The Peninsula Newspaper @PeninsulaQatar @peninsula_qatar

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 • 5 Rabia I 1437 • Volume 20 Number 6646 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Darb El-Saai: Past Emir receives Kyrgyzstan President meets the future at SEC classroom Tent with 3D projection a hit with children

By Fazeena Saleem The film is showed an average 80 to 100 times every day and 10 to 15 people attend DOHA: Among the major attractions at each show. Darb El-Saai is a recreation of Qatar’s Teach For Qatar’s corner at the chil- school days in the past at a tent set up dren’s play area at Darb El-Saai includes by the Supreme Education Council (SEC). colourful and interactive oversized let- The classroom simulated by ‘Teach for ters and numbers where children can Qatar’ (TFQ), a non-governmental organi- play, climb and have fun while partici- sation gives the visitors a glimpse of the pating in a challenging educational com- country’s education history. petition. Furnished with old desks, chairs “Children are asked simple questions, and other objects, the Teach For Qatar and if they answer all correct, their names classroom demonstrates ‘past meet- are put on the board. They get really ing the future’ concept by showing a excited, and some of them come repeat- 3D projection of a teacher conducting edly to play,” said Al Mansoor. a science lesson through an interactive Visitors are encouraged to share their fun experiment. The teacher explains experience at Teach For Qatar and Qatar how to make a model rocket with straws National Day on social media using the and strings. hashtag #Y _[ _%). “The activity as a whole aims to remind Teach For Qatar is a local non-govern- the public of the vital role a passionate mental organisation which provides pas- teacher can have in student learning. The sionate graduates and young professionals look of the class is very old, the chairs, with an opportunity to join at independent tables and the blackboard, where a four schools for a two-year teaching and leader- minutes 3D film is showed. We are trying ship development programme. to sort of combine the past, the present TFQ hand-picks graduates and young and future,” Aisha Al Mansoor, Commu- professionals who wish to give back to the nications Specialist at Teach For Qatar country, whether nationals or residents, by told this newspaper yesterday. providing them the opportunity to inspire “At the end, we have a very good mes- students through a two-year teaching sage, that is how you give back to your placement in one of Qatar’s independent Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani met yesterday with President of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Almaz Atambayev Beck. country. It’s like a call for action,” she schools. They discussed bilateral relations and the latest regional and international developments. added. THE PENINSULA

PM opens paediatric emergency centre Emir receives Traffic pavilion at Darb call from El-Saai draws crowd Kuwait Emir By Sidi Mohamed how to wear protective gear.” DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim There are children’s cars to bin Hamad Al Thani received a tel- DOHA: The pavilion of Media help them how the traffic signals ephone call from Emir of Kuwait and Awareness section of the and pedestrian crossings as a kind H H Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Department of Traffic at Darb of awareness, Hussain added. Jaber Al Sabah. They discussed El-Saai has attracted more than A highlight this year, accord- the brotherly ties between the two 15,000 visitors since the venue ing to the official, there are pro- countries and ways of enhancing (of official National Day celebra- grammes at the department’s them and regional and interna- tions) opened its doors to people pavilion for people of all ages, tional issues of common interest. on December 8. from four years to their parents. First Lieutenant, Adil Hussain, “We give practical test to the QNA from the Traffic Department, told older people to assess their atten- this newspaper that this was the tion while they are driving, and Qatar Airways second year of participation of whether they are receiving SMS- his department at Darb El-Saai es or phone calls while driving.” bans hoverboards whereby a whole Traffic Village Another attraction at Darb El- has been set up. Saai is the Ministry of Economy DOHA: Qatar Airways has banned “This year we have more activi- and Commerce’s pavilion where battery-powered personal vehicles ties for visitors from all age groups the Consumer protection and commonly known as ‘hoverboards’ and not for children like before,” Commercial registration depart- on all its flights to ensure safety of Hussain said. “For children, we ments are represented. passengers and crew. Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani opened the renovated are focusing on safety related to Continued on page 10 Effective immediately, the ban Al Sadd Paediatric Emergency Centre of Hamad Medical Corporation yesterday. Prime Minister toured the riding bicycles and telling them applies to all small vehicles pow- centre and was briefed on its facilities and services. how to ride bicycles safely and THE PENINSULA ered by lithium batteries as both Report on page 4 checked-in and cabin baggage on all Qatar Airways flights. The ban applies regardless of the watt- hour rating of the lithium battery. Continued on page 10

Yemen negotiations will not be easy: Vice-President THE PENINSULA

By Mohamed Osman sions, he added. Bahah who was ences for the Geneva negotiations, The Saudi Arabia-led coalition making a presentation at QU including the GCC initiative, out- represents a new turning point DOHA: Geneva II negotiations entitled “The Republic of Yemen… come of national dialogue, the UN in the history of the region, and that began yesterday aim at Where is it headed to?”, gave an decision No. 2216, he said, pointing gave hopes for a new era, and it restoring peace and stability in insight into the history of Yemen out that the main concern today comes within the Gulf and Arab Yemen, says the country’s visiting over the past 50 years. Mistakes is to end the conflict because security system, he said. Vice-President and Prime Minis- committed and accumulated over innocent lives are being claimed Replying to questions, he said ter, Khaled Mahafoudh Bahah. this period have led to instability and bloodshed is taking place due the public resistance members are At a lecture he delivered at and bloodshed in the country. to the mistakes repeated over the gradually being integrated into the Qatar University (QU) yesterday, Bahah pointed out that war past 50 years, and from which we armed forces, but the process is Bahah said that despite optimism will end but what happens after have not learnt lessons, he said. Yemen Vice-President and Prime going to slow down because there the negotiations will not be easy the war. “Are we going to usher in Bahah also pointed out that due Minister Khaled Mahafoudh Bahah is the need for filtration to make speaking at Qatar University. TODAY’S EDITION according to “our experience with a new era of peace and stability to the wars and instability, Yemen sure that terrorists do not infil- INCLUDES A 12-PAGE the Houthi militia”. or repeat the same mistakes and today is the poorest country in trate into the ranks of fighters. QATAR NATIONAL But the stick will be there if plant seeds for conflict to happen the world with a per capita aver- efforts for rehabilitation, recon- Continued on page 8 they did not comply with the over another 10 or 50 years?” age income of $1.118, underlining struction and launching real DAY SUPPLEMENT international community’s deci- There are supportive refer- the pressing need for concerted development work in the country. THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

New Port to PM opens expanded start functioning from Dec 24 Paediatric Center DOHA: Operations at the new Hamad Port will begin on December 24 with limited types Emergency facility in Al Sadd gets 25pc additional space of ships and cargoes, The Minis- try of Transport said yesterday. DOHA: The Prime Minister and diatric Emergency Services. resources and space that will ben- Once fully operational, Hamad Interior Minister H E Sheikh The expansion sees the center efit the children and families we Port’s capacity will be six million Abdullah bin Nasser bin Kha- grow by 25 percent with an extra serve in Al Sadd and surround- containers a year. It will be con- lifa Al Thani yesterday officially 22 new beds distributed on 13 ing neighbourhoods,” said Dr Al nected with other GCC countries opened Hamad Medical Corpo- treatment rooms, six triage Kuwari. through road, sea and rail net- ration’s (HMC) newly completed rooms, an emergency procedure Dr Khalid Al Ansari said the works, and this is an additional expansion of its Paediatric Emer- room and an isolation unit, bring- upgraded facility would reduce value for Qatar’s ports in general, A view of the new Hamad Port. gency Center (PEC) in Al Sadd. ing the total number of beds in the waiting time for patients. “The said a statement. Following the opening ceremony, facility to 86. An extra 30 nurses expanded facility allows for a The port will be able to han- and a port marine unit. facilities. Hamad port will sup- the Prime Minister toured the have been hired for a total of 216 more efficient flow of pediatric dle 1.7 million tonnes of general The port will also have a cen- port economic diversification and expanded emergency facility and nurses and 65 doctors; charged patients, with additional triage goods, one million tonnes of food tralised customs area, a port improve the region’s competitive- inspected its treatment and pro- with evaluating and treating the areas and examination rooms and grains and 500,000 vehicles. It will administrative district, vessels ness by transforming Qatar into a cedure rooms and isolation units, emergency needs of children. staff contributing to a reduction also has a general cargo terminal, inspecting platform, 110 m control regional sea trading hub, said the which were designed to meet the “This expansion supports our in wait times,” Dr Al Ansari said. a multi-use terminal, an offshore tower, multiple maritime facili- ministry. health care needs of children. efforts to deliver the safest, most This main PEC in Al Sadd and supply base, a coast guard facility, ties, mosque, stocks, among other THE PENINSULA He was briefed on the workflow effective and most compassionate its satellite stations are geared and the state-of-the-art medical care to each and every one of our towards providing highly spe- systems used at the centre for pediatric patients. It is an integral cialised, quality emergency serv- the evaluation and treatment of component of HMC’s Facilities ices to pediatric patients seeking patients. Master Plan to extend our pediat- immediate care across Qatar. The Prime Minister was ric health services infrastructure The Paediatric Emergency Qatar wins traffic awareness film award accompanied by the Minister of to meet the healthcare needs of the Center Al Sadd is located on Public Health H E Abdullah bin nation,” according to Dr Al Kuwari. Suhaim Bin Hamad intersection, DOHA: Qatar’s Ministry of Khalid Al Qahtani, Dr Hanan Al “The services and amenities Mirqaab Al Jadeed Area 39. It is Interior has won first position in Kuwari, Managing Director of of the new facility will enable open 24 hours a day, seven days an awareness film competition HMC, and Dr Khalid Al Ansari, further specialised emergency a week. focusing on traffic safety organ- Medical Director of HMC’s Pae- services and provide additional THE PENINSULA ised by the General Secretariat of Arab Interior Ministers Council. Qatar placed first in the con- test themed “speed and its role in traffic accidents”. The award was announced in the 39th Conference Widam opens sales of Arab police and security chiefs held in Tunis. Dr Mohammed bin outlet in Al Khor Ali Kouman, Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers DOHA: Widam company yesterday Council awarded the prize to opened its sales outlet in Al Khor, tak- Brig Rashid Shaheen Al Ateeq, Brig Rashid Shaheen Al Ateeq, Director of Control and Inspection Department ing the total number of Widam outlets Director of Control and Inspec- of the Ministry of Interior, receiving the award from Dr Mohammed bin Ali in Qatar to 17. It offers a variety of meat tion Department of the Ministry Kouman, Secretary General of the Arab Interior Ministers Council, in Tunis. products. of Interior who headed the Qatari The company seeks to cover different delegation at the conference. place in the UN International a new accomplishment in the field geographical areas and the aim is to reach The General Secretariat of traffic awareness fest in 2003, of awareness film competition out to consumers in different locations Arab Interior Ministers Council third place in first international by Secretariat of the Council of and provide them with quality products, organises security awareness film traffic awareness festival in 2005, Arab Interior Ministers winning said Abdul Rahman Mohammed Mubark contests every year, whereas Min- first place in the security Media for the eighth time in a row the Al Khayarain, CEO of Widam. istry of Interior had won distinc- contest conducted by the General first place in the film on the fight Opening an outlet in Al Khor is impor- tive places in most of them, said Secretariat of the Council of Arab against human trafficking. It added tant for the company being the fourth a statement yesterday. Interior Ministers in 2006, and another milestone this year by win- largest area in terms of population after The Ministry of Interior Qatar in the International Festival for ning first place in two of the five Doha, Rayyan and Al Wakrah, he added. won special traffic safety film the prevention of road accidents areas of competition. award in 2001, film award on wherein 47 countries participated THE PENINSULA Widam officials during the opening of new outlet in Al Khor. drug awareness in 2002, third in 2010. In 2012 the Ministry added THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 HOME 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com National fervour peaks as day draws closer By Mukesh Sharma

DOHA: The roar of warplane engines preparing for National Day aerobatics is competing with soaring fervour on the ground as people look for ways to join in the celebrations. Not an outlet in Doha can be seen without the National Flag as almost every other building is clothed in maroon and white. The patriotic spirit building over weeks has spiked to a crescendo three days ahead of December 18. Mobile cameras clicked and people stood in their tracks as a helicopter flew with the Emir’s portrait on a flag last week. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin A cake in National Flag colours at Magnolia Bakery at Hamad Al Thani was seen sporting national colours Dar Al Salam Mall in Doha. MUKESH SHARMA at a summit in Riyadh recently. Layan, all of 18 months, will join the festivities will become rooted from a tender age,” says the with her parents by visiting one of the sites — there lawyer, who studied at Cardiff in Wales. are several teeming with events — in Doha where From National Day cakes to masks and bags to celebrations are taking place. badges, bespoke merchandise is at its creative best, “As parents we make sure that our daughter also making children and adults alike soak in the spirit takes part in the National Day as we dress her in of the occasion. Khalid Hany Awad, a fifth-grader at the colours of the flag and visit celebration sites, Al Muntazah Model Independent School is looking says Maryam Al Kuwari. The legal counsel at Qatar forward to the celebrations for which he has been Petroleum feels “a great sense of pride and gratitude practicing. The school is putting up an exhibition. “I sweep over us” as the Qatar National Day draws near enjoy the festivities,” says the 11-year-old. every year. So does Hayam Said Okby, a teacher at Hany Anwar Awad, a teacher at Ahmed bin Al Quds Model School in Doha. “I love Qatar and Hanbal Independent Secondary School for Boys wish for its advancement,” she says. In a throwback would like to congratulate the country’s leadership to the old days, Al Quds Model School is displaying on the occasion. “I hope the country continues to a village with different areas of Doha. achieve what makes it a great country,” he says. Al Kuwari believes in bequeathing patriotism to the next generation. “We pass on our pride so it THE PENINSULA

Plan to produce 7MW of electricity

DOHA: Qatar has completed a ramaa. The wind turbine project to reduce the dependence on gas study to set up a wind turbine will be the first of its kind in a GCC and petrol-fired power plants and with a capacity to produce seven country, Al Hammadi told Al Sharq to meet the lofty objectives of the megawatt (MW) of electricity in on the sidelines of a meeting of a Qatar National Vision 2030,” he the northern part of the country, working team of renewable energy added. “Renewable energy will be said a senior official from utility held at the headquarters of Arab our top priority in future. Sev- distributor, Kahramaa. League in Cairo. eral studies have been conducted “A plot of land has already been “We have also planned to to launch solar power plants in earmarked for the project in the build the highest wind turbine the country. Three solar power northern areas of the country,” in the world with a height of 135 plant projects are already in the said Abdul Aziz Ahmed Al Ham- meters,” said Al Hammadi. pipeline. Work on one of them will madi, Head of the Tarsheed, the “We are working to produce begin next year.” national electricity and water at least two percent renewable conservation programme of Kah- energy of our total consumption THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME National Day stamp released Q-Post launches QR5 stamp and QR6 First Day Covers By Raynald C Rivera

DOHA: Qatar Postal Services Company (Q-Post) yesterday launched a commemo- rative stamp to mark Qatar National Day. “National Day is a very special occa- sion to all of us. The idea is to document Yemen Vice-President and Prime Minister Khaled Mahafoudh Bahah (left), with QU this event for the future generations and President Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham. also it is a good opportunity to expose our pride on our National Day through the postal network,” Q-Post Chairman Faleh Bahah gives insight into Yemeni politics Mohammed Al Naemi told the media at yesterday’s launch. Continued from page 1 in highlighting the most significant The National Day stamp, with a dimen- Bahah was accorded a warm wel- phases of the Qatari history”. Today, sion of 54mm by 37.7mm, was designed by come at a ceremony attended by mem- the Arabic and Islamic nation Yemen Abdelatif Zaian. “We have chosen to make bers of QU leadership, college deans, is facing tremendous challenges which the design very simple and emphasise on diplomats, local and international led to a new situation in the region. the (National Day) logo with a statement media representatives and around 200 In this context, Qatar University from the founder of Qatar Sheikh Jassim Faleh Mohammed Al Naemi (left), Chairman of Qatar Postal Services Company, during the students, as well as QU faculty mem- provides decision-makers with a plat- bin Mohammad bin Thani,” explained Al launch of National Day stamp by Q-Post at Katara, yesterday. BAHER AMIN bers and staff to honour his visit to form to discuss the various contem- Naemi. Qatar. He was presented with a com- porary issues related to the region, in Each stamp is priced QR5, and 40,000 future, but the committee is still discussing ing a rare collection of stamps from the memorative plaque by QU President line with Qatar’s ongoing mission to units are available for sale starting tomor- as to the frequency of issuing new com- Indian Postal Early Period to British Postal Dr Hassan Rashid Al Derham. be a key driver of peace, steadfastness row. Some 2,000 units of First Day Covers, memorative stamps. “This is the first edi- Administration period to National Admin- In his presentation, Bahah also in the face of injustice, and preserva- which costs QR6 each, are also ready. tion and we are hoping to practice this in istration period. The expo is located at highlighted a number of issues such tion of the nations’ independence, Al Al Naemi believes issuing commemo- the future. We have a number of options Katara Building 13. as Al Houthi Movement and the six Derham said. rative stamp is an excellent way to mark on how we document it. Whether it would Qatar places a strong impetus on phi- wars (2004-2009), Arab Spring and “This also shows the university’s National Day as it provides more expo- be yearly or every five years is still under lately with the opening of the Arab Postal its impact on the situation in Yemen, commitment to advancing the spirit sure for the celebration and the country discussion with the committee.” Stamps Museum which serves as reposi- the GCC initiative in Yemen, Al Hazm of belonging among students, and to as stamps travel around the world. Stamps, he said, are still very relevant tory of over 32,000 stamps from all over Storm (Asifat Al Hazm), and Geneva I engaging them to reflect on national “It cover s a lot of geographical areas nowadays not only as a legal tender and the Arab region. and II conferences, among others. issues and contributing to building and get noticed by a lot of people from the way to send letters and parcels but also The Museum, said to be the first of its In his remarks, Al Derham said: “It the future of the nation in line with post office to postal operations in other as a hobby for some people and an ambas- kind in the region, is strategically located is a pleasure and a privilege to wel- our Arabic and Islamic values and countries until it reaches its final destina- sador for a country across the globe. in Katara and permanently houses stamps come Khaled Mahafoudh Bahah to traditions,” Al Derham added. tion where it gives us a lot of exposure.” Yesterday’s launch coincides with the from 22 Arab League member states. Qatar and QU. Since its inception, There are plans to launch National Day opening of an exhibition tracing the his- the university has played a pivotal role THE PENINSULA stamps delving on certain themes in the tory of postal services in Qatar featur- THE PENINSULA

DECC announces HMC project to focus on free underground parking on Friday enhancing nurses’ IT skills DOHA: The Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) DOHA: The Nursing Informatics equip nurses with the required Office proficiency; creating a com- underground parking facility will Department at Hamad Medical computer skills to avoid any prehensive database of nurses be provided free of charge to the Corporation (HMC) has imple- potential challenges when using comprising a score matrix to public on Friday to mark Qatar mented an innovative quality the new electronic records sys- categorise nurses’ computer skills National Day, the management improvement project aimed at tem, and to ensure the best out- in four categories high, average, announced yesterday. Rahat Indori advancing computer skills of comes for patients. low, and unclassified; and deliv- “We are happy to announce Waseem Barelvi nursing professionals across the Dr Wasmiya Dalhem, Executive ering basic computer orientation that our secure, temperature- organization. Director of Nursing Informatics courses to all nurses who scored controlled parking facility, which Aligned with the changing Department at HMC, said, “The average or lower. Nurses were provides up to 2800 parking healthcare landscape and the implementation of CIS is HMC’s reassessed on the skills after six spaces will be accessible to the IUS to host ‘mushaira’ fast-paced developments in health endeavor to embrace techno- months of the training course. public free of charge for this information technology, the logical health advancements. The team established a multi- week’s Qatar National Day. This to mark National Day project involves training nurses As nurses are the backbone of a dimensional training approach, we hope will allow members of on the new Clinical Information healthcare organization, we con- introducing online training videos the public to park their cars in DOHA: India Urdu Society-Qatar (IUS) is holding a ‘mushaira’ (Urdu System (CIS). CIS is an electronic sider them key players in leading and brochures with readily avail- the downtown and Corniche areas poetry symposium) at the Radisson Blu hotel here tomorrow to mark patient records system, which change at HMC. able resource materials for nurses and enjoy the national day festivi- Qatar’s National Day. includes the patient’s healthcare By improving their computer to access at any time. ties without any additional costs Famous Indian and Pakistani poets will be attending the ‘mushaira’ history, medication list, clinical proficiency and enabling safe The project has garnered leaving their vehicles in a safe and they include Rahat Indori and Waseem Barelvi. notes and other important infor- electronic health documentation, acknowledgement as an innova- a secure environment,” said the According to an IUS release, the other poets who will be participat- mation. HMC has reaffirmed its commit- tive approach in patient care at DECC management. ing in the event are Abbas Tabish, Dr Tabish Mehdi, Shadab Bedhadak CIS has been applied across all ment to provide the safest, most the Cerner Middle East Regional Madrasi, Dr Majid Deobandi, Hasan Kazmi, Dr Tarannum Riyaz, Dr HMC hospitals and will be put effective and most compassionate User Group conference held ear- Naseem Nikhat, Dr Mahtab Alam, Abrar Kashif, Suhail Usmani, Jaleel into practice at other HMC facili- care to its patients.” lier this year in Dubai. Ministry recalls Nizami, Ateeq Anzar, Shad Akolvi and Rashid Alam. ties in the near future. Under the project, the nurs- It also received an award of rec- For invitations people can call 55086335, 55259299, 55272673. The ‘Innovating the CIS training ing informatics team introduced ognition at HMC’s Stars of Excel- Nissan Urvan event will be held at Giwana Hall, Radisson Blu Hotel, at 7.30 pm experience of nurses at HMC’ several best practices, including lence 2015 award ceremony. tomorrow. will lead to the development of developing a unique evaluation DOHA: The Ministry of Econ- THE PENINSULA a multi-step training program to tool to assess nurses’ Microsoft THE PENINSULA omy and Commerce, in collabo- ration with Saleh Al Hamad Al Mana, dealer of Nissan vehicles in Qatar, has announced the recall of Nissan Urvan models of 2013- Midmac, Porr Qatar awarded 2014 over a potential defect in the vacuum hose attached to the brake booster. The Ministry stated that the Al Wakrah Stadium contract recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts DOHA: The Supreme Commit- to protect consumers and ensure tee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) that car dealers follow up on vehi- announced the award of the cle defects and repairs. Main Contractor (MC) for Al The Ministry said that it will Wakrah Stadium to Midmac in coordinate with the dealer to fol- a joint venture with Porr Qatar. low up on maintenance and repair Located approximately 15km works and will communicate with south of Doha, the 40,000-seater customers to ensure that the nec- stadium was designed taking the essary repairs are carried out. dhow boats that carried Qatari The Ministry urges all custom- fishermen and pearl divers as ers to report any violations to its inspiration. It will host matches Consumer Protection and Anti- up the quarter-finals of the 2022 Commercial Fraud Department FIFA World Cup. through the following channels: The contract was signed yes- Hotline: 16000, Email: info@mec. terday at Al Bidda tower in a gov.qa, Social media accounts: ceremony attended by Hassan Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: Al Thawadi, Secretary General, Officials after signing the contract yesterday. MEC_Qatar Ministry of Economy Supreme Committee for Deliv- and Commerce mobile app for ery & Legacy (SC); Hilal Al aging Director of Porr QATAR. construction. By listening to Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar Kuwari, Chairman of the Tech- With the completion of the the community we ensure the nical Delivery Office SC; Yasir enabling works phase, the start stadium and surrounding pre- Al Jamal, Vice Chairman of the of vertical construction of the cinct will leave a valuable social Two lanes on Onaiza Technical Delivery Office, SC; superstructure - including con- legacy in Al Wakrah. Our legacy Ghanim Al Kuwari, Executive struction of the stands - will concept is also strengthened by street to be closed Director of Competition Ven- commence before the end of appointing a Qatari company ues, SC; Faisal Al Kaabi, Exec- the year. The stadium is set for in a joint venture to contribute DOHA: The Public Works utive Director of Programme completion by the end of 2018. to the economic legacy of the Authority (Ashghal) announced Services, SC; Youssif Al Musleh, Hassan Al Thawadi, Secre- FIFA World Cup in Qatar.” a temporary closure of two lanes Deputy Executive Director of tary General, Supreme Com- Sheikh Hamad bin Abdallah in one direction on part of Onaiza Competition Venues, SC; Oth- mittee for Delivery & Legacy bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairman street towards Omar Al Mukhtar man Zarzour, Deputy Executive (SC), said: “We have achieved of the Board of Midmac Con- street. The roads will be closed Director of Competition Ven- an important milestone today tracting, expressed his gratitude for a year from December 19 until ues, SC; and Thani Al Zarraa, with the award of the main con- to the SC for the trust and con- December 31, 2016. Project Manager Al Wakrah tractor for Al Wakrah Stadium. fidence placed on the company The traffic signal where Ona- Stadium. The MC was repre- This has been accomplished and its joint venture partners to iza street intersects with Omar al sented by RaghibKublawi, Gen- following our continuous con- build Al Wakrah Stadium. Mokhtar street will also be closed. eral Manager of Midmac, and sultation with the Al Wakrah Marc Krouse, Financial Man- community since the start of THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME New road Qatar Foundation unveils graffiti wall

DOHA: Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) unveiled its brand-new graffiti wall at Qatar safety mobile Academy yesterday during an official cer- emony attended by Engineer Jassim Telefat, Group Executive Director of Qatar Founda- tion Capital Projects and Facilities Manage- ment. app launched The wall was created by three local art- ists, Mubarak Al Malik, Moza AlKuwari, and Thamer Al Dossari, and, depicting traditional Net connection not needed to collect data aspects of local life, aims to inspire students, faculty, and community members to work By Sanaullah Ataullah Qatar Insurance Company (QIC) together for a brighter future. intends to introduce behavior- Mubarak Al Malik, one of the local artists, DOHA: The Qatar Mobility based insurance pricing, so that explained the importance of the canvas being Innovations Centre (QMIC) has safe drivers can enjoy lower pre- located in Education City. “Qatar Foundation launched ‘How’s My Driving’ miums. is a very important place in Qatar, and this is mobile app at iTunes store of Salem Al Mannai, Deputy a great opportunity to be able to display our Apple’s iPhone for free. Group President and CEO — work,” he said. It is a new road safety solution Mena region, said: “We are very “Graffiti is not a very well-known form of that allows motorists to assess proud to introduce this app in art here, and this is a way to show people what and improve driving performance Qatar , as it marks the beginning graffiti actually is, that it is not just spray and win insurance incentives. of a new era for Qatar Insurance paint on a wall. It is a chance to be able to So far, the app is available Company and the way motor teach the community about this particular only for iPhone users and later it insurance premiums are calcu- style.” will be launched on other smart lated. This app will help drivers It took the artists one month, from 5th phones. The announcement was realise how safe their driving is November to 5th December, to complete the Artists Tamer Al Dosari (left) and Mubarak Al Malik (second left) with other officials during the unveiling made at a press conference held and help identify areas where mural. The artists were given the freedom to of its brand-new graffiti wall at Qatar Academy, yesterday. KAMMUTTY V P here yesterday. they would need to improve. As create a piece of art that combined each of The app is designed to record more drivers start using the app, their different styles. Some of the highlights Over the course of the month, the public a representation of the Foundation’s mission movements of the motorists dur- we will be able to determine how include a woman wearing a batoola holding an were invited to witness the piece of art come and vision to foster a creative and progressive ing driving based on certain points to enhance it for future releases, incense burner and a dhow, Arabic calligraphy, to life as it progressed towards completion. society, as well as a cultural landmark. like for over-speeding, accelerat- at later stages. By using the app, and a prize-winning horse from Al Shaqab. A permanent fixture at QF, it now stands as THE PENINSULA ing, using the brakes and main- public would have a significant taining adequate distance with role to play in creating a success- the car in front. ful new culture of safe driving in Internet connection is not the country, as every user’s par- Film on teaching needed for the app to collect the ticipation would make a differ- Passengers urged to check restricted items data of motorists while driving. ence.” To encourage the motorists to Dr Adnan Abu Dayya, Execu- Continued from page 1 use the app for safety, the QMIC tive Director (CEO) of QMIC will award top three excellent said, “we are want to upgrade Qatar Airways said yesterday that it is implementing the ban imme- users per month. Users are now our existing partnership with diately due to concerns regarding the questionable quality of such items able to monitor their driving Qatar Insurance Company, by and the potential fire hazard associated with their batteries. behaviour and score, share their announcing this new innovative Some examples of these small lithium battery-powered vehicles results on social media, and com- solution, to hopefully put a dent are: Airwheel, solowheel, hoverboard, mini-segway and balance wheel. pete with other drivers for the in the escalating number of car Qatar Airways Senior Vice President for Group Safety and Security, ‘Safest Driver’ ranking, showing crashes in the country. How’s My Ashish Jain said: “Qatar Airways has taken this responsible and necessary a ‘gamification’ aspect of the app. Driving is a simple, yet innova- step as passenger and crew safety remains our utmost concern. Recent “How’s My Driving” has a user tive, and easy to use solution that reports and new evidence has led to our decision to add hoverboards to friendly-interface, optimized for addresses multiple needs for both our list of restricted items. Therefore we would like to notify passengers local and regional markets, and consumers and enterprises. We ahead of the busy travel season to ensure that no one is left unaware. is available in both Arabic and are happy to see more national Our priority is the safety of our passengers and staff, as such we cannot English languages. The app is cur- and governmental entities coop- accept these items as either checked-in baggage or carry-on.” rently available in iTunes stores, erate with QMIC on adopting Qatar Airways is urging passengers to review the list of restricted and will be ported to Android locally-engineered solutions, items on their website before travelling to ensure a stress-free and devices at a later. which serve Qatar’s Vision 2030, smooth check-in process. Due to international regulations, and to Besides the aforementioned especially towards realising its ensure the safety of customers, there are a number of restrictions on elements of the app, the inten- crucial strategy for Road Safety.” items that can be carried in baggage. More information can be found tions are very strong to take Kids watching a 3D film about how teachers leading classes, inside the at http://www.qatarairways.com/global/en/restricted-baggage.page this solution to the next level, as THE PENINSULA ‘Teach for Qatar’ booth at the Supreme Council of Education tent at Darb El Saai, yesterday. ABDUL BASIT THE PENINSULA More activities for visitors from all age groups Continued from page 1 Tariq Al Ouweni, an official at the pavilion, said: “We are partici- pating through these department because they are closer to people, and we are here to explain to visi- tors what the counterfeit goods and expired products are, and we have some samples to show to them”. “We are advising consumers to check the validity date and have Rumailah Hospital staff during the International Day of Persons with disabilities. all the necessary information about a product before buying. A product’s ingredients must also Rumailah Hospital marks Disabilities Day be known.” Yet another interesting feature DOHA: Hamad Medical Corpo- Rehabilitation Department, Physical Medicine and Rehabilita- at Darb El Saai this year is Al ration’s (HMC) Rumailah Hos- Social Services Department, and tion Department, Osama Abdul- Magtar—a Glimpse into Qatar’s pital marked the International the Patient and Visitors Service hadi Hassan, Assistant Executive life in the days gone-by. Traffic Department pavilion at Darb El Saai. Day of Persons with Disabilities, Center. The International Day of Director for Support Services at The pavilion is housed in five under the theme ‘Inclusion mat- Persons with Disabilities is held RH and Gisli Einarsson, CEO of tents in a row. The first tent is ond tent is for animals and birds Al Kuwari sai they are also hold- ters: access and empowerment for on December 3 each year and is Qatar Rehabilitation Institute. tribal chief’s tent and in this that were hunted, while the ing some competitions for visitors people of all abilities’ and activi- an opportunity to raise public The event was also attended by tent they discuss tribal issues third one is for women to cook. who can ride camels while stand- ties were aimed at promoting the awareness of the efforts to care medical, nursing and public rela- and are receiving guests and in The fourth one is Grandmoth- ing. This is a throwback to the integration of people with disabil- for people with disabilities. tions staff members at Rumailah the front of the tent one can see ers’ tent, (Um Rashid), to tell past when people needed to ride ities in society. Elizabeth Thiebe, Acting CEO Hospital, were present at the some horses and camels, Abdul- stories to children, while the fifth a camel fast and while standing, The event was organised by of Rumailah Hospital, Dr Wafaa event. lah Al Kuwari, the head of Al one is the ‘daily life’ tent and it is he added. RH’s Physical Medicine and Al Yazeedi, Chairperson of HMC’s THE PENINSULA Magtar activities, said. The sec- divided between men and women. THE PENINSULA

DeBakey celebrates National Day Hyatt Plaza opens Hawiyati Cultural Village

By Jinu Jacob shop was set up for kids to help them express their creativity and DOHA: Hyatt Plaza Shopping a play area where kids can enjoy. Mall is hosting a cultural village “To portray the true essence called Hawiyati (My Identity), of Qatar and promote its val- that introduces visitors to the ues is our ultimate objective. We traditional lifestyle and national want our visitors to learn about heritage of Qatar. Sheikh Khalid the local culture and old lifestyle. bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated The Cultural village has so far the village yesterday. attracted thousands of curious Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani (centre) with Feroz Moideen, General The event has an eclectic mix visitors who came to get a better Manager of Hyatt Plaza Shopping Mall, and other guests during the opening of activities that help visitors dis- understanding of Qatar’s history of Hawiyati Cultural Village, yesterday. ABDUL BASIT cover the heritage and learn about and lifestyles, and we strongly the Qatari culture through Hadar believe that events like this will cultural shows. The participat- the outdoor area of the food court DeBakey High School – Qatar celebrated Qatar National Day with several and Bedouin lifestyles. It features strongly support Qatar’s vision ing schools include Khalid Bin which will run until the National activities. Students participated in activities that included the Qatari the traditional tent, clothing, of creating an educated society Ahmad Independent School, Day which falls on December 18 traditional sword dance, face painting, camel riding, falcon showcase, cooking utensils, food and much who are proud of their traditions Royal International School, Birla . The event is organized in part- Qatari traditional food booth, Art & Photography Competition, ‘Keram & more. It also includes the extinct and values, “ said Feroz Moideen, Public School, Jordanian School, nership with Embrace Doha, Jun- Jailors’ board games and a traditional feast in a Qatari tent. Dr Omar Al old Qatari occupations like pearl General Manager of Hyatt Plaza IBLA International School, gle Zone and Qatari Hosh Art Zaghmout, Associate Director of Medical Education at Hamad Medical trader, craftsman and sewing fish Shopping Mall . Oscar Academy and Philippine Center. The entry to the festivi- Corporation, was the guest speaker. net. Besides this, various schools International School. ties is free. A special arts and craft work- in Qatar showcased diverse The events are taking place at THE PENINSULA

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 12 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial

End of IAEA probe Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

HE International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) decision yesterday to close its investigation into whether Iran once had a secret nuclear Tweapons programme, thus declaring its support for the nuclear deal between Tehran and the world powers, is Feuds and factions: No easy another sign that the execution of the deal is moving in the right direction. Iran is in a hurry to see the full lifting of sanctions imposed against it, and has been cooperating with the IAEA towards this end. Tehran’s envoy to the UN nuclear road to Libya peace deal watchdog made this clear in Vienna yesterday. Speaking shortly after the By Patrick Markey now fragmented along tribal, regional draft, so we can sign.” agency’s 35-nation board announced its decision, Reza and Ahmed Elumami and political lines. Their loyalties often Still, analysts question how much Najafi said his country is hurrying to implement its side of the lie more with their commanders than control those inside a new government deal to pave the way for the lifting of international sanctions. with a state that pays salaries to both will have over the men with guns and The US, Russia, Britain, France, Germany and China reached resh from a Rome summit sides in an attempt to keep them in the hardliners who have quickly turned a deal with Tehran in July under which sanctions will be lifted on Libya’s crisis, American, check even as they battle for control of to a show of armed force in the past to European and UN officials the Opec nation and the oil wealth that stymie political decisions. in exchange for restrictions on the Islamic Republic’s atomic are confidently backing a drives its economy. “The government of national unity activities. Tehran stands to benefit immensely from that step proposed peace deal between In Rome, US Secretary of State John will probably be weak, with severe –- billions of dollars of frozen funds and assets will be released, Fthe country’s warring factions to end Kerry joined European and North Afri- political challenges from hardliners and its energy market will receive a boost and its economy in chaos that has allowed Islamic State to can leaders at the weekend in promising almost impossible challenges from the general will get a huge dose of oxygen, nursing it back to flourish. aid and called for an immediate cease- ground, starting with the humanitarian health, thus improving the lives of people. Libyan delegates from different fire. They said they hoped a majority crisis and the looming fiscal collapse,” groups plan to sign up today to the of both parliaments would sign up to said Mattia Toaldo, at the European In a symbolic victory for Iran, the Board of Governors of agreement to form a unity govern- the deal and others could join later. But Council on Foreign Relations. the nuclear watchdog passed a resolution ending its long- ment and seek a ceasefire — a decision economic and travel sanctions could also Since 2011, former rebel brigades running inquiry but allowing inspectors to continue to police Western powers hope will create the be in the works for those who resist. backing competing political factions the country’s nuclear programme. momentum to pull recalcitrant oppo- “The doors are always open to those have repeatedly stormed ministries in The UN atomic IAEA Director-General Yukiya nents along. who still oppose the agreement. But Tripoli, attacked the parliament and Amano said Iran was moving “at But if world those who continue to obstruct should even briefly abducted a prime minister, leaders needed be held accountable,” UN envoy Mar- actions all taken in the name of revolu- watchdog quite high speed” to put all the an indication of tin Kobler said. Western officials now tionary legitimacy. has decided measures in place, adding the the multiple chal- hope war fatigue, the growing drain on Rival groups armed with jeeps agency would need weeks after If world leaders lenges to imple- Libya’s economy and oil revenues, the mounted with anti-aircraft cannons to end an Iran had finished to verify that it menting a deal on promise of international aid and the and rocket-propelled grenades clashed had done everything required of it. needed an the ground, they common threat of Islamic State will in street battles, sometimes over per- need only look at help coax as broad a backing as pos- sonal feuds. investigation The cooperation between the indication of security arrange- sible for a new government. But since last year, the capital has into Tehran’s watchdog and the Iranian regime ments in the capi- “Things can go wrong, it’s possible been controlled by an armed faction has entered a new phase. Though the multiple tal Tripoli to see that it won’t work, it’s possible it won’t called Libya Dawn, an alliance of former past efforts to there have been fears that Iran challenges to how complex it happen, but we think it will happen and rebel brigades from the powerful port develop nuclear would clandestinely pursue its could become. that it will work,” said a senior US State city of Misrata and Tripoli brigades, nuclear programme despite the implementing With Libya Department official. including some more Islamist-leaning having no real Moderates from both the General factions. This has created an uneasy mix weapons. deal, it’s unlikely that it would a deal on the national army, at National Congress (GNC) in Tripoli and of armed groups including those close to make any such attempt now. least seven armed the House of Representatives in the east political opponents of the UN deal and Any failure to comply with the ground, they brigades are are expected to back the deal, as well some units whose commanders back the deal would come at a heavy cost, and the authorities know need only look entrenched in the as independents and local leaders. But peace agreement. the benefits of compliance outweigh gains from a nuclear city, under semi- each 200-member house has a number Misrata brigades have said they would programme. at security official control of lawmakers who have boycotted their be ready to protect the new government. of the defence or chambers since their election, making Spokesmen for two Tripoli brigades said One sector that will get a lifeline from the lifting of arrangements in interior ministries, judging a majority difficult. they were not involved in political deci- sanctions is the energy sector, and Iran will be able to sell its some supporting Just how much support the UN accord sions, but supported dialogue. oil in the world markets. The energy market was worried that Tripoli to see how the UN accord, has on the ground is in question after “We don’t know how various militias Iran’s entry would bring down the prices. But unfortunately, complex it could others allied to factions within both parliaments and will respond and whether they will allow the global energy market is in serious crisis, with prices at the political leaders governments rejected it as illegitimate the government to set up in Tripoli,” opposing it. and announced their own proposal. The said one Western diplomat. rock-bottom, and Iran is unlikely to benefit much. And there become. More broadly, speakers of both assemblies have also Even if a new government is estab- are chances that oil prices would further come under pressure two rival Libyan resisted, while other lawmakers are lished, the process of forging a ceasefire once the Iranian oil starts flowing. governments — one based in Tripoli and holding out for more amendments. and securing cooperation among the The IAEA must continue rigorous monitoring of Iran’s the other in Tobruk to the east — are “We did not reject the UN draft, but more powerful armed factions to build nuclear programme because once sanctions are lifted, Tehran backed by coalitions of former rebels we have our reservations,” said GNC a new Libyan army will be complicated. might feel emboldened to go back on its promises who fought together against Muammar lawmaker Mousa Faraj. “We want to . Gaddafi in 2011 but whose ranks are demystify some of the articles in the REUTERS The other side Quote of Cautious cooperation with Japan the day APAN has long been a significant one the world’s largest economies, it 1998. Tokyo, which considers itself policy, which helped its rise as an eco- investor in India’s infrastructure accounts for only about 1 per cent of a champion of non-proliferation, had nomic giant in Asia, at a time when its sector. Of late, there have been Japan’s imports, exports and direct suspended much of its aid after India’s tensions with China are on the rise and consistent efforts by both New investments abroad. The proposed nuclear test. The deal, however, can be the United States has been “pivoting” With this latest series JDelhi and Tokyo to transform this bullet train link between Mumbai and seen as a Japanese seal of approval to towards Asia. The American strategy economic momentum into a “special Ahmedabad, which will have access India’s status as a nuclear-armed state. appears to be to build an alliance in of bloody events, the strategic and global partnership”. to a soft Japanese loan of $12-15 To be sure, enhanced economic Asia to contain the rise of China. Japan, country (Burundi) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s billion at a concessional interest rate and energy cooperation will benefit Washington’s strongest ally in Asia, is three-day visit to India this month, of 0.1 per cent, will cement economic both countries. Japan has capital and obviously one of the pillars of this “pivot” seems to have taken during which both sides agreed to cooperation further. Besides, this suits skill whereas India has huge untapped strategy. It is hardly a secret that both a new step towards major deals, including the introduction well Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s potential. What they need is a clear the American and Japanese establish- of Japan’s bullet train technology in agenda of building quality infrastructure road map, which, as the recent official ments want India to “swing” towards outright civil war India and an agreement on nuclear in the country. The civil nuclear exchanges show, is in the works. But their alliance. Mr. Abe had earlier writ- partnership, clearly sets the stage for cooperation deal, after five years of at the same time, India should be wary ten about the strategic need to forge a and tensions are now elevated bilateral ties in the future. The talks, marks a complete reversal of the of the great game going on in Asia. It “democratic security diamond” with the at bursting point in Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein potential of Indo-Japanese economic policy Japan adopted towards India may not be a coincidence that Japan US, Australia and India. UN High Commissioner partnership is huge. Despite India being after the Pokhran nuclear tests in May is shedding its historical pacifist foreign THE HINDU Bujumbura. for Human Rights WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 OPINION www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Municipal polls, a starting point for Saudi women

s it a symbolic step or a sign of more reforms to come? Aziza Youssef and some other activ- ists boycotted the elections, saying that it is just a “window It was a a giant leap for Saudi Arabia, Idressing.” Do you agree? It is both, depending on how we look when Saudi women were finally able to at it. However, Saudi women will make sure it is not going to be symbolic, but a vote for the first time in the municipal starting point. Dear Aziza has a point. We discussed this issue before the elections. elections. While still not being able to I told her and others that you cannot boycott when you are a minority, if you drive, nearly 20 women were elected to don’t have a venue to express your views. Nobody knows about this boycott, it is local councils. Feyza Gumusluoglu insignificant. It is a waste of vote, waste of voice. I don’t disagree with her on win- spoke to a leading Saudi professor of dow dressing, yes, it could be the inten- tion of the state; but we are not going to women’s history and women’s rights let them keep it as window dressing for their image. It is definitely a chance for activist, Dr Hatoon Al Fassi, about the us, an opportunity that we should not let slip through our hands. It was not easy historic elections, her undeterred struggle to get to this point. and future goals. What did it take to reach this point? How did it become possible after all those years? Dr Hatoon Al Fassi after voting in the Municipal election. It was not easy. This is the result of a long and huge struggle since 2004. not prioritising one right over another. out King Abdullah’s order. He could have We started in 2004 when it was first How about 2011 elections? sible from different regions. However, in I hate doing that. All of these rights are cancelled it but he did not. We were not announced that there would be public We revived the campaign for 2011 order to register you have to prove your equally important. Having women in the very sure in the beginning, but King Sal- participation and partially elected munic- elections, under the name “Baladi” current residence, and it was extremely public sphere is a new thing for Saudi man turned out to be very positive, in ipal councils in the kingdom. Since then (My Country). We formed coordination problematic because mostly women do Arabia. We have been pushed back into favour of women. We are happy that he we pushed very hard to have women in. groups in different cities. We expanded not own their houses, especially if they our homes. The society is not used to has followed King Abdullah’s footsteps, We campaigned on an individual level our influence. By the time the 2011 elec- are divorcee, or not married. If they live have women in the public sphere. Seg- making women’s participation in the and official level to have women’s par- tions started, we were not given any spe- in rented accommodation, it is not under regation is making it very hard to make elections come about. ticipation. We contacted the Ministry of cific reason, we were just not allowed. their name because people do not rent a women visible. Indeed, segregation has Municipality, and at that time I spoke to But we made it clear that women from flat to a woman. They rent to their ‘male reached an insane level. We saw it during You are teaching about women in the deputy minister. He was the head of across Saudi Arabia would go to the guardians’. And if it is under another the elections, woman would have been Islam. Are there examples of women electoral committee. I was in touch with polls for registration, along with the name, it is not a valid proof of her resi- fined 10, 000 Riyal if she mixed with male who were part of the decision making him all the time, asking for meetings with media. We were prevented of course, dency. She has to go through another electors. And the Ministry of Labour had process in the history of Islam? the women across Saudi Arabia who are but we just went to show that it was long, hard process. One hundred women issued a new law to fine women in case If you look at the history of Islam, willing to participate in the municipal our right to register. Also, it was during withdrew due to these kind of challenges. they were not properly dressed. What there are women who ruled. If we look elections. He kept postponing the meet- the Arab Spring and our voice became is the proper dress, there is no men- at the wives of the Prophet Muhammad ings. Besides at the official level, we also much louder. Within a week we took the Around 20 women were elected to tion of it. Women’s denial from the pub- (PBUH), they were part of every deci- worked hard on social media, using differ- Ministry of Municipality to the court, municipal councils, so what is next lic sphere makes it easy for men to do sion that the Prophet takes. The famous ent channels. We started creating email and filed a lawsuit against the ministry. now? whatever they like, it being justifiable to story of his wife, Umm Salamah, while groups for gathering as many women as Even though it did not work out, it was It is a miracle to have this number harass us on the street. This is why we she was having her hair combed by possible, passing information, and raising still a big step. After the court case they of women elected. We are now trying still don’t drive, because it will put us in her maid. She asked her maid to stop, awareness. We had a list of activists, as announced again that women would not to reach those elected women who are the public eye. because the Prophet called “O People”, as well as writers and journalists, in order participate. Then we said we are going not part of our Baladi campaign to help he had something to say. The maid said to create public presence. We informed to have shadow municipal councils. Days them with their new duty, because they How was the local reaction to wom- “why are you leaving, he is calling the the media of our steps, so the media also before the election started, late King need support. We already have women en’s participation in the elections? people”, and Umm Salama’s answer was put pressure on the ministry. Abdullah (RIP) gave his famous speech, members in the Shura Council, and until Saudi officials keep saying that the “I am one of the people!” This sentence where he granted us the right to partici- today those members are being harassed ‘society is not ready’. Is this a valid is a strong sign of early women’s aware- Was there any legal obstacle that pate. We tried to postpone the elections and slandered. But now there will be excuse? ness of themselves and their positions prevented women from participating a little bit so that we could take part, but even greater challenges as the Munici- I hate this sentence. This is one of the in Islam. Umm Salama was the one who in elections? it was too late, as the ministry had to pal Council is bigger and requires more official slogans that the state uses, espe- advised the Prophet in the Hudaibiya We carefully investigated the bylaws, make preparations in advance. Anyway, duties. As the Baladi, we are going to cially when it comes to driving. It is very Truce. Her advice made it safe for him. and made sure there is nothing to pre- they said you will participate in the next work on another initiative. It is still an denigrating and simply not true. It is the Another example is Aisha, the Proph- vent us from voting. Election bylaws do round, which is 2015. idea now, as we have not announced it state which prevents us from driving, not et’s wife, who led an army. She led an not say that being male is one of the yet, but it is going to be about an official society. Once a woman drives, the state opposition because she was against the conditions. We made it as a point that So, being able to vote basically took organisation for women, like a ministry sends a policeman to stop you. It is the caliph’s decision not to take revenge on nothing disqualifies us from participating. more than 10 years?! of women. This is our next step. Now state who stops us, not an ordinary per- those who assassinated the Caliph Uth- We kept repeating until October 2004, Yes, we have had lots of obstacles. We the Ministry of Social Affairs is dealing son from society. I have my car in front man. She took a strong stance. You have when it was announced in a press confer- moved everybody into Whatsapp groups. with issues related to women. We don’t of my house, I have my licence, and there other women who led their states. Arwa ence that women would not participate. Whatsapp was very crucial for us to have an independent body. And of course is no law against me but I cannot drive! Al Sulayhi, the Queen of Yemen is a very The reason they gave was: “They have spread information. We now have over there is not even a single woman in the Because the minute I do, police will stop strong example. She ruled over 20 years the right to participate, but we are not 20 Whatsapp groups, and every province ministry. me and ask my guardian to come and alone. There were also queens in Indo- ready. It needs logistical preparations.” has a different group. The ministry gave pick me up. We made it very clear to the nesia, Malaysia, and Egypt. Take Shifa We took it as a victory, we had the right us the final word last month saying that Voting comes before driving? public that it is actually the state who Bint Abdullah al Adawiyah as another but the ministry was not ready. At least Whatsapp groups are not allowed for The Baladi campaign is to promote does not let us drive, not the society. example. She was given a task by Omar they acknowledged that women have the campaigning, nor SMS. Since day one we women’s participation in the public Saudi society is ready. bin Al Khattab to take care of the mar- right! Also, happily, they did not use any have had obstacles, and registration for sphere. Participation in the elections was ket. She was the market controller. So, excuse based on religion or tradition. So the elections brought new problems. Res- the first step. There is another group, It was the late King Abdullah who women were active participants. There is we took it as a positive sign, but of course idency proof was another huge challenge ‘The 26 October Campaign’, working on granted the right to vote. Is (The nothing in Islam to prevent women from that time we did not consider it a repre- for women, which we only discovered the driving issue. I am also part of it. We Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques) public participation. sentative election. during this election. We were encourag- want full rights. The demand for driving King Salman on the same path? ing as many women candidates as pos- is still there — we did not give up. We are King Salman is the one who carried THE PENINSULA Russian air strikes halt aid to Syria, triggering new crisis

By Liz Sly “This is an emerging humani- pattern of high-intensity bomb- hospitals and markets over the tarian crisis. There is extreme ing in areas where it’s unthink- past four years of war. But the id agencies are warning of suffering, and people are not being able that you wouldn’t have an Russian intervention has added to a worsening humanitarian protected,” said Rae McGrath, According to the UN report, at least impact on civilians.” the amount of available firepower, Acrisis in northern Syria as country director for Turkey and A hub where truck drivers and Russia’s more-sophisticated sharply intensified Russian air North Syria for the American aid 20 medical facilities have been hit gather to collect supplies arriv- warplanes can pinpoint targets strikes paralyse aid supply routes, agency Mercy Corps, one of the ing from Turkey near the Bab more accurately, the UN official knock out bakeries and hospitals largest providers of food aid in nationwide in Syria since Russia Al Salameh border crossing was said. and kill and maim civilians in northern Syria. Since the Rus- repeatedly struck three times The Russian intervention has growing numbers. sian strikes began, the agency has launched its air war on in five days, halting not only aid so far produced only limited gains Air attacks have escalated sig- been able to deliver only a fifth of supplies but also commercial on the ground for forces loyal nificantly since Turkey shot down the amount it normally provides, September 30. deliveries of food, fuel and other to Syrian President Bashar Al a Russian warplane along the he said. necessities, the UN official said. Assad, which have struggled to Turkey-Syria border on Novem- “We’re also seeing a huge And the warplane that destroyed capitalise on the new advantage ber 24, the aid agencies say, with increase in the number of civilian a flour mill and bakery serving provided by Russia’s superior air Russia responding to the incident casualties. More and more people in part by supplies from across around from place to place look- 50,000 people in the Idlib province capabilities. by stepping up its effort to crush are being hurt because the inten- the Turkish border. ing for safety, but there’s nowhere town of Saraqeb on November 27 Sowing chaos and hardship in the anti-government rebellion in sity of bombing is greater,” he They are also home to millions for them to escape to,” he said. hit nothing else on its bombing areas that are loyal to the rebel- the insurgent-held provinces bor- added. “It’s hard to imagine that of people, including hundreds of “It’s extremely bleak.” run. “Of course it was deliberate,” lion serves, however, to under- dering Turkey. the conditions in Syria could have thousands who have already been Though it is impossible to he said. “This was very specific mine and dismantle the support Among the targets that have become worse than they already displaced by fighting elsewhere confirm that civilians are being targeting.” structures that sustain the fight- been hit are the border crossings were, but they have.” and many of whom are dependent deliberately targeted, aid workers Among the medical facilities ers, most of whom come from and highways used to deliver Russia has in recent weeks on humanitarian aid to survive. say the attacks on civilian infra- hit since the Russian intervention the areas in which they fight and humanitarian supplies from Tur- escalated its attacks against The escalated fighting heralded structure appear frequent and are 12 in northern Syria that are rely as much on the bakeries and key, forcing many aid agencies to areas of eastern Syria control- by Russia’s intervention has newly systematic enough to suggest that supported by Doctors Without medical facilities as their relatives halt or curtail their aid opera- led by the Islamic State, but US displaced an estimated 260,000 they are. Borders, said Pablo Marco, who in the civilian population, accord- tions and deepening the misery military officials, aid workers and people, according to a UN official A grain silo that supplied is in charge of the agency’s pro- ing to Aron Lund of the Carnegie for millions of people living in Russia’s own military reports sug- in southern Turkey, who spoke wheat to Idlib province, 10 bak- grammes in Syria and does not Endowment. the affected areas, according to gest that the majority of strikes on the condition of anonymity eries that collectively catered to think the health centres were The attacks cast doubt on the a report this month by the U N are still being conducted against because he is not authorised to at least 200,000 people and several struck by accident. prospects for a peace process Office for the Coordination of the northwestern rebel-held comment to the media. mills and warehouses that stored “Of course it is impossible for launched by world leaders at talks Humanitarian Affairs. provinces of Latakia, Aleppo and Because Turkey is under pres- flour are among the targets that us to have certainty, but the fre- in Vienna last month, said Jan Hospitals and health facilities Idlib that bore the brunt of the sure to stem the flow of refugees to have been hit since November 24, quency with which bombs are Egeland, secretary general of the also have been struck, reducing initial Russian onslaught in early Europe, it has severely restricted according to the UN report. In an falling in hospitals or very close Norwegian Refugee Council, one the availability of medical care October. access to Syrians wishing to cross area of Aleppo province control- to hospitals is enough to make it of the groups that has suspended for those injured in the bombings. Those areas are controlled by the border, leaving those afflicted led by the Islamic State, a water really seem that, yes, they are tar- its aid operations in northern According to the UN report, at an assortment of rebel groups by the fighting with no means of treatment plant was bombed, geting hospitals,” he said. Syria as a result of the attacks. least 20 medical facilities have ranging from moderates backed escape, said Nadim Houry of the and 1.4 million people are with- The strategy of targeting civil- He also warned of more misery been hit nationwide in Syria since by the United States to Al Qaeda’s advocacy group Human Rights out water. ian infrastructure is not new ahead as winter descends. Russia launched its air war on Syria affiliate, Jabhat Al Nusra, Watch. At a minimum, said McGrath, — the Syrian air force has also September 30. all of which are sustained at least “People are basically running “there appears to be a repeated systematically targeted bakeries, THE WASHINGTON POST WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GULF / MIDDLE EAST Yemen truce breached as peace talks begin Many killed; WHO staff planning major aid delivery

ADEN: Several attacks rocked Previous UN efforts have a fragile ceasefire in Yemen yes- failed to narrow differences, with terday as the warring sides began ceasefire attempts foiled. Speak- UN-brokered peace talks in Swit- ing in Switzerland, the UN envoy zerland, military and medical to Yemen, Ismail Ould Cheikh sources said. Ahmed, called the truce “a critical The Saudi-led coalition, which first step towards building a last- launched an air war against the ing peace in the country”. He said Houthi Shia rebels and their the peace talks “seek to establish a allies in March, said the cease- permanent ceasefire and pave the Delegation members from Yemen during consultations in the village of Macolin/Magglingen yesterday. fire began as scheduled at midday way for a return to a peaceful and (0900 GMT). But just hours later, orderly political transition”. military leadership not to respond is sorely needed in the Arabian gaining ground and carrying out Yemeni rebel artillery and tanks UN spokesman Ahmad Fawzi to the rebel shelling unless they Peninsula’s poorest nation, where deadly attacks against both sides. killed seven civilians and wounded confirmed that the talks had advance towards us.” The coali- the UN says an estimated 80 per- Ahead of the ceasefire, coali- 15 in residential areas of Taiz city, begun at an undisclosed location, tion has warned that it “reserves cent of the population requires tion warplanes bombed rebel posi- witnesses and medics said. with 12 negotiators and six advis- the right to respond in case of any humanitarian aid. tions in Taiz and south of Sana’a, Two loyalists had already been ers on each of the two delegations. violation”. The World Health Organiza- witnesses and a military official killed in the east and mortar Before the truce, clashes shook Hadi has declared his govern- tion representative in Yemen, said. Pro-government forces have rounds hit government forces the flashpoint city of Taiz and ment’s intention to have a seven- Ahmed Shadoul, said the agency also captured the Red Sea island in the southwestern province of coalition warplanes bombed rebel day truce coincide with the peace had received assurances from the of Zuqar near the strategic Bab Taiz after the truce took effect, positions. talks and to be “renewed auto- factions that its staff were free Al Mandab Strait, Saudi media officials said. Later, rebels killed Saba news agency later quoted matically if the other party com- to distribute medical supplies reported. Sabanews.net said 10 15 pro-government fighters and UN Special Envoy on the Yemen local activists as saying rebels mits to it,” the coalition said. A while the truce holds. “We have people were killed and 20 wounded wounded 20 in Mas in the east- crisis Ismail Ould Cheikh Ahmed carried out “dozens of violations presidential statement said the requested unconditional move- in an air raid early yesterday on ern province of Marib, a military attending the opening of Yemen of the ceasefire” in Taiz since mid- proposed ceasefire “comes out of ment of supplies, personnel and Bani Haddad village in the Haradh source said. peace talks in Magglingen, Northen day. Soon after the truce began, a keenness to grab any chance to teams to all parts of the country area of north Yemen. The violations came even after Switzerland, yesterday. Yemeni security official reported achieve peace, to reduce the suf- and we got the confirmation that The warring parties have rebel military spokesman General five mortar rounds targeted pro- fering of our people in Yemen and this will definitely be granted,” agreed to talk despite protracted Sharaf Luqman “welcomed” the General People’s Congress, which Hadi forces in Shuraija, south of to end bloodshed”. Shadoul said in Geneva. differences, including over a UN UN call for a ceasefire, in a state- is represented at the Switzerland Taiz. In the eastern province of Civilians are anxious to see More than 5,800 people have Security Council resolution calling ment on their sabanews.net web- talks, made a similar statement. Marib, clashes killed two pro- peace prevail. “We demand the been killed in Yemen — about for rebels to withdraw from key site. He said he hoped “aggressor The spokesman urged “all par- Hadi fighters in the early after- warring parties who are in Geneva half of them civilians — and more cities and surrender their weap- parties would truly and seriously ties to commit to a complete and noon before subsiding, military now offer concessions... because all than 27,000 wounded since March, ons. The government and its Gulf commit to a halt in fighting”. permanent ceasefire”, in a state- sources said. Yemenis are eager to get Yemen according to the UN. Jihad- allies say the resolution is a pre- A spokesman for rebel-allied ment on the party’s almotamar. A pro-Hadi officer said: “We out of this crisis,” one Sanaa ists, including the Islamic State requisite for peace. ex-president Ali Abdullah Saleh’s net website. have received orders from our resident said. A lull in fighting group, have exploited the violence, AFP

Iraq demands Kerry meets Putin to push Syria peace plan ‘complete MOSCOW: US Secretary of and in Ukraine, where Washing- “to lead us up now hopefully to State John Kerry met Russia’s ton accuses Moscow of backing getting to New York and building withdrawal’ of President Vladimir Putin at separatist rebels and has imposed on the progress that’s been made.” the Kremlin yesterday to seek sanctions on Russia. “You had a US officials have expressed agreement on how best to push chance to speak to President frustration that Assad is trying Turkish forces forward efforts to halt Syria’s Obama in New York and then to set his own rules about which brutal civil war. subsequently in Paris,” Kerry opponents he is prepared to talk BAGHDAD: The Iraqi govern- Russia and the United States are said, sitting across from a smil- to and which are irredeemable ment yesterday demanded the sponsors of an international effort ing Putin at a conference table in terrorists in his eyes. They insist “complete withdrawal” of Turkish to broker a ceasefire and political an ornate Kremlin salon. Russia has committed to a politi- forces from its territory, indicat- talks between Bashar Al Assad’s “Both you and President Obama cal transition to end the war, and ing Ankara’s partial pullout the regime and Syria’s armed opposi- have committed themselves to warn that if it cannot get Assad previous day was not enough. tion. But their positions on Assad’s trying to develop as much as pos- to the table, the Kremlin’s own Turkey deployed soldiers and eventual fate and the best tactics to sible ... an approach that can try forces will get bogged down in the tanks to a military camp in employ against the jihadist Islamic to deal with Ukraine and deal fighting. northern Iraq earlier this month, State group differ starkly, threat- with Syria,” Kerry said. “So I Russia has dispatched air and a move it said was necessary to ening to stymie the process. very much look forward to our naval forces to Syria to shore up protect trainers at the site but Kerry came to Moscow yester- discussion now and appreciate the Assad’s regime, while the United which Baghdad condemned as an day not even knowing whether seriousness of your commitment States and its allies are bombing illegal incursion. Russia would agree that the next of time and thought about these Islamic State targets in the east Turkish and Iraqi officials said international meeting on the cri- issues,” he added. Then the press of the country. The US believes Turkish forces and equipment sis should take place on Friday in was ushered out, and the talks Russian President Vladimir Putin (right) with US Secretary of State John Assad’s crackdown on protesters were withdrawn from the camp New York. And as he sat down with began in earnest. Kerry during a meeting at the Kremlin yesterday. in March 2011 triggered a civil early on Monday, but the train- the Russian leader, despite broad Kerry and the UN envoy for war that has killed 250,000 and ers apparently remained, and smiles, it was still not clear whether Syria, Staffan de Mistura, want Washington is relying on the to spread the carnage beyond driven recruits to IS, which prof- Ankara has other military sites there had been a breakthrough. to hold the next round of Syrian Kremlin to drag Russian ally Syria’s borders. Kerry hopes that ited from the chaos. within northern Iraq’s autono- “I am very happy to have the peace talks on Friday in New York, Assad to the table for talks with if the regime and the rebels can America’s regional allies, led mous Kurdish region. opportunity to meet and talk with but Moscow has so far refused to his rebel opponents on ending agree a truce then they, Russia by Saudi Arabia, are even more The cabinet “renewed its you,” Putin said, sitting beside his confirm the date. Speaking after Syria’s vicious four-and-a-half- and a US-led coalition of Western emphatic in declaring that Assad firm position on the necessity foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, meeting Lavrov, Kerry declined to year-old civil war. US ally Saudi and Arab allies can focus their fire must go, demanding he step down of a response from neighbour- who had met Kerry earlier in the say whether the New York nego- Arabia is putting together the on IS. as soon as peace talks begin. The ing Turkey to the Iraqi demand day. “Minister Lavrov just now tiations would go ahead on Fri- coalition that would negotiate on Washington and Moscow are opposition leaders met last week for a complete withdrawal from informed me in detail about both day. “Well, I need to meet with the behalf of the rebels, with a view to the key powers in the proc- in Riyadh and began the proc- Iraqi territory and respect for its your proposals as well as some president,” he told reporters on a first agreeing a ceasefire and then ess, leading talks through the ess of deciding their negotiating national sovereignty,” Prime Min- issues which require additional stroll in central Moscow, where he launching a political dialogue. 17-nation International Syria Sup- team — but also repeated their ister Haider Al Abadi’s office said discussions,” Putin added. was mobbed by Russians wanting And looming over the effort port Group. Kerry called Lavrov demand that Assad step down in a statement. Kerry said that he hoped to to meet Washington’s top diplo- to end the conflict is the threat the “co-convenor” of the talks immediately. Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet address the crises both in Syria mat. posed by the Islamic State group and thanked him for his efforts AFP Davutoglu said on Monday that “there has been a shifting of the (military) forces, and that Ankara did “what was necessary to do from a military point of view”. But Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu indicated that Three Turkish police officers forces remained at the training site, saying the number of troops there and at other locations “may increase or decrease as required”. killed, 3 hurt in PKK attack Iraqi MP Salem Al Shabaki said Turkey had removed forces DIYARBAKIR: Three Turkish The latest attack comes after two Minister Ahmet Davutoglu said from the site near the northern police officers were killed yester- protesters were killed in clashes the security operations against the city of Mosul, the main hub of day in a roadside bomb attack on with police in Diyarbakir city on PKK militants would continue to the Islamic State jihadist group their vehicle blamed on Kurdish Monday, amid growing anger over prevent them from “spreading the in Iraq, and that it seemed only rebels, security sources said, amid the imposition of curfews to back fire” from neighbouring Syria and trainers had remained. a new upsurge in violence in Tur- up anti-PKK operations. Iraq into Turkey. The trainers have been work- key’s troubled southeast. Thousands of mourners turned “In this ring of fire, we will turn ing with anti-IS forces at the site The three were killed in the Sil- out yesterday for the funeral of the both Cizre and Silopi and all our for some time, and their presence van district of the mainly Kurd- two demonstrators, aged 21 and 25, districts, and every piece of our had not previously been an issue. ish province of Diyarbakir as their their coffins were draped in the yel- homeland into an area of peace, The Monday withdrawal pro- armoured vehicle travelled on a low, red and green Kurdish colours, stability and freedom,” he said. vided Abadi, who has faced intense main road, the security sources witnesses reported. They had been “The terrorists will be wiped out political pressure to oppose the said. Three other policemen were protesting over a curfew that has from these disctricts. Neighbour- Turkish deployment, with a poten- wounded. been in place in the city’s central hood by neighbourhood, house by Residents of Sur district fleeing from their houses because of armed tial opportunity to declare that The Turkish government has Sur district almost uninterrupted house, street by street,” he said. clashes between Turkish special forces and PKK militants, in Diyarbakir. Ankara had met his demands. been waging a relentless offen- since December 2, the latest in a Figen Yuksekdag, the co-chair But the wording of the latest sive aimed at crippling the rebel succession of measures across the of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Dem- According to the Human Rights concessions to terror and will statement indicated the govern- Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), southeast. ocratic Party (HDP), accused Foundation of Turkey, a total of never tolerate these structures ment may want the trainers to which has staged a string of In Cizre and Silopi districts in Davutoglu and his government 52 curfews have been imposed who want to drag Turkey into a be withdrawn along with Turk- attacks against security forces southeastern Sirnak province, of “ordering a massacre” in Cizre since mid-August in 17 districts in dark future,” he said. Hundreds ish forces at other sites, some of in Turkey since a two-year-old which were placed under a military and Silopi. “Who are these opera- southeastern and eastern Turkey, of teachers fled Cizre and Sirnak which it has occupied for over a ceasefire fell apart in late July. lockdown on Monday, hundreds of tions against, Mr Prime Minis- affecting some 13 million people. on Monday on the orders of the decade. Iraq’s autonomous Kurd- The violence has destroyed hopes members of the security forces ter?” asked Yuksekdag at press Davutoglu said the curfews were education authorities, prompting ish region has close ties with of fresh talks to end a conflict that backed by armoured vehicles were conference in Diyarbakir. “There necessary to prevent the Kurdish fears a major military crackdown Ankara and is unlikely to back has claimed tens of thousands of patrolling deserted streets, the are people living in these houses, militants from “massacring the was looming. Baghdad in such an effort. lives since 1984. news agency Dogan said. Prime Davutoglu,” she said. civilians”. “We will never make AFP AFP WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 GULF / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Saudi forms 34-nation anti-‘terrorist’ military coalition RIYADH: Saudi Arabia yester- Adam Baron, a visiting fellow ing Turkey. Farea Al Muslimi, a whom it is organised,” he said. its citizens,” said Andreas Krieg, in Syria. Last week, it hosted day announced the formation of at the European Council on For- visiting scholar at the Carnegie Sunni Islam’s leading seat of a professor at the Department of unprecedented talks between a military coalition of 34 coun- eign Relations, said the coalition Middle East Centre, called most learning, Al Azhar, urged all Mus- Defence Studies at King’s College opposition Syrian political and tries to fight “terrorism” in the fits into “the larger, more asser- of them “honorary members” in lim countries to join the coalition, London. “It is therefore not sur- military factions. Islamic world, in the latest sign tive policy” of the Custodian of a coalition that “seemed to have expressing hope that it would prising for Saudi to seek greater Muslimi and Krieg did not see of a more assertive foreign policy the Two Holy Mosques King Sal- been cooked at the last minute” defeat the “evils of terrorism”. cooperation across the board in the new coalition leading to a by the kingdom. man bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and without clear goals. The coalition will fight “any ter- the fight against militant Islam- more direct Saudi military role The kingdom said the alliance Mohammed, his powerful son. Muslimi said the coalition rorist organisation that appears”, ism,” said Krieg. in Syria. Saudi Arabia supports would share intelligence, combat The prince told a rare news seems like an attempt by Saudi Mohammed said when asked if it The huge human and financial some rebels in Syria, and last year violent ideology and deploy troops conference that the Riyadh-based Arabia to ease some of the inter- would concentrate only on the costs of the kingdom’s military joined other Gulf states in a US- if necessary. “Nothing is off the coalition will tackle “the Islamic national pressure it has faced on Islamic State (IS) group of Sunni operation in Yemen have become led coalition bombing IS in Syria. table. A number of countries world’s problem with terrorism the issue. extremists in Syria and Iraq. increasingly difficult for it to bear, The UAE said two weeks ago that are in desperate need of assist- and will be a partner in the world- Saudi Arabia has repeatedly he said. “Only joint military oper- it was ready to commit ground ance,” Foreign Minister Adel Al wide fight against this scourge”. TURKEY BACKS ALLIANCE denounced international “ter- ations are a real option.” troops against jihadists in Syria, Jubeir said. “Terrorism has hit Some coalition members like Turkish Prime Minister rorism” and has itself seen an In March, the kingdom formed and described Russian air strikes Islamic countries. It is time that Nigeria have mixed Muslim- Ahmet Davutoglu told report- upsurge of attacks claimed by an Arab coalition to support the there as attacks on a “common the Islamic world takes a stand,” Christian populations, but all ers in Ankara yesterday that IS over the past year, against Yemeni government against enemy”. Kremlin spokesman he told reporters in Paris. The belong to the Jeddah-based his country backed the alliance’s minority Shias and members of Houthi rebels and their allies, Dmitri Peskov said Russia awaited alliance was announced by Saudi Organisation of Islamic Coop- formation. “Turkey is ready to the security forces. who seized much of the country. more details before evaluating the Deputy Crown Prince Moham- eration. They range from tiny contribute by all its means to all The IS threat “is the most Saudi Arabia has also played a Saudi announcement about the med bin Salman, who is also the African nations such as Guinea gatherings that aim to fight ter- fundamental challenge to Saudi’s prominent role in efforts to find new coalition. defence minister. to major regional powers includ- rorism, no matter where or by raison d’etat and the security of a political solution to the war AFP

Chiefs of Libya’s Israel’s ‘excessive’ use rival parliaments meet for first time TRIPOLI: The heads of Libya’s rival parliaments met for the of force flayed by UN first time yesterday ahead of the expected signing of a UN plan for a national unity government, Concern over rising unrelenting violence Libyan television reported. Aqila Salah, who heads the GENEVA: The UN voiced injure Israelis,” she said, warning internationally recognised parlia- deep concern yesterday over an though that “the response from ment sitting in the east, met Nuri “unacceptable” wave of Pales- Israeli security forces has resulted Abu Sahmein of the Tripoli-based tinians attacking Israelis, but in alleged attackers, protesters General National Congress, the also slammed Israeli authorities’ and even bystanders being killed report said. The Annaba channel reported “excessive use of force” and injured.” showed the two men meeting in in response to the attacks. She pointed out that in the H2 Malta in the presence of repre- “We continue to be gravely con- area of Hebron alone, 16 of the A Palestinian is checked by Israeli soldiers patrolling the streets of the West sentatives of both chambers ahead cerned at the unrelenting violence 17 Palestinians allegedly involved Bank city of Hebron yesterday. of the expected signing of the in the Occupied Palestinian Terri- in attacks against Israelis since agreement in Morocco tomorrow. tory and in Israel,” Cecile Pouilly, October 1 were shot dead, while recovered — appealed for infor- be “on our terms”. In 2011, over It followed a gathering in Rome spokeswoman for the UN human one had been injured and arrested. mation on Sunday, after a letter 1,000 Palestinian prisoners were of a US- and Italian-led group of rights office, told reporters. “We again voice deep concern over purportedly written by the soldier released in exchange for Israeli world powers and regional players “We call on both Israeli and Pal- reports of excessive use of force by was sent to the family. Israeli secu- soldier Gilad Shalit, captured by that urged Libya’s warring fac- estinian leaders to act decisively Israeli forces,” Pouilly said. rity forces suspect the letter to be Hamas five years earlier. Many of tions on Sunday to lay down their to de-escalate the situation,” she She insisted that “all instances a fake, but Shaul’s mother held a those released have subsequently arms and back the new unity gov- added. Since October 1, almost of the use of force resulting in press conference calling on Hamas, been re-arrested in what Hamas ernment. daily attacks by Palestinians and death or injury by law enforce- which rules the Gaza Strip, to pro- argues is a breach of the agree- In Rome, US Secretary of State clashes with Israeli soldiers have ment officers should be the sub- vide more information. ment. Hamas has reportedly John Kerry dismissed criticism killed 117 on the Palestinian side, 21 ject of prompt, independent and Shaul was part of a group of demanded those prisoners be freed that the proposed government Israelis, an American and an Eri- impartial investigations.” seven troops from the elite Golani in exchange for more information was being imposed from outside trean, and thousands more have She also warned Israel that unit caught up in an attack on about Shaul and Goldin. Israel has in the absence of consensus on been injured, she pointed out. “punitive demolitions of Palestin- an armoured vehicle in Gaza dur- in the past also exchanged prison- the ground. The security situation Pouilly warned that although ian houses and the withholding of ing the summer 2014 war in the ers for the remains of soldiers. also makes it uncertain that the international attention appeared bodies of alleged attackers from Palestinian enclave. Israel believes “We will not talk a single word new administration will be able to to be waning, “the level of killings, their families can only aggravate a second soldier, Hadar Goldin, about the exchange of prisoners base itself in the capital. injuries and arrests has contin- this situation.” was killed in a separate incident before the release of prisoners Kerry insisted that majorities ued, with an average of one person An Israeli soldier checking the Meanwhile, the fate of two though his remains have also not and the fulfilment of the (Gilad of both parliaments supported the dying every day.” bags of Palestinian women during Israeli soldiers presumed killed been recovered. Shalit) deal,” Zahar said. Speak- peace plan and that only fringe Many of the Palestinians killed a patrol in Hebron yesterday. during the 2014 Gaza war has On Monday, Hamas refused to ing at a press conference on Sun- players were obstructing progress. have been attackers, while oth- resurfaced with an emotional provide further details on the sol- day night, Zehava Shaul made a Libya has had rival administra- ers have been shot dead by Israeli progress in peace efforts in addi- appeal from one of their mothers diers. Senior Hamas leader Mah- plea to Hamas for more informa- tions since August 2014, when the security forces during clashes. tion to their own fractured lead- and a mysterious letter. moud Al Zahar told the crowd tion, asking the group to confirm Islamist-backed Fajr Libya militia Young Palestinians have grown ership. “The unacceptable wave The family of Oron Shaul — pro- they would not give any more whether her son was really alive. alliance overran Tripoli, forcing frustrated with Israel’s occupa- of stabbings, shootings and car nounced dead by the Israeli army information until it suited them, the elected government to take tion and the complete lack of rammings continues to kill and but whose body has never been saying any exchange deal would AFP refuge in the far east near the border with Egypt. Under the UN plan, the new government is to be formed within 40 days of the accord’s signing. The deal had initially been due to be signed in Skhirat, Morocco IAEA board ‘closes’ long-running Iran N-bomb probe today, but a Moroccan diplomat said the ceremony would now VIENNA: The UN atomic programme in exchange for sanc- released a “final assessment” — sador to the IAEA, Henry Ensher, “Implementation Day” — which is take place the following day at watchdog’s board yesterday drew tions relief, and fulfil its side of even though it did not receive all said yesterday. expected in early 2016. 1100 GMT. A spokesman for the a line under a long-running probe the bargain within “two to three the information it sought — con- The powers stress that Iran will Under the deal Iran has pledged UN mission to Libya said the into Iran’s past efforts to develop weeks”. The IAEA keeps close cluding that some of the allegations remain under close IAEA scru- to slash the number of centrifuges postponement was for logistical nuclear weapons, removing an tabs on Iran’s nuclear programme, were indeed accurate. It said Iran tiny. Nor is Iran completely out — which “enrich” uranium for reasons relating to the delega- important obstacle to implement- and its inspections role is set to conducted “a range of activities of the woods with the IAEA, with peaceful uses but also for a bomb tions’ travel to Morocco. ing July’s landmark deal with big grow under July’s hard-fought relevant to the development” of a the agency’s “broader conclusion” — from around 19,000 to 6,104, of AFP powers. deal, which defused a standoff nuclear bomb until 2009, although that all Iran’s activities are exclu- which 5,060 will still enrich. A resolution approved by the dating back to 2002. this work was preliminary and did sively peaceful still several years Iran also has to change the Gunmen kill UN International Atomic Energy But the Vienna-based watchdog not involve fissile material. away. “This is not the end of the design of a new nuclear reactor Agency’s 35-nation board of has also long sought to clear up Despite the findings, the six process at all,” IAEA head Yukiya being built at Arak so that it pro- employee in governors in Vienna “closes the allegations that until 2003, and major powers — the United States, Amano told reporters, saying that duces substantially less plutonium, board’s consideration of the mat- possibly since, Iran also secretly Russia, China, Britain, France a “legacy of mistrust between Iran the alternative to uranium in a Mogadishu ter” and clears the way to annul sought to develop an actual and Germany, who co-authored and the international community” nuclear weapon. Plus, Iran must previous resolutions. nuclear weapon. After stalling the IAEA resolution — decided remains to be overcome. reduce its stock of low-enriched GENEVA: Unidentified gunmen Iran’s envoy to the IAEA said for many years, Iran agreed in to move on. Despite Iran’s “long The IAEA will also have to uranium from several tonnes to shot dead an employee of the UN afterwards that Tehran would July to cooperate with the IAEA history of concealment, denial confirm that Iran has enacted just 300 kilos. Iran is expected to refugee agency in Somalia’s capi- now “accelerate” enacting July’s to address the claims. and deception”, the July deal is all its commitments under the ship this material to Russia. tal Mogadishu on Monday, in an accord to scale down its nuclear The IAEA on December 2 “forward-looking,” the US ambas- July deal — on a day to be dubbed AFP attack that also left another per- son dead, a UN statement said. “It is with great sadness that UNHCR has learned of the killing of one of our colleagues, Amina Noor Mohamed, this afternoon UN sends extra drones to S Sudan in Mogadishu, Somalia,” the UNHCR statement said. UNITED NATIONS: The UN Security Council Russia however did not veto the resolution. The The Geneva-based agency decided yesterday to boost the peacekeeping mission revamped peacekeeping mission marked the latest said Mohammed was killed by in South Sudan with extra troops and surveillance step by the council to keep the pressure on all sides “unknown gunmen while travel- drones, hoping to shore up a peace deal that has who signed a peace accord in August, the latest in ling in a private vehicle driven by failed to take hold on the ground. a string of deals that have yet to be implemented. a staff member from a UNHCR At a meeting held two years after South Sudan Power argued that international troops sent to partner organisation who also lost descended into war, the council voted to send some South Sudan want the surveillance drones “so they his life in the attack.” 500 military troops and 600 police, increasing the know what is gong on around them, so they are While there was no indica- mission’s strength to some 15,000. less at risk” and said the request should not be tion of who was responsible, aid The US-drafted resolution expanding the man- “politicized.” workers including UN staffers date of the UN mission to South Sudan was adopted Russia’s Deputy Ambassador Petr Williche have previously been targeted by by a vote of 13 in favour, but Russia and Venezuela opposed the sanctions threat as “counter-produc- Shebab Islamist militants battling abstained in the 15-member council. tive” and said calls for the establishment of a hybrid a weak, internationally-backed “South Sudan has the opportunity to close the court to try war crimes suspects was a matter for government. A September 20, 2015 file picture shows people walking through the door on conflict and reclaim the promise we all saw the African Union. UNHCR chief Antonio United Nations base outside Bentiu. They came for a night fleeing fighting, at its birth as a nation four years ago,” US Ambassa- Venezuela’s envoy Rafael Ramirez argued that Guterres said the attack “serves hammering on the gates of the United Nations base as gunmen rampaged dor Samantha Power told the council after the vote. South Sudan’s concerns over the deployment of as another stark reminder of through South Sudan’s capital killing and looting. Two years later, over Russia and Venezuela refused to endorse the res- drones were not taken into account and stressed the dangers many humanitarian 185,000 people are sheltering inside UN camps across the country, still olution, citing objections over references to sanc- that peacekeeping missions must act with the con- workers face in their daily work.” tions against those who block the peace deal and the sent of host-governments. too frightened to leave. deployment of the drones opposed by Juba. AFP AFP WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA 15 killed as Typhoon Melor kills Philippine troops clash four in Philippines with militants MANILA: Philippine troops clashed yesterday with Islam- ist militants on a remote south- Millions left without power ahead of Christmas ern island and 15 people were BULAN: Tattered lanterns, fes- wood house in Bulan, a small The road out of Bulan was lit- killed as security forces step up tive lights and tin roofs littered farming town about 350km south- tered with fallen trees and top- an offensive against rebels who towns in the central Philippines east of the capital, Manila, and she pled power lines, making travel beheaded a Malaysian captive, an yesterday after Typhoon Melor survived the storm by sheltering difficult, while nearby wooden and army spokesman said. swept through, killing at least in a nearby shop. thatch houses laid in ruin. Residents sift through the ruins of their houses after typhoon Melor battered Militants from the Abu Sayyaf four people and leaving millions The typhoon tore in off the Melor weakened slightly as it Barcelona town in Sorsogon province, central Philippines, yesterday. group had steered clear of govern- without power ahead of Christ- Pacific Ocean on Monday after- cut across the central islands of ment troops on the islands of Jolo mas. noon and hit farming and fishing the archipelago, but yesterday Residents of neighbouring the strongest often happening and Basilan since the beheading Distraught survivors surveyed communities in the eastern Phil- afternoon its wind gusts were Sorsogon, which takes in Bulan towards the end of the year. of a Malaysian restaurant owner their damaged homes on the eve ippines with winds of up to 185km still reaching 170km an hour as it town, were also without power Last year, 53 people died last month. of the traditional nine-day Christ- an hour. passed over the island of Mindoro. on Tuesday, and authorities could in floods and landslides after Meanwhile, Philippine Maoist- mas vigil that Filipinos observe Three people were killed in It was expected to weaken fur- give no guarantees if electricity Typhoon Jangmi hit another led rebels yesterday declared a with dawn masses and rice cakes. floods in Northern Samar prov- ther and move out into the South would be restored by Christmas. part of the eastern Philippines 12-day ceasefire to mark Christ- Christmas is the most cele- ince, which faces the Pacific, China Sea by yesterday evening. “Our target is to restore power five days after Christmas, catch- mas, ordering guerrilla units to brated holiday in the Philippines, municipal disaster officer In Bicol, a vast region in the by Christmas, but it will still ing many people on holidays off halt offensive operations against where 80 percent of its 100 million Jonathan Baldo told DZMM radio. east often hit by typhoons, author- depend on many factors,” Mina guard. military targets and businesses people are Catholic, and decora- Flying debris also killed a man ities credited the early evacuation Marasigan, spokeswoman of the The last deadly storm to hit from construction and mines to tions such as colourful lights and in Northern Samar, national dis- of 720,000 people for what they national disaster management the country this year, Koppu, plantations. lanterns have already been put up aster agency spokeswoman Mina believed would be a low death toll. agency, said. killed 54 people and forced tens The conflict has killed more in most towns. Marasigan said, without being “We have zero floods, zero She said the timing would of thousands to flee their homes than 40,000 people and stunted “It will be a very sad Christmas able to confirm the other three deaths, zero casualties,” Joey Sal- depend on how badly damaged after it pummelled rice-growing growth in resource-rich rural and a dark one because we have fatalities. ceda, governor of Albay province towns were, and how much northern provinces in October. areas. The 3,000-strong New no power. But the important thing Civil defence officials said they in Bicol, told ABS-CBN television. cleaning up of roads was required In November 2013 typhoon People’s Army, the armed wing is everyone around me is still were checking reports of addi- But he said the entire province before teams could go in to put up Haiyan, flattened entire commu- of the communist party, operates moving,” 54-year-old rice farmer tional deaths in isolated areas but of 1.2 million people was without new power poles and lines. nities in the central region with mainly in the eastern and south- Noemi Pesigan said. were struggling to confirm new power. “What we are asking for is The Philippines is hit by an tsunami-like waves, leaving 7,350 ern regions of the country. Melor blew out the windows casualities due to “communication the early restoration of electric- average of 20 typhoons a year, people dead or missing. of Pesigan’s two-storey brick and issues”, caused by the storm. ity,” he said. many of them deadly, with AFP REUTERS

Indonesian volcano US Navy warns of S China Sea arms race TOKYO: The US Pacific Fleet is needed merely for self-defence,” man-made islands on reefs in freedom of navigation rights”. Commander has warned of a Swift said. the Spratly Islands, including a “There is no problem with free- possible arms race in the dis- Asked about Swift’s comments, 3,000-metre-long airstrip on one dom of navigation and overflight in puted South China Sea which Chinese Foreign Ministry spokes- of the sites, according to satellite the South China Sea,” Hong said could engulf the region, as nations man Hong Lei said: “Certain coun- imagery of the area. when asked about the Austral- become increasingly tempted to tries are exaggerating tensions in “Even now, ships and aircraft ian patrol. “Countries outside the use military force rather than the South China Sea region, which operating nearby these features, region should respect other coun- international law to settle terri- is in reality to create confusion in accordance with international try’s sovereignty and not deliber- torial spats. and meddle in the South China law are subject to superfluous ately complicate the issue.” Commander Admiral Scott Sea. China is resolutely opposed warnings that threaten routine Manila has asked the Perma- Swift urged nations, like China, to this.” commercial and military opera- nent Court of Arbitration in The to seek arbitration to settle mari- China’s Defence Ministry said tions,” Swift said, speaking at the Hague to affirm its right to areas time disputes. certain countries were conduct- Cooperative Strategy Forum to within 200 nautical miles of its “My concern is that after many ing “a big show of force” in the naval commanders from Japan, coastline, under the terms of a UN decades of peace and prosperity, South China Sea. “At the same the Philippines, Indonesia and convention. we may be seeing the leading time, (they are) wantonly express- other countries. The People’s Daily, the official edge of a return of “might makes ing remarks to create tensions, in Australia’s Defence Depart- newspaper of China’s ruling Com- it right” to the region,” Swift said an attempt to sow confusion and ment said one of its aircraft was munist Party, yesterday described on Monday in a speech in Hawaii. muddy the waters,” the ministry involved in “a routine maritime the arbitration case as a “farce” “Claimants and non-claimants said. patrol” over the South China Sea designed to rip territory from Mount Bromo spews volcanic material and ash into the air during an alike are transferring larger shares China claims most of the South from November 25 to December China it has had sovereignty over eruption in Probolinggo, East Java, Indonesia, yesterday. Indonesian of national wealth to develop more China Sea. 4. The BBC reported the aircraft since ancient times. authorities raised the alert status of Mount Bromo after the volcano’s capable naval forces beyond what Beijing is building seven was “exercising international REUTERS activity increased. Rebel declares autonomous state in CAR North Korea says talks ABIDJAN: A Muslim rebel for elections on December 27. stripes with a white star — after rebels’ leader Michel Djotodia. leader in Central African Repub- From his headquarters in the it was raised over the northern A subsequent transitional gov- with South worsened ties lic has declared an autonomous town of Kaga-Bandoro, Noured- town of N’Dele. ernment issued a warrant for his state in his northeastern strong- dine Adam, head of Seleka’s “We call upon the international arrest in 2014, accusing him of SEOUL: North Korea yesterday tion of Korea (CPRK) — which hold after rejecting elections due FRPC faction, controls a swathe community and the international war crimes. He denies the allega- described recent high-level talks handles cross-border ties — said this month that are aimed at of territory in the northeast. His forces present in Central African tions. He is on a UN sanctions list with the South as a waste of time in a statement. ending a years of bloodshed, his spokesman and chief lieuten- Republic to do everything possi- and is subject to an asset freeze and a step backwards for cross- The North had focused on spokesman said yesterday. ant Maouloud Moussa said the ble to neutralise the capacity to and travel ban. border relations. resuming lucrative South Korean The impoverished nation has Republic of Logone had been pro- do harm of these terrorists,” said Central Africans went to the The vice minister-level discus- tours to its Mount Kumgang descended into chaos since mainly claimed there last Monday. government spokesman Domin- polls on Sunday to vote on a new sions on ways to improve ties — resort, while Seoul’s priority Muslim Seleka rebels overthrew “What we want first of all is ique Said Panguindji. constitution, a requirement for the first of their kind for nearly was to discuss setting up regu- President Francois Bozize in early autonomy. Then we’ll look at how Panguindji called for Adam to elections intended to restore two years — ended on Saturday lar reunions for families sepa- 2013, provoking reprisal attacks to move towards independence,” be arrested and transferred to democratic rule. night after two days of negotia- rated by the 1950-53 Korean War. by Christian anti-balaka militias. he said. “Muslims are marginal- the International Criminal Court, Adam had called for the refer- tions, with no agreement and no The CPRK statement, carried by A government minister said ised ... The north has been aban- which is investigating crimes endum and elections to be can- commitment to meet again. the North’s official KCNA news yesterday that early, partial doned by the central government. committed during the years of celled, and campaigners including “The talks ... produced a result agency, accused the South Korean results from a referendum held There are no roads, no hospitals, violence. Human Rights Watch accused that is worse than having no side of being condescending and on Sunday and Monday indi- no schools.” Adam was second-in-command him of using intimidation to block talks at all and the prospect of framing Pyongyang’s demands as cated a victory for those in UN peacekeepers took down when Seleka seized Bangui in 2013 voting in areas under his control. the inter-Korea relations became an attempt to extract economic favour of a new constitution, an the rebel republic’s flag — hori- and served as security minister even bleaker,” the North’s Com- benefits. outcome that would pave the way zontal yellow, green and black in the government formed by the REUTERS mittee for the Peaceful Reunifica- AFP

Sydney tribute Myanmar’s high opium output a Maid accuses Singapore couple huge test for Suu Kyi govt: UN of starving her BANGKOK: Opium production ing the stabilization a “success”. “Given the scale of the chal- SINGAPORE: A Philippine maid in Myanmar has stabilised for a “Production remains at high lenge ... she has a big task in front has accused a Singaporean cou- third year, the United Nations levels, and displaced farmers of her. It’s not something that’s ple of starving her for 15 months said yesterday, but remained without alternatives may return going to be fixed in a day,” Douglas until her weight dropped to 29 a daunting challenge for the to growing poppy,” he said. said. The NLD’s election mani- kilos, Singapore media reported untested government of Nobel Myanmar is a major producer festo contained only two fleeting yesterday. Thelma Gawidan, 40, laureate Aung San Suu Kyi that of not only opium and its deriva- references to narcotics. who escaped in April 2014 to a takes power in February. tive heroin, but also the highly “We do recognize the existence shelter for migrant workers, told Myanmar produced an esti- addictive drug methampheta- of this problem but we’re too pre- a trial court last Monday that she mated 647 tons of opium in 2015, mine, known across Asia by its occupied with preparations for was only fed instant noodles and second only to Afghanistan, the Thai name “ya ba,” or crazy medi- transfer of power and can’t find bread twice a day. United Nations Office on Drugs cine. The illicit industry is worth a chance to think of it seriously at Gawidan testified again yester- and Crime (UNODC) said in billions of dollars, and is driven the moment,” Win Htein, a senior day and said the couple withheld a new report. That figure was by poverty, conflict and Chinese NLD leader, said. her salary, watched her every steady from the previous year, as demand. Suu Kyi has often addressed move and and did not let her was the total area under opium Narcotics pose another head- the issue of drugs in her speeches, speak to anyone outside. On April poppy cultivation, which stood ache for Suu Kyi’s National he said. Even under an NLD gov- Floral tributes to the victims of the Sydney cafe siege are projected onto 18 last year, Gawidan managed to at 55,500 hectares in 2015, the League for Democracy (NLD) ernment, the military will retain the exterior wall of the Lindt Cafe during a memorial service marking escape to a shopping centre and UNODC said. party, which will soon govern a formal control over the ministries the first anniversary of the incident in Martin Place yesterday. Eighteen called a fellow countrywoman Jeremy Douglas, the UNODC’s large, impoverished and fractious of defence, border affairs and people were taken hostage and two killed by lone gunman Man Horan who fed her before taking her to chief in Southeast Asia and the nation after winning a landslide home affairs. Monis, who was shot and killed by police during the siege. a shelter. Pacific, warned against call- election victory in November. REUTERS AFP WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 ASIA / PAKISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 Pakistan school massacre survivors still haunted one year on PESHAWAR: Mubashir Subhan the Army Public School in the The auditorium is now a sports cued that she learned her son had was in the school auditorium, northwestern city. hall and soldiers stand atop died. surrounded by friends, when the “I feel unable to function. I recently fortified walls as chil- Mathematics teacher Abu Taliban gunmen came crash- keep remembering everything,” dren play on the green, expansive Bakar, 43, now uses a cane to ing in. The first bullet grazed Subhan, a bearded, soft-spoken grounds below. walk after he was shot three the back of his head, the second 16-year-old says. But the trauma has lingered, times when he threw himself in passed through his shoulder, and When he is alone, memories says Andaleeb Aftab, a chemistry front of four students fleeing the the third struck his left hand. of the friends who died alongside teacher at the school who fled into gunmen. Three of them survived. More than 150 lives were lost him that day come crowding in, a bathroom with other staff after “I’m a teacher and I have to in the Peshawar school massacre and he says he cannot fathom how gunmen opened fire on them in a do my duty no matter what,” he of December 16, 2014, the deadli- quickly his life was shattered. hallway. Aftab’s son, 16-year-old says. est extremist attack in Pakistan’s “I think about how I used to be Huzaifa, was among those who For other survivors the history. One year on, those who with my friends,” he says. died in the auditorium. destructive effects of December survived now study in the same His parents also remember In their last exchange, she said, 16 continue to shape their future. rooms where they huddled in ter- how he used to be, saying their he came to the staff room and Waheed Anjum, 18, was shot ror as their classmates fell around confident, outgoing son was trans- asked her for pocket money. three times during the attack them. formed by the hours-long siege. “But I told him I just saw — once in each arm and once in The majority of them were chil- “The slightest of things he you taking pocket money from the chest. Numerous operations dren, many of whom were in the takes as though a bullet hit him,” your father in the parking lot — meant he was out of school for six auditorium with Subhan when says his father Subhan Uddin. so don’t double cross me!” she months, affecting his final grades, nine attackers armed with guns “When he comes home he just remembers. Aftab was trapped in as well as his chances of either Students and civil society activists gather beside a board bearing images and explosives went on a cold- locks himself in his room. He the bathroom until evening, lis- entering a college engineering of victims of the Peshawar massacre of December 16, 2014, ahead of its blooded killing spree. doesn’t meet us or his brothers tening for hours as the attackers programme or becoming a soldier first anniversary, in Lahore yesterday. Many are still gripped by a or sisters or friends. He just sits blew themselves up one by one. like his father. sense of paralysis when they enter and thinks.” It was only after she was res- AFP

Pakistan Afghan security has executes eight convicted murderers worsened: Pentagon MULTAN: Pakistan hanged eight more convicted murderers yesterday, a day ahead of the one- Casualties among Afghan security forces have jumped year anniversary of an extremist attack that prompted authorities WASHINGTON: The overall increase in casualties from Janu- ute to regional and international to lift a six-year moratorium on security situation in Afghani- ary 1 to November 15 against the security,” the report stated. the death penalty. stan deteriorated in the second same period in 2014. It added that the insurgency Pakistan reinstated executions half of 2015, with an increase in The Taliban takeover of Kun- remained “resilient” but also last year as part of a crackdown on insurgent attacks and higher cas- duz — widely reported in the highlighted some relative suc- A Shaheen 1A surface-to-surface ballistic missile is launched at an extremism after Taliban attack- ualties among both Taliban and Western media because of a cesses on the part of Afghan undisclosed location in Pakistan yesterday. ers gunned down more than 150 national forces, a Pentagon report deadly US air strike on a hospi- forces. people, most of them children, at stated yesterday. tal — was a stinging blow to the “The Afghan government an army-run school in the restive This month marks a year since country’s security forces. remains in control of all major northwest on December 16, 2014. the US- and Nato-led mission in Though Afghan forces backed population centres and contin- Pakistan test-fires The latest executions took Afghanistan transitioned into an by US aircraft and Nato soldiers ues to deny the Taliban strategic place in various locations in Pun- Afghan-led operation, with allied eventually drove the Taliban out, ground throughout the country,” jab province. nations assisting in training and observers were alarmed to see the it said. “Two convicts on death row equipping local forces to tackle speed and efficacy of the Taliban Yesterday, the unexplained ballistic missile were hanged in Multan, two Taliban and other groups in the push and wondered if Afghani- murder of eight members of a sin- each in Bahawalpur and Gujrat war-torn nation. stan was on the brink of a secu- gle family caused a wave of shock ISLAMABAD: Pakistan test- “The flight test was aimed and one each in Attock and Dera “The Taliban have remained rity collapse akin to that in Iraq and revulsion in Afghanistan. fired a ballistic missile capable at re-validating several design Ghazi Khan,” Chaudhry Arshad active in their traditional strong- and Syria last year at the hands The victims, including five chil- of carrying a nuclear warhead and technical parameters of the Saeed, an adviser to Punjab’s chief holds, namely in Helmand in the of the Islamic State group. dren aged from two months to five yesterday, its second test in three weapon system. Shaheen1A is minister for prison affairs, said. south and Logar and Wardak in Already, US President Barack years, were found in the eastern days and barely a week after the capable of delivering different Hangings were initially rein- the east, and also created a sense Obama has backtracked on a province of Nangahar on Monday, government confirmed it would types of warheads to a range of stated only for those convicted of of instability for brief periods of pledge to pull out all but 1,000 each shot once in the head, appar- resume high-level peace talks 900kms,” it said. Security official terrorism, but in March they were time in other parts of the coun- troops and in October announced ently by three unknown men who with arch-rival India. confirmed the missile can also extended to all capital offences. try, such as in Kunduz in north- that 9,800 US forces would remain had been guests of the family. The test is the latest in a series carry nuclear warheads. Relations Rights activists recently put ern Afghanistan,” the Pentagon’s in Afghanistan until the end of There has so far been no expla- carried out by India and Pakistan between Pakistan and India have the number at around 300. Sup- semi-annual report to Congress 2016. nation for the murder, although since both demonstrated nuclear always been fraught, but soured porters argue that executions stated. Obama’s decision recognized regional officials have said they weapons capability in 1998. further last August amid a rise are the only effective way to deal “(Afghan security forces’) per- Afghan forces “will require more had no sign it was connected to The military said it had fired a in clashes along their borders and with the scourge of militancy in formance over the entire fight- time and assistance to develop the Taliban insurgency that has Shaheen 1A surface-to-surface a row over a Pakistani diplomat the country. ing season and the last six months into a capable, credible and inde- cost thousands of civilian lives so ballistic missile which can carry meeting Kashmiri separatists. But critics say the legal system has been uneven and mixed,” the pendent force that can protect far this year alone. nuclear and conventional war- is unjust, with rampant police report said, noting a 27 percent the Afghan people and contrib- AFP heads within a range of 900kms. AFP torture and poor representation for victims during unfair trials, while the majority of those who are hanged are not convicted of terror charges. Nepal tables bills to rebuild nation, end Madhesi row AFP KATHMANDU: The Nepal gov- extensive damage to infrastruc- squalid conditions during the are demanding amendments in The southern plains comprise of ernment yesterday tabled a bill ture in the April 25 temblor that harsh winter, the government the country’s new Constitution over 50 percent population of the in parliament to create a “Nepal claimed more than 9,000 lives. was forced to negotiate with all which they deem discriminatory country and if this bill is passed, Pakistani man Reconstruction Authority” The erstwhile Nepali Congress the political parties before tabling and ignoring their rights. the plains will have majority rep- for rebuilding the nation eight government had introduced an the bill. More than $4bn was com- However, the Madhesi parties resentation in parliament after dies while months after the April earth- ordinance and appointed Govinda mitted by international donors to opposed the move, saying they the next general elections. quake, and another to address the Pokhrel as CEO, but later the assist Nepal in the reconstruction had not been consulted before Lawmakers from Madhesi par- attempting selfie demands of the agitating Mad- Communist Party of Nepal (Uni- task but the country has not been tabling the bill. The bill, which ties protested, saying they had hesi political parties and ethnic fied Marxists-Leninists), the sec- able to spend a single penny due aims to amend the Constitution, agreed to letting the tabling of groups of the Nepal Terai. ond largest party in parliament, to its failure to create the compe- ensures constitutional guar- only the reconstruction author- on a moving train The process was delayed due did not support the conversion of tent authority. antee of inclusive proportional ity bill. The agitating Madhesi to issues related to the plum post the ordinance into a bill. Through another bill, the gov- representation of various ethnic parties have refused to accept ISLAMABAD: A young Paki- of CEO of the authority that will Following criticism from ernment sought to address the minorities in various state enti- the constitution amendment bill, stani man was killed yesterday have sweeping powers to carry out national and international quar- demands of the agitating Mad- ties apart from the Nepal Army claiming that it failed to address after being hit by a fast-moving major reconstruction work in the ters over the sorry plight of thou- hesi political parties and ethnic and redrawing the electoral con- their concerns. train as he tried to take a selfie Himalayan nation which suffered sands of quake victims living in groups of the Nepal Terai who stituencies based on population. IANS with it, officials said. Jamshaid Khan, 22, who was an employee of the railways depart- ment, tried to take the photo Afghan arms seizure on his phone while standing on the track in front of the train in Afghan opium cultivation drops Rawalpindi city. “Jamshed Khan, a resident of Dhok Ratta area in Rawalpindi city, died after getting hit by a for first time in six years train while taking a selfie in front of it. The train crushed him and KABUL: Afghanistan saw a drop The southern province of Hel- decrease) is crop failure and cer- he was killed on the spot,” Deeba in opium cultivation this year for mand, however, retained its title tainly not the counter-narcotics Shahnaz, a senior official of the the first time since 2009, a United as leader in growth of opium, efforts,” said William Byrd, an rescue department, said. Nations report said, citing dry which is used to produce highly economist with the United States A policeman at the local sta- weather conditions as a key rea- addictive heroin. Institute of Peace think tank. tion confirmed the death but said son for the decline. The agency’s head in Afghani- Lower levels of cultivation Khan’s father did not acknowl- Despite a decade of costly US stan Andrey Avetisyan said that meant there was a 48 percent edge that his son died while tak- and international counter-nar- the Taliban hotbed “could alone decrease in total opium produc- ing a selfie. cotics programmes, poppy farm- meet the entire global demand” tion this year. “Jamshed Khan’s father ing has boomed in southern and in poppies. Avetisyan said the figures Muhammad Pervez said his son western regions, which include “The lack (of) sufficient water should be handled carefully due died in an accident while cross- the most volatile parts of the for irrigation... affected the deci- to the UNODC’s refinement of its ing the track,” the policeman said, country where the Taliban insur- sion of some farmers not to cul- methodology since last year. adding that the deceased was a Afghan police pose with weapons recovered as part of the coun- gency is strongest. tivate poppy,” said the report, “We now compare two sources helper at the railways depart- try’s Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups (DIAG) initiative in Herat, The total area under cultiva- which was released last week. of information on the ground and ment. Taking selfies is a popular Afghanistan, yesterday. In an attempt to reduce insecurity in the country tion was 183,000 hectares in 2015, It also cited a substantial from space with satellites and we trend in Pakistan, with many and promote state institutions, the government, with the help of interna- a 19 percent decrease from last increase in eradication as a fac- analyse it,” he said, asserting that youngsters using the pictures to tional partners, initiated the DIAG programme in 2005 to deal with people year, according to the United tor, though experts warned that accuracy levels had improved. update their Facebook and Twit- who bear arms but are not afiliated with official agencies. Nations Office on Drugs and did not play a dominant role. ter pages. Crime (UNODC). “The short answer (to the AFP AFP WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / INDIA Tamil Nadu residents pick up pieces to rebuild lives

CHENNAI: Residents of four are pegged at around 390. Though on the ground floor in our local- “We will have to spend on wood- money to get their vehicles road- due to floods at around `15bn. districts of Tamil Nadu — jolted floodwaters have long receded and ity were flooded with sewage,” she work as our furniture was dam- worthy again. The state government earlier by unprecedented rains and sub- Chennai is now dry, what remains said. aged. We spent around `10,000 on Meanwhile, a majority of flood- submitted a memorandum of sequent floods — are slowly pick- behind is the havoc caused to the “All our consumer durables — electrical repairs,” Chennai resi- affected people housed in relief `8.4bn to the central government. ing up pieces to rebuild their lives of its residents and debris television, refrigerator, washing dent V Lakshmi said. camps have returned to their A supplementary memorandum is shattered lives amid counting of of their properties, say the state machine, computers, car, furni- “Offices and schools may have homes, or whatever remains of under preparation. losses. capital’s residents. ture, utensils, gas stoves, beds and reopened after a month of holi- them. Only 18 relief camps — 16 The Tamil Nadu government Flood waters proved a great “All that seems to be normal clothing and other items — were days due to rains and flood, but in Chennai and two in Tiruval- is now repairing damaged roads leveller, inflicting financial losses are Chennai’s blocked sewers and damaged,” Batra said. life is not normal for me. Ground- lur districts — housing a total of with an outlay of `5m in flood- on people cutting across class bar- uncleaned roads,” Chennai resi- She said she spent around water quality is suspect as sewage 4,571 persons remain functional. affected Chennai, Kanchipuram, riers. However, the lower- and the dent J Nitya remarked. `15,000 only to clean her house of stagnated around my house for During peak floods, around 7,100 Tiruvallur and Cuddalore dis- middle-class families would find it “I am depressed. My financial slush and muck. Her car insur- several days,” V Sumathi, a resi- relief camps housed more than tricts. much harder to cope with the loss losses total around `1m. I will ance company was yet to send a dent of Shastri Nagar, said. 1.94 million people. It is also awaiting central gov- of a lifetime’s earnings. have to rebuild my life. No college surveyor to estimate the vehicle’s In Mylapore and Mandavelli “Over 13.4 million food packets ernment funds for repair and The unprecedented rains, will reduce fees nor any grocery loss. “What is the government areas, municipal water supply were distributed and over 31,320 rehabilitation work. For the flood- the worst in 100 years, battered shop sell provisions at subsidised going to do for me?” she asked. to homes has been cut owing to medical camps organised,” a state battered residents of the four Chennai and the northern dis- rate for us flood-affected,” corpo- Both N Velu, a public sec- damage to a major pipeline, said government official said. Tamil Nadu districts, there is no tricts of Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram rate executive Priya Batra said. tor employee, and Velaiamma, a officials. Even though the Tamil Insurance companies estimate way but to cling on to hope and and Cuddalore in the first week of “There was nearly 15 feet of domestic maid, said they suffered Nadu government announced free the loss to insured property at slowly hobble on with their lives. December. water (after the rains on Decem- losses of household items, includ- two- and three-wheeler repair around `2.5bn. Industry chambers Official estimates of the deaths ber 1 and 2). All seven apartments ing TVs. camps, several citizens spent huge Assocham earlier pegged losses IANS

SSB recruits Bihar Dy CM India has a difficult allotted official bungalow PATNA: Bihar Deputy Chief neighbourhood: Modi Minister Tejaswi Yadav has been allotted an official bungalow in the high security zone in the state capital, an official said yesterday. PM expresses concern over instability in West Asia “Tejaswi Yadav has been allot- ted the bungalow at 5, Deshratan KOCHI: Prime Minister Naren- chiefs, the defence secretary and started a new NSA-level dialogue Marg, located just behind 1, Anne dra Modi yesterday said India Defence Minister Manohar Parri- to bring security experts face to Marg, the official residence of the had a “difficult neighbourhood”, kar. Modi also expressed concern face with each other. But, we will chief minister,” said an official of and that several countries had over the instability in West Asia. never drop our guard on security the building construction depart- reached out to India to deal with “We see terrorism and ceasefire and we will continue to judge ment, which allot bungalows to the rising threat of terrorism violations, reckless nuclear build progress on their commitments Personnel of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), one of the Central Armed ministers and legislators. and radicalisation across regions, up and threats, border transgres- on terrorism,” he said. Police Forces, take part in a passing out parade at their training head- Tejaswi, 26, is living with his “including the Islamic world”. sions and, continuing military Modi also mentioned China quarters near Bhopal yesterday. Around 400 cadets from seventeen parents at 10, Circular Road, the Addressing top commanders of modernisation and expansion. and said India was pursuing states of the country took part in the parade after completing a rigorous bungalow allotted to his mother the country’s three armed forces “The shadow of West Asian “closer relations” to harness training programme. and former chief minister Rabri at the Combined Commanders’ instability is becoming longer. the full potential of economic Devi. Conference onboard INS Vikra- “Our region” is marked by uncer- partnership.“We will aim to An official bungalow will also maditya, the prime minister said tain political transitions, weak address outstanding issues, main- be allotted to Rashtriya Janata India was seen as a “new bright institutions and internal con- tain stability on the border, and Dal chief Lalu Prasad’s elder son spot” of the world economy, and flicts and, “major powers” have develop greater mutual under- Mercury continues to Tej Pratap Yadav, the state health also as “an anchor for regional increased their engagement in standing and trust in our over- minister, soon. and global peace, security and sta- India’s land and maritime neigh- lapping neighbourhood. Earlier, it was reported that bility”. Modi emphasised India’s bourhood,” he said. “I believe that India and China Lalu Prasad was not keen on attempt to establish good rela- On Pakistan, Modi said India can engage constructively across dip in Kashmir, Ladakh separate official bungalows for tions with its neighbours, includ- was trying to “turn the course of the complexity of their relation- his sons Tejaswi and Tej Pratap. ing Paksitan. history” and “bring an end to ter- ship as two self-assured and SRINAGAR: Minimum temper- Leh was the coldest place in the Tejaswi made his debut in the “And, as the world seeks to deal rorism”. “We are engaging Paki- confident nations, aware of their atures in Kashmir and Ladakh state yesterday. state assembly with a victory in with the rising threat of terror- stan to try and turn the course of interests and responsibilities,” region yesterday fell several In Jammu region, the minimum Raghopur constituency while Tej ism and radicalism, countries history, bring an end to terrorism, he said. “From Maldives and notches below the freezing point. temperature was 5.6 degrees Cel- Pratap won in Mahua. across all regions, including in build peaceful relations, advance Sri Lanka in the seas, to Nepal A weather department official sius in Jammu city, 6.7 degrees the Islamic world, have reached cooperation and promote stability and Bhutan in the mountains, said that the minimum tempera- Celsius in Katra town and 2 IANS out to seek cooperation with and prosperity in our region. we are working to safeguard our ture was minus 0.3 degrees Cel- degrees Celsius in Batote. India,” Modi said.“Above all, it is “There are many challenges interests and our relationships,” sius in Srinagar, minus 7.5 degrees The free fall of mercury in our neighbourhood that is most and barriers on the path. But Modi said. The land boundary Celsius in Pahalgam and minus the Kashmir Valley and Ladakh critical for our future and for our the effort is worth it, because the agreement with Bangladesh has 8.8 degrees Celsius in Gulmarg. region was worrisome for people place in the world. But ours is a peace dividends are huge and the strengthened relations, and India The minimum temperature was as the traditional 40-day period difficult neighbourhood with the future of our children is at stake,” was also committed to peace in minus 14 degrees Celsius in Leh of extreme cold that is known as Auto driver full spectrum of security chal- the prime minister said. “So, we Afghanistan, he added. while it was minus 11.4 degrees the ‘Chillai Kalan’ is still six days lenges,” he said at the conference will test their intentions to define Celsius in Kargil town in Ladakh away. jailed in 2009 attended by the three service the path ahead. For this, we have IANS region. IANS rape case NEW DELHI: A court has con- victed auto driver Vikas Prashad Verma of raping a school girl in 2009 and sentenced him to a Congress, Trinamool members walk out from Lok Sabha seven-year jail term. Additional Sessions Judge Sar- NEW DELHI: The Congress and Punjab government, Parliamen- of Shiromani Akali Dal-Bharatiya government came to power. As Shiromani Akali Dal MP from ita Birbal last week pronounced Trinamool Congress members tary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Janata Party government in Pun- soon as Scindia referred to the Bathinda, to speak. the verdict against Verma (35), walked out from the Lok Sabha Naidu said an attempt was being jab over the Abohar crime, Naidu crushing of a school student by a Congress and Trinamool Con- who used to drive a ‘Vikram yesterday amid an uproar over made to defame an elected gov- said going by the same logic even bus allegedly belonging to a com- gress members walked out of the tempo’ in east Delhi when the the chopping of limbs of two Dalit ernment. the Uttar Pradesh government pany owned by an Akali leader house soon after Harsimrat Kaur crime was committed. The judge men in Abohar district of Punjab. He said the Congress members needed to be dismissed over the and sought to blame the ruling began to speak. also fined the convict `6,000. The Bharatiya Janata Party first abuse an elected government Dadri lynching incident. party leadership in Punjab. Harsimrat Kaur, the minister According to the prosecu- members protested when Speaker by coming near the speaker’s Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said The speaker asked Scindia for food processing industries, tion case, the victim had taken Sumitra Mahajan asked Congress podium and then seek to raise matters pertaining to the states to sit down, as Congress mem- said the Congress had been pro- Verma’s ‘Vikram tempo’ to go to leader Jyotiraditya Scindia to the issue in the house. should not be raised in the house bers gradually gathered near the testing in the Lok Sabha after a school on April 1, 2009. Verma, speak after the question hour. “Everyday, it is becoming a and asked Scindia not to do so. podium. Minister of State for Par- court order in the National Her- instead, took the girl to an iso- Referring to Congress mem- practice. Please understand the Scindia said there were several liamentary Affairs Rajiv Pratap ald case and accused it of playing lated place and raped her. bers trooping near the speaker’s sentiments of the house,” he said. incidents of atrocities against Rudy urged Speaker Sumitra politics on issues concerning the He had been on the run podium during the question hour As Congress members raised Dalits and women during the Mahajan to allow his cabinet col- Dalits. after the incident before being and raising slogans against the slogans to demand the dismissal past 18 months since the Modi league Harsimrat Kaur Badal, a IANS arrested on April 15, 2013 in Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan. Sikh procession IANS Four held, hunt on for key accused in Mumbai twin murder case 15 killed as bus falls off bridge in MUMBAI: Four suspects have police are on the lookout for Harish Bhambani in Mumbai been arrested for the sensational main suspect, Vidyadhar Rajb- last weekend. The barely-clothed Madhya Pradesh double murder of well-known har, who is missing and on the bodies of Hema and Bhambhani artist Hema Upadhyay and her run, Deshmane said. The accused were packed in cardboard boxes, HOSHANGABAD : Fifteen lawyer Harish Bhambani, and trio has been charged with mur- wrapped in plastic sheets, trans- people were killed and 25 injured three of them were last Thurs- der, conspiracy to murder and ported in a tempo from Juhu to yesterday when a bus fell into a day sent to police custody till other sections of the Indian Kandivali and thrown into a large canal in Hoshangabad district of December 19 by a court, a police Penal Code, the DCP told media open drain near Dahanukarwadi Madhya Pradesh, police said. official said. persons here. in Kandivali West suburb of north The accident happened when Pradip Rajbhar, Azad Rajbhar Acting on a tip-off from Mum- Mumbai a few days ago. the driver lost control over the and Vijay Rajbhar were presented bai police, Uttar Pradesh Police The boxes with the bodies, bus while crossing a bridge over before the Borivali metropolitan arrested Sadhu Rajbhar and their hands and feet tied up, were the canal near Langa Bamania. magistrate who remanded them also recovered certain personal recovered in the early hours of The bus carrying members of in police custody, said Deputy belongings of the victims, ID last Sunday. It was only after a wedding party was on its way Panj Pyare or ‘The Beloved Five’ (in orange robes) lead as Sikh devotees Commissioner of Police (Zone 11) cards, several ATM cards and initial investigations that police from Indore to Chandmota in carry Sri Guru Granth Sahib, the holy book of the Sikh religion, in a golden Vikram Deshmane. other things from him. succeeded in identifying them as Chhindwara district, Suhagpur palanquin at the Golden Temple in Amritsar yesterday. The procession Besides the three men nabbed The other Rajbhars are lawyer Bhambani, 65, a resident SHO Priyadarshan Sidharth said. was taken out on the eve of the martyrdom day of the ninth Guru of the from Mumbai, one more accused, believed to have helped Vidyad- of Sion, and Baroda-born art- The injured were under treat- Sikhs, Sri Guru Tegh Bahadur, who was executed in 1675 in Delhi on the Shivkumar alias Sadhu Rajbhar, har Rajbhar in the two murders ist Hema, 43, a resident of San- ment at various hospitals, he was arrested from Varanasi and the disposal of the bodies of tacruz. added. orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb. by Uttar Pradesh Police, while Hema Upadhyay and her lawyer IANS IANS WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 ASIA / INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Jaitley file behind CBI raid: Kejriwal Congress targets Centre after investigators search Delhi govt offices

NEW DELHI: Delhi Chief Min- Kejriwal said the CBI team was “Now if these facts can be He also wanted to know why ister Arvind Kejriwal yesterday looking for a report of the inquiry twisted and an incorrect argument ministers in the previous Congress took a swipe at the Centre, saying commission that had probed, on is developed, let others outside do government and other officers who a CBI search at the Delhi Secre- his instructions, the affairs of the it because every word said in this also signed the supposedly corrupt tariat was aimed at a file con- DDCA which he alleged was a den house has sanctity,” Jaitley said in contracts approved by Rajendra nected to union Finance Minister of corruption. parliament. Kumar were not raided. Arun Jaitley and his links with “Jaitley had been involved for a Kejriwal, however, stressed that Responding to criticism that he the Delhi and District Cricket long time with the DDCA,” he said. the CBI searches were aimed at erred by calling Modi “a coward Association (DDCA). Jaitley “They wanted the file of him and the allegations against and a psychopath”, Kejriwal said refused to comment on the issue DDCA... Jaitley figures in it. They his principal secretary Rajendra he may have used inappropriate beyond terming Kejriwal’s charge came looking for that file,” he told Kumar were just an excuse to hit language, but he would apologise as “rubbish”. reporters outside the residence of at him. only if Modi did so. The raid by the Central Bureau Deputy Chief Minister Manish “Rajendra is an excuse, Kejriwal “The prime minister must of Investigation at the Delhi gov- Sisodia, where AAP leaders held is the target,” he said, referring apologise for his deeds. Then I will ernment’s seat of power — specifi- a meeting. to the principal secretary who the apologise for my words,” he said. cally the third floor, where both Reacting to Kejriwal’s state- CBI alleged was involved in cor- CBI officials swooped down on the offices of the principal sec- ment, Jaitley said yesterday ruption. Kejriwal’s office over a 2002 cor- retary to the chief minister and evening, “His (Kejriwal) morning Earlier, CBI spokesperson ruption case, triggering a string Kejriwal himself are located — statement appeared to be prima Devpreet Singh denied any raid of angry responses from the AAP Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gestures as he addresses the media rocked political parties both inside facie incorrect. But the evening at Kejriwal’s office. leader who took office in Febru- in New Delhi yesterday. and outside parliament during the one seems to be absolute rub- The chief minister said the CBI ary 2015. day. bish. And I don’t think I need to was lying because its officers did The CBI later said it had seized The government’s argument is undeclared Emergency.” Trinamool Congress chief respond to rubbish.” search his office. `240,000 and documents related had few takers in parliament, Congress spokesperson and West Bengal Chief Minister Earlier yesterday, Jaitley said He said his office didn’t main- to three immovable properties where the opposition parties cre- Abhishek Manu Singhvi said party Mamata Banerjee, K C Tyagi of the CBI raid was not against tain files beyond 10-15 days. from Rajendra Kumar’s official ated a storm. The CPI-M said the leaders had also been targeted by the Janata Dal-United and leaders Kejriwal, but against an official “If they were looking for files of residence and that he was not raid was “highly condemnable” investigative agencies under the of Left parties came out in support who was attached to his office. the 2007-14 period, what were they cooperating in opening his email and “politically motivated”, while present government. of the Aam Aadmi Party govern- “The raids have nothing to do looking for in my office?” accounts. Union Minister M Tyagi described the raid as an act “Never before has so much been ment. with Arvind Kejriwal’s office or He pointed out that Rajendra Venkaiah Naidu said Modi had of cowardice. accomplished under cooperative The Congress targeted the Cen- his tenure as chief minister. They Kumar had held senior positions nothing to do with the raids, which Mamata Banerjee said federalism,” Singhvi said in sar- tre over the raid, but also attacked relate to a period much before he in the departments of education, took place at 14 locations in Delhi she was “shocked”. Kejriwal castic remarks. Kejriwal for his “double standards”. became chief minister. IT and VAT. and Uttar Pradesh. responded: “Mamata Di, This IANS

Siliguri mishap Petrol price cut SC may double green charge by 50 paise a to curb Delhi’s pollution level litre, diesel by

NEW DELHI: The Supreme trucks `2,600 for passing through told the court that central gov- 46 paise Court yesterday indicated that the capital. ernment’s position is that it could it may double the Environment The court’s order on Wednes- not be introduced before 2020 as NEW DELHI: With the Indian Compensation Charge (ECC) on day is likely to deal with sugges- it would involve the revamp of basket of crude oils going below commercial vehicles using the tion to ban registration of vehicles refineries to produce fuel that $35 a barrel, state-run Indian Oil national capital as transit for with engine capacity of over 2,000 was euro VI compatible. Corp yesterday announced price their onward journey to other cc, banning entry of commercial The court said that it would cuts on petrol by 50 paise a litre, destinations to curb the capital’s vehicles registered prior to 2005, “dictate the orders today” as and of diesel by 46 paise in Delhi, alarming pollution levels. plying of CNG cabs only, ban on Salve told the court that the with corresponding decrease in A bench of Chief Justice T S the burning of waste including question fate of the Badarpur other states, effective midnight. Thakur, Justice A K Sikri and municipal waste, steps to control and Rajghat thermal power “The current level of inter- Justice R Banumathi said that the dust level in the city and the plant could be taken up in Janu- national product prices of pet- Railway rescue personnel and forestry department staff inspect the car- it would double the ECC at the introduction of BS IV emission ary 2016. rol and diesel and INR-USD cass of a female elephant hit by a passenger train, which derailed in the conclusion of nearly three-hour- norms. The suggested ban on As the court’s attention was exchange rate warrant a decrease Gulma area inside the Mahananda wildlife sanctuary, some 30km from long hearing on the steps that can the registration of vehicles with drawn towards the adulteration in prices, the impact of which is Siliguri, yesterday. No human casualties were reported in the incident. be taken to reduce the air pollu- engine capacity of over 2000 cc of fuel with kerosene, Chief Jus- being passed on to the consum- Shrinking forests and encroachment on elephant territory cause multiple tion in Delhi which has assumed would be for four months starting tice Thakur said, “Our cars are ers with this price revision,” it deaths each year in the elephant-human conflict, due to poaching, crop alarming proportions. The order from January till April. so versatile that nothing happens said, in a release announcing the protection and other accidents, including vehicle-elephant collisions. will be passed today. Pointing out that BS IV emis- to them.” fortnightly revision in prices by The apex court had on Octo- sion standards were not available Seeking a clampdown on diesel oil firms. ber 9 imposed an ECC of `700 across the country, senior coun- vehicles, Salve said, “Blame must The oil marketer said the price on light vehicles and two-axle sel Harish Salve, who is amicus lie on diesel vehicles as 30 percent of petrol per litre from today will trucks and `1,300 on three and curiae in the matter, told the of vehicles in Delhi are fuelled by be `59.98 in Delhi, `65.53 in Kolk- four-axle trucks entering the court that the “Euro IV fuel was diesel.” However, senior counsel ata, `67.04 in Mumbai and `60.28 Bengal tea garden ` national capital in the course of not available” and cars conform- Dushyant Dave resisted the move, in Chennai. Diesel will cost 46.09 their onward journey. If the court, ing to euro IV emission stand- saying that diesel vehicles formed a litre in Delhi, `49.70 in Kolkata, as it indicated yesterday doubles ards “can be (for the time being) a small part of the overall number `53.28 in Mumbai and `47.28 in worker found dead the charge, then light vehicles and permitted on national highways”. of vehicles in Delhi and they could Chennai. two-axle trucks would be paying As court inquired about the not be targeted. SILIGURI: One more tea gar- newspaper reports about starva- `1,400 and three- and four-axle euro VI emission standards, Salve IANS IANS den worker died yesterday after tion deaths in tea gardens, the failing to undergo costly medical minister asked whether the leg- treatment following prolonged islators can produce any death illness, even as a West Bengal certificate where doctors have minister claimed not a single written in the recent past that starvation death has taken place the end came due to starvation. in the state’s tea gardens. He compared the death rate Top court issues notice to govt on Nestle plea Sita Orao, a worker of the in Bengal and India as a whole, closed Red Bank tea garden in and said the deaths were due to NEW DELHI: The Supreme hear the matter today as senior dium glutamate (MSG), including order had held that since the labs Jalpaiguri district, died yesterday natural causes. Court yesterday sought the cen- counsel L Nageshwara Rao sought their quantity in the samples at which tested Nestle’s Maggi noo- morning, with her family claiming Ghatak’s remarks followed tral government’s response on the interim stay of the NCDRC’s the Export Inspection Council of dles were not accredited by the that she lacked money to fund her claims by rights organisations, Nestle India’s plea challenging December 9 order directing the India, Chennai”. The NCDRC had National Accreditation Board for costly treatment. trade unions and opposition par- the “legality and correctness” of testing of 16 samples. ordered the testing of the Maggi Testing and Calibration Laborato- In Kolkata, state Labour Min- ties that the tea gardens were the National Consumer Disputes Nestle, in its plea, said that “the noodles in the course of the hear- ries (NABL), their findings could ister Moloy Ghatak ruled out any going through a crisis. Redressal Commission (NCDRC) commission had directed that out ing of the central government’s not be relied upon. starvation deaths in the north Yesterday itself, the CPI-M order directing testing of 16 sam- of withdrawn stocks of Maggi class action suit against Nestle Initially, Nageshwara Rao said Bengal’s tea gardens. Replying to claimed workers of closed and ples of Maggi noodles to ascertain noodles in the custody of the Food India, the manufacturer of the that Nestle India plea challenging a query from a Communist Party crisis-ridden tea gardens in Dar- their safety for consumption. Safety and Standards Authority noodles, seeking about `640cr in the NCDRC order could be taken of India-Marxist member, Ghatak jeeling, Jalpaiguri and Alipurduar A bench of Justice Dipak Misra of India (of which 100 batch num- damages for alleged unfair trade up on January 13 when the court also denied in the state assembly districts were dying due to “star- and Justice Prafulla C Pant, bers were randomly noted by the practices, false labelling and mis- will hear the central government’s that none of the workers died due vation, semi-starvation and lack while issuing notice to the gov- local commissioner), 16 samples leading advertisements. challenge to the Bombay High to lack of treatment. of treatment”. ernment, which is also on caveat be sent for testing for presence However, the Bombay High Court order. As opposition members cited IANS in the matter, said that it would of lead in any form and monoso- Court by its August 13, 2015, IANS

Magh Mela bridge Minor’s marriage After losing hope, paraplegic turns stopped in Bengal

SILIGURI: The marriage of a father, paving the way for others 16-year-old girl to a groom from Gurgaon was stopped yesterday NEW DELHI: A paraplegic Singh, the hospital is now set to “With this case, we have by the administration with the patient who had given up hope of offer such special fertility serv- decided to start a regular and help of an NGO in northern West fathering a child found the hap- ices to spinal injury victims on dedicated practice of offering Bengal’s Darjeeling district. piness of becoming a parent after a regular basis, an official state- fertility services to such patients The student of Class 7 from doctors at the Indian Spinal Inju- ment said. at affordable costs. We are sure Chhotomaniram Jote village of ries Centre (ISIC) here success- “In our country, sexual health this will make a huge difference in Naxalbari block was slated to be fully used in vitro fertilisation of spinal injury patients or their the lives of many people,” Chhabra married to a man from Gurgaon technology to fulfil the couple’s desire to have a family is often noted. in Haryana during the day. dream. played down which is very unfor- In this particular case, a team However, Block Development Paraplegia is usually caused by tunate because they have the of doctors including Rachna Officer Kingshuk Maity came damage to the spinal cord. Para- same desires and expectations as Verma, a senior consultant gynae- with police personnel and mem- plegic patients generally experi- any other human being. At ISIC cologist, worked with the patient bers of an NGO, and ordered that Labourers pull a pontoon to construct a temporary bridge for the Magh ence complete paralysis of the we closely observe such patients over a period of time to enable the marriage ceremony be called Mela festival on the river Ganges, in Allahabad yesterday. The festival lower half of the body, including on a daily basis and we under- him and his wife to deliver a off as she was a minor. is an annual religious event held during the month of Magh, when thou- both legs. stand their special needs,” said healthy baby boy. sands of devotees take a holy dip in the waters of the Ganges. After successfully helping Pra- H.S. Chhabra, spine surgeon at IANS deep Singh and his wife Sunita the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre. IANS WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com EUROPE

‘Nazi Gold Train’ findings French foreign EU launches new minister’s son arrested border force plan over forgery PARIS: The son of French For- Plan may be watered down by members eign Minister Laurent Fabius was taken into custody yesterday as STRASBOURG, FRANCE: The EU permanent, the 26-country Schengen part of a probe into forgery, fraud unveiled plans yesterday for a new border zone that ensures the EU’s core principle and money laundering, police and coastguard force that can intervene of freedom of movement would collapse, sources told AFP. even without the host country’s consent, taking the idea of a single, united Europe A preliminary investigation saying it had to restore security threat- with it. The new border guard system will into Thomas Fabius’s financial ened by the migration crisis. replace the EU’s largely toothless Frontex affairs was opened in France in The new agency will have a quick reac- agency, which has failed to tackle the flows 2013, with police particularly tion force of 1,500 guards and a “right to of people on routes including Turkey to interested in his purchase of a intervene” in European Union nations that Greece and through the western Balkans, Piotr Koper and Andreas Richter, who claim to have found a Nazi train carrying gold, ¤7m ($7.6m) Paris apartment. are either overwhelmed or are deemed to mainly because of a lack of manpower from present their report on their findings into the existence of the so-called ‘Nazi Gold train’ at A police source said the apart- be failing to secure their frontiers. member states. EU leaders will discuss the a press conference in Walbrzych, Poland, yesterday. AGH University of Science scientists ment, which was searched yes- With one million mainly Syrian refugees new plan — which has been drawn up by terday, had raised alarms over claim the tunnel may exist, but have found no evidence of so-called ‘Nazi Gold Train’ in it. and migrants set to arrive in Europe this the Commission, the EU’s powerful execu- money laundering. year, the record flow has raised fears for tive arm — at a summit on Thursday and Thomas Fabius’s lawyer con- the future of the Schengen passport-free Friday, European Council President Don- firmed he was in custody but zone, while the Paris attacks have brought ald Tusk said. would not comment further. the security aspect under the spotlight. “We must regain control over our exter- The 34-year-old son of France’s But some member states in the 28-nation nal borders to stem migratory flows and French police arrest two men, top diplomat is wanted in the EU are hostile to the idea of a plan that to preserve Schengen,” Tusk said in his United States for allegedly writ- could see them cede sovereignty over their invitation letter to leaders. ing bouncing cheques at a Las own land and sea borders to bureaucrats The border guard plan won the approval Vegas casino. in Brussels. of European Parliament President Martin woman over Paris attacks Thomas Fabius wrote cheques European Commission Vice-President Schulz, who said the EU had to be able to for more than $3.5m to cover Frans Timmermans said the new force act when member states could not meet PARIS: French police arrested two men France remains on top security alert gambling debts on the night of could take over management of national their responsibilities. “That the EU creates and a woman yesterday in connection with since at least eight gunmen and suicide May 15, 2012, according to an borders in “exceptional situations” where common instruments to help and inter- deadly Islamist militant attacks on Paris bombers killed 130 people at cafes, a con- arrest warrant seen in October a member state was unable to cope. vene, that is completely normal. The Euro- last month and in January, judiciary offi- cert hall and near a sports stadium in Paris by AFP. “This is a safety net which, like all safety pean Commission’s proposals... are a step cials said. on November 13 — the deadliest attack on His father, a former Socialist nets, we hope will never need to be used. in the right direction,” Schulz told AFP. In a separate event that highlighted the French soil since World War Two. prime minister, was appointed But it is essential to restore the credibility But the plan faces being severely watered knock-on impact of tensions over Islamist One of the two men arrested yesterday France’s foreign minister in May of our border management system,” Tim- down by EU member states before the as violence, a teacher who claimed to have in Villiers-sur-Marne to the east of Paris 2012. Often photographed at mermans said as he presented the plan to yet unnamed agency comes into effect. been stabbed by a man on Monday acting was deemed a “peripheral” suspect in the high-flying parties, Thomas has the European Parliament. Brussels also set Polish Foreign Minister Witold Waszc- in the name of Islamic State militants was investigation into the November 13 attacks, spent millions of dollars in casi- out plans to resettle some refugees directly zykowski said Monday that the replace- hospitalised after admitting to police that judiciary sources said. nos in the past. His high-profile from Turkey, the main launching point for ment of Warsaw-based Frontex “by a he had invented the story, prosecutors said. Seven assailants died in that attack and father received a standing ovation most of the refugees coming to Europe. structure that is independent of member Islamic State, which claimed respon- an eighth in police raids days later, but in France’s National Assembly Germany and other EU countries have in states is shocking”. Rights group Amnesty sibility for the November 13 attacks, has police are still searching for another chief yesterday for his efforts in nego- the last few weeks reintroduced temporary International said the EU border guard stated that teachers in France’s secular suspect, Salah Abdeslam, who vanished tiating a historic climate deal in border controls to cope with the crisis, the plan “must not be at the expense of state-schooling system should be killed for after escaping to Belgium from Paris. Paris agreed by 195 countries. biggest of its kind since World War II. migrant and refugee rights”. promoting what it called the evils of secu- The fear is that if those controls become AFP lar life, music and drawing. REUTERS AFP

No taboos in Bosnia arrests, charges ethnic Serbs over Srebrenica talks to reach SARAJEVO: Bosnia yesterday war crimes prosecutors state- tions and burial (in mass graves) sions summoned by a UN war their execution, prosecutors said. British deal, arrested a former ethnic Serb ment said. of dozens of detainees,” it said. crimes tribunal to testify against A new mass grave was discovered police commander suspected During the massacre, Meanwhile, the prosecutors Serb officers, including wartime in early December near the place of taking part in the 1995 Sre- Bogdanovic, now 65, commanded charged Srecko Acimovic for his army chief Ratko Mladic. of the executions. says EU’s Tusk brenica massacre and charged a a police unit tasked with arrest- alleged involvement in the exe- Acimovic, arrested on Decem- Some 8,000 Muslim men and former Serb army officer over the ing Muslims fleeing Srebrenica to cution of more than a thousand ber 1, was charged with having boys were killed in the days after BRUSSELS: The man leading atrocity. escape advancing Serb forces. Srebrenica massacre victims. participated in the execution of Srebrenica fell to Serb forces on European Union negotiations Former police commander These people were first gath- Acimovic, 48, was long con- “at least 1,040 men and boys,” the July 11, 1995. So far the remains with London aimed at keeping Milan Bogdanovic was arrested ered on the lawn of a stadium in sidered one of few Bosnian Serb prosecution said. of some 6,600 of the massa- Britain in a reformed EU said under suspicion of having par- Nova Kasaba, near Srebrenica, officers who had refused to take The crimes were committed cre victims have ben exhumed, yesterday they were far from ticipated in a “joint criminal the statement said. part in Europe’s worst atrocity from July 14 to 16, 1995 at a gravel identified and reburied, most in agreeing several points and said enterprise” that resulted in the “Then, some 500 people were since World War II. pit near Kozluk, a village some 70 a memorial centre near the ill- an EU summit debate this week summary execution of some 8,000 handed over to military police and The then commander of the kilometres north of Srebrenica. fated town. should have “no taboos”. men and boys and the deporta- taken to the execution sites.” 2nd battalion of the notorious Acimovic “assured” trucks Bosnia’s 1992-1995 war claimed Summit chair Donald Tusk, in tion of 40,000 Muslim civilians Members of Bogdanovic’s unit Bosnian Serb Zvornik Brigade, to transport the detainees and some 100,000 lives. a letter inviting national leaders from the Srebrenica enclave, a also “participated in the execu- Acimovic was on several occa- personally selected the place of AFP to Brussels for a regular two-day meeting, said talks over dinner tomorrow with British Prime Minister David Cameron would Thatcher’s memory aim “to see if we can pave the way for an agreement in February”. EU parliament chief refuses to Leaders have agreed to seek a deal on Britain’s reform demands early next year that would serve as the basis for Cameron to hold a back down in spat with Poland national referendum by the end of 2017 on staying in or leaving the STRASBOURG, FRANCE: against Poland’s Constitutional Prime Minister Beata Szydlo. 28-nation EU. European Parliament chief Mar- Court by the new government. “This type of comments — and “We have achieved significant tin Schulz refused to apologise Such a development in his own this is not the first time that progress in negotiations; however yesterday for likening events in country, Germany, was unthink- president Schulz uses such a tone we are still far from an agreement Poland under the new right-wing able, he said as parliament met in — concerning Poland and Polish on several topics. This Thursday government to a coup, insisting the French city of Strasbourg. “I affairs, are unacceptable to me,” we will need to focus especially on he had many concerns about the am not the only one to think this. Szydlo said. the most controversial ones. The country’s direction. Clearly, there are thousands and Schulz told AFP he was gener- stakes are so high that we can- Asked during an interview thousands of Poles who share this ally wary of the inroads made by not escape a serious debate with with AFP if he would apologise concern,” Schulz added. populist parties in the 28-nation no taboos,” Tusk, the European as Poland’s prime minister has Poland’s conservatives have European Union as they exploited Council president, wrote. demanded for comments he made only been back in power for a increased fears over migration for A spokeswoman for Cameron to German radio, Schulz reacted few weeks but have replaced the political gain. The EU unveiled said the discussion among leaders by restating his criticisms. heads of the secret services and plans yesterday for a new border due tomorrow and Friday would “I find that these developments plan to overhaul state media and and coastguard force that can was “an important milestone in create a long list of questions and the Constitutional Court. intervene even without the host the United Kingdom renegotiating concerns,” Schulz said. “It is very On Monday, Schulz told Ger- country’s consent. Poland has also its membership”. surprising that a few days after man radio that “what is happening objected strongly to those plans, Limiting benefits that EU The Prime Ministerial dispatch box of former British Prime Minister the government has taken office, in Poland has the characteristics calling them a serious infringe- migrants to Britain are entitled Margaret Thatcher is displayed during an auction of items belonging it is taking measures against the of a coup and is dramatic”. ment of national sovereignty. to is the most contentious among top court in this manner,” Schulz His comments drew a swift to Margaret Thatcher, at Christie’s auction house in central London Cameron’s demands. added, referring to challenges demand for an apology from AFP yesterday. REUTERS Litvinenko probe report on Jan 21 Italy’s mafia groups infiltrating businesses: Police LONDON: The conclusions of a British inquiry into the death ROME: Italy’s mafia syndicates have shown themselves to be raised through crime.” to similar large events in the been putting down roots in the by poisoning of Russian ex-spy are increasingly eschewing vio- extraordinary adept at fitting it Italian authorities confiscated future. richer regions of the country for Alexander Litvinenko will be pub- lent crime as they seek to infil- to every region and every social assets ranging from works of art “The mafia is killing less but three decades. lished on January 21, a spokesman trate business and political elites milieu,” Ferla told an end-of-year to luxury palaces worth a total of corrupting more,” said Rosy Police believe they are using for the inquiry said yesterday. to make money, the head of the briefing for the media on where ¤2.6bn in 2015 — around a fifth Bindi, a lawmaker who chairs the legitimate activities in the north Litvinenko was killed at Lon- country’s anti-mob police agency Italy stands in its fight against of which have been definitively Italian parliament’s anti-mafia to recycle the huge amounts of don’s luxury Millennium Hotel on (DIA) said yesterday. groups like Sicily’s Cosa Nostra, declared state property. commission. cash that their illicit drugs busi- November 1, 2006, using tea laced DIA chief Nunzio Antonio Naples’ Camorra and Calabria’s Matteo Piantedosi, deputy chief Mafia infiltration of appar- ness generates. with the radioactive isotope polo- Ferla said the number of homi- ‘NDrangheta. of the National Police, said a par- ently clean businesses has been The last year has also seen nium-210. Two Russians, Andrei cides thought to be the work As a result, the DIA’s work ticular and successful effort had underlined this year by arrests in Rome shaken by revelations that Lugovoi and Dmitry Kovtun, are of organised crime groups had is now increasingly focused on been made to prevent this year’s northern Italy which have con- the city administration had, for wanted by British police in con- declined significantly in the last “checking tender processes, com- World Expo in Milan being tar- firmed that the ‘NDrangheta, years, been infiltrated by a mafia- nection with his death. ten to 15 years. batting money laundering and the geted by mafia groups and that credited with controlling much style network. AFP “But the various mafia groups acquisition of assets with funds the model used would be applied of the world’s cocaine trade, has AFP WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 FEATURES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Katara Hospitality scoops three awards at World Travel Awards

atara Hospitality received for our commitment to creating largest suites at an astounding hotel located a few steps from three awards at the World the ultimate guest experience 1000sqm, Katara Suite is a symbol the historic French tourism KTravel Awards — ‘World’s through our growing portfolio of of epicurean excellence renowned landmarks Champs Elysees and Leading Hospitality Company’ for seamless luxury hotels in both for its opulent features that epito- the Arc de Triomphe, as well as the third year running, ‘World’s Qatar and across the world,” mise the essence of Milan’s cul- renowned museums and shopping Leading Hotel Suite’ for the said Hamad Abdulla Al Mulla, ture and sophistication. districts. Introducing new levels Katara Suite at Excelsior Hotel Chief Executive Officer of Katara Nestled in a destination that of aesthetic appeal and luxury Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Hospitality. perfectly blends fashion, design service distinction after a metic- Milan and the coveted ‘World’s “Katara Hospitality has over and Italian cuisine, Excelsior ulous restoration to its already Leading Landmark Hotel’ for The the years cemented its position Hotel Gallia, a Luxury Collection impressive architecture, since its Peninsula Paris. as an industry leader and key Hotel, Milan which houses the 2014 reopening, The Peninsula The World Travel Awards, hospitality stakeholder, partner- Katara Suite, opened its doors on Paris continues to reflect con- deemed one of the most prestig- ing with some of the world’s pre- December 1, 2014 after undergo- temporary design through its ious accolades in the hospitality mium brands and we are proud ing renovation and redesign. The spectacular rooms and terraces, industry, was held at the Mazagan to be recognised for our efforts hotel’s architectural design was manicured gardens, skyline views Beach & Golf Resort in El Jadida, in maintaining the rich herit- inspired by the “Belle Époque” and guest amenities that appeal Morocco. Accepting the awards age of some of the world’s most era, a historical period that exhib- to both business and leisure on behalf of Katara Hospitality iconic hospitality properties,” he ited heightened levels of comfort travellers. was Salem Al Kubaisi, Chief added. and a charming existence. Katara Hospitality’s worldwide Corporate Services Officer of the Katara Suite at Excelsior Hotel The ‘World’s Leading portfolio which has grown to 35 company. Gallia, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Landmark Hotel’ award is a fit- owned and/or managed hotels. “We are privileged to be recog- Milan was named World’s Leading ting accolade for The Peninsula nised by the World Travel Awards Hotel Suite. As one of Italy’s Paris, Katara Hospitality’s iconic THE PENINSULA Katara Hospitality official receiving one of the awards.

Sheraton Doha hosts special Vegetarian diet more harmful event to celebrate National Day to environment, says study heraton Doha Resort & National holiday at the prop- Convention Hotel hosted a erty can enjoy the best view of ontrary to popular Snetworking event for mem- the National Day fireworks, assumption — and bers of the local media community and avail great deals across the Ca talk by actor to start the celebrations and high- hotel’s rooms and restaurants in Arnold Schwarzenegger light the special activities planned celebration of the National Day. at the United Nations for Qatar National Day. Guests can spend their stay over Paris Climate Change The event was hosted by the at the hotel in a Deluxe Room for Conference — eating a hotel’s Complex General Manager QR1,500 per night, La Veranda vegetarian diet could con- Nick Heath, Hotel Manager restaurant will offer guests a tribute more to climate Belal Al Kadri, and Director of wide variety of Italian food espe- change than eating a non- Marketing Haya Samain at Al cially designed for the occa- enjoy traditional Arabic food for of international dishes at QR 350 vegetarian diet, warns a Hubara Restaurant. sion at QR400 per person; at Al QR 330 per person, whereas the per person. new study. Guests planning to spend the Shaheen restaurant, guests will Pool Café will also offer a variety THE PENINSULA Schwarzenegger, a former California gov- ernor, advised people to go meat-free one or two days a week to help protect the US is affecting the environment. climate. Specifically, they examined Doha Marriott hosts But the new research found how growing, processing and that consuming more fruits, transporting food, food sales and photography contest vegetables, dairy and seafood is service, and household storage more harmful to the environ- and use take a toll on resources to mark National Day ment because those foods have in the form of energy use, water relatively high resource uses and use and GHG emissions. n honour of Qatar National Day, the Doha greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions On the one hand, the results Marriott Marketing team recently launched per calorie. showed that getting our weight Ian online social media photography contest, “Eating lettuce is over three under control and eating fewer with the aim of engaging the local community times worse in greenhouse gas calories, has a positive effect on in capturing images that celebrate the beauty, emissions than eating beff bacon,” the environment and reduces culture and rich heritage of the country. said one of the researchers Paul energy use, water use and GHG Working in partnership with the Qatar Fischbeck, professor at Carnegie emissions from the food sup- Youth Hobby Centre, the hotel launched the Mellon University in the US. ply chain by approximately nine contest through its Facebook fan page on 10th “Lots of common vegetables percent. November. With four categories in which require more resources per calorie However, eating the recom- to enter including Abstract, Landscape, than you would think. Eggplant, mended “healthier” foods -- a Architecture & Culture, over 100 images celery and cucumbers look par- mix of fruits, vegetables, dairy and were submitted. Due to the overwhelming ticularly bad when compared to seafood -- increased the environ- response, and exceptional quality of images meat or chicken,” Fischbeck said. mental impact in all three cat- that were submitted, the team decided to The study measured the egories - energy use went up by add an additional category called ‘People’s changes in energy use, blue water 38 percent, water use by 10 per- choice’ where 12 images were uploaded on footprint and GHG emissions cent and GHG emissions by six to the Facebook page, with the winner being associated with US food consump- percent. chosen by the public. runners-up were announced. The event was with few other entries will be on display in the tion patterns. The findings appeared in the On Monday evening, all the entrants of also attended by Dr Eissa Al Hor, Vice- Doha Marriott lobby until the December 20. The researchers studied the journal Environment Systems and the competition were invited to the unveil- Chairman of the Youth Hobbies Center. food supply chain to determine Decisions. ing of the exhibition where the winners and The winning and runners –up image, along THE PENINSULA how the obesity epidemic in the IANS

Pantone’s Colour of the Year is two hues Bridal Couture Week

By Jura Koncius Reaction from designers was swift. From interior designer Victoria he design world rushed online Sanchez of Alexandria, Virginia: “The last week to find out what the pink is a lovely feminine colour that TPantone Colour of the Year for can be infused in almost any room of 2016 would be. But there was a sur- the house,” she said. prise: For the first time in the 16-year “It’s not Pepto-Bismol pink, and not history of this tradition, there are two just for a girl’s room. It would look colors. really good as an accent, maybe with Rose Quartz (pale pink) and some ivory in a room with chocolate Serenity (hues of lilac and blue-gray) brown walls. The blue has a funky were both anointed with the esteemed tinge to it. I’m not sure I would want title. to use it. To me, it’s an awkward baby It was the biggest shock for the blue.” design community since October, when Washington designer Joe Ireland Benjamin Moore named plain vanilla was not impressed. “I was a little sur- Simply White its 2016 Colour of the prised. I am not ready for pastels,” Year. Ireland said. Colours of the year are supposed to “I thought we would see some more be snapshots of the current mood in intense color. Last year was Marsala, our culture. The tradition at Pantone which was more intense. And before goes back to 1999, when Cerulean, the according to a Pantone spokeswoman. chaotic world by providing the perfect that was Emerald. Maybe come blue of a serene sky, was named the This is what Pantone said in its counterpoint to the fast-paced, frac- springtime, I will feel more positive 2000 Colour of the Year to reflect the official announcement about the 2016 tured and hurried lives we live.” The about them.” “fear and unrest for Y2K and gen- colors: “The seamless union of Serenity colours “bring a feeling of calm and eral hope for the new millennium,” and Rose Quartz creates balance in a relaxation into the home environment.” THE WASHINGTON POST

Models presenting creations by Pakistani designer Fahad Hussayn during the Pakistan Fashion Design Council (PFDC) L'Oreal Bridal Couture Week in Lahore.

WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 LA shuts public Colombia, FARC rebels sign key deal on victims HAVANA: Colombia’s govern- both sides have committed in the of victims who traveled to Havana But disagreements over the ment and FARC guerrillas signed war. The special courts will issue for the signing ceremony. scope of the deal emerged in the an agreement yesterday on paying lighter sentences such as public “Our support for the peace following days. The signing cer- schools over reparations and providing justice service for those who admit to process does not mean we emony definitively lays them to for victims of their half-century their crimes. renounce justice, reparations rest — at least in theory. conflict, a key breakthrough after The deal also offers an amnesty and above all the truth,” she said. The two sides have now signed three years of peace talks. for all but the most serious President Juan Manuel Santos, deals on four of six agenda items “The national government and crimes, such as summary execu- who launched the peace proc- for the peace talks: justice for vic- ‘credible’ threat the FARC have agreed to create tions, rapes and kidnappings. ess and has made it the corner- tims, land reform, political partici- an integral system of justice and The Colombian conflict has stone of his presidency, hailed the pation for ex-rebels, and fighting reparations... fulfilling our commit- killed more than 220,000 people agreement. the drug trafficking that has fueled Police, FBI search over 1,000 schools ment to place victims at the center and uprooted six million, drawing “We have never been so close to the conflict in the world’s largest of the peace accord,” they said in a in multiple rebel groups, right- a final accord,” he wrote on Twit- cocaine-producing country. LOS ANGELES: The city of les school officials had been over- joint statement read out in Havana, wing paramilitaries and drug ter. Santos was present when the The only unsettled questions Los Angeles shut down all public cautious in deciding the shutdown. where they have been holding talks traffickers over the years. core of the deal, the special justice now are disarmament and the schools yesterday after receiv- “We cannot allow ourselves to raise since November 2012. “Today we reclaim our dignity system, was agreed in Havana on mechanism by which the final ing a “credible” electronic threat levels of fear,” Bratton said. “Cer- The deal, the product of a year and restate our demand that the September 23. accord will be ratified. The Revolu- targeting the country’s second- tainly levels of awareness, but it is and a half of negotiations, sets out peace accords uphold the rights of That day, he and FARC leader tionary Armed Forces of Colombia largest education district and its not a credible threat and not one the procedures of a special jus- all victims,” said Jineth Bedoya, a Timoleon “Timochenko” Jimenez (FARC)is the largest of Colombia’s 640,000 students. that requires any action on our tice system that will be set up to journalist who was kidnapped and shook hands for the first time and two remaining rebel groups, with Ramon Cortines, the superin- part similar to what my under- try those accused of the atroci- raped by paramilitary fighters in vowed to reach a final peace deal an estimated 8,000 fighters. tendent of Los Angeles schools, standing is the school system in ties that human rights groups say 2000, and who was part of a group within six months. AFP said the extraordinary measure Los Angeles took.” was ordered as a precaution, trig- The chief of the Los Angeles gered in part by the December 2 school police department, Steven attacks in nearby San Bernardino. Zipperman, stressed the decision He told a news conference was an extreme precautionary that police alerted him to a measure. “Earlier this morning Obama defends open threat involving backpacks and we did receive an electronic threat “other packages,” “made not to that mentions the safety of our one school, two schools or three schools,” he told reporters. “In an schools. It was many schools.” abundance of caution, as the super- immigration policies A school official quoted by CNN intendent has indicated, we have said the threat, emailed from Ger- chosen to close our schools today WASHINGTON: US President of our national character, it’s many to a school board member, until we can be absolutely sure that Barack Obama launched a full our oldest tradition, it’s who we was deemed credible. In New York, our campuses are safe.” throated defence of open immi- are, it’s part of what makes us however, officials said a similar Zipperman said private schools gration policies yesterday, hail- exceptional.” threat to schools had been received in the district had remained open ing them as America’s “oldest The campaign to succeed and was being treated as a hoax. since the threat was only directed tradition” amid a fierce election- Obama has been marked by “There is no credible threat to at the LAUSD. The news confer- fuelled argument over the issue. tough talk against immigrants our children. We are convinced ence was held shortly after 7am Hours before Republican can- and immigration, not least from that our schools are safe,” Mayor local time, before the start of didates were to hold their final Republican frontrunner Donald Bill de Blasio told a press confer- the school day for most children. presidential debate of the year, Trump. ence, adding that the threat was Steve Zimmer, president of the one heavily focusing on security The real estate mogul-turned- “so generic and outlandish” that it Los Angeles school board, said and immigration, Obama told 31 politician has vowed to ban all could not be taken seriously. “The those families whose children had newly naturalised Americans that Muslims from entering the coun- immediate assessment by the already been dropped off had been immigration is “who we are.” try and to deport illegal migrants intelligence division, and again, asked to come and collect them. “Just about every nation in the from Latin America. The debate in consultation with the FBI, is The LAUSD is the second larg- world, to some extent, accepts has taken on a tougher tone amid that there was nothing credible est education district in the nation immigrants, but there is some- terror attacks in Paris and Cali- about the threat,” he said. with more than 900 schools. The thing unique about America,” fornia. One of the husband and In Los Angeles, police and district comprises more than he said in the National Archives wife attackers who killed 14 peo- FBI agents were called in to 21,000 buildings spread over 720 rotunda, franked by the US Con- ple in San Bernardino was born help search the more than 1,000 square miles within Los Angeles stitution, Bill of Rights and Decla- in America. schools in the district, Cortines and nearby communities. Cali- ration of Independence. “We don’t Listing instances of past dis- said, adding that he expected the fornia has been stunned by the simply welcome new arrivals, we crimination against the Japanese, operation to be completed by the massacre of 14 people in San Ber- One of the 31 naturalisation candidates from 25 different countries waves are born of immigrants, that is Irish and Italians, Obama said, end of the day. nardino, carried out by US-born an American flag as he stands during a naturalisation ceremony at the who we are, immigration is our “On days like today, we need to Addressing a news conference, Syed Farook and his Pakistani National Archives in Washington, DC, yesterday, on the 224th Anniversary origin story,” he said. resolve to never repeat mistakes New York Police commissioner wife Tashfeen Malik. of the Bill of Rights. “For more than two centu- like that again.” Bill Bratton suggested Los Ange- AFP ries its remained at the core AFP

Wednesday 16 December 2015 5 Rabia I 1437 Volume 20 Number 6646 Price: QR2

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Vodafone Qatar appoints Qatar to remain most dynamic economy Mohamed Al Sadah as COO

DOHA: Vodafone Growth forecast to average 5.1pc during 2015-17; Non-hydrocarbon to expand 9.1pc Qatar announced the appointment By Satish Kanady percent in 2017. lised in Qatar. While current spending of Mohamed Al Rising rental will be restrained, capital spending will Sadah (pictured) DOHA: Qatar’s growth is forecast costs and slowly need to rise as the authorities make up as the Company’s to average 5.1 percent during 2015-17, rebounding glo- for previous below-budget outlays, due Chief Operating boosted by output against the gas sec- bal food and to delays and capacity constraints, and Officer (COO). tor and public investment. The latter commodity prices push ahead with implementing their Al Sadah joined will drive average non-hydrocarbon are likely to be development plan ahead of the World Vodafone Qatar growth of 9.1 percent year-on-year the predomi- Cup in 2022. Non-essential projects in 2012 as the during the period. nant inflationary will be scaled back. Chief Administra- Despite lower oil prices, high public impulses. While Qatar’s banking sector has begun to tion Officer and investment in the country’s develop- rental inflation feel the effects of low oil prices. Credit shortly after was ment plan and gas output gains linked slowed to 1.8 growth has been moderating over the also assigned the to the launch of the Barzan production percent year-on- last year owing to a slowdown and role of Chief Busi- facility should see Qatar’s economic year in October, contraction in public sector owing to ness Development performance remain relatively strong rapid population a slowdown and contraction in public Officer. through 2016-17, NBK’s latest ‘Mena growth owing sector borrowing. Al Sadah started Economic Outlook’ noted. to the influx of In contrast, credit growth to the pri- his career as an engineer then moved to the field Qatar’s real GDP is forecast to grow expatriate work- vate sector has averaged 22.0 percent of human resources followed by business develop- by 5.4 percent in 2016 and 5.1 percent ers is expected to y-o-y for most of the year compared ment where he has demonstrated repeated success in 2017, from an expected increase of continue exerting to 15.6 percent in 2014, as banks con- in all these areas. 4.9 percent in 2015. This figure, while pressure on the tinue expanding credit lines to the real “I’d like to congratulate Mohamed on his new down from the 9.2 percent annual aver- cial services, construction and trade country’s limited residential housing estate, industrial and retail sectors of role as Chief Operating Officer which will help age witnessed during 2010-2014, still and hospitality will continue to drive stock. The price of land and build- the economy. Foreign lending has also accelerate the implementation of the Compa- puts Qatar among the most dynamic Qatar’s non-hydrocarbon sector. Eco- ings, as measured by the real estate proceeded apace, with growth averag- ny’s overall strategy. In his 4 years at Vodafone, economies in the GCC. nomic expansion also being propelled price index (REPI), was up 18.2 per- ing 45.2 percent y-o-y in 2015. In view Mohamed’s leadership has been critical to many According to NBK’s research note, by burgeoning population growth of 8.8 cent y-o-y last September, although of the government’s commitment to of the Company’s achievements and there is no the non-hydrocarbon sector remains percent year-on-year, which is helping it has been moderating over the last continue spending on infrastructure doubt Mohamed will play a key role in its future,” the main determinant of Qatar’s eco- to boost domestic consumption. year. A strengthening US dollar to and expand private sector participa- said Ian Gray, CEO, Vodafone Qatar. nomic growth. Underpinned by govern- However, the country’s headline which Qatari riyal is pegged has helped tion in the development plan, the out- Before joining Vodafone,Al Sadah held senior ment spending, output is forecast to inflation is projected to rise gradu- restrain imported inflation. look for credit growth remains positive. roles at Qatar Investment Authority and prior to expand by 9.1 percent year-on-year on ally over the next two years, from an On the fiscal side, the report noted, that at Dolphin Energy. average between 2015 and 2017. Finan- expected 1.7 percent in 2015 to 3.0 future spending is likely to be ration- THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

Oil may rise within a year: Opec

NEW DELHI: Global crude oil and this is one of them. This will Non-Opec annual supply prices at seven-year lows will not continue,” Badri said at the growth shrank to below 300,000 not continue and could swing first Opec-India Energy dialogue bpd in November from 2.2 mil- upwards in as little as a year, in New Delhi. lion bpd at the start of the year, Opec Secretary-General Abdul- “In a few months or a year or according to the International lah Al Badri said yesterday, as so this will change,” he said. Energy Agency (IEA). the low-price cycle leads to cuts He said the organisation does Oil output could decline in the in output from some producers. not have a target price but was next two to three years as low Oil prices have fallen by about looking for a fair value that meant prices have resulted in a planned two-thirds since mid-2014, with “member countries can have a $130bn in investment being cut Brent crude on Monday flirting decent income and also where this year, Badri said, adding with its lowest level since 2004 at we can invest to (provide) more that non-Opec supplies are set just above $36 a barrel. supply to the consumers”. to decline by about 400,000 bpd Most analysts, however, don’t The world is already produc- next year. expect oil prices to regain the ing up to 2 million bpd more The Opec Secretary-General $100 mark until 2017 or later, oil than it consumes, with Opec said even if the United States arguing that producers will con- pumping at near-record levels in government begins to allow more tinue to pump out more crude an attempt to drive higher-cost exports of crude, prices will not than is being consumed. producers such as US shale oil be weakened further and Opec “I’ve been in the oil business all drillers out of the market. And its can continue to produce at cur- my life. I saw six cycles — I saw strategy appears to some extent rent rates. very high price, I saw low price, to be working. REUTERS

Rate hike expected as Fed meets

WASHINGTON: The US Fed- eral Reserve is widely expected to finally push interest rates up after seven years at the zero level as it opened a two-day policy meeting yesterday. The break, well-flagged by Fed officials including Chair Janet Yellen, would signify leaving behind the extraordinary crisis stance in monetary policy that aimed to restore the US econ- omy’s strength after the finan- cial crisis and deep recession of 2008-2009. While an increase in the fed- eral funds rate — which has not been moved higher in almost a decade — is not certain, Yellen strongly pointed to it at the beginning of December. Since then, economic data, includ- US Federal Chair Janet Yellen in Washington. ing job creation and consumer spending, have been strong The benchmark rate is a The prospect of the launch of enough to keep her from chang- short-term peg for interbank a campaign to raise the rate and ing her view. lending which influences rates tighten US monetary policy after The Fed’s policy body, the Fed- throughout the financial system. years of cheap dollars has already eral Open Market Committee, Most importantly, expecta- stirred turmoil in the global finan- will weigh over whether the US tions about its future level deter- cial system, hurting especially economy is sufficiently strong to mine long-term interest rates on emerging-market economies with weather increasing the Fed funds car and home loans, financing for significant dollar exposure and rate from 0-0.25 percent to an businesses and foreign govern- weakening currencies. expected 0.25-0.50 percent. ments, and savers’ deposits. AFP WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Low oil prices to squeeze capital flows into realty Rebalancing of the fiscal position will result in headwinds and challenges over the next 12 months in GCC

By Satish Kanady tailed. This will inevitably have a knock on Despite lower oil prices, JLL’s data more attention is likely to be focused upon effect on local real estate markets. shows that Middle East SWF’s remained emerging locations and alternative sectors DOHA: Lower oil prices are leading Craig Plumb, Head of Research JLL active purchasers of global real estate dur- of the real estate market in future years.” to a fiscal restructuring across GCC’s MENA, said “While we remain positive on ing 2015. A total of 38 deals worth $6.5bn Some of the decline in SWF offshore hydrocarbon economies, which involves the long term outlook for real estate mar- were transacted over the 9 months to Sep- investment is likely to be offset by pri- both reduced government spending and kets across the region, there is little doubt tember 2015. While the number of over- vate investors from the Middle East who increased government revenue through that the rebalancing of the fiscal position seas transactions has declined from the 74 are becoming more active purchasers of taxation. This scenario will have various will result in headwinds and challenges deals seen in 2013, the value of investment overseas property. implications for real estate investment over the next 12 months. While govern- has remained high and is likely to exceed Within the Middle East, levels of real both in the region and globally. ments continue to spend on development that experienced in 2014. The volume of estate investment have declined in 2015. Highlighting the impact of lower oil and infrastructure projects, the level of investment is expected to decline in 2016 Data from the Dubai Land Department price on capital flows into real estate, JLL, this spending will inevitably be curtailed as we enter a prolonged period of lower oil (DLD) shows the number of real estate the world’s leading real estate investment over the medium term as spending needs prices that will cause sovereigns to recon- sales has declined by around 26 percent and advisory firm noted yesterday that are realigned with the reality of lower oil sider their objectives and strategies. in the year to September 2015 compared fiscal restructuring is already evident in revenues.” Craig Plumb added, “While some SWF’s to the same period last year. . The pat- the form of budgetary cuts among GCC GCC investors have been active on the will retain their existing mandate to tern of investment has also changed, countries. global real estate stage for many years. invest globally, we expect more funds will with the fall in the number of residential As governments become more cautious Since 2007, GCC investors have purchased be diverted into local real estate through sales being partly offset by an increase in about their finances, there is a likelihood a total of over $45bn of real estate globally. of the high profile purchases have been direct real estate purchases and via funds the value of land sales. Lower oil prices of cuts in infrastructure spending. While In reality, this figure underestimates their made by government controlled Sover- and external managers. This will provide and the stronger US dollar have com- many of the already announced projects exposure to real estate, as it only includes eign Wealth Funds (SWF), there has been an important source of additional capital bined to reduce the inflow of capital into are likely to proceed, they may be scaled direct commercial real estate purchases growing interest from private investors for real estate markets across the Middle Dubai’s real estate market over the past back or rescheduled over an extended and excludes both residential projects and over the past two years and this trend is East. Some funds will continue to focus on 18 months. timeframe, with future projects being cur- also company acquisitions. While many expected to continue further. trophy hotel and commercial buildings but THE PENINSULA

British Airways UK inflation edges back boss threatens WTO talks open in Kenya with to shift business call to diversify economies above zero in November LONDON: British inflation is due to low oil prices, however, abroad NAIROBI: Global trade talks returned to positive territory for and on Monday BoE Deputy Gov- opened yesterday with host the first time in four months in ernor Minouche Shafik said wages LONDON: The boss of British Kenya highlighting their role in November, but remained close to would need to rise further before Airways’ parent group threat- combating poverty, and urging zero as it has for most of this year, she felt ready to lift interest rates ened to develop the business African nations to diversify their official figures showed yesterday. from their record low. abroad rather than in Britain economies. The Office for National Sta- The ONS said lower energy after the government further War-torn Afghanistan and tistics said annual consumer prices were less of a drag on infla- delayed a decision on expanding Ebola-ravaged Liberia are set to price inflation rose 0.1 percent tion in November than in previous airport capacity. join the World Trade Organisa- last month from October’s read- months. Prime Minister David Cam- tion (WTO) as it holds a minis- ing of -0.1 percent, in line with But clothing prices were the eron had promised a decision on terial conference in the Kenyan economists’ expectations in a biggest drag on inflation after where to expand airport capacity capital Nairobi, its first such poll, despite an unexpected fall in they recorded an unprecedented in southeast England by the end meeting on African soil. clothes prices. monthly fall between October of the year, but last week said no Leading experts have doubted Britain’s inflation has stuck in and November, usually a period decision would be taken until at the meeting’s chances of breath- a narrow range between plus and of higher prices as consumers least the middle of next year. ing new life into current trade minus 0.1 percent since February, shop before Christmas. The ONS The government said it needed talks, but Kenyan President largely due to a slump in oil prices said that it recorded prices before to assess environmental impact, Uhuru Kenyatta still called gath- late last year, and is far below so-called ‘Black Friday’ discounts but business leaders who have ering “historic and crucial”. the Bank of England’s 2 percent took effect. lobbied hard for a third runway “This conference will boost WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo addresses delegates during the target. Core CPI rose to 1.2 percent at London’s Heathrow, Europe’s trade and investment, create official opening of the tenth session of WTO ministerial conference in But strong growth in Britain’s from 1.1 percent in October — busiest airport, condemned the employment and ultimately con- Nairobi, Kenya, yesterday. economy means the BoE’s poli- like for headline CPI, the strong- delay as “gutless”. tribute to poverty eradication,” he cymakers have been less worried est rise since July and in line with “If the government continues said in a welcome message. The four-day Nairobi meeting “We took 18 years to deliver about persistent deflation than economists’ forecasts. to dither over a new runway, then He also stressed the need comes two years after ministers our first multi-lateral agreement some of their eurozone colleagues Retail price inflation — an older I’ll move my business elsewhere,” for African countries to diver- from WTO member countries in Bali, that’s way too long, we were earlier this year, though they measure which the ONS says is no Willie Walsh, head of Interna- sify their economies. “National, reached a landmark deal in Bali can’t wait another 18 years to are still some way from raising longer accurate but is still used tional Airlines Group (IAG), regional and multilateral policy on overhauling global customs deliver again,” WTO chief Roberto interest rates. to settle inflation-linked govern- wrote in Britain’s Daily Mail choices that we make will mat- procedures. Azevedo told reporters yesterday. Last month the BoE forecast ment bonds and many commercial newspaper. “We now have airlines ter,” Kenyatta said. “The choices The 2013 pact was the first But there are few signs that inflation would stay below 1 per- contracts — jumped to 1.1 percent in Dublin and Madrid, and can and positions we take will have multilateral agreement concluded countries will be able build on the cent for the first half of next year, from 0.7 percent, the sharpest expand our business there, sup- consequences.” by the WTO since its inception in momentum gained in Bali to carve and since then oil prices have month-to-month pick-up in the porting the strengthening Irish Security is tight for the confer- 1995, and also the first concrete out even a limited deal in Nairobi. fallen further to near their low- annual rate in over three years. and Spanish economies.” ence, with some 6,000 delegates progress since the Doha Round est since 2008. Irish carrier Aer Lingus and in Nairobi. of trade liberalisation talks began. AFP Not all the shortfall in inflation REUTERS Spain’s Iberia are also part of IAG. Walsh accused the government of choosing short-term political gain over a long-term boost for British business. Boeing increases While in opposition in 2009, Alfardan Premier Motors Cameron had opposed adding a third runway to Heathrow, “no ifs, share buyback, no buts”. However, a commission on boosting British air capacity delivers new Jaguar XF later recommended he do so. dividend up 20pc A U-turn would be embar- DOHA: Alfardan Premier The All-New Jaguar XF joins rassing for his government, and Motors Co, the exclusive retailer the Jaguar saloon car range NEW YORK: Boeing unveiled a also poses further risks given a of Jaguar in Qatar, has completed between the Jaguar XE and Jag- $14bn share buyback programme prominent member of his party the first hand over of Jaguar’s uar XJ model lines, sitting at the and boosted its quarterly divi- has threatened to resign should dynamic, coupé-like, aluminium- very heart of Jaguar. dend as the US aerospace giant a third runway be built. intensive, lightweight All-New Underpinned by class-leading shared its bounty with investors Zac Goldsmith, who represents Jaguar XF in Qatar. driving dynamics and refinement, from strong demand for its jet- a constituency near Heathrow, Regional Business Manager for the All-New Jaguar XF brings an liners. is running for London mayor in Jaguar Land Rover Mena Yann unrivalled blend of design, luxury, The Chicago-based company elections next year, and his resig- Thepaut attended the ceremony technology and efficiency to lead said it would pay investors a $1.09 nation would trigger a by-election and handed over the keys of the the business car segment, the dividend for the quarter under that could turn into a referendum All-New Jaguar XF to Mohamed company said in a statement. way, a 20 percent increase from on Heathrow’s expansion. Yaser Hamad at the St Regis Officials at the handing over of the all-new Jaguar XF. a year ago. AFP Doha Hotel. THE PENINSULA It noted that it had raised the dividend for five straight years. In addition, Boeing will embark on a new $14bn share repur- chase programme that replaces the $12bn buyback approved Samsung takes Apple patent case to US Supreme Court last December, of which $5.25bn remained. The company said repurchas- SAN FRANCISCO: Samsung, on those features, Samsung lawyers that give them remarkable func- years-long patent battle in federal US Supreme Court. The hefty ing was expected to resume in the losing end of a massive smart- said in their filing. tionality wholly unrelated to their court in California. However, the sum is significantly less than the January and likely would be made phone patent lawsuit, appealed to “While Samsung prefers to design.” agreement came with one key pro- billion dollars Apple sought at the over the next two to three years. the US Supreme Court in hopes compete in the marketplace, not “Even if the patented features viso, as the two tech giants agreed outset of the 2012 patent trial in “Once again, we are demon- of overturning a ruling that it pay the courtroom, the company feels contributed one percent of the to continue “to pursue the existing Northern California, and doesn’t strating our commitment to a $548m to rival Apple. that it is important to appeal this value of Samsung’s phones, Apple cases in US courts.” put to rest an argument over who balanced cash deployment strat- The two hi-tech behemoths case to the US Supreme Court on gets 100 percent of Samsung’s prof- Samsung said in a legal filing should pay Apple’s legal costs said egy that fuels investments in our went to court over the designs behalf of all US companies, big and its,” the appeal said. that it would pay Apple the par- to total $1.8m. people, innovation and growth, that have now become common- small, that could be affected if this Apple said it stands by its com- tial judgement awarded but that In another sign that the legal and returns significant value to place on most popular smart- legal precedent stands,” the com- ment after the trial victory in it reserved the right to get money fight would drag on, Apple also our shareholders,” said Dennis phones, with a court ruling in 2012 pany said in an email response to 2012. “The lawsuits between Apple back if the amount is modified or asked the court for a green light Muilenburg, Boeing president and in favor of Apple. an inquiry. and Samsung were about much overturned on appeal or if the to file a motion asking for supple- chief executive, in a statement. At issue were design features Several of the world’s technol- more than patents or money,” the validity of patents at issue is suc- mental damages for products that Investors welcomed the by now familiar to consumers: a ogy titans filed briefs supporting Apple statement said. cessfully challenged. weren’t calculated into the award. bonanza, pushing shares in the black, rectangular, round-cor- Samsung while the case was in “They were about values. We Apple said in the joint filing Samsung and Apple decided last Dow member up 1.2 percent to nered phone front, a surrounding federal circuit court in Silicon Val- applaud the court for finding Sam- that it disagrees with Samsung’s year to drop all patent disputes $144.75 in after-hours trade. rim, known as the “bezel” and a ley, according to the firm. sung’s behaviour wilful and for contention that it has a right to outside the United States, mark- Boeing has benefited from a grid of 16 colourful icons. Attorneys for the South Korean sending a loud and clear message be reimbursed. A court in Sep- ing a partial ceasefire in a long- strong civil aviation market as Those design elements were consumer electronics titan argued that stealing isn’t right.” tember awarded Apple the partial running legal war between the airlines, reaping cost savings protected, prompting the jury to that the massive payout was not Samsung early this month judgment. Samsung’s options nar- world’s two largest smartphone from lower fuel prices, update and award Apple all the profits from warranted, because smartphones agreed to pay smartphone rival rowed to simply paying the money makers. expand their fleets. sales of smartphones containing “contain countless other features Apple just over $548m in the or trying to take its fight to the AFP AFP WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

MacDonald-Vitale Qatar food market valued at $1.3bn appointed new GCC food services market is expected to reach $24.5bn in 2018: Al Masah Capital MEIRS Chairman

DOHA: Qatar food services cent ($10.9bn) of the GCC food demand. As most major food serv- issues. Whereas key emerging Masah Capital announced the market stood at $1.3bn in 2014 services market in 2014, followed ices outlets are concentrated in trends observed were chang- acquisition of the UAE-based Al whereas the GCC market was by Full Service Restaurant (FSR) the Tier I and II cities of the GCC ing consumer palates, influx of Faris Restaurant. Al Faris Res- valued at $18.8bn. In a report at 31.5 percent ($5.9bn) and Café countries, the rapid growth in global F&B brands and growing taurant operates the franchise of released yesterday Al Masah and Bakery segment at 10.3 per- urbanised population is expected demand for takeaway by way of California-brand Johnny Rockets Capital, predicted a growth rate, cent ($1.9bn). to act as a stimulus to the growth mobile applications and online in the UAE, and holds the devel- for GCC food services market, at The Full Service Restaurant in the food service sector. Addi- ordering. Investments and acqui- opment rights in Oman. Compound Annual Growth Rate market (which includes fine tionally we have annual food fes- sitions were also indicative of a Again in June 2015, Auda- (CAGR) of 6.8 percent to reach and casual dining) is estimated tivals, exhibitions and shopping robust growth structure for this cia Capital, a newly established $24.5bn in 2018. at around $5.9bn in 2014, nearly festivals held in the region that industry. investment bank licensed and The firm said food services sec- half of the QSR market. While provide a boost for growth”. Highlighting Private Equity regulated by the Dubai Finan- tor continues to expand rapidly on the concept of fine dining is still “However, given the high (PE) deals and acquisitions by cial Services Authority (DFSA), the back of flourishing economy, confined to affluent class and has dependence on imports, securing companies in the GCC, the report acquired a 30 percent stake in Al favourable demographics and not grown drastically in the last a steady supply of food remains a revealed that PE activities in the Safadi, a chain of casual dining DOHA: The Middle East Inves- steady rise in per capita income. few years, the casual dining seg- key challenge for the GCC gov- food services industry gained restaurants specialising in tradi- tor Relations Society (MEIRS) Saudi Arabia led the region, ment observed growth with the ernments. Several steps under- momentum in the recent years. In tional Lebanese food, with plans has appointed Alex MacDon- with total food service sales of entry of new brands almost every taken by regional governments to January 2015, Saudi Arabia based for further expansion in the UAE ald-Vitale (pictured), who has $8.9bn, accounting for nearly half year. Whereas, chained and spe- improve the food supply are still Bateel International announced and the GCC. Whereas in April headed regional IR at HSBC Mid- of the GCC market. The UAE was cialist coffee shops are growing in at a nascent stage and are likely a partnership with L Capital 2015, the Abraaj Group, a lead- dle East for the past five years, as the second largest contributor, popularity. In 2014, the Café and to improve the situation in the Asia, an Asian private equity ing investor operating in global its new Chairman for the region. with total sales of $5.3bn generat- Bakery segment registered an long term.” he said. fund sponsored by LVMH Moet growth markets, and TPG, a Alex replaces Oliver Schutzmann, ing 28 percent share in the region, annual billing of $1.9bn, exhibit- Al Masah also reviewed fac- Hennessy. Bateel is a homegrown leading global private investment who has been Chairman since followed by Kuwait ($1.9bn), ing strong growth during 2012-14, tors affecting accelerated growth brand in Saudi Arabia, known for firm, announced the completion of 2014. Oliver will remain active Qatar ($1.3bn), Oman ($1.1bn) growing at CAGR of 3.3 percent. within the sector and stated an its gourmet quality dates with an investment into Kudu, a Saudi with MEIRS as Board Member. and Bahrain ($0.4bn). Within Shailesh Dash, CEO Al Masah increase in competition, weak market presence in 16 countries Arabian restaurant group via a Speaking of his appointment, the food services sector, fast food Capital said; “Rising population supply chain infrastructure, across Africa, Europe, Asia and portfolio of five brands to span Clemence Piot, General Manager, segment or Quick Service Restau- is one of the key drivers of food high rentals in prime commer- the Middle East. over 290 outlets. MEIRS, said:“The role of Inves- rants (QSR) has emerged as the consumption. The rising flow of cial properties and shortage of In June 2015, Diamond Life- tor Relations (IR) has become largest, accounting for 58.2 per- tourists to GCC has helped drive skilled human capital as major style, the F&B PE fund of Al THE PENINSULA increasingly important in driving economic growth for the region and we are pleased to welcome Alex as the new Chairman of the Middle East Investor Rela- Qatar shoppers tions Society. The appointment Bedaya Center, Qatar comes at a crucial time, as we work to help further develop the to enjoy Visa’s IR profession and evolution of the region’s capital markets and its promotion at Finance School in deal economy.” MEIRS, an independent and DOHA: Bedaya Center for Entre- ent Secondary School for Boys , non-profit organisation, aims to DSF 2016 preneurship and Career Devel- In order to increase awareness enhance the reputation of the opment (Bedaya Center), a joint about the importance of coun- Middle East’s capital markets DOHA: Visa, a global payments initiative by Qatar Development selling and professional devel- through upholding international technology company, and official Bank and Silatech, inked a MoU opment in the state, and we are best practice across the investor payments partner of the 21st with Qatar Finance and Business looking forward to invest in this relations profession. Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) Management Independent Sec- new cooperative relationship to Working alongside and sup- 2016, has launched the ‘Impossi- ondary School for Boys aiming to provide this kind of needed guid- porting regional stock exchanges ble Deals’ campaign. It will offer enhance cooperation between the ance and counselling tools for our and regulators, MEIRS seeks to Visa card holders from Qatar two parties and to provide coun- students , and encourage them to improve the efficiency of Mid- visiting Dubai during DSF with seling services and professional explore the real life work meth- dle East capital markets and is a number of deals, representing development for students. ods closely” . Officials at the signing ceremony. the only organisation providing discounts of up to 80 percent off Both parties will work to raise Commenting on the MOU, accreditation for the IR profes- on a range of electronics, travel, awareness of students by hold- Ahmed Yussef Al Mahmood, QFS able sources at Qatar Finance and tunities for Qatari Students to sion in the region. entertainment, luxury goods and ing lectures and workshops for principal said: “We seek to equip Business Management Independ- experience work environment in Alex has been working with even cars. students in professional develop- our students with all the tools ent Secondary School for Boys, several institutions within the HSBC in Dubai since 2010, head- The campaign will run through ment, entrepreneurship topics that will make them able to go and encouraging school students State of Qatar who are interested ing the Bank’s investor relations the DSF month from 1st January and the inclusion of students in into all the practical experiences to participate in events and activ- in discovering the reality of the department for the MENA region. 2016 to 1st February 2016 during the experience of work environ- through training which would ities hosted by Bedaya Center, in work environment. “I am honoured to be taking a which one impossible deal will be ment for those who wish, and to receive from the Bedaya Center addition to announcing of all the Bedaya Center will also support leadership role in MEIRS, and to unveiled every day. conducting preliminary tests and where we share with the center Centre’s program through the the school’s academic advisor by continue supporting members and Visa card holders from Qatar providing consulting sessions in the same commitment by devel- school’s various communication providing a number of profes- stakeholders in upholding best will have to log on to www.visa- coordination with the academic oping and training our students channels such as social network- sional and academic guidance practice in corporate governance middleeast.com/dsfandfollow a advisors. to shaping the future of youth in ing sites , emails , and SMS. sessions to students, and pro- and IR across the Middle East. I simple registration process to Reem Al Suwaidi, General the state, so we’re excited a lot Qatar Finance and Business viding technical support to the look forward to further develop- enrol in the promotion. Manager of Bedaya Center said:” concerning this cooperation.” Management Independent Sec- school’s advisers and counsellors ing MEIRS’ regional footprint, They will receive daily notifica- This Memorandum of Under- Under the memorandum of ondary School for Boy in coopera- in terms of programs and tools of providing a dynamic platform to tions about the impossible deals standing is an important step in understanding, Bedaya Center tion with Bedaya, will organise a vocational guidance, in addition support and enable our member- on their mobile phones and/or the process of vocational and pro- will be invited to participate in series of special workshops with to organising a number of incen- ship to meet the rapidly evolving email which they can use while fessional guidance in Qatar hence the various events held at the basic skills for students which tive and motivational workshops demands of regulation and mar- in Dubai. it facilitate, guide and strengthen school and provide the opportu- covers professional development, for students presented by pioneer ket practice,” said MacDonald- As there are limited numbers ways of cooperation between the nity for the Centre for promote which includes CV writing, career and row model Qatari entrepre- Vitale, Chairman, MEIRS. of these impossible deals, custom- Centre and Qatar Fianance and its programs, it will also allow planning , interview skills and will neurs. ers will need to try to respond to Business Management Independ- Bedaya the Center to use all avail- also provide a number of oppor- THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA these notifications as soon as pos- sible to “win” the chance of buy- ing these exciting items at almost throwaway prices. The ‘Impossible Deals’ will be available to participants on a Doha Bank launches Apple iWatch banking solution first-come-first-served basis. Karim Beg, Head of Market- ing at Visa MENA, said: “Visa DOHA: Doha Bank yesterday announced that it has banking application from Apple app store where returns to partner with DSF for become the first and only bank in Qatar to introduce they can also avail Apple iWatch banking solution. yet another season of fun, shop- Apple iWatch banking solution. The new service The new service features a self-registration proc- ping and unbelievable deals. Visa is introduced as a special offer to celebrate Qatar ess that allows customers to take advantage of the has been DSF’s official payments National Day. new digital experience by instantly availing Apple partner since the shopping festi- It adds a new channel to the bank’s existing port- iWatch and mobile banking application, thereby val’s inception in 1996”. folio of digital services which include Internet bank- eliminating the need for customers to visit a branch “We are delighted to continue ing, SMS banking, mobile banking, Doha Sooq, and location. our relationship with what has more. Doha Bank is renowned as a prime mover “This offer is a unique contribution from Doha evolved to become a powerful of banking technology and always strives to offer Bank as part of Qatar National Day celebrations,” brand locally and globally - with innovative products for its customers, said the bank. said Dr R Seetharaman, Group CEO of Doha Bank. a thrilling new concept to reward Doha Bank Apple iWatch banking solution offers Dr R Seetharaman added that Doha Bank, as part Visa card holders from Qatar who multiple banking services to customers covering of its digital strategy, has already initiated plans to will be travelling to Dubai for account balances, profile, account transactions, introduce many more such innovative digital prod- DSF.” he added. utility bills payment, currency exchange as well as ucts to provide a convenient banking experience to other service requests. New and existing Doha Bank customers. THE PENINSULA customers can now download the Bank’s new mobile THE PENINSULA Officials at the launch event.

NBK opens Mercedes-Benz used cars showroom

DOHA: Nasser Bin Khaled Auto- to more people and help them Manger of Nasser Bin Khaled have a Mercedes-car with afford- mobiles, authorised dealer of discover the exciting world of Automobiles said: “Nasser Bin able price and high quality, thus Mercedes-Benz in Qatar, yester- Mercedes-Benz. Khaled Automobiles continues increasing our sales in a new cat- day officially launched Mercedes- It also reiterates NBK Auto- its ambitious expansion plans egory in the market.” Benz showroom for used cars. mobiles’ commitment to Qatari and customer service, and today Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles The launching was attended by community, and reflects Mer- we are launching the used cars has built its success by establish- Sheikh Nawaf Nasser bin Khaled cedes-Benz approach to present showroom to offer the customers ing solid, long-standing relation- Al Thani, Chairman of Nasser its vehicles in the best conditions more options to drive one of our ships with its customers, and Bin Khaled Automobiles, Mark and officially certified, in line with amazing cars”. through offering a wide range De Haes, President and CEO of the brand’s values and tradition. Shaaban added: “All used cars owf products that appeal to car Daimler Middle East and the The new used-cars showroom is in the showroom are inspected, enthusiasts who appreciate qual- Levant, Khaled Shaaban, Gen- spread on an area of 1,330 square guaranteed and authorized as per ity and style. eral Manger of Nasser Bin Khaled metres over two levels. Mercedes-Benz service standards. As a brand, Nasser Bin Khaled Automobiles, along with guests It will display a wide range We can guarantee that the client Automobiles is deeply associated and representatives of the media. of Mercedes-Benz luxury, sports will drive his car hassle-free with with a successful history of pre- With this launch, Nasser Bin and AMG cars along with SUVs, peace of mind, and the highest mium quality service and market Khaled Automobiles continues thus offering the customers many standards of safety they expect leadership. Officials at the launch function. its ambitious expansion plans more options to choose from. from us. The new showroom will and sales strategy, to reach out Khaled Shaaban, General give more people the chance to THE PENINSULA WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

South America is staring What’s good for China isn’t down an economic abyss By Matt O’Brien always good for Alibaba HERE has been a political earthquake in South Amer- ica, and it started in China. In just the last few weeks, Argentina and Venezuela’s left-wing governments have By Adam Minter liest days of Communist Party rule, control fessionalization of top-end Chinese media, Tlost at the polls and Brazil’s is looking wobbly. That’s what of the media was a key lever of state power. there’s even less appetite abroad for filtered happens when the commodity boom that had fuelled your social AST Friday night, Alibaba’s Jack Newspapers established internal Commu- coverage of China. State-owned China Daily, spending turns to bust — due, in large part, to China’s slowdown. Ma joined Amazon’s Jeff Bezos nist Party committees; to this day they the self- described “voice of China,” pub- The question, though, is whether the continent’s right-of-centre as the latest tech billionaire to receive regular guidance from national and lishes daily and weekly English-language parties can do any better. acquire his own newspaper, by local propaganda bureaus. In a pre-Internet print editions in China, the US, Europe, Well, at least in Argentina and Venezuela, they can’t help but purchasing Hong Kong’s South age, this might have worked to shape per- Asia and Hong Kong. Yet according to a to. Both those countries had embraced what economists Rudi LChina Morning Post for $266m. The paper ceptions within China. But the development company website, only a third of its daily Dornbusch and Sebastian Edwards called “macroeconomic pop- is the semi-autonomous city-state’s most of the Web and especially social media has circulation of 200,000 comes from overseas. ulism,” basically the belief that since printing money and running influential English-language news outlet, dramatically weakened the government’s International interest is so low that the deficits are sometimes good ideas, that they always are. That has as well as a long-time thorn in the side of ability to channel the flow of information. paper famously pays other media organi- turned what would have already been tough times into borderline the Chinese regime. That would appear to Even today, under one of the world’s most zations to carry the print edition as a sup- catastrophic ones. pose a problem for Alibaba, which thrives stringent online censorship programmes, plement or as a special online advertising Take Argentina. In the 1990s, it became much more market- in part because of its good relations with China’s hundreds of millions of netizens section. oriented and cured its congenital inflation by pegging its peso to the government. have become adept at seeking out sources How far Alibaba will go to change the the dollar. But this stability came at the cost of giving up its ability Executive Vice-President Joseph Tsai of independent information. SCMP’s editorial focus remains to be seen, to fight recessions by, yes, printing money or running big deficits. claims to see opportunity instead. “When The government simply forced citizens of course. The paper is currently cen- So when its economy did get hit by a big shock in 1998, there was people don’t really understand China and to subscribe to Communist Party newspa- sored online in China. If it wants access nothing its government could do about it. Argentina actually stuck have the wrong perception of China, they pers and hoped that they might embrace to mainland readers, it’s going to have to it out for a few years as it spiraled down into a Depression-level also have a lot of misconceptions about the Party line. Occasionally, officials still accept the same low standard for cover- slump, but, after a bank run destroyed what little was left of its Alibaba,” he explained. So in theory, if the employ that strategy. In 2012, for example, age as China Daily and its brethren do. At economy, it had no choice but to default on its debt and devalue SCMP now presents a rosier picture of one Chinese city required local brothels to that point, the SCMP would have little its currency. At which point it recovered fast. The government China and the Chinese economy, Alibaba’s subscribe to a bundle of Party newspapers. comparative advantage over its mainland took this success as a sign that it should keep doing what it was business should benefit as well. “What’s Regular Chinese aren’t the only ones rivals, who are likely to dominate the few even when that didn’t make sense anymore. It tried to deny this good for China is also good for Alibaba,” who’ve grown tired of state-devised prop- scoops the regime sees fit to dispense. The reality by doctoring its inflation stats and preventing people from Tsai insisted. aganda: China’s 90 million Communist better option would be for Ma to offer the turning their pesos into dollars, but, as growth has slowed down, That’s a fairly convoluted rationalization Party members seem equally fed up. Back paper’s editors and writers the resources it finally caught up to them at the polls. for a multimillion-dollar acquisition. And in November, People’s Daily, the official and freedom to pursue the China story The only problem is you need to actually have an economy to it’s unconvincing for one simple reason: The newspaper of the Communist Party, grew wherever it leads. Such an approach would make this work, and Venezuela doesn’t anymore. That’s because market for neutered coverage of China is so alarmed by the falloff in interest in mil- inevitably lead to some uncomfortable the Chávez regime wanted to control not only the oil money but exceedingly small and is becoming smaller. quetoast China coverage that it ran a soul- moments between Ma and Party officials. rather all the money in the economy. It tried to do that first by tell- If Ma is really serious about revising per- searching editorial titled, “Is it OK for Party But the benefits of defying expectations ing businesses how much they were allowed to charge, and second ceptions of China and his company, then Members not to Read Party Newspapers?” and showing that both China and one of by telling businesses which of them were allowed to even restock he’s going to have to have the confidence to The piece wistfully observed the propensity its most high-profile companies are open their shelves. So it’s not profitable for unsubsidized companies to present the country in all its aspects, good of young cadres to spend their nights surfing to a freer press would be enduring and stock their shelves and not profitable enough for the subsidized and bad. Internet gossip sites rather than studying profitable. For Ma, a noted risk-taker, it’s ones to do so either. And that’s why Venezuela has shortages of Needless to say, China doesn’t lack for the latest directives from Beijing. a bet worth taking. everything from food to butter to even toilet paper. pro-government newspapers. From the ear- Meanwhile, despite the increasing pro- BLOOMBERG Now, Venezuela’s government could keep this dysfunction to at least a livable level as long as it had enough oil money to throw at the problems it was creating. But it doesn’t have that anymore, either. It mismanaged the state-owned oil company, which had previously enjoyed a fair amount of autonomy, by cutting back on the investment it needed to keep wells online and replacing people who knew what they were doing with ones who didn’t and wouldn’t complain about this. Venezuela depends on oil revenue for 95 percent of its exports and can’t get the dollars it needs to buy much of anything with oil at less than $40 a barrel. Nor can the government afford to pay out all the benefits it has promised, not without just printing the money that was how high it was when the government stopped reporting the figures a year ago — and, according to the International Monetary Fund, as high as 204 percent next year. And on top of that, the economy is probably shrinking something like 10 percent right now. It’s no surprise, then, that Venezuela’s government lost the latest legisla- tive elections despite the fact that it controls the media, has jailed opposition leaders, and even tried to trick voters by putting a fake party on the ballot that sounded just like their opponent’s name. Still, it’s not clear if the opposition has enough seats to change things or if the regime will abide by that if they do. Then there is Brazil. It has been comparatively well managed, but still finds itself staring into an economic abyss. It is facing not only the global commodities bust but also a wider credit bust at home. Investors, you see, had poured a lot of money into the country in search of higher returns, especially after the Federal Reserve began buying bonds in 2010, and that had set off a lending boom. That has made Brazil’s economy contract 4.5 percent the past year, its worst performance since the 1930s, at the same time that its currency has plummeted by 50 percent against the dollar as money is now moving out of the country. In other words, a butterfly flapped its wings in China and caused a political hurricane in South America. Between 2000 and 2014, China’s demand for raw materials of every kind was so great that prices soared and the coffers of commodity- based economies did, too. That gave South American governments the money they needed to redistribute to their poor, and they did. But a combination of bad luck and bad management has left them without much margin for error today — which they need now that commodity prices have come down as a result of China slowing down. In a global economy, politics is, too.

WASHINGTON POST Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

What Fed rate hike means to mortgage borrowers

By Kathy Orton Possibly. But keep in mind the Fed last couple of years. And because are “thinking about the returns sure on long-term rates. The allow that portfolio to shrink, and hasn’t raised its benchmark rate real estate is more sensitive to they are going to get over time. Mortgage Bankers Association they may more actively sell some HIS week’s expected in nearly a decade. It’s hard to interest rates, expectations of Primarily what they are thinking is predicting the interest rate for of those securities,” Fratantoni rate increase by the Fed- predict how the market will react higher rates have a bigger impact about, especially on longer term 30-year fixed-rate mortgage will said. “At some point, you could eral Reserve should not to such a momentous change. on real estate than most of the bonds, which a 30-year mortgage be around 4.8 percent at the end get to a level of rates, 6 to 6½ per- Tcause home buyers to “You’ve got 33-year-old bond economy.” goes into, they’re thinking about of 2016, that’s an increase of less cent, that would really begin to panic, if history is any indication. traders who’ve never in their Wake points out that often inflation.” than one percent. crimp affordability and then that Back in the early 2000s, after career seen” the Fed raise its what people expect determines Inflation has been hovering What Fratantoni wonders would be a real negative,” he said. the tech bubble burst, the Fed benchmark rate, said Bob Wal- what they do. If home buy- below the Fed’s 2 percent target. about is what will happen after “But at this point, it’s going to dropped its benchmark rate to ters, chief economist at Quicken ers expect mortgage rates to The US economy has been doing the Fed raises the benchmark be just a very modest headwind. 1 percent. Then in the summer Loans, the largest non-bank increase, they will act as if rates fairly well lately, despite turmoil rate, what its plan will be going Most of the other fundamentals of 2004, it began raising it by a mortgage originator. are increasing even if they don’t. in the global economy, its effect forward. are suggesting a very strong hous- quarter percent. At the time of John Wake, a self-described Walters doubts a slight mort- on the dollar and low oil prices. “It really is not just when the ing market in the year ahead.” the central bank’s first increase, “geek-in-chief” at Real Estate gage rate increase will have much “You’re seeing a complete Fed is going to make their first Waters agrees. Although he the interest rate on a 30-year Decoded and a real estate agent impact on the housing market. decimation of commodity prices move,” he said. demurred when asked what he fixed-rate mortgage was around in Arizona, believes that in 2004 Mortgage rates are more right now,” Walters said. “That Fratantoni is especially curi- thought the interest rate on a 6.3 percent. During the next four when the Fed increased the closely linked to 10-year US will influence inflation a great ous about what the Fed will do 30-year fixed-rate mortgage months, it dropped to 5.7 percent. benchmark rate it caused an Treasury yields, and bonds tend deal. It makes pricing power for with its balance sheet. The cen- would be at the end of the year, As the Fed continued to raise already frenzied housing market to move ahead of, rather than wages almost impossible. And tral bank pumped trillions of dol- he didn’t think it would be sig- the benchmark rate, the rate on to become more manic. Home after, central bank decisions. if you can’t get wage increases, lars in stimulus into the market nificantly higher. a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage buyers, worried that rising rates As a general rule, when 10-year it’s tough to have inflation. If you in the wake of the financial crisis, “I tend to think from a 30-year declined, falling to 5.58 percent would prevent them for affording Treasury yields go up, mortgage don’t have inflation, it’s tough to buying mortgage-backed securi- fixed mortgage standpoint there’s in June 2005. By the time of its a house, became desperate to buy rates go up. According to Freddie see rates go higher. We’ve essen- ties. Pre-crisis, the central bank’s not going to be an extraordinary last increase in the summer 2006, right away. Mac’s national survey of lenders, tially been at zero percent short- balance sheet was about $800bn, change,” he said. “I don’t think the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate “The real estate economy is the 30-year fixed-rate average term interest rates for seven or primarily in short-term Treas- they’ll go up or down more than mortgage was at 6.68 percent. more sensitive to interest rates was 3.95 percent last week. It has eight years. And as long as that’s ury bills. Now it’s $4.2tr, and the a quarter percent, at least not It had gone up less than half a than most of the economy,” remained below 4 percent since the case, long-term interest rates Fed is the largest single investor initially. It’s not going to five per- percentage point even though the Wake said. “An interest rate low late July. will stay down.” in mortgage-backed securities in cent and it’s not going to three benchmark rate had climbed from enough to move the needle on the “Long-term rates are deter- No matter what the Fed does the world, holding $1.7tr in MBS. percent. We’re going to stay in a 1.25 percent to 5.25 percent. national economy may cause the mined by the marketplace every this week, it is likely that uncer- “The Fed has said at some point tight band.” Could mortgage rates follow the real estate economy to overheat. day, by traders buying and sell- tainty in the global economy will after they increase short-term same course this time around? We may have seen a bit of that the ing bonds,” Walters said. Traders continue to put downward pres- rates they are going to begin to WASHINGTON POST WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29

QE Indices Summary QE Index 9,789.80 0.48 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 15,216.84 0.48 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 3,581.25 0.11 % RATE QE All Share Index 2,611.65 0.37 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 2,641.78 0.50 % GOLD Services Buying Selling QE All Share Industrials 2,914.7 0.37 % All Ordinaries 4981.868 -96.765 -1.91 5963.5 4936.3 QR124.9039 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,384.01 0.69 % Cac 40 Index/D 4528.19 -21.37 -0.47 5283.71 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,204.01 0.07 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.4814 QR 5.5586 QE All Share Insurance 4,053.49 1.02 % Dj Indu Average 17265.21 -309.54 -1.76 18351.4 15370.3 QR 1.6114 Euro ...... QR 3.9791 QR 4.0352 QE All Share Telecoms 900.73 0.30 % CA$ ...... QR 2.6339 QR 2.6857 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 5,598.72 0.82 % Hang Seng Inde/D 21309.85 -154.2 -0.72 28588.52 20368.12 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.6710 QR 3.7232 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 6598.06 -30.09 -0.45 6921.44 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0298 QR 0.0304 Aus$ ...... QR 2.6097 QR 2.6617 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 32757.82 -290.69 -0.88 36471.59 28648.23 CRUDE OIL 15-12-2015 14-12-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0539 QR 0.0550 Index 9,789.80 9,742.78 Nikkei 225 Index 18883.42 -347.06 -1.8 20952.71 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0344 QR 0.0351 Change 47.02 99.13 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0762 QR 0.0777 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2134.72 1867.01 % 0.48 1.03 $ 38.52 SL Re ...... QR 0.0251 QR 0.0256 YTD% 20.32 20.7 Straits Times/D 2895.81 27.07 0.94 3549.85 2808.31 Taka ...... QR 0.0461 QR 0.0464 Volume 5,481,666 6,950,558 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0337 QR 0.0344 Value (QAR) 2,199,344,129.26 298,178,800.08 Straits Times/D 3324.09 0.44 0.01 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.2409 QR 0.2456 Trades 2,995 4,015 $ 33.51 Up 24 | Down 16 | Unchanged 06 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 15-12-2015

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A C C-A/D 1335.85 -5.8 7822 Chowgule St-T/D 19.2 0 8850 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 17.55 0.3 1261164 Kakatiya Cem-B/D 146 3.9 3135 Orient.Carb.-T/D 536.25 -5.75 2050 Bp/D 335.6 6.3 13272862 Aarti Drugs-B/D 541.8 13.2 2654 Cimmco-B/D 80.7 -1.55 3128 Himat Seide-B/D 203.2 -2 154808 Kalpat Power-B/D 250 7.5 9925 Orient.Carb.-T/D 536.25 -5.75 2050 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3657 67 1044542 Aban Offs-A/D 208.5 2.35 266034 Cipla-A/D 637.65 -1.55 32914 Hind Motors-T/D 7.34 0.11 4604 Kalyani Stel-T/D 164.7 -2.2 70858 Oudh Sugar-B/D 39.9 5.6 17929 Bt Group/D 468.45 11.6 5630784 Ador Welding-B/D 337 9.2 3211 City Union Bk-/D 90.9 2.4 19691 Hind Org Chem-/D 15.3 0.6 46409 Kanoria Chem-B/D 77.5 1.3 43409 Patspin India-/D 7.77 -0.03 4100 Centrica/D 212.4 4.3 3083434 Aegis Logis-B/D 103 -0.35 35110 Colgate-A/D 1001 16.05 39083 Hind Unilever-/D 856.3 19.1 184814 Kg Denim-B/D 59.2 5.15 60603 Punjab Chem.-B/D 177.9 9.4 32800 Gkn/D 290.7 10.3 1180855 Alembic-B/D 42.9 0.95 89012 Container Cor-/D 1316.7 4.9 4308 Hind.Petrol-A/D 809.95 -6.6 68925 Kilburnengg-Xd/D 76.5 -1.5 3471 Radico Khait-B/D 107.75 -2.1 52131 Hsbc Holdings/D 505.6 11.45 9698095 Alkyl Amines-B/D 323.4 2.9 1097 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 481.2 -3.8 3045 Hindalco-A/D 78.8 0.2 747979 Kinetic Eng-B/D 97.5 4.6 17034 Rallis India-A/D 164.85 -0.3 26684 Imperial Tobac/D 3471.7737 72 811079 Alok Indus-A/D 6.9 -0.07 811327 Dcm Shram Ind-/D 95 7.65 17358 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1206.75 19.1 80682 Kopran-B/D 77.25 3.2 434368 Rallis India-A/D 164.85 -0.3 26684 Kingfisher/D 323.7 3.9 996738 Apollo Tyre-A/D 149.35 -1.7 137775 Dhampur Sugar-/D 65.1 1.85 78799 I F C I-A/D 25.15 0.25 490561 Lgb Broth-B/D 516 -3.3 1030 Reliance Indus/D 330.3 4.55 43140 Land Secs Grou/D 1157.85 18 1105966 Asahi I Glass-/D 159.25 2.75 10595 Dr. Reddy-A/D 2991.65 -13.15 43730 Idbi-A/D 82.3 -0.55 408293 Lok.Hous&Con-B/D 6.76 -0.24 88501 Ruchi Soya-B/D 28 0.05 59512 Legal & Genera/D 259.4 6.2 5534215 Ashok Leyland-/D 87.35 1.3 847573 E I H-B/D 123.1 1.95 15612 Ifb Agro-B/D 413.1 -2.3 1107 Lumax Ind-B/D 449.5 4.4 5652 S Bk Bikaner-B/D 519.8 3.9 6216 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 70.33 1.65 47431365 Bajaj Hold-A/D 1630.45 15.1 1351 E.I.D Parry-A/D 185.15 11.75 85613 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 412.8 5.6 1077 Lupin-A/D 1790.05 42.7 427632 Samtel-Xt/D 7.92 0 1007 Marks & Sp./D 459 3.3 1660295 Ballarpur In-B/D 17 0.1 642552 Eicher Motor-A/D 15793.65 428.45 3674 India Cement-A/D 85.2 1.2 234463 Lyka Labs-T/D 112.3 1.2 106450 Saur.Cem-B/D 67.05 -0.55 51799 Next/D 7385 60 148858 Banaras Bead-B/D 44.5 -0.1 1039 Electrosteel-B/D 20.15 0.1 32504 India Glycol-B/D 96.9 2 17433 Mah.Seamless-B/D 159.55 -0.65 1058 Tanfac Indust-/D 37.75 4.05 31698 Pearson/D 700.5 5.5 1267834 Bata India-A/D 484.65 12.1 37419 Emco-B/D 31.5 1 129132 Indian Hotel-A/D 109.65 2.7 89972 Maha Scooter-B/D 1433.75 26.75 1401 Tanfac Indust-/D 37.75 4.05 31698 Prudential/D 1479 39.5 1443916 Beml Ltd-A/D 1087.05 10.65 19728 Escorts Fin-B/D 3.95 -0.05 44997 Indo-Tcount-T/D 1007 9.75 3744 Mangalam Cem-B/D 213.6 8.5 16272 Thirumalai-B/D 216 3.3 9502 Rank Group/D 279 0.8 237634 Bh Electronic-/D 1177 -10 11151 Escorts-A/D 156.2 3.65 121094 Indusind-A/D 919.5 6.5 104586 Maral Overs-B/D 33.3 1.9 22843 Til Ltd.-T/D 491.6 22 19677 Rentokil Initi/D 155.7 2.8 695055 Bhansali Eng-T/D 24.85 -0.15 58867 Essar Oil-T/D 217.95 8.25 796031 J.B.Chemical-B/D 268.9 -2.5 22058 Mastek-B/D 184.4 10.8 138077 Timexgroup-T/D 31.95 0.2 41241 Rolls Royce Pl/D 532.55 -4.5 3366786 Bharat Bijle-B/D 710 1.25 2981 Eveready Indu-/D 279.45 0.15 12791 Jagatjit Ind-X/D 54.65 2.6 3556 Max India L-A/D 488 0.8 9516 Tinplate-B/D 65.6 -0.35 38139 Rsa Insrance G/D 425.6 13.1 1766372 Bharatgears-B/D 86 1 1697 F D C-B/D 233.3 2.75 4126 Jagson Phar-B/D 44.4 0 13839 Mrpl-A/D 63.7 0.65 68134 Ucal Fuel-B/D 116.7 2.3 8043 Sainsbury(J)/D 247.3 10.4 3647458 Bhartiya Int-B/D 547 18 19898 Federal Bank-A/D 53.45 -0.1 242564 Jamnaauto-B/D 125.2 5.9 489322 Nahar Spg.-B/D 113.1 3.9 17648 Ultramarine-B/D 111.9 3.3 11166 Schroders/D 2753 75 85185 Bhel-A/D 166.1 -0.95 244644 Ferro Alloys-B/D 5 -0.09 13028 Jbf Indu-B/D 216.5 8.25 41331 Nation Alum -A/D 39.25 0.65 57977 Unitech P -A/D 6.37 0.07 4099902 Severn Trent/D 2136 27 137268 Bom.Burmah-B/D 444.15 3 11196 Finolex-A/D 292.05 -2.55 4083 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.4 0 47834 Navneet Edu-B/D 80.8 -0.65 6812 Univcable-T/D 73.7 3.5 37736 Smith&Nephew/D 1077 17 468000 Bombay Dyeing-/D 62.05 0.3 70148 Gail-A/D 337.55 -2.65 53944 Jct Ltd-B/D 7.06 0.02 447810 Nepc India-T/D 1.78 0 17490 Uppergsugar-T/D 74.1 4.1 7819 Smiths Group/D 925.5 6 419529 Camph.& All-B/D 480.25 16.5 1909 Gammon India-T/D 15.25 0.1 75596 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 8.88 0.08 83478 Neuland Lab-B/D 694 6.25 1011 Standrd Chart /D 480.8 4.6 5178258 Canfin Homes-B/D 992.25 15.8 1444 Gangotri Tex-B/D 1.23 0.05 6174 Jik Indust-T/D 0.95 -0.04 9070 Nrb Bearings-B/D 148.3 -0.7 2810 LONDON Tate & Lyle/D 586 -1 325084 Caprihans-Xc/D 85.05 0.9 2812 Garden P -B/D 28.55 2.25 214644 Jindal Drill-B/D 127 0.6 1125 O N G C-A/D 217.85 4.4 280862 Tesco/D 148.7 5.7 11698319 Castrol India-/D 431.5 3.75 24769 Godfrey Phil-B/D 1385.6 -95.85 49828 Jktyre&Ind-A/D 108.85 4.15 401813 Oil Country-B/D 27.75 0.35 10748 3I Group/D 458 6.6 549132 Unilever/D 2742 22 692259 Century Enka-B/D 181 2.2 14307 Goodricke-B/D 179.1 1.1 17159 Jmc Projects-T/D 235.1 -3.6 2181 Onward Tech-B/D 101 -1.4 7244 Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3401 53 136730 United Util Gr/D 931.5 8 407989 Century Text-A/D 544.9 0.75 93524 Goodyear I -B/D 567 9.75 3592 Kabra Extr-B/D 94 1.95 2483 Orchid Chem-B/D 51.05 0.75 144704 Barclays/D 215.85 6.75 10590769 Vodafone Group/D 208.4 4.65 23930007 Chambal Fert-B/D 59.2 0.75 34805 Hcl Infosys-B/D 59.15 2.7 1494485 Kajaria Cer-A/D 962.75 3.3 1525 Orient Hotel-T/D 26.9 0.45 314780 Bg Group/D 948.5 29 2489738 Whitbread/D 4444 82 147900 WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BREAK TIME

EASY SUDOKU CROSSWORD 1234567 891011121314 SUPRA PH I L STLO

15 16 APIAN AEROSMITH MOUNTA I NTOPONYM 17 18 INSTILLS POKER 19 20 21 22 ROE SHOE BLACKANTONYMS 23 24 25 ER I CH MAI LS EAT 26 27 28 29 GEEK SPACE NALA

30 31 32 33 OAT SPUNK MI NES MORTALSYNONYM 34 35 36 37 EYRE ENT 38 39 40 41 PADRE INASENSE NEWYORKMETONYMS 42 43 44 ATHENIANS ODEUM 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 TAOS BLOT NOTTE Yesterday’s answer 52 53 54 55 ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 56 58 “Again, but slower” 26 Barre hop? 27 Like moonstones Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1 to 57 9 in each empty cell so every row, every column DOWN 28 Light brown and every 3x3 box contains all the digits 1 to 9. 58 1 Wave creator 29 Bump on a log 2 Dumb as ___ 30 ___ hall ACROSS Sicilian town of literature 3 Jazz saxophonist Buddy 33 Stuff in many 57-Across 1 “___ Serenades” (1952 34 Bibliog. shortener 4 One who might steal a 35 Like lunatics’ laughter jazz album) 35 What some presidents are kiss 36 Not acclimate properly 8 Big news medium called 5 Layer that scratches 39 Dale Evans, e.g. HYPER SUDOKU 15 Not organized at all 37 Over the hill, say 6 Colorful talkers 41 Staple of 16 Capital near the Great Rift 38 Former Toyota model for 36 7 Sousa’s “El Capitan,” e.g. late-night talk Valley years 8 Brad’s partner in 2005’s 43 Oldman’s “JFK” role 17 Never 40 Entrance line “Mr. & Mrs. Smith” 44 Corralled 18 1960 Elvis Presley film 42 Cut-rate, commercially 9 Like many rebates 45 Words of concurrence 19 Business suit 44 Gran Bretagna or Nuova 10 Part of a supporting cage 46 “Groundhog Day” 20 Cosmetician Adrien Guinea 11 “Journey to the Center of director 22 “The Seasons” lithographer 45 Cato’s craft the Earth” actress 50 Nixon and Brezhnev 23 Like newspeak and 47 State in which “That ’70s 12 Forbidding signed it in ’72 doublethink Show” was set: Abbr. 13 Cynical reply 51 French shipyard city 26 He wrote “In utter loneliness 48 Editor ___ A. Talese 14 Chantilly’s department 53 “Whose woods these a writer tries to explain the 49 Kind of hub or port 21 Answer, in court ___ think …”: Frost inexplicable” 52 New mint product of 2000 24 MASH figures 54 Thermal lead-in 30 They may get carried away 56 Sierra Nevada brew 25 Suit-making 55 Start of treason? 31 Out-lying result? 57 Rock groups? grp.? 32 Fictional

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: SCREEN 1 Aladin (2D/Comedy) 12:15, 4:45 & 9:30pm SHOWING AT The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any KAKURO Hyena Road (2D/Drama) 10:00am, 2:15, 7:00 & 11:45pm VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells SCREEN 2 The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 10:00am, 12:00noon. 4:00, 8:00 & 11:55pm TEL: 444933989 / 444517001 like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, 3D 2:00, 6:00 & 10:00pm some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some SCREEN 3 No Tears For The Dead (2D/Action) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00 & 11:55pm cells will contain two numbers. Close Range (2D/Action) 10:20am, 2:20, 6:15 & 10:20pm However, in a crossword the numbers reference SCREEN 4 Larry Gaye: Renagade Male Flight Attendant (2D) 10:00am, 2:00, 6:00 & 10:00pm clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! Howl (2D/Horror) 12:00noon, 4:00, 8:00pm & 12:00midnight They denote the total of the digits in the row or SCREEN 5 The Hunger Games: Mockingjay 2 (2D/Adventure) 12:30, 4:50 & 9:10pm column referenced by the number. Bus 657 (2D/Action) 10:40am, 3:00, 7:20 & 11:50pm Within each SCREEN 6 In The Heart of The Sea (2D/Adventure) 4:00 & 9:30pm Spectre (2D/Action) 1:00, 6:30 & 11:50pm collection of cells SCREEN 7 Bridge of Spies (2D/Drama) 1:00, 6:30 & 11:55pm - called a run - any Creed (2D/Drama) 10:15am, 3:45 & 9:15pm of the numbers 1 SCREEN 8 A Second Chance (2D/Tagalog) 10:15am, 1:00, 3:45, 6:20, 9:00 & 11:40pm to 9 may be used SCREEN 9 Spectre (2D IMAX/Action) 10:15am, 3:35 & 9:00pm but, like sudoku, In The Heart of The Sea (3D IMAX/Adventure) 1:10, 6:30 & 11:50pm each number may SCREEN 10 Close Range (2D/Action) 1:30, 5:45 & 10:00 only be used once. Hyena Road (2D/Drama) 11:00am, 3:10, 7:20 & 11:50pm MALL Yesterday’s answer SCREEN 1 The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 3:00, 4:45 & 6:30pm Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate A Second Chance (2D/Romantic) 8:15pm Bengal Tiger (2D/Telugu) 10:30pm SCREEN 2 Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) 2:15pm Zinzana (2D/Arabic) 4:30pm Howl (2D/Horror) 6:15 & 9:30pm Close Range (2D/Action) 8:00pm No Tears For The Dead (2D/Action) 11:15pm SCREEN 3 Bengal Tiger (2D/Telugu) 2:00pm ALL IN THE MIND Aladin (2D/Comedy) 5:00pm Bus 657 (2D/Action) 7:00pm Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) 8:45pm Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, Hyena Road (2D/Drama) 11:00pm vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards. LANDMARK

SCREEN 1 Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) 2:15 & 8:15pm No Tears For The Dead (2D/Action) 4:15pm Aladin (2D/Comedy) 6:15pm Bengal Tiger (2D/Telugu) 10:30pm SCREEN 2 The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00pm Howl (2D/Horror) 9:00 & 11:00pm SCREEN 3 Bengal Tiger (2D/Telugu) 2:15pm Hoy en la Historia A Second Chance (2D/Romantic) 5:00pm Zinzana (2D/Arabic) 7:15pm December 16, 1775 Hyena Road (2D/Drama) 9:15pm English author Jane Austen was Close Range (2D/Action) 11:30pm born. Her six novels are noted for ROYAL PLAZA their perceptive depiction of contemporary country life, laced SCREEN 1 The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 2:30, 4:15 & 6:00pm with wit, irony, and humour Close Range (2D/Action) 7:45pm 1850:      No Tears For The Dead (2D/Action) 9:15pm Hyena Road (2D/Drama) 11:30pm       SCREEN 2 Aladin (2D/Comedy) 3:00pm 1920: One of history’s deadliest Howl (2D/Horror) 5:00 & 11:15pm earthquakes killed over 200,000 A Second Chance (2D/Romantic) 7:00pm people in China’s Gansu province Zinzana (2D/Arabic) 9:15pm ABAFT, ANCHOR, BALLAST, BEAM, BELOW, 2000:     BINNACLE, BOOM, BRIDGE, CATAMARAN, CLIPPER,         ASIAN TOWN COMPASS, CROSSJACK, CUTTER, DECK, FELUCCA,        Anarkali (2D/Malayalam) 5:00pm GAFF, GUNWALE, HALYARD, HELM, HULL, JIGGER,     Amar Akbar Anthony (2D/Malayalam) 7:00pm KEEL, KETCH, KNOTS, MARINA, MAST, MIZZEN, 2010: The International Monetary Pathemari (2D/Malayalam) 12:30, 2:30, 8:00 & 10:30pm Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) Fund approved a 22.5bn euro loan to 12:45, 3:00, 4:00, 5:30 & 8:00pm MOORING, NAVIGATION, PORT, PORTHOLE, PROW, Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) 9:45 & 10:30pm RIGGING, RUDDER, SAILS, SAILOR, SCHOONER, the Republic of Ireland Bengal Tiger (2D/Telugu) 1:00, 4:00, 6:30 & 9:30pm SEAFARER, SLOOP, SPARS, SPINNAKER, STARBOARD,  !  '# $%&'( STERN, TACK, VESSEL, VOYAGE, YACHT, YARDARM. WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31 Griffin the difference in key win for Los Angeles Clippers NBA: Indiana Pacers ease past Toronto Raptors; Grizzlies down Wizards

NEW YORK: Blake Griffin poured in 34 points, and he found Jamal Crawford for a go-ahead three-pointer with 12.4 seconds left in overtime as the Los Ange- les Clippers outlasted the Detroit Pistons at The Palace. J J Redick supplied 24 points Ottawa Senators’ goalie Craig Anderson (41) makes a save on a shot from and Chris Paul chipped in 13 and Los Angeles Kings’ left wing Milan Lucic (17) in the third period of their 12 assists for Los Angeles. Craw- NHL game at the Canadian Tire Centre. The Senators won 5-3. ford had 14 points off the bench. Reggie Jackson led the Pistons with 34 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists. Andre Drummond added his league-high 22nd dou- ble-double with 20 points and 15 rebounds. Oshie sparkles Pacers 106, Raptors 90 After falling into a 21-point, first-quarter hole, Indiana coun- tered with a 39-4 run on the way to a roller-coaster victory over as Capitals Toronto. The Pacers’ charge, which spanned the end of the first quar- ter to the start of the second, gave them a 44-30 lead and the home beat Penguins Dwight Howard (12) of the Houston Rockets controls the ball against Kenneth Faried of the Denver Nuggets team never trailed again, beating during their NBA game at Pepsi Centre in Denver, Colorado. The Nuggets defeated the Rockets 114-108. the Raptors for the first time in NEW YORK: T J Oshie scored the past six meetings between the twice in the third period and the NHL Results Eastern Conference rivals. backboards and a big effort from keyed by the perimeter prowess tas Motiejunas scored 19 off the hot Washington Capitals spoiled Edmonton 3 Boston 2 Jordan Hill led the Pacers with the bench. of Vucevic, who made six of eight bench. Mike Sullivan’s debut as Pitts- Washington 4 Pittsburgh 1 20 points and 13 rebounds, each Chris Bosh had 24 points and shots in the period. Mavericks 104, Suns 94 burgh’s coach. Tampa Bay 2 Columbus 1 a season high. Kyle Lowry and grabbed 10 rebounds during the Orlando received 15 points from Deron Williams scored 18 in Nicklas Backstrom, who DeMar DeRozan each had 20 for Heat’s first win in Atlanta since Tobias Harris, who was question- his return, and Dallas snapped a assisted on both Oshie goals Ottawa 5 Los Angeles 3 Toronto. Feb. 20, 2013. Kent Bazemore led able to play right up until game three-game home losing streak by during a three-point night, and Buffalo 2 Detroit 1 Grizzlies 112, Wizards 95 the Hawks with 28 points. Ger- time due to a lower leg contusion, holding off Phoenix. defenceman John Carlson scored Marc Gasol and Mike Conley ald Green came off the bench to and from Andrew Nicholson who Dirk Nowitzki snapped out in the opening 7:04. Goaltender from Jordan Eberle and had his posted double-doubles as Mem- score 20 points for Miami. Led added 15 points. Jarrett Jack of mini-shooting slump with 14 Braden Holtby -- who has not shot blocked by defenseman Torey phis defeated Washington. by Green, Miami’s reserves out- topped the Nets with 15 points. points on 5-of-10 shooting, and allowed more than two goals in Krug. The puck came right back Gasol finished with 24 points scored Atlanta’s bench, 31-17. The Spurs 118, Jazz 81 he added seven rebounds for the his last seven starts -- made the to Sekera, who got around Lan- and 12 rebounds, plus six assists, Heat out-rebounded the strug- Kawhi Leonard scored 22 Mavericks. Devin Harris scored lead hold up with 44 saves. don Ferraro and beat goaltender and Conley scored 18 points with gling Hawks, 54-37. points as San Antonio smashed 12 and tied his career high with The Capitals (21-6-2) won for Jonas Gustavsson with his second 11 assists. Gary Neal paced the Bulls 115, 76ers 96 Utah. six steals. the ninth time in their last 11 goal of the season. Wizards with 24 points. Overcoming a five-point halft- LaMarcus Aldridge and Tony Phoenix, which had won three games and are 10-3-1 on the road. Sabres 2, Red Wings 1 Just 24th in the NBA in field- ime deficit, Chicago rolled to vic- Parker had 18 points apiece for of its previous four games, got 23 Lightning 2, Blue Jackets 1 Ryan O’Reilly and Johan Lars- goal percentage and 29th in three- tory over Philadelphia. the Spurs. points and seven assists from Eric Brian Boyle scored a short- son scored a minute apart late in point percentage before Monday, The 76ers led 56-51 at halftime No San Antonio starter played Bledsoe. handed goal in the third period, the third period to give Buffalo Memphis shot a season-best 56.4 before the Bulls took control by more than 24 minutes as the Trail Blazers 105, Pelicans and Tampa Bay held on for a vic- a come-from-behind win against percent from the floor and hit 10 outscoring Philadelphia 34-12 in Spurs won their third game in a 101 tory over Columbus. Boyle took a Detroit. Chad Johnson made 31 of 15 from long range. the third quarter. row in blowout fashion. Damian Lillard scored 21 of pass from Alex Killorn and sent a saves for Buffalo. Brad Richards Heat 100, Hawks 88 Tony Snell outscored the 76ers Derrick Favors led the Jazz his 30 points in the second half bullet of a slap shot past the glove scored for Detroit, who had their Miami ended a seven-game 13-12 in the period and recorded with 16 points. as Portland hung on to bead New of Blue Jackets rookie goaltender 13-game point streak (8-0-5) losing streak to Atlanta with a 15 of his 16 points in the second Nuggets 114, Rockets 108 Orleans. Joonas Korpisalo at 6:13 for his snapped. Red Wings goalie Petr dominant performance on the half. He also had 11 rebounds. Will Barton scored 23 points Gerald Henderson came off eighth goal of the season. Mrazek made 28 saves. Chicago’s Jimmy Butler scored and added nine rebounds, Gary the bench for 19 points, C.J. Oilers 3, Bruins 2 Senators 5, Kings 3 NBA RESULTS 19 of his game-high 23 points in Harris scored a career-high 21 McCollum chipped in 16 points Andrej Sekera converted his Mike Hoffman scored twice, Indiana 106 Toronto 90 the first half. He shot 8-for-9 points, and Denver held on to beat and Mason Plumlee collected own rebound 41 seconds into leading Ottawa past Los Angeles. Orlando 105 Brooklyn 82 from the field prior to the break. Houston. 15 points, 13 rebounds and six overtime as Edmonton won their Mika Zibanejad had a goal and LA Clippers 105 Detroit 103 Magic 105, Nets 82 Joffrey Lauvergne got his sec- assists for Portland, which had sixth game in a row and recorded two assists, while Erik Karlsson Miami 100 Atlanta 88 Nikola Vucevic scored 12 of his ond double-double of the season lost three of its previous four the franchise’s first win in Boston and Kyle Turris had the other game-high 18 points in a critical with 14 points and a career-high games. Anthony Davis poured in almost two decades. Ottawa goals. Craig Anderson Chicago 115 Philadelphia 96 third quarter, and Elfrid Payton 11 rebounds for Denver, which in 28 points with nine rebounds The Oilers, coming off their made 33 saves for the win. Jamie Memphis 112 Washington 95 added 17, leading Orlando past swept the three-game season for New Orleans, which has lost first 5-0 homestand since 1987, McBain, Jake Muzzin and Tyler Dallas 104 Phoenix 94 Brooklyn. series from Houston. eight of its last 10 contests. squandered a 2-0 lead but had Toffoli scored for the Kings. San Antonio 118 Utah 81 The Magic broke open a close James Harden led the Rock- 47 saves from backup goaltender Denver 114 Houston 108 game with a 31-24 third quarter, ets with 24 points, and Dona- REUTERS Cam Talbot. Sekera took a pass REUTERS

SPORTS ILLUSTRATED’S ‘SPORTSPERSON OF THE YEAR’ WINNERS Top award for American NEW YORK: Following is a list of winners of the Sportsperson 1992 - Arthur Ashe,Tennis of the Year award by Sports Illustrated magazine. Women’s 1993 - Don Shula, Pro Football tennis star Serena Williams was named the 2015 winner on 1994 - Bonnie Blair, Speed Skating and Johann Olav Koss, Monday. Speed Skating tennis legend Serena 1956 - Bobby Morrow, Track 1995 - Cal Ripken Jr., Baseball 1957 - Stan Musial, Baseball 1996 - Tiger Woods, Golf 1958 - Rafer Johnson, Track NEW YORK: Serena Williams 1997 - Dean Smith, College Basketball (pictured), who held all four of 1959 - Ingemar Johansson, Boxing 1998 - Mark McGwire, Baseball and Sammy Sosa, Baseball tennis’s Grand Slam titles for the 1960 - Arnold Palmer, Golf 1999 - U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team second time in her career and 1961 - Jerry Lucas, College Basketball 2000 - Tiger Woods, Golf won 53 of 56 matches in 2015, was 1962 - Terry Baker, College Football 2001 - Randy Johnson, Baseball and Curt Schilling, Baseball named Sportsperson of the Year 1963 - Pete Rozelle, Pro Football 2002 - Lance Armstrong, Cycling 2003 - Tim Duncan, Pro by Sports Illustrated magazine on 1964 - Ken Venturi, Golf Basketball and David Robinson, Pro Basketball Monday. The 34-year-old accomplished 1965 - Sandy Koufax, Baseball 2004 - Boston Red Sox her second ‘Serena Slam’ while 1966 - Jim Ryun, Track 2005 - Tom Brady, Pro Football battling a string of injuries, pro- 1967 - Carl Yastrzemski, Baseball 2006 - Dwyane Wade, Pro Basketball ducing one of the greatest late- 1968 - Bill Russell, Pro Basketball 2007 - Brett Favre, Pro Football career runs in the history of any 1969 - Tom Seaver, Baseball 1970 - Bobby Orr, Pro Hockey 2008 - Michael Phelps, Swimming sport, the magazine said, hailing 1971 - Lee Trevino, Golf 2009 - Derek Jeter, Baseball her a “global icon”. “Serena has made a very strong 1972 - Billie Jean King, Tennis and John Wooden, College 2010 - Drew Brees, Pro Football case as not only the greatest ten- Basketball 2011 - Pat Summitt, College Basketball and Mike Krzyzewski, nis player of her generation but 1973 - Jackie Stewart, Auto Racing College Basketball of all time, and after the string of an individual since Mary Decker was your greatest moment in ten- 1974 - Muhammad Ali, Boxing 2012 - LeBron James, Pro Basketball performances she put together in in 1983, and the magazine took nis?’ and I always said it hasn’t 1975 - Pete Rose, Baseball 2013 - Peyton Manning, Pro Football 2015, she is one of the most domi- the opportunity to rename its happened. 1976 - Chris Evert, Tennis 2014 - Madison Bumgarner, Baseball nant athletes playing today,” said award from Sportsman of the “But I think it has happened 1977 - Steve Cauthen, Horse Racing 2015 - Serena Williams, Tennis Sports Illustrated (SI) Group Edi- Year to Sportsperson of the Year. now, and that was going back tor Paul Fichtenbaum. The magazine also cited Wil- to Indian Wells and playing. It 1978 - Jack Nicklaus, Golf Williams was ranked number liams as a force off the court, released a lot of feelings that 1979 - Terry Bradshaw, Pro Football and Willie Stargell, Base- one every week for the second using her broad platform to I didn’t even know I had. I was ball consecutive year, and her three advocate for racial justice, gen- really surprised at how emotional 1980 - U.S. Olympic Hockey Team successive Grand Slam wins to der equality and equal access to I got -- and how relieved I felt 1981 - Sugar Ray Leonard, Boxing start 2015 lifted her within one education around the world. after everything was said and 1982 - Wayne Gretzky, Pro Hockey of Steffi Graf’s record 22 singles It noted that Williams made a done,” Serena said here yesterday 1983 - Mary Decker, Track titles in the professional era. powerful statement by returning Williams joins an elite group “This year was spectacular,” to play a tournament at Indian to have won the award, including 1984 - Edwin Moses, Track and Mary Lou Retton, Gymnastics Williams said in a statement. “For Wells for the first time since 2001 Muhammad Ali (1974), Arthur 1985 - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Pro Basketball Sports Illustrated to recognise my when she was jeered by the crowd Ashe (1992), LeBron James 1986 - Joe Paterno, College Football hard work, dedication and sheer and, according to her family, suf- (2012), Michael Jordan (1991), 1987 - Athletes Who Care determination with this award fered racist slurs. Billie Jean King (1972), Joe Mon- 1988 - Orel Hershiser, Baseball gives me hope to continue on and Williams called her decision tana (1990) and Jack Nicklaus 1989 - Greg LeMond, Cycling do better.” to play her “greatest moment in (1978). Michael Jordan Williams is the first woman to tennis.” 1990 - Joe Montana, Pro Football be recognised with the honour as “Everyone always asked, ‘What REUTERS 1991 - Michael Jordan, Pro Basketball WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 32 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Dhoni and McCullum are two top IPL picks Pune franchise coughs up $1.8m to get services of Indian cricket star and ODI skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni

NEW DELHI: Indian and New Dwayne Bravo for and will now be teammates and support from the Zealand skippers Mahendra Rs40m ($597,000). ORDER OF PLAYERS auctioned in Ban- people of Gujarat,” Raina tweeted. Singh Dhoni and Brendon McCul- The franchises galore in February. Indian batsman Ajinkya lum were drafted for more than have replaced PICKED The 2013 IPL Rahane and spinner R Ashwin $1m into new cricket teams yes- Chennai Super season was mired were picked by Pune for Rs95m Pune: 1 MS Dhoni, 2 terday for the Indian Premier Kings and the in controversy after and Rs75m. Both Chennai and Ajinkya Rahane, 3 R Ash- League following a graft scandal. Rajasthan Royals police launched Rajasthan are expected to return win, 4 Steven Smith, 5 Faf A new team from the western -- teams banned legal proceedings to the IPL after their bans end du Plessis city of Pune paid Rs125m ($1.8 m) from the glitzy against several following the 2017 edition. for limited overs captain Dhoni tournament for Rajkot: 1 Suresh Raina, 2 officials from the Both franchises will lose for the next edition of the lucra- two years on the Ravindra Jadeja, 3 Bren- teams and three Rs390m ($5.82m) from their tive Twenty20 tournament. recommenda- don McCullum, 4 James Rajasthan Royals’ total purse of Rs660m for next Dhoni joins Australian cap- tion of a Supreme Faulkner, 5 Dwayne Bravo. players for illegal year’s IPL auctions in which the tain Steven Smith who was sold Court-appointed betting and spot- remaining players from the sus- for Rs55m ($820,000) and South panel, after a corruption scandal. fixing. pended team will be added to the African Twenty20 captain Faf They were allowed to choose Suresh Raina, who played for pool. The Twenty20 league, with du Plessis who went for Rs40m five stars from each of the the Chennai Super Kings along- a $3.5bn estimated brand value ($597,000) on the same team. banned teams, while the rest were side Dhoni, fetched Rs125m from and boasting Bollywood stars and The other franchise from the released into a pool for auction. Rajkot which also chose all- major conglomerates as investors, western city of Rajkot chose Australia’s Shane Watson and rounder Ravindra Jadeja. has been dogged by corruption McCullum for Rs75m ($1.1m), Mike Hussey, South Africa’s Chris “Excited to play for the beauti- allegations for years. Mahendra Singh Dhoni James Faulkner for Rs5m Morris and the West Indies’ ful vibrant city- Rajkot in @IPL. Brendon McCullum ($820,000) and West Indian Dwayne Smith remain unsold Looking forward to have new AGENCIES Confused ‘Calypso Kings’ Pietersen has losing on and off the field a go at airline

HOBART: The sad state of SYDNEY: England exile Kevin “@KP24. It must have been dis- West Indies cricket will come Pietersen as let rip at Austral- appointing Kevin. Changes from into sharp focus this week when ian carrier Qantas, calling them earlier this year. Hope to welcome some of their best players take “muppets” after he was refused you back again soon,” Qantas part in an Australian Twenty20 entry to an airline lounge for tweeted in response. tournament -- just days after sit- wearing flip flops. An airline spokesman said yes- ting out the latest embarrassing The star batsman was fum- terday that “we reached out to Test defeat. ing after the incident as he trav- members early in 2015 to remind Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and elled to Australia to play for the them of the dress standards and Darren Sammy will all show their Melbourne Stars in the Big Bash had a grace period up until April talents in the Big Bash League, League after his Dolphins side this year”. after they were notable absentees lost in the final of South Africa’s “We completely understand in the West Indies’ innings and Twenty20 competition on Satur- that being declined at the door 212 runs Test loss to Australia in day. isn’t a great experience, so this Hobart. “I suggest you tell Platinum, is a good opportunity to remind A stand-off with administra- First Class fliers that they not those wanting to use our capital tors, complete with a players’ allowed in your lounges with flip city lounges of the dress code that strike and the coach’s suspension, flops before they fly, @Qantas! applies,” he added. is at the heart of what has been Muppets!,” he tweeted to his 2.88 Despite his fury with Qantas, a dizzying descent for the former million followers. Pietersen said he was happy to be “Calypso Kings”. “And BTW, @Qantas! Thongs back in Australia. The West Indies have been (flip flops) are an institution in “Anyway, it’s soooooo cool being stuck in the mire since Australia’s this great country! GET A GRIP! back in Aus! I know so many won- watershed series win at Jamaica’s Tired, jet lagged & just wanted to derful people here! Can’t wait to Sabina Park in 1995. chill! #Muppets.” see you all over the next month!,” In 197 subsequent Tests, they Qantas tightened dress code he said. have won just 42 -- 21 percent rules for entry to lounges earlier The Twenty20 Big Bash League -- and are above only Bangladesh this year saying a survey of busi- starts tomorrow. and Zimbabwe on the Test rank- ness travellers overwhelmingly ings. supported the move. REUTERS For those with memories of the grander times of Garfield Sobers, Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards This photo taken yesterday shows West Indies cricketers during nets after they lost in under three days to and Brian Lara there is a hollow Australia in the first cricket Test match in Hobart. The sad state of West Indies cricket will come into sharp feeling watching the current crop. focus this week when some of their best players take part in an Australian Twenty20 tournament -- just days So how did it come to this? after sitting out the latest embarrassing Test defeat. How could the West Indies have become the easybeats of world cricket after producing so many ment committee.” Last year the players prioritise playing for their tive level. The guys don’t trust the dynamic and inspirational char- West Indies players, disgruntled country over lucrative Twenty20 board anymore.” acters? over terms of their contracts, and cricket. “We must understand The current West Indies team Fazeer Mohammed has been walked out of their tour of India. that the sport of cricket now is has no shortage of greats mentor- broadcasting on West Indies India’s BCCI has presented the not what it used to be many years ing them, from manager Richie cricket for 23 years, and is in Aus- cash-strapped WICB with a com- ago,” he said in the Trinidad and Richardson, travelling selector tralia witnessing yet another dis- pensation claim for $42m, cover- Tobago Guardian last weekend. Courtney Walsh and bowling piriting chapter in their history. ing the loss of media rights fees, “Therefore we at the adminis- consultant Curtly Ambrose. “West Indies cricket has been sponsorships and ticket revenue. trative level must find ways and During the Hobart debacle, in this situation for almost two Bravo, the captain and players’ means of dealing with the prob- Darren Bravo scored a century decades so it’s more of a sys- spokesman in India, and Kieron lem of players choosing to play for and opener Kraigg Brathwaite temic issue that ties in all aspects Pollard were dropped for the sub- club rather than country.” hit 94, showing talent still exists, of governance of the Caribbean sequent ODIs in South Africa and Lara, who scored 34 centuries and Richardson has been trying game from the boardroom to the this year’s World Cup. Bravo and in 131 Tests and ranks as one of to instil more confidence in the A photo of Kevin Pietersen on his facebook page yesterday. Pietersen field of play,” Mohammed said. Sammy are now long-term absen- cricket’s greatest batsmen, also largely inexperienced team. arrived in Melbourne, Australia, to feature in the Big Bash League. “Three reports commissioned tees from the Test side, and Pol- faults the administration and “We have to back ourselves by the WICB (West Indies Cricket lard is yet to make his Test debut. says there has been a breakdown and look to win. We have a Board) in the past eight years Gayle blames chronic back prob- of trust between the board and young team we are moulding,” have all recommended fundamen- lems for his reluctance to play the the players. said Richardson, who amassed tal changes to the administrative five-day format. “I think it’s bad governance. 16 centuries in 86 Tests before West Indies batting star Gayle structure yet these recommenda- Meanwhile coach Phil Sim- I think the West Indies Cricket retiring in 1995. tions have been ignored. monds was suspended in Sep- Board has faltered over the years,” Confidence will help, but it talks up Test comeback “Now Caribbean prime min- tember after criticising selection said Lara, currently in Australia. looks likely to a long, tough tour isters are involved following the for the tour of Sri Lanka, before “We’ve had the same sort of for the West Indies, who will play MELBOURNE: West Indian Chris Gayle (pictured) insisted yes- latest recommendation calling for being reinstated last month. thinking from the 1970s right the second Test from December terday he has not turned his back on Test cricket and wants to pull the immediate dissolution of the Trinidad and Tobago board chief through until now. There’s noth- 26 in Melbourne -- with the Big on the whites again for his troubled national team. present administration and the Suruj Ragoonath says the onus is ing new going on in West Indies Bash still in full swing. The flamboyant Gayle has been portrayed in the setting up of an interim manage- on administrators to make sure cricket, especially at administra- AFP media as preferring to take the money and play for Twenty20 franchises than help rescue Caribbean cricket from its current malaise. But the ex-Windies captain insisted it was injury Uncapped Nicholls gets NZ call-up that sidelined him from the current series against Australia, who won the first Test in Hobart by an WELLINGTON: Uncapped the unofficial ‘test’ between New been struggling with back inju- innings inside three days on Saturday. batsman Henry Nicholls (pic- Zealand and Sri Lanka ‘A’ sides ries and their bowling has been Gayle, who has played 103 Tests, had back surgery tured) has been called into New in October. limited, he added. earlier this year. Zealand’s one-day squad for the Nicholls continued that strong The final two games of the Despite this, the 36-year-old expects to be fit enough to play every start of the five-match series form in the domestic Twenty20 series are on January 2 in Nelson Big Bash League game for the Melbourne Renegades this season and against Sri Lanka, while pace competition and looks set to reap and January 5 in Mount Maun- was adamant he wanted to play Tests again. duo Trent Boult and Tim Southee his rewards with an ODI debut at ganui before Sri Lanka end their “There’s no way I could have actually been part of that Test team (in have been rested. his home ground of Hagley Oval. tour with two Twenty20 interna- Hobart), I’m just coming back off injury,” he told Australian Associ- Canterbury left-hander Boult will miss the first three tionals. ated Press. “I haven’t retired from the game. Next year hopefully Test Nicholls was included in the games in Christchurch on Decem- Squad: Brendon McCullum cricket is on the agenda.” 14-man squad for the first three ber 26 and 28 and in Nelson on (captain), Doug Bracewell, Mar- Gayle’s comments came as criticism mounted about the tourists’ ODIs after impressing coach December 31. Southee will be tin Guptill, Matt Henry (first two inept performance in Hobart with pace great Michael Holding tell- Mike Hesson and fellow selector available for the Nelson game, matches), Mitchell McClenaghan, ing Fairfax Media the West Indies Cricket Board was “dysfunctional, Gavin Larsen with his perform- with Matt Henry selected for the Adam Milne, Henry Nicholls, untrustworthy and not liked by the employees”. ances over the last 12 months. first two games. Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Gayle was reluctant to criticise the board, and defended his younger The 24-year-old, who was the Injured all-rounders Corey Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Kane Test team-mates. “It’s a young team, so we have to definitely give it second top run-scorer in last sea- Anderson, Jimmy Neesham and Williamson, George Worker, Tim time rather than be so harsh on West Indies cricket all the time,” he son’s domestic one-day competi- Grant Elliott were not considered Southee (third match only). said. “You have to give us time ... it won’t happen overnight.” tion, topped the averages (75.66) for selection. and scored an unbeaten 144 in Anderson and Neesham have REUTERS REUTERS WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 33 Blatter slams ‘Betrayed’ Mourinho vows to fight on FIFA ethics Chelsea Manager says team’s hopes of a top-four finish are over after loss to Leicester committee LEICESTER, United Kingdom: Mourinho is on the verge of being Hazard, who appeared to ignore Jose Mourinho insists he will fight sacked, but he is determined to his manager’s request to continue days before to stay as Chelsea manager after oversee a turnaround and urged when the Belgium midfielder accusing his players of betraying his players to show humility as limped off with a first-half injury. him in their 2-1 defeat at Premier they look to change their fortunes. “He made the decision in a few appearance League leaders Leicester City. “The players who are not per- seconds, he was on the floor, he Mourinho told Chelsea’s under- forming well must for sure feel came off, when he went on to GENEVA: Suspended FIFA achieving stars to be humble as attacked in their pride and their try he immediately decided to go president Sepp Blatter yester- they look to turn around their self esteem,” he said. back,” said Mourinho. day questioned the credibility of dismal defence of the English title “They have to do everything to “I have to believe he is injured.” FIFA’s ethics committee, days and claimed he wants to remain get results in a humble way. In contrast to Chelsea’s trou- before he will appear before the in charge. “The players at this minute bled title defence, Leicester have panel in a bid to clear his name. Chelsea have lost nine of their cannot feel top players or they lost just once all season in the Blatter made the comments 16 league games so far this season are superstars. league and sit two points clear of in a letter to FIFA’s 209-mem- and sit just one point above the “They have to feel ‘I am not Arsenal at the summit. ber associations, which the Swiss relegation zone, while Leicester the player of the season, not the But manager Claudio Rani- national sent in a private capacity climbed back to the top thanks World champion, not the Premier eri insists reaching 40 points amid his suspension over corrup- to goals from Jamie Vardy and League champion’. to ensure another season in tion allegations. Riyad Mahrez at the King Power “The players have to put their the top flight remains his only “The manner in which the Stadium on Monday. feet on the ground and be humble. objective. investigatory chamber of the “I feel like my work was “They have to look to the “For our fans we are top of the ethics committee communicates betrayed,” said Mourinho. Leicester players and feel these league but for my players we need in the ongoing investigation, “I worked four days on this are the top players. another five points,” he said. calling for the maximum penalty match and prepared everything “They have to look to Sunder- “Now we have Everton and and reinforcing public prejudice, relating to the opponents. land and Watford and say we are Liverpool away and Manchester introduces a tendentious and dan- “I identified four movements at the same level as you are.” City and Bournemouth, who are gerous dimension,” Blatter wrote. where they score almost all their Asked whether he believed a fantastic team, at home. He described the ethics inves- goals. he would remain in charge, the “These are very tough matches. tigation as “an inquisition”, a “My players got all that infor- 52-year-old said: “I want to be, Let me achieve 40 points and then comparison he has made multiple mation but we still conceded the clearly. I will think about the next goal.” times in recent weeks. first and the second goals from “I have no doubt and I am not And Ranieri dismissed fears His spokesman Klaus Stoeh- those movements.” afraid of a big challenge. I want that Vardy and Mahrez could lker separately said that Blatter Mourinho claimed his team’s to stay. leave in January after their was referring to comments made hopes of a top-four finish are “I hope Mr (owner Roman) superb seasons. by the spokesman for the ethics over after they fell 20 points Abramovich and the board want “Nobody can buy them,” he committee’s investigatory cham- behind Leicester, despite sub- me to stay because I want to stay. said. “They don’t have the money ber, Andreas Bantel. stitute Loic Remy scoring to “I accept we are around the rel- to buy them. Bantel told the French newspa- L’Equipe give them hope with 13 minutes egation zone, I don’t accept we are “I don’t want to put a price on Chelsea’s Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho gestures during the per that Blatter’s punish- remaining. in a relegation battle.” them. For me they don’t have a English Premier League football match against Leicester City at the ment would be the equivalent of Chelsea’s latest flop is certain Mourinho gave a more cryptic price.” King Power Stadium in Leicester, central England on Monday. a “life ban” because he is already to bring renewed reports that response to questions about Eden AFP 79, comments that some saw as violating the presumption of inno- cence as they came before a ver- dict was delivered. Neville seeks The ethics committee, which Pluck and pizza propel Leicester suspended Blatter and UEFA first Valencia win boss Michel Platini in October, is partly probing a $2m payment in Cup short on Blatter authorised to Platini in to Premier League summit 2011, reportedly for work done a decade earlier. LONDON: To fully appreciate up the Fuchs have slotted in seamlessly, surprises Both men insist the payment the implausibility of Leicester disdain but another important factor has was legitimate and part of an City’s astonishing rise to the top when he been continuity. MADRID: Gary Neville has oral contract between Platini and of the Premier League, wind the tweeted: Leicester heaved themselves a great chance to seal his first world football’s governing body. clock back 12 months. “Claudio clear of danger last season with win as Valencia boss at the third Blatter is due to appear before A year ago, Leicester were at Ranieri? seven wins in their last nine attempt when Los Che host third ethics judges at FIFA’s headquar- the foot of the table, five points Really?” games and Ranieri has retained tier Barakaldo today. ters in Zurich tomorrow from safety with 10 points from “I had Pearson’s back-room staff and Valencia already lead the “I will continue to fight for my 16 matches and looking dead certs mixed kept faith with most of the play- Basques 3-1 from the first leg rights -- and at the end of this for an immediate return to the thoughts, ers he inherited. before Neville’s appointment week I will defend my point of Championship. to be He is resolute that neither a fortnight ago. Real Madrid’s view in front of the judgement Chelsea tie Now they are top, with 35 honest,” Vardy nor Mahrez will leave in expulsion from the competition chamber with conviction and a points from 16 games, and mak- former January, declaring that they for fielding an ineligible player firm belief in justice,” he wrote. ing a mockery of pre-season Leicester “don’t have a price”, but the club’s against Cadiz could open the door In past years, Blatter has sent too tough to odds of 2,000-1 by mounting the captain Thai owners are likely to have for a winner outside Spanish foot- out the letter in his capacity as most unlikely title challenge in Steve Walsh told AFP. “But he’s their resolve tested in that regard. ball’s dominant top three of Real, FIFA’s president, a position he has the recent history of the English ‘tinkered about’ and added some Ranieri may not be entirely Barcelona and Atletico Madrid held since 1998. call for PSG game. good tactical things, so it’s worked serious when he says that he is for the first time since 2010. FIFA’s in-house ethics court is “It’s a magical time,” said man- out really well.” not looking beyond the 40-point And Neville has targeted win- expected to issue its verdict on ager Claudio Ranieri (pictured) The genial Italian, 64, has been margin traditionally required to ning one of the Cup or the Europa both Blatter and Platini early coach Blanc after Monday’s 2-1 home win over converting cynics to admirers avoid relegation, but a challenging League as one of his prime tar- next week. his old club Chelsea. with each victory, all the while run of fixtures now awaits. gets in his short stint at Valencia Meanwhile, Juan Angel Napout, PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain “We must continue to work maintaining the irreverent tone Leicester have not played any between now and the end of the the ex-president of South Ameri- coach Laurent Blanc (pictured) hard because I don’t want to wake that made him a popular figure of the current top seven away season. “Valencia have to win tro- can football confederation CON- refuses to see his side as favour- up. I want to continue to dream during his first spell in England from home yet and face trips to phies,” he told the club’s website. MEBOL and a vice-president ites to beat Chelsea in their with our fans.” between 2000 and 2004. Everton, Liverpool and Totten- “The players have to experience of FIFA, was extradited to the Champions League last 16 tie The victory over Chelsea, Takeaway pizza has become the ham Hotspur in the next month, the medal round their neck to United States yesterday, the despite the contrasting form of courtesy of goals from top scorer currency with which he rewards as well as a visit from Manchester give them confidence and belief.” Swiss justice ministry confirmed. the two teams. Jamie Vardy and Algerian dan- his players for clean sheets, while City. Holders Barcelona have already The 57-year-old Paraguayan PSG beat Chelsea on away goals german Riyad Mahrez, typified he cited a song by local rock band Premier League history car- assured their place in the last 16 had agreed to be extradited and at the same stage of last season’s Leicester’s approach. Kasabian as the inspiration for ries ominous precedents, with with a 6-1 thrashing of Villano- was escorted by two US police Champions League and their only Their honest, hard-working the opening-day win over Sun- Newcastle United (2001-02), vense. And, aside from Madrid’s officers to New York, the Swiss defeats in their last 39 games have style has charmed rival fans and derland. Leeds United (1999-2000) and monumental error in fielding Rus- justice ministry (FOJ) confirmed come against Barcelona and Real journalists alike -- “refreshing” On the pitch, the indefatigable Aston Villa (1998-99) among the sian international Denis Chery- in a statement. Madrid. was the buzzword on yesterday’s Vardy and the jinking Mahrez teams to have topped the table at shev when he was suspended Napout was arrested at a lux- They sit a huge 17 points clear British sports pages -- and their have been symbols of Leicester’s Christmas, only to fall away. due to an accumulation of yellow ury hotel in Zurich on December at the top of Ligue 1, while Chel- success is also a personal triumph revival, with Ranieri’s side typi- Hull City avoided relegation cards last season, there was little 3, one of 16 people named in a new sea are a lowly 16th in the Premier for Ranieri. cally defending deep and spring- by a point in 2009 despite having drama in the fourth round first indictment from US authorities League, only one point above the Ranieri was derisively labelled ing forward at devastating speed been sixth on December 25, while legs as almost all of La Liga’s big investigating allegations of mas- relegation zone after Monday’s ‘The Tinkerman’ during his four on the break. Blackpool were eighth at the turn guns look on course to progress. sive corruption at world football’s defeat at Leicester City. years at Chelsea, due to his habit Vardy, a £1m recruit from of the year in 2010-11, only to go Atletico moved joint top of La governing body. “This time it will be 50/50. of rotating his team, and his Fleetwood Town in 2012, has down five months later. Liga with an eighth consecutive The FOJ also confirmed that Although we beat them the last appointment by Leicester in July scored 15 league goals, while For now, at least, Leicester are victory in all competitions against Eduardo Li, the former head of time, these are still two strong, following Nigel Pearson’s sacking Mahrez, signed from Le Havre on cloud nine and as a lengthen- Athletic Bilbao at the weekend the Costa Rican Football Feder- ambitious clubs,” Blanc said yes- unleashed a tide of mockery. last year for just £400,000, has 11 ing list of vanquished opponents and should make it nine when ation, has withdrawn his appeal terday. Former England striker Gary goals and seven assists. can testify, they look to be a Reus visit the Vicente Calderon. against his extradition to the “February is not so far away, but Lineker, probably Leicester’s most Close-season signings such match for anyone. United States. there is nothing to say that Chelsea well-known alumnus, summed as N’Golo Kante and Christian AFP AFP AGENCIES will still be in the same position, and nothing to say that we will be in the same form as we are now.” The draw could have been better Avranche guides Sandbetweenourtoes to victory at REC for PSG, but it could also have been worse with Barcelona and Bayern Munich among their possible oppo- nents after they finished second in their group. “No coach says to himself that he has an easy draw. We need to analyse it. By finishing second in our group we had some big teams to avoid. Here we will be com- ing up against a fine team who have already won the Champions League,” Blanc added. “Preparing for the game will be the only easy thing. The two teams have not changed much and know each other well.” Blanc was speaking before Paris begin their defence of the French League Cup with a last 16 tie at Gerald Avranche guides Sandbetweenourtoes past the winning post to claim the Al Wajba Cup victory at Racing and Equestrian Club (REC) in Doha. Victory Laurel, ridden by Pierantonio home to Saint-Etienne today. Convertino, finished second while Collect Art - which had Stephan Ladjadj in the saddle - ended in third spot. RIGHT: REC Chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Faleh Al Thani is seen with Qatar Equestrian Federation President Hamad Bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah and other guests at the prize distribution ceremony of the same race yesterday. AFP WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 34 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Qatar aims to build ‘bridges’ through football There is nothing in the world that unites people the way football does, it builds bridge, says Al Thawadi

DOHA: Staging the 2022 World ing is you can see the closer we “We stood up in front of the Cup in the Middle East is ‘more get, the stronger that feeling will world and promised this tourna- necessary than ever’ considering return,” he added. ment would leave a true legacy – the current global political cli- Al Thawadi expressed pride to and that’s proving to be the case. mate, Hassan Al Thawadi, Sec- be leading the preparations for We’re delivering on our stadiums, retary General of the Supreme the 2022 FIFA World Cup. first and foremost. Six proposed Committee for Delivery and “This is an once-in-a-lifetime stadiums for the tournament are Legacy (SC) said in an interview opportunity. It’s an honour to be under construction right now, with the SC website. in this position as we prepare for with more to follow. We are on “People from all corners of the the first World Cup in the Mid- track with all of them and are world will come together on Arab dle East.” happy with our progress,” he soil, to celebrate and enjoy the “There is nothing in the world added. world’s greatest sporting event that unites people the way football “It’s not just about the stadiums and we consider this a precious does. It builds bridges, it brings though. We knew the opportunity opportunity to enhance cultural people closer to each other. When to host the World Cup would give understanding between people you look at some of the issues us the opportunity to contribute of different cultures and back- the world is facing right now this to the social legacy of Qatar. We grounds, uniting through a shared World Cup has never been more set out a very clear mandate for passion for football,” Al Thawadi important. There have been some ourselves to help accelerate the said. difficult times over the last few Qatar National Vision 2030. The “We spend a huge amount years but when you look at eve- foundations to achieve this have of time working with all of our rything we have achieved it has been laid through strategic pro- stakeholders and our communities been worth every second.” grams designed to benefit the as we prepare for 2022. We do this Asked about preparations for people of this region.” to make sure we communicate the showpiece, the SC Secretary Asked whether winning the the benefits of this tournament, General said what pleases the 2022 bid five years ago has A computer-generated image of Lusail Stadium, which is slated to host the opening and final games of the to ensure people understand why committee the most is that “the affected the level of interest and 2022 World Cup. It will have a seating capacity of about 86,000. this will be so special for them promises we made during the bid participation of football, Al Tha- and Qatar. What’s really excit- are already being delivered.” wadi said the Middle East region has always been passionate about “One of the developments we the Qatar World Cup, Al Thawadi Qatar perfectly clear on numer- football. are proud of is the creation of said “what is happening at FIFA ous occasions, so their statement “Despite popular belief, we have the Qatar Amateur League – an is a completely separate issue last week wasn’t a surprise. It a rich football history. Since win- initiative which was a bid prom- compared to Qatar’s right to host reinforced the fact this World ning the bid what’s been evident ise. Now in its third year, the the World Cup, which people will Cup is for the entire Middle East is the focus on the national team QAL offers amateur footballers hopefully start to realise.” – not just for Qatar.” and the progress or younger play- the chance to play the game they “The Supreme Committee, Concluding his interview, Al ers are making. You can see that love in professional surroundings. much like football fans, players Thawadi spoke about the next from the U-19s first ever Asian They train and play in the stadi- and clubs around the world, is seven years rather than the five title in their age category to the ums of the Qatar Stars League committed to working towards a that separate the country from senior team’s triumph of the 2014 and it’s been a huge success. We game that is played and managed the World Cup. “We’ve achieved Gulf Cup in Saudi Arabia. The also support the Workers’ Cup, a in a fair and transparent man- a lot since 2010 but the hard work focus isn’t simply on elite foot- tournament that offers blue-col- ner and we welcome the reforms is only just beginning, believe me. ballers though. Not every player lar workers the same opportunity FIFA has proposed,” he added. Hopefully with the same level of will make the grade, so there has – to play football in professional Al Thawadi highlighted the commitment and desire from all also been a focus on developing surroundings. Coupled with the support of GCC for Qatar, point- of our staff and stakeholders the a grassroots football infrastruc- schools and universities leagues, ing out the recent GCC commu- next seven years will see us deliver A computer-generated image of the new Al Rayyan Stadium at night. ture for the country. The purest participation in Qatar is huge and nique shows the support Qatar an amazing tournament and leave The 40,000-seater stadium will host matches up until the quarter-final example of this is the number of is only going to grow,” he added. has from the other countries in a legacy the entire country can be stage of the football World Cup in 2022. young soccer schools established Asked whether the uncer- the Gulf. “The Gulf Cooperation proud of.” for children in Qatar. tainty at FIFA is of concern for Council has made its support for QNA Leading football experts reach Doha for two-day coaching symposium DOHA: Aspire Academy will expertise from the world’s lead- more detail a number of the key nity to visit Doha’s best-known today launch a coaching sympo- ing clubs, federations and leagues topics covered in Berlin including tourist attractions and important sium for a group of the world’s concerning the development of training plan strategies, match landmarks, learning about Qatari leading football experts to pro- elite youth football players. and training recovery, integrated history and culture. mote the sharing of best practice It explores invaluable insights training methodology, and pre- Commenting on the sympo- and expertise, develop recommen- and perspectives on improving venting soft tissue injuries. sium, Professor Valter Di Salvo, dations for training methodolo- training methodologies, nurtur- In addition, participants will Director of Football Performance gies and support the management ing football talent and supporting discuss a wide range of new ideas and Science at Aspire Academy, of young footballers as part of the young players in achieving sport- and innovations on improving said: “We are excited to be host- Academy’s “Aspire in the World ing success. training methodologies. ing these leading experts from our Fellows” programme. This is the second time that The two-day symposium will Aspire in the World Fellows pro- Representatives from 20 of the Aspire Academy has organised also feature a number of pres- gramme for a second year. This A file picture of the ‘Aspire in the World Fellows’ meeting. ‘Aspire in the world’s leading clubs, federations this gathering in Qatar. entations, workshops and train- symposium is the perfect way to World Fellows’ programme brings together knowledge and expertise and leagues which make up part It builds on the momentum ing sessions led by the visiting build on the success of the 2015 from the world’s leading clubs, federations and leagues concerning of the Aspire Fellows community and progress achieved during the experts. Aspire Academy Global Sum- the development of elite youth football players. will take part in the event during Aspire Academy Global Summit, A full summary of the key find- mit on Football Performance and two days. held in Berlin in October. ings from the symposium and Science. The contributions and These include experts from This event is an integral part of details of next steps and a plan engagement of all the Fellows once more.” Aspire Academy first science and academic learning clubs and organisations such as the Aspire in the World Fellows of action for the Fellows will be during this past year illustrates opened its doors in 2004 and is to boys aged 12 to 18. The school Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain, programme designed to bring the announced at the close of the the strength of the community considered to be one of the lead- develops well-educated sports Arsenal and many more. Fellows together to share their event. and the progress being made in ing sports institutes in the Middle champions and aims to become The symposium builds on the knowledge, experience, applied During their stay in Qatar, the support of our programme’s aims East. the world’s leading sports acad- ambitions of Aspire in the World practice and research in Football visiting Fellows will also be taken and objectives. We look forward The Academy offers an inte- emy for young athletes by 2020. Fellows – a programme that Performance and Science. on a tour of Aspire Academy’s to a fruitful two days, and to wel- grated educational programme brings together knowledge and The symposium will explore in facilities and given the opportu- coming all of our Fellows to Doha of sports development, sports THE PENINSULA QSL sponsored Goalz Qatar’s Farid targets Indoor Worlds in US DOHA: Qatar national athletics experienced athletes and I tell a wonderful sporting event, it is program concludes champion and Dolphin Energy myself that it is only a matter of a community event that brings Doha Dash 2016 Ambassador- time and that I will be a champion everyone together. I attended DOHA: A buzz of excitement first day. The second day of the Mariam Farid is aiming to qual- one day. last year’s event and was really swept through Doha as the sec- festival featured students from ify for next year’s IAAF World Question: What does your pleased with the overall organisa- ond phase of the Goalz program, six schools. Indoor Championships in the US training schedule look like at the tion and the fact that anyone can sponsored by Qatar Stars League From his side, the QSL Com- while Rio 2016 Olympic ambition moment? take part, not just experienced (QSL), concluded on Friday and munity Relations Officer Nasser remains her top priority. Answer: I am in my final runners, but also beginners and Saturday at Lekhwiya and Al Al Kuwari, the general commis- Supporting the vision behind school year and have exams at the even children. This year, I am Sadd clubs respectively. sioner of Goalz Program, expressed the Qatar National Sport Day, moment so my training schedule is delighted to be a Doha Dash 2016 The first day of the festival held his thanks and appreciation to Doha Dash, which has established slightly altered but I usually train ambassador and take this oppor- in Lekhwiya Sports club was dedi- Lekhwiya and Al Sadd clubs for itself as one of the most popular for two and a half hours, six days tunity to invite everyone to the cated to the 3rd and 4th grade hosting the two –day festival which community events in the Qatari a week. Last year I trained almost event, which will be held at the students from the participating witnessed huge participation and Capital, is expected to attract every day throughout the whole Losail Circuit on February 9th. I schools while the second day of interaction between the students thousands of runners to Losail year with almost no time off. am really looking forward to run- the festival - held at Al Sadd with the events and activities. Circuit on February 9, 2016. Question: Who is your sport ning with my family and friends. Sports Club - was dedicated to “There is was huge interaction Excerpts of an interview with idol? And why? Question: Finally, what would the 5th and 6th grade students. from the side of the schools and the 17-year-old athlete Farid. Answer: I admire all great you say to Qatari athletes, par- The two-day festival included their students. The Qatar Stars Question: What are your next sportsmen and women especially ticularly young ladies, looking up football games between the par- League Management aims at big international championships? in athletics, but I cannot think of to you? ticipating schools as each team attracting the younger genera- Are you all eyes on Rio 2016? Qatar’s Mariam Farid a single one that I can call an idol. Answer: Believe in yourself represented one of the QSL tion in order to encourage them Answer: I am currently train- I often think of great moments and that you can make a differ- clubs. Also there was a penalty to be passionate about football ing to qualify for the IAAF World in athletics, especially in the 400 ence. Successful female athletes kick challenge that drew a huge to increase the game heritage Indoor Championships which will young Mariam, how do you handle metres hurdles which I specialise can be amazing ambassadors for response from the students. and the QSL clubs fan base. He be held in the US in March 2016, the pressure of big tournaments? in. Qatar. We can show the world The first day of the festival assured that all the participating this is currently my top priority. Answer: It is tough sometimes Question: Tell us about your that there is no contradiction was witnessed by a large number schools in the Goalz programs are Of course, I would love to repre- but because I enjoy athletics so involvement with Doha Dash between our culture and religion of students representing the six interacting well with the final fes- sent Qatar in Rio, only the best of much, I do not let it get to me. 2016, why should people partici- and being active in sports, it is schools. tivals,” he said. the best get to go to the Olympics, I always try to stay focused on pate? quite the opposite actually. There was fierce competition so of course I want to go. giving it my best shot and really Answer: There is no event like between the teams during the THE PENINSULA Question: You are incredibly trying my hardest. I look at more Doha Dash in Qatar! It is not just THE PENINSULA 35 WEDNESDAY 16 DECEMBER 2015 Sport www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Palini, Revuelta get set for Tour of Zubarah Qatar National Team to be joined by Carbon Wheels at the four-day cycling extravaganza which begins today

DOHA: Talented Italian rider Sharjah, will get an early feel of of Tour of Zubarah, Ahmed Al Andrea Palini and promising the traditional high speed winds Hamaidi said yesterday. Spainish cyclist Jose Manuel when cyclists of 14 teams tackle National teams of Bahrain, Gutierrez Revuelta will be look- the prologue at Aspire Zone today. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Kaza- ing to grab early advantage on the Qatar’s four-member team khstan will join Team Giant RBS, opening day at the 3.3km prologue will be one of two sides from Pisghaman Giant Team, Wilton of the four-day Tour of Zubarah. Doha along with Carbon Wheels Cycling Team, Veloclub Sovac, Palini, ranked number two on to feature at the four-day event Achieve Northside Skinnergate, UCI’s Asia Tour, and Revuelta, in which riders will complete a Team NRW, Skydive Dubai and the Best Young Rider at Tour of total distance of 372,8kms, CEO Sharjah Team. Qatar’s most experienced rider Ahmed Bassam Al Bourdainy - who won the final stage of the 14th GCC Cycling Championship on Sunday - will ride for Sharjah Team, Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) official Andrej Filip said yesterday. Tomorrow’s second stage will see riders starting at Al Thak- ira Youth Centre before winding down at Madinat Al Shamal in the north of the country. The sec- ond stage will have a total dis- tance of 129,9kms. The third stage will riders taking off from the Camel Race The CEO of Tour of Zubarah, Ahmed Al Hemaidi (fourth from left), with other officials (from left), Marouf Track before closing out the Mahmoud, Andrej Filip, Khalid Al Kuwari, Jamal Al Kuwari, and John Lelangue, addressing the media at a stage at Dukhan beach front in press conference on the eve of Tour of Zubarah in Doha yesterday. Salim Matramkot the west of Qatar. The third stage will cover a distance of 119,8kms. The fourth and final day of the and more interesting with each international cast of teams from ing committee of the event has event will see cyclists pedalling passing year,” Al Hamaidi said. different parts of the world. optimised the course design to from starting point in Simaisma “The exciting routes during The sponsors of the race are introduce challenging technical Youth Centre before they finish the four-day competitions pro- Aspire Zone, Royal Air Maroc elements and create the best pos- the Tour at Zubarah Fort. The mote Qatar’s rich historic past. and Rayyan Water. sible race conditions with highly last stage will cover a distance of The final day of the race will be The race can be followed on competitive four parkours. 119,8kms, Filip said. the most exciting since we end the www.zubarahtour.com and face- The event consists of a road QCF official Jamal Al Kuwari event at Zubarah Fort,” he added. book page fb.com/zubarahtour, race, a team time trial and a time said: “This year we will have a Filip said: “We have a very tac- Filip said. trial for elite men and women and new champion since last year’s tical route set up for the riders. Next year from October 9 to a road race and a time trial for winner Yusuf Mohamed Mirza of Qatar’s National Day also falls 16, Qatar will host the UCI Road men under-23, junior men and the UAE will not defend his title.” during the course of the event. So World Championships. junior women. Organised by QCF under the we expect quite a lot of fans com- Qatar by will be the first coun- It will be the 89th UCI Road presidency of Sheikh Khalid bin ing to watch the riders in action.” try in the Middle East & the World Championships. Ali Al Thani, the race will see its Unlike Tour of Qatar, fans will Arab World and the second in The race will start and finish third edition. be able to see Qatar’s National the Asian world after Japan to in Doha. “The event is becoming bigger team riders battling it out with have such an event. The organis- THE PENINSULA Order restored as Al Rayyan, El Jaish underline intentions

DOHA: Order was restored as Yussef Msakni fired two goals for Qatar Stars League (QSL) top the defending champions who sit sides Al Rayyan and El Jaish pretty in the third spot now. posted key wins to rejig the points After their win at Grand table in round 13. Hamad Stadium, Lekhwiya now Al Rayyan, after their shock have a tally of 25 points from 13 From left: images of Barcelona’s Brazilian forward Neymar, Real Madrid’s loss to Al Sadd last Thursday, games, a notch below El Jaish as Qatar Football Association (QFA) President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Portuguese forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Barcelona’s Argentinian for- returned to winning ways with- the battle among the top four hots bin Ahmed Al Thani speaking during the Annual General Meeting (AGM) ward Lionel Messi, reflecting into the Ballon d’Or 2015 trophy displayed out losing ground by beating Al up. For Al Sadd fans, round 13 had at Al Bidda Tower yesterday. Right: Mansoor Al Ansari, Secretary at the Mellerio jewellery workshops in Paris. Ahli 3-1 at Al Gharafa Stadium an equal measure of delight and General of QFA. on Monday. dejection. Last Thursday, former Coached by shrewd Uruguayan champions Al Sadd shocked Al Jorge Fossati, Al Rayyan now have Rayyan in ‘Qatar Classico’ 2-1 to 36 points from 13 games to be at signal a new trend in their round Barca better than the top of QSL points standings. 12 clash. QFA President chairs El Jaish, who had slipped down However, just four days later, to number three following three Jeusaldo Ferreira’s side slipped back-to-back-losses, resurfaced with a crushing 4-2 defeat at the Annual General Meeting ever, says Messi with a dominating show on the hands of El Jaish on Monday. pitch with a morale-boosting win The former champions took DOHA: Qatar Football Asso- should not be considered as delib- YOKOHAMA, Japan: Lionel Messi believes the current Barcelona over win over Al Sadd. the lead but failed to sustain it ciation (QFA) President Sheikh erate’. The QFA chief underlined side has more weapons than Pep Guardiola’s 2009 world-beaters and Trailing 2-1 at one stage of the as El Jaish emerged as runway Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Qatar’s ambitions of reaching the wants to prove it by winning a record third Club World Cup. game at Al Gharafa Stadium, winners. Al Sadd are now at Thani yesterday lauded the dis- 2018 FIFA World Cup finals, say- The Spanish giants, who have captured the Champions League, El Jaish rose to the occasion to fourth place with 24 points from cussions that took place at the ing his team will do everything in Spain’s La Liga, the Copa del Rey and European Super Cup this year, underline their intention by scor- 13 games. Annual General Meeting (AGM), its power to help create a strong take on China’s Guangzhou Evergrande Thursday for a place in the ing two late goals to punish Al With El Jaish rediscovering labelling them as ‘positive and squad that could qualify for the tournament final in Yokohama on December 20. Sadd 4-2. El Jaish now have 26 form in fine fashion, it was Al constructive in nature’. game’s showpiece event in Russia. “It’s one of my favourite competitions,” said Messi, favourite to win points from 13 games. Arabi who found life tough at the QFA President said the vacant He said Qatar coach Daniel his fifth Ballon d’Or in January. Round 13 was a routine day at top. Coached by Gianfranco Zola, positions on the Executive Com- Carreno is expected to be back “It gives you the opportunity to round off the year in the best pos- the office for defending champion- Al Arabi failed their test of resolve mittee will be filled next year soon from his vacation. He said sible way. These titles are an indelible legacy in the history of the club. ships Lekhwiya who posted their against Al Sailiya on Sunday. Al when elections are held at a pre- the Uruguayan will sit down with It’s something very important. fifth successive win when they Sailiya won 2-0 as Al Arabi slipped determined date. the management and set the “It’s been an amazing year,” the Argentina wizard told fifa.com in beat bottom-placed Mesaimeer. to fifth in the points table after AFA Chief yesterday chaired agenda for next year. the build-up to Barca’s clash against Luiz Felipe Scolari’s Guangzhou. Djamel Belmadi’s boys pro- staying at number four for a few the Annual General Meeting QFA chief said ‘the next phase “That time when we won everything under Guardiola looked duced the goods when it mat- days. (AGM) at Al Bidda Tower. is clearly the most important for unrepeatable. We genuinely weren’t sure if we’d get close to that again. tered as Vlaidmir Weiss and THE PENINSULA Sheikh Hamad lauded the the Qatar squad’. (But) here we are. Now what’s left for us to do is end the year in the improved attendances at Qatar He urged the stakeholders to best possible way and make it unforgettable.” Stars League (QSL) matches this remain united in helping Qatar Barring an upset in today’s first semi-final between Libertadores season, saying fan turnout has far progress to the finals of the 2018 Cup holders River Plate and Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima, Messi will exceeded anyone’s expectations. FIFA World Cup. The AGM was come face to face with the side which almost signed him as a teenager The QFA President noted that attended by Vice President Saud in his native Argentina. this year’s crowd turnout was bet- Al Mohannadi, members of the Remarkably, Messi has only once previously played against an Argen- ter compared to the last season Executive Committee including tine club, when Barcelona beat Estudiantes 2-1 in the 2009 Club World despite the fact that half of the Ahmed Abdel Aziz Al Buainain, Cup final. Two years later Barca smashed four past Brazil’s Santos, season still remains. Hani Balan, Ibrahim Khalil Al which featured current team-mate Neymar. QFA President said the return Mohannadi, Ali Abdullah Tha- “I’ve witnessed (Neymar’s) enormous growth, both as a footballer of Al Rayyan in QSL has helped in wadi and Mansoor Ansari, Sec- and as a person,” said Messi. “Back then he was already a great player bringing more fans to the venues. retary General of QFA. and now he’s much more complete.” He said better fan turnouts usu- At the meeting it was decided Messi gave an insight into how the Spanish league leaders have ally assured of greater quality of that Khalifa Khamis Al Sulaiti evolved under Luis Enrique, who relies less on the “tiki-taka” style of football among the teams. and Ali Abdullah Thawadi will short, intricate passes than Guardiola. About refereeing issues, the continue to be part of the QFA “We’ve become a more vertical (direct) team,” said Messi. “Of course, Action from the Qatar Stars League match between Al Arabi and Al QFA President said officials make Executive Committee. we’ve not lost our ideology of keeping hold of the ball. Sailiya on Sunday. mistakes. He said ‘every human AFP makes errors and their mistakes THE PENINSULA