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SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 • 9 Rabia I 1437 • Volume 20 Number 6650 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 New arbitration law in first half of next year ‘Investment climate to improve’

By Mohamed Osman states.” He emphasised that law- yers and arbitrators play a major DOHA: Qatar’s new commercial role in settling disputes, and help- arbitration law is expected to see ing dispense justice, pointing out the light of day in the first half of that arbitration is supporting next year, according to the Min- the judiciary and not competing ister of Justice, H E Dr Hassan with it. It provides alternatives Lahdan Saqr Al Mohannadi. to parties to settle commercial The Minister was speaking to disputes. QNA on the sidelines of the 11th Chairman of Qatar Interna- Conference of GCC Lawyers and tional Centre for Conciliation and Arbitrators that kicked off here Arbitration, Sheikh Thani bin Ali yesterday under the theme of “A Al Thani said that the conference promising Legal Environment for aims to coordinate between GCC Investment”. members to create a promising The Minister said that the investment environment. investment environment in the He added that this year’s edi- GCC states will see welcome tion has a number of propositions developments especially with to help the GCC move forward in regard to the legal systems and this regard. more specifically in the field of The GCC states seek to achieve arbitration. integration in all aspects, includ- Crowds joined the celebrations yesterday at Katara a day after the National Day. (ABDUL BASIT) The lawyers and arbitrators’ ing updating legislative systems, conference brings together every said the GCC Secretary-General, year lawyers, commercial arbitra- Dr Abdullatif Rashid Al Zayani. tors, legal experts and officials He pointed out that GCC lead- Katara keeps alive National Day fervour from all GCC states to discuss ers agreed in their last meeting the legal profession in the region held in Riyadh this month to DOHA: The Cultural Village, the number of visitors increased crowds at the celebrations as kids tures and traditions”. and obstacles hindering its prac- establish an Economic Commis- Katara, continued with National significantly this year, which in traditional attire performed Powered parachuting by per- tices and to disseminate the cul- sion and to speed up the finali- Day celebrations yesterday. Peo- indicates Katara’s success in on stage. sonnel from the Qatar Armed ture of arbitration, and encourage sation of economic legislations ple thronged the Katara beach, attracting visitors and illustrates A member of Katara’s National Forces, Harrods Village at Shake- respect for and adherence to legal to unify the legal environment of Esplanade and the amphithea- its position as a key destination Day celebrations’ Organising speare Street, ‘Colours of Patriot- verdicts. GCC states. This includes issu- tre and saw fireworks illuminate for the National Day not only Committee said, “Children have ism’ — a workshop organised for Speaking at the conference, ance of unified commercial laws, the sky. for Qataris, but also for tourists, presented their outstanding skills children on the beachfront and Saudi Arabia’s Bandar bin Sal- competition laws, commercial More than 48 events were lined expatriates and GCC nationals”. on stage even without proper art gallery were other highlights man Al Saud, honorary chairman fraud laws, and other laws, he up yesterday, the second day of Having visited several stalls rehearsals. The dances, games of National Day celebrations at of ad-hoc GCC Lawyers’ Asso- added. National Day celebrations at the at the Cultural Village, a Qatari, and other events inspired every- Katara. ciation, said: “Earlier, we were Al Zayani explained that GCC Cultural Village. Mohamed Nasser Al Ali, excit- one in the audience”. An exhibition of camel-riding depending on foreign lawyers states have developed laws to The events were held in asso- edly said: “The Qatar National Saif Rahim, an Asian expa- accessories, and demonstration of and arbitrators and today it is the eliminate all obstacles facing ciation with different local public Day offers an opportunity for the triate, said: “We rarely get an handicraft-making organised by time to depend on our own people, lawyers and involve them in the and private organisations. entire population to know more opportunity where members of Ooredoo were other highlights of fellow citizens of the GCC, as they development process. In his address on the occasion, about the country’s vibrant and different expatriate communities the celebrations. have the potential and the abil- Continued on page 4 Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, rich traditions”. meet at a single spot. It creates a Continued on page 4 ity to meet the aspirations in this General Manager of Katara, said: A host of cultural shows organ- feeling of oneness among us even regard of the leaders of the GCC THE PENINSULA “Compared to previous years, ised mainly for children drew though we belong to different cul- THE PENINSULA

Truce expected Home monitoring of as UN backs Syria peace plan heart patients soon By Fazeena Saleem heart failure and this number is expected UNITED NATIONS: The UN Secu- to increase or even double by the end of rity Council threw its unanimous DOHA: A new project to monitor patients 2015,” Dr Badr told The Peninsula. support Friday behind a plan to end with ‘advanced’ heart failure while they “A key benefit is that patients are more Syria’s brutal civil war by summon- are at home, is set to be launched in 2016 aware of the importance of seeing special- ing rebels and the regime to the by the Heart Failure Programme at the ised care for cardiovascular diseases and negotiating table. Heart Hospital of Hamad Medical Cor- the reputation of our clinic is spreading The US and Russian initiative, poration (HMC). – hence more patients are able to benefit which emerged from talks with a The project ‘Remote Monitoring,’ is a from our expertise,” he added. 17-nation group, foresees a rapid home telemonitoring approach that will Heart failure is caused by the heart ceasefire in the almost five-year con- allow the healthcare team to monitor a failing to pump enough blood around flict, perhaps as early as next month. patient’s vital signs and general condition the body at the right pressure. It usually If the plan brings Bashar Al Assad’s Al Sharq while the patient is at home, according to occurs when the heart muscles become regime to the table with the armed Jaber Al Harami (left), Editor-in-Chief of and Deputy CEO of Dar Al Sharq, receiving Dr Amr Mohamed Hamed Badr, Consult- too weak or stiff. Heart failure is a life opposition, it will allow Russian and the award from the Saudi Ambassador to Jordan, Prince Khaled bin Faisal bin Turkey Al Saud. ant Cardiologist and Director of the Heart threatening disease if not treated. It also US-led forces to focus their firepower Failure Programme at Heart Hospital, affects other organs, like kidney and on the Islamic State group. HMC. The Heart Failure Programme liver, thus leading to multiple-organ fail- “In January we hope and expect to provides a unique service to patients with ure. However, the survival rate after a be at the table and to be able to imple- Award for Al Sharq Editor-in-Chief ‘advanced’ heart failure. It has a multi- diagnosis of heart failure has improved ment a full ceasefire,” US Secretary disciplinary team consisting of cardiolo- universally in the past 30 years, accord- of State John Kerry told reporters. DOHA: Jaber Al Harami, lines of the Arab news world, is recognised by the gists specialising in heart failure, clinical ing to Dr Badr. “And that means all the barrel Editor-in-Chief of Al Sharq media forum in Amman. Arab League. A jury of aca- pharmacist and health educator nurses. The increase in unhealthy lifestyles bombs will stop, all the bombing, all and deputy CEO of Dar Al The Qatari Ambassa- demics and media experts The main role of this team is to make counteracts this. the shooting, all the attacks on either Sharq has been selected dor to Jordan, Bander bin selected the winners. a customised, treatment plan for each “The most common symptoms of heart side.” The Security Council met Fri- the best Arab media per- Mohammed Al Attiyah, Haithem Yousuf, a leading patient. The team also educates patients failure are breathlessness, fatigue and day after the latest round of talks son of the year (2015) by and a number of diplomats media figure and secretary and their family about the nature of their ankle swelling,” he said. by the International Syria Support the Jordan-based United and Arab media personali- general of UMAC told Al disease, and lifestyle changes to cope with Conditions that can lead to heart failure Group (ISSG), which had gathered in Arab Media Council ties were present. Sharq that Al Harami was heart failure. include reduced blood supply to the heart, New York to renew its push for peace. (UAMC). Qatari journalist from Al awarded for the “honesty It also provides a short stay unit for disease of valves of the heart, abnormal Attention now turns to Moscow Prince Khaled bin Faisal Jazeera Mohammed Sau- and seriousness” in his patients who need to be given intravenous heart rhythm due to birth defect, and and Riyadh, as Russia pressures bin Turkey Al Saud, Saudi doon Al Kuwari and Has- writings, his long experi- injections for a few hours only. long-term uncontrolled hypertension, Assad’s regime to agree to a cease- ambassador to Jordan san Habeeb from the UAE ence and personal integ- “Our programme is still fairly new but diabetes and renal failure. fire and Saudi Arabia wrangles the and Aql Beltagy, mayor won the Teyseer Jaber rity. is rapidly being established as a success- Heart failure can affect any age group, opposition to form a negotiating of Amman presented the prize for sports media. Continued on page 4 ful programme delivering real benefit to but the conditions are more common in team. award to Jaber Al Harami UAMC, an independent our patients. In 2014, we had more than older patients. AFP at a ceremony on the side- media forum in the Arab THE PENINSULA 1,200 visits to our clinic by patients with THE PENINSULA

SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03

Premier holds phone talks with Iraqi PM DOHA: Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani yesterday held telephone talks with Kids act as radio presenters his Iraqi counterpart Dr Haider Al Abadi and discussed developments in the kidnapping of Qataris in Iraq. The Premier praised the Iraqi government’s efforts to deal with the situation and hoped the Qataris QF Radio’s National Day activity draws crowds at Darb El-Saai tent would be released as soon as possible. Dr Abadi stressed that Iraqi security was working on getting the Qataris freed. DOHA: QF Radio, Qatar Foun- voice, it almost feels like I am on QNA dation’s (QF) in-house broadcast- television. I am thinking about ing station, is giving children being a reporter when I grow up,” opportunity to act as presenters he added. during National Day celebration Hannan Mohammed, 11-year- sessions at Darb El-Saai. old student at Umm Al Amad Taking place in a special booth Primary Independent School for in QF’s tent, schoolchildren learn Girls, said she wanted to become how to be radio presenters and get a radio presenter when she grew the chance to interview visitors. up. “Knowing that my voice is The activity aims to boost partici- heard by people makes me feel pants’ confidence and methods of famous, I want to be the person self-expression and enable them people listen to in cars on the way to think about potential career to school,” she said. paths, in line with QF’s overarch- Every afternoon throughout ing mission of unlocking human National Day celebrations, QF potential, said a statement. Radio has been broadcasting live Jawaher F Al Mana, Arabic coverage from Darb El-Saai, high- Station Supervisor, QF Radio, lighting activities at QF’s tent and English Modern School students participate in the QF Radio activity at said, “One of our objectives is to hosting interviews with visitors, Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’s invest in people and help them including QF management, fami- tent at Darb El-Saai as part of National Day celebrations. realise their full potential. We are lies and VIPs. doing that at QF’s Darb El-Saai On the response the booth has ting up these interviews gave us National Day under the umbrella tent as we are providing children received, Laura Finnerty, English the chance to celebrate more of ‘Sustainability’. Texas A&M A young participant holds the national flag at one of the events. and youth with opportunity to Station Supervisor, QF Radio, than the National Day, it gave us University at Qatar is hosting a learn how to be radio presenters said: “The activity is the best way opportunity to highlight QF’s suc- hands-on activity to raise aware- and media personalities.” to give people an idea about some cess this year and show off some ness about green energy. Visitors Catering to Arabic and English of the work we do. We wanted to QF pride,” she added. are given the chance to observe The Pearl-Qatar marks National speakers, the activity has proved provide something to our audi- Students from universities and experiment with alternative popular among children and ence that was not too challenging across QF are also benefitting green energy sources, such as parents. “This is the first time I and would be considered fun at from QF Radio at Darb El-Saai. wind and solar power. Day with series of events have spoken on the radio,” said the same time. Young men and woman are lining The Quranic Botanic Garden is DOHA: The Pearl-Qatar celebrated the National Day with activities, Mohammed Al Kaabi, 11-year-old “This encouraged people to tune up guests, conducting interviews holding activities and exhibiting including a colourful fireworks display. The celebration comprised Qatari student of Oxford English in, making them feel as though with them, which are edited and aspects of its garden. It is encour- recreational and educational programmes highlighting Qatar’s rich School. “It is interesting to know they are part of the National Day presented as in-depth reports on aging visitors to interact with a culture and heritage. that everybody can hear your experience, which is exciting. Set- QF Radio. virtual reality game and giving United Development Company (UDC), master developer of The them opportunity to contribute by Pearl-Qatar, organised the activities, including Al Ardha, the tradi- FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT adding to a piece of eco-friendly tional Qatari dance that symbolises national unity and strength. Three Visitors to the tent are also artwork. shows were held daily in an arena adjacent to the island’s car parking encouraged to show commitment Qatar Solar Technologies, area and attracted citizens, residents of the island and visitors from to protecting the environment. through a workshop, is distrib- other GCC countries. Fireworks display in the waterfront ‘Marsa A piece of eco-friendly artwork uting kits to enable visitors to Arabia’ area attracted thousands of visitors, igniting enthusiasm of of a boat by Qatar Green Building create innovative Qatari flag- the young and old. It lasted about 15 minutes, while Al Ardha involved Council has been created with lids decorated lanterns using solar adults and children at the island’s entrance. The events started on of water bottles, as an example of energy, stationery and recycled Wednesday and end this evening, reflecting the richness of authentic reusing plastic. materials. Reach Out To Asia Qatar folklore traditions. Traditional tents put up at 12 Croisette in QF recognises the importance is coordinating an activity that Porto Arabia attracted visitors, especially children and women, who of protecting the environment allows visitors to build notebooks enjoyed henna drawing and tasted Arabic coffee and dates. and has placed the issue of sus- to be donated to needy children, The tents also offered delicious food to visitors, who also made a tainability at the forefront of its using recycled paper. beeline to enjoy Karak Tea, the most popular drink at Qatar booth in agenda, and, through innovative The ‘Paper City Challenge’, Medina Centrale. They urged the island administration to fix a loca- initiatives, programmes and cen- organised by Msheireb Properties, tion for a Karak tea corner throughout the year. The Photography tres, plays an instrumental role enables visitors to create mini- Corner also attracted a large number of guests, as it displayed the best in bringing Qatar’s sustainability ature buildings from pre-recycled moments of National Day captured by photographers. Visitors contribute to a piece of eco-friendly artwork set up by Qatar Green efforts to life. printed carton materials. Building Council at Qatar Foundation’s tent at Darb El-Saai. Several QF entities and univer- THE PENINSULA sities are contributing to Qatar THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Most clinics at GCC lawyers’ forum opens Continued from page 1 Al Nuaimi stressed the need to HMC hospitals The conference is a good exam- speed up the issuance of Qatari legal ple of GCC states’ efforts to achieve practice law so it becomes a model further integration and cooperation, for other GCC states and said QLA to function as including in legal and arbitration is ready to put its experiences and fields, establish the principle of jus- efforts to help create a suitable envi- usual today tice and devote its three pillars of ronment for investment for the ben- outlining laws and systems, estab- efit of GCC societies. DOHA: Most clinics at Hamad lishment of courts and arbitration The forum will discuss promotion Medical Corporation (HMC) centres, and enhancing the role of of state’s trends to develop legal and hospitals will work as usual lawyers and arbitrators, he stressed. organisational frameworks for the today. Rashid Nasser Al Nuaimi, Chair- establishment of a law collage to pro- However, outpatient clinics at man, Qatar Lawyers’ Association mote legal awareness, establishment Women’s Hospital, Al Khor Hos- (QLA), said the two-day event aims of a financial centre, international pital, Rumailah Hospital - Plas- to help increase investment, simplify arbitrations centres and courts for tic Surgery, Dermatology and procedures and discuss the idea of settling commercial disputes. Therapy clinics — HMC Bone establishing a GCC Lawyers’ Asso- Lawyers’ profession and develop- and Joint Center will remain ciation. ing commercial, financial and invest- closed and patient appointments Advanced laws and regulations ment laws will be discussed and the Minister of Justice H E Dr Hassan Lahdan Saqr Al Mohannadi (second left), Bandar bin Salman Al Saud, will be rescheduled, HMC said that can cope with the rapid devel- last day will include a discussion Chairman, Ad-hoc GCC Lawyers Association (second right), Dr Abdullatif Rashid Al Zayani, Secretary- yesterday. opment of global trade is a signifi- on the establishment of executive General, GCC (left), and Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, Chairman, Qatar Chamber, at Hamad General Hospital, Al cant factor attracting investments courts. the opening of 11th GCC Lawyers and Arbitrators Conference yesterday. ABDUL BASIT Wakrah Hospital, Cuban Hospi- because investors seek protection. THE PENINSULA tal, National Center for Cancer Care and Research, Heart Hos- pital, Rumailah Hospital — The Physical Management and Reha- bilitation and Geriatrics clin- ics and the outpatient clinic at National Day festivities continue HMC’s Psychiatry Department will operate as normal. HMC’s Patient Contact Cen- tre is open today from 7am to 10pm and will contact patients to reschedule appointments as needed. The contact centre will also continue to make appointment reminder phone calls and send text message reminders to patients. Patients with any questions about their appointments can call 44395777 with any queries, HMC said. Award for Al Sharq Editor-in-Chief Continued from page 1 “By honouring Arab media per- sonalities, we aim to send a clear message about unifying Arab writers at a time we are marking Al Quds as Arab media capital for 2015,” said Yousuf. QC takes part in

Katara festivities Participants write patriotic messages on a wall and artistes perform at Katara while children draw sketches at Continued from page 1 Darb Al-Saai as part of National Day activities. SALIM MATRAMKOT and ABDUL BASIT

A parade by students of Qatar Leadership Academy of Qatar Foundation, exhibitions by Al Gannas Society, exhibition of tra- ditional tents and photo exhibi- Forbes Lux ties up with Digital Innovation, unveils products tion by Algalayel Championship, theatre shows and literary com- DOHA: Forbes Lux, the joint venture of ers, air purifiers and steam excess chlorine in water, reduc- petitions by Childhood Cultural Eureka Forbes, a multiproduct organi- cleaners, among others. ing hair fall, improving hair Centre, an exhibition of vintage sation that is part of India’s Shapoorji Forbes recently unveiled key shine and reducing premature cars by Al Nahdi Car Accessories, Pallonji Group, and Lux International, products in its portfolio of water greying. The Hair Guard con- were some of other highlights. the multinational direct selling com- purifiers and vacuum cleaning nects easily to a shower and Qatar Charity (QC), Qatar pany, has expanded in Qatar with a dis- systems now available in Qatar. comes with a patented KDF Youth Hobbies Centre, Mannai tribution tie-up with Digital Innovation, Aslam Karmali, CEO, Forbes filter cartridge. Corporation and Qatar Heritage a division of Video Home & Electronics Retail Division, said: “Qatar is Forbes Hot & Cold Water and Identity Centre also joined the Centre. one of the fastest growing mar- purifier with UV & UF tech- two-day National Day celebrations Headquartered in Switzerland, Forbes kets in the Middle East and nology, Forbes under the Sink at Katara. Lux redefines healthy lifestyles with its our expansion to the region is a employing RO technology, THE PENINSULA roster of water purifiers, vacuum clean- perfect fit to our international Forbes smart range water puri- growth plans. We are bringing fiers that employ cross beam UV the brand leadership of Eureka technology and Forbes Nectar Forbes, the direct selling capa- with a multistage purification bilities of Lux International and Sajed Jassim Sulaiman, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, Video which requires no electricity, are the market leadership of Video Home and Electronics (Video Home); C V Rappai, CEO, Video Home; some water purifiers from the Home & Electronic Centre to Anurag Guglani, General Manager, Better Life; Aslam Karmali, CEO, range showcased at the launch. offer customers a refreshing and Consumer Division, Eureka Forbes; Rohit Pandit, CEO, Consumer They are certified by over 110 healthy lifestyle experience.” Electronics, Video Home; and other officials during the launch of Forbes labs globally. Also unveiled were C V Rappai, Director & CEO, products. SALIM MATRAMKOT the lightweight Forbes Easy Video Home & Electronic Cen- Clean portable vacuum cleaner tre, said: “Today, customers are contributes to their overall well- water purifier which has chem- and Forbes Car Vacuum cleaner, more health and environment- being.” The water purifier range ical-free purification process under home cleaning solution conscious and seek products that employs advanced technolo- which removes all the bacteria, with handy vacuum cleaners bring a value addition to their gies like reverse osmosis (RO), virus and cysts from drinking with powerful suction force. lives. Water purifier and vac- ultraviolet (UV), ultrafiltration water. It is equipped with the Digital Innovation provides free uum cleaning products of Forbes (UF) and offline, which ensure advanced auto shut off system, installation of products that Lux blend integral aspects the highest hygiene standards. which stops the process if the require installation and service customers seek in their home Forbes Lux has launched Forbes cartridge life is exhausted. when required by customers. appliance of choice: Quality, Nectar, a smart and consumer Forbes Lux has also launched durability, efficiency and how it friendly multi-stage storage Hair Guard, which removes THE PENINSULA Families visit Al Zubara Fort

Maintenance work in progress at Al Zubara Fort, about 105km northwest of Doha. Many expatriate families vis- ited the heritage site yesterday. SALIM MATRAMKOT SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 GULF / MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

Iraq minister Yemen negotiators to form truce panel predicts Loyalist forces advance against rebels as fighting rages in Nihm district Ramadi victory

GENEVA: Yemeni negotiators humanitarian crisis. Arabia and other Arab states another source close to the talks have laid siege to Nihm’s Fardha by year-end taking part in UN-sponsored A supposed one-week truce in March to launch a wide-scale said. military base, northeast of the peace talks agreed yesterday to came under strain on Friday bombing campaign. Hospital sources said yester- capital. BAGHDAD: Iraq’s defence min- form a committee to oversee a when troops loyal to Hadi seized The UN talks started away day that limited medical aid had Despite the proximity, the ister predicted yesterday that fragile ceasefire after fresh fight- an important northwestern city from television cameras on Tues- reached a few Houthi-controlled roughly 40km separating Nihm security forces backed by US-led ing imperilled their efforts to end and a military base from Houthis day and have been marked by dis- districts in the central city of Taiz, from Sana’a is mostly rugged coalition air strikes would retake Yemen’s civil war, sources close to who still control the capital Sanaa, trust, with each side accusing the one of the worst-affected cities. mountainous terrain. full control of the city of Ramadi the talks said. residents and tribal sources said. other of violating the truce. Meanwhile, fighting raged On Friday, loyalists seized by the end of the year. They said the committee would Planes and gunboats from a Face-to-face talks between between Yemeni government Hazm, capital of Jawf province, “I met with the Joint Operations be headed by a Lebanese army Saudi-led military coalition also Hadi’s government and the forces and Iran-backed rebels. to the northeast of Sana’a. Command and they confirmed to general and consist of representa- bombarded targets in northern Houthi group have not occurred Loyalists were within 40km By yesterday, they had me that we will regain all of the tives from the Saudi-backed gov- Yemen, residents said. since Wednesday evening, after of the rebel-held capital as they extended their gains in Jawf, city of Ramadi by the end of this ernment of Yemen’s President The United Nations Special the Houthis rejected demands for pressed their advance against the capturing Al Ghayl and Al Maton month,” Khaled Al Obeidi said. Abdrabuh Mansur Hadi and from Envoy for Yemen voiced deep the release of detained senior offi- Shia insurgents, military sources districts, according to sources in Earlier this month, forces led by the rival Houthi movement, which concern at “numerous reports cials, including Yemen’s defence said, in disregard of a UN-bro- the pro-Hadi Popular Resistance Iraq’s elite counter-terrorism serv- is allied to Iran. of violations of the cessation of minister and Hadi’s brother, said kered ceasefire. militia. ice retook Al Tameem, a south- Both sides arrived at a hotel in hostilities”, a UN statement said sources close to the talks. Pro-Hadi forces supported by The two areas fell after clashes western neighbourhood of Ramadi the Swiss city of Biel yesterday to on Friday. The UN special envoy, Ismail a Saudi-led coalition were keep- between advancing forces and from the Islamic State group. attend a fifth day of talks aimed Yemen, which was swept by Ould Cheikh Ahmed, is shuttling ing up pressure in Nihm district, rebels and renegade troops loyal IS took full control of Ramadi at halting the eight-month con- mass Arab Spring-inspired between the two sides to try and Sana’a province, after significant to former president Ali Abdullah in mid-May, in what was Bagh- flict in the Arab world’s poorest protests in 2011, was this year bridge differences. gains in Marib province, east of Saleh, said Ameen Al Ukaymi, a dad’s most stinging defeat since nation, which has killed thou- plunged into war after the The Houthis say they are the capital. tribal chief of the Popular Resist- it launched a counter-offensive to sands of people and caused wide- Houthis overthrew the Sanaa ready to free the prisoners once The forces loyal to president ance. regain the large regions the jihad- spread destruction and a major government, prompting Saudi a permanent ceasefire is agreed, Hadi, and allied tribes in the area, AGENCIES ists captured in the summer of 2014. The offensive in Al Tameem this month marked a significant step in long-delayed efforts to recapture the city, around 100km west of Baghdad and capital of the Al Shabaab car bomb kills vast province of Anbar. “The reason the battle took so long was to avoid casualties among our forces and also to three in Mogadishu avoid civilian casualties,” Obeidi said. “There are still many civil- MOGADISHU: A car bomb exploded than a dozen people were killed. ians in the city.” Jihadists still yesterday on a busy street in the Somali A reporter said the explosion on Sat- holed up in the city centre and capital Mogadishu, killing at least three urday was followed by gunfire, and smoke using tunnels to avoid air strikes people and wounding at least eight, a could be seen rising from the scene. Part may number no more than 300, police officer said. of a supermarket and a number of cars according to military officials. The number of casualties is likely to were destroyed. IS fighters attacking from increase, police Major Nur Farah said “We were behind the blast operation. northwest of Ramadi with suicide at the scene of the blast, which was Some government officials and soldiers car bombs attempted to retake claimed by Al Qaeda-linked Al Shabaab died and others were injured,” Sheikh control of the key Palestine bridge militants. “The place is busy with hotels Abdiasis Abu Musab, an Al Shabaab in recent days but Iraqi forces still and supermarkets. Most of the casualties spokesman, said yesterday, without giv- have the upper hand. “The city of are pedestrians. The casualty number is ing details of the number of dead. Ramadi has now been fully iso- sure to rise,” Farah said by phone. Mohamed Ismail, a nurse at Madina lated, and the Iraqi security forces Al Shabaab fighters have launched hospital, said they had received 21 are beginning to conduct their frequent attacks in Mogadishu in their wounded people, mostly civilians. The clearing operations,” the coalition’s bid to topple the Western-backed gov- government is battling to rebuild Somalia Baghdad-based spokesman, Colo- ernment, including a major assault on a after more than two decades of conflict. nel Steve Warren, said on Friday. hotel used by government officials and A Somali policeman walks past a damaged car at the scene of the blast near Al Kowsar supermarket lawmakers in November, in which more REUTERS in Mogadishu yesterday. AFP 70 Kurdish militants killed in southeast: Turkish military

DIYARBAKIR: Some 70 Kurd- security forces and the civilians One of two government soldiers ish insurgents and two Turkish living in the region.” wounded in Cizre on Friday had soldiers have been killed in four One Turkish soldier was killed succumbed to his injuries, the days of fighting across southeast and another was lightly wounded military said. Turkey as security forces ramp on Saturday in clashes in Sur dis- The head of the armed forces, up operations against the mili- trict, which has remained under General Hulusi Akar, and other tant Kurdistan Workers Party a police curfew for the past two senior commanders visited troops (PKK), security sources and the weeks, in the predominantly in the region yesterday and were military said on Saturday. Kurdish Diyarbakir province. briefed on the operations. The military said Turkish Two special forces officers were Although traditionally rooted warplanes taking off from their also wounded as clashes continued in the countryside, the PKK has southeastern base in Diyarbakir in the district. shifted its focus in recent years to had also bombarded PKK camps In the border town of Nusaybin, towns and cities in the southeast, in northern Iraq on Friday, where a police curfew was in place setting up barricades and digging destroying shelters and weapon in four districts, three police offic- trenches to keep security forces posts. ers were wounded when PKK mil- away. A two-year ceasefire between itants launched a rocket attack Turkish President Tayyip Turkey and the PKK fell apart on an armoured police vehicle, Erdogan said this week that in July, shattering peace talks security sources said. Kurdish militants would be and reviving a conflict that has The military said the number “annihilated” in their trenches afflicted the mainly Kurdish of Kurdish militants killed in and houses and that the oper- southeast for three decades, kill- four days of operations in Cizre ations would continue until ing more than 40,000 people. and Silopi, near the Syrian and the area was “cleansed” of the “The operations in the region... Iraqi borders, had risen to 69. The militants and their barricades will continue with determination towns, both under curfew, are destroyed. until public order is restored,” the central targets in Turkey’s lat- Peace talks between jailed PKK army said in a statement carried est anti-PKK offensive, in which leader Abdullah Ocalan and the by the semi-state Anadolu news media reports say 10,000 police state ground to a halt early this agency. “The priority during the and troops, backed by tanks, are year. operations is the safety of our taking part. REUTERS

Tehran closes schools due to air pollution

TEHRAN: Iran is to close schools for two days in Tehran, an official said yesterday, following air pollution three times the acceptable level that has blanketed the city in smog. Air quality in Iran’s capital was the worst for at least nine months this week, media said, and airborne particles from car emissions were at “seven times the standard level”. “All schools will be closed on Sunday in Tehran and in the... towns of Shahr-Rey and Islam-Shahr (both south of the capital),” said environment official Mohammad Hadi Heydarzadeh. “If the pollution continues, schools will also be closed on Monday,” he said on state television. Traffic will be limited in the city centre and some factories will be closed, media reported. The official IRNA news agency said that schools will also shut in Alborz province, west of Tehran.

AFP SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / AFRICA

Celebrity crane Ethiopia protests Beijing slams US over leave 75 dead

NAIROBI: At least 75 people have been killed during weeks of protests in Ethiopia which have South China Sea flypast seen soldiers and police firing on demonstrators, Human Rights Watch said yesterday. One US bomber flew within two nautical miles of island “Police and military forces have fired on demonstrations, BEIJING: Two US B-52 bombers B-52 bombers, one of the aircraft destroyer near some of the con- killing at least 75 protesters and flew close to islands in the flash- unintentionally flew within two structions in recent months. wounding many others, accord- point South China Sea this month nautical miles of an artificially In October, Washington infu- ing to activists,” HRW said in a in a “serious military provoca- constructed island, the Wall riated Beijing when the USS statement. tion”, Beijing said yesterday, as Street Journal quoted Pentagon Lassen guided missile destroyer There was no immediate tensions simmer in the disputed officials as saying on Friday. sailed within 12 nautical miles response from Addis Ababa, but waterway. This may have been because of of at least one land formation it has previously put the toll at China insists it has sovereignty bad weather conditions, according claimed by China in the disputed five dead. over virtually all of the resource- to officials quoted in the newspa- Spratlys. Government spokesman rich sea, conflicting with the vari- per. Washington said yesterday “The United States has con- A Siberian white crane is surrounded by animal welfare activists Getachew Reda said the “peace- ous claims of several neighbouring it routinely conducts training tinuously sent military ships and moments after its release at a wetland in New Taipei City, in northern ful demonstrations” that began nations, and US activity in the missions in the region, including planes to make a show of force Taiwan’s Jinshan district, yesterday. The rare crane, that has become a last month had escalated into area has provoked Beijing’s ire the South China Sea, adding that and create tensions in the waters celebrity in Taiwan after getting lost on its journey from Siberia in 2014, violence, accusing protesters of several times in recent months. it was investigating the reports and airspace” of the South China was released following its rescue after it was found at the Songshan “terrorising the civilians.” “In the morning of 10 Decem- of the bomber near the Spratly Sea, Beijing’s defence ministry railway station in Taipei. The protests began in Novem- ber, two US B-52 bombers entered chain. said earlier Saturday. ber when students opposed gov- air space over the Chinese Nansha “The Chinese have raised con- China’s military conducted war ernment proposals to take over islands and nearby areas without cerns with us about the flight games in the area this week, with territory in several towns in the authorisation,” Beijing’s defence path of a recent training mis- warships, submarines and fighter Oromia region, sparking fears ministry said, using the Chinese sion. We are looking into the mat- jets deployed over a “range of sev- that Addis Ababa was looking to name for the Spratly Islands. ter,” Pentagon spokesman Mark eral thousand kilometres”, the Floods threaten more grab land traditionally occupied “This behaviour is a serious Wright said. People’s Liberation Army Daily by the Oromo people, the coun- military provocation which com- The United States has previ- said. try’s largest ethnic group. plicates the general situation in ously argued for its right to free- Beijing’s claims in the sea con- Demonstrations have taken the South China Sea, (contribut- dom of navigation in the South flict with those of its regional damage in Philippines place in the towns of Haramaya, ing) to the militarisation of the China Sea and is critical of China neighbours Vietnam, Malaysia, Jarso, Walliso and Robe among region,” the ministry said in a building artificial islands there. the Philippines, Taiwan and Bru- MANILA: Heavy rains pum- calamity to “hasten the rescue, others. statement. It has flown other B-52 bomb- nei. melled the entire Philippines yes- recovery, relief and rehabilitation “Human Rights Watch received During the mission by the two ers and sailed a guided-missile AFP terday, threatening to aggravate efforts,” according to his spokes- credible reports that security flooding that has prompted the man, Herminio Coloma. forces shot dozens of protesters in government to declare a state of The weather bureau issued a Shewa and Wollega zones, west of “national calamity”. warning of up to 30 millimetres Addis Ababa, in early December,” The death toll after a week of of rain per hour in the central HRW added. devastating weather has risen islands of Cebu, Negros and Bohol, “Several people described see- to 35, according to confirmed while residents were advised to be ing security forces in the town of Rwandans approve extension reports from national and local on alert for possible evacuation. Walliso, 100 kilometres southwest disaster monitoring agencies. The three Visayas islands, with of Addis Ababa, shoot into crowds A tropical depression that has a combined population of 7.4 mil- of protesters in December, leaving weakened into a low pressure area lion people, are home to major bodies lying in the street.” of presidential term limits brought rains to the central Visa- tourism, trading and agricultural Pictures have appeared on yas islands and Mindanao, the hubs. social media, apparently showing KIGALI: Rwandans voted over- European Union delegation that Party, the only real opposition main southern island, according Close to 10,000 people were bloodied protestors and armed whelmingly to support changes there was no independent moni- party, tried to get the constitu- to the government weather sta- evacuated from the poor farm- police firing tear gas at student to the constitution that would toring in place during the vote. tional changes blocked through tion. Cold monsoon winds blow- ing region of Caraga in Mindanao demonstrators. allow President Paul Kagame to “I don’t see any basis on which the courts but this was rejected. ing from the northeast brought before the latest storm, locally “The Ethiopian government’s extend his term in office, possi- one can say that there were no The party also said it was rains to Luzon, the main northern named Onyok, made landfall Fri- response to the Oromia pro- bly until 2034, provisional results independent observers. We reg- not given a chance to campaign island, where large farming com- day night, the national disaster tests has resulted in scores showed yesterday. Kagame, 58, istered 630 observers and all are against the changes. munities have been submerged agency said. dead and a rapidly rising risk would be able to run again in 2017 independent,” he said. “The Democratic Green Party in mostly waist-deep floods from There were no immediate of greater bloodshed, The gov- after his second term ends. He The number of those who ... will not give up on the strug- Typhoon Melor, which hit at the reports on the effects of the storm ernment’s labelling of largely has been president since 2000 voted in favour of the changes gle to make Rwanda a vibrant start of the week. early Saturday. peaceful protesters as ‘terrorists’ but effectively in control since his was 6.16 million. The commission democracy. We will continue to Areas inundated by Melor In Luzon, 140,000 people dis- and deploying military forces is rebel force marched into Kigali in released some partial results late work towards achieving a peace- have barely recovered from floods placed by Melor remained in a very dangerous escalation of 1994 to end a genocide. on Friday and final results are ful transfer of power in Rwanda,” brought by Typhoon Koppu in evacuation centres. this volatile situation,” HRW’s “The electoral commission expected yesterday. The vote took Frank Habineza, the party’s October. The Philippines, a nation of 100 Leslie Lefkow said declares in public that 98.3 per- place despite criticism of such an president, said in a statement “Almost the entire Philippines million, is battered by an average AFP cent of voting Rwandans accepted amendment by the United States last Friday. Despite its success is experiencing rains. More floods of 20 typhoon per year, many of the constitution as amended in and other Western donors. in delivering economic and social are possible,” state weather fore- them deadly. 2015,” National Electoral Com- Kagame has not said if he change, rights groups accuse caster Robert Badrina said. In 2013, Super Typhoon Haiyan mission chairman Kalisa Mbanda would run again, but he is widely Kagame’s government of stifling “We expect the rains to peak wiped out entire fishing commu- told a news conference after last expected to. He said on Friday the media and political opposi- today. The weather will start to nities in the central islands, leav- Friday’s vote. the vote to change the constitu- tion, a charge it denies. improve tomorrow,” he said. ing 7,350 people dead or missing. Somali car Mbanda rejected a statement tion was the people’s choice. President Benigno Aquino issued last Friday by the local The tiny Democratic Green REUTERS declared a state of national AFP explosion kills three, eight hurt S Korea protest MOGADISHU: A car bomb exploded yesterday on a busy street in the Somali capital Seychelles president re-elected, Mogadishu, killing three peo- ple and wounding eight, a police officer said. The toll is likely to opposition cries foul rise, Police Major Nur Farah said at the scene of the blast. “The place is busy with hotels VICTORIA: Incumbent James James Michel as the winner of this he said at the electoral commis- and supermarkets. Most of the Michel won the run-off vote in election,” Hendrick Gappy, chair- sion headquarters right after the casualties are pedestrians. The Seychelles’ presidential elec- man of the Seychelles Electoral result announcement. casualty number is sure to rise,” tion, after securing 50.2 percent Commission, said early yesterday Michel, whose ruling Parti Farah said over the phone. of votes cast, the election com- after the counting of the ballots Lepep party, or People’s Party in It was not immediately clear mission said yesterday, while ended. The run-off vote was held Creole, has been in power for 38 who was behind the explosion and the opposition cried foul over after none of six candidates won years, was seen having the edge shooting, but Al Qaeda-linked al irregularities. Voting started last the necessary 50 percent of votes over Ramkalawan, a 54-year-old Shabaab has in the past claimed Wednesday and ran for three days needed to be declared a winner in Anglican priest-turned-politician. responsibility for such actions in because of huge distances between the first round held on December Ramkalawan of the Seychelles its campaign to topple the West- some of the 115 islands that are 3-5. National Party demanded a ern-backed government. home to 93,000 people. Some Michel, 71, campaigned for a recount. Michel can only serve The government is battling South Korean protesters march while policemen stand guard during 62,831 people voted in the run-off. third term by touting the Indian three elected terms. He was part to rebuild Somalia after more a rally against government policies, in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday. Michel secured 193 more votes Ocean archipelago’s economic of a group that seized power in than two decades of conflict. Al The protesters demanded improvement of the government’s labour than his rival Wavel Ramkalawan, expansion under his watch. a bloodless coup in 1977 and his Shabaab ruled much of Somalia policy and the resignation of President Park Geun-Hye. who said he rejected the results “We missed victory by about party has won elections since until 2011, when it was driven “on the grounds of many irregu- 2 percent last time, which we 1993 when multi-party politics out of Mogadishu by African and larities”. have now obtained, so today we resumed. Somali troops. “I therefore declare president will celebrate with a motorcade,” REUTERS REUTERS Ship with over 100 on board adrift off Sulawesi Nigeria commutes troops’ death sentences for mutiny JAKARTA: A ship carrying vessel sent out a distress signal, more than 100 passengers was claiming the ship “had an acci- LAGOS: Nigerian military has including criminal conspiracy and tember and December 2014, with priating billions of dollars meant adrift in rough seas off the coast dent as a result of large waves 4 commuted the death sentences conspiracy to commit mutiny. their death sentences confirmed to buy weapons to fight the insur- of Indonesia’s Sulawesi yesterday, to 5 metres high”, Barata said in handed to 66 soldiers for mutiny “They were tried, discharged by a military council in Janu- gents. officials said, contradicting ear- a statement. over claims they refused to fight on some charges but found guilty ary and March this year. Under Nigeria’s military has been lier media reports that the vessel Bambang Soelistyo, chief of Boko Haram Islamists, a spokes- and convicted on other charges -- the regime of former president under pressure to end the six- had sunk. Indonesia’s National Search and man said yesterday. which included mutiny,” he said. Goodluck Jonathan, Boko Haram year Boko Haram insurgency “The ship has not sunk,” South Rescue Team Agency, said a team Instead, each soldier will serve “Out of that number, 66 were captured swathes of territory in that has claimed at least 17,000 Sulawesi police spokesman Frans of rescuers was trying to reach a 10-year prison term. “The death found guilty on some of the the restive northeast as Nigerian lives and forced some 2.6 million Barung said by phone, adding that the stricken ship. sentences by firing squad passed charges and sentenced to death, soldiers refused to deploy for to flee their homes. Buhari who port authorities lost contact with “The ship had 122 people on on 66 soldiers in January and while five were discharged and operations and even fled before took over in May, has given the the vessel after its engine broke board. The team from our head- March 2015 by separate general acquitted and one was given 28 and during attacks. military until the month’s end to down. quarters ... all that we have, we court martials have been com- days imprisonment with hard The soldiers reportedly com- end the unrest. Transport ministry spokesman are deploying there but we’re fac- muted to 10 years imprisonment labour,” he said. plained they did not have enough Boko Haram which seeks to J A Barata said there were 118 ing high waves,” he said. each,” Colonel Sani Usman said in The military said in May that weapons to fight the better-armed impose a hardline Islamic state people on board the passenger News website Detik.com earlier a statement. The sentences were 579 officers and soldiers were Islamists. in northern Nigeria has also car- ferry, including 19 children and said 108 people were on board the commuted following a review by facing two separate trials over Former national security ried out cross-border attacks in 10 crew, when it left Kolaka in ship, which was heading for South the military authorities. indiscipline. The 66 had been adviser Sambo Dasuki and other Chad, Niger and Cameroon. southeast Sulawesi last morning. Sulawesi. Usman said 71 soldiers were condemned to die by a military high-profile suspects are cur- Later in the afternoon, the AGENCIES arraigned on several charges, tribunal in two batches in Sep- rently facing trial for misappro- AFP SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 ASIA / PAKISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Afghan stoves Don’t speak Pakistan Taliban reject against India, Sharif tells his IS chief’s ‘caliph’ claim ministers ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Baghdadi’s men kill innocent mujahideen, says group Minister Nawaz Sharif has stopped his ministers from giv- DERA ISMAIL KHAN : Paki- dadi has no such command; he has militants fighting to overthrow ing anti-India statements so that stan’s Taliban have rejected command over a specific people the government. the peace process is not hit, an Islamic State leader Abu Bakr Al and territory,” the Pakistan Tali- The Pakistani Taliban have official has said. Baghdadi’s claim to be the global ban said in a statement. been beset by bitter internal rival- A close aide to Sharif said on leader of all Muslims, the move- “Baghdadi is not a Islamic Kha- ries in the recent past, with the Friday that ministers and senior ment said in a statement seen lifa because his selection is not influential Mehsud tribal faction officials had been asked not to yesterday. according to Islamic rules,” the of the group refusing to accept issue any statement that could The Pakistani Taliban’s state- statement said, adding that the IS the authority of Mullah Fazlullah, damage the peace process. ment comes after a similar leader had little control in Mus- who came to power in late 2013. “There will be statements rejection by the Afghan Taliban lim countries like Egypt, Libya, IS, in an effort to extend its Afghan women pass by a shop selling stoves in Herat, Afghanistan, only that encourage the dialogue following pledges of allegiance Yemen and Afghanistan. global reach, could exploit these yesterday. The stoves are primarily used for heating when temperatures process rather than digging out from low-level commanders of The Pakistani Taliban operate rivalries to its advantage, wad- drop below zero after heavy snowfall in winter. They are mostly fed with the past. The PM has asked the both Islamist movements to the separately from the Afghan insur- ing into a region ripe with fierce wood, but oil is also an option in some models. A labourer making a close aides and cabinet members Middle East-based Islamic State gents of the same name, but are anti-Western ideology and full of stove gets paid around 200 to 300 Afghani ($4-5) a day. The stove is to promote peace,” The Nation (IS). loosely aligned with them. young unemployed men ready to placed under a small table covered with a heavy blanket, which people quoted an official as saying. Last year, IS, an Al Qaeda off- Late last year, a few breakaway take up guns and fight for Islam. use to warm their feet. He said Sharif was optimis- shoot, proclaimed its leader as factions of the Pakistani Taliban In its latest statement, the tic about better ties with India, “caliph” — the head of the state. declared allegiance to Islamic Pakistani Taliban, like the Afghan which would benefit the whole Al-Baghdadi aspires to establish State and ordered militants Taliban, also condemn the ‘bar- region. a global caliphate with himself at across the region to join its cam- barity’ of Islamic State’s rule. Sharif was annoyed by state- its head. paign to set up a global Islamic “Baghdadi’s caliphate is ments from India that New Delhi The latest statement from the caliphate. not Islamic because in a real US prefers to deal only wanted to discuss Pakistan Pakistani Taliban comes amid Pakistani authorities say IS has caliphate you provide real justice occupied Kashmir in talks, but speculation that the movement’s no financial ties with any Paki- while Baghdadi’s men kill many understands this is not Inidan leadership, whose goal is to topple stani group. But there are con- innocent mujahideen (fighters) government’s policy, the official the government of prime minister cerns about further turmoil in the of other groups,” the statement with military regimes added. Nawaz Sharif and set up a sharia region as US-led foreign troops said. Sharif, the official said, wanted state, is actually wary of IS, which withdraw from Afghanistan, with Earlier this year, the Afghan to give top priority to Kashmir, is driven by different ambitions groups like the Haqqani network Taliban sent a letter to Al Bagh- terrorism and trade when the two that have little to do with South and IS likely to exploit the secu- dadi to stop recruiting in Afghan- in Pakistan: Ex-FM sides discuss peace. Asia. rity vacuum. istan, saying there is room for Another official said Sharif and “Baghdadi is not Khalifa (cal- The entry of Islamic State, only “one flag, one leadership” in DOHA: Former Foreign Min- Khar’s term in president Zard- the military leadership were on iph) because in Islam, Khalifa while its numbers remain small, their fight to re-establish strict ister Hina Rabbani Khar has ari’s government was marked by the same page to make peace with means that he has command over will also complicate Pakistan’s Islamist rule. defended Pakistan’s civilian reports of human rights abuses India. all the Muslim world, while Bagh- fight against indigenous Islamist REUTERS leadership and her government’s by the Pakistan military, stated “There is no difference of opin- role in the country’s disrupted the host. Khar was asked how she ion and both agree that there democratic process, saying that addressed these concerns, or if should be no compromise on the the US government’s preference she merely “threw them in the stated position on key issues,” he Indonesia landslide for dealing with military regimes bin”. added. had resulted in the pre-eminence Despite her shortcomings in An interaction between Sharif ‘Sharif, Modi of military influence in Pakistan. dealing with the military’s human and his Indian counterpart “The US government has had right abuses, Khar asserted that Narendra Modi in Paris and sub- have keys to a long history of immense fas- she was always “fiercely independ- sequent meeting of the National cination with the military of ent” and was never pushed by the Security Advisors in Bangkok set our differences’ Pakistan,” Khar asserted in an military to direct policy matters. the pace for improvement in the interview with Mehdi Hasan on She added that she only con- bilateral ties. LAHORE: Veteran actor Om Al Jazeera’s “Head to Head”. sulted the military leadership in External Affairs Minister Puri says Prime Minister Naren- Despite being pushed on this matters where they were “rel- Sushma Swaraj also visited Paki- dra Modi and his Pakistani point, Khar refused to concede evant stakeholders”. stan on December 8 to attend the counterpart Nawaz Sharif have that the Pakistani military “runs “On issues on which I thought Heart of Asia conference. the keys to unlock differences the show”, though she admitted they were not relevant stakehold- She met Sharif and his advisor between their countries. that the “military has historically ers, for instance trade with India, on foreign affairs Sartaj Aziz on The thespian, who has worked played a much a larger role than I didn’t,” she explained. “It’s none the sidelines of the conference. in Indian as well as Pakistani the Constitution should permit”. of their business”. It is expected that Sharif projects, also shared that he had The US, she said, was complicit A few days ago, a debate held and Modi will meet again in got much love from both sides of in causing a constant disruption in Pakistan’s Senate to mark the Switzerland in January. The the border. He yearns to come in Pakistan’s democratic process International Day of Democracy two leaders will be together on back to Pakistan every year. by propping up one military dic- highlighted how difficult it can be January 20 to attend the 46th “There are two locks on Paki- tatorship after another. to sustain democratic practices in annual meeting of the World Eco- stan and India sides and the keys “When Ziaul Haq came in, the country. nomic Forum in Davos-Klosters. to these locks are in the hands of when Musharraf came in, Paki- Senate Chairman Raza Rab- India’s outgoing High Commis- Nawaz Sharif and Modi. Unlock- stan got the best possible military bani said that tensions between sioner to Pakistan TCA Raghavan ing these will afford people on and civil assistance ever possible,” the civilian government and the last Thursday said the relations both sides an opportunity to she remarked. military were growing once again. between the two countries were interact with each other,” Om Khar stated that a civilian- The daily News International heading towards betterment. Puri said. He shared memories made constitution - one without said, “We certainly do not need Analysts said it was a positive of his film journey at the Inter- any amendments - had only been another military intervention in development that Pakistan and Indonesian soldiers search for victims of a landslide in West Lombok, national Film Festival at the applicable in Pakistan twice; once a country that has seen far too India agreed to resume compre- West Nusa Tenggara, Indonesia, yesterday. Four people were reported Alhamra Art Center on Friday. for four years after 2010, and many of them, and has suffered hensive dialogue to resolve all out- dead in the landslide caused by heavy rain. another for two years from 1956 as a result.” standing issues. IANS to 1958. IANS IANS

Beijing residents question air pollution alert

BEIJING: China’s capital Beijing was bracing for four days of choking smog starting yesterday, but residents said the haze was less severe than forecast, with some questioning why the government had issued its highest air pollution alert. China had warned residents across a large part of its north on Friday to prepare for severe smog arriving over the weekend, the worst of which would hit Beijing, prompting the capital to issue its second ever “red alert”. A red alert is triggered when the government believes air quality will surpass a level of 200 on an index that measures various pollutants for at least three days. The US government deems a level of more than 200 to be “very unhealthy”. Last morning the Beijing Municipal Environmental Monitoring Center was showing an air quality reading of 104. “Today I have to work. And where is the smog?” posted one Beijing resident on Weibo, China’s Twitter equiva- lent. “The smog is not so bad. Why do they have driving restrictions?” said another Weibo user in the capital. The Beijing city government issued its first “red alert” last week following criticism that previous bouts of smog had failed to trigger the highest warning level. In Beijing, a red alert means around half the vehicles are removed from the roads, with an odd-even licence plate system enforced. Schools are recommended to close and outdoor construction is banned. Wang Bin, head of the emergency response division of the Beijing Municipal Environmental Protection Bureau, said that measures were taken in advance to reduce the impact of the pollution and help people to prepare, the official Xinhua news agency reported. REUTERS

SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

Pictures by ABDUL BASIT Folklore shows wow visitors Dar Al Sharq’s Shopping Festival Bazaar rolls on

atari folklore pres- a variety of traditional Iraqi and ers and Katara Village visitors are on display at the stalls of the entations came Shami folklore presentations, witness their latest products and exhibitors. alive at Katara courtesy folk art troupe Layaly services throughout the week. The Shopping Bazaar, that began Village yester- Biladna. The exhibitors include Jumbo on December 17, ends on Decem- day, courtesy folk Patrons of the Shopping Bazaar Electronics, Gautier, Iranian ber 23. The Bazaar is organised by art troupe Layaly were witness to folklore songs and Carpets Corner, Starlink, VLCC, Dar Al Sharq in collaboration with QBiladna, as Dar Al Sharq cel- dances on the night of December fashion style, Logic Group and Katara Hall who assisted the pub- ebrated Qatar National Day with 18 which continued into Decem- others. Accessories and apparels lication group with the prepara- grand festivities as a part of its ber 19, the third day of the Bazaar. for men, women and children, tions needed to make the Shopping very own Shopping Bazaar. The Shopping Bazaar, located cosmetics and beauty products, Bazaar a huge success. The programmes on National in Katara Hall, gives exhibitors electronic items, carpets, furnish- Ali Wahba, Advertising Man- Day included, among other shows, the exclusivity to present custom- ings and other household items ager of Al Sharq & The Peninsula, said: “We are glad that we got the chance to entertain bazaar-goers during National Day. It was such a joyous occasion, and we wanted the celebrations to feel authentic, traditional and to inspire a sense of patriotism into our guests.” He added: “The merriment still continues at the Shopping Bazaar for the third day. We have Middle East folklore presentations that are set to inspire and entertain our guests, and that would com- including washing machines, Manager, said: “We are pleased to pliment the ambiance at Katara refrigerators, freezers, microwave be part of this Shopping Bazaar. Village. We plan ahead so that ovens and vacuum cleaners from It gives us a chance to be able to the whole family could be enter- world-renowned brands. connect with our clients and get tained.” “We are delighted to be part of introduced to Katara Village goers Tadmur Trading, Qatar’s lead- the Shopping Festival Bazaar, as as well. We offer our clients the ing retailer of electronics and it presents us with an opportunity best quality Persian carpets that home appliances, has rented out a to be visible and interact with our are world renowned and we hope huge stall at the Shopping Bazaar. clients. Our aim is to create value that this bazaar would grant us Shady Halawa, Sales Executive and exceed customer expectations even more visibility, as it is impor- at Tadmur Trading, said: “Our by providing highly innovative tant to us to always be available to home appliances division pro- products.” our clients all over Qatar.” vides high performance, leading- Yet another exhibitor is Persian edge technology home appliances Carpets Corner. Mehdi Sultani, THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 10 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial

Pursuing peace in Yemen Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

EMEN is where ceasefire violations and peace talks can happen simultaneously. Fighting raged between government forces and the Iran-backed Houthi Yrebels yesterday in clear violation of a ceasefire agreed between the two sides, even as peace talks continued Guns killing as many in Switzerland. The intensity of fighting was such that both sides seemed unaware of a truce that came into effect on Tuesday. Forces loyal to the government were within 40 kilometres of the rebel-held capital Sanaa as they built on people as cars in the US their gains against the Shia insurgents. The on-going talks in Switzerland between the By Christopher Ingraham heart attacks, kill considerably more homicide, but just 1 in 5 black house- government of President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi and and Carolyn Y Johnson people each year than guns or automo- holds has guns. White Americans are the Houthis are sponsored by the United Nations and the biles, according to the CDC. But fire- more than twice as likely to have guns UN envoy has expressed his deep concern at the numerous or the first time on record, arms and motor vehicles are among the in their homes, and they experience gun reports of violations of the cessation of hostilities. The Americans are as likely to die leading non-medical causes of mortality violence largely through suicides. current talks provide a great opportunity to end the nine- Fby a gunshot as in a traffic acci- in the United States, killing more people Richard Reeves, a Brookings Institu- dent, according to new federal data. Gun than falls. tion researcher who studies inequality, month civil war which has already taken almost 6,000 lives deaths now outnumber vehicle deaths in Guns and traffic accidents each killed said the differences in how guns affect and left 21 million people in poverty and deprivation. Two 21 states and the District of Columbia. about 34,000 people in the United States black and white Americans speak to previous peace efforts failed and though hopes are not very That was true in just Alaska, Maryland last year, or about 93 people per day. the need to “think multidimension- high about the success of the current one, there is a feeling and the District a decade ago. The rate at which Americans are ally” about the problem. “The nature that another missed opportunity could complicate the civil The trend was driven largely by the killed in traffic accidents has dropped of those deaths are hugely different,” he war and lead to a prolonged fighting. sharp drop in the rate of traffic fatali- by more than half since the late 1960s. said. Opponents and supporters of gun ties, a result of a series of laws and That decline can be attributed to a rights often “need to be honest that one Peace is not possible in Yemen as long as the Iran-backed safety measures aimed at making driv- combination of improved technology, blanket solution will not solve the prob- Houthi rebels are not ready to recognise the government of ing safer. Gun homicide rates also have smarter regulation and improved care lem.” The history of regulations on guns President Abdu Rabbu Mansour and withdraw from areas fallen in recent years, but have been off- in the hospital. has been erratic. Restrictions passed in they have captured in violation set by the rising prevalence of suicides. The federal government mandated earlier eras, such as the assault weap- of all international laws. The Today, suicides account for roughly 2 in the presence of seat belts in the 1960s. ons ban, have been undone recently in Gulf military intervention was 3 gun deaths. The ‘70s brought anti-lock brakes. The the face of strong political opposition. There is Frank ‘80s saw a rise in anti-drink-driving During the Bush administration, Con- necessitated by the Houthi action. McGeorge, an advocacy and mandatory seat-belt use. gress passed laws that prohibited law no credible The Gulf countries have a duty to emergency medi- Then airbags came along in the ‘90s. enforcement from releasing data that alternative protect the legitimate government Technological cine physician More recent years have seen mandates shows where criminals obtained their in Yemen and work for the who works mid- on electronic stability systems that help guns and granted gunmakers immunity to a political country’s peace and stability. advances like night shifts at prevent vehicles from spinning out and from some civil lawsuits. Henry Ford Hos- increased penalties for distracted driv- Technological advances, such as In the latest fighting, the solution in smart-gun pital in Detroit, ing. Brian Schaeffer, assistant chief of smart-gun technology that prevents government forces and their allied technology that said he has seen the Fire Department in Spokane, Wash- people other than the owner from firing Yemen. tribes are making huge gains, and a big change in ington, said simple changes to highway a gun, have been stymied by opposition have laid siege to Nihm’s Fardha prevents people the types of cases engineering, such as erecting a physi- from the National Rifle Association and military base, northeast of the he gets over his 25 cal divider between two lanes of traffic from many gun owners. Even regulatory capital. On Friday, the loyalists other than the years in medicine. on a highway, also have dramatically changes that enjoy overwhelming sup- “Cars are safer. improved chances of survival. port from the American public, such seized Hazm, capital of Jawf province, to the northeast of owner from firing Diagnoses and In the 1990s, Schaeffer said he regu- as universal background checks, have Sanaa, and by yesterday, they had extended their gains in treatments have larly saw penetrating traumas or ampu- been thwarted. Jawf, capturing Al Ghayl and Al Maton districts. a gun, have improved with tations in car collisions and routinely Congress has a long-standing ban The UN must exert pressure on Houthis to respect been stymied by regard to acci- needed the Jaws of Life to extricate peo- on many types of federal gun research, international laws and withdraw from areas under their dents,” McGeorge ple from deadly accident scenes. which has affected not only federal control. At the same time, both sides must realise that there opposition from said. “At the same “We’d just have horrible trauma, agencies, such as the CDC, but also time, guns are something you probably would only see academic researchers. is no credible alternative to a political solution which makes the National Rifle not any safer. in a battlefield,” Schaeffer said. Now, Garen Wintemute of the University the UN-sponsored talks so important. They must also allow There has been when responding to a high-speed crash, of California at Davis had to donate $1m unhindered access for the delivery of humanitarian assistance Association. no change in the first responders often find the passen- of his own money to keep his research to the most affected districts of the country, as the UN has speed at which a gers and drivers walking around, he said. going. He estimates that there are a demanded. 9mm bullet travels, no change in the On gun deaths, the story has been more dozen full-time gun-violence research- size of a 9mm bullet.” complicated. Fatalities declined precipi- ers in the United States. It was issued after a fourth day of rocky peace talks, Based on steady trends in recent tously during the 1990s but have pla- On the other hand, government and during which the special envoy “held several sessions with years, public health experts have for teaued since then. While gun homicides the auto industry have all invested in the participants,” the statement added. some time expected gun deaths to catch have continued to decline, suicides have research, generating a lot of information The discussions in Geneva are focusing mostly on security up with traffic deaths. The 2014 rates risen. Those divergent trends reflect two on how cars crash and improvements in issues in the light of the alarming developments on the were reported this month by the Cent- different pictures of gun violence in the highway safety. ground, a UN statement has said, stressing that both sides ers for Disease Control and Prevention. United States. Black Americans are sig- Medical ailments, such as cancer and nificantly more likely to be victims of THE WASHINGTON POST had “renewed their commitment for a ceasefire.”• The other side Quote of A strong alliance to defeat terrorism the day HIS week the Kingdom that they have banded together. military coalition is considerable. The bring terror to the terrorists. found itself at the head of a Saudi Arabia enjoys widespread efficient coordination of intelligence on Though security will be tight around 34-nation alliance dedicated respect for its ability to combine tire- terrorists lies at the heart of the opera- operational planning, it will do no harm to stamping out terrorism. It less quiet diplomacy with a willingness tion. The combination of assets for to keep the terrorists guessing nerv- Tis hard to overstate the importance of to take decisive action. Operation Deci- airstrikes will require accurate mission ously where they will be hit next. Unlike this development. The military coalition sive Storm, the Saudi-led multinational data and targeting information. the stable societies that they attack, the announced this week brings together intervention to save Yemen, is an out- But achieving cohesion among peddlers of terror are intrinsically unsta- We cannot pretend almost every country in the Islamic standing example of this no-nonsense deployed anti-terror ground forces ble. They are united only in their bru- that all refugees World. response. As the Muslim world’s natural may be less of a challenge than might tality, in their savagery. When they are It has become necessary because leader, it is understandable that mem- be expected. At this stage of the cam- met with unflinching opposition, they actually have grounds the Hydra-headed menace of fanatical bers of the new anti-terror alliance have paign, the major role is likely to be weaken. This has been demonstrated for asylum. Therefore violence had struck at virtually every chosen to headquarter it in Riyadh. played by special forces. Ruthless, in Yemen. The awesome force of the member of the new coalition. This hor- The Kingdom’s capital is to be the clinical strikes against key terrorist posi- Saudi-led Gulf military intervention is we must intensify ror can no longer be fought piecemeal. nerve-center of an intelligence and mili- tions will crush their morale, take out driving back the terrorists. The new alli- deportations. Many individual Muslim countries have tary initiative that the terrorists around key personnel and destroy ordinance. ance is a massive act of self-defence. made headway against the threat. But the world would do well to fear. In their suddenness and unexpected- Werner Faymann so much more will be achieved now The work in creating an effective ness these raids by elite troops will ARAB NEWS Austrian Chancellor SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 OPINION www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11 Obama lays out agenda for 2016

With a protracted civil war in Syria, ongoing fighting in Afghanistan that has postponed a final US troop withdrawal and continued insurgent activity in Iraq, Obama has failed to disentangle the United States militarily from the region.

By Juliet Eilperin name for the militant group. question of whether he can fulfill one of How the president handles this and his longest-standing campaign prom- resident Obama used his year- other problems could significantly shape ises and close the detention centre at end press briefing Friday to out- the race to replace him, as well as his Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, before he leaves line a dogged strategy to advance reputation in the years after he leaves office. Phis domestic and international office. Some of Obama’s allies think he The president said that although it will agenda in 2016, including criminal justice has achieved more than he often gets be “an uphill battle” to persuade lawmak- reform and expanded free trade, even in credit for, and they say next year is his ers to bring some of the remaining pris- the face of sharp Republican criticism last opportunity to communicate those oners to US soil, “this may be one of those and rising public concern about terrorist accomplishments to the American people. places” where Congress will defy expec- strikes on American soil. Simon Rosenberg, president of the tations, “because we can make a really Speaking to reporters before leaving New Democrat Network, said Obama’s strong argument Guantanamo continues for his annual vacation in Hawaii, the remaining task “is to make sure the to be one of the key magnets for jihadi president proffered an upbeat assessment public understands that this has been a recruitment.” of the past year, detailing several ways in successful presidency. Politically, unless Now that the Affordable Care Act has which some of his early decisions have the public views his presidency as suc- survived two Supreme Court challenges Raul Rodriguez Jr (left) of America First Latinos protests against IS across from a makeshift begun to bear fruit. cessful in 2016, there’s no reason to elect and has suffered only a small financial “As I look back on this year, the one a Democrat.” blow in this week’s spending deal, the memorial for victims of the San Bernardino shooting, ahead of President Obama’s visit to thing I see is that so much of our steady, But that will be difficult, given the president plans to press ahead with the victims’ families in San Bernardino, California. persistent work over the years is paying worrying trends in Syria and Iraq, and expanding health care coverage. Obama off for the American people in big, tan- a raucous Republican presidential field noted that new ACA customers “are up promises with Democrats on key bills. closest congressional allies. “And I think gible ways,” he said. “Since taking this that will continue to emphasise what is one-third over last year, and the more Vin Weber, a GOP lobbyist and former it’s paid off.” office, I have never been more optimistic wrong with America and blame Obama who sign up, the stronger the system congressman, said that in the recent “At the end of the day, the lesson about a year ahead than I am right now. for those ills. becomes.” past, some congressional Republicans we have learned is if you’re not mov- And in 2016, I’m going to leave it out all The GOP primary race, coupled with And while Obama will issue fewer big have been more interested in “ideological ing forward, you’re moving back,” on the field.” the recent ascendancy of a media-savvy executive orders in 2016, he is poised to purity and consistency rather than find- said Neera Tanden, president of the Still, Obama’s final year in office prom- House speaker, Rep Paul D Ryan, R-Wis- finalisze several climate-related rules ing a strategy that might actually slow Center for American Progress, a liberal ises to be challenging. consin, has introduced a new politi- affecting the oil and gas industry as well down this president.” think-tank. “Standing still is not an The president’s biggest battles of 2015 cal dynamic to Washington. And after as heavy-duty trucks. Obama, who on Friday invited Ryan option for a Democratic president.” were carefully selected with an eye to exercising executive authority on so many But two of the president’s top domes- to come to the White House for a meal Several Republican presidential con- securing his legacy: diplomatic deals with fronts, there are far fewer levers left for tic priorities, criminal justice reform and in the new year, praised him during the tenders are already reshaping the pub- Iran and Cuba, an international agree- Obama to pull. The “unfinished business” expanded free trade, are more in Con- news conference for working with him on lic debate over terrorism, refugees and ment on climate change, and executive of his presidency, as Obama put it Friday, gress’s control than his own. this week’s tax and spending deal. immigration, with ideas Obama has tried actions on immigration and paid sick is mostly messy. “I think the president has very lit- “I will say that, in his interactions to counter. And once his own party set- leave. While the president has worked to tle ability to push his agenda forward with me, he has been professional, he tles on a nominee, the president will In 2016, he will have to confront prob- strengthen America’s ties to Asia and on the Republican side,” said Rep Tom has reached out to tell me what he can have to share the stage with another lems not of his choosing, ones largely bridge rifts with old enemies such as Iran Cole, R-Oklahoma, who added that he do and what he cannot do. I think it’s a Democrat seeking the same level of foisted upon him by the unruly reality of and Cuba, the new opening to the Muslim did not expect much action in Congress. good working relationship,” the president prominence. the world at home and abroad: terrorist world he articulated at the outset of his “It’s pretty much small ball domestically, said. “And I think the system worked. Obama said he will work hard to make attacks, mass shootings and chaos in the first term has not materialised. until we have a new president.” That gives me some optimism that, next sure that Democrat replaces him in the Middle East. With a protracted civil war in Syria, Several Republicans, including Cole year, on a narrow set of issues, we can White House. Obama acknowledged, for example, ongoing fighting in Afghanistan that has and Scott Reed, senior political strategist get some more work done.” “I think we will have a strong Demo- that the fight against the Islamic State postponed a final US troop withdrawal for the US Chamber of Commerce, said Still, unlike in the run-up to the 2014 cratic nominee. I think that nominee will remains difficult. “In any fight, even as and continued insurgent activity in Iraq, Ryan’s more consistent, positive message midterms, when the White House made win,” he said. you make progress, there’s still dangers Obama has failed to disentangle the will pose a new challenge for the presi- a political calculation to pull back from “I will campaign very hard to make involved,” he said. United States militarily from the region. dent. controversial policies out of concern for that happen for a whole variety of rea- “And ISIL’s capacity both to infiltrate In the past year-and-a-half, he has mod- “I think that’s going to give President incumbent Democrats, the new impera- sons, because they’re far more likely Western countries . . . and the savviness estly boosted US involvement there. Obama a match, for the first time in a tive is to sharpen the contrast between to share my fundamental vision about of their social media, their ability to Obama will continue to press his long time,” Reed said. the two parties even further. where America should go.” recruit disaffected individuals who may other foreign policy priorities through Recently, a fractured GOP, whose con- “He really feels that he can step out on The Washington Post’s Paul Kane and be French or British or even US citizens, a stepped-up travel schedule next year, servatives have clashed with congres- some issues and take on some tough posi- Greg Jaffe contributed to this report. will continue to make them dangerous according to aides, with trips to Asia sional leaders, aided Obama’s hand by tions,” said Senate Minority Whip Rich- for some time,” he added, using another and Latin America. He will also face the forcing top Republicans to forge com- ard J Durbin, D-Illinois, one of Obama’s THE WASHINGTON POST Bad genes weren’t your parents’ fault, until now

of Alzheimer’s disease. Perhaps someday, but in the shorter term, some biologists say What has the scientific world unsettled is the capacity a more realistic way someone might use CRISPR to improve on to make genetic changes that could be propagated normal kids would be to induce rare mutations already known to future generations — altering what’s known as the to exist in humans — ones that appear to endow their carriers human germline. That’s been the subject of a with advantages. There’s a family of Finnish speed skaters known series of summits. to carry a mutation in their red blood cells that boosts their aero- bic capacity, for example. There are mutations that give people By Faye Flam unusually low cholesterol and ing headlines about the hubris, or “There should no longer be any a low risk of heart attacks, and the promise, of creating the “per- doubt about whether humans will there are mutations that allow e are all unwitting play- fect baby,” or of “engineering the one day be genetically modified,” people to get away with sleeping ers in a genetic lottery. human race.” This kind of hype is he wrote in an essay shortly after less than the rest of us. WTake a gene called a distraction. the summit. Few scientists or doctors would APOE. It comes in three flavours But there are ethical and philo- The one thing we don’t have to consider it ethical to make such — APOE2, APOE3 and APOE4. sophical challenges raised by this worry about is the perfecting of changes, given that the risks All three are considered normal technology that should be taken the human race. Perfection is in aren’t yet understood and the human genes, but people who seriously. Today, you can’t blame the eye of the beholder. Blond hair treatments aren’t lifesaving. were dealt an APOE4 face three your parents for passing you an and blue eyes are often invoked While the same may be true of to five times the average risk of APOE4 gene. Future generations in the discussion of perfection certain forms of cosmetic surgery, getting Alzheimer’s disease. Since might. because that’s what the Nazis patients can give consent. Here, we inherit a copy of the gene from Scientists are understandably preferred, but in sunnier cli- the people facing the risk aren’t each parent, a few unlucky people excited about CRISPR because it mates, those naturally fair-haired yet born. will be stuck with two copies of can allow them to make precise types face a high risk of sunburn, That doesn’t mean it won’t be the APOE4 version and face an changes in the genetic material premature wrinkling and skin US scientist Linda Buck, who shared 2004 Nobel prize for Medicine or done, somewhere. And eventu- even higher risk. — the DNA — adding or deleting cancer. The idea of creating a Physiology with Richard Axel (not pictured). They were awarded for their ally, if animal testing shows it’s To put it in perspective, by age small sections of code or chang- master race or a generation of work on genes that control the sense of smell. safe enough, gene editing could 75 about 3 percent of people get ing a single code letter. CRISPR superbabies looks even more become big business and even a Alzheimer’s. For those with dou- is already widely used in lab ani- unlikely in light of the way people requirement of good parenting. ble APOE4, that rises to about 30 mals and livestock. What has the have employed currently available baby would be deaf, and people hearing. It hardly matters which And yet, there remain long- percent. scientific world unsettled is the genetic screening. Today, doctors with dwarfism sometimes prefer choice they made or whether you term unknowns. In the case of the Now a technology called gene capacity to make genetic changes can perform genetic testing on a dwarf child to one of average agree with it. If they had chosen APOE genes, the most desirable editing could allow us to rig the that could be propagated to future embryos conceived through in height. Gene editing fundamen- another embryo, you wouldn’t type would appear to be APOE2. game. Geneticists say that with generations — altering what’s vitro fertilisation — pulling off a tally shifts the already charged exist. Or maybe you have cystic People with this form have a lower- a particularly effective new edit- known as the human germline. single cell to screen for mutations. ethical and philosophical discus- fibrosis because your parents than-average risk of getting Alzhe- ing tool called CRISPR, it would a That’s been the subject of a series That way, couples can already cre- sion surrounding such cases. Par- didn’t undergo genetic screening. imer’s disease. And yet the most relatively simple matter to change of summits. The most recent, held ate multiple embryos and choose ents could impose their tastes on If they had, they might have had common form floating around one form of the APOE gene into in early December, led to a state- to implant one that doesn’t carry offspring by altering genes, rather a healthy child. But it wouldn’t be the human gene pool is APOE3, another. That means prospective ment that it’s “irresponsible” to some genetic disease carried by than just selecting from combina- you. But if germline gene editing which is associated with average parents could go for gene editing, use editing on the human germ- one or both parents. tions that occurred naturally. is deemed safe and starts to catch risk. We don’t know whether there thereby banishing the high-risk line before society reaches some In a few cases, people have used Imagine that you are the child on, children of the future might are other advantages to APOE3 version of the gene from their consensus about appropriate use. genetic screening to increase the of deaf parents. In a world before realise that their parents could or even APOE4. Perhaps they offspring. But if there’s a market for it, odds of having children with CRISPR, you might find out that have chosen a different version of give people an edge in something The possibility of changing peo- people will move forward whether traits that mainstream society they used IVF and selected the them — one with a different hear- scientists haven’t yet thought to ple’s DNA before they are born it’s responsible or not, argues would consider disabilities. Some embryo that carried a gene for ing capacity, or a different dose of look for. has led to an eruption of alarm- medical ethicist Art Caplan. deaf couples say their perfect deafness, or, conversely, a gene for growth hormone, or a lower risk BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / INDIA

CPI-M to push Sonia, Rahul Gandhi granted bail harder for removal of Congress lambasts PM Modi for targeting opponents Mamata govt NEW DELHI: Congress presi- the court, both the Gandhis moved a plea for the same. KOLKATA: Upping the ante dent Sonia Gandhi and vice presi- accused Modi of seeking to bend The court fixed the next date of against the Mamata Banerjee dent Rahul Gandhi yesterday his opponents and said they were hearing for February 20 at 2pm. government for bringing “unprec- appeared in a trial court here in not afraid and will fight back. The The Delhi High Court this edented” anarchy and corruption the National Herald case filed by BJP hit back, terming the Con- month dismissed the Gandhis’ in West Bengal, the CPI-M yes- BJP leader Subramanian Swamy gress as closely linked with “cor- plea to quash the summons issued terday said it would intensify its and were granted unconditional ruption.” to them by the trial court on June movement to uproot the Trina- bail. Kapil Sibal, who appeared on 26, on Swamy’s complaint about mool Congress from power. Outside, the party engaged in a behalf of the Congress leaders, “cheating” in the acquisition of Ahead of the 2016 assembly political battle, attacking Prime told reporters that the court Associated Journals Ltd., which polls, the Communist Party of Minister Narendra Modi for “tar- rejected Swamy’s plea to impose published the National Herald India-Marxist will be holding geting his opponents” and term- restrictions on the travel abroad newspaper, by Young India Ltd., its organisational plenum from ing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Congress leaders. “a firm in which Sonia and Rahul December 27 to 31 which will leader Subramanian Swamy his “We moved an application on Gandhi each own a 38 percent begin with a massive rally at the “stooge.” behalf of all the accused for grant stake”. Brigade Parade ground. The top two Congress leaders of bail. The court was kind enough Sonia and Rahul Gandhi dis- Addressing media persons here appeared at 3pm before Metro- to grant bail without conditions embarked a few metres before the Congress party president Sonia Gandhi, vice president Rahul Gandhi, former yesterday, CPI-M state secretary politan Magistrate Loveleen in except for furnishing security in court premises and walked inside PM Manmohan Singh and other senior Congress leaders during a press Surjya Kanta Mishra said the ` the Patiala House courts in the the sum of 50,000 on behalf of amid tight security. conference at the All India Congress Committee headquarters in New Delhi core issues the party will be rais- case filed by Swamy. each of the accused which were Swamy, the lone petitioner, yesterday. ing in the rally include the “all The party rallied behind its furnished,” he told reporters after later described the scene inside. pervasive” corruption, anarchy, leaders with former prime min- the hearing. The trial court also “When the Gandhis entered, they deteriorating law and order situ- ister Manmohan Singh and par- granted bail to Congress treas- were made to stand in a corner and returned to power in 1980. We won’t let that happen.” ation and attacks on democracy. ty’s leaders in the Lok Sabha and urer Motilal Vora, Gandhis’ where the accused are supposed She said the “present central Earlier, Azad accused Modi of “The slogan is ‘Trinamool Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge family friend Suman Dubey and to be. They were not allowed to government is deliberately tar- backing Swamy in his complaint, hatao, Bangla bachao’ (drive away and Ghulam Nabi Azad present in another party leader Oscar Fern- sit except Vora,” he said. geting its political opponents and while party colleague Randeep Trinamool, save Bengal) and ‘BJP the court. Sonia Gandhi’s daugh- andes who also appeared before it. Sonia Gandhi later said she misusing central agencies”. Singh Surjewala termed Swamy hatao, desh bachao’ (drive away ter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was Congress leader A K Antony appeared before the court with “No one among us is going to be “a stooge” of Modi. BJP and save the country). Our also there. gave surety for Sonia Gandhi a clean heart as a law-abiding afraid. Our fight against them will Swamy rubbished the allega- movement against Trinamool Congress workers had been while Priyanka Gandhi gave citizen should do. “The laws of continue. Our struggle to preserve tions, while BJP leader Muqtar has been continuing and it will thronging the party’s central surety for her brother Rahul the land apply to everyone with- our ideals and for the interest of Abbas Naqvi said his party had be intensified. The agenda of the office on 24, Akbar Road since Gandhi. out fear or favour. I do not have the poor will continue,” she said. nothing to do with the case. rally or the plenum includes all morning to express solidar- Another accused Sam slightest doubt that the truth Rahul Gandhi accused the “National Herald is yours. Cor- core burning issues faced by the ity with the leaders. They later Pitroda, a former chairman of will come out,” she said, and Modi government of making ruption is yours. BJP has nothing people of Bengal. From corrup- expressed their joy at the two top the National Innovation Coun- also made a reference to her false accusations against Modi’s to do with all this,” he told the tion to anarchy to crimes against party leaders getting bail. cil was granted exemption from mother-in-law Indira Gandhi opponents to bend them. “He media. women, all have become regular Shortly after returning from personal appearance after he who had fought cases against her wants a Congress-free India. IANS affairs, this is unprecedented,” said Mishra. To be presided over by former chief minister Buddaheb Bhat- AAP protest tacharjee, the December 27 rally will be addressed by CPI-M gen- eral secretary Sitaram Yechury, ‘Collateral reasons’ delaying GST, and other leaders. but other laws coming: Jaitley IANS

NEW DELHI: Lashing out at before had cut the prospect to aims to resolve cases of insolvency the Congress party again for 7-7.5 percent. Jaitley’s speech had at the earliest so that amounts Girl’s tweet to blocking a pan-India goods and political content as well, notably lent to such companies can also service tax regime, Finance on the effort in vain, thus far, to be recovered fast. The bill has railway ministry Minister Arun Jaitley yesterday get the goods and services tax bill proposed a timeline of 180 days, said some reform-oriented laws, passed in the current parliament extendable by another 90 days, to leads man to jail nonetheless, were expected to session. “I’ve no doubt in my mind resolve such cases. be passed during the remaining that the attempt to delay the GST Speaking at the event later, PATNA: A girl, who was har- three days of what has been a is entirely for collateral reasons,” Jaitley’s deputy and Minister of assed on a running train tweeted none-too-productive winter ses- he said. State for Finance Jayant Sinha to the railway ministry for help, sion of parliament thus far. “The only collateral reason forewarned that low farm sector following which the accused was Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) workers hold a candlelight march during a protest “The next three days are cru- I suspect is, ‘If I couldn’t do it, growth and the cost of imple- arrested, a railway police official against the Punjab government, in Amritsar. The protest was held in the cial with very important pieces then why let someone else do menting the pay commission said here yesterday. wake of the growing incidence of violence against the Dalit community, of legislation coming up before it’!” Jaitley exclaimed, but added, recommendations together with The girl was travelling in and AAP demanded a CBI probe into the incident in Abohar in which our parliament,” Jaitley said “A delayed GST is better than a a slow global expansion will prove Shramjeevi Express from New here addressing the annual gen- flawed GST.” to be taxing for his government Delhi to Patna. “Finding her the arms and legs of Dalits were chopped off. eral meeting of the Federation of As regards the legislations next year. alone, the accused started mis- Indian Chambers of Commerce which the government wished the “Next year is a challenging behaving and passed objectionable and Industry (Ficci). two houses to consider over the year. Headwinds of two major comments,” the official said. Among the legislations listed by next three days, Jaitley said one factors will be slowing us down,” After the girl tweeted, the rail- Kejriwal’s remarks on him, one was on the bankruptcy of them sought to put India back Sinha said, adding the slowing way police was directed to help code and the other on arbitration. on the global adjudication map for farm output growth was the her immediately, after which the Nonetheless, he said the steps cases of arbitration as the costs result of two successive years accused was arrested and sent to taken by his government will of such litigation were enormous of bad monsoon and the global jail for harassment, the official CBI false and baseless, prove to be beneficial. “We’re abroad. slowdown was hitting India’s added. hoping that structural reforms “We’re bringing in a bill for merchandise exports. Overwhelmed by the timely undertaken will help us go to fast-track arbitration, including He also said the government help, the girl thanked Railway says probe agency 8 percent growth in 2016-17,” single-member tribunals.” has its task cut out in meeting Minister Suresh Prabhu and his he said, even as the mid-term He also referred to the pro- the fiscal deficit targets. ministry. NEW DELHI: The CBI yester- Emphatically denying the economic survey released a day posed new bankruptcy code that IANS IANS day termed as “false and base- reports, it said this was a com- less” Delhi Chief Minister Arvind pletely false, baseless and mis- Kejriwal’s remarks that an official leading statement. of the probe agency informed him “It appears to be a part of a that it has been asked to “target concerted attempt to malign all opposition parties”. India’s premier investigating Odisha cops probing cash trail of Qaeda suspect The Central Bureau of Investi- agency,” it said. gation (CBI) in a statement said Through the statement, the there were media reports quoting CBI urged Kejriwal to provide the BHUBANESWAR: The Odisha Delhi to garner further infor- tory speeches and anti-national in the presence of police. the chief minister speaking about name of the alleged agency officer police yesterday said it was look- mation about Rehman, who is jibes in some areas of the state. Around 60 children from the agency. so that the probe agency can take ing into the bank accounts of Al alleged to be a member of Al Rehman was arrested from Jharkhand were studying in the “The CBI strongly denies a action against him. Qaeda terror suspect Abdul Reh- Qaeda in India Subcontinent Jagatpur area in Cuttack in a Islamic seminary while some statement, news item published “We urge the concerned person man, who was arrested in Cut- (AQIS). joint operation by Odisha police others were from Odisha. The or telecast in certain sections of (Delhi chief minister) to name the tack last Wednesday, to establish “One team of the commis- and Delhi police. Presently, the administration decided to get the the media attributed to the Delhi alleged CBI official so that further the money trail for possible ter- sionerate police will leave for terror suspect is in Delhi police madrasa vacated after enquiring chief minister that a CBI officer process as per law can be initi- rorist activities. Jharkhand tomorrow while custody. into its legality. told him last Friday that the CBI ated. The CBI reiterates its com- The police had seized one SBI another team will go to Delhi spe- Meanwhile, the Cuttack dis- Meanwhile, two teachers of the has been asked to target all oppo- mitment to its motto (industry, and two Canara bank accounts of cial cell,” said police commissioner trict administration yesterday madrasa have been interrogated sition parties and finish those who integrity and impartiality),” the Rehman. R P Sharma. handed over the children staying by police at Jagatpur police sta- do not fall in line,” the CBI state- CBI statement said. A police team each would be Earlier, Jharkhand police had at the madrasa run by Rehman tion. ment said. IANS despatched to Jharkhand and arrested Rehman for inflamma- in Tangi area to their guardians IANS

River Ganges MPs and journalists join hands for a cause NEW DELHI: Members of Par- child and adolescent health and consciousness in society, to edu- and BCCI selector Saba Karim, liament and journalists faced off raise awareness about cost saving cate people, to make them aware former cricketer Mohd. Kaif, yesterday in the third edition methods of preventing them, such and you’ve chosen to integrate Rakesh Kumar, joint secretary, of “Batting 4 Life” Twenty20 as through immunisation. a popular sport, cricket, as an ministry of health & family wel- cricket match, dedicated to rais- The team of parliamentarians instrument of creating awareness fare, Sanjay Jaiswal, Member of ing awareness about preventable registered their first win against in this regard. Parliament and managing trus- childhood diseases such as pneu- the journalists at Batting 4 Life Two of the noisiest communi- tee, PLCCAH and PD Rai, MP monia and diarrhoea. by defeating the media team by ties of India — journalists and pol- and member of the governing Organised under the aegis 82 runs at the Delhi Public School iticians — are playing with each council. of the recently formed Political (Mathura Road) ground here. other today so that the actual While the journalists’ team was Leaders Coalition for Child and The game was watched by loud voices that are needed in led by Rahul Kanwal, executive Adolescent Health (PLCCAH), Finance Minister Arun Jaitley support of health programmes editor, India Today Television, the event is one of the first steps who was joined by his cabinet reach the right places,” Jaitley players on the MPs side included of the trust to bring together colleague and Union Minister for said in a release. Babul Supriyo, Rajyavardhan Boats are seen in the Ganges river in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, yesterday. parliamentarians and journal- Science, Technology and Earth Some of the dignitaries who Singh Rathore, Manoj Tiwari, Varanasi, one of the ancient seats of learning, is famous for its ‘ghats’, ists to create a positive environ- Sciences Harsh Vardhan. joined the session to express Kamlesh Paswan and Dushyant or ceremonial stairs, lining the west bank of the Ganges, which flows ment and provide policy direction “This is a great initiative in their support for child sur- Singh among others. through the city. for addressing issues related to preventive healthcare to increase vival included former cricketer IANS SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 FEATURES www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13 Sharq Village and Spa Centrepoint stocks up with celebrates National Day exclusive festival collection harq Village and Spa joined the festive cel- Sebrations of Qatar National Day through entrepoint has launched an weaving together Arabian hospitality and unique Cexclusive holiday collection this culinary experiences to create an authentic festive season. Qatari experience in the heart of Doha. “Babyshop has a delightful The resort located on the beachfront was collection of toys that will light decorated in the colours of the Qatari flag, up your little one’s eyes. There’s bringing the spirit of the nation to life. An something for all children, from impressive fort display made of biscuits, as the much-loved Minion toy with well as a 10-meter sized Qatari flag cake was an inflatable radio control to also presented. Disney’s Frozen-themed Skate & A cake cutting ceremony took place at Sing that fulfils every little girl’s 6:30pm in the lobby of the hotel, where a dream to sing along with Elsa and Qatari folklore band entertained guests as Anna,” a company statement said. they enjoy traditional Qatari snacks. A henna The collection also includes artist was on hand to create unique, tradi- cherished items like Sesame tional henna designs for visitors. Sharq Village and Spa officials at the function to mark the National Day. Street Big Hugs Elmo that is and stylish flats, which offer equal Commenting on the festive celebrations, perfect for pre-schoolers and not levels of comfort and are perfect Wael Maatouk, General Manager of Sharq unification and independence celebrated on 18 provides the perfect platform for us to celebrate only loves to cuddle, sing, move for the upcoming holiday season. Village and Spa said: “Qatar National Day is an December every year. We are proud to be a part with our guests”. and explore but also teaches the The men’s footwear selection has important national commemoration of Qatar’s of the community in Doha and National Day THE PENINSULA ABCs, numbers, shapes, colours trendy moccasins, high top sneak- and more. No toy collection is ers and sturdy boots, while chil- complete without Barbie, mak- dren’s shoes are given a modern The Ritz-Carlton, Doha ing Rock ‘N Royals Courtney the makeover this season with classy best gift for little girls to play with boots and an array of multi-col- displays national pride and dress up in different rock chic oured strappy sandals to comple- look. ment their look. on Qatar National Day Splash stylish festive collection “You can party in style with he Qatar National Day cele- will include classic men’s fashion Fiorelli’s latest collection of Tbrations at The Ritz-Carlton, choices such as biker jackets, designer handbags and clutches Doha pay tribute to the people gilets and V-neck sweaters, ideal at Lifestyle. The collection is who built the nation while also for the upcoming season. Ladies designed to hold your everyday allowing guests from near and far are treated to fun patterns and essentials while also providing to learn more about the Qatari prints in the latest collection the necessary glitz and glamour culture and history. including tartan, animal prints to your evening outfits,” the state- “The hotel was transformed and winter florals. ment added. into a sea of national colours, The footwear fashion at Lifestyle’s festive collection with the Ladies & Gentlemen all Shoemart includes opulent heels will help you stay warm and cozy donning the national pin and sev- this winter, with its range of col- eral members in national dress” ourful and comfortable blankets. said Erden Kendigelen, General The collection also includes great Manager at The Ritz-Carlton, hostess gifts for upcoming festive Doha. The Ritz-Carlton, Doha officials at the function to mark the National Day. parties, with candles and box sets The hotel launched the festivi- with lotion and body wash making ties with a cake cutting ceremony live by The Ritz-Carlton, Doha traditional boat ‘Dhow’ embracing featured an authentic Arabian it to the top of the festive gifting on December 17 whilst the Qatar employees. The focal point at the the tradition and culture of Qatar. buffet. list. National Anthem was performed hotel’s lobby was a display of the All day dining venue The Lagoon THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA

National Day celebrations at UBL Activating ‘good’ fat can curb obesity

he body’s ability to harness supplied to white adipose tissue, understanding how it occurs Theat production by convert- and the fat cell population sur- could be beneficial. Scientists are ing white fat cells which store rounding this nerve supply hav- hopeful that increasing energy calories into beige (good) fat cells ing a genetic ability to brown,” expenditure with brown or brite/ that burn energy, can help fight said Vitaly Ryu from Center beige fat cells could be an effective obesity, a new study reveals. for Obesity Reversal at Georgia way to fight obesity. The study suggests natural State. It was originally thought that, mechanism in the body, which Our body has two types of fat in humans, only babies had brown converts white fat cells into tissue -- white and brown. White fat, but researchers found small brownish fat cells -- known adipose tissue, or white fat, stores amounts of brown fat in adults as ‘brite’ or ‘beige’ fat cells -- energy or calories and produces in 2009. by using heat production and hormones that are secreted into The researchers investigated increasing the sympathetic the bloodstream. how the SNS, a part of the nerv- nervous system’s (SNS) supply Brown adipose tissue, or brown ous system helps prepare the of blood vessels to white fat tis- fat, is a dark-colored fat tissue body to react to situations of sue, could be a new and promising with many blood vessels that stress or emergency, ‘browns’ approach to fighting obesity. burns energy and produces heat. white fat tissue cells, transform- “Perhaps the most important There is a connection of white ing them into ‘brite’ or ‘beige’ fat features of white adipose tissue fat tissue with other tissues, cells and suggesting a potential for the conversion of white fat including the heart and blood mechanism for increasing heat cells to brite/beige fat cells is the vessels that could lead to coro- production in the body. Shahid Amin Sheikh, General Manager of UBL, Qatar, cutting a cake on the occasion of Qatar National Day. density of the SNS nerves being nary and hypertension diseases, IANS

Yiqing Yin becomes first Chinese-born haute couture designer Kendall earns big for

he first Chinese-born designer before winning the Andam prize for single Instagram post was admitted on Thursday into her first collection in 2011, the same TParis’s elite coterie of haute year she was invited to show her odel Kendall Jenner (pictured) earns “up couture creators. work in the haute couture shows. to $300,000” for a single Instagram post, a Yiqing Yin, who recently quit as Her big break was when the actress Mformer casting director has revealed. artistic director of Leonard to con- Audrey Tautou chose to wear one of The reality TV star can earn between $125,000 centrate on her own label, is also one her intricately pleated dresses when and $300,000 for a single social media post to her of the youngest, at 30. she compered the awards ceremony collective 65 million followers, Frank Spadafora — Haute couture exists only in Paris at the Cannes film festival two years who is a former casting director, and founder and and is sustained by a small number later. CEO of D’Marie Archive — told CR Fashion Book, of the world’s richest women. Only 14 fashion houses have the reports mirror.co.uk. The designation — regarded as the right to call themselves haute couture Kendall is followed by Cara Delevingne and Gigi pinnacle of the fashion world — is — Chanel, Christian Dior, Givenchy, Hadid in the list. All three stars are “currently val- protected by French law and attrib- Jean Paul Gaultier, Maison Margiela, ued between $125,000 and $300,000 for a single post uted exclusively by the ministry of Giambattista Valli, Franck Sorbier, across their portfolio.” industry to 14 houses whose clothes Adeline Andre, Alexandre Vauthier, “If you want to reach a model’s audience, you’re are entirely made by hand and tai- Alexis Mabille, Bouchra Jarrar, going to have to pay a hefty additional fee for that,” lored to each client. Maurizio Galante and Stephane Spadafora added. Yin, who grew up in France after Rolland. In the next tier below the three models, there is moving from China aged four, will Another 20 are regarded as “guest still a lot of money to be made for the likes of Karlie feature in the next haute couture members” of the elite club. In addi- Kloss, Behati Prinsloo and Miranda Kerr, who can shows which take place in the French tion to Guo Pei, Dutch designer Iris bring in between $25,000 and $50,000 per post across capital between January 24 and 28. Van Herpen and French designer their social media platforms. Chinese designer Guo Pei — who Fashion designer Yiqing Yin, who is of Chinese origin, acknowledging the public at Yacine Aouad have been invited to IANS created the spectacular, and much- the end of her 2015 Haute Couture Spring-Summer collection fashion show in Paris. show as guests during January’s cat- parodied long yellow dress worn by walk shows. the singer Rihanna at the Met gala invited to take part in the January Yin studied at France’s famous in New York in May — has also been shows as a “guest” designer. national school of decorative arts AFP

SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 EUROPE / AMERICAS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15

Italy party nips Thousands take at ruling left’s heels: Poll ROME: Italy’s Five Star anti- to the streets establishment movement is enjoy- ing a boom in popularity, which presents a threat to the ruling cen- tre-left, a poll showed yesterday. Prime Minister Matteo Renzi’s in Warsaw Democratic Party (PD) is not only losing favour, it must hope for the country’s fractious parties on the ‘Govt undermining democracy’ right to unite against it in order to assuage the Five Star peril. WARSAW: Thousands of people Committee for the defence of An Ipsos survey of voter inten- demonstrated in Poland’s capital democracy (KOD), a civic move- tions showed that 31.2 percent Warsaw and other cities in the ment that was created to oppose of people interviewed would cast country yesterday, accusing the what critics see as an attempt by their ballots for the PD, while 29.1 conservative government that the PiS to politicise the top court. percent of people favour the Five took power just last month of The KOD has also organised Star movement (M5S), founded in undermining democracy. demonstrations in other cities 2009 by a former comedian. “We are going to defend democ- from Lublin in eastern Poland, to In the expected case of a run-off racy, we are going to defend the Gdansk in the north and Poznan ballot, M5S would win, beating the constitution,” a crowd of around to the west. Public television PD by 52.5 percent of the votes to 10,000 demonstrators outside par- estimated the crowds at 4,000 in 47.5 percent. liament in Warsaw, which is now Lublin and Gdansk and 1,000 in Under a new electoral law controlled by the Law and Justice Lublin. brought in by Renzi, if no party party (PiS), shouted. The conservative-controlled wins 40 percent of the vote in The PiS, led by staunch con- parliament is also debating a law a first round, a run-off ballot is servative ex-premier Jaroslaw that would raise the bar for Con- held between the two frontrun- Kaczynski, has already plunged stitutional Court rulings, from a ners to decide which one should the country into a political crisis simple majority of judges to a two- get a winner’s bonus to secure the over its controversial nominations thirds majority. majority. to the Constitutional Court. Kaczynski, who is neither pres- M5S, which celebrated a shock The ruling party has attempted ident nor prime minister but is People demonstrate in front of Parliament in Warsaw, Poland, yesterday. success in 2013’s general election to install five judges of its own widely seen as pulling the strings to snap up 25.5 percent of the choosing in the 15-member court, in his party, has said he wants to votes and become Italy’s second and refuses to recognise judges break up the “band of cronies” in PiS have slid to 27 percent from of this democratic choice,” said they don’t do it like that, I am biggest political force, has been who were appointed by the pre- the nation’s highest judicial body, 42 percent at the start of Decem- Walesa on Thursday. warning them, it’s going to end given a boost by the new face of vious parliament when the Civic whom he accuses of protecting ber. The new government’s critics “We have to change some in civil war,” Walesa said. the movement, Luigi di Maio. Di Platform (PO) party was in power. their own interests. include Lech Walesa, Nobel Peace things. They are right on a lot of Demonstrations also took place Maio ranks second favourite woo- “We have our freedoms and we According to a TNS Insti- laureate and first democratically points, but not in the way they are last weekend in Warsaw against ing 36 percent of voters to Renzi’s are going to defend them,” said tute poll published in the Gazeta elected president. doing it,” he added, calling for an the new ruling party. 38 percent. Mateusz Kijowski, founder of the Wyborcza, approval ratings for the “I’m beginning to be ashamed democratic” reform process. “If AFP AFP

Avalanche hits Norway Obama meets families of Sanders, Democrats reach shooting deal after data breach uproar victims WASHINGTON: The Demo- restored after the campaign com- lated” and said its “about face” SAN BERNARDINO: US Pres- cratic National Committee has plied with a request for informa- came as a deadline approached ident Barack Obama met with agreed to restore access to a key tion, but said an investigation for a hearing on a motion for an families of the victims of the voter database to the campaign would continue to ensure the data emergency injuction. San Bernardino shooting, say- of US presidential hopeful Bernie has been erased. “Clearly, they were concerned ing they represent the strength, Sanders following an uproar over “The fact that data was about their prospects in court,” unity and love that exists in the a breach. accessed inappropriately is com- said Jeff Weaver, Sanders’ cam- United States. He said he was The DNC had on Thursday pletely unacceptable,” she said in paign manager. The issue will sur- moved by their emphasis on tol- temporarily suspended the cam- a statement earlier yesterday. face again when Clinton, Sanders erance following the December paign’s access to the database As tensions mounted over the and Martin O’Malley face off in 2 attacks. after at least one of its staffers matter, the Sanders team filed the party’s third presidential Obama said the families are took advantage of a computer a 12-page lawsuit with the US debate in the early voting state representative of the strength, glitch to peek at crucial voter Court for the District of Colum- of New Hampshire. unity and love he sees in the data for rival Hillary Clinton. bia against the DNC over breach Sanders, is running second in San Bernardino community and The suspension was a slap to of contract on Friday. national polls behind Clinton. across the United States. Sanders’ hopes of scoring an upset The Vermont senator’s cam- The glitch in which a firewall Obama, who was accompanied over Clinton for the Democratic paign also fired one staffer and protecting proprietary data was by his wife Michelle, also praised nomination because the database the party blamed NGP VAN, the lowered on Wednesday — made the relatives for efforts to pro- features information on voters technology company that provides voter data unique to the Clinton mote tolerance in the wake of nationwide, and candidates use campaigns with access to the campaign viewable for outside the attack. it to plan strategy as they vie to data, for allowing the intrusion. eyes. The dismissed staffer, Josh The mass shooting on Decem- replace Barack Obama. In its statement on renewed Uretsky said he had not been try- ber 2 left 14 people dead and 22 Search crew clearing snow in the area where an avalanche hit several DNC Chair Debbie Wasser- access, the Sanders campaign ing to spy on Clinton. wounded in what is being inves- houses in Longyearbyen, Norway, yesterday. It was not clear whether man Schultz said access was being claimed the DNC had “capitu- AFP tigated as a terror attack. people were trapped in the buildings or under the snow. Obama stopped in California en route to Hawaii for a family Christmas vacation, spending nearly three hours with those who lost loved ones and first respond- US Congress curbs visa-free travel ers who rushed to the scene of the rampage. WASHINGTON: US Con- zens of the 38 countries that in the aftermath of the terror “As we go into the holiday sea- gress tightened the programme participate in the Visa Waiver strikes in Paris, where some of son, even as we are vigilant about that allows millions of foreign Programme (VWP) and who the attackers were French and preventing terrorist attacks, even nationals to travel visa-free to are also dual nationals from Belgians who could have trav- as we insist that we can’t accept the United States, as lawmak- Iran, Iraq, Syria and Sudan elled unrestricted to the United the notion of mass shootings in ers demand heightened secu- from using the visa-free system. States to carry out attacks. public places and places of work rity following terrorist attacks It also prevents those who The affected nationals will and worship, we have to remind in Paris and California. have travelled to those four not be barred from travelling ourselves of the overwhelming The restrictions were part countries since 2011, or to a to US, but will be required to good that exists out there.” of a sprawling federal spend- country Washington has listed obtain visa through standard Speaking at Indian Springs ing bill and tax relief package as supporting terrorism, from means, which includes an High School, Obama said, the that easily passed the Senate participating, deeming them interview at a US consulate. families “could not have been shortly after earlier clearing a risk and requiring them to About 20 million people each more inspiring, and more insist- the House and now heads to apply for a standard visa. year come to United States ent that something good comes President Barack Obama’s desk The effort reflects calls by US without a visa for stays of less out of this tragedy.” for his signature. lawmakers and authorities to than 90 days. AFP It bars people who are citi- reduce security vulnerabilities AFP

Separate Catalonia issue rocks Spain polls

BARCELONA: Catalonia’s bid sands of protesters, a majority Constitutional Court to water In November, pro-independ- for independence from Spain of lawmakers in the regional down a statute giving the ence lawmakers approved a has thrust the region’s separa- parliament have called for a wealthy, 7.5-million-strong resolution launching a process tist movement to the forefront Scotland-style referendum on region more powers has added for independence they say will of today’s general election, forc- self-determination -- a demand fuel to the fire. culminate in 2017. ing parties to come up with a that has systematically been From 20 percent five years The resolution was later range of proposals on how best rejected by Rajoy. ago, support for independence annulled by Spain’s Constitu- to meet its demands. One of Spain’s 17 semi-auton- has shot up to more than 40 per- tional Court but Catalonia’s Years of inaction by Prime omous regions with its own lan- cent. To try and force Madrid’s government has vowed that the Minister Mariano Rajoy’s con- guage and customs, Catalonia hand, Catalonia president Artur motion is here to stay, creating a servative government, whose enjoys a large degree of freedom Mas called parliamentary elec- deadlock ahead of Sunday’s vote. ruling Popular Party refused any in education, health and policing tions in September. Rajoy and his three rivals form of negotiation or compro- but it wants more, particularly He formed the Together for have all the issue during the mise with the separatists, “have where taxation is concerned, Yes coalition that went on to election campaign, putting for- caused a lot of harm,” says Cata- complaining it pays more to win an absolute majority in the ward starkly different solutions. lan historian Andreu Mayayo. Madrid than it gets back. regional parliament with the Backed by hundreds of thou- A 2010 decision by Spain’s support of CUP. AFP SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

Prayer Timings Weather Hazy to misty / foggy Fajr 04.52 am Zuhr 11.31 am Maghrib 04.50 pm Minimum: 17o C Maximum: 26o C at places at first be- Shorook 06.11 am Asr 02.29 pm Isha 06.20 pm HIGH TIDE 01:00 - 11:30LOW TIDE 05:00 - 19:00 comes partly cloudy. Star Wars smashes opening day box office record LOS ANGELES: Star Wars: The The Force Awakens, which has as breaking records go, it’s the Force Awakens smashed the open- had its legions of fans frothing at strongest candidate we’ve seen ing night record in the United the mouth ever since its mooted in a long, long time. States and Canada and was release, has grossed at least “It might join the $2bn club poised to become one of the big- $130m worldwide since it opened worldwide, and maybe, just gest grossing movies ever, indus- overseas on Wednesday, setting maybe, be the highest grossing try experts said. records in Britain, Germany, Nor- film of all-time.” The latest instalment of the way and Sweden. Disney, which bought the rights highly anticipated space epic Analysts predict that the sev- to the Star Wars franchise from raked in $57m for its opening enth instalment of the iconic its creator George Lucas for $4bn night Thursday, easily beating the space saga, which cost Disney in 2012, has built up the hype previous record — $43.5m — held an estimated $200m to produce, around The Force Awakens, rolling by Harry Potter and the Deathly could score the biggest opening out a well-orchestrated market- Hallows: Part 2 in 2011. weekend ever and could even ing campaign that has left fans Disney gushed that combined become the biggest film of all wanting more. with Friday figures, ticket sales time. Early reviews of the movie “are pointing to a total day of “We appear to be headed for have given it a big thumbs-up and $100M+ for a new industry $200M+ through Sunday and the three more instalments are due in record... and the first triple-digit- possibility of an all-time weekend the coming years. million day ever!” record,” Disney said. The Force Awakens picks up the The Harry Potter film holds the The opening weekend record is intergalactic story of good versus all-time record for opening day currently held by Jurassic World, evil 30 years on from The Return at $91m but the new Star Wars — which premiered earlier this year of the Jedi, the finale of the origi- which has had rave reviews and to $208.8m at the box office. nal trilogy. even saw Stormtroopers “invade” As far as all-time box office The trio of heroes who Star Wars fans raise their lightsabers during Lightsaber Battle LA in Pershing Square in downtown Los Angeles, the White House on Friday — is sales, two films by James Cam- appeared in the first of the block- California. expected to also force it out of eron hold the record — Avatar busters in 1977 — smuggler Han that slot. ($2.78bn) and Titanic ($2.18bn). Solo (Harrison Ford), Princess 4,134 theatres in North America, people who lost family in the Iraq place in the White House today,” “This represents a new record “The potential for The Force Leia (Carrie Fisher), leader of a record for a December opening. war. he joked. for the industry and portends a Awakens to ultimately break into the rebel alliance, and her twin Even the White House was get- Giving an end-of-year press White House Press Secre- massive and potentially record- the $2bn club worldwide is cer- brother Luke Skywalker (Mark ting into the Star Wars hoopla. conference, President Barack tary Josh Earnest also appeared breaking opening day and week- tainly in the realm of possibility,” Hamill) — are all back and played A gaggle of Stormtroopers and Obama revealed he too was swept unannounced at the lectern of the end for the film,” said Paul Dergarabedian said. by the actors that Star Wars first the droid R2-D2 were spotted in up by the mania. briefing room, flanked by Storm- Dergarabedian, of box office Jeff Bock, box office analyst at made famous. the West Wing on Friday — there “Clearly, this is not the most troopers. tracker Rentrak. Exhibitor Relations, said: “As far The film is being screened in was a screening of Star Wars for important thing that’s taking AFP

Scarf-wearing Products for women cost more than for men in New York: Study cheetah on the NEW YORK: Women in New While the study did not every year, the findings of this Girls’ toys cost more 55 percent good jobs. When we do get a job, loose in snowy York City pay thousands of dol- estimate an annual financial study are insult to injury for of the time, and women’s’ clothing we are generally paid less than lars more than men over their impact, “the findings of this female consumers,” said Mayor is priced higher 40 percent of the men. lifetimes for products that are study suggest women are pay- Bill de Blasio in a statement. US time, it said. And when, despite the obsta- Canada gender-specific such as clothing ing thousands of dollars more women working full-time are paid Gender-based pricing of serv- cles, we do succeed, we’re judged and personal care items, a report over the course of their lives to 79 cents for every dollar paid to ices is illegal in New York City, for ‘acting too much like a man’ OTTAWA: Canadian conserva- said. purchase similar products as men. but there is no similar law for or not taking good enough care of tion officials and federal police Products designed for female men,” it said. The New York City study found gender-pricing of goods, the study our families,” she said in a state- were on the lookout for a chee- consumers are priced seven Overall, women’s products cost personal care products were the said. ment. tah wearing a bright orange scarf percent higher on average than more than men’s 42 percent of the biggest offender, costing more 56 “Expensive toiletries are just a The study looked at 794 items and wandering through the snow- products for men, according to time, while men’s products cost percent of the time. fragment of the problem,” said the in 35 product categories at 24 covered outback. the study of nearly 800 goods sold more 18 percent of the time, it Women’s shampoo, for example, city’s first lady, Chirlane McCray, stores from July to October of The big African cat was spotted at New York City retailers con- said. on average cost $8.39, while men’s honorary head of the city’s Com- this year. crossing a highway near Creston, ducted by the city’s Department “When we know that women shampoo was $5.68, a 48 percent mission on Gender Equity. British Columbia on Thursday by of Consumer Affairs. continue to make less than men difference, it said. “It’s harder for us to secure REUTERS a motorist who stopped to photo- graph it. “It was wearing an orange Chinese hacky sack scarf or collar, suggesting it’s a domesticated animal. So we don’t believe it’s a serious threat,” Brit- Violent Femmes plans comeback album ish Columbia conservation officer Joe Caravetta said. He said cheetahs are typically NEW YORK: The Violent long enjoyed a strong following. the early 1990s. But the band has shy and less aggressive than other Femmes, who helped shape the The band did not offer clues not released a full-length album large cats, and “this one is prob- alternative rock scene with their to the music but earlier this year since the commercially disap- ably used to being around people.” blend of folk and punk, have released an EP that largely stayed pointing Freak Magnet in 2000. But as a precaution, local announced their first album in true to the group’s trademark The trio broke up in 2007 when schoolchildren have been kept more than 15 years. style of high-energy acoustic rock. Gano, the main songwriter, sold indoors and residents have been The Milwaukee-based band, led The Violent Femmes found the rights to “Blister in the Sun” asked to mind their small pets, a by singer and guitarist Gordon an underground and eventually to the Wendy’s fast food chain for spokesman for the Royal Cana- Gano, said late on Thursday that mainstream following in the 1980s a commercial. dian Mounted Police said. the new album, We Can Do Any- with hits such as Blister in the Sun, Bassist Brian Ritchie angrily Ownership of exotic animals is thing, would come out on March 4. Add It Up and Gone Daddy Gone. accused the vegetarian Gano of allowed in British Columbia with The Violent Femmes plans to Taking the hard musical edge of selling out and said that neither a special permit, but no permits mark the release with an exten- folk rock, the Violent Femmes was of them ate “garbage” like the have been issued to anyone living sive tour of New Zealand and a major influence on the alterna- hamburgers. in the area where the cheetah was Clerks of a souvenir shop wearing traditional costumes play Chinese hacky Australia, where the group has tive rock scene that emerged in AFP spotted, Caravetta noted. sack game at the Temple of Heaven park in Beijing, China, yesterday. Three conservation officers have been sent to track the chee- tah, helped by a fresh snowfall. With temperatures hovering just below freezing, Caravetta Concussion movie subject exaggerated role: Researchers said a cheetah can probably last only a few days in the Canadian wilds. BOSTON: In the trailer for pital in Glasgow, Scotland. are still trying to undermine Dr The Toronto Star quoted a the movie Concussion, star Will “Chronic traumatic encepha- Omalu’s work.” local school administrator as say- Smith says: “I found a disease lopathy has been around for “What is beyond dispute is that ing “some of the (students) are that no one has ever seen.” decades. It’s not a new term,” Dr Omalu’s discovery shined a excited” about a cheetah in their It’s a claim the real-life doc- Stewart said. “The only thing I light on a reality that the NFL midst. The official noted that bear tor portrayed by Smith, forensic would say that Bennet has done is ignored for too long and contin- or cougar sightings are common pathologist Bennet Omalu, has that he identified it in an Ameri- ues to play out every Sunday,” in the Canadian outback, but himself made for years, giving a can footballer.” Sony Pictures spokeswoman Jean nobody in this area has ever seen detailed description about how he In a telephone call on Thurs- Guerin said. a cheetah. came to name that disease “chronic day, Omalu passionately defended With its marquee star and holi- The driver who spotted the ani- traumatic encephalopathy.” his work and attributed the criti- day release, Concussion is certain mal told public broadcaster CBC: But Omalu neither discovered cisms to “people historically who to revive that debate. Dozens of “My first thought was, ‘that’s a the disease nor named it, accord- have made a systematic attempt former football players have been cheetah. What’s it doing there?’” ing to scientific journals and brain to discredit me, and to margin- posthumously diagnosed with She described it as panting and researchers interviewed by The alise me.” CTE after descending into lives of seemingly in distress. Associated Press. And though no “This is totally false. And write depression, alcohol or drug abuse, AFP one doubts that Omalu’s diagno- that in a big font, that it is totally violent behaviour and even suicide. sis of Pittsburgh Steelers cen- and completely false,” he shouted Also beyond dispute is the Dr Bennet Omalu, (left), and actor Will Smith pose together at the cast tre Mike Webster was pivotal in into the phone. “There is a good personal struggle Omalu went photo call for the film Concussion at The Crosby Street Hotel in New York. understanding football’s dangers, deal of jealousy and envy in my field. through after the NFL sought to fellow researchers say Omalu goes For me to come out and discover discredit his research rather than This time, the quarrel seems to myself ... you need to give it a too far when he publicly takes the paradigm shift, it upset some confront the threat to long-term to centre on what it means to name. You need to give it a name credit for naming or discovering people. I am well aware of that.” health of its players. discover a disease, and what it that has a good acronym that CTE. Sony Pictures, which will But the new complaints are not is to name it. In a 2013 talk that people will remember, even a “It’s just not true, and I think release Concussion on December from the league and its support- is viewable on YouTube, Omalu 3-year-old kid would remember. he knows that,” said William 25, issued a statement on Thurs- ers, but from fellow researchers says he came up with the name That is how ‘CTE’ came about.” Stewart, a neuropathologist at day that also noted “competing who say Omalu is claiming credit CTE after diagnosing the dis- Queen Elizabeth University Hos- interests and agendas ... that he doesn’t deserve. ease in Webster’s brain: “I said AP Sunday 20 December 2015 9 Rabia I 1437 Volume 20 Number 6650 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 WTO leaders IMF seeks tax regime overhaul in GCC agree to Individual countries in the region should design their own law on value-added tax: Fund

By Satish Kanady GCC COUNTRIES: ESTIMATED VAT REVENUE 2014 low rates with limited exemptions. their own reforms and implemen- end farm Country Share of final Revenue at a VAT rate of Share of Revenue at a VAT rate of Such a system will be easier to tation strategies when ready, and DOHA: The International Mon- consumption 3% 5% private 3% 5% administer and will have little or this may provide a demonstration etary Fund (IMF), in its latest in GDP consumption no efficiency costs to the economy. effect to other countries. subsidies round of discussions with the in GDP Tax reforms will take time to The choice of the VAT thresh- GCC’s finance ministers and cen- Bahrain 56.6 0.9 1.6 41.0 1.1 1.8 implement as the institutional old is crucial for the successful JOHANNESBURG: Negotiators tral bank governors in Doha, has Kuwait 50.2 0.8 1.4 31.2 0.8 1.4 capacity needs to be developed. introduction of VAT. The simple at the World Trade Organisa- stressed the need to revive their Oman 51.6 0.9 1.4 24.8 0.7 1.1 Efforts will require communica- rule of thumb is that the largest tion’s 10th ministerial conference strategies for reform of domestic Qatar 29.6 0.5 0.8 15.1 0.4 0.7 tion strategies at the national 10 percent of tax payers account in Nairobi agreed to end direct taxation system. and regional levels to explain why for about 90 percent of total tax export subsidies on farm produce Tax reforms can help put in Saudi Arabia 58.9 1.0 1.6 32.5 0.9 1.5 taxation is needed and important payments. The Fund advised the even as 14 year-old talks on trade place modern and efficient tax UAE 55.3 0.9 1.5 47.7 1.3 2.1 with the aim to overcome ongoing region to limit exemptions to the development remain unresolved. systems that will increase rev- Note: Using average C-efficiency ratio (0.58) of selected sample of countries with experience relevant scepticism about the usefulness of extent possible to basic social serv- Developed countries will imme- enue collections from the non-oil to the GCC, Assuming the base=90% of private consumption. establishing modern taxation sys- ices and hard to tax outputs such diately eliminate export-subsidy Source: IMF staff calculations economy while also enabling the tems in oil-rich countries. as financial services. Experience entitlements while developing streamlining or elimination of the day as a follow up to the annual The Fund suggested GCC coun- With regard to the VAT, the shows that support for granting nations must end direct support inefficient fees and duties cur- meeting of ministers of finance tries could choose a combination of Fund noted it is important that the exemptions begins to wane only by the end of 2018, according to rently in place. As well as raising and central bank governors held modern tax options to meet their GCC countries announce the broad after a few years of VAT imple- ministerial declarations accepted revenues in line with, the coun- in Doha last month, said. revenue needs. These include: a principles of the VAT framework mentation. From the outset, coun- yesterday in the Kenyan capital, tries need to address current fis- Raising more from domes- low rate broad-based VAT together they have agreed. Individual coun- tries have a tendency to grant after talks at the trade body’s cal pressures. These reforms will tic taxes and relying less on oil with selected excises, a tax on prof- tries should then move forward exemptions across different sectors first ministerial conference on the also begin to put in place the tax revenues will enhance the GCC its of incorporated and unincorpo- with designing their own VAT law. on grounds of efficiency, equity, or continent ran more than 24 hours system that will be needed to governments’ accountability to rated enterprises, and a recurrent International experience suggests difficulty in identifying the taxable past its self-imposed deadline. ensure government service provi- the population given the more property tax. A combination of it will take 18-24 months to intro- base. These exemptions generally “The decision you have taken sion when hydrocarbon resources direct link that will be established these taxes can ensure efficient duce a VAT once agreement has lead to increasingly adverse effects. today on export competition is are depleted, a policy document between revenues and service pro- and progressive tax systems in been reached. Rather, individual truly extraordinary,” WTO Direc- released by the Fund the other vision. the region. Taxes should start at countries should move ahead with THE PENINSULA tor General Roberto Azevedo said at the closing session of the con- ference. “It is the WTO’s most significant outcome on agricul- ture.” No firm agreement was reached on the future of the Doha talks, Current account balance in which they started in 2001 aimed at adding billions of dol- lars to global trade by stimulating cross-border commerce. Negotia- to remain surplus in 2015 tions on the trade-development talks have been stuck since 2009 By Mohammad Shoeb and that there is additional non- ported by demand for materials because of differences between oil and gas revenue accruing to and by consumption demand of wealthy and poor nations, chiefly DOHA: Qatar’s current account the budget. a larger population. With the over subsidised farming in the balance is expected to remain in However, these measures are retreat in the current account developed world. surplus in 2015, but modest defi- more than offset by the squeeze surplus, capital outflows will also “We recognise that many cits seem likely in 2016 and 2017. on revenue inflicted by lower be pared back. members reaffirm the Doha The updated Qatar Economic oil prices and the consequent The risks to the economic out- Development Agenda, and Outlook (QEO) including those reduction in investment income look stem mainly from oil prices, the declarations and decisions showing lower than anticipated received by government. which have dropped dramatically adopted at Doha and at the min- production of crude oil and con- Investment income — largely over the year. isterial conferences held since densates as well as the drop in the financial surplus of Qatar Their prognosis remains highly then, and reaffirm their full com- oil prices suggest that the fiscal Petroleum — accrues to the budget uncertain, according to the QEO mitment to conclude the DDA on surplus in 2015 may contract to with a lag and in 2015 budget rev- Update. that basis,” the ministerial decla- 1.7 percent of GDP, down from 13 enue was shielded to some extent The MDPS document has also ration said. “Other members do percent in 2014. by the higher oil prices of 2014. noted that if oil prices rise more not reaffirm the Doha mandates, In 2016, it is foreseen that the However, this buffer is removed in quickly than forecast, realised as they believe new approaches overall fiscal balance will register 2016, and the full impact of lower nominal income growth, as well are necessary to achieve mean- its first deficit in 15 years, which oil prices in 2015 will be felt on as fiscal and external balances, ingful outcomes in multilateral the QEO estimates at about 4.8 income from investments. The fis- will see better outcomes. are on the high side against oth- tion and in reduced resources negotiations.” percent of GDP. This estimate cal deficit is forecast to remain in But if they fall short of pro- ers’ forecasts. This is particularly flowing to the state. Nominal Agricultural subsidies in the assumes that the government 2017, though expected reductions jections, income growth will be stark for Japanese LNG prices, GDP growth may shrink margin- rich world have been a key stum- successfully pares recurrent in expenditure and a mild recov- restrained, fiscal balances could which are a major swing factor ally in 2016 if, as forecast, margins bling block in trade talks over the spending levels and caps growth ery in hydrocarbon prices should deteriorate more sharply and for Qatar’s composite realised gas on gas decline. 15 years. Trade leaders agreed to of capital spending below previ- narrow the deficit from 2016. larger external-payment deficits prices. An expected increase in hydro- end cotton subsidies in developed ously programmed levels; that The import demand might see might occur. An expected drop of 46 percent carbon prices in 2017 should allow countries immediately and in there are effective cost reductions some reduction as projects’ cap- The forecast of this Outlook in the price of hydrocarbon bas- a resumption of growth of nomi- developing countries by the start in the hydrocarbon sector that ital-equipment needs are scaled relies on World Bank forecasts ket will register directly in lower nal GDP. of 2017. support transfers to the budget; down, but it should stay sup- for regional LNG prices, which income from upstream produc- THE PENINSULA BLOOMBERG Low energy prices no barrier for R&D investments: Sara Ortwein

By Satish Kanady our focus on research and develop- awarded a global commercial mation gathered with its research of-the-art facilities. As part of ment. It’s a long-term investment licence for the Immersive 3D Oper- partners Qatar University and the research scholars agreement, DOHA: Technological innovation and it’s going to help us be suc- ator Training Simulator technol- Texas A&M at Galveston in the QU and EMRQ intend to develop is integral in stabilising the glo- cessful in developing technology for ogy to co-developer EON Reality United States, on the local popu- programmes designed to not only bal oil market. The slump in glo- the future.” Inc. The patent-pending technol- lation of dugongs (marine mam- promote academic and industry bal energy prices will not affect Price fall or price rise, technol- ogy was developed by scientists mals). EMRQ will provide PEO relations, but to foster innovation sustained future investments in ogy is key to energy business. It from EMRQ and EON Reality Inc with technical advice, share sci- and facilitate the development and ExxonMobil’s research and devel- transforms the way companies over a five and a half year period, entific data, and transfer technol- use of state-of-the-art technology. opment (R&D) sector. operate. “If you look at the gas and incorporates an ultrarealis- ogy, as well as impart training and QU and EMRQ will also mutu- Technology is fundamental to business here, a lot of technol- tic state-of-the-art, multi-sided capacity building opportunities. ally support a number of postgrad- energy businesses, regardless of ogy has gone into developing LNG immersive virtual reality. Ortwein EMRQ and PEO, in partnership uate research projects in the fields the price cycle. And it has really to ship it all around the world. said the immersive virtual reality with QU, have also been collabo- of environmental risk assessment, been the foundation of everything Thirty-three countries are import- could be used for training process rating to commission a research and monitoring and water re-use. that we have done over long peri- ing LNG. The complexity of this operators and young engineers project to study ecology and geol- The research projects are intended ods in the industry, Sara Ortwein business is tremendous. So we joining the workforce in oil and ogy of the inland sea (Khor Al- to lead academic publications, (pictured), President, ExxonMobil can’t stop and resume investment gas production, processing, and Udai), to help better protect it. which encourage the academic Upstream Research Company told in this sector. We have to main- industry. ExxonMobil is globally transportation facilities. In another strategic initiative, development of students. The Peninsula in an interview. tain the steady stream in research maintaining a $1bn investment in Explaining EMRQ’s partnership EMRQ and QU have signed an Along with its local and interna- On oil majors’ announcements on and development investments. And research and development. with Qatari entities and its ini- agreement to launch the Qatar tional partners, EMRQ continues significant cuts in capital expendi- going forward, ExxonMobil will She emphasised safety is at the tiatives in Qatar, she said Qatar’s University ExxonMobil Research to work to provide the scientific tures against the backdrop of crash sustain investments in research centre of all of these efforts. Exx- General Directorate of Natural Scholars Program. EMRQ and research needed to develop key in oil prices, Ortwein said: “Capi- and development. Now more than onMobil Research Qatar (EMRQ) Reserves Private Engineering QU have a shared commitment technologies that will benefit the tal investments in projects is very ever, this sustained investment in has invested in research to explore Office (PEO) and EMRQ recently to advance science and technol- oil and gas industry in Qatar and different from the investments in technology is key to empowering ways to enhance safety training in signed a memorandum of under- ogy in Qatar through research around the world, so that it func- research and development. I can’t future success,” she said. the oil and gas sector, and specifi- standing for collaborative research and development, and to promote tions in a safe and environmentally speak for any other operator and Ortwein said improving pro- cally in the LNG business. to protect Qatar’s ecology. academic excellence through stra- responsible manner. their point of view, but I know that duction and operational efficiency Earlier this year, ExxonMobil In line with this partnership, tegic investment in human capital, at ExxonMobil, we are maintaining is one driver of innovation in the Upstream Research Company EMRQ will leverage existing infor- innovative technology and state- THE PENINSULA SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Ooredoo picks Apple, Samsung sign pact with UnionPay SAN FRANCISCO: Apple Inc offers an opportunity to profit and Samsung Electronics Co from a market where mobile- reached separate agreements payment transactions jumped with China UnionPay Co to intro- 134 percent to 22.6 trillion yuan up GoSwiff as duce their competing mobile pay- ($3.5 trillion) last year, central ments systems in the country bank data show. next year. Apple and Samsung use differ- Customers of UnionPay, China’s ent technology for their services. largest payment and clearing Apple Pay utilizes near-field com- global partner network, will be able to add their munication, which enables users bank cards to iPhones, iPads and to pay for purchases by tapping the Apple Watch for purchases their phone or watch with stored Partnership will cover nine markets through Apple Pay, the compa- bank-card information on a device nies said in a statement. Users of at cash registers. DOHA: Ooredoo Group yesterday enable us to broaden our offer and Samsung Galaxy and Note devices UnionPay has more than 5 mil- announced that it has selected engage even more effectively with will have similar options. lion point-of-sale machines that GoSwiff, a global mobile payments our customers,” said Sheikh Saud While the deals allow the two are NFC-enabled in China. While and marketing solutions provider, bin Nasser Al Thani, Group CEO, biggest smartphone makers to Samsung’s service also uses NFC, as its partner for the implemen- Ooredoo. take their nascent payments it offers traditional magnetic tation of its international mPOS “We are proud to have been systems to the world’s largest stripe reading technology, as well. (mobile point of sale) platform. selected by Ooredoo Group as its market with the backing of state- Apple Pay charges 0.15 percent of The partnership will cover nine global partner as the company backed UnionPay, they will face the value of each purchase made markets covering Algeria, Indone- introduces its offer of mobile pay- entrenched competition. Alibaba through its system, out of the 2 sia, Iraq, Kuwait, Myanmar, Mal- ments to nine exciting markets Group Holding Ltd’s Alipay and percent fee paid by merchants in dives, Oman, Qatar and Tunisia. It across North Africa, Middle East Tencent Holdings Ltd. Tenpay US, Caixin magazine reported in will include recruiting merchants and South East Asia. We already have already built large customer February. Such a rate would be to the platform, from large corpo- have a presence in each of these bases for payments on their too expensive in China, given that rates to micro-merchants. regions and, with this new part- e-commerce and other business the total fee paid by some mer- GoSwiff will provide an inte- nership with Ooredoo, look for- platforms. “Alipay remains the chants is only 0.38 percent, Caixin grated multi-payment solution ward to serving local merchants industry’s dominant player, which said. including mPOS, mobile money even better,” said Simone Ranucci Apple Pay would find difficult to Alibaba’s Alipay affiliate con- and airtime top-up for Ooredoo’s Brandimarte, CEO, GoSwiff. surpass in the near future,” Di Jin, trolled 83 percent of China’s A person holds China UnionPay cards in front of a computer screen merchant clients. “Our focus will be on long term an analyst at Forrester Research, third-party mobile payment mar- showing Apple’s website in China. The service will also include value creation, offering a seamless said in an e-mail. “The partner- ket in 2014, while Tenpay held 10 Value Added Services, including buying experience to customers, ship between Apple and UnionPay percent, according to market- The mobile payments tool will 15 of China’s leading banks, users merchant reward programme, benefitting Ooredoo’s customers is a strategy of compromise that is research firm iResearch. Alipay be available for China Union- will soon have a convenient, pri- to encourage a greater volume of both online and at the point of unlikely to help Apple gain more allows its more than 400 million Pay cardholders as soon as early vate and secure payment experi- transactions, and consumer loy- sale ,” said Stefano Diemmi, COO, users from their competition, real-name registered users to 2016 after tests and certification ence,” Eddy Cue, the Cupertino, alty tools that will enable Ooredoo GoSwiff. despite UnionPay’s existing mobile make purchases from desktop required by Chinese regulators, California-based company’s senior to better engage with its custom- “We look forward to develop- payment alliances with banks and computers, tablets and smart- the companies said. vice president of Internet Soft- ers. ing new services jointly in the Internet companies.” phones at more than 130,000 “China is an extremely impor- ware and Services, said in the As part of the agreement, Oore- future and bring innovation Still, for foreign companies such bricks-and-mortar merchants, tant market for Apple, and with statement. doo Group is outsourcing managed into the countries we operate as Apple and Samsung, China according to its website. China UnionPay and support from BLOOMBERG services for mPOS to GoSwiff, in together,” he said. Ooredoo is including merchant profiling, seg- Qatar’s leading communications mentation and engagement with company, delivering mobile, fixed, different industry verticals. broadband internet and corporate “With its comprehensive range managed services tailored to the of services and international expe- needs of consumers and busi- Banks face tighter payout restraints Malabar Gold rience, GoSwiff is a strong partner nesses. As a community-focused to help Ooredoo build our mPOS company, Ooredoo is guided by its platform. Combined with its global vision of enriching people’s lives as EBA urges change to law Diamonds footprint and extensive capabili- and its belief that it can stimu- ties in outsourcing the deploy- late human growth by leveraging ment, merchant acquisition and communications to help people VIENNA: Europe’s banking law pean law isn’t clear whether lend- banks should publish the Pillar 2 Festival merchant on boarding in emerg- achieve their full potential. should be amended to prevent ers must consider one or both in requirement, because the effect on ing markets, we are confident that banks depleting capital to pay the calculation. “Timely and full their ability to pay dividends and our partnership with GoSwiff will THE PENINSULA shareholders, employees and jun- capital restoration is precisely hybrid bond coupons may mean begins ior creditors, the European Bank- what is pursued by the calculation it meets the criteria for inside ing Authority told lawmakers. of the MDA,” the EBA said in an information, the EBA said. Dan- DOHA: Malabar Gold & Dia- Restrictions on dividends, opinion published late on Friday. iele Nouy, head of the European monds, the prominent jewellery bonuses and hybrid bond coupons Therefore the calculation of what Central Bank’s supervisory arm, retailer unveiled details of the kick in as soon as banks start to is available to pay out should be has told banks not to publish the fifth edition of ‘Malabar Gold Haier eyes GE’s home eat into the common equity Tier made taking into account both amount set. & Diamonds Festival’ in GCC, 1 capital - common stock and blocks of capital, the authority Supervisors in the EU should Singapore & Malaysia. The fes- retained earnings - needed for said. The law’s logic dictates that “require institutions to disclose tival that runs from 16 December appliances business the various cushions regulators banks should ensure they could MDA-relevant capital require- 2015 to 31 January 2016 will can impose. When that happens, meet all of their capital require- ments” or “should at least not display distinctive pieces of jew- lenders are obliged to calculate the ments when calculating MDA, the prevent or dissuade any institu- ellery from across the world and NEW YORK: First-round bids to be identified discussing private Maximum Distributable Amount, EBA said. It asked the European tion from disclosing this informa- offers massive gifts and irresist- for General Electric Co’s home- information. GE’s accelerated or MDA, which caps how much Commission to change the legisla- tion,” the EBA said. Along with ible offers. appliances business are due next timeline supports Chief Execu- they can pay out. tion to make that clear. tougher capital requirements, This much-awaited festival is week, according to people familiar tive Officer Jeffrey Immelt’s effort Ambiguous language in the Under the Basel framework, another key plank in post-crisis one of the biggest jewellery events with the matter, as the industrial to reshape the company around European Union law implement- so-called Pillar 1 buffers include bank regulation is supervisors’ in GCC and the customers get giant seeks a speedy exit following industrial-manufacturing opera- ing the framework set out by the capital conservation buffer, ability to act long before critical unprecedented opportunities to its aborted deal with Electrolux tions. He’s selling the consumer- global regulators on the Basel systemic risk buffers and the capital thresholds are breached to win a total of 250,000 gold coins AB. appliances business along with the Committee on Banking Supervi- countercyclical buffer. Pillar 2 force lenders to rein in their risk- and up to QR2m instant cash Companies including Haier bulk of GE’s lending arm while sion has created uncertainty about requirements instead are set to taking. The EBA said it favoured refund. The festival will capti- Electronics Group Co are weigh- expanding divisions making prod- exactly which layers of capital capture risks specific to each “some review” of rules prohibiting vate the customers by exhibit- ing offers for the century-old unit, ucts such as gas turbines, oilfield have to be taken account of when lender’s business and as things payments that apply in all cases ing eye catching designs in gold, which may fetch more than the equipment and jet engines. potential payouts are calculated. stand, the amount may or may when no profits are made. platinum, diamonds and precious $3.3bn Electrolux had agreed to That’s because bank capital is not be made public. Capital mar- stones from different parts of the pay, said the people, who asked not BLOOMBERG divided into two blocks and Euro- kets transparency rules mean BLOOMBERG world to flaunt any occasion or event and are well priced too. The festival stands apart from the usual jewellery exhibitions and promotions and as the tag line indicates- ‘Everyone Wins’, Fed’s Powell looks for continued strong job growth in US i.e. every customer gets a chance to be a winner through this fes- WASHINGTON: Federal Reserve Gov- continue.” The Fed raised interest rates Fed’s target since 2012, based on the tival. ernor Jerome Powell (pictured) said he on Wednesday for the first time since central bank’s preferred gauge. Even For every purchase of gold jew- will be watching for continued labour- 2006. Officials, including Chair Janet so, monetary policy works with lags, ellery above QR2,000, the custom- market improvement to guide policy as Yellen, have stressed that the pace of which made Wednesday’s 25 basis point ers get a ‘Scratch & Win’ coupon the US central bank proceeds along a future hikes will be gradual and data- increase appropriate, Powell said. through which they can win a gradual path of interest rate increases. dependent, and would hinge on continued “We want this to be a long, extended guaranteed gold coin or up to 100 “We do look at a wide range of things. improvement in the labour market and recovery, and for it to continue for some gold coins instantly. With every For me, at the top of the list will be con- a pickup in inflation toward the Fed’s 2 significant number of more years,” Pow- diamond jewellery purchase, the tinued progress in the labour market, percent goal. That’s focused investors’ ell said, noting that waiting too long to customers get a ‘Scratch & Win’ and with it, continued progress on infla- attention on what measures policy mak- raise rates can force the Fed to tighten coupon for a guaranteed cash tion,” Powell told Marketplace radio. ers are attuned to as they gauge when to policy abruptly, potentially disrupting refund and get a chance to win “I want to see continued strong job next lift rates. growth and causing a recession. up to 100 percent cash back. growth. We’ve had three years of very While the job market has been robust, strong job growth - I want to see that price pressures haven’t achieved the BLOOMBERG THE PENINSULA

Dollar lustre dims for investors managing more than $1 trillion

NEW YORK: The dollar’s cent against the euro in 2016. The appreciate more is quite limited,” 0.25 and 0.5 percent from near pean Central Bank would cut currencies of China, Canada and unprecedented run against the year-end median forecast of $1.05 said James Kwok, head of cur- zero on December 16, where it had rates and buy bonds in a bid to Mexico are poised to weaken ver- euro over the past 18 months is shows little conviction that the rency management at Amundi, been since 2008. revive inflation. Historically, the sus the dollar next year, as fore- set to run out of steam in 2016, dollar will be able to strengthen the biggest publicly traded money Hedge funds and other large euro-dollar exchange rate has a cast by strategists surveyed by according to two of Europe’s big- past $1.0458, the 12-year high manager in Europe by assets. The speculators reduced net futures strong correlation with short- Bloomberg. gest money managers. reached in March. Paris-based firm oversees €952bn positions that profit from gains term interest-rate differentials. An economic slowdown in Following a 26 percent advance Reasons for dollar caution were ($1.03 trillion). in the dollar versus the single That trade faded late in the China and dwindling demand for in the span, Amundi SA and Axa reflected by Fed Chair Janet Yellen The dollar rose 1.1 percent last currency to 159,961 contracts on year after US policy makers commodities worldwide will propel Investment Managers say the dol- December 16 during her news con- week to $1.0868 against the euro. December 15, from 172,331 con- stressed the pace of interest- the greenback higher, Axa said. lar’s strength will constrain the ference. The greenback has gained 11 per- tracts a week earlier, according rate increases would be gradual “The weakness in commodities Federal Reserve’s ability to boost The strengthening greenback is cent versus the common currency to Commodity Futures Trading and the ECB announced stimulus is something that’s going to be borrowing costs aggressively next one of the main reasons the pace this year. The tepid outlook for the Commission data. measures that were less aggressive here for quite some time,” Page year, after it raised rates this of policy tightening will be “grad- dollar is shared by David Page, The bet on a stronger dollar than some investors anticipated. said. “We’ll see all of those com- week for the first time in almost ual,” as it will “hold down import senior economist at Paris-based against the euro has been one of The next round of US dollar modity-producing economies and a decade. prices that spills over into core Axa, which oversees $747bn. the most popular trades of 2015. strength will come from gains therefore their currencies, con- Strategists surveyed by inflation,” she said. The Federal Open Market Investors wagered better growth against the nation’s largest trad- tinue to be under pressure.” Bloomberg forecast gains in the “Against the major currencies, Committee raised its target for prospect in the US would prompt ing partners, mostly emerging US currency will slow to 3.4 per- I think the room for the dollar to the federal funds rate to between Fed tightening, while the Euro- markets, said Axa’s Page. The BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 QNB bullish on Qatari equities over long term Forecasts 6.5 percent increase in earnings in 2016

DOHA: QNB forecast a 6.5 per- prices, increase in volatility, exit December 2015 from its all-time cent increase in earnings by key of hot money from emerging/ high of 14,350.50 on September 18, Qatari equities in 2016. QNB, frontier markets, etc.” 2014. Like any other market, the which covers 17 Qatari equities, The valuation will remain QEE Index experienced regular said it remains optimistic on the attractive. The Qatar Exchange troughs and peaks. local equity market over long (QE) Index is trading at attrac- As such, we revisit past periods term. tive 2016 multiples, with a P/E of significant movements when The significant sell-offs driven ratio of 10.4x complemented by a the Index corrected and subse- by declining oil prices have been dividend yield of 5.6 percent. quently followed through with overdone and we consider most of QNB notes the Qatari equity a major rally. For instance, the the equities under our coverage as market remains relatively com- Index dropped by 54.8 percent attractive opportunities, it said in pelling as compared to its GCC (48.2 percent annualised) and by a research note yesterday. peers with the Bloomberg GCC 66.5 percent (77.8 percent annu- “We forecast a decent 6.5 200 Index trading at 10.8x 2016 alised) between 2005-2006 and percent increase in aggregate P/E along with a 2016 dividend 2008-2009, respectively. Conse- earnings by key Qatari equities yield of 4.9 percent. quently, the Index gained 112.4 in 2016. We have compiled net The Index is currently trad- percent (88.5 percent annualised) income expectations of key Qatari ing at a TTM P/E of 10.08x vs. and 118.5 percent (51.8 percent equities that we cover. Factors its 10-year historical average annualised) during 2007-2008 and that can positively reinforce our of 12.95x. This implies that the 2008-2011, respectively. “We can thesis includes but not limited market is trading at a significant expect history to repeat itself.” to improvement in oil prices, discount of 22.2 percent. Hence, According to QNB Group, positive global economic growth current valuation appears to be Qatar’s economy is expected 4.0 percent in 2014 to 4.7 percent tor is projected to remain the QNB Group anticipates non- prospects, easing of regional geo- inexpensive. to remain resilient to lower oil in 2015 and 6.4 percent in both engine of growth in the economy. hydrocarbon GDP growth at 10.4 political issues and better than From a historical perspective, prices. The country is well-posi- 2016 and 2017, as the government Its near double-digit expected percent in 2015, followed by 9.9 expected earnings from stocks the QE Index has corrected by tioned to withstand lower oil expands its investment spending growth is underlined by strong percent in 2016 and 10 percent in under coverage. 32.8 percent (27.5 percent annu- prices . QNB Group forecasts real program in the non-hydrocarbon investment spending in line with 2017. Key risks include: depressed oil alized) to 9,643.65 as of the 13th of GDP growth will accelerate from sector. The non-hydrocarbon sec- the Qatar National Vision 2030. THE PENINSULA

US approves IMF change in favour of emerging markets Bank of Italy says most banks WASHINGTON: US lawmakers approved The IMF’s executive board approved a credit line provided to the IMF during the changes to International Monetary Fund plan in 2010 to increase the voting share financial crisis to increase its capital. governance that will give more of a voice of emerging economies and double the In addition, the US representative on are healthy to emerging markets such as China and amount of permanent funding available to the IMF’s board must report to lawmak- India in exchange for greater congressional the Washington-based fund, which serves ers when voting in favour of any loans that ROME: The Bank of Italy’s dep- oversight of the fund. as a lender of last resort to countries that exceed the fund’s normal limits. uty governor said yesterday that The House and Senate on Friday passed face capital shortfalls. China, the world’s second-largest the vast majority of the country’s a $1.1-trillion spending plan that includes Some Republican lawmakers had previ- economy, currently ranks sixth in voting banks are in a better state than language implementing the IMF reforms, ously said the shift would give too much shares at the IMF, behind the US, Japan, the small lenders whose failure which have been awaiting congressional influence to countries that don’t share US Germany, France and the UK. Under the and subsequent rescue this year ratification since 2010, a delay that spurred interests, while others questioned the need 2010 plan, China would jump to third, while wiped out the savings of thou- global criticism of the US. The package for international bailouts. India would climb to eighth from 11th and sands of retail investors. awaits the signature of President Barack Emerging-market leaders had warned Brazil would move up four spots to 10th. The government salvaged Obama, who supports the change. that the IMF would lose legitimacy if its The fund is primarily financed by shares, Banca Marche, Banca Etruria , Ratification also clears the way for the voting structure didn’t reflect the growing known as quotas, assigned to its 188 mem- CariChieti and CariFe at the end Washington-based fund to begin reviewing economic clout of countries such as India ber countries. The proposal would double of November, using €3.6bn from another round of changes that could give and China. the number of total quotas, while rolling a crisis fund financed by healthy China and other emerging markets an even The delay may have helped push China to back by a corresponding amount the crisis- banks. bigger voting share. The IMF’s executive establish the Asian Infrastructure Invest- era credit line, known as the New Arrange- In the process, people who had board is expected to consider a timetable ment Bank, a development lender similar ments to Borrow. bought shares and junior debt as early as January for the next review of to the World Bank. China’s central bank said in a statement took heavy losses, drawing criti- the institution’s share system. Lawmakers imposed several condi- yesterday that it welcomes the ratification cism of Prime Minister Matteo IMF Managing Director Christine tions on their support for the reforms. of the 2010 quota and governance reforms Renzi’s government, the Bank of Lagarde (pictured) said the changes The Treasury Department must push to by the US Congress. Italy (BOI) and the financial mar- approved will “strengthen the IMF in its repeal the fund’s so-called systemic-exemp- “Going forward, China will work closely ket regulator. BoI Deputy Gov- role of supporting global financial stability.” tion policy, according to the budget bill. with other member countries to support ernor Luigi Federico Signorini “The reforms significantly increase The policy allows the board to relax the the IMF to continuously improve its quota said Italy’s banking system had the IMF’s core resources, enabling us to IMF’s lending standards when a country’s and governance structure, to ensure that strengthened “very considerably” respond to crises more effectively, and also default has major spillover risks. The board the IMF remains a quota-based and ade- in recent years despite global improve the IMF’s governance by better invoked the exemption in approving a bail- quately resourced institution,” the People’s financial turmoil. “There are very reflecting the increasing role of dynamic out for Greece in 2010. Bank of China said in the statement. few (banks like) Banca Etruria,” emerging and developing countries in the Congress must also approve any exten- Signorini said. global economy,” she said in a statement. sion beyond 2022 of US participation in a BLOOMBERG REUTERS

Costa Rica CFAO opens first African mall in US eases 35-year-old boasts of 99pc renewable Ivory Coast, plans dozens more real estate tax on energy in 2015 foreign investors SAN JOSÉ: Almost all of Costa Rica’s electricity came from SEATTLE: US President Barack make themselves minority inves- renewable sources this year, Obama signed into law a measure tors and bypass FIRPTA. making it one of a few countries easing a 35-year-old tax on for- The new law also allows for- in the world to eschew fossil fuels eign investment in US real estate, eign pensions to buy as much as in energy generation, the state potentially opening the door to 10 percent of a US publicly traded electricity agency said on Friday. greater purchases by overseas real estate investment trust with- The Costa Rican Electricity investors, a major source of capi- out triggering FIRPTA liability, Institute (ICE) said it achieved tal since the financial crisis. up from 5 percent previously. “99 percent renewable electricity Contained in the $1.1 trillion “By breaking down outdated generation” this year. It also said spending measure that was passed tax barriers to inbound invest- for 285 days this year the country to avoid a government shutdown ment, the FIRPTA relief will managed to power its grid on 100 is a provision that treats foreign help mobilize private capital for percent renewable sources. pension funds the same as their real estate and infrastructure The path away from fossil fuels US counterparts for real estate projects,” Jeffrey DeBoer, presi- and towards clean energy in the investments. The provision waives dent and chief executive officer small Central American nation the tax imposed on such investors of the Real Estate Roundtable, is seen as aspirational for other under the 1980 Foreign Invest- an industry lobbying group, said. countries wanting to cut fossil- ment in Real Property Tax Act, Cross-border investment in fuel pollution blamed on global known as FIRPTA. “FIRPTA has US real estate has totalled about warming. This month, a UN historically made direct invest- $78.4bn this year, or 16 percent conference held in Paris struck ment in US property a non-starter of the total $483bn investment in People walk during the inauguration of the first Carrefour supermarket of Sub-Saharan Africa in Abidjan. a landmark deal committing for trillions of dollars worth of for- US property, according to Real countries to cutting their car- eign pensions,” said James Corl, Capital Analytics Inc. Pension bon emissions. Three-quarters of ABIDJAN: French distribution sectors and is 97 percent owned Ivory Coast is the world’s top a managing director at private funds accounted for about $7.5bn, Costa Rica’s electricity is gener- group CFAO opened its first shop- by Japanese company Toyota Tsu- cocoa grower and the leading equity firm Siguler Guff & Co. or almost 10 percent, of the for- ated by hydroelectric plants, tak- ping mall in Africa on Friday, a sho Corp. economy in French-speaking West “This tax-law modification is a eign total, according to the New ing advantage of the country’s $66m centre in Ivory Coast’s com- “We estimate that in 2040, 250 Africa. Some 20 percent of Abid- game changer” that could result in York-based property research abundant river system and heavy mercial capital Abidjan, as part million Africans will have suffi- jan’s 5 million residents are con- hundreds of billions of new capital firm. “Foreign pensions are such tropical rainfalls. The rest comes of a major drive to tap into the cient income to ... consume. It’s sidered middle class, and CFAO flows into US real estate. a low percentage of foreign invest- from geothermal, wind, biomass growth of Africa’s middle classes. precisely to accompany this for- plans to open a dozen smaller Foreign investors have flocked ment in US real estate because of and solar sources. ICE said it was The mall, a collaboration with midable growth of this middle malls there. to US real estate since the glo- FIRPTA,” Corl said. ahead of renewable-energy tar- French retailer Carrefour, is the class that CFAO is looking to open Since emerging from a decade bal economic meltdown, drawn Foreign investment has surged gets it had set despite a year “that first of 80 that CFAO plans to 80 centres,” said CFAO Director of political turmoil and a brief civil by the relative yields and per- from just $4.7bn in 2009, accord- had been extremely dry.” open in eight countries in West General Richard Bielle. war in 2011, the country has seen ceived safety of assets from office ing to Real Capital. Foreign buying Its electricity division chief, and Central Africa in the next The mall will contain 50 stores, rapid economic growth, becoming towers and shopping centres to this year as a percentage of total Luis Pacheco, said: “we are clos- decade. a bank and a Burger King. It will a darling for investors. President apartments and warehouses. investment in US real estate is ing 2015 with renewable electric- CFAO, which stands for Comp- also help develop the agricultural Alassane Ouattara was elected by The demand has helped drive about double the 8.1 percent aver- ity milestones that have put us in toir Francais de l’Afrique de sector, as 170 small Ivorian com- a landslide in October to a second commercial real estate prices to age in the 10 years through 2012. the global spotlight.” l’Ouest, is active in the vehicle, panies will be contracted as sup- five-year term. record highs. Many foreign inves- AFP pharmaceutical and computer pliers. REUTERS tors structured their purchases to BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Apple is not dodging taxes: Cook Rousseff picks close Tech giant chief says US tax code made for Industrial Age, not Digital Age aide to lead Brazil’s

SAN FRANCISCO: Apple chief dated US tax code, calling for it — had lowered their tax rates to Tim Cook (pictured) emphati- to be revamped for modern times. as little as one percent in secret cally rejected accusations that “This is a tax code that was pacts with tax authorities in Lux- struggling economy the world’s richest company is made for the Industrial Age, not embourg. sidestepping US taxes by keeping the Digital Age,” Cook said. US President Barack Obama, BRASILIA: Brazilian President speculation that Levy was leav- bundles of cash overseas, suggest- “It’s backwards. It’s awful for Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Dilma Rousseff named leftist ing weakened the real more than ing that the claim was politically America.” Britain’s Prime Minister David economist and close aide Nel- 1 percent and pushed down the motivated. The empassioned response Cameron joined fellow leaders in son Barbosa to replace fiscally benchmark Bovespa stock index World leaders last month from Cook followed Rose con- endorsing a clampdown drawn up conservative Finance Minister 3 percent to end the day at its approved a crackdown on tax tending that many members of by the wealthy nations’ Organi- Joaquim Levy, signaling a dra- lowest since April of 2009. The avoidance by multinationals such Congress believe Apple is per- sation for Economic Cooperation matic break with the deficit-cut- real futures showed the currency as Apple, Google and McDonald’s, petuating a scheme to pay little and Development. ting policies her administration weakened another 1.0 percent major firms whose rock-bottom or no taxes on $74bn in overseas The OECD calculates that has pursued for most of this year. after the confirmation that Bar- tax bills have provoked wide- sus came during an interview revenue. national governments lose $100- Barbosa, who was the plan- bosa was taking over the ministry. spread outrage in the United with Charlie Rose in a 60 Minutes “I’d love to bring it home,” Cook 240bn, or 4-10 percent of global ning minister, has been one of the Moody’s Investor Services said States and beyond. news programme interview to be said of cash kept outside the US. tax revenues, every year because strongest opponents of an aggres- in statement that Levy’s exit Cook argued that Apple pays aired today on CBS. “But don’t because it would cost of the tax-minimising schemes of sive austerity drive that Levy led could hinder efforts to improve the biggest tax tab in the United “That’s total political crap, me 40 percent to bring it home multinationals. in an attempt to regain the confi- Brazil’s public finances. Moody’s, States and that it keeps more there is no truth behind it,” Cook and I don’t think this is a reason- Its 15-point plan, adopted after dence of investors in an economy the only of the three major rating money overseas than other com- responded when pressed about able thing to do.” years of negotiations, seeks to mired in its worst recession in a agencies keeping Brazil on invest- pany because two-thirds of its the highly contentious tax issue in It comes a year after the “Lux- oblige multinationals to pay tax quarter of a century. ment grade, has warned it could business is there. a short preview of the interview. Leaks” revelations that some of in the country where their main Levy’s exit had been expected downgrade the country to junk in Cook’s staunch defence of the “We pay every tax dollar we owe.” the world’s biggest companies business activity is based. after Fitch became the second coming months. California-based technology colos- Cook laid the blame on an out- — also including Pepsi and Ikea AFP ratings agency to strip Latin Barbosa, a former finance min- America’s largest economy of its istry official during Rousseff’s first coveted investment grade. term, has pushed for more flex- Faced with the threat of ible budget targets, although he impeachment by her opponents, has reiterated Brazil should take Rousseff has watered down Levy’s measures to stabilise its growing Turing Pharma push for austerity, the latest sign public debt. The Fitch downgrade Amazon mulls leasing planes that she could abandon market- this week, though widely expected, friendly policies to gain support reflected the sharp reversal in chairman from her leftist allies in Congress. Brazil’s economic fortunes. Levy, who had been in his post The departure of Levy, who has to control delivery chain to replace for nearly a year, clashed repeat- held the post since January, could edly with Rousseff over budget hinder the approval of several ATLANTA: Amazon.com Inc cuts that he sought to improve measures such as the revival of is considering leasing 20 Boeing Shkreli as CEO the country’s fiscal health. a controversial financial transac- Co 767 freighter jets to help gain In his first comments to the tion tax, known as CPMF, aimed more control over its delivery NEW YORK: Martin Shkreli, press, however, Barbosa said the at heading off a full-blown fiscal methods and costs, according to the poster boy for prescription government was committed to crisis that has scared investors. a person familiar with the plans. drug price increases who was shoring up the country’s finances Barbosa is closely associated The tech-savvy retailer is arrested for securities fraud, has with new fiscal savings measures. with the same school of thought interested in building up its cargo stepped down from his post as “The focus of economic policy that Rousseff subscribes to, which operations as consumers increas- chief executive officer of Turing continues to be fiscal stability, is known in Brazil as developmen- ingly order online, especially dur- Pharmaceuticals Inc, the com- which is what we need for the talism and which defends high ing the holiday shopping season. pany said on Friday. economy to recover,” Barbosa government spending and inter- Controlling its own planes and Shkreli was replaced by Turing said. “Our commitment to fiscal vention to protect industries from crew would help Amazon save Chairman Ron Tilles, who said stability remains the same.” foreign competition. time and money getting goods to in a statement that the company Barbosa is considered a leftist A graduate of The New School customers’ doorsteps, and help was committed to continuing to economist in much the same vein for Social Research, a US-based keep its warehouses stocked with make its flagship drug, Daraprim, as Rousseff and his appointment college known for its leftist eco- inventory. which is used to treat an infec- will be interpreted as a return nomics teachings, Barbosa was Amazon has run into delays tion called toxoplasmosis in AIDS of the policies blamed by critics one of the main economic advis- when the shippers it depends on patients. for sinking Brazil’s economy into ers to Rousseff and the architect now, United Parcel Service Inc Shkreli has become a light- recession this year. of her successful low-cost hous- and FedEx Corp, have struggled ning rod for growing outrage over “Markets will react negatively ing programme, called “Minha to keep up with the large and soaring prescription drug prices because of the good reputation Casa Minha Vida” (My House, erratic orders around Christmas. after the company acquired Dar- of the departing minister,” said My Life). Rousseff has been in The Seattle Times reported on aprim and raised its price to $750 Alberto Ramos, a senior econo- office since 2011. Levy criticised Thursday that Amazon is testing a tablet from $13.50. mist with Goldman Sachs in New the government lack of clarity in its own service on a limited basis Turing is the only manufac- York. “And also out of fear that economic policy and urged poli- and will decide early next year turer of Daraprim. Levy’s replacement will signal a cymakers to seek deeper reforms. whether to proceed. Shkreli has been under investi- shift back to fiscal populism.” The move could eventually pose gation for securities fraud related Before the announcement, REUTERS a threat to FedEx and UPS, the to hedge fund MSMB Capital world’s largest package delivery Management and biopharma- service, though Amazon would be People work at an Amazon fulfilment centre in Madrid. ceutical company Retrophin Inc. starting with a small number of He was charged in Brooklyn, New planes and it could take years to The online retailer sets the their objectives for growth and York, in a federal indictment. expand the operation to the point standard for fast, inexpensive customer service,” Zaccara said. In October 2014, Shkreli was of having an impact on the two delivery in e-commerce and Chief Air delivery is a service few ousted from Retrophin, which shipping leaders. Executive Officer Jeff Bezos has businesses are large enough to he had founded. The drugmaker Seattle-based Amazon ships spent billions of dollars creating a handle on their own, but Ama- sued him for $65m, saying he had about 5.2 million packages a day network of warehouses and ship- zon’s growth and emphasis on breached his duty to the company. during the peak holiday period, ping hubs in 69 cities. The com- logistics makes it an important In recent months, Shkreli estimated Satish Jindel, a logistics pany is also buying thousands of area for the company to control has made controversial remarks consultant in Sewickley, Pennsyl- its own Amazon-branded truck its costs, said Jarrett Streebin, in the press about raising drug vania. trailers to help speed shipping the chief executive officer of prices and taunted detractors, About 70 percent will go from its fulfillment centers — EasyPost, a San Francisco com- including Democratic presiden- through the US Postal Service, 15 where items are gathered and pany that helps retailers coordi- tial candidate Bernie Sanders, on percent through UPS, 10 percent packed — to its sorting cent- nate shipping labels and tracking social media outlets. through FedEx and the remain- ers. And Bezos’ dream is to one with delivery companies. It also Shkreli is also CEO of KaloBios der through smaller delivery com- day deliver items instantly with gives the company leverage over Pharmaceuticals Inc. KaloBios, panies, Jindel said. drones. its delivery partners since it can which had planned to shut down Yet Amazon has a reputation Amazon spokeswoman Kelly demonstrate it has alternatives, operations, named him to that for moving quickly when its tri- Cheeseman declined to com- he said. post on November 20 after he and als show signs of working. The ment on the Boeing discussions. “This is all part of Amazon’s a consortium of investors bought one-hour delivery service Prime UPS spokesman Glenn Zaccara cost-cutting phase,” Streebin said. about 70 percent of its outstand- Now grew from a test in a few declined to comment on Amazon’s “Amazon loses $1bn each quarter ing shares. Nasdaq has placed Manhattan zip codes to a service plans for an air freight operation. on shipping. It wants to do the KaloBios’ stock on a trading halt in 16 cities around the country in “Amazon is an important cus- same work cheaper.” until the company provides more Joaquim Levy (left) and Nelson Barbosa at a news conference at the Planalto less than a year with restaurant tomer and we are working hard information. Palace in Brasilia. Barbosa will replace Levy as Brazil’s economy minister. deliveries also being added. to help all our customers meet BLOOMBERG REUTERS Bitcoin’s ‘blockchain’ tech may transform banking industry

NEW YORK: The technology very useful,” said Jamie Dimon, The blockchain offers potential Zemlin, executive director at The ing on its own virtual currency transactions could be made with- that drives the shadowy crypto- chairman and chief executive of to the traditional finance sector Linux Foundation. that could cut out intermediaries out revealing identities and other currency bitcoin is drawing inter- JPMorgan Chase at a conference due to its ease of transaction with Blockchain technology could for settlements between finan- information — which could be est from the established banking earlier this year. verification from any point on lower the cost for many kinds cial institutions. The technology important for institutions trying industry, which sees a potential to Leah Gerstner, a vice-president the platform. “You can imagine a of consumer cash transfers that could help facilitate instantane- to keep personal data secure from revolutionise the sector. for public affairs at American number of potential use cases for now are handled by companies like ous, secure financial transfers hackers. But a number of issues Although bitcoin and related Express, said the financial group this technology in financial serv- Western Union and MoneyGram. which now sometimes can take need to be resolved before virtual virtual currencies are limited to a made its first investment in a dig- ices across both business-to-con- The banking industry could days when moving internationally, currencies and blockchain tech- small set of transactions and are ital currency company called Abra sumer and business-to-business save $15bn to $20bn in transaction according to blockchain backers. nology become mainstream. The often associated with the under- “as a way to get a better under- transactions — from international costs for international payments “This would change the way set- anonymity of the transactions is ground economy, the so-called standing of blockchain technology money transfers to stored value,” by using the technology, accord- tlements of securities are tradi- something that concerns regu- blockchain technology is gaining and explore its potential.” Gerstner said. ing to Banco Santander, which is tionally carried out,” said Prableen lators seeking to crack down on currency in the financial world. Gerstner said that “we believe The Linux Foundation recently working on its own virtual cur- Bajpai, founding director of the money laundering, and financing A blockchain is essentially a blockchain technology is playing announced a new collaborative rency. A consortium of global India-based research firm FinFix. of criminal or terrorist activity. shared, encrypted “ledger” that an important role.” The use of “Open Ledger” project to advance banks including Morgan Stanley, The use of a cryptographic cur- “Ultimately, blockchain could cannot be manipulated, offering blockchain began in 2009 with the blockchain technology, teaming HSBC, UBS, Credit Suisse, Bar- rency such as the one being devel- become a way for those around promise for secure transactions introduction of bitcoin and other with tech firms such as IBM and clays, Societe Generale and Com- oped by Goldman Sachs “facilitates the world who don’t have a bank that allow anyone to get an accu- virtual currencies that are gener- Intel, stock exchanges and major merzbank are working with the rapid, secure and confirmed trans- account to make purchases on the rate accounting of money, property ated by complex chains of inter- banks including Wells Fargo and finance tech startup R3 to use actions via network, thereby elimi- Internet. And that could affect the or other assets. actions among a huge network of Mitsubishi UFJ. blockchain technology for a wide nating the need for a third party,” banks, as well as credit card com- “The blockchain, which is the computers around the planet, and “Distributed ledgers are poised range of applications. Bajpai said. panies like American Express, Mas- technology behind the encryption are not backed by any government to transform a wide range of Others moving forward include “The results are extremely terCard, and Visa,” says Ed Yardeni and e-certification, that is a tech- or central bank, unlike traditional industries” including banking and Bank of America, Citigroup and timely and efficient settlements.” at Yardeni Research. nology which might very well be currencies. shipping, among others, said Jim Goldman Sachs, which is work- Another advantage is that AFP SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21 Federal Reserve rate hike Pension costs are more doesn’t doom Latin America

By Alejandro Rebossio

T’S true that the decision by the US Federal Reserve to raise than a budget problem interest rates is not good news for Latin America. But not all the countries in the region have fared poorly when the dollar By Jean-Michel Paul ures “to make their systems more afford- will increasingly translate into lower invest- Ihas become more expensive. Even during those times, some able in the long term,” such as increasing ment in education and infrastructure, lower Latin American countries have achieved relatively substantial OR anyone interested in the the retirement age in line with increased growth and reduced ability to support aging and sustained growth. The key to averting a regional depression, future of democracy, a recently life expectancy or decreasing future pen- populations in the future. Beyond encour- both in economic output and the public’s mood, is to remember released Organization for Eco- sion indexation. But this is where political aging higher levels of worker participation the lessons of that past. nomic Cooperation and Develop- considerations trump budgetary strictures: among elderly, the problem requires some Since the beginning of financial globalisation in the 1970s, peri- ment report on pensions makes This is the most powerful voter group in major rethinking of the political process in ods of high US interest rates have tended to correspond with low Funcomfortable, but essential reading. If nearly every OECD country and it’s clear order to accommodate a new demographic prices for raw materials, South America’s principal exports, as trends continue, democracies may have to politicians are determined to keep them reality. This is especially urgent in countries well as a key source of Mexico’s fiscal revenue. Thus, these periods make hard choices between elderly provi- happy. with expectations of high levels of social have generally been associated with bad times for Latin America: sions and investment in future generations. Not only is the percentage of elderly pop- spending. A possible remedy would be to During the late 1970s and ‘80s for instance, the US revalued its To do that, democracy itself may need to ulation rising, but the voter participation make voting compulsory, as is the case currency by as much as 20 percent to fight inflation; the world change. Take, as a starting point, the fact rate of the elderly electorate is significantly currently in four OECD countries. In the prices of basic commodities plunged to levels similar to today’s, that public expenditure on old-age benefits higher than other age groups. Depending first three, the average per person spend on though not quite as low as at the end of the 1990s and early 2000s. in the OECD is now on average above 8 per- on the country, a 70-year-old is about four public pensions, as a share of GDP, is five Unfortunately, many Latin American countries were dizzy with cent of gross domestic product and steadily to five times more likely to vote than a percent below the G7 average. debts owed to banks recycling oil money from the Middle East. increasing. Japanese pension payments have 25-year-old. The compounded effect of a A more radical approach would rethink Rising US interest rates made that debt burden much harder to doubled since 1990 to more than 10 percent more numerous elderly population and a the nature of parliamentary democracy to bear and helped drive Latin America into the wilderness of its of GDP. Without that increase Japan would higher voter participation rate implies that bring it closer to its origins. Originally, par- so-called lost decade. In the first half of the ‘80s, only Colombia have a budget at or close to equilibrium in the next 20 to 30 years OECD countries liament was created for tax-paying people managed to avoid years of economic shrinkage, expanding by a today. Italy spends more than 15 percent of would systematically have a majority of vot- to control the spending of the king. Today modest 2 percent annually between 1981 and 1985 thanks to not its GDP in pensions. ers above the age of 65 at each election. the executive’s power emanates from par- over-borrowing in the ‘70s. The proportion of GDP going to the eld- Government spending in the UK on liament, which represents the population In the second half of the ‘80s, the US began devaluing its cur- erly population naturally reflects the demo- pensions is nearly twice that spent on at large. Having one chamber represent rency slightly, but kept interest rates at more than 6 percent. graphic trends of lower birth-rates as well education (20 percent versus 11 percent), taxpayers or contributors to civil society, That relative devaluation stimulated commodity prices, and some as increased life expectancy. The portion of even though the elderly population is very with veto power over the budget, while the Latin American countries were able to recuperate. In addition to the population above 65 is now close to 20 slightly smaller than the percentage of the other chamber has a broader remit and is Colombia’s oil economy, Chile’s mining economy and the agricul- percent in OECD countries and is expected population under 15 (17.6 percent vs 16.98 elected by all voters, would help redress the tural economies of Costa Rica and Paraguay also revived. Although to reach nearly 30 percent by 2050. percent). In his recent budgets Chancellor democratic deficit caused by today’s demo- many observers touted the University of Chicago-inspired Chilean The demographic change has far-reach- George Osborne protected pension spending graphic reality. Providing for the elderly is miracle at around this time, the country’s bet on export diversi- ing implications for policy. The reallocation while severely cutting most other spending fundamental to society and a moral impera- fication with a competitive exchange rate was made possible by a of resources in favour of the elderly has been areas. He also upheld the so-called “triple tive; but if a voting majority that is no longer military regime that repressed the nation’s unions. such that poverty is now highest among the lock” stating that pensions cannot grow less economically productive diverts excessive After cheapening in the early ‘90s, the dollar began to get more young. The 65-to-75 age group is now the than inflation, 2.5 percent or the average resources this would be a recipe for long- expensive once more, a period marked by the eruption of Mexico’s least likely population segment to experi- earnings growth, whichever is higher.” term stagnation. It is a situation most eld- debt-driven Tequila Crisis in 1994, the same year in which the ence poverty while those in the 18-to-25 age The systematic voter arbitrage that pro- erly would not wish on their grandchildren. North American Free Trade Agreement took effect. In the begin- group are the most likely to be poor. duces policies in favour of one voter group ning, commodities did fairly well. In fact, they became increasngly Many OECD countries have taken meas- has become entrenched and, if not addressed, BLOOMBERG expensive as emerging economies came into the spotlight. Dur- ing this period of high US interest rates between 1995 and 2001, only two Latin American countries maintained economic growth without crisis years: Guatemala and Nicaragua, two of the poor- est countries in the region, then and now. Both importers of raw materials, they benefitted from lower prices, and they also launched a textile industry geared toward exporting to the US, then a growing market. It’s one thing when the Fed raises inter- est rates to fight high inflation, as happened in the ‘80s, and have this reduce raw material prices. It’s another to have the Fed do so as the US economy was just growing. acknowledges Uruguayan economist Ernesto Talvi. US demand for commodities was steady, and China, with its voracious need for raw materials, was coming on stage. In those years, the risk premiums of Latin American countries dropped significantly, and their access to loans improved. Yet having learned their lesson from the lost decade, none of the Latin governments took on too much debt. There were other policy factors at work, too. Jorge Mariscal, the Emerging Markets Chief Investment Officer at UBS Wealth Management, cites the example, now devalued, of Brazil and its growth based on “a strong redistribution of income, a major expan- sion of the middle class and increased government lending.” At the time, Latin America’s biggest economy was evidence that strengthening the internal market could create a kind of virtu- ous circle. If interest rates rise due to US growth, as is the case now, presumably commodities will continue to be necessary to the world’s largest economy and to others, and they will not decrease in price any more than what they already have, says Mariscal. Latin American countries are therefore not doomed in this new and difficult time. If the US economy continues to thrive, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean will benefit. Of course, history suggests that even this linkage has its lim- its. What is clearly demonstrated is that periods of higher-cost financing, when it is not possible to earn much money by selling commodities, are better dealt with in Latin America when coun- tries have less debt, when they diversify their exports in terms of products and destinations, and when they strengthen their internal market. Naturally these three conditions should have been achieved during times of relative plenty. That painful lesson is one that some, but not all, Latin American economies are now about to re-learn.

BLOOMBERG Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate IMF reform will be too little and way too late

By Leonid Bershidsky rently appointed). The US wanted Those US objections make For one thing, the new distribu- Europeans, for their part, are ent conflict faced by the IMF is to safeguard its standing as the little sense now. Greece’s latest tion of voting shares still doesn’t also creating their own emer- between strengthening its role ROVIDED the US Con- fund’s dominant voice; doubling bailout has proceeded without do justice to China. Though the gency infrastructure: advance as an international lender of last gress passes the 2016 all quotas would achieve that. IMF participation: The fund US, too, has a smaller say than notice that their role at the IMF resort and the demands of many appropriations bill, a The changes wouldn’t cost the still doubts that the country can its share of the world economy would shrink highlighted that member countries for serial Pmajor reform of the US more money; its commitment repay its debt, but Greece no warrants, the gap between Chi- their needs in a serious crisis lending, resulting in repeated International Monetary Fund would remain at about $170bn, longer poses a systemic risk. The na’s economic might and its IMF would exceed the fund’s ability programs and a perpetual state can proceed. But the five-year with the quota increase coming European Union turned out to influence is bigger: to help. of debt ‘ever-greening.’” The delay since the changes, meant to from the extra funds it, like many be rich enough to fund Greece’s The power redistribution will, Edwin Truman, a specialist in authors argue that this marks a give more power to big emerging other countries, provided to the 85bn euro ($92bn) rescue pack- no doubt, please China — an international financial institu- departure from the fund’s origi- economies, were proposed makes IMF after the global financial cri- age. Besides, a political deal has added bonus after the IMF deci- tions at the Peterson Institute for nal function as a lender of last them less useful in bolstering the sis of 2008. Congress just needed been struck: The appropriations sion to designate the yuan as a International Economics, wrote resort. IMF’s role as the world’s most to approve moving some of that bill calls on the US representa- reserve currency next year — recently that his glass “was only The terms of US consent to important international financial commitment to the quota — a tive to the IMF to use his voting but it won’t deter Beijing from half full with champagne” at the the 2010 reform -- including a institution. mere technicality. power for the repeal of the “sys- building alternative institutions Congress deal permitting the IMF requirement for the US repre- In a changing world, govern- IMF critics in Congress, how- temic exception,” which allowed such as the Asian Infrastructure reform. sentative to ask permission at ance of the lender of last resort ever, opposed the fund’s decision IMF participation in Greece’s Investment Bank. China, huge The US, the only member home before voting to approve needed modernising. Leaders of to lend to Greece despite grave previous bailout. as it is, cannot afford to put all that has the votes to block major any large-scale program -- appear the Group of 20 agreed in 2010 doubts about its repayment So the long-delayed rear- its eggs in the US-dominated changes in how the IMF operates, to signal a US desire to steer the that individual IMF quotas and abilities. The IMF had invoked rangement — which former IMF basket. has diminished its ability to influ- IMF back toward its origins. In voting rights needed to better a rule that allowed such lending Managing Director Dominique Nor can other big emerging ence events. The United States is line with Reinhart and Trebesch’s reflect its members’ standing in if a failing country threatened Strauss-Kahn called “the most nations, such as India, Russia, no longer seen as a reliable nego- recommendations, they’d like the the world economy. That meant international contagion. To US important reform in the gov- Brazil and South Africa. They, tiating partner on IMF issues. Fund to stick to its debt sustain- reducing the role of advanced conservatives, that wasn’t their ernance of the institution since with China, have already set up That, however, is probably not ability criteria and only help European countries and Gulf problem; US financial institutions its creation” — should now go an IMF alternative -- the so- the issue at this point. The big- when there’s a crisis that can be states, and increasing that of had much less exposure to toxic smoothly. It’ll be useful to bailout called New Development Bank. ger problem is that the emerging resolved by emergency aid. That emerging nations, particularly Greek assets than European ones recipients; the doubled quotas will It’s not going to be particularly world, in effect, wants interna- makes the IMF less interesting to China. did, and Europe should take care make it easier for the IMF to lend important in the coming years, tional financial organizations the emerging nations; and their The reform required US of its own. them more, on shorter notice and given the economic weakening of to provide development financ- empowerment by the proposed approval of an amendment to Indeed, Europe has benefited under more flexible requirements. Russia and Brazil. Still, the desire ing. As Carmen Reinhart and reforms won’t resolve the conflict. make all of the fund’s executive disproportionately from IMF Yet the changes are probably too for a lending pool independent of Cristoph Trebesch pointed out directors elected (some are cur- lending in recent years. little, too late by now. the West isn’t going away. in a recent paper, “the inher- BLOOMBERG SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BREAK TIME EASY SUDOKU CROSSWORD 1234 5678 910111213 ROAD TOAD TOLD

14 15 16 AUTO UTNE CAPER BROMAN T I C COME DY 17 18 19 ESP IDOS AMENS 20 21 ORR APER HOPEANDCROSBY 22 23 24 CURED EAT I N AON 25 26 27 28 AMOS M I NUS HYDE

29 30 31 32 TIN CIGNA MOOED DOROTHYLAMOUR 33 34 35 36 37 APTS LCD 38 39 40 LANCE ERIC YMA SONGANDDANCEMEN 41 42 43 44 45 46 ICIER EDIE MCAT 47 48 49 50 51 BOLD BALD BAL I Yesterday’s answer 52 53 54 ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 55 56 57 61 “I Hated, Hated, Hated This 26 Chow Movie” author 30 Robin Williams voiced one 58 59 60 Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1 to 62 Tosses in in “Aladdin” 9 in each empty cell so every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains all the digits 1 to 9. 61 62 63 63 Mönch and Eiger, for two 31 ___ studio 32 Horn sound DOWN 34 “I agree” ACROSS 30 Red stone 1 Baby fox 35 Derby hopeful 1 “Rock and Roll All Nite” band 33 Constellation visible in 2 Puts the brakes on 36 Slippery slope? 5 Crime chief Melbourne and Sydney 3 Plot outline 37 Worker on commission 9 Region known for its black tea 38 Any of three author sisters 4 Drains, as energy 40 ¥ unit 14 Quechua speaker 39 “Fine by me” HYPER SUDOKU 5 Wipes the floor with 41 Predicament 15 Pike, e.g. 41 ___ deviation: Abbr. 6 Vessel with many branches 42 What a 5-Across is a boss 16 Big bang material, informally 44 Swiss canton 7 Kitchen doohickey in 17 Luxury hotel overlooking Central 45 To no purpose 43 What “/” means in math Park 47 Flier over Tiananmen Square 8 Keats’s “To Autumn,” e.g. class 19 Some airport transports 51 Bo Derek, in a 1979 film 9 “B.C.” animal that goes ZOT! 45 Sound control knobs 20 Like some cheaper tuition 52 Election do-over 10 Fathered 46 Popular sheepskin boots 21 Weak 53 Richard who won an Emmy, 11 35-Down quarters 48 Subordinate’s refusal 22 Not yet available at press time, Grammy, Oscar, Tony and 49 Mentally pooped for short Pulitzer 12 Small sea projection 50 Gave a glowing review, say 23 First chairman of the Joint 55 Pennsylvania Dutch speakers 13 Shuffles (along) Chiefs of Staff, 1949 56 What 17-, 23-, 33- and 18 Classic Langston Hughes 54 “At Last” singer James 25 Labor Day deliveries 47-Across each have poem 56 “Protecting and promoting your health” org. 27 ___ bran muffin 58 Places to stand and deliver? 21 Swiss money 57 Many honorees at M.L.B.’s 28 Exam-administering org. 59 Bambi and others 22 Common waiting area distractions Old-Timers’ Day 29 Hubbub 60 Feature of a big cake 24 Shouldered

Yesterday’s answer

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

NOVO How to play Kakuro: SCREEN 1 Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 11:20am, 2:30, 5:40, 8:50 & 11:55pm SHOWING AT The kakuro grid, unlike in sudoku, can be of any KAKURO SCREEN 2 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 10:00am, 3:40 & 9:20pm VILLAGGIO & CITY CENTER size. It has rows and columns, and dark cells 3D 12:50, 6:30pm & 12:10am TEL: 444933989 / 444517001 like in a crossword. And, just like in a crossword, SCREEN 3 Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 10:20, 1:30, 4:40, 7:50 & 11:00pm some of the dark cells will contain numbers. Some SCREEN 4 The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 10:00am, 12:00, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, cells will contain two numbers. 8:00, 10:00pm However, in a crossword the numbers reference Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 11:50pm clues. In a kakuro, the numbers are all you get! SCREEN 5 Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 11:00am, 2:10, 5:20, 8:30 & 11:40pm They denote the total of the digits in the row or SCREEN 6 Bridge of Spies (2D/Drama) 1:00, 6:30 & 11:55pm column referenced by the number. Creed (2D/Drama) 10:15am, 3:45 & 9:15pm Within each SCREEN 7 Morning Star (2D) 10:00am, 12:00noon, 2:00, 4:00, 6:00, 8:00, 10:00 & 11:50pm collection of cells SCREEN 8 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 10:00am, 12:40, 3:20, 6:00, - called a run - any 8:45 & 11:30pm of the numbers 1 SCREEN 9 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (3D IMAX/Action) 10:40am, 1:30, 4:20, 7:10, to 9 may be used 10:00pm & 12:50am but, like sudoku, SCREEN 10 Star Wars: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 10:30am, 1:15, 4:00, 6:45, each number may 9:30pm & 12:15am only be used once. MALL Yesterday’s SCREEN 1 Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 11:00am & 10:45pm answer Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 2:00pm Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 4:45pm When Marine Was There (2D/Animation) 6:15pm Loafer (2D/Telugu) 8:15pm SCREEN 2 Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 11:30am, 4:00, 6:30, 9:00 & 11:15pm The Doraemon Movie (2D/Animation) 2:15pm ALL IN THE MIND SCREEN 3 Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 11:15am, 5:15 & 10:45pm Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 2:30 & 8:00pm Can you find the hidden words? They may be horizontal, vertical, diagonal, forwards or backwards. LANDMARK SCREEN 1 Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 11:15am & 8:00pm Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 2:00pm When Marine Was There (2D/Animation) 4:15pm The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 6:15pm Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 8:00pm Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 10:45pm SCREEN 2 Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 11:30am, 4:00, 6:15, 8:45 & 11:00pm The Doraemon Movie (2D/Animation) 2:15pm SCREEN 3 Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 11:30am & 7:30pm Hoy en la Historia Loafer (2D/Telugu) 2:30pm Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) December 20, 1915 5:00pm Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 10:30pm The Allies began retreating from the disastrous Gallipoli Campaign ROYAL PLAZA of World War I. The campaign led SCREEN 1 Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 11:00am to heavy casualties among both Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action) 2:00pm Allied and Ottoman troops The Doraemon Movie (2D/Animation) 4:30pm The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 6:15pm 1951:        Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 8:00pm Dilwale (2D/Hindi) 11:00pm          SCREEN 2 Star Wars VII: The Force Awakens (2D/Action)     £  11:15am, 6:45, 9:15 & 11:30pm      When Marine Was There (2D/Animation) 2:15pm 1990: Israel was censured by the UN Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 4:00pm for the killing by Israeli troops of 21 EXACT, EXAMINE, EXAMPLE, EXCEED, EXCEL, Arab rioters on Temple Mount ASIAN TOWN EXCERPT, EXCITED, EXCLAIM, EXCLUDE, EXEMPT, 1995: !   "#  EXERT, EXHALE, EXHIBIT, EXHORT, EXILE, EXOTIC,  "  $  Dilwale (Hindi) 4:00, 5:30 & 7:00pm Dilwale (Hindi) EXPAND, EXPECT, EXPEL, EXPERT, EXPLAIN, 1995: Britain’s Queen Elizabeth 8:30 &10:00pm Pathemari (2D/Malayalam) 6:30 & 11:15pm EXPLOIT, EXPLORE, EXPORT, EXPUNGE, EXTEND, urged Prince Charles and Princess Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) 8:45pm EXTENT, EXTINCT, EXTOL, EXTORT, EXTRACT, Diana to divorce Bajirao Mastani (2D/Hindi) 4:00, 7:00 & 10:00pm EXUDE. % &   '()%*  + SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

NHL: Ovechkin Warriors rally to avenge Bucks defeat shines as Golden State shooting guard Thompson has game-high 27 points; Spurs hold off Clippers Capitals power

LOS ANGELES: The Golden Van Gundy called the experience past Lightning State Warriors avenged their only NBA RESULTS “excruciating.” defeat of the NBA season on Fri- Indiana 104 Brooklyn 97 “It was an epic game,” Van NEW YORK: After falling day, rallying for a 121-112 victory Orlando 102 Portland 94 Gundy said. “You don’t play too behind by three goals, the Wash- over the Milwaukee Bucks. NY Knicks 107 Philadelphia 97 many four-overtime ones. I’ve ington Capitals needed some help. Six nights after the Bucks Atlanta 109 Boston 101 never been in one. It was incred- They found it with their power ended the Warriors’ season- ible, but it’s only fun if you’re on play. Toronto 108 Miami 94 opening winning streak at 24 our end of it at the end. It’s excru- Alex Ovechkin and TJ Oshie games, Milwaukee threatened to Detroit 147 Chicago 144 ciating if you’re on their end of it, both finished with two goals and hand Golden State a first defeat Minnesota 99 Sacramento 95 and it’s excruciating while you’re two assists, and Marcus Johans- on their home floor in Oakland, San Antonio 115 LA Clippers 107 going through it.” son got the tiebreaking goal with California, since last January. Dallas 97 Memphis 88 Andre Drummond led the 5:44 left as the Capitals used But shooting guard Klay Utah 97 Denver 88 Pistons with 33 points and 21 three power-play goals to rally Thompson had a game-high 27 rebounds before fouling. Reggie past the Tampa Bay Lightning Phoenix 104 New Orleans 88 points and Stephen Curry added Jackson added 31 points and 13 5-3 on Friday. 26 along with 10 rebounds and Golden State 121 Milwaukee 112 assists for Detroit. Washington has now won four nine assists as the Warriors shadow of the Warriors build- Jimmy Butler’s career high of straight games overall and seven notched their 30th straight reg- ing the second-best record in the 43 points led Chicago, with Der- straight at home. They fell behind ular-season home win and their league, improved to 15-0 at home rick Rose adding a season-high 34 3-0 midway through the second 12th this season. this season with a 115-107 victory points while taking a career-high period but scored the game’s final The score was knotted at 108- over the Los Angeles Clippers. 34 shots from the floor. five goals — including four in the 108 when Curry drove for a basket In their first meeting since the Chicago’s Spanish center Pau third period — and the three with 2:16 to play and then added Clippers eliminated the Spurs in Gasol added 30 points and 15 extra-man goals proved crucial. two free throws. a sensational first-round playoff rebounds, but the Bulls were “The power play was fantastic Andre Iguodala drained a duel last season, San Antonio pro- unable to complete their first 5-0 today,” Washington coach Barry three-pointer to give Golden State duced an 11-0 scoring run to open homestand since 2005. The New Trotz said. their biggest lead of the game at the fourth quarter and held on for York Knicks handed the Philadel- “They got us a win.” 115-108 with 1:21 remaining. the victory. phia 76ers their 27th defeat of the Washington finished 3 for 4 on Point guard Michael Carter- LaMarcus Aldridge scored season, a solid 20-point perform- the power play, finding numerous Williams had 24 points for the 26 points and pulled down 13 ance from rookie Jahlil Okafor scoring chances. Bucks, who led by as many as 15 rebounds to lead San Antonio, proving too little for the one-win Two of the third-period goals in the third quarter but endured who improved to 23-5. Sixers. came in those situations as the their fifth defeat in their last six Veteran French point guard Arron Afflalo had 22 points and Lightning could not stop the Cap- starts. Tony Parker scored 21 points seven assists as the Knicks won itals in the offensive zone or clear Milwaukee led 100-89 five min- for the Spurs. Ten of those came their third straight. the puck. utes into the final period. in the fourth quarter, including Rising star Kristaps Porzingis Washington improved to 20-2-2 But Warriors forward Dray- a three-pointer that closed the didn’t win the duel of top rook- in its last 24 home games against mond Green scored eight con- 11-point run and gave San Anto- ies with Okafor, but he finished the Lightning. secutive points to ignite a surge nio a 96-88 lead with 9:17 to play. with eight points, four rebounds “Their power play obviously that saw Golden State pull level Forward Kawhi Leonard added and three blocked shots, a con- picked us apart pretty good at 100-100 with 6:08 to play. 19 points, center Tim Duncan 14 tribution that had Knicks coach tonight,’’ Tampa Bay’s Steven The hosts seized the lead for and forward Danny Green 10. Derek Fisher saying the Knicks Stamkos said. the first time since the first quar- In Chicago, the Detroit Pis- are “a better team when he’s on “We give them some life on ter when Festus Ezeli’s dunk with tons outlasted the Bulls 147-144 the floor.” the power play ... and it’s just 5:11 to go made it 103-102. in a rare quadruple overtime The 76ers took Okafor at the same story in this building Bucks tied it three times after marathon. It was just the eighth number three overall in this year’s Michael Carter-Williams (5) of the Milwaukee Bucks shoots over Stephen -- the power play finds a way to that, but never led again. quadruple overtime contest since draft, with the Knicks selecting Curry (30) of the Golden State Warriors at Oracle Arena in Oakland, beat us.’’ The San Antonio Spurs, who the NBA-ABA merger in the Latvia’s Porzingis fourth. California, yesterday. The Capitals also stepped up have laboured quietly in the 1970s, and Pistons coach Stan AFP their intensity in the third period. Washington played more physical in the final 20 minutes and took command after trailing 3-1 head- ing into the final period. Golfer Day’s wife compares LeBron hit to a car crash We talked about playing a little bit more heavy,’’ Oshie said. WASHINGTON: Ellie Day, the by the NBA superstar while sit- Jason should have protected checked on her status during the “For the most part, I think as a wife of Australian golf star Jason ting beside her husband along the me-- if he had had time to react, next stoppage in play. group we’re a little bit bigger than Day, had concussion symptoms on sideline. so would have I. Also, I would not “It wasn’t anything out of the they are, and we felt they were Friday but was out of the hospital On Friday afternoon, Ellie Day have liked both dudes landing on usual besides the injury,” James winning a lot of puck battles on after being fallen upon by LeBron posted a statement on her Twit- me.” said. us. We talked about turning that James while sitting courtside at ter account that said “KingJames James saved the ball from going “But to me, obviously her around.’’ an NBA game. we good!” and marveled at the off the court but only by hurling health is very important and Johansson’s goal was on the Day, who gave birth to the attention as it detailed how being himself beyond the boundary and hopefully she’s doing well. The power play, and Ovechkin scored couple’s second child last month, tackled felt. head-first into Ellie Day. guys told me she’s doing great. the team’s other two with the was taken out on a stretcher after “Wow!! It’s official. More mes- An earlier statement from I was going for a loose ball. Just man advantage. Oshie added an James tumbled into her while ages from getting plowed over Jason Day’s agent, Bud Martin, trying to keep a possession going empty-netter. chasing a loose ball in the fourth by Lebron than Jason winning a said Ellie Day has been suffering and I hate that was the end Nicklas Backstrom earned his quarter of Thursday’s 104-100 vic- major. HA,” she tweeted. from “concussion symptoms” and result of it.” 600th career point with an assist tory over Oklahoma City. “First of all, I am okay!! I am added, “She is resting comfortably Despite the incident, James on Oshie’s final goal. “Ellie Day I hope you’re doing incredibly sore and exhausted. and appreciates all of those who said he thinks courtside seats are okay! My apologies! Hope u guys Being tackled by that large man have reached out and are con- wonderful for spectators. AGENCIES come back to another game soon. I would compare to a minor car cerned about her. “I think it’s a great experience Love LJ!” James tweeted on Fri- accident. My head and neck hit “Finally, no hard feelings for our fans,” James said. NHL RESULTS day. pretty hard so it was really scary. toward LeBron: He was just doing “I mean that doesn’t happen Boston 6 Pittsburgh 2 LeBron James of the Cleveland The wife of the 2015 PGA My whole body feels like it was hit his job. Go Cavs.” much. It’s unfortunate it hap- Washington 5 Tampa Bay 3 Cavaliers looks on during the Championship winner was kept by a truck. The game was halted briefly pened tonight but that doesn’t Florida 2 Carolina 0 first quarter at TD Garden in overnight for observation at “Second, it was so fast. I didn’t while Day’s neck and head were happen much. Sitting courtside, Ottawa 4 San Jose 2 Cleveland’s MetroHealth Medi- remember until 2am seeing the stabilized and she was stretch- it’s all part of the game. It’s pretty Boston, Massachusetts on Vancouver 4 Detroit 3 cal Center before being released ball come toward me. It was a ered out, her husband joining cool.” Wednesday. after being knocked onto the floor blur. To the crazies that think her for the ambulance ride. James AFP Winnipeg 5 NY Rangers 2

New Zealand to experiment with Haas set to roll out new car BARCELONA: Formula One Formula One has two pre-sea- ner support for the 22-year-old, two refs: Report debutants Haas are on sched- son tests in Barcelona with the who tested for Marussia in Abu ule to roll out their new car at first starting on February 22. The Dhabi this month. the first test in Barcelona next opening race in Melbourne is on It added that while Haryanto WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s February and are hoping to chal- March 20. can count on some 5 million euros provincial championship is to take lenge for points in the opening Steiner said the team had yet from sponsors Pertamina, the the radical move of experiment- race, according to team principal to decide on a colour scheme. state-owned Indonesian oil and ing with two referees next year, Guenther Steiner. “Mr Haas has not decided yet, gas company, he had less than according to a report yesterday as Haas, the first US owned team I think it’s a very personal deci- three weeks to raise the remain- World Rugby looks at a dramatic in the sport since 1986, will be sion and we give him time until der. shake-up of the game’s laws. using a car built in Italy by chas- the last minute... I actually don’t “I need to find a perfect for- The bold innovation of twin sis maker Dallara with Ferrari know,” the Austrian added. mula for Rio’s financial support to referees is one of a number of engines and technical support. He said Ferrari would not meet Manor team’s requirement,” changes being looked at -- with Experienced Frenchman deliver the team’s engines until Nahrawi was quoted as saying in others focusing on the tackle and Romain Grosjean and Mexican mid-February. a statement after meeting State- ruck areas -- as rugby looks to Esteban Gutierrez have been “Everything has been designed owned Enterprises minister Rini build on its growing popularity. Northampton Saints’ scrum-half from New Zealand Kahn Fotuali’i places signed as drivers. and signed off. The Barcelona car Soemarno. A report into the recent World the ball in the scrum during the European Rugby Champions Cup rugby “It’s only 10 weeks (until the is signed off, everything is in pro- Nahrawi had issued a state- Cup in England found it was both union match against Racing Metro 92 in Northampton yesterday. test), which is not a lot, but the duction now,” said Steiner. ment earlier in the month stating the best attended in the tourna- work is going to plan. We are The aim for Melbourne was that his ministry would guarantee ment’s history and drew a record order to prepare players for the ments with outstanding success,” pretty happy, everything seems to be competitive and reach the the money in return for branding 120 million viewers around the representative season,” Fairfax said Van Velden, who has worked to come together,” Steiner told second phase of qualifying: “To to promote Indonesia and associ- world. The idea of two referees Media reported. with the South African Rugby Sky Sports television at the have a chance of points, that is ated conpanies. has been mooted for several years “Two referees will officiate Referees Association as well as team’s Banbury base in central our goal. To show good, to show Tail-enders Manor, who fin- and has already been successfully together during New Zealand’s several Springboks and Wallabies. England. what we worked the last two ished the 2015 season last and trialled in South Africa’s Varsity national provincial champion- “A referee simply cannot give He ruled out a launch before years for, that we have no big without a point, are the only team Cup competition. ship next year as part of a World 100 percent focus to one area the team arrives in Spain for test- dramas going on.” yet to announce any drivers for New Zealand Rugby has not Rugby trial of proposed rule without another area suffering.” ing. Meanwhile, Indonesian Rio 2016. officially confirmed its role in the changes.” The second referee is expected “The car is the last thing you Haryanto needs to raise 15m They had Briton Will Stevens, experiment but a spokesman indi- Grant van Velden, a high per- to primarily focus on a new offside bring in and the production plan- euros ($16.29m) to realise his Spaniard Roberto Merhi and cated in a statement on the issue formance sports scientist at Stel- line one metre (yard) back from ning is going well,” he added. “We dream of racing in Formula One American Alex Rossi driving for may be issued in the near future. lenbosch University near Cape rucks. Other changes will see the will start to produce a car in mid- with the Manor Marussia team them this year. The team is due to “They (changes) are widely Town, believes it is “an almost imaginary “gate” done away with January, we will do the crash test next season, the Jakarta Post switch from Ferrari power units known after provincial unions impossible task” for one referee and players will be able to enter at the beginning of January and reported yesterday. to Mercedes next season. sounded out clubs across the to control a game of rugby. the breakdown from any angle as then we will start to put one The newspaper said Youth and Haryanto finished fourth in the country about whether or not “The Varsity Cup has suc- long as they come from an onside together. Sports Minister Imam Nahrawi GP2 support series this year, with they wanted their premier com- cessfully trialled the two referee position. “We will roll it out hopefully was lobbying businesses and three race wins. petitions to trial the rules in system for the last few tourna- AFP the day before the testing starts.” state-owned enterprises to gar- AGENCIES SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Platini says Sinking Chelsea turn back to Hiddink FIFA committee Dutchman appointed for remainder of the season, second interim spell in charge decided his LONDON: Guus Hiddink has Hiddink’s first game at the guilt in advance returned to Chelsea as manager Chelsea helm will be the Boxing “until the end of the season” fol- Day fixture at home to Watford lowing the sacking of Jose Mour- next Saturday, which is followed LONDON: Suspended European inho, the struggling Premier by a trip to Manchester United soccer chief Michel Platini has League champions announced on December 28. accused a FIFA ethics committee yesterday. Writing in the match pro- of denying him a fair hearing on The experienced Dutch coach, gramme for the Sunderland game, the corruption allegations against 69, returns to a role he previously Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck him and finding him guilty in performed in 2009, when he led said the club had “anguished” over advance. Chelsea to glory in the FA Cup. the decision to dismiss Mourinho Platini declined to attend a “I am excited to return to “for some time”. meeting of the ethics commit- Stamford Bridge,” Hiddink said “Please believe me when I say tee on Friday, instead sending in a statement on the Chelsea the decision was made for no a statement which was read out website. reason other than to do what we by his lawyer and released to the “Chelsea is one of the biggest believe is in the best interests of media yesterday. clubs in the world, but is not this club,” he added. “I decided not to come before where it should be at the moment. “We are one of the biggest clubs you to present my explanations in However, I am sure we can all in the world and we are all deter- person. For one reason, and one turn this season around. mined, as a collective unit, to get only: I’ve already been judged, I’ve “I am looking forward to work- back to where we should be.” already been found guilty,” the ing with the players and staff at Chelsea technical director former French midfielder and this great club and especially Michael Emenalo said “palpable head of European soccer body renewing my wonderful relation- discord between manager and A picture taken on March 9, 2009 shows Chelsea’s Dutch Manager Guus Hiddink (right) talking with Chelsea’s UEFA said. ship with the Chelsea fans.” players” was a factor in Mourin- John Terry during a training session on the eve of a Champions League football match against Juventus at Platini was the favourite to Chelsea said Hiddink would ho’s dismissal, but captain John the Olympic Stadium in Turin. replace Sepp Blatter as head of attend their game against Sun- Terry said player unrest was not world governing body FIFA but derland, but that first-team coach the reason for his departure. has himself become mired in the Steve Holland would take charge “We are aware there have been corruption scandal engulfing the of the team. Mourinho, 52, was rumours of player power at the sport, in which dozens of former sacked by Chelsea for the second club, but I want to make it clear Mourinho to stay in London while job-hunting top officials and marketing exec- time on Thursday after a run of that is not the case,” Terry wrote utives have been indicted by US nine defeats in 16 games saw them in the programme. LONDON: Jose Mourinho will cessful as when he left the club authorities. slump to within a point of the rel- “We leave all decisions to Mr remain in London despite being in 2007.” He himself has not been egation zone. Abramovich and the board, and sacked by Chelsea on Thursday, Mourinho’s first stint at the charged, but FIFA is investigat- Chelsea owner Roman Abram- know that our job, as players, is according to the agency which west Londoners from 2004 to ing him and Blatter, who is also ovich previously turned to Hid- to focus on getting results on the represents him. 2007 also ended with him being suspended, over a 2m Swiss francs dink in February 2009 after pitch.” The 52-year-old Portuguese shown the door due to differences ($1.97 million) transfer from FIFA sacking Luiz Felipe Scolari. Mourinho attended the says he intends to get back into with billionaire Russian owner to Platini in 2011. Both men say “The owner and the board wel- Championship match between a job as soon as possible, but in Roman Abramovich, despite the it was a legitimate payment for come back a coach with a wealth Brighton and Hove Albion and the meantime will be helping self-styled ‘Special One’ leading work the Frenchman had done. of top-level experience and suc- Middlesbrough yesterday in his “friends” in the cut-throat busi- the Blues to two Premier League In the statement read by his cess, including his previous spell first public appearance since his ness of football management. titles, as many League Cup wins lawyer, Platini said a series of with the club in 2009 when we sacking. “He will not be taking a sab- and an FA Cup success. comments by FIFA officials, lifted the FA Cup,” Chelsea said Sporting a newly shaven head batical, he isn’t tired, he doesn’t He went on to win the Cham- including anonymous briefings in a statement. and wearing a dark jacket, he need it, he is very positive, and is pions League with Inter Milan to the press, had made clear that “Mr Abramovich and the board was photographed in a seat at already looking forward,” said a in 2010 and lifted league titles in the ethics committee had already believe that Guus has what it the Amex Stadium, where his statement from CAA. both Italy and Spain, with Real determined his guilt. takes to get the best out of our former Real Madrid assistant “Because of his love of foot- Madrid, before rejoining Chelsea “I no longer have confidence in talented squad.” Aitor Karanka was taking charge ball, you will see Jose at football Jose Mourinho in 2013. the disciplinary bodies of FIFA. Well travelled and vastly expe- of Middlesbrough. grounds working and supporting Another league title and League They have shown their bias, rienced, Hiddink began his coach- The agency that represents friends. He will not be attending Cup win followed for the man who their prejudices, their inability to ing career with PSV Eindhoven Mourinho said in a statement any high-profile games because he consent”, the CAA statement first came to prominence in 2004 respect confidentiality, the pre- and led the club to their first ever that he would not be taking a wants to discourage any specula- directly contradicted that version when guiding Porto to the Cham- sumption of innocence and the European Cup success in 1988. sabbatical and would be attending tion about his future. of events. pions League crown. rights of the defence,” he said. He has also managed Fener- matches in order to provide sup- “Jose will remain living in Lon- “During his career, Jose has Experienced Dutch coach Guus Blatter appeared before the bahce, Valencia, Real Madrid, Real port to his “friends” in the game. don and hopes he and his family sometimes chosen to leave a club, Hiddink confirmed on Friday that ethics committee on Thursday Betis and Anzhi Makhachkala, as “He will not be taking a sab- will be given the opportunity to but only at Chelsea has the club he is in talks to succeed Mourinho and a final decision is expected well as the national teams of the batical, he isn’t tired, he doesn’t do this privately. decided that he should leave,” it as interim manager. by the end of this month. Netherlands, twice, South Korea, need it, he is very positive, and “Jose will not speak about his said. The 69-year-old stepped in at Earlier this week, Blatter wrote Australia, Russia and Turkey. is already looking forward,” said current situation for the foresee- “Each time represents for Chelsea in similar circumstances to FIFA’s 209 member state asso- His most recent role, as Neth- a statement from CAA, which able future. He asks the media to him the end of a cycle, and the in 2009, succeeding the sacked ciations, on his own stationery, erlands coach, came to an end in said Mourinho would remain in respect this decision.” opportunity to start a new one. Luiz Felipe Scolari and lead the proclaiming his innocence. June after a poor start to qualify- London. Although Chelsea announced Jose hopes that his future after club to FA Cup glory. ing for Euro 2016. AFP the separation was by “mutual Chelsea this time will be as suc- AFP REUTERS Messi trains as Enrique denies Barca conspiracy

YOKOHAMA: Barcelona’s Brazil’s Santos 4-0. River, known coach Luis Enrique denied bizarre as “los millonarios” because they claims of a conspiracy surround- are based in the wealthier north- ing injured talisman Lionel Messi ern suburbs of Buenos Aires and before their Club World Cup count politicians, business leaders final against River Plate in Japan and celebrities among their fans, today. won the old Intercontinental Cup Messi missed Barca’s 3-0 semi- in 1986. final win over Guangzhou Ever- “It’s a chance to make history,” grande midweek with abdominal said Gallardo, whose Copa Liber- pains and Enrique reacted with tadores winners struggled to beat bemusement yesterday when an Japan’s Sanfrecce Hiroshima 1-0 Argentine journalist insisted that in midweek but will be roared on Messi’s absence from public view by some 15,000 fans who made the was “mysterious”. trip from South America. Barcelona’s coach Luis Enrique attends a training session ahead of Shaking his head, Enrique “Barcelona are the best team said with a smile: “Oh, give me a their Club World Cup final against River Plate, in Yokohama yesterday. in the world and we hope Messi, break! Look, there’s no mystery. Neymar and Suarez all play,” he We haven’t hidden him or any- Cup. “Messi and Neymar are both aker. “If we start saying we’re added with a sheepish grin. thing”. progressing nicely,” said Enrique favourites then we could fall flat “You don’t get many opportuni- To emphasise the point, without elaborating. on our faces.” ties to play games like this so we moments later Messi jogged out to “It’s a final and we expect a Iniesta admitted he wasn’t sure will play with big heart, look to join training in Yokohama, raising very tough game. We came here if the five-time kings of Europe attack and enjoy it.” the possibility he could play a part to be crowned the world’s best would practice spot kicks in the River goalkeeper Marcelo in the final when Barca will look team but in a final there’s always event of being taken to penalties. Barovero, expected to be the busi- to become the first team to win a chance for an upset.” “I really don’t know,” he est man in the stadium on Sun- the title three times. River boss Marcelo Gallardo shrugged. “Hopefully we can win day evening, echoed his manager’s With Neymar also close to fit- unsurprisingly said the Catalan the game in regulation time so it comments. ness after tweaking his groin, giants were favourites, but Barca doesn’t get to penalties. Penalties “You dream of matches like the European champions could captain Andres Iniesta refused to are bad for your heart.” this,” he said. “We want to pay unleash both of them against get into any mind games before Barca captured the Club World back all the fans for making the FC Barcelona’s Lionel Messi attends a practice session at Yokohama River alongside Luis Suarez, who the final. Cup in 2009 when they beat long trip over to Japan.” International Stadium in Yokohama, south of Tokyo, Japan, yesterday. scored a hat-trick on Thursday “I’m not buying into any of Argentina’s Estudiantes 2-1 and – the first ever at a Club World that,” said the Barcelona playm again in 2011 when they thrashed AFP

LEADING SCORES Renolds maintains lead at Philippine Open 134 Lindsay Renolds (CAN) 66-68 135 Scott Barr (AUS) 69-66 MANILA: Canada’s Lindsay or nervous,” said 29-year-old improve his 64th place Order of Home favourite Miguel 136 Kalle Samooja (FIN) 69-67, Miguel Tabuena (PHI) 67-69, Giwhan Kim (KOR) Renolds kept his lead and stayed Renolds, who needs to win the Merit ranking by a notch to keep Tabuena shared third place with 68-68, Gaganjeet Bhullar (IND) 67-69 on track to win his first Asian tournament to keep his Asian his Asian Tour card in next year’s five-time Asian Tour winner 137 Keith Horne (RSA) 69-68, Khalin Joshi (IND) 70-67, Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA) Tour title, shooting a second Tour card next year. season. Gaganjeet Bhullar of India, Kalle 67-70, Niall Turner (IRL) 69-68, Jeunghun Wang (KOR) 67-70 round four-under-par 68 at the “Obviously there’s a lot on the “I’m pleased. Obviously this is a Samooja of Finland and Giwhan 138 Simon Griffiths (ENG) 70-68, Tirawat Kaewsiribandit (THA) 68-70 Philippine Open yesterday. line tomorrow but if I play good huge week,” said Barr, who said he Kim of Korea. 139 Mardan Mamat (SIN) 68-71, Charlie Wi (KOR) 70-69, Charles Hong (PHI) 71-68, The Phuket-based Canadian golf then things will work out the got a “great” putting lesson with On Friday, Renolds was Janne Kaske (FIN) 71-68, Adam Groom (AUS) 70-69, Juvic Pagunsan (PHI) was followed closely by Scott Barr way it should,” he said. old Asian Tour member Ahmad trailed by home favourite Miguel 68-71, Brett Munson (USA) 70-69, Orlan Sumcad (PHI) 72-67, Goh Kun Yang of Australia, who shot a 66 at the The Philippine Open, which Bateman. Tabuena, Chinnarat Phadungsil (SIN) 70-69 Luisita Golf and Country Club. was slashed to 54 holes due to “Obviously when the putter of Thailand, Gaganjeet Bhullar “It is exciting to be in this posi- a one-day delay from Typhoon starts rolling, the fairways get of India and Korean rising star and Country Club. due to bad weather from Typhoon tion. My game feels good and I Melor, will end today. wider and everything gets easier,” Jeunghun Wang, who posted The tour opening was delayed Melor. feel good. I’m not really worried Second-placed Barr needs to he said. matching 67s at the Luisita Golf by a day and slashed to 54 holes AFP SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 Chameera blitz puts visitors ICC should fix WI club vs country Sri Lanka on top in Hamilton row, says Clarke

The home team is struggling at 232 for the loss of 9 wickets on day two SYDNEY: The world governing realised when they crashed to an body should do more to prevent innings defeat inside three days in HAMILTON: Sri Lanka fought a repeat of the club versus coun- the first Test in Hobart last week. their way back into the second try player crisis that threatens to There is little confidence the Test against New Zealand with a turn the West Indies-Australia Caribbean tourists can lift their destructive burst by young quick Test series into a farce, Michael game for the feature Boxing Day Dushmantha Chameera on day Clarke (pictured) said yesterday. and New Year Tests in Melbourne two in Hamilton yesterday. The former Australian skipper and Sydney. Chameera took his first five- said international cricket must Anticipated easy wins for Aus- wicket bag as New Zealand remain the priority for players tralia has also turned off fans, slumped from 81 without loss in over participation in the raft of with speculation that the Boxing reply to Sri Lanka’s first innings lucrative global Twenty20 tourna- Day crowd on Australian cricket’s score of 292 to be 232-9 at stumps. ments now available to biggest day of the calen- Doug Bracewell was not out 30 high-profile stars. dar could be the lowest after a ninth-wicket stand of 31 But he accepts Tests in 16 years. with Neil Wagner (17) who was will only remain the While there is wide- dismissed on the last ball of the pinnacle of the game if spread discontent with day. authorities find a bal- the West Indies board, The 23-year-old Chameera, ance that allows top a lack of money in the bowling at up to 146 kilometres players to also take Caribbean game is also per hour (90.6 mph), was used part in competitions seen as a key factor sparingly by captain Angelo such as the Indian for many senior play- Mathews, taking three for 17 in Premier League and ers turning their backs his first spell and two for 30 in Australia’s current on Tests to chase the his second. Big Bash League. riches on offer in T20s. In partnership with the wily Dushmantha Chameera of Sri Lanka (right) walks off the field with team-mates after taking five wickets during “The players that The Windies’ 37-year-old Rangana Herath, day two of the second Test against New Zealand at Seddon Park in Hamilton yesterday. are here playing in the national team are play- playing his 67th Test, they took BBL (Big Bash League) ing the three-Test series New Zealand apart when it I think it’s really disappoint- without former captains Chris seemed openers Tom Latham and with Mitchell Santner before he The lean fast bowler said Sri Dimuth Karunaratne at leg gully ing they’re not part of the West Gayle, Dwayne Bravo and Darren Martin Guptill were settling in. became Herath’s second wicket. Lanka worked out the batsmen for 28. In his next over he took Indies Test team,” the recently Sammy who are all on duty with New Zealand lost four wick- Chameera, who in his second would fall for the leg-side trap out New Zealand’s batting king- retired Clarke told the Sydney their Australian Big Bash fran- ets for eight runs in four overs spell removed Tim Southee and “because that’s the way they natu- pin Williamson for one. Morning Herald. chises, along with fellow Windies as Chameera claimed the scalps Wagner, was delighted with his rally play”. Again targeting the leg side, as “There’s a number of players in players Andre Russell, Samuel of Latham, Kane Williamson performance. Guptill believed New Zealand he did with Latham, Chameera Australia who would be in their Badree and Lendl Simmons. and Ross Taylor while Herath “This is my fourth Test and were not out of the Test. tempted Williamson into a pull number one picked Test team. “I think international cricket removed Guptill. I get five wickets so I am very “We’re not where we’d like to shot which was skied to Suranga “I think it’s disappointing for has to be the priority,” said Clarke, Brendon McCullum tried to happy,” he said, adding the wicket be. Obviously we had to weather Lakmal at deep square leg. the game and Test match cricket. who rarely played in domestic steer his side out of trouble and he treasured most was William- a bit of a storm after lunch when Guptill, who had looked solid “I’d like to see that changed. T20 competitions during his Test put on 39 for the fifth wicket son. Sri Lanka bowled very well,” he as he reached 50, escaped the That will come down to the ICC career. said. wrath of Chameera only to fall (International Cricket Council) “T20 tournaments are impor- Scoreboard “But the fight we showed to Herath, playing across the and West Indies Cricket Board tant and fantastic to watch, but I down the order through Dougie line and getting an edge which trying to get together to make it think there’s nothing more special Sri Lanka (I innings): New Zealand (I innings): (Bracewell), Mitch (Santner) and was smartly taken by Mathews work.” than representing your country,” D Karunaratne c Watling b Southee ...... 12 M Guptill c Mathews b Herath ...... 50 BJ (Watling) we are still in this at first slip. The worst fears for the West Clarke said. K Mendis c Watling b Southee ...... 31 T Latham c Karunaratne b Chameera ...... 28 game.” Chameera completed the four- Indies series in Australia were REUTERS U Jayasundera (run out-Santner/Watling ....26 K Williamson c Lakmal b Chameera ...... 1 Sri Lanka’s first innings over rout to have Taylor caught by D Chandimal c Watling b Bracewell ...... 47 R Taylor c Chandimal b Chameera ...... 0 wrapped up quickly on the sec- Dinesh Chandimal without scor- A Mathews c Latham b Southee ...... 77 B McCullum c Mendis b Herath ...... 18 ond day with only 28 further runs ing. McCullum, who put away his Lyon hoping to M Siriwardana c Taylor b Boult ...... 62 M Santner c Chandimal b Pradeep ...... 38 added, half of them by top scorer natural attacking instincts, was K Vithanage c McCullum b Boult ...... 0 B Watling c Vithanage b Lakmal ...... 28 Mathews who was out for 77, initially given out on 17 off 47 balls show white ball R Herath (run out-Williamson) ...... 4 D Bracewell (batting) ...... 30 caught at third slip by Latham when caught by Udara Jayasun- D Chameera c McCullum b Bracewell ...... 4 T Southee c Jayasundera b Chameera ...... 4 off Southee. dera in the deep. form in BBL S Lakmal c Williamson b Wagner ...... 4 N Wagner c Vithanage b Chameera ...... 17 Latham and Guptill made a He was called back as he N Pradeep (not out) ...... 2 T Boult (batting) ...... 0 brisk start for New Zealand as headed off the field as television MELBOURNE: Australia spin- Extras (LB-11, W-12) ...... 23 Extras (LB-3, NB-7, W-8) ...... 18 they cruised through to 81, giving replays showed Nuwan Pradeep’s ner Nathan Lyon fought hard to Total (all out) ...... 292 Total (for 9 wkts) ...... 232 New Zealand three consecutive delivery was a no ball. But he cement his place in the Test team Fall of wickets: 1-39, 2-44, 3-115, 4-121, Fall of wickets: 1-81, 2-83, 3-86, 4-89, half-century opening stands for failed to make the most of the and now hopes to convince selec- 5-259, 6-259, 7-264, 8-284, 9-288, 10-292. 5-128, 6-168, 7-196, 8-201, 9-232. the first time in 14 years. reprieve with his eventual dis- tors of his white ball prowess in Bowling: Boult 20-2-51-2; Southee 21-5-63- Bowling: Lakmal 16-4-48-1 (w1; nb1); Math- Chameera had been kept out of missal coming one run later when time for the World Twenty20 in 3 (w1); Bracewell 22.1-4-81-2 (w1); Wagner ews 11-7-25-0; Pradeep 17-4-34-1 (w1, nb5); the attack for most of the part- he was neatly caught one-handed India. 9-1-51-1 (w2); Santner 7-0-34-0; Williamson Herath 22-1-75-2; Chameera 12.4-3-47-5 (w2, nership but when he came in he by Kusal Mendis at short leg. Lyon celebrated his 50th Test 1-0-1-0. nb1). was on the money almost imme- against West Indies in Hobart diately, having Latham caught by REUTERS last week but played the last of his eight one-day internationals more than a year ago and has yet to represent Australia in a T20 international. Yuvraj, Nehra back in T20 squad The 28-year-old will have a chance to impress today when he NEW DELHI: Allrounder Yuvraj him a spot in the 15-man squad. to perform and every player has a Super Kings into the final. bowls for the Sydney Sixers in the Singh and fast bowler Ashish Harbhajan Singh, who made an chance to come back in the team.” Nehra has played just one domestic ‘Big Bash’ T20 event, a Nehra have both returned to international comeback during Yuvraj was widely criticised match since then, but Patil felt match pitting him against the India’s T20I squad for the upcom- the South Africa series in Octo- for his performance in the 2014 the seamer’s experience would Hobart Hurricanes’ Cameron ing series against Australia. ber, kept his place in the T20 World T20 final - a 21-ball 11 come in handy. Boyce. Yuvraj has not played for India squad, but was dropped from the which sucked the momentum “Keeping in mind World T20, “You’re going to have to ask since the 2014 World T20 final, ODI team. out of India’s innings, paving the this is a chance for a lot of players Rod Marsh and the rest of the while Nehra’s last international Yuvraj, the Man of way to a six-wicket defeat to use as a platform. Those who selectors about that one,” Lyon game was in 2011. the Series during India’s against Sri Lanka. have not been selected, they were told reporters yesterday of his The selectors made six changes World Cup win in 2011, He was subsequently all discussed. We have extended fleeting appearances in limited- to the T20 squad that lost 2-0 to was included on the left out of the interna- the pool. Nehra is a consistent overs cricket. South Africa in October, including back of strong perform- tional scene, but contin- performer in the T20 format. “I want to be the spinner in all a maiden call-up for 22-year-old ances in the ongoing ued to attract big bucks in “He will be useful in the team,” three formats. I don’t know how all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Vijay Hazare Trophy, the IPL; he was bought by Patil said. many times I have to say it. That’s There was no place in either where he is currently Royal Challengers Ban- The BCCI also confirmed that my goal and the T20 World Cup the ODI or T20 team for Ambati the third-highest run- galore for Rs 14 crore in MS Dhoni would continue to cap- is definitely on my radar. I just Rayudu, Stuart Binny and Amit getter with 341 runs at 2014, before being signed tain both the ODI and T20I teams have to come out here and per- Mishra, while Mohammed Shami an average of 85.25. by Delhi Daredevils for till the 2016 World T20. form well for the Sydney Sixers and Ravindra Jadeja were recalled “Yuvraj Singh will Rs 16 crore in 2015. T20I squad: MS Dhoni (capt), and enjoying bowling in the BBL.” to both squads. always remain special.” His form, though, con- Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Lyon will also have to bat- Shami made the cut after Sandeep Patil, the chairman of tinued to be inconsistent, as he Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, tle for his spot in the squad for completing his recovery from a selectors, said. managed just 248 runs from 14 Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, the March 8-April 3 World T20 knee injury he suffered during “The selectors are very happy, matches at an average of 19.07 in R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Doug Bracewell of New Zealand against spin-bowling all-rounder the previous tour of Australia, and the captain is also very happy IPL 2015. Mohammed Shami, Harbhajan plays a shot during day two Glenn Maxwell and Ashton Agar, in December 2014, while Jadeja’s to have him back. We cannot Nehra, in stark contrast, was Singh, Umesh Yadav, Hardik Pan- of the Test against Sri Lanka who forced his way into the one- rich vein of form in the Ranji Tro- promise any player whether he one of the best performers in the dya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ashish at Seddon Park in Hamilton day team in the summer. phy and the recently concluded will be part of the next tour or the last IPL, picking up 22 wickets Nehra yesterday. South Africa Tests also earned World Cup. We want every player from 16 matches to help Chennai AGENCIES REUTERS Sri Lankan fightback impresses NZ’s Guptill HAMILTON: After being pep- balls after lunch, was aided by with the fielders hovering -- the and they made it uncomfortable side were still in the game and pered by New Zealand’s pace captain Angelo Mathews’ tactics, tactic did work earlier, with Tom for us. It was a tough little period that Doug Bracewell (30 not out) bowling quartet by a barrage of where he packed the leg side with Latham, Kane Williamson and for a while.” and Trent Boult could eat into the short-pitched bowling, Sri Lanka fielders and dared New Zealand’s Tim Southee all falling to the leg Chameera, who topped out at lead early on the third day before gave it back to the hosts in spades batsmen to take them on. side trap. more than 146kph, was not the they get the ball back. yesterday to gain a slight advan- Strangely, the hosts did, despite Chameera also had Ross Tay- only bowler to adhere to the “I think Dougy has shown us tage on the second day of the sec- it being apparent what the Sri lor caught behind for a duck as short-pitched game plan with some very good fight there in ond test in Hamilton. Lankans were planning. the batsman tried to fend off a Nuwan Pradeep having Brendon the number eight position and ... The visitors’ chief destroyer At one stage, Mathews had a short-pitched ball that was angled McCullum caught at fine leg for hopefully Boulty can stick around was rookie fast bowler Dush- forward short leg, a square leg across him. 17 off a top-edged hook. and Dougy can have some fun,” he mantha Chameera, the quickest and deep forward square stand- “We got as good as what we The New Zealand captain only said. “We just have to come out in both sides, as he took a career ing virtually in a straight line gave,” New Zealand opener Mar- survived because Pradeep had tomorrow and get as many runs best return of 5-47 to reduce New from the wicket to the boundary tin Guptill (pictured), who had overstepped, though he fell just as possible, then bowl well (and)... Zealand to 232-9, still 60 runs waiting for a lofted shot from Neil raced to 81 without loss with one run later when he was caught we could get them four (wickets) behind his side’s first innings of Wagner. Latham before Chameera struck, in close by Kusal Mendis off Ran- for not many in the morning. 292. While Wagner did not succumb told Radio Sport. gana Herath. “Cricket is a funny game.” Chameera, who took three top- at the time -- he hit Chameera for “There was a period after lunch Despite being nine down at the order wickets in the space of 13 two fours and a six in one over where it just went away from us close, Guptill was confident his REUTERS SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Van Gaal Hiddink sees Chelsea down Sunderland acknowledges Norwich imperil Van Gaal with win over Manchester United, Spurs capture fourth spot United pressure

LONDON: Chelsea’s new interim chants of “Jose Mourinho, he’s MANCHESTER:Manchester manager Guus Hiddink saw his taking your job!” from the away United manager Louis van Gaal team beat Sunderland 3-1 yes- end. United’s next home fixture (pictured) admitted that his terday, while Norwich City won is against Chelsea on December position was under scrutiny after at Manchester United to imperil 28 and social media was quickly his side’s 2-1 defeat at home to their manager Louis van Gaal. abuzz with speculation that Norwich City yesterday. Appointed prior to kick- Mourinho could find himself sit- United have lost their last three off in place of the sacked Jose ting in Van Gaal’s seat by then. matches in all competitions and Mourinho, Hiddink was in the A world away from the mana- have gone six games without vic- stands at a discontented Stam- gerial intrigue, Claudio Ranieri, tory, while they now trail Premier ford Bridge as Chelsea prevailed the former Chelsea manager, saw League leaders Leicester City by through goals from Branislav his Leicester City side win 3-2 at nine points. Ivanovic, Pedro Rodriguez and Everton to guarantee that they Van Gaal has already taken flak Oscar. will top the table on Christmas over the poor quality of United’s The match unfurled amid ten- Day. play and with Jose Mourinho now sion, as Chelsea’s fans took out Hiddink, 69, has returned to a free agent following his sack- their anger over Mourinho’s dis- Chelsea in the hope of pulling off ing by Chelsea on Thursday, the missal on their own players, and a salvage job similar to the one he Dutchman admitted that he was there was also a bilious atmos- masterminded in 2009, when he in the spotlight. phere at Old Trafford, where led the club to FA Cup glory after “That’s the football world,” Norwich won 2-1. being parachuted in by owner he said. “I know that, my board It was United’s third straight Roman Abramovich. knows that, my players know that. defeat in all competitions, send- With first-team coach Steve We’re not used to that because ing them out of the top four, and Holland taking charge of the normally we win, so it’s a difficult saw Van Gaal assailed with boos team, Hiddink sat alongside period. from the home supporters and Abramovich and former Chel- “We’ve lost three matches in sea striker Didier Drogba as the a row, so it’s not happening so EPL RESULTS bedraggled champions began life Chelsea’s Oscar (left) is being congratulated by team-mates after scoring a penalty against Sunderland during much for Manchester United. We without Mourinho. their English Premier League match at Stamford Bridge in London, yesterday. can’t accept that and that’s why Chelsea 3 (Ivanovic 5, Pedro 13, Oscar Pro-Mourinho banners were I have to repeat, we have to stick 50-pen) Sunderland 1 (Borini 53) visible around the ground -- one together and believe in ourselves. Everton 2 (Lukaku 32, Mirallas 89) bearing the message “You let Jose adrift of Leicester in fifth place the arrears in the 65th minute. game running, and Kevin Miral- “I’ve encountered these circum- Leicester 3 (Mahrez 27-pen, 65-pen, down, you let us down” -- and his after Cameron Jerome and Alex- Already feeling the heat from las. Bottom of the table this time stances Okazaki 69) name was chanted by the home ander Tettey scored either side of United’s fans over the dire quality last year, Leicester provisionally also with supporters right from kick-off. half-time to give Norwich a first of his side’s football, he has now moved five points above Arsenal other Manchester United 1 (Martial 66) Norwich 2 (Jerome 38, Tettey 54) Despite the hostility from their win at Old Trafford since August presided over six games without and six clear of Manchester City, teams own fans, Chelsea made a storm- 1989. a win in all competitions. who face off at the Emirates Sta- and Southampton 0 Tottenham 2 (Kane 40, ing start, Ivanovic heading in Wil- Wayne Rooney, back after three Tottenham Hotspur took dium on Monday. other Alli 43) lian’s corner in the fifth minute games out with an ankle injury, advantage by winning 2-0 at Lee Chung-Yong’s thumping staff. The Stoke 1 (Bojan 76-pen) Crystal Palace and Pedro slamming home from made his 500th United appear- Southampton to capture fourth 89th-minute goal saw sixth-place main 2 (Wickham 45+1-pen, Lee 88) Willian’s cross eight minutes ance, but having lost the ball in place, Harry Kane, after a neat Crystal Palace win 2-1 at Stoke thing is West Brom 1 (McAuley 79) Bourne- later. the build-up to the 55th-minute run, and Dele Alli scoring within City, while Charlie Daniels’s pen- that you mouth 2 (Smith 52, Daniels 87-pen) Oscar added a third early in Tettey goal that was to prove the three minutes of each other late alty gave Bournemouth a 2-1 vic- have to Newcastle 1 (Coloccini 38) Aston Villa 1 the second half with a penalty, winner, it is not an occasion he in the first half. tory at West Bromwich Albion, be pro- Playing Today before Fabio Borini replied from will recall fondly. Riyad Mahrez scored twice who had James McClean and fessional Watford vs Liverpool (1330GMT), close range for the visitors. Vic- It could prove an even cost- from the penalty spot, with Salomon Rondon sent off. and do Swansea vs West Ham (1600GMT) tory took Chelsea up to 15th place, lier result for Van Gaal, who sat Shinji Okazaki also on target, as Bottom club Aston Villa visit the things that you have to do four points clear of the relegation impassively in his seat as United Leicester won 3-2 at Everton, who fourth-bottom Newcastle United and work very hard to come out Playing Tomorrow zone. vainly pushed for an equaliser netted through Romelu Lukaku, in the late game. of this bad period.” Arsenal vs Manchester City (2000GMT) United are now nine points after Anthony Martial reduced scorer for the seventh league AFP Asked if he thought that United would stand by him, he replied: “It’s not up to me to say about Bayern Munich’s French that question, but we shall see.” forward Kingsley Coman (top) Bayern Munich go eight points clear United dominated the first half, and Hanover’s Senegalese but fell behind in the 38th minute midfielder Salif Sane vie for the when Cameron Jerome side- ball possession during their BERLIN: Bayern Munich opened to the squad as to whether he will minute winner. stepped the sliding Ashley Young an eight-point lead in the Bundes- stay or go. “We’ll see what hap- Bayer Leverkusen climbed to before driving the ball through Bundesliga match in Hanover, liga yesterday with a 1-0 win at pens. Regardless of who is coach, fourth in the table with a 1-0 win United goalkeeper David de Gea. central Germany yesterday. struggling Hanover as the Bavar- the squad just wants to keep at Ingolstadt as Mexico striker Alexander Tettey made it 2-0 in ians wait to learn whether Pep winning,” added the Germany Javier Hernandez kept up his the 55th minute, robbing Wayne Guardiola will leave at the end of forward. stunning scoring run. Rooney on halfway, exchanging the season. “We haven’t heard anything, it “Chicharito” claimed his 17th passes with Jerome and toeing Guardiola’s contract as head could be that he stays. Besides the goal in Leverkusen’s last 14 the ball home. coach expires in June and the media normally find out before we games in all competitions when Anthony Martial slammed club say an announcement on the do.” he stabbed home his 11th league home for United 10 minutes later, 44-year-old’s future plans will be But this was the third game in goal of the season since joining but with assistant manager Ryan made on Sunday when the Ger- succession where jaded Bayern from Manchester United. Giggs encouraging his players man league begins the month- have laboured to victory although Europa League side Augsburg from the touchline while Van Gaal long winter break. the Bavarians have still only picked up their third straight win sat impassively in the dug-out, the Daily newspaper Bild insist dropped five points from their 17 to move away from the relegation hosts failed to find an equaliser. Guardiola will leave in May and games so far for a season’s tally places into mid-table with a 1-0 United’s defeat, their first at claim Bayern have already made a of 46. victory at Hamburg thanks to Jan home this season, saw them slip verbal agreement for Carlo Ance- Second-placed Borussia Dort- Moravek’s equaliser with a superb out of the top four ahead of next lotti to take over. mund are now eight points header. weekend’s trip to Stoke City, Regardless of who will coach behind Bayern after crashing Eintracht Frankfurt picked up which is followed by a home game them next season, Bayern fin- to a 2-1 defeat at Cologne as the their first win in eight matches with Chelsea on December 28. ish 2015 eight points clear after hosts scored twice in the final when captain Alex Meier and Thomas Mueller converted a 40th 10 minutes. Dortmund took the Stefan Aigner scored in their 2-1 AFP minute penalty for his 14th league lead after just 18 minutes when win at home to fellow strugglers goal of the season when Hanover Greece centre-back Sokratis Werder Bremen which left both captain Christian Schulz con- Papastathopoulos headed home teams just above the relegation ceded the spot-kick after the ball a corner swung in by Henrikh places. Schalke are up to fourth Montreal Impact hit his arm. Mkhitaryan. in the table thanks to Friday’s “It was clear that Hanover But Cologne took the three 1-0 win against struggling Hof- say no Chelsea weren’t going to give any points points when Simon Zoller fired fenheim when Cameroon forward away, so we’re delighted to get home from close range on 83 Eric Choupo-Moting was cred- approach for the win,” Mueller told Sky. But minutes before Anthony Mod- ited with a goal which deflected after sealing Bayern’s 15th win este earned a yellow card for rip- off Hoffenheim’s Czech defender Drogba in 17 league games, Mueller said ping off his shirt, yelling a primal Pavel Kaderabek. Guardiola has given no indication scream, after hitting the 90th- AFP MONTREAL: The Montreal Impact denied that striker Didier Drogba had been con- tacted about a return to English Premier League club Chelsea, in Ibrahimovic wondergoal as PSG break points record turmoil since sacking manager Jose Mourinho. PARIS: Paris Saint-Germain saved an 84th minute penalty “The rumour about Didier go into the winter break with a LIGUE 1 SCORERS from Caen’s Andy Delort as the Drogba is unfounded,” Major Ligue 1 record points haul of 51 15 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Paris St Ger- champions shone in every area League Soccer’s Impact posted after a 3-0 away win at Caen lit up main) against a side who went into the on their official Twitter account. by a thrilling Zlatan Ibrahimovic 11 Benjamin Moukandjo (FC Lorient) game in fourth place. “No contact has been made with strike yesterday. Third-place Monaco end a the club or him.” Michy Batshuayi (Olympique Marseille) Already 1-0 up from an early turbulent 2015 at Troyes later The magazine Jeune Afrique Angel di Maria goal Ibrahimovic 10 Edinson Cavani (Paris St Germain) Saturday, with the bottom club reported Chelsea owner Roman produced a stunning 25-yard 7 Hatem Ben Arfa (Nice) still looking for a first win of the Abramovich called 37-year-old snap-shot which flew into the Valere Germain (Nice) season. Drogba hours after Mourinho top corner of the Caen goal on 6 Andy Delort (Caen) Among the other fixtures is a parted ways the with the club 36 minutes. Rodrigue Ninga (Montpellier HSC) Brittany derby between Guin- on Thursday regarding a possible As the stadium rose to acclaim Alexandre Lacazette (Olympique Lyon) gamp, who are in the relegation return to his old club. the giant Swede for the simple Angel Di Maria (Paris St Germain) zone, and a Rennes side with just But at the same time, the Ivory power and precision of his split- one win in their last 13 league Coast icon doused speculation Martin Braithwaite (Toulouse) second effort, even the beaten games. that he might follow in the foot- ‘keeper was left smiling. Marseille will look to end a dif- steps of such former MLS play- The win lifted PSG to a mas- it 3-0 as he rounded off a slick ficult year on a high note when ers as David Beckham or Thierry sive 20 points clear of Angers, team effort on 50 minutes. they visit Bordeaux tonight in Henry, who inked short-term in action on Sunday at Saint- Caen ‘keeper Remy Vercoutre the last match before France loan deals to play in Europe in Etienne. deserves a special mention him- takes a two-week winter break the North American league’s off- It also extends the star-stud- self after saving four stinging over the festive period. season. ded Qatar-backed club’s unbeaten shots in a bewildering first-half On Friday, teenager Olivier “I’m not too hot on that idea,” record in the league to 28 games goalmouth scramble, two of them Boscagli sent Nice into the said the veteran player, adding since March. spectacular stops with the feet French winter break on a win- that he was committed to fulfill- Summer-signing Di Maria from Lucas Moura and Ibrahi- ning note as he struck the only Paris Saint-Germain’s Swedish forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic celebrates ing the remaining season on his rounded off the scoring with his movic. goal in a 1-0 victory at home to after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match against Caen MLS contract in the next year’s sixth Ligue 1 goal since joining Not to be outdone PSG’s Ger- Montpellier. (SMC) yesterday, at the Michel d’Ornano Stadium in Caen, France. season. from Manchester United, making man ‘keeper Kevin Trapp then AFP AFP SUNDAY 20 DECEMBER 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27 World champion Magnus eyes more glory Qatar Masters Chess: Norwegian vying for the top prize of $27,000 along with five former world champions DOHA: Reigning world cham- GM Wei Yi of China; GM Sha- QATAR MASTERS CHESS number one Magnus Carlsen is top Arab players and three jun- pion Magnus Carlsen of Norway khriya Mamedyarov and GM here to play and we thank him for ior players. PRIZES FOR THE BEST Today: Round 1 3PM and five former world champions Teimour Radjabov of Azerbai- that. He’ll play in what is going to The tournament also features PLAYERS OF THE head a list of over 145 players who jan; GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek of Tomorrow: Round 2 3PM be one of the most amazing open a host of Indians including ninth will be seen in action at the ten- Poland; GM Anton Korobov, GM 23 December Round 3 3PM events in chess history,” he added. seed P Harikrishna. In the wom- TOURNAMENT day Qatar Masters Chess tour- Vassily Ivanchuk and GM Ruslan 24 December Round 4 3PM The chess game is gaining in en’s section, second seed Koneru 1st prize $27,000 nament which begins at Aspire Ponomariov of Ukraine; and GM 25 December Round 5 3PM popularity and more sponsors are Humpy will be donning the tri- 2nd prize $16,000 Women’s Sports Committee Hall David Howell of England. coming forward to support the colour. 26 December Rest day 3rd prize $12,000 here today. “We’re very happy to have 27 December Round 6 3PM game worldwide, said the QCA Two Qatari players Al Sayed Besides Carlsen, GM Vladimir Carlsen. To have Carlsen in Qatar official. Mohammed and Nezad Husein 4th prize $8,500 28 December Round 7 3PM Kramnik of Russia and GM Anish is a big thing and this has fur- “We thank the sponsors from Aziz will be seen in action. 5th prize $7,500 Giri of the Netherlands are the ther reinforced the fact that this 29 December Round 8 3PM Qatar who have thrown their Matlakov Maxim of Russia, 6th prize $5,500 top three players in the list while year’s championship is the strong- 29 December Round 9 12pm weight behind the tournament by Hou Yifan of China, Adhiban B. 7th prize $4,500 reigning champion GM Yu Yangyi est ever in the history of open Closing Ceremony 7pm sponsoring the tournament. of India Fedoseev Vladimir of 8th prize $3,500 of China is also back to defend his chess tournaments,” Qatar Chess The total prize money for the Russia, Duda Jan-Krzysztof of 9th prize $2,500 crown, won last year. Association (QCA) Secretary and organising the tournament is to tournament is $130,000 and it Poland, Dubov Daniil of Russia Joining them are GM Sergey Tournament Director Mohamad spread the game’s popularity in is open to all chess players with Bologan Viktor of Moldova, Khis- 10th prize $2,000 Karjakin, GM Evgeny Toma- Al Medaikhi said. Qatar and make it a chess desti- ELO rating 2300 and above. matullin Denis of Russia, Akopian 11th prize $1,500 shevsky and GM Dmitry Jakov- Talking about the tournament, nation in the Gulf region.” The winner will get $27,000 Vladimir of Armenia and Ganguly 12th prize $1,300 enko of Russia; GM Chao Li and Al Medaikhi said: “The idea of “We’ve added one rest day to and the runner-up $16,000 and Surya Shekhar of India are the 13th prize $1,200 the tournament unlike last year the third place finisher $12,000. other prominent contestants. 14th prize $1,200 which was played at a stretch for Prizes will also be given to the 15th prize $1,100 nine days,” he said. best women players and three THE PENINSULA 16th prize $1,100 Incidentally, it was in 2007 that Carlsen played in an open tourna- 17th prize $1,100 ment as a 16-year-old and with a 18th prize $1,000 rating of 2710, the youngest 2700+ 19th prize $1,000 player in the history of the game 20th prize $1,000 at that point, the record was Total $100,500 recently broken by Wei Yi. Prizes for the best female players Carlsen said participating in an 1st $8,000 open ‘would be something special’ and will be happy to usher the 2nd $4,000 New Year in Qatar. 3rd $2,500 The ten-day tournament ends 4th $1,500 on December 29 with one day rest 5th $1000 on December 26. 6th $500 Qatar Chess Association (QCA) Secretary and Tournament Director “The Qatar Masters Open Total $17,500 Mohamad Al Medaikhi (left) and Khalifa Mohammed Al Hitmi (second 2015 just got bigger, better and Khalifa Mohammed Al Hitmi, President of QCA speaking during the left), President of QCA pose for a picture with reigning world champion stronger,” said QCA President opening ceremony. Right: Reigning world champion Carlsen Magnus Prizes for the best Arabic players Carlsen Magnus (third left) of Norway and former world champion Khalifa Mohammed Al Hitmi, (left) of Norway during the draw ceremony. Magnus will play with the 1st $2,500 Vladimir Kramnik (second right) of Russia during the opening ceremony during the opening ceremony White in the opening round of the championship in which 145 players 2nd $1,500 of the Qatar Masters Chess championship which begins today. The yesterday. from different part of the world are contesting including five former 3rd $1000 ten-day championship ends on December 29. “We are happy that the reign- world champions. Total $5,000 ing World Champion and world Two-day Aspire in the World Mixed day for Qatar in qualifiers

DOHA: Qatar’s Abdulwahab Al Ishaq stunned Abbas Maniar of Fellows meet ends in Qatar USA to keep his hopes alive of qualifying for the main draw of DOHA: Aspire Academy has ing recovery, integrated training and elsewhere. All the sessions the Qatar Circuit 2. hailed the success of the Aspire methodology, and preventing soft were insightful and thought- At the Khalifa International in the World Fellows Gathering tissue injuries. provoking and we’re confident Tennis and Squash Complex yes- which concluded on Thursday. During the gathering, partici- participants will benefit from terday, two other Qatar players The two-day event brought pants shared and examined the fresh thinking and innovation in were not so lucky in the qualify- together a group of world lead- training methods and approaches relation to developing their train- ing rounds which began yesterday ing coaching and football experts they adopt to nurture football tal- ing methodologies. Through this and continues today. to share best practice and exper- ent and explored ways in which programme and the involvement Qatar’s Abdulrahman Al Malki tise, develop recommendations for training methodologies and strat- of our Fellows, we hope to collec- lost to Edmon Lopez Moller while training methodologies and sup- egies can be improved to support tively make significant progress Moses Durosinmi defeated Umair port the management of young young elite footballers, to develop towards the broader development Umar Zaman of Qatar. players. their talent and enhance their of the game”. The qualifying action continues The group of leading experts performance. Dr Balague said: “The level of today. that travelled to Qatar represent The event comprised a number sophistication we have experi- The main round of the tourna- several of the world’s best clubs, of workshops, discussions and enced here, whether in terms of ment starts from tomorrow. Two federations and leagues, including training sessions including a pres- the Aspire Academy facilities or Qatari players feature in the main Real Madrid, Juventus, Everton entation by prominent sports psy- the sessions of the symposium, is draw. and many more. chologist Dr Gloria Balague that unprecedented and unlike any- THE PENINSULA They belong to the Aspire in explored the effects of psychology thing I have experienced before. the World Fellows programme on athletic performance. The open-discussion format that QATAR CIRCUIT 2 which brings together 50 of the Dr Donna O’Connor, an expert the sessions were based upon world’s most important clubs, in optimising performance from really helped facilitate rich and Edmon Lopez Moller [1] bt Brian Byrne [8] federations and leagues to sup- the University of Sydney in Aus- valuable discussions between pre- 7-11 11-5 11-4 6-11 11-8; Iker Pajares port the development of elite tralia, also gave a lecture that senters and participants. I have Bernabeu [3] bt Abdulwahab Al-Ishaq 11-3 youth football players through showcased methods of developing really enjoyed my first trip to 11-2 11-3; Youssef Soliman [4] bt Moses sharing knowledge and expertise, learning opportunities for players. Doha, and look forward to return- Durosinmi [7] 11-1 11-7 11-1; Abdullah Al experience, applied practice and The event concluded with a ing in the future”. Muzayen [2] bt Belal Nawar 12-10 11-3 11- research in football performance friendly football match between Dr Paolo Noga from Porto FC 2; Edmon Lopez Moller [1] bt Abdulrahman and science. the experts, which was played in said: “The sessions we partici- Al Malki 11-5 11-6 11-10; Brian Byrne [8] The Fellows Gathering explored the Aspire Dome. pated in were great. Since the Fel- bt Jamal Al-Barwani 13-15 11-7 11-8 11- in greater detail a number of the Commenting on the two-days, lows are from very different parts 3; Abdulwahab Al-Ishaq bt Abbas Maniar key topics that were covered dur- Professor Valter Di Salvo, Direc- of the world and cultures, we’re [6] 11-7 11-7 10-12 12-10; Iker Pajares ing the Aspire Academy Global tor of Football Performance & each able to share a wide variety Bernabeu [3]bt Ali Miski 11-4 11-4 11-4; Summit held in Berlin in October. Science department at Aspire of knowledge and expertise that Youssef Soliman [4] bt Muhammad Farhan Qatar’s Abdulrahman Al Malki in action against Edmon Lopez Moller This exclusive annual event is Academy, said: “We’re delighted will help enrich the development 11-2 11-3 11-5; Moses Durosinmi [7] bt of Spain during the qualifying rounds of the Qatar Circuit 2 qualifying an integral part of the Aspire in to have welcomed Aspire Acad- of enhanced training and coach- Umair Umar Zaman 8-11 11-4 11-8 7-11 11- rounds at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex in Doha 7; Abdullah Al Muzayen [2] bt Mohammad the World Fellows programme. emy’s Fellows from all around the ing techniques”. yesterday. The qualifying rounds continue today while the main draw These topics included training world back to Qatar, including Jafari 12-10 11-4 17-15; Belal Nawar bt matches take place from tomorrow. plan strategies, match and train- from Europe, Asia, the Americas THE PENINSULA Asim Khan [5] 11-3 11-5 11-9.

QMMF celebrates National Day Qatar International Short Track Cup

Action from the Qatar International Short Track Cup which began in Doha yesterday. Skaters from Qatar along Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) President and other QMMF officials with skaters from around the world are taking part in the event. Skaters from Malaysia, India, Turkey and South celebrate the National Day at the Museum of Islamic Art at the Corniche, with Soul Riders, Oryx Riders, Soul Korea are taking part. Organised by the Qatar Winter Sports Committee, the inaugural edition of what is to be Jeepers and Qatar Riders on Friday. an annual event aims to elevate the level of Qatari skaters by exposing them to high-level, international athletes. Sunday 20 December 2015 9 Rabia I 1437 Volume 20 Number 6650 Sport Price: QR2

NBA: Warriors Chelsea rally to avenge turn back to Bucks defeat Hiddink

Sport | 23 Sport | 24

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Spirited Hasnaoui wins Tour of Zubarah title Tall rider upstages favourite Tipper with third-place finish on last day, Kyrgyzstan’s Wacker claims final stage By Rizwan Rehmat CYCLING RESULTS DOHA: Tall Tunisian rider Stage three classification Meher Hasnaoui yesterday won 1 Eugen Wacker, Kuwait Cycling Project, the 3rd Tour of Zubarah with an 2:45:08 impressive third-placed finish in the final stage which was clinched 2 Naser Rezavi, Pisghaman Giant Team by Kyrgyzstan’s Eugen Wacker. ‘’ - ‘’ Hasnaoui, who won stage one 3 Meher Hasnaoui, Skydive Dubai ‘’ - ‘’ on Thursday to showcase his 4 Mohammadesmaeil Chachi Raghmi, fighting form, yesterday upstaged Pisghaman Giant Team ‘’ - ‘ overnight leader and title favour- 5 José Manuel Gutierrez Revuelta, Kuwait ite Jacob Tipper who was left Cycling Project ‘’ - ‘’ fuming at the end of the 119.8- 6 Andrea Palini, Skydive Dubai, 2:46:00 km stage. +52, 5 seconds behind Refusing to talk to reporters at the end of the days’ proceedings, 7 Michael Schweizer, Team NRW ‘’ - ‘’ +52, Tipper gestured angrily at a TV seconds camera crew before cycling off to 8 Jacob Tipper, Team Giant - RBS ‘’ - ‘’ his camp. +52 seconds Seconds earlier Wacker 9 Koos Jeroen Kers, Wilton Cycling Team brought delight to Kuwait Cycling ‘’ - ‘’ +52 seconds Project by winning the final stage 10 Angel de Julian Vazquez, Kuwait Cycling of the four-day event in a time Project ‘’ - ‘’ +52 seconds of 2 hours 45 minutes and 08 seconds as riders battled strong General individual classification winds. 1 Meher Hasnaoui, 9:15:21 Pisghaman Giant Team’s Naser 2 Eugen Wacker, 9:15:36 +0:15 Rezavi finished the final stage in Riders finishing on the podium in all categories pose for a group picture along with the Qatar Cycling Federation officials after the final stage of the 3 Naser Rezavi 9:15:41 +0:20 second place, ahead of Hasnaoui Tour of Zubarah in Zubarah yesterday. Pics: Salim Matramkot who also finished in a bunch 4 Mohammadesmaeil Chachi Raghmi, 9:16:10 +0:49 sprint opposite Qatar’s historical clinched the team classification am not concerned who won this 5 Jacob Tipper, 9:16:10 +0:49 landmark of Zubarah Fort in the (27:48:09) ahead Kuwait Cycling race,” Palini said. 6 José Manuel Gutierrez Revuelta, 9:16:15 north eastern tip of the country. Team (27:48:50). Sharjah Team “I don’t know if I will be back +0:54 Iran’s Mohammad Esmaeil (28:06:08) was placed third. next year though I enjoyed racing 7 Andrea Palini, 9:16:19 +0:58 Chaichi Raghmi and Jose Manuel “It was very hard for me and here,” he added. Gutierrez Revuelat of Spain com- my team. Finally we won the Wacker was thrilled with his 8 Koos Jeroen Kers, 9:16:22 +1:01 pleted the top five that finished Tour of Zubarah after such great stage win yesterday. 9 Madhi Rajabikaboodcheshmeh, 9:16:34 52 seconds ahead of the rest of efforts,” Hasnaoui said yesterday. “I am very happy for this stage +1:13 the riders. “It is a great pleasure for us to win,” Wacker said after posing for 10 Ben Hetherington, 9:16:45 +1:24 Hasnaoui clocked an overall win this Tour of Zubarah. I hope pictures with his team-mates at General points classfication time of 9 hours 15 minutes and next year we can come back and the iconic Zubarah Fort venue. 1 Andrea Palini, 37 points 21 seconds to top the general indi- win again. For sure we will come “We also have the third place in vidual classification. back next year,” he said with a general. It is a very luck stage for 2 Jacob Tipper, 32 Wacker, who won the stage smile. me and my team,” Wacker said. 3 Meher Hasnaoui, 24 yesterday, was 15 seconds behind “You know the last stage was “It was a very good job by all 4 Koos Jeroen Kers, 21 Hasanoui in the overall classifi- very hard. I was four seconds of us. It was a surprise for me. 5 Michael Schweizer, 19 cation. behind when we started the stage. We were back in the bunch. It Rezavi, after a second-placed I am lucky that it was windy and was very tough. It was a strong 6 Madhi Rajabikaboodcheshmeh, 15 finish yesterday, closed his Qatar that proved good for me as I headwind. I am not a sprinter,” 7 Eugen Wacker, 15 trip 20 seconds behind yesterday’s finally managed to take the yel- Wacker said. 8 9Artyom Zakharov, 13 Tour of Zubarah winner. low jersey,” Hasnauoi said. “I may come back for (Febru- 9 Naser Rezavi, 12 Chachi Raghmi (PKY Pisgha- “It has been a good few weeks ary’s) Tour of Qatar next year,” man Giant Team) was fourth for us as a team. We did well in Wacker added. 10 Abdelbasat Hanachi, 11 fastest (49 seconds behind) while the UAE and in Malaysia also and Tipper grabbed the opening Team classification Tipper - who owned the yellow now this,” Hasnaoui said. day’s prologue to wear the yellow 1 Pisghaman Giant Team, 27:48:09 jersey for three out of four days - Red jersey owner Palini was jersey and retained for the next 2 Kuwait Cycling Project, 27:48:50 ended in fifth spot (49 seconds). satisfied with his four days of rid- two stages won by Hasanoui and Chachi Raghmi topped the U23 ing in windy Qatar. Germany’s Michael Scweizer. 3 Sharjah Team, 28:06:08 classification with an overall time “It was a good race for me. However, a strong headwind 4 Skydive Dubai, 28:11:19 of 9:16:10 to grab the light blue Our team take the yellow jersey. and probably lack of effort from 5 Team Giant - RBS, 28:20:59 jersey. Italy’s Andera Palini - who We are very happy. We are very his team-mates saw Tipper lose 6 Wilton Cycling Team, 28:23:02 finished sixth fastest in the final happy,” Palini said. ground on the final bunch of five 7 Kazakhstan Track Team Astana, 28:23:31 stage yesterday - was seventh in “Now we will go home for a bit riders. Event organisers Qatar overall general classification (58 of rest,” the Italian said. “We will Cycling Federation will now pre- 8 Achieve Northside Skinnergate, 28:27:01 seconds behind. try to recover for two weeks and pare for a 10-day cycling extrava- 9 Bahrain National Team, 28:30:17 Palini, one of the top riders on then we will start 2016 fresh,” he ganza in February – the Ladies 10 Team NRW, 28:39:29 the Asian UCI Tour rankings, said. Tour of Qatar and the Men’s Tour Kyrgyzstan’s Eugen Wacker of Kuwait Cycling Project celebrates his 11 Saudi Arabia National Team, 28:48:06 ended Tour of Zubarah with the “Yes, I am satisfied with my rid- of Qatar events. victory in the third and final stage of the Tour of Zubarah yesterday in 12 Qatar National Team, 28:50:37 Zubarah. red jersey. ing this week,” Palini said. “It was Pisghaman Giant Team not a problem for me in Qatar. I THE PENINSULA 13 Carbon Wheels, 29:03:43

Al Sadd edgy as Mesaimeer eye positive result DOHA: Under pressure to reira’s side beat QSL FIXTURES ers. We have to front of us have been able to get a close gap on points leaders Al Al Rayyan in the play each match few points and put some distance Al Sadd vs Mesaimeer Rayyan, Doha giants Al Sadd previous round. looking for the between us and them. For tomor- At Al Ahli Stadium 18:45 are feeling edgy going into their Ferreira said victory. This is row’s game we will miss seven round 14 clash against minnows Al Sadd needs Tomorrow my philosophy players,” Gacanin said. Mesaimeer today. more time to Umm Salal vs Al Khor as a coach and “Considering the quality of Al Sadd coach Jesualdo Fer- settle with a new At Al Gharafa Stadium 16:00 that’s what I am players that we have and the reira yesterday said he will miss coach. Al Sailiya vs Al Rayyan communicating strength of the squad, it will be a the services of captain experi- “We have had At Al Gharafa Stadium 18:45 with the players difficult game for us. But Al Sadd enced midfielder Xavi and key three matches, Qatar SC vs Al Kharaitiyat and that is what too have players missing for this striker Hassan Al Haydos. each one had its At Al Wakrah Stadium 18:45 they have to do match. Tomorrow, we will go to “It will be a difficult game own level. Three in the future” he the field, hope to play well and for us just like all other games. weeks of working with the team said. look for a positive result. Unfortunately, we are missing a doesn’t give you all the indications When asked about the missing “Hopefully we will be able to few players who have gone to the of what the players are capable of players, Ferreria said: “Xavi and bring in new players in Janu- Olympic team and also some inju- doing” Ferreira said. Hassan Al Haydos will miss this ary. I will give the management a ries,” Ferreira said. “A couple of matches we haven’t match because of injury.” report of my team’s performance “We will not have a strong done well. We changed some play- Mesaimeer coach Rodion so far. Give them a list of the play- bench. But it’s not an excuse to ers in the last match and we will Gacanin said his team has injury ers that I am not satisfied with not win this game. Al Sadd must have to do that in this match,” he concerns going into the clash at and also the list of players that I win this game despite the situa- said. Al Ahli Stadium. want,” Gacanin said. tion of the players,” Ferreira said. “And that’s why the team’s “The first part of the league is The game starts at 18:45. Al Sadd’s Xavi Hernandez greets Al Rayyan’s Sergio Garcia after Al Sadd Last Monday El Jaish ham- rhythm is not stable. finished with us in the last posi- won their Qatar Stars League match on December 10, 2015 in Doha. mered Al Sadd 4-2 after Fer- “So I cannot judge the play- tion. The three teams directly in THE PENINSULA