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Monday 26 January 2015 • 6 Rabial II 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6322 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Falling oil prices may Handball: Qatar into world quarter-finals stabilise house rents Market witnessing huge supply-demand gap: Expert

DOHA: Falling world oil prices and reports of shelving and rescheduling of some projects by Middlemen ‘to be deported’ the government may help sta- bilise rising house rents in the DOHA: Non-Qataris caught seller, tenant and the landlord,” country, say market insiders. acting as middlemen in real said a real estate expert. Ahmed “The market is already wit- estate transactions or prop- Al Oruqui told this newspaper nessing a huge supply-demand erty rental business without after a seminar on the proposed gap. There are reports of several valid licence are to be deported law was held by the Ministry of projects being shelved. This might immediately once a law regu- Justice yesterday: “The draft is, lead to a lower-than-expected lating real estate brokerage though, at a very early stage”. growth in Qatar’s projected popula- activities comes into force. The Real Estate Registration tion,” a market commentator said. The aim of the draft is to com- Department of the justice min- Details related to either shelv- pletely remove illegal middlemen istry which records and clears ing or rescheduling of mega from the real estate business, all real estate purchase and sale projects with a combined value whether purchase or sale or deals held the symposium to seek Qatar team celebrates after their win during the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship held at Lusail of at least $28bn are already in rental activities. the views of a cross-section of Multipurpose Hall yesterday. Qatar edged through to the quarter-finals of the Handball World Championships public domain. “The idea of introducing a people on the draft, including with a narrow 29-27 win over Austria. See also pages 27 & 28 PIC: BAHER AMIN A huge contingent of fresh new law and replacing the old real estate brokerage firms. labour force was expected to get one is to protect the rights of all Continued on page 4 involved in these projects. parties concerned: The buyer, THE PENINSULA Temporary suspension or shelv- ing of these projects means that there would be lesser inflow of last December after showing Justice data, the total transaction foreign workers being recruited, an upswing until a better part value of real estate in the month of 457 generic medicines cheaper at least in the short-term, said of 2014. In just a month, from November was QR3.6bn, almost a another market analyst. November to December 2014, the billion dollars. DOHA: Prices of 457 generic common chronic diseases in the applies to only 457 medicines. Financial and investment index was down three percent— However, an official from a medicines have fallen in the GCC countries, including cardio- The reduction ranges from 0.45 expert Abdullah Al Khater said from 263.5 points to 255.6 points, reputed real estate agency, LS, local market by an average of 28 vascular, endocrine, musculoskel- per cent to 79.25 percent, with an that in fact Qatar was working QCB data show. focusing on The Pearl-Qatar and percent effective from Friday. etal, skin, and gastrointestinal average of 28.48 percent, it added. on the idea of ‘prioritising’ its The figures also suggest a drop West Bay residential accommoda- This is the second phase of a diseases. Prices of innovative In the first phase, prices were projects well before the market in the index on quarter-on-quar- tion, said he preferred to differ on major price cut being enforced by medicines in the same categories reduced by 30 to 40 per cent on was hit by oil price crash. ter basis. The index jumped 10 the issue of the rental market in the Supreme Council of Health in were reduced in the first phase. average, with the highest cut Simultaneous execution of percent in the third quarter (Q3: Qatar expected to stabilise. line with a GCC decision to unify “Innovative medicine is that reaching about 75 percent. multi-billion dollar projects has July to September, 2014), while in Its sales and leasing manager, import prices of all medicines. produced by a pharmaceutical The SCH said it is working to been putting tremendous pres- the fourth and the last quarter, Dan Strutt, said: “We have not In September last year, the company and for which it holds fix the prices more medicines in sure on the construction sector, the rise was merely 0.71 percent. seen any signs of the rental mar- SCH reduced the prices of 657 a patent right for a number of the following categories: Nervous he said. “The decision to focus on However, overall, the real ket slowing down. Prices may innovative medicines in the same years, after which the door is system, obstetrics and gynae- FIFA-related projects will cer- estate price index jumped 34.6 start to stabilise over the coming categories. Prices of more medi- open for the other companies to cology, infectious diseases, ear, tainly have a bearing on the rental percent for the full year (2014) months, mainly because of the cines are expected to fall in the produce the same medicine under nose and throat diseases, medi- market,” said Al Khater. as compared to 2013, hitting 255.6 promise of increased supply”. months to come, with the SCH a different name, which is known cal lotions and vitamins, respira- An indication of the soften- points in December, as against Strutt said prices have contin- announcing plans to fix prices of as a generic medicine,” the SCH tory system diseases, anesthetics, ing up of the real estate mar- 189.8 points a year earlier. ued to rise in The Pearl-Qatar, about 1,820 medicines by the sec- said in a statement yesterday. tumours and cancers, immunity ket was provided by the Qatar The index had peaked at a record especially for most studio, one ond half of this year. The number of generic medi- diseases, and eye diseases. Central Bank’s real estate price high of 263.5 points in November of and two-bedroom units. The current price cut includes cines included in the current Continued on page 4 index, which went down slightly 2014. According to the Ministry of THE PENINSULA generic medicines for the most phase is 652, but the price cut THE PENINSULA

Qatari team visits US today Greece’s Syriza sweeps election DOHA: A Qatari delegation headed by H E Sheikh Mohamed US and India bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani will begin today a visit to the United States of America. The delegation includes the Minister of Finance H E Ali Sherif Al Emadi, Qatar Central seal nuclear Bank Governor H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Saud Al Thani, and Qatar Investment Authority CEO H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani. energy deal A press release issued by the Ministry of Finance yesterday said that the delegation will hold a number of meetings within NEW DELHI: In a glow the activities of Qatar-US finance and investment forum. of bonhomie, US President QNA Barack Obama and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi unveiled plans to unlock billions of dollars in nuclear trade and to deepen defence ties, steps they Vendors making noise hope will establish an enduring strategic partnership. “We are committed to moving towards full implementation,” likely to face ban Obama told a joint news confer- Anti-austerity Syriza supporters celebrate in Athens yesterday. The party has 35.4 percent of the vote compared to 29 percent for New Democracy, results showed after a third of ballots were counted. See also page 11 ence with Modi. The new deal DOHA: A law to clamp down centres after the proposed law resolved differences over the on illegal street vendors and comes into force. liability of suppliers to India in ban licensed vendors from run- The draft law has been the event of a nuclear accident ning after customers or making prepared by the Ministry of and US demands on tracking the announcements or noise to sell Economy and Commerce and whereabouts of material supplied their goods is on the anvil. sent to the agencies concerned to the country, US ambassador to There are hardly any street ven- to get their opinion. Riyadh quiet for day of mourning India Richard Verma said. dors in the country except the road- The proposed law, as reported REUTERS side watch and shoe repair shops by this newspaper earlier, will RIYADH: The normally grid- King Salman named his nephew, Prince Naruhito, Iraqi Kurdish See also page 14 and the ones operating illegally in apply to all business and indus- locked streets of the Saudi Interior Minister Prince leader Massud Barzani, Belgium’s the Industrial Area on weekends. trial establishments as well as capital were quiet yesterday Mohammed bin Nayef, 55, as sec- King Philippe, Libya’s internation- Then there are the vendors offices, including clinics, and to after the Custodian of the Two ond in-line to the throne behind ally-recognised Prime Minister who appear during the fasting some online trading activities. holy Mosques King Salman bin Prince Muqrin. King Salman also Abdullah Al Thinni, and President TODAY’S EDITION month of Ramadan selling food The draft law asks the Ministry Abdulaziz Al Saud declared a appointed as defence minister one Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela. INCLUDES A 28-PAGE items, but they are all licensed. of Municipality and Urban day of mourning for his pred- of his own sons, Prince Mohammed. Other guests included French SUPPLEMENT ON No vendor, even if licensed, will Planning to identify areas, includ- ecessor King Abdullah. Away from the palace and President Francois Hollande, be allowed to solicit customers ing neighbourhoods and streets, King Salman declared a nearby roadblocks, life continued Russian Prime Minister Dmitry JANUARY 26, 2015 by making noise of any kind or where no commercial activity nationwide holiday yesterday “to with almost no indication that a Medvedev, Ukraine’s President by making announcements ver- can be carried out. It also seeks provide comfort and facilitation new era had begun. Petro Poroshenko, Afghan bally or with a microphone once to instruct the civic ministry to to all citizens in offering condo- From across the Arab and President Ashraf Ghani, Egyptian the draft law is approved and identify the commercial activi- lences” and allegiance to the new Muslim worlds, from Europe, President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi and implemented. ties that can be conducted in monarch, the official Saudi Press Asia, and America, presidents, Jordan’s King Abdullah II. Prince No vending activity is to be residential areas and those that Agency said. prime ministers and sheikhs have Charles and Prime Minister David allowed near educational insti- cannot be carried out. Clearing uncertainty over the flown in to pay their respects. The Cameron came from Britain. tutions, hospitals and health THE PENINSULA transition to the next generation, arrivals included Japan’s Crown AFP MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME GCC to unify aviation rules to eliminate airspace congestion

DOHA: As part of efforts to on unified aviation regulations. address the issue of growing air- He said the GCC is thinking space congestion in the region, to put in place a long-term plan the GCC states are in the proc- that will lead to the unification of ess of hiring a specialised firm aviation regulations, or the unified to study the unification of avia- virtual airspace of member states. tion regulations, a Jeddah-based He said the study was thor- English daily reports. oughly considered and a con- “The study stems from a long- sultative firm has been selected term plan to unify aviation regu- to draft and explain coordina- lations. Many efforts were made tion and harmonisation of Gulf in the past to address congestions airspace. on air routes and put in place a Referring to challenges fac- The Foreign Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Mohamed Al Attiyah with Asean ambassadors. common system to provide quality ing Gulf airspace, Al Suwaidi aviation services,” Arab News said, said the biggest challenge is poor quoting Saif Al Suwaidi, Director- infrastructure in some countries, General, General Civil Aviation not only Gulf countries, due to air Authority, UAE. traffic from east and west Europe Al Attiyah meets Asean ambassadors Al Suwaidi said the European for which Gulf countries have experience under Europe’s become a passage. “Insufficient DOHA: The ambassadors of (ACD) has been formed and its ambassadors Piroon Laismit Community in which 10 coun- ‘Eurocontrol’ system points and poor aviation infrastructure Asean countries in Doha paid team was led by Indonesian (Thailand) and Nguyen Hoang tries will represent an integrated towards the fact that air traffic in some countries cause planes to a courtesy visit to the Foreign Ambassador Deddy Saiful Hadi, (Vietnam). region where the movement of and aviation services have greatly stay stuck and remain for longer Minister H E Dr Khalid bin Chairman, ACD 2015. He said 2015 is a “milestone goods, services, capital and peo- improved compared to the past 20 periods in GCC countries,” he Mohamed Al Attiyah. Deddy introduced to year” with the beginning of the ple will be freer and more flex- before European countries agreed said. THE PENINSULA An Asean Committee in Doha the Minister new Asean implementation of the Asean ible. THE PENINSULA 1995-2013: Most road fatalities on Sundays and Mondays DOHA: Ninety percent of those percent between 1995 and 2013. Abdella, Academic Researcher, QU, died in traffic accidents in Qatar Prof Hammuda said the percent- Dr Mohammad Ghanim, Assistant were male between 20 and 30 age of accidents was lower in the Professor of Civil Engineering, QU, years, says a study by Qatar first quarter and increased in the and Prof Hammuda. Road Safety Studies Centre, second and fourth every year. The Dr Hassan Al Derham, Vice- Qatar University (QU). research was one of many by the President, Research, QU, Dr The ‘In-depth analysis of vehi- centre, sponsored by ExxonMobil Khalifa Al Khalifa, Director of cle accidents in Qatar” by Prof Qatar to support its efforts the centre, Dr Humaid Al Midfaa, Abdelmagid Hammuda, Associate towards finding solutions to road Vice-President and Chief Financial Dean, Research and Graduate safety challenges. Officer, Dr Darwish Al Emadi, Studies, College of Engineering, Other studies included pre- Director, Social and Economic found maximum deaths occurred diction of accidents by 2022 and Survey Research Institute, on Sundays and Mondays from pedestrian safety enhancement Saleh Al Mana, Vice-President, 6pm to 9pm. and studies in progress include Government and Public Affairs, The most critical accidents were assessment of road safety cam- ExxonMobil, Brigadier Mohammed caused by motorists with less than paigns and the safety of Doha’s Saad Al Kharji, Director, Traffic four years of driving experience, highways. The studies were pre- Department, Ministry of said Prof Hammuda. sented by the centre’s research Interior, Abdullatif Al Naimi, The study noted an increase team comprising Dr Mohamed National Development Manager, in the number of vehicles by bin Mokhtar Kharbeche, Research ExxonMobil, and other officials 16 percent and accidents by 14 Associate, Dr Galal Mohammed were present. THE PENINSULA Officials attending a presentation on traffic accidents in Qatar. MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Rasameel fund invites Global brands to unveil latest applications from Qatari entrepreneurs models at Qatar Motor Show DOHA: The Social entrepreneurial projects by offer- DOHA: The Qatar Motor Show Mercedes-Benz has confirmed debuted in the Middle East yet. Lamborghini will display Development Centre (SDC) is ing services to help implement 2015 will see the unveiling of that it will hold the Qatar launch The iconic British prestige Lamborghini Huracán LP 610- inviting Qatari entrepreneurs successful business ventures that some of the latest automobiles of GLA 45 AMG, AMG GT & automobile brands Jaguar with 4, celebrating the super sports and young talents to apply for provide them with financial sta- by international brands to be CLA 250 and the regional launch its all new XE and Land Rover car’s success in the Middle East Rasameel fund. bility and profitability.” seen on the region’s roads soon of prestigious S-Maybach. with its Range Rover Sports SVR, and worldwide since its launch The fund targets Qatari entre- Hamad Jafar Al Saffar, Head, after the event. BMW has three first Middle are debuting here for the Middle in 2014. The 10-cylinder model preneurs over 18 who want to Entrepreneurship Support In its fifth edition, the show will East displays with all new BMW East market. Lamborghini Huracán debuted at start and manage projects on the Department, SDC, said, “We be held under the patronage of X6M, BMW X5M and all new The XE is said to be the light- 2014 Geneva Motor Show, with basis of profitable investment. aim through Rasameel to help the Prime Minister and Interior Mini John Cooper Hatch. est, stiffest and the most aero- more than 3,300 orders worldwide There are no specific qualifi- ambitious Qatari entrepreneurs Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah Audi is presenting a new model dynamic Jaguar ever built and by the year-end. cations no or a certain income implement and manage their bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani which will make its global debut visitors at Qatar Motor Show can Exhibition host Qatar Tourism required for acceptance; it is projects successfully, which con- from February 6 to 10. in mid-January at Detroit Motor get a close look at this alumin- Authority is working with q.media enough for the applicant to have tributes to the betterment and Rolls Royce will exhibit the lim- Show and will be transported to ium-intensive model. Events and Fira Barcelona. an idea for a potential or existing stability of their living conditions. ited edition Phantom Drophead Qatar Motor Show a few days The Range Rover SVR is par- A marketing campaign has project to be eligible for fund. “We are working on the devel- Coupe Water Speed collection later. ticularly exciting as the first of its rolled out across the region and The fund provides grants and opment of the fund and its serv- that has wowed the industry and Audi is also launching a new TT series of high performance models enthused responses have been soft loans without interest or ices and are in the final stages premium automobile customers model for the region, at the exhi- to come from Jaguar and Land received from Qatar and neigh- administrative fees and trains of receiving a consultancy study when it was introduced at 2014 bition. The model was unveiled Rover. bouring countries. beneficiaries to manage their which will improve the efficiency Paris Auto show. globally last year but hasn’t Italian superstar brand THE PENINSULA projects by providing guidance of the inputs and outputs of the and counselling. fund and achieve the highest level Munther Abdullah Al Dawood, of satisfaction for the targeted Projects and Investment Manager, group and authorities.” SDC, said, “Rasameel’s mission Last year, Rasameel saw 350 is integrated with the country’s funding requests, 170 nominations 2.7 million benefit from QC food projects plans to promote an entrepre- to receive training and rehabilita- neurial culture and the fund tion services and granted loans to DOHA: Qatar Charity’s seeks to motivate and encourage 25 beneficiaries. (QC) 2014 food security pro- young Qataris to adopt private THE PENINSULA grammes benefited more than 2.75 million people affected by natural or human-made emergencies and disasters in 55 countries in Africa, Asia Qatari music composer and Europe. Projects worth QR58.6m included initiatives to feed ref- launches DNA Records ugees and internally displaced Syrians and those displaced DOHA: Qatari composer and “It’s important to me, as some- during and after the conflict in songwriter Dana Al Fardan one who has been an artist, that Gaza, especially the most vul- has launched her new record the artist is looked after and not nerable, including the elderly, label and the first Qatari record exploited, which is something that households headed by women label, DNA Records. is becoming more common prac- and people with special needs. “DNA Records is a platform for tice with some large management Others included those directly something long term and sustain- firms,” she said. affected by violence in the able to support local and interna- “DNA Records offers a 50-50 Levant, Central and South Asia tional artists and provide them joint venture with the artist as and Africa. Drought-hit popu- with tools to see their dreams into opposed to the industry norm of lations of the Sahel and Horn reality,” she said. 80-20 that benefits the label, not of Africa regions and those DNA Records operates over an the artist.” On February 21, Qatar affected by floods in Europe also international space working with Philharmonic Orchestra, in asso- benefitted. QC volunteers preparing to distribute relief to the needy. recording studios in London as ciation with DNA Records, will THE PENINSULA well as a private recording studio perform a show, Layla, the title in Qatar. Artists benefit from a of one of Dana’s songs and her cultural exchange as International daughter’s namesake. artists are brought to Qatar. Layla comprises a collection of DNA Records’ debut artist is music composed by Dana and per- Irish group The Ryan O’Reilly formed by the orchestra, and will QA ‘Best Economy Long-Haul Experience’ Band, and according to Dana, this feature favourites such as Paint, is where their efforts will focus on Pride of a Nation and Layla. DOHA: Qatar Airways (QA) won for the past two consecutive five-star service,” he added. to consider the overall passenger for the time being. THE PENINSULA yesterday announced that it years. The decision was reached by experience point-to-point and had been named ‘Best Economy “Having received such pres- evaluating all aspects of the air- give ratings which, though always Long-Haul Experience’ by tigious honours for our Business line user experience, including subjective, could be justified as SKIFT, a leader in world travel Class, we are proud to be recog- website, economy cabin comfort, equitable. Chinese ambassador visits Katara trends and information, accord- nised for our commitment to all of inflight meals, added perks and The recognition comes weeks DOHA: The Director-General of Cultural Village Foundation, Dr ing to a statement. our world travellers,” said Akbar overall design aesthetic. after QA launched the brand-new Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, yesterday met Chinese Ambassador The study, which included Al Baker, Group Chief Executive, While acknowledging the qual- Airbus A350 from the manufac- Gao Youzhen and discussed means of enhancing cultural cooperation. major international airlines, was QA. “Our vision has always been ity of previous passenger rating turer’s headquarters in Toulouse, Dr Al Sulaiti expressed the foundation’s keenness to cooperate with a comprehensive evaluation of to create the world’s finest travel systems, the study set out to France. QA is the first in the the Chinese embassy and explore prospects of excellence and innovation user experience to “determine the experience; in the air and on the minimise bias and deliver a data- world to offer the most mod- in the creativity, cultural, literary, artistic and musical areas. best cabin experiences around the ground, in every seat on every driven evaluation. ern and newest aircraft, and Youzhen praised the village for its diverse cultural and artistic world”. The distinction joins QA’s flight, for business and leisure “We chose a system which put completed the inaugural pas- events and said it is a great civilised platform and a meeting place for other titles, including World’s passengers. We are honoured by the very subjective ‘best’ in an senger flight between Doha and the cultures of the world and Qatari and international creators and Best Business Class from Skytrax, the recognition and inspired to set objective context,” wrote Marisa Frankfurt on January 15. intellectuals. QNA which the five-star airline has new standards for our hospitable, Garcia of SKIFT. “We also wanted THE PENINSULA QRC holds first aid trainer course DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) organised a three- day trainer education course under the ‘I Am a Paramedic’ programme. The programme will cover 19 Supreme Education Council schools in Al Shamal dur- ing the academic year 2014- 2015, with QR1m from Ras Laffan Community Outreach Programme. Training on the first two days was held at the Medical Affairs Department of QRC in Doha and the last day was hosted by QRC’s Al Khor Branch. Fifteen trainees from local institutions attended the course delivered by QRC instructors. It featured interactive discus- sions on how to plan, develop and execute a course for train- ers in different fields and types and levels of training with a focus on technical and admin- istrative arrangements to enable trainers to train target groups. It aimed to improve the par- ticipants’ training and lecturing skills, highlight the importance of training, clarify the general A QRC instructor conducting the course. goals and the role of training programmes, explain the proc- identifying training needs, set- to prepare theoretically and stressed the need to know first ess and conditions of successful ting programme goals, select- practically qualified trainers, aid basics for instant response to training and increase the profi- ing methods of instruction, and particularly in first aid, who are everyday accidents and increas- ciency of participants in design- evaluating the effectiveness of adept at designing, delivering, ing the number of trainees in ing training programmes. training programmes. and assessing training courses the region. It also explained the proc- Rashid bin Saad Al through scientific and compe- He thanked QRC for holding ess and conditions of successful Mohannadi, Director, Social tent ways. QRC organises such such courses to qualify its staff training to increase proficiency Development Department, courses regularly.” to train others in how to deal of participants in designing QRC and Al Khor Branch, Mohalal Ahmed, a QRC with injured people. training programmes, including said, “The programme aimed medical volunteer and trainee, THE PENINSULA MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME 37 artists join Artistic Panorama at Katara Artworks from ministry’s collection on display

DOHA: Forty-five artworks Kamil Ali (Sudan). names from Qatar and some Arab by 37 Qatari and other Arab Dr Khalid Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, countries in the expo in line with artists are on display at the General Manager, Katara, Katara’s mission to create com- Artistic Panorama exhibition at launched the expo and said it munication between peoples and Katara Building 19. provides a chance for the public cultures.” The expo, which runs until to see paintings and other crea- Hanadi Al Darwish, Head, February 25, features artworks tions by Qatari and Arab artists. Visual Arts Section, Katara, said from the collection of the Ministry The diversity of artistic visions artworks by famous Qatari and of Culture, Arts and Heritage. presented by some of the most Arab artists are from the minis- They represent some of the recognisable names in Qatar’s try’s collection which serves as a most prominent Qatari artists, artistic landscape makes the expo documentation of artistic expe- including Yousef Ahmad, Faraj a rich panorama of art, he added. riences in Qatar and other Arab Daham, Suleiman Al Malik, “We are keen to encourage eve- countries. Hassan Al Mullah, Modi Al Hajri rything that enriches art and cul- “While selecting art pieces we and Amal Al Aathem and from ture in Qatar and for this reason were keen to reflect the different the region such as Farouk Hosni we are hosting the expo as visual stages, the variety of subjects and (Egypt) Walid Rashid (Iraq), art is influential and reflects real- the historical development of the Dr Khalid Ibrahim Al Sulaiti (left), General Manager, Katara, and Hanadi Al Darwish (right), Head, Visual Arts Section, Musa Omar (Oman), Kamal ity,” he said. generations of artists,” she added. and other guests touring the exhibition. Balatah (Palestine) and Islam “We are pleased to have good THE PENINSULA 340 consignments of US Green Build Council team visits Qatar DOHA: Astad Project Management, a local consul- drugs seized last year tancy, hosted a delegation from the US Green-Build Council DOHA: Customs officials seized 340 of tramadol, hidden in eight tea pack- (USGBC) as part of efforts consignments of drugs, including ets in the bottom of the luggage, at to establish stronger regional hashish, heroine and marijuana, at Hamad International Airport. cooperation between USGBC, the old and new airports last year. Four food packets containing 3kg Astad and key stakeholders A consignment of 17kg marijuana marijuana were also impounded at the for sustainable buildings, said was seized at Doha International airport. A passenger from an Asian a statement yesterday. Airport from a passenger coming country was carrying them. The meeting stressed Astad’s from an Asian country on a direct About 22,500 pills of captagon were mission to continuously deliver flight. Three packets of the contra- seized from the luggage of an Arab iconic and sustainable projects band were found hidden in the pas- passenger after officials searched compliant with the Qatari envi- senger’s clothing. his bag. In another case, officials ronment assessment system. Another consignment of 1.5kg confiscated 52 reptiles, including The team included Mahesh opium was seized from the baggage of snakes. They were kept in six cloth Ramanujam, USGBC’s Chief Officials of ASTAD Project Management and US Green-Build Council at ASTAD office. an Asian passenger. It was concealed bags. Another Asian passenger was Operating Officer, Kimberly in the bottom of the bag. arrested with 5.5kg marijuana con- Lewis, Vice-President and They were hosted by Astad Al Shammari, Director, Qatar tomorrow, which will only prove A passenger coming from an Arab cealed in a wooden cover placed on Community Development CEO, Ali Al Khalifa, and Green Building Council. beneficial to all citizens around country was arrested with 5,357 pills top of a bag. THE PENINSULA Official, and Kate Hurst, Sustainability Officer, Sheikh “Astad and USGBC are com- the world,” said Al Khalifa. Vice-President. Saud Al Thani, and Meshal mitted to a more sustainable THE PENINSULA

Non-Qataris allowed to take part in property brokerage firms

Continued from page 1 participation of non-Qataris in Brokerage firm owners would, broker in a transaction or The firms have long been crying real estate brokerage companies though, be permitted to officially property rent deal without hoarse, complaining of large-scale to the extent of 49 percent of delegate their expatriate employ- a valid license and without intrusion by illegal middlemen their capital. A highlight is that ees to act as middlemen in real a full-fledged office. into their domain. Most of these once the law is implemented, as a estate transactions or rental Al Oruqui said that this illegal operators are expatriates, follow-up, brokerage firms could business. would help clamp down on market men claim. be allowed to represent owners in Needless to say that no firm or illegal middlemen who are The draft would, though, allow real estate transactions. individual could act as real estate currently operating in large numbers from their cars as their office. The draft would also cover property management business as well as real estate evalua- tion and the profession of official evaluators. At the outset, sen- ior justice ministry offi- cials talked about why the seminar was being held. Mohamed Owaidha Al Kuwari, from the Minister’s office, said that feedback from the people concerned on the draft was necessary. Ahmed Hamad Al Mehshadi, assistant direc- tor of real estate registra- tion department of the ministry, said that the draft talks of setting up an office that would exclu- sively deal with applica- tions for licensing of real estate brokerage firms. This office would also closely monitor the activi- ties of these firms, he said. THE PENINSULA Medicines being sold at cut prices Continued from page 1 “Unifying the import price for medicines aims mainly to provide high quality medicines at affordable prices to serve the interest of the public the health sector heeds the most,” said the SCH statement. Retailers said they are not anticipating a shortage in supply following price reduction. “We are selling our stocks at reduced prices and will place orders for more as they run out,” said a pharmacist. THE PENINSULA MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Ministry launches website with Egypt’s failed revolution a key lesson recruitment service DOHA: The Minister of Administrative Development Future generations can use knowledge to liberate their societies: GU-Q Professor of History H E Dr Isa Saad Al Jafali Al Nuaimi yesterday launched the DOHA: There are lessons to broad interest in documenting ministry’s website (www.ad.gov. learn from Egypt’s failed revolu- the process and learning lessons qa). tion and future generations can of Egypt’s failed revolution in the It offers multiple online serv- use the knowledge to liberate hope that this and future gen- ices, including eRecruitment their societies, according to Dr erations can use the knowledge to create job opportunities for Abdullah Al Arian, Professor of of this historical moment in the Qataris, eRegistration services History, Georgetown University service of liberating their societies for its employees for training in Qatar (GU-Q). and empowering their people.” programmes organised by the Dr Al Arian was reading In his book, Dr Al-Arian uses a ministry and the Mawarid system excerpts from his book Answering broad range of sources to present which facilitates and simplifies the Call: Popular Islamic Activism in a comprehensive account of human resources management Sadat’s Egypt at an event hosted Islamic activism in Egypt during processes. by Centre for International and the presidency of Anwar Al Sadat. The website includes three Regional Studies (CIRS) in He describes how revolution- forums. Human resources man- Education City. ary hero Gamal Abdel Nasser dis- agers in government agencies He reflected on the rise of mantled and suppressed Egypt’s which aim to connect and sup- Islamic activism in Egypt in the largest social movement organi- port partnerships between them previous decades, and discussed sation in the 1950s and the sur- and enable them to show expe- the impact of those events on the prising re-emergence of Islamic riences and excellence in their Arab Spring revolution and strug- activism of Muslim Brotherhood field; remarks and proposals for gle for political power. who would one day compete for the enforcement of the human Explaining why studying the the presidency in the nation’s first resources management law; and history of a struggling movement democratic election. a guide on job description, classi- holds interest, he said: “No mat- “The generation of current fication and arrangement in a way ter how much we are consumed leaders, like Mohamed Mursi... that contributes to the exchange by events elsewhere, Egypt is not figures we’ve heard so much about of experiences between people. forgotten. in the past three or four years, did Work is under way to complete “Even as the post-coup order not emerge in a vacuum. the quality forum, which aims has pursued the rise of a new “They’re the products of a Dr Abdullah Al Arian, Professor of History, Georgetown University in Qatar, speaking at the event. to promote a culture of quality, authoritarianism relying on the generation that has its roots in excellence and support specialists unprecedented use of violence to the 1970s student movement. development of its activism, up the next generation of lead- but destroyed for 20 years. The at government agencies for the eradicate popular activism from That movement demonstrated enjoyed a complex relationship ers of Muslim Brotherhood, an book tells that story,” he told the exchange of experiences. QNA Egyptian society, there’s still a tremendous dynamism in the with the state, and came to make organisation that had been all audience. THE PENINSULA Qapco honours top students DOHA: Qatar Petrochemical Qapco’s Learning & commitment so that our students Company (Qapco) honoured six Development Department hosted can achieve their dreams of earn- of its students for exemplary a ceremony to reward their ing a degree or diploma and build academic performance. efforts and dedication. better futures for themselves, They achieved ‘honours’ stand- Dr Mohammed Yousef Al their families and our community. ing in Spring Semester 2014 at Mulla, Vice-Chairman and CEO, Mubarak Abdulla Al Eidan, College of the North Atlantic – Qapco, said, “It is important to one of the students, said, “Qapco’s Qatar (CNA-Q). In addition to a us that all our development and support and encouragement letter of recognition, the college scholarship students work hard allowed us to continue education transcript will display ‘honours and perform to the best of their and enabled us to learn skills and standing’ notation. ability. knowledge to equip ourselves with Five achieved honours standing “We, in partnership with competencies to become profes- in chemical processing technology CNA-Q and other educa- sional engineers and business pro- and one in business administra- tional institutes in Qatar and fessionals in the future.” Qapco officials with some of the high-achieving students. tion accounting. abroad, offer our support and THE PENINSULA MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Ezdan Holding honours best employees

DOHA: Ezdan Holding Group, selection process, 70 employees one of Qatar’s leading listed from various departments of the companies, honoured around group were recognised for efforts 70 of its 1,000-personnel nomi- throughout a year. nated as Best Employees of the The ceremony was part of an Year, at an annual celebration. initiative of the Group to encour- Present at the ceremony were age staff and promote their skills Ali Mohammad Al Obaidli, through a healthy competitive CEO, Ezdan Holding Group, Al medium. In the ‘Proud to be Abdullah, Deputy to CEO, Ezdan, Ezdanian!’ video, several employ- and managers and employees of ees expressed pride of being a the Group and its subsidiaries, member of the broader Ezdan, said a statement yesterday. reflecting its image in their lives The event featured a competi- and its efforts to ensure the well- tion for employees, two videos — being of staff. one on Ezdan’s achievements in Al Obaidli praised employees’ 2014 and the other ‘Proud to be efforts and how their contri- Ezdanian!’ and a collective com- butions enhanced the Group’s memorative photo with the win- financial, administrative and ning employees. organisational performances. Following a nomination and THE PENINSULA Ezdan officials during the honouring ceremony. HMC forum discusses eye care DOHA: Latest develop- ments in eye care were dis- cussed at the third Qatar Ophthalmology Conference hosted by Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC). It also featured the Uveitis Advanced Course of the Middle East Africa Council of Ophthalmology (MEACO), in association with the International Ocular Inflammation Society (IOIS). The conference aimed to advance the quality of eye care and ophthalmology education and research in the region through dissemination of lat- est knowledge by experts. Some of the speakers at the event. Uveitis is a group of inflam- matory diseases that produces conducted a study on all uvei- She said ocular trauma and “The conference commit- swelling and destruction of tis- tis patients at HMC’s Uveitis glaucoma are common eye tee has developed a scientific sues in the eye and can lead to Clinic from March 2007 to problems in Qatar and the con- programme that covers cut- severe and permanent loss of February 2011. ference offered workshops that ting-edge developments in the vision if left untreated. “Causes were determined in would help doctors understand diagnosis and management of It often affects the uvea, the 67 percent of patients, which latest advances in patient care. uveitis and related conditions. middle layer of the eye which represents a good figure com- “Through the conference, The IOIS is delighted to sup- contains much of the eye’s pared to other studies world- participants from Qatar and port the programme as it is in blood vessels, but may also wide on the disease,” she said. the region had an opportu- line with our goal of dissemi- affect other parts of the eye. The main causes found were nity to learn from regional and nating recent advances in the The condition is caused by infectious diseases (tuberculo- international experts during field to ophthalmologists all inflammatory responses inside sis, toxoplasmosis and herpes scientific sessions and work- over the globe,” said Professor the eye to infections, injuries or viruses) and systemic diseases. shops involving all aspects Narsing Rao, IOIS President, autoimmune disorders. “This research is the sec- of ophthalmology,” said Dr and Professor of Ophthalmology An artist’s impression of the pedestrian bridge. Dr Zamzam Al Baker, Uveitis ond comprehensive review of Fatima Al Mansouri, Senior and Pathology, University Senior Consultant at HMC’s the causes of uveitis in a GCC Consultant and Head of HMC’s of Sothern California’s Eye Ophthalmology Department, country, after a study in Saudi Ophthalmology Department, Institute in the US. One lane on East Industrial said the department had Arabia,” said Dr Al Baker. and the conference president. THE PENINSULA Road to close from Wednesday DOHA: A 200-metre stretch of yesterday. East Industrial Road leading to The closure is to facilitate con- UCQ launches Master of Nursing Leadership course Salwa Road will be partially closed struction of a pedestrian bridge oppo- for traffic from Wednesday. site Street No. 1 in Industrial Area. DOHA: The University of Calgary developed in response to the request we thank the state for and advance the profes- One lane in each direction will The three remaining lanes and the in Qatar (UCQ) has launched a of Qatari nurses looking to equip support.” The programme sional standard of nurs- remain closed for 80 days, the Public service roads will remain open during new Master of Nursing Leadership themselves with the knowledge and will prepare skilled nursing ing in Qatar and around Works Authority (Ashghal) said the period. THE PENINSULA programme. training to be successful in leadership professionals to drive the the world. There are huge Created in partnership with positions,” said Dr Kim Critchley, quality and good manage- opportunities to develop Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Dean and CEO, UCQ. ment of Qatar’s growing the nursing profession the programme is the direct result of “The programme is focused on health services. It will con- through collaboration and collaboration with Qatar’s commu- developing leadership skills within tribute directly to Qatar’s education — that is what I nity of nurses. the nursing profession in Qatar. We human development, as aim to achieve by partici- “The programme has been are proud to be able to deliver it and all eight students in its pating in the programme. first intake are Qataris. It will enhance skills of It is designed to further nursing professionals and develop a national work- ultimately patient care and force capable of delivering health services as a whole, high-quality services and which will benefit Qatar’s research. population.” Maytha Al Bouainain, The launch coincided Executive Director, with the completion of Community Affairs and studies for UCQ’s first Patients Engagement, Mster of Nursing class. Hamad General Hospital, Earning advanced nursing is a student of the pro- degrees in oncology and gramme. “As a Qatari, it is thesis-based research. important for me to uplift THE PENINSULA Encroachments removed

A total of 218 abandoned homes, stores, garages and portacabins which encroached upon state properties in Al Hadarma were removed by the Doha Municipality. Eighty- five percent of the encroachments have been removed since a campaign began last November 27. A total of 433 truckloads of waste were also removed. MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 IS confirms execution Houthis break of Japanese hostage up demo as

BEIRUT: The Islamic State (IS) group confirmed yester- day its militants have executed crisis deepens Haruna Yukawa, one of two Japanese it has been holding hostage, following the release of Parliament again fails to convene a video announcing his death. “The Islamic State has carried SANA’A: Shia militia fired approved by parliament to take out its threat... it has executed warning shots yesterday to dis- effect, in the biggest demonstra- Japanese hostage Haruna Yukawa perse a protest against their tion to date against the Huthis. after the expiry of the deadline takeover of Sana’a as parlia- The crisis in the Arabian given,” the Sunni extremist group ment failed to convene to dis- Peninsula country escalated said on Al Bayan radio, which cuss the president’s resignation, on January 17 when the Huthis broadcasts in areas under its con- prolonging a dangerous power seized Hadi’s chief of staff, Ahmed trol in Iraq and Syria. vacuum in Yemen. Awad bin Mubarak, in an appar- “The second hostage (Kenji President Abdrabuh Mansur ent bid to extract changes to a Goto) is calling on his relatives to Hadi, a key US ally in the fight draft constitution they oppose. put pressure on the Japanese gov- against Al Qaeda’s franchise based The Houthis still hold Mubarak ernment for the release of our sis- in Yemen, tendered his resigna- and maintain a tight grip on the ter Sajida Al Rishawi, held in the tion along with Prime Minister capital despite a deal struck jails of the oppressors in Jordan, Khalid Bahah on Thursday, say- late on Wednesday to end what in exchange for his release,” it ing he could no longer stay in authorities called a coup attempt. said. office as his country was in “total The fall of Hadi’s Western- Rishawi is a would-be Iraqi deadlock”. backed government would raise female suicide bomber on death The Shia Houthi militia, who fears of complete chaos engulfing row in Jordan in connection have controlled most of the capi- Yemen, strategically located next Anti-government protesters clash with anti-riot police forces near Tahrir Square in Cairo yesterday. with triple hotel bomb attacks in tal since September, overran the to oil-rich Saudi Arabia and on Amman that killed 60 people on presidential palace last week the key shipping route from the November 9, 2005. prompting Hadi to step down, Suez Canal to the Gulf. Her name emerged on Saturday shortly after Bahah quit. Yesterday, parliament for a sec- 15 killed in Egypt protests in a video released by the IS that As demonstrators began to ond time postponed an extraordi- shows images of Goto holding gather near Sana’a University nary session which had been due what appears to be a photograph early yesterday to protest against to discuss Hadi’s resignation. CAIRO: At least 15 people were on a security checkpoint near the governorate outside of Cairo of the slain body of his compatriot the increasing Houthi control, the Parliament “decided to post- killed in anti-government pro- Pyramids, killing two policemen, and the Nile Delta province of Yukawa. Shia militiamen fired warning pone an emergency meeting set to tests in Egypt yesterday, the security sources said. Baheira, security sources said. The video was released with shots to disperse them and made take place on Sunday... to another anniversary of the 2011 upris- Protesters set fire to a govern- A bomb wounded two policemen an audio recording in which a several arrests. date which will be decided later ing that toppled autocrat Hosni ment building on a street near the stationed outside a Cairo sports man claiming to be Goto blames The militiamen also attacked to make sure all members are Mubarak, security sources said. Pyramids, state media said. club, the sources said. Signs of Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo journalists and smashed their informed to attend,” state news In the bloodiest day of protests Dozens of protesters were discontent built up as the anniver- Abe for his fellow captive’s death cameras, before deploying in force agency Saba reported. since Abdel Fattah Al Sisi was killed during last year’s anniver- sary of the revolt against Mubarak because he failed to pay IS a around the university to prevent Lawmakers had originally been elected president in June, secu- sary. Again this year, security approached, and a liberal woman $200m ransom by the end of the any renewed protest. due to meet on Friday to discuss rity forces and plain clothed police forces fanned out across the capi- activist, Shaimaa Sabbagh, was 72-hour deadline it announced on The journalists’ union said the his request to step down. fired at protesters, witnesses said. tal and other cities. killed at a protest on Saturday. Tuesday. militia detained three Yemeni The Shia militiamen, who hail The anniversary is a test of The heaviest death toll was in About 1,000 people marched in The voice also reveals a new newsmen covering the protest from Yemen’s northern highlands whether Islamists and liberal activ- the Cairo suburb of Matariya, a her funeral procession yesterday. demand for the release Rishawi, and that female freelance journal- and belong to the Zaidi branch ists have the resolve to challenge Muslim Brotherhood stronghold. The Health Ministry said she had saying the militants are no longer ist Huda Al Zabhani was beaten of Shiism, have surrounded the a government that has stamped Special forces fired pistols and rifles been shot in the face and back demanding money to save his life, up. parliament building since late out dissent since the then-army at protesters, a witness said. Eight and Interior Ministry spokesman but want “their sister” to be freed. One of the three, Reuters photo- Thursday, two days after they chief Sisi ousted elected Islamist people, including one policeman, Hany Abdel Latif said an investi- “It is simple. You give them journalist Mohammed Al Sayaghi, seized control of the presiden- president Mohamed Mursi in July were killed, according to the health gation into her death had begun, Sajida and I will be released,” the said he was later released after tial palace. The Huthis have also 2013 after mass protests against ministry. In downtown Cairo, riot adding: “No one is above the law.” voice says. the militia held him for an hour encircled Hadi’s residence and his rule. police with rifles and plain clothed “Shaima was killed in cold The Amman bombings were for questioning. those of several ministers. After nightfall, gunfire and men with pistols chased protesters blood,” Medhat Al Zahid, vice claimed by Abu Musab Al On Saturday, thousands of “We are under house arrest,” a sirens could be heard in central through the streets. president of the Socialist Popular Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda leader in Yemenis took to the streets of minister of state in the resigned Cairo as armoured personnel car- Six people were killed in sep- Alliance party that Sabbagh Iraq who was killed in a US air Sanaa calling on Hadi to rescind government, Hasan Zaid, himself riers moved through the city cen- arate protests in Alexandria, belonged to, told a news confer- raid there in June 2006. AFP his resignation, which has to be a Zaidi said. AFP tre. Gunmen in a car opened fire Egypt’s second biggest city, Giza ence. REUTERS

Protests continue Netanyahu defends planned anti-Iran speech in US

JERUSALEM: Prime Minister “In coming weeks, the powers a breach of protocol. issue. “Let’s take a step back: This Benjamin Netanyahu defended are liable to reach a framework Barack Obama, who has a testy is the most important relation- yesterday a planned speech to agreement with Iran, an agree- relationship with the right-wing ship we have in the world. This is the US Congress about Iran, ment liable to leave Iran as a Netanyahu, will not meet the something that ought to be and saying he had a moral obligation nuclear threshold state,” he said Israeli leader during the visit to will continue to be, as far as we to speak out on an issue that in remarks carried by Israeli Washington, his office said. This are concerned, above partisan poses a mortal threat to Israel. broadcasters. decision was widely portrayed in politics,” he said, referring to US His visit to Washington in “As prime minister of Israel, the Israeli media as a snub. ties with Israel. March has opened up a rift I am obligated to make every The White House has cited The relationship, McDonough with the White House and has effort to prevent Iran from get- the proximity of Israel’s March said, “stretches across many drawn accusations in Israel that ting nuclear weaponry that will be 17 election and a desire to avoid different things: from values, Netanyahu is undermining the aimed at the State of Israel. This the appearance of influencing the straight through intelligence country’s core foreign alliance in effort is global and I will go any- poll as reason for withholding an cooperation, to defence and secu- an effort to win an election due where I am invited to make the Oval Office invitation. rity assistance.” two weeks after the trip. State of Israel’s case and defend White House Chief of Staff Six world powers—the United Briefing his cabinet on the its future and existence.” Denis McDonough, asked on States, Britain, China, France, March 3 speech to a joint meeting John Boehner, the Republican CNN’s “State of the Union” pro- Germany and Russia—have given Protesters clash with police in Bilad Al Qadeem village, a suburb of of Congress, Netanyahu said his speaker of the House of gramme yesterday about the themselves until the end of June to Bahraini capital Manama, yesterday. Protests and clashes continued priority was to urge the United Representatives, invited controversial Congress invitation produce a diplomatic breakthrough across several parts of the country for the 28th day demanding release States and other powers not to Netanyahu without informing to Netanyahu, said the Obama with Iran and end a long-running negotiate an Iranian nuclear deal the Obama administration, in administration did not want to dispute over Tehran’s nuclear of opposition leader Sheikh Ali Salman. that might endanger Israel. what the White House deemed get into a “blame game” over the ambitions. REUTERS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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SUBSCRIPTION / HOME DELIVERY TEL: 44557809 /839 FAX: 44557819 E-MAIL: [email protected] SUBSCRIPTION RATES: ANNUAL QR 675 6 MONTHS QR 340 Editorial Need for balance Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate IGERIAN President Goodluck Jonathan strutted into the hub of Boko Haram on Saturday, promising to bring the terrorist movement to its knees and Nexhorting his supporters to vote him back to power. A day later, as US Secretary of State John Kerry visited the country, the reviled militant group had taken over another town To exterminate terrorists, in the northeast, and overran a military base. Kerry’s visit to Nigeria ahead of crucial February 14 presidential elections comes in the wake of rising insurgency in the Opec-member state. An embattled Jonathan, often accused of doing little to curb militancy, has tried to make his presence flush out their hope felt in the insurgency-ravaged northeast of the country as Boko Haram chief Abubakar Shekau challenges his wobbly BY ROBERT H SCALES to be in short supply. Likewise, after terrorists can lose hope after the death administration and an overly concerned West. the Abu Ghraib scandal and 12 years of a single icon. The visit by the most senior US official points to the growing he centrepiece of a national secu- of perceived atrocities against Islam at Think of hope as a material formed importance Washington attaches to the presidential elections rity strategy is to isolate and the Guantanamo Bay prison, the United in a crucible over time by a series of exploit an enemy’s vulnerable States long ago lost its ability to effec- successful terrorist strikes against the and the need to curb militancy in the most populous state in T “centre of gravity.” Carl von Clausewitz, tively fight an ideological war against West and Western-affiliated countries Africa. Despite military support from the West to Nigeria’s forces the 19th-century Prussian military phi- Islamist terrorism. in the Middle East. Since violent actions in fighting the egregious militant group, Islamic State has been losopher and father of modern military Our political masters need to distin- filled this crucible, only a violent mili- growing in strength by the day. Shekau’s pernicious designs have theory, defined centre of gravity as “the guish between ideology and the enemy’s tary counterresponse can crack the cru- reached deep into the social fabric of society in northeastern source of power that provides moral or true vulnerable centre of gravity: hope. cible and empty it of hope. The object of Nigeria. Going by the pace of its advance, Boko Haram might have physical strength, freedom of action, or The differences are subtle. Hope is the a campaign against hope is not neces- will to act.” belief that ideology will prevail. Hope sarily to kill in large numbers but rather supporters and sympathisers among the public. Washington has Conventional wisdom inside the drives motivation or, in the psycholo- to find the greatest vulnerability and thrown its weight behind the fight against the Islamist insurgency, Pentagon and among defence intellec- gist’s jargon, a “response initiation.” To shatter it dramatically and decisively. but Kerry’s visit was directed more at urging calm ahead of tuals is that the vulnerable centre of the extent that hope is present, a ter- The terrorist’s greatest source of the elections in which Jonathan is gravity of today’s enemy is its extreme rorist will translate belief into action. As hope today comes from Islamic State fighting his All Progressives Congress Islamist ideology. Speaking on “Fox hope is removed, even the most ideologi- battlefield successes in Syria and Iraq. US Secretary News Sunday” cally attuned enemy will become passive. A defeat there cracks the crucible. The (APC) rival Muhammadu Buhari. after the Charlie As Clausewitz advises: Strike the centre question is how to do it with enough of State John Fear of clashes between Jonathan and Hebdo attacks in of gravity and the enemy loses the will drama and speed that terrorists the Kerry’s visit to Buhari’s supporters has punctuated Paris, Gen Martin to act. world over lose hope and become pas- the campaign, bringing back Dempsey, the The history of war suggests hope is a sive. From any perspective, the Islamic Nigeria shows memories of election-related violence Hope extends chairman of the fuel that induces young, post-adolescent State enclave in Syria is militarily unas- in 2011 that claimed 1,000 lives. Joint Chiefs of men to turn ideology into action. And sailable. But Iraq is a different story. the importance Staff, suggested hope rises with the perception of mili- A campaign against hope must start Jonathan faced international wars and makes that the rise in tary success. from Baghdad and move northward Washington condemnation for his lackadaisical them bloodier the terrorists’ Confederate soldiers were given up the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. attaches to the approach to dealing with Islamist power has been hope of eventual victory after the The Islamic State’s vulnerability rests terrorism after the kidnap of about through the mainly due to Union debacle at the First Battle of with its disconnected garrisons spotted political process 200 school girls by Boko Haram. the inspiration Bull Run. A similar rise of mindless astride the rivers like a string of pearls. The militant group wants to set euphoria that that comes from hope occurred among German youth Thanks to US bombing, Islamic State in the country. an increasingly after the fall of Paris in 1940 and, sadly, fighters cannot easily move among these up an emirate in the country and comes with a radical ideology. within the US Army after the fall of enclaves. Thus, a sequence of patient doesn’t hesitate to pillage and Thus, most of the Baghdad in 2003. ground assaults against garrisons in kill to achieve its aims. Kerry spoke of the need for fair and rush to share in Obama admin- Hope extends wars and makes them cities such as Taji, Hit, Tal Afar and transparent elections in Nigeria and made it clear that the the glory. Hope istration’s “nine bloodier through the euphoria that eventually Mosul will create momentum extent of Washington’s support would depend on how credible lines of effort” comes with a rush to share in the glory. sufficient to push the Islamic State’s and peaceful the elections are. Jonathan’s election campaign to defeat radi- Hope gives young men surety and confi- forces to the Syrian border. These won’t gives young cal Islam are, in dence. It provides a moral sanctuary and be victories so much as public humilia- — especially his visits to the lair of Boko Haram — reveal a men surety and fact, non-military is the glue that binds soldiers together tions, the antidote to hope. desperate streak. The United States, as the visit of Kerry shows, actions meant to in war. Soldiers — and, by extension, Can the Iraqis do it? If so, can they is looking for political continuity which would mean supporting confidence. counter this ide- terrorists — simply won’t fight if there do it before the Islamic State solidifies Jonathan, whose credibility has eroded over the years. ology, such as is no hope. its grip on the river cities? One thing is Washington should strike a sensitive balance between backing disrupting the Arab cultures have a history with the certain: The last best hope for a deci- finances of terror mercurial collapse of hope. The huge sive outcome against the hopefulness of Jonathan and advocating a consistent policy against the threat groups and disseminating alternative swings in hope among Arab forces these killers rests with the Iraqi army of Boko Haram. Jonathan returning to power may ensure messaging. before and after defeats in the 1948 and and the Americans who are trying to continuity but the US government shouldn’t be seen propping up But the numerous attacks we have 1967 Arab-Israeli wars and the US vic- turn them into a viable fighting force. an irresponsible regime. The White House should make it clear seen around the world suggest that tory in the Gulf War against Saddam Scales, a retired Army major general, that its support for the Nigerian president is incumbent upon his this ideology is not a vulnerable cen- Hussein’s army in 1991 are instruc- is a former commandant of the US Army strengthening democratic institutions and sincerely fighting the tre of gravity, if it ever was. Dedication tive. The apathy that followed Osama War College. to an ideological cause does not appear bin Laden’s killing also suggests that WP-BLOOMBERG insurgency once he is relected. The other side Quote of Environment a valuable asset the day

EVELOPING the less- bridging income gaps as the main assessment mechanism. The bet- The restructuring of the Chinese developed inland areas is target without mentioning GDP. That ter-off coastal regions also need to economy is not intended as a means not only a responsibility the two places are in different devel- provide more assistance to help the for polluting industries to relocate Dfor the local governments opment phases influences local gov- poorer inland central and western inland; it is to realise more balanced If Mr Putin and concerned, it is a joint endeavor for ernments’ understanding of economic regions to realise environmentally development nationwide. all parties, said an article in People’s growth. friendly growth. The good natural environment in Russia are Daily on Thursday. It is unrealistic to require the gov- The central government is pro- the less-developed regions is a valu- hell-bent on The mayor of Taiyuan, the capital of ernments of less-developed regions to moting the regional integration of able asset. New energy industries, Shanxi province, North China, said he intentionally downplay growth targets. Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province, innovation-based manufacturing engaging in military felt ashamed that the city’s economy To balance the speed of growth and the establishment of the Yangtze industries and services industries, conflicts, their grew 3 percent last year, only one- and its quality, Beijing has made River Economic Belt to help over- such as tourism, should be the main third of the 9 percent target. Around environmental health, the improve- come the regional development gap. economic boosters, along with envi- military is more the same time in Shanghai, the head ment of people’s livelihoods, inno- Yet many industries relocated to the ronmental funds from Beijing and powerful than of Pudong district, for the first time, vation, and energy consumption west waste energy and pollute the coastal regions. just listed promoting innovation and basic indexes in the new growth environment. China Daily Ukraine’s. Barack Obama US President MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Cubans anticipate changes in their lives

the sense of a breakthrough for “It’s still very hard to say how The visit by many Cubans, even if the small- this will work,” Jacobson said of bore nature of the agenda for last the normalisation process. Thursday’s inaugural session was While Obama has eased a high-level a sobering reminder that the new restrictions on US travel to relationship would advance in Cuba and exports to the island, American small steps, and not necessarily critical US lawmakers said they smoothly. would fight any effort to lift the “I’ve heard only positive things, embargo and challenge every delegation and not one negative comment,” aspect of the president’s new said independent journalist and Cuba strategy. to Cuba for dissident activist Dagoberto In a letter Friday to Attorney Valdés after speaking to rural General Eric Holder, Republican Cubans in his Pinar del Rio prov- Senators Marco Rubio of Florida, normalisation ince in western Cuba. “And keep Ted Cruz of Texas and David in mind, Cuban farmers are scep- Vitter of Louisiana expressed talks was tical by nature.” “strong concern about the Justice While the businesses and tour- Department’s role” in the return ists of other countries may be to Cuba of three spies imprisoned the most ubiquitous here, “everything in in the United States — part of the Cuba starts and ends with rela- negotiations that led to Obama’s important event tions with the United States,” a normalisation announcement — veteran Havana-based European and raised questions about fugi- diplomat said. tives from US justice who have in US-Cuban Despite the ongoing embargo, lived in Cuba for years. everyone here, from the small “As the nation’s chief law relations in villages in the Sierra Maestra enforcement officer,” they wrote, to central Havana, is touched by “do you support the normalisa- the remittances sent by friends tion of relations with Cuba with- decades. and relatives in the United States out the return of fugitives from Frpm Left: Cuban dissidents Samuel Rodiles, Felix Navarro, Berta Soler, Guillermo Farinas, Angel Moya and and the “paquete,” compilations of justice for prosecution who have Egberto Escobedo attend a news conference in Havana. downloaded US television shows the blood of Americans, including BY KAREN DEYOUNG and movies that are circulated law enforcement officers on their the many places where Ernest like a train that has been stuck, the brothers do not dominate electronically among Cubans. hands?” ost Americans have Hemingway supposedly drank — but it is starting to budge,” said every aspect of public and politi- “Europe is abstract for Cubans,” In a Friday news conference he been barred by their anticipation of change has been Yoani Sánchez, a dissident blog- cal life. said the diplomat, who did not hosted for Cuban activists opposed own government growing for the past month. ger and director of the 14yme- On Cuba’s tightly controlled want to be identified. to the opening, Rubio said, “I just Mfrom visiting Cuba Ever since the December 17 dio online news site. The past airways, press conferences with Assistant Secretary of State don’t know of a single contem- for decades. For the rest of the announcement by President few days, she said, “have been questions from foreign journalists Roberta Jacobson, who headed porary, reluctant tyranny that’s world, it’s just another Caribbean Barack Obama and Cuban some of the most important I’ve about human rights and democ- the United States delegation to become a democracy because of vacation destination. President Raúl Castro that the experienced.” racy were broadcast verbatim, the normalisation talks, visited more trade and tourists.” Millions of sandals- and shorts- two countries would begin nor- The first substantive signs of along with answers from both US with political dissidents, some of Debates about the wisdom, wearing Europeans, Canadians malising relations and restore change emerged last week. The and Cuban officials. whom told her that Washington direction and pace of the new and Latin Americans flock here diplomatic ties severed a half- visit by a high-level American Saturday morning’s online edi- is being duped by the Cuban policy are also going on inside each year for the wide beaches century ago, there has been a delegation to Cuba for normali- tion of Granma, the Communist government. the government in Havana, said and free-flowing drinks. Although palpable sense that Cuba is on sation talks was the most impor- Party newspaper, featured Those meetings did not appear a number of Cuban and foreign the accommodations are modern, the verge of something new, even tant event in US-Cuban relations a meticulous account of the in the local media. experts. the Cuba experience also offers if no one is sure how far it will go in decades. For Cubans, expert at US-Cuban exchanges, along with But Jacobson also reached out “Cuba is about three things. a step back in time, to a slow- or when it will happen. interpreting their often-opaque a prominently displayed story to Cuba’s state media. When a Control, control and control,” the moving land of belching 1950s “It’s difficult enough to prepare leaders, it was significant that recalling Fidel Castro’s 1959 visit Granma reporter asked her how European diplomat said. “Rational cars and peeling Spanish man- for a war,” said Carlos Alzugaray, Fidel and Raúl Castro were to Venezuela, just weeks after the the two countries could reach thinking comes and goes.” sions — thanks to both the state- a Communist Party member nowhere to be seen. takeover of Havana by his trium- their jointly declared goal of coop- While parts of the ruling class run economy and the US embargo and former Cuban diplomat The elder Castro, 88, is thought phal guerrilla army, and an arti- erating on international health “want to take advantage of the enacted in 1960 — and the resid- who teaches at the University of to be in failing health and hasn’t cle about Cuban cooperation with issues such as Ebola in Africa, new reality, others will resist,” ual glory of a once world-famous Havana. “How can you prepare been seen in public for more than Ecuador on child-development as long as US immigration laws Alzugaray said. revolution. for a declaration of peace? The a year. But it was just as notable programmes. continued to entice Cuban doc- “Some people in the Party want But where most Cubans reside idea of a siege mentality is embed- that Raúl, 83, also said nothing The mere sight and sound of US tors working abroad to defect, to think we are a monolith. We — beyond the tour buses, the ded here.” about the talks, perhaps offering officials sitting down with their she acknowledged that deep dif- are not.” revolutionary monuments, and The Cuban government “seems a glimpse of a new era in which government seemed to reinforce ferences remained between them. WP-BLOOMBERG Media coverage of terrorism is complex Reconciling cops BY DR MOHAMED KIRAT expected to refrain from mak- ing dangerous speculations about errorists, newspeople and the terrorists’ plans, government and civilians media experts agree that response, hostages’ messages, and Tthose who make the head- other matters. BY WILLIAM J BRATTON And even as this has happened, lines have power. Getting one’s Speculations might take jour- the results have improved, with name on the front page and being nalists away from handling the here is a divide in America, the arrest rate resulting from included on prime-time television issue in a professional and effi- and in New York City. It is such stops nearly doubling from 8 news both constitute a major cient manner. Media professionals Tracial, but it is also about percent in 2013 to 15 percent last political achievement. Terrorists should have background informa- poverty and failed social sys- year. On the other side, our crit- seek access to the media by com- tion about the terrorists they are tems and unequal access to the ics need to recognise the current mitting acts that closely fit news required to cover, they should do American Dream. context. They are not living in a agencies’ criteria of news: being research prior to their coverage. On one hand are the protesters, police state. The US incarceration timely and unique, involving The media should not broad- who see a criminal justice system rate may be too high, but impris- adventure or having entertain- cast live terrorist incidents that that incarcerates vast numbers of onment has fallen by 25 percent ment value, and affecting the lives include hostage taking in order minorities, especially young black in New York state prisons and of those being informed. not to jeopardise human life and men, and subjects even larger by more than 40 percent in New Media scholars argue that rep- not to impede a government’s numbers to obtrusive enforce- York City jails from their respec- resentation in the media gives an French news agency AFP photographer Asif Hassan was recently shot attempts to rescue the hijacked. ment. Many see police officers as tive peaks. The NYPD continues idea, a cause, a sense of public during violence in Pakistan. The media are advised not to willing agents of that system, and to explore alternatives to arrest identity, importance, and rel- interview terrorists during the some see them as racist, brutal for minor offences, and we hope evance. No movement can get terrorism and crises and fail to The media should be more standoff. Lines of communica- and even murderous. to reduce the number of people going without some visibility, have experts in their studios to accountable, responsible and tions between the authorities and On the other hand are the cops, “in the system” even further. And some publicity, some presence provide indepth analyses to the professional when it handles ter- the terrorists should be left open. who see the victims of crimi- the prevalence of brutality is a fic- in the minds of people through audience. rorism. The media need to be The media should not impede nal violence up close and have tion. My officers use force in only media. Whenever there is a terror- accountable for the consequences the negotiations process. News spent far more time in minor- 2 out of every 100 arrests. In 2014, This is especially true when the ist act, media rush to cover the of their coverage, they should not organisations have to show sen- ity neighbourhoods than many they intentionally used their fire- movement is weak. Then media event. It has a lot of consequences, jeopardise human life and are sitivity to the victims and to their of their critics. Needless to say, arms in only 42 instances, out of access might be its major, some- impacts, stakes and challenges. advised to cooperate with the gov- loved ones. They are also expected they don’t see themselves as rac- 20 million contacts with civilians, times sole significant asset. Very Very often nations, ideologies and ernment when human lives are at not to report details that might ist. More than half of the offic- 4.5 million radio runs and nearly often, the media fail to provide politics are involved. The ques- stake in order to bring a peaceful harm victims’ families. The area ers in the New York City Police 400,000 arrests. professional coverage and an tion is: How well do the media end to the terror episode. This in which the terrorist incident Department’s patrol force are But fixing stop, question and indepth analysis of the wherea- perform in covering terrorism? is not to suggest that the police takes place should not be open minorities themselves. They also frisk is not the only answer, nor bouts of terrorist acts. Usually the What about ethical considera- or other security organisations for anybody who testifies that he don’t see themselves as agents is lowering the rhetorical volume. media deal with an act of terror- tions? What about being used should have a veto power over or she is a journalist. Only senior of any system. Instead, they are To rebuild trust, a little gracious- ism without providing the socio- by the terrorists and being their reporting. What is suggested is and experienced reporters should guarantors of the public safety ness can go a long way. When offic- political and economic context in megaphones and spokesmen. Are co-operation and mutual respect be allowed in. that underpins our democracy, ers grant people their humanity, which the event occurs. Under a the media focused on the back- and understanding between the Adequate training is a nec- people who help others. most return the favour. We’ve ini- score of constraints, the media ground, contexts and the various government agencies and the essary precondition for a pro- How do we reconcile these tiated a robust field training pro- just rush to the place of the act complex faces of terrorism? Or media. fessional and successful media perspectives? gramme that will allow our rookie and try to produce a live cover- the media just stress and focus The media should not glorify coverage of terrorism. Coverage On the police side, we must rec- cops to develop their skills under age, missing most of the questions on sensation, scoops and working acts of terror and should refrain of terrorists acts throughout the ognise that our methods require the guidance of veteran officers and that audiences all over the world on the media show more than a from sensational and panic- world shows many shortcomings refinement. We can be abrupt — local community partners. would like to have them answered. professional and ethical coverage. causing headlines, from inflam- and lack of professionalism. News sometimes rude — with the people Rebuilding trust also means The news organisations tackle the Very often the media focus on matory catchwords, and from organisations should accord the we encounter, and that leaves a working at the local level. Local act of terrorism as an isolated act; the superficial aspects of terror- needless repletion of photos from issue high priority in terms of lasting impression, particularly in policing is policing with a friendly, they focus on the incident and not ism than its roots, causes and con- bloody scenes. Terrorism should training and studying the phe- our most vulnerable communities. human face, one that encour- on the phenomenon. sequences on people and nations. be explicitly condemned for its nomenon from its various angles: People in these communities suf- ages people to feel as subjectively The coverage is superficial, Many questions remain unan- brutality and violent, and indis- Ideology, politics, culture, society, fer most from the crime that per- safe as two decades of successful news oriented and lacks context swered about what happened in criminate nature. The media history, economics…etc. Covering sists in the city, but they are also crime control have objectively and analysis. The focus here is the World Trade Centre and the must not pay or be paid for cov- a terrorist act it’s not covering the least satisfied with the police. made them. None of this means on what happened and not why Pentagon on September 11, 2001. ering terrorist incidents and not a car accident or a flood or a That’s a serious challenge. In we are backing down from the it happened and what are the What happened in Paris recently to take upon themselves to medi- snow storm, rather the coverage these neighbourhoods, people feel fundamental police responsibil- variables and the national and with the attack on “Charlie ate between the terrorists and requires a thorough analysis of overpoliced and underprotected. ity to prevent crime and disor- international dimensions and Hebdo” shows the many draw- the government. Those journal- the phenomenon and its impli- In New York, this paradoxical der. Because here is the unspoken implications of terrorism. Here we backs and poor performance of ists assigned to cover terrorism cations and repercussions on feeling comes in large part from secret of the police-community notice that investigative reporting media when it comes to terrorism should be trained, specialised and humankind. the use of “stop, question and divide: The minority communi- is missing and the focus is on the coverage. Such coverage is usu- well informed about the phenom- Kirat is a professor of Public frisk.” We’re addressing that. The ties don’t want us to back down. results not the causes. Most news ally manipulated, exploited and enon of terrorism. Newsmen are Relations and Mass Communication use of this lawful tool has plum- Bratton is New York City police organisations lack professional sometimes mixed with psychologi- there to cover the event, not to at the Department of Mass meted 75 percent from 2013, and commissioner. journalists specialised in covering cal warfare and propaganda. become part of it. The media are Communication, Qatar University. 93 percent from its high in 2011. WP-BLOOMBERG MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 MIDDLE EAST 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Syria rebels overtake strategic army base UN envoy to head govt team in Moscow talks

AMMAN: Syrian insurgents the Golan Heights, according to United Nations, Bashar Jaafari, including fighters from Al regional military experts and will head the government team Qaeda’s Nusra Front, seized diplomats. in peace talks due to open in an important government Fighters said the capture of the Moscow today, a pro-government army base in the southwest- base had helped them to over- newspaper reported. ern Deraa province yesterday, run most of the nearby town of But the delegation will not join fighters who took part in the Sheikh Maskeen, which they have the talks until Wednesday, after battle said. attacked several times in last few two days of preliminary discus- The base, one of several used months, but failed to seize. sions among opposition partici- to pound rebel-held villages and The town is one of the main pants, the Al Watan newspaper towns in southern Syria and along army supply routes to the city reported. the frontier with Jordan, lies at of Deraa, along the border with Ahmed Arnus, a top adviser of the heart of a heavily fortified Jordan that was mainly in govern- Foreign Minister Walid Muallem, zone which has formed a south- ment hands. will be among six other members ern line of defence protecting the The south is the last major of the delegation. capital, Damascus. stronghold of the mainstream, “Opposition figures will meet The fighters said hundreds of anti-Assad opposition, who have together from today before the insurgents armed with rocket been weakened elsewhere by the Syrian Arab Republic delegation launchers and anti-aircraft weap- expansion of the ultra-hardline joins them on Wednesday,” the US actress and UNHCR Ambassador Angelina Jolie greets displaced Iraqi children during a visit to a camp in ons had taken over the Brigade Islamic State group in the east paper said. Khanke, a few kilometres from the Turkish border in Iraq’s Dohuk province, yesterday. 82 base near the town of Sheikh and north, and gains by the Nusra “It is a consultative meeting Maskeen, close to the main north- Front in the northwest. to prepare the ground for a dia- south highway between Damascus However, Nusra is fighting in logue which will be held later in World failing to avert disaster: Jolie and Jordan. the south alongside the Western- Moscow or Damascus.” “This advance will help us cut backed groups, who have proved The main exiled opposition alli- supply routes of the regime forces more united there than in other ance, the National Coalition, has KHANKE, IRAQ: The inter- in that time,” she told reporters and is extremely concerned at the in the south from their supplies parts of Syria. announced it will not attend the national community is failing at a camp in Khanke. slow pace of pledges for this year. in the north to be able to eventu- In a separate development on Moscow talks, although some of in its duty to protect civilians Jolie last visited Iraq in 2012, Without more assistance, the situ- ally take over Deraa city,” Colonel Sunday, Islamist fighters struck its members are attending in a affected by the conflict in Iraq before the Islamic State group ation is unsustainable,” Jolie added. Saber Safar, a leader of the First the Syrian capital with at least personal capacity. and Syria, US actress Angelina became a dominant force in large “We are being tested here as an Army, a major faction of Western- 38 rockets, killing seven people, a “Any talks should be held in a Jolie said in northern Iraq. parts of Syria and launched a dev- international community and so backed rebels in the “Southern monitoring group said, in one of neutral country and overseen by In her capacity as special envoy astating offensive in Iraq last year. far, for all the immense efforts and Front” grouping, told Reuters by heaviest attacks on Damascus in the United Nations,” a Coalition for the UN’s refugee agency More than two million people good intentions, the international phone. over a year. source said, alluding to Moscow’s (UNHCR), the Hollywood star have been internally displaced community failed,” she said. The rebel gain is the latest The Saudi-backed Islam Army strong support for the Damascus visited Syrian refugees and dis- in Iraq over the past year alone. Neil Wright, the UNHCR rep- advance in the south, where had warned earlier that it would government. placed Iraqis near Dohuk, in the Nearly half of them have found resentative in Iraq, deplored that President Bashar Al Assad’s hit back against an air strike Five Coalition members, includ- autonomous region of Kurdistan. refuge in Kurdistan and the num- world powers’ financial pledges forces have been on the defen- last week in the eastern Ghouta ing Ahmed Jarba, a former leader “I’m shocked by what I’ve seen bers continue to grow. did not reflect the scope of a cri- sive, losing control of large areas region near Damascus, in which seen as close to Saudi Arabia, are today. This is my fifth visit to “UNHCR received only half of sis that has forced more than 13 of countryside as well as parts of more than 40 people were killed. attending in a personal capacity. Iraq since 2007 and the suffering the funding it needed in 2014 for million people from their homes the border along with Israel near The Syrian ambassador to the AGENCIES is worse than anything I’ve seen programmes in Iraq and Syria in Syria and Iraq. AFP

Islamists reject House summons Zarif over stroll with Kerry new Tunisian DUBAI: Iranian Foreign Minister more recently as part of the nuclear Mohammad Javad Zarif is to appear talks between Iran and “P5+1,” under before parliament following controversy way since after President Rouhani’s 2013 government over a promenade with his American election. counterpart during intense nuclear Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ahead of vote negotiations in Geneva, state media has endorsed official interaction with the reported yesterday. United States within the nuclear frame- TUNIS: Tunisia’s Islamist Zarif, who leads Tehran’s talks with work, leaving the field wide open for party Ennahda, which holds the “P5+1” — the United States, Britain, controversy. second largest number of seats France, Germany, Russia and China — had Speaking to reporters in Tehran last in parliament, said yesterday a 15-minute walk down Geneva sidewalks week, Zarif sought to justify the private it would reject a government with US Secretary of State John Kerry walk with Kerry: “We had a serious ear- proposed last week by Prime during discussions on January 14 aimed nest session and perhaps there was a Minister designate Habib Essid, at reaching a settlement of the 12-year need to pause a few minutes and resume complicating his cabinet’s nuclear dispute between Iran and the in another form. ratification. West. Media images of the top diplomats These are quite normal in the world of Parliament will vote this week from old adversaries strolling together in diplomacy, especially since our hotel had to confirm the new govern- a foreign land provoked an outcry among no yard or garden and surrounding alleys ment that must tackle economic Iranian hard-liners deeply wary of rap- were packed with curious journalists.” reforms and militants to consoli- prochement with the “Great Satan”. Despite resurgent criticisms, Zarif held date Tunisia’s young democracy On Friday, conservative-leaning another round of secret nuclear talks with after its 2011 uprising against prayer leaders heaped scorn on Zarif and Kerry on Friday in Davos, Switzerland. autocrat Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. President Hassan Rouhani for the “dip- US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif walk There has been no word of a breakthrough “We decided not to approve this lomatic slip-up” and newspapers said 21 along a pavement in Geneva on January 14. in the quest for a deal to curb Iran’s atomic government because it does not members of parliament had signed a peti- programme in return for lifting economic represent all the political classes tion to call in the moderate minister to with Kerry along Geneva sidewalks was the Holocaust and was subsequently sum- sanctions imposed as punishment on Iran and it breaks with the consensual provide an explanation. certainly outside the norms of diplo- moned to parliament. Holocaust denial in the past. way we have worked recently,” “Given the Great Satan’s endless macy, so why don’t you put a stop to such has been a staple theme of public speeches The United states and other Western Ennahda leader Sahbi Atig said- demands and sabotage during the course behaviour?” in Iran for decades. countries have long suspected the Islamic ers after a party meeting. of the nuclear negotiations, there is no The row over the diplomatic stroll is Tehran and Washington broke dip- republic of seeking nuclear weapons Essid has proposed a cabinet conceivable ground for intimacy between the latest in a series of summons since lomatic ties after Iran’s 1979 Islamist know-how, but Iran insists its programme formed from the main secular the foreign ministers of Iran and America,” Zarif took charge of the nuclear file in revolution, establishing tentative direct is geared to production of non-fossil fuel Nidaa Tounes party and smaller said the petition published in hard-line Fars late 2013.In February 2014 he caused an contact on specific cases such as the and scientific research. partners, but no posts went to the News. “Your exhibitionist walk together uproar with public comments condemning wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and REUTERS two other main blocks in the par- liament, Ennahda and the leftist Popular Front. One of the most secular coun- tries in the Arab world, Tunisia Turkey pledges more Libyan deputy has been praised for its peace- ful democratic transition in an FM kidnapped otherwise volatile region, with free elections and a new consti- investment for Somalia BENGHAZI: Gunmen kid- tution four years after Ben Ali’s napped the deputy foreign min- overthrow. MOGADISHU: Turkish Hundreds of soldiers and police ister of Libya’s internationally President Recep Tayyip officers shut down much of the recognised government, the Erdogan yesterday vowed to capital’s streets, where five people interior minister said. Bombs kill 11 boost already large invest- were killed on Thursday in a sui- As sporadic factional fight- ments as he visited Somalia, a cide attack on a hotel housing the ing continued in several parts strategic ally offering lucrative Turkish delegation in Mogadishu. of the country, six people were at Baghdad rewards for those willing to Somalia’s Al Qaeda-affiliated killed when rockets hit residen- work in the war-torn nation. Shebab rebels — who are fight- tial houses in the city of Benghazi restaurants Erdogan, on a rare visit by a ing to overthrow the country’s yesterday, medics said. foreign leader to a capital hit internationally-backed govern- The kidnapping of Hassan Al BAGHDAD: Bombs killed by frequent insurgent attacks, ment — said they carried out the Saghir happened in the east- at least 11 civilians in central praised the “major develop- bombing, the latest in a string ern city of Bayda—near where Baghdad yesterday when they ments” seen in Somalia and of attacks by the group against the officially recognised gov- exploded at two restaurants promised to deliver more. He high-profile targets in Mogadishu. ernment has been based since in the Iraqi capital, police and was welcomed at Mogadishu’s Erdogan later visited a hospital being ousted from the capital in medical sources said. new Turkish-renovated airport by and mosque built with Turkish August. Gunmen snatched the Police said the deadliest explo- Somali President Hassan Sheikh support. deputy minister from his hotel, sion took place near Tahrir Mohamud. Mohamud praised Turkey’s Interior Minister Omar Al Zanki Square when a bomb placed in a Turkey is a major donor to and “prominent, exemplary role” said. plastic bag exploded near a popu- investor in Somalia, carrying out in Somalia, where unlike most Kidnappings have become fre- lar restaurant, killing seven peo- a series of large-scale construc- nations, Turkish citizens live and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan (left) exchanges a plaque following quent in the North African coun- ple and wounding 11 others. tion projects in a city devastated work outside heavily fortified a joint press conference with Somalia President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud try, where two governments and In a separate incident, four by more than two decades of compounds. “Turkey did not hold in the Somali capital Mogadishu yesterday. parliaments, allied to different people were killed and eight war, and now undergoing a major back, waiting for stability before armed factions, are vying for wounded when a bomb went off building boom. Erdogan, who it invested. Instead, it invested to since famine devastated parts of of construction and development legitimacy and control four years near a small restaurant in central was accompanied by his wife and achieve it,” Mohamud said. the Horn of Africa nation in 2011, projects. Erdogan last visited after the ousting of Muammar Baghdad’s Sibaa district, police daughter, made the one day visit Turkey’s relationship with Erdogan has forged close ties with Mogadishu in 2011 as prime min- Gaddafi. and medics said. AGENCIES under tight security. Somalia dates back centuries, but Mogadishu and launched a raft ister. AFP REUTERS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 British MEP Greece’s Syriza set to sweep election leaves anti-EU Anti-bailout party on course to form govt; Syriza aims to write off debt and boost wages party for Tories ATHENS: Greece’s leftwing the shortest campaigns in recent Syriza looked set for a comfort- Greek history, voters appear to LONDON: Britain’s anti-EU able victory over the ruling con- have rejected the austerity medi- UKIP party, which threatens servatives, an exit poll showed, cine prescribed during a crisis to split the right ring vote and with a chance of winning a full which has threatened almost 4 hand victory to Labour in 2015 majority to face down inter- million Greeks or a quarter of the elections, has suffered a reverse national creditors and roll population with poverty. with the defection of one of its back years of painful austerity As the biggest party in the 300- members to the Tories, trigger- measures. seat parliament, Syriza would ing a war of words yesterday. Syriza could gain 35.5-39.5 gain an automatic premium of 50 Amjad Bashir, a little-known percent of the vote, well ahead of seats but under Greece’s compli- member of the European the conservative New Democracy cated election rules, the number Parliament, described his former party of outgoing Prime Minister of votes it needs for an absolute party in The Sunday Telegraph as Antonis Samaras on 23-27 per- majority depends on how the one of “ruthless self-interest” with cent, according a joint exit poll for overall vote is split up. a “ridiculous” lack of policies, Greek television stations issued The exit poll showed the centrist while UKIP said it had already immediately after voting ended. To Potami (The River) and the suspended Bashir after becoming If confirmed, the result would far-right Golden Dawn party tied “alarmed” by his behaviour. be enough to install 40-year-old in third place with seven or eight UKIP, often mocked for its Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras as parties, set to enter parliament. members’ lack of party discipline prime minister at the head of If it ends up short of an absolute and unsophisticated policies, has the first euro zone government majority, Tsipras will have to try to nevertheless shaken up the politi- openly opposed to bailout condi- form a coalition with smaller parties cal landscape in Britain over the tions imposed by European Union or reach an agreement that would past few years. and International Monetary Fund allow Syriza to form a minority gov- The Tories have become during the economic crisis. ernment with ad-hoc support from increasingly concerned by the The poll showed Syriza could others in parliament. popularity of UKIP’s anti-EU have between 146-158 seats in Tsipras has promised to keep stance and leader Nigel Farage’s the 300-seat parliament, with the Greece in the euro and has toned ‘man of the people’ appeal. final result heavily dependent on down some of the fiery rhetoric UKIP now has two MPs fol- whether former Prime Minister for which he was known but his lowing defections from the George Papandreou’s centre- arrival in power would herald the Conservative Party and won the left Movement of Democratic biggest challenge to the approach European parliamentary elections Socialists enters parliament. so far adopted to the crisis by held in May. UKIP said it had “It is a historic victory, we still euro zone governments. already suspended MEP Bashir have to see if it will be a big his- Coming after the European before the news on Saturday that toric victory,” Syriza spokesman Central Bank’s move to pump bil- he had joined Tories. Panos Skourletis told Greece’s lions into the bloc’s flagging econ- Cameramen and photographers work under a panel displaying exit poll results in Athens yesterday. “We have been increasingly Mega TV. “It sends a message omy, Greece’s rejection of austerity alarmed by Bashir’s behaviour against austerity and in favour of has set up an immediate standoff second highest after Japan. although the ECB’s massive bond- Greece, unable to tap the mar- over the last few months,” Farage dignity and democracy,” he said. with Berlin, which insists the bail- At the same time, he wants buying programme and growing kets because of sky-high borrow- told the BBC’s Andrew Marr pro- Financial markets have been out deal must be respected. to roll back many of the harsh confidence that a Syriza-led gov- ing costs, has enough cash to meet gramme. “I tell you what he can’t worried a Syriza victory will trig- Tsipras has promised to rene- austerity measures demanded by ernment could compromise with its immediate funding needs for deny and that’s his continuing ger a new financial crisis in Greece, gotiate a deal with the European the “troika”, raising the minimum its creditors boosted confidence the next couple of months but it association with political extrem- but the repercussions for the euro Commission, European Central wage, lowering power prices for last week. faces around ¤10bn of debt repay- ists from Pakistan despite us saying zone are expected to be far smaller Bank and International Monetary poor families, cutting property Syriza officials have said they ments over the summer. Without please, please, keep away.” Bashir than feared the last time Greeks Fund “troika” and write off much taxes and reverse pension and would seek a six-month “truce” fresh cash, it will be unable to hit back calling the accusations a went to the polls in 2012. of Greece’s ¤320bn debt, which at public sector pay cuts. putting the bailout programme meet the payments, raising the “desperate attempt” to smear him A final result could come in the more than 175 percent of gross Financial markets have been due to end on February 28 on hold spectre of an exit from the euro. to distract from his defection. early hours today but after one of domestic product, is the world’s on edge ahead of the elections, while talks with creditors begin. REUTERS AFP Rebels press on with Ukraine offensive Boko Haram overruns

KIEV: Pro-Moscow rebels, separatists — with Russian back- language ever from Brussels, positions elsewhere along the backed by what Nato says ing, Russian equipment, Russian Donald Tusk, the former Polish front line that winds through the strategic town is the open participation of financing, Russian training and prime minister who now presides two restive provinces, the Kiev Russian troops, pressed on Russian troops — are conducting,” over EU summits as European army said. with their offensive yesterday Obama told a news conference Council president, denounced “Rebels are attacking the posi- MAIDUGURI: Boko Haram of seizing as much weaponry as after restarting the war in during a visit to India. “appeasement” of Moscow, a word tions of anti-terrorist operation fighters yesterday overran a possible, amid concerns of a pos- eastern Ukraine with the first “I will look at all additional with unmistakable World War troops extremely intensively, strategic town in northeastern sible regional counter-insurgency all-out assault since a truce options that are available to us Two connotations. “Once again, using artillery, mortars, gre- Nigeria and seized a military operation,” said Ryan Cummings five months ago. short of military confrontation appeasement encourages the nade launchers, tanks,” military base, as Secretary of State John of risk consultants Red 24. US President Barack Obama and try to address this issue. And aggressor to greater acts of vio- spokesman Andriy Lysenko said Kerry pledged further US sup- Kerry’s whistlestop visit to said Washington was considering we will be in close consultation lence. Time to step up our policy in a televised briefing. port for the counter-insurgency. Lagos came after fears about all options short of military action with our international partners, based on cold facts, not illusions,” He said four Ukrainian serv- The Islamists captured the election-related violence, with to isolate Russia. The European particularly European partners.” Tusk said on Twitter. icemen had been killed and 17 town of Monguno in Borno State, concern about a repeat of post- Union called an emergency meet- Nato accuses Moscow of sending On Saturday, rebels attacked injured in the past 24 hours and which lies about 125km north poll unrest in 2011, which left ing of foreign ministers of its 28 troops to fight on behalf of rebels in Mariupol, a strategic Black Sea that rebel attacks on the town of of the state capital Maiduguri, some 1,000 people dead. Security member states. territory the Kremlin has dubbed port of 500,000 people. Kiev said Debaltseve, northeast of separa- which was targeted in a simulta- has dominated the build-up to the “We are deeply concerned about “New Russia” in a war that has 30 civilians were killed in shelling. tist-held Donetsk, had been par- neous dawn raid. February 14 presidential and par- the latest break in the ceasefire killed more than 5,000 people. Rebels launched new attacks ticularly fierce. “Monguno has fallen, Monguno liamentary vote, as Boko Haram and the aggression that these In some of the strongest yesterday against government REUTERS has fallen,” said a senior military has intensified its attacks. officer, who asked not to be iden- Nigeria is currently scrambling tified because he was not author- for a solution to the problem of ised to speak to the media. “We how to allow hundreds of thou- Six skiers killed in avalanche fought them all night long but sands of people displaced by the Central African they took over the town, includ- violence to vote, which has led to ing the military barracks there.” calls for a delay. Republic minister Another source, who also There have also been spo- requested anonymity, said Nigerian radic attacks by supporters of kidnapped troops were overwhelmed and President Goodluck Jonathan’s forced to retreat from Monguno, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) BANGUI: Central African which has been targeted twice and the All Progressives Congress Republic’s minister for youth before in September last year and (APC) main opposition. and sport was kidnapped yes- March 2013. That came despite Jonathan terday by gunmen in the capital, There was no immediate and the APC candidate, former Bangui, and a second minister response from the military high military general, Muhammadu narrowly escaped capture in a command in Abuja when con- Buhari, signing a non-violence town to the north, officials said. tacted by AFP but militant fight- pact in the presence of former UN The seizure of Armel ers were forced out of Maiduguri seceretary general Kofi Annan. Ningatoloum Sayo follows the brief and Konduga, 40km away, local Kerry suggested there was a kidnapping earlier this week of a residents said. But Monguno’s fall link between the peaceful conclu- UN staff member and a French is potentially significant. Not only sion of free, fair and timely elec- charity worker, highlighting inse- does it remove the last military tions and further US support for curity in the country despite the base to Maiduguri from the north- Nigeria against Boko Haram. presence of French and UN peace east but also gives Boko Haram a “It is absolute critical that this keepers. Tatiana Yangeko, Sayo’s free run into the key city. election can be conducted peace- spokeswoman, said the minis- People carry in a vehicle yesterday in Ceillac the body of one of six skiers, victims of an avalanche a day “On the other hand, it may be fully. The international commu- ter was driving his wife and his earlier in the French Alps. Rescue workers found the bodies of the skiers, six French people aged from 50 to more of Boko Haram overrun- nity is paying very close attention brother back from church when 70, who went missing after being carried away by an avalanche during a trek in the Queyras mountain range. ning the base with the intention to this election,” he said. AFP four unidentified gunmen in a taxi stopped their vehicle in Bangui’s 8th arrondissement, in the north of the capital. “They got out of the taxi, shot in the air and forced the minis- ter out of his car. They fled with Australia simplifies overseas child adoption rules him towards Boy Rabe,” Yangeko said, referring to a neighbourhood SYDNEY: Australia said yesterday that intercountry adoption in the world, accord- The announcement came just a week 317 domestic and international adop- that is a stronghold of the ‘anti- it was simplifying the process of adopt- ing to a government report last year. after a baby boy at the centre of an interna- tions finalised between July 1, 2013 and Balaka’ militia. “We have told the ing children from overseas, setting up a “For too long adoption has been in the tional debate about surrogacy was granted June 30, 2014, nine percent lower than the prime minister,” she added. single body to manage applications while too hard basket, for too long it has been Australian citizenship. previous year and 76 percent down from Later, a government source working on new arrangements with the too hard to adopt and for too long this has Baby Gammy was reportedly abandoned 25 years ago. Australia has intercountry told that Education Minister United States, Poland and Vietnam. been a policy no-go zone,” the Australian in Thailand by a Perth couple who went arrangements with 14 countries, and the Eloi Anguimate was targeted in Prime Minister Tony Abbott said a leader said in a statement. “It shouldn’t home with just his healthy sister. While government said it was establishing new a separate kidnapping attempt in new “one-stop shop” — the Intercountry be that way because adoption is all about commercial surrogacy is illegal in Australia, adoption programmes with the US, Poland Kaga Bandoro, some 300km north Adoption Support Service — will have staff giving children a better life.” growing numbers of people are travelling and Vietnam, and working on schemes with of Bangui. Anguimate escaped advocating on behalf of prospective families The new service — which could start as to countries such as India and Thailand to four other countries. The four countries but his driver, assistant and the and dealing with local state authorities and soon as April — will also seek to reduce the engage women to carry their babies. were not named by the government, but the mayor of the town were seized. partner countries. length of time parents have to wait to adopt Adoption levels have fallen to a record Sunday Telegraph said they were Latvia, REUTERS Australia has one of the lowest levels of children, currently an average of five years. low in Australia, Abbott said, with just Kenya, Bulgaria and Cambodia. AFP MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Aquino visits 30 commandos die in clash with rebels blast victims, Gun battle between Filipino forces and Moro Islamic Liberation activists vows justice MANILA: More than 30 halted major conflicts between the officials said that the target of the are relatives and co-exist in the peace in the long-volatile south- ZAMBOANGA, Philippines: police commandos were killed two sides for years. police commandos was Zulkifli bin same villages. ern region, homeland of minority President Benigno Aquino flew in a clash with Muslim insur- Ampatuan, the Moro group and Hir, a Malaysian terror suspect Ampatuan said his village leaders Muslims in the predominantly yesterday to a southern city hit gents yesterday in the southern military officials said the police known also as Marwan, who has managed to extricate only five of Roman Catholic country, it also by a deadly bombing to comfort Philippines in the biggest sin- commandos did not coordinate been blamed by US and Philippine the policemen’s bodies by nightfall showed how the cease-fire and the dozens of casualties and vow to gle-day combat loss for Filipino their plan to enter the Muslim authorities for several deadly because they were afraid for their foreign truce monitors, troops and bring those responsible to jus- forces in many years, officials rebel village before sunrise, bombings in the south. Marwan, safety amid sporadic gunfire and rebels who jointly enforce it have tice, a spokesman said. said. apparently resulting in the fierce who allegedly has provided bomb- the darkness in the village, which effectively prevented occasional An explosion near a bus ter- Dozens of commandos had fighting. making training and funds to is 2 to 3kms from the nearest road. flareups from degenerating into minal in the port of Zamboanga entered the far-flung village of The fighting in the marshy local Al Qaeda-linked militants, It remains unclear how many a full-blown fighting that could killed two people and wounded 50 Tukanalipao at dawn looking for village of cornfields and coconut is believed to have been hiding in police commandos entered the endanger the peace deal. others on Friday, Press Secretary a top terror suspect, but had a plantations subsided after several the country’s south since 2003. village, he said, adding the death The pact, which was signed in Herminio Coloma said over gov- “misencounter” with members of hours when members of a cease- The two officials spoke on toll would likely increase. March, aims to establish a more ernment radio. the Moro Islamic Liberation Front fire committee and foreign truce condition of anonymity because An initial police report seen by powerful and better-funded The city’s mayor, Maria Isabelle (MILF), Mayor Tahirudin Benzar monitors intervened, Ampatuan they were not authorised to talk AP said at least 37 police com- autonomous region for minority Climaco, has blamed the Al Ampatuan of Mamasapano town said, adding he deployed a team of to reporters about operations to mandos perished in the fighting Muslims in the south and end a Qaeda-linked Abu Sayyaf group, said by telephone. village leaders and guards, who saw capture Marwan, who they said while six insurgents were killed decades-long rebellion. The con- saying it was part of a plot to Other insurgents in the area more than 30 of the slain comman- may have been wounded or killed and 11 others wounded. flict has left 150,000 people dead spring 57 detained comrades from later joined in fighting the out- dos scattered in the battle scene. in yesterday’s fighting. Military spokesman Colonel and helped stunt development in the local jail. numbered police forces, the mayor “What they described to me Aside from Moro rebels, hard- Restituto Padilla said govern- the country’s poorest region. “The government will be said. was gruesome,” Ampatuan said. line insurgents who broke off ment troops were helping the At least four smaller armed unstinting in pursuing those The 11,000-strong Moro group At least two villagers were from the main Moro group a few police retrieve the dead from the groups, including the Al Qaeda- responsible,” Coloma said. signed a peace deal with the gov- wounded in the gun battle. A few years ago because they opposed scene of the clash. “No military linked Abu Sayyaf group, have He added, without giving ernment last year and forged a thousand villagers fled from their peace talks with the government units were involved the fighting,” continued fighting government details, that police were “follow- cease-fire, which has been safe- homes near the scene of the fight- also inhabit Tukanalipao and out- he said. forces and staging attacks in the ing a number of possible leads guarded by a Malaysia-led team ing, he said. lying villages. Some of the Moro While the tragic fighting under- south. that could help them obtain the of foreign truce monitors and has At least two Philippine security rebels and breakaway insurgents scored the difficulty of forging AP identity and whereabouts of the suspects”. He said Aquino flew to ‘Marathon’ activist Zamboanga to be briefed on the investigation into the blast, which police have described as a possible 34 killed in Bangladesh car bomb. “He will personally visit the families of the two fatalities as well as those who were hurt and vote protest violence are being treated at local hospi- tals,” Coloma added. DHAKA: At least 34 people condition,” said Mohammad Sandy Balagamo, owner of a have died in Bangladesh and Sajjat Khandakar, a doctor small hotel and bakery that was scores have been injured, most at Dhaka Medical College heavily damaged by the explosion, of them in firebomb attacks, Hospital, which has been said she wanted a greater police amid rising political unrest struggling to deal with growing presence in the area. fuelled by a stand-off between numbers of the injured. “We are apprehensive about Prime Minister Sheikh More than 7,000 opposition our investment... Our business is Hasina and the main opposi- activists have been detained dying,” she said. tion leader. since the anniversary, Industry “We know it’s not the govern- The renewed political turmoil Minister Amir Hossain Amu, ment’s fault but I hope they could could cause a delay in shipments the head of a government law and help us rebuild.” by the country’s $24bn garment order panel, has said. Insurers had refused to pay out industry, already under pressure The opposition called for on policies over the blast because after a string of fatal accidents. another 36-hour countrywide they considered the destruction a Begum Khaleda Zia, whose strike from yesterday morning to “terrorist” attack, and as a result opposition Bangladesh Nationalist protest against the arrests and explicitly excluded by the policy, Party (BNP) boycotted the elec- “oppression” of its leaders during Balagamo said. tion on January 5 last year, has an indefinite transport blockade Though the Abu Sayyaf has demanded that Hasina and it launched. been blamed for the attack, no her government step down for Khaleda called the blockade group has claimed responsibility a new vote under a caretaker after she was prevented from A participant holds a yellow umbrella, the symbol of the Occupy Central civil disobedience movement, as he pre- for it. administration. holding a mass rally in Dhaka on pares to give a high-five to a group of Occupy supporters at Causeway Bay shopping district, during the Hong Kong AFP Hasina has refused, instead the Jan. 5 anniversary. Marathon, yesterday. A total of 73,000 people participated in the 10km, half marathon and other races yesterday. tightening her grip by arrest- Legal action could be consid- ing key opposition leaders and ered against Khaleda for order- clamping down on critical media ing the killing of innocent people, as anti-government protests said Health Minister Mohammed spread. The violence has wors- Nasim. Khaleda Zia charged with instigating attack ened sharply since January 5, the “They should immediately stop first anniversary of the vote. the killing of innocent people, Police said at least 25 peo- children, woman, labourers,” he DHAKA: Bangladesh police time with instigating such an scores of BNP activists since in Bangladesh and scores have ple have died in arson attacks, told reporters on Saturday after have formally charged Begum attack on a passenger bus dur- the blockade began for various been injured, most of them in including two on Friday. Eight visiting the burns victims. Khaleda Zia, head of the oppo- ing the ongoing blockade pro- offences connected to the cam- fire bomb attacks, amid ris- more were killed in clashes with BNP leaders were not immedi- sition Bangladesh Nationalist gramme,” Habibur Rahman, paign, but the BNP says about ing political unrest fuelled by police, and one died following inju- ately available to comment on the Party (BNP) with instigating a Superintendent of Polices of 10,000 people have been taken a stand-off between the two of ries from a crude bomb blast, they threat of legal action. petrol bomb attack on a passen- Dhaka, told Reuters. into custody. them. added. Hasina and Khaleda have ger bus, a senior police official One senior leader of the BNP, Bangladesh has been racked by The renewed political turmoil At least 50 people were injured, alternated as prime minister said yesterday. Rizvi Ahmed, denied the allega- political violence for decades, and could cause a delay in shipments some critically, after opposition for most of the past two dec- Police said 29 people suffered tions against Khaleda, who is not the latest crisis erupted on Jan. 5 by the country’s $24bn gar- activists firebombed several vehi- ades in a fierce rivalry marked burns in the incident on Friday in custody but still working in her when demonstrations broke out ment industry, already under cles in the capital, Dhaka, and by periods of widespread politi- and nine passengers are in critical office. on the anniversary of last year’s pressure after a string of fatal surrounding districts, police and cal violence. condition. The BNP has been blockading disputed elections. accidents. witnesses said. The United States, the The authorities accuse the BNP Dhaka since January 6 to try to The office of prime minister The opposition called for In Dhaka, at least 29 people European Union and Britain leader of ordering the attack as compel the government of Prime has been held by Hasina or the another 36-hour countrywide suffered burns after attackers have voiced concern and urged part of the party’s campaign to Minister Sheikh Hasina to hold BNP’s Khaleda for all but two of strike from Sunday morning to hurled petrol bombs at a bus, all Bangladeshi parties to engage blockade Dhaka to try to force a an election. The party boycotted the past 23 years and the rivalry protest against the arrests and police said. in dialogue. general election. a vote in 2014. between them is bitter. “oppression” of its leaders. “Nine are in critical REUTERS “She was charged for the first Police say they have arrested At least 34 people have died REUTERS

Nepal lawmakers to vote on charter

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s par- Opposition lawmakers chanted speaker should be pushing for liamentary speaker yesterday slogans against Sunday’s motion dialogue so Nepal ends up with announced plans for a vote on to proceed to a vote, which was a constitution that will last,” Jha a new national constitution to passed by ruling members and said. end a political deadlock, spark- their allies who hold a majority A key sticking point concerns ing fresh anger from opposition in the parliament. internal borders, with the oppo- lawmakers. Maoist chief Pushpa Kamal sition pushing for provinces to The ruling and opposition par- Dahal, known better as be created along lines that could ties have spent years locked in Prachanda, said the move threat- favour historically marginalised a stalemate over the terms of a ened to return the country to con- communities. constitution designed to draw a flict and ruled out further talks Other parties have attacked line under a decade of civil war. with the ruling parties unless this model, calling it too divisive Lawmakers’ failure to reach they abandoned plans for a vote. and a threat to national unity. agreement before a deadline last “We condemn this regressive The constitution was intended Thursday triggered a political cri- and autocratic decision,” he said to conclude a peace process begun sis in the country. in a statement. “This decision will in 2006 when Maoist guerril- Speaker Subash Nembang said deeply polarise national politics... las entered politics, ending an he had decided to press ahead and threatens to push the country insurgency that left an estimated with a vote rather than wait until towards a new conflict”, he said. 16,000 people dead. an agreement could be hammered Experts said a failure to take But six prime ministers and out between the ruling parties opposition views into account two elections later, political and the opposition, which is led risked further deepening hostil- infighting has confounded efforts by former Maoist rebels. ity between the two camps. to hammer out a deal, throwing “I have tried to find a middle “This is a deeply unfortunate parliament into disarray and crip- way that allows... the Constituent development... Nepal needs a con- pling the economy. Assembly to move forward, as well stitution soon, but it’s a mistake to Opposition lawmakers last as (time to) continue discussions draft it without taking the oppo- week sparked chaos by storming for consensus,” said Nembang. sition into confidence,” said his- into the well of parliament in a “Taking all things in consid- torian and analyst Prashant Jha. bid to derail the push for a vote eration, I am taking this action,” “At a time when trust between and pressure the ruling coalition Supporters of the 30-party alliance led by the Unified Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) chant slogans and burn Nembang said of the vote, for parties has collapsed, leading to to return to the negotiating table. an effigy of Nepal’s Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subash Nembang in Kathmandu yesterday. which no date has yet been set. unruly scenes in parliament, the AFP MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Thousands protest against Charlie Hebdo in Karachi

KARACHI: Thousands published a “survivors” issue with in Karachi. JuD Chief Hafiz marched in several Pakistani an image of the Prophet weeping Mohammad Saeed, who is con- cities yesterday against the pub- on the cover, triggering a wave of sidered an abettor of Al Qaeda lication of Prophet Mohammed angry condemnation and protest by the UN, asked protesters not (peace be upon him) cartoons in Muslim-majority countries only to boycott French products by French satirical magazine across the world. but to refuse to buy all European Charlie Hebdo, two days after Speaking at the protest, JI chief imports in protest against the similar protests were held Siraj-ul-Haq demanded Pakistan magazine. across southern Asia. call a meeting of the Organization JI also held an anti-Charlie The largest rally yesterday was of the Islamic Countries (OIC), and Hebdo rally in front of the provin- held in the financial centre of urged the United Nations “to curb cial legislature in the eastern city Karachi by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), the menace of blasphemy” through of Lahore — capital of Pakistan’s Pakistan’s main Islamic party, changes to international law. politically influential and most and according to police estimates “In Paris hundreds of thou- populous province, Punjab — it was attended by some 25,000 sands of people came onto the attended by some five thousand people. streets to support Satan’s agents people. Protesters shouted slogans and in response to that hundreds A few hundred also turned out including “death to France”, and thousands of people have for a street protest in the south- “death to the blasphemers” and come out here on the streets for western city of Quetta. “(We are) ready to sacrifice life for love of the prophet,” Haq said. Under Pakistan’s strict blas- Prophet Mohammed (PBUH)”, Another sizeable demon- phemy laws, insulting the prophet as anger remains potent over the stration was held yesterday by can carry the death penalty, and magazine’s repeated depiction of Jamaat-ud-Dawa, the charitable the country’s prime minister and the prophet. arm of the Lashkar-e-Taiba mili- parliament have strongly con- Karachi has seen the biggest tant group which India accuses of demned the publication of the rallies in nationwide demonstra- the 2008 attacks on its financial cartoons. At least three people tions against the magazine, whose capital Mumbai that claimed 166 were injured on January 16 when Paris offices were attacked on lives. protesters and police clashed at January 7 by gunmen, killing 12 Police estimated that at least an anti-Charlie Hebdo demonstra- people. 12,000 people attended the JuD tion outside the French consulate Supporters of Pakistan’s political and religious party Jama’at e Islami hold signs during a protest against satirical Charlie Hebdo, Charlie Hebdo this month rally against Charlie Hebdo in Karachi. AFP French weekly newspaper in Karachi yesterday. Power failure plunges Pakistan into darkness Rebel attack on a key power line causes outage ISLAMABAD: An apparent rebel damaged in an explosion, officials said, The separatists believe that locals attack on a key power line plunged apparently carried out by a separatist do not receive a fair share of the prov- around 80 percent of Pakistan group in restive Baluchistan province. ince’s energy and mineral wealth, into darkness yesterday, the latest A senior official at the national grid while rights groups accuse the gov- reminder of the country’s crippling station in Islamabad said around 80 ernment of extra-judicial detentions energy crisis. percent of the country was hit by and killings of activists. The power failure, one of the worst the power outage, while a reporter in Electricity was later restored across Pakistan has experienced, caused elec- the eastern city of Lahore said the the country, a spokesman for the tricity to be cut in major cities nation- city’s international airport also suf- national power company said, with wide, including the capital Islamabad, fered a blackout, though flights were all power grids online except for two and even affected one of the country’s not affected. “The fault in the system nuclear power plants which would be international airports. was caused by a main transmission fully operational by the end of the day. It came as a fuel crisis grips the line being blown up in Baluchistan,” “The blowing up of two power country, forcing Prime Minister Minister of State for Water and Power pylons in Naseerabad last night cre- Nawaz Sharif to cancel his trip to the Abid Sher Ali said. ated a backward surge which affected World Economic Forum in Davos. Ali apologised for the outage, the system,” the spokesman said. “It Consumers often fail to pay already and blamed rebels in Baluchistan’s was an act of sabotage.” low state-mandated power prices in Naseerabad district, in the country’s Pakistan’s electricity distribution Pakistan, meaning state utilities lose southwest. Baluchistan, Pakistan’s system is a complex — and delicate money and cannot upgrade infrastruc- largest but least developed and most — web and a major fault at one sec- Pakistani motorists drive on an unlit street during a power cut in Karachi yesterday. An apparent rebel ture. The latest power failure began sparsely populated province, has been tion often leads to chain reactions and attack on a key power line plunged around 80 percent of Pakistan into darkness, the latest reminder after midnight when a transmission wracked for decades by a separatist breakdowns of power generation and of the country’s crippling energy crisis. line connected to the national grid was insurgency that was revived in 2004. transmission. AFP Air strikes kill 35 in North Waziristan

PESHAWAR: Pakistan’s military said militants as “foreigners”. They sought sanc- The army has intensified its offensive it killed 35 militants in fresh air strikes tuary in tribal areas after fleeing the US-led since the Taliban’s massacre of 150 people, early yesterday as part of a major offen- invasion of Afghanistan in 2001. 134 of them children, in a school in Peshawar sive against the Taliban and other insur- The conflict zone is off-limits to journal- in December. gents in the northwest. ists, so there is no way to independently ver- Pakistan described the carnage as its Officials said the air attacks were ify the number and identity of those killed. own “mini 9/11” and a game-changer in the mounted in the Datta Khel area of North Pakistan began a long-awaited push to fight against extremism. It ended its six- Waziristan tribal district, which borders clear insurgent bases from North Waziristan year moratorium on the death penalty in Afghanistan. last June after a bloody Taliban attack on terror cases in the wake of the slaughter at “In precise aerial strikes 35 terror- Karachi airport finally sank faltering peace an army-run school. ists including some foreigners were killed talks. Air strikes, artillery, mortars and Twenty convicted militants have since today...” a military statement said. Pakistani ground troops have all been used to retake been hanged. officials refer to Arab and Central Asian territory. AFP

Govt-PTI talks Protection from cold weather at dead end

ISLAMABAD: Talks between the PML-N-led government and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) seem to be at a dead end after the latter rejected the latest draft suggesting a new ‘scope of inquiry’ for the pro- posed judicial commission on alleged poll rigging, which was sent to the party by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Speaking at a news confer- ence here, the finance minister claimed that he had emailed PTI leader Asad Umar, suggesting a one-point ‘scope of inquiry’ for the commission. The minister said that Umar, who is a member of the PTI’s negotiating team, had assured him that he would respond after discussing the suggestion with his party’s leadership. But Umar said that they had rejected the proposed change, saying that he had already told Dar over the phone that the new An Afghan man sells firewood on the outskirts of Herat yesterday. Afghanistan is experiencing a harsh document was not acceptable to winter season with temperatures falling well below freezing in many parts of the country. the PTI. INTERNEWS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA From cold shoulder to hugs: Unlikely friendship of two leaders

NEW DELHI: At first glance, The US was the last Western had been blocking a global trade China’s rise partly explains their black US president. investments and technology, they might appear unlikely power to end Modi’s isolation agreement, underlining the sense desire to find common ground, In an interview published on in sectors like defence, energy, friends or allies. One is a right- which stemmed from an eruption that the pair could do business observers say it goes further than the eve of his arrival in Delhi, nuclear and national security,” wing nationalist and long-time of communal violence in Gujarat, together. that. Obama said Modi’s “remarkable Suresh said. international pariah, while the the state on India’s west coast While Obama enjoyed the Both men entered office under life story... is a reflection of the “President Obama obviously other is an unabashed liberal which Modi governed until his company of Modi’s predecessor a huge weight of expectation, determination of the Indian peo- wants to revive (the) American and Nobel peace laureate. general election win last May. Manmohan Singh, it was never with grand plans to deliver radi- ple to succeed”. economy, create jobs and for But as Barack Obama and With relations already soured clear whether the mild-man- cal reform that would underline “They both come from simi- him India is a great market Narendra Modi clasped each in late 2013 by the arrest and nered premier or Congress party the sense of a bold break from the lar origins. One represents the that offers him an opportunity other in a bear hug yesterday, strip-search of an Indian diplomat President Sonia Gandhi called the established order. American dream and the other to fulfil the aspirations of his the US and Indian leaders high- in New York, Time magazine pre- shots. “In their first conversation represents the Indian dream,” own people. lighted a bond that observers say dicted last year “the atmosphere US officials say Obama has after Prime Minister Modi’s K.G Suresh, senior fellow at “And America certainly needs stems in part from their humble could soon become even more savoured dealing with a leader election, I think they noted some the Delhi-based Vivekananda an emerging India as a key part- backgrounds and mutual outsider tense” with Modi in power. who, thanks to his thumping similarities in terms of how their International Foundation think- ner in the Asia-Pacific, par- status. But not only has Modi refrained election majority, can get things campaigns kind of changed the tank, told AFP. ticularly in the light of China’s “They defied the circumstances from voicing bitterness, his first done. way in which politics was prac- “Both represent a certain emergence.” of their origins, rising to the top meeting with Obama at the White Obama’s top diplomat, tised in their respective coun- vision, theme and direction of China’s President Xi Jinping of the totem pole,” Pramit Pal House in September went far bet- Secretary of State John Kerry, tries,” said Rhodes. where they want to take their did get an invite from Modi before Chaudhuri wrote in the Hindustan ter than many had hoped. even hailed him as “a visionary While Obama’s predecessor country.” Obama, and even shared dinner Times. “I think they struck up a prime minister” when he made George W Bush was the son of While Obama may come from with his host on the Indian pre- “They are both rebels with a very good chemistry,” the White an advance visit to India. a president, Modi’s main election the left of US politics and Modi mier’s 64th birthday. cause.” House’s Deputy National Security As he issued his invitation to rival was Rahul Gandhi, whose from the right of India’s politi- But according to Indian news- It’s less than a year since the Advisor Ben Rhodes told report- Obama, Modi said on Twitter that father and grandmother had both cal spectrum, Suresh said they paper reports, Obama will get Obama administration ended its ers, recalling how the pair had he was going “to have a friend been Indian prime ministers. shared basic common goals. even more favoured treatment cold-shouldering of Modi, who had a long discussion over dinner. over”. And as the son of a tea ven- “Modi knows that for the vast by becoming the first leader to be had been a pariah in Washington Weeks after that ice-breaker, While there is little doubt dor, Modi’s back story carried socio-economic changes includ- entertained to an intimate dinner and other Western capitals for the two governments resolved that diplomatic imperatives and echoes of Obama’s inspira- ing his ambitious Make in India at Modi’s home. more than a decade. a row over food subsidies that a mutual desire to counterbalance tional rise to become the first campaign, he needs American AFP ‘Gujarati Kadhi’, Investment ‘Bhuna Gosht Boti’ for Obama treaty talks to NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama was served a sumptuous array of vegetar- ian and non-vegetarian dishes, resume: Modi including “Gujarati Kadhi” — tangy curry made from but- termilk and gram flour, and “Bhuna Gosht Boti” — tender Bilateral trade rises to $62bn pieces of lamb cooked in tomato and onion masala, at the lunch NEW DELHI: India and US clean air. We are working on pro- hosted by Prime Minister will resume dialogue on a bilat- viding assistance to all these,” he Narendra Modi here. eral investment treaty as the added. The non-vegetarian menu also economic growth in both coun- Obama welcomed Modi’s recent included “Murgh Neza Kebab” — tries is becoming stronger and reforms to ease doing business in escallops of chicken marinated their economic partnership India. with gram flour, cream and cooked had strengthening, announced “Since my last visit here and in tandoor — “Shrimp Karavalli”, Prime Minister Narendra the address made to your parlia- stir fried tiger shrimps flavoured Modi and US President Barack ment, trade has increased and with tellicherry black pepper and Obama yesterday. we are cooperating on key global star anise, and “Mahi Sarson”, “President Obama and I have challenges. In the last few years fish cooked with mustard. agreed that a strong and grow- the trade between our coun- Modi and Obama, who is the ing economic relationship is vital tries have increased by some 60 chief guest at India’s 66th Republic for the success of our strategic percent and it is going towards Day parade, held bilateral summit partnership. Economic growth $100bn and we want to trade even level talks at Hyderabad House in our two countries is becoming more,” he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in ‘One on One’ talks while having coffee with US President Barack Obama in the here. stronger,” Modi said at a joint In a press briefing later, Indian gardens of Hyderabad House, in New Delhi, yesterday. Other food items on the lav- press meeting with Obama after Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh ish menu included “Shatwar ka their talks. said: “We have agreed to resume Shorba”, asparagus flavoured “Our business climate is talks on high standard bilateral Modi, Obama hold ‘chai pe charcha’ cream soup served with asparagus improving. In addition we have investment treaty.” tip; “Nadru Ke Goolar” — kebab established a number of effective According to various Indian made of lotus stem, stuffed with bilateral mechanisms to identify industry bodies and trade esti- NEW DELHI: It was the “Chai visit, held talks over luncheon chatting all the while. There were figs and spices; “Ananas Aur opportunities and also help our mates, Indian-American bilateral pe Charcha” moment in Indian and later with their delegations no aides to help with the tea. Paneer Ka Soola” — chargrilled business, trade and investments trade is poised to reach $100bn diplomacy. Prime Minister - spread over three hours. The Chai pe Charcha moment cottage cheese spiked with pine- more. mark by 2018. Narendra Modi, known for his Later the two walked outside got a special thanks from Obama apple; and “Paneer Lababdar” “We will also resume our dia- Commerce ministry data shows innovative and more personal to the Hyderabad House lawns, at the press conference later. —fresh cottage cheese chunks in logue on bilateral investment that India’s exports to the US approach to diplomatic engage- chatting animatedly all the while. Modi, the son of a tea-vendor, onion and tomato masala. treaty. We will also start discus- have risen from $9bn in 2001- ments, yesterday took a stroll The body language signalled had devised this campaign strategy “Kela Methi Nu Shaak” — sions on social security agreement 02 to around $39bn in 2014-15, with US President Barack close friendship between the two after a rival Congress party leader unripe banana and fenugreek that is so important for the hun- with the US remaining India’s top Obama in the neatly manicured leaders, and Modi later said that had ridiculed his tea-seller roots. cooked together and tempered dreds and thousands of Indians export destination throughout the lawns of Hyderabad House and personal chemistry between two The talks also saw the two with cumin; “Mixed Vegetable professionals working in the US,” years. Import-wise, the US has also poured him a cup of tea - leaders is important to forge leaders announce clinching of the Kalonji” — seasonal vegetables Modi added. registered a steep rise from $3bn all without any aides. closer ties between their coun- agreement for implementation seasoned with onion seeds; “Matar Obama said: “Our economic in 2001-02 to $22bn in 2014-15. The sight of the two leaders tries and peoples. of the civil nuclear agreement, Pulao” — aromatic basmati rice partnership has grown and Overall, bilateral trade between — one the prime minister of the Their friendship also signalled which would make way for com- garnished with green peas along our economic partnership will India and the US rose five-fold world’s largest democracy and the that the chemistry that had mercial agreement to set up the with an assortment of Indian improve daily lives of our peo- from $12bn in 2001-02 to $62bn other the president of the world’s developed between them dur- US civil nuclear reactors in India. breads were also on the menu. ple. We have identified the bilat- in 2014-15. oldest democracy — chatted with- ing Modi’s visit to Washington Obama’s visit comes just a For dessert, Obama was served eral investment treaty to discuss During 2000 to 2013, the cumu- out aides next to the flower beds last September had grown even month after that of Russian “Gajar Ka Halwa”, a rich, sweet further.” lative foreign direct investment for quite a while — with the riv- stronger. President Vladimir Putin to India preparation of grated carrots, “The prime minister has (FDI) flows from the US to India eting picture of their warmth The two sat down on two com- for the annual India-Russia sum- topped with pistachio; “Gulab informed me about his missions were estimated at $14bn — con- and camaraderie relayed live on fortable single-seater sofa chairs, mit, which saw both countries Jamun” — small cheese dump- of economic prosperity to improve stituting nearly six percent of the television. under a curtained canopy. Modi announce several agreements in lings, deep fried and soaked in the lives of rural Indians with total FDI into India. Modi and Obama, who arrived then picked up a teapot, and defence and energy. sugar syrup, and fresh fruits. bank accounts, clean water and IANS yesterday morning on a three-day poured tea for his VVIP guest, IANS IANS No pressure on carbon emission: PM

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister think about a better world for the greenhouse gas that adversely Narendra Modi yesterday said future generation... There is such affects the climate. the US-China climate deal pressure on all countries and all “We very much support India’s imposed no pressure on India governments.” ambitious goal for solar energy, to roll back its carbon emission, Modi and Obama agreed to and stand ready to speed this but described climate change as advance their goals in clean and expansion with additional financ- a “bigger pressure” that war- renewable energy, declared as ing,” Obama said in a joint press ranted action from all. their “personal” and “national” conference with Modi on the first “It’s my feeling that the agree- priorities, while India urged the day of his three-day visit to New ment, that has just been con- US to lead the efforts in making Delhi. cluded between the United States such energy more accessible and India is seeking investments and China does not impose any affordable to the world. of $100bn over seven years to pressure on us,” Modi said in Supporting India’s plan for boost the country’s solar energy response to a question at a joint expansion of solar energy with capacity by 33 times to 100,000 media meet with US President additional funding, Obama said megawatts. Barack Obama following their that India’s voice was “very The United Nations asked gov- summit-level talks. important” in ensuring a strong ernments on Thursday to submit In a landmark agreement global climate agreement to be plans to cut greenhouse gas emis- between the US and China, the discussed in Paris later this year. sions as the building blocks of a top two carbon emitters, pledged “Perhaps no country could deal due in Paris in December to to ramp down their carbon emis- potentially be more affected by limit global warming, after sci- sions after peaking in 2030. The the effects of climate change and entists said 2014 was the hottest joint plan to curb carbon emis- no country be more important in year on record. sions was ironed out in November moving forward towards a strong “The prime minister and I 2014. agreement (in Paris) than India. made a personal commitment Modi projected global warming So we appreciate its leadership,” to work together to pursue a as a bigger pressure that called said Obama, who is the first US strong global climate agree- for concerted action by all nations president to be chief guest at ment in Paris,” Obama said. “As to ensure a healthy environment India’s Republic Day parade. I indicated to him, I think India’s for posterity. As a move forward, the two voice is very important on this US President Barack Obama plants a sapling after placing a wreath at the Mahatma Gandhi memorial at Rajghat “Global warming is itself a sides also agreed to phase issue.” in New Delhi, yesterday. huge pressure. And all those who out hydro-fluorocarbons, a AGENCIES MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Avoid ‘violence Presidential honour of the tongue’, says president Don’t make religion cause for conflict

NEW DELHI: President building a consensus for the law to Pranab Mukherjee yester- be enacted,” he said in his address day said political discourse that was aired in Doordarshan, that “cuts and wounds” peo- the national broadcaster. ple’s hearts was “abhorrent” to The aspect of women’s security India’s traditional ethos. also found mention in the presi- In his customary address to the dent’s speech Sunday. nation on the eve of Republic Day, Mukherjee said: “...it pains me Mukherjee said: “The freedom to see that Mother India is not inherent in democracy sometimes respected by her own children generates an unhappy by-product when it comes to the safety of when political discourse becomes women. a competition in hysteria that “Atrocities of rape, murders, is abhorrent to our traditional harassment on the roads, kidnap- ethos.” ping and dowry deaths have made “The violence of the tongue women fearful even in their own cuts and wounds people’s hearts,” homes,” the president said, adding he added. every Indian must take a pledge Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, to protect the honour of women he said: “Religion is a force for from violence of any kind. unity; we cannot make it a cause Commenting on terrorism, the of conflict.” president said “violence is seeping President Pranab Mukherjee with US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama before a State Dinner at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Mukherjee once again objected across our borders”. Delhi yesterday. to government enacting laws “While peace, non-violence without discussion, saying that it and good neighbourly intentions impacts the law-making role of should remain the fundamentals the parliament and breaches the of our foreign policy, we cannot trust reposed in it by the people. afford to be complacent about 17 foreigners, NRIs among 104 Padma awardees “This is neither good for the adversaries who will stop at democracy nor for the policies nothing to disrupt our progress relating to those laws.” towards a prosperous and equi- NEW DELHI: Seventeen actors Dilip Kumar and Amitabh Maha Raja, who is based in Padma Shri honour. They will Recently the president had table India,” he added. people from other countries, Bachchan and Punjab Chief Portugal, was among the 75 recip- receive the award for their con- raised strong objections to a India has the strength, confi- including a few of Indian origin, Minister Parkash Singh Badal were ients of the Padma Shri award. tribution to art over the years. string of ordinances - executive dence and determination to defeat are among 104 people chosen for named for the Padma Vibhushan. Former Asian Games gold A glance over Bhansali’s films orders - passed by the union cabi- architects of this war against its the Padma awards. Also among the Padma medal-winning wrestler Satpal, showcases grandeur and origi- net, including the one on the land people, he said. Karim Al Hussiani Aga Khan Vibhushan awardees is senior who also coached inspirational nality and his knack of story acquisition act. a “Repeated violations of the of France has been conferred with nuclear scientist M R Srinivasan, Sushil Kumar, was named for telling. Be it his “Khamoshi: While acknowledging that the ceasefire along the Line of the Padma Vibhushan, India’s sec- 84, who had negotiated on behalf the prestigious Padma Bhushan The Musical”, “Devdas”, “Black” constitution provided for prom- Control and terrorist attacks ond highest civilian award. of India with Russia for supply of award, while national hockey or “Goliyon Ki Raasleela: Ram- ulgation of ordinance in extraor- must get an integrated response Manjul Bhargava, David reactors for Kudankulam Nuclear team captain Sardar Singh and Leela”, Bhansali has connected dinary situation, Mukherjee through incisive diplomacy and Frawley, Bill Gates and Melinda Power Project (KNPP). two-time badminton World with the audience in a special way. had said this route cannot and impregnable security mecha- Gates — all from the US — and Jagat Guru Ramanandacharya Championships bronze medal- Joshi, whose lyrics echoes mel- should not be taken for normal nisms. The world must join India Saichiro Misumi from Japan will Swami Rambhadracharya and list P V Sinhdu were among the ody and originality, is known to legislation. in fighting the menace of terror- receive the Padma Bhushan. three other spiritual leaders, five sportspersons chosen for this juggle between the two worlds of In his address, the president ism,” he said. Jean-Claude Carriere and including an NRI in Portugal, year’s Padma Shri awards. advertising and Bollywood. also stressed on the importance The president also said that Jacques Blamont (France), were also conferred with Padma Former women’s hockey cap- Other awardees in the Art of the parliamentary process in the results of last year’s general Huang Baosheng (China), awards. Swami Rambhadracharya, tain Saba Anjum, Arunima Sinha category are — Kanyakumari making laws saying there can be elections have been remarkable as Nandrajan ‘Raj’ Chetty, George from Uttar Pradesh, was among — the first woman amputee Avasarala, Naresh Bedi, Rahul no governance without a func- people have voted a single party to L. Hart, Tripti Mukherjee, the nine awarded India’s second mountaineer to climb Mount Jain, Ravindra Jain, Prafulla tioning legislature. power after three decades. Dattatreyudu Nori, Raghu Rama highest civilian honour, the Padam Everest in 2013 — and Indian Kar, Tarak Mehta, Neil Herbert “The legislature reflects the “The voter has played her part; Pillarisetti (all from the US), Vibhushan. women’s cricket team skipper Nongkynrih, Kota Srinivasa Rao, will of the people. It is the plat- it is now up to those who have Jagat Guru Amrta Suryananda Swami Satyamitranand Mithali Raj were the other sport- Shekhar Sen, Mahesh Raj Soni form where progressive legislation been elected to honour this trust. Maha Raja (Portugal), Saumitra Giri from Uttar Pradesh, and spersons selected for this year’s and Tripti Mukherjee. using civilized dialogue must cre- It was a vote for clean, efficient, Rawat (Britain) and Annette Shivakumara Swami from Padma Shri awards. Late cartoonist Pran Kumar ate delivery mechanisms for real- effective, gender-sensitive, trans- Schmiedchen (Germany) were Karnataka were among the 20 Acclaimed filmmaker Sanjay Sharma, also known as Pran, has izing the aspirations of the people. parent, accountable and citizen- named for the Padma Shri, a gov- recipients of the Padma Bhushan, Leela Bhansali and celebrated also been conferred the award It calls for reconciling the differ- friendly governance,” he added. ernment statement said yesterday. a home ministry release said. writer-lyricist and ad guru posthumously. ences amongst stakeholders and IANS BJP leader L K Advani, , Jagat Guru Amrta Suryananda Prasoon Joshi were named for IANS

Telangana CM PM’s talent for sound-bytes not matched by action: Tharoor drops deputy, NEW DELHI: Prime Minister a portrait of contemporary India. accommodation while condoning results, whose very fine speeches “Yet, he has ridden to power Narendra Modi’s penchant for Tharoor, the MP from hate speech by party members he and liberal pronouncements at the helm of a party, the inducts Srihari sound-bytes is not often accom- Thiruvananthapuram and a former has appointed as ministers? How appear completely disconnected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) panied by matching action and junior minister in the government does one interpret a PM who from any tangible action plan, which is ill-suited to the chal- HYDERABAD: In swift his very fine speeches and liberal of prime minister Manmohan speaks of ‘minimal government, adequate funding or execution lenge of delinking India’s polity political developments, pronouncements appear com- Singh, says in the introduction that maximum governance’ but is in capacity?” he asks. from the incendiary issue of reli- Telangana Chief Minister K pletely disconnected from any Modi’s speeches and sound bytes the process of running the most “So, the jury is still out on how gious identity that it had built its Chandrasekhar Rao yesterday tangible action plan, adequate since assuming office last May centralised, top-down, bureauc- much we can celebrate the ‘Modi- base on.” dropped his deputy T Rajaiah funding or execution capacity, could certainly have been scripted racy-driven, personality-cult- fication’ of India.” “And his rise to office has from cabinet and inducted MP Congress MP Shashi Tharoor by a liberal, though the gap between dominated central government Tharoor, a former UN under- empowered the khaki-shorts- Kadiam Srihari in his place. has said in his new book. articulation and implementation since Indira Gandhi’s emergency secretary general, says Modi’s wearing ‘cultural organisation’ Rao dropped Rajaiah, who was India Shastra - Reflections on the remains currently wide enough “to rule,” Tharoor writes. speeches and rhetoric appear the Rashtriya Swayamsevak holding the medical and health nation in our time(Aleph, 473 pp, drive a rath through”. “How can one interpret the to recognise and harness a vital Sangh (RSS), whose views on portfolio, from the cabinet in the Rs695), is a collection of 100 arti- “What can one make of a man intentions of a prime minister shift from the politics of identity every subject are totally illiberal.” wake of criticism that the health cles and essays that seek to convey who speaks of tolerance and elected on a promise of delivering to politics of performance. IANS department failed to take imme- diate steps to check spread of swine flu, which has claimed over 20 lives so far. There were also Celebrity wedding allegations of corruption in the health minister’s office. Modi look-alike “On the advice of the chief min- ister, the governor has consented to drop T Rajaiah from the council of ministers with immediate effect,” campaigns in Delhi said a statement from Raj Bhavan. Srihari was swiftly sworn in NEW DELHI: His striking job has become more important. as minister at a simple ceremony resemblance to Prime Minister Obama who is on a three-day visit held at Raj Bhavan. Governor E. S Narendra Modi, augmented by a to India, beginning Sunday, will L Narasimhan administered him close-cropped grey beard, rim- be the chief guest at the Republic oath of office and secrecy. The chief less spectacles and a trademark Day parade on Jan 26. minister and some of his cabinet half-sleeved kurta and Nehru “I see Modiji as my ‘Rama’ and colleagues were present. Media jacket, leaves many Delhiites I am his ‘Lakshman’ (Lord Rama’s was not invited to the ceremony. bewildered as whenever he younger brother). I have come Srihari has been appointed as ventures out a crowd gathers here to support Modiji in his battle the new deputy chief minister. He around him requesting for auto- against AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) in will hold the education portfolio. graphs and selfies - while some Delhi,” Pathak, who not only speaks The chief minister also made are left wondering. just like Modi but also emulates his minor changes in the portfolios. Fifty-two-year-old Abhinandan gestures and body language, said. G Jagdish Reddy, who was holding Pathak, or as he likes to call him- “Modiji is busy with Obama and education portfolio, will now look self, Nandan Modi, is a staunch currently not able to interact with after energy. C Laxmareddy, who ‘bhakt’ (devotee) of Modi and the people of Delhi. So, my job is was minister for energy, has now claims to be campaigning for him to fill in for him,” he added. been given medical and health and the Bharatiya Janata Party A resident of Saharanpur in portfolio. (BJP) in all the 70 seats ahead Uttar Pradesh, Pathak is a physi- Srihari is a member of Lok of the February 7 Delhi assembly cal education teacher and claims Sabha from Warangal. He had polls. to have cycled all the way from earlier served as a minister in the Saba Ali Khan (left), Sharmila Tagore (second left), Saif Ali Khan (second right), and Kareena Kapoor Khan And since Modi is preoccu- his hometown to Delhi due to his cabinet of N Chandrababu Naidu (right) during the wedding of Soha Ali Khan (third left) and Kunal Khemu (third right) in Mumbai yesterday. pied with US President Barack devotion to Modi. in united Andhra Pradesh. Obama’s visit, Pathak feels his IANS IANS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

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Today Tuesday Wenesday Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy Clear Clear Misty to foggy at places at first becomes High: 23° High: 21° High: 24° moderate Low: 13° Low: 16° Low: 17° temperature daytime with some clouds and cold by night.

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MUSCAT 23/19 Clear 24/20 Clear Chinese boys play inside inflatable balls in Beijing yesterday. MAKKAH 36/23 Clear 35/24 Clear KUWAIT 26/12 Partly cloudy 26/17 Partly cloudy BAHRAIN 20/13 Clear 23/13 Clear SANAA 22/05 Clear 23/05 Clear Brazilian actress RIYADH 26/10 Clear 28/11 Clear DUBAI 25/14 Clear 25/14 Clear Haute couture shows Della Costa dead BAGHDAD 22/09 Partly cloudy 22/12 Partly cloudy RIO DE JANEIRO: Maria THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW Della Costa, a renowned HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER Brazilian theatre and TV actress begin in Paris whose career spanned seven ATHENS 14/09 Chance of rain 13/07 Chance of showers decades, has died aged 89, Globo WASHINGTON 03/01 Snow 02/-3 Chance of showers PARIS: After days of men’s hand and tailored to each client. creation today despite the surprise television reported yesterday. SYDNEY 22/18 Rain 23/16 Chance of rain ready-to-wear clothes, Paris Only 14 outlets are allowed to departure of its esteemed Italian The daughter of immigrant Fashion Week shifted up a say they are full-fledged haute creative director, Marco Zanini, Italian farmers, Della Costa was LONDON 09/02 Chance of rain 09/04 Partly cloudy gear yesterday to its marquee couture, most of them highly rec- last November. well-known for her eponymous PARIS 09/02 Chance of rain 08/02 Cloudy event: the haute couture shows ognisable French designers. The brand had been in hiberna- theatre house in Sao Paulo, which ISTANBUL 10/07 Partly cloudy 11/07 Chance of rain that happen only in the French The most recent to be admit- tion for six decades before making first brought globally renowned MANILA 29/22 Clear 29/23 Partly cloudy capital. ted into the very exclusive club is its haute couture comeback a year plays to a Brazilian audience. DHAKA 25/14 Clear 25/16 Clear Italian house Versace was the Alexandre Vauthier, which counts ago. Globo reported the actress died DELHI 17/09 Clear 17/08 Partly cloudy first to step into the prestige whirl pop divas Rihanna and Beyonce Internationally famed brands late on Saturday of a pulmonary ISLAMABAD 14/04 Partly cloudy 13/02 Chance of showers of handmade women’s collections among its fans. Dior and Chanel will show today embolism in a Rio hospital. for spring-summer 2015. Many other wannabes are lined and tomorrow, respectively. Born Gentile Maria Marchioro In all, 24 catwalk shows, includ- up hoping to get in. And on Friday many eyes will be Della Costa on New Year’s Day ing ones by Chanel, Christian Dior Some of the other shows hap- trained on Jean Paul Gaultier, who in 1926 in the southern town of and Valentino, are to take place in pening in Paris are by fashion late last year announced he was Flores da Cunha, Della Costa was Search on for Earhart coming days, filling palaces, muse- houses that have achieved an ditching his ready-to-wear collec- already a model by age 14. ums and more offbeat venues in intermediate status, or which have tions entirely to concentrate on But she swiftly developed a love Paris with celebrities, journalists been invited on a temporary basis. Haute Couture and other projects. of theatre. Encouraged by first and the extremely wealthy women Versace, Valentino, Viktor&Rolf, The biggest hole in the calen- husband Fernando de Barros, plane on Marshalls atoll who can afford the creations Yiqing Yin and Schiaparelli are in dar is Maison Margiela, which has Della Costa made her stage debut whose price tags run into tens of those categories. taken on John Galliano three years in 1944 in “A Moreninha” (“The MAJURO: A search is under Islands President Christopher thousands of euros. “The haute couture label allows after the British designer dis- Brunette”). way on a remote atoll in the Loeak said. France is the only country to a brand to make its name inter- graced himself out of his Dior job After marrying her second hus- Marshall Islands aimed at solv- The aircraft landed “on a small boast haute couture, twice a year, nationally more quickly and gives by making drunken anti-Semitic band, theatre producer Sandro ing the mysterious disappear- atoll in the Marshall Islands and in January and in July. a lot more visibility,” explained comments in a Paris bar. Polloni, also of Italian origin, the ance of aviation pioneer Amelia (Earhart and Noonan) survived”, The designation is protected by Didier Grumbach, a fashion In a snub to Paris and those couple turned their attention to Earhart. he added. French law and attributed exclu- expert and former president of who spurned him, Galliano opted producing. A group of researchers trav- The International Group for sively by the ministry of industry. the Federation Française de la this month to show an “artisinale” Together they founded the elled yesterday to Mili Atoll Historic Aircraft Recovery has Houses — French and non- Couture that organises the shows. collection in London — a decision Theater of Popular Art in Rio in where a small aluminium cover dismissed the Marshalls theory. French — that win the label Schiaparelli, a legendary house that raised eyebrows and that, if 1948 and then the Teatro Maria plate and part of a landing-gear It believes Earhart went down at have to show their high-end founded in 1930 that once rivalled repeated, could cause Margiela to Della Costa in Sao Paulo. wheel assembly, believed to be Nikumaroro Atoll in the central clothes are entirely made by Coco Chanel, will roll out its lose its haute couture status. AFP Della Costa was known for pro- from Earhart’s plane, were found Pacific nation of Kiribati near the ducing oeuvres today regarded as last year. Marshall Islands. classics but which were contro- “We brought more sophisticated A new line of investigation in versial and liable to censorship equipment to find other parts,” the search for Earhart evidence in a conservative country on the said Jon Jeffery, director of tech- in the Marshall Islands involves threshold of military rule. nology and business development Jaluit Atoll near Mili. It was the She also assumed a number of at United States-based Parker headquarters for Japan’s admin- Balloon pilots set off after records television roles from 1969, start- Aerospace, which is sponsoring istration of the Marshall Islands ALBUQUERQUE: Two bal- ing with “Beto Rockfeller,” a soap the search. from World War I to the end of loonists took flight from Japan series about a shoe salesman mix- Earhart, the first woman to fly World War II. on Saturday in a bid to break ing with high society and telen- across the Atlantic solo, disap- “There is an underground hos- world records for distance and ovela “Estupido Cupido” (“Stupid peared in 1937 with navigator Fred pital built by the Japanese on duration for gas balloon travel, Cupid”). AFP Noonan when attempting to cir- Jaluit,” Jeffery said. in what they hope will be at least cumnavigate the world in a twin- “Earhart and her navigator a six-day trans-Pacific flight engine Lockheed Electra aircraft. Fred Noonan were in this hospi- reaching the US West Coast, Marshall Islanders have long tal after they crashed,” he said. officials said. claimed Earhart crashed on an “There might be some evidence The distance record of 5,209 atoll and a group known as Amelia there.” miles (8,383km) for gas bal- Chinese mother Research, Inc. found the aircraft Marshall Islanders have claimed loons was set on the only previ- parts last year. they saw Earhart’s plane go down ous manned trans-Pacific flight, charged for sale “Generations of Marshallese on a small island in Mili Atoll, in 1981, while the duration record people have known since 1937 and others reported seeing her in of more than 137 hours aloft was of baby that the famous fliers didn’t just Jaluit. set in 1978 by a team crossing the BEIJING: A Chinese mother disappear in the ocean,” Marshall AFP Atlantic. has been charged with human “It goes to the philosophy of trafficking for allegedly con- man,” said Ray Bair, an offi- spiring with a doctor to sell cial observer with the National her baby boy for almost $7,000, Aeronautic Association based at media reported yesterday. Mission Control in Albuquerque, The mother-in-law of the Video shows blind mother New Mexico. “You always try to woman initially notified police in attain new heights and distances. central Henan province that she That’s what this is all about.” suspected the child had been sold, seeing baby for first time The balloon, which relies solely a report by state news agency on an enclosed chamber of helium Xinhua said. WASHINGTON: A video that went viral this week showed a gas for lift, is different from hot The woman, who was sur- legally blind mother in Canada getting to look at her newborn child air balloons and so-called Roziere named Huang, had previously told for the first time thanks to vision-enhancing glasses. balloons, which rely on both hot the family that the baby died soon The video posted to YouTube shows 29-year-old Kathy Beitz seeing air and lighter-than-air gas. after birth, said the report, which her newborn boy with the aid of a bulky black headset. Roziere balloons have by far the cites local prosecutors. “For the first baby that I get to actually look at, being my own is greatest range of the three types. The woman had a son from very overwhelming,” Beitz said in the popular video. Balloon pilots Troy Bradley, an a previous marriage and “was Beitz has genetic macular degeneration known as Stargardt disease. American, and Leonid Tuikhtyaev, worried that the new baby would The Two Eagles balloon after its launch in Saga, Japan. She was able to see her new son with the aid of eSight glasses that of Russia, collectively dubbed “Two affect the life of her first child”, enhance video in real time. The enhanced images allow people who are Eagles,” successfully took off after Xinhua said. not totally blind to see the world around them. bad weather and poor wind trajec- occasional hot meal prepared on a have broken the distance record, A couple paid 42,000 yuan “She gave birth and she instantly wanted to see him,” said Yvonne tories had repeatedly delayed their small stove, and will be equipped Bair said, adding that they could ($6,740) for the child, 7,000 yuan Felix, Beitz’s sister who posted the video about the moment. launch, Bair said. with cold weather gear including also attempt to fly further, as the of which went to the obstetri- Felix, who has the same disease, is raising money so more people can They will subsist on a diet that sleeping bags and a heater. craft is believed capable of staying cian who helped find the buyers, access the expensive glasses at makeblindnesshistory.com. includes fresh fruit, freeze-dried If they make it to the US West aloft for 10 days. according to Xinhua. AFP hikers’ meals, beef jerky and the Coast south of Oregon they will REUTERS AFP Monday 26 January 2015 6 Rabial II 1436 Volume 19 Number 6322 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 QCB real estate price index indicates pullback Index jumped 34.6pc in 2014 compared to 2013

BY SATISH KANADY QCB’s real estate index hit suspension or shelving of these the record 263.5 points in 2014 projects means that there will DOHA: Qatar’s real estate during the month of November. be lesser inflow of population, at price value gains have softened According to the Ministry of least in short-term, said another a bit in December 2014 com- Justice data, the total transaction market analyst. pared to the previous month. value of real estate prices stood Last week, Shell announced Qatar Central Bank’s (QCB) QR3.6bn during the month. that it shelved its $6.5bn joint updated real estate price index, Market insiders told The venture with QP’s Al Karaana which tracks Qatar’s real estate Peninsula that reports of shelving petrochemical project. market value, declined 3 per- major projects by the government Market Intelligence publica- cent in December on month- and private entities will weigh tion MEED said Qatar’s Public on-month basis. on Qatar’s rental markets going Works Authority (Ashghal) has QCB’s real estate price index forward. “The market is already decided to place its estimated declined to 255.6 points in witnessing a huge supply-demand $12bn “Sharq Crossing“ project December from 263.5 points in gap. There are reports of several on hold. On Tuesday, SICO November. The data also suggests mega projects being shelved. Investment Bank noted in its lat- a pullback on quarter-on-quarter This might lead to a lower-than- est petrochemical market analy- basis. The index jumped by over expected growth in Qatar’s pro- sis, Industries Qatar halted its 10 percent in the third quarter, jected population rate,” a market plans to build a $6bn chemical market performance,” he said. decision to focus on FIFA-related of the rental market slowing compared to the second quarter, commentator said. plant in September. Another market expert projects will certainly have a down. Prices may start to sta- while it moved just 0.71 percent The details related to either “These projects are expected Abdullah Al Khater said: “In fact, bearing on the rental market”. bilise over the coming months, up in December compared to shelving or rescheduling of mega to fetch large number of extra Qatar was working on the idea LS is a reputed real estate mainly because of the promise of September. However, overall, the projects with a combined value labour force…. “Historically, huge of ‘prioritising’ its project well agency focusing on The Pearl increased supply”. price index jumped 34.6 percent of around $24bn are already on public spending was the main before the market was hit by oil Qatar and West Bay residential Dan said prices have contin- for the full-year compared to the the public domain. A huge con- driver of QCB’s real estate index. price crash. Simultaneous execu- accommodation. Its Sales and ued to rise on The Pearl Qatar, previous year. It hit 255.6 points tingent of fresh labour force Now the reports of backing out tion of multi-billion project has Leasing Manager Dan Strutt, especially for most Studio, 1 and in December 2014 against 189.8 was expected to get involved in from the projects, though tempo- been putting tremendous pres- however, preferred to differ: 2-bedroom units. points in December 2013. these projects. The temporary rary, will certainly reflect on the sure on construction sector. The “We have not seen any signs THE PENINSULA

QEWC reports Minister to head QE’s new board Non-hydrocarbon sector

11pc rise in DOHA: The Board of Directors of Qatar Exchange (QE) was to grow 11.9pc in 2015 restructured and a nine-mem- 2014 profit ber board has assumed office. DOHA: Qatar’s non-hydrocar- note. For 2015, we remain positive H E Sheikh Ahmed bin bon sector GDP will continue on banks and real estate; neutral DOHA: The Qatar Electricity Jassim Al Thani, the Minister of to be robust and is expected to on financial services, construction and Water Company (QEWC) Economy and Commerce, is the grow by 11.9 percent in 2015. and telecom and negative on indus- yesterday reported a net profit chairman of the new board. Construction activities and trials,” the report said. of QR1.53bn ($420m) (net of The decision was followed infrastructure development will The report noted the single most non-controlling interests) for by a resolution issued by Qatar be key drivers, Kuwait Financial defining event in 2014 for the GCC the year ended December 31, Investment Authority (QIA), QE Centre (Markaz) said in its latest market is undoubtedly a sharp 2014, up 11 percent compared to said yesterday in a press note. “GCC Market Outlook” report plunge in oil price, completely the net profit of 2013, according Ali bin Ahmed Al Kuwari, rep- released yesterday. unanticipated. Oil price plunged to a statement. resentative of listed companies, Qatar’s asset prices are on the by 48 percent on back of rising Based on the positive results, is the Vice Chairman. Rashid bin rise, though the overall inflation supplies from non-Opec producers the Board of the company has Ali Al Mansoori, another Board is expected to be moderate at 3.5 (especially shale oil), and subdued decided to offer a recommenda- member, will continue to be the percent in 2015 amidst lack of demand growth expectations. tion to the General Assembly to CEO of QE.. Minister Sheikh Ahmed (left) and CEO Al Mansoori. global inflationary pressures. The Arabtec management debacle approve the distribution of cash Mohammad Hassan Al coutnry’s earnings in the first nine and geopolitical developments, dividends to shareholders, equiva- Saadi (Ministry of Economy & and members of the new board, in the GCC region. months of 2014 grew by 4 per- especially in Iraq, spooked inves- lent to 75 percent of the nominal Commerce), Hamad Khalaf Al wishing that QE will witness fur- The QE currently has 43 listed cent (YoY). Prolonged shutdown tors in June and this was followed value of the shares. Total dividend Maadadi (representative of bro- ther prosperity and development companies and its market capi- of Qatar Industries due to plant by a surprising positive announce- proposed for 2014 is QR825m kers); Fayez Al Boainin ( QIA); under the new Board. talisation is over QR700bn. maintenance had led to contrac- ment as Saudi Arabia said it would (total paid in respect of 2013 was Yousuf Mohammed Al Jaida Established in 1995, the then Meanwhile, QE index gained tion of earnings in commodities be opening up their markets for QR750m). (QFCA); Andre Went and Waleed Doha Securities Market (DSM) 148.62 points, or 1.27 percent, as segment by 26 percent. direct ownership by foreign inves- The Board yesterday held its Jassim Al Musallam are other officially commenced operations it closed yesterday at 11,847.48 “In sharp contrast to other tors. IPO market in the region first meeting of 2015, chaired by H Board members. in May 1997. Since then the points up from the previous clos- regional markets, Qatar index is on a strong revival with Saudi E Mohamed bin Saleh Al Sada, the The Qatar Exchange manage- exchange has grown to become ing of 11,698.86. remained resilient with most sec- Arabia leading the show. Minister of Energy and Industry, ment welcomed the new chairman one of the leading stock markets THE PENINSULA tors ending the year on a positive THE PENINSULA who is also the Chairman of the QEWC’s Board of Directors. The Board discussed the posi- tive financial results of the com- pany during 2014, and adopted the report of the Board for the company’s activities and financial QNB, QBWA sign MoU for better business cooperation results for the year and future planned investments and the DOHA: QNB and the Qatari and Industry, and the Chamber of financial position for 10 years. Businesswomen Association Commerce (QCC). In the private The Board also reviewed the (QBWA) signed yesterday a sector, partnerships involve the offers of audit firms and adopted a Memorandum of Understanding. Qatar Building Company (QBC), recommendation to appoint audi- The MoU will focus on build- Mannai Trading, Qatar Insurance tors for 2015 in order to present ing successful business rela- Company (QIC), and Qatar Life it to the General Assembly which tionships to establish fruitful and Medical Insurance Company will be held on February 17. cooperation between the two (QLM). QNB will also devote The Board discussed develop- organisations and intensifying female relationship specialists ments in the company’s various efforts to enhance women’s con- with years of proven investment projects which are under con- tribution to economic activity experience to ensure full assist- struction and under review. The with an emphasis on SMEs. ance and smooth collaboration major projects discussed were Ras Under the new agreement, with QBWA members. Abu Fontas (A-2) (project is near QNB will host two annual work- Hamad Al Jamali, QNB’s completion), construction of elec- shops to provide financial assist- Acting AGM for SMEs, said: tricity and water station in the ance to all QBWA members by “We continue to support SMEs Qatar Economic Zone, construc- introducing them to the bank’s — the driving force of tomorrow’s tion of a desalination plant and comprehensive range of products economy — and investing in and industrial water treatment plant and services dedicated to the supporting the Qatari people to at Ras Laffan Industrial City and SME sector and working closely help them achieve their busi- the construction of the Ras Abu to anticipate challenges and iden- ness goals and aims. I hope that Fontas (A-3) desalination plant. tify opportunities. this MoU will result in build- The Board also discussed Moreover, the bank will refer ing sustainable relationships Officials exchanging the MoU yesterday. QEWC’s foreign investments in the QBWA members to its vari- with the Qatari Businesswomen power and water projects through ous partners for help and support. Association members and help Nebras Power QSC where QEWC Government affiliated partners generate more business and col- different institutions, including new opportunities for business- set up dedicated business and cor- owns 60 percent shares. include: Qatar Development laboration opportunities.” local banks. These agreements women in Qatar. We thank QNB porate branches in Ain Khaled, Nebras Power is also currently Bank (QDB), Bedaya, the Aisha Alfardan, QBWA Vice will strengthen the relations, for their initiative, and we look Wakra, Al Khor, Industrial City, negotiating the acquisition of Ministry of Information and Chairwoman, said: “QBWA is which will, undoubtedly, lead to forward to a successful collabora- Mesaieed Industrial City, and the shares in several projects in the Communications Technology keen to conclude a number of providing comprehensive services tion.” To cater for all SME enquir- QNB Head Office. MENA region. THE PENINSULA (ICT), the Ministry of Energy non-exclusive agreements with to QBWA members and generate ies and requirements, QNB has THE PENINSULA MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS

Banks pump cash into Chinese housing market France plans DIB net profit labour reform bill after rises 64.1pc, failed talks PARIS: The French govern- ment will use legislation to hikes dividend reform rules on worker repre- sentation after talks between trade unions and employer groups ended without agree- Higher fees bolstered earnings ment this week, the country’s labour minister said. DUBAI: Dubai Islamic Socialist President Francois Bank (DIB), the United Arab Hollande had asked worker and Emirates’ largest Sharia’h- ADCB Q4 profit company representatives to nego- compliant lender, posted a 64.1 tiate a deal to simplify require- percent increase in fourth- ments, such as running works quarter net profit yesterday, as jumps 16pc councils and health and safety it continued to benefit from a ABU DHABI: Abu Dhabi committees, that companies say positive local economic picture. Commercial Bank (ADCB) make them reluctant to hire peo- It is the third Dubai-based reported a 16 percent jump ple. “The government will carry bank to report strong fourth- in fourth-quarter net profit, out a reform and this will require quarter earnings, after Emirates beating analysts forecasts legislation to do so,” Labour NBD and Mashreq last week. as it also proposed a higher Minister Francois Rebsamen DIB made Dh850m ($231.4m) dividend for 2014. said in an interview with the in the three months to December The fourth-largest lender by weekly newspaper Le Journal du 31, up from Dh518m in the cor- assets in the Gulf state made a Construction workers walk past an advertisement board in Kunming, China’s Yunnan province, yesterday. Dimanche published yesterday. responding period of 2013. net profit of Dh1.02bn ($278m) Chinese banks accelerated lending to property developers last year, with loans rising 23 percent from 2013, “Let me reiterate, excessive The bank did not provide a in the three months ending evidence that authorities are telling banks to pump more cash into the housing market to support the economy. formalities are bad for dialogue breakdown of its fourth quarter December 31, versus Dh879m and so for employment,” he said. earnings, so Reuters used its full- in the corresponding period of “There must be a better way to year results statement to calcu- 2013, it said in a statement. organise compulsory meetings late the figure — which was ahead Its earnings growth was between employers and staff rep- of the Dh719.3m forecast by EFG driven by a 17 percent rise in Italy plans ‘bad bank’ for risky loans resentatives and make them more Hermes. income from fees and commis- efficient.” The earnings outlook for Dubai sion to Dh493m, as well as a 22 ROME: Italy is consider- thinking about it, we are consid- of the International Monetary To prepare the reform, banks has been bolstered by a percent decline in provisioning ing setting up a state-backed ering introducing instruments Fund and the Bank of Italy, Rebsamen said he would meet dialling down in the losses many to Dh154m. Total loans grew “bad bank” to help clean up that go under the generic name which both forecast 0.4 percent union and employer representa- faced as a result of exposure to 7 percent in 2014 to reach its banking sector, Economy of a bad bank, but can take vari- growth, and the Organisation tives this week before Feb. 19 talks a local property market crash at Dh140.5bn. REUTERS Minister Pier Carlo Padoan ous forms.” for Economic Cooperation and announced by Prime Minister the turn of the decade, as well as said in a newspaper interview He did not give further details Development, which sees a 0.2 Manuel Valls this week after the strong lending growth as Dubai’s Profits were lifted by a 49 per- yesterday. but said whatever solution was percent expansion. failure of the recent negotiations. economy rebounds from that tur- cent jump in fees and commission Bad loans force lenders to set adopted would have to take Padoan welcomed the Companies say red tape con- bulent period. to Dh1.2bn, which DIB attributed aside money to cover expected account of European Union rules European Central Bank’s new nected with worker represen- For the full-year, the bank said to growth in its corporate and losses. They have become the limiting state aid to business. bond-buying programme to pump tation is a brake on hiring and impairment losses dropped 15 consumer banking segments. main problem for Italian banks, Bad banks generally take over hundreds of billions of euros into investment in the eurozone’s sec- percent to Dh703m. Many banks have sought which fared the worst in a risky assets from troubled finan- the eurozone economy, but he ond-largest economy. The regula- DIB’s Islamic lending activity to boost their balance sheets Europe-wide health check of the cial institutions, isolating them criticised the fact that 80 percent tions kick in when companies hire jumped 31.9 percent year on year through higher fee income as a sector last year. from that risk. of the risks would be shouldered 10, 50 and 300 employees. to Dh73.98bn at the end of 2014. way to offset tighter net inter- Italian banks’ gross “sof- Padoan also said the govern- by national central banks. Consequently, some smaller This was well ahead of the 10.2 est margins caused by record low ferenze” — or loans least likely ment would probably raise its 0.6 “We have to move towards a businesses limit the size of their percent figure for the whole UAE interest rates. ever to be repaid — rose to €181bn percent forecast for this year’s sharing of the risks, otherwise the workforce — keeping it at 49 banking sector in November, the The bank’s board proposed a ($202.83bn) in November, more economic growth, to take account definitive and permanent nature employees, for example, to avoid latest central bank data showed. 0.40 dirhams cash dividend for than double their level in 2010. of the recent fall in oil prices and of monetary union will always be the requirement that they pay Net profit for 2014 was 2014, it said in a separate bourse Asked by the newspaper la the depreciation of the euro, questioned,” he said, in comments for in-house works councils and Dh2.80bn, DIB said in a state- statement. This is up from 0.25 Repubblica if the government which helps exports. which echoed those expressed by health and safety committees ment, up 63.2 percent year on dirhams in the year earlier period. intended to tackle the problem, The government’s current fore- Bank of Italy Governor Ignazio once they hire their 50th worker. year. REUTERS Padoan replied: “Yes, we are cast is already higher than those Visco. REUTERS REUTERS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19

Franc hits home markets ECB’s Mersch North Sea oilfields face calls for capital markets union struggle for survival FRANKFURT: European Central Bank policymaker Yves Mersch called yesterday for the Plunging prices threaten UK’s ‘cash cow’ oil industry eurozone to pursue deeper inte- gration, including a capital mar- LONDON: With oil prices tum- Neil Gordon, chief executive of highlighted the 60 to 80 percent tax kets union that would enable a bling and ageing equipment Subsea UK. “There is confidence rates levied on oil companies. “If company in one country to issue making extraction ever more that it will recover, but that you’ll you look at Norway, they get very a bond in another. expensive, Britain’s North Sea have to go through an amount of significant tax breaks for drilling Describing Europe’s Monetary oilfields face a struggle for sur- pain, until the price recovers.” exploration wells, which encourage Union as incomplete, Mersch said vival, threatening a vital source The recent price fall has only them to deploy that money to do it would be wrong to sit back and of income and energy. magnified existing problems of another one and another one,” said leave the project in its existing The oil industry has been hard high operating costs in the deep Graham Stevens, finance director form. Rather, developing the union hit by crude prices falling more offshore fields, with producers des- of Plexus, which specialises in well- “is a permanent undertaking,” he than 50 percent since June to less perate to trim budgets even when heads. “We don’t get that kind of said. than $50 a barrel. Energy giant prices were higher. money in the UK.” Mersch spoke three days after BP recently announced it was cut- Faced with dwindling margins, With Britain’s general election the ECB agreed a new bond- ting 300 local jobs, mostly in the the majors are beginning to think just months away, politicians have buying plan that will see chiefly Scottish city of Aberdeen, Britain’s the unthinkable — abandoning recently been much more keen to national central banks purchasing oil “capital”. Scotland’s oil and gas fields, which show support for the North Sea, bonds and taking on the risk of Others, including Shell and have seen a 50 percent fall in pro- particularly in Aberdeen where default. The deal has raised ques- Chevron, warned late last year of duction over the past decade. more than half the jobs depend tions about whether ECB policy is similar scale cuts. The publication The BP-owned “Forties” field, on oil. “This is a vital industry,” still ‘single’ across the eurozone. of the oil majors’ financial results which celebrated its 50th anniver- insisted Labour’s Ed Balls, who Mersch, who sits on the six- in a few weeks augurs more bad sary this year, produced around would likely become Britain’s member Executive Board that news, with British subcontractors 500,000 barrels per day (bpd) at finance minister if his opposition forms the nucleus of the ECB’s pol- particularly nervous that they may its peak, according to Colin Welsh, party wins the nationwide vote. icymaking Governing Council, said be deemed expendable. CEO of the investment bank “Labour... will do what it takes to capital-market integration would In anticipation, oil services com- Simmons & Company. make sure we secure the jobs and help spread risk across the cur- pany Wood Group has already cut Today, the combined production the investment which is so impor- rency union through the private staff salaries by 10 percent. of all Britain’s North Sea fields is tant for livelihoods... but also for sector. “A truly integrated capi- The industry has ridden out estimated at 800,000 bpd. “They’ll tax revenues coming in,” he added. tal market would not only benefit previous fluctuations, with prices have to make the North Sea a lot The Conservative-led govern- the European economy because dropping as low as $38.37 per bar- more attractive, and that involves ment of Prime Minister David it would ensure an efficient and rel during the depths of the global reducing the tax rates,” said Welsh. Cameron has promised to include location-independent allocation of economic crisis in 2008. The government for too long has support measures in its budget for A homeowner, who took out mortgages in Swiss francs and is financial resources. It would also “We’ve seen oil prices fall in the treated the oil industry as a “cash the financial year 2015-2016, which facing crippling exchange rate losses after the franc surged, bring with it a greater distribution past and it has recovered,” said cow”, argued several officials who will be presented in March. AFP holds a banner reading “I am sold out by debt” during a demon- of risk,” he said. REUTERS stration in Bucharest yesterday.

Pressure on Emirates debates airfare cut Honda Motor opts for StanChart DUBAI: Dubai’s flagship arline, the airline’s 2014 earnings. That “The oil price fall has given us the Emirates, is studying whether to should offset disruption from run- opportunity to review our whole cut the fuel surcharge it passes way work at its home airport and pricing structure,” Tim Clark said. Takata rival to supply boss to resign on to customers to reflect recent a decline in business with Russia, Emirates is the second of the drops in oil prices, its president he said. three major Gulf-based airlines LONDON: Standard said in The National, an Abu Emirates has been studying the to announce possible price cuts. Chartered’s two largest Dhabi-based newspaper. impact of lower oil prices since Earlier this month, the chief execu- Accord air bags investors have told the bank’s Tim Clark also said the falling November and is likely to introduce tive of Qatar Airways said it would chairman to find a replace- prices — oil is now about 60 per- new prices in April. The new prices reduce its fuel surcharge, without BEIJING/TOKYO: Honda had begun discussions with inflator ment for Chief Executive cent cheaper than it was at its June will take into account the Emirates saying when or by how much. Motor Co has chosen a competi- maker Daicel Corp. Officer Peter Sands within peak — would be “a huge boost” to fuel surcharge and other factors. REUTERS tor of embattled Takata Corp to Since 2008, Honda has recalled months, the Sunday Telegraph supply air bags for the next North more than 13 million vehicles reported, without citing its American version of its Accord equipped with Takata air bags, sources. sedan, the automaker’s best- including more than 10 million in The newspaper said Subsidised market in Caracas selling vehicle, two people with the United States. Temasek and Aberdeen Asset knowledge of the decision said. Air bags made by Takata for Management, which between In the first major defection by a Honda and 10 other manufactur- them own nearly a third of the carmaker since Takata’s safety cri- ers have been recalled because of bank’s shares, had separately sis began, Honda, Takata’s largest a defect that puts them at risk of made it known to Chairman customer, will use air bags made rupturing in an accident and shoot- John Peace in the last few by Toyoda Gosei for the all-new ing metal shards at vehicle occu- weeks that a succession plan Accord, scheduled to go on sale in pants. The defect has been linked for Sands must be put in place August 2017, the people said. to at least five deaths and dozens so he can leave by the end of Honda’s decision to shift to a of injuries. the year. competitor for the most important Honda Chief Executive Takanobu Sands, who has been chief vehicle in its largest market repre- Ito has spoken privately about his executive officer of the Asia- sents a major blow for Takata after frustration with Takata, a seatbelt focused bank since 2006, has a safety crisis involving its air bags and air bag maker Honda groomed come under increasing pres- that forced the recall for more than and had long considered part of sure after a troubled two 21 million vehicles globally. its circle of preferred suppliers, years in which falling com- Honda spokeswoman Akemi according to people close to Ito. modity prices and a slowdown Ando said the company had no Takata supplied air bags for the in growth in many of its core immediate comment. Takata US version of the Accord since at emerging markets have con- also had no immediate comment. least the 2000 model year, accord- tributed to an abrupt halt to a Toyoda Gosei spokesman Shingo ing to recall notices. Honda’s Ando decade of record profits. Handa said the company would declined to comment on the auto- Earlier this month the bank not comment on its customers as maker’s air bag supply arrange- moved to reverse its flagging a matter of practice. ments for the current version of fortunes by closing the bulk of Toyoda Gosei will supply driv- the Accord. its global equities business and er’s-side air bags as well as knee Honda sold just over 388,000 axing 4,000 jobs in retail bank- and curtain air bags for the North Accords in the United States in ing but Sands is under pres- American version of the Accord, 2014, representing just over a quar- sure to cut costs and bolster the people with knowledge of the ter of its total U.S. sales. The vehi- capital levels further. move said. cle is also the platform for other The Telegraph reported that Honda said last month that it popular Honda models. Honda if Peace does not act, investors had signed a deal with Autoliv to would begin using Toyoda Gosei air would ask him to step down to begin making replacement parts bags beginning with the redesigned make way for a new chairman People buy goods in a Mega-Mercal, a subsidised state-run street market, in Caracas. President for recalled vehicles later this year. CR-V and the all-new Odyssey who would oversee the execu- Nicolas Maduro shook up complex currency controls on Wednesday and also prepared Venezuelans for The Japanese automaker also said it minivan in 2016. REUTERS tive succession. REUTERS a rise in the world’s cheapest fuel prices in response to a recession worsened by plunging oil revenue. Fines, reforms force Deutsche Bank to face tough choices

FRANKFURT: Deutsche The term Duesselgate began to worth barely more than half of point,” he said. “We owe it to the earnings stream away from volatile tempted to go in. It’s just not prof- Bank will remember Thursday, fly around the bank’s Frankfurt what the bank says they’re worth. regulators, if we want support for income like investment banking. itable enough,” she said. January 8 as the start of headquarters, one employee said, Duesselgate means that models of that kind, to run it very One disgruntled fund manager Deutsche still faces high costs, “Duesselgate”, a nickname born so scandalised were staff by the Deutsche Bank has hit a turning prudently with low complexity and with a large stake said the group low profitability, and naggingly not of wrongdoing, but from the nuance: Europe’s only global uni- point, one where it may cease try- very high levels of capitalisation.” could easily eliminate 20 percent of low capital levels, and its plan to shockwaves sent by a speech versal bank, which offers every- ing to be all things to all people One scenario discussed inter- its retail branches and cut 10,000 become Europe’s “last man stand- given in Germany’s former thing from deposit accounts to and where a partial breakup of the nally at Deutsche is selling half of heads from its 98,254 staff. “Costs ing” in investment banking has industrial heart. derivatives trading, may throw group is possible. Few doubt that its Postbank-branded retail unit, are too high in the entire organisa- turned into an expensive wait as Co-Chief Executive Juergen something overboard. 2015 will be a brutal year of cost which it bought from 2008 to 2012 tion,” he said. Europe’s recovery stalls. Fitschen stood before some 450 Fitschen did not elaborate and cuts, restructuring and expensive for over €6bn, on the stock market. But selling Postbank carries Its efficiency, measured by the staff and clients in Duesseldorf and the bank has repeatedly said spec- penalties. By splitting off its retail opera- the risk of cutting Deutsche from cost/income ratio, deteriorated wondered aloud whether the bank’s ulation about any sales would be At a discussion later in the Swiss tions, Deutsche would simplify its its roots in the German economy, slightly to 85 percent in the first claim to a universal strategy would irresponsible. resort of Davos, co-CEO Anshu model, raise capital and retreat and is easier said than done. A nine months of 2014, much worse survive. “Deutsche Bank is pretty Deutsche faces eye-popping Jain admitted that of all the busi- from the low-profit battlefield that strategic buyer for a big Postbank than the European average of much alone in Europe with this fines, tough regulations and lagging ness models, universal banks had is German retail banking. stake like the eurozone’s biggest around 63 percent. claim,” he said only weeks after profitability that made it the worst it the hardest. It would transform Deutsche bank, Santander, is unlikely to The European Central Bank’s the group decided to examine its stock market performer among He stumbled after a panelist’s into an investment- and merchant appear, said Eva Olsson, analyst latest effort to revive the region’s business model from head to toe. global investment banks like JP question whether Deutsche Bank bank aimed at companies, capital at Mitsubishi UFG in London. economy through bond purchases “We’re just wondering, what the Morgan and Goldman Sachs in would be bigger or smaller in the markets and investors, similar to “The German retail market is will make cost cutting even more right model is for Deutsche Bank, 2014. Germany’s top bank’s price/ future, but then recovered. Goldman Sachs. It would repre- so competitive that it needs to important as the programme considering our local market and book ratio is around 0.6, mean- “We’re the ones that are com- sent a reversal for a group that has consolidate. It’s not a place where erodes lending returns. our global claims?” ing investors believe its assets are pletely under the lens at this gone to great efforts to broaden its a bank like Santander would be REUTERS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS VIEWS

Samsung’s $63bn cash Should eurozone really pile augurs takeovers BY JUNGAH LEE and ANGUS WHITLEY

hether or not Samsung Electronics Co has BlackBerry Ltd fear demon deflation? in its sights, it should spend some of its $63bn of cash on takeovers. Samsung, which has an alliance with BlackBerry, BY PHILIP BLENKINSOP cutting back on basic purchases in would not match spending cuts problem. “Deflation is one of the Wthis month denied reports it proposed buying the Canadian an environment of falling prices. forced on debtors. most abused terms in economic smartphone maker for as much as $7.5bn. Even so, a takeover would f the multi-billion dollar con- But is there a causal link? Would A further issue is that the policy discussion,” he said. give Samsung the software to help its products communicate, accord- sumer electronics industry you defer buying a car or a sofa eurozone needs varying levels of Corporations can overcome ing to Current Analysis Inc. The $190bn South Korean conglomer- can function fine with con- simply because you expected it to inflation — low in the eurozone mild deflation with increases in ate makes dozens of consumer goods, from phones and televisions to Istantly falling prices, why is be 1-2 percent cheaper next year? periphery to restore competitive- productivity, he said. For govern- vacuum cleaners and ovens. What it needs is technology to link all deflation in the broader economy Also, with interest rates so low, ness and high in countries such as ments with debt, deflation poses the devices together online in the wireless homes of the future. Other such a threat? what is the incentive to save? Germany to let the chasing pack a challenge, but one that is man- potential targets include Atmel Corp and Freescale Semiconductor Falling prices may really be “Personally I think that the catch up. Prices have fallen year- ageable with savings. He points Ltd, whose chips help devices talk to each other, said CM Research more a symptom of malaise rather issue of consumption deferral is on-year for multiple months in to Switzerland as a country that Ltd. “Samsung is a hardware company caught up in a software revolu- than a cause for further grief. not the case, at least in the euro- Greece and Spain and for three has logically chosen deflation, by tion,” said Cyrus Mewawalla, managing director at London-based CM European Central Bank policy- zone,” said Guntram Wolff, direc- of the past five months in Italy, unpegging the franc from the euro Research. “So it needs to make acquisitions.” makers have repeatedly warned tor of the Bruegel think-tank according to Eurostat data, but and so allowing it to jump. The goal is to profit from what’s known as the Internet of Things, of the risk of being drawn into a in Brussels. However, Wolff and German harmonised inflation is Commerzbank says the euro- a world where everyday items, from toasters and washing machines prolonged downward price spiral, other economists say there are now also just 0.1 percent. zone’s problem is not deflation, to phones and printers, are sewn together online and controlled by a danger that has led them to an reasons for concern. First, nega- The Bank of International but “zombification”, particularly devices. The market for the Internet of Things could reach $7.1 tril- unprecedented government bond- tive inflation means real interest Settlements, in its annual report, ECB policy that reduces pressure lion by 2020, research firm IDC has said. “There are many areas in buying programme that will pump rates are always positive, given differentiates between “good” on governments to carry out over- Internet of Things,” from sensor technology to components, Samsung hundreds of billions of new euros lenders do not offer loans at deflation and “bad” deflation. In due reforms. said in an e-mailed statement. “Samsung regards M&A as one of our into the sagging eurozone econ- rates below zero. This dampens the period before World War One, Demon or not, will the ECB’s key business strategies, in conjunction with organic growth, and we omy. Inflation turned negative in investment. Second, falling prices deflations were generally “good”, quantitative easing boost prices? continue to remain open to partnership and acquisition opportunities.” the currency bloc for the first time increase the real burden of debt, as real GDP mostly continued The euro has dropped sharply, The Suwon-based company in August bought SmartThings, a star- in five years in December. But this hampering, for example, Italy’s to expand when prices declined. making imported goods more tup that makes mobile applications to remotely control household is not yet the sustained deflation efforts to stabilise a debt-to-GDP Between the wars, the number expensive, and stock markets goods. And the previous year, Samsung bought Novaled AG, a German policymakers fear, and even ECB ratio of around 130 percent. of “bad” deflations increased, have risen. But the aggressively maker of material to light up a gadget’s screen, and MOVL, which has board members accept weaker oil “It’s a vicious circle that sees although at most times output still increasing money supply needs to developed a service that allows users to share content between devices prices should increase spending the real weight of debt increasing rose, albeit more slowly. For the enhance overall sentiment if con- such as phones and TVs. Those deals don’t go far enough, said Neil power — recognising that falling and the state cutting spending to 1990-2013 period, deflation epi- sumer prices, not just asset prices, Shah, research director for devices and ecosystems at Counterpoint prices do not necessarily stifle service it. That’s the main worry sodes were on average more like are to rise. Research. “Samsung has the vision of how the connected future will consumer demand. of the ECB,” said ING’s chief euro- the earlier “good” kind, BIS said. “If there’s no final demand, be, but still lacks the expertise and capabilities to tie all the assets A prime evil of deflation, some zone economist, Peter Vanden Furthermore, it said that only the you can’t raise prices and there’s together,” Shah, who is based in Mumbai, said. in the ECB warn, is that consum- Houte. This was the debt-defla- Great Depression could really be no inflation. The financial side is Samsung said in November 2013 it would be more aggressive in ers and companies would delay tion theory of American econo- referred to as a deflation spiral. important, but the real economy pursuing targets after spending only $1bn on takeovers in three years. purchases and investment because mist Irving Fisher on the Great Commerzbank Chief Economist has to follow to get prices rising The earnings power from its Galaxy smartphone lineup is fading and they anticipate lower prices in the Depression that reckoned that any Joerg Kraemer confesses he again,” said ING’s Vanden Houte. Apple Inc and Xiaomi Corp are gaining ground. Samsung’s own Tizen future. Sure enough, Italians are increased spending by creditors does not see deflation as a grave REUTERS software platform has struggled to gain traction. “In the near term, it’s hard to see the pressure coming off them from Xiaomi and all the others,” said Dan Baker, an analyst at Morningstar Inc in Hong Kong. “Samsung at the moment doesn’t really have a software advantage.” BlackBerry could “potentially be a great acquisition,” Shah at Counterpoint Research said. BlackBerry has messaging software that could be rolled out to connect a chain of Samsung products, and a soft- ware programme that manages different devices at once. BlackBerry’s QNX automotive software, which enables drivers to make hands-free calls, sports three-dimensional navigation and 3-D gaming for rear seats, is also a draw, he said. Samsung co-CEO Shin Jong Kyun said he wanted to develop the alliance, rather than pursue an outright purchase of BlackBerry. Both denied a report that Samsung had made a takeover offer. While Samsung is the world’s second-largest semi- conductor maker, it still could make acquisitions in this area to boost its capabilities. Last week, sources said Samsung will use its own chips in the next Galaxy S smartphone and drop a Qualcomm Inc unit. That’s a sign Samsung wants more control of the processors in its products, Baker said. California-based Atmel, which has a market value of $3.5bn, and the $7.9bn Freescale, are both feasible chipmaking targets for Samsung, he said. Atmel is among chipmakers focusing on the Internet of Things, developing technologies that help machines talk to each other and building wireless-radio capabilities. Atmel’s chips power washing machines and cookers as well as car doors and windows. Freescale’s semiconductors are used in everything from space hardware to household goods. Other targets that Samsung might consider: Opera Software ASA, a Norwegian maker of Internet browsers for phones, tablets and com- puters, which has a market value of $1.9bn; and closely held AlertMe Ltd, a UK company that has developed technology to control dozens of devices from different manufacturers on a single network, accord- ing to Mewawalla at CM Research. Sensor makers would also make sense as targets, said Park Hyun Je, a creative planner at a research and development center under the South Korea’s science ministry. For companies attempting to profit from the Internet of Things, it’s tough to pick the right targets because the concept is in its infancy, said Avi Greengart, research director for consumer devices at Sterling, Virginia-based Current Analysis. Samsung is willing to spend. The company said it will invest more than $100m in developers of smart technology for homes and devices. Samsung Ventures, a venture capital firm, led a $20m funding round for Israel’s EarlySense Ltd. All the same, takeovers might be the fastest way for Samsung to prepare for the explosion of connected devices that’s expected this decade. When it comes to software, Samsung “looks far behind its BLOOMBERG competitors,” said Mewawalla at CM Research. Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Got a spare billion? Call investment bankers

BY FREYA BERRY and families. But US banks are also deploy- private bankers and fund managers. But deal can be a trump card for investment still dwarfed by income from the foreign ANDREW WINTERBOTTOM ing more investment bankers to focus on since interest rates tanked in the wake bankers because they are willing to tie up exchange division for example. the super rich, whose numbers are on the of the global financial crisis, they have their funds for a long time. But establishing the connection can be he growing ranks of the super rise. At the top end, a study by UBS and been hiring in-house advisers, often ex- “More and more in the context of difficult. In the rarefied world of family rich and their increased appetite consulting firm Wealth-X identified 2,325 investment bankers keen to do business pitching equity capital market (ECM) money, deals between dynasties are still for risk have caught the eye of billionaires last year, up 7.1 percent over with former colleagues. mandates, having access to such anchor favoured. Tinvestment bankers. 2013. They are helping family offices to look investors is a differentiating factor,” The average deal size for office-to- Traditionally focused on companies and BoA Merrill Lynch hired a Goldman for more creative ways of earning a return said Sam Losada, head of International office deals in 2013 was $119m compared institutions, investment banks are hiring Sachs banker last year to look after fam- than simply handing their cash over to Strategic Equity Solutions and co-head to $76m syndicated by investment banks, staff and reorganising teams to cater to ily offices within investment banking, fund managers, whose 2 percent annual of Global Rates & Currencies Origination according to UBS and family office data wealthy clans, from Chinese multi-mil- while JP Morgan asked two of its invest- fees and 20 percent on any profit earned at BoA Merrill Lynch. provider Campden Wealth. lionaires to old world dynasties in Europe ment team to focus on the area. are falling, but not fast enough for some. Family offices offer investment banks “Family offices need someone they and the United States. And banks are also trying to reorient Robert Bibow, Managing Partner at pri- the possibility of a lengthy and lucrative trust,” Haimes said. “You need to go into While some such families have been their structure to seize the opportunity — vate investment adviser Bidwell Capital relationship and are also often easier to each meeting without an agenda, without involved in direct investment for years, UBS created a joint venture between its and a former employee of Goldman Sachs deal with than institutional investors trying to presuppose what a client wants.” many more are just getting interested, investment bank and wealth management and Deutsche Bank, cites one client, a whose decisions are often delayed by In an industry where one professional seeing more potential for profit there department at the end of 2010, and Credit member of the Saudi royal family, who internal committees. recommends “hanging round Mayfair” than in funds or markets. “The global Suisse has also adapted. “At Credit Suisse decided that after 20 years of investing “If they call us with a deal opportunity as a good way to find business, industry scale of this is meaningful so the group we set up a private banking multi-asset in private equity funds to focus only on and we respond in 24, 48 hours, they like figures say investment bankers used to takes notice,” said Philip Higson, Vice class sales desk within the investment investing directly into deals. that,” said Marc Meyohas, whose private cold-calling with ideas need to work to Chairman of the Global Family Office bank, so the client has one point of con- Wealthy families made a string of high- equity vehicle Greybull Capital invests establish rapport. Group at Swiss bank UBS which, like oth- tact,” said Matthew Haimes, Managing profile deals in 2014. The Qatari royal money from his own “entrepreneurial “You’ve got to find points of entry ers, had previously courted individuals via Director and Head of Family Office and family poured $2bn into Deutsche Bank’s industrialist” family, and one other. other than a pitch about the investment its wealth management arm. Institutional Clients. 2014 rights issue, while the billionaire UBS said it expects to earn around opportunity of the quarter,” said Andrew Unsurprisingly, investment banks in Family offices traditionally managed a March clan’s holding firm Corporacion 260m Swiss francs ($297m) in Global Porter, director of research at Campden. Switzerland, the global hub of wealth clan’s day-to-day financial affairs, from Financiera Alba took an 8 percent in Family Office revenues outside the United “Family offices are for life, I always say. management, have led the way in target- paying the heir apparents’ school fees to Spanish airport operator Aena ahead of States in 2014. If you don’t have patience, if you don’t ing family offices, the private firms that dealing with tax and charitable inter- its initial public offering (IPO) this year. Within that, earnings from direct want to engage in a non-transactional manage the financial affairs of the richest ests. For investment advice they tapped Having a family buy into a new share deals grew fastest of all, although it is way, don’t bother.” REUTERS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 MARKET www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

QE Indices Summary QE Index 11,847.48 1.27 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 17,670.4 1.27 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,035.97 0.78 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,050.85 1.20 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,115.15 1.93 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5390.476 23.062 0.43 5447.6 5248.5 QE All Share Industrials 3,752.47 0.80 % QR150.5866 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,305.69 0.11 % Cac 40 Index/D 4483.91 -0.91 -0.02 4484.82 4076.16 QE All Share Real Estate 2,266.8 0.56 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.4988 QR 5.5766 QE All Share Insurance 3,749.5 0.11 % Dj Indu Average 17554.28 39.05 0.22 18103.4 15340.69 QR 2.1114 Euro ...... QR 4.2126 QR 4.2719 QE All Share Telecoms 1,387.7 1.35 % CA$ ...... QR 2.9257 QR 2.9831 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,196.5 1.25 % Hang Seng Inde/D 24522.63 170.05 0.7 24373.28 23312.5 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 4.2419 QR 4.3045 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5381.11 -8.97 -0.17 5390.08 5072.7 Yen ...... QR 0.0307 QR 0.0313 Aus$ ...... QR 2.9324 QR 2.9911 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 34146.97 -182.53 -0.53 34395.19 32134.82 CRUDE OIL 25-01-2015 22-01-2015 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0586 QR 0.0597 Index 11,847.48 11,698.86 Nikkei 225 Index 17329.02 48.54 0.28 17540.92 16592.57 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0358 QR 0.0366 Change 148.62 150.77 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0816 QR 0.0832 S&P 500 Index/D 0 0 0 2093.55 1737.92 % 1.27 1.27 $ 48.79 SL Re ...... QR 0.0273 QR 0.0279 YTD% 3.57 4.78 Straits Times/D 3370.29 15.83 0.47 3375.13 3267.89 Taka ...... QR 0.0463 QR 0.0473 Volume 6,699,178 10,284,132 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0366 QR 0.0373 Value (QAR) 350,346,196.06 517,153,886.43 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3143 QR 0.3205 Trades 4,752 6,458 $ 44.13 Up 27 | Down 13 | Unchanged 01 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 25-01-2015

US banks resign themselves to lower yields for longer

BY PETER RUDEGEAIR Marty Mosby, a bank analyst at can affect banks in multiple ways. In a shift for how it views its Vining Sparks. Almost all major US banks have For a big chunk of banks’ invest- interest-rate exposure, PNC, S banks, after spend- Those estimated costs come ment portfolios, falling yields will which had previously said it ing much of the last from banks refraining from received far more money from boost banks’ capital levels, which was giving up $200m each year Uyear bracing themselves investing customer deposits in is a positive. And if the Federal by not investing its extra cash, for higher bond yields, are now longer-term bonds, and hold- depositors than they can actually Reserve lifts short-term rates, has begun to use derivatives to resigning themselves to at least ing the funds instead in cash or banks’ floating-rate loans will increase its revenues until it another few quarters of low rates, short-term investments, which lend out, and instead of putting all of generate more income. a rate hike finally comes, said executives and analysts say. offer much lower returns. But recent drops in yields are Kevin Barker, a bank analyst Banks including Wells Fargo & In addition to foregone rev- that extra cash to work by investing clearly cutting into earnings, at Compass Point Research & Co and PNC Financial Services enue, the strategy is also having hurting returns on both bond Trading, LLC. Group are contemplating steps more tangible costs. investments and fixed-rate loans. There is another option for like investing their extra cash at In the fourth quarter, Bank in bonds, many decided to hold off at Banks will not usually compen- other banks for boosting prof- current low yields or using deriva- of America Corp marked down sate for lower bond yields by its that does not rely on mar- tives that pay off if rates stay low. a bond portfolio that it uses least some of their investments until buying riskier securities such as ket conditions: trimming costs. “We are seeing more manage- to hedge interest rate risk by junk bonds, because they prefer Senior executives at JPMorgan ment teams acknowledging the around $600m, leading it to miss yields rose, so they could earn more. to take credit risk in their loan Chase & Co are pressing their prospect and reality that we analysts expectations. books. underlings to look at ways to cut remain in a lower for longer envi- Regions Financial Corp said decided to hold off at least some Bond yields in the United The earnings pressure from expenses more aggressively, a ronment,” said Christopher Lee, on Tuesday that its net interest of their investments until yields States have fallen in recent low interest rates is weighing person familiar with the matter a portfolio manager who special- margin, a measure of how prof- rose, so they could earn more. months for a series of reasons, on bank shares, according to told Reuters on January 14. izes in financial companies at itably it loans out its deposits, For much of last year, investors including investors’ increasing Fidelity’s Lee. The KBW index of But some bank executives said, Fidelity Investments, which has would decline even more in 2015 expected the Fed to start raising pessimism about the pace of bank stocks was down 9.99 per- even if rates stay lower for longer $1.15 trillion invested in stocks than it did in 2014 if rates stay rates in 2015. If driven by height- economic growth in Europe and cent since the beginning of 2015, than anticipated, that making across the world, in an e-mail. low this year. Some loans that ened inflation expectations, those China, lowering yields around over five times the 1.77 percent their balance sheets ready today Lee added in a telephone inter- banks make, including mort- rate hikes could lift longer-term the world and making the United decline in the S&P 500. for higher rates is a form of view that “over time, you’ve got gages, carry fixed rates, which bond yields. States look relatively attrac- Some executives are planning cheap insurance against a scarier to throw the towel in” if the ben- in the current environment will But as bond prices have risen tive. Concerns about worldwide to act sooner rather than later. scenario. efits of rising rates keep failing to generate lower returns for their and yields have fallen in recent growth have also increased A scenario where bond yields “We’re going to be very materialize. whole lives for lenders. weeks, banks’ potential returns the appeal of US bonds as a stay lower-for-longer “probably patient,” JPMorgan Chief Positioning for higher rates Almost all major US banks have slipped as well. safe-haven. emboldens us a little bit addi- Executive Jamie Dimon told has cost the 20 largest US banks have received far more money “They’re stuck waiting for an The 10-year US Treasury yield tionally to convert what’s cash reporters last week. “There’s far somewhere between $2.5bn and from depositors than they can event that may or may not hap- was 1.87 percent on Thursday, a today into over the course of the more downside with rapid rates $3bn of income each quarter, actually lend out, and instead of pen any time soon,” said Nancy steep drop from September, when year,” Wells Fargo finance chief rising and rising too much than roughly 6 percent of their col- putting all of that extra cash to Bush, a bank analyst at NAB it stood at 2.6 percent. John Shrewsberry told analysts anything else for us.” lective profits before taxes, said work by investing in bonds, many Research LLC. Shifting rates and bond yields last week. REUTERS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Irrepressible Patriots accept no blame, Vonn adds 64th jewel to her crown ST MORITZ, Switzerland: say they followed all rules Lindsey Vonn (pictured) added a 64th jewel to her World Cup crown when she won a Super-G NFL investigating why footballs in Colts’ game were under-inflated in St Moritz yesterday, her last race before the world champion- ships at home in Beaver Creek FOXBOROUGH, USA: The that atmospheric conditions could until it concluded the investiga- next week. New England Patriots yesterday affect ball pressure. tion and considered all of the rel- American Vonn avenged a said they had followed “every “When the footballs go out on evant evidence. disappointing 23rd place in rule to the letter” and accepted to the field in the game condi- Under NFL rules, no altera- Saturday’s downhill with her fifth no blame for using footballs that tions, whatever those conditions tion of game balls, which must be victory of the season, the second were under-inflated in their are ... that’s where the measure- inflated to between 12.5 and 13.5 in a Super-G. AFC championship win over the ments would possibly be different pounds per square inch, is allowed The most successful woman Indianapolis Colts six days ago. than what they are in a control- once they are approved. skier of all time clocked 1:23.55 The victory earned the Patriots led environment,” the coach told Patriots quarterback Tom to leave Austrian Anna Fenninger, a spot in the February 1 Super reporters. Brady threw three touchdown the discipline’s Olympic cham- Bowl against the defending cham- “We found that once the passes during Sunday’s game pion, 0.24 adrift. pion Seattle Seahawks. footballs were on the field for in wet conditions where a firm Third-placed Nicole Hosp of The National Football League an extended period of time ... grip on a slippery ball could have Austria finished more than a sec- is investigating why balls used they were down approximately helped. ond off the pace, 1.10 behind. by the Patriots against the Colts 1.5 pounds per square inch. So Both Brady and Belichick have “I’m so happy to celebrate my were under inflated. atmospheric conditions as well as said they knew nothing about the 64th victory. It was not an easy “I believe now 100 percent that the true equilibrium of the ball deflated ball issue until Monday. race, as we saw with so many I have personally, and we as an are critical to the measurement. “Anyone who has seen us girls going out. There were lots organization, have absolutely fol- “At no time were any of our practise knows that we make it of bumps. I had to ski aggressive lowed every rule to the letter,” footballs prepared anywhere other harder, not easier, to handle the and tactical at the same time,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick than in the locker room or in an ball,” Belichick said on Saturday. Vonn said. told a news conference. area very close to that. Never in a “Our players train in conditions “I was at my limits just like yes- “At no time was there any heated room or heated condition that a lot of people would recom- terday only this time it paid off. intent — whatsoever — to try and ... that just didn’t happen.” mend that we not drive in. I was lucky,” compromise the integrity of the An NFL spokesman said the “This team was the best team she added. game. We try to do everything league would have no comment on in the AFC during the regular Her path New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick (left) stands on the right and err on caution.” Belichick’s remarks and declined season, we won two games in the to victory was sidelines during a time-out of the AFC Championship Game against the Belichick said he had spent a lot to say when the NFL investiga- playoffs against two good foot- partly eased Indianapolis Colts at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, of time this week experimenting tion would be completed. ball teams ... the best team in the by the fact on January 18. with the preparation of footballs The league had said on Friday postseason and that’s what this that three of for games and had discovered it would not make any judgments team is.” REUTERS her most dan- gerous rivals at the start failed to com- plete the run, held in tough wind and visibility conditions. Ice hockey World Cup to return in 2016 Swiss Lara Gut dominated Saturday’s downhill but finished NEW YORK: The World Cup Finland, Russia, Sweden and the such a good start that we’re going the Super-G in the safety nets of Hockey will return, after a United States. to build off of it.” after crashing mid-course. 12-year absence, in 2016 when “The 2016 World Cup of Hockey The World Cup of Hockey, World Cup leader Tina Maze of eight teams will compete for will highlight not only our glo- which was last staged in 2004 just Slovenia and Liechtenstein’s Tina the trophy in Toronto, the bal reach, but also the skill and before the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Weirather missed gates as they National Hockey League (NHL) passion of the world’s best ath- is scheduled to be played on NHL- looked in contention for podium announced on Saturday. letes,” NHL Commissioner Gary sized rinks using league rules and places. A joint effort of the NHL and Bettman said in a statement. officiated by league officials. Maze still leads the overall the National Hockey League “We would like to thank our It adds a new wrinkle with standings with a 184-point lead Players’ Association in collabo- international partners — the IIHF regard to the likely future par- over big globe holder Fenninger ration with the International and their members — for their ticipation of NHL players at the with Vonn third, 339 points Ice Hockey Federation, the 2016 cooperation in helping to make Winter Olympics. behind. World Cup will feature for the this event a reality.” The 2018 Winter Olympics Vonn will have little time to rest first time two teams comprising Bettman told reporters later on will be held in South Korea and on her laurels as the women’s pro- multi-national players. Saturday that the NHL would like the NHL has not yet decided gramme at the world champion- Team North American to see the World Cup of Hockey whether it will permit its players ships starts with the speed events Youngstars will be made up of staged every four years. to compete at the Pyeongchang with the Super-G on Tuesday and the best players under the age “We decided that bringing back Games due to the lengthy break the downhill on Friday. of 23 from Canada and the U.S. the World Cup was vitally impor- that would interrupt the league’s In Kitzbuehel, local favour- while Team Europe will comprise tant,” he said. “We think the regular season. ite Marcel Hirscher was denied under-23 players from outside the sports world was missing some- “This (World Cup of Hockey) victory by Sweden’s Matthias Czech Republic, Finland, Russia thing really great by not having decision has no bearing on Hargin, who won the day’s slalom and Sweden. our players play this type of best- whether we will return to the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman speaks during a press conference in 1:43.10 for his maiden World The other six teams scheduled on-best competition. next Olympics ... something as part of the 2015 NHL All-Star Weekend at the Nationwide Arena in Cup victory at 29. to compete from Sept. 17-Oct. 1, “We’re going to let this evolve. we still have to discuss,” said Columbus, Ohio, on Saturday night. Hirscher was second, 0.49 2016 are Canada, Czech Republic, We believe after giving the event Bettman. REUTERS adrift, with slalom World Cup leader Felix Neureuther a further 0.14 off the pace in third. “I must admit I was really nerv- Predators’ Weber wins hardest shot competition ous. It’s always stressful to ski in Austria and this is not an ideal COLUMBUS: Canada’s Nashville Predators defense- Slovakia’s Chara was not Chicago’s Brent Seabrook was selected third overall by Tampa course for me,” said Hirscher, Olympic star Shea Weber blitzed man Weber, who missed the net named to the 2015 NHL all-star fourth at 98.6. San Jose’s Brent Bay in the 2013 NHL draft, won who still extended his overall the field in the hardest shot on his first attempt, easily beat game so was unable to defend his Burns rounded out the top five the fastest skater competition by World Cup lead to 162 points over event Saturday as the National runner-up Alex Ovechkin of the title. at 97.3. recording a time of 13.10. Norway’s Kjetil Jansrud, win- Hockey League’s all-star skills Washington Capitals who finished The unofficial all-time record The all-star game is making Chicago’s Patrick Kane was ner of Saturday’s Hahnenkamm competition made a triumphant with a 101.4 mph blast. is held by Chicago Blackhawks a comeback this season after a the quickest to destroy the four downhill. REUTERS return after a two-year absence. Weber helped lead Canada to legend Bobby Hull who took a two-year hiatus. There was no targets in the accuracy challenge The 29-year-old Weber’s shot a gold medal in the men’s ice slapshot that went 118.3 mph but event last season because of the with a time of 13.52 seconds. was clocked at 108.5 mph (175 hockey competition at the 2014 that was measured back when the Olympics and in 2013 it was can- The NHL all-star game takes Women’s World kph) as he finished just a shade Sochi Olympics. He also won a technology wasn’t as good. celed due to a labor dispute which place Sunday at Nationwide off the all-star record of 108.8mph gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Tampa Bay’s Steven Stamkos resulted in a lockout shortened Arena, the home of the Columbus Cup Results set by Zdeno Chara in 2012. games. finished third at 98.8 while season. Jonathan Drouin, who was Blue Jackets. AFP Women’s World Cup alpine skiing results yesterday after the super-Gin Saint-Moritz: 1. Lindsey Vonn (USA) 1:23.55, 2. Anna Fenninger (AUT) 1:23.79, 3. Nicole Hosp (AUT) 1:24.65, 4. Kajsa Kling (SWE) 1:25.03, Hornets beat Melo-less Knicks 76-71 5. Cornelia Huetter (AUT) 1:25.10, 6. Nicole Schmidhofer (AUT) 1:25.35, 7. Ragnhild Mowinckel (NOR) 1:25.40, 8. Regina Mader CHARLOTTE: Brian Roberts O.J. Mayo scored 20 points, (AUT) 1:25.54, 8. Viktoria Rebensburg (GER) scored 17 points, and the NBA Results and Milwaukee relied on perim- 1:25.54, 10. Francesca Marsaglia (ITA) 1:25.55, Charlotte Hornets beat the New Charlotte 76 NY Knicks 71 eter shooting and defense in a win 11. Elena Fanchini (ITA) 1:25.61, 12. Marie York Knicks, 76-71, on Saturday Milwaukee 101 Detroit 86 over Detroit. Marchand-Arvier (FRA) 1:25.62, 13. Valerie night for their ninth victory in Memphis 101 Philadelphia 83 The Bucks went 11-for-17 from Grenier (CAN) 1:25.64, 14. Elena Curtoni (ITA) the last 11 games. 3-point range, including a 4-for-5 Utah 108 Brooklyn 73 1:25.66, 15. Mirjam Puchner (AUT) 1:25.76 Roberts, who started in place performance from Mayo. The Portland 103 Washington 96 Disqualified: Elisabeth Goergl (AUT), Tina of the injured Kemba Walker, was reserve guard made three 3s in Maze (SLO) 5-of-9 from the field and made all a 47-second span of the second Did not finish: Tina Weirather (LIE), Lara Gut six free throws as the Hornets Marvin Williams (concussion) quarter to spark an 18-2 run that (SUI), snapped the Knicks’ three-game and Bismack Biyombo (knee gave Milwaukee a 54-40 lead with winning streak. bruise) left the game early with 4:27 left in the second quarter. World Cup Standings The Knicks played without injuries and did not return. Milwaukee also opened the Carmelo Anthony, nicknamed The Hornets were coming off a second half with a 17-2 run. The Overall (after 20 of 32 races) Melo, who was held out to rest sluggish 39-point loss to LeBron Bucks led by as much as 30 in 1. Tina Maze (SLO) 985 pts, 2. Anna Fenninger his knee on the second night of a James and the Cleveland Cavaliers the third quarter of a rare easy (AUT) 801, 3. Lindsey Vonn (USA) 646, 4. back-to-back. on Friday night, and that lack of victory. Mikaela Shiffrin (USA) 605, 5. Frida Hansdotter Tim Hardaway Jr. led the energy seemed to carry over early Detroit’s Brandon Jennings (SWE) 459, 6. Viktoria Rebensburg (GER) 453, Knicks with 25 points and Lance against the Knicks. scored 16 points before leaving 7. Lara Gut (SUI) 450, . Kathrin Zettel (AUT) Thomas had 16 points and eight Charlotte shot 16.7 percent late in the third with a lower left 450, 9. Elizabeth Görgl (AUT) 441, 10. Nicole rebounds. from the field to open the game, leg injury. Hosp (AUT) 405 Walker missed his third game missing 24 of their first 29 shots. Grizzlies 101, 76ers 83 Super-G (after four of seven races) Charlotte Hornets’ center Al Jefferson (left) tries to block the New York in the last five after his knee However, the Knicks couldn’t Zach Randolph had 17 points 1. Lindsey Vonn (USA) 280 pts, 2. Anna Knicks’ center Cole Aldrich during the first-half of an NBA game at Time flared up. take advantage and only led by and 14 rebounds and Jeff Green Fenninger (AUT) 272, 3. Lara Gut (SUI) 190, 4. Cornelia Huetter (AUT) 172, 5. Tina Maze Warner Cable Arena in Charlotte, North Carolina, on Saturday night. The injury news got worse one at halftime. scored 18 as Memphis coasted for the Hornets when big men Bucks 101, Pistons 86 over Philadelphia. AGENCIES (SLO) 170 MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 Rusty Mickelson fritters Balotelli needs to improve: Rodgers

LONDON: Out-of-favour training and I have to judge it on Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli that. away chance to go low needs to improve in training “If you want to contribute you if he wants to get back into have to be at it every single day the squad, manager Brendan in training in order to be in the American left-hander finishes with a four-under-par 68 Rodgers has said. squad on matchday,” the manager Italian Balotelli, who is yet to added. score a league goal in 12 appear- Liverpool will welcome back LA QUINTA, California: Phil ances since his 16 million pounds England striker Daniel Sturridge, Mickelson has been a little rusty US PGA Tour Humana ($23.98m) move from AC Milan in who has suffered a series of inju- with his usually renowned short August, was left out of the squad ries since August, to first team game in his first PGA Tour Challenge Scores that drew 0-0 with second-tier training on Sunday. event in four months and he Bolton Wanders at Anfield in the Rodgers said the 25-year-old, Scores from the US PGA Tour squandered the chance to shoot FA Cup fourth round on Saturday. who struck 21 league goals as Humana Challenge at the par- a low score at the Humana Liverpool started the game Liverpool finished runners-up in 72 course on Saturday in La Challenge with some untidy play without a recognised striker on the Premier League last season, Quinta, California on Saturday. the pitch, later introducing for- has an outside chance of featuring Though the American left- 199 Bill Haas (US) 67 63 69; Justin ward Fabio Borini while target in Tuesday’s League Cup semi- hander piled up eight birdies in Thomas (US) 68 63 68; Michael man Rickie Lambert remained final second-leg at Chelsea. the third round, he also carded Putnam (US) 63 67 69; Erik Compton on the bench. Sturridge’s return will fur- four bogeys to finish with a four- (US) 66 66 67 Rodgers revealed after the ther dent Balotelli’s hopes of a under-par 68 on the Palmer 200 Matt Kuchar (US) 65 64 71; Ryan match that the 24-year-old return to action but Rodgers Private course at PGA West. Palmer (US) 71 61 68; Scott Pinckney Balotelli had not done enough in said the Italian understood that “The little nuances of getting (US) 64 67 69; Steve Wheatcroft (US) training to warrant inclusion for he must up his game to compete the ball in the hole have been 65 67 68 the cup tie. with Liverpool’s other attacking slightly off but it was a day today 202 Rory Sabbatini (South Africa) 71 68 “He knows exactly what is options. that could have been really low,” 63; Alex Cejka (Germany) 68 64 70; required to be in this squad before “It is difficult for him Mickelson told Golf Channel after Nick Watney (US) 67 64 71; Patrick he can be in the team,” Rodgers (Balotelli) but he knows the level finishing at 11-under 205, six Reed (US) 65 70 67; Martin Laird said of the striker. of (where) this team is at — you strokes off the tournament lead. (Britain) 68 66 68; Francesco Molinari “I am judging it every day in see the aggression in our pressing “It had a lot of potential and I (Italy) 64 71 67; Park Sung-Joon training — Mario is exactly the and if you can’t do that you ended up making too many bogeys (South Korea) 68 67 67 same as every other player, there are not going to be a part of and letting some birdie opportu- 203 Brendan Steele (US) 67 68 68; Charley is no special treatment for anyone. what this team is trying to nities slide. Hoffman (US) 71 63 69; Lucas Glover “Borini and Lambert are work- achieve,” the Northern Irishman “But I am looking forward to (US) 68 69 66; Jason Kokrak (US) 65 ing tirelessly in training and when explained. tomorrow’s round and getting 68 70; Billy Horschel (US) 71 67 65; they go on they have contributed “We had an hour or so yester- that one more round under my John Peterson (US) 64 70 69; Steven and young Jordan Rossiter, on the day chatting and he understands belt of competitiveness and see if Alker (New Zealand) 68 66 69; Boo bench today, has been brilliant in where he is at.” REUTERS I can get it all to kind of fire.” Weekley (US) 70 66 67 Five-times major winner 204 George McNeill (US) 68 68 68; Mickelson has not competed on Phil Mickelson of the United States tees off on the 18th hole during Graham DeLaet (Canada) 68 70 66; the PGA Tour since he withdrew Ronaldo suspension round three of the Humana Challenge in Partnership with The Clinton Martin Flores (US) 68 65 71; Webb from the BMW Championship Foundation on the Arnold Palmer Private Course at PGA West in La Simpson (US) 70 66 68; David Toms after two rounds in September, Quinta, California, on Saturday. (US) 68 71 65 saying he wanted to rest for the worry for Real Madrid Ryder Cup that was played later usually plays on the West Coast — accommodate theirs. Insurance Open in San Diego. that month. the AT&T Pebble Beach National “So I will miss two tournaments “Phoenix is going to be a lot Back in action four months Pro-Am and the Northern Trust that I really love, AT&T and LA, of fun and San Diego, being my BARCELONA: A suspension Twitter after the game but he is later, he now has one eye focused Open at Riviera. but I’ll add some more later on home town, will be a good week as for Cristiano Ronaldo (pic- now likely to be suspended for the on his preparations for the sea- “My kids have two different and will be ready to go hopefully well,” he said. “I’m excited about tured) is the latest concern for next two matches against Real son’s opening major, the April spring break weeks,” said the for the Masters.” where my game is at. I just need coach Carlo Ancelotti whose Sociedad and Sevilla but could 9-12 Masters at Augusta National. 44-year-old Californian. “They Mickelson has already commit- to be patient during each round Real Madrid side are looking also miss the derby with Atletico. In a departure from the norm, have accommodated my schedule ted to play in next week’s Phoenix and during each week.” far from the slick machine that It was generally a disjointed Mickelson will skip two events he for years and it’s time for me to Open and at the Feb. 5-8 Farmers REUTERS strung together 22 straight vic- match from Real whose rhythm tories before Christmas. and link-up play has dropped Ronaldo was the inspiration noticeably in recent weeks. behind that Spanish record-win- They lost their first match ning streak but he had one of his back after the Christmas break poorest matches in a Real shirt as they looked sluggish against Leinster in quarter-finals, Wasps wait in the 2-1 victory over Cordoba Valencia and then followed it up on Saturday, the win with elimination from LONDON: Former champions James Haskell said. coming through a late the King’s Cup at the Leinster sealed top spot in Pool “Every time we went into their penalty from Gareth hands of Atletico Two and a place in the European half we came away with points, Bale. Madrid. Champions Cup quarter-finals but we only went into their half Real still lead the Injuries have played despite letting slip a command- three times. La Liga table by a their part, with Luka ing halftime lead to draw 20-20 “They looked much the bet- point and have a game Modric and Isco miss- at Wasps on Saturday. ter side in the first half, but we in hand but they have ing from the centre Converted tries by winger stepped it up in the second half.” an in-form Barcelona of the pitch against Fergus McFadden and scrum In Pool Three reigning champi- breathing down their Cordoba, which has half Isaac Boss put Leinster 20-6 ons Toulon ensured they will be at necks. put a greater demand ahead at the break but Wasps home in the quarter-finals after While Real are on the shoulders of then came alive and Matt Mullan a 26-3 triumph against Scarlets stuttering, Barca have Toni Kroos who is went over after 61 minutes with while Leicester Tigers’ hopes of clicked into gear and tore apart looking weary. Andy Goode converting from the squeezing into the last eight were Elche 6-0 and Atletico Madrid are Goalkeeper Iker Casillas was left touchline. ended by a 26-7 defeat in Ulster. also looking strong, four points still upbeat and pointed towards Number eight Nathan Hughes Northampton Saints were behind after a 3-1 win over Rayo the mentality of the players that then dived over the maul to touch Harlequins flanker Jack Clifford is tackled by Castres captain Yannick destroyed 32-8 at home by Racing Vallecano. helped them beat Cordoba. down and Goode’s trusty boot lev- Caballero (right) during the European Champions Cup rugby union match Metro in Pool Five, although both Ronaldo was unable to make “These are the types of victo- elled the score with 10 minutes at the Pierre Antoine Stadium in Castres yesterday. sides had already ensured their an impact against Cordoba and ries that win you leagues,” Casillas remaining at the Ricoh Arena. places in the quarter-finals. his frustration saw him lash out told reporters. Ian Madigan missed a late pen- to book a last-eight place and Harlequins crushed Castres Racing Metro topped the table with his hand against Jose Crespo “It was difficult for us and we alty for Leinster while Goode had leave Wasps sweating on being 47-19. on 24 points with Northampton which the referee missed and didn’t play at our best but we are a chance with a last-gasp drop one of the three best runners-up “We probably should have won on 19, enough to take one of the then minutes later he was sent now boosted by the three points. goal. having edged out Harlequins to that game. We didn’t get it right three best runners-up berths. off for kicking out at Edimar. It came more as a result of effort A draw was enough for Leinster second spot in the group. in the first half,” Wasps back row REUTERS He was quick to apologise on than anything else.” REUTERS Qatargas Open Badminton Championship 2015

Ahmed Qasim stands during the Qatargas Open Badminton Championship 2015, organised by the Qatar Badminton Association with Qatargas as the title sponsor, at the Qatar Table Tennis Association Center in Doha yesterday. CENTRE: (Standing) Abdul Hakeem Sakton, Ahmed Qasim, Faizal Qasim, coach Manoj Sahibjan and (seated below) Ali Qassim and Neha Shetty at the same venue yesterday. RIGHT: Filisa Fathima Koya in action during the Qatargas Open Badminton Championship 2015 yesterday. PICTURES: KAMMUTTY VP MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Australia plan ruthless game against the UAE

Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al UAE coach rues tough schedule, hopeful of pulling off another upset Khalifa

SYDNEY: The United Arab they’re blue. “You have got to go Emirates did Australia a great for it in this game. You can’t hold Qatar 2022 favour when they upset Japan in back.” the quarter-finals of the Asian Australia and UAE have played Cup but are not expecting char- each other just twice before with likely in ity in return. both matches ending in scoreless Not only did UAE book them- draws. But the Australians should selves a place in the last four have a big advantage this time. winter, says with their stunning win, they also Not only are they playing on spared the host-nation a rematch home soil, but they also had an against the country that beat extra day’s rest after they com- AFC boss them in the last Asian Cup final fortably won their quarter-final MELBOURNE: The 2022 and the 2007 quarter-finals. against China 24 hours before World Cup in Qatar looks The Australians were cursing UAE beat Japan on penalties after increasingly likely to be played their rotten luck after they lost to the teams were still level after in November and December South Korea in the group stage, extra time. to avoid the region’s blazing ruining their chance of play- “The tempo of the games looked summer heat, Asia’s football ing their semi-final at Sydney’s like all the teams have been supremo said. sprawling Olympic Stadium on through a pretty tough schedule Asian Football Confederation Australia Day. so far,” Postecoglou said. (AFC) President Shaikh They will instead play at “I don’t expect them to come Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa, Newcastle’s much smaller Hunter out at us. What they do becomes a who heads the FIFA taskforce Stadium, a day later on January little bit irrelevant – we still want charged with investigating 27, but not against their great to dictate the game.” potential dates for the 2022 foes, thanks to UAE’s shock win. The UAE head coach Mahdi World Cup, told reporters in Brimming with self-confidence, Ali bemoaned the lack of time Sydney that it also made sense the Australians have promised to between games but hasn’t given Australian team players pose for photograph prior to the quarter-final match against China at the AFC Asian to avoid a calendar clash with repay UAE with a ruthless dis- up hope of his team pulling off Cup in Brisbane, in this January 22, 2015 file photo. the 2022 Winter Olympics. play, and have already started the another upset. “The period best suited for trash-talk. “Playing against Australia in hosting the 2022 World Cup in “I don’t think the UAE has Australia, it will also be a very we have to get together again to tournament, scoring 10 goals. Sainsbury said. “I think we have Qatar will be in November and got the legs to go with us for 90 tough game but we have just fin- do a good job in the next match.” And Sainsbury said the home got a massive opportunity to December because for sure it minutes,” Australian defender ished and we have only two days With the exception of their team would continue to press for- change the way people look at needs to be played in the win- Trent Sainsbury told reporters (to recover),” he said. loss to South Korea when they ward, as much to try and win new football in Australia and the boys ter,” he said on the sidelines of yesterday. “They have three days and we rested key attacker Tim Cahill supporters to a sport that has know the importance of it. the Asian Cup. “As soon as we lose the ball, have to travel, so we will try to and several other key play- been slow to take off in Australia. “So we’re going to go out there The Shaikh added that his (we’re going to) try and win it recover for the next match. ers, the Australians have been “You have got to go for it in and give 100 per cent.” working group had decided back, try and choke them until “We don’t have much time, so the best attacking team in the this game – you can’t hold back,” REUTERS that a winter World Cup was in the best interests of all parties. “The matter (winter timing) is resolved,” he said. Iraq confirmed as semi-finalist International Olympic Iraqi player Alaa Committee President Thomas Abdul-Zahra Bach has previously expressed trains for their confidence that FIFA President AFC Asian as arch-rivals Iran lose protest Sepp Blatter will ensure the Cup semi-final World Cup does not overlap match in Sydney SYDNEY: Iraq were cleared to remained in Australia in case the It was not immediately clear with the Winter Games. yesterday. Asian take their place in today’s Asian verdict went their way. whether Iran would lodge an Blatter has acknowledged Cup officials Cup semi-final against South Yesterday evening, the AFC appeal but the Iraq team said that the 2022 World Cup can- scrambled to Korea after the Asian Football announced the protest had been they were confident the case was not be played in its traditional deal with a Confederation dismissed a pro- dismissed and Iraq would take closed. June-July slot as average tem- sensational test from Iran. their place against South Korea “It’s over,” a team spokesman peratures in Qatar soar to protest from Iraq beat their old foes on in the semi-finals. told a news conference. “We play nearly 50 degrees Celsius (122 Iran claiming penalties in the quarter-finals “The AFC Disciplinary tomorrow.” Fahrenheit), raising health that Iraq fielded but Iran submitted a formal pro- Committee from 2:30pm heard Meanwhile, South Korea coach concerns. an ineligible test, asking for the result to be oral evidence from two officials of Uli Stielike said his team was Blatter and FIFA Secretary player - Alaa overturned. the I.R. Iran Football Federation, no longer the underdogs in the General Valcke favour playing In the protest, Iran alleged deliberated the matter based on tournament. the tournament in November Abdulzehra who that Iraq had fielded an ineligible its merits, and decided that the With three of the pre-tour- and December 2022 while played during player during the quarter-final protest was unfounded. The pro- nament favourites – Japan, Iran UEFA boss Michel Platini their stormy match in Canberra on Friday. test was therefore dismissed,” the and Uzbekistan – all out, and would prefer January to avoid quarter-final The Iranians alleged that Iraqi AFC said in a statement. South Korea the only team left clashing with the Champions defeat, but was midfielder Alaa Abdul-Zahra “Due to the urgency of the mat- that hasn’t given up a single goal League. AFP rejected by the should have not been allowed to ter, the terms of the decision were in the tournament, Stielike also Asian Football play because he had submitted a initially notified to the IR Iran knows he can’t play the under- Confederation’s positive doping test while playing Football Federation at 6:20pm. dog anymore. “We have to accept Disciplinary for an Iranian club side last year. The full grounds of the decision that role as favourites now,” he Committee The Asian Football will be communicated later. conceded. “We came here in third yesterday. Confederation’s (AFC) The IR Iran Football Federation place in the AFC rankings, Iraq Disciplinary Committee met will have the right to file an are 13, so I think there is no dis- in Sydney yesterday to discuss appeal in accordance with the cussion that we have to accept the case while the Iranian team AFC Disciplinary Code.” this role.” AGENCIES Cambridge flush with Lazio down Milan to move up

MILAN: Marco Parolo scored one point ahead of Napoli and Mansoor Mohammed Al Ansari cash ahead of a brace either side of Miroslav Sampdoria and within 12 points Klose’s fourth goal of the sea- of leaders Juventus. United replay son as Lazio moved up to third Milan’s crisis, meanwhile, in Serie A with a bad-tempered deepened with the seven-time Al Ansari named LONDON: Cambridge United 3-1 victory over AC Milan on European champions dropping are flush with cash after secur- Saturday. to 10th ahead of the rest of the as QFA’s General ing a lucrative FA Cup fourth Embattled Milan travelled to weekend fixtures. round replay at Manchester the Stadio Olimpico desperate to They are now 20 points behind Secretary United and will spend their Old make amends after last week’s Juventus but eight points behind Trafford windfall on new toi- shock 1-0 home defeat to Atalanta Lazio in the third and last lets, the fourth tier club’s chair- dented their chances of qualify- Champions League qualifying Lazio’s DOHA: The Qatar Football man said. ing for next season’s Champions spot. midfielder Association (QFA) Executive Cambridge, promoted from League. Milan threw everything into Marco Parolo Committee, headed by the gov- the minor leagues into the pro- But despite Jeremy Menez hit- the match early on and were celebrates erning body President Sheikh fessional pyramid last season, ting a fourth-minute opener, the repaid when Menez stole posses- after scoring Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed held Louis van Gaal’s expensively visitors were outplayed for the sion from Dusan Basta in midfield during the Al Thani has announced assembled squad to a 0-0 draw on remainder of the opening half before beating Federico Marchetti Italian Serie Mansoor Mohammed Al Ansari Friday. The club are set to earn and undone in four second-half with a low angled strike. A football as the new QFA General upwards of £1m pounds ($1.50m) minutes when Klose turned pro- But Lazio should have finished match against Secretary. from shared gate receipts and vider for Parolo before adding his the half well in front after Mauri Al Ansari has been working in AC Milan TV revenue from the replay on own name to the scoresheet in the and notably Klose forced Diego Qatari football for the last four at Rome’s February 4. 51st minute. Lopez into action on several years as the Executive Director of Cambridge chairman Dave Milan coach Filippo Inzaghi occasions. Olympic the Qatar national team’s depart- Doggett said they will use the made a series of tactical changes Mauri narrowly missed con- Stadium on ment, and as the Chief Operations money to update the run-down which left the visitors exposed necting with Antonio Candreva’s Saturday. Officer for the Qatar Stars Abbey Stadium, which has been and Lazio pounced to extend their pacy cross from the right at the League. Mansoor’s unique style of their home since 1932. lead nine minutes from time when far post. Lopez then saved Milan sports management and passion With 20-times English cham- Parolo hit his second into a virtu- with a great block on Klose after for football have earned him his pions United off the pace in the ally empty net. a Mexes blunder allowed the solid and consistent reputation. Premier League, Van Gaal has The Frenchman could risk German through on goal and The Executive Committee emphasised the importance of further punishment by Serie Candreva follow-up met traffic. also appointed Hamad Abdullah the FA Cup to his squad. The A league officials, and possibly On 20 minutes Klose sent Al Kuwari as the Director of Dutchman will hope his chances Milan, after he continued trying a glancing header just wide of Marketing and Communications of securing silverware in his first to unleash his anger before being Lopez’s upright after rushing in and assigned him the role as season in charge do not go down forcibly removed from the pitch. to beat Alex to Candreva’s cross. Acting Executive Director of when Cambridge visit. AFP Lazio moved up to third place AFP Operations.” THE PENINSULA MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Australian Open Results Sweet revenge for Murray MELBOURNE: Collared results from day seven of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park yesterday: Men’s singles Fourth Round Rafael Nadal (ESP x3) bt Kevin Anderson (RSA x14) 7-5, 6-1, as old guard holds firm 6-4; Tomas Berdych (CZE x7) bt Bernard Tomic (AUS) 6-2, 7-6 (7/3), 6-2 ; Nick Kyrgios (AUS) The Australian Open: Rafael Nadal and Maria Sharapova advance bt Andreas Seppi (ITA) 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5), 8-6; Andy Murray (GBR x6) bt Grigor Dimitrov MELBOURNE: Dressed in (BUL x10) 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-3, black and oozing menace, Andy 7-5. Murray extracted sweet revenge Women’s Singles Fourth Round by felling Wimbledon nem- Eugenie Bouchard (CAN esis Grigor Dimitrov in a late- x7) bt Irina-Camelia Begu night thriller as the old guard (ROU) 6-1, 5-7, 6-2; Ekaterina stood firm to march into the Makarova (RUS x10) bt Julia Australian Open quarter-finals Goerges (GER) 6-3, 6-2; Maria yesterday. Sharapova (RUS x2) bt Peng Former champions Rafa Nadal Shuai (CHN x21) 6-3, 6-0; and Maria Sharapova sailed into Rafael Nadal Britain’s Simona Halep (ROU x3) bt the last eight but will share the of Spain after Andy Murray Yanina Wickmayer (BEL) 6-4, limelight with Murray’s next winning against reacts after a 6-2. opponent Nick Kyrgios, a local Kevin Anderson point against gatecrasher who roared to a of South Bulgaria’s famous five-set victory over Roger Africa in their Grigor Dimitrov Federer-slayer Andreas Seppi. fourth round during their Dimitrov ended Murray’s title match at the men’s singles defence at his home Grand Slam Australian Open match on day last season and the Rod Laver in Melbourne, seven of the Arena crackled with tension as the pair slugged out a midnight Australia 2015 Australian classic. yesterday. Open. Murray won 6-4, 6-7(5), 6-3, 7-5 and Dimitrov destroyed his racquet in disgust after blowing a 5-2 lead in the fourth set to allow the Briton to serve for the match. The ending was cruel for Dimitrov but well-earned for Murray, as the Scot punched a cross-court forehand into the tape on match point, with the ball dropping over to send the Bulgarian out. set before crushing him 7-5, 6-1, Eugenie Bouchard, a 6-1, 5-7, 6-2 With the refurbished Margaret wilder but for seventh seed “I think I got quite lucky at the 6-4. From writing himself off as a winner over Romanian Irina- Court Arena promoted to the Berdych, who subjected local hope end, a few net cords went my way, contender before the tournament, Camelia Begu. second showcourt, cheap ticket- Bernard Tomic to a 6-2, 7-6(3), that was the difference really,” the the Spaniard now faces Tomas Twenty-year-old Bouchard, holders have been given the 6-2 thrashing. Scot told reporters. “The momen- Berdych for a place in the semi- long dubbed ‘the next Sharapova’, run of Hisense Arena and the It was a banner day for Russia, tum was switching both ways all finals, a man he has mastered in was overhauled by the Russian natives were restless as Kyrgios however, with feisty left-hander the time,” Murray added. their last 18 matches. in three sets at the French Open blew a 4-1 lead in the final set of Ekaterina Makarova booking her Boasting a perfect 10-0 record “I am one of the eight. That’s semi-finals. Canada’s first Grand his nerve-jangling 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, third Melbourne Park quarter- over Australians, Murray will the most important thing,” said Slam finalist Bouchard was the 7-6(5), 8-6 win. The moment of final in four years with a 6-3, battle the home crowd as well as Nadal. “It would be very arrogant first into the last eight, giving victory was delayed by a desper- 6-2 thrashing of German Julia Kyrgios when the pair clash in if I say I’m not at a very high per- herself a pep talk during a toilet ate line-call challenge by Seppi, Goerges. two days’ time. centage... I probably played my break after suffering a mid-match but when finally confirmed, The much-improved 26-year- Third seed Nadal continued his best match of the year.” meltdown. Kyrgios slumped to the ground in old should provide third seed brilliant comeback from a 2014 Sharapova needed scarcely “I gave myself a good long hard joyous exhaustion as most of the Simona Halep with her first season ravaged by injury and more than an hour to beat US look in the mirror and I said, 10,000-strong crowd started early real test, the Romanian having illness, drawing the sting from Open semi-finalist Peng Shuai. ‘Genie, this is unacceptable’ and I celebrations for today’s “Australia enjoyed a worry-free 6-4, 6-2 win big-serving South African Kevin The Russian’s 6-3, 6-0 romp set really kind of kicked myself in the Day” holiday. over Belgian Yanina Wickmayer. Anderson in a hard-fought first up a showdown with Canadian butt a little bit,” said Bouchard. The party might have been REUTERS Star Sharapova tells Bouchard to be herself Maria MELBOURNE: Maria Sharapova Sharapova yesterday said of Russia she sympathised with her jubilates Australian Open quarter-final after winning opponent Eugenie Bouchard against Peng over constant hype labelling her Shuai of China “the new Sharapova”. in their fourth After all, argued the 27-year- round match at old Russian, she is still field- Eugenie the Australian ing comparisons with Anna Bouchard Open. Kournikova despite winning five of Canada Grand Slams since her break- jubilates This combination of images through at Wimbledon more than after winning shows Australia’s Nick Kyrgios a decade ago. against Irina- playing a shot around a ballboy Sharapova, the second seed at Camelia Begu during his men’s singles match Melbourne Park this year as she of Romania against Italy’s Andreas Seppi on chases a second Australian title, in their said all 20-year-old Bouchard day seven of the 2015 Australian fourth round could do was remain true to Open yesterday. match at the herself. “When I was coming up, I was Australian compared to Kournikova for Open. many years in my career,” said Sharapova, who routed Chinese 21st seed Peng Shuai 6-3, 6-0 to Young and free Kyrgios set up a final eight clash with Bouchard. “Still occasionally the name always comes up in interviews and articles. That’s just part of makes Aussies rejoice the game, part of the business. It’s understandable. well acquainted with Bouchard, that match,” she said. Sharapova MELBOURNE: Teenager Wimbledon quarter-finals last country’s last hope at this year’s “As I said when I was still a who is already a superstar in her went into the match with a 4-1 Nick Kyrgios ensured his com- year, spent much of the first two tournament after Bernard Tomic teenager ‘I don’t want to be the homeland, but could see similari- record over Peng but the 29-year- patriots would wake up to cel- sets berating himself, producing was beaten by seventh seed Tomas next anyone. I want to be the first ties in their games. old matched her in the early ebrate their national day today outbursts of impressive swear- Berdych earlier. Maria Sharapova”. “I personally don’t know Genie exchanges before the Russian by saving a match point against ing, and taking his frustration The last time two Australian “That’s how I’ve been through- very well (but) as a tennis player ran riot. Andreas Seppi to reach the out on a racquet that earned him men had made it to the last eight out my whole career. And we all she’s a big competitor,” she said. The pair exchanged breaks quarter-finals of the Australian a warning from the umpire. in Melbourne was in 1987. want to create our own path and “She’s an aggressive player as mid-way through the first set, Open yesterday. Once he settled down, however, The key for Australia’s future go through our own career.” well that likes to take the ball with the tenacious Peng strug- Playing with the unencumbered he matched the smooth baselin- success, however, was to keep Florida-based Sharapova is the early and dictate points. From gling to handle Sharapova’s pow- freedom and brashness of youth, ing Italian and whipped Hisense them grounded, said Tennis world’s wealthiest female athlete, that perspective, yeah, definitely.” erful forehand. the 19-year-old had to battle his Arena, girt by green and gold Australia’s new Director of with lucrative endorsements Sharapova said she was gaining Sharapova ramped up the own demons to advance to the last wearing fans, into a patriotic Performance Pat Rafter. pushing her earnings in the tens form at the season-opening Grand aggression to notch another break eight with a 5-7, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), fervour. “A lot of those guys have great of millions annually. Slam after surviving a second- after Peng shot her forehand into 8-6 win to overcome the Italian, “They were unbelievable,” potential to go on,” Canada’s Bouchard, seeded round scare at the hands com- the net, going on to take the set who had upset Roger Federer in Kyrgios said of the crowd. “I was Rafter said earlier in the week. seventh, is similarly photogenic patriot Alexandra Panova, when after 39 minutes. the third round. definitely feeding off the crowd in “(But) we can’t get ahead of our- and has been tipped as tennis’ she had to save two match points. Peng threw everything she had “It’s crazy. I don’t think it’s the fourth, especially in the tie- selves either. next big thing after reaching the “I feel like someone gave me at Sharapova at the start of the sunk in yet,” Kyrgios told report- break it was massive. “I think it’s important for these Wimbledon final and the semi at another chance and when you second, stretching the opening ers. “When I saw I had finally won “That was a momentum builder guys to understand ... we’re build- the Australian and French Opens come close to losing you have to game to 13 minutes as she des- the match it was incredible. It was going into the fifth set.” ing towards something in the next last year. pump yourself up. I think I’ve perately tried to stop the Russian the best feeling I ever had.” That fervour could be explained five or 10 years,” he said. Sharapova said she was not done a good job of that since breaking early. REUTERS Kyrgios, who made the by the fact Kyrgios was the REUTERS MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Russell blasts Windies to thrilling win All-rounder scores match-winning half-century in nail-biting victory over Proteas

PORT ELIZABETH: A thrill- ing burst of hitting by Andre Scoreboard Russell carried the West Indies to a one-wicket win over South SOUTH AFRICA WEST INDIES Africa in the fourth one-day M van Wyk c Ramdin b Cottrell ...... 18 D Smith b Morkel ...... 0 international at St George’s R Rossouw c Sammy b Cottrell ...... 4 C Gayle c Behardien b Duminy ...... 10 Park yesterday. F du Plessis c Ramdin b Holder ...... 4 L Johnson (run out-De Villiers) ...... 18 Half-centuries by Marlon A de Villiers c Ramdin b Russell ...... 19 M Samuels b Behardien ...... 68 Samuels, Darren Sammy and D Miller (not out) ...... 130 D Ramdin lbw Behardien ...... 3 Russell trumped a maiden inter- J Duminy c&b Sammy ...... 43 J Carter (run out-Miller) ...... 5 national century by South Africa’s F Behardien b Holder ...... 12 D Sammy c De Villiers b Parnell ...... 51 David Miller as the tourists W Parnell b Holder ...... 12 A Russell (not out) ...... 64 chased down a victory target of A Phangiso c Carter b Holder ...... 0 J Holder c Miller b Duminy ...... 13 263 with nine balls to spare. K Abbott (not out) ...... 1 C Brathwaite (run out-De Villiers) ...... 11 The West Indies gained their Extras (LB-2, W-17) ...... 19 S Cottrell (not out) ...... 1 first win in the five-match series Total (for 8 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 262 Extras (B-4, LB-3, NB-1, W-14) ...... 22 after they several times looked Did not bat: M Morkel. Total (for 9 wkts in 48.3 overs) ...... 266 doomed to defeat. Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-32, 3-32, 4-76, Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-12, 3-41, 4-48, 5-73, They lost their first five wickets 5-166, 6-196, 7-259, 8-259. 6-166, 7-189, 8-218, 9-239. for 73 runs against what effec- Bowling: Cottrell 6-0-39-2 (3w); Holder 10-1- Bowling: Morkel 9-1-58-1 (1nb; 7w); Abbott tively was a second string South 53-4 (2w); Russell 10-1-60-1; Sammy 10-1- 9.3-0-62-0 (1w); Duminy 6-0-29-2 (1w); African attack before Samuels 46-1 (1w); Brathwaite 10-1-39-0 (3w); Samu- Phangiso 10-1-41-0 (2w); Parnell 10-0-48-1 (68) and Sammy (51) put on 93 els 3-0-19-0; Gayle 1-0-4-0. (2w); Behardien 4-0-21-2 (1w). for the sixth wicket. But South Africa were favour- “It means a lot,” said Holder. at the end of an innings, Miller ites again when both partners “We have had a tough tour, so to showed he could play a long, were out with 74 needed off 64 get across the line in this match responsible innings as he reached balls with only three wickets is very special.” his century off 122 balls with nine standing. It was a cruel result for the fours before launching an assault Russell was striking the ball left-handed Miller, who made 130 in which he added two more fours well but skipper Jason Holder was not out and was responsible for a and three sixes off the last 11 balls caught off a full toss and Carlos run-out and a leaping catch. he faced before the innings came Brathwaite was run out off the Miller came in with his side to an end. first ball of the 48th over to leave struggling at 32 for three in the South Africa rested first-choice the tourists needing 24 off 17 balls seventh over. It became 76 for bowlers Dale Steyn, Vernon with the last man at the wicket. four when captain AB de Villiers Philander and Imran Tahir to Sheldon Cottrell was able to was out for 19. give their other World Cup squad steal a single and Russell hit JP Duminy helped Miller add members an opportunity, but they sixes off the next two balls from 90 for the fifth wicket but it could not halt the West Indian left-arm spinner Aaron Phangiso, was hard going for South Africa late charge. then was able to get the strike against a much-improved West “We bowled some bad balls at to hit a four and a six off Kyle Indian bowling performance on the wrong time,” said De Villiers. West Indian batsman Andre Russell (left) celebrates after his side beat South Africa in the fourth ODI at St. Abbott to finish the match. a slow pitch which offered some The final match of the series is George Park in Port Elizabeth yesterday. He made 64 not out off 40 balls seam movement. on Wednesday at Centurion. with five fours and five sixes. Renowned for his big hitting AFP New Zealand scoop series with 120-run victory DUNEDIN: New Zealand double figures with the veteran wrapped up their one-day series Scoreboard Mahela Jayawardene surviving against Sri Lanka with a game two reviews before being unques- to spare yesterday when Kane NEW ZEALAND T Dilshan c Ronchi b Anderson ...... 21 tionably caught for nine. Williamson and Ross Taylor M Guptill c Sangakkara b Perera ...... 28 K Sangakkara c Vettori b Boult ...... 81 New Zealand captain Brendon orchestrated a 120-run win in B McCullum c Perera b Prasad ...... 0 M Jayawardene c McCullum b Anderson ...... 9 McCullum, who won the toss for game six. K Williamson (run out-Prasad/Sangakkara) . 97 D Karunaratne c Mills b Anderson ...... 26 only the second time in the series, Williamson (97) and Taylor R Taylor lbw Dilshan ...... 96 D Chandimal (run out-McCullum/Ronchi) ...... 9 opted to bat first after the home (96) provided the backbone of C Anderson c Perera b Herath ...... 40 J Mendis (run out-Anderson/Vettori/Ronchi) .. 3 side compiled 360-5 on the same New Zealand’s 315-8 in their 50 L Ronchi c Karunaratne b Prasad ...... 13 T Perera lbw Anderson ...... 2 wicket when they won game five overs and Sri Lanka were all out G Elliott (not out) ...... 21 D Prasad (run out-Mills) ...... 2 by 108 runs on Friday. for 195 in the 41st over. D Vettori (run out-Sangakkara/Prasad) ...... 3 R Herath (not out) ...... 1 But it was a disastrous start The win puts New Zealand 4-1 K Mills (run out-Karunaratne/Prasad) ...... 0 S Lakmal c Guptill b McClenaghan ...... 3 for the aggressive batsman who up in the seven-match series with Extras (B-4, LB-4, W-9) ...... 17 Extras (LB-2, W-6, NB-1) ...... 9 was out on the second ball he one game washed out. Total (for 8 wkts in 50 overs) ...... 315 Total (all out in 40.3 overs) ...... 195 faced, and fellow opener Martin Only Kumar Sangakkara Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-59, 3-176, 4-254, Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-61, 3-82, 4-146, Guptill struggled to 28 before his looked at ease in Sri Lanka’s run 5-281, 6-292, 7-312, 8-315. 5-158, 6-168, 7-171, 8-189, 9-191, 10-195. departure reduced New Zealand chase with 81 off 66 deliveries, but Bowling: Lakmal 7-1-31-0 (1w); Prasad 10-0- Bowling: Mills 6-0-29-0 (1w); Boult 8-2-31-1 to 59-2. Williamson and Taylor none of the other recognised bats- 59-2 (4w); Herath 10-1-45-1; Perera 10-0-86- (3w); Anderson 10-0-52-4 (1w); McClenaghan then mounted what amounted to men were able to get past 30 as 1 (3w); Mendis 5-0-27-0; Thirimanne 2-0-17- 4.3-1-29-2 (1w; 1nb); Vettori 8-1-22-0; Wil- a match-winning 117-run part- New Zealand all-rounder Corey 0; Dilshan 6-0-42-1 (1w). liamson 2-0-18-0; Elliott 2-0-12-0. nership for the third wicket. Anderson stamped his mark on SRI LANKA Result: New Zealand won by 120 runs. Williamson, who should have the game. L Thirimanne c Ronchi b McClenaghan...... 29 Series: New Zealand lead 4-1. been removed on 27 when Dilshan Anderson smacked 40 from dropped a regulation chance at 28 balls to support Williamson lost their last seven wickets in 11.4 so far in the series, was caught short cover, faced 95 balls for his and Taylor during New Zealand’s overs for just 49 runs following a behind off Anderson for 21. 97. In his past 14 innings, he has innings and then took four for 52 familiar pattern of collapses ear- Stand-in captain Lahiru now posted two hundreds and with the ball as the Sri Lankan lier in the series. Thirimanne lasted for 29 runs eight half centuries. Taylor, who batsmen again showed a lack of Sangakkara went to the wicket and Dimuth Karunaratne con- has 11 ODI centuries to his name, New Zealand’s Kane Williamson reacts after playing a shot during the fight. in the 13th over after Tillakaratne tributed 26. faced 102 deliveries for his 96. sixth ODI against Sri Lanka, at the University Oval in Dunedin yesterday. After reaching 146-3, Sri Lanka Dilshan, who has two centuries No other batsman reached AFP Holders Arsenal progress as Cup shocks dry up

LONDON: Premier League Arsenal, blushes against Arsenal continued Chelsea’s first defeat to lower-league Aston Villa and West Ham United League One Bristol FA Cup Results to pin Brighton back opposition since 2008 ended their bid reached the fifth round of the FA Cup City as the Senegal in their own half and to win all four of the major trophies as calm returned to the competition international headed Fourth Round Matches German World Cup- on offer this season and left Blues boss yesterday, ending a weekend, which Andy Carroll’s cross Aston Villa 2 (Gil 51, Weimann 71) Bournemouth 1 winner Ozil, making Mourinho admitting he was ashamed of reminded spectators that David can home in the 81st (Wilson 90); Brighton 2 (O’Grady 50, Baldock 75) Arsenal his first start since the performance. beat Goliath. minute to send the 3 (Walcott 2, Ozil 24, Rosicky 59); Bristol City 0 West Ham October, doubled the But Chelsea have a golden opportu- A day after Chelsea and Manchester Hammers through 1 (Sakho 81) Gunners’ advantage nity to erase the bitter taste of their FA City were stunned by Bradford City to the fifth round. Playing Today when he collected Cup misery when they host Liverpool in and Middlesbrough respectively, hold- Aston Villa, hop- Rochdale vs Stoke (2000 GMT) Rosicky’s pass and the League Cup semi-final second leg on ers Arsenal beat second tier Brighton ing the FA Cup slid the ball into the Tuesday in a tie delicately poised after and Hove Albion 3-2, West Ham United would provide welcome respite from their net. the first leg at Anfield finished 1-1 last overcame League One (third tier) Premier League struggles, also secured Brighton gained a lifeline when Chris week. Bristol City 1-0 and Aston Villa toppled their place in the next round thanks to O’Grady held off Mathieu Flamini’s chal- Mourinho believes most of his play- Championship leaders Bournemouth 2-1. a 2-1 victory over Championship (second lenge and kept his composure to strike ers should not carry any scars from the Goals from Theo Walcott, Mesut tier) leaders Bournemouth. the ball past Wojciech Szczesny. Bradford defeat as he made eight changes Ozil and Tomas Rosicky helped Arsenal Carles Gil, who signed from Valencia Rosicky restored Arsenal’s two-goal against the League One side, with Eden conquer an obdurate Brighton side and earlier this month, scored a stunning advantage with an exquisite volley from Hazard and Cesc Fabregas only featuring remain on course to defend the trophy effort to put Villa in front on 51 minutes the edge of the box but Brighton striker as substitutes. they won last season after going nine before Andreas Weimann added a second. Sam Baldock set up a nervy finish for the “Does this affect the next match? I years without silverware. Callum Wilson scored a late consola- holders when he delicately clipped the don’t know because many of the players “It was hard work,” Arsenal manager tion for Bournemouth, but Villa stood ball over the on-coming Szczesny. were not directly involved in the game, I Arsene Wenger said. “A typical cup tie firm to deny the visitors a replay. Ashamed Mourinho vows Chelsea don’t think these players can be affected,” where the other team never gives up. Arsenal fans would have been for- will recover from Cup humiliation Mourinho said. “We had to fight until the end but over- given for feeling a little uneasy at a Jose Mourinho insists Chelsea will “I don’t think (Branislav) Ivanovic, all we were always leading and missed a trip to the south coast after watch- quickly recover from their humiliating (Nemanja) Matic, Diego (Costa); these few chances as well. ing Premier League rivals Chelsea and FA Cup exit against third-tier Bradford guys that were not involved in the game “I believe that is where we won the Manchester City fall in round four. But because most of his star players missed can be affected. game (at the start). The results from yes- their nerves were calmed just 89 seconds the stunning fourth round defeat. “But it is our team and we lost at home Arsenal’s midfielder Theo Walcott terday maybe got us on our toes and we in when Walcott neatly controlled Calum Mourinho suffered one of the most against a lower division team. In an ideal applauds the fans at the end of a FA Cup got off to a quick pace, and I think that Chambers’s cross and fired a shot past embarrassing defeats of his career as world it would affect us in a positive and fourth round match against Brighton and surprised Brighton.” David Stockdale to score his first goal in the Premier League leaders squan- not a negative way. We have to win the Hove Albion in Brighton yesterday. West Ham United had substitute over a year after a lengthy spell on the dered a two-goal lead in their 4-2 loss at next match and let’s go for it.” Diafra Sakho to thank for sparing their sidelines with an ankle problem. Stamford Bridge on Saturday. AGENCIES MONDAY 26 JANUARY 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

President’s Cup Schedule France wary of Argentina Today’s matches (All matches in Duhail Handball Sports Hall) 13.00 Chile vs Iran 15.00 Algeria vs Saudi-Arabia 17.00 Belarus vs Bosnia and Herzegovina threat in last 16 at Worlds 19.00 Czech Republic vs Russia Germany meet Egypt as 4 more pre-quarter-finals to be staged today All-European duels highlight DOHA: Olympic and European champions France aiming to add a triple crown to their col- beginning of lection will take on Argentina on a day when six European teams President’s will be in action along with one from Africa and from South FROM LEFT: French America at the 24th Men’s players (Luka Karabatic, Cup Handball World Championship Nikola Karabatic and here today. Cedric Sorhaindo during DOHA: In 2009, the President’s France, along with former a training session of the Cup was implemented for the champions Germany, who take on French team at the Ali positions 17 to 24 at handball Egypt, are favourites to advance Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah World Championships. to the quarter-finals. Arena at Al-Sadd Club The first ever men’s win- The remaining two all-Euro- in Doha, yesterday. ner was Spain, four years later pean duels - Sweden vs Poland BELOW: The team of the Iberians became World and Iceland vs Denmark are likely Egypt pictured before Champions. After that Slovakia to be close battles. (2011) and Algeria (2013) took the their Qatar 2015 24th Lusail Multipurpose Hall will trophy in this competition stage. Men’s Handball World host the Germany vs Egypt clash. The schedule of the President’s Both sides made it to the pre- Championship match Cup at the 24th Men’s Handball quarter-finals at the 2013 Men’s against Iceland at the World Championship in Qatar World Championship in Spain. Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah will bring four teams from three While the Germans beat FYRO Arena in Al Sadd on continents to fight for positions Macedonia, Egypt were elimi- Saturday. - 21 to 24 and two all-European nated by Slovenia. duels will decide the pairings In Qatar, the wild card partici- for the placement matches 17/18 pant Germany sensationally fin- (Presidents’ Cup final) and 19/20 ished on top of their group, while positions. the Egyptians let a more favour- The first match day of the able ranking slip from their hands President’s Cup will be played by losing their final group match today when those teams ranked against Iceland. sixth (Chile vs Iran and Algeria vs “We are starting again from Saudi Arabia) will face first, fol- zero, we have won nothing. We lowed by those teams ranked fifth are highly aware of the quality (Belarus vs Bosnia-Herzegovina of the Egyptians,” said German and Czech Republic vs Russia). coach Dagur Sigurdsson. The respective winners of In other matches, France take those matches face in the place- on Argentina at Ali Bin Hamad ment matches (17/18, 19/20, 21/22, Al Attiyah. 23/24) tomorrow - the final day At the 2012 Olympic Games in of the President’s Cup. London, France beat the Gauchos Those four teams fighting for easily en route to taking gold. the positions 21- 24 have lost Argentina will play their first ever all their respective preliminary knock-out stage match at World round matches, while the four Championships. In 2011 they were European teams more or less the best ranked non-European closely missed the qualification team taking 12th position. for the eighth-finals. This was, however, when the If one of those President’s Cup group matches were followed by matches is tied after 60 minutes, a main round. a penalty shoot-out will follow - in “We are ready for new chal- contrast to quarter-finals. lenges,” says Argentine coach THE PENINSULA Eduardo Gallardo. His team beat Russia and tied with Denmark in the preliminary round. “There are no easy teams any- Race to Rio Olympics heats up in Doha more in an eighth-final of a World Championship,” stated French DOHA: Like in Beijing 2008 The 24th Men’s Handball World be decided at continental quali- will also win their continental positions 2-7 at Qatar 2015 has a goalkeeper Thierry Omeyer. and London 2012 before, the Championship in Doha plays fication events. The two best qualification, the continental sil- huge significance for the Olympic At the same venue Sweden face handball tournament at the a crucial role for the Olympic ranked teams of each of these ver medallists will qualify directly Qualification Tournaments, a Poland. Both hosts of the 2016 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de qualification. three tournaments will qualify for Rio. special placement round for the European Championships will Janeiro will consist of twelve The world champions will book for the 2016 Olympic Games. The teams ranked second to positions 5-8 will be carried out face off in, what is expected to be, men and women teams each. a direct ticket to Rio, while the Four continental spots: one spot seventh in Doha are qualified in Qatar – in contrast to the 2013 a close duel: Sweden will organise Only the hosting nation Brazil teams finishing second to seventh each is decided at the European as well as one team from each World Championship in Spain. the women’s event, while Poland are directly qualified with teams in the final ranking will clinch Championship 2016 in Poland, the continental qualification event The losers of the quarter-finals host the men’s competition. of both genders. their berth for the Olympic quali- African Championship 2016 in in Africa, Asia, Europe and will face in two matches to deter- The match between Iceland and The remaining 22 spots are fication tournaments. Egypt, the Pan-American Games Pan-America. mine those positions. Denmark is expected to be a close decided at the 2015 World Those three tournaments are 2015 in Toronto and the Asian In addition, those two conti- The final ranking for the posi- affair at Lusail Multipurpose Hall. Championships, continental quali- supposed to be played in three dif- Qualification Tournament 2015 nents best ranked at Doha receive tions 9-16 (losers of the eighth- While Iceland have been fication tournaments and Olympic ferent continents with four teams in Qatar. The winners of those an additional spot for the Olympic finals) will be determined by the defeated already twice in the Qualification Tournaments in each. events qualify for Rio 2016. Qualification Tournaments. results of the preliminary round. preliminary round by Sweden spring 2016. The remaining six spots will If the Doha world champions As the final ranking of the THE PENINSULA and Czech Republic finishing third, the 2011 and 2013 World Championship finalist remained Qatar 2015, a building unbeaten in the first stage, Superstar Stefani salutes but coming only second below Germany. The match is a very special one block for Brazilians for Icelandic born Danish coach Qatari fashion designers Gudmundur Gudmundsson, as DOHA: Playing or represent- Championship in Spain we put a he had led his country-fellows DOHA: Gwen Stefani was ing the hosting nation at the focus on development and aimed to their biggest ever success, the at her best at the Lusail Olympic Games is one of the to reach the pre-quarter-finals. silver medal at the 2008 Olympic Multipurpose Hall, the venue greatest experiences for any This was our first step,” com- Games as coach. for the Qatar 2015, 24th Men’s sportsman or sportswoman mented Ribera, who also has Gudmundsson will already Handball World Championship, regardless of the discipline. coached junior teams in the past faced the another Icelandic coach in Doha on Saturday. The Brazilians will have this with the goal of improving hand- in Doha after his team tied with Her performance post the opportunity in 2016 when Rio de ball at underage level throughout Germany, coached by Dagur Denmark versus Poland last Janeiro will be the host city for Brazil. Sigurdsson. preliminary round match at the Olympic Games. The Brazilian players are happy Icelandic top star Gudjon Valur the venue not only left a lasting Brazil is putting with the experience Sigurdsson is sure that they “at impression on the minds of the huge effort into pre- they have gained in least need to be as strong as we spectators and fans gathered at paring their athletes Doha thus far: “We played against Egypt to have a the Lusail Multipurpose Hall, but in all the sporting don’t have too many chance.” THE PENINSULA also on the indigenous fashion disciplines for these competitive matches designers of games. In terms of back home,” says top She started the performance handball the best star Felipe Ribeiro. 24th Men’s wearing a bright blue short kurti result thus far for the “With the Olympic with heavy embroidery, which Olympic host nation Games in 2016 in mind Handball World was much in contrast to the out- Gwen Stefani performs at the Lusail Multipurpose Hall in Doha, late on was the women win- playing at a World fits she usually sports during her Saturday. ning gold at the 2013 Championship with concerts. World Championship matches against teams Championship The kurti was paired up in Serbia. from all continents is an ideal way Last-16 Fixtures with blue jeans. The 45-year a beat. She walked through the The kurti was nicely paired It is now the men who are try- to improve and to learn,” Ribeiro Germany vs Egypt old American singer not only seats, shaking hands and giving with jewellery, white leggings and ing to make it into the spotlight continued. (18:30 at Lusail Multipurpose Hall) charmed the audiences with her her fans a hug. Stefani who is an acclaimed fash- at the 24th Men’s Handball World Coach Ribera shares this opin- France vs Argentina pop and hip hop, but went a step Soon she was out of sight and ion designer herself, paused for Championship in Qatar. ion: “Of course we are getting (21:00 at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah) further in getting the audiences into the changing room, emerging a while and said, “I didn’t know Spanish born coach Jordi ready for Rio 2016 and Qatar 2015 off their seats when she decided to after a short break. what to wear for the concert, so Ribera (pictured) is spearhead- is a very important step on this Sweden vs Poland enter the spectators’ arena. This time she could be spot- I just went to the local designers ing this movement for more five road. We are taking our prepa- (18:30 at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah) Stefani jumped off the barri- ted wearing a white embroidered and they designed these beautiful years now, but his side is still a rations for Rio very seriously so Iceland vs Denmark cade and into the stands mak- kurti that was slit on one side outfits for me.” work in progress. Qatar is really great preparation (21:00 at Lusail Multipurpose Hall) ing the hearts of her fans skip waist down. THE PENINSULA “At the 2013 World for us.” THE PENINSULA Monday 26 January 2015 6 Rabial II 1436 Volume 19 Number 6322 Sport Price: QR2

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www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Magnificent Qatar create history Hosts down Austria for first quarter-finals berth; Spain, Croatia and Slovenia also win

BY ARMSTRONG VAS in their attacks and although problems as the hosts managed they had sufficient opportunities to take a two goal lead. DOHA: Asian Games cham- to take the lead, missed out on Austria tried to come back and pions Qatar overcame a fight- the chances and lost too many managed to equalise at 16-all and ing Austria 29-27 to book their balls in the first few minutes of also at 22-all, but from the 50th maiden entry into the quar- the match, but still held on to the minute the hosts took over and ter-finals of a handball world lead till the tenth minute, 5-4. maintained a two goal difference championship. On the other hand, Qatar which took the hosts to a distance. On the first day of the knock- goal scorers had to deal with an Markovic scored eight goals for Qatari team out stage of the 24th Handball Austrian 5-1 defence with line Qatar, Rafael netted seven while celebrates World championship yesterday, player Markus Robert Weber after defeating Slovenia, Croatia and Spain, also Wagesreiter scored eight for Austria in the made it to the last eight stage. pushing forward 24th Men’s Handball Austria. pre-quarter- The hosts, only the second the home side In the other final of the Asian country, after Korea, to did not have World Results pre-quarter- 24th Men’s make to the quarter-finals of the the best of the (Last 16 matches) finals, Slovenia Handball World world championship, will take start.Qatar got defeated Qatar 29 Austria 27 Championship on the winner of today’s clash their rhythm in Macedonia at the Lusail between Germany and Egypt on attack and man- Slovenia 30 Macedonia 28 30-28, at Ali Multipurpose January 28. aged to pull one Spain 28 Tunisia 20 Bin Hamad Al Yesterday, the hosts rode on back to equal- Croatia 26 Brazil 25 Attiyah Arena Hall, yesterday. the brilliance of Markovic Zarko ise in the 11th in Al Sadd. PICTURES BY: and Capote Rafael coupled with minute, from there on the lead Also making it to the quarter- BAHER AMIN the brilliance of goalkeepers Saric kept fluctuating between the two finals were defending champi- Danijel and Goran Stojanovic, to teams, with Austria going into ons Spain who defeated Tunisia script their best ever performance the first half break with an one 28-20 in the second match of the on the world stage. lead at 14-13 lead with them into evening at Lusail. Zarko and Capote, between the half time break. In the second Croatia also booked a place in them accounted for 15 goals out half, Qatar came out guns blazing the next stage with a 26-25 vic- of the 29 the team scored. as coach Rivera seemed to have tory over spirited Brazil, after a Besides the two prolific scor- the answers to all the first half tough fight. THE PENINSULA ers, the keepers supplemented the good work of Qatari field players by excelling between the posts. Danijel made seven saves out of the 18 attempts at the goal, while Stojanovic was successful in blocking three tries out of the 19 that came his way. Qatar coach Valero Rivera was ecstatic with the performance of his boys. Qatari player “I believe this is the first time Capote in this tournament (world cham- Rafael pionship) we have qualified for (right) after the quarter-finals. Of course, I receiving am very happy with the victory, award for he said. Best Player “This is very important for the of the Match players, for the coaching team, for against the federation who has worked a Australia, lot for this, and for the country,’ yesterday he added. At Lusail Multipurpose Hall, at the Lusail Austria had a tough task at hand Multipurpose to stop an in-form Qatar, who lost Hall. just one match in the group quali- fying stage, the only loss coming against defending champions Spain. The Austrians, who finished third in Group B, had another factor to deal with, Qatari fans backing their team to the hilt. The Austrians appeared jittery Qatar can go all the way with the support of fans: Al Shaabi

DOHA: Ahmad Al Shaabi, before in the Championships. We Vice President of the Qatar have a very dedicated team that 2015 Organising Committee is willing to do the impossible in and Qatar Handball Association order to win, and we believe they (QHA) President, has expressed can go all the way,” he said. The his satisfaction at the success of key element for Al Shaabi – the the Championship to date, and ingredient that will propel the the performance of the Qatar team to achieve the best possible national side in the competition. results – is the support of home Speaking to media at Lusail fans turning up to cheer their Multipurpose Hall, he explained handball heroes on. that, one week into the event, He urged people in Qatar to the 24th Men’s Handball World attend the upcoming matches this Championship has exceeded the week and raise the roof in order expectations of the International to encourage the players. Handball Federation, and set a “Everyone can feel very proud benchmark for future sporting of the performances in this year’s events in Qatar. Championship. Every team has “All credit for the success of Ahmad Al Shaabi fought hard in every game and the this event goes to H E Sheikh support of some of the fans has Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, been incredible. We have three President of the Qatar 2015 handball,” said Al Shaabi. “Before teams from the Arab world who Organising Committee, as he led the contest, we said that our goal have qualified for the next round, the organisation with distinction was to progress through the and we hope this will encourage throughout the preparations and Preliminary Rounds and we have young people across the region has now delivered an incredible done that. Now, we want to fin- to get involved with handball,” he event for Qatar and the sport of ish higher than we have ever done added. THE PENINSULA