 hours, I felt so small when I ing traveled only in this limited ion, but a fact. Though he came thought of how these battles were area!! All of this was accomplished from the noblest family, he had fought-in sheer heat, sand, and in a mere 23 years!! the smallest of means given his rock on foot, horses, and camels Before I came to this specific father died before he was born and marked with the blood of region that was so fortunate to and his mother died when he was human conflict. This was the 7th be marked with the steps of such a young child. His grandfather century, so far from any modern pious, devoted persons through- and extended family raised him comforts let alone modern medi- out history especially Prophet with all the love due to a child cine. I began to think of how any Muhammad (PBUH), I thought with the most gracious demeanor. injury could be treated and the that such human perfection was As a young man, he entered that lack of anesthetics and how ill- impossible to even attempt to noblest of professions-not a physi- ness could possibly be endured come near. Having traveled in cian, but a shepherd. After all, a in this harsh environment and the actual area where Prophet shepherd has been the initial pro- without any modern medicines. Muhammad (PBUH) endured fession of Prophets (peace be upon I thought about the tools of war- and triumphed in establish- them) before him as it simulta- swords-and how one was face to ing the Oneness of Allah, I still neously cultivates leadership and face with his enemy and the fatal believe that his human perfection gentleness. He next became an and extremely agonizing nonfatal is impossible to attempt to come exceptional businessman known slices that each inflicted on the near, but realizing his tasks and simultaneously for his success other. Let us not forget that they sacrifice as a human being makes and justness to the degree that were fighting their own brothers, the quest to elevate our sta- it not only established him as an fathers, and relatives. It was not a tus as human beings attainable. elite Makkan, but it also resulted of causes-definitively reestablish- neously and continuously in per- wealth and power that relied on conflict based on one’s tribal affili- When I find myself complaining in a proposal of marriage from ing the Oneness of Allah among secution, suffering, and sorrow idol worship. And, so the harsh, ations that had previously defined or not fulfilling a higher stand- Khadijah (may God be pleased unforgiving heat and rock. that together did not release the brutal, and unrelenting persecu- the region. It was a conflict whose ard, I think of Prophet Muham- with her), who was a success- His early days of solace in Cave grip of their talons on his blessed tion followed that forced him and members were related by high mad (PBUH) and how incredibly ful business woman and whose Hira were filled with meditation life until the day he breathed his the Muslims from his beloved city principles or the lack thereof not hard he worked in an unforgiv- impeccable character and sup- and contemplation until the day last. of Makkah and fortunately to the blood of relations flowing through ing desert of both sand and rock port proved pivotal in the initial he received the first revelation of Furthermore, he did not know embracing arms of the people of their veins. with its mirages of water, the course of Muhammad’s (PBUH) the Holy Quran from Almighty how to read or write and the first Madinah known as Al Ansar (The Furthermore, later on, Prophet most precious commodity for the Prophethood. His life thus far as Allah through the angel Jibril verse revealed was a command to Helpers). Muhammad (PBUH) and the nourishment of life. As if this a 25 year old is in itself exemplary, (Gabriel) instructing him to read in the name of thy Lord. The No person averse to Islam Muslims had travelled from Mad- wasn’t enough, the harshness of but he had 15 more years until “Read! In the name of thy Lord fact that he did not know how to today can duplicate the feroc- inah to Makkah to do Umrah, the desert was reflected in the the beginning of his Prophethood and Cherisher, Who created- read or write only further solidi- ity of those who opposed him. A but were ultimately denied by ferocity of his enemies who hoped at age 40 that would define him Created man, out of A leech-like fied his Prophethood in people’s woman named Hind was so full Quraish. Here I was in an air- to stifle his call to the Oneness of as the greatest human being that clot.” minds and that The Holy Quran is of hate that she engineered the conditioned, comfortable SUV Allah to satisfy their hunger and ever lived. He received this message the word of Allah has commanded killing of one of the greatest Mus- with my family being driven by a thirst for wealth and power. His life began, ran its extraor- high in the rocky mountains of us to read and work with the aim lims Hamzah (may God be pleased guide from Madinah to Makkah. And the endless crags of moun- dinary course, and ended in that Makkah. Before seeing Cave Hira, of emphasising His Oneness by with him) who was the beloved The journey of 5 hours was the tain rock still stand in sharp con- most unforgiveable of environ- I was determined to go see it adhering to the Holy Quran in uncle of Prophet Muhammad maximum I wanted to endure trast to the most handsome of ments that is most conducive to despite others telling me the great order to be able to strike down (PBUH) and sought out his dead in any vehicle. I looked out the men with the most beautiful of failing at any task-the desert. I difficulty in actually physically false gods whether it be greed or body to try to satisfy her hate by window as the SUV sped across manners who worked tirelessly to was fortunate to have the oppor- reaching it. Unfortunately, for me, power and by doing so, elevate eating his liver. She is just one of the desert. All I saw was end- elevate the people of this harsh tunity to do Umrah (lesser pil- determination was not enough. I the status of the human to such his opposition and astonishingly less stretches of sand and huge desert into the most refined and grimage) and the reality of who took one glance up at Cave Hira a high position that towers over chose to become Muslim after mountains of sheer rock all under sophisticated of people devoted to Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) on Jabal Nur (Mountain of Light) his initial origins. the Conquest of Makkah though that unrelenting sun. I couldn’t One God. And so, of course, he is was finally realised, of course as from the air-conditioned, com- Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stop thinking about how Prophet the greatest human being. Above much as I’m capable of realising fortable SUV and knew I couldn’t endured extreme hardship in had granted everyone amnesty Muhammad (PBUH) and the all, I have further understanding it. The desert itself is enough to even attempt reaching Cave Hira order to confirm the message of all anyway. Despite this, he was Muslims endured this journey of the Ultimate Greatness of Allah stoke fear in the most coura- as it is carved out of sheer rock the Prophets before him including always determined for his goal on foot, horses, and camels only for He is the Most Benevolent as geous of hearts. It’s not just the high in the mountain positioned the Prophets Abraham, Ismael, was to unite all people regardless to be denied the first time by the He gave us Prophet Muhammad extreme heat that seems to pull under the sun and its unrelent- Isaac, Moses, and Jesus (peace of their social status, race, and Quraish. I did see some bedouins (PBUH) as an example of human all the water and life out of you, ing heat. It was too much for me be upon them) and to definitively background under the Oneness with tents and camels and how perfection to make it easier on but the brightness of the sun is to think of anything additional in reestablish the Oneness of Allah of Allah. they were experiencing what us to learn how to adhere to the blinding. I don’t remember once the environment-scorpions and as His final messenger. Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) life had been like and that I just principles in The Holy Quran to having to walk on hot sand even snakes. What man or woman on Those who opposed him task was to instruct us in the wouldn’t be able to survive. elevate our status and character. with my shoes or being a few Earth now or in the history of believed in all that he said as since doing of only good deeds and to And, of course, later on Prophet steps from air conditioning and mankind could physically accom- he was young, he was known as eradicate corruption and any Muhammad (PBUH) and the www.islamcity.com the shade of structures. When plish this in the exact way that Al Amin (the Trustworthy) by all wrongdoing whether large or Muslims would return to this I think of Makkah, I think of a he did?! and some even continued to rely small for a day will come when blessed city for the Conquest of (Dr Sarah Syed, MD is a gradu- city of the ultimate greatness in And this only signified the on him to store their money in we must account for all our deeds Makkah in which he granted ate of The University of Miami which a man with the smallest beginning of his task that would the throes of conflict. However, and be punished and rewarded amnesty to those who had so Miller School of Medicine Class of of means completed the noblest quickly become steeped simulta- they did not want to lose their accordingly in the Hereafter. ferociously persecuted him and 2015) What the Prophet promised to the world Sayings of the Prophet DESIRING GOOD FOR OTHERS mong the things which the Prophet Some time after embracing Islam, he was chosen ers to unknown humble ones. People may also Muhammad (peace be upon him) by the Prophet with a noble position; the caller differ in wealth, there being the rich, the poor Anas (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: promised to the world is the lib- to prayer for the Muslims. Such a position was and the well-to-do. Such differences and vari- The Prophet (peace be upon him) said, “No one of Aeration of man from the worship of one which awarded him great status among the ations do not guarantee to anyone more than you becomes a true believer until he likes for his man via Islam. The teachings of the Prophet Muslims, one which may have been inconceiv- the others due to his race, colour, ancestry, brother what he likes for himself”. (PBUH) call to a comprehensive form of able for those polytheistic masters who ordered wealth, job, class or any other consideration. monotheism. They abolished the false gods and oppressed him during his time as a slave. The human value is the same one shared by Bukhari and Muslim which people had sanctified and taken them This genuine human tendency in Islam is an everyone, the Arab, the non-Arab, the white, as lords beside Allah or with him regardless important basis for the principle of brother- the black, the ruler, the subject, the rich, the BEST JIHAD of whomsoever they were. Allah, the almighty hood of man which Islam advocates. It is also poor, the employer, the employee, the man, the said in his book: an important foundation for the principles of woman, the free and the slave. The Prophet (PBUH) said, “The best type of Jihad “They have taken the Messiah, son of Mary, equality and freedom for which Islam calls There had been many tribal wars between and their Rabbis and their Priests as lords other and these three humanistic principles, lays the during the ignorance of the pre-Islamic period. (striving in the way of Allah) is speaking a true than Allah, but they were commanded to wor- practical framework for their application, and There existed a great deal of enmity, hatred word in the presence of a tyrant ruler.’’ ship only one god, there is no god but he. Glory associates them strongly to its creed, rituals and intense hostility until those who had Abu Dawud and Tirmidhi be to him, he is above and free from all that they and ethics so that they may be a mere hope or fought each other so severely became Muslim associate with him.” (Al Tawba: 31) an ideal imagined by some, or even theoreti- and shared a brotherhood within the Islam. TRUST Indeed, the liberation of man from extreme cal words written by others. It is sufficient in It is said After Islam had set their affairs veneration and worship of other men was so this context to tackle the principle of equality, straight and they had become united, a non- great that the letters which the Prophet (peace as it is inseparable from that of brotherhood Muslim man passed by a gathering of Muslims Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) be upon him) sent to powerful rulers of his time and can also be regarded as one of its results. with malicious intentions in his heart, he dis- reported: Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “There such as Caesar, Muqaucus and Negus all ended The nationalism that has appeared in this liked that the Muslims had found friendship are three signs of a hypocrite: When he speaks, he with the very same very from the Quran: time in many Muslim countries wherein peo- and unity with each other through Islam. lies; when he makes a promise, he breaks it; and “Say: “O people of earlier scripture! Let us ple form factions based on race, colour or Thus, he sent a man who was with him to when he is trusted, he betrays his trust.” reason together, that we worship none but Allah homeland is akin to the tribalism that existed sit amongst them and remind them of the Bukhari and Muslim and we associate nothing with Allah, and that we in the ignorance of pre-Islamic times. The wars that used to be waged between them. do not set up from among ourselves lords other principle of human equality which Islam con- He kept doing that until he was able to fully than Allah.” But if you turn away, then say, “bear firms is based on the idea that Islam respects provoke them so that they became angry with CHARITY witness that we are Muslims.” (Al Imran: 64) and honours man only for his being human one another, they started shouting their slo- No one should prostrate to another, accord- regardless of any race or colour consideration. gans and calling for their weapons. News of Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “On every ing to the revelation which the Prophet (PBUH) Islam never approves of any racial, national, this reached the Prophet who went to them joint of man, there is charity, on every day when was given, man should only bow down to Allah, tribal or colour discrimination. Allah, the to try and calm them down, he said, “are you his creator, the only one who is truly worthy of almighty, has said: “O mankind! We have cre- issuing the calls of the jaahiliyyah when I am the sun rises: doing justice between two men is such an act of reverence. As a result of doing ated you from a male and a female, and made still among you?” He recited to them the fol- charity, and assisting a man to ride an animal so, man acquires a sense of dignity and humil- you into nations and tribes, that you may know lowing verse so that they would take heed: or to load his luggage on it is charity; and a ity. Allah, the most high, stated in his book: “To one another. Verily, the most honourable of you “And hold fast, all of you together, to the Rope of good word is charity, every step which one takes Allah alone must the hearts turn, in fear and for with Allah is that (believer) who has piety. Verily, Allah (i.e. this Quran), and be not divided among towards the mosque is charity, and removing help: they beg for his mercy and fear his punish- Allah is all-knowing, all-aware” (49:13) yourselves, and remember Allah’s Favour on you, for harmful things from the way is charity”. ment.” (Al Isra: 57) As the Prophet taught; all people come from you were enemies one to another but He joined your Amongst the many things which the the same source thus no colour or race is supe- hearts together, so that, by His Grace, you became Bukhari and Muslim Prophet promised to the world through Islam rior to another. Rather, all of them are equal brethren (in Islamic Faith), and you were on the was a solution to the problem of racism via before Allah, it is the one who is the most brink of a pit of Fire, and He saved you from it. Thus ORPHANS Islam. Although it is true that the foul ‘stench’ pious that is the most honourable before Allah. Allah makes His Ayaat (proofs, evidences, verses, of racism or tribalism even existed during the The splitting of people into various nations, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.,) clear to you, that Messenger of Allah (PBUH) said, “I will be like time of the Prophet it was it was drastically countries and races should only be regarded you may be guided” (3:103) this in Jannah with the person who takes care of reduced due to the interference of the message like the splitting of a single family, brothers (Excerpts from “The Introduction to Islam” by of the Prophet which he lived by and called from one father and one mother. Dr Yusuf Al Qardawi, Islamic Inc. Publishing & an orphan”. The Prophet raised his forefinger and others to. Indeed, it was through Islam that People may differ in race and ethnicity, Distribution, Cairo, Egypt, 1995.) middle finger by way of illustration. the status of Bilal t, who previously, in pre- they may differ in ancestry and descent, some Bukhari Islamic times had been no more than a slave. belonging to noble, aristocratic families oth- http://mercyprophet.org FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GULF / MIDDLE EAST

Sinai road bomb 3 Palestinians shot dead in West Bank kills Egyptian Wave of violence since October claims the lives of 129 Palestinians police captain CAIRO: A roadside bomb struck JERUSALEM: New violence Israeli forces were said to have a police vehicle near a town in the erupted in the West Bank yester- entered the camp to arrest three Sinai Peninsula yesterday, killing day, with three Palestinians shot suspects, local officials said. Seven a policeman and wounding two dead as they carried out stabbings people were wounded, including others, the interior ministry said. and a car ramming and another two from gunshots to the head, The Islamic State (IS) group’s killed in clashes with Israeli sol- according to camp official Jamal Egypt affiliate has claimed regu- diers. The upsurge came after Lafi said. lar attacks on security forces, who nearly three months of attacks A spokeswoman for the have struggled to quell the insur- and protests but with the violence Israeli army said the forces were gency in the peninsula bordering having become less frequent in “assaulted by a violent mob” of Israel and the Gaza Strip. recent weeks. Palestinians shooting at them and The interior ministry said the The ongoing unrest has led throwing rocks, Molotov cocktails bomb killed a police captain, and to a sharp decrease in pilgrims and explosive devices. wounded a sergeant and a con- travelling to the West Bank city “The force responded to the script, on a road leading to pro- of Bethlehem, for Christmas Eve immediate danger and fired vincial capital El Arish. celebrations and the traditional towards the gunmen. Hits were The militants have killed hun- midnight mass at the Church of confirmed,” she said. dreds of soldiers and policemen the Nativity. A wave of violence since the since the army ousted Islam- Early yesterday, a Palestin- start of October has claimed the ist president Mohamed Mursi ian stabbed two security guards lives of 129 on the Palestinian side, in 2013 and unleashed a deadly at an entrance to an industrial 19 Israelis, an American and an crackdown on his supporters. zone at the Jewish settlement of Eritrean. They also claimed to have Ariel, the largest in the north of A number of Palestinians have downed the Russian Metrojet the occupied West Bank, before attempted attacks with kitchen A-321 plane over the Sinai on being shot dead. Both of the vic- knives in what some analysts have October 31, killing all 224 people tims suffered moderate wounds, described as virtual suicide mis- on board, after smuggling a bomb police said. sions. Palestinians have grown on board at an Egyptian airport. The assailant was identified as frustrated with Israel’s occupa- The army has often announced Mohammed Zahran, 23, from the tion, the complete lack of progress the death or capture of jihadists, nearby village of Kafr Addik. in peace efforts and their own most recently launching a sweep- Later, a Palestinian tried to fractured leadership. ing offensive it claimed killed attack soldiers with a screw- Meanwhile, Israeli authorities hundreds of extremists. driver at a checkpoint near the said they had opened an investi- West Bank city of Hebron and gation into a video showing gun- Women watch the funeral of Palestinian Bilal Zayed, who was shot and killed by Israeli troops in Qalandia refugee was shot dead. The Palestinian wielding Jewish extremists at a camp, near the West Bank city of Ramallah, yesterday. Iraq seeks to health ministry identified him as wedding celebrating the death of a Iyad Idaissat, 25, from the village Palestinian toddler in a firebomb- the toddler killed in a firebomb- In recent weeks, Israeli author- The firebombing drew renewed reopen oil pipeline of Yatta. ing. ing blamed on Jewish extremists. ities have arrested a number of attention to Jewish extremism A third incident saw a Palestin- The video, broadcast by an That attack killed 18-month- suspected Jewish extremists and accusations Israel had not through Saudi ian shot dead attempting to ram Israeli news programme, has old Ali Saad Dawabsha, and over the July 31 firebombing in done enough to prevent such vio- his car into a military post near spread online and drawn strong fatally injured his parents. The the West Bank village of Duma, lence. BAGHDAD: Iraq is seeking to the Adam junction northeast of condemnation from politicians, toddler’s four-year-old brother though no one has been charged. Young Jewish men from wildcat reopen its crude oil export pipe- Jerusalem, the army said. including Prime Minister Ben- was the sole survivor from the Their detentions have sparked settlement outposts in the West line through Saudi Arabia, shut Bilal Zayd, 23, was from the jamin Netanyahu. immediate family. anger among far-right Israelis Bank and known as the “hilltop in 1990, state newspaper Assaba- Qalandiya refugee camp between It shows guests at the wedding Palestinians have often high- who have held several protests, youth” have been blamed for vio- bah reported citing an unidenti- Jerusalem and Ramallah, where of a radical right-wing couple lighted the lack of progress in the including outside the home of a lence and vandalism targeting fied Iraqi official. clashes broke out yesterday dancing with guns, knives and at case as one of the causes of the judge, while lawyers have alleged Palestinians, Christian holy sites “The Iraqi oil ministry started between Israeli security forces least one unlit Molotov cocktail, wave of attacks targeting Israelis torture of suspects by the domes- and even Israeli military property. taking steps to revive the Iraq- and Palestinians. while also stabbing a picture of that began on October 1. tic security agency, Shin Bet. AFP Saudi Arabia export pipeline, as part of a plan to diversify its export outlets,” said the Baghdad- based daily. An Iraqi oil ministry spokesman declined to comment on the report. Saudi Arabia shut Two airlines extend flight ban the pipeline in 1990, after Iraq’s US-backed alliance pushes invasion of Kuwait. The pipeline used to carry Iraqi crude to the from UK to Sharm Al Sheikh Saudi terminal of Yanbu on the towards IS-held dam in Syria Red Sea. The pipeline was built LONDON: Holiday operators Thomson and Thomas Cook have in the 1980s, during the Iraq-Iran extended a suspension of their flights to Sharm Al Sheikh until at war, to diversify Iraq’s exports least next March, dealing another blow to the Egyptian resort’s tour- BEIRUT: A US-backed alliance They include Sahareej, Obeidat isolate the militants’ strongholds routes when the two countries ism industry. of Syrian Kurds and Arab rebel and al Manseeh. in northern Aleppo from their were attacking each other’s tank- The suspension was imposed after the suspected bombing of a Rus- groups advanced towards a dam Across the border in Iraq, US- territories east of the Euphrates ers in the Gulf. sian passenger jet in October that killed 224 people shortly after it had in northern Syria held by Islamic led coalition warplanes pounded river, where Raqqa city, effectively taken off from Sharm Al Sheikh airport. State (IS) fighters yesterday, in positions held by Islamic State their capital, is located. Lebanon arrests 4 British tourists at the resort were evacuated after the crash. No an assault aimed at capturing the in the western city of Ramadi, “This will isolate Daesh and regular flights have operated there from Britain since November 4 militants’ stronghold of Raqqa, according to the Iraqi military. allow us to push further towards for forming IS cell due to concerns about security at the airport and the British govern- rebels and a monitor said. Iraqi forces were preparing for Raqqa, our ultimate goal to defeat ment is currently advising against all but essential travel by air to or They said the push by fight- a last push they hope will drive these terrorists,” he said, using a BEIRUT: The Lebanese Directo- from the resort. ers of the Democratic Forces of the militants from the city that widely used derogatory Arabic rate General of General Security Thomson Airways announced this week it was cancelling Syria, which includes the power- was lost in May in a major blow term for the militants. yesterday issued a communique flights until at least March 23 and Thomas Cook said on its ful Kurdish YPG militia and an to Baghdad. Since the US backed alliance in which it announced that it website it had cancelled its flight and holiday programme there Arab tribal alliance, had brought Washington’s strategy in Syria was formed last October, its fight- detained, upon a notice from to the same date. them within 20km of the Tishreen has shifted this year from try- ers have opened several major the general prosecution, four British Airways has said it will not operate flights to the resort until Dam, one of three major dams on ing to train thousands of fighters offensives against Islamic State, Lebanese individuals for form- after February 13 at the earliest, while easyJet has stopped services the Euphrates River. outside the country to supplying including one near the militant- ing a cell that works for Islamic until February 29. Further south of the dam groups headed by US-vetted com- held town of Haul near the border state (IS). Islamic State militants have claimed responsibility for downing that still supplies power to manders. with Iraq. After questioning them, the the Russian jet, saying a bomb was smuggled on board in a soft large areas in northern Syria is US officials said delivery of Selo said their fighters were four confessed that they formed drink can. the even larger Baath Dam. Its weapons since the alliance was set also fortifying positions near the a cell that aimed to recruit indi- Russia’s FSB security service has said it is certain a bomb brought power plant, under militant con- up would help the fighters push militant run Al Shadadi town, a viduals and carry out operations down the Airbus jet, a conclusion shared by Britain and the United trol, feeds much of the territory further south into Islamic State- major logistics hub for the group, for the said organization, National States. under Islamic State and is 22km held territory. located on a strategic network News Agency (NNA) said. Egypt said earlier this month it has found no evidence so far of ter- upstream from Raqqa. The US military estimates the of highways and whose capture One of them confessed belong- rorism or other illegal action linked to the crash. Colonel Talal Selo, the spokes- Democratic Forces of Syria has would isolate Raqqa. ing to IS group and pledged of The British Foreign Office said on its website: “We will continue man of the alliance that has captured around 1,000 sq km The British-based Syrian allegiance to it through his Leb- working with the Egyptian Authorities to enable regular flights between received support under a new US of terrain in the past six weeks Observatory for Human Rights anese-Australian relative who is a the UK and (Sharm Al Sheikh) to resume. strategy aimed at fighting Islamic or so, bolstered by coalition air said yesterday jet fighters believed leader in IS in Al Raqqa in Syria “We are also liaising with travel companies so that they are able State in Syria, said troops advanc- strikes. to belong to the US-led coalition and is active in the field of manu- to resume flights and holidays there as soon as appropriate security ing from the northeastern Kurd- Selo said the new focus on the had raided militant hideouts in facturing explosives and impro- arrangements are in place.” ish corner of Syria were able since area near the dam and south along the Shadadi area. vised explosives. REUTERS Tuesday to seize several villages. the banks of river would help it REUTERS AGENCIES

Hospital fire in Saudi IS fighters’ families to leave Damascus under UN deal

BEIRUT: Hundreds of families ending the group’s presence near port from Iran and Turkey, halted of Islamic State (IS) militants Damascus. fighting in the town of Zabadani and some injured fighters are IS has had a significant foot- on the Lebanese border, and in expected to leave rebel-held areas hold in Hajar Al Aswad, just a few two villages in northwestern of southern Damascus under a kilometres from President Bashar Syria. A deal was also reached in UN-brokered deal, a monitoring al Assad’s seat of power. Syria’s the last rebel-held district of the group said yesterday. minister for national reconcilia- Syrian city of Homs that allowed Safe passage would be given tion, Ali Haidar, said that efforts rebels and their families to leave from the Palestinian refugee were under way to get militants the besieged area. camp of Yarmouk on the outskirts out of the Yarmouk camp but gave Meanwhile, air raids by Syrian of Syrian capital and neighbour- no details. A UN spokesman told government warplanes killed 20 ing Hajar Al Aswad, said Rami reporters in New York: “The UN civilians, including seven children, Abdulraham, head of the British- is an observer to the agreement in an area southeast of Damascus based Syrian Observatory for concerning Yarmouk, but not part yesterday. Dozens more people Human Rights. of it, which we understand should were also wounded in the raids The families and some fighters come into effect in the coming few on the centre of Hammuriyeh in will be taken to Raqqa in north- days.” Eastern Ghouta, the largest rebel Firefighters on a crane at the scene of a fire at the Jizan General Hospital in Jizan, Saudi Arabia, yesterday. At ern Syria, the stronghold of the Several local ceasefires and stronghold in Damascus province least 25 people were killed and some 123 were injured in the blaze that broke out at 2.30am local time on the militant Sunni Islamist group, safe-passage agreements have that is regularly bombed by the hospital’s first floor. and other IS-controlled areas been concluded elsewhere in Syria forces of President Bashar. over several months, eventually recently. One, brokered with sup- AGENCIES FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 GULF / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Iraqi forces close in on key Ramadi district IS militants plant explosive devices to thwart military move

BAGHDAD: Iraqi forces battled 24 hours in the southern part of lieutenant colonel said. the last militant fighters holed up Ramadi city,” said the US-led coa- And 22 wounded soldiers were in the centre of Ramadi city yes- lition’s spokesman, Colonel Steve brought in early on Thursday, said terday, slowed in their advance by Warren. “They’ve established a a medic at Abu Ghraib hospital, stiff resistance, booby traps and strong defence using improvised west of Baghdad. fears for trapped civilians. explosive devices as mine fields, Statements issued by IS spoke Fighting raged around the booby traps, rigging entire houses of higher casualties among gov- former government headquarters to explode,” he said. ernment forces, including in an in Ramadi, a key position whose Iraq’s 8th division commander, attack it said carried out with five recapture by federal forces would Brigadier General Majid Al Fad- suicide bombers early yesterday mark another key step toward lawi, said his men alone had west of Ramadi. reclaiming the city they lost to defused hundreds of bombs in the It said the suicide commando the Islamic State group in May. past few days. crept up on a police position in Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim Al Jafari at the emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers at the League “The Iraqi forces are in Hoz Ramadi has suffered extensive an area called Kilo 110 and killed headquarters in Cairo yesterday. neighbourhood... about 500 metres destruction in months of fight- several of the forces there before (yards) away from the govern- ing and Fadlawi said “some of setting fire to the armoury. east of Ramadi. Among them was unable to leave because of the air in June 2014 and subsequently mental complex,” an army lieu- the booby-trapped houses had Iraqi army officials gave a dif- 47-year-old Saad Al Dulaimi. strikes and the fighting. proclaimed a “caliphate” strad- tenant-colonel said from Anbar to be remote-detonated to avoid ferent account of the attack, say- He said IS fighters used them According to Warren, coalition dling Iraq and Syria. Retaking province. casualties among the ordinance ing the attackers were killed by as human shields to escape aircraft dropped 50 bombs on IS the city would provide a welcome “They are advancing very cau- experts”. police bullets or the detonation before abandoning them outside targets in Ramadi on Wednesday morale boost to the much-criti- tiously” in the southern neigh- IS has positioned around 100 of their suicide vests before they of the city, where security forces alone. cised military. bourhood of Hoz, said Sabah fighters along the main approach could reach their target while screened and evacuated them. The operation to retake Ram- The Shia-dominated Hashed Al Karhout, the head of Anbar pro- to the government complex, War- only three members of the police “The situation in town was very adi started months ago with Iraqi Shaabi paramilitary organisation vincial council. ren said. “Because of the restric- were wounded. difficult because there’s no food forces cutting IS supply lines to that played a leading role in the He said the huge number of tive nature of the terrain, it’s Ibrahim Al Osej, a Ramadi left in the shops,” Dulaimi said by parts of Anbar before gradually recapture of other Iraqi cities has improvised explosive devices difficult to mass combat power. councillor, said the number of IS phone from Habbaniyah, where he closing in on the city, taking key remained on the fringes of the planted by IS fighters in the It’s easy for a small number of fighters left in Ramadi was esti- and his family of five are receiving bridges, roads and positions one Ramadi operation. city and the possible presence people to hold a large number of mated to be “smaller than a bat- assistance from the army. after the other. Besides Fallujah, IS group still of trapped civilians being used people off,” he said. talion,” or fewer than 400. “We were living off dates and The loss of Ramadi in mid- controls most of Anbar, which is as human shields were the main At least one government Several dozen families escaped whatever food was left in our May had been one of Baghdad’s the country’s largest province and impediments. fighter was killed and seven oth- the jihadists’ grip on the city on homes,” he said, adding that he most stinging defeats in the war has borders with Syria, Jordan “There’s stiff resistance, there’s ers wounded in the latest hours Wednesday and were taken by the thought there were still dozens against IS fighters, who took and Saudi Arabia. been fierce fighting over the last of fighting in Hoz, the Iraqi army army to a camp in Habbaniyah, of families trapped in the city, over large parts of the country AFP 53 US Iran hostages compensated decades after ordeal

WASHINGTON: The 53 Ameri- hostage by militant Iranian stu- hostage crisis ruptured Wash- spent decades unsuccessfully pur- “Throughout the entire nego- “While a number of them have cans taken hostage in Iran in dent groups at the US embassy ington-Tehran relations that had suing claims. But when a US judge tiation, I demanded that the already passed away, I am pleased 1979 will finally get financial com- and who spent 444 days in captiv- already frayed with the beginning this year ordered France’s largest hostages, who were barred from with the legislation, which finally pensation that had eluded them ity will be given restitution of up of the Iranian revolution. Because bank, BNP Paribas, to pay $8.9bn getting a settlement through the provides closure for these Ameri- for decades, after US lawmakers to $4.4m each, or $10,000 for each the deal that set the hostages free in fines to settle violations of US courts, be included in any com- cans, who suffered at the hands included a payment provision in day they were held. in January 1981 barred them from sanctions linked to Iran, fund- pensation package for victims of of the Iranian regime, along with sweeping spending legislation. Their ordeal gripped fellow collecting restitution from the Ira- ing for terrorism victims finally terrorism,” top Senate Democrat other victims of terrorism.” The men and women taken Americans back home, and the nian government, the victims had became available. Harry Reid said in a statement. AFP

Libyan National Day Turkish Premier accuses oppn Pro-Kurdish party head of treason CONDOLENCES

ISTANBUL: Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu accused the head of Turkey’s pro-Kurdish opposition party of treason yes- terday for using a trip to Moscow to condemn Ankara’s shooting down of a Russian warplane over Syria. Selahattin Demirtas, co-head of the Peoples’ Democratic Party Qatar Petroleum (HDP), met foreign minister Ser- gei Lavrov in Moscow on Wednes- day and criticised Ankara for shooting down the warplane near the border with Syria last month. Moscow denies it had entered Turkish airspace. “They take sides with who- extends its heartfelt condolences to ever Turkey is facing a crisis with. Demirtas saying in Mos- cow that Turkey’s downing of Russian jet was wrong is a total disgrace and treason,” Davu- Mr. Mohamed Irfan Nuhuman toglu told a meeting of busi- from the Strategic Planning, Budgeting and A Libyan boy holds his country’s national flag during a rally to celebrate nessmen in Ankara. its 64th independence anniversary at the Martyrs Square in the capital “Our main duty is to raise our Performance Management Department Tripoli, yesterday. voice against Russian cruelty. Supporting Russia while it kills civilians in Syria is treason not only against this country, but also on the sad demise of his beloved against humanity.” Eighteen migrants drown Kurdish politicans have accused Ankara of focusing mili- tary efforts on Kurdish militia after boat sinks off Turkey in Iraq and Syria and failing to take up the fight with Islamic ISTANBUL: Eighteen people Migration said on Tuesday. State. including six children drowned At least half a million refugees Russia, which imposed eco- Father yesterday after a boat carrying fleeing Syria’s civil war have trav- nomic sanctions on Turkey migrants sank off Turkey’s west- elled this year through Turkey, after the November 24 incident, ern coastal town of Dikili, Dogan then by sea to Greek islands, their has sharply criticised President news agency reported. first stop in the European Union Tayyip Erdogan. The Turkish coast guard res- (EU). It would be keenly aware of the cued another 21 migrants from Despite the winter conditions sensitivity of Ankara to any con- May Allah rest the departed soul in the sea including a one-year-old and rough seas, the exodus has tacts between Moscow and Kurd- baby and is still searching for two continued, albeit at a slower pace. ish politicians. more people from the wooden Hundreds have died this year on Erdogan has accused the HDP, peace and give grace and fortitude boat, which capsized due to rough this sea route. the second-largest opposition seas and overloading, the agency Turkey struck a deal with the party in Turkey’s parliament, of to the bereaved family. said. EU in November pledging to connections with armed Kurdish The coast guard was not imme- help stem the flow of migrants rebels fighting in Turkey’s south- diately available for comment. to Europe in return for ¤3bn east. The number of refugees and ($3.3bn) of financial aid for the Lavrov told Demirtas Russia migrants arriving by land and sea 2.2 million Syrian refugees it is was ready to cooperate closely in the European Union has passed hosting, as well as renewed talks with ethnic Kurds fighting against 1 million this year, and almost on joining the 28-nation bloc. Islamic State militants in Iraq 3,700 died or went missing, the and Syria. International Organization for REUTERS REUTERS FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 06 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial

Chasing Khodorkovsky Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

USSIAN authorities have thrown their weight behind putting former Yukos boss and tycoon Mikhail Khodorkovsky behind bars again in a case from 1998. RThe Russian billionaire, a bête noire of strongman Vladimir Putin, is accused in the murder of a Siberian mayor As Jihadist threat mounts, in Nefteyugansk, the town where Khodorkovsky’s oil company, Yukos, was headquartered at the time. The case, like so many more during Putin’s authoritarian rule, smacks of political vendetta at a time when Russia is losing its political footing due Indonesia scours a jungle to a flailing military campaign in Syria, a wobbly economy and a highly inflammable standoff with Ankara over the shooting By Kanupriya Kapoor in building a network of supporters in has followers across Indonesia but his down of a war plane by Turkey. and Randy Fabi the suburbs of Jakarta,” she wrote in a bedrock of support is in the Poso region. Khodorkovsky, who backs the opposition against Putin, has commentary last month. “Islam should be defended in any been in self-imposed exile in Europe for two years now. He ndonesian forces are mobilising for She said homegrown militants have way possible even if that means using was released from prison in 2013 after ten years. His freedom a manhunt in steamy jungles on mainly targeted the police in recent violence,” Adnan Arsal, the head of an came due to a presidential pardon following a clemency request the far-flung island of Sulawesi to years, but there may now be a shift back Islamic school told Reuters on the edge flush the country’s most-wanted to Westerners and soft targets. of the jungle where Santoso is believed to Putin. It then seemed that the oil tycoon’s troubles were I man from his hideout and deal a pre- Australian Attorney-General George to be hiding. over. But the unrelenting Kremlin goes after its enemies in emptive blow to Islamic State. The real Brandis, who was in Jakarta this week Santoso’s militancy sprang from reli- a sustained way and so it did with Khodorkovsky. The oil threat could be much closer to home. to bolster security coordination, told the gious strife that swept through Indo- magnate’s departure from Russia after his release signalled Militant leader Santoso, the first Australian newspaper he had “no doubt” nesia after the downfall of autocratic that he saw more trouble coming his way. Khodorkovsky was Indonesian to publicly pledge loyalty Islamic State was seeking to establish a leader Suharto in 1998. Poso, an area undaunted even after spending 10 years in the notorious Russian to the radical jihadist group that holds “distant caliphate” in Indonesia. dotted with Christian churches and swathes of territory in Syria and Iraq, Indonesia was the second most popu- Hindu temples, saw some of the most prison system and kept criticising the government’s policies. has eluded capture for years. He has lar tourist destination for Australians gruesome attacks. Now Russia has issued an arrest warrant for him over an until January 9 to surrender. in 2014-15, official data shows, with 1.12 A friend of the militant, Mohammad incident that took place 17 years ago. The arrest order followed But while the army girds for action million journeys — a large number to Guntur, said Santoso had watched as a raid by armed police on the offices just south of the equator, alarm bells are the resort island of Bali. his parents and relatives were killed in Moscow’s bid of Khodorkovsky’s Open Russia pro- ringing in the capital, Jakarta. The bombing of two nightclubs in Bali communal clashes. democracy movement. It is likely Raids by secu- that killed 202 people, mostly tourists, “One of his cousins was impaled like to jail an exiled rity forces across was among a spate of attacks during the an animal,” he said. that the hounding of Putin’s rival the populous 2000s in Indonesia, home to the world’s In the years that followed, Santoso Russian tycoon will intensify in the days to come. island of Java last largest Muslim population. was known to have liaised with militant Khodorkovsky may seek political Officials believe week netted sev- Police have been largely successful in networks that carried out many attacks, is an act of asylum in Britain to buttress his eral Islamic State destroying domestic militant cells since including the 2002 Bali bombings. legal position as a Russian unwilling there are over supporters and then, but they now worry the influence Santoso’s wife Suwarni, a 34-year-old foiled a string of of Islamic State could bring a return of mother of three, said Santoso fled three intimidation to go back to his country. 1,000 Islamic attacks. Police jihadi violence. years ago. “The last thing I remember against Several leading political prisoners said the men Officials believe there are over 1,000 him saying was to take care of the remain behind bars in Russia, State supporters arrested were just Islamic State supporters in Indonesia. kids: send them to school, make sure political victims of a system reluctant to in Indonesia. foot-soldiers and Estimates of the number who have they pray and read the Holy Quran opposition. tolerate dissent. Putin has been their leaders are returned from Syria range from 100 to with them,” she told Reuters from her lately focusing his energy on showing Estimates of the still on the run, 300, though this includes women and wooden shack in a Poso village. plotting attacks children. The government worries that Determined to capture Santoso, Pres- support for the likes of Donald number who on government Santoso, who has run militant training ident Joko Widodo in March approved Trump and Bashar Al Assad. While Trump has been hauled leaders, officials camps from the tree-covered hills of the the first major military counter-ter- over the coals for his derogatory and delinquent comments have returned and buildings. Poso regency where he hides and posts rorism operation since the bombing of against his presidential campaign rivals and women, Assad from Syria range Sidney Jones, videos on radical websites, could be an two Jakarta hotels in 2009. A blitz by presides over a state ripped apart by civil war. Both individuals a Jakarta-based ideological lightning rod for combatants troops, warships and fighter jets weak- signify what is wrong with the system they exist in. So is true of from 100 to expert on Islam- returning to Indonesia. ened Santoso’s forces, but he got away ist militants at Jones told Reuters that Santoso had and officials believe he still commands Putin. 300, though this the Institute for developed an international reputation 30-40 men. Santoso styles himself as Blasting Russian authorities for the arrest warrant, Policy Analysis in Islamic State circles, with contacts commander of the Islamic State army Khodorkovsky has termed the raids on his office an act of includes women of Conflict, says among fighters in Syria. in Indonesia. intimidation. He called them the sign of an authoritarian and children. there is only a “This is one of our priorities because However, security experts believe the regime that is close to its inevitable end. Khodorkovsky even slim chance in there are lots of networks in other areas most serious threat comes from grow- Indonesia of an affiliated with Santoso,” said national ing support for Islamic State beyond quipped about the authorities: “They’ve gone mad. I realised that Islamic State attack like last month’s police spokesman Agus Rianto, add- Sulawesi’s jungles. yesterday.” bloodshed in Paris, but the threat is ing that authorities could target him “The thought that Indonesia could In trying to drag an exiled tycoon back behind bars, the growing under the government’s nose. because they knew roughly where he be taken over by IS is just absurd,” Russian dispensation seems to be focusing its energies on getting “While the police and army have been was. said Hugh White, professor of Strate- even with anyone that questions its authority. It is an attempt to focused on going after Indonesia’s most- Idham Azis, police chief of Central gic Studies at the Australian National distract Russians from the pains of their struggles and a bid to wanted terrorist, Santoso, in the hills Sulawesi province, told Reuters the University. of Central Sulawesi, IS has succeeded kitchenware salesman-turned-jihadi REUTERS redeem Moscow’s overseas failures. The other side Quote of Trying to undo a landslide in Venezuela the day INCE the landslide victory a potentially violent domestic conflict. ness to negotiate with the government tary majority rushed to appoint13 new of a Venezuelan opposition Venezuela’s problems are already after winning 112 of 156 seats in the members to the Supreme Tribunal of coalition in elections for profound. The economy has contracted Dec. 6 elections. Though the two-thirds Justice, the nation’s highest court. The the National Assembly this by 10 percent this year, according to the majority it holds in the National Assem- 32-member court is already packed Smonth, civil society leaders and foreign International Monetary Fund, and the bly gives it the power to force a recall with government partisans, and the new Our main duty is governments have urged President inflation rate is in triple digits. Shortages referendum on Maduro or even rewrite appointments are meant to ensure that to raise our voice Nicolás Maduro and his ruling party of basic consumer goods are wide- the constitution, MUD’s leaders recog- no other justices are seated for years to to accept the results and negotiate spread, forcing consumers to spend nized that the 74 percent of Venezuelan come. The nominees included stalwarts against Russian with the victors about ways to stabilize hours waiting in line for items such as voters who turned out desperately want of the ruling party, in violation of consti- cruelty. Supporting Venezuela’s crashing economy. Sadly, cooking oil and toilet paper. The murder economic remedies. tutional norms. Of still greater concern they have been ignored. Maduro and rate is believed to be the second highest The regime’s response has been are suggestions from ruling-party figures Russia while it kills the regime’s next most powerful figure, in the world. And the opposition’s vic- inflammatory rhetoric and illegal manu- that they could seek the reversal - by civilians in Syria is outgoing assembly president Diosdado tory came in spite of the fact that scores vers. Cabello convened an unelected the same court they just restaffed - of Cabello, have instead embarked of its members have been imprisoned, “communal Congress” composed of the election of 22 opposition deputies. treason not only on a radical campaign to reverse or including Leopoldo López, who is one hard-line government supporters and There are no plausible grounds for the against this country, neuter the election results. The result of its top leaders. allowed it to take over the National claims of irregularities in the balloting. is a growing danger that a major oil- The opposition Democratic Unity Assembly’s building. On Wednesday, but also against Ahmet Davutoglu producing nation will be pushed into Roundtable (MUD) expressed its willing- the government’s lame-duck parliamen- The Washington Post humanity. Turkish Prime Minister FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 OPINION www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 IS pushes itself hard into Somalia

There are still broader questions about what an IS group in Somalia would even mean — whether former Al Shabaab fighters would change their tactics or ambitions after joining, or if the new group would merely be a means of waging war on rival clans or jihadist groups.

By Kevin Sieff has already paid some dividends. declared their allegiance to the In October, an influential Mus- Islamic State since it announced wo thousand miles from lim cleric, Abdiqadir Mumin, the creation of a “caliphate” in Syria, the Islamic State announced that he had joined the parts of Iraq and Syria in 2014. is trying to expand its group and was bringing at least But their connections with the Tterritory by establishing 20 of his followers with him. Over central Islamic State organisa- a branch in what its fighters call the last two months, a US citi- tion vary. the “little emirate”: the war-torn zen and a US permanent resident In Nigeria, for example, the country of Somalia. were both apprehended in Soma- extremist Boko Haram has Winning ground there won’t be lia after apparently leaving Al received negligible assistance easy. Al Shabaab, a Somali group Shabaab for the Islamic State. So from the Islamic State since it linked to Al Qaeda, has a long- far, the group has not sent fight- pledged allegiance to the group standing presence in the country ers or resources into Somalia. But in March, intelligence experts say. at Africa’s eastern edge. It has the Islamic State’s image appears In Afghanistan, the Islamic threatened those who join the to have grown among militants. State emerged as an alternative Islamic State with death. But that “Right now, it’s the best propa- for fighters disaffected with the Residents looking at a burning car after a bomb exploded inside it in Somalia’s capital Mogadishu. hasn’t stopped a trickle of fight- ganda machine going,” said Matt Taliban, and initially appeared ers — likely a few dozen — from Bryden, a Somalia expert and to have few contacts with the local issues, and we believe that’s State this fall. Experts say that within Al Shabaab. In particular, switching sides, raising concerns director of Sahan Research, a “caliphate” in the Mideast, the case in Somalia.” The official would be significant, but it is not the group’s foreign recruits, espe- among US officials who have Nairobi-based think tank. experts say. But this month, Gen spoke on the condition of anonym- yet confirmed. cially those from Kenya and the invested hundreds of millions of Al Shabaab began its insur- John Campbell, the US and Nato ity because he was not authorised “It would give IS entry to United States, have been viewed dollars of aid in a new Somali gency after Ethiopia invaded military commander in Afghani- to speak publicly on the issue. Kenya without lifting a finger,” with suspicion, as likely spies. government and a regional mili- Somalia in 2006, and in 2012, the stan, said Islamic State fighters So far, Mumin is the most sig- said Bryden. Tensions between clans have also tary campaign against Islamist militants declared allegiance to Al from Iraq and Syria were arriv- nificant of the Islamic State’s There are still broader ques- diminished Al Shabaab’s support extremists. Qaeda, gaining access to a range ing in Nangahar province, where recruits in Somalia. A cleric with tions about what an Islamic in much of the country, making Somalia holds potentially huge of technical experts and theo- the Afghan branch of the group an international following, he was State group in Somalia would the group’s members even more rewards for the extremist group: logical advisers. With Al Qaeda’s is most active. seen as one of Al Shabaab’s most even mean — whether former Al vulnerable to the Islamic State’s It is a marginally governed nation help, the Somali group appeared By earlier this year, the Islamic significant religious figures and Shabaab fighters would change recruitment drive. with the continent’s longest coast- to expand its ambitions. State set its sights on Somalia. It a leader in his native Puntland their tactics or ambitions after Al Shabaab’s leadership has line, bordering three US allies — In 2013, it attacked an upscale released a series of videos that province, which is considered to joining, or if the new group would warned its members that joining Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya. mall in Nairobi, killing 63 people. aimed to win recruits, particu- be outside of Al Shabaab’s heart- merely be a means of waging war the Islamic State would represent “Looking at Somalia, IS is try- In April this year, it sent fighters larly from within Al Shabaab. The land. on rival clans or jihadist groups. “Bid’ah,” or misguidance, which ing to insert itself and then may to Garissa University in northeast videos feature heavily armed men “He had more heft than other It’s very likely, experts say, that would be punished by death. Sen- threaten to move into Kenya,” Kenya, where 148 were slain. But who appear to be of Somali eth- sheikhs with Al Shabaab in whatever form the Islamic State ior Al Qaeda members are also said Rose Gottemoeller, the State even as Al Shabaab conducted nicity. One of the videos is titled terms of being a properly trained takes in Somalia, it will have far infuriated by the Islamic State Department’s undersecretary for spectacular attacks, it lost much “From the Land of Ash-Sham to Imam,” said Cedric Barnes, the more local ambitions than its Syr- effort in Somalia. Speaking in a arms control and international of the territory it once adminis- the Mujahideen of Somalia,” with Horn of Africa project director ian counterpart. September audio message about security, at a roundtable in Johan- tered in Somalia as African Union “Sham” being an old name for at the International Crisis Group. “They don’t really have enough the push to recruit Al Shabaab nesburg this month. forces pushed back its fighters the Levant. It featured a bearded A radical Kenyan cleric named of a presence or much to offer members, Ayman Al Zawahiri, the The Islamic State has already and a US drone campaign tar- young man who appears to be Hussein Hassan, once aligned with local Somalis,” said Alexander Al Qaeda leader, said the Islamic expanded its footprint well geted its top figures, killing two Somali narrating the successes Al Shabaab, has also recorded an Hitchens, a researcher at the State’s “caliphate” wasn’t built beyond Syria and Iraq, with consecutive Al Shabaab leaders of Islamic State. audio message suggesting that it International Centre for the based on the “prophetic method.” militants in Afghanistan, Libya, in 2008 and 2014. “Establishing a caliphate in join the Islamic State. Study of Radicalisation in Lon- Then he offered his condolences Yemen, Nigeria and other coun- The United States and other Somalia will not only benefit you, But much about the presence don. over the death of Al Shabaab’s tries pledging allegiance to the Western nations have provided but it will benefit the Muslims in of the Islamic State in Somalia is “A lot depends on whether IS is most recent leader, Ahmed Abdi extremists and their “caliphate.” hundreds of millions of dollars in Somalia and in East Africa,” he unknown. Several Somali media able to reward these defections. It Godane, who was killed by the While the Islamic State’s pres- aid to an embattled Somali gov- says in English. outlets have reported that a man has encouraged them, but this is US air strike about a year ear- ence in Somalia appears small, its ernment that took power in 2012 A US intelligence official said known only as Duliadueyne, who where we need to wait and see,” lier — a somewhat desperate show bid for followers there shows its and has tried to rebuild public that fighters attracted to the helped orchestrate the Garissa Bryden added. of solidarity with a partner now ambitions. institutions. Islamic State “probably look to University attack and has strong Even before the Islamic State tempted by rival entreaties. A months-long Islamic State Several armed groups in north the group as an inspiration to ties to northeastern Kenya, recruitment campaign began this recruiting campaign in Somalia Africa and South Asia have fight for a cause that goes beyond switched sides to the Islamic year, there had been fractures THE WASHINGTON POST US Congress’ good deeds for 2015 Complexities of the

By Charles Lane will have some access to retire- ment benefits, as opposed to 20 Republican contest t’s almost the end of 2015: time percent of them under current to evaluate Congress’ per- rules. By Jennifer Rubin Cruz is relying on a mythical Iformance. By near-universal Before the new law, the mili- model of the GOP in which his reckoning, lawmakers registered tary norm was a fixed pension ne take on new polls from tea party fans predominate. He’s yet another disastrous session, for those who stay in uniform 20 New Hampshire, Florida increasingly narrow-casting in marked by polarisation and grid- years or more — and nothing for Oand South Carolina is their direction. That leaves him lock. The Republican majority the vast majority who don’t. that “The crowded GOP field is unable to compete with Rubio for wasted time pushing an extreme Now troops will be able to open harming Marco Rubio and help- voters who will be up for grabs agenda against White House 401(k)-style accounts, into which ing Donald Trump.” Well, sort of. when others leave the field. resistance, compromise was amounts equal to 11 percent of The crowded field is not going Theses polls also confirm Jeb impossible, the debt mounted, their pay may flow each year, to be crowded for very long, and it Bush’s problem, namely, he not there’s still no update on the partly from their own contribu- is Rubio (or New Jersey Gov Chris only remains in single digits in all authorisation for military force, tions and partly from government Christie, who is surging in New but Florida (where he inches up and blah blah blah. matching funds. Like the ones Hampshire) who stands to gain to 10 percent) but has high unfa- The House of Representatives chamber at the Capitol in Washington, DC. Well, maybe it’s just the eggnog already available to many private- the most when others drop out. vourables (39/48 in New Hamp- talking, but right now I’m more sector workers, these accounts Donald Trump is about topped shire, 42/49 in South Carolina). focused on the surprising number tion is to enact wise deterrents to adults with children, the credit will be fully portable. Service out. No one who likes Trump is In addition, these surveys confirm of significant policy reforms that consumption — not to make the has been one of the federal gov- members can invest the money not with him now. As for Senator the collapse of Dr Ben Carson, Congress did enact, on a biparti- supply chain less efficient, which ernment’s most successful tools and carry it along throughout Ted Cruz, R-Texas, he is pilfering who is not in a position to win san basis, with President Obama’s is what the export ban does. for encouraging work and fighting their post-military careers after votes from Trump (tied in South any of the three states. Finally, signature. Even a nice, green country such poverty since it was first enacted at least two years in uniform. Carolina at 27 percent, behind by Christie is very much in the hunt First, a provision in the year- as Norway gets 67 percent of its during the Ford administration. Yes, each of these improve- 8 in New Hampshire and 11 in in New Hampshire at 13 percent, end omnibus spending bill abol- export revenue from oil and gas. For technical reasons, however, ments only made it into law as Florida). However, he too has a in a statistical tie with Rubio ished the 40-year-old ban on Far better to have environmen- it included a “marriage penalty” part of a multi-thousand-page limited upside as the candidate, and Cruz. His favourables (66) crude-oil exports from the United tally aware, politically account- that reduced the subsidy for legislative monstrosity, voted increasingly, of the shrill, anti- are nearly as high as Rubio’s (69 States. Enacted after the 1973-74 able democracies such as that low-income families in which on in haste and full of waste- establishment, anti-immigration percent). Arab oil embargo, the ban was a Scandinavian state, Canada or, both parents held jobs and were ful spending and giveaways to throng. It is Rubio, in this analy- If Christie wins New Hamp- simplistic means to a valid end: now, the United States supply committed to each other — the the rich paid for with borrowed sis, who has room to expand his shire, or at least finishes ahead limiting the United States’ vul- world oil markets than countries ultimate perverse incentive. A money. In that sense, Congress’s reach. of Cruz and/or Rubio, he too nerability to the price-gouging of that are not democracies. provision tucked into the year- performance was indeed dysfunc- For example if South Carolina becomes a force to be reckoned oil-exporting nations. Which brings us to a final end “tax extenders” bill fixed that tional business as usual. goes to a three-person race, Rubio with. His favorables in New Subsequent history, however, reason to applaud the ban’s end: glitch; another provision in the The fact remains, though, that doubles his support and zooms Hampshire and other early states, proved the superior power of There is less risk that Iran can same bill also increased the size of Congress, with Obama’s approval, up to 24 points while Cruz picks a complete reversal from earlier market forces, which broke down exploit the nuclear agreement the credit for families with more enhanced the economic efficiency up only 5 percentage points. In a in the year, suggest he has room the oil-exporting cartel and stim- with the Obama administration than two children. and political tractability of global three-man race in New Hamp- to grow. Unless you think the field ulated the production of vast new to increase its oil market share The Center on Budget and Pol- energy markets, made it easier shire, Rubio leaps over Cruz into is going to remain very large for amounts of oil within the United and, hence, its ability to fund ter- icy Priorities, a liberal think-tank, for poor Americans to get ahead a statistical tie with Trump (and a very long time, the candidates States itself. rorism and other mischief. estimated that these changes, through work and marriage, with Cruz at 26 points). who have an intense but smaller The problem now is that much Congress’s second good deed taken together, would save $1,190 and enabled our armed forces to It is easy to see why, as Ramesh following (Trump and Cruz) don’t US crude is ill-suited, chemically, was to make permanent some for a married couple with three recruit the best and brightest on Ponnuru points out: look so strong. But candidate per- for US refineries but could be enhancements to the earned- children and earnings of $35,000 the basis of fairer, more flexible “In the primaries, Rubio’s formance, the January debates readily refined abroad. income tax credit that were in 2018. compensation. C’mon, the festive strategy is to assemble a coali- and outside events matter a lot as Environmentalists object that enacted in the 2009 economic Finally, the National Defense season is here. If we can’t empha- tion more akin to those of pre- well. The race is far from decided, exports will enable the world’s stimulus package but extended Authorisation Act has modern- sise the positive now, can we ever? vious Republican nominees, one and indeed has not yet begun. fossil fuel addiction, but to the only on a temporary basis. ised military compensation, so that includes elements from every extent that’s a problem, the solu- Essentially a wage subsidy for that soon almost all US troops THE WASHINGTON POST part of the party.” THE WASHINGTON POST FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA

Tokyo investigates 10 Chinese cities issue reported abduction of Japanese highest pollution alert journalist in Syria TOKYO: Japan said yesterday it was investigating the reported More than 100 million people urged to stay indoors kidnapping of a Japanese journal- ist in Syria by an armed group, BEIJING: More than 100 mil- an entire province has issued a system, in response to scathing after two of its citizens were lion people in China have been red alert. public criticism about the govern- beheaded earlier this year. warned to stay indoors after at The ten cities include the ment’s handling of the chronic Media rights group Report- least 10 Chinese cities issued sprawling industrial hub of Tian- haze. ers Without Borders said Jumpei red alerts for smog, state media jin in the northeast. The capital cancelled its red Yasuda, a freelance journalist, was reported yesterday. Counts of PM2.5 — harmful alert for pollution at midnight kidnapped in July as he was cross- A woman rides a scooter down a polluted street while wearing a face mask Pollution covered large parts of microscopic particles that pene- on Tuesday as a cold front blew ing the border into the country the country’s east and centre as trate deep into the lungs — in one away the foul air, state-run Xin- in Bozhou, in eastern China’s Anhui province, yesterday. and is still being held hostage by measures to curb the toxic haze of the cities under red alert, cen- hua news service said yesterday. the group, which was not named. were ordered to be implemented. tral Henan Province’s Xinxiang, The notice saw factories month seems to have opened the China Research Academy of Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshi- The alert came as broad were as high as 727 micrograms ordered to close and half of all floodgates for red alerts from Environmental Sciences. hide Suga declined to directly swathes of the country suffered per cubic metre earlier Thursday, private cars pulled off the streets, other cities, many of which had China’s President Xi Jinping has confirm the report when asked through their fourth wave of according to provincial authori- among other measures. long suffered silently through said that the country’s CO2 emis- about it at a regular media brief- choking pollution this month. ties. In an announcement yesterday, regular waves of smog. sions, to which coal is a major con- ing, but stressed the government In addition, the eastern prov- The reading is nearly 30 times the national environmental bureau Air quality for November and tributor, will peak “around 2030”. was obligated to ensure the safety ince of Shandong, home to almost the World Health Organisation’s has ordered six major cities, which December was at a three-year However, China’s state council of Japanese citizens. 96 million and some of the 10 recommended maximum expo- were not named, to evaluate their low, according to the state-run has announced plans to reduce by “We are doing our best... and cities under red alert, issued its sure of 25 over a 24-hour period. warning systems, it said, adding China Daily, despite measures to 60 percent the amount of “major making full use of various intel- first ever top-level warning on The sharp rise in alerts fol- that they should improve imple- tackle the chronic problem. pollutants” coming from its coal- ligence networks,” he added, with- Wednesday, the provincial envi- lows Beijing’s decision earlier this mentation “emergency emissions “Soaring coal pollution” is to fired power plants by 2020. out elaborating. ronmental bureau said. month to issue its first ever red reduction” measures. blame, it said, quoting air pol- Reporters Without Borders It is believed to be the first time alerts, the highest in its four-tier Beijing’s decision earlier this lution expert Meng Fan at the AFP said last Tuesday that the armed group had started a countdown for the payment of a ransom, “failing which they are threaten- ing to execute him or sell him to another terrorist group”. The watchdog called on Tokyo Western countries issue security warnings for Beijing to “do what is needed to save this journalist”. BEIJING: At least four Western area occasionally sees fights. Chinese Foreign Ministry to see more people visiting during police tend not to carry guns in Its report came after a flurry countries took the unusual step The US Embassy said in a brief spokesman Hong Lei said he was the festivities. China, and gun crime is in any of speculation in Japan since the yesterday of issuing Christmas statement it had “received infor- aware of the reports and that the “Beijing police are planning case uncommon. summer that Yasuda had entered security warnings for Western- mation of possible threats” against government paid great attention ahead and taking many measures The city overall has been on Syria and been captured. ers in a popular Beijing diplomatic Westerners in Sanlitun, also home to foreigners’ safety. ... to ensure good public order,” it much higher alert, with patrols by Yasuda had posted frequent and entertainment district as to many embassies, on or around Beijing police, in a statement on said. armed police in popular shopping comments on Twitter, expressing police stepped up patrols. Christmas Day, December 25. their official microblog, said they Christmas is not a holiday in and tourism sites, since a fatal car frustration that many journalists Beijing is generally safe and The French Embassy, Britain’s had issued a “yellow” security officially atheist China. crash in 2013 at the top edge of were staying away from Syria. But criminals rarely target for- Foreign Office and Australia’s alert for Christmas and New Year, A photographer saw police Tiananmen Square in which five the tweets abruptly stopped on eigners, although the fashion- Department of Foreign Affairs the second lowest level, focused on commandos with guns in front people died. June 21. able Sanlitun bar and restaurant issued similar warnings. areas like malls, which are likely of Sanlitun’s main mall. Regular REUTERS AFP

Japan court clears Philippine guerrillas way to restarting kill seven in raids TUKURAN: Seven Christian said, although he would not dis- farmers were killed yesterday close details. as Muslim guerrillas launched a BIFF spokesman Abu Misry nuclear power plants series of attacks in the troubled Mama confirmed they were southern Philippines, the military behind the attacks, saying it was FUKUI: A Japanese court yes- restart on Shikoku Island early said. over a land dispute. He would not terday cleared the way for Kansai next year. The fighters of the Bangsam- elaborate. Electric Power Co to restart four Hiroyuki Kawai, an attor- oro Islamic Freedom Fighters In Manila, military spokesman nuclear reactors, rejecting legal ney for the plaintiffs, said they (BIFF) seized the seven and then Colonel Restituto Padilla said the claims against Japan’s second- plan to appeal against the Taka- killed them in a series of raids in guerrillas may have launched the biggest utility to keep the reac- hama decision. “The decision is the island of Mindanao where attack “to make a statement,” tors idled over safety concerns. extremely improper, underlining Christian-Muslim conflicts have ahead of the Christian holiday of People drive past an armoured personnel carrier in Kauran, Ampatuan, in The Fukui District Court over- an unwillingness to learn from seethed for decades. Christmas. turned an injunction that has pre- the Fukushima Daiichi disaster,” About 150 fighters of the BIFF The Philippines is overwhelm- the southern Philippine province of Maguindanao yesterday. vented the restart of two reactors Kawai told reporters, adding the launched assaults in different ingly Christian but has a Muslim at Kansai’s Takahama power sta- court’s statement is like a copy of mainly-Christian towns before minority that claims the south as tion, and rejected a request for the Kansai Electric’s claim. dawn, said Colonel Ricky Bunayog, their homeland. Rebels raid typhoon relief convoys an injunction to block the restart The Takahama reactors have the local military commander. The BIFF split from the main MANILA: Communist insurgents in the Philippines have attacked of two reactors at its Ohi plant, met basic safety regulations set “They abducted farmers Muslim rebel group, the Moro military convoys bringing aid to victims of a recent typhoon, killing plaintiffs’ lawyers said. by Japan’s Nuclear Regulatory and then killed them. When Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), one soldier in the latest ambush, police said yesterday. The decision paves the way to Agency and this week got the we attempted to recover their in 2008. The incidents came just before a Christmas truce called by the rebels restart the units in western Japan backing of the pro-nuclear local bodies, they fired on us,” he It has opposed a peace process took effect on Wednesday. nearly five years after the Fuku- governor for a restart. said in the southern town of Tuku- between the government and the In the latest incident last Tuesday, guerrillas of the communist New shima crisis. The ruling signals Opposition to nuclear restarts ran, one of the the group’s targets. MILF for the creation of a Muslim People’s Army (NPA) ambushed an army truck on a relief mission in judicial support for Japan’s beefed remains strong among the pub- He said that four of the guer- autonomous area in the south and the storm-hit eastern island of Samar, national police said in a state- up nuclear safety after Fuku- lic after the meltdowns at Tokyo rillas were reportedly also slain has vowed to keep fighting for a ment. One soldier was killed and two wounded in the attack. shima and may accelerate the Electric Power’s Fukushima Dai- in the fighting about 775km south separate Islamic state. The police condemned the attack, saying the rebel movement “has country’s return to atomic energy. ichi station north of Tokyo in of Manila but villagers said their Last year, the BIFF uploaded evolved from an ideological revolutionary group to one conducting acts Bringing Kansai’s Takahama March 2011 following an earth- bodies were carried off by their clips on YouTube showing one of of banditry out of desperation”. units back online would follow the quake and tsunami. comrades. its leaders pledging support for The attack followed an earlier NPA ambush of a military truck restarts of two reactors in south- Kansai Electric serves Japan’s The attackers had since dis- the Islamic State organisation. carrying relief goods for storm victims in Samar last week, which ern Japan earlier this year that second most important economic persed but the military was plan- wounded two soldiers. ended more than a year without region, where companies including ning a “counter-action,” Bunayog AFP AFP nuclear power for Japan’s previ- Panasonic Corp and Sharp Corp ously atomic-reliant economy. are headquartered. Another reactor is expected to REUTERS

Charitable Santas Nigeria has ‘technically’ defeated Boko Haram: Buhari LAGOS: President Muhammadu attacks” in the country’s north. their neighbourhoods.” has been able to win back terri- Buhari said Nigeria has “techni- “Boko Haram has reverted to Buhari was voted into power tory from Boko Haram and the cally” won the war against Boko using improvised explosive devices earlier this year on a platform that country has seen a decrease in the Haram though suicide bomb- (IEDs),” he said in an interview included a promise to stamp out number of deadly raids that deci- ers remain a threat, in remarks posted by the BBC yesterday. the Boko Haram insurgency. mated towns and villages. issued days before his self-imposed “But articulated conventional The former military ruler set a But the jihadists in response deadline to defeat the jihadist attacks on centres of communi- self-imposed deadline of the end of have increasingly resorted to sui- group expires. cation and populations... they are December to defeat the militants, cide bombers — many of them In the remarks, the leader of no longer capable of doing that vowing to invest in education young children — to wage war Africa’s most populous country effectively,” said Buhari. to deter dissatisfied youth from for an independent Islamic state worked to reassure Nigerians that “So I think technically we becoming radical. in the country. the jihadists now were unable to have won the war because In contrast with his predeces- mount effective “conventional people are going back into sor, Goodluck Jonathan, Buhari AFP

Abe sending minister to Seoul for ‘comfort women’ talks TOKYO: Japanese Prime Min- the end of this year as he aims Japan has long maintained that NHK said, adding that attention ister Shinzo Abe has ordered his for a resolution of the “comfort the dispute was settled in a 1965 will be focused on whether the foreign minister to visit South women” issue, national broad- normalisation agreement, which foreign minister can clinch such Korea in a drive to resolve a bit- caster NHK said, using a euphe- saw Tokyo make a total payment a deal. ter row over women forced to mism for those coerced into of $800m in grants or loans to its Jiji Press said that arrange- South Korean volunteers wearing Santa Claus costumes fling their work in Japanese military broth- sexual servitude. former colony. ments for a day trip were ongo- hats into the air during a charity event at Gwanghwamun square in els during World War II. Seoul is demanding a formal The planned dispatch of Kish- ing for a possible meeting around Seoul yesterday. As part of the event, gifts were to be given to 1,004 Abe told Foreign Minister apology and compensation for the ida reflects Abe’s objective to Monday. impoverished children. Fumio Kishida to visit Seoul by Korean women. “arrange a final settlement”, AFP FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 ASIA / PAKISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

Eid rally Bangladesh US air strikes in Sangin police detain seven suspected bolster Afghan forces militants in raid DHAKA: Bangladeshi police detained seven suspected Islam- Dozens of militants killed in army clearance operation ist militants and seized explosives and grenades yesterday after a KABUL: The US launched ban leader Mullah Akhtar Man- combat mission in Helmand in shoot-out during a raid on a air strikes yesterday to bolster sour, the interior ministry said. October 2014. flat in the capital, a police com- Afghan forces scrambling to But Taliban spokesman Zabiul- The contingent, which an mander said. beat back Taliban insurgents lah Mujahid claimed insurgents Afghan official said includes Bangladesh faces what appears who seized large swathes of a key were in control of the whole dis- around 90 people, is on an “advi- to be a growing threat of militant opium-rich district, following the trict, pinning down Afghan forces sory” mission with London violence and has seen a string of first British deployment to the in an army base where trapped insisting they will not engage in incidents this year including the volatile region in 14 months. soldiers reported dire conditions. combat. killing of several liberal activists The Islamists claim to have “Our men are hungry and The British and US interven- Pakistani Muslims rally to mark Eid Milad-ul-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet and attacks on minority Shi’ite captured nearly the entire dis- thirsty,” Abdul Wahab, a local tion has fuelled the perception Muhammad (PBUH), in Karachi yesterday. Muslims. trict of Sangin after storming its police commander in Sangin, said. that foreign powers are increas- Police, acting on a tip-off from frontlines last Sunday, tightening “Stepping out to get bread ingly being drawn back into the a detained militant suspect, their grip on the southern Hel- means inviting death,” he said, conflict as Afghan forces struggle cleared residents from a multi- mand province. adding that dozens of his com- to rein in the Taliban. storey block in a Dhaka sub- Fleeing residents reported Tali- rades had been killed and criti- The unrest in Helmand, urb before launching their raid ban executions of captured sol- cally wounded. blighted by a huge opium harvest Musharraf could face on the suspects who responded diers as the insurgents advanced The war in Helmand, seen as that helps fund the insurgency, with grenades and gun fire, said on the district centre, compound- the epicentre of the expanding comes after the Taliban briefly senior city police officer Monirul ing fears that the entire province insurgency, follows a string of captured Kunduz city in Septem- fresh legal ‘jeopardy’ Islam. was on the brink of falling into military victories for the Taliban ber -- their biggest victory in 14 “We detained seven members insurgent hands. after Nato formally ended its years of war. of the JMB and from our primary The US army conducted air combat operations last year. “Sangin signifies another ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s 2007 emergency required princi- interrogation we could confirm strikes on Wednesday to support All but two of Helmand’s 14 dis- humiliating defeat for Nato- former military strongman Gen- pal offenders, aiders, abettors and that three of them are members Afghan forces mobilising rein- tricts are effectively controlled or trained Afghan forces,” security eral Pervez Musharraf could face collaborators so numerous that it who hold important positions in forcements to relieve dozens of heavily contested by the Taliban, analyst Mia Gul Waseeq said. “renewed legal jeopardy”, a lead- is — again according to Gen Mush- the group,” he said, referring to security forces holed up in the who also recently came close to “Since the Nato drawdown last ing Pakistani daily said yesterday. arraf — simply wrong and unfair the Jamaatul Mujahideen Bang- district centre. overrunning the provincial capital year, the Taliban have gone from An editorial titled “Mushar- to target him alone”. ladesh militant group. “US forces conducted two Lashkar Gah. strength to strength.” raf’s emergency” in the Dawn It went on to say that while “it Three people were wounded, strikes in Sangin,” a Nato spokes- The turmoil in Helmand, the President Barack Obama said that Musharraf had told has been apparent for a while that he said. man said in a brief statement. deadliest province for British and in October announced that “the FIA (Federal Investigation Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s Islam said the grenades seized Separately, at least 16 militants US forces in Afghanistan over the thousands of US troops would Agency) that the November 2007 bid to have Gen Musharraf tried in the raid were similar to ones were killed yesterday during air- past decade, underscores a rapidly remain in Afghanistan past 2016, emergency was the result of a vast for treason has been delayed, and used in an attack on a Shi’ite reli- strikes in Afghanistan’s Kunduz unravelling security situation in acknowledging that Afghan forces consultative exercise, imposed on likely blocked, by the military gious gathering in Dhaka in Octo- province. Afghanistan. are not ready to stand alone. the advice of then-prime minis- establishment, the prime minister ber when two people were killed “The aircraft targeted Taliban Britain last Tuesday said a Afghan President Ashraf Ghani ter Shaukat Aziz and approved has not given any indication that and dozens wounded. hideouts in parts of Dasht-e-Archi small contingent of its troops had has sought to mend ties with long- by soon-to-be army chief General he is willing to let Gen Musharraf The government dismissed a district at 2.30 am, leaving 16 arrived in Camp Shorabak, the time regional nemesis Pakistan Ashfaq Kayani, among many other simply walk free”. claim of responsibility for that rebels dead, including two Taliban largest British base in Afghani- -- the Taliban’s historic backers senior political and military func- “Now, with the FIA conducting attack purportedly from Islamic local commanders,” an official told stan before it was handed over to -- in a bid to restart peace talks tionaries at the time.” its inquiry anew and the likeli- State, the hardline Sunni Muslim China’s Xinhua news agency. Afghan forces last year. with the insurgents. The daily said: “Gen Mushar- hood that it may complete its job group that sees Shi’ites as apos- Dozens of militants were killed The deployment, in addition Pakistan hosted a first round of raf, it seems, was so enfeebled that soon, there is a possibility that Gen tates, saying the Middle East- in a parallel army clearance oper- to a recent arrival of US special negotiations in July. he could not possibly have acted Musharraf could face renewed ern militants had no presence in ation, including a key commander forces in the region, is the first on his own — at least as far as he legal jeopardy. Bangladesh. seen as a close confidante of Tali- since British troops ended their AFP himself can tell. The November IANS REUTERS

IS suspects Over 50 killed in Afghanistan Myanmar men sentenced to road accident death for murders in Thailand KABUL: Over 50 people were killed in a traffic accident along a KOH SAMUI: A Thai court sen- tigation that triggered allegations The debate over DNA samples highway in Afghanistan’s Saman- tenced two Myanmar migrant of police incompetence, mishan- that police say linked the two sus- gan province yesterday. workers to death yesterday after dling of evidence and DNA tests pects to Witheridge was core to “A long-distance bus collided convicting them of the 2014 mur- and torture of the suspects. the trial. with an oil truck on a bridge ders of two young British tour- Yesterday’s ruling caused out- Defence lawyers had asked to around evening. The bus plunged ists on a holiday island in a case rage in Myanmar and dozens of retest DNA samples but authori- into a 20-meter-deep ravine after mired in controversy and a dis- police were deployed to guard the ties issued conflicting statements the crash, leaving over 50 people pute over DNA testing. Thai embassy in Yangon amid on that evidence and, at one point, dead and dozen others injured,” The battered bodies of back- calls on social media for a pro- said DNA had been used up. No a police source told Xinhua news packers Hannah Witheridge and test. About 10 people stood out- independent re-testing was done. agency. The bus was travelling David Miller were found on a side the building holding placards Miller’s family attended the from Mazar-i-Sharif, capital beach on the island of Koh Tao in demanding their release. verdict and brother Michael of northern Balkh province, to September 2014. Police said With- Myanmar Facebook user Myo delivered a statement to report- Afghan security officials present two suspected activists (backs to cam- Kabul. eridge, 23, had been raped and Phont described the outcome as ers saying justice had been served, era) of Islamic State who are accused of being involved in criminal IANS bludgeoned to death and Miller, “entirely predictable”. adding the two men had shown activities, after their arrest in Jalalabad. 24, suffered blows to his head. “Poor boys - wrong time, wrong no remorse. Following pressure to solve the place ...the Burmese are the “We believe what happened case, police arrested Myanmar scapegoats as usual.” today represents justice for Han- migrant workers Zaw Lin and A Facebook user named Thiri nah and David,” said Miller. “The Win Zaw Tun and said the two posted: “Is it real? What the hell? Royal Thai Police conducted a Bangladesh approves $12.65bn N-plant had confessed to the crimes. Both DNA doesn’t match and still thorough and methodical inves- later retracted their confessions, death sentence?” tigation ... evidence against the DHAKA: Bangladesh’s cabi- Finance Minister A.M.A. Muhith district, 216 km west of, was part saying they had been made under As is customary in Thailand, two was overwhelming.” net committee on purchase on in the chair in the capital Dhaka of the government’s vision to duress. where trials have no jury, a judge Witheridge’s family said the Wednesday approved a pro- here last Wednesday, Xinhua produce 20,000 MW of power by The brutality of the murders delivered the ruling and said DNA trial had been distressing. posal to establish a 2,400-MW reported. 2021. The Bangladesh government dented Thailand’s image as a tests were carried out to accept- “We found listening to proceed- nuclear power project at a cost Prime Minister Sheikh Hasi- on December 15 reportedly final- happy-go-lucky holiday paradise able standards and samples found ings very challenging and we have of $12.65bn. na’s ruling Bangladesh Awami ised the biggest ever investment and raised serious questions about on Witheridge’s body matched had to endure a lot of painful and The proposal was approved at League party said “Rooppur project in the country by inking its treatment of migrant workers. that of the defendants. The judge confusing information,” the family a meeting of the country’s cabi- Nuclear Power Plant” to be con- an initial agreement with Russia. The verdicts on Samui island, also said the claim of police tor- said in a statement. net committee on purchase with structed in the country’s Pabna IANS close to Koh Tao, follow an inves- ture carried no weight. REUTERS

Bangladeshis take plunge in world’s biggest swimming programme

DHAKA: After her eldest son around a quarter of the 160 mil- in the education ministry, which Amy Delneuville, a Unicef child Amanto became one of the 50 lion population live by the sea, the is in charge of the project, said. protection specialist, said trainers children to drown on an aver- dangers are part of everyday life. “I believe it is the biggest swim- had received a warm reception, age day in Bangladesh, Jahanara But few youngsters can swim, ming programme to have ever including in conservative rural Anwar was determined that his as most parents are reluctant to been conducted at one time.” areas where the idea of girls in younger brother join the world’s pay for lessons while struggling Given the shortage of proper swimming costumes might have biggest swimming lesson. to make ends meet in one of the swimming centres, the govern- been frowned upon. “I’d promised to send him to a world’s poorest nations. ment has ordered schools to use “As there are so many water swimming centre once his exams But earlier this year, the gov- local ponds as an alternative while bodies in Bangladesh, drowning were over but didn’t realise how ernment announced it would the UN’s children’s fund Unicef for children is a very serious issue important it was,” she said, recall- make it mandatory for all school- is making giant inflatable pools here,” she said. ing the day in 2011 when Amanto, children to learn to swim, making available along with helping to “People are very happy with 14, went to play in a nearby canal it the most ambitious mass swim- fund or run some of the lessons. the programme. They know how and never came home. ming programme ever attempted. On a chilly Sunday morning dangerous water can be.” “Now there can be no doubt While other countries such as in the capital Dhaka, a group of As well as teaching youngsters how important it is... I don’t want Australia have made swimming around a dozen boys and girls how to swim, older teenagers are any mother to suffer the agony lessons compulsory, the scale of were taking a dip in one of the being taught how to carry out the I’ve been through.” Bangladesh’s plan is unrivalled — Unicef pools, just about able to training themselves. Around 18,000 children drown no country has ever set itself such stand in the four feet of water. Some of the deadliest drown- each year in Bangladesh — a daily a large target and it is expected “Before I was so scared of ing accidents occur when fer- Young Bangladeshi children take part in a swimming lesson in Dhaka. average of just over 49 — mak- to be several years before every water. Now I feel so excited to ries ploughing Bangladesh’s vast ing it the leading cause of death youngster takes the plunge. come here,” said 10-year-old river network, packed way beyond February when a ferry sank after dating as the Padma, there are among children aged one to 17. “We are aiming to teach almost Kobita Akhter, beaming with capacity, capsize. The distance colliding with a cargo vessel on more than 230 rivers in Bangla- In a country criss-crossed by 40 million children aged between pride after completing a length, between shores can be vast so a the Padma river, a channel of the desh which frequently burst their deltas, plagued by floods during five and 17 years how to swim,” before paddling back to rejoin her heavy toll is almost inevitable. mighty Ganges. banks. the monsoon season, and where Farhana Haque, a senior official friends at the other end. At least 78 people drowned in Although few are as intimi- AFP FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / INDIA

VDC member Delhi govt unveils kills woman, child in Rajouri JAMMU: A village defence com- mittee (VDC) member yesterday traffic rationing plan allegedly killed a woman and her minor son in Rajouri district of Jammu region. Kejriwal seeks city residents’ support for initiative “VDC member Mushtaq Ahmad of Mohra Dhaveen vil- NEW DELHI: The Delhi gov- Cars with odd registration “Women drivers or women lage forced entry into Shameen ernment yesterday unveiled its numbers will be allowed to ply with children below 12 years will Akhtar’s house and fired at ambitious traffic rationing plan only on odd dates (January 1, 5, be exempted from the odd-even her and her four-year-old son to combat rising pollution, but 7, 9, 11, 13 and 15) and those with formula,” he said. Those going to Tawheed Ahmad,” a senior police greens were unhappy over the even registration numbers on hospitals for medical emergency officer said. exemption given to 25 categories even dates (January 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, too will be exempted — if they Both succumbed to critical bul- of motorists including women 14). Sundays (January 3 and 10) show proof. let injuries. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gestures as he addresses the media drivers, bikers, emergency vehi- will be restriction free. Greens were particularly The VDC member was arrested cles and a host of VIPs. Traffic police and 10,000 vol- unhappy over the blanket exemp- in New Delhi yesterday. after a murder case was lodged The odd-even formula will be unteers will monitor cars at tion given to the some 50 lakh against him. tried out for 15 days from Janu- checkpoints across the city and two-wheelers. soaring pollution. The Delhi High Kejriwal urged Prime Minister On December 20, National ary 1 between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. violators will be fined 2,000 rupees Vikrant Tongad, with the Court said the city had become Narendra Modi to appeal to his Conference’s youth leader Ish- except on Sundays, Chief Minister ($30) — extremely steep for the Delhi-based Social Action for For- akin to a “gas chamber”. ministers to support the plan. He tiyaq Chowdhary was murdered Arvind Kejriwal said. It will also average resident. est and Environment, said: “This Kejriwal said he and his min- sought help from Delhi Police to allegedly by a VDC member in the apply to vehicles entering Delhi Kejriwal said the policy incor- is a good initiative but it won’t isters will abide by the restric- make the scheme a success. same district. from other states. porated suggestions from the suffice. It will be of very less ben- tions but these won’t apply to the The chief minister admitted VDCs were formed in mid-90s Enviromentalists expressed judiciary and the union home efit as many vehicles are being president, vice president, prime that the public transport was not in Jammu by providing firearms dismay over the large number of ministry as well as experts. exempted. The restrictions are minister, governors, Supreme adequate to cope with the num- and training to villagers to com- exemptions, saying this will derail “We appeal to residents of not enough as trucks and bikes Court judges, central ministers, bers who would have to leave their bat militancy. the scheme. But others lauded the Delhi to make this odd-even plan are major sources of pollution.” chief ministers of states other cars behind and urged motorists IANS initiative while admitting it will a success so as to reduce air pollu- Priyansh Joshi, who lives in than Delhi, diplomats as well as to go for car pooling. cause inconvenience to motorists. tion which has assumed alarming south Delhi, said he will quickly ambulances and police and fire About 4,000-5,000 additional Officials said the scheme will proportions,” he said. get his bike repaired. “Why not do service vehicles. buses and 10,000 new auto-rick- be applicable only to cars, which “Without people’s support, this it for the environment?” Cars and other vehicles pro- shaws will be added to the public form almost a third of the capi- will not be successful,” he added. The Delhi government decided pelled by compressed natural gas transport, he said. Delhi Metro tal’s nearly nine million vehicles -- “We are doing this for our chil- to radically cut the number of too will be exempted, as will be train frequency will be raised. Minimum export a situation that has taken Delhi’s dren, for our future, for our envi- cars on the roads after repeated those ferrying physically-chal- air pollution to alarming levels. ronment.” warnings from the judiciary on lenged people. AGENCIES price on onions removed NEW DELHI: The central gov- ernment yesterday removed the minimum export price (MEP) on BJP veterans meet as Azad onions due to its adequate supply in domestic markets. According to the commerce ministry, the MEP has been suspension causes disquiet reduced to zero from $400 per tonne on free on board basis. NEW DELHI: BJP veterans, The veterans reportedly feel critical of Modi’s and Bharatiya “The government reviewed including former president L.K. that the move against Azad, a Janata Party president Amit the MEP of onion on December Advani, met here yesterday amid three-time Lok Sabha member Shah’s leadership after the party’s 23 2015,” the ministry said in a signs that a section of the party from Darbhanga in Bihar, would huge defeat in assembly polls in statement. is not happy over the suspension harm the party. Bihar. IANS of MP Kirti Azad for taking on For eight years, Azad has been There was no official comment Finance Minister Arun Jaitley campaigning against alleged from the BJP on what Advani and over alleged corruption in Delhi’s financial irregularities in the others discussed. A BJP leader, cricket body. DDCA, which was headed by Jait- Srikant Sharma, told the media Advani drove to the residence ley for 13 long years until 2013. that the party “respected the sen- of another former president Murli Jaitley says he has done no wrong. ior leaders”. Delhi man dies Manohar Joshi and was closeted The minister has sued Delhi Advani, Joshi, Shanta Kumar there with BJP leaders Yashwant Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former finance minister in police firing Sinha and Shanta Kumar, party and other AAP leaders for sug- Sinha are known to be unhappy Young Indians light candles on Christmas Eve at the Sacred Heart Cathedral insiders said. gesting that he was corrupt. with the working style of Shah, a NEW DELHI: A man died in in New Delhi yesterday. Shanta Kumar, a former chief In a related development, more confidant of Prime Minister Modi. police firing here yesterday dur- minister of Himachal Pradesh, than 100 supporters of Azad, who After the BJP’s Bihar setback, ing a protest following the death met the media but refused to was in the Indian cricket team these party veterans took on Modi of a child in a road accident. reveal what was discussed. “Yes, that won the 1983 World Cup, and Shah, demanding “a thorough Wasim, a resident of Shahbad we met, we discussed things, we staged a noisy protest outside the review” of the debacle. They said Dairy area in west Delhi, was shot Christmas a time to had tea. I can’t say more.” BJP headquarters here against the defeat showed the party had around 11.30 am. He was rushed But party sources with access his suspension. learnt nothing from its crushing to a nearby hospital where doc- to them said they felt that Azad’s Azad, suspended for “anti-party defeat by the Aam Aadmi Party tors declared him dead. remember soldiers suspension last Wednesday had activities”, sought help from the (AAP) in Delhi in February. Police said scores of people sent out a wrong message since party’s “Marg Darshak Mandal” The AAP and the Congress residing in the area started pro- the cricketer-turned-politician which comprises of Advani, Joshi, have both come out in support of testing after a three-year-old had for years been campaigning the now ailing former prime min- Azad, son of former Bihar chief boy died in a road accident in the away on duty: Parrikar against financial wrongdoing in ister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prime minister Bhagwat Jha Azad. Azad morning. the Delhi and District Cricket Minister Narendra Modi and said last Wednesday that his sus- Eyewitnesses said police first PANAJI: Christmas is also a the spirit of unity, which is “being Association (DDCA). Home Minister Rajnath Singh. pension was “unfortunate” and fired tear gas shells and then bul- time to remember those who are often thwarted by some people”. “Some of them feel that action This was not an official meet- that his fight was against corrup- lets to disperse the crowd. not spending the festive season at “I think, an appreciation, under- has been taken against a person ing of the “Marg Darshak Man- tion and not any individual. Senior police officials were home, like members of the armed standing and practice of the valu- who acted like a whistle-blower,” dal” but one of the veterans who tight-lipped over the issue. forces, Defence Minister Manohar able message given by Lord Jesus an informed source said. also took a stand widely seen as IANS IANS Parrikar said yesterday. Christ of tolerance and under- “This is also a time to remember standing will help us eliminate the people who will not be spending troubles and miseries created by the festive season at home. Right intolerance and mistrust, and thus now, our brave armed forces are bring peace, happiness and solace doing their duty, around the clock to mankind,” she said. PM’s silence on corruption deafening: Rahul -- in the skies, on the seas, and on “Today, we find that the unity on the ground, helping to keep peace the basis of the spirit that is com- LUCKNOW: Congress vice “During campaigning in the Modi reply to the issue now),” the The Congress vice president, and responding to natural calami- mon to all is being often thwarted president Rahul Gandhi yester- 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Modi- Amethi MP said. who arrived in Amethi for a two- ties,” Parrikar said in a statement by some people. Especially in a day once again trained his guns at ji said na khaunga na khaane Referring to the suspension of day visit from December 23, later issued here yesterday. country like ours, wherein thrive Prime Minister Narendra Modi, doonga (neither will I indulge in BJP’s Darbhanga MP Kirti Azad flew back to New Delhi. He said the birth of Christ “rep- all the religions of the world, we saying his silence on many issues, corruption, nor allow anyone else after he alleged corruption in the He met party workers, office- resents peace, mercy, goodwill and need to protect and conserve the including corruption, was “deaf- to indulge in it). But now people DDCA when it was headed by bearers of district Congress units above all, hope”. unity of people on the basis of ening”. from his own party are shown present Finance Minister Arun and interacted with over 200 Goa Governor Mridula Sinha, common spiritual and moral val- Gandhi also demanded that the the door when they raise corrup- Jaitley, Rahul Gandhi said the newly elected village heads during in her Christmas message, said ues instead of being too cloistered,” prime minister order a probe into tion issues,” the Congress leader prime minister should order a his visit. The BJP last Wednesday the message of tolerance given by Sinha said. the affairs of the Delhi and Dis- remarked. probe into DDCA affairs and take suspended Azad from the party. Jesus Christ would help bolster IANS trict Cricket Association (DDCA). “Ab Modi-ji jawaab dein... (Let necessary action. IANS

Mass pray Ambulance held up for Mamata’s convoy KOLKATA: An ambulance car- minutes as the patient lay inside up in a traffic jam due to the ment at the cardiology depart- rying a patient who suffered a gasping for breath. breakdown of a bus. ment of SSKM Hospital, heart attack was allegedly held “Our repeated pleas to let “The chief minister took the Meherjan Begum’s condition is up by police on an expressway go the ambulance fell on deaf chopper from Digha at 1.30 p.m. critical. from where West Bengal Chief ears. Not only that, one of the Even if she had come by road, The Trinamool Congress Minister Mamata Banerjee’s policemen checked her pulse her convoy would have passed dubbed the traffic interruption convoy was expected to pass and asserted that she was stable through Kona expressway not and the incovenience to passen- through. enough to wait for the convoy to before 5 p.m. So there is no gers “unnecessary”. Police, however, denied that pass,” said the relative, Moham- point stopping the ambulance Trinamool national spokes- the ambulance was held up last mad Aziz. five hours earlier,” he said. person and Rajya Sabha leader Wednesday because of the chief The ambulance eventually was “A bus had broken down caus- Derek O’Brien said: “On Decem- minister’s convoy. allowed to go even as the chief ing a traffic snarl which led to ber 23, Mamata Banerjee flew by A relative of Meherjan Begum, minister’s convoy did not pass the ambulance being held for 5-6 helicopter from Digha to Kolkata. who suffered a heart attack and through the area as Banerjee minutes. “No chief minister’s convoy was being taken to the city’s took a helicopter ride back from We are saying this only after was passing by. The traffic inter- SSKM Hospital, alleged that Digha in East Midnapore. examining CCTV footage. The ruption, and the inconvenience Priests and devotees sit around decorated pits in which fire is lit and the incident took place on the Rubbishing the charges, How- allegations are baseless and to citizens in Howrah was abso- offerings are made, as they pray on the second day of a five-day Kona Expressway in Howrah rah’s Deputy Commissioner of aimed at attracting publicity,” lutely unnecessary,” he said. mass prayer meeting for world peace, at a temple on the outskirts of last Wednesday when police “held Police (Traffic) Sumit Kumar the police officer added. Ahmedabad, yesterday. up the ambulance” for nearly 20 said the ambulance was caught Currently undergoing treat- IANS FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 ASIA / INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Mufti Sayeed India, Russia sign admitted at Delhi’s AIIMS SRINAGAR/DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Muhammad Sayeed was energy, rail deals yesterday flown to New Delhi and admitted at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) for treatment. A state government Modi, Putin hail partnership, silent on S-400 deal spokesman said his “health is absolutely fine”. MOSCOW: Russian President part in infrastructure projects to have foreign companies manu- Sayeed’s daughter and Peoples Vladimir Putin and Indian Prime as the Modi government seeks facture their products in India. Democratic Party (PDP) presi- Minister Narendra Modi yes- to overhaul the country’s railway Putin for his part called Russia’s dent Mehbooba Mufti accompa- terday hailed the “partnership” network and build nuclear energy ties with India a “privileged stra- nied him to Delhi. between their two nations as they plants to meet the growing elec- tegic partnership”, praising the Prime Minister Narendra Modi (right) and Russian President Vladimir Putin An official spokesman said in oversaw the signing of energy and tricity needs for its fast-growing two nations’ energy and defence pose as they exchange gifts during their meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow Srinagar that Sayeed had “pro- other deals. economy. cooperation. yesterday. ceeded to New Delhi for consulta- However, no progress was The two countries agreed on the “There are plans to send large- tion and health check-up at the announced on an anticipated location of a new Russian nuclear scale supplies of oil and oil prod- All India Institute of Medical Sci- purchase of S-400 missiles, Rus- energy plant in the southern ucts to Indian refineries in the whether the two companies were Modi would decide the fate of the ences (AIIMS)”. sia’s top-of-the-line anti-aircraft Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, amount of 10 million tonnes annu- close to a final deal on the missiles deal as the two still needed to sort “Chief minister undertook a defence systems. with Moscow already building a ally over the next 10 years,” Putin and the two leaders did not take out pricing disagreements. hectic six-hour-long tour of Sri- “I see in Russia a prominent nuclear plant in the state of Tamil said after the talks. any questions from reporters in India could be in the market for nagar city last Tuesday amidst partner in India’s economic trans- Nadu. However, the two leaders were Moscow. as many as five systems, the paper intense cold after which he com- formation,” Modi said after the Modi is seeking to ramp up silent about the S-400, although Dipankar Banerjee, a defence said, quoting defence sources, with plained of exhaustion. two leaders agreed to ease the the country’s nuclear energy use India’s top acquisition body was analyst at Delhi-based think tank deals on Russian frigates also on “Last Wednesday he took com- visa requirements between the to meet the rising energy needs, reported to have cleared the pur- Forum for Strategic Initiatives, the cards. plete rest at his official residence. two nations that are part of the with a programme for at least 12 chase of the air defence system said India was “vulnerable to Paki- The Moscow trip is Modi’s It was felt appropriate to proceed BRICS group of leading emerging new reactors, as well as reduce ahead of Modi’s trip. stan and China both in terms of first state visit to Russia since he to the union capital for consulta- market countries. its heavy dependency on coal, the Yesterday, Indian firm Reliance missile attacks and air strikes” became prime minister in 2014, tion and medical check-up,” said They also oversaw the signing worst greenhouse gas producing Defence said it would work with and that the S-400 systems were but he and Putin have met several the spokesman. of several agreements involving fuel. the Russian manufacturer of the “very desirable” despite a hefty times at international events and State government sources had Russia’s state nuclear corporation Modi said that Moscow and S-400 “on the entire range of air price tag. even discussed the merits of yoga earlier said Sayeed had com- Rosatom and railway monopoly Delhi would also jointly produce defence missile and radar sys- Russian business daily Kom- at a summit in the Russian city of plained of neck pain for the last Russian Railways, among others. Kamov-226 military helicopters as tems” that India needs. mersant said this week that Ufa last July. two days. India wants Moscow to take part of the Make in India initiative But it was not immediately clear Putin’s one-on-one talks with AFP IANS

Milad-ul-Nabi Five sailors Media mogul says Dawood kidnapped in does not live in Pakistan Nigeria released MUMBAI: Fugitive Indian mafia tled in the Indian justice system,” academics and others need to join NEW DELHI: Five Indian don, Dawood Ibrahim Kaskar is Haroon said. together. We must think about the sailors kidnapped by pirates in not a permanent resident of Paki- “I have heard ‘false’ rumours larger matric of international rela- Nigeria earlier this month have stan but does visit the country’s about some surgery and face tions,” Haroon urged. been released, External Affairs financial capital Karachi, claimed change by him... The Pakistani In this context, he said a lot Minister Sushma Swaraj said Hameed Haroon, Pak media media gives no space to him,” more needs to be explored in yesterday. mogul and CEO of Dawn Group Haroon added. the south of River Indus till the “We have secured the release of of Newspapers, here yesterday. Stressing the importance of western coast of India for which five Indian sailors from pirates in “I am told he visits Pakistan... people-to-people contact between archaeologists, especially marine Nigeria,” Sushma Swaraj tweeted. But is not a resident. I am not Mumbai and Karachi, he said archaeologists can come together The five sailors were kidnapped aware under what name he comes these need to be enhanced irre- and explore the heritage and dis- on December 11 in Warri, Nigeria. Muslims participate in a procession to mark Eid-Milad-ul-Nabi, the birth and goes, or what passport he uses. spective of the positions adopted cover layers of information. On December 18, the minister anniversary of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), in Mumbai yesterday. The I am told he lives in Dubai and by New Delhi and Islamabad for ORF Chairman Sudheendra said India’s High Commissioner occasion is marked annually by Muslims across the world on the 12th South Africa, comes to Pakistan relations between India and Paki- Kulkarni, a former media person- to Nigeria A.R. Ghanashyam met and goes, but is not a permanent stan to improve. ality at the forefront of improved Nigerian President Muhammadu day of Rabi-ul-Awal, the third month of the Islamic calendar. resident of Karachi,” Haroon told “The south of Pakistan and India-Pakistan relations, spoke of Buhari on the matter and that the mediapersons at a joint meet-the- west part of Indian Deccan have several measures to achieve this. sailors were safe. press organised by Mumbai Press enjoyed strong historical links “We can start Mumbai-Karachi “I appreciate the good work Club and Observer Research and contributed to the growth ferry services, reopen the consu- done by our High Commissioner ULFA leader walks out Foundation. and culture of the region,” he lates in both the cities, start Air Ghanashyam,” Sushma Swaraj He added it made no sense pointed out. India flights in addition to the said in another tweet. whether he lives there (Pakistan) “I feel Mumbai and Karachi two weekly services by Pakistan She thanked President Buhari or not — “I have never met him... can activate themselves...Don’t International Airlines,” Kulkarni for securing the release of the of jail after getting bail Nor do I desire to meet him. Its an wait for New Delhi and Islamabad. suggested. captive sailors. old matter against him to be set- The civil society, media, NGOs, IANS IANS GUWAHATI:Anup Chetia, the The court had earlier granted self-styled general secretary of him bail in three cases under the insurgent group ULFA who was Terrorist and Disruptive Activities extradited from Bangladesh in (Prevention) (TADA) Act. November, walked out of jail yes- The court, however, asked terday after the Gauhati High Chetia to be present in the court Activists slam rejection of bail plea of DU professor Court granted him bail. on December 28. The founder general secretary He was released from the NEW DELHI: A day after the the Defense and release of Dr. tiveness and vendetta. initiated against author Arund- of the United Liberation Front of Guwahati Central Jail after the Nagpur bench of the Bombay G.N. Saibaba’, Bhushan said rejec- He expressed the hope that the hati Roy for her article titled Asom (ULFA) said he would soon high court granted him bail. High Court rejected the bail plea tion of the bail plea underlined the Supreme Court will reverse the “Professor, POW” on Saibaba’s leave for his home in Jeraigaon in Leaders of the ULFA’s pro- of Delhi University professor G.N. need for judicial accountability in order. arrest that was published in Out- Tinsukia district. talk faction, including Sashadhar Saibaba, activists including senior the country. “We will take the case to the look magazine on May 18, 2015. Lodged in the Guwahati Central Choudhury and Raju Baruah, went lawyer Prashant Bhushan yester- Calling the judgment a “product Supreme Court and hope it will Observing that Roy made scan- Jail since November 23, Chetia’s to the jail and whisked Chetia day condemned the order, term- of a prejudiced mind”, Bhushan reverse the order,” said Bhushan. dalous observations against the release became evident after the away to an undisclosed location. ing it a blot on the history of the said it shows the insensitivity The Nagpur bench last Wednes- central, state governments and Central Bureau of Investigation “It is a happy moment to be judiciary. and lack of understanding of the day dismissed Saibaba’s interim police in her article, the court (CBI) submitted a no objection here after so many years in jail. Cancelling Saibaba’s interim judiciary. “A person can be denied bail order issued by the Bombay issued notice to her for contempt certificate to the high court on I feel there is a need for a united bail, the single judge bench of Jus- bail only under certain circum- High Court on May 30, which of court. his bail petition last Wednesday. democratic struggle with all the tice A.B. Chaudhari directed him stances. Being a 90 percent disa- granted him interim relief till Saibaba’s wife Vasanta said the The Gauhati High court yester- tribes and communities of Assam to surrender in two days. Mahar- bled person, Saibaba doesn’t pose December 31 to avail of treatment judiciary has failed them with the day granted him bail on the condi- to secure the identity of the Assa- ashtra Police had arrested Saibaba any threat to the country. What for his serious medical condition. order. Saibaba’s health has deteri- tion that he would not leave the mese people,” Chetia told newsmen for his alleged Maoist links in May is the need to cancel his interim It directed Saibaba to surrender orated in jail, and one of his hands country without prior permission reading out a written statement 2014. bail and put him behind bars in at the Nagpur Central Jail. has become immobile, she said. from the court and that he would outside the jail. Addressing a press conference 48 hours?” asked Bhushan, adding The court also ordered proceed- not hamper the investigation. IANS organised by the ‘Committee for that the order reeked of vindic- ings for criminal contempt to be IANS

Nagaland official has cheaper connectivity solution for Northeast NEW DELHI: The Modi govern- tive of providing 200,000 gram world this represents a layer of work can be effective,” Vizo said. ment is set to spend `70bn (nearly panchayats with internet con- relatively mild wind and less tur- Explaining the advantages of $1bn) on laying a fibre optic net- nectivity. The project is intended bulence. It can function as an HAPS, Vizo said: “Unlike a sat- work in the northeastern states to to enable the government pro- unmanned airship or balloon and ellite, which once launched, does improve Internet connectivity, but vide e-services and e-applications it requires only electrical power to not allow for full maintenance, in a senior government official from nationally. A special purpose vehi- keep it and its payload functional,” case of HAPS, it can undergo full Nagaland has devised a solution cle — Bharat Broadband Network Vizo explained. maintenance. The cost of HAPS that may not only cut costs by 75 Limited — has been created as a Since HAPS operates at much is only about a fourth of a normal percent but also be more effective. public sector undertaking under lower altitudes than satellites, it geosynchronous equatorial orbit The official, K D Vizo, Naga- the Companies Act for executing is possible to cover a small region satellite.” land’s commissioner and IT the project. like the northeastern part of India Vizo also urged the government secretary, has suggested an alter- “Underground optical fibre, laid much more effectively than with to earmark a small budget under native technology — a High Alti- in the hilly terrain of the north- a satellite. Lower altitude also the USOF for installing two such tude Platform Station (HAPS) eastern states, with time has means much lower link budget systems to cover the northeastern — that can be operated from an become defunct following land- (hence lower power consump- region with wireless broadband. “If unmanned airship or a balloon. slides and soil erosion, a common tion) and smaller round trip delays the northeast is to be developed This alternative comes at an esti- phenomenon in the area because compared to satellites, he added. in terms of IT, then greater focus mated cost of `17.5bn, about 25 of the loose mountainous soil,” “It is a common phenomenon should be on wireless and satel- percent of the budget earmarked Vizo said. to see underground optical fibre lite technologies as these can be for the northeast out of the `727bn “The operating altitude of this hanging on trees along national installed faster and are more suit- project under the National Opti- system is normally between 17 and state highways in the region. able for the difficult terrain in the cal Fibre Network (NOFN). km and 22 km from the ground In such a situation only a mixture region,” Vizo said. Nagaland’s Commissioner and Secretary for Information and Technology, NOFN has the ambitious objec- because in most regions of the of wireless, satellite and OFC Net- IANS K D Vizo, during an interaction in New Delhi. FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com EUROPE / AMERICAS Poland seeks Council of Europe opinion on constitution court rules

WARSAW: Poland has asked party’s legislation. Nonetheless, Poland’s Foreign PiS, which won election in ments, a move the opposition tribunal, because these positions human rights body the Council of The EU executive sent a letter Ministry said it had asked the October, says it needs to change said was illegal, and named new were already occupied. Europe to comment on its plans on Wednesday to Poland’s Foreign Council of Europe’s Venice Com- the rules governing the court to judges on December 2, which The European Commission to overhaul rules governing its Minister Witold Waszczykowski mission to express its opinion clear up the situation after it Duda immediately swore in. said on Thursday it remained constitutional tribunal that have expressing concerns over the new about the proposed changes. ruled on Dec. 3 that a previous The court ruled on December 3 concerned, saying it is appealing raised European Union concerns rules, demanding their introduc- “The Constitutional Tribunal amendment to the law passed by that parliament had the right to to the Polish government not to about the rule of law. tion be postponed. is one of important elements of the previous parliament partially appoint two judges, and not five, implement this law before thor- The proposal would increase However, the conservative Poland’s institutional order and violated the constitution. with the remaining three having oughly assessing its effects. the number of judges needed to Law and Justice (PiS)-led Senate the controversy surrounding it That amendment allowed the been legally chosen by the previ- “Frans Timmermans also pass judgments and change the passed the amendment overnight, should be ended as soon as pos- former parliament to name five ous parliament. underlines that he expects swift order in which cases are heard. with only the signing of its ally sible,” its statement said. judges at the start of October, but The court, whose verdicts are feedback from the Polish authori- The opposition has said it could the president and publication in The Council of Europe reports President Andrzej Duda refused final and cannot be appealed, said ties with regards to the content of paralyse the court’s work and the official journal of laws barring have no direct legal consequence, to swear them in. that the PiS-controlled parlia- the letter,” the spokesman added. make it difficult for its politi- it from coming into force with but EU policymakers work closely The PiS-controlled parliament ment violated the constitution by cians to challenge the new ruling immediate effect. with the organisation. later cancelled all five appoint- naming three more judges to the REUTERS

Restored heritage site Washington Post Health system cartoon triggers fresh debate

WASHINGTON: The Wash- emergency in ington Post ignited a debate over the role of children in the US presidential campaigns when it published — and then retracted — a political cartoon portray- Rio de Janeiro ing Republican candidate Ted Cruz as an organ grinder and his daughters as monkeys. Funds crunch ahead of Olympics It followed a new Cruz cam- paign TV ad in which the Texas RIO DE JANEIRO: away at the hospital door senator shares with his wife The governor of Rio on Christmas Eve. and two young children faux de Janeiro declared “We are living through Christmas stories entitled, “How a state of emergency a very difficult situation Obamacare Stole Christmas” late on Wednesday in the state, perhaps the and “The Grinch Who Lost Her as a budget shortfall most difficult of any of Emails,” a reference to Demo- caused chaos in the the Brazilian states,” cratic presidential contender state’s healthcare sys- Pezão todld reporters, Hillary Clinton. The debate domi- tem only eight months “but we are counting on nated cable news television and before the city of Rio the federal government, social media. is due to host the 2016 President Dilma Rous- The Washington Post pulled the Olympic Games. seff and everyone else to A picture of Criptoporticus Domus, one of six restored domus at UN World Heritage Site Pompeii in Italy, dur- cartoon by Pulitzer Prize winner The declaration pull the state out of this ing its official opening to the public yesterday. The six domus restorations were carried out under the Great Ann Telnaes. Telnaes said since comes as hospitals, President Dilma situation as quickly as Pompeii Project funded by the European Commission and aimed to safeguard the Unesco site. Cruz used the girls in a campaign emergency rooms Rousseff possible.” video, she was justified in putting and health clinics cut The state of emer- them in her cartoon, which was services or closed units gency will last 180 days, on the Post website on Tuesday throughout the state as money or until late June. The Olympics before editors removed it. ran out for equipment, supplies are scheduled to begin in the city Cruz, rising in polls ahead of and salaries. of Rio on August 5. Trump warns Hillary against next November’s election, said Governor Luiz Fernando Rio de Janeiro is Brazil’ number that he expected to be attacked Pezão’s decree immediately pro- two state economy and the city but not his daughters. He vides 45 m reais ($25.3m) in fed- of Rio de Janeiro is the nation’s responded to the cartoon with an eral aid and he hopes it will speed second most populous. using woman card in election email to supporters that, accord- the release of more emergency Most Brazilian state govern- ing to NBC’s website, featured the funds for healthcare. ments are suffering from a plunge WASHINGTON: Republican Trump has been criticised for cartoon. He sought $1mn in con- The declaration comes amid in revenue as Brazil’s economy presidential candidate Donald calling women fat pigs and dogs. tributions in 24 hours to “send a an outbreak of zika, a mosquito- falls deeper into its worst reces- Trump (pictured) intensified Whether the topic is women, message to the Washington Post.” borne virus that causes fever and sion in 25 years. his criticism of Hillary Clinton Muslims or immigrants, Trump The Post said its policy is to was first detected in Africa in the Rio de Janeiro, which produces warning his Democratic rival has consistently doubled down avoid children in its editorial sec- 1940s but unknown in the Ameri- 67 percent of Brazil’s oil and 40 against using the woman “card” after making inflammatory state- tion. “I failed to look at this car- cas until last year. percent of its natural gas, has and drawing his full attention. ments during the 2016 White toon before it was published,” Post Brazilian health authorities in suffered more than most after a “Be careful Hillary as you play House campaign. editorial page editor Fred Hiatt November linked zika to a surge 66 percent drop in oil prices in the war on women or women Trump’s political director, said. “I understand why Ann in babies born with microcephaly, the past two years. Recession being degraded card,” Trump said Michael Glassner, told CNN it thought an exception to the policy a birth defect that seriously lim- and oil price have forced cuts in in a Twitter post on Wednesday. was ironic for Clinton to talk in this case, but I do not agree. its a child’s mental and physical government programmes across While Clinton’s campaign about Trump’s attitude toward Meghan McCain, daughter of abilities. the board, including healthcare, would not comment on Trump’s of people with hateful, incendiary women given her husband Bill Senator John McCain, called on Last week the Rio state health education and the Olympics. warning, she addressed his rheto- rhetoric,” she had said on Tues- Clinton’s sexual scandal in the the Washington Post to apologise. authority said the cases of preg- Rio de Janeiro estimates that ric in an interview with the Des day, after Trump’s slang remark. White House. nant women with zika virus in health alone it owes 1.4b reais Moines Register in Lowa, where “It’s not the first time he’s dem- In what may have been his most REUTERS symptoms had doubled from the ($355mn) to employees and sup- she was campaigning for the onstrated a penchant for sexism,” potent warning, Trump told Fox previous week to 698 from 341, pliers and needs about 350mn state’s early presidential contest. she said. News on Wednesday, “I really while microcephaly cases rose 45 reais immediately to reopen “I really deplore the tone of Clinton said she does not haven’t gone after Hillary yet and percent to 66. closed hospital units and clinics. his campaign, the inflammatory respond to the candidate person- there’s a lot to go after.” Two-thirds of TV news reports yesterday rhetoric that he is using to divide ally “because he thrives on that showed the sick being turned REUTERS people, and his going after groups kind of exchange.” REUTERS Spaniards don’t want vote re-run MADRID: Less than one third of Spaniards want a re-run of last Tornadoes, Sunday’s election, which resulted Attacks cast pall over festivities in Paris in a political stalemate, with two- storms kill thirds favouring a pact between PARIS: It was a subdued Christ- tingent was set to guard the parties, a poll showed yesterday. at least 7 in US mas Eve in Paris yesterday, with Christmas midnight mass, where Just 7 percent of those sur- tourist numbers down, security attendance will be strictly limited veyed said they would change CHICAGO: Storms and torna- bolstered at shops and churches, and the doors locked once the their votes in a fresh election does killed at least seven people and locals still on edge after last service starts. while 87.1 percent said they would and left dozens injured when they month’s jihadist attacks. France only narrowly escaped vote the same. ripped through large swathes of Heavily armed soldiers a church attack earlier this year, The conservative People’s Party the southeastern United States patrolled outside the iconic Galer- when a 24-year-old Algerian, Sid (PP) won the most votes in Sun- on Wednesday, reports and offi- ies Lafayette and Printemps Ahmed Ghlam, accidentally shot day’s election but lost its par- cials said. department stores in the city cen- himself in the leg. liamentary majority, with main Homes were badly damaged or tre, still doing a brisk last-minute Police discovered an arsenal of opposition Socialists (PSOE) in even levelled as a series of tor- Christmas trade but notably less weapons, tactical gear and jihad- second place. Both lost ground to nadoes and twisters tore through crowded than usual. ist documents in Ghlam’s car and two newcomers, the liberal Ciu- several states, leaving a trail of “It’s a lot quieter,” said taxi student flat, as well as detailed dadanos and left-wing Podemos. destruction and ruining Christ- driver Belkassem. “I feel bad plans to attack churches in the Only 1.4 percent of PP support- mas for some. for the hotels and restaurants Paris suburb of Villejuif. But the ers would change their vote in a Those killed were in the states because there are a lot fewer atmosphere of fear could none- new election while 6.8 percent of Mississippi, Tennessee and tourists in town this year and this theless boost attendance. of those who backed the PSOE Arkansas, CNN said. is a crucial time of year for them.” French soldiers patrol the Christmas market on the Avenue des Champs- “The Sundays after the attacks would vote for a different party, A seven-year-old boy was found The famous “bateaux-mouches” Elysees in Paris, yesterday. of November 13, we saw more peo- the poll showed. dead in Mississippi, after the boats that carry millions of tour- ple in our churches. People had a Of those surveyed, 27 percent storm picked up and tossed the ists each year along the Seine month’s attacks, with flight reser- damage. need to look inwards, to reflect on said they would prefer to see PP car he was traveling in. have reported a 15-30 percent vations down nearly a third com- “Of course there are worries life and society,” said Olivier Rib- leader Mariano Rajoy remain as At least 40 people were injured drop in business since the attacks pared with a year earlier. and we will never forget the vic- adeau Dumas, spokesman for the prime minister while 26 percent in the state, the Mississippi Emer- of November 13, which left 130 Tourist guide Cecile Reverdy, tims, but activity is restarting,” Conference of French Bishops. said Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias gency Management Agency said. dead and hundreds injured. who translates mostly for Chinese she said recently. Around the globe yester- should replace him. PSOE leader “I laid down on the ground, It is not only France that is visitors, described a massive fall The government has warned day people were facing an edgy Pedro Sanchez was favoured by and here came the tornado,” feeling the tension this festive in business from some countries. that Christmas church services Christmas. The British and the 20 percent and Albert Rivera of Lance Meeks, who lives in Holly season. Christians around the “There are around 30 percent “could constitute targets of excep- US embassies in China issued a Ciudadanos by just 12 percent. Springs, Mississippi said. “Rolled world are bracing for potential less Chinese — only 30 percent tional symbolic force”. warning about possible threats The poll of 1,200 people was right over me. Uprooted trees, cut attacks at a symbolic time of year because the Chinese are pretty Unprecedented security checks against “Westerners” in a popu- carried out on Monday and Tues- trees in half. And I don’t know — even in China where the US daring,” she told French televi- have been put in place at many lar Beijing neighbourhood ahead day by Invymark for the televi- why I’m still standing here talking and British embassies warned of sion. “But for other languages, of France’s 50,000 churches, with of the holiday. Some militants sion channel La Sexta. to you.” Nearly 70 million people possible violence against West- in Japanese or American, there is bags checked and visitors asked in Xinjiang in China have styled For a Factbox on the results of were forecast to be in the path of erners in Beijing. a drop of practically 80 percent.” to open their coats to check for themselves as jihadists, though the election and the possible tie- the storms Wednesday night. But Paris — the world’s most- Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo has guns or explosive vests. attacks have not previously tar- ups between the main parties. visited city — has naturally taken sought to reassure visitors and At Strasbourg cathedral in geted foreigners. AFP the worst blow in the wake of last put a brave face on the economic eastern France, a military con- REUTERS REUTERS FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

ECB’s reverse Middle East misses out on M&A boom auctions to add Number of regional deals lowest since 2007 as sellers reluctant to slash prices competition to DUBAI: A global boom in merg- especially in consumer-focused, tant to compromise is because shown in the consumer finance deals, such transactions remain ers and acquisitions has largely healthcare and education busi- many businesses are owned by firm in August had petered out rare. Most deals are below the QE programme bypassed the Middle East where nesses. families who often have sentimen- as the sellers’ price expectations $200m level and between local regional deals are stalling as sell- The valuations being sought by tal attachments to their assets. deterred potential buyers. parties. It is not all doom and MADRID: Bond purchases ers refuse to budge on valuations sellers, their expectations inflated In other cases, sellers prom- Nobody was immediately avail- gloom, with population growth under the European Central despite a slumping oil price. by that frenzy, have yet to come ised high valuations a year ago able to comment on the state of continuing to make defensive sec- Bank’s quantitative-easing pro- While a flurry of big deals back down to earth, despite a by advisers pitching for roles are the sale process from Dunia, or tors like food and beverages and gramme in 2016 may surprise pushed global M&A volume in 2015 regional growth outlook clouded now unwilling to yield to changed current Abu Dhabi-based owners healthcare attractive. some investors who grew accus- to a record $4.6 trillion, transac- by oil falling to an 11-year-low. “I economic conditions. Mubadala and Waha Capital. Sin- Another potential bright spot tomed to trading on a strictly tions between parties in the Mid- don’t think expectations of sellers “It’s the wrong discussion to try gapore’s Temasek Holding, whose is that the uncertain economic bilateral basis — via a phone call, dle East totalled just $12.68bn in have modulated at all in response and optimise pricing up front and unit is the third stakeholder in environment has prompted e-mail, or on private trading sys- the year to December 7, according to oil prices,” said Richard Dallas, then either end up with the wrong Dunia, declined to comment. more companies to begin talks tems. to Thomson Reuters data. managing director of Abu Dhabi- partner or with no transaction,” Similarly, KKR and Dubai- with advisers about raising cash After buying more than €480bn That would make it the slow- based Gulf Capital, noting that said Mustafa Abdel-Wadood, based Fajr Capital’s joint bid for a through asset sales. “We are get- ($524bn) since March in govern- est year in value terms since 2011, “just like in any real estate mar- partner of emerging market- 25 percent stake in Azadea Group ting a lot of enquiries from family ment and agency bonds where while the actual number of deals ket, the first phase of an adjust- focused firm Abraaj Group. ran into difficulties because of a groups as many are having to look prices and targeted securities is on course to be the lowest since ment is a period of illiquidity.” The result is that deals take disagreement over valuations at tough strategic decisions and weren’t disclosed, the ECB will 2007. The decline follows a buoy- One industry participant con- longer to close, as buyers and between the buyers and the fam- are looking at ... possible M&A begin using more transparency in ant period when surging economic trasted the gap in valuations sellers haggle for longer to reach ily group which owns the Middle transactions, divestments,” said deals. Some of the 19 euro-area growth — driven by government between private sellers and pub- a mutually-agreeable price, or Eastern retailer. Raymond Hurley, financial serv- central banks that carry out QE largesse and a young and increas- lic markets, with most Gulf stock transactions simply fall through. While the Middle East has ices deals specialist at profes- now may use reverse auctions, ingly affluent population — pro- exchanges tumbling around 15 The sale of Dunia Finance is started to benefit from engage- sional services firm PwC. where potential sellers compete pelled the region’s private equity percent this year. One reason one such example, with sources ment by international private to undercut one another on price, market and pushed up valuations, potential sellers have been reluc- indicating that initial interest equity firms, who target larger REUTERS the Frankfurt-based institution said this week. After the French, Dutch and Lithuanian central banks tested the method since October, deter- mining it can produce “competi- Qatar stock index gains tive pricing,” the ECB said reverse Japanese-made first passenger auctions may be used alongside traditional buying in “some spe- 345.80 points past week cific market segments,” without describing them. Conscious of jet is delayed by another year reduced trading levels, the ECB DOHA: Qatar Exchange index Industries sector accounted for said the new purchase method gained 345.80 points, or 3.49 25.98 percent. Real estate sector TOKYO: Mitsubishi Aircraft was found to be “useful” in less- percent, during the past week accounted for 15.48 percent and Corp will push back delivery of liquid market segments. when the bourse closed yester- telecoms sector accounted for the first Japanese-made passen- The ECB is taking a gradual day at 10,258.72 points. Trading 14.25 percent. ger jet by a year, the fourth time approach to opening up its bond- value during the week decreased From 43 listed companies 33 it has delayed bringing the Mit- buying plan to more competition. by 25.94 percent to QR956.74m ended during the week higher, subishi Regional Jet to market. That’s in contrast to the Federal compared to QR1.29bn recorded while four fell and six unchanged. ANA Holdings Inc, the parent Reserve, whose multi-year QE during the previous week. Gulf International Services company of All Nippon Airways programme largely used reverse Trading volume decreased by led trading value during the Co, had been expecting the plane auctions, in which investors and 11.38 percent to reach 27,951,821 week accounted for 18.38 per- in the second quarter of 2017, but the public typically were advised shares, as against 31,542,279 cent of the total. Masraf Al Rayan the schedule has been pushed days in advance of which securi- shares, while the number of accounted for 10.32 percent and back “approximately one year,” ties were targeted. “Because auc- transactions fell by 17.48 percent, QNB accounted for 7.89 percent. Mitsubishi Aircraft said yester- tions tend to be more competitive, to reach 15,555 transactions as When compared on daily basis, day in a statement in Nagoya. the auction prices should be bet- compared to 18,850 transactions. the index gained 41.53 points, or The company has identi- ter” for the central banks that Mitsubishi Aircraft Corp’s Mitsubishi Regional Jet takes off during a test Market cap rose by 3.14 per- 0.43 percent, when the bourse fied “several issues” that need buy, even as dealers may “lose flight at Nagoya Airfield in Toyoyama town, central Japan, on November 11. cent to reach about QR541.60bn closed trading at 10,258.72 points addressing, the statement said, some profit margin,” said Haox- as compared to QR525.09bn at yesterday. without specifying them. iang Zhu, assistant professor of the end of previous week. The daily turnover decreased “Whilst this latest delay is very its first-ever passenger jet. The quality is 100 percent,” he said by finance at the Massachusetts Banking and financial services to QR229.89m with a volume of disappointing, we remain confi- company competes with Brazil’s phone from Tokyo before the Mit- Institute of Technology. sector led traded value during the 6,270,071 shares from 3,797 deals dent of the benefits the MRJ will Embraer SA and Canada’s Bom- subishi Aircraft briefing. “Japa- At the same time, “since auc- week with 35.89 percent of the compared with QR175.48m with bring to the ANA fleet,” Japan’s bardier Inc in the market for nese companies are serious about tions are transparent about the total. Industries sector accounted a volume of 5,391,665 shares from largest airline said in an e-mailed planes with fewer than 100 seats. quality, and so the MRJ is being timing of the purchases, the deal- for 29.23 percent. Real estate sec- 5,183 deals on Wednesday. statement. “In the meantime, we Mitsubishi Aircraft had turned delayed to make sure it’s 100 per- ers may actually source the bonds tor accounted for 11.84 percent Indices of six sectors ended in have sufficient aircraft capacity to to bullet-train specialists to see cent ready.” more efficiently before delivering” and consumer goods and services the green and one sector ended meet demand and implement our the plane completed on time, Mitsubishi Aircraft has them in sales, said Zhu, who stud- sector accounted for 8.14 percent. in red yesterday, while telecom network plans until the extended but was still unable to stick to received 407 orders, including ied reverse auctions at the Fed. Banking and financial services sector index gained 1.21 percent delivery date.” its schedule. News of the delay options and purchase rights, for The ECB endorsed reverse sector led traded volume the trad- to 947.85 points. Insurance index Mitsubishi Aircraft will comes a day after Honda Motor its two types of planes, which seat auctions for some central banks, ing week with 24.38 percent of the increased 1.17 percent to 4,168.92 strengthen the plane’s frame Co’s aircraft unit said it had from 78 to 92 passengers. In addi- without specifying which ones, total traded volume. Real estate points. and upgrade its software, Senior begun deliveries of the HondaJet, tion to ANA, customers include and only in the part of its QE sector accounted for 19.97 per- QE Total Return Index gained Executive Vice-President Nobuo a seven-seat business plane it has SkyWest Inc and Trans States programme dedicated to govern- cent. Industries sector accounted 0.41 percent when it closed at Kishi told reporters in Nagoya described as a “flying sports car.” Airlines Inc. ment and agency bonds, according for 9.31 percent and telecoms sec- 15,945.71 points yesterday. after the statement was released. Masao Ueno, a director at Alix- Mitsubishi Aircraft estimates to a statement on its website on tor accounted for 16.41 percent, QE Al Rayan Islamic Index The Mitsubishi Heavy Indus- Partners consulting firm, said the the cost of developing the MRJ December 22. An official at the reported QNA. closed 0.11 percent to 3,798.82 tries Ltd subsidiary started con- renewed delay could have a big at about 180bn yen ($1.5bn). The Bank of Spain said the nation’s Banking and financial serv- points. QE All Share Index up ducting test flights last month impact on MRJ sales. 92-seat MRJ90 has a list price of central bank didn’t think it was ices sector led traded number of 0.38 percent to 2,732.50 points. as it pushes ahead with develop- “ANA needs to take the first $47.3m, according to the company. necessary to use reverse auctions. transactions with 26.62 percent of ing Japan’s first new passenger aircraft as soon as possible, but the total number of transactions. THE PENINSULA plane in more than 50 years, and they also want to make sure the BLOOMBERG BLOOMBERG

Apple Pay seeks growth in Asia, Europe after slow US adoption

PORTLAND: Apple Pay is looking over- for the company to make products more and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd’s Alipay mobile-payment apps in Apple’s App seas in 2016. After a sluggish start in appealing and spur customer loyalty. that control more than 75 percent of Store. Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the US since its debut more than a year After Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook the mobile-payments market, accord- for example, has let iPhone users pay ago, Apple Pay is ramping up in markets (pictured) called 2015 the “year of Apple ing to Zennon Kapron, managing direc- for things using its own app for almost where people are more comfortable with Pay” in January, the service has been slow tor of Shanghai-based consulting firm two years. On that app, which doesn’t so-called contactless payments. to take off domestically, partly because of Kapronasia. And Apple should be pre- use Apple Pay, customers can store loy- The service, which lets consumers a lack of promotion and a limited number pared to race with Samsung, which also alty cards, transfer money to family and pay in an app or by tapping their iPhone of store terminals able to accept it. announced a partnership with UnionPay friends, send money overseas and even on store terminals, will be introduced Adoption has been faster in the UK, and plans to bring Samsung Pay to China withdraw cash from an ATM. “There’s next year in China, Hong Kong, Singa- where Apple Pay was introduced in the as soon as early 2016. little to no incentive for the major Aus- pore and Spain. Apple is counting on its summer. That’s partly because of agree- Apple Pay will be available to eligible tralian banks to let Apple both utilize brand recognition as it enters markets ments with merchants such as sandwich American Express users in Hong Kong their merchant-deployed infrastructure that are further along than the US in all chain Pret A Manger and Twickenham and Singapore next year, Apple said in or be cut into transaction fees,” said Foad things mobile payments, particularly in Stadium that let customers use Apple Pay October. Companies like Hong Kong Tel- Fadaghi, managing director at telecom advanced technologies needed to accept to ring up unlimited amounts in trans- ecommunications and HSBC already let consulting firm Telsyte in Sydney. them in retail outlets. actions. Also, Apple’s operating system, consumers in Hong Kong pay with mobile Apple’s market share of smartphone Still, it won’t be easy. The iPhone iOS, commands a strong market share, phones in stores. sales in Spain in the three months ended maker will compete with local banks with 39.5 percent of smartphone sales in In Singapore, a consortium of mobile in October was small, and banks such as and Internet companies that already Great Britain in the three months ended market entry “a lot easier,” said James operators, banks and service providers Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA have offer the service — not to mention Sam- in October, according to Kantar World- Wester, an analyst at researcher IDC. has been working on enabling contact- already put out their own wallets for both sung Electronics Co, the world’s leader panel ComTech: Besides UnionPay, 15 banks, including less payments in shops, restaurants and Android devices and iPhones. However, in smartphones. “There’s a lot of oppor- Apple said its service will be rolled out the Bank of China, Bank of Shanghai taxis for at least three years. But Apple like in the rest of Europe, merchants tunity for Apple because their brand has in China as soon as early 2016. More than and Bank of Guangzhou, have signed on is increasing its presence in the country, began accepting chip-based cards years a significant cache,” said Thad Peterson, 235 million people ages 15 and over in to support Apple Pay, Eddy Cue, Apple’s and recently announced it will open its ago — while the US only mandated them a senior analyst at Aite Group. Apple’s China don’t have bank accounts, accord- senior vice-president of Internet Soft- first retail store in Singapore. this year — and more of their terminals challenge will be “to see if there’s going to ing to McKinsey & Co, making mobile ware and Services, said last week. “China Some American Express users in Aus- are ready to accept Apple Pay. Apple’s be an adoption curve significant enough payments a necessary means to send and is an extremely important market for tralia and Canada gained access to Apple service will be available at some point to justify the investment.” receive money. Last week, Apple teamed Apple,” he said. Pay this fall. To expand the service’s use, next year to some American Express The mobile-payment service, which up with Chinese bank-card associa- Still, Apple Pay will compete with serv- Apple must get cooperation from local users. only works with Apple devices, is a way tion UnionPay, which will make Apple’s ices like Tencent Holdings Ltd’s WeChat banks, which have long offered their own BLOOMBERG FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Oil price pulls Japan govt approves back from record $800bn budget 11-year low LONDON: Benchmark oil con- tract Brent North Sea crude Counts on higher growth and tax revenue for revival struck an 11-year low this week before pulling back ahead of the TOKYO: Japanese Prime Min- lyst at SMBC Nikko Securities. weak,” said Takeshi Minami, festive break, as the high supply ister Shinzo Abe’s cabinet Spending for the fiscal year chief economist at Norinchukin situation dominated trading. approved yesterday a record fis- starting April 1 will be 96.72 tril- Research Institute. “Taken Brent on Monday slumped to cal 2016 budget that counts on lion yen ($799.9bn), up a tad from together with the extra budget, $36.04 a barrel — the lowest level higher growth and tax revenue this year’s initial plan to spend fiscal policy leaves the impres- since July 2004. to achieve his aim of reviving the 96.3 trillion yen. The draft budget sion of ‘pork-barrel’ before upper It pulled back to stand at $37.56 economy and curbing the world’s — the fourth since Abe returned house elections next summer.” yesterday, a gain of 20 cents on heaviest debt burden. to power in late 2012 — features Finance Minister Taro Aso Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (centre), accompanied by Finance Wednesday’s close, as official data But both targets look elu- record welfare spending to cope said the budget was in line with Minister Taro Aso (right) and Economic Revitalisation Minister Amari Akira showed an unexpected fall in US sive, according to economists, as with a fast-ageing population and Japan’s aim of achieving a pri- during a cabinet meeting in Tokyo yesterday. commercial crude stockpiles. Abe’s strategy of relying heavily a military outlay that tops 5 tril- mary budget surplus — excluding “US crude oil inventories on growth and tax income might lion yen for the first time. new bond sales and debt servicing profits, allowing Tokyo to cut limit rises in debt-servicing costs. posted a surprise drop last week, backfire. Without serious efforts The plan includes support for — in fiscal 2020. fresh borrowing to the lowest “If such tail wind stops blowing, bucking the seasonal trend of ris- to curb spending, they say, his child-raising such as subsidises “This budget is appropriate for since fiscal 2008, before the glo- fiscal management would become ing stockpiles and offering some budget-balancing goal remains a for baby-sitter fees and preschool marking the first step toward our bal financial crisis hit the world’s harder from fiscal 2017 onwards,” lift to... prices,” said Kash Kamal, tall order. education, as well as care for the fiscal plan, while managing both third-largest economy. said Naomi Muguruma, senior senior research analyst at Sucden “What if Japan and the world elderly, following a 3.3 trillion yen economic revival and fiscal con- For now, fiscal improvement market economist at Mitsubishi Financial. economy peak out? That could extra budget for this fiscal year, solidation,” he told reporters. depends largely on tax revenue UFJ Morgan Stanley. “As such, However, analysts pointed out deal a blow to tax revenue and unveiled last week. Tax revenue is estimated at a windfalls from corporate profits hurdles remain high to achieve the that the US report also included reverse the fiscal improvement,” “Looking at the spending side, 25-year high of 57.6 trillion yen due to a weak yen, and on record- fiscal 2020 target.” some aspects that were less said Hidenori Suezawa, fiscal ana- fiscal discipline is somewhat on the back of rising corporate low assumed interest rates that REUTERS favourable towards addressing an oil supply glut that has sent prices diving more than 60 percent from above $100 since mid-2014. Domestic production of oil rose slightly and inventories at a closely watched trading hub in US jobless Pemex to cut jobs as oil production hit Cushing, Oklahoma, increased. The Opec oil cartel sees only MEXICO CITY: Petroleos Mexi- budget cuts curbed supply. The bond issuance. Pemex’s capital 6.7 percent from 2014, falling for a gradual improvement in the claims near canos hopes to start 2016 with a company is nearing $100bn in spending budget for next year an eleventh straight year. Produc- global crude market, with prices plan to become leaner and more debt and recently posted a record was cut by 73bn pesos ($4.4bn) to tion is the lowest since at least recovering to above $70 after efficient. The state-owned oil pro- loss of about $10.2bn in the third 293bn pesos, the lowest allocated 1990, when the government began four years, according to a report 42-year low ducer is set to announce job cuts quarter. since 2007. The company is focus- recording output, and is more released on Wednesday. for next year as part of the plan “This is an addition to other ing on upstream partnerships, or than 100,000 daily barrels below The Organisation of the Petro- WASHINGTON: The number to restructure the company and tools to slowly align the com- farm- outs, to improve output in the original 2.4 million daily bar- leum Exporting Countries, in its of Americans filing for unem- to synchronise itself to industry pany to industry metrics,” Cam- mature fields and areas where the rels forecast for the year by Chief annual World Oil Outlook report, ployment benefits fell more than standards, interim Chief Finan- pos said. The company had more company lacks the ability or capi- Executive Officer Emilio Lozoya. bases its reference scenario on expected last week, nearing a cial Officer Rodolfo Campos said than 153,000 employees at the end tal to maximise production. Former Chief Financial Officer $70.70 for a barrel of crude in 42-year low as labour market in a phone interview. of 2014, according to an annual Pemex, which was hoping Mario Beauregard stepped down 2020 and $95 in 2040. conditions continued to tighten Mexico is opening its energy report. Campos didn’t specify how these joint ventures would be in on November 13, weeks after the US benchmark West Texas in a boost to the economy. industry to foreign companies many jobs would be lost. place this year, now expects to company reported the record loss. Intermediate was up 23 cents at Initial claims for state unem- for the first time in decades to The company’s overall strategy announce and carry them out Juan Pablo Newman, the adjunct $37.73 a barrel. WTI this week ployment benefits dropped 5,000 help stem a persistent decline in is to form partnerships along the during 2016, Campos said, declin- financial director of Mexico’s broke past Brent for the first time to a seasonally adjusted 267,000 production at a time when fall- entire production chain, he said. ing to comment on a more specific Nacional Financiera develop- since January, after US lawmak- for the week ended December 19, ing prices are already reducing “We’re looking for private capital timeline. “The entire proposal is ment bank, known as Nafinsa, will ers last week lifted a 40-year ban not far from levels last seen in income. Oil output at Pemex in to develop our business plan in being re-designed” due to market replace Beauregard on January 1. on crude exports, leading to hopes late 1973, the Labor Department 2015 will drop to the lowest in 25 addition to the tools we already conditions, he said. of a fall in supplies. said. years as a series of accidents and had,” Campos said, referring to Pemex’s output is set to drop BLOOMBERG AFP Economists polled had fore- cast claims dipping to 270,000 in the latest week. Claims have been below 300,000, a threshold Christmas sale associated with a buoyant labour market, for 42 consecutive weeks. That is the longest stretch since UK sees fastest growth in the early 1970s. However, some of the decline last week could be attributed to difficulties adjusting the figures during the holidays. consumer lending since 2007 Still, labour market strength is helping to underpin consumer LONDON: Lending by British “This will fuel concern that said. “These statistics show the spending, supporting the economy banks to consumers grew last consumers are borrowing more continued strength of the mort- as it deals with the headwinds of month at its fastest rate in more and saving less to finance their gage market, with monthly new a strong dollar, slowing global than eight years, the British spending, which is likely a con- lending higher than at any time growth, spending cuts by energy Bankers’ Association said yes- sequence of relatively high con- over the past seven years,” BBA firms and an inventory overhang. terday, figures which are likely sumer confidence and extended chief economist Richard Wool- The four-week moving aver- to catch the attention of the Bank low interest rates,” Archer said. house said. age of claims, considered a better of England. The Bank of England has kept Gross mortgage borrowing of measure of labour market trends Overall consumer credit lend- interest rates at 0.5 percent since £12.8bn in November was 28 per- as it strips out week-to-week vol- ing rose by 5.7 percent in the 12 early 2009 and pricing in financial cent higher than a year earlier, atility, rose 1,750 to 272,500 last months to November, the fastest markets suggests that investors the BBA said. week. Prices of longer-dated US rise since March 2007. think it could keep them there Woolhouse also said net lend- government debt rose after the The BoE has said it is watch- for another year. ing to companies was expanding, data, while the dollar pared some ing credit growth as Britain’s eco- Most economists have said they particularly in the wholesale and losses. US stock index futures nomic recovery goes into its third expect a first rate hike in May retail sectors, as businesses took were slightly higher. A Labor year. But officials say they do not 2016. advantage of record low interest Shoppers pass by sale signs on Christmas Eve in the Central Business Department analyst said there believe Britain’s recovery is over- The BBA figures showed that rates. District of Sydney yesterday. Australian shoppers are predicted to were no special factors influenc- reliant on borrowing and they banks’ net credit card lending The BBA figures are a good spend some A$46.8bn in the six week lead up to Christmas, according ing the data and that no states have not yet introduced higher rose to £318m from £149m in guide for trends in broader Bank to the Australian Retailers Association. had been estimated. capital requirements for banks. October, while lending for per- of England lending data, which The claims report showed the Howard Archer, an economist sonal loans and overdrafts also will next be published on Janu- number of people still receiving with IHS Global Insight, noted increased. ary 4. The BBA numbers exclude benefits after an initial week of the faster consumer lending fig- Mortgage approvals for house lending by mutually owned build- aid declined 47,000 to 2.20 million ures came a day after official data purchase totalled 44,960 last ing societies, which accounts for Banco Santander exceeds in the week ended December 12. showed a fall in Britain’s house- month, up from 37,407 in Novem- almost a third of mortgages. hold savings ratio to its equal low- ber last year but down a touch REUTERS est rate since 1963. from 45,463 in October, the BBA REUTERS new ECB capital levels

MADRID: Banco Santander SA, Ana Botin has been under pres- Spain’s largest lender by assets, sure from investors over the fact said it exceeds the minimum that the company’s capital ratio BNP Paribas profit hit by $983m writedown capital levels that the European that is lower than most of its Central Bank will require the European peers. company to have starting next The bank aims to achieve a PARIS: BNP Paribas SA wrote First Bank AG, wrote in a note month. fully loaded common equity Tier down the goodwill related to its yesterday. The Madrid-based bank needs 1 ratio of more than 11 percent Italian corporate and consumer “Despite its geographic and a common equity Tier 1 ratio of by 2018. The ratio — a measure of banking unit, which will cut business diversification as well as at least 9.75 percent at the start a company’s ability to withstand fourth-quarter earnings by about a solid track record in risk con- of January, including a 0.25 per- losses in periods of turmoil — €900m ($983m). trols, the bank has been imposed cent buffer for global systemi- stood at 9.9 percent in September, France’s biggest bank is set- the highest required capital cally important banks, Banco the second lowest among Europe’s ting aside more capital for its among listed French banks.” Santander said in a regulatory fil- 25 largest publicly traded banks. BNL division, the lender said in The ECB recommends that ing on Wednesday. The company Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argen- a statement. BNP achieve a capital ratio of 11.5 had a CET1 ratio of 12.39 percent taria SA, Spain’s second largest The charge will have a positive percent by 2019, according to the at the end of September. bank, said late Wednesday the effect on regulatory capital and statement. The bank may reach The ECB’s Supervisory Review ECB requires it to have a com- the bank reiterated it plans to pay that level by mid-2017, depending and Evaluation Process set Euro- mon equity Tier 1 ratio of at least 45 percent of profit in dividends. on the outcome of its plans for the pean lenders new minimum 9.75 percent in 2016, including a The European Central Bank set Hawaiian unit. capital ratios that can dictate 0.25 percent buffer. BNP Paribas’s minimum capital BNP Paribas, with consumer- whether the banks can pay out Bankia SA needs a ratio of at level, measured by the common banking businesses in France, dividends on stock and bonuses least 10.25 percent, the same as A BNP Paribas sign is pictured on a building of the bank in Geneva. equity Tier 1 ratio, at 10 percent Belgium and Italy, faces pres- to some employees. Banco Popular Espanol SA, while for 2016, the lender said in the sure on margins amid record-low Credit Agricole Group said Banco de Sabadell SA has to statement. Hawaiian Bank, including a pos- the company a market value of interest rates. The firm is reor- Monday it faces a minimum maintain a minimum ratio of 9.25 The ratio stood at 10.7 percent sible sale or initial public offering. €66bn. ganising its investment bank as ratio of 9.75 percent, while Italy’s percent, according to regulatory at the end of September. BNP BNP was down 0.7 percent The ECB’s appraisal of the higher capital demands cut into UniCredit Spa said earlier this filings. All of the lenders exceeded Paribas said it may boost the in Paris trading at €53.31 as of bank is “significantly less benign returns on some businesses. month it’s new requirement is 10 the new requirements as of Sep- measure by 40 basis points as it 9:50am. The stock has climbed than what we anticipated,” Fed- percent. tember. explores alternatives for First about 8 percent this year, giving erico Salerno, an analyst at Main- BLOOMBERG Banco Santander Chairman BLOOMBERG FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Cronyism is behind the A stronger IMF benefits worst kind of inequality By Noah Smith

CONOMIC inequality has skyrocketed in the US during US and the world the past few decades. That has prompted many calls for government policies to reverse that trend. Defenders of By David Ignatius The basic question was whether the tine Lagarde in a telephone interview on Ethe status quo argue that rising inequality is a necessary United States still had the “right stuff” Monday. She said that by ratifying the IMF byproduct of economic growth — if we don’t allow people the chance VERLOOKED in the circus of to lead. As Treasury Secretary Jack reforms and helping to double its capital, to become extremely rich, the thinking goes, they will stop working, national politics this past week Lew explained in an interview, “If the the United States has given the fund the investing, saving and starting businesses. A receding tide will then was a small victory for the US US didn’t follow through at the IMF, how “big bazooka” it needs to help ailing econo- cause all boats to sink. global leadership and com- could the system as we built it remain mies at a time when “the economic horizon Critics of the status quo have responded with the claim that mon sense — in the bipartisan strong?” is not exactly rosy.” Just as important, she inequality doesn’t help growth, but instead hurts it. This view was Oagreement to restore full US support for China pounced on US indecision and said, the move is “a reaffirmation of US given ammunition by a number of recent studies, which have found the International Monetary Fund. launched the Asian Infrastructure Invest- leadership” of the institutions that foster a a negative relationship between how much income inequality a This move, part of what’s known as “quota ment Bank as an alternative to the US-led rules-based global order. country has and how fast it grows. One example is an International reform” of the IMF, should have been a no- IMF and World Bank. As long as Congress Now that the IMF has a new lease on life, Monetary Fund study from 2015. brainer when it was proposed five years ago. was blocking the United States’ own plan I hope Lew and Lagarde will think more We find an inverse relationship between the income share accru- The modernization plan will expand the vot- for IMF reform, Beijing’s pitch was hard about what got the fund in political trou- ing to the rich (top 20 percent) and economic growth. If the income ing power of emerging economies such as to resist. “What was driving countries to ble in the first place. The black helicopter share of the top 20 percent increases by 1 percentage point, GDP China and India in the IMF and modestly look for a new mechanism was a question of crowd aside, there is a deep mistrust in growth is actually 0.08 percentage point lower in the following five reduce that of European countries. It will whether the US was prepared to work with the United States about whether the glo- years, suggesting that the benefits do not trickle down. Instead, double the IMF’s capital available to assist the old mechanism,” Lew said. bal financial system really serves the aver- a similar increase in the income share of the bottom 20 percent troubled economies. The Ukraine crisis offered a dramatic age American taxpayer. It’s one of the elite (the poor) is associated with 0.38 percentage point higher growth. It was the United States that drafted example of why the IMF is important. As institutions that, like Goldman Sachs or the A similar 2014 study from the Organization for Economic Coop- this formula for broadening and updat- Russia tried to squeeze Kiev financially after World Economic Forum, easily becomes part eration and Development concluded the same thing. Interestingly, ing the global financial architecture after it invaded Crimea, Ukraine’s only practi- of a conspiracy theory. the negative correlation between inequality and growth is found the 2008 meltdown. The idea was to give cal source of financial support was an IMF Lagarde said she understands that many even when controlling for a country’s income level. This isn’t simply a greater voice to the rising economies loan. That should have made the case for the Americans mistrust financial institutions as a case of wealthier countries growing more slowly and also being and to increase the IMF’s ability to res- IMF’s importance, but not to congressional “out there” and fear that “their destiny is out more unequal. cue weak ones. A broader, stronger IMF right-wingers. of their hands.” She plans to focus on the So the evidence is pretty clear: higher inequality has been asso- will bolster the system that has kept the Lew said he’s had hundreds of conver- “small boats” in the system, not just the big ciated with lower growth. But it might be that countries whose world economy solvent, more or less, since sations with congressional leaders about yachts. She cited IMF research that rising growth slows for any reason tend to experience an increase in 1945. It will also reinforce US leadership funding the IMF since he became treas- inequality is hurting growth. “The benefits inequality, as politically powerful groups stop focusing on expand- of global finance. ury secretary two years ago. The necessary of higher income are trickling up, not down,” ing the pie and try to appropriate more of the pie for themselves. But this sensible IMF reform, first dis- legislation was attached to a half-dozen she said in a speech in June. The IMF and OECD list some channels by which inequality cussed during the presidency of George W bills, only to collapse because it was deemed Congress made a reasonable demand might actually be causing lower growth. The most important one Bush, got caught on the barbed-wire fence “too controversial.” Finally, on Friday, the in funding the IMF that the organization has to do with investment. When poor people have more money, of US politics. Congressional conservatives logjam broke and the IMF funding was re-examine its policy of “systemic exemp- they can afford to invest more in human capital (education and saw it as a symbol of imaginary “black heli- approved as a rider to a broader spending tion” for debtor countries that may not be skills) and nutrition. Because these investments have diminishing copters” of global governance and refused bill. The heroes in this story, in addition able to pay back their loans. Lagarde told marginal returns — the first year of schooling matters a lot more to vote for the necessary funding. To many to Lew, are the House and Senate Repub- me she agreed. That’s the right start for a than the 20th — every dollar invested by the poor raises national foreign leaders, this blockage was a wor- lican leaders, Representative Paul Ryan renewed financial partnership that’s good productivity by more than if it gets invested by the rich. In other rying sign of how domestic infighting was and Senator Mitch McConnell. for the United States and the world. words, the more resources shoring up a nation’s weak links, the enfeebling the US and impeding its tradi- “Promise made, promise delivered,” said better off that nation will be. tional role of global leadership. a relieved IMF Managing Director Chris- WASHINGTON POST That’s a plausible hypothesis. But there might also be other fac- tors contributing to the correlation between inequality and growth. It could be that there is something that causes both high inequality and low growth. The obvious candidate for this dark force is crony capitalism. When a country succumbs to cronyism, friends of the rulers are able to appropriate large amounts of wealth for themselves — for example, by being awarded government-protected monopolies over certain markets, as in Russia after the fall of communism. That will lead to inequality of income and wealth. It will also make the economy inefficient, since money is flowing to unproductive cronies. Cronyism may also reduce growth by allowing the wealthy to exert greater influence on political policy, creating inefficient subsidies for themselves and unfair penalties for their rivals. Economists Sutirtha Bagchi of the University of Michigan and Jan Svejnar of Columbia recently set out to test the cronyism hypothesis. They focused not on income inequality, but on wealth inequality. Concentrating on billionaires — the upper strata of the wealth distribution — they evaluated the political connections of each billionaire. They used the proportion of politically connected billionaires in a country as their measure of cronyism. What they discovered was very interesting. The relationship between wealth inequality and growth was negative. But only one kind of inequality was associated with low growth — the kind that came from cronyism. From the abstract of the paper: When we control for the fact that some billionaires acquired wealth through political connections, the effect of politically con- nected wealth inequality is negative, while politically unconnected wealth inequality, income inequality, and initial poverty have no significant effect. In other words, when billionaires make their money through means other than political connections, the result- ing inequality isn’t bad for growth. That’s a heartening message for defenders of the rich-country status quo. If cronyism is the real danger, it means that a lot of the inequality we’ve seen in recent decades is benign. Eliminate corrupt connections between politicians and businesspeople, and you’ll be safe. But Bagchi and Svejnar’s finding also means that inequality isn’t beneficial for growth, as its defenders claim. That removes one of the big objections government policy makers face in taking steps to reduce inequality — that doing so is likely to hurt economic growth.

BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate The New York bank that was named for Santa

By Stephen Mihm tions and designs of their choice. Nicholas became the patron saint and home invasions via chimney. to Santa’s sleigh have the crow- “in some respects a very peculiar This system of private money of sailors thanks to his alleged By the 1830s, New York City had stepped gables characteristic of man,” even as it praised him for T’S bonus season, and while creation flourished before the ability to calm storms. His benev- become the capital of the Santa Dutch architecture. his “generous nature.” many in the junk bond mar- Civil War, with nearly 2,000 banks olence toward children made him story that rested on a largely fab- The people who founded the In fact, it seems that Barstow ket should expect coal in printing their own currency by the the patron saint of that set, too. ricated genealogy that paid hom- Saint Nicholas Bank are less well took to heart the ethos of St. Nick, Itheir stocking, the rest of end of the 1850s. While Saint Nicholas vanished age to the city’s Dutch founders. known. After a couple of years of believing it better to give than to Wall Street remains hopeful that The Saint Nicholas Bank through much of Europe during Credulous readers learned that high turnover, one man in par- receive. He contributed heavily to Santa Claus remembers them this printed money illustrated with the Protestant Reformation, the the first church in New York City ticular stands out: a prominent charities and handed out food and year. Given the Fed’s rate hike, Santa Claus. The $1 and $3 bills Dutch and others kept his legend was named for Saint Nicholas, and New York merchant named Caleb clothing to the poor. And though though, more than a few financiers showed Santa popping out of the alive, calling him Sint Nikolass. that the first Dutch ship to land Barstow, who became president in he accumulated a large fortune are losing faith. fireplace to tend to children’s New York City began its exist- had a figurehead of Saint Nicholas. 1856 and remained in the position in his lifetime, he died penniless. It would help, perhaps, if Wall stockings. The big man was ence as the Dutch colony of New All of this made a certain until 1874. The Bankers’ Magazine noted that Street had a direct line to Santa depicted in various poses in his Amsterdam. There was no cult amount of sense. A city founded In what seems to have been a “to his great benevolence and his Claus. Once upon a time, it did. sleigh on the $2, $5, and $10. The of Santa Claus in the colony. But on mercantile wealth and mari- coincidence, Barstow had a con- kindness to friends is due the fact For much of the 19th century, $20 and $50 showed the jolly old elf in 1809, Washington Irving pub- time trade would look toward St. nection to the North Pole: he had that he became financially embar- Santa Claus had a branch office popping out of another fireplace, lished his famous satire, Knick- Nicholas for protection of valu- been the head of the Arctic Fire rassed in his old age, and eventu- at No. 12 Wall Street. This was the with sleeping children tucked into erbocker’s History of New York, able cargoes. Indeed, it would be Insurance Company prior to head- ally lost all of the property which “Saint Nicholas Bank,” established a bed a few feet away. which suggested that the connec- no exaggeration to say that St ing up the Saint Nicholas Bank. had so honorably accumulated.” in 1853 and capitalised at $500,000. Still, why would Santa Claus tion between New York and Santa Nicholas had become an informal And while he may or may not have Not long afterward his bank The origins of the Saint Nicho- adorn a bank note? The answer Claus did in fact date back to the patron saint of New York by the been a font of generosity prior to perished, too. A few days before las Bank are a bit murky. Aside lies with the deeper history of New founding of the Dutch colony. 1830s. assuming the leadership of the Christmas in 1893, the State of from the fact that it built a safe York City business and finance, Irving’s associate, Clement The notes of the Saint Nicho- bank, he acquired that reputation New York declared the Saint that Bankers’ Magazine described and possibly, the man who would Clarke Moore – the probable las Bank combine all of these ele- in his lifetime. Nicholas Bank insolvent. It closed in 1854 as “the largest in the loom the largest over the bank’s author of “A Visit From St. Nicho- ments. In addition to Santa Claus In an obituary from 1880, Bank- its doors, never to reopen. In the United States, if not the world,” reputation. las,” better known for its opening himself, several of the notes depict ers’ Magazine reported that his canyons of Wall Street, a vision the new institution attracted very The very distant ancestor of words, “‘Twas the Night Before ships and the docks of New York; “deeds of charity were many and of Santa lingers. He’s dressed in a little notice. Santa Claus was the real-life Saint Christmas” — built on Irving’s others show New Amsterdam’s unostentatious” — strange behav- business suit, a bundle of bonuses At this time, state-chartered Nicholas, for whom the bank was stories. In the process he helped famed governor, Peter Stuyvesant. ior, perhaps, for a Gilded Age flung on his back. banks in the United States issued undoubtedly named. Born in what create the modern Santa Claus, Likewise, some of the buildings banker. Indeed, in its obituary, the their own currency, in denomina- is now Turkey, the original Saint complete with reindeer, sleigh, shown on the notes as a backdrop New York Herald described him as BLOOMBERG FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 10,258.72 0.41 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 15,945.71 0.41 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,798.82 0.11 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,732.5 0.38 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,762.64 0.21 % GOLD Services Buying Selling QE All Share Industrials 3,042.71 0.88 % All Ordinaries 5167.677 9.831 0.19 5963.5 4936.3 QR126.5822 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,411.19 0.55 % Cac 40 Index/D 4554.85 -10.32 -0.23 5283.71 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,347.89 0.13 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.3848 QR 5.4636 QE All Share Insurance 4,168.92 1.17 % Dj Indu Average 17251.62 123.07 0.72 18351.4 15370.3 QR 1.6783 Euro ...... QR 3.9501 QR 4.0301 QE All Share Telecoms 947.85 1.21 % CA$ ...... QR 2.5915 QR 2.6427 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,948.84 0.11 % Hang Seng Inde/D 21830.02 38.34 0.18 28588.52 20368.12 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.6436 QR 3.7358 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 6691.7 -21.03 -0.31 6921.44 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0298 QR 0.0304 Aus$ ...... QR 2.6091 QR 2.6753 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 32641.09 -17.88 -0.05 36471.59 28648.23 CRUDE OIL 24-12-2015 23-12-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0541 QR 0.0554 Index 10,258.72 10,217.19 Nikkei 225 Index 18886.7 -29.32 -0.16 20952.71 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Change 41.53 42.39 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0759 QR 0.0783 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1867.01 % 0.41 0.42 $ 37.80 SL Re ...... QR 0.0251 QR 0.0260 YTD% 16.5 16.84 Straits Times/D 2895.81 27.07 0.94 3549.85 2808.31 Taka ...... QR 0.0466 QR 0.0466 Volume 6,270,071 5,391,665 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0340 QR 0.0347 Value (QAR) 229,886,250.90 175,478,058.77 Straits Times/D 3324.09 0.44 0.01 3387.84 2953.01 $ 32.75 SA Rand ...... QR 0.2388 QR 0.2435 Trades 3,797 3,334 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01 Up 23 | Down 13 | Unchanged 05

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COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A B G Infra-Xc/D 163.2 5.4 2720 Century Enka-B/D 183.5 0.2 16047 Gangotri Tex-B/D 1.33 -0.07 1404 Jindal Drill-B/D 136.7 5.5 9892 Neuland Lab-B/D 812.75 29.5 16795 Bp/D 341.55 6.35 8629250 A C C-A/D 1347.95 -3.2 13677 Century Text-A/D 581.75 5.8 128007 Garden P -B/D 31 2.55 245648 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 112.3 0.9 442678 O N G C-A/D 230.7 0.4 370291 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3666 8.5 342846 Aarti Drugs-B/D 557.05 -4.8 2679 Chambal Fert-B/D 59.25 -0.1 20351 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1259.6 22.3 73133 Kabra Extr-B/D 98.5 -1.85 3103 Oil Country-B/D 33.1 0.75 147429 Bt Group/D 460.55 5.5 4711362 Aban Offs-A/D 214.2 1.35 362837 Chola Invest-B/D 647 1.9 2586 Goodricke-B/D 198.5 -3.9 65771 Kajaria Cer-A/D 969 18.2 1584 Orchid Pharm-B/D 61.7 9.25 1595846 Centrica/D 209.1 -1.1 2536568 Ador Welding-B/D 345.7 -8.8 2075 Chowgule St-T/D 20.95 0.95 19750 Goodyear I -B/D 573.75 -0.25 3439 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 152 -1.1 6953 Orient Hotel-T/D 25.5 -0.8 19183 Gkn/D 293.8 -1.8 714648 Aegis Logis-B/D 101.25 -1.75 46661 Cimmco-B/D 81.3 0.2 2442 Hcl Infosys-B/D 61.1 -0.7 680002 Kalyani Stel-T/D 171.4 2.1 69528 Oudh Sugar-B/D 35.9 -0.55 50175 Hsbc Holdings/D 529.5 2.4 3470664 Alembic-B/D 46.5 3.25 658612 Cipla-A/D 644.2 1.1 57685 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 17.5 -0.4 1919810 Kanoria Chem-B/D 80.3 -1.15 61251 Patspin India-/D 10.89 0.51 65198 Imperial Tobac/D 3482 7 424938 Alkyl Amines-B/D 366.5 -1 1841 City Union Bk-/D 92 0 15963 Himat Seide-B/D 220.6 1 165602 Kg Denim-B/D 60.1 3.95 85603 Punjab Chem.-B/D 178.5 -1.4 8208 Kingfisher/D 327.7 1.6 750031 Alok Indus-A/D 6.5 -0.05 1295640 Colgate-A/D 989.15 -9.05 15326 Hind Motors-T/D 7.43 0.01 40765 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 84.55 0.35 21280 Radico Khait-B/D 113.75 -1.45 67045 Land Secs Grou/D 1169 8 292463 Apollo Tyre-A/D 151.8 0.05 255065 Container Cor-/D 1305.65 6.85 5862 Hind Org Chem-/D 15.7 0.7 85630 Kinetic Eng-B/D 103.2 -3.7 13974 Rallis India-A/D 174.85 0.1 20200 Legal & Genera/D 262.1 -1.1 3039047 Asahi I Glass-/D 162 -4.55 5547 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 489 4.4 2258 Hind Unilever-/D 855 2.9 73105 Kopran-B/D 79.2 0.7 606338 Reliance Indus/D 424.5 70.7 973526 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 71.5 0.55 17882636 Ashok Leyland-/D 88.4 -0.9 501095 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 92 -0.95 22127 Hind.Petrol-A/D 830.65 -1 59499 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 431.1 -1.7 1615 Ruchi Soya-B/D 27.85 -0.1 31339 Marks & Sp./D 441.2 -6.4 2150116 Bajaj Hold-A/D 1690 -25.15 1432 Dhampur Sugar-/D 63.85 0.65 52359 Hindalco-A/D 79.5 -1.7 1395201 Laxmi Prcisn-B/D 59.1 -1.25 49313 Saur.Cem-B/D 71.85 -2.2 108663 Next/D 7215 -5 188402 Ballarpur In-B/D 17.5 -0.4 421427 Dr. Reddy-A/D 3001.6 -7.45 25846 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1226 -4.95 93129 Lloyd Metal-B/D 6.9 0.13 7959 Tanfac Indust-/D 39 0.55 1811 Pearson/D 755 6 450456 Banaras Bead-B/D 48 -1.25 1242 E I H-B/D 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Mah.Seamless-B/D 177.2 0.8 13329 Ucal Fuel-B/D 134.3 -0.6 56831 Sainsbury(J)/D 256.6 -3 1870290 Bharat Bijle-B/D 851.25 -4 29858 Escorts-A/D 159.7 -1.55 84616 Indian Hotel-A/D 111.5 -1.75 68789 Mangalam Cem-B/D 205.6 -0.9 2530 Ultramarine-B/D 118.3 1.2 16126 Schroders/D 2902 4 52421 Bharatgears-B/D 93.05 -1.7 8411 Essar Oil-T/D 240 -3.35 568761 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1054.85 -35.1 7819 Maral Overs-B/D 34.85 0.65 18428 Unitech P -A/D 6.75 0 4646025 Severn Trent/D 2125 -11 97179 Bhartiya Int-B/D 525.25 -5.25 10919 Eveready Indu-/D 295.9 -0.45 20638 Indusind-A/D 934.6 -13.25 57733 Mastek-B/D 187.6 1.8 28205 Univcable-T/D 76 -1.75 9319 Smith&Nephew/D 1152 9 548384 Bhel-A/D 166.15 -1 282314 F D C-B/D 232.3 -0.65 7612 J.B.Chemical-B/D 274.2 -1.4 29468 Max India L-A/D 500 2.9 8755 Uppergsugar-T/D 71.4 1.8 1194 Smiths Group/D 933 10 295905 Bhuwalka Stl-X/D 7.13 -0.37 6700 Federal Bank-A/D 56.15 -0.15 311540 Jagson Phar-B/D 52.7 1.45 128379 Mrpl-A/D 67.15 0.2 91651 Standrd Chart /D 557 8 1870078 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FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BREAK TIME EASY SUDOKU CROSSWORD 123 4567 89101112 NEED SLOGS FRAT

13 14 15 EMMA CA I RO L EV I WEBCRAWL ER OP EN 16 17 18 TRACER SERGEANT 19 20 21 22 ARAB I C NOR CUE MLK AL I CEWALKER 23 24 25 26 ODES YAH SPY 27 28 29 MSDOS OUT HOT E L

30 31 32 LEA REV NATE BLADERUNNER XCI 33 34 35 AIR PER TROMPE 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 KEMOSABE BLEATS ELAN RADIOFLYER 44 45 46 RODE UN I TS EERO 47 48 49 SWAG GEESE ERAS Yesterday’s answer 50 51 52 ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 53 54 55 56 57 58 63 Elects 31 “___ the season …” 64 Word after “you might” or 32 Medium for Madame Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1 to 59 60 61 “you don’t” Tussaud 9 in each empty cell so every row, every column 62 63 64 34 New York city with an and every 3x3 box contains all the digits 1 to 9. DOWN amusement park that’s a 1 Poke National Historic Landmark ACROSS 32 Assassin John ___ Booth 2 Ornamental shell source 35 Plane, for one 1 Peanut butter holder 33 Opera singer scrawls graffiti? 3 Send on a detour, say 36 Trapeze artist, e.g. 4 Kilt wearer 36 Monasteries 4 Tatters 37 Impressive show of courage 8 Coffee lure 39 Bagel topper 5 “As cold as the Rockies” 38 Early Sony recorder HYPER SUDOKU 13 Penny prez 40 Sondheim’s “Sweeney ___” sloganeer 41 Gives new-employee 14 Have the ___ for 44 Land of Minos 6 Non-Rx training, e.g. 15 Singer Josh whose self-titled 45 ___-pitch softball 7 Disapproving cluck 42 Item on many a doctor’s wall 2001 debut album went 4x 46 Prefix with comic 8 Flight board column: Abbr. platinum 43 Spanish couple 47 Squealers 9 Fishing shop purchase 16 Milky Way, for one 45 Search (through) 48 Actress stumbles? 10 Bunker Hill Monument, for 17 Comedian cultivates flowers? 50 Egg cells one 46 Equilibrium 19 Schlub 51 “___ Wiedersehen” 11 Everglades mammal 48 Commotion 21 Toning targets, for short 52 Supporter of the arts? 12 They cross in a crossword 49 The Home ___ 22 What a court interprets 53 Philosopher removes his 15 Yaks 51 Some “giants” in “Honey, I Shrunk the Kids” 23 Poet inks a contract? clothes? 18 Crew 54 Unlock, to a bard 26 Nosh 57 “___ don’t!” 20 Tiny excerpts 55 1990s Indian P.M. 27 The opposition 59 Adjusts to one’s environment 23 Part of the Iams logo 56 Little handful 28 GQ or S.I. 60 “Tout ___” 24 Apple variety 58 Like Arctic waters 29 Conundrum (“All mine”: Fr.) 25 Graceful antelope 30 Exhibit some grief 61 Cable inits. for film buffs 26 Gives support 31 Looney Tunes devil, for short 62 Weighty books 29 Squealer

Yesterday’s answer

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

NOVO How to play Kakuro: SHOWING AT The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any SCREEN 1 The Peanuts Movie (2D/Animation) 11:00am, 1:20, 3:40, 6:00, 8:20 & 10:40pm KAKURO SCREEN 2 Point Break (2D/Action) 10:00am, 12:20, 2:40, 5:00, 7:20, 9:40 & 11:55pm VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells TEL: 444933989 / 444517001 like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, SCREEN 3 Point Break (3D/Action) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00 & 11:45pm some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some SCREEN 4 Paparazzi (2D/Arabic) 10:00am, 12:15, 2:30, 4:45, 7:00, 9:15, 11:30pm SCREEN 5 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) cells will contain two numbers. 10:00am, 12:40, 3:20, 6:00, 8:45 & 11:30pm However, in a crossword the numbers reference SCREEN 6 Love The Coopers (2D/Comedy) clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! 11:00am, 1:10, 3:20, 5:40, 9:50pm & 12:00midnight They denote the total of the digits in the row or SCREEN 7 The Peanuts Movie (2D/Animation) 11:00am, 1:00, 3:00 & 5:00pm column referenced by the number. Room (2D/Drama) 7:00am, 9:15 & 11:40pm Within each SCREEN 8 Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 11:00am, 2:00, 5:00, 8:00 & 11:00pm collection of cells SCREEN 9 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (3D IMAX/Action) - called a run - any 10:15am, 12:45, 3:30, 6:15, 9:00 & 11:45pm of the numbers 1 SCREEN 10 Point Break (2D/Action) 10:30am, 3:40 & 9:00pm to 9 may be used Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 1:00, 6:20 & 11:40pm but, like sudoku, each number may MALL only be used once. SCREEN 1 The Peanuts Movie (2D/Hindi) 2:30 & 6:00pm Yesterday’s The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 4:15pm answer Belle & Sebastian 2 (2D/Adventure) 7:45pm Morning Star (2D/Action) 9:30pm Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Room (2D/Drama) 11:15pm SCREEN 2 Love The Coopers (2D/Comedy) 2:30pm Room (2D/Drama) 4:30pm Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 6:30pm Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 8:45pm Point Break (2D/Sports) 11:30pm SCREEN 3 Pasanga 2 (2D/Tamil) 2:15pm Paparazzi (2D/Arabic) 4:30pm Point Break (2D/Sports) 6:45pm El Leila El Kebira (2D/Drama) ALL IN THE MIND 9:00pm Thanga Magan (2D/Tamil) 11:15pm Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, LANDMARK vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards. SCREEN 1 Thanga Magan (2D/Tamil) 2:15pm Paparazzi (2D/Arabic) 4:30pm Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 6:30pm Point Break (2D/Sports) 9:15 & 11:30pm SCREEN 2 The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 2:15pm The Peanuts Movie (2D/Hindi) 4:00 & 5:45pm Belle & Sebastian 2 (2D/Adventure) 7:30pm Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 9:15pm Morning Star (2D/Action) 11:30pm Hoy en la Historia SCREEN 3 Soukhyam (2D/Telugu) 2:15pm Love The Coopers (2D/Comedy) 4:45pm Room (2D/Drama) 6:45pm El Leila El Kebira (2D/Drama) December 25, 1584 9:00pm Pasanga 2 (2D/Tamil) 11:15pm An Estonian Lutheran pastor ROYAL PLAZA described setting up a decorated spruce tree in the market square, SCREEN 1 The Peanuts Movie (2D/Hindi) 2:15pm the earliest known written Belle & Sebastian 2 (2D/Adventure) 4:00pm reference to a Christmas tree The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 5:45pm Point Break (2D/Sports) 7:30 & 11:30pm 800:       Morning Star (2D/Action) 9:45pm      SCREEN 2 Love The Coopers (2D/Comedy) 2:30pm       Paparazzi (2D/Arabic) 4:30pm Room (2D/Drama) 6:45pm 1620: The Pilgrim Fathers aboard the El Leila El Kebira (2D/Drama) 9:00pm Mayflower proclaimed a colony at Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 11:15pm Plymouth Rock ANKLET, BALMORAL, BLUCHER, BROGUE, BUSKIN, ASIAN TOWN 1950:      CALCEUS, CHOPINE, CLOGS, COWBOY BOOT, DESERT Dilwale (Hindi) 1:00, 7:00pm & 01:00am         Pasanga 2 (Tamil) BOOT, ESPADRILLE, FLIPPER, FOOT, GETA, GILLIE, 12:45, 5:45, 10:45pm &12:00midnight !  " Pathemari (2D/Malayalam) 11:00pm GUMBOOT, HEEL, INSTEP, LOAFER, MOCASSIN, PATTEN, 1990: The World Wide Web came Thanga Magan (2D/Tamil) 3:15, 8:15, 9:15pm & 01:15am PLATFORM, PUMPS, RIDING BOOT, SABOT, SANDAL, into being, implemented by British Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) 8:30pm SCUFFER, SHOE, SLIPPER, SNEAKER, SOCK, STILETTO, Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 4:00 & 10:00pm Mama Manchu (2D/Telugu) computer scientist Tim Berners-Lee STOCKING, TALARIA, TRAINER, WELLINGTON. 12:30, 3:15 & 6:00pm Soukhyam (2D/Telugu) 1:00, 3:15 & 6:30pm #$%  ''"#( ! FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Nowitzki passes Shaq for sixth on scoring list Dallas Mavericks’ star dazzles in 119-118 extra time win over Brooklyn; Bucks win against Philadelphia

NEW YORK: Dallas Mavericks NBA Results lead the Denver Nuggets over host star Dirk Nowitzki passed Shaq- Boston 102 Charlotte 89 Phoenix 104-96. Brandon Knight uille O’Neal for sixth place on Cleveland 91 NY Knicks 84 led the Suns with 21 points. the NBA all-time scoring list on Kelly Olynyk scored 20 points Sacramento 108 Indiana 106 Wednesday, scoring 22 points to and Jae Crowder added 19 points Orlando 104 Houston 101 help defeat host Brooklyn 119-118 and 12 rebounds to lead Boston in overtime. Washington 100 Memphis 91 to a 102-89 triumph at Charlotte The 37-year-old German sank Dallas 119 Brooklyn 118 while John Wall had 14 points and a jumper over Andrea Bargnani Atlanta 107 Detroit 100 14 assists in Washington’s 100-91 2:09 into the second quarter to Milwaukee 113 Philadelphia 100 home victory over Memphis. push past the 10 points he needed San Antonio 108 Minnesota 83 In Los Angeles, the Oklahoma to overtake O’Neal, who finished New Orleans 115 Portland 89 City Thunder scored the first 17 with 28,596 points. Denver 104 Phoenix 96 points of the third quarter for a “He’s probably the most domi- Golden State 103 Utah 85 74-46 lead on the way to a 120-85 nant big man to ever play this Oklahoma City 120 LA Lakers 85 triumph over the host Lakers. game so it’s kind of surreal that Russell Westbrook scored 23 I’m up there amongst these all- Cavaliers over the visiting New points and Kevin Durant added time greats,” said Nowitzki, after York Knicks 91-84. 21 as every player scored for the reaching 28,609 points for his The Cavaliers, 19-7 after their Thunder (20-9). Kobe Bryant career. sixth win in a row, squandered an scored 19 points to lead the Lak- “For a kid leaving Germany 11-point lead but finished with an ers (5-24). over 18 years ago who didn’t know 11-2 run for the victory. DeMarcus Cousins scored 25 what to expect, it has been an James scored nine points in the points and grabbed a season-high amazing ride.” fourth quarter. He is averaging an 16 rebounds while Darren Collison Nowitzki, who passed Moses NBA-best 8.7 points in the fourth Detroit Pistons’ forward Marcus Morris (right) is defended by Atlanta Hawks’ forward Thabo Sefolosha of added a season-high 24 points as Malone for seventh on the list quarter this season with Stephen Sacramento defeated host Indi- Switzerland during the second half of their NBA game at Philips Arena in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, yesterday. last year at Brooklyn, could chal- Curry and Anthony Davis second ana 108-106. Cousins sank two The Hawks defeated the Pistons 107-100. lenge Wilt Chamberlain’s fifth- at 7.7 a game in the last 12 min- free throws for the winning points place total of 31,419 points if he utes of regulation time. and Paul George missed a jumper returns to the NBA next season. At Golden State, the defending State while Derrick Favors scored winless on the road after 18 such scorers for the Spurs, who also at the buzzer to force over-time. JJ Barea scored 32 points and champion Warriors tuned up for 17 to lead the Jazz, who fell to starts. had 14 points from French guard Orlando’s Nikola Vucevic scored had a game-high 11 assists to lead their showdown with Cleveland 12-15. In New Orleans, Anthony Davis Tony Parker and 13 from reserve 21 points to lead six double-figure Dallas while Thaddeus Young by routing Utah 103-85. Greek forward Giannis scored 28 points and pulled down David West. scorers in a 104-101 victory over paced the Nets with 29 and a Klay Thompson scored 20 Antetokounmpo made his first 11 12 rebounds to spark the host The Spurs, with the NBA’s sec- visiting Houston, which had 31 game-high 10 rebounds. points and Curry added 16 as the shots and scored 22 points while Pelicans past Portland 115-89. ond-best record at 25-5, have out- points from James Harden. In Cleveland, LeBron James Warriors improved the NBA’s Khris Middleton added 21 to lead San Antonio stretched its win scored foes by 408 points over 30 Jeff Teague scored 23 points scored 24 points, grabbed nine best record to 27-1 and boosted the Milwaukee Bucks over Phila- streak to seven games with a 108- games, the second-largest margin and Paul Millsap added 18 to lead rebounds and added five assists their perfect home mark to 13-0. delphia 113-100. 83 victory at Minnesota. so deep into a season in league the Atlanta Hawks over visiting while Kevin Love had 23 points Aussie Andrew Bogut had 10 The 76ers fell to 1-30 with their Kawhi Leonard netted 19 history. Detroit 107-100. and 13 rebounds to power the points and 13 rebounds for Golden 12th loss in a row and remained points to lead six double-figure Randy Foye scored 31 points to AFP Robshaw regrets at Wales World Cup penalty blunder LONDON: Chris Robshaw (pic- I would have done differently. tured) admits he regrets his “Once you get past that you costly decision not to kick a pen- start to enjoy your rugby. Then alty against Wales in the World you get a smile on your face Cup defeat that eventually sealed and remember what you do as a his team’s humiliating pool stage player. Then you start enjoying exit. the game again.” Speaking for the first time since It was not until Harlequins’ England crashed out of the World one-point defeat at Exeter on Cup on home soil, captain Rob- November 28 that Robshaw felt shaw said opting for an attacking his equilibrium was restored, the line-out instead of taking a shot wounds of England’s World Cup at goal was the wrong call. misery taking 56 days to heal, If Owen Farrell had made the although he knows some of the kick in the closing moments the hurt will always linger. game would have been drawn and A recent trip to Brazil has England would have reached the helped put further distance quarter-finals. between himself and the calami- Orioles ink Instead, they lost 28-25 to ties against Wales and Australia, Warren Gatland’s men and were while comfort was taken from a Reigning Rolex Sydney to Hobart yacht race champion Roger Hickman Korean outfielder beaten by Australia a week later conversation with former New (right) holding the overall winner’s trophy, the Tattersall’s Cup aboard to seal their exit. Zealand captain Sean Fitzpatrick. his 30 year-old Farr 43 Wild Rose, and Mark Richards skipper of Wild to $7m deal It was the biggest call of Rob- pened,” Robshaw said on Wednes- “There is no magic cure. You Oats XI who took line honours in last year’s race, at the Cruising Yacht shaw’s captaincy and he was heav- day. “If you had a time machine can go away, be with your friends Club of Australia in Sydney. Australia’s gruelling Sydney to Hobart ily criticised in the aftermath, you’d go back, but unfortunately and family, but you do need time. race faces choppy seas and high winds that “pack a punch” after it WASHINGTON: South Korean with new England coach Eddie we don’t and you just have to get You’re playing and trying to do gets under way tomorrow with a record 27 international entries among outfielder Kim Hyun-soo finalised Jones reportedly considering on with it. everything, but you’re not quite those vying for honours. a two-year Major League Baseball replacing him as skipper. “I accept responsibility for that there,” he said. contract worth $7m yesterday On Sunday he will appear at as I said straight after the game. “I went away with some mates with the Baltimore Orioles. Twickenham for the first time Don’t try and put it on anyone to a house in Hampshire where The 27-year-old left-handed since the World Cup when Har- else. you try and laugh, but while it was hitter will make $3.5m a season lequins host Gloucester in ‘Big “The Welsh boys at Quins good fun, you’re still hurting. Tough conditions ahead after hitting .318 over 10 seasons Game 8’ and the 29-year-old is haven’t brought it up yet, but I’m “It was with schoolmates I with the Doosan Bears of the now able to take a measured view sure they will in time! had known since I was 13. It was Korea Baseball Organization. of the costly decision made three “Of course you think about stuff good fun, but then you come back for Sydney-Hobart fleet Kim established career highs of months ago. like that but you have to move for- to training and you are kind of 28 home runs and 121 runs batted “You look at the way the Wales ward. That’s probably something hanging on. So it does take time.” SYDNEY: Australia’s gruel- the race with six men dying, five in while walking 101 times over game turned out and if we had I did in the first month, thinking ling Sydney to Hobart race faces boats sinking and 55 sailors res- 141 games last season. drawn what would have hap- about things, what didn’t go well, AFP choppy seas and high winds that cued on a fatal night in 1998 when “I was very eager to come to “pack a punch” after it gets under a deep depression exploded over MLB,” Kim said through a trans- way tomorrow with a record 27 the fleet in the treacherous Bass lator. “I’m so (happy) I could cry.” international entries among those Strait. Orioles executive vice president vying for honours. Comanche’s navigator Stan Dan Duquette said he expects The fleet for the 71st edition Honey said he preferred wild Kim to play left field and possi- of the often brutal 628 nautical weather to no wind, believing it bly at first base and he likes how Tiger eyes pain-free 2016 mile (1,163 kilometre) bluewater will be one of the only ways to Kim’s talents fit into the Orioles’ classic stands at 109 and includes beat Wild Oats XI, which has home ballpark, Camden Yards. NEW YORK: With his 40th Woods, who has slipped in recent the 100-foot supermaxi Wild Oats undergone a radical transforma- “He has had over a .400 on-base birthday just one week away, years due to injuries and master- XI which won line honours for an tion, including adding a new bow percentage a couple of times in Tiger Woods (pictured) looks ing of a new swing, thought he was eighth time last year. section. Korea and he’s led his league and optimistically forward to play- back to form after tying for 10th It will once again be going “We’re preparing for the full he’s also led the league in bat- ing golf pain-free next year while at the Wyndham Championship in head-to-head with American range of forecasts that we’ve ting and won the Gold Glove (for he reflects on a 2015 campaign August, following a dismal season super-yacht Comanche, owned seen,” he said. best fielder) a couple of times in blighted by injuries, poor form in which he missed three cuts in by Netscape founder Jim Clark “And we’re looking forward Korea,” he said. and a plummeting world ranking. the majors. But three weeks later and wife Kristy Hinze, which was to racing in any of them, except “All those skills are going to be The greatest player of his gen- he had a second microdiscectomy runner-up in 2014. potentially we would not be eager very helpful in this ballpark, but eration and arguably of all time, surgery to alleviate pressure on In a weather update yesterday, to race in the scenarios that have the best thing that I’ve seen him Woods has not won a tournament a disc in his lower back, before meteorologists forecast choppy a 12-hour or more period of very do is he hits the ball the other anywhere since the 2013 WGC- needing another procedure on seas outside Sydney Heads at the light air because that’s not a con- way. He waits on the ball and he Bridgestone Invitational and his contending, and emerging trium- Oct. 28 on the same area due to start with a southerly blowing up dition that suits us best.” hits down on the fastball and that title drought in the major cham- phant, in the majors over the next discomfort. to 35 knots and rough conditions Despite the race featuring should translate to a lot of home pionships dates back to the 2008 five to 10 years while “still playing “As far as 2015, it was a tough as the fleet spends its first night a handful of 100-footers, Wild runs at this ballpark. U.S. Open. golf at the highest level”. year physically and took a toll at sea. Oats XI skipper Mark Richards “He runs fine, he throws fine Woods, the world number one In a blog posted on the PGA on my body,” said Woods, whose “It’s not a really strong one, but knows Comanche, which set a and he has good instincts. Beyond for a record total of 683 weeks Tour’s website, Woods wrote: “The career tally of 14 major victories it does pack a fair bit of punch new 24-hour monohull record of that, he’s a very good teammate. who is now stunningly ranked thing I’m looking forward to the is surpassed only by Jack Nick- with it,” New South Wales Bureau 618.01 nautical miles in July, is his He’s well regarded by the players 414th, said earlier this month most about 2016 is getting back laus (18). “I had to battle through a of Meteorology’s Michael Loganhe main threat. on his team, and I think he’ll fit that he was in the dark about the out there again. I’ve missed it, and swing pattern change and get that said. “No question Comanche’s going in good with our ballclub. He’s got future of his playing career, ask- I would like to do it pain-free. organised, because it was awful at “It does fringe into the lower to be the one to beat,” he said. a nice disposition, he’s ready to go ing himself: “Where is the light “I haven’t done that in what the beginning of the year ... the end of the gale warning category. “She wrapped up the 24-hour to work every day and he’s very at the end of the tunnel?” seems like a long time. I’ve had it in frustrating part was not being able It will make for rough conditions, world record this year. If she serious about his hitting.” Yet the winner of 79 career spurts the last few years and have to build on it throughout the year. it’s setting up for quite an event- gets the conditions, she’ll be very AFP PGA Tour events now says he done some pretty good things, but ful first night.” tough to beat.” firmly believes he will still be I’d like to have sustained health.” AFP Storms are part and parcel of AFP FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT England take on South Africa Windies bid to avoid knockout blow as KP predicts close game against hosts Aussies MELBOURNE: Under fire from a nub of a tour match in Geelong, Four-match series starts tomorrow, Durban to host Boxing Day Test all quarters after an abysmal where they made hard work of a start to their tour, West Indies state side cobbled together with a LONDON: The Test series have pledged to be more competi- grab-bag of grade-level cricketers. between South Africa and Eng- tive at the traditional Boxing Day A missed catch during the land which starts in Durban Test but will struggle to prevent game by fast bowler Jerome Tay- tomorrow is “too close to call” hosts Australia from taking an lor, who had his back to the play according to former England unassailable 2-0 series lead. when the ball sailed in his direc- skipper Kevin Pietersen. Coming off a three-day trounc- tion, was seen as a symptom of South Africa’s recent 3-0 series ing in the opener in Hobart, the the team’s malaise. defeat in India has depleted con- tourists make their first appear- More will be required of Tay- fidence in the national side, and ance at the Melbourne Cricket lor and Kemar Roach, whose Pietersen believes England can Ground in 15 years, with local modest workloads in Hobart left exploit it. pundits questioning their stature their captain Holder and two-test “Not that long ago I feared we to play in the marquee tests of the left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican would lose easily. But now it is too home summer. shouldering a heavy burden after close to call. The two teams mir- Adding insult to injury, a a series-ending ankle injury to ror each other,” Pietersen said in number of top West Indies play- Shannon Gabriel. his column in the Daily Telegraph. ers have been competing in There is little in the cupboard He said that both sides must Australia’s domestic ‘Big Bash’ for Simmons and the selectors, address the fragility in their bat- Twenty20 tournament, having who will weigh recalling legspin- ting orders, with England too made themselves unavailable ner Devendra Bishoo or uncapped dependent on Alastair Cook and for the three-Test series that all-rounder Carlos Brathwaite. Joe Root and the hosts relying on resumes tomorrow. By contrast, Steven Smith’s Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers. The situation was described emerging Australia side have few “South Africa will rely on two as “totally” frustrating by West concerns, barring the dilemma of big fish in Amla and AB de Vil- Indies coach Phil Simmons, who fitting top order batsman Usman liers. The rest of the batters have hopes the carnival atmosphere of Khawaja into the side after his much to prove,” he said. “But it is the Boxing Day match and the recovery from injury. the same for England. “Their big widespread criticism of his play- Either Shaun Marsh or opener fish are Cook and Joe Root. Nick ers can combine to sting Jason Burns are tipped to make way Compton is back in the side trying Holder’s side into action. for the stylish left-hander and to rebuild a career, Alex Hales is A fiery pre-series call to arms both would have reasons to feel untried in test cricket and James by bowling consultant Curtly aggrieved, with the former hav- Taylor has never played in such Ambrose fell flat in Hobart, ing scored 182 in Hobart and the bouncy, quick conditions.” where the West Indies attack latter teaming well with Warner South Africa-born Pietersen England's James Anderson (left) who is injured, talks with Stuart Broad during a training session in Durban, was brought to its knees in the since the New Zealand series. said another series defeat would South Africa yesterday. England will play South Africa the first Test match starting on Boxing Day. first session by the power hitting The third and final match of pose difficult questions about of openers David Warner and Joe the series starts in Sydney on South African cricket which, like Burns. The tourists were given January 3, 2016. other sports, have adopted quota only two days to find some form in REUTERS systems for non-white players. England okay without the service “There is a lot at stake for South Africa in the Test series against England,” he said. “The Smith pinching himself after public were very disappointed of injured Anderson, says Broad with performances in India recently. But the issues go deeper DURBAN: There is sufficient fitness and bowling so nicely last land’s test series against Pakistan Player of the Year award than just one series defeat. depth in England’s bowling week, (hence) we have got the in October after suffering a bone- “If South Africa lose this series department to make up for the depth to cover. We only name stress injury in his left foot. He SYDNEY: Australia captain team to try to England there will be lots of absence of their record wicket the side the night before the game was a late addition to the squad in and batting supremo Steve Smith and win as questions about whether they are taker James Anderson in the but I think everyone who has had South Africa after impressing for (pictured) yesterday admitted it many games on the right path.” Boxing Day Test against South a run out on this trip has really England Lions in two comeback has been “a hell of a ride” from his as possible. The choice of Kingsmead for Africa, Stuart Broad said yester- impressed.” appearances against Pakistan A Test debut as a leg-spinner to be To be recog- the opening test could also work day. Broad and Finn are likely to be in Dubai earlier this month. Scans named ICC Cricketer of the Year. nised as the in England’s favour. They have not Anderson has been ruled out of joined by Ben Stokes and Chris on Anderson’s right calf on Tues- The honour was bestowed on best player lost a test there since 1928 and the first Test in Durban because Woakes in the bowling line-up for day confirmed he will miss the the 26-year-old late on Wednes- this year won by an innings in 2009. of a calf strain but Broad said the Test which starts tomorrow. series opener but he is hoping to day after finishing the year, which against some “South Africa have never there were others waiting in the “Woakes has been a consistent be fit for the second test in Cape runs from September to Septem- unbelievable enjoyed the Boxing Day test wings to replace him. performer in the United Arab Town on Jan 2. ber, as the leading Test run-scorer talent around experience in Durban and have “Of course it’s disappointing Emirates one-dayers (against The 33-year-old will do some with 1,734 from 25 innings, aver- the world, it’s shifted the fixture in recent years when you lose the spearhead of Pakistan) and has continued light fitness work over the coming aging 82.57. very humbling and it’s an honour.” but it is back to cash in on the your attack but I think, rather that rhythm here. These sort days, before undergoing a fitness He also became the second Given his prolific recent output holiday crowds and the many than it being a ruled out of the of wickets are the type that you test towards the end of the first youngest player to reach the with the bat, it is easy to forget England fans who will be travel- series type thing, it’s just a slight want to see Steven Finn bowl on, Test, the England Cricket Board number one ranking for Test that he made his Test debut as a ling to watch the series,” added niggle and the management good bounce, a bit of seam and he said on Thursday. batsmen behind Indian legend leg-spinner against Pakistan at Pietersen. decided that it really wasn’t worth showed that against South Africa Anderson has claimed 426 test Sachin Tendulkar. Lord’s in 2010, batting well down “This series will feel like play- the risk in the first match of the A,” added Broad. wickets during his career and “You don’t think about these the order. ing in Barbados, where the major- series,” Broad told reporters. Finn put forward his creden- overtook previous record-holder awards and these accolades,” the “You have to pinch yourself ity of the fans are English. It is “We have such depth in the tials with six wickets in the win Ian Botham during England’s tour dashing right-hander told the sometimes - it’s all a little bit a home game for Alastair Cook’s squad that there’s no need to take over South Africa A in the last of the Caribbean earlier this year. Cricket Australia website. surreal on occasions,” Smith said. team.” a risk, it’s not a hammer blow to of the warm-up matches. He had “You just want to go out there REUTERS us. Steven Finn coming back to been forced to pull out of Eng- REUTERS and do the best you can for your AFP Hafeez, Azhar boycott over McCullum wants to be at ‘absolute top’ tainted Amir’s inclusion WELLINGTON: Brendon McCullum intends to bow out in LAHORE: Pakistan internationals. style when he starts his farewell cricket Thursday braced Pakistan Cricket Board tour tomorrow leading New Zea- for another storm when (PCB) confirmed the land into a one-day series against former Twenty20 captain absence of both players Sri Lanka. Mohammad Hafeez and from the training camp. Sri Lanka have called up rein- current one-day skip- Amir, along with Salman forcements for the five ODIs after per Azhar Ali refused to Butt and Mohammad their 2-0 hammering in the Tests. train with tainted pace- Asif, was banned from Lahiru Thirimanne, Tillakara- man Mohammad Amir the sport for a minimum tne Dilshan, Nuwan Kulasekara (pictured) in an ongoing of five years in 2011. The and, depending on fitness, Lasith fitness camp. trio were charged for spot fixing Malinga are among a number Hafeez told head coach Waqar after taking money to arrange of players injected into the ODI Younis he would not attend any deliberate no balls in the Lord’s squad. part of the camp in which Amir Test against England in 2010. In But as much as they want to get will participate, sources close to September this year the Interna- on the winning side of the ledger the matter said. One-day captain tional Cricket Council lifted sanc- McCullum is equally adamant he Azhar Ali also backed Hafeez in tions against the three players. wants to sign off his illustrious boycotting the camp staged to Amir’s ban was relaxed in Janu- 13-year-career on a winning note. train the team for next month’s ary this year and he was allowed The opening ODI is on Boxing tour of New Zealand, where they to play domestic matches. Day in Christchurch, McCullum’s will play three one-day interna- hometown and where he will play tionals and as many Twenty20 AFP his last international in the sec- ond Test against Australia in two months. “We’ve got a bumper calendar Windies look to complete really with Sri Lanka here at the moment, Pakistan to come and finishing off with the Aussies,” he New Zealand’s captain Brendon McCullum driving the ball during the 2015 Cricket World Cup match against abandoned Indian tour said. Australia at Eden Park in Auckland in this file photo of February 28, 2015. “From a playing point of view ST. JOHN’S, Antigua and Bar- (BCCI) counterpart Shashank and a captain’s point of view, I’m buda: West Indies cricket chiefs Manohar, that the Caribbean side fully committed to playing at the Australia in the World Cup final because of a heel injury, returns team and we’ve got a fair bit of said on Wednesday that they are will host India in the Caribbean absolute top of my game and make in March will be missing from the to the side. He joins Mitchell experience so we are looking to edging closer to an agreement in 2016. as many contributions as I can.” Sri Lanka series. McClenaghan, Matt Henry and give them a good run for their which would see them belatedly This agreement, however, is Coach Mike Hesson said he Grant Elliott and Corey Ander- Doug Bracewell as the pace-bowl- money,” he said. complete their 2014 tour of India subject to the WICB and the does not expect McCullum’s son are injured, Daniel Vettori ing options. “I have a lot of confidence in which was controversially aban- West Indies Players Association retirement announcement to have has retired, Trent Boult is being Sri Lanka captain Angelo the one dayers. One bright spot doned. (WIPA) “giving a joint commit- an adverse effect on the team. spelled for the ODI series and Mathews was disappointed the for Sri Lanka in the failed Test Dave Cameron, the president ment to complete, at a later date, “We’re expecting the guys to Tim Southee is being rested for way his side folded in the Tests campaign was the emergence of of the West Indies Cricket Board the tour which prematurely ended carry on in a similar style of play the first two games. but expected a better showing in 23-year-old Dushmantha Cha- (WICB), confirmed that follow- in October 2014”, said a WICB in terms of how we want to go However, Adam Milne, New the limited overs series. meera as a talented quick bowler,” ing discussions with his Board statement. about things,” Hesson said. Zealand’s quickest bowler and “Dilshan, Kulasekara and Thir- Mathews said. of Control for Cricket in India AFP Nearly half the team beaten by who missed the World Cup final imanne are joining the one-day AFP FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Soderling quits Djokovic set to begin season in Doha following World number one to arrive on December 30 to take part in Qatar ExxonMobil Open long-running

DOHA: World number one ment. Ferrer will be looking to launch Doha will be one of three sta- onMobil Open. The Doha event illness Novak Djokovic of Serbia is The week-long Qatar Exxon- his new season on a positive note tions to launch the 2016 tennis carries an overall prize money of LONDON: Sweden’s Robin Sod- expected to arrive in Doha for the Mobil Open will be held from Jan as he did in 2015 when he beat season - with Chennai and Bris- $1,189,605. The singles event has a erling, the player best-known for season opener on December 30, 4 to 9. Berdych in the final. bane - in the first week of Janu- playing field of 32 while 32 players being the first man to beat Rafael details revealed yesterday. Also yesterday, QTF said an After his title win in Doha last ary. appear in the doubles. Nadal at the French Open, has Winner of three Grand Slam injured Richard Gasquet has January, Fererer bagged wins in The January 4-9 event will be retired from professional tennis titles and the season-ending withdrawn from the seven-day Vienna, Kuala Lumpur, Acapulco the 24th edition of the Qatar Exx- THE PENINSULA because of a long-running illness. championships in London this ATP Tour event. and Rio de Janeiro also The 31-year-old, twice a run- year, Djokovic will launch the The world number nine from “Novak will return to Doha as ner-up at Roland Garros, has not new tennis season at Doha’s iconic France is said to be still in recov- world No.1 for the second consec- played an ATP World Tour event Khalifa Tennis Complex where ery mode following a back injury utive year,” Tournament Director since 2011 due to mononucleosis, he is set to feature in the hugely sustained recently. Karim Alami said in an earlier an energy-sapping viral illness. popular Qatar ExxonMobil Open. The winner of Qatar ExxonMo- statement. “Thank you so much for all Two days before Djokovic’s bil 2013, Gasquet has appeared in “Nadal will be looking to win your kind words. So sad I won’t arrival, experienced Tomas Ber- Doha several times over the years. his second Doha title while Fer- play professional tennis again, but dych of the Czech Republic will Two years ago, the French- rer will aim to defend his title he reading all your msgs makes me land in Doha on Sunday. man defeated Nikolay Davydenko won last year,” Alami added. feel a lot better,” Soderling said Former world number one of Russia in the final. Last year Also yesterday, QTF confirmed on his Twitter account. He spent Rafael Nadal of Spain - who has Gasquet was beaten by Berdych Jamie Murray of Britain will 10 years on the Tour and rose to been beginning his season in Doha in the quarter-finals. partner Bruno Soares of Brazil 1994. In 2009 he ended Nadal’s in the last few years - will land in Defending champion David in the doubles event. domination in Paris with a stun- the Qatari capital on January 3, Ferrer of Spain, meanwhile, will The Spanish pair of Feliciano ning victory, only to lose to Roger 2016, the Qatar Tennis Federation be in Doha to attempt his second Lopez and Marc Lopez will also Federer in the final - Federer’s (QTF) said yesterday in a state- title-winning run. team up in the doubles. only title at the claycourt grand slam. REUTERS

Sweden’s Robin Soderling returns a shot against Chile’s Fernando Gonzalez during their match at the Pacific Life Open World number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia returns the ball during his second round match against Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open in Doha in this file picture tennis tournament in Indian of January 8, 2015. Right: David Ferrer lifts the winner’s trophy after beating Tomas Berdych in the final of the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2015. Wells, California in this file picture of March 12, 2007

Villa still an attractive club United players fighting for Van Gaal: Rooney for players, says Garde LONDON: Manchester United said the 30-year-old England cap- chester United.” “We have focused ourselves to captain Wayne Rooney declared tain. Van Gaal has admitted that vic- do that, but it is not easy. Stoke WITTON: Aston Villa will be dow our situation will be a little yesterday that he and his team- “It’s tough, but it’s part of foot- tory at Stoke on Boxing Day is City have won against Manches- able to attract players during the bit better. mates are “fighting” to save the ball and part of being a footballer. now imperative. ter City, for example, and it’s a January transfer window despite “Many players are interested job of embattled manager Louis It’s not nice when you’re getting Asked if it was a must-win special ground. It is not easy the prospects of them maintain- in coming to England and joining van Gaal. criticism every week. game, he told MUTV: “Yes, I with a lot of circumstances that ing their Premier League status Villa. It depends on the mentality British media reports claim “It’s tough for the players to think so, because when you have are not suitable always to playing for next season looking very dim, of the player. As you can imagine Van Gaal is on the brink of the deal with. We hurt. We’re proud lost three times in a row, then you good football.” manager Remi Garde has said. some loans would be very helpful sack after a run of six games people and proud to play for Man- need a victory. AFP Villa are rock bottom in the for the club but also for the player. without victory and he stormed table after picking up just seven “For example if some players out of his weekly press conference points from 17 games and head want to play in the Euros at the on Wednesday after criticising into tomorrow’s league clash end of the season but are maybe the speculation about his job. against West Ham United 10 not getting enough games at their But despite rumours of dis- points away from safety. clubs, maybe it’s a good deal for cord over his methods within the Garde, who replaced Tim both.” United dressing room, Rooney Sherwood last month, has been Garde said he does not care says that the players are firmly assured by the club’s hierarchy how Villa play this weekend as behind the manager. that he will receive funds for play- long as they win as he was eager “We’re fighting for the manager ers he wants in January. to end the club’s woeful 16-game and trying to get results to turn “Even at the bottom of the winless streak in the league. this around,” Rooney told Sky table Aston Villa is still attrac- “I prefer to win playing well, of Sports. tive for some players,” Garde told course. This is how I see football. “You have a lot of people talking British media. But sometimes in this situation, about things they believe are hap- “They know we are not rel- a bad or lucky win will be a very pening, when in reality the people egated yet and hopefully before good gift for us,” writing that stuff don’t know any- the opening of the transfer win- REUTERS thing that’s happening.” United slipped to fifth in the Premier League last weekend after losing 2-1 at home to pro- Bournemouth face fine moted Norwich City -- their third defeat in succession in all com- BOURNEMOUTH: Premier Nottingham Forest and Fulham petitions. League newcomers Bourne- also broke the rules and will be They visit Stoke City on Sat- mouth will be hit with a fine after subject to transfer embargos for urday before welcoming champi- breaching the Football League’s the rest of the season. ons Chelsea to Old Trafford on financial fair play rules during Bournemouth won the Cham- December 28. their rise to the top flight. pionship last season to gain pro- Prior to cutting short his A statement by the Football motion to the tournament for the pre-game press conference, Van League said Bournemouth were first time. Details of the amount Gaal said the rumours about his one of several clubs to have spent Bournemouth are likely to be future had affected his family and in excess of six million pounds fined have not been published but Rooney sympathised with the ($8.95 million) more than what will be determined by how much Dutchman’s complaint. they generate in revenue -- the they went over the threshold. “We all have families and some- Manchester United’s manager Louis van Gaal (right), Mamphis Depay (left) and Wayne Rooney during a train- maximum permitted deviation. times things get written, which is ing session at the Jan Breydel Stadium, Bruges, in this August 25, 2015 file photo. Former English champions REUTERS not nice for your family to see,” England’s Boxing Day football bonanza inspires love and hate

LONDON: While the rest of Teams like Liverpool and excesses. But fans adore the field and Hallam, the world’s old- record turnout for a third divi- pews of the football stadium. Europe hibernates over the Manchester City will have tradition of the year-end sport- est and second-oldest football sion match. For some, the Boxing Boxing Day matches are a Christmas holiday period, Eng- played six times in three weeks ing extravaganza, which since clubs, for starting the tradition Day sportfest is a day for recov- must-watch; surprises are com- land indulges in an orgy of by January 11, giving rise to sim- 1871 has peaked on Boxing Day. with a December 26 match back ery after drinking and eating too mon and matches often enter- football, with Boxing Day the mering complaints from coaches According to one definition, the in 1860. More than 150 years later, much and an escape from forced taining. highlight of this secular and often and players. day was named after the “Christ- the magic still works. banter between seldom-seen and In 1963, 66 goals were scored maligned tradition. Managers mutter about the mas box” of gifts given to work- The favourite song of Sheffield often bickering relatives. in the first division and Ipswich With barely any time to digest strain on players, and players ers by employers. Now the date is Wednesday supporters refers to For others, the matches are Town received a 10-1 drubbing at the Christmas turkey, teams come grumble about being torn away synonymous with sports: cricket, the “Boxing Day Massacre” of the only game of the year - the the hands of Fulham. out the next day to play as part of from families gathered for what fox hunting, horse racing, rugby, 1979, when rivals Sheffield United football equivalent of midnight Losing on Boxing Day can be a series fixtures running into the should be an annual bout of gift- but most of all, football. were routed 4-0 in a muddy field mass for infrequent churchgoers, especially tough. first days of 2016. giving, over-eating and alcoholic Football fans can thank Shef- in front of 49,309 spectators, a with whole families heading to the AFP 24 FRIDAY 25 DECEMBER 2015 Sport www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Bluebuster seals the deal for Tuganov in Doha Qatar International Show Jumping Championship: Lintea Tequila ridden by Tops-Alexander finishes second

By Rizwan Rehmat Edwina won QR 59,600 while Al have look at one competition at finished in third spot in a time Kuwaiti Ali Al Khorafi guided with Seoul in the 120cm class. Duhami got richer by QR 44,700. a time. of 33.02 seconds. Alrajhi won QR Ungarin 4 to victory with a flaw- Qatar’s Mohammad Al Ghazali DOHA: Experienced rider Bling Bling 2 (4th, Abdullah Tomorrow (Friday) it would be 17,775. less routine in the 130/135cm class powered Caresse to second spot in Vladimir Tuganov yesterday Al Sharbatly) and Harry K (5th, quite and then I will try again” Counselor (4th, 34.85 seconds) at QEF’s Outdoor Arena. a time of 26.49 seconds. produced a flawless routine with Derin Demirsoy) completed the he said. and VDL Fakir (5th, 35.83 sec- Ungarin clocked a time of 27.02 Saudi rider Meshary Ahumaidi Bluebuster to win the feature top five riders in what was compe- “I was good in the jump-off. The onds) completed the top five in seconds as Al Khorafi claimed the Alharbi was in the saddle to guide competition on the opening day tition four of the day staged under obstacles went smooth,” Tuganov the two-phased class. top prize of QR2,812. BMC White Nose to third spot. of the Qatar International Show light rain. said. Russian rider Tuganov was Annalita, ridden by Noora Al Alharbi clocked a time of 27.01 Jumping Championship. Qatar’s Hamad Al Attiyah In competition three, Jordan’s astride Counselor while Czech Qaoud, finished in second spot in seconds. Bluebuster clocked a time of (13th, Whitaker), Mubarak You- Ibrahim Hani Bisharat produced Ales Opatrny was in the saddle a time of 28.24 seconds. Al Qaoud Welldone finished in fourth 36.86 seconds in an impressive suf Al Rumaihi (14th, Vivaldi K) his best time in the second stint of VDL Fakir. got richer by QR2,250. spot with Saudi rider Abdulaziz routine that earned Tuganov, 54, and Saeed Nasser Al Qadi (15th, as he guided Brown Sugar to the Earlier in competition two, Al Duhami of Saudi Arabia fin- Saleh Alhagbani (27.01 seconds) the top prize of QR 74,500 in the St Lucia, and 22nd, Desperadito) top spot in the 145cm class. Showjumping Results ished in third spot with Garlic VH while Beoneik completed the top 145cm class. also featured in the competition. Brown Sugar clocked a time of Kapelhof (28.66 seconds). five with Noora Al Qaoud (27.42 Lintea Tequila, ridden by Aus- “It was a great competition,” 31.37 seconds in what was a flaw- Read under as horse, rider, time and The third spot was worth QR seconds) prize money: tralia’s Edwina Tops-Alexander, Tuganov said after finishing the less routine. Bisharat picked up 1,687. The championship continues finished in second spot in the competition in light drizzle. the top prize of QR 29,625. (Comp. 4) Table A, One round against Qatari pair of Sheikh Khalifa today with three more compe- the clock with Jump Off, Art. 238.2.2 round against class segment “I am happy to have done so Cha Cha Cha 7 also rocked Al Thani (4th spot, 32.48 seconds) titions set to start after today’s - 145 CM staged at QEF’s Outdoor Arena. well. I am always confident going with a neat routine, helping Saudi and Hamad Nasser Al Qadi (32.54 Friday prayers. Lintea Tequila clocked a time of into a competition,” the Musco- rider Al Duhami to the second Bluebuster, Vladimir Tuganov, 36.86, seconds). The three-day event ends QR74,500 Lintea Tequila, Edwina 37.20 seconds. vite added. spot. Cha Cha Cha 7 clocked 32.38 Dolce Vita M had Sheikh Kha- tomorrow. Tops-Alexander, 37.20, QR59,600 Al Al Capone, who had Saudi rider “This is my second time here seconds as Al Duhami got richer lifa in the saddle while SIE C Lon- The same venue will stage the Capone, Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami, Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami, fin- and I have won my first competi- by QR 23,700. 38.52, QR44,700 Bling Bling 2, Abdullah nie was ridden by Al Qadi. Al Rayyan International Show ished in third spot in a time of tion,” Tuganov said. Chicago 84 - ridden by Saudi Alsharbatly, 38.95, QR29,800 Harry K, In competition one - held in Jumping Championship from Jan- 38.52 seconds. “I can win every day but we Arabia’s Abulrahman Alrajhi - Derin Demirsoy, 40.38, QR20,860.00 the morning session under bright uary 1 to 3, QEF said on Wednes- (Comp. 3) Special Two Phases, Art. sunshine - Saudi rider Naser Al day. 274.5.6 - 145 CM Shawwaf emerged an easy winner THE PENINSULA Brown Sugar, Ibrahim Hani Bisharat, 31.37 Seconds, QR29,625 Cha Cha Cha 7, Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami, 32.38 Seconds QR23,700 Chicago 84 Abdulrahman Alrajhi, 33.02 Seconds, QR17,775 Counselor,Vladimir Tuganov, 34.85 Seconds, QR11,850 Vdl Fakir, Ales Opatrny, 35.83, QR8,295.00 (Comp. 2) Two Phases, Art. 274.5.3 - 130/135 CM Ungarin 4, Ali Al Khorafi, 27.02 Seconds, QR2,812 Annalita, Noora Al Qaoud,28.24 Seconds, QR2,250 Garlic Vh Kapelhof, Ramzy Hamad Al Duhami, 28.66, QR1,687 Dolce Vita M, Sheikh Khalifa Al Thani, 32.48 Seconds, QR1,125 S I E C Lonnie, Hamad Nasser Al Qadi, 32.54 Seconds, QR787.50 (Comp. 1) Two Phases, Art. 274.5.3 - 120 Cm Seoul, Naser Al Shawwaf, 25.23 Seconds, QR1,687 Caresse M G Mohammad Al Ghazali, 26.49, Seconds QR1,350 Bmc Experienced rider Vladimir Tuganov of Russia receiving the winner’s prize from Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari White Nose Meshary Alhumaidi Alharbi, in the presence of Qatar Equestrian Federation President Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah (right), on the 27.01 Seconds, QR1,012 Welldone Abdulaziz Saleh Alhagbani, 27.01, opening day of the Qatar International Show Jumping Championship at the QEF’s Outdoor Arena yesterday. QR675.00 Beoniek Noora Al Qaoud, 27.42 A Qatari competitor taking part in the Qatar International Show Jumping Tuganov produced a flawless routine with Bluebuster to win the feature competition. Seconds, QR472 Championship at the QEF Outdoor Arena.

Lady Chantilly wins Al Ghariya Cup Qatar Masters: Carlsen emerges as sole leader By Armstrong Vas Qatar’s Mohammed Al Sayed Qatar Masters Mohammed is in the 17th place. Open Chess DOHA: Reigning world cham- The Qatar Masters Open is the pion Magnus Carlsen of Nor- strongest ever of its kind with 77 Standings after the end of Round five way played a brilliant attacking Grandmasters’ taking part. And Magnus Carlsen (Norway) 4.5/5 game against Li Chao of China it is for the first time that a reign- Wesley So (USA) 4/5 to emerge as the sole leader at ing world champion is compet- Dariusz Swiercz (Poland) 4/5 the Qatar Masters Open Chess ing in an open event since Boris Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (Azerbaijan) 4/5 Championship here yesterday. Spassky did in Vancouver in 1971. Yu Yangyi (China) 4/5 In the fifth round of the nine- At last year’s championship, Surya Shekhar Ganguly (India) 4/5 round championship, the 25-year- Giri and Kramnik won second Vladimir Kramnik (Russia) 4/5 old Norwegian registered his and third place respectively. Sergey Karjakin (Ukraine) 4/5 fourth successive win. The Championship is organised Anish Giri (Netherlands) 4/5 The podium winners at the Al Ghariya Cup pose for a picture with the officials of Qatar Racing and Equestrian Carlsen, who began his cam- by the Qatar Chess Federation in Club in Doha yesterday. Lady Chantilly won the Al Ghariya Cup. paign with an opening round draw association with Qatar Olympic Pairing for Round Six on Dec 26 at 3:00pm with Nino Batsiashvili of Geor- Committee and sponsored by GM So Wesley vs GM Carlsen Magnus gia, now has 4.5 points from five Abdullah Abdulghani & Bros Co GM Kramnik Vladimir vs GM Mamedyarov rounds. Eight players are in sec- WLL with a total prize money of Shakhriyar ond spot, with four points, includ- $130,000. The prize for the top GM Ganguly Shekhar vs GM Giri Anish ing last year’s winner Yu Yangyi 20 players of the Qatar Masters GM Swiercz Dariusz vs GM Karjakin Sergey of China. Open is more than $100,000, with GM Li Chao B vs GM Yu Yangyi Overnight joint leader Anish the winner taking home $27,000. GM Fedoseev Vladimir vs GM Harikrishna P Giri of Netherlands is one of them The competition will be fierce GM Jakovenko Dmitry vs GM Bologan Viktor along with Wesley So of USA, Dar- in the next three rounds which iusz Swiercz of Poland, Shakhri- resume after today’s rest day. GM Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son vs GM Vitiugov Nikita yar Mamedyarov of Azerbaijan, The championship ends on Surya Shekhar Ganguly of India, December 29. GM W Radoslaw vs GM Sjugirov Sanan Vladimir Kramnik of Russia and GM Al Sayed Mohammed vs GM Sergey Karjakin of Ukraine. THE PENINSULA Ponomariov Ruslan

Qatar’s Mohammed Al Sayed (centre) before the start of the fifth round during the Qatar Masters Open Chess Qarn’s Majeed in action in the Dukhan Cup at the QREC in Doha yesterday. Majeed won the Dukhan Cup. Championship at Aspire Zone in Doha yesterday. Right: Magnus Carlsen of Norway during his fifth round match.