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Lekhwiya, El Jaish begin with wins Sport | 32

Sunday 30 November 2014 • 8 Safar 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6265 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 Scattered rains Private sector to get free hand likely tomorrow DOHA: The meteorologi- cal office has forecast scat- Govt entities not to launch any new companies or projects without official approval tered rains for tomorrow. The DOHA: The private sector is all and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Qatari business community to play The role of the government raising their woes and problems weather is expected to be partly set to get a big boost with the Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa a bigger role in the national econ- should be that of supervision and at the event. Mohamed bin Ahmed cloudy to cloudy today as well. government hinting it is ready to Al Thani. omy and in building infrastructure legislation, he said. “The govern- Tawar Al Kuwari, vice-chairman Scattered showers tomorrow give it a free hand in developing He has issued instructions to all for the 2022 FIFA event. ment doesn’t have the ability of of the Chamber, told QNA the may be accompanied by thunder. the national economy to reduce the ministries and state agencies, In the days to come the gov- the private sector, so it shouldn’t last five such meetings had helped Night temperatures could drop its dependence on hydrocarbons. including autonomous authorities ernment will focus on sectors like compete with them. The compe- solve some 80 percent of the prob- to between 19 degrees Celsius and The government yesterday and entities funded by the govern- education, healthcare, transport, tition should only be within the lems private businesses faced. 16 degrees C, while the maximum decided that its ministries and ment, to the above effect. construction and infrastructure private sector.” The Chamber’s chairman, temperature could be 23 to 25 institutions, including entities The idea is to make sure that and encourage the private sector Meanwhile, Qatari businessmen Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassem Al degrees C. funded by it, will not launch the government doesn’t pose any in the other sectors. are gearing up for their much- Thani, said the government had The direction of the wind will any new companies or projects competition to the private sec- Asked to cite an example of a awaited consultative meeting with plans to reduce its role in busi- be northwesterly and the speed or expand existing companies tor and the latter is free to play government business that is com- the Prime Minister and Interior nesses and encourage the private could range from six to 25 knots and businesses without special its role in an unrestricted way to peting with private businesses, Minister on Wednesday. sector to play a bigger role. at times at some places during approval in a bid to ensure that develop the national economy. financial analyst and investment The meeting, to be held at the This would help in making the rains. the state doesn’t compete with In his address to the Advisory expert Abdullah Al Khater told Ritz-Carlton, is being organised by Qatari economy a self-sustaining THE PENINSULA private businesses. Council on November 11, The this newspaper: “Barwa Real Qatar Chamber, the representa- one in future in line with Qatar The approval is to come from Emir, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Estate Company offhand comes tive body of the private sector. National Vision 2030. the office of the Prime Minister Hamad Al Thani, called on the to my mind”. Qatari businessmen will be THE PENINSULA 13,000 enslaved Pope in Turkey in UK: Officials

Arabs to present draft LONDON: Up to 13,000 peo- ple are estimated to be kept in conditions of slavery in Britain, on Palestine at UN four times higher than was pre- viously thought, officials said CAIRO: Arab League foreign nothing for us but to internation- yesterday. ministers yesterday endorsed alise the issue.” The Home Office figure for a draft resolution setting a Jordan circulated a draft 2013 includes women forced into time frame for the creation of a UN Security Council resolution prostitution and people forced to Palestinian state and said they to members early last month work in factories and fields, many would formally present it to the that calls for an end to Israeli of them foreign nationals. United Nations Security Council occupation by November 2016. Data from another government for a vote within days. Some diplomats have described body previously put the figure The ministers said in a state- the Palestinian-drafted text as for 2013 at 2,744, but the 13,000 ment after their meeting that a “unbalanced”. number is an estimate that fac- follow-up committee including France, Britain and Germany tors in the “dark figure” of unde- Jordan, an Arab member of the are also drafting their own resolu- tected cases, it said. Security Council, would begin to tion, diplomats said, which would The figure emerged as Prime seek international backing for set out parameters for trying to Minister David Cameron’s gov- the resolution. Arab League chief end the conflict. ernment launched a strategy to Nabil Al Araby said Jordan would They have not yet circulated a combat modern slavery, with new present the draft to the Security text to the 15-council members. legislation likely to be passed next Council within days. Abbas warned in his speech year. A proposed resolution on a that his government could limit Pope Francis is shown the Sultan Ahmet mosque, popularly known as Blue Mosque, by Mufti of Istanbul AFP Palestinian state is unlikely to contacts with Israel and sus- Rahmi Yaran yesterday. The Pope prayed at the mosque in a gesture of interfaith harmony. See also page 14 gain the support of veto-wield- pend security coordination if the ing council member the United resolution failed to pass at the States, a key ally of Israel. It is not Security Council, and that Israel clear whether Washington would would bear responsibility for the engage in formal negotiations on consequences. Court drops murder charge against Mubarak such a document. Palestinians seek statehood in Speaking at the opening of the Israeli-occupied West Bank CAIRO: An Egyptian court jail on a three-year sentence in a Al Adly, were acquitted over the The usually stone-faced the session in Cairo, Palestinian and blockaded Gaza Strip, with yesterday dismissed a murder separate graft case. deaths of some of the roughly 800 Mubarak, wearing his trademark President Mahmoud Abbas said East Jerusalem as their capi- charge against Hosni Mubarak The ruling enraged the strong- people killed during the revolt. sunglasses, allowed himself a faint Israel had left his people no option tal - lands captured by Israel in over the deaths of protesters man’s opponents, with about 1,000 Cheers erupted in court and smile after the verdict was read. but to turn directly to the inter- a 1967 war. Israel accepts the during the 2011 uprising, spark- converging on a Cairo square to Mubarak’s sons Alaa and Gamal An appeals court had over- national community. idea of a “two-state solution” of ing a Cairo demonstration that denounce the government. Police kissed his forehead when the judge turned an initial life sentence for “The current situation in the an independent and democratic police dispersed with tear gas. fired tear gas to disperse them and read the verdict in the retrial Mubarak in 2012 on a technical- Palestinian territories cannot con- Palestinian state existing along- Mubarak, who ruled for three arrested at least 20. as the ex-president, 86, lay in a ity. Yesterday’s verdict may also tinue,” he said. side Israel, but has not accepted decades until being driven from Seven of Mubarak’s security stretcher inside the caged dock. be appealed. “There is no longer a part- the 1967 borders as the basis for office, was also acquitted of a cor- commanders, including feared Corruption charges against the THE PENINSULA ner for us in Israel and there is final negotiations. REUTERS ruption charge but will remain in former interior minister Habib sons were also dropped. See also page 14

Ferguson protest Indian rupee plunges vs riyal BY SACHIN KUMAR Rahman, Operations Manager, Al working in a currency exchange. Zaman Exchange. “The recovery in the US econ- DOHA: For the first time in “The Indian rupee is expected omy will further strengthen the 14 months, the Indian rupee to decline further in coming dollar against major global cur- has breached the psychological months. With oil prices and gold rencies,” he added. barrier of 17 against the Qatari rates heading down, the US dollar The rupee has fallen more than riyal (QR), bringing cheers to has become the favourite asset for 40 percent in the past four years. Indian expatriates. global investors,” added Rahman. It was quoting at 12.05 against The rupee last traded at 17 The rupee is following other the Qatari riyal in mid-Septem- against the riyal in August 2013. major global currencies, which ber 2010, and plunged to 17.30 in The Indian currency has fallen have seen a gradual decline against late August 2013. It touched an seven percent since April this the US dollar. Buoyed by signs of all-time low of 18.80 in September year, when it had appreciated to recovery in the US economy, the last year. 15.96 against the riyal. Federal Reserve has decided to Exchange house in Qatar are In the local foreign exchange stop its bond buying programme expecting huge remittances by market the rupee plunged last known as Quantitative Easing. Indian expatriates. “Many Indian Friday to 17.08 against the dol- Interest rates in the world’s larg- expatriates had even taken per- lar-pegged riyal before closing est economy are expected to rise sonal loans from banks and sent at 16.98, leading to a rush among in coming months, leading to money to their families to lev- Indian expatriates to send money strengthening of the dollar as glo- erage the decline of the rupee,” home. bal investors chase the greenback. said a senior official of currency “The depreciation of the rupee The recent fall in gold and crude exchange. has brought smiles to the faces oil prices have also supported the THE PENINSULA of Indian expatriates. There is fall of the rupee and other major a mixed response from custom- currencies against the US dollar. TODAY’S EDITION OF ers, with some Indians rushing “We expect the rupee to trade THE PENINSULA A protester yells at a line of police officers during a demonstration against the grand jury decision in the to send money while others are in the range 17.50-18 against INCLUDES A TWO-PAGE FEATURE ON Ferguson, Missouri shooting of Michael Brown in San Francisco, California. See also page 15 holding back in anticipation of a the Qatari riyal in next few OPTICS further decline,” said Zuber Abdul months,” said a senior official SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME WCMC-Q introduces interactive learning Grand Rounds to help professionals enhance knowledge

DOHA: Weill Cornell Medical technology, research and best in the early stages of develop- College in Qatar (WCMC-Q) practice. ment, could eventually be used to has launched a new programme The latest Grand Round treat hereditary disorders such of interactive learning sessions brought Dr Ronald G Crystal, one as haemophilia and cystic fibro- to help practising healthcare of the world’s foremost research- sis, and acquired disorders like professionals identify key chal- ers in genetic medicine, to Doha to Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s disease lenges of meeting a variety of discuss the cutting-edge research and cardiac failure, among others. healthcare needs. being carried out in his laboratory Dr Thurayya Arayssi, WCMC- It also aims to discuss how in New York. Q’s Associate Professor of this impacts their ability to man- Addressing an audience of Medicine and Associate Dean age patients, and to explore the approximately 100 medical pro- for Continuing Professional benefits of a multidisciplinary fessionals, students and faculty Development, said, “The Grand approach to patient care. members convened at WCMC-Q, Rounds series offers profession- The Grand Rounds, devel- Dr Crystal, Professor and als across the healthcare spec- oped by WCMC-Q’s Division Chairman of the Department of trum opportunities to hear from of Continuing Professional Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell some of the most talented physi- Development, features presen- Medical College in New York, cians and researchers working in Dr Ronald G Crystal, Professor and Chairman of the Department of Genetic Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical tations by expert speakers that explained how researchers have the field of medicine. This helps College in New York, speaking at the event. aim to engage healthcare pro- been able to use viruses as vehi- to spread knowledge, skills and fessionals in the community to cles to insert new genetic mate- news of the latest developments in wider region, which carries great The target audience of the Grand medical educators, students and enhance their knowledge of the rial into living cells. It is hoped medicine throughout the health- potential for improving patient Rounds series brings together other healthcare providers. latest developments in medical that the technology, which is still care community in Qatar and the care in our part of the world.” physicians, pharmacists, nurses, THE PENINSULA UCQ holds Open House for student aspirants

DOHA: The University of Calgary in Qatar (UCQ) recently brought together a number of their com- munity partners as they offered potential students an opportunity to learn more about the nursing pro- gramme and the potential job opportunities available for its graduates. “UCQ’s Open House presents a unique opportunity for prospective students to directly engage with both UCQ’s faculty and staff and our community partners at the same event,” commented Justin Williams, Director of Student Services at UCQ and the main organiser of UCQ’s Open House. “We know our programme has grown substantially in the past few years, and it was very apparent today with the tremendous turnout at the event.” Held annually, UCQ’s Open House allows prospective students and members of the community to visit campus to learn about UCQ’s Canadian-accredited nursing pro- grammes and explore their facilities. In addition to its Master of Nursing programme, UCQ offers a bachelor of nursing for students coming straight out of high school. In addition, the Post-Diploma Bachelor of Nursing pro- gramme affords nurses with a diploma an opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree. Suni Vinoy was one of the potential students who attended the event. She has been a nurse for 14 years, including nine years with Hamad. “I know it will be tir- ing with school and work, but it is worth the effort if it will allow me to upgrade my education”. Hajer Hamad just graduated from grade 12 and she is exciting at the prospect of becoming a nurse. “I have watched nurses and all the good work they do since I was a child, and I have always known that this is the profession for me”. Phillip Welsh, the head of talent management for Aspetar was at their booth talking with the attendees at the open house. He believes these type of events “are an excellent opportunity for the organization to not only reach out to the community, but to also speak directly with potential nurses who play a critical role in Aspetar’s sports medicine hospital”. Other partners represented at the event included Hamad Medical Corporation, Sidra Medical and Research Center, and The Supreme Education Council. THE PENINSULA

QNB launches mPOS software solution

DOHA: As part of its commitment to bring innovative banking solutions and payment products in the banking sector, Qatar National Bank (QNB) yesterday announced “QNB mPOS” the first Mobile Point-of-Sale (mPOS) solu- tion in Qatar, a new software solution designed to support merchants’ growth, according to a press statement. “QNB mPOS” is the latest card acceptance solution that uses a compact, highly secured card reader that connects and transforms the merchant’s smart phone or tablet into a fully certified EMV Chip & PIN mobile payment terminal. By using mobile data, it empowers merchants to accept card payments directly from their customers in a fast and secured environment. It is per- ceived to be a simple and convenient way for customers to pay, anywhere and at any time. Heba Al Tamimi, General Manager Retail at QNB Group, said: “The mPOS Solution has shown potential in the international markets where merchants of all sizes can accept payments using their mobile phones. Customers experience is enriched with the ease of mak- ing payments at any store location or at their doorstep, which results in increase customer loyalty. QNB’s mPOS solution will provide retailers such as delivery, merchants at exhibitions, VIP services, transportation, and restau- rants with a new payment channel that is easy to install.” The solution is powered by Swiftch which is developed by Mathema Technology LLC. This solution can be customized as per individual merchant needs and is compatible across iOS and Android platforms that resides on any smart device. In conjunction with a blue tooth enabled card readers, this solu- tion permits merchants to accept payments in a secured envi- ronment. QNB mPOS will not only address micro and small merchants with card acceptance functionality, but also the big retailers point of sale requirement with a robust mobile POS solution that enables integration with their complex back-end systems, in addition to supporting all types of cards. THE PENINSULA

SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Remittances by migrant Al Jazeera network launches workers double in 6 years

DOHA: Remittances sent by migrant workers home more than doubled in six years, between 2008 and 2013, while the population rose only 31.63 Palestine Remix website percent in the period. Figures released by the Ministry of Development Planning and Statistics suggest foreign workers transferred QR19.54bn ($5.4bn) home in 2008. Users can access and share Al Jazeera documentaries on Palestine The country’s population in the year was 1.55 million. The remittances jumped to over QR40.55bn ($11.13bn) in 2013, while the population increased to 2.04 million. Statistics for the first two quarters of 2014 (January to June) put the remittances at QR19.79bn ($5.43bn), whereas the population stood at over 2.21 million. Talking year-wise, workers’ remittances totalled QR25.82bn ($7.14bn) in 2009, the country’s population being a little over 1.63 million. In 2010, the total money transferred by migrant workers overseas was QR29.57bn ($8.12bn) and the population was, again a little more than 1.63 million. The growth of population in 2010 was nominal as only 5,715 new arrivals were recorded. Remittance figures for 2011 were QR37.54bn ($10.3bn), while the popula- tion was slightly more than 1.7 million. In 2012, money transfers declined marginally to QR37.43bn ($10.27bn). The dip in remittances was recorded despite the fact that some 129,000 freshly-recruited foreign workers arrived in the country in 2012, taking the population to over 1.83 million. In 2013, the population rose by more than 200,000, to 2.21 million, whereas remittances totaled QR40.55bn. THE PENINSULA

Rawan Damen, Palestine Remix Project Manager (left), at a press conference to announce the website launch at Hilton Doha Hotel.

DOHA: Al Jazeera Media Network has different social media platforms. directly to that point in time in the film, launched” Palestine Remix” an interac- The remix tool is built-in simplistic video saving a lot of real time searching in films. tive website aimed at telling Palestinian editing software that allows users to build The user can also pick and choose, mix stories. their short films in minutes. The project and match the extracts of different films The website was launched yesterday at also boasts interactive maps and timelines or view the full films in a coherent context, Hilton Doha Hotel, as part of the activities which allow users to truly understand the in addition to searching the full transcripts to commemorate the UN International Day Palestinian issue and contextualise it. using any word, name, place or concept. of Solidarity with the Palestinian People. “This project is not just about telling The database contains 84 hours in the 4 November 29 commemorates the adoption the important story of Palestine. It’s about languages, with more than 250 people, 580 of the United Nations Partition Resolution creating new ones. We want to give you a places and a timeline that spans for 215 181 (II) in 1947 calling for the establishment new way to understand, tell and share sto- years. It also provides drone footage of iconic of both a” Jewish State” and an “Arab State” ries about Palestine. That’s why we created places in historic Palestine: Jerusalem, Acre, in the Palestinian region. But so far only Palestine Remix: to put the power of story- Gaza and many others. Israel became a state in 1948. telling into your hands,” said Rawan Damen, Palestine Remix is the first of its kind on “Palestine Remix” allows users access to Palestine Remix’s Project Manager. the Palestinian issue, has a special mobile some of Al Jazeera’s best documentaries on The database provides the user the ability user friendly version and will be a mobile Palestine. It enables people to cut-and-paste to watch the full documentaries with their application before the end of this year, said the footage to tell stories or part of stories full transcripts, which allows the visitor to Damen. with, and share it immediately through click on a word in the transcript and go THE PENINSULA

Ghana president arrives today

DOHA: President of the Republic of Ghana John Dramani Mahama will arrive in Doha today on an official visit. The Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani will discuss bilateral relations with the president. Sudanese minister hails ties with Qatar

DOHA: Sudan’s Information minis- ter Dr Ahmed Bilal has praised the rela- tions between Qatar and Sudan, describing them as strong, long-standing and well-developed ties. In a press statement to Al Arab newspaper, Dr Bilal said that the peo- ple of Sudan appreciated Qatar for its continuous support during difficult times and in the interna- tional forums. “The peo- ple of Sudan owe a debt of gratitude to the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the government and people of Qatar for the support extended to Sudan in all conditions and in all fields.” He said that Qatar’s position towards Arab issues is clear and explicit and it supports all Arab peoples not only Sudan, pointing out that Qatar’s policy is always in support of the Arabs and their rights, particularly the Palestinian question. Regarding Qatari investment in Sudan, the Sudanese information min- ister said that these invest- ments are one of the Qatari tools to help Sudanese peo- ple in many areas not only economic field. “We are proud of this privileged relations with Qatar and we hope that it will progress towards greater prosperity.” QNA SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Ajyal Youth Film Festival begins tomorrow Four finalists of poetry contest selected

DOHA: The second Ajyal Youth Middle East premiere of Kahlil Film Festival, presented by the Gibran’s The Prophet, the ani- Doha Film Institute, with a mated adaptation of Gibran’s range of outreach initiatives beloved book. The film is pro- designed to inspire the com- duced by Salma Hayek, directed munity to explore their creative by Roger Allers (The Lion King) potential will begin tomorrow. and features individual chapters From poetry and photography based on eight of Gibran’s poems Artists and filmmakers during the pre-festival Artist Night. competitions to fun, film-themed directed by award-winning ani- events, the community outreach mators around the world, includ- entries and selected four finalists: from the community along with Qatar. We believe the Ajyal Youth celebrate the power of storytell- activities of the Ajyal Youth Film ing Gulf talent Mohammed Saeed Tahani Ali Al Buraiki, Maryam representatives from the Doha Film Festival is an important ing through a single image, to be Festival are in full swing in the Harib. Ali Al Mudahka, Abdulla Taleb Al Film Institute. initiative because it addresses a held from Tuesday to December 6 lead-up to the festival’s second The Cultural Creativity Centre Afifa and Noora Saeed Al Marri. Acting Chief Executive Officer clear commitment to the crea- at Katara, Building 19. The exhi- edition which takes place this and Ajyal invited participants to The winner will be announced at and Director of the Ajyal Youth tive development of our younger bition will present a collection of week at Katara Cultural Village choose a chapter from the book the Festival’s closing night gala Film Festival, Fatma Al Remaihi generation. By providing a space antique cameras and works by ten until December 6. and use its theme or content to with prizes sponsored by SONY said:“Art and culture play a cru- where they can be inspired and Doha-based photographers who A key initiative is a poetry write a poem on the same topic and Fifty One East. cial role in sharing our values expand their imaginations, we are will present varied aspects of the competition organised in partner- in their own words. A panel The annual pre-festival Artist and stories with the rest of the investing in their future, and the artform – from street photogra- ship with the Cultural Creativity of experts from the Cultural Night was held on Wednesday world. The people gathered here future of our creative industries.” phy to fashion shoots and every- Centre. The competition is Creativity Centre and Doha evening and was attended by lead- in this room tonight are the cul- The Festival will also present thing in between. inspired by Ajyal’s upcoming Film Institute have evaluated the ing artists, actors and filmmakers tural influencers who are shaping a photography exhibition to THE PENINSULA

Electronic licence for health professionals

DOHA: The Supreme Council A SCH licence is mandatory valid document, said the circular. of Health (SCH) has launched for all healthcare professionals to The valid electronic licence will electronic licence for health- practice in Qatar. This licence has also be accessible to the public. It will care practitioners as part of to be renewed every year. be available for anyone who wants to efforts to simplify and fasten With introduction of the search for a licensed physician or the licensing procedures. e-licence, practitioners will not other practitioners. The licence will Doctors, nurses and other have to wait until they receive a show the name of his/her employer health practitioners can now paper copy of the licence. They and the scope of practice, along with access their valid licence through can start working immediately other personal details. the Electronic Registration and after the e-licence is issued and The e-licence will only be avail- Licensing System at SCH or they will be notified through SCH’s able as long as the practitioner’s through smart phones and tab- registration and licensing system. registration is valid. Once the lets, said a circular issued by the The e-licence can be used as licence expires, it will no longer Qatar Council for Healthcare a reference during inspections be viewable on the system, said Practitioners (QCHP) to all conducted by the SCH and can the circular. practitioners. be presented to the public as a THE PENINSULA

One of the trainers receiving his certificate. MoI honours 37 trainers DOHA: The Ministry of the certificates to the accred- batch of trainers which included Interior (MoI) honoured 37 ited trainers at an event held female civil officers as well. trainers working in its different at Civil Defence officers’ club on He added that the presence of departments who were accred- Thursday. trained employees in the Ministry ited by international training Abdullah Yusuf Al Mal said would inevitably lead to improv- bodies. that the Ministry of Interior is ing the performance levels in var- The Legal Advisor of Prime taking all necessary initiatives for ious security, humanitarian and Minister Major General Dr upgrading the skills its officers service sectors of the ministry. Abdullah Yusuf Al Mal presented and staffs. This was the second THE PENINSULA Peru ministries celebrate books donation from Qatar

LIMA: The Peruvian ministries of culture and foreign affairs have held a ceremony to mark the delivery of books donated by Qatar to the Peruvian Arabic Library estab- lished after the Summit of South American-Arab Countries, held in Lima in 2012. Speaking at the cer- emony, Ambassador of the Qatar to the Republic of Peru Jamal Nassir Al Badr underlined the importance of books donated to enrich the Arabic library in Peru, which is viewed as one of the means of communica- tion between the Qatari and Peruvian peoples and sym- bolises communication and knowing each other better. For their part, Director of Africa, the Middle East and the Gulf Region at the Foreign Ministry, and the President of the Peruvian National Library praised the State of Qatar and its valu- able contribution and hailed its achievements in various fields. The ceremony was attended by heads of dip- lomatic missions accred- ited in Peru and Foreign Ministry officials. QNA SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Getting lost in Boats on the Corniche translation: Lack of skill lamented Expert stresses language expertise

DOHA: In an unfortunate situ- ation some translators with lack of skills are just rendering a form of letters into another form of letters, according to an expert. Lack of good understanding of the source language (English or Arabic) is one of the major chal- lenges in the translation field in Qatar, said Dr Salah Basalamah (pictured), Associate Professor, Postgraduate Studies & Research Programme at the Translation and Interpreting Institute (TII) of Hamad bin Khalifa University. and quality translation and inter- About the challenges in the preting services of the highest translation industry in Qatar, Dr international standards. Basalamah said with Qatar host- The institute provides train- ing major conferences and events ing and qualifies people who seek which bring thousands from for- to improve their translation and eign countries and many people language skills. “What we would A view of leisure boats moored on the Corniche. (KAMMUTTY VP) coming here for employment like to do is kind of promote a translation plays a major role. culture of professionalism and “When you see offices offering accuracy, quality and something translation, they are really a mess. really needed with the aspirations It’s really unfortunate to see that of the country in the face of the Texas A&M awarded ISO 9001:2008 certificate some non-Arabic speaking people are world,” said Dr Basalamah. translating into Arabic because they In a new move the TII recently are able to read the Arabic letters. introduced Master of Audiovisual DOHA: The campus of Texas can be assured that services and developed a Quality Management of Texas A&M at Qatar’s QMS “So this sort of situation is Translation focuses on the trans- A&M University at Qatar has research quality remains at its System (QMS) to meet the to the requirements of the ISO leading into different things. lation of audio, visual, or audio- been awarded the ISO 9001:2008 best and that transactions are requirements of International 9001:2008 standard. It’s affecting the quality of work visual material. This includes the Management Systems certifica- done efficiently. Standard ISO 9001. QMS was “Texas A&M at Qatar’s and at the same time is lowering dubbing and subtitling of movies, tion by Lloyd’s Register Quality The central facilities — which implemented to document the achievement of the ISO 9001:2008 the status of the translator. The television shows, and other videos. Assurance. include a central electronics shop, facility’s best business practices, certification strengthens its vision translator is becoming a person Speaking about the importance of The ISO 9001:2008 certifica- central materials facility and cen- satisfy the requirements and and promise to provide sustained who is rendering a form of let- audio visual translation Dr Basalamah tion assures the quality of the tral machines shop — support the expectations of its customers and research and service of high qual- ters into another form of letters, said: “Today we are in multimedia branch campus’ processes and research activities within Texas improve the overall management ity for the benefit of Qatar,” said it doesn’t mean the meaning of age, the image needs to be there, it’s standards are on par with inter- A&M at Qatar, as well as provide of the facility. Dr. Kenneth Hall, associate dean the words are taken into account. not enough to have just text.” national management systems. technical services to industry, The facilities was audited for research and graduate studies For a very low price you can get “Qatar is leading in providing It also means that the campus government and academic part- in September 2014 by Lloyd’s at Texas A&M at Qatar. the translation done, where it services to people with special has instituted quality assurance ners in the form of printed circuit Register Quality Assurance, one “This achievement is a testa- could have been better done needs. Audio visual translation is methods in both research and board prototyping and electronic of the world’s leading providers of ment to the university’s goal of through Google translation,” Dr one that offering the services. It’s support services, and has built solutions, material characteriza- independent assessment services, research integration through Basalamah told this newspaper. not only for people with hearing procedures for its maintenance. tion and machining. To provide to review the completeness of the building innovation and develop- TII provides translator and difficulties but also the visually In formalising and maintain- technically competent service for documentation and to assess the ing human capital in Qatar,” he interpreter education, high-level impairment people,” he said. ing its quality assurance methods, all customers of the central facili- effectiveness of the implementa- added. training in a range of languages, THE PENINSULA partners of Texas A&M at Qatar ties, Texas A&M at Qatar has tion as well as the compliance THE PENINSULA

1,000 children getting treatment at HGH paediatric diabetes unit

DOHA: At present, about centres and Paediatric Emergency paediatric diabetologist, diabetes diagnostic and management tech- blood. The condition is broadly cat- children affected with diabetes; 1,000 children with diabetes are Centres to the Paediatric Endocrine educator, dietician, psychologist, niques for the condition. egorized into two types: type 1, in these children require insulin treat- being managed at the Paediatric and Diabetes Unit at the National and social worker who work col- The conference, which featured which the body does not produce any ment at all times,” Dr El Awwa said. Endocrine and Diabetes Unit at Diabetes Centre at HGH. laboratively with the child’s family, scientific presentations and panel insulin and a hormone is required to He added that the number the National Diabetes Centre Head of the Paediatric ensures that the child receives the sessions, was attended by more break sugar into energy needed for of children and young adults at Hamad General Hospital Endocrine and Diabetes Unit Dr best possible diabetic care.” than 300 healthcare profession- daily life, and type 2, in which the affected by type 2 diabetes is (HGH). Of these approximately Fawziya Al Khalaf said “At the He was speaking at a confer- als, including senior physicians, body fails to respond to insulin. beginning to rise, particularly 150 receive insulin regularly unit, we offer highly specialized ence organised by the Hamad endocrinologists, nurses and other Dr Ahmed El Awwa, Consultant with the increase of obesity and via the insulin pump therapy, treatment and management to Medical Corporation (HMC) to allied health professionals. Pediatric Endocrine and Diabetes improper diets. However, it can according to an expert. each and every child with diabe- highlight and discuss the prev- Diabetes is a chronic condition at HGH said: “The most prevalent be prevented through diet control Children with diabetes are tes. The availability of a multidis- alence of childhood diabetes that occurs as a result of increased type of diabetes in children is type and weight reduction strategies. referred from primary health care ciplinary team comprising of a in Qatar, as well as the latest levels of glucose (blood sugar) in the 1, which is found in 90 percent of THE PENINSULA Thousands participate in Al Dana Green Run

DOHA: More than 2,700 men, women and children thronged Aspire Zone yesterday for the 10th Al Dana Green Run hosted by Doha Bank. This year’s Al Dana Green Run proved the biggest in the event’s history in terms of both number of race categories and participant turnout as people across age groups, nationalities and social backgrounds came forward to take part in the 3-km run around Khalifa Stadium, a press release issued by the bank said yesterday. “We are overwhelmed by the support we have received from all quarters of the society,” said R Seetharaman, CEO of Doha Bank. “As the most widely attended community run in Qatar, Al Dana Green Run occupies a special place in the country’s sporting and socio-cultural landscape. The event connects emotionally with the city’s residents who look for- ward to the green run each year, and it is a matter of great pride Runners crossing the starting point during the Doha Bank Al Dana Green Run yesterday. and joy for us that the impact of the event, in terms of building the platforms and opportuni- conservation and promoting biggest corporate social respon- greater environmental aware- ties that enable the community the concept of green living, the sibility (CSR) event in Qatar. ness, has grown progressively to adopt more environmentally event is supported by the Qatar The event takes its name from stronger over the years. responsible practices,” he added. Olympic Committee and the Doha Bank’s Al Dana Savings “We believe protecting the The Green Run was hosted Qatar Association of Athletics Scheme, a premier savings pro- environment is everybody’s by Doha Bank in collaboration Federation. gramme which offers customers responsibility. Each of us, as with the Ministry of Interior, This year’s event featured an the chance to win life-changing individuals, can make a con- Public Security, the Traffic and enhanced line-up with as many cash prizes. Through the Al tribution towards making the Patrol Department, Qatar Red as 10 race categories, enabling Dana Green Run, Doha Bank world a better place to live in, Crescent Society, and the Aspire people from various social seg- seeks to encourage people to and at Doha Bank we are com- Academy. Held every year ments and fitness levels to take save resources, just as they save mitted to reducing our overall with the aim of raising public part in the event. in their Al Dana accounts. carbon footprint and to create awareness about environmental The Al Dana Green Run is the THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 HOME / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

Libya strongman Call for changing land allotment rules vows to ‘take Divorced women have to wait for five years after break-up to be eligible for land allocation Tripoli’ from

DOHA: Some Qatari women true of divorcees and widows,” to wait for five years? If she dies Islamists are demanding that the con- said Fatima Al Kuwari. before allotment, so would her ditions for land allotment to Al Kuwari told local Arabic children get this land? ROME: An anti-Islamist nationals be changed and divor- daily Al Arab in remarks pub- There are some women who former Libyan general, Khalifa cees should be entitled to free lished yesterday: “Qatari divor- applied for land for housing and Haftar, said yesterday he has plots of land for housing without cees and widows are being home loans but they did not get it given himself two weeks to waiting for five years. deprived of some rights that they even after eight years. It is clear, take Benghazi and three According to present rules, should be given on priority basis. officials concerned are playing game. months to recapture the capi- Qatari women who are divorced “They are having problems in Prominent psychologist, Dr tal Tripoli. must wait for five years after the getting plots of land for housing Mawza Al Maliki is of the view The strongman, who is allied to break-up of their marriage to be and home loans. I know some that Qatari law is pretty fair and the Libyan parliament, has been eligible to apply for a plot of land of them are facing this prob- does not discriminate against battling Islamist militias who took for housing. lem for the past eight years,” male and female. “But the prob- control of the war-torn country’s The women say the rule is she added. lem is with those who are author- biggest cities this summer after being misused by some officials Another privilege for state ised to implement the law,” said their defeat in elections. to make delays in the allotment of women employees is housing Al Maliki. “There are some senior Forces loyal to Haftar and land to women. Some applicants allowance. This allowance is Fatima Al Kuwari Dr Mawza Al Maliki officials (directors and heads of Prime Minister Abdullah Al have been waiting for years on given only to male employees not the departments) who put hin- Thinni are fighting for control end without any allotment. to female ones. Some neighbour- They have to spend on their drance in the way of implementa- of Benghazi in the east and have “Qatari women are in a good ing countries like Kuwait and the and immediately after death of families. tion of the law creating difficulties launched an offensive against condition socially and economi- United Arab Emirates (UAE) husbands. Criticizing the terms and con- for women to get their rights,” Islamist positions west of the cally as compared to other coun- should be taken as role models However, Al Kuwari did not ditions for the allotment of land said added. She also demanded capital. tries but we should admit that in that are granting housing plot demand equality in salaries with for housing and home loans she for a law to take action against “For Tripoli we are only at the some aspects they are unable to of lands and loans with the issu- men saying that her male col- said it is not fair. What will hap- those officials. beginning,” Haftar told the Italian get full rights. This is especially ance of divorce verdict from court leagues have more responsibilities. pen if a divorcee aged 60 is asked THE PENINSULA daily Corriere della Sera. “We need more men and more supplies and weaponry.” “I have given myself three Protest against Houthis months, but maybe we will need less. The Islamists of Fajr Libya HMC observes world (Libya Dawn) are not difficult to fight, no more so than the Islamic State at Derna,” the town in the east of the war-torn country ulcer prevention day which has become a base for mili- tants affiliated to the extremist DOHA: Hamad Medical underlying tissue, usually over a group who control swathes of Corporation’s (HMC) facili- bony prominence, as a result of Syria and Iraq. ties joined hospitals across the pressure, or pressure in combina- “But the priority is Benghazi,” globe in observing World Wide tion with shear”. Haftar said. “The Ansar Asharia Pressure Ulcer Prevention Day “Pressure ulcers are a fre- (Islamist militia) is battle-hard- recently. quently occurring health prob- ened, that takes more work, even The objective of the day was lem throughout the world. though we control 80 percent of to increase national awareness They are painful, costly, and the city and we are pushing for- for pressure ulcer prevention an often preventable complica- ward,” he added. and to educate the public on this tion for which many individu- The general wants parliament topic. Hamad General Hospital’s als are at risk,” as stated in the and Al Thinni’s internationally- (HGH) team has taken a lead in Prevention and Treatment recognised government, now organizing a symposium on the of Pressure Ulcers: Clinical based in Tobruk, close to the prevention of pressure ulcers. Practice Guideline. Egyptian border, to come back at The symposium was sponsored “Pressure ulcers increase hos- least to Benghazi. “I have given by Dr Muna Al Maslamani, pital costs significantly. In the myself a deadline of December Transplant and Infectious United States, pressure ulcer care 15,” he said. Diseases Senior Consultant and is estimated to approach $11bn “The Tobruk parliament is the Vice Chair of Quality and Patient annually, with a cost of between one elected by the people. The Safety at HMC’s Medicine $500 — $70,000 per individual one in Tripoli is an illegal assem- Department. pressure ulcer.” bly where the Islamists want Dr Yousuf Al Maslamani, Colene Daniel, CEO of HGH Y emeni protesters shout slogans during a rally against the Shia Houthi insurgency, in Sana’a, yesterday. to turn back history,” Haftar Medical Director of HGH com- noted: “I am proud of the high insisted. mented: “I am proud of the quality of care our dedicated staff “But the real danger comes efforts put forth by all of our provide every day to prevent pres- from the fundamentalists who staff as pressure ulcer preven- sure ulcers from occurring. We’re want to impose their will eve- tion only occurs when staff from excited about the activities being Qaeda bombing kills guards in Yemen rywhere. If Ansar Asharia takes all disciplines engages in preven- planned for this special week. power here, the threat will come tion efforts. Looking after the We hope to make the community to you in Europe, in your houses,” best interest of the patients is more aware of the great care our SANAA: Al Qaeda has claimed There has been no announce- outside the house of Yemeni he said in the interview, given every health care professional’s facility provides.” it detonated two bombs outside ment by US authorities of any President Abd Rabbuh Mansur close to Benghazi. responsibility and by preventing World Wide Pressure Ulcer the US embassy in Sanaa, kill- attack, and American officials Hadi and had been intended to “Egypt, Algeria, the Emirates pressure ulcers from forming, Prevention Day was first ing several guards, a US-based could not immediately be reached explode when Tueller left after and Saudi Arabia have sent us we can significantly improve the observed in 2013 and is growing monitoring group said for comment on the claim. a visit there on September 8, Al arms and ammunitions, but only health outcomes for the patient in recognition from many gov- yesterday. The announcement comes three Qaeda said. their older technology. We are not and the efficiency of caring for erning bodies across the world. In a message on Twitter, Al weeks after Al Qaeda said it had Yemen is a key US ally in the asking you (Europeans) to send them.” It is most appropriate to set Qaeda’s media branch said its tried to assassinate US Ambassador fight against Al Qaeda, allowing us ground troops or bomber air- The National Pressure Ulcer aside a special time to recognise fighters set off the explosive devices Matthew Tueller with two bombs Washington to conduct a long- craft. If we have adequate mili- Advisory Panel (NPUAP) defines the contributions of hospital at an entrance to the embassy on that were discovered minutes standing drone war against the tary equipment we will manage,” a pressure ulcer as “local- personnel. Thursday night, according to SITE before they were to explode. group on its territory. he added. ized injury to the skin and/or THE PENINSULA Intelligence Group. The devices had been planted AFP AFP Two die in Algerian rioting over 400 killed in six weeks in Libya housing, jobs BENGHAZI: About 400 people have been supplies in the eastern city. “The death toll has killed in six weeks of heavy fighting between risen to 400,” a source at a Benghazi hospital said, ALGIERS: Two demonstrators Libyan pro-government forces and Islamist declining to be identified for security reasons. were killed when clashes broke groups in Libya’s second-largest city Benghazi, Medics at other hospitals in the city confirmed out late yesterday between riot medical staff said yesterday. the estimated death toll. police and residents demand- Backed by forces led by a former general, the The fighting in Benghazi is part of wider tur- ing better living conditions in newly formed government army launched in moil in the North African country. Two govern- southern Algeria, residents and mid-October an offensive against Islamists in ments, each with their own parliament and army a hospital said. Benghazi, expelling them from the airport area chief of staff are vying for legitimacy, three years Riots over public housing and and from several camps the army had lost during after the ouster of Muammar Gaddafi. services are common but rarely the summer. In August, Prime Minister Abdullah Al Thinni result in deaths in the Opec oil- In the past three weeks the fighting has cen- and his cabinet were forced to leave Tripoli for producing country where the gov- tred around Benghazi’s commercial port where the east of Libya when group called Libya Dawn ernment uses energy revenues to pro-government forces say Islamists are holed seized the capital. fund subsidy programmes to avert up. The port has had to close, disrupting food REUTERS unrest. About 25 protesters were also reported to have been injured in the riot in Touggourta, southern Solidarity with Palestinians Algeria, after youths took to the streets to protest against lack of drinking water, jobs and subsi- dised housing. There was no immediate com- ment from local authorities. But state news agency APS reported the deaths citing a hospital offi- cial and said policemen had been injured in the clashes. Algeria mostly avoided the 2011 Arab Spring protests that rocked its neighbours and the govern- ment spent heavily on subsidised food and basic goods to calm pro- tests over food prices. The country relies heavily on oil revenues for state spend- ing. With nearly $200 billion in reserves, Algeria is well-cush- ioned financially but some officials Palestinian and Lebanese students on their bicycles carrying Palestinian flags, during a march in have noted risks from the fall in Beirut streets on the occasion of International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, in Beirut, world oil prices. yesterday.

12 SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014

iPhone app to ensure eye health esearchers have suc- cessfully used an RiPhone app for imag- Caring for your ing the inside of the eye of immobile and paediatric patients. The team used the iExaminer smartphone sys- tem and an iPhone to image eyeglass frames 28 paediatric patients with a diverse range of retinal and optic nerve conditions. The system consists of a PanOptic Ophthalmoscope (a lighted instrument to exam- ine the inside of the eye) and an adapter that attaches the our glasses are designed to To put them on: Gently grasp the Periodically check your eyeglass frames see your neighbourhood optician. He or ophthalmoscope to an iPhone correct your vision based on frame arms of your glasses with equal to see if they are misaligned, and to test she will be happy to adjust your frames to enable taking photos and being held firmly in a fixed, pressure and carefully slide them on, for loose screws at the temples and, if for you — even if you didn’t originally videos. It can image key struc- stable position in front of lifting them over your ears. applicable, at the bridge of the nose. If purchase your glasses there. Remember, tures of the back of the eye in your eyes. So when it comes To take them off: Reverse this process the frame looks twisted, or if your lenses your eyecare professional is trained to a single view without neces- toY proper eyeglass care, it’s pretty easy using the same gentle grip. Just tip them seem to ride unevenly on your nose, then know how your lenses need to be posi- sarily requiring dilation drops. to see why protecting and maintaining up and slide them slowly forward. This it’s time to drop in on your eyecare pro- tioned relative to your eye. Also, an eye- The associated app facili- your frames are as important as caring may seem elementary, but just remem- fessional for an eyeglass frame adjust- glass frame can contain fragile materials tates capture, storage and for your lenses. ber we told you so the next time you ment. In addition, many drug stores sell and design elements that could easily transfer of data. This also whip your glasses off like you’re Clark inexpensive eyeglass tool kits containing break in your effort to fix or adjust them. makes it possible for real- Kent running into a phone booth. a small screwdriver and an assortment Even a slight adjustment can make time tele-medicine consulta- Handle With Care! of temple screws for emergency repairs. an important difference in the comfort tion without violating patient To avoid twisting or misaligning your of your glasses and the quality of your identity as no external facial frames, eyecare professionals suggest Be Aware! vision. Top it off with a gentle wash in features are revealed. “This using both hands when putting on and When was the last time you actu- Making Adjustments warm water, dry with a soft cloth and system could be useful not taking off your glasses or sunglasses. ally took a good look at your frames? It’s a good idea to stop in regularly to you’re good to go! only to ophthalmologists but also physicians, hospitals and general practitioners,” said lead researcher Jiaxi Ding from the Ross Eye Institute at University at Buffalo in the US. Diet rich in grapes promotes eye health Because it can instantly capture photos and videos of the back of the eye through CALIFORNIA: Apart from other exciting,” said lead author Abigail Hackam to light, known as photoreceptors. retinal function in an oxidative stress an undilated pupil, “there is health benefits, do you know that grapes from University of Miami, Florida. Mice were either fed a grape-supple- model of degeneration. Further analysis potential for prompt tele- can work in multiple ways to promote Grapes promote eye health from signal- mented diet corresponding to three serv- revealed that the grape diet resulted in medicine consultations with your eye health? ing changes at the cellular level to directly ings of grapes per day for humans or one lower levels of inflammatory proteins and an ophthalmologist and This is what research suggests, add- countering oxidative stress, he added. of two control diets. higher amounts of protective proteins in getting preliminary triage ing that regular grape consumption may The researchers investigated whether a The results showed that retinal function the retinas. answers to the patient more play a role in eye health by protecting the diet supplemented with grapes could pro- was significantly protected in the mice con- The findings were presented at the quickly than waiting for retina from deterioration. “In mice, the tect the photoreceptors in mice with reti- suming the grape-enriched diet. Association for Research in Vision and standard office referral,” grape-enriched diet provided substantial nal degeneration. The retina is the part of They also exhibited thicker retinas. Ophthalmology conference in Orlando, he added. IANS protection of retinal function which is very the eye that contains the cells that respond Grape consumption also protected Florida. IANS 12 SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014

What happens when you How the retina finds out about motion BY MO COSTANDI visual stimuli that move away don’t clean your contacts from the centre of the cell out large group of gam- towards the tip of the branch. ers, working with Earlier research has also shown BY ABBY PHILLIP computational that some bipolar neurons neuroscientists, respond to visual stimuli more ’ll be the first to admit it: has produced a slowly than others. I wear my contact lenses wiringA diagram of the nerve Both starburst amacrine to bed most nights. I some- cell connections at the back of cells and bipolar neurons come Itimes wear them longer the eye, which may have solved in various different types, but than I’m supposed to. And on a the long-standing question of the arrangement of connections few occasions, I’ve found myself how cells in the retina detect between them was not know in nowhere near contact lens solu- motion. any great detail. Jinseop Kim of tion and used a little bit of water 50 years ago, researchers dis- the Massachusetts Institute of instead. (Shameful, I know.) covered that retinal ganglion Technology and his colleagues Bad contact glass wearer? cells, which transmit informa- reasoned that the pattern of That’s me! If you are one of the tion from eye to brain via the connections between them estimated 38 million Americans optic nerve, are sensitive to the might reveal something about who wear contacts, it’s probably direction and speed of moving how the starburst amacrine you, too. But here’s a reason to images, and have been trying to cells detect motion, and so reconsider this behaviour: explain how ever since. The new decided to map them. According to numbers diagram, published in the jour- The researchers collected a released by the Centers for nal Nature, points to an elegant series of electron microscope Disease Control and Prevention ‘space-time wiring’ mechanism images of the mouse retina and last week, Americans make that makes a certain type of cell partly reconstructed them into nearly a million doctor’s sensitive to motion in very spe- a large series of ‘cubes,’ each appointments and emergency cific directions. comprising about 17 Megabytes room visits a year for eye infec- Light entering the eye falls of data, and representing a tiny tions, most of them due to the on photoreceptors, which con- three-dimensional chunk of improper use and care of con- vert it into electrical impulses retinal tissue about 5 microns tact lenses. and then transmit the informa- (thousandths of a millime- “People who wear contact tion to bipolar cells. The infor- tre) across. They then handed lenses overnight are more than mation then passes to neurons the cubes over to members of 20 times more likely to get kera- called starburst amacrine cells, EyeWire, an online community titis,” said Jennifer Cope, a med- depending on how early it is for keratitis is about $151, on — Rub and rinse contacts in and then is transmitted to the of more than 100,000 gamers. ical epidemiologist at the CDC. diagnosed and what type of bac- average; each emergency room disinfecting solution each time retinal ganglion cells, which The information was distrib- “Wearing contacts and not tak- teria is causing it — so consult visit costs an average of $587. you remove them. relay it to the visual cortex at uted via CloudFront, Amazon’s ing care of them properly is the a doctor if you notice pain or Overall in the United States, — Rub and rinse the case the back of the brain. content distribution network, single biggest risk factor for inflammation. keratitis is responsible for with contact lens solution, dry The secret of how the retina which cached the cubes in serv- keratitis.” Keratitis is an infec- Even some seemingly harm- $175m in direct costs. the case with a clean tissue and detects motion seems to lie in ers around the world so that tion that occurs when germs less behaviours can lead to Here are some other ways you store it upside down with the the starburst amacrine cells they could be delivered to the invade the cornea, the clear infection — for example, not can make your bad contact lens caps off after each use. (above), and the connections ‘EyeWirers’ quickly. dome that covers the coloured replacing the lenses’ case often habits a little better, according — Do not top off solution in they form with the bipolar “2,183 people from the part of the eye. The infection enough. (The CDC recommends to the CDC: the lens case; instead, pour out neurons. Starburst amacrine EyeWire community helped us can cause pain, inflammation getting a new case every three — Wash your hands with soap the old and replace it with new. cells are flat with an elabo- to reconstruct the starburst and scarring of the cornea. It months.) and water and dry them well — Carry a backup pair of rate array of extremely fine, amacrine cells,” explains senior can also lead to blindness. And treating infection can be before touching contact lenses. glasses in case your contacts branched dendrites. Each acts author Sebastian Seung, now at Medication can treat the expensive: The CDC estimates — Take contacts out before have to be taken out. as a computational unit in its Princeton University. infection — more or less easily, that the cost of a doctor’s visit bed, showering or swimming. WP-BLOOMBERG own right, and is sensitive to THE GUARDIAN SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 12 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Undoing the revolution Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

Cairo court’s decision to drop its case against former president Hosni Mubarak on charges that he ordered police to kill hundreds of protesters during the A2011 uprising isn’t surprising. The pro-democracy uprising in Egypt has taken several twists and turns, and From old South to Ferguson, has finally settled into a steep decline. It’s now difficult to say whether the revolt has achieved its original purpose, or delivered any results. Looking at how events are unfolding, it could even be back to square one. white authority endures The latest court verdict demonstrates the impunity enjoyed by ex-regime figures three years after the pro-democracy BY COLBERT I KING employee Ulysses Baskin was part of a community . . . feels himself in danger.” revolt. The presiding judge said prosecutors had waited too pack that attacked the school’s sheep. Written in the 1940s. long to file their indictment against Mubarak, canceling the y 102-year-old mother- On May 30, 1925, Baskin was in fact shot Listen to Wilson’s grand jury tes- court’s jurisdiction over the case. The current rulers of Egypt in-law, Henryne Walker by the dog’s owner eight times. School timony, in which he characterizes the are close to Mubarak, and it will be too much to expect them Stewart Goode, whom president Wallace A. Battle demanded Ferguson community that he patrolled: to send Mubarak to jail for the crimes he committed. More we buried a week ago at the arrest of the culprit, but the local Wilson: “It is an antipolice area for the Walker family cem- grand jury freed him. Battle didn’t flee, sure.” than 800 people died during the 18-day revolt that ousted Metery in Okolona, Mississippi, often told though; he resigned in protest when Prosecutor: “And when you say Mubarak nearly four years ago, rights groups say. an unforgettable story at our kitchen the school’s white trustees would not antipolice, tell me more? Also, judiciary in non-democratic countries is always known table. demand justice for the murder. Wilson: “There’s a lot of gangs that to toe the official line, and is even considered an arm of the She attended Okolona College, where That was Mississippi in the 1920s — a reside or associate with that area. government. Egypt too is no exception. she was taught English and public time when white men were justified in There’s a lot of violence in that area, Mubarak is under house arrest at a hospital serving a speaking by James Raspberry, the father taking the law into their own hands in there’s a lot of gun activity, drug activ- of my late Post matters involving black men. That white ity, it is just not a very well-liked com- three-year sentence handed down in May for the misuse colleague, William Okolona farmer was simply exercising munity. That community doesn’t like of public funds. But after yesterday’s exoneration, he has Raspberry. At his delegated, albeit unofficial, police the police.” improved his position. According to some legal experts, the one time, in my powers. The incident gave meaning to Prosecutor: “Were you pretty much former president could even be In places like mother-in-law’s the assertion of Chief Justice Roger on high alert being in that community allowed to walk free. According telling, animals Taney in Dred Scott that the black man by yourself, especially when Michael to Egypt’s criminal code, if a Ferguson, on the school’s has “no rights which the white man was Brown said, ‘[expletive] what you say,’ I An Egyptian farm were fall- bound to respect.” think he said?” court’s decision defendant spends any time in police represent ing victim to The slaying in Ferguson, Missouri, Wilson: “Yes.” pre-trial detention but is later some invading of an unarmed, 18-year-old African Prosecutor: “You were on pretty high to drop a acquitted, that time counts toward white authority. marauder. A American, Michael Brown, by a white alert at that point knowing the vicinity other any other prison sentences Authority school employee cop, Darren Wilson, who in turn gets and the area that you’re in?” case against the defendant must serve. discovered the away with it, strikes a raw nerve. It Wilson: “Yes, that’s not an area where culprit — a dog reminds many of the way in which you can take anything really. Like I said, Mubarak was jailed in May 2011 on empowered Mubarak over — and shot it. authority is exercised, especially in com- it is a hostile environment.” a number of charges, which would to enter the But the white munities where the central relationship We are in a bad place. the deaths of mean he has completed the three- farmer who between blacks and whites is the police. My 20-year-old grandson, Will, the community protesters isn’t year sentence for embezzlement. owned the dog In places like Ferguson, police repre- most gentle and respectful young man The court decision has evoked backed by the retaliated, turn- sent white authority. Authority empow- you would ever want to meet, posted mixed response. As expected, his ing up at the ered to enter the community backed by this on his Facebook page: surprising. extralegal support school to shoot the extralegal support of white senti- “Regarding the recent events in supporters were euphoric and the employee ment. Authority whose word is taken Ferguson: I’ve always wanted to believe took to the streets in celebration. of white sentiment. to death and against the word of an accused African my country was free. But today’s grand Mubarak’s opponents too came threaten the American. Authority that not only jury decision tells me this cannot be the out to protest the verdict. Interestingly, his supporters far Authority whose school’s presi- arrests, but punishes, too. case. No country that refuses to hold the outnumbered families of protesters who died in the Tahrir word is taken dent. The Where else can you fire 12 shots at an police, those so-called ‘defenders of the Square revolt that had embodied the hopes of Arab Spring school’s presi- unarmed teenager, at least six of which law,’ accountable for its unjust brutality against the word dent was forced strike his body, and walk away? — and yes, it is often very brutal — can uprisings that spread through the region. The low turnout to flee, my Of course, the story of blacks not get- be free. When the grand jury declined of protestors shows how the situation in Egypt has taken a of an accused mother-in-law ting justice didn’t start with Michael to charge Darren Wilson for his actions, U-turn. The new government doesn’t tolerate criticism and said, but nothing Brown or Trayvon Martin. That his- what kind of a message does that send? can react with a use of force. The authorities have jailed African American. happened to the tory is long, thus the outrage. Sociologist . . . It doesn’t seem fair that police can thousands of Brotherhood supporters and sentenced hundreds white farmer. Gunnar Myrdal, writing in the 1940s, commit brutal acts against innocent That said all we described what communities such as people and get away with it.” to death in mass trials that drew international criticism. needed to know about Deep South jus- Ferguson encounter: a “weak man with It’s not, Will. Not today. Not in your Mubarak’s overthrow led to Egypt’s first free election but tice of her youth. his strong weapons — backed by all the great-grandmother’s day when that the winner, Mohamed Mursi, was ousted last year by then- An account in the July 4, 1931, edition authority of white society — [who] is Mississippi grand jury let that white army chief Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, following protests against his of the Afro American flushed out the now sent to be the white law in the farmer get away with murder. Not ever. rule. Sisi, who went on to win a presidential election in May, details of this tale, and over 90 years Negro neighbourhood. There he is away WP-BLOOMBERG launched a crackdown on Mursi and his Muslim Brotherhood• it deviated remarkably little from the from home.” (King is a former deputy editorial facts. The dog that was shot by school “The white policeman in the Negro page editor of The Washington Post.) The other side Quote of Powering Saarc the day

HE signing of an agreement at regional integration, unlike East Asia or investment if it did not want to, since Economic Corridor”. China’s growing the just concluded 18th Saarc Europe for instance. it could pursue its interests through role in South Asia is another powerful summit to create a regional Even in North America, access to bilateral channels if it wanted to. “The impetus for India to do more on regional Telectricity grid could have the vast pool of cheap labour in Mexico bonds will grow,” he said, referring to integration in its own neighbourhood, far-reaching outcomes if managed did a lot to create a constituency for growing regional integration in the years a fact underlined by China’s delegation properly. free trade and investment. to come, “through Saarc or outside it. — also present as observers — which I did nothing wrong The moment presents a powerful This structural fact of life in South Among all of us or some of us.” highlighted its own growing invest- at all. The last 10 opportunity. But to understand this, it Asia — the sheer asymmetry in the The offer to create a regional elec- ments in Saarc countries. is important to notice a subtle shift that economic weight between one coun- tricity grid is an opportunity to move out Pakistan can now eye the massive years showed more is taking place in the region, which was try versus all the rest — has done more from under the shadow of this asym- potential hydroelectric surpluses of results than the 20 evident in Kathmandu. to inhibit regional integration than any metry. India has its own reasons for Nepal and Bhutan, with India provid- Saarc has long had to deal with territorial disputes and geopolitics. bargaining away some of its dominance ing the transit corridor. Pakistan can years before... and an imbalance within it: one very large In Kathmandu, Prime Minister in exchange for a regional grid. also become a seller in this market country surrounded by a number of Narendra Modi alluded to this by The US representative — present once the massive power surpluses of then they turned very small ones. As a result, in the reminding the assembled delegates as an observer — pointed towards Central Asia begin arriving here under against us. Saarc region, there has been no com- that his country need not submit to any these reasons when she spoke of her the CASA 1000 project. Hosni Mubarak pelling economic force to push towards regional regime governing trade and country’s “support for an Indo Pacific DAWN Former Egypt president SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Seoul opens new front in textbook wars

gloss over the dictatorship era. Textbooks have become part of the front “Making a history textbook in the modern world is an open process line in East Asia’s propaganda war as that involves many historians in many phases. It’s impossible that recent administration changes in China, those concerns will actually turn into a reality,” she said, adding her Japan and Korea see leaders fomenting government seeks “consistency” in teaching history. nationalism to bolster their hold on power. China requires all history text- books “accord with fundamental BY SAM KIM catalyst for the increasing war policies of the government” while of words in a region where US Japan and South Korea conduct a 17-year-old Korean military dominance is being chal- strict screening process, Gi-Wook girl tortured to death lenged, said Rana Mitter, a profes- Shin, director of the Shorenstein for opposing Japanese sor of modern Chinese history at Asia-Pacific Research Center at Acolonial rulers nearly a Oxford University in England. Stanford University in California, century ago has become the latest “You have the three biggest wrote in a 2011 book. “It is no touchstone of the nationalism that economic powers in the world all coincidence that textbooks have is shadowing Asia’s economic rise. trying to carve out their own posi- become a nexus for significant Yu Gwansun became known as tion,” Mitter said by phone. “The international tension in Northeast Korea’s Joan of Arc after she lost economic power of today is merely Asia.” her parents and was imprisoned exacerbating and exaggerating For Park’s administration, during a 1919 uprising against frames which were formed more reverting to a government- sanc- Japan’s 1910-1945 colonisation. like 70 years ago.” tioned text would remove schools’ South Korean Education Minister Much of the discord stems ability to choose which version of Hwang Woo-yea wants to know from Japan’s military expansion history they teach. why she doesn’t appear in half of in the region in the 1930s and ‘40s Park’s government last year the nation’s newly approved high- and accusations of human rights approved a book by Kyohak A file photo of South Koreans shouting slogans during an anti-Japan rally at a port on Ulleung Island, about 87km school history textbooks. He’s con- abuses, alongside territorial dis- Publishing that contained fac- sidering putting the government putes that arose after its defeat from the disputed Dokdo islands, which are claimed by both Japan and South Korea. tual errors, including that South in charge of writing history. in World War II. Korea’s per-capita income reached Textbooks have become part In 2001, then-Prime Minister “Whether it’s the government or “Modern history is extremely and his 18 years of dictatorship. $10,000 in 1977 under her father, of the front line in East Asia’s Junichiro Koizumi angered Japan’s private publishers that make text- contentious in South Korea and Park Chung-hee banned private when it was actually $1,000. The propaganda war as recent admin- neighbours when his government books doesn’t matter as much as almost anything since 1910 is con- companies from publishing his- book was also accused of implying istration changes in China, Japan approved a textbook that omit- what goes in the book.” troversial,” Charles K Armstrong, tory textbooks and ran ones that that comfort women were pros- and Korea see leaders foment- ted references to sex slaves from The two countries still have ter- a professor of history at Columbia portrayed his coup as a revolution titutes because they “followed” ing nationalism to bolster their Korea and other Asian countries ritorial tensions. South Korea’s University, said by email. Some rather than a mutiny. Publication troops. Lee Myung-hee, a profes- hold on power. In South Korea’s who were exploited by Japanese military carried out a drill yes- South Korean conservatives think rights were partly restored to pri- sor of history education at Kongju schools, history books shape the soldiers during and before the war. terday around a chain of islands, the left-of-centre governments of vate companies in 1982 under his National University, said by phone attitude of the next generation South Korean President Park known as Dokdo in Korean, the Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun successor with the government that he and his co-authors did not not only toward neighbouring Geun-hye, who took power in country’s defence ministry said. from 1998 to 2008 tilted history still giving guidelines. intend that impression. countries but also of the legacy of February last year, says the issue The islands are also claimed textbooks to their side, he said. “President Park is trying to After Kyohak revised the book, former dictator Park Chung-hee, of “comfort women” prevents a full by Japan, which calls them Education Minister Hwang said reinstate her father historically,” 20 of 1,747 high schools adopted it the current president’s father. two-way summit with Japanese Takeshima. after taking office in August it is Lee Jun-sik, a professor at the and 19 of those reversed the deci- “In Asia, textbooks are already Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. In South Korea, the rewriting “problematic” that Yu is missing Yonsei University Institute for sion following local protests. nationalistic enough,” Robert Park says Abe should do more to of history has been influenced in half of eight history textbooks Korean Studies in Seoul, said by “Textbook controversies have Kelly, a professor of political sci- address the grief of victims. Japan by factions in the tumultuous adopted by high schools this year. phone. “A government textbook been going on since the democ- ence and international relations says it already apologised in 1993. domestic politics of the past cen- He said having a single textbook would tout the achievements of ratization of the late 1980s, with at Pusan National University in “Japan is moving to have more tury, including 35 years of rule by would avert “sowing seeds of divi- conservative governments and the battle lines generally between South Korea, said by email. “The of the government perspective in Japan, the three-year Korean War sion in public opinion.” boost views that conservatives the progressives and the con- last thing the region needs is textbooks even as it allows pri- that cemented the division of the Some teachers and histori- need to extend their power as long servatives,” Armstrong said. “It is officially sanctioned government vate companies to publish them,” peninsula and a series of dictators ans said Park’s government is as possible.” partly a generational struggle and histories that neighbours will inev- Kwon Sung-youn, a South Korean in the South who oversaw rapid using Yu as an excuse to run At the education ministry, an attempt to shape the next gen- itably call propaganda.” education ministry official han- economic growth and fierce anti- a textbook that glosses over a Kwon dismissed allegations that eration of Koreans in their views.” Economic growth has been the dling textbooks, said by phone. communist campaigns. 1961 army coup by her father a government-led textbook would WP-BLOOMBERG Comeback King Nicolas Sarkozy Killing IS leaders won’t help BY ARIE W KRUGLANSKI

any believe that killing the leaders of terrorist organisations like Islamic State shakes up French politics could change the course of events in Iraq and Syria. Like the cutting off of a Msnake’s head, eliminating the chief of a terrorist organisation is assumed to ruised by a humiliating election loss deal it a fatal or near fatal blow. The US government, for instance, has often boasted and ensnared in a tangle of legal about eliminating major Al Qaeda leaders, and viewed such assassinations as a clear Bwoes, when Nicolas Sarkozy vowed mark of progress in the ‘global war on terror.’ he was moving on from politics, French Yet there are reasons to question the premise that killing terrorist leaders is tan- voters thought they had seen the last of tamount to progress. Indeed, rather than cutting off the head of a snake, killing off him. terrorist leaders resembles the decapitating a hydra, the mythological monster reputed But two and a half years later, his part- to replace severed heads with multiple new ones. ing shot that “you won’t hear about me Admittedly, in some cases assassinating or arresting a major terrorist leader may anymore” is a distant memory as Sarkozy, paralyse the organisation for years to come. Such was the case with Abimail Guzman, back with a vengeance, vies to win back the philosopher-leader of the Peruvian Shining Path organisation, and with Abdullah control of his opposition UMP party. Ocalan, leader of the Kurdish Workers’ Party, both of whom have been imprisoned for The party leadership election is the years. Fathi Shaqaqi, the founding chief of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, was assassi- first obstacle in Sarkozy’s race back to the nated by Israeli security forces in 1995, which disrupted the organisation for a number Elysee to reclaim the keys from President of years. Francois Hollande in 2017. In all these cases, however, the disruption was temporary and sooner or later the With much fanfare, the man with the groups in question recovered their resolve and resumed the fight. ex-supermodel wife and the “bling-bling” Moreover, major terrorist organisations have cleverly adapted to the loss of their nickname — referring to his flashy style chief honchos. Eliminated leaders are typically replaced by others waiting in the wings. — swept back onto the political stage in In addition to this, some organisations respond to assassinations by loosening their September, promising to “save” France hierarchical structure and allowing local leaders greater freedom. This reduces their from political and economic crisis. dependence on select few figures at the top and spreads their risk. Undeterred by a morass of legal diffi- Palestinian organisations adopted this tactic in response to targeted killings of culties, the energetic 59-year-old put an their leaders by the Israelis. So did Al Qaeda, which dispersed power that was highly end to the worst-kept secret in French concentrated in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region to a worldwide network of affiliates politics by announcing on his Facebook carrying the Al Qaeda banner. page that he was a candidate to lead his In defence of this Western strategy, some would respond by saying that terrorist lead- conservative UMP party. ers are in short supply. They posit that sooner or later their numbers will be exhausted, Loathed and loved in equal measure, his thus causing severe degradation of the organisations’ fighting capacity. return has shaken up French politics and Available evidence does not unequivocally support this claim. If the group boasts a polarised members of a party already in wide appeal, its supply pool of leadership talent may be large and able to replenish itself. disarray but his comeback is largely seen It is important to remember that the killing of Osama bin Laden, though of symbolic as having fallen flat. importance, didn’t seem to offer the US an appreciable strategic advantage in the fight Pollsters Odoxa said that while in against Al Qaeda, nor did it appreciably alter the status of war against jihadist terrorism. Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy (centre) shakes hands with supporters as he arrives October 73 percent of UMP supporters Occasionally, the ‘replacement’ leader might actually be more adept and dangerous backed his claim for party leadership, this at a polling station to cast his ballot in the UMP party’s vote to elect a leader, yesterday. than the chief whom he came to replace, so one needs to be careful what one wishes for. had fallen to 63 percent by last week. Abu Musab Al Zarqawi, founder of Al Qaeda in Iraq, was a formidable enemy, but “Sarkozy, although he is a very divisive an outsider in the staid world of French His so-called “bling-bling” style — the not as formidable as his replacement, Abu Bakr Al Baghdadi. Baghdadi is the current politician, is clearly very much liked,” said politics. seeds of which were laid with a cham- leader of Islamic State and is widely proclaimed to be one of the biggest threats to Andrew Knapp, an expert in French poli- The son of a Hungarian aristocrat pagne-soaked election night party at a world security. tics at Britain’s University of Reading. who arrived penniless in France, Nicolas glitzy Champs-Elysees restaurant — pro- Similarly, Sayed Hassan Nasrallah, the current leader of the Hezbollah is consider- But before Sarkozy can even think of Sarkozy de Nagy-Bosca burst on to the voked outrage as job losses mounted. ably more dangerous to Israel than Abbas Al Musawi, the former head of the group taking on Hollande — the only president political scene as a town mayor at 28, an Hollande, a mild-mannered Socialist who was assassinated in 1992. in history more unpopular than he was MP at 34 and minister at 38. party apparatchik, seemed the perfect That said, there is no question that the pressure of killing campaigns significantly — he must first stave off UMP rivals in He won the presidency at only 52 and antidote two years ago but has since run degrades the organisations’ operational capability. Targeted leaders are forced to spend 2016 primaries. was initially seen as a much-needed into his own problems -- especially in fail- significant portions of their time looking over their shoulder and protecting themselves. Chief amongst them are his own former breath of dynamism, making a splash on ing to turn around the French economy. Their ability to communicate with subordinates is hampered, they are compelled to foreign minister Alain Juppe, who wel- the international scene and wooing the And, if Hollande’s estranged former frequently change locations, and are often forced to remain invisible for long stretches comed Sarkozy’s return with the words: corporate world. partner Valerie Trierweiler is to be of time. Not to be underestimated either is the psychological toll on leaders who are “The match has begun.” Breaking a long-standing taboo, believed, the man who set himself up as constantly on the run. Perhaps a more daunting obstacle is the Sarkozy also put his private life on dis- the “normal” president secretly despises The Palestinian leaders’ reactions to targeted killings attest to the campaign’s impact. snarl of legal woes over the financing of play, divorcing his second wife while in the poor, calling them “toothless”. Time and time again, they have demanded that Israel end the policy. Abdel Aziz Al his 2007 and 2012 campaigns which could office and publicly wooing Carla Bruni, a With Hollande so unpopular, the elec- Rantisi, Sheikh Ahmed Yassin’s successor as head of Hamas, conceded that the killing come back to bite him. former model and now successful singer. tion is there for the taking, but some campaign posed significant hardships for his organisation. “The party faithful seem to have He married her in 2008 and the two had doubt whether Sarkozy is the man to do it. All told then, targeted killings have their place and remain a useful tactical tool in decided that no matter what judges a daughter, Giulia, a few months before Either way, both men have to contend the kit of counterterrorism strategists, if only for the constant pressure they bring to throw at him, Sarkozy is their darling. the 2012 election. with the soaring popularity of far-right bear on terrorist organisations. I don’t think that is true of the wider But as France’s economy floundered leader Marine Le Pen whose National But, however useful they are in the short run, they are unlikely to bring an end to electorate,”said Knapp. amid the wider eurozone economic crisis, Front is the current favourite in polls. terrorism. They are a vehicle, not a panacea, and the billions of dollars spent on their Sarkozy has always been something of Sarkozy’s public image took a beating. AFP implementation might not be worth it after all. REUTERS SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MIDDLE EAST Fallen Mubarak gets another reprieve Former Egyptian president breaks into smile after verdict; protests rage in Cairo against decision

CAIRO: Hosni Mubarak, who stretcher inside their caged dock. reportedly deeply depressed by In 2004, he underwent surgery yesterday escaped murder The decision came after an the election of Mohamed Mursi, for a slipped disc in Germany, charges, ruled Egypt with an appeals court overturned an ini- the candidate of his long-time where he returned in 2010 for the iron grip for three decades until tial life sentence for Mubarak in foe the Muslim Brotherhood, as removal of his gall bladder and he was forced from power by 2012 on a technicality. president later the same month. a growth on the small intestine. the 2011 democratic uprisings His lawyer said yester- Mursi has been held in deten- Mubarak, whose wife Suzanne that swept the region. day’s verdict was “a good rul- tion since the army deposed him is half Welsh, has always kept The 86-year-old’s spectacular ing that proved the integrity of in July 2013. his private life a carefully fall from grace sent shock waves Mubarak’s era”. Mubarak rose to power unex- guarded secret. across the Middle East and Until protests erupted on pectedly, when president Anwar He was born on May 4, 1928 beyond when he announced his January 25, 2011, Mubarak had Sadat, who made history by in the Nile Delta village of resignation on February 11, 2011 seemed untouchable as presi- signing a peace deal with Israel, Menufiyah and rose through after an 18-day popular revolt. dent of the Arab world’s most was gunned down by an Islamist the ranks of the air force, fight- Just months later, in April, he populous nation, backed by the officer at a military parade on ing in repeated wars with Israel, was arrested and subsequently United States and the mili- October 6, 1981. before supporting Sadat in pursu- charged with various crimes, tary, from whose ranks he had He took office a week later and ing peace with the Jewish state including corruption and inciting emerged. ruled without interruption until in 1979. the killing of hundreds of people He had survived 10 attempts on his overthrow. In office, he maintained the during the uprising. his life, most of them by Islamists, Islamist militants were respon- unpopular policy of peace with In 2012, he was convicted but in the end, it was a popular sible for most of the attempts to Israel and accommodation with and sentenced to life in prison. uprising that brought him down. kill Mubarak, including a failed the West that cost Sadat his life. He appealed, and a retrial was It was a blow he found hard to bid to fire rockets at his plush Mubarak’s government was ordered. A court yesterday accept. Cairo residence. the frequent target of domestic acquitted him of both sets of After his overthrow, Mubarak In 1995, militants opened fire opposition — ranging from the charges. said he and his family were the on his motorcade in Addis Ababa. Brotherhood to secular and lib- An Egyptian anti-Mubarak protester reacts after hearing the verdict, outside Mubarak, who will remain victims of “false claims that seek With his jet black hair, which eral dissidents — who were often the police academy in Cairo yesterday. imprisoned for three years in a to ruin my reputation and chal- he has maintained even in jail, jailed. separate corruption case, broke lenge my integrity”. Mubarak had a reputation for His regime mercilessly crushed Israel drew criticism from across Washington deserted him — into a smile after the verdict was And following his life sentence, vigour and was once known to militant groups, which carried out the region, especially during the belatedly in the view of many issued. his health deteriorated and he play squash almost daily. attacks in the 1980s, 1990s and 2006 Israeli war in Lebanon Egyptians — and it was only some Applause erupted and his sons spent much of his time in a mili- But that image suffered in 2003 in 2004 and 2006, when tourist and Israel’s Gaza offensive in Gulf Arab states that backed him and co-defendants stooped to tary-run hospital. when he fainted while addressing resorts were targeted. 2008-2009. to the end. kiss his forehead as he lay on a He recovered but was parliament. Mubarak’s ties with the US and A few days into the uprising, AFP

Israel names Suicide attacks hit new military Syria-Turkey border chief of staff BEIRUT: Islamic State group IS fighters killed in air strikes on jihadists launched a double Kobane. JERUSALEM: Israel’s prime attack yesterday on a Kurdish- There were conflicting claims minister and defence minister controlled post on the Syrian- about how Saturday’s bomb- announced yesterday that the Turkish border for the first ings were launched, with the country’s next military chief time, prompting fierce clashes Observatory saying the attackers of staff will be Major General in the adjacent town of Kobane. “came from Turkish territory”. Gadi Eisenkot. Kurdish officials and a Britain- Kurdish officials and activists Eisenkot, currently dep- based monitor said the two IS sui- repeated that claim, but it was uty chief of staff, will replace cide attacks targeting the border strenuously denied by Turkish Lieutenant General Benny Gantz, post were launched from Turkish officials and the military. whose four-year term ends in soil, claims that Turkish officials “Claims that the car involved in February 2015. dismissed as “lies”. the IS attack on the Mursitpinar The appointment is subject to The attacks sparked fierce border post came from Turkey government approval. clashes between IS and Kurdish are lies,” the army said in a state- Defence Minister Moshe People’s Protection Units (YPG) ment quoted by Turkish media. Yaalon called Eisenkot the best forces that have been fighting for “No statement to that effect choice to face Israel’s “complex more than two months to protect has any authority,” it added. security challenges”. the border town of Kobane. Earlier, another Turkish official Replacing him as new dep- “Clashes broke out for the said the 5am (0300 GMT) attacks uty chief of staff will be Major first time in the area after two came on the Syrian side of the General Yair Golan, currently jihadist attacks at dawn on the border. head of the northern command, border post separating Turkey Turkey has long dismissed alle- Yaalon added. and Kobane,” said Rami Abdel gations that it has failed to secure Prime Minister Benjamin Rahman, head of the Syrian its long border with Syria, allow- Netanyahu said Eisenkot was Observatory for Human Rights ing jihadists from IS and other “selected from an excellent group monitoring group. groups free rein to cross. of generals” and wished him luck. One suicide attacker blew up an YPG forces in Kobane are par- The 54-year-old began his Pope Francis (centre) arrives to lead a mass at the cathedral of the Holy Spirit yesterday in Istanbul as part of a explosive-packed car and another ticularly suspicious of Turkey, military service as an infantry- three day visit to Turkey. detonated a suicide-bomb belt, which quelled a decades-long man in the Golani Brigade, rising according to the Britain-based autonomy battle by its own through the ranks to command it. Observatory. Kurdish minority. He was military secretary to IS Twitter accounts claimed IS jihadists began advancing on premier and defence minister Pope Francis prays with Grand three suicide bombings at the bor- Kobane on September 16, hoping Ehud Barak between 2009 and der crossing, the SITE Intelligence to capture the small but strategic 2011, during which Israeli media Group monitor said, although the town to cement their control over reported he was involved in nego- Observatory and Turkish officials a large stretch of the frontier. tiations with Syria. Mufti at Istanbul’s Blue Mosque reported two blasts. The Kurds defending Kobane Eisenkot was later appointed IS began its assault on Kobane, have been bolstered by strikes by commander of the Judea and ISTANBUL: Pope Francis then walked to the nearby Aya Muslims, Christians and others the third largest Kurdish town the US-led coalition battling IS, Samaria division, Israel’s term prayed silently alongside a sen- Sofya museum, once the Christian who do not share their ultra- in Syria, more than two months but Syria’s foreign minister said for the West Bank, before becom- ior Islamic cleric in Istanbul’s church Hagia Sophia. radical brand of Sunni Islam. The ago, but Kurdish fighters backed Friday the air strikes had failed ing head of the operations direc- Blue Mosque yesterday, in a A group of schoolchildren Blue Mosque, known officially as by US-led air strikes and Iraqi to dent the jihadist group’s power. torate and eventually northern gesture of inter-religious har- waving Turkish and Vatican the Sultanahmet mosque, opened Kurdish peshmerga forces have “Is Daesh (IS) weaker today command chief from 2006 to 2011. mony in a country bordering flags chanted “Long live Pope in 1616 and is the most famous in so far prevented the town’s full after two months of coalition It was during his northern the conflicts in Syria and Iraq. Francis” in Italian as the Muslim Turkey. Its popular name is a ref- takeover. strikes? All the indicators show command tenure that he wrote Francis took off his shoes as he call to prayer rang out across the erence to the fine blue Iznik tiles The Observatory said 39 people that it is not,” Walid Al Muallem Netanyahu a “personal letter” entered the huge mosque, before Sultanahmet square, the heart of in its main prayer room. Francis — 28 IS jihadists and 11 Kurdish told the pan-Arab Al-Mayadeen discouraging an attack to thwart bowing his head in prayer for sev- Istanbul’s historic quarter. was later given a rapturous wel- forces — had been killed in clashes channel. Iran’s nuclear programme, which eral minutes, facing Makkah and “We must show respect for come by Istanbul’s tiny Roman and strikes in Kobane over the Muallem said the strikes would Israel fears has a military objec- standing next to Istanbul’s Grand each others beliefs. God will- Catholic community when he cel- past 24 hours. have no impact while Turkey tive. According to Haaretz news- Mufti Rahmi Yaran, in what a ing the pope’s visit will help in ebrated a Mass in the city’s Holy The deaths included the IS failed to control its border paper, Eisenkot warned that such Vatican spokesman described as this respect,” said Halil Ibrahim Spirit Cathedral. Several thou- suicide bombers, as well as eight with Syria. AFP an attack would cause a long war a joint “moment of silent adora- Cil, 24, a hospital worker from sand people from a Catholic popu- with Iran and its Lebanese-based tion” of God. Istanbul. lation of around 53,000 packed the Hezbollah militia, while also sour- A similar act by his predecessor “We want to practise our reli- small building and others watched ing relations with the United Pope Benedict in 2006 drew criti- gion in peace. We want people from an outdoor courtyard. States. Haaretz noted that con- cism from conservative Catholics to understand Islam. We don’t He later went to a joint serv- trary to when Eisenkot wrote the and some Muslims. want war.” Islamic State insur- ice with Bartholomew I, spir- letter, “an Israeli attack on Iran Several hundred people, many gents have captured swathes of itual leader of some 300 million is currently not on the agenda”. of them tourists, watched from neighbouring Syria and Iraq, Orthodox Christians worldwide. AFP behind police barriers as the pope persecuting and killing Shia REUTERS

Bahrainis vote in final round of elections

DUBAI: Bahrainis were voting validity of the election, after the Shia-populated villages said turn- opposition said only 30 percent yesterday in the final round of opposition boycotted it, calling it out had been low there. of eligible voters had cast their the Gulf kingdom’s first legisla- a “farce”. Tight security measures were ballots. tive elections since the authori- The official BNA news agency in place when voting opened Both sides traded accusations ties crushed pro-democracy said people flocked to polling sta- at 0500 GMT, and there were of irregularities. The opposition protests led by the Shia major- tions in large numbers yesterday no major incidents reported by said tens of thousands of people ity in 2011. morning to choose from among 68 midday. were pressured to vote, while Controversy clouded last week- candidates to fill the 34 out of 40 The electoral commission the authorities accused Shias of Children carry a cat while walking near damaged buildings in Al Maysar end’s first round and its focus on seats not decided last week. put turnout at 52.6 percent in preventing others from reaching neighbourhood of Aleppo, Syria, yesterday. turnout, a key marker of the However, residents of Sunday’s first round, but the Shia polling stations. AFP SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Ferguson protesters to march to state capital Russia calls FERGUSON: Activists gath- ered in Ferguson, Missouri, yesterday to begin a 120-mile march to the state capital Jefferson City to protest the killing of an unarmed black teen for end to by a white police officer, a case that has rekindled a national debate over US race relations. About 100 people were expected to take part in the seven-day march organised by the National sanctions Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), with more joining segments of the EU slaps fresh curbs on rebels long walk, NAACP staff member Jamiah Adams said. MOSCOW/BRUSSELS: radio in Luxembourg, his home The march, which is reminis- Russia urged the European country. cent of the civil rights marches Union yesterday to lift sanctions “One has to maintain those of the 1960’s, was set to begin at against Moscow and promised sanctions as long as, on the ground, midday yesterday at the Canfield to waive its food embargo, but we do not see Russian gestures Green Apartments, the residen- a top EU official rejected such a aimed at pacifying the region,” he tial complex near where 18-year- move as the bloc imposed fresh said, referring to Ukraine. old Michael Brown was shot and measures on Ukrainian rebels. Earlier this week, Russian killed on August 9 by Ferguson The European Union and the Finance Minister Anton Siluanov police Officer Darren Wilson. United States imposed economic said lower oil prices and Western A grand jury’s decision on sanctions on Russia in late July, financial sanctions will cost Russia Monday not to charge Wilson targeting the Russian energy, around $130bn-$140bn a year, ignited protests in Ferguson and banking and defence sectors to equivalent to around seven per- a riot that left buildings torched A protester lies on the ground while others hold hands to prevent police on motorcycles from advancing during punish Moscow’s support for cent of its economy. and stores looted. rebels in eastern Ukraine, the Meshkov put the losses from Demonstrations spread to a demonstration against the grand jury’s decision in the Ferguson shooting of Michael Brown, in San Francisco. West’s toughest steps yet. sanctions for the EU at $50bn next major cities across the United In retaliation, Moscow has year, adding that trade turnover States, resulting in hundreds of In Ferguson, there were at least president, Cornell William Brooks. hand warmers and wool socks. banned most Western food in some products between Russia arrests during the week. 16 arrests overnight, police said, “We are resolute and excited to The NAACP is also calling for a imports, worth $9bn a year. and Europe had declined by double Protests in Ferguson had dwin- and dozens of others in other get started and moving forward in new police chief in Ferguson and “We don’t expect anything from digit percentages. dled in size and intensity in the cities. something that’s positive, a non- a national law to prevent racial our European partners. The only A report this month showed days after the grand jury decision, The NAACP expects about violent demonstration toward profiling by police. thing we expect is for them to that European exports to Russia then gained renewed energy on 1,000 people to be part of the criminal justice reform and police Marchers will be able to shuttle leave the meaningless sanctions fell almost 20 percent in August Friday as demonstrators tempo- final leg of the “Journey for reform,” Adams said. back and forth between the walk spiral and move onto the path of compared to July because of the rarily shut down a St Louis-area Justice” march, said Adams, who The civil rights group is asking and their residences in the St. lifting the sanctions and dropping sanctions. mall and turned up in force at will participate in the march participants to protect themselves Louis area, by taking a bus back the blacklists,” Russia’s deputy Juncker warned that more other shopping areas across the along with other NAACP staff against icy conditions expected to a staging area, Adams said. foreign minister, Alexei Meshkov, measures could come if Moscow country. members and the organization’s along the route by wearing REUTERS was quoted as saying by Interfax did not take steps to resolve the news agency. conflict in eastern Ukraine. “This, in turn, would allow us to EU officials say that the vote drop our lists.” by rebels in eastern Ukraine was The gesture from Moscow came encouraged by Russia to under- as the European Union imposed mine Kiev’s sovereignty. sanctions on 13 Ukrainians Rebels argued the November 2 Sarkozy wins leadership of UMP party accused of organising rogue vote was the next step after local PARIS: Nicolas Sarkozy was comeback in September, recent The electronic vote kicked off election despite his much-heralded elections in eastern Ukraine on referendums in May calling for elected leader of the French polls showed his popularity among on Friday night and was hit by a return to politics largely seen as November 2, hitting the separa- independence from Ukraine. conservative UMP party yes- members weakening. cyber-attack which slowed voting, having fallen flat, with his tangle tists and their organisations with In its official journal, the terday with 64.5 percent of votes The UMP, the political heir to prompting the party to file a com- of legal woes continuing to dog asset freezes and travel bans. European Union said Sergey cast, official results showed, a the party founded by Charles de plaint with police. One candidate, him. Jean-Claude Juncker, the Kozyakov, who was election com- step towards becoming a presi- Gaulle after World War II, is hop- Herve Mariton, warned thousands The vote pitted Sarkozy against new president of the European mission chief in the Luhansk dential candidate in 2017 but a ing to move on from bitter political had been unable to vote. main rival Bruno Le Maire — a Commission, said Russia’s annexa- region “has actively supported less convincing endorsement infighting and financial scandals The beleaguered party, still former minister and senior party tion of Ukraine’s Crimea region actions and policies which under- than some had hoped. that have pushed it to the verge haunted by a 2012 leadership vote figure — and lawmaker Mariton. in March left Europe with two mine the territorial integrity, The last time the former presi- of collapse. which degenerated into accusa- Analysts had said that any- options: go to war against Russia sovereignty and independence of dent secured the UMP chairman- And Sarkozy, who broke the tions of fraud and ballot stuff- thing less than 75 percent of the or impose economic sanctions. Ukraine”. Others on the sanc- ship, in 2004, he won 85 percent worst-kept secret in French poli- ing, said such an incident was vote would be a blow to Sarkozy’s “If you don’t want a war the tions list are election organis- of the vote and went on to become tics when he announced his politi- “expected” and had been swiftly endgame, if yet unstated: to win only possibility is sanctions ... You ers and separatist ministers in the country’s head of state from cal comeback in September, has dealt with. back the keys to the Elysee palace have to take sanctions that pro- Luhansk and in the eastern region 2007 until 2012. vowed he is the man to rebuild Pollsters expected the 59-year- which he lost in. duce an effect,” Juncker told RTL of Donetsk. REUTERS However, after a storming “the party of hope”. old Sarkozy to sail through the AGENCIES

Greenland ruling party wins snap election Won’t allow challenge to COPENHAGEN: Greenland’s Democrat Siumut party won 34.3 by the bleak economic outlook of over mining licences. But with Spain’s unity, says PM ruling Siumut party narrowly percent of the votes cast, just the world’s largest island. a gross domestic product that won a snap election called slightly ahead of its rival leftist Hammond’s Siumut-led coali- shrank 1.9 percent to 13.6 billion BARCELONA: Spanish Prime “Never in history has a ruler after it became embroiled in a Inuyt Ataqatigiit with 33.2 per- tion collapsed in September after kroner (€1.8bn) in 2013, the econ- Minister Mariano Rajoy said lost so much time organising graft scandal, results showed cent, according to the Danish a parliamentary audit commit- omy has since become an increas- in Catalonia yesterday that he elections, nor generated so much yesterday, but it faced tough news agency Ritzau. tee found that she had used gov- ingly urgent issue for Greenland’s would not allow any challenge to instability,” Rajoy said, vowing to negotiations to form the next But both parties won 11 seats ernment funds to cover private 57,000 inhabitants — of whom national unity, on his first visit “maintain the stability” of Spain. government to lead the vast in the 31-member parliament, expenses including family mem- about 40,000 were eligible to vote. to the region since its symbolic The Catalan government says resource-rich Arctic island. meaning Siumut will face a chal- bers’ airline tickets and hotel The issue has grown in impor- vote on independence. 2.3 million people took part in the Friday’s election was called lenge to form a majority. mini-bar costs. tance since it became clear that “I will not allow challenges to November 9 vote — about a third after the Siumut-led govern- The results mean that the Friday’s vote came just 20 Greenland’s mineral wealth the unity of Spain,” Rajoy said of all eligible voters in the region. ment collapsed in September populist Partii Naleraq, which months after she won a general will take longer to develop than in a speech to supporters of his Roughly 80 percent of those when its chief Aleqa Hammond, won 11.6 percent of the vote, and election where full independ- initially thought, meaning the conservative Popular Party in the who took part said they wanted Greenland’s first female leader, centre-right Democrats, with 11.8 ence from former colonial master island economy may be depend- region’s main city of Barcelona. Catalonia to be an independent was revealed to have used public percent of the vote, are in strong Denmark was the top campaign ent for some time on an annual “No one should have to choose state. However the majority of money to cover private expenses. positions to be kingmakers. issue and continues to divide polit- 3.3 billion kroner grant from between being Catalan or Spanish.” anti-independence voters stayed Despite the affair, the Social The campaign was dominated ical parties along with disputes Copenhagen. AFP It was Rajoy’s first visit to the at home. wealthy northeastern region since Rajoy said yesterday that a symbolic vote on independence Madrid had helped Catalonia which Madrid tried to stop with a financially many times since the Keeping hope alive court injunction. start of the economic crisis that Rajoy, who had promised to go has shaken Spain since 2008. Ruling party to Catalonia to “better explain” Many in the wealthy region dis- his position, slammed Catalan pute such statements, saying that leads in Namibia President Artur Mas, who now Catalonia accounts for around a hopes to organise early regional fifth of Spain’s economic output election elections centred on independence, but does not receive investments WINDHOEK: The first trickle which would include a joint list of in proportion to the taxes it pays. of results in Namibia’s gen- candidates favouring secession. AFP eral election gave the ruling SWAPO party a commanding lead yesterday, even as political parties expressed concern over the continent’s first e-vote. With less than one percent of Zimbabwe veterans’ leader held the vote declared, the Electoral HARARE: Zimbabwe police have arrested a former war veter- Commission of Namibia said yes- ans leader on charges of undermining the authority of long ruling terday that 73-year-old Prime President Robert Mugabe, state media reported yesterday. Minister Hage Geingob was win- According to The Herald newspaper, Jabulani Sibanda was arrested ning the presidential vote with on Friday after accusing veteran leader Mugabe of plotting “a bedroom almost 81 percent and his closest coup” for propping his wife Grace to take a top position in the ruling rival trailing in single digits. ZANU-PF while sidelining senior party officials. Namibian voters cast their bal- “Ousted, renegade war veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda was arrested lots late into the night on Friday, in Bulawayo yesterday (Friday) and will be charged under section 33 in an election billed as Africa’s of the constitution which criminalises undermining the authority of first electronic vote. the president,” the paper said. Opposition parties had The paper said Sibanda also threatened to march to the State House, launched an 11th-hour court chal- Mugabe’s official residency, to confront the 90-year-old veteran leader lenge just days before the election over his grievances. to stop the electronic vote from Police could not immediately confirm the arrest. going ahead, saying the use of the Sibanda’s arrest is the latest clampdown on dissent since Grace voting machines could facilitate Mugabe’s surprise nomination to lead ZANU-PF’s women’s league, vote rigging. Mothers of missing Central American immigrants arrive in Mexico City to demand that authorities search for amid speculation she could be aiming to take over from her husband But the Windhoek High Court their missing relatives, who are reported to have crossed Mexican territory towards the US. when he steps down or dies. dismissed the application. AFP AFP SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PHILIPPINES Taiwan premier Coming together quits over party election loss Concern over Chinese influence

TAIPEI: Taiwan’s premier ties between Taipei and Beijing resigned yesterday after his since he ended the DPP’s eight- Beijing-friendly ruling party year rule in 2008 on a platform of suffered a landslide defeat at boosting the economy and trade the island’s biggest ever local with China. elections. However, the public has grown Jiang Yi-huah announced that increasingly anxious over China’s he had stepped down at a brief influence on the island. press conference, saying that he A proposed trade pact with the took “political responsibility” for mainland sparked mass student- the Kuomintang’s heavy losses. led protests and a three-week Unofficial results showed occupation of Taiwan’s parliament the KMT had lost in five out earlier this year. of Taiwan’s six municipalities, The opposition Democratic retaining a slender lead in the Progressive Party (DPP) has race for New Taipei which was traditionally been sceptical over still too close to call. closer ties with Beijing and has Jiang said that his resignation criticised the KMT for lack of had been accepted by President transparency over trade deals Ma Ying-jeou. with China. “The public has not been satis- Independent candidate Ko Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe (fourth right), who is also president of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), his coalition partner Komeito fied with the government’s per- Wen-je took the KMT’s tradi- leader Natsuo Yamaguchi (third left) and Banri Kaieda (fourth left), leader of the opposition Democratic Party of Japan, and Kenji Eda (third right), formance, and that was reflected tional stronghold of Taipei, with leader of opposition Japan Innovation Party, hand-in-hand with other opposition leaders during a photo session after a debate for the upcoming in the results of the vote. So I his rival Sean Lien tearfully Lower House election in Tokyo yesterday. have decided to assume politi- declaring defeat ahead of the offi- cal responsibility and tendered cial result. my resignation, which has been “I am very sorry that I didn’t approved by President Ma,” he meet everybody’s expectations. said. This is my personal responsibil- Bangladesh court set to decide UK scribe’s fate The KMT is struggling with ity and it’s because I didn’t work growing fears over Chinese influ- hard enough...” Lien told his sup- ence, a slowing economy and a porters, bowing deeply. DHAKA: A Bangladesh court International Crimes Tribunal, a Islamists were behind some of the In a post in November 2011, string of food scandals — the local Incumbent KMT mayor is expected to rule tomorrow domestic court which has found most brutal killings, including the Bergman questioned whether polls are seen as a key test ahead Jason Hu in the party’s other on whether an award-winning several opposition supporters massacre of intellectuals. there was evidence that supported of the 2016 presidential race, with key stronghold of Taichung also British journalist is guilty of guilty of mass murder over their Critics however say her govern- the official figure and referred to China policy a key issue. conceded a loss to the DPP’s Lin contempt after he questioned role in the 1971 conflict. ment has deliberately exaggerated other studies suggesting the real Embattled Ma, who came Chia-lung. the assertion that three million Prime Minister Sheikh the number of people killed as a figure may be much lower. to power in 2008 on a Beijing- “I thank many young people people died in the 1971 inde- Hasina, whose late father was way of intimidating her opponents Most independent estimates say friendly platform, must step who came out to vote, you took pendence war. Bangladesh’s independence icon, and of countering unease from the actual toll would be hundreds down at the end of his second part in history and you created In a case seen as a test of the has justified the war crimes trials abroad about a process which of thousands. Two years later law- four-year term. Taiwan and China history,” Lin said. country’s commitment to free on the grounds that the scale of lacks any international oversight. yer Abul Kalam Azad filed a peti- split in 1949 at the end of a civil The DPP declared a surprise speech, judges will decide if David the bloodshed demands that per- If the government’s official toll tion, saying Bergman’s piece on war, but Beijing still claims the victory in Taoyuan and retained Bergman acted unlawfully by petrators be brought to justice. is taken as fact, it means that an the war toll and two other articles island as part of its territory its seats in Tainan and Kaohsiung doubting the official version of one Although most of the deaths average 11,000 people died every were in contempt of court. awaiting reunification, by force if — party spokesman Huang of the most contentious issues in have been blamed on troops day in the nine-month conflict The court accepted the plea and necessary. Di-ying told AFP that the par- Bangladesh’s short history. loyal to the regime in Islamabad, which saw the former territory initiated the case against him in Ma has overseen a marked ty’s performance was “beyond our Bergman is the author of a Hasina’s government says of east Pakistan secede from the April after rejecting his assertion improvement in previously frosty expectations”. AFP popular blog about Bangladesh’s Bangladeshi militias manned by regime in Islamabad. the articles were “accurate”. AFP

Malaysia Airlines Hong Kong leader admits inequality fuelling protests apologises for HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s expressed anger over the govern- “All these problems about controversial leader admitted yesterday that ment’s perceived cosy relationship mobility stem from the very the frustration among young with the Hong Kong’s powerful twisted and very unfair political people over a lack of “upward tycoons. The city’s leader is cur- system we’ve got in Hong Kong,” promotion tweet mobility” was fuelling mass pro- rently selected by a 1,200 strong pro-democracy lawmaker Claudia tests calling for free elections in pro-Beijing committee stacked Mo told AFP. KUALA LUMPUR: Striken the city. with elites from different busi- “He’s missed the point. What Malaysia Airlines apologised Chief executive Leung Chun- ness sectors. “One of the rea- Hong Kong people are fighting for yesterday for a year-end promo- ying was speaking at a govern- sons behind discontent amongst is not just constitutional voting tion tweet that draw anger on ment committee meeting on the new generation in Hong rights. We’re fighting for griev- Twitter after it inadvertently poverty, weeks after he shocked Kong that has led to the Occupy ances stemming from the lack drew parallels with the still- ordinary Hong Kongers by saying movement... is a lack of upward of such rights,” Mo, a member of missing MH370 flight. open elections were not feasible mobility, and as a responsible gov- pro-democracy the Civic Party “Want to go somewhere but because they would result in the ernment, we do not want to leave said. Many young people in Hong don’t know where?” read the poor dominating politics. any stone unturned,” Leung said. Kong, even if they are educated post on Twitter that was meant Friday marked exactly two He added that the govern- and employed, cannot afford to to promote special deals by the months of mass pro-democracy ment’s poverty commission would buy or rent a home in the city national carrier, prompting scorn rallies in Hong Kong by protest- look into how it could help young known for its sky-high prop- from online users. ers calling for free leadership people in order to “alleviate griev- erty prices. Leung was present- “I genuinely feel sorry for @ elections in 2017. ances” and thereby “relieve a ing a new report by the poverty MAS, an airline I like, but seri- The Chinese government says portion of the demands of youths commission which said that the ously: ‘Want to go somewhere the candidates must be vetted by on the streets”. But critics said number of people living in poverty but don’t know where?’” one user a loyalist committee, which dem- Leung was missing the main point in 2013 had dropped to 970,000 — posted. onstrators say will result in the of the protests and dodging the 14.5 percent of the 7m population A disabled man (centre) plays an “Erhu” as he busks for money while Malaysia Airlines said the tweet election of a pro-Beijing stooge. real reason why people are taking — the lowest in five years. pedestrians walk past him on a footbridge in Hong Kong. “was intended to inspire travel- But protesters have also to the streets. AFP lers during this holiday period to explore destinations and deals” it was offering. “Unfortunately, it unintention- For the Earth ally caused offence to some, and we have since removed the tweet,” China criticises Turkey for it said in a brief statement. It is the second time the car- rier, which has been devastated by the loss of 537 people in two offering shelter to Uighurs air tragedies this year, has run into criticism over its advertising BEIJING: China has lashed out at “We urge the relevant country to recently. In September, it said it Turkey for offering shelter to roughly immediately stop meddling in placement had changed the name of a ticket- 200 Uighurs from the western Chinese work for the relevant case, be cautious sale promotion that invoked an region of Xinjiang who were rescued with words and actions and not send out “inappropriate” death reference from a human-smuggling camp in mistaken signals that connive in, and by asking travellers which places Thailand. even support, illegal immigration activi- were on their “Bucket List”. Thai police found the group in March ties,” Hua said in a faxed statement to Bookings have plummeted and Chinese officials identified “dozens” Reuters. due to the two disasters. MH370 of them as Uighurs, a Muslim people “Illegal immigration activities dis- vanished in March with 239 pas- from Xinjiang who speak a Turkic lan- rupt the normal orderly flow of people sengers and crew aboard when guage. Many Uighurs chafe at govern- internationally, harm the interests of the it inexplicably diverted from its ment curbs on their culture and religion. international community, and can harm Kuala Lumpur-Beijing course. It Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news security of the relevant countries and is believed to have crashed in the agency on Wednesday reported a regions,” Hua added. Indian Ocean, but no trace has request by Turkish Foreign Minister Small numbers of Uighurs trickling been found. MH17 went down in Mevlut Cavusoglu for Thailand to send out of China to Southeast Asia are July — believed hit by a surface- Newly-crowned Miss Earth 2014 Jamie Herrell (centre) from the Philippines is joined by runners- the Uighurs there, a move that angered believed to go overland into Laos or to-air missile — in rebellion- up Miss Earth Water, Maira Alexandra Rodriguez (left) from Venezuela, and Miss Earth Fire China, which views their move to Myanmar, before going to Thailand and torn eastern Ukraine, killing all Anastasia Trusova during the coronation night held at the University of Philippines Theatre Thailand as “illegal immigration”. elsewhere. 298 aboard. The airlines said Asked for a response on Turkey’s offer, Turkey is home to thousands of in Quezon city, Philippines, yesterday. Eighty five beauty queens from around the globe Friday its third-quarter loss wid- China’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Uighurs who have fled Xinjiang since attended the international beauty event where the contestants proclaim their advocacy to ened 54 percent year-on-year in Hua Chunying said the case was a mat- the Chinese Communists took over the the wake of the disasters. protect Mother Earth. ter for China and Thailand and “the rel- region in 1949. AFP evant country” should stop interfering. REUTERS SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 17 Two killed as Taliban raid Kabul guest house Attacks increase as foreign soldiers leave

KABUL: Afghan security The latest rise in violence has Kabul police spokesman forces overcame Taliban insur- undermined Nato claims that Hashmat Stanekzai said in a gents attacking a guest house Afghanistan is a stable state as statement that one was Afghan for international aid workers in troops pull out. and one was a foreigner, but he Afghanistan’s capital yesterday “It is an ongoing terrorist did not give the nationality. and were still fighting gunmen attack against an office used The Taliban insurgents claimed inside former US and British by foreigners,” Najib Danish, responsibility, with a spokesman base Camp Bastion. the interior ministry deputy saying in a statement that their Foreign troops left the camp spokesman, said, giving no fur- fighters had targeted a Christian in the south of Afghanistan just ther details about the targeted organisation seeking to con- a few weeks ago. building. vert Muslims. Authorities did Taliban attacks are intensifying At least two civilians were not know the name of the aid as the US-led coalition prepares killed in the second attack in organisation. to withdraw most of its soldiers three days on expatriate aid On Thursday, Taliban gunmen by the end of 2014. workers’ housing in Kabul. One had stormed a guest house in On December 31, the US-led Taliban fighter was killed when Kabul’s diplomatic quarter. Only Nato combat mission in his suicide vest exploded and the the attackers were killed. Afghanistan will end and be other two attackers were shot, In southern Afghanistan, sol- replaced by a follow-on mission Qadam Shah Shaheem, com- diers were still fighting Taliban Afghan security forces keep watch while smoke and fire rise from a foreign aid guest house after a Taliban attack supporting the Afghan army mander of the Afghan army’s 111 gunmen inside Camp Bastion, a in Kabul yesterday. and police, who have taken over Military Corps Kabul, said. major southern base handed over responsibility for thwarting the Eight people, including two for- to Afghans by the British and US “Some managed to get inside, at the base, Omar Zwak, a spokes- President Ashraf Ghani, who Taliban. eigners, were rescued from the militaries in October. took position, and started the man for Helmand’s governor, said. came to power in September, Nato troop numbers, which building in Kabul’s western Karte A few dozen Taliban fighters with gunfight,” he said, noting that the The Taliban, who were ousted has vowed to bring peace to peaked at 130,000 in 2010, will Seh district during the four-hour automatic weapons and suicide vests insurgents appeared to be holed from power by the US-led coali- Afghanistan after decades of fall to about 12,500 next year, with gunbattle. had attacked the base in Helmand up in one of the smaller camps tion in 2001, claimed that hun- conflict, saying he is open to talks fears growing that the declining Two bodies were found on the province on Thursday, General within Camp Bastion. dreds had been killed in the with the Taliban, who ruled Kabul international presence is already lower floors, but their identities Ayatullah Khan, commander of the At least five soldiers and 26 attack. The insurgents routinely from 1996 to 2001. fuelling the Islamist insurgency. were not known, Shaheem said. army regiment in the area, said. insurgents were killed on Friday inflate casualty figures. AGENCIES

Apex court moves against embassies in residential areas Gunmen kill

ISLAMABAD: A case into exercised discretionary powers to though it is not entitled to do so. The bench observed that they According to a report compiled prominent non-conforming use of residen- grant special permission for land When the court asked about were aware that the CDA rules by the authority in November tial units in Islamabad took an use violations in residential areas. security blockades by diplomatic the city but did not have knowl- 2013, the number of non-con- Sunni leader unexpected turn yesterday when The bench, headed by Justice missions housed in residential edge that the authority also for- forming uses of residential units the apex court inquired about Jawad S Khawaja, was hearing a units, the counsel for the CDA mulates rules to give legal cover in Islamabad is 2,057. rules and regulations under case filed by a private firm which said such permissions were to its illegalities. The violators include foreign in Sindh which foreign missions had been is operating its business in a resi- granted by relaxing prevailing The court ordered the CDA missions, non-governmental organ- ISLAMABAD: A prominent operating in residential areas. dential unit in Sector F-7/4. rules while considering the secu- to present a report detailing the isations, political parties, media Sunni Muslim leader from a The issue at hand was the The firm was previously served rity situation in the country. number of special permissions houses, educational institutes, pri- religious political party was denial of the right to free move- a notice by the CDA over the vio- The judges expressed displeas- granted since 2005 for commer- vate hospitals and clinics, seminar- shot dead in a pre-dawn attack ment of area residents in the face lation, against which it moved the ure at the response and Justice cial use of residential units. ies, and other businesses outlets. in southern Pakistan yesterday, of security arrangements around Islamabad High Court. The IHC Sarmad Jalal Usmani, the other “The CDA should also inform The same report says that around police said. such facilities. had decided the case in favour of the member of the bench, observed that how many such applications 19 foreign missions are also operating Doctor Khalid Mehmood The two-member Supreme CDA, after which the firm moved that this does not seem to happen it received during this period, in residential areas. These embassies Soomro, a leader from the pro- Court bench also gave the capital’s the Supreme Court of Pakistan. anywhere except Pakistan. in how many cases the permis- include Lebanon, Cuba, the Czech Taliban Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam civic agency two weeks to pro- During the course of the hear- “Who has given (foreign mis- sions were granted or declined, Republic, Denmark, Greece, Ukraine, Fazl (JUI-F) party in southern vide a comprehensive report on ing, the counsel for the firm sions) the right to block public and under what rules.” The CDA Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Oman, Sindh province was offering his the extent of the illegal practice, claimed that the CDA grants passages under the grab of security counsel said the authority served Afghanistan, Romania, Bahrain, morning prayers when unidenti- including how often the Capital special permissions for commer- why don’t they move to Diplomatic over 2,000 notices on land-use Jordan, South Africa and Brazil. fied gunmen entered the mosque Development Authority (CDA) cial use of residential plots, even Enclave,” Justice Usmani observed. norm violators in the recent past. INTERNEWS and shot him dead. “Two armed men entered in the mosque and fired 11 shots, four bullets hit Khalid Soomro and he died on spot,” Tanveer Hussain, a senior police officer said. Pakistan to counter Indian Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, a party spokesman confirmed the killing which took place in Sukkur town, some 500km north of Karachi, the aerial dominance provincial capital and the coun- try’s commercial hub. ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani The twin-engine FC-31 fighter The killing prompted shops and military authorities are deter- jet resembles the American Air businesses to close in parts of south- mined to acquire 30 to 40 fourth Force’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, ern Sindh and small groups of party generation stealth fighter (FC- being produced by Lockheed members took to the streets across 31) aircraft from China with a Martin Corporation. the country in protest. The JUI-F view to pre-empting the rapidly FC-31 is the export version party spokesman said Soomro—who increasing aerial dominance of of the Shenyang J-31 which is served as a member of Pakistan’s the Indian Air Force (IAF) in already flying since 2012 and is senate (upper house) from 2006 to the region. powered by two Russian-made 2012 -- had received death threats Conceding that senior Pakistani engines. and had been attacked several defence officials were already Designed to fly close air sup- times in the past. holding talks with their Chinese port, air interdiction and other Maulana Fazlur Rehman, head counterparts to acquire the fourth missions, the Pakistan Air Force of the JUI-F called for a country- generation stealth aircraft (also intends to buy FC-31 to replace wide protest on Sunday and asked called Shenyang FC-31 Multi- the American-made F-16s, his party supporters to “take to Purpose Medium Fighter Jets), although it is to employ tactical the streets and hold protest ral- informed sources in the security rather than stealth aircraft in lies,” but remain peaceful. establishment said that Pakistan actual missions to support ground No group has claimed respon- has been made to approach China troops. sibility for the attack. and Russia to fulfil its defence Being produced by the procurements as the Pak-US Shenyang Aircraft Corporation, defence ties continue to chill, China’s Shenyang FC-31 Fighter Pakistan’s first Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) supporters gather to join a sit-in protest against the government near Parliament despite General Raheel Shareefs Jet is intended to be a rival to in Islamabad yesterday. recent visit to the United States. the American F-35 and Russian original entry The Pakistani defence officials Sukhoi Su-35. The Chinese fighter are already in the process of ink- jet was displayed at the recently to the Grammys Twin cities panic ahead of PTI rally ing an agreement with Russia held air show in China’s Zhuhai to purchase 20 Mi-35 gunship city in Guangdong Province. KARACHI: Pakistani person- helicopters which can be oper- The show concluded on November a l itie s s e em t o b e on a g loba l hon- ISLAMABAD: Once again, any other open place to stage his and tranquillity of the city. ated in the mountainous terrain 16 after signing of 300 purchase our roll, as after bagging Oscars fear and panic has gripped routine rally instead of D-Chowk, People of twin cities of of the Waziristan region where a deals worth a record $23.5bn. The and Emmys, artistes are now the residents of twin cities of Islamabad. On the other hand, Rawalpindi and Islamabad military operation is in full swing 10th China International Aviation heading towards the Grammys. Rawalpindi and Islamabad Rawalpindi management has belonging to different walks of life against the Taliban militants. and Aerospace Exhibition witnessed The Tehzeeb Foundation’s music to see thousands of uniform disallowed participants of PTI said that PTI Chief Imran Khan The sources said Pakistan sales of 227 aircraft of different compilation Indus Raag: Beyond officials and big containers rally to pass through city areas was in D-Chowk, Islamabad for wants to procure the Chinese types. Over 700 aviation and aero- Borders has been accepted as an around for November 30 rally today due to construction work 105 days but unfortunately could FC-31 aircraft as a part of its space manufacturers from 40-plus entry for the ‘Best World Music of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf of Metro Bus Project. not achieve his agenda yet. ongoing efforts to boost the air countries attended the six-day Category’ at the 2015 Grammy (PTI) at D-Chowk, Islamabad. Already, construction work For the last of 105 days, Imran combat capabilities of the PAF air show where 130 aircraft were Awards. Main roads of Islamabad are of Metro Bus Project has been is crying and appealing public to and offset the growing strength displayed. “It is a moment of honour for us packed with police and Rangers affected due to earlier sit-ins come to D-Chowk but nobody is of the Indian Air Force in the A high level Pakistani mili- that the work of so many Pakistani personally geared up to face any of PTI and Pakistan Awami listened to his wailing. “What region. tary delegation led by Air Chief artistes has finally entered the untoward incident on November 30. Tehreek. would happen on November International media reports say Marshal Tahir Rafique Butt also race of the world’s finest musi- Majority of public of twin cit- District Regional Transport 30? They are going make our life China is offering its 18 ton J-31 attended the air show. cians,” Sharif Awan, general sec- ies has expressed fear after wit- Authority (DRTA) Secretary more and more miserable,” people stealth fighter to export custom- According to the sources, retary of Tehzeeb Foundation and nessing the chaos and uncertain Owais Manzoor Tarar said that asked. ers as the FC-31. after attending the air show, Air producer of Indus Raag. law and order situation during today, public would not face any Muhammad Mukhtar Abbasi, The FC-31 stealth fighter jet Chief Marshal Tahir Rafique Prior to Indus Raagbeing August-September sit-in of Imran kind of transport shortage. a senior citizen said that Imran reportedly matches a strong need Butt also held talks with the accepted as an indigenous entry, Khan and Dr Tahirul Qadri’s mob Rawalpindi and Islamabad Khan is trying to accumu- for fifth generation fighters by Chinese Defence Minister Chang legendary musician Nusrat in Islamabad at D-Chowk that Traders Association have late more and more people at the Pakistan Air Force, which is Wanquan and discussed bilateral Fateh Ali Khan was nominated once again in the guise of a routine rejected Imran Khan’s sit-ins D-Chowk, Islamabad only to pres- already struggling to find an air- military ties including coopera- for the Grammys twice, with rally like other cities in the coun- and any kind of processions in surise government for resignation craft to go up against the Russian- tion between the air forces of the compilations made by foreign try, the PTI could stage a sit-in. federal capital and requested otherwise nothing. made T-50 fifth-generation two friendly neighbouring states. producers. Imran Khan should choose government to protect the peace INTERNEWS fighter, being acquired by India. INTERNEWS AGENCIES SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA Pakistani ‘state actors’ behind attacks: Rajnath IS recruit in custody till December 8

GUWAHATI: Union Home town, reached India by a flight via Minister Rajnath Singh yester- Turkey on Friday. He was imme- day said that state actors from diately whisked away by intelli- Pakistan are playing a role in gence officials for interrogation. destabilising India. “A few Indian youth are getting Addressing the 49th All India swayed towards it (IS), which is DGPs and IGPs conference here, a matter of concern,” the home Rajnath said that Pakistan was minister said. India was ready still supporting militants fight- to deal with such security chal- ing New Delhi’s rule in Kashmir. lenges, he added. Singh pointed to a guerrilla The home minister said Al attack earlier this week on an Qaeda is a serious threat and army patrol in Kashmir in which the central government has not at least 10 people were killed. taken it lightly. “There may be Mentioning the gun battle that many terrorist organisations in erupted in Jammu and Kashmir’s the world but the government will Arnia sector, he said Pakistan’s not allow them to get a foothold in claim that “non state actors are India,” he said. He said: “Muslims behind such incidents is not true”. fought for India’s freedom like Prime Minister Narendra Modi (centre) flags off the first train that will run between Mendipathar in Meghalaya state to Guwahati in Assam state at the “It is unfortunate Pakistan Hindus did. Al Qaida won’t suc- Maligaon Railway Stadium, in Guwahati city yesterday. does not mend its ways,” Singh ceed in their motives.” said, singling out Pakistan’s Inter- On the October 2 Burdwan blast, Services Intelligence as one of he said the West Bengal Police and the “state actors” seeking to roil National Investigation Agency are Modi flags off Meghalaya’s first train India’s security. “I do not hesitate playing crucial roles in the probe. in saying Pakistani state actors The blast took place at a house in have a role in destabilising India,” Burdwan district’s Khagragarh GUWAHATI: Prime Minister keep India’s northeast in order, it the region too. Referring to his government has decided to invite Singh said, repeating a longstand- area, killing two Jamaat-ul- Narendra Modi yesterday flagged would help the rest of the country recent visit to Myanmar, Modi private investment in railways ing Indian demand that Pakistan Mujahideen Bangladesh militants off the first passenger train from also,” Modi said in his address to said he has already taken up the and privatise the railway sta- rein in militants. and injuring another. Mendipathar in Meghalaya to thousands of people at the railway issue of railway link between the tions to make them economically Rajnath Singh also raised the Admitting that there was lack Dudhnoi in Assam, thereby stadium in Guwahati. northeast and Myanmar. viable. Islamic State (IS) issue at the con- of development in the northeast, putting Meghalaya for the first Modi, on his maiden visit after “They say this is the century “The railway connects. But it ference and described the terror he said: “Let me assure you, we time on India’s railway map. He becoming prime minister, said of Asia, and if it is true, the also expedites the speed of devel- group as a “major security threat”. are committed towards a com- compared the northeast region infrastructure was the key to northeast must have its share opment. It is in fact the spine of “We are concerned about the fact prehensive development of this to deity Lakshmi, and said devel- development. of it. My government’s effort will the country’s economy,” he said. that Indian youngsters are getting region.” Singh urged all the north- opment of the region will help the “If we can develop the infra- be to establish rail links between “Unfortunately in the past, rail- drawn to Islamic State.” eastern states to fill up vacancies rest of India. structure of the region, develop- the region and Myanmar and way budgets have been only about He voiced concern about in the police forces and assured The prime minister, who kick- ment will follow. The northeast other Asian countries, which adding a compartment and add- Indian young people joining the them of all possible help. started a three-day four-state region will achieve new heights of will boost the potential of the ing new tracks. I want to develop IS as investigators interrogated Directors general of police tour of the region, also laid the development if infrastructure like region,” he said. the railways, both vertically and a 23-year-old Mumbai-area man (DGPs), inspectors general of foundation stone of a new broad rail and road links are developed,” “Once the region is linked with horizontally. who returned home on Friday police (IGPs) from all states and gauge railway line between he said. other Asian counties, the youth “While the railway network will from the Middle East. union territories, heads of all par- Bhairabi and Sairang in Mizoram. Modi compared the eight states of the region do not need to go be spread to more areas, services A special court in Mumbai sent amilitary forces, officials from the “Vaastu Shastra claims that if of the region with Ashta Lakshmi to Bangalore and other places to will also be upgraded,” he said. Arif Majeed, who had joined the Intelligence Bureau and all chief one keeps the Eshan (northeast) (the eight different forms of deity look for opportunities,” he said. Modi said his government has also IS terror group, to NIA custody ministers of the northeastern corner of a house in order, it Lakshmi), and said proper devel- The prime minister also decided to establish four railway till December 8. Majeed, 23, hail- states are taking part in the two- boosts the prosperity of the house. opment of the Ashta Lakshmi stressed the need to modern- universities in the country. ing from Maharashtra’s Kalyan day conference. AGENCIES Similarly, I believe that if we can will help develop other parts of ise the railways and said his IANS

Grenade attack in Srinagar injures nine Test launch of India wary of assertive China, heaviest rocket intrusive Pakistan: IAF chief in December BENGALURU: With the stra- Raha said China was developing SRIHARIKOTA: India will test- tegic gravity shifting from west capabilities to fight major con- launch its heaviest and upgraded to east, especially to Asia and flicts over the next 35 years, as rocket, the Geosynchronous Asia Pacific, “India faces security mentioned by a security analyst in Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV challenges in the region due to Hong Kong in an article recently. Mark III), sometime in the mid- an assertive China and an intru- Claiming that India had no ter- dle of next month, a senior offi- sive Pakistan”, the IAF chief, Air ritorial ambition except to recover cial of the Indian space agency Chief Marshal Arup Raha, said. the land lost due to historical rea- said here yesterday. “The situation is not good for the sons, the IAF chief said with a hos- The rocket will also carry a environment, as peaceful rise of tile border left behind as a legacy crew module to test its re-entry China remains a distant dream. An of the British rule, the situation characteristics. “The main pur- assertive China is investing heav- in the neighbourhood, specially on pose of the mission is to test the ily in developing military power, the western border, was vulner- atmospheric characteristics and especially aerospace power, laying able. “Our aim is not to occupy but stability of the rocket on its way claims on international waters, deter our enemy from waging war up. We also decided to use this island territories and air space against us with striking capability to opportunity to test one com- over South China Sea and East penetrate into the enemy’s territory ponent of the crew module - a China Sea,” Raha said during the with air power and expose the vul- human space mission that India eighth annual Air Chief Marshal L nerability of the adversary,” he said. may embark on at a later date,” M Katre memorial lecture. Khatre was the chief of air M Y S Prasad, director of the He said Pakistan was the foun- staff in 1984-85 and chairman of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in People look at the wind screen damaged in a grenade attack in Srinagar yesterday. Nine people, including an tainhead of terrorism, encouraging the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, Sriharikota, told reporters here. paramilitary soldier, were injured when suspected militants lobbed a grenade towards CRPF picket in main terrorist activities despite being a which makes military aircraft for The experimental mission will city centre Lal Chowk. The grenade, however, missed the target and exploded on the road. part of the global war on terror. the IAF. IANS cost Rs155 crore. “This will be India’s new launch vehicle. It is big- ger and can carry satellites upto four tonnes,” said S Somanath, project director of GSLV Mark III. According to Prasad, this rocket Bikers loot Rs1.5 crore in Kerala’s rival fronts go into assembly’s will not have the critical cryogenic engine for putting four-tonne sat- ellites into orbit. Delhi; guard shot dead winter session on the back foot “The cryogenic engine is under development and will take more NEW DELHI: Two people on The incident took place around two years to be ready,” he said. a bike looted Rs1.5 crore from a 11am when the cash van came to THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The winter ses- that has eluded him and he was aiming to finish off As the other rocket engines are cash van here after they fatally refill a Citibank ATM in north sion of the Kerala assembly beginning here on his political career in style. Mani, for all practical ready, the Indian Space Research shot at a private company’s Delhi’s Kamla Nagar market area, Monday will see the rival fronts — the ruling purposes, had got the tacit support for his long-term Organisation (ISRO) decided to security guard, police said. police said. Govind was accompa- Congress and the CPI(M)-led opposition — enter- ambition and for that Vijayan was willing to back him, have this mission. About the crew “Two people came on a motor- nied by another security guard ing the House on the back foot. provided he broke from the Chandy government. module, Prasad said it will not cycle, opened fire at the secu- and two bank employees. This peculiar situation has risen because there are But things did not go the way Mani wanted to. carry any living being and was rity guard and took away a bag The bikers, who were following issues plaguing both and despite their best efforts, With the allegation surfacing in a big way, the belea- only for study purposes. containing around Rs1.5 crore the van, opened fire at him when a solution to their ills is not yet forthcoming and guered Mani went into a huddle and people in Kerala He said the 630-tonne rocket in cash,” Joint Commissioner of he came out of the vehicle. They hence none appears to have an edge over the other. were shocked to see him appear before the media will go up to 126km and then crew Police Sandeep Goel said. snatched away the bag the other The Left opposition could have easily floored the with folded hands and say that he does not have any capsule will be detached and it Police also found three mobile guard was carrying and bran- Oommen Chandy government over what was prob- ambition and was happy where he was. will fall into the Bay of Bengal, 20 camera footages showing two men dished their weapons in the air ably the biggest opportunity it got last month when In the Left front, things have reached a point of minutes after blast off. The descent on a black colour pulsor motorcycle to escape, police said. They were whistleblower bar owner Biju Ramesh alleged that no return with the bickering between the CPI-M speed of the crew module will be with the pillon rider carrying a pis- also wearing helmets. Finance Minister K M Mani was given Rs1 crore and the CPI spilling over to the streets. The CPI was controlled by three parachutes, tol and the looted bag. The footages The van occupants told police as the first instalment of bribe for allowing to open unhappy with Vijayan extending an olive branch to he said. The module will splash were recorded by eyewitnesses. there was more cash in the van 418 bars that have shut this fiscal. Mani and on this issue, the two communist party down 600km from Port Blair and The guard was identified as which they had needed to refill Mani’s party, the Kerala Congress (Mani), is the organs are having a field day with each trying to 1,600km from the space centre. Govind, who received gun shot other ATMs in the city. Police said third biggest ally of the Chandy government and has outwit the other, by taking on one another. The crew module, looking like wounds on his head and chest. they have collected CCTV foot- nine legislators. But things did not go the way they With the rival fronts on the back foot due to their a giant-size cup cake weighs He later succumbed to his inju- age. They have questioned several should have for the opposition as the majority faction own creation, all eyes would be on the manner in around four tonnes. According to ries in hospital, police said. He people including bank employees. of the powerful CPI-M group, led by state secretary which the “bargate” allegation is raked up by the an ISRO official, it will be in the was a native of Uttar Pradesh’s Police are conducting raids in Delhi Pinarayi Vijayan, had a soft corner for 81-year-old Left opposition. It would be interesting to see how size of a small bedroom and can Etah and was living in Delhi for as well as national capital region in Mani, who has been a legislator since 1967 and was Chandy and Mani react to it, besides the way the accommodate 2-3 people. IANS the past few months. search of the robbers. IANS eyeing the chief minister’s post. This is the single post CPI takes this up. IANS

SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

PRAYER TIME Child’s play

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DOHA - SUN & SEA

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THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW An artiste leads a bear as a child sits on it during the first day of a fair organised by GUM departmental store for the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations at Moscow’s Red Square yesterday. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 29/24 Clear 28/22 Partly cloudy MAKKAH 31/22 Partly cloudy 30/22 Partly cloudy KUWAIT 18/10 Clear 19/07 Clear BAHRAIN 21/16 Clear 21/15 Partly cloudy Manila road bully defends himself on TV SANAA 23/09 Partly cloudy 21/09 Clear RIYADH 19/12 Chance of rain 18/11 Chance of rain MANILA: A Maserati-driving The video, shot by a fellow Ingco told GMA television, stut- Police filed an assault complaint DUBAI 25/19 Clear 25/20 Partly cloudy businessman accused of mauling traffic officer, went viral, draw- tering at some points during the against Ingco before city prosecu- BAGHDAD 17/07 Partly cloudy 17/09 Partly cloudy a traffic officer in the Philippine ing the ire of the country’s vocal interview. tors, who will decide if he is to THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW capital went on national tel- Facebook and Twitter mobs, and Ingco admitted to punching the stand trial. No arrest warrant has evision Friday to defend himself prompting city authorities to put traffic aide, but said it was only been issued. HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER after he was transformed into up a 100,000-peso ($2,000) reward to loosen the officer’s grip on his Tolentino vouched for the traf- an internet villain. for information on the business- shirt collar. He claimed the aide fic aide’s credibility, saying he ATHENS 19/13 Partly cloudy 19/15 Mostly cloudy The businessman, Joseph man’s whereabouts. punched him too, though he had had so far served an exemplary WASHINGTON 15/09 Partly cloudy 20/04 Chance of rain Russel Ingco, told national Social media users vilified no visible bruises on his face. six years with the traffic bureau SYDNEY 28/19 Clear 32/20 Chance of storm evening newscasts on Friday that Ingco, calling him a “road bully”, Ingco’s victim, Jorbe Adriatico, and was cited by police for helping LONDON 09/07 Cloudy 08/06 Cloudy he felt forced to explain his side “liar” and “mauler”. was to undergo surgery yesterday arrest street criminals. PARIS 10/03 Clear 05/02 Partly cloudy of the incident out of safety fears. “This shows that social media to repair his broken nose. “I think he’s telling the truth. ISTANBUL 10/08 Rain 09/07 Chance of rain Ingco was caught on video hold- can be a tool for justice,” Francis “I still couldn’t sleep. The inci- He’s a credible guy and we stand MANILA 29/24 Partly cloudy 30/25 Mostly cloudy ing a traffic officer by his shirt Tolentino, head of a government dent keeps playing in my head,” by him,” he said. DHAKA 27/18 Clear 27/17 Partly cloudy and dragging him along the road body that manages traffic in Adriatico, with a bandaged nose, Tolentino said video of the inci- DELHI 28/12 Clear 28/12 Clear out of the window of his blue Manila, told AFP yesterday. told ABS-CBN television of his dent “affirms the truthfulness” of ISLAMABAD 23/08 Partly cloudy 23/08 Clear Maserati Ghibli. The aide had “I am afraid for my safety. I am Thursday morning run-in with the traffic aide’s statement. flagged him down for a violation. willing to face the consequences,” Ingco. AFP Mexico’s Lego’s charm unaffected by digital onslaught famous TV LONDON: Generations of chil- opportunities for the company Billund, Denmark, opened a fifth Lego became a major interna- more appealing”. Now the focus is dren worldwide have grown up to build its customer base even “main office” in London on Friday tional brand from the 1960s and on international expansion, hence loving Lego and the popularity further. as the company seeks global Legoland in Billund, now one of the opening of the London office. comedian of tablets and video games will “We are one of the most popu- growth. One key target is Asia. Denmark’s biggest tourist attrac- The opening coincides with the not change that, the company’s lar video games, we also have As well as offices in Shanghai and tions, was opened in 1968. Brick 2014 fan event being held at chief executive told AFP in an reached more and more custom- Singapore, the company started But the group hit trouble in London’s giant ExCeL exhibition dies at 85 interview. ers on social media — Lego fans building a new factory in China’s 2004, announcing major losses. centre from Thursday to Sunday, Joergen Vig Knudstorp said he are gathering like never before,” Jianxing, south of Shanghai, ear- Knudstrop was appointed that featuring Lego sets, characters MEXICO CITY: Mexico’s believed that the plastic, multi- he said. lier this year to build Lego prod- year and recalls receiving “letters and construction zones. iconic television comedian coloured bricks — whose name “In the past, children watched ucts for sale in Asia. from customers saying ‘please For Knudstrop, despite the Roberto Gomez Bolanos, who is an abbreviation of the Danish TV and then played with Lego. Such an international presence don’t die’”. changes which he has brought enchanted generations of Latin words “leg godt”, meaning “play Now they play on tablets and play is a far cry from the company’s He said that, at that stage, the and those in the digital world, American children by playing well” — would be around for with Lego. origins. company had “spread ourselves the Lego brick is at the centre of an orphan who lived in a bar- “centuries”. “The reason why they do it is The company was founded in over too many areas” and was what the company is about — and rel and a goofy superhero, died The company hit trouble a dec- that many children, and adults 1932 by Ole Kirk Kristiansen, the poorly run. will remain so for years to come. Friday aged 85. ade ago but is now the world’s big- as well, want a real, physical grandfather of the current owner, To turn the business around, “I think the brick will stay with Gomez Bolanos died in the gest maker of toys by sales, more experience. Even though we like in a small workshop in Billund, he focused on cutting manufac- us for centuries because it is fun- Caribbean coast resort of Cancun, than quadrupling its revenues in to watch football or play it on a and took the name Lego two years turing costs, releasing the right damental like football or reading where he retired years ago due 10 years. PlayStation, it’s still not the same later. It started out making prod- products in tighter timeframes a great book, telling stories,” he to respiratory illnesses, said the Far from threatening Lego’s as running on the field kicking ucts like wooden ducks, while the and “reigniting the product inno- said. Televisa network, where the actor popularity, Knudstorp said the ball.” He was speaking as iconic plastic brick in its present vation, really working with chil- “It’s something that will be spent his entire career. the digital era offered great Lego, whose headquarters are in form dates back to 1958. dren to make products they find around forever.” AFP The cause of death was not given. “Televisa laments the death of Don Roberto Gomez Bolanos, Here’s Napoleon! ‘Chespirito,’ an essential figure of Mexican televisions,” the broad- caster wrote on Twitter. Trumpet star starts Gomez Bolanos — whose nick- name Chespirito meant “Little Shakespeare” for his short stat- composing for films ure and prolific writing — created some of the most popular televi- sion shows in the history of Latin LONDON: Lebanese-French jazz, a bit of the Orient, a bit of America. trumpeter Ibrahim Maalouf is rock, a bit of hip-hop: everything In “El Chavo del Ocho” (“The reaching beyond his classical I love and listen to can be found Kid from the Eight”), Gomez and jazz roots to a more main- in my music,” he said. Bolanos played a mischievous stream audience seduced by his “I see my albums as the sound- orphan who always wore a hat unique musical style blending track of daily life.” with ear flaps and slept in a bar- Arabic and Western influences. Maalouf, who has won a string rel in the courtyard of a working- The 34-year-old, who has of world classical music compe- class housing complex. worked with Sting in the past, titions, is increasingly at ease in Another famous character also told AFP on a tour stop in London and New York and his was “Chapulin Colorado” (Red London that he is finally fulfill- British gig was sold out. Grasshopper), a red-hooded ing his “dream” of composing film The musician said he was par- superhero with antennas and scores — and has three more in ticularly pleased about compos- armed with a yellow and red the pipeline. ing the scores for three films hammer. His victory catch-phrase On the sidelines of a concert, this year: the biopic “Yves Saint was, “They didn’t count on my Maalouf spoke of the “freedom Laurent” about the life of the cleverness!” His shows had mil- offered by art” after the release famous fashion designer, as well lions of viewers from Mexico to of “Au Pays d’Alice” (“In the Land as an Iranian art-house movie the Andes. AFP of Alice”), his musical take on the and a French teen comedy. British classic fantasy novel “Alice “This was a logical move. I in Wonderland”. worked for four years on my The record mixes Franco- first album and for me it was a Malian hip-hop artist Oxmo movie soundtrack that I wanted Puccino with a classical orchestra to present to directors,” Maalouf and a children’s choir — the kind said. History enthusiasts, dressed as soldiers, fight during the re-enactment of Napoleon’s famous battle of of world music work that is win- “It was my dream” to work Austerlitz near the southern Moravian town of Slavkov u Brna in the Czech Republic yesterday. Hundreds of ning Maalouf a growing number in the film industry, added this of fans. son of a Christian family from enthusiasts took part in the re-enactment of the battle to mark its 209th anniversary. “I don’t just do Oriental music: Beirut who fled to Paris during I do my music. There’s a bit of the Lebanese civil war. AFP Sunday 30 November 2014 8 Safar 1436 Volume 19 Number 6265 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar to spend over $70bn Qatargas wins top awards DOHA: Qatargas has become the first Qatari organisation to win the two most prestigious awards in the area of liquefied on projects, says report natural gas (LNG) shipping operations from the British Safety Council, said the company yesterday in a press release. It won the “Sword of Honour” for occupa- Projects include infrastructure, transport, hotels and stadiums tional health and safety management and the “Globe of Honour” for environmental DOHA: Qatari government — in the from May 4 to 7, 2015. The show is and attracts high-profile engineering management. run-up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, proud to have been granted for the consultants.” Qatargas was one of only four organisa- and in accordance with the Qatar second consecutive time the patron- The exhibition, will host hundreds tions worldwide who were successful in win- National Vision 2030 — intends to age of the Prime Minister and Interior of distinguished industry leaders from ning both the awards in 2014. It was one of spend about QR255bn (over $70bn) on Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin local and regional companies; it moreo- 50 organisations worldwide that achieved infrastructure and transport as well Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, as well as ver promises to attract key buyers and a Sword of Honour, which is awarded to as hotels and stadiums, according to the continuous and invaluable support professionals seeking the latest tech- organisations who have demonstrated Deloitte, a management consultancy. of various Qatari governmental bodies. nology and state-of-the art equipment. excellence in the management of health Another sports event has been recently To date, the show has received high Moreover, Project Qatar 2015 will and safety. It was also one of five organisa- added to the calendar of Qatar, as the number of enquiries from exhibitors, be held concurrently with two spe- tions worldwide presented with a Globe of country was granted the right to host six months prior to the opening, which cialized events: Qatar StoneTech, the Honour, which is awarded to organisations the 17th IAAF World Championships, is a testament to Qatar’s construction 4th International Stone and Stone who have demonstrated excellence in envi- which will unfold in 2019, boosting the growth and to Project Qatar’s widening Technology show, and Heavy Max, the ronmental management. construction sector further. portfolio and sustainability. 12th International Exhibition for Heavy Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatargas In fact, the Minister of Finance allo- Hazem Al Sharif, General Manager Machinery. Chief Executive Officer, received the award cated $24bn (about QR87.4bn) to key of ACICO, a prominent company exhib- Ashraf Al Barghuthi, General Manager from Alex Botha, British Safety Council Qatargas CEO Khalid bin Khalifa Al Thani projects, which represents a 16 percent iting at Project Qatar, said: “We have of the Arabian Supply Center – one of Chief Executive, at a ceremony held at receiving the award from Alex Botha, British increase, compared to 2013-14, and trans- been participating in Project Qatar for the exhibitors at Project Qatar 2015, Drapers’ Hall in London. Safety Council Chief Executive, at a ceremony lates into Qatar’s largest infrastructure seven years. ACICO has benefited a said: “In continuation of excelled growth “We are deeply honoured to receive this held at Drapers’ Hall in London. budget to date. Those operating in such lot from its participation in the show efforts, Arabian Supply Center (ASC) prestigious recognition as evidence of our a dynamic market must be equally versa- given that it has been able to showcase will be participating in Project Qatar continued efforts to promote world class highly significant global recognitions in tile; in this regard, Project Qatar 2015 will its AAC Blocks to thousands of visi- 2015, this will be our second participation standards and integrate best practices into 2014,” said Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani. foster the rapid development of Qatar’s tors and to emerge as a manufacturer as we feel it is a great way to present our our business performance. Through the “We are committed to maintaining and booming construction sector, being of new building systems. Project Qatar premium products in support of Qatar’s hard work and dedication of the Qatargas enhancing our performance to ensure among the best attended exhibitions in is a leading exhibition because it allows numerous construction projects. We’re Shipping Department, this is yet another we continue to meet the highest global the GCC for over a decade. industry leaders to keep network- looking forward to showing our custom- milestone in achieving our vision to become standards through the years to come and The 12th International Construction ing and to update their relationships; ers in Project Qatar 2015 – both existing the world’s premier LNG Company. Today strongly encourage others to join us on this Technology and Building Materials it also reveals through its exhibitors and future – the valuable products and we are proud to be the first Qatari organi- journey towards health, safety and environ- Exhibition is set to take place at the the latest state-of-the-art equipment services we can provide“. zation and one of only four organisations mental excellence,” he added. Qatar National Convention Centre, and building materials on the market, THE PENINSULA worldwide to have achieved both of these THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Lower oil prices changing risk profile in EMs Russia, Ukraine, Brazil and South Africa most exposed countries: QNB Group

HE recent drop in differentiation between those Indian Prime Minister concerns about political uncer- oil prices is chang- markets that have been able to Narendra Modi announced in tainty that stem from the October ing the risk profile of take the necessary measures to mid-October that the government presidential elections and delays Emerging Markets reduce their current account def- would stop fixing diesel prices, to appointing a new government. (EMs). Significant icits and stabilize their curren- eliminating half of total fuel sub- This has led to a sharp deprecia- Tadjustments to global financial cies (India and Indonesia) and sidies, which cost the government tion of the Brazilian real of 13.9 markets in the second half of 2014 those that are still struggling to around 9.4 percent of the budget percent since the end of June include a large drop in commod- contain the loss of confidence in last year. Indonesian President 2014. ity prices, the end of quantita- their economies (Brazil, Russia, Joko Widodo announced in mid- The outlook for South Africa tive easing (QE) in the US, and Ukraine and to a lesser extent November a 30 percent increase has deteriorated slightly during a stronger US dollar, the QNB South Africa). Much of the loss in fuel prices, which follows a 33 the second half of the year as the Group said. These developments, of confidence in the latter group percent increase in June 2013. economy is predominantly reliant particularly the drop in oil prices, has been driven by lower global Fuel subsidies are expected to on commodities. Falling commod- have led to a divergence in EM commodity prices, including oil. reach around 19 percent of the ity prices have led to a downward performance and risks going for- The improvement in financial Indonesian budget this year. revision in consensus real GDP ward. At this juncture, the most market sentiment towards the Russia has been the hardest growth forecasts from 1.9 percent exposed countries are Russia and ‘Suspect Seven’ has occurred hit by falling oil prices — the in June to 1.5 percent currently. Ukraine, followed by other com- despite a steady downward revi- exchange rate has weakened 34.9 The small weakening of modity producers like Brazil and sion in the outlook for these econ- percent since the end of June as Turkey’s currency since June has South Africa. omies, with the main exception falling oil prices have exacerbated mainly been driven by a dete- We have previously identi- of India. According to Bloomberg weaknesses relating to interna- rioration in the security situa- fied the EMs most at risk of a consensus, real GDP growth is tional sections associated with tion in neighbouring countries. balance of payments crisis (see now expected to be 5.4 percent in tensions in Ukraine. Turkey faces some major chal- our Economic Commentary 2014 up from 4.7 percent expected Ukraine itself is in a particu- lenges with a current account dated June 6, 2014). This analy- in June. Indonesia is the only larly dire situation. The economy deficit expected to be over 5 sis focused on the fragile five other Suspect Seven expected to is now expected to contract by percent this year, although, as a (Brazil, India, Indonesia, South grow by over 5 percent in 2014. 7 percent this year. Sovereign net oil importer, the drop in oil Africa and Turkey) EMs that Lower oil prices have been a default was narrowly averted prices should help. were most severely impacted by key differentiator of EM per- in May with an agreement for Another important factor that the capital outflows following formance during the second half external support from the IMF has supported EMs is further the announcement in mid-2013 of 2014. Brent oil prices peaked and other donors totaling $27bn. unexpected monetary easing of the QE tapering by the US in mid-June at $115 per barrel. International reserves fell to just in China and Japan, which has Federal Reserve (Fed). We now Since then prices have fallen $12.6bn from $16.3bn at end-Sep- eased global liquidity conditions. October with much of the addi- have been less positive for com- have added Russia and Ukraine to over 30 percent to around $80 tember. The central bank gave up Previously, financial markets had tional liquidity expected to flow modity exporting countries, our list of EMs that face a mate- currently. Falling oil prices have on efforts to defend the currency been concerned about the end- to EMs in search of higher yields. particularly Russia and Brazil, rial risk of a crisis (owing to the helped improve external bal- in early October and is now run- ing of QE in the US in October. Overall, recent developments which are suffering as a result. fallout between the two countries ances in India and Indonesia ning short of reserves. Without However, the People’s Bank of in global financial markets have Political tensions in Ukraine are as well as the recent drop in oil and their governments have also continued external support, China unexpectedly cut lending helped stabilise some of the frag- pushing the country close to the prices) to make up the so-called taken the opportunity presented Ukraine is likely to experience a and deposit rates on November 24. ile EMs that were previously brink. If Ukraine goes down, Suspect Seven. by lower oil prices to increase sovereign default. Additionally, the Bank of Japan thought to be at risk. However, contagion could further desta- Overall, the second half of 2014 fuel prices and reduce their sub- In Brazil, falling oil and com- surprised markets by expanding recent developments, including bilises Russia. has resulted in a significant EM sidy bills. modity prices have also added to its QE programme at the end of lower oil and commodity prices, THE PENINSULA

More people jobless in France Qatar-based banks take lead in Philippine economic provision expenses drop in GCC growth DOHA: The provision expenses provision expenses, asset qual- remained slightly under pressure of top GCC banks declined ity of Masraf Al Rayan in Qatar on YoY basis due to 2 bps decline significantly during the third still remains as one of the best in the yield on assets leading to slows in Q3 quarter of 2014 (3Q,14), with amongst GIH’s Qatari cover- 2 bps shrinkage in NIM; though Qatar taking the lead (52.8 per- age. Saudi Arabia-based Saudi NIM increased 2 bps on QoQ MANILA: Growth slowed cent year-on-year). Hollandi Bank witnessed a signifi- basis. Loan book growth contin- sharply in the Philippine econ- Qatar National Bank’s (QNB) cant rise in provision during the ues to remain decent across GCC omy in the third quarter because provision expenses declined 79.9 quarter due to accumulation of markets, with banks in Qatar of typhoon damage and falling percent YoY in 3Q,14, followed higher general provisions. Riyad witnessing the highest increase public spending, officials said. by QIB (-51.9 percent YoY) Bank’s provisions grew 55.7 per- of 12.8 percent YoY. The economy grew by 5.3 and Commercial Bank of Qatar cent YoY in 3Q14, which partially Qatar based banks maintained percent in the three months to (-42.2 percent YoY); however, restricted the net profit growth; their loan growth momentum September — below expectations Masraf Al Rayan has booked rise in provisions was due to add- due to an increase in public sec- — and 5.8 percent through the some provision during the quarter ing general provisions. tor spending backed by several first nine months of the year. as NPL(non-performing loans) Total assets of GCC banks developmental initiatives taken Deputy chief statistician accumulation has increased, albeit under our coverage expanded by the government .Among the Romeo Recide added that gross marginally. 10.4 percent YoY to $1.15trn in banks in Qatar, Qatar Islamic domestic product (GDP) growth Provision expenses of GCC 3Q14. Qatar-based banks wit- Bank ,Masraf Al Rayan and Doha in this period fell to the lowest banks declined 26 percent YoY nessed the strongest growth in Bank registered higher growth in level since the last quarter of 2011. and 11.9 percent QoQ during total assets (11.6 percent YoY), lending of 35.3 percent YoY, 27.0 The government has set a GDP 3Q14. The high decline rate of followed by banks in Kuwait (11.0 percent YoY and 14.6 percent YoY, growth target of 6.5-7.5 percent for provision expenses in Qatar is percent YoY), UAE (10.6 percent respectively. the whole of 2014. “Given this quar- followed by Kuwait (31.3 percent YoY) and KSA (8.9 percent YoY). The net interest income (NII) ter’s performance... even meeting YoY), UAE (21.1 percent), Saudi Expansion in asset base was sup- of GCC banks increased 7.5 per- the low end of the target growth Arabia (17.2 percent). ported by growth in loan book. cent YoYand 2.6 percent QoQ.The rate for the year could pose a big On contrary, provision expenses However, on a QoQ basis, asset NII of banks in Kuwait grew the challenge,” Economic Planning on Bank Muscat in Oman rose growth was sluggish due to mar- most (13.3 percent YoY),followed y Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said. three fold during the quarter ginal increase in loans Qatar (9.2 percent YoY), UAE (6.6 Typhoon Rammasun left 111 partially denting the growth in Among the individual banks, percent YoY)and KSA (4.7 per- people dead or missing, caused a profitability, Global Investment Qatar Islamic Bank (28.6 percent cent).Among Kuwait based banks, million people to flee their homes House (GIH) that covered 24 YoY), Saudi Hollandi Bank (17.5 Kuwait Finance House witnessed and left millions of others without leading banks in the region said percent), Masraf Al Rayan (16.3 a strong 37.4 percent YoY growth power for several days across the in its “GCC banking” sector quar- percent) recorded strong asset in its net financing income due to country’s economic heartland in terly report.. growth due to higher expansion 47bps YoY improvement in NIM. mid-July. Qatar based Doha Bank’s pro- in loan book In Qatar, Islamic banks Fierce winds and destructive visions rose 33.3 percent YoY in The collective loans disbursed recorded better net financing floods generated by typhoons 3Q14; notably, the bank’s NPL by GCC banks under GIH’s cov- income growth due to higher A logo is seen on the entrance of a Pole Emploi office (National Agency led to a 2.7 percent year-on- also rose in 3Q14 to 3.27 percent erage increased by 8.9 percent financing growth. Qatar Islamic for Employment) in Champigny sur Marne, eastern Paris. More people year contraction in farm output, from 2.89 percent in 3Q13, which YoY to $716.3bn in 3Q14 which Bank and Masraf Al Rayan were unemployed in France in October than ever before, data showed, Balisacan said. indicates that the rise in provi- were the main driver behind reported 23.7 percent YoY and Apart from agriculture, he highlighting continued weak activity in the eurozone’s second-largest sions is due to addition of specific the net interest income which 23.1 percent YoY growth in their said government consumption economy. The Labour Ministry said the jobless total in mainland France provisions. grew by 7.5 percent YoY during net financing income, respectively. and public construction activi- Despite booking marginal the quarter. However, margins THE PENINSULA rose by 28,400 to 3,460,900, a 0.8 percent increase over one month ties slowed as President Benigno and 5.5 percent over one year. Aquino’s government adjusted to “new spending protocols”, some imposed to fight corruption. He also cited the “linger- ing negative impact” of Super Lacklustre Japan data paint gloomy picture for Abenomics Typhoon Haiyan, as well as delays in the layout of the government’s massive post-typhoon reconstruc- TOKYO: Japan released a string of inflation rate came in at 0.9 percent, straight increase, as exports improved. “It near-term, as the recent plunge in crude tion programme across the devas- lacklustre economic data on Friday, with against 1.0 percent in the previous month is a positive set of data that hints at hopes oil prices has yet to be reflected in the cost tated central Philippines. inflation hitting its lowest level in a year, and its lowest level since October 2013. for future recovery in production,” SMBC of energy imports,” he added. April’s tax Economic output had expanded dealing another blow to Tokyo’s attempts The weak reading makes the Bank of Nikko Securities said in a note. rise — designed to help pay down one of by 7.0 percent in the third quarter to conquer years of falling prices and Japan’s 2.0 percent inflation target — which Separate figures showed the country’s the world’s largest public debt mountains— of 2013, before Haiyan, the strong- tepid growth. it initially aimed to hit next year — look unemployment rate slipped to 3.5 percent delivered a body blow to Abe’s efforts to est cyclone to ever hit land and The figures come after Prime Minister increasingly out of reach. from 3.6 percent, while retail sales rose 1.4 rev up growth, just as the long-laggard the deadliest in the Philippines’ Shinzo Abe called a snap election for next The BoJ shocked markets last month percent in October. However, household economy appeared to be turning a corner. recorded history, caused wide- month and delayed a sales tax hike after a by saying it would expand its asset-buying spending fell 4.0 percent on-year, the sev- In response, Abe put off another hike due spread devastation. Despite the previous levy increase hammered spend- stimulus programme to about 80 trillion enth successive decline. in late 2015 and called a snap election for slowdown, Balisacan said business ing and pushed the world’s number three yen ($676bn) annually, as part of Tokyo’s “Although real GDP growth continued next month that he described as a referen- sentiment remained optimistic. economy into recession. bid to overcome deflation and kickstart the to be negative into July-September and dum on his policies, although observers said He said export growth was Japanese consumer inflation came in at economy. Japan was in technical recession, demand it was a strategic move to fend off party robust in the third quarter, sup- 2.9 percent in October compared with a “Even despite the BoJ’s surprise move, for labour among firms is still robust likely rivals ahead of a leadership vote next year. ported by the “strengthening of year earlier, official data showed, match- we maintain our view that there is a very thanks to the waning impact of (the) con- Abe’s growth blitz — dubbed Abenomics the global manufacturing indus- ing market forecasts but slowing from 3.0 long way to go before achieving the +2.0 sumption tax hike,” said Marcel Thieliant — was launched in 2012 and calls for big try” that boosted the country’s percent in September. Prices mainly rose percent target,” Credit Agricole said. from Capital Economics. government spending as well as massive key exports of semiconductors, largely because Tokyo raised the sales tax Also, figures showed factory produc- But “despite the tight labour market, monetary easing and an overhaul of the wiring harnesses for vehicles and from 5.0 percent to 8.0 percent on April 1. tion in October edged up a better-than- inflation continues to moderate... Price highly regulated economy. garments. Adjusted for the hike, nationwide core expected 0.2 percent on-month, the second pressure should moderate further in the AFP AFP SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23 India scraps controls on gold imports Boost for jewellery industry: WGC

NEW DELHI: Leading gold In the third quarter, Indian buyer India has announced it has jewellery demand rose almost eased controls on imports of the 60 percent to 182.9 tonnes in the yellow metal after its current months to September, the World account deficit narrowed sharply. Gold Council, an industry organ- India, the world’s second- isation, reported. That was the biggest gold buyer after China, second-highest total on record, imposed the import restrictions the council said. The sharp fall in last year to avert a trade defi- the price of gold has sent Indians cit crisis that pushed the rupee flocking to buy the metal. to record lows. “Restrictions Gold demand traditionally placed on import of gold... stand peaks during the August-to- withdrawn with immediate November wedding season and effect,” India’s central bank said the Hindu festival of Dhanteras, in a statement on its website as the country’s more than 800 yesterday. million Hindus consider the fes- International Islamic and Commerzbank AG officials during the award ceremony. The so-called 80:20 import tival season an auspicious time to rule meant 20 percent of all buy or give gold as a gift. imported gold had to be exported Buoyant about the govern- before any new shipments could ment’s decision, Somasundaram International Islamic wins coveted awards be brought in. P R, managing director, India, Jewellers use the gold and make World Gold Council, said the DOHA: International Islamic Chief of Investment and train and equip our staff using high degree of efficiency, which it into jewellery for export. move will definitely boost confi- (QIIB) has won two coveted Treasury, Peter Bokma and advanced banking techniques, the bank has demonstrated. “The falls in gold and more sig- dence in general and in the jewel- awards from Commerzbank AG, Head of International Operations and to also ensure that the bank In his remarks at the award nificantly oil prices over the past lery industry, in particular. Frankfurt for best “Straight Asim Mahmood were among has the latest technology in line ceremony, Stefan Dettner said few months have substantially “The removal of the 80:20 Through Processing (STP) in those present. with STP requirements. Our team the STP procedures adopted by reduced India’s import bill,” said scheme is a welcome development Qatar” in the fields of commer- Receiving the awards, deserves praise for its perform- QIIB matched the best standards research house Capital Economics and one that reflects previous cial payments and trade finance Eshehawi said the International ance in achieving such results.” in Straight Through Processing analyst Shilan Shah. statements from the RBI and the for 2013. This is the first time Islamic is proud to partner Eshehawi said the granting of globally. “Even if India’s gold imports government that gold curbs are that the leading German bank with Commerzbank, a reputable the awards confirms the bank “We have been dealing with now pick up, the threat of the meant to be short term. The tim- is handing over two awards to a German bank of great stature. precision in formatting foreign QIIB for a long time, we appreci- current account deficit balloon- ing of this development though bank simultaneously. “We are happy to receive the payments in the Commercial ate the efficiency with which the ing to previous levels is slim,” surprising, will definitely boost At a ceremony held at the awards for Straight Through Payments and Trade Finance bank responds to the standards Shah said. But import duty on confidence in general, and in the International Islamic’s head- Processing in the fields of areas with no errors. Proper for- that are required by SWIFT, par- gold imposed by the government jewellery industry, in particular,” quarters at Grand Hamad Street Commercial Payments and Trade matting of payments is extremely ticularly in the area of payments” remains at a record 10 percent. he said. in Doha, the awards were pre- Finance. We are pleased that we important because it ensures pay- said Dettner. Commerzbank is a India imports around 90 per- WGC stated that it will main- sented by senior Commerzbank have received the STP perform- ments have been made through leading international commercial cent of its gold needs and its tain its expectations for demand executives, Stefan Dettner and ance award from Commerzbank the system without any manual bank with branches and offices in 1.2-billion population is believed in 2014 to be within a range of Ertugrul Goeaelel to Ehab in recognition of the bank’s con- intervention, thereby reducing more than 50 countries. The core to have one of the world’s biggest 850-950 tonnes, slightly lower Eshehawi, Chief Operating Officer tinuous effort to improve its back- costs, eliminating errors and markets of Commerzbank are private gold hoards of up to 20,000 than last year. of International Islamic. end processing. facilitating timely delivery to end- Germany and Poland. tonnes. AGENCIES The International Islamic’s “At QIIB, we give priority to beneficiaries. All these require a THE PENINSULA IFA meet discusses tax issues

DOHA: In an effort to under- The meeting, opened by to bring together industry pro- stand and discuss the rising Sheikh Salman bin Hassan Al fessionals who can shed much- importance of the relationship Thani, Chief Financial Officer needed light on the increasingly between tax regulations and and Director of Tax of the QFC significant relationship between sport in the region, the GCC Authority, was attended by lead- sporting endeavour and tax Chapter of the International ing tax experts and lawyers, as regulations.” Fiscal Association (IFA), a lead- well as bankers and consultants Joaquin Martinez, Senior ing non-governmental organi- from across the GCC region. Manager at Deloitte Middle East, sation dealing with tax and Dr Robert Peake, Chairman then took the stage to highlight related policy matters, success- of the IFA’s GCC Chapter, in his business opportunities deriving fully concluded its third meet- introductory address, said: “The from Qatar’s diverse construction ing here recently. IFA is a platform for leading tax projects taking shape in advance Hosted by the Qatar Financial practitioners to discuss the lat- the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Centre (QFC) Authority, the est developments in international “Over the past decade, Qatar has meeting highlighted the increase tax law and practice. For the past hosted a number of major sporting of business opportunities result- three years, the GCC Chapter of events and has proved its ability to ing from Qatar’s infrastructure the IFA has brought together deliver amazing. The Qatar 2022 plans for the 2022 Fifa World experts to discuss prominent tax- World Cup will be no exception and Cup. Tax issues related to sport related issues in the region. This will have a lasting economic legacy persons, tax treaties, relevant dis- year, with the rise of sports as a on Qatar’s economic diversifica- putes and resolution matters were business interest in the GCC and tion pursuits,” explained Martinez, also discussed. Qatar in particular, we’ve aimed whose wide-ranging experience in implementing impactful sport- ing programmes across the GCC has provided him with extensive strategic insight into the sports industry. Philip Baker QC, an expert on international tax treaties and arbitration, reiterated the impor- tance of establishing a sound taxation environment aimed at equipping the region with the required tools to counter possible international taxation challenges in the future. “International tax disputes have become increasingly important for the global economy. Qatar has taken great strides in that respect Sheikh Salman bin Hassan Al Thani, Chief Financial Officer and Director of by implementing 58 comprehensive Tax of the QFC Authority adressing the meeting. Double Tax Agreements globally.” THE PENINSULA

Japan gets first US oil since 2010

TOKYO: Japan imported US oil for the first time in more than three decades and spurred exports. in four years as companies find ways around a four- Japan relies on the Middle East for 83 percent of its oil decade ban on American exports and the Asian imports, and South Korea is dependent on the region nation seeks to cut its dependence on Middle East for more than 87 percent of its crude supply, according suppliers. Japan, which relies on Saudi Arabia for to the US Energy Information Administration. 33 percent of its supply, imported about 300,000 The US banned most crude exports in 1975, with barrels of oil from the US last month, the first a few exceptions including shipments to Canada. shipments since at least June 2010, according to Exports of refined products such as petrol and die- data from the Ministry of Finance. Cosmo Oil Co sel fuel are unrestricted. Policy makers are under last month received the country’s first cargo of US pressure to lift the export ban as the combination of condensate, a lightly processed form of crude. horizontal drilling and fracking has unlocked sup- A surplus of light, sweet crude from shale for- plies from shale formations in the central US. mations has boosted US production to the highest WP-BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Oil price crash may see drillers cut spending World’s largest oil companies may scrap investments to shield dividend payments, says expert

LONDON: For the world’s larg- to sacrifice future growth. percent of global production, and gas reserves. “At $70 a barrel things like oil sands and Arctic they’re going to be under to cut est oil companies, the acceler- Oil industry shares fell world- according to Mark Lewis and for Brent, it is hard to imagine projects.” Meanwhile, large oil and capex is going to be enormous if ating crash in crude prices will wide after crude slumped to a Peter Oppitzhauser, analysts at how any new major international gas companies remain among the prices do not pick up over the next probably mean scrapping invest- four-year low near $70 a bar- Kepler Cheuvreux SA in Paris. project gets the green light from best payers of dividends. Shell’s six months,” Kepler Cheuvreux’s ments from America’s shale fields rel on the back of Opec’s deci- Other places vulnerable to lower the majors,” Lewis at Kepler yield today is 5.4 percent, while Lewis said. “The pain is going to to the seas off Brazil as CEOs sion Thursday to leave output spending include heavy oil fields Cheuvreux said. BP pays 6 percent. That compares be very great.” protect dividend payments. unchanged. Investors are con- in Venezuela, Brazil’s deepwater Prices at these levels “will also with an average of 2.3 percent for The predicted plunge in invest- The parts of the industry most cerned that companies including and Iraq, Lewis said. put a huge squeeze on shale com- the MSCI World Index. ment may change the long-term exposed to cutbacks include cer- Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BP “The irony of the times is that panies looking to drill new wells”. While US companies typi- outlook for global supply growth, tain US shale deposits, where Plc won’t have enough cash to the break-even threshold for oil Even before Thursday’s 6.7 percent cally pay less in dividends than switching today’s relative glut for break-even costs vary from $40 cover both investment plans and prices is higher, not lower, than tumble in benchmark Brent crude European counterparts, Chevron a squeeze in a few years’ time. to more than $100 a barrel. While dividends. it has been,” said CSIS Energy prices, oil producers expected to Corp’s yield is 3.9 percent and In fact, that’s likely to be part some, such Russian oil tycoon “What we are about to see is a and National Security Program reduce investment. Shell, Italy’s ExxonMobil Corp’s is 3 percent. of the thinking of Saudi Arabia, Leonid Fedun, say the slump knife taken to non-Opec indus- director Sarah Ladislaw. “To the Eni SpA and Houston-based “We do not see any of the com- the Organisation of Petroleum will halt a good deal of produc- try capex,” analysts an Bernstein extent that the market is not ConocoPhillips all said last month panies covering both capex and Exporting Countries’s dominant tion, others argue that the shale Research led by Oswald Clint said incentivizing that investment, they would cut capital spending to dividends in the current envi- member, in keeping production industry will be able to maintain in a note Friday. “It’s painful, but what you end up with is a period, maintain profitability. ronment,” Barclays Plc analysts unchanged. The country’s oil min- production for some time at these yields remain payable.” As well as five to 10 years in the future, At today’s prices, explora- said in a note to clients Thursday ister said before this week’s meet- price levels. shale, the most vulnerable projects where there has been dramatic tion spending is likely to fall on the impact of lower prices on ing in Vienna that the market will In the longer term, the greater include deep water offshore devel- under- investment.” 50 percent, while investment in the top European oil producers. “stabilise itself”. dilemma for oil producers is that opments and Canadian tar sands, The IEA, an adviser for the developing new fields already “Recent conference calls have As investment is curtailed, the even as crude drops the costs of the sources that the International world’s industrialised coun- discovered will drop 10 percent, seen management teams highlight outlook for prices will improve, developing new reserves remain Energy Agency said this month are tries, warned this month in its Bernstein said. that dividends remain a priority.” Bobby Tudor, CEO of Houston- higher than ever. An extended vital to ensuring global energy sup- annual World Energy Outlook “Oil companies will keep focus- If necessary, oil producers are based investment bank Tudor period of lower prices will pre- ply in coming years. that the US shale boom is mask- ing on high-margin projects,” likely to allow borrowing to rise to Pickering Holt & Co, said in an vent companies from being able US shale, for instance, ing threats to supply. With shale said Teodor Sveen Nilsen, an ensure that lower cash flows don’t interview before Opec’s decision. to replace production as existing accounted for about 20 per- drilling now set to slow, global analyst at Swedbank Markets mean lower payments to inves- “The greater the fall, the greater fields dwindle. In ensuring inves- cent of world investment in oil oil security is uncertain because in Oslo. “That will happen at tors, Bernstein said in their note. the snapback,” he said. tors get paid, companies may have in 2013 and supplied only four of the cost of developing new oil the expense of low-margin For the majors, “the pressure WP-BLOOMBERG

New Opel Corsa E rolls out $2 petrol in sight for US drivers HOUSTON: For the first time Nuaimi said after discussions in in five years, $2 petrol is mak- Vienna on Thursday. ing a comeback in some parts “Given that Opec has decided of the US, just in time for the not to cut production and, for all Christmas holiday. intents and purposes, are entering Retail stations scattered across into a market share war with the the US South and Midwest are rest of the world, $2 a gallon could about 20 cents shy of the $2-a-gal- be in the cards,” said Andy Lipow, lon mark. In New York, petrol president of Lipow Oil Associates futures slid more than 13 cents LLC, an energy consulting firm on Friday in response to Opec’s in Houston. “I don’t think anyone failure to cut oil production. That would have said that at the begin- decline alone could drag down ning of the year, or a month ago, pump prices by as much as 20 or even a week ago.” The nation’s cents a gallon, Michael Green, cheapest petrol was at a DM Food a spokesman for the Heathrow, Mart in Oklahoma City that was Florida-based motoring club selling regular for $2.18 a gallon AAA, said by telephone. on Friday, DeHaan said. “We could see the cheapest 1 The first place to reach $2 pet- percent of stations get within rol will probably be somewhere a few pennies of $1.99 over the in the US Southeast where fuel next two weeks,” Patrick DeHaan, taxes are low and stations have a senior petroleum analyst at cheaper supplies flowing in from GasBuddy Organisation Inc, said oil refineries along the Gulf Coast, by telephone from Chicago. “We’ll said Ash. “We’re talking about see at least one station in the limited markets in maybe South nation at $2 by Christmas. And Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee.” The first new Opel Corsa E rolls off the production line, officialy starting the series manufacturing, in Eisenach, Germany. Around 2.65 million Corsas that’s not really a prediction at At the Stripes petrol station in of previous years have been produced at the Eisenach Opel factory, which employs 1,400 people. all. That’s more like a certainty.” Karnes City, Texas, a store that The motor fuel has slid by overlooks horse pastures and two almost a dollar a gallon in the drilling rigs in the Eagle Ford US from this year’s peak, giving shale formation, petrol was sell- Americans at least $500 annually ing for $2.32 a gallon, down from in extra disposable income by IHS $3.49 in the middle of summer. As prices keep Inc estimates. The last time the Joseph Bjorgaard, the store’s Asian imports of Iran crude fall country’s average fuel price was assistant general manager, falling, Greeks below $2 was on March 24, 2009, drives his 2001 metallic blue Ford TOKYO: Asian imports of make concessions given finances in 877,888 b/d of the Islamic while in the grips of the recession. Expedition 90 miles to Corpus Iranian crude fell below 1 million are its top priority,” said an oil republic’s crude last month, down Petrol futures sank below $2 Christi every weekend for church barrels per day (b/d) for a sec- industry analyst who declined 19.1 percent from the month start to spend a gallon this month for the first and to visit friends. “I was bum- ond time this year to a one-year to be identified. “Falling crude before, government and tanker- time since September 29, 2010. The ming couches from friends so I low due to seasonal demand fluc- prices are likely to influence its tracking data shows. ATHENS: At Greek home appli- average pump price was $2.792 on wouldn’t have to buy fuel for the tuations, although the shipments diplomacy.” This week’s extension of the ance retail chain Electroniki, a Thursday, down 90.4 cents from extra trip,” he said. The chances were still up nearly a third from Last year’s interim agreement interim deal pushed any recov- washing machine cost ¤497 six this year’s peak of $3.696 on April of petrol prices averaging below October last year. that eased some sanctions on Iran ery of Iran’s exports to higher lev- years ago. Today, it sells for ¤356. 26 and the lowest since October 8, $2 a gallon across the nation Iran and world powers failed in exchange for stepped curtail- els to sometime next year at the Like most Greek companies, 2010, data compiled by AAA show. remain “highly unlikely,” Ash said. to meet a November 24 deadline ment of nuclear work allowed it to earliest. Iran expects to double its Electroniki has slashed prices The average has fallen for 64 con- “You’re still looking at a national for resolving a 12-year-old dispute keep exports at about 1m b/d, down oil exports within two months if to hold on to consumers hit by secutive days, the longest streak average at $2.75. To get to $2, over Iran’s nuclear programme from 2.2m b/d before toughened sanctions are fully lifted. recession. “Small appliances, big since 2008, Avery Ash, AAA’s you’d need to see crude prices and gave themselves until the end sanctions were put in place in 2012. But there’s still a wide gap to discounts” read flyers it recently director of federal relations based drop another $25 to $30 a barrel.” of June for further negotiations. Imports by Iran’s four big- close before a deal is clinched, stuffed under doors. “We couldn’t in Washington, said. Oil futures in London and New Some analysts, though, said gest buyers, China, India, Japan noted other analysts and some avoid cutting prices,” says Chief The Opec, responsible for about York sank to the lowest in more the nearly 40 percent fall in oil and South Korea, have averaged Western diplomats. “I think Executive Yannis Stroutsis. “People 40 percent of the world’s oil sup- than four years on Opec’s inac- prices since June and difficulty in 1.11m b/d over January-October it goes nowhere,” said Nobuo were holding back ... because they ply, will maintain its collective tion. “The average driver may be raising exports to make up lost this year, mainly due to soaring Tanaka, former executive direc- didn’t know whether they would crude output target at 30 mil- shocked by how much fuel prices revenue may soon force Iran to a imports from the first two after tor of the International Energy have a job in six months’ time.” lion barrels a day, Saudi Arabia’s drop before we see a low,” Green final agreement. the partial easing of sanctions. Agency, when asked about the Greece has muddled through 20 Oil Minister Ali bin Ibrahim Al said. WP-BLOOMBERG “Iran is likely to be the one to The four buyers together took progress of talks. REUTERS consecutive months of deflation, or continuously falling consumer prices — a phenomenon that econ- omists say could soon infect the whole eurozone. In October, prices fell 1.7 percent from a year earlier. UK online shopping spree could create delivery problems Yet alarm over low inflation in other parts of southern Europe does not echo in Greece. “The LONDON: Britons are being warned to director. Holiday demand aside, the govern- as petrol stations, newsagents and conven- while Amazon has signed up for newspaper deflationary period has not been place online holiday-season gift orders ment estimates the trucking industry is ience stores - a method called “click-and- wholesaler Connect Group Plc’s same-day a concern for the Greek economy, much earlier this year to avoid disap- short of 60,000 drivers, in part due to new collect” — thereby saving on the cost of parcel delivery service. but rather is a relief for distressed pointment, as doubts emerge about the certification rules. delivering to single addresses. Despite all the planning, driver and dis- households,” say Nikos Magginas, ability of delivery companies to handle Justin Zatouroff, head of logistics at Click-and-collect could make up 25 per- tribution staff shortages mean any sudden an economist at National Bank. an expected surge in volume. KPMG, says firms may be forced to turn cent to 40 percent of online non-food sales volume spike could create problems. “There Central bank data shows that UK online sales this holiday season are away business if e-retailers exceed vol- this Christmas, said Alex Smith-Bingham are signs in the market that emergency/ between 2000 and 2010, Greeks expected to jump 18 percent, according to ume forecasts. Signs of strain are already of consulting firm Capgemini. unplanned cover is becoming subject to spent more than 71 percent of the Centre for Retail Research (CRR), as emerging. UK Mail Group Plc, whose cus- Such sales — popular with shoppers, who shortages,” said Simon Harper, operations GDP on private consumption like more shoppers use mobile apps to order tomers use eBay Inc and Amazon.co.uk, need not stay home to accept delivery - will director at TNT UK. food and entertainment, against a clothing, books and gadgets. is not accepting deliveries for Dec. 25 and be worth about £3bn ($4.7bn) this year, up An indication of demand will emerge euro zone average of 57 percent. Delivery firms say they are boosting Dec. 26. Collections made on Christmas from £2.1bn last year, according to eBay. over the next few days. Visa Europe expects Banks traditionally even offered capacity and coming up with new ways to Eve will be delivered only by December 29. UK Mail and DPD, part of France’s La Britons to spend 518 million pounds online loans for Greeks to go on vacation. handle a last-minute rush, but the high Meanwhile, parcel companies are coming Poste, have come up with another solution using Visa cards on Friday, making it the Stroutsis says business is look- cost of temporary labour and vehicles also up with new ways they hope will help them — one-hour slotted delivery. E-retailers biggest day ever for e-commerce in the UK. ing up. Two weeks ago, he offered makes them cautious about over-investing. get over the hump. United Parcel Service too are coming up with new contingency The credit card company said it expects a 28-inch Samsung TV plus free “I think there will be an acute problem Inc and Yodel, for example, are allowing plans. Items bought from 65,000 eBay sell- a further £500m to be spent on Monday. mobile phone for ¤199. 1,000 units this year,” said Joshua Bamfield, the CRR’s customers to pick up parcels at places such ers can be collected from Argos stores, REUTERS flew off its shelves. REUTERS SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25

Low food inflation tightens squeeze on Europe’s grocers Oil market reveals its

BY EMMA THOMASSON and JAMES DAVEY

UBDUED food price inflation in Europe is unlikely to pick wild side again up any time soon, adding to the pressure on mainstream grocers as they struggle with changing shopping habits BY JOHN KEMP and competition from discounters. Financial markets shift between “mild” and And prices could stay lower for longer than Prices paid in Europe for fast-moving consumer goods “wild” states, as the French mathematician most producers now expect if shale output Srose at their slowest pace since 2010 in the third quarter, and fell in Following Opec’s decision on Thursday to Benoit Mandelbrot demonstrated, originally is more resilient than Opec forecasts. Since Spain, France and Italy, according to consumer data firm Nielsen, leave production unchanged, Brent crude with an analysis of cotton prices. Thursday’s the start of the shale boom, Opec and Saudi weighing on retailers’ revenues and share prices. futures experienced the first three-standard price move signals a shift to a wilder market Arabia have consistently underestimated its The cost of fresh fruit and vegetables in particular has tumbled deviation down-move since the flash crash state after a long period in which volatility has disruptive impact on supply and price. It is due to bumper harvests, a surplus caused by Russia’s ban on food of May 2011 and before that the depths of been extraordinarily subdued. possible they are now over-estimating how imports from the West, currency effects and fierce competition the recession in March 2009. quickly shale output could stop growing. among grocers, stoked by the advance of discounters. With US markets and financial institu- VOLATILITY AHEAD? Third, Iran’s oil exports seem set to rise Falling inflation has laid bare problems supermarkets were tions closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, There is no way to know how long the as the stranglehold of sanctions weakens, already facing as shopping habits shift. After decades investing in limited liquidity probably exaggerated the wilder state might persist. But there are even without a nuclear deal with the United large out-of-town sites, grocers are struggling to adapt to more scale of the move. It was nonetheless indica- good reasons to think oil prices could be States, though the pace at which sanc- fickle consumers, who like to hunt for a bargain while also demand- tive of the tremendous uncertainty around more volatile in the months ahead than they tions become more leaky is hard to predict. ing more convenience stores and online shopping. the market about how Opec’s members have been over the last three years. Additional Iranian exports will weaken the “For a few years, those underlying challenges ... were partially would handle a lose-lose situation: First, there is a much greater dispersion market further. Fourth, the global economy masked by inflation which meant (grocers) still had absolute top Cut production and risk losing more mar- of views about the trajectory of prices over is slowing, and on this occasion the slowdown line growth,” said Will Hayllar of OC&C Strategy Consultants. “As ket share to shale, or leave output unchanged the next two years than at any point since is affecting China and the other Asian coun- that inflation has stabilised, the true picture of what’s going on and face a further decline in prices. In the 2010. The common assumption is that oil tries that were the only source of demand beneath has become more apparent.” event, the organisation opted to defend mar- prices must fall far enough and remain low growth for oil exporters in the last five years, ket share, causing prices to fall abruptly as long enough to curb the rise in shale output, adding an extra element of uncertainty. IMMINENT RELIEF traders absorbed the strategy’s implications. postpone high-cost oil projects and stimulate Fifth, there may have been some struc- There is little sign of imminent relief, especially as oil prices—a It is important not to read too much faster growth in oil demand. tural loss of liquidity in the market as banks key input cost for farmers — have dropped by a third since June, into a single day’s move. The sharp drop on But there is enormous uncertainty about and hedge funds scale back in the face of although potentially easier monetary policies and a weaker euro and Thursday could signal a one-off adjustment how low and how long prices might have to stricter regulations and the lack of profit- sterling could help rekindle inflation. to a reduced price level, with volatility then fall to shut in excess shale production. The ability in recent years. Low food inflation “Harvests this year have been returning to a low level. Or it could signal reaction function of US shale producers is Liquidity provision is itself cyclical. After pretty good. So you would expect the start of a prolonged period of greater untested and will only be known after the a period of high liquidity, when the oil sector is toughest for that deflationary environment to uncertainty and volatility. Daily price move- event. Second, Opec’s own response remains was crowded by lots of banks and hedge funds exist for at least the next 12, prob- ments in oil and other commodity markets unclear in the medium term. seeking to speculate or make markets and mid-market players ably 18 months,” Mike Coupe, boss do not follow a normal distribution. Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and the UAE, the competing away the profit margin, the market such as France’s of UK grocer Sainsbury’s, said in a Instead, the distribution is leptokurtic: only members able to make significant pro- is now in a period of much lower liquidity, and recent results presentation. There are more days with either very small duction cuts, have revealed that they pre- the adjustment may not be over yet. Carrefour and Low food inflation is toughest for movements or very large price movements fer instead to play a long game, relying on The upshot is that after three years in mid-market players such as France’s than would be predicted by the normal dis- low prices to recapture market share from which volatility has been abnormally low Britain’s Tesco Carrefour and Britain’s Tesco as it tribution, and fewer days with medium-sized higher-cost shale rivals. by historical standards, there are plenty of makes it harder for them to pass on ones. Moreover, the level of volatility in oil The core Gulf producers have the financial reasons to think prices might start jumping as it makes it rising wage and rental costs to shop- prices is itself volatile. Periods of low volatil- resources to withstand a prolonged period around more than before as the market strug- pers, squeezing their profit margins. ity alternate with periods of high volatility, of lower prices by drawing down reserves. gles to find a new temporary equilibrium. harder for them “Discounters have less wage with abrupt shifts between the two states. But even their resources are not unlimited. REUTERS to pass on rising impact, that is why it is a competi- tive weapon,” said Bernstein analyst wage and rental Bruno Monteyne, a former senior Tesco supply chain executive. costs to shoppers, “Low food inflation is good for the low-labour guys,” he said, referring squeezing their to the fact discounters employ fewer profit margins. workers. The rise of discounters such as Germany’s Aldi and Lidl and shoppers’ heightened price sensitiv- ity since the financial crisis has meant supermarket groups are struggling to keep any benefits from lower commodity costs for themselves. “If you looked at 2008, you’ll have seen an impact of some retail- ers taking advantage of price inflation through commodity price falls ... that’s not a game we’re going to play,” said Andy Clarke of Asda, the British arm of Wal-Mart. Asda, which has lower wage costs than its main rivals, was the first of Britain’s leading grocers to cut prices, helping it stem the flow of shoppers to discounters. Carrefour, Europe’s biggest retailer, said cheaper fruit and vegetables — which make up 6 percent of sales in hypermarkets and 8 percent in supermarkets — dragged down quarterly sales. Ahold, meanwhile, said the Russian import ban contributed to Dutch fruit and vegetable prices falling by 6-7 percent in the third quarter, although it sees that effect abating and has been helped by its exposure to the inflationary US market. Executives expect the world’s growing population to eventually prompt a recovery in global food prices, even if European price wars could still intensify. Lower prices are already helping sales volumes grow at their fastest pace since 2011, according to Nielsen, which expects volumes to rise further in the first quarter of 2015. A return of food inflation could drive a recovery in the sector, now the cheapest it has been relative to the broader market in 10 years, trading on 12-13 times forward earnings. “The last few times inflation was at these levels, the sector re-rated over the subsequent 12-18 months relative to market,” said Citi analyst Pradeep Pratti. “We are getting closer to the point where a sector re-rating is increasingly looking likely.” REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate How J P Morgan struck gold with copper BY ANDY HOME dominant position. The nature no more than 5 percent of their over to the subcommittee show tonnes on December 13, at which position on the LME reflected its of its positioning was a lot more Tier 1 capital. But not included that, even with some aggressive stage they amounted to 64.5 per- ongoing and sustained trading ECEMBER 2010 and nuanced than the headlines of the in the count are gold, silver, plati- accounting techniques, staying cent of LME non-cancelled stocks. activity, including trades involving the copper market was time suggested. num, palladium and ... copper. within the Fed’s 5 percent Tier A large portion of that position more than 50 different JPMorgan booming. On the London But the subcommittee has high- Historically, only gold and sil- 1 limit in other commodities has was sold back to the market on clients”. And another thing. DMetal Exchange (LME), lighted one highly anomalous and ver were classified as bullion by been a continual headache. December 15, and the holdings “Finally, we note that JPMorgan’s three-month metal was charg- curious fact about copper. the US authorities. But the defi- It breached the limit in January dropped to 56,000 tonnes. But not copper holdings during this time ing to the then all-time high of US banks such as JPMorgan do nition was broadened in 1991 to 2012 thanks to a colossal aluminium before the position generated mas- frame and at all other times, were $9,550 per tonne, and front-month not have to declare their holdings of include platinum, at the request position totalling 3,501,365 tonnes sive tension in the nearby struc- related to its customer business spreads were tightening. copper to banking authorities in the of the National Bank of North and worth around $7.48 billion. The ture of the LME market. and not to the then-proposed JPM LME reports at the time showed same way they do for other physical Carolina, and again in 1995 to bank was forced to lend 100,000 “Tom-next”, the shortest-dated XF Physical Copper Trust”. a single entity controlling over commodities. That’s because both include palladium. tonnes to the market and another spread in the LME’s arcane system, Ah yes. The proposed physi- half of all eligible LME stocks, the Federal Reserve and the Office Copper was added to the list 400,000 tonnes to an affiliate to get flared out to $13 backwardation on cal copper ETF that provoked so leading to a frenzy of speculation of the Comptroller of the Currency just months after palladium at back below the threshold. December 14. That was the cost per much outrage among copper con- as to just who was squeezing the (OCC) classify copper not as a base the request of an unidentified The task of complying with tonne of rolling a short position for sumers the world over. copper market. metal but as bullion. bank because, according to the Fed and OCC rules would have one day. The benchmark cash-to- JPMorgan was one of several JPMorgan was “outed” in the There has been a long-running OCC, “copper, like platinum and been even more difficult were three-months spread widened to financial players looking to rep- media as the controlling hand, game of cat-and-mouse between palladium, has been used to mint JPMorgan’s copper holdings $70 backwardation the day before. licate the success of physically which only fuelled further the the US banks and authorities as legal-tender coins”. included, given they reached a max- So the market was right about who backed ETFs in the gold market in whirl of speculation, given the to the amount of physical com- It’s a curious interpretation, imum of $1.65bn in 2010, $2.72bn in was squeezing the London copper industrial metals such as copper. same bank was proposing to modities the banks can hold. since as the subcommittee noted 2011 and $1.22bn in 2012. market. Or was it? JPMorgan’s proposed ETF, with launch an exchange-traded fund There are two stand-out restric- in its report, “the penny, the U.S. Which brings us back to the The LME market is a hall of holdings of up to 61,800 tonnes, backed by physical copper. tions among the multiplicity of coin most closely associated with frenzied events in the copper mar- mirrors, with big beasts such as was put on ice in the face of a As is always the way with such contested grey areas. copper, has been composed of 97.5 ket at the end of 2010 in the count- JPMorgan dealing for themselves fierce rearguard action by U.S. things, JPMorgan declined to con- The OCC limits banks to set- percent zinc since 1984”. But there down to the LME’s December 15 and/or for clients at any one time. copper consumers and Senator firm or deny its involvement. tling no more than 5 percent of it is. As far as the OCC and Fed prime prompt date. JPMorgan sup- It turns out that the bank had Carl Levin, chairman of the Now, thanks to documents sub- their derivative transactions by are concerned, copper is officially plied detailed copper stock holdings not itself taken a massive punt on Senate subcommittee. mitted to the US Senate subcom- taking physical delivery of com- “bullion”, which means that U.S. figures to the subcommittee cov- copper in the way both market The fear was that the fund mittee investigating US banks’ modities. The Federal Reserve banks do not have to declare their ering the period from October 14, and media proclaimed. would fuel ever higher prices by involvement in physical commodi- limits financial holding compa- holdings to either body. 2010 through March 30, 2011. JPMorgan’s legal counsel wrote removing metal from a market ties, we know that it was indeed nies to conducting complementary Just as well for JPMorgan, These show that the bank’s to the subcommittee that “in late that was in palpable deficit. JPMorgan that was holding that physical commodity activities at because the documents it handed copper stocks peaked at 213,000 2010 JPMorgan’s copper warrant REUTERS SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GECM & TENDERS

GLOBAL ECONOMIC CRISIS MAP (GECM) Every Sunday China’s Oct. service trade UK confirms 0.7pc growth deficit drops in Q3 German inflation hits five-year BEIJING: China’s foreign service trade LONDON: British economic growth low in November: Data deficit dropped in October after rising Japan inflation slows in slowed to 0.7 percent in the third for four straight months, the latest October FRANKFURT: Inflation in Germany, US GDP grew by 3.9pc in quarter of 2014 from output data from the State Administration of TOKYO: Japan’s inflation rate in the previous three months, Europe’s biggest economy, slowed the 3rd quarter to its lowest level in nearly five years Foreign Exchange (SAFE) showed. fell to the lowest level in a year official data showed Wednesday, The service trade deficit shrank to 106 WASHINGTON: US GDP in November, fuelling concerns last month, as weak consumer confirming the previous estimate. billion yuan (17.2 billion US dollars) in increased at a 3.9 percent the region could be on the verge of demand and falling oil prices the previous month, down from 133 annual rate in the third quarter deflation, data showed on Thursday. pose a challenge to Prime billion yuan in September. of 2014, according to data Minister Shinzo Abe ’s efforts to released this morning by the defeat deflation. Commerce Department. Brazil’s current account deficit widens in October. India’s economic growth slows to 5.3pc NEW DELHI: India’s economy grew at a slower 5.3pc during July to September, from the previous quarter’s 5.7pc, intensifying pressure on the RBI to cut interest rates and reinforcing the need Brazil’s current account deficit for speedier reforms to arrest the slide. widens in October South Africa’s economy grows Aussie slumps to a BUENOS AIRES: The country 1.4 percent posted a current account deficit LAGOS: Statistics South Africa 4-year low of $8.131 billion in October, the says South Africa’s Gross Domestic SYDNEY: The Australian dollar largest ever for that month, central Product (GDP) grew by an (AUD) fell for the second bank data showed on Monday. annualised 1.4 percent in the third consecutive day, while reaching That was above an expected gap quarter of this year,This is up from a 4-year low at 0.8513, as the Governor of Reserve Bank of of $7.5 billion, according to the a revised 0.5 percent in the second Australia (RBA) said that the median forecast of 14 analysts in a three months of 2014. currency might depreciate even Reuters poll. more due to fall in commodity export prices.

TENDERS

TENDER TENDER CLOSING TENDER TENDER CLOSING No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT No. COMPANY TENDER NO. SUBJECT BOND FEES DATE BOND FEES DATE

Sale and removal of surplus pipes stud bolts, coupling/Cap/union/ Nipple, 92 Supply of sportswear and accessories Monday 29/12/2014 21 QR 15,000 QR 250 1LT14MT0064 nuts elbows, flanges, reducers, tees, QR 2,000 Free 2014-2015 for the police college 08/12/2014 (12:00hrs) cross gaskets valves, thermodynamic elbowers etc. 93 Production of security and traffic Mionday 22 QR 30,000 QR 500 Fusion bonded Epoxy (FBE) internal 2014-2015 awareness items 08/12/2014 pipe coating for tubulars of onshore & 17/12/2014 2GT14MT0025 QR 250,000 QR 1,000 offshore drilling operations on a call-off (12:00hrs) basis for a period of three (3) years 94 Supply of various gifts for different Monday 23 QR 40,000 QR 500 Sale and removal of split/windows/ 30/12/2014 2014-2015 occassions and activities police college 08/12/2014 3 ST14MT0236 QR 2,000 Free package AC units & water coolers etc (12:00hrs) Ministry of Interior Price agreement for miscellaneous 14/12/2014 4GT14MT0034 QR 435,000 Free 9 5 Supply of consumable materials for Monday instrumentation spares (origin: Europe) (12:00hrs) 24 QR 25,000 QR 250 2014-2015 police clinic and dental clinic 08/12/2014 Supply, install, commission of custom 24/12/2014 5LT14MT0086build VT cell (vapor liquid equilibium QR 60,000 QR 500 (12:00hrs) unit) 12 Renting one printing office (female) at Monday 25 QR 1,500 QR 100 2014-2015 Airport Al Mater Dept. for (3) years 01/12/2014 Sale and removal of butane tank power 30/12/2014 6 ST14MT0237 QR 2,000 Free transformer & regeneration cooler (12:00hrs)

Renting one location for installing ATM Sale and removal of electronic system 30/12/2014 13 Monday 7 ST14MT0239 QR 2,000 free 26 machine at New Traffic court Madinat QR 10,000 QR 100 materials/ items etc (12:00hrs) 2014-2015 01/12/2014 Khalifa for (3) years Sale and removal of electrical cables 30/12/2014 8ST14MT0241 QR 2,000 Free and equipment/ electroinc materials etc (12:00hrs) 01/12/2014 Vehicle light bars for Emergency &safety 09/12/2014 9ST14MT0253 QR 7,000 Free Replacement of 48v battery chargers in Not later vehicles (12:00hrs) 27 LTC 831/2014 QR 100,000 QR 500 primary substations than PWA/ Motor Control centers-upgrading AA/ 11:00am 10 QR 60,000 QR 1,000 7/12/2014 ITC/027/14-15 DOM/14-15/OM/1673/I

Barwa STP facilities (improvement 11/12/2014 works for Barwa City STP, Barwa Al GTC Not later PWA/ 28 Contract center enhancement QR 150,000 QR 500 11 Baraha STP)-O&M miscellaneous QR 350,000 QR 1,500 9/12/2014 627/2014 than GTC/050/14-15 electrical purchase & work orders AA- 12:00am D/14-15/OM/1627-9/G

Post contract consultancy services for Supply of ductile iron manhole cover Modification and additional works to PWA/ PWA/ 29 and Gully grating AA-DOM/14-15/ QR 39,000 QR 500 25/12/2014 12 existing schools and kindergartens ( QR 430,000 QR 1,000 2/12/2014 STC/029/14-15 GTC/051/14-15 M/1686/S Fire life safety code compliance-phase four) BA/14-15/S/013/G Road improvement works in Al Dayeen Supply, install & upgrade symantec PWA/ QR PWA/ 30 and Umm Salal Zone 70 & 71 Phase -5 QR 3,000 23/12/2014 13 Netbackup appliances ISD/14-15/ QR 42,000 QR 500 4/12/2014 GTC/058/14-15 1,750,000 STC/028/14-15 IA/14-15/C/078/G SS/16/S

Operation and maintenance of CCTV PWA/ 14 system throughout Qatar AA-R/14-15/ QR 110,000 QR 1,000 7/12/2014 PWA/ Road safety improvement program, QR ITC/029/14-15 31 QR 3,000 16/12/2014 OM/042C1/I GTC/059/14-15 stage 2A AA-R/14-15/OM/045C1/G 1,750,000

Monday 08 CVF/TC/ Cashier manpower and services at of December 15 QR 35,000 QR 300 Purchase and m&S of etap electrical AB/001/2014 Katara beach 2014 at 32 LT14109600 QR 40,000 N/A 1/12/2014 system analysis software 12:00 pm

12:00 hours QF/RD/TC/ 16 Provision of consumables supply QR 50,000 QR 500 on 05-Jan- QR OP/001/2014 33 GT14115100 Epic for EOC and CRC at Ras laffan QR 500 14/12/2014 2015 4000,000.00

CHI Al Shaqab Event-Renting of QF/PD/14/ temporary strcutures, electrical 17 QR 150,000 QR 1,000 7/12/2014 MRM-021-QF equipment and other miscellaneous Provision of pumping, pressure testing services 34 GT14115300 and cementing sercies oncall-off basis QR 600,000 QR 500 21/12/2014 for well integrity in Dukhan fields CHI Al Shaqab Event from 02 March to 07 March 2015-logistics services QF/PD/14// 18 required for the transportation of 135 QR 50,000 QR 300 7/12/2014 PWA/ Interim upgrade of E-Ring road and QR MRM-022-QF 35 QR 6,000 16/12/2014 horses/ 25,000 kgs equipment/ 103 GTC/057/14-15 Najma street IA/14-15/C/080/G 5,250,000 accompanying grooms

08 Monday 19 Bid for selling boat (Fath No. 9142) QR 5,000 QR 100 2014-2015 1/12/2014 Al Jazeera Media Morning studio landscape works at Al 21/12/2014 36 GTC 038-2014 QR 150,000 QR 1,000 Ministry of Bidding for renting a studio at the 11 Monday Network Jazeera Media network (13:00hrs) 20 Interior General directorate of passport & QR 10,000 QR 100 2014-2015 01/12/2014 Expatriates Affairs-for (3) years SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

England win, Butler powers Bulls past Celtics Wales sink Thunder star Westbrook makes emphatic return in win over Knicks Springboks LONDON: England ended their BOSTON: Jimmy Butler Energy Arena in the wire-to-wire November on a high as they drained four clutch free throws victory for the Thunder, who won produced an excellent perform- down the stretch for the back-to-back games for the first ance to beat Australia 26-17 Chicago Bulls, who improved time this season. on Saturday but the Wallabies to 3-3 on their recent road trip Serge Ibaka tallied 14 points, showed enough to suggest there with a 109-102 win over Boston Jeremy Lamb came off the bench will be nothing between the yesterday. to score 13 and Steven Adams teams when they meet again in Butler finished with 22 points grabbed 13 rebounds in the win. the World Cup. and Derrick Rose had 21 for Westbrook wasted little time England produced their best 40 Chicago, who began the final making an impact in front of the minutes for a long time to lead 13-3 quarter on an 11-2 run to grab a crowd of 18,203, scoring a dozen at halftime after a superbly-worked 96-93 lead and the score stayed points over the game’s first eight try for Ben Morgan and two penal- close the rest of the way. minutes as the Thunder jumped ties from George Ford, with their “I like the direction we are out to a 23-6 lead. He finished the pack supremely dominant and headed,” said Butler. “When eve- opening quarter with 14 points the backs finally showing some ryone is healthy and we are clock- and four assists while hitting six- real penetration. Ever-dangerous ing on all cylinders we are going of-seven shots. Australia hit back with a try by to be all right.” The Knicks, who were missing Bernard Foley, a huge England Joakim Noah delivered 15 star Carmelo Anthony, struggled scrum gave number eight Morgan points, 14 rebounds, six assists mightily on offense. Anthony sat his second before Wallaby replace- and six blocks in his return to out a second straight contest with ment Will Skelton replied again in the lineup. He missed Tuesday’s back spasms. an all-action second half. National Basketball League game New York shot a meager 38 per- Australia, already beaten by against Denver due to eye and cent and missed 17-of-19 attempts France and Ireland, continued knee problems. from three-point range to fall for to look dangerous but England Rose has also been battling the 12th time in 14 games. defended well and, fittingly, a huge injuries and he had to leave Amar’e Stoudemire was New rolling maul set up Ford for the Tuesday’s game with a hamstring York’s lone bright spot, delivering all-important 78th-minute pen- injury. 20 points on seven-of-eight shoot- alty that made the game safe. Jared Sullinger ended with 23 ing and grabbing nine rebounds. Meanwhile, Wales defeated points and 10 rebounds for the AGENCIES southern hemisphere heavy- Celtics, who have lost three in a weight South Africa 12-6. row. Avery Bradley and Brandon NBA Results Welsh celebrations were at odds Bass tallied 18 and 16 points Chicago 109 Boston 102 with Springbok gloom. Among the respectively. Bass also grabbed Golden State 106 Charlotte 101 World Cup favourites when they nine rebounds. Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) controls the ball on top of Boston Celtics forward Brandon Bass (30) Atlanta 100 New Orleans 91 return to these shores next year, Sullinger’s three-point play and their northern hemisphere tour as team-mate Avery Bradley (0) moves in during the second half of the Chicago Bulls 109-102 win over the Milwaukee 104 Detroit 88 Jeff Green’s layup gave Boston a was marred by an apparent seri- Boston Celtics at TD Garden yesterday. 102-100 lead in the fourth. Dallas 106 Toronto 102 ous leg injury suffered by captain But Butler tied it a minute LA Clippers 102 Houston 85 and centre Jean de Villiers. later by draining two free throws from beyond the arc. Butler made the win. Russell Westbrook, in 12-of-17 from the field and deliv- Oklahoma City 105 NY Knicks 78 It was only a second win for after Sullinger had been called for two more free throws at the oppo- his first game back since break- ered eight assists and seven Indiana 98 Orlando 83 Wales in 28 games against the big an offensive foul. site end to give Chicago a 104- ing his hand, scored 32 points in rebounds in his first National San Antonio 112 Sacramento 104 three of New Zealand, Australia After having his shot blocked 102 lead with 50 seconds left in just 24 minutes as the Oklahoma Basketball Association game since Denver 122 Phoenix 97 and the Springboks, and the first by Noah, Rajon Rondo was fouled regulation. City Thunder hammered the New he fractured his right hand on over South Africa since 1999 hav- Memphis 112 Portland 99 by Rose. Rondo missed his free Noah blocked Evan Turner’s York Knicks 105-78 yesterday. October 30. He provided a much- ing lost their last 16 before yester- throws and then Sullinger missed layup, then made a jumper to ice The all-star point guard shot needed spark at Chesapeake Minnesota 120 LA Lakers 119 day’s triumph. AGENCIES

Louis fires New York Rangers to Germans eye more glory as World Military win over Flyers

NEW YORK: Martin St Louis Sailing Championship concludes in Doha reached 1,000 career NHL points with a goal and an assist DOHA: German sailors Wagner in the New York Rangers’ 3-0 Jan-Jaspe and Baldwein Dustin win at Philadelphia Flyers. - having clinched their maiden St Louis struck in the second podium finish at the interna- period after Dan Boyle had opened tional level at the 47th World the scoring, with Rick Nash add- Military Sailing Championship ing a third as the Rangers shut (470 Class) here on Friday – are out the Flyers for the second time hungry for more success. in nine days. Philadelphia have Jan-Jaspe and Dustin, who lost seven of their last eight games emerged winners at the end of 11 and held a players’ meeting after races and after four days of rac- Wednesday’s thumping in Detriot, ing, aim to raise the bar further in but it failed to have the desired the coming months and win more effect and they were booed off the medals. ice in the third period. Speaking on the sidelines of the “This is a better team than closing ceremony of the World we’re playing right now and that Military Sailing Championship our record is showing,” said Flyers in Qatar yesterday Dustin said: general manager Ron Hextall. “This is our first win at the inter- “We have to get going, no national level. We have won a doubt about it. I’m not happy number of events at the national with our record and our overall level in Germany.” German sailors Wagner Jan-Jaspe and Baldwein performance.” The German said the win in Dustin, winners in the men’s section of the 47th The Boston Bruins returned Doha will spur them to achieve World Military Sailing Championship (470 Class), to winning ways as Dougie more success on the global stages. pose for a picture after the awards ceremony in Hamilton’s overtime goal sealed “We will take fond memories Doha yesterday. RIGHT: The podium winners in the a 2-1 success over Winnipeg Jets. of the event back home. We were men’s section are seen with President of the Qatar Winnipeg took an early lead expecting a warm weather but Military Sport Association Major General Dahlan through Dustin Byfuglien but when we reached here and we Al Hamad (front row, right) and Major General Milan Lucic equalised for the were competing, we found the Mohammed bin Nasser Al Mohannadi, Commander Bruins in the third period before weather was perfect and not what of the Qatar Emiri Navy and chairman of the organ- Hamilton struck in overtime. we had in mind.” ising committee. Germany finished first followed by “I think we really wanted a good The winning duo, who over- Ukraine and Poland. PICTURES BY: KAMMUTTY VP start, didn’t have it and squeaked came the tough challenge of the two points like we have in the Ukraine pair of Broys Shvets past,” said Hamilton, who also pro- and Pavlo Matsyev , said they vided an assist for Lucic’s goal. adjusted well to the sudden strong “I don’t know how we do it, but winds in the last two days of the two points is two points, I guess.” competition. Elsewhere, the Vancouver “The weather in the form of Canucks recorded a 5-0 win cool breeze and the wind condi- over Columbus Blue Jackets, the tions during the first two days and Chicago Blackhawks were impres- the last two days of the champi- sive 4-1 victors at the Anaheim onship was to our advantage and Ducks, while the New Islanders’ helped our cause to win the cham- five-game winning streak was pionship,” said Jan-Jaspe, in the brought to an emphatic end in presence of Andre Dupont, team Washington, where the Capitals captain and Tobias Puck, team ran out 5-2 winners. AGENCIES doctor. The winning team plan to take NHL Results part in a few international mili- NY Rangers 3 Philadelphia 0 tary championships, including one Chicago 4 Anaheim 1 in Rio de Janiero, and win more Staff Major General Mohammed bin Nasser Al Mohannadi (left) presenting a memento to CISM Treasurer Colonel Walter van Velthoven. TOP: The laurels. Washington 5 NY Islanders 2 podium winners in the women’s section France, Russia and Poland with Dahlan and Mohannadi. “We plan to take part in a few Boston 2 Winnipeg 1 championships in the coming Buffalo 2 Montreal 1 months. The win in Qatar will of the championship was perfect,” General Mohammed bin Nasser countries. Sailors from Canada, followed by Ukraine and Poland. Detroit 5 New Jersey 4 motivate us and provide us the all the members of the victorious Al Mohannadi, Commander of the Sri Lanka, Germany, Pakistan, In the women’s section, France Carolina 4 Pittsburgh 2 confidence and drive to win many team said in unison. Qatar Emiri Navy and chairman Denmark, France, Norway, took the top honours followed by Vancouver 5 Columbus 0 more races,” said Jan-Jaspe. President of the Qatar Military of the organising committee. Poland, Ukraine, Finland, Tunisia, Russia, while Poland came third. Florida 3 Ottawa 2 The pair had a word of praise Sport Association Major General Major General Dahlan also India, Turkey, the USA, Indonesia The other countries who saw for the organizers, the Qatar Dahlan Al Hamad handed the declared the championship close. and Qatar competed in the men’s action were Indonesia, USA, St Louis 4 Edmonton 3 Emiri Naval Forces and the Qatar prizes to the podium winners The six-day championship section. Germany finished on top Ukraine and Germany. Minnesota 5 Dallas 4 Armed Forces. “The organization in the presence of Staff Major saw around 100 sailors from 17 of the summit in the men’s section THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 28 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Golf: Spieth shares lead Qatar Basketball League McIlroy still upbeat despite mid-round collapse in Sydney

SYDNEY: American Jordan can get it without it being so and had his putter otherwise been Spieth shot a two-under-par 69 it’s right on that point,” Rumford working as well as his irons. Australian Open for a share of a one-stroke lead told reporters. “It’s tough, I’m “It’s a tough day out there but with locals Greg Chalmers and certainly not saying it’s easy, you I think I struck the ball very well, Third Round Scores Brett Rumford after blustery seem as though you are pedalling solid, so I didn’t feel like I was SYDNEY: Leading scores conditions caused chaos in the a million miles an hour going no grinding,” Scott said. after the third round of the third round of the Australian where.” “A shame to miss a couple of Australian Open at The Open yesterday. Spieth described conditions as short ones but made up for it on Australian course (par-71) in Firm greens and difficult “brutal” and was pleased with 17 with a long one.” Sydney on Saturday (Australia pin positions but most of all his mix of five birdies and three Pampling fired the shot of the unless stated): the gusting wind left Spieth, bogeys, one of which came at the day with an iron from 120 metres 208 Brett Rumford 70-69-69, Jordan Chalmers (71) and Rumford (69) ninth hole when his approach for an eagle at the 10th and could Spieth (USA) 67-72-69, Greg on five-under -- a leading score shot hit the pin and bounced back have had a share of the lead had Chalmers 71-66-71 unchanged from Friday -- with off the green. he not missed a three-foot birdie only five other players below par “The wind was flipping, it was putt on the 18th. 209 Adam Scott 74-66-69, Rod Pampling for the tournament. tough to get the right yardage let McIlroy’s driving was to blame 73-67-69 While Adam Scott was among alone the accuracy,” he said. for his slump as he found thick 211 Todd Sinnott 71-67-73 them in a share of fourth with “I felt like I really hung in there scrub at the ninth for a triple 212 Aron Price 68-75-69, Jake fellow Australian Rod Pampling nicely. To grab five bogeys on a bogey and went into the trees Higginbottom 71-69-72 after both shot 69s, Rory McIlroy day like today, if I can do that for a double bogey at the 10th to 213 Daniel Nisbet 74-72-67, Ryan Fox suffered a spectacular mid-round tomorrow I think I will be in good plummet down the leaderboard. (NZL) 72-72-69, Josh Younger 71-72- collapse that saw the world shape.” The Northern Irishman ended 70, David Bransdon 72-70-71, Robert number one drop five shots in two World number three Scott the day with a share of 14th on Allenby 71-69-73 holes and finish with a 76. snared his third birdie of the day one-over but is still only six shots 214 Alistair Presnell 74-72-68, James “The course is on a razor’s edge when he sent a 25-foot putt snak- off the pace as he looks to defend Nitties 71-73-70, Rohan Blizard 70- as they are trying to create a golf ing across the green at the 17th the title he won last year. 73-71, Aaron Townsend 73-70-71, course that’s as unplayable as they but would have gone even lower REUTERS Boo Weekley (USA) 72-71-71, Jason Norris 73-69-72, Matthew Griffin Action from the Qatar Basketball League (QBL) match between Qatar 72-69-73, Richard Green 69-71- SC and Al Sadd at Al Gharafa Stadium in Doha yesterday. Al Sadd won 74, Adam Crawford 69-69-76, Rory 82-64. Bottom: Action from the QBL match between Al Rayyan and Al McIlroy (NIR) 69-69-76 Khor at Al Gharafa Stadium. Al Rayyan won 81-63. 215 Ryan Ruffels 71-74-70, Callan O’Reilly 74-71-70, Steven Bowditch 70-74-71, Sung-Hoon Kang (KOR) 73-70-72, Oliver Goss 71-72-72, Rhein Gibson 70-70-75 Greg Chalmers Selected scores of Australia tees 216 Joon-woo Choi (KOR) 72-71-73 off during the 217 Garrett Sapp (USA) 73-72-72, third round of Brendon De Jonge (ZIM) 69-75-73, the Australian Jin-ho Choi (KOR) 74-68-75 Open at the 222 Kyle Stanley (USA) 74-72-76 Australian Golf 223 Jin Jeong (KOR) 71-75-77 Club in Sydney, yesterday. Kings Cup Leading third round scores at the King’s Cup in Khon Kaen: 200 Anirban Lahiri (IND) 65-67-68 201 Thaworn Wiratchant (THA) 68-67-66 203 Sutijet Kooratanapisan (THA) 70-68-65 203 Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 68-69-66 203 Jakraphan Premsirigorn (THA) 69- 65-69 Singapore need Serena lift at IPTL debut

MANILA: World number one this year’s IPTL tournament ends. next point will count double. “She’s made a few technical matches and needed to play more The results have been less than Serena Williams is being called She will also play in the mixed The Singapore team managed changes in the last couple of weeks offensively. spectacular, a fact Murray doesn’t upon to do the heavy lifting and doubles. to win only one match on Friday and she was probably struggling a “(It’s) certainly not true, her dispute -- although he insists it rescue her struggling Singapore “She’s been sending us text as world number seven Tomas little bit with confidence,” he said telling me to play defensively, so is too early to judge Mauresmo’s Slammers team at the inaugural messages. She’s really excited Berdych teamed up with rising of the Slovak. I don’t agree with that,” former impact. “Sometimes this year it International Premier Tennis about going in,” Eagle told a news Australian Nick Kyrgios to beat “She’s a great player. She’ll be world number two Murray told hasn’t been possible, but you know League tournament. conference ahead of Saturday’s the Aces’ men’s doubles pair, Gael back. She’ll be fine.” reporters in Manila. we’ve only spent six or seven “We’re really excited about match against the UAE Royals. Monfils and Rohan Bopanna. Eagle said he was taking noth- The 2013 Wimbledon winner weeks together since Wimbledon,” Serena coming. She’s an inter- The IPTL tour, which will also Struggling Daniela Hantuchova ing away from Ivanovic, who he was in the Philippine capital to Murray said of Mauresmo. national superstar.... Everyone have stops in Singapore, New lost both her women’s singles and said had probably had one of play in the International Premier “Yes, there was a few periods of here in Manila is pretty pumped Delhi and Dubai next month, has mixed doubles matches. She was the most successful years on the Tennis League (IPTL), a faster- the year where I played a couple up and our team has been talking a team format with ties consist- thrashed 0-6 in the former by women’s circuit in 2014. paced, television-friendly format of bad matches, where my level about it,” their Australian coach ing of five one-set matches, with world number five Ana Ivanovic. Meanwhile, Andy Murray has of the sport, dropped and I wasn’t expecting Josh Eagle said yesterday. no advantages. The first to six The Slammers’ fortunes still defended coach Amelie Mauresmo He said Mauresmo always tells it.” The Williams-led team were games wins. looked to be as dire Saturday as after former British number him to play “aggressively”. “It wasn’t my best season but plastered by the Roger Federer- A 20-second shot-clock Berdych promptly lost to reigning one Tim Henman said the Scot “That’s the sort of mindset it got better as the year went on,” led India Aces on Friday as the between points guarantees quick US Open champion Marin Cilic had not been “playing the right and style that I want to play,” the Murray said, adding he played IPTL, a speeded-up, television- play, and at 5-5, players go into 4-6 in the first match of their tie way” recently, questioning the 27-year-old added. “solid” at Wimbledon and the friendly tennis format, made its a timed shoot-out in which they against the UAE Royals. partnership. Murray in June turned to Australian Open. debut in Manila. must accumulate the most points Eagle said the 31-year-old Henman claimed earlier this former female world number one After Murray was whitewashed Organisers said the American before time is up. Hantuchova had recently changed month that double Grand Slam Mauresmo, like him a Wimbledon by Roger Federer at the ATP superstar was set to play Kirsten Players receiving a serve can coaches, taking former Li Na and winner Murray, who has slipped champion, after predecessor Ivan Tour Finals, Henman said his Flipkens of the Manila Mavericks also call a “happiness power Justine Henine mentor Carlos to sixth in the world rankings, Lendl brought an end to their friend had to be “proactive” and on Sunday as the Manila leg of point” once per set, meaning the Rodriguez, and was still adjusting. was letting his opponents dictate hugely successful association. “more offensive” on court. AFP

Al Arabi down El Jaish in thriller to clinch QVA Cup

An Al Arabi striker spikes during the QVA Cup final against El Jaish at Al Arabi Sports Complex in Doha on Friday. Al Arabi beat El Jaish 3-2 (27-25, 25-20, 19-25, 25-27, 15-13) to win the QVA Cup. RIGHT: The players and officials of Al Arabi pose with the winner’s trophy along with Qatar Volleyball Association President Khalid Ali Al Mawlawi SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 29

World leaders in aquatics gather in Doha for a three-day convention

The President of FINA, Dr Julio C Maglione (centre), honouring the Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, during the opening ceremony of the FINA World Aquatics Convention at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Doha yesterday. Khaleel Al Jabir (right), Qatar Swimming Association President and Executive Director of Doha 2014, is also seen. RIGHT: A section of the delegates attending the convention. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT Welbeck fires Gunners to victory Chelsea march checked again by Sunderland, Man United thrash visitors Hull 3-0

LONDON: Danny Welbeck (Sunday).” West Ham leapfrogged English Premier returned from injury to main- Newcastle into fifth place with a tain Arsenal’s recent revival as 1-0 win at Upton Park. League Results the England striker sealed a 1-0 Newcastle had climbed into the Results from the English Premier League win at West Bromwich Albion, top five on the back of five suc- matches yesterday while struggling Liverpool got Arsenal’s English cessive league victories, but they Burnley 1 Aston Villa 1 back on track with a 1-0 victory fell behind in the 56th minute striker Danny Liverpool 1 Stoke City 0 over Stoke yesterday. when Hammers left-back Aaron Welbeck (left) cel- Man United 3 Hull City 0 Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal had Cresswell turned in Cheikhou ebrates scoring been under pressure after suc- Kouyate’s miscued shot. Queens Park Rangers 3 Leicester City 2 cessive Premier League defeats his goal with team- The Magpies’ hopes of an Sunderland 0 Chelsea 0 condemned them to their worst mate French striker equaliser were wrecked when Swansea City 1 Crystal Palace 1 Olivier Giroud start for 30 years, but a midweek midfielder Moussa Sissoko was West Bromwich Albion 0 Arsenal 1 during the English victory over Borussia Dortmund, sent off for earning two bookings West Ham United 1 Newcastle Utd 0 which booked their place in the Premier League in the space of 46 seconds in the last 16 of the Champions League, match against second half. Spanish League had lifted spirits at the north West Bromwich QPR moved off the bottom of Spanish League results yesterday: London club. Albion at the the table at the expense of fellow- Getafe 1 Athletic Bilbao 2 Welbeck missed that win due Hawthorns in West strugglers Leicester, who slipped Espanyol 2 Levante 1 to hamstring and knee problems, to 20th place after their 3-2 defeat Bromwich, central Today’s matches but he was back at the Hawthorns at Loftus Road. England yesterday. Atletico Madrid vs Deportivo La Coruna (1100), to net his sixth goal for Arsenal, Leicester took the lead with Arsenal won the Sevilla vs Granada (1600), Cordoba v sVillarreal ending a run of six club matches Esteban Cambiasso’s fourth game 1-0. (1800), Valencia vs Barcelona (2000) without a goal for the former minute goal, but Wes Morgan’s Manchester United forward and 37th minute own goal and Leroy Monday giving the Gunners only their fifth Fer’s strike put Harry Redknapp’s Almeria vs Rayo Vallecano (1945) league win of the season. team ahead. Welbeck won it on the hour Leicester’s Jeffrey Schlupp French Ligue 1 when he met Santi Cazorla’s equalised in the 67th minute, but French Ligue 1 results yesterday: cross with a powerful close-range Charlie Austin won it with 17 Paris Saint-Germain 1 Nice 0 header that Ben Foster could only three-match losing streak as incredible. We fully deserved it much-maligned defender his first minutes remaining. Playing today help into the net. Glen Johnson’s late goal clinched a and to keep a clean sheet against goal since December 2013. Burnley rescued a 1-1 draw Bordeaux vs Lille (1300GMT), Evian vs Despite the win, at full-time hard-fought success against Stoke a very good side was pleasing,” United captain Wayne Rooney against relegation rivals Aston Guingamp (1600GMT), Saint-Etienne vs some Arsenal fans held up a ban- at Anfield. Rodgers said. got the second goal, sweeping Villa at Turf Moor after Danny Lyon (2000GMT) ner calling for Wenger to quit. Reds captain Steven Gerrard Robin van Persie scored only home from 20 yards in the 42nd Ings’ 87th minute penalty erased Played on Friday Asked if he was affected by was dropped to the bench on the his fourth goal for Manchester minute, and van Persie netted Joe Cole’s strike for the visitors. Marseille 2 Nantes 0 the protest, Wenger said: “I don’t 16th anniversary of his Liverpool United this season as the hosts in the 66th minute to seal his Swansea and Crystal Palace want to comment on that. I try debut and Brendan Rodgers’ side cruised to a 3-0 win over Hull at fourth-placed team’s third suc- drew 1-1 at the Liberty Stadium, Italian League to do my best for this club that were lacklustre without him. Old Trafford. cessive win. with Wilfried Bony’s 15th minute Italian league results on Saturday: I love. Stoke’s Bojan Krkic hit the United’s injury problems con- “It was the best match of our opener for the hosts cancelled out Sassuolo 2 Verona 1 “We are very united with the woodwork in the second half, but tinued early in the first half when season. What pleased me most by a 25th minute penalty from Playing today players and staff around the team, Liverpool improved after Gerrard Argentina midfielder Angel di was the way we dominated the Australia midfielder Mile Jedinak. Cagliari vs Fiorentina, Cesena vs Genoa, that’s all you can do. came on for the final 16 minutes Maria was forced to come off. game from the first minute to the In Saturday’s late game, leaders Empoli vs Atalanta, AC Milan vs Udinese, “It’s easier to deal with the and England right-back Johnson But Louis van Gaal’s side took last minute,” van Gaal said. Chelsea travel to Sunderland. Palermo vs Parma, Juventus vs Torino, upwards than the downwards, but popped up with the winner in the lead in the 16th minute as “Di Maria is out of Tuesday’s Today, second-placed Roma vs Inter Milan you cannot be a manger and have the 85th minute after Rickie video technology showed Chris game against Stoke. But we will Southampton host champions only one side.” Lambert’s header had hit the bar. Smalling’s scrambled effort have to wait and see how bad it Manchester City and Tottenham Monday Liverpool ended their “The players were absolutely had crossed the line to give the is. We will know more tomorrow face Everton. AFP Sampdoria vs Napoli

Chess: Action from Qatar Masters Open 2014 in Doha

Grandmaster Anish Giri of Holland and top-ranked player at the Qatar Masters Open 2014 in action during the fourth round match at Hotel Crowne Plaza in Doha yesterday. The tournament will end on December 4. Some of the high profile players are taking part in the event including 92 grandmasters, of the 154 players taking part. The tournament is being conducted according to the Swiss System of nine rounds and if necessary a play-off. The total prize money is $110,000. The first place winner will get $25,000. First place for ladies is $5,000. PICTURES BY: MARIA EMELIANOVA/DMITRY RUKHLETSKIY SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 30 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT Hughes funeral set for Wednesday, Test postponed

SYDNEY: Australian cricketer India (BCCI).” Ticket sales for the International number, 64. “They encouraged teams at all levels to Phillip Hughes will be buried in match at the Gabba in Brisbane agreed. That means so much,” he remember Hughes and both the his home town on Wednesday, had been suspended and a new added. “His legacy of trying to score he had accumulated when A bat and Cricket Australia said yester- date would be set after consulta- improve each and every day will the fatal blow struck him, 63 not cap are day, forcing the indefinite post- tion with the BCCI, broadcasters drive us for the rest of our lives. out, and his Test number, 408, placed on ponement of the Test match and stadium officials, Sutherland “Our dressing room will never were much in evidence on pitches the pitch in against India which was sched- added. be the same. We loved him and around the country. memory of uled to begin the following day. Australia captain Michael always will. Rest in peace bruzzy.” At a match between Sydney Australian Hughes, 25, died on Thursday Clarke earlier gave a graphic An indication of how deeply his Boys and Shore schools in cricketer as the result of a catastrophic illustration of the raw emotions of death has affected his fellow pro- Centennial Park, just a stone’s Phillip injury he sustained when struck the players when he broke down fessionals came in Sharjah, where throw from the SCG, a row of Hughes on the head by a ball during a repeatedly while paying tribute Pakistan are hosting New Zealand bats topped with cricket caps before the domestic match, triggering a to his friend. in a Test. were lined up beside the pitch in Autumn wave of mourning in Australia Battling to hold back tears, he The second Test had been post- tribute. International and around the world. read out a statement on behalf of poned for a day after Hughes died Cricket at the elite level has Rugby Cricket Australia Chief the players at the Sydney Cricket and there was no celebration of yet to resume with senior club Union match Executive James Sutherland said Ground, where Hughes suffered wickets or centuries when it matches cancelled in Sydney between it would have been unreasonable his fatal injury on Tuesday. resumed on Friday. and Adelaide, where Hughes to expect the players to get the “Words cannot express the “The game was irrelevant at played his state cricket for South Wales four-Test series under way less loss we feel as a team right now,” that stage, that was just a natu- Australia for the last couple of and South than 24 hours after Hughes was Clarke said. ral reaction by a group of people years. Africa at the laid to rest in Macksville, New “We are going to miss that whose mind was elsewhere,” New The fate of the first Test Millennium South Wales. cheeky grin and that twinkle in Zealand coach Mike Hesson told against India had been in the bal- Stadium “Their welfare is our absolute his eye. He epitomised what the reporters in Sharjah. ance even before Hughes died of in Cardiff, priority. They are grieving and baggy green was about and what “We didn’t bowl any bouncers his horrific injury as many of the yesterday. to expect that they could play a it means to us all. and that was to show respect.” Australia team were among his high-pressured, five-day Test the “The world lost one of its great Back in Australia, Hughes was closest friends. following day is out of the ques- blokes this week and we are all not forgotten as yesterday morn- TV rights make an incom- tion,” he said in a statement. poorer for it.” ing cricket was played across the ing tour by the India Test team There is precious little room with the third starting on Boxing “We appreciate the incredible Clarke said the players had country in blazing sunshine, as it by far the most lucrative in the for manoeuvre, however, with Day (December 26) in Melbourne understanding and support of the requested that Cricket Australia has been for more than a century. world game so cancellation of the the second Test scheduled to take and the fourth in Sydney running Board of Control for Cricket in retire Hughes’s One-Day Cricket Australia has Brisbane match is unlikely. place in Adelaide from Dec. 12-16 from January 3 to 7. REUTERS New Zealand’s McCullum Jayawardene, Sangakkara heartbroken for Hughes help SL claim easy victory SHARJAH: New Zealand’s skipper Brendon McCullum, one-time team-mate of late Phillip Hughes, said he was Hosts take 2-0 lead in series against England with eight-wicket win thinking of the Australian and his family throughout his fiery double-hundred against COLOMBO: Hosts Sri Lanka Scoreboard Pakistan in Sharjah yesterday. outplayed woeful England by “You are all in our thoughts, eight wickets in the second one- ENGLAND our hearts and in Phil’s case, our day international in Colombo A Cook c K Perera b Dilshan ...... 22 memories,” said McCullum in a yesterday to take a 2-0 lead in M Ali b Dilshan ...... 2 message released by New Zealand the seven-match series. I Bell c T Perera b Herath ...... 11 Cricket. Unorthodox spinner Ajantha J Root lbw Mathews ...... 42 McCullum said the thoughts of Mendis grabbed three for 33 as E Morgan c Thirimanne b T Perera ...... 17 his whole team were with Hughes, England were skittled for 185 in R Bopara c Mathews b A Mendis...... 51 his family, and all those affected 43 overs after electing to bat in a J Buttler b Prasad...... 7 by the tragedy. match reduced to 45-overs-a-side C Woakes st Sangakkara b A Mendis ...... 15 “Cricket is a sport, but the because of bad weather. J Tredwell (not out) ...... 9 cricket community is a family. We The veteran duo of Kumar S Finn b A Mendis ...... 0 are here for you, we are thinking Sangakkara (67 not out) and H Gurney b Prasad ...... 1 of you,” said McCullum, whom he Mahela Jayawardene (77 not out) Extras (LB-3, W-3, NB-2) ...... 8 played with in Twenty20 cricket then put on 149 for the unbroken Total (all out in 43 overs) ...... 185 in Australia. third wicket as Sri Lanka romped Fall of wickets: 1-7, 2-36, 3-37, 4-75, The dashing opener made home with 10.4 overs to spare at 5-117, 6-132, 7-173, 8-180, 9-180. a robust 188-ball 202 against the Premadasa Stadium. Bowling: Mathews 6-0-23-1 (w2); Dilshan Pakistan studded with 21 fours Sri Lanka had won the first 9-0-32-2; Herath 9-0-40-1; A Mendis 7-1- and 11 towering sixes to help his game by 25 runs at the same venue 33-3 (w1); T Perera 3-0-16-1; J Mendis team pile a mammoth 637-8 on on Wednesday. The third match 5-0-22-0 (nb1); Prasad 4-0-16-2 (nb1). the third day of the third and final will be played in Hambantota on SRI LANKA Test. December 3. T Dilshan c Woakes b Ali ...... 26 McCullum said his team’s focus Both teams wore black arm- K Perera c Bopara b Finn ...... 9 was not on performances. bands and observed a minute’s K Sangakkara (not out) ...... 67 “On behalf of the Blackcaps I silence before the start to mourn M Jayawardene (not out) ...... 77 want to make the following state- Australian batsman Phil Hughes, Extras (LB-3, W-4) ...... 7 ment. Our focus at the moment is who died in Sydney on Thursday Total (for 2 wkts in 34.2 overs) ...... 186 not on our performances, it is all of head injuries sustained by a ris- Fall of wickets: 1-27, 2-37. about Phil. ing ball. Bowling: Finn 6-1-35-1 (w1); Woakes 5-0- “We are heartbroken for Phil’s Bats and caps were displayed 23-0; Ali 7-0-38-1 (w2); Gurney 5.2-0-32-0 Sri Lanka’s Tillakaratne Dilshan (centre) celebrates with team-mates after dismissing England’s captain Alastair family, Greg, Virginia, Megan and outside the dressing rooms as a (w1); Tredwell 9-0-47-0; Bopara 2-0-8-0. Cook (left) during their second ODI at the R. Premadasa Cricket Stadium in Colombo, yesterday. Jason. No one should go through mark of respect and flags flew at what you guys are going through half-mast over the stadium. right now. Ravi Bopara top-scored with 51 made only two when he attempted bowlers did the job and then Sri Lanka lost both openers, his side were outplayed in the “We are reaching out to Phil’s and Joe Root made 42, but just a wild heave off Tillakaratne Mahela (Jayawardene) and Sanga Dilshan and Kusal Perera, by match, but vowed to bounce back family, Clarke and the Australian eight boundaries were hit in the Dilshan and was bowled in the (Sangakkara) showed how to bat the eighth over with the total in the series. “We thought it was boys, medical staff, fans, all who entire England innings as none second over. on this wicket.” at 37 before Sangakkara and a good toss to win but I’m not sure have been affected by Phil’s pass- of the other batsmen settled in. Ian Bell, playing his 150th one- Mathews said he handed Jayawardene steadied the innings it (decision to bat) was the right ing. We are also reaching out to Mendis led the way as the slow day international, was dismissed the new ball to off-spinner for the hosts. choice,” he said. Abbott.” bowlers shared six wickets and by left-arm spinner Rangana Tillakaratne Dilshan to take Left-handed Sangakkara “We assessed the pitch wrong Both teams abandoned the sec- the seamers chipped in with four Herath for 11 and Dilshan also advantage of the slow pitch. The smashed eight boundaries, includ- but it’s about how you play and Sri ond day’s play in the third Test on wickets. England lost half their removed skipper Alastair Cook move worked as Dilshan easily ing the winning hit off Harry Lanka put us under pressure with Thursday after Hughes’s tragic side by the 28th over with just 117 for 22. removed his strong opponent Ali. Gurney over the bowler’s head. the ball.” The series is a build-up news, wearing black armbands runs on the board. Mathews was delighted with “Our fielding has picked up a Jayawardene hit eight fours and to World Cup that will be played and observing a minute’s silence Opener Moeen Ali, who hit a the emphatic win. little bit but we can still improve,” a six. in Australia and New Zealand in on Friday as mark of respect for century in the previous match, “It feels great,” he said. “The he said. A disappointed Cook admitted February-March. AFP the talented Hughes. AFP Kiwis pulverise Pakistan bowlers New Zealand’s SHARJAH: batsman Kane Brendon Perth in 2003. This also becomes (three in 2003) and Don Bradman Scoreboard Williamson McCullum smashed a double- the highest total by New Zealand (three in 1930) -- all from (right) raises hundred but Kane Williamson against Pakistan, beating the 563 Australia -- are the only other Pakistan (I innings): ...... 351 missed his by eight runs as New they made at Hobart in 2003. players to have achieved the feat. his bat after New Zealand (I innings): Zealand posted their highest In the morning McCullum It was an innings of full con- scoring 150 T Latham c Ahmed b Rahat ...... 13 total against Pakistan in the became one of only four batsmen trol which battered the Pakistani B McCullum b Shah ...... 202 runs as he third Test in Sharjah yesterday. to score three double-hundreds bowlers into submission, studded speaks with K Williamson c Younis b Rahat ...... 192 McCullum hit 188-ball 202 in a year. with 21 fours and 11 sixes -- one R Taylor c Younis b Shah ...... 50 team-mate while Williamson made 192 as The New Zealand skipper also short of the record of most sixes Ross Taylor C Anderson c Shah b Rahat ...... 50 New Zealand closed the third created a new second-wicket in an innings held by Pakistan’s D Vettori lbw Rahat ...... 15 during the day at 637-8 with a world record record for New Zealand in all Test Wasim Akram, against Zimbabwe B J Watling lbw Hafeez ...... 8 third day of of 19 sixes to pulverise hapless cricket of 297 with Williamson. in 1996. M Craig (batting) ...... 34 the third and Pakistan. McCullum jumped out of his McCullum was finally bowled T Southee c Talha b Shah...... 50 final Test That gave New Zealand a crease to hit Shah over the sta- by Shah, much to the relief of Extras (B-2, LB-7, NB-6, W-8) ...... 23 match against mammoth lead of 286 runs over dium roof at long-on for his 11th the Pakistan bowlers who were Total (for 8 wkts) ...... 637 Pakistan at Pakistan’s first innings total of six to complete his double-hun- looking for wickets after New Fall of wickets: 1-51, 2-348, 3-464, 4-488, the Sharjah 351, setting them up strongly for dred off just 186 deliveries. Zealand resumed the day on a 5-528, 6-537, 7-546, 8-637. Cricket a series-levelling win. This is his third double-hun- strong 249-1. Bowling: Talha 22-2-136-0 (6nb, 1w); Ra- Stadium Pakistan lead the three-match dred this year, following his two The McCullum-Williamson hat 25-0-89-4 (2w); Babar 23-1-135-0; in Sharjah, series 1-0 after winning the first against India at home in February, stand bettered New Zealand’s Shah 38-4-169-3; Hafeez 20-2-91-1 (5w); yesterday. Test in Abu Dhabi by 248 runs making him the fourth batsmen all-time previous second-wicket Ali 2-0-8-0. and drawing the second in Dubai. to score three or more double- stand of 241 held by Andrew Jones New Zealand surpassed hundreds in a year. and John Wright against England Australia’s record of 17 sixes in a Michael Clarke (four scores of at Wellington in 1992. leg-spinner Shah finished with Test innings against Zimbabwe at over 200 in 2012) Ricky Ponting Rahat Ali took 4-89 while 3-169. AFP SUNDAY 30 NOVEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 31

Target to Seven-star Qatar SC rout make QSL best league: Al Haroon

Al Wakra as QSL resumes DOHA: Qatar Stars League’s (QSL)newly-appointed Executive Director of Marketing Bakir scores a brace in 7-0 win; Al Khor, Al Kharaitiyat play out 1-1 draw and Communications dreams of “making it one of the best pro- fessional football leagues in the DOHA: Qatar SC recorded world”. the biggest victory of the sea- QSL Results and Speaking at a media round son so far when they thrashed table on his new role and the way Al Wakra at their home turf Fixtures forward for QSL, Khalifa Saleh Al yesterday, as the Qatar Stars Qatar SC bt Al Wakra 7-0 Haroon said, “We aim to be one League (QSL) resumed after a Al Khor draw with Al Kharaitiyat 1-1 the best football leagues in the long break for the recently-con- Today’s Matches world. This is our dream.” cluded Gulf Cup. He expressed his delight to be Al Arabi vs Al Ahli at Al Arabi The league resumed with two 4:00pm part of the QSL team. Stadium matches yesterday with Al Khor “I have been talking to play- Al Shahaniya vs Lekhwiya at Al and Al Kharaitiyat sharing a 4:00pm ers and officials for the past one point each following a 1-1 draw, Gharafa Stadium month that I am with the QSL. Al Gharafa vs Al Sadd at Al Gharafa in the other game. 6:30pm We have discussed various aspects However, yesterday was all Stadium to make the game more engaging Umm Salal vs Al Sailiyah at Qatar about Qatar SC’s performance 6:30pm and spurring greater public par- which annihilated the Al Wakra SC Stadium ticipation,” he said. team with a ruthless show. Al Shamal vs El Jaish at Al Shamal Being the founder of ILoveQatar. 6:30pm They showed their intentions Stadium net, a network of local websites, Al right from the beginning and Haroon knows well the pulse of took an early lead when Hamdi Khalid Salih Ahmed (87) being the local community. He is keen Harbaoui found the target in the other scorers in the second to share this experience in fur- eighth minute. half. ther boosting QSL’s community The team continued to domi- Meanwhile, the match between outreach in Qatar. nate their opponents with Al Khor and Al Kharaitiyat saw His marketing plans include repeated attacks and it was more cards than goals with the ideas that would ensure greater Kooky Young who gave Qatar SC former team’s players getting the participation from football fans. their second goal in 31st minute. caution on three occasions and “I hope to see fans following The next minute, Mahir Yusuf the latter side’s Assie Koua Vivien their favourite clubs, be Al Sadd, Bakir made it 3-0 for the team in getting the red card. Al Gharafa, or El Jaish, with yellow and black stripes. Al Kharaitiyat scored first dedication, root for their teams Al Wakra tried to make a in the 22nd minute which was at matches and follow them comeback in the second session leveled by Al Khor in the 53rd knowledgeably.” but the worst was to come for minute. He hoped to further engage the home side as Qatar SC scored Five matches will be played QSL teams to popularise the four more goals in the final ses- today including a game featur- league. sion to complete a 7-0 drubbing. ing Lekhwiya and Al Shahaniya. QSL Head of Sales Ian Riddoch, Bakir completed his brace in Leaders Al Sadd will also be seen who was present at the roundta- the second minute of the session in action when they will meet Qatar SC’s Hamdi Harbaoui (centre), tackled by two Al Wakra players tries to keep ball possession during their ble, said, “We received encourag- with Mousa Majid (60), captain Al Gharafa at the Al Gharafa Qatar Stars League (QSL) match at Al Wakra Stadium, yesterday. ing response from teams when Mohammed Omar Saeed (83) and Stadium. THE PENINSULA QSL asked them to present their plans for the season.” He cited El Jaish team’s inno- vative idea of scheduling a ladies Robben’s goal hands Bayern (fans) day for one of their games, to encourage their participation at stadiums. QSL has two main community 10-point lead in Bundesliga outreach programmes. Goalz, a school initiative which engages BERLIN: Bayern Munich “A 1-0 win can happen and Klaas-Jan Huntelaar claiming a youth all over Qatar, and QSL opened a 10-point lead in the we can’t always play well,” said hat-trick. Netherlands interna- Experience, a year round project Bundesliga yesterday with a 1-0 Robben. tional Huntelaar fired Schalke that provides fun, football based win at Hertha Berlin to recover “The second-half wasn’t good, into a 2-0 lead after just 25 min- events around the country. from their midweek defeat at but at least we took three points,” utes with two superb goals before Launched in 2013, Goalz Manchester City. he added. Japan striker Shinji Okazaki engages youth in local schools With their nearest rivals With six months left of the sea- pulled one back for the visitors. with full-time coaching profes- Wolfsburg facing Borussia son, Bayern’s march to their third But the Royal Blues made sionals who use their experience Moenchengladbach today, Arjen straight Bundesliga title looks sure of the three points when to nurture talent, getting chil- Robben’s first-half goal in virtually unstoppable once again. Huntelaar’s final pass was dren active and inspire them by Germany’s capital was enough to At the other end, Borussia curled home by Swiss mid- football. give Bayern their 10th league win Dortmund, who are at Eintracht fielder Tranquillo Barnetta on 54 QSL recognises and rewards of the season in 13 games. Frankfurt today, dropped back to minutes. people in Qatar for supporting After suffering their first defeat the bottom of the table after both The Dutchman completed his their favourite QSL team, offering of the season at Manchester in the Werder Bremen and Stuttgart hat-trick when he slammed home two exciting loyalty programmes; Champions League on Tuesday, picked up wins. Eric-Choupo Moting’s final pass Football Rewards and Kids Club. their first loss in 23 games, this Werder Bremen’s 4-0 ham- on 61 minutes. Football Rewards is open to was a no-frills performance from mering of Paderborn and VfB Bayer Leverkusen put their Qatar residents aged 14 years the defending champions to pre- Stuttgart’s 4-1 win at Freiburg on Champions League defeat at and over. It enables members to serve their unbeaten Bundesliga Friday saw them both leap-frog home to Monaco behind them earn points by attending matches record. Dortmund. with a 5-1 comeback win at the which provides access to appeal- “Perhaps the players were tired Bremen moved up to 14th as BayArena against Cologne in the ing discounts and rewards across after playing 70 minutes with ten caretaker coach Viktor Skripnik Rhine derby as both Josip Drmic Qatar. men in Manchester,” said Bayern picked up his fourth win in five and Karim Bellarabi scored twice. Kids Club is the first of its coach Pep Guardiola in Berlin, games since taking over from Hakan Calhanoglu added his kind loyalty programme for chil- referring to Mehdi Benatia’s first- the fired Robin Dutt as Zlatko team’s other goal. dren aged between 5-13 years old half dismissal in City. Junuzovic, Davie Selke, Fin Bellarabi, Huntelaar and in Qatar. It aims to inspire the “I was happy with the first half Bartels and Levent Aycicek Okazaki, along with Eintracht next generation of football fans performance, but we can improve scored. Both Schalke and Bayer Frankfurt’s Alexander Meier and to become passionate supporters on the second.” Leverkusen roared back from Bayern Munich’s Mario Goetze, of Qatari football. Bayern went ahead at Berlin’s midweek Champions League have all claimed seven goals this QSL programme for 2014-15 chilly Olympic Stadium when defeats by claiming heavy wins season with all five as the league’s season aims over 1,600 hours of Mario Goetze played Thomas to go sixth and third respectively. joint top-scorers. activities, engaging over 150,000 Bayern Munich’s Arjen Robben jumps in jubilation after he scored against Mueller into the area before Schalke responded to their 5-0 Later on Saturday, Hanover people, and visits to diverse ven- Hertha Berlin during their German first division Bundesliga match in Robben hit the top left-hand cor- Champions League thrashing by 96 have the chance to break ues in Qatar including schools, Berlin yesterday. ner from 17 metres out with 27 Chelsea with a 4-1 hammering of into the top four when they face public parks, and shopping malls. minutes gone. Mainz at home with Dutch striker Hoffenheim away. AFP QNA Asian stars back Qatar to host ‘brilliant’ World Cup MANILA: Top Asian players Arab world and all Asian nations,” goals in the tournament before penalty at this year’s World Cup, yesterday said they were look- added the Saudi striker. Award Al Hilal’s bad-tempered defeat to for the second leg. ing forward to a “brilliant” 2022 nominee Ahmed, who plays for the Wanderers, defended himself Ibrahim, 26, won the award in World Cup in Qatar despite the Al Sadd in UAE, told journalists: by saying he had been provoked 2006 and was nominated again rows that have blown up over “It’s an an honour for Arab by abusive language. on the back of a strong season the tournament. (countries) and Asia,” he said. “I don’t expect I’ll lose the for Al Sadd. Prolific striker Nassir Al We wish to have a brilliant and chance to win this trophy. Centre back Ahmed, 31, Shamrani and fellow Asian excellent World Cup in 2022,” Actually I was provoked by the helped his team Al Ain reach the player of the year nominee Ismail added the star player. player from Sydney,” he said. Champions League semi-finals. Ahmed said the Gulf state fully The theme is likely to be prom- “It’s a normal reaction for a There were no nomina- deserved to host the event, shrug- inent at today’s Asian Football player sometimes. He actually tions for players from Western ging off continuing controversies. Confederation (AFC) awards and used abusive words, that pro- Sydney Wanderers, despite the “I assure you that Qatar 60th anniversary celebrations in voked me.” club’s feat in becoming Australia’s deserves to host World Cup Manila, where Blatter will be Al Hilal have cried foul over first Champions League winners 2022,” Al Shamrani told a press among the guests. their 1-0 defeat over two legs, on what was their debut in the conference for the three short- Meanwhile, Al Shamrani is calling it a “black spot in the his- tournament. listed players, which also includes hoping a controversial incident tory of football” and demanding Europe-based stars and World Qatari Khalfan Ibrahim. at the AFC Champions League an investigation. Cup players from Australia, “This is proof enough that foot- final when he spat on Matthew The Saudis said they were Japan, South Korea and Iran ball in the Gulf has developed a Spiranovic of the Western Sydney denied six penalties and hit out were also overlooked, perhaps lot,” he said. Wanderers and caused a melee, at the choice of Japanese referee owing to the AFC’s rule that only AFC Player of the Year 2014 nominee, Al Hilal striker Nassir Al Shamrani “Qatar does not just represent will not harm his award chances. Yuichi Nishimura, roundly con- players who attend the ceremony (right) listens to a question during a press conference in Manila, yesterday. the Gulf but also represents the The 31-year-old, who hit 10 demned for giving Brazil a soft can win the award. AFP Sunday 30 November 2014 8 Safar 1436 Volume 19 Number 6265 Sport Price: QR2

Leading newspaper from Nepal World Military Phil Hughes Sailing funeral set for

      concludes Wednesday

Published every thursday by DAR AL SHARQ    ! Tel: 4465 0600 Email: [email protected] Sport | 27 Sport | 30

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 FINA’s world convention opens in Doha Secretary-General of Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Saoud inaugurates three-day meet

DOHA: The 3rd FINA World Aquatics of all fields, and that continues today as we find Convention was officially opened yester- ourselves once again at the centre of sustain- day by Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al able sporting development. This week, issues Sheikh Saoud bin Thani, Secretary-General of Qatar Olympic will be debated and best practice shared but we Abdulrahman Al Committee (QOC), Khaleel Al Jabir, Qatar will all certainly be united in one thing – our Thani, Secretary- Swimming Association President and desire to drive engagement and safeguard the General of Qatar Executive Director of Doha 2014, alongside future of aquatic sports.” Olympic Committee executives from FINA - the President of FINA Khaleel Al Jabir, Qatar Swimming (QOC), cutting the Dr. Julio C Maglione, Honorary Secretary Association President and Executive Director ribbbon to open Paolo Barelli, the Honorary Treasurer Pipat of Doha 2014, added: “Since Qatar hosted its the 3rd FINA World Paniangvait, the five Vice Presidents of FINA first major FINA event in 2012, we have already Sam Ramsamy, Dale Neuburger, Husain Al seen the impact and inspiration that has had Aquatics Convention Musallam, Tamas Gyarfas, Dennis Miller, and on our own young athletes. Aquatic sports are in Doha yesterday FINA Executive Director Cornel Marculescu. growing in Qatar and through the 3rd FINA in the presence of The convention unites world leaders in Aquatics Convention, we hope to ensure that Khaleel Al Jabir, aquatics during a comprehensive conference growth continues not just in the region, but all Qatar Swimming programme and exhibition to inspire a fruitful over the world.” Association President future for the sport. The Convention will facilitate knowledge and Executive Delegates will hear from speakers at the pin- transfer and business interaction in the Middle Director of Doha nacle of international sport, including leading East by providing an opportunity for sports 2014, alongside the Aquatics athletes and coaches. institutions and industry leaders to meet. President of FINA The third edition includes the FINA Several announcements are also scheduled Dr Julio C Maglione, Extraordinary Congress, a session to deter- to take place in Doha: the FINA Gala Dinner Honorary Secretary mine future innovations and rule changes in together with the inaugural Awards Ceremony Paolo Barelli and the sport, and the 2nd FINA Gold Swimming – ‘Soirée des Etoiles’ will honour the best ath- Honorary Treasurer Coaches Clinic, a knowledge-sharing opportu- letes in swimming. Pipat Paniangvait. nity for top-level coaches. Participants at the FINA events in Doha will (See also page 29) Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani also be the first to witness the host cities of the said: “Over the years Doha has become a pivotal FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) meeting point for world-class sporting experts 2018 and 2020. THE PENINSULA Qatar’s Lekhwiya, El Jaish begin campaign with wins

DOHA: Qatar’s El Jaish and Lekhwiya began their campaign in the 17th Asian Handball Clubs’ League Championship on a winning note yesterday. Defending champions El Jaish defeated Saudi Arabia’s Al Khalij 29-24 in a Group B match at the newly-built Ali bin Hamad Al-Atiyah Arena Al Sadd. There was more success for the local clubs as Lekhwiya defeated Al-Salt Club of Jordan 26-22 in the Group A match on the open- ing day. Al Gharafa is the third Qatari club competing in the continental championship which is contested by the top ten professional clubs. Earlier in the first match, Iranian club Manyazom Janob defeated Oman’s Ahli Sidab 33-18 and Al Qurain Sporting Club from Kuwait defeated Iranian team Samenalhojaj 32:28 in a Group A game. Today, there are four matches starting from 1pm. All the three local clubs will be seen in action today. THE PENINSULA

Action from the 17th Asian Handball Clubs’ League Championship Group A match between Qatar’s El Jaish and Saudi Arabia’s Al Khalij at the newly-built Ali bin Hamad Al-Atiyah Arena Al Sadd in Doha yesterday. El Jaish won 29-24.