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Tuesday 2 December 2014 • 10 Safar 1436 • Volume 19 Number 6267 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780 PM meets Ghana president Saudi court Chamber says jails 45 no nationality for Jeddah flooding curbs on visas JEDDAH: A Saudi court has jailed 45 people including gov- ernment officials in connection with deadly flooding five years Move to help private businesses ago in Jeddah, reports said yesterday. DOHA: The government has The 2009 floods killed 123 peo- eased visa restrictions for com- QCB debt panel likely ple, left thousands homeless and panies and is allowing them provoked unprecedented outrage to recruit workers from coun- DOHA: The Qatar Central in the kingdom’s second-largest tries of their choice, says Qatar Bank (QCB) might soon set city. Custodian of the Two Holy Chamber (QC). up a committee with mem- Mosques King Abdullah bin In other words, nationality- bers from local banks to help Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia wise quota system in issuing resolve financial difficulties sought legal action against offi- work visas may not be in force faced by some local contract- cials and contractors for alleged any more. ing companies. Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani with the President corruption, mismanagement of The move aims to remove hin- The panel might likely help of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, at the Ritz-Carlton yesterday. real estate and land planning that drances facing private businesses reschedule the debt of some of exacerbated the inundation. in their smooth operation and the ailing contracting firms. The Arab News said a court their ability to play a greater role Rashid Al Athba, a member convicted 45 people who were sen- in the national economy. of the Board of Directors of tenced to various jail terms. It did The Chamber said the Qatar Chamber, representa- not give details of the sentences. Recruitment Committee at the tive body of the private sector, No heavy trucks on Doha They were also fined more than Ministry of Labor and Social said yesterday: “This will be a SR14m ($3.73m) in total, the Affairs which clears work visas joint committee with the QCB report said. It provided no names for companies is now taking a and the local banking industry but said the defendants included lenient view of visa requests. represented on it”. roads from December 15 “high-ranking officials... aca- A welcome development is that demics, engineers, businessmen the Committee has a representa- DOHA: No heavy trucks will has been launched to improve the south and Lusail in the north. and foreign workers”. They were tive of the Chamber on it now to seriously,” Al Athba said. be allowed to enter Doha from traffic flow in Doha and divert The new road will also reduce charged with offences including ensure that the private sector’s “When the panel is convinced December 15 without the traffic incoming transit traffic between traffic flow to and from Al Khor, bribery, forgery, misuse of public manpower needs are not ignored. a firm needs that many workers police’s permission after a tem- the north and south of the coun- Al Shamal, and Dukhan pass- money, engaging in illegal busi- “Since then the Committee has and from so and so nationality, its porary bypass road dedicated to try out of the city, said Jalal Yousif ing through the Industrial Area, ness and money laundering, Arab been able to solve the woes of the visa requests are approved.” them was opened yesterday. Salehi, Director of Infrastructure Mesaieed and the south. Hence, News said. companies related to work visas Al Athba said this is part of the All trucks will use a Temporary Affairs at Ashghal. The announce- this will dramatically ease conges- The inability of Jeddah’s infra- and the nationality of workers,” government’s plans to remove all Truck Route (TTR) on the Salwa ments were made at a press meet tion on Doha’s main streets that structure to drain off flood waters said Rashid Al Athba, a member hurdles in the way of the private — Lusail road stretching 41km, at Ashghal headquarters yester- served as a main route for heavy and uncontrolled construction in of QC’s board. sector and help it develop and which was opened by Public day after which media persons vehicles and trucks, he said. and around the Red Sea city were He is the man who repre- play a much widened role in eco- Works Authority yesterday. were shown the new road. “The TTR is one of the most blamed at the time for the high sents the private sector on the nomic development. Brig Mohammed AbdulRahman According to Salehi, the TTR important projects executed by number of victims. Recruitment Committee. He told He said The Emir, H H Sheikh Marafia, Director of Traffic and is connects Salwa Road west of the authority’s Road Projects A huge rainstorm sparked the Al Sharq that now the commit- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Road Safety, said an awareness the Industrial Area with Lusail Department to reduce traffic con- flash floods which overwhelmed tee takes a lenient view of a com- in his address to the Advisory campaign has been launched to Development. The TTR also gestion by diverting transit traffic Jeddah’s limited infrastructure. pany’s requests for the number Council early last month, prom- keep heavy trucks outside the merges with the 23km Salwa — out of Doha until the completion More than 11,000 people joined of workers for different jobs and ised a more proactive role for the city and reduce traffic congestion. Mesaieed (Route 55) that opened of the Orbital Express way and a Facebook page to protest over their nationality. private sector in national devel- Traffic patrols will book trucks last year, forming a temporary Truck Road, which is expected to the floods, charging that the city “Our presence in the opment and, as expected, it was plying in Doha without permission. rural road stretching 64km west be complete in 2017,” he said. government and contractors were Committee has made it take the coming true. THE PENINSULA “The fine for the violation is of Doha city to reduce traffic con- THE PENINSULA at fault. problems of the private sector Continued on page 6 QR500,” he said. The new TTR gestion between Mesaieed in the Continued on page 6 AFP

Umbrella Revolution New stadium design DOHA: The Supreme Hopes high as UN Committee for Delivery and Legacy will today unveil the design of Qatar Foundation Stadium, one of the proposed climate talks begin venues for the 2022 Fifa World Cup tournament, and the health LIMA: About 190 governments Greenland’s ice that would raise and fitness area surrounding it. met in Lima yesterday amid sea levels. QNA hopes that a UN deal to slow “The window for action climate change is within reach is rapidly closing,” Rajendra for 2015 despite warnings that Pachauri, head of the UN’s Population rises time is fast running out to keep Intergovernmental Panel on global warming within safe Climate Change, told delegates. to 2.26 million limits. His panel says it is 95 percent Cooperation between China probable that man-made emis- DOHA: Over 53,000 people, and the United States, the top sions are the main cause of mostly newly-recruited work- two greenhouse gas emitters, warming. ers, entered Qatar last month, and a decision by the European The talks have a new sense of taking the population to over Union to cut its emissions have hope for a deal, despite falling 2.26 million. given a new sense of momentum oil prices that complicate a shift The population stood at to United Nations talks that have to renewable energy, after the 2,269,672 by November-end, failed to produce agreement on a United States last month agreed with three-fourths (1.69 million) global deal in two decades. to cut emissions by 26 to 28 per- comprising men, official figures “We’ve received some very cent below 2005 levels and China released yesterday suggest. A policeman clashes with pro-democracy protesters during an operation to clear an occupied road near the positive signals,” Peruvian agreed to set a cap on its soaring In 11 months, the population government headquarters in the Admiralty district of Hong Kong yesterday. Police unleashed pepper spray Environment Minister Manuel emissions by around 2030. has surged by more than 224,000. and baton-charged students who tried to storm the government headquarters as tensions soared in the third Pulgar Vidal told delegates at the The European Union also aims In other words, some 224,433 peo- month of pro-democracy protests. See also page 12 opening of the Dec 1 to 12 talks to cut emissions by 40 percent ple have entered the country since in a tent city at a military head- below 1990 levels. That means January this year. quarters in Lima. that nations accounting for more The growth so far this year has Delegates are due to work out than half of world emissions have been 8.4 percent, statistics issued elements of a deal to combat cli- set goals. by the Ministry of Development mate change, for a summit in “We need more countries to Planning and Statistics reflect. Palestinian woman stabs Israeli Paris in a year’s time, as part of come forward” with plans for The population as on December a goal of limiting average world cuts, said Elina Bardram of the 31 was 2.04 million (2,045,239) JERUSALEM: A Palestinian Palestinian woman in a wave of major crossroads in the Gush temperatures to 2 degrees above European Commission. and by October-end at 2,216,500. woman stabbed an Israeli civil- unrest in Israel and the occupied Etzion settlement bloc south of pre-industrial times. But temperatures are on track The ministry said the figure ian in a Jewish settlement bloc territories, and comes as tensions Bethlehem, an army statement Temperatures have already to rise above 2C. excludes citizens and expatri- in the southern West Bank yes- run high particularly in Jerusalem said. “Security forces on site over- risen by about 0.9 C and a UN “We are currently en route to ates with valid residency permits terday and was then shot and and nearby areas of the West powered the suspect and trans- panel of climate scientists says 3 to 4 degrees Celsius of warm- who were outside the country by wounded by the Israeli army, Bank. ferred her for further medical there are risks of irreversible ing,” said Tony de Brum, foreign November 30. the military said. The civilian suffered minor assistance,” it said. impacts, ranging from damage minister of the Marshall Islands. THE PENINSULA The attack was the first by a injuries in the stabbing near a AFP to coral reefs to a meltdown of REUTERS TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Deputy Emir meets GCC parliament heads Emir invites Aljazeera’s hackathon leaders to selects five innovative GCC Summit RIYADH: The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosque King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al projects for top prizes Saud of Saudi Arabia received a written message from the DOHA: Aljazeera’s inaugural said Souag. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin hackathon ‘Canvas’ ended yes- Ninety participants, including Hamad Al Thani contain- terday with 19 teams presenting designers, innovators and journalists, ing an invitation to the 35th innovative solutions in the fields of were chosen from 37 countries for session of the GCC Supreme media and technology. hackathon from among 1,600 applied Council in Doha on December Reem Al Mansouri, Chair, the from around the world. After three 9-10. judging panel, and board member of days of work within teams to develop Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Aljazeera Media Network, announced solutions and innovative projects Saud Al Faisal received the let- the five winning projects at the event for the challenges the organisers ter during a meeting with the at Qatar National Convention Centre. designed, judges chose five for top Minister of State H E Sheikh “The judges faced difficulty in prizes. Abdurrahman bin Saud Al choosing the winning projects because The projects are Most Innovative – Thani. of the high level of innovation and Perspectives (Discover different takes H M Sultan Qaboos bin Said excellence. The winners were decided on news events), Greatest Potential of Oman also received a similar by small margins, which is evidence for Use – Newclip.se (An integrated The Deputy Emir H H Sheikh Abdullah bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday met heads of GCC parliaments invitation. of participants’ quality of work,” said story development environment for at the Emiri Diwan and discussed the agenda of their eighth meeting. The Deputy Emir wished them Oman’s Deputy Prime Mansouri. The closing ceremony reporters), Greatest Impact and success in enhancing the GCC march. The Speaker of the Advisory Council Mohamed bin Mubarak Al Minister for Cabinet Affairs was attended by Aljazeera’s Acting Disruption – Tiny FM (for local expe- Khulaifi was also present. Fahd bin Mahmoud Al Said Director-General Mostefa Souag. riences on air), Highest Technical and received the message during a “2015 will be the year of digital Design Quality – Reporta (your news, meeting with the Minister of media for Aljazeera. The Aljazeera your way) and Best Embodiment State H E Abdullah bin Khalifa Innovation and Research initiative is of Values and Ethics – Acumen Al Attiyah in Muscat. a step in this direction, and one of its (uncover your news). Submissions corporate objectives. Aljazeera is com- can be viewed at http://canvas.chal- Ghanian President mitted to sponsoring and supporting lengepost.com/submissions, where the Second Ajyal Youth this global community of innovators. public can also vote for the People’s praises Aspire This isn’t just for Aljazeera’s benefit, Choice Award which is open until it helps the world of media as whole,” January 15. THE PENINSULA DOHA: The President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama, yesterday said he Film Festival opens was impressed by Aspire Zone Foundation, which he described as an architecture art piece and a great sports Three teams win at project. “I wish I could take Aspire to my country,” he said, adding with these sports facilities, Qatar can Startup Weekend host any major tournament. He said Ghana had received DOHA: Three teams were backgrounds. with happiness news of Qatar announced as winners at the third Over three days, participants winning the bid to host FIFA edition of the Startup Weekend pitched their ideas and explained the World Cup 2022. organised on November 27-29. best resources and tools they believe “We look forward to the World It was held at Qatar University could help sharpen their ideas. Cup in Qatar,” he said, hoping by the Ministry of Information After pitches were finished, all that his country’s team will and Communications Technology’s attendees voted on their favourites, qualify for the tournament “to (ictQATAR) Digital Incubation and using these votes, the top ideas enjoy these wonderful facilities.” Center in partnership with Center were selected and worked on over the Fatma Al Remaihi, Acting CEO, DFI, and Director of Ajyal Youth Film Festival, with 20 jurors from the Doha Dramani toured Aspire Zone, for Entrepreneurship of the QU’s weekend. accompanied by Aspire’s CEO Film Experience. BAHER AMIN College of Business and Economics. Coaches provided advice. Teams Khalid Abdullah Al Sulaiteen, The three-day event was attended wrapped up their products and pro- Vice-President Tariq Al Naama, by around 50 young people dream- totypes as well as presentations and DOHA: The second Ajyal Arts & Heritage H E Dr Hamad the festival, said, “We are also and Aspire Academy Director, ing of going through the experience the jury selected the top teams. Youth Film Festival, organ- bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari said, celebrating the pool of talent General Ivan Bravo, who briefed of entrepreneurship and transform- The DIC organised the event for ised by Doha Film Institute “The festival brings great value in Qatar with two special pro- him on the facilities. ing their innovative ideas into busi- the third time in a row as part of (DFI), opened yesterday with to the young people in our com- grammes of films in the Made Mahama and his delegation ness models. Sponsored by Ooredoo its commitment to Qatar’s entre- a colourful red carpet cer- munity and demonstrates the in Qatar section which is always also visited Museum of Islamic for the second time and attended preneurial community, said Ahmed emony attended by a bevy commitment of DFI to nurture a highlight of the festival. Art and viewed collections of by 10 QU teaching staff as volun- Laiali, DIC Manager. of Arab and international our youth. “The heart and soul of Ajyal Islamic antiquities and books, teers, the event was part of Global He said Startup Weekend aims to celebrities. “We seek to create a dynamic are the 450 young people manuscripts, coins and other Entrepreneurship Week (GEW). build an innovative society, start up The festival marked its offi- cinema culture in our and Arab who make up our Doha Film artefacts from three continents Startup Weekends worldwide are digital businesses and promote the cial opening with the world pre- communities, as film is not only Experience. dating back to 14 centuries. 54-hour events where developers, culture of working instead of talking. miere of Speed Sisters, directed a medium of entertainment but “We also welcome 25 inter- He was also briefed on the coders, designers, marketers, product Dr Mahmoud Abdellatif, Director, by Amber Fares. also has a strong influence on national jurors from all corners museum and its role in the dif- managers and startup enthusiasts Center for Entrepreneurship, said The film on five Palestinian culture and the community. of the world. They will watch fusion of knowledge, culture, come together to share ideas, form supporting entrepreneurs in and out- women who form the first all- “We are delighted that the and discuss 61 films, meet film- encouragement of creativity and teams, build products, and create side QU “has always been one of the woman rally-racing team in the festival is promoting the crea- makers and participate in daily communication with world cul- startups. centre’s top objectives. Our participa- Middle East presents how they tive talent of our youth as they workshops and events designed tures and arts. These are weekend-long, hands- tion in organising the event aims to overcome criticism, disappoint- represent our future. It is an to spark their imagination and He signed the guests register, on experiments where entrepreneurs support non-student entrepreneurs ment, arbitrary rulings and opportunity not only to watch inspire creativity.” praising the museum. and aspiring entrepreneurs can find and promote the culture of entre- restrictions to take the auto- films but also discuss, interact Special events, exhibitions, out if startup ideas are viable. preneurship among QU students and racing world by storm. and gain enriching experiences. digital installations, outdoor Deputy PM meets Most events are attended by encourage them to move forward.” Celebrities present included “We are thankful to H E screenings, live performances, people with technical and business THE PENINSULA the cast and crew of the film, Sheikha Al Mayassa bint panels and family weekend Vietnam envoy talents associated many films Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, activities will also be held as screened at Ajyal. Chair, DFI, for her vision and part of the festival. DOHA: The Deputy Prime The young jurors also joined support which have contributed The festival is being held Minister and Minister of in the opening night walking to the festival’s success.” until December 6 at Katara State for Cabinet Affairs the red carpet. Fatma Al Remaihi, Acting Cultural Village. H E Ahmed bin Abdullah bin The Minister of Culture, CEO, DFI, and Director of THE PENINSULA Zaid Al Mahmoud yesterday met Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang and discussed ways of enhancing relations in various fields and issues of common concern. College of Medicine’s first batch Civic directors admissions from February appointed DOHA: The Minister of DOHA: Qatar University applying to QU are expected Ghada Al Kuwari, Assistant Municipality and Urban (QU) said yesterday it would to possess minimum basic Dean, Student Affairs, said: Planning H E Sheikh start enrolling students skills to be eligible for enrol- “We aim to attract as many Abdulrahman bin Khalifa bin for the first batch of its ment in their desired academic Qatari students as possible Abdulaziz Al Thani issued two new College of Medicine on programmes. while promoting diversity and decisions appointing directors February 22 next year. To be considered for under- a high standard of quality. For for Al Daayen and Al Shamal Admission to the Fall 2015 graduate admission to pro- this reason, the criteria were municipalities. The first deci- batch will continue until July 9. grammes which use English designed with the aim of priori- sion appointed Mubarak A minimum high school GPA as the primary medium of tising Qatari students of both Nasser Al Khalifa as Director (grade point average) of 85 per- instruction, including the col- genders, as well as highly quali- of Al Daayen and the second cent will be required for the lege, applicants must demon- fied residents.” appointed Hamad Jomaa Al candidates as well as passing strate proficiency in English He clarified that regional Manai as Director of Al Shamal. at least two of science subjects and maths by meeting QU’s best practices were considered in high-school — biology, chem- minimum competency require- in the process but the final deci- Iraq parliament istry, and physics. ments, or completing the sion was based on the averages “Admission criteria will be foundation programme at the of Qatari high school graduates Speaker arrives applicable to students applying university. and the specific needs of the for Fall 2015 and focus on high QU announced earlier that Qatari healthcare system. DOHA: The Speaker of Iraqi school GPA, completing science the college is ready to receive 50 “As with all programmes, House of Representatives, Dr courses, and English language students in the first year. admission criteria will be con- Salim Abdullah Al Jubouri, and maths skills. “Meeting the criteria does tinuously reviewed to ensure a yesterday arrived on a visit to “English will be the primary not guarantee admission and suitable balance between the Qatar for talks with officials. medium of instruction in the the college will select candi- growing capacities of the col- He was welcomed at Hamad college,” said a statement issued dates with the best credentials, lege, requirements of the labour International Airport by the by QU’s Admission Department. with priority for Qataris,” said market, abilities and inter- Advisory Council Speaker, Application for admission the statement. ests of high school graduates Mohamed bin Mubarak Al should also include a well-writ- QU clarified that admission and other factors,” she said. Khulaifi, and Secretary- ten description on the candi- criteria may be modified in Details on admission criteria General Fahd bin Mubarak Al date’s interest and motivation future years according to the is now available on the College Khayareen and Iraqi Charge to study medicine. strength of the applicant pool of Medicine’s new website www. d’Affaires Nawar Sadiq Jawad. In addition to college-spe- and the available capacity in qu.edu.qa/medicine QNA cific requirements, all students the college. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Rights committee issues QDB, QTA sponsor four firms guidelines for education and healthcare centres to develop tourism industry DOHA: The National Human health, identify infringements, Rights Committee (NHRC) violations, providing suggestions yesterday released its guide- and assistance to solve them,” DOHA: As part of efforts to by helping secure licences and lines for education and health- added Al Kuwari. develop Qatar’s tourism indus- offering administrative guidance care centres in the country to Each guide contains five try, Qatar Development Bank to help turn their ideas into com- protect the rights of citizens to chapters on the Constitution, (QDB) and Qatar Tourism petitive and attractive companies education and healthcare. international conventions, laws, Authority (QTA) yesterday in the growing tourism industry.” The advisory is in the form of education and health systems, announced the signing of four Abdulaziz bin Nasser Al two books prepared in collabora- standards, services, safety and sponsorship agreements to ena- Khalifa, CEO, QDB, said: “We are tion with the Supreme Education references. They are available in ble the start-up of four projects, proud to partner and work with Council (SEC) and the Supreme Arabic and English. including a luxury Dhow din- our colleagues at QTA to imple- Council of Health (SCH). Asked if the guides would ing cruise company to promote ment the private sector initiative. The education guide aims to conflict with the existing rules tourism. “QDB’s support of Qatar’s set human rights standards to of the SEC and the SCH, Al This represents a milestone National Tourism Sector Strategy ensure every citizen’s right to Kuwari said, “The SEC and the in the development of the sector 2030 is part of a wider push to education according to applica- SCH have reviewed and approved following the announcement in support the development and ble regulations and laws of the the guidelines. There is no con- March proving QDB and QTA’s diversification of the vibrant pri- state. It seeks to empower people flict between their guidelines and commitment to enhancing the QTA Chairman Issa bin Mohammed Al Mohannadi and QDB CEO Abdulaziz vate sector in line with Qatar with disabilities to equally gain NHRC guides.” tourism industry, according to a bin Nasser Al Khalifa ... joint initiative. National Vision 2030. good and collective learning in the On the issue of some chil- joint statement. “While these opportunities are societies they live. dren being denied education due The initiative is part of Qatar’s a critical starting point, there are “The guidelines further boost to financial constraints, Qatar effort to diversify the private low-interest loans and extended and mobile information centre; opportunities for Qatari SMEs to NHRC’s goals to protect human National Commission Secretary- sector and become a world-class repayment periods from QDB. and Informa Tharawat, who will achieve success in tourism and rights. They elaborate on an General (Under the Ministry of tourism and hospitality hub. Companies were selected after set up a conference and exhibition other strategic sectors. individual’s right to education Education), Dr Hamda Hassan Al Bidders whose contracts were technical, commercial, financial services company. “QDB will continue to sup- and good health at learning and Sulaiti, said, “The SEC is work- signed yesterday will receive QTA and legal evaluation of 19 tenders “The projects are a major port companies in the sector healthcare centres,” the author ing with the Ministry of Interior assistance in obtaining licences, submitted to QDB and QTA. step forward in QTA’s efforts to until entrepreneurs and SMEs of the two guides, Dr Mohammed and the Ministry of Planning to access to development and oper- The firms to receive support develop a sustainable tourism realise their desired growth and bin Saif Al Kuwari, told a press find solutions to children being ating guidelines, visibility on the are Salem Al Neami and Partners, sector and solidify Qatar’s posi- build competitive businesses. It conference at NHRC offices denied education due to financial authority’s websites and social who will develop a luxury Dhow tion as world-class hospitality will not only support successful yesterday. challenges.” The council will soon media platforms, and, wherever dining cruise company; Doha Bus destination with deep cultural bidders with financing, but with “The healthcare guide aims to organise seminars to discuss the possible, exposure at international Ltd. who will set up a 4x4 leasing roots,” said Issa bin Mohammed first-class advisory support and monitor human rights related to issue. THE PENINSULA tourism exhibitions. and services company; Q-tickets Al Mohannadi, Chairman, QTA. services. Their success is our suc- They will also receive for the development of a ticketing “QTA will support the investors cess.” THE PENINSULA Ooredoo launches 4G+ for higher speed

DOHA: Ooreedo yesterday launched 4G+ will provide the fastest and best LTE serv- including Samsung Alpha, Huawei Ascend network to enable its customers to use ice in Qatar for our people,” said Waleed Al Mate 7 and Huawei E5786 Mi-fi, are avail- mobile services at nearly double the speed Sayed, Chief Operating Officer, Ooredoo, at able via Ooredoo Shops. Customers can find of existing 4G network. the launch. a list of Ooredoo-supported 4G+ devices at The current available 4G speed is up to The launch was attended by Ooredoo’s http://www.ooredoo.qa/en/4G-devices. 4G+ 150 Mbps. With 4G+, customers will be able CEO, Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani, service is available in select areas and will to reach up to 225 Mbps, almost double the Ooredoo’s Brand Ambassador, Nasser Al be extended to other areas with expansion average 4G speed in areas of Doha. Attiyah, and other senior staff. of required infrastructure. Customers can “We need to be one step ahead of our cus- Customers will be able to enjoy access to use 4G+ on the Corniche, West Bay Lagoon, tomers and of the country’s needs, which is Ooredoo 4G+ at no added cost with a device Katara, Souq Waqif, Al Rayyan, Shahaniya Sheikh Saud bin Nasser Al Thani (right), CEO, Ooredoo, and Nasser Al Attiyah, why we were the first to launch fibre, first that supports Ooredoo’s 4G+ technology and and Sealine. 4G customers in a 4G+ area Rally Champion, unveil the 4G+ logo during the launch of 4G+ network at the for 4G and now first to launch 4G+. This supports 800 or 2600 MHz frequencies. without a 4G+ enabled device will continue company’s headquarters in West Bay yesterday. With them is Waleed Al Sayed, service puts us on the map as one of the Ooredoo has launched three smart devices to enjoy standard 4G speeds. COO, Ooredoo. SALIM MATRAMKOT most connected countries in the world and to work with 4G+ frequencies. The devices, THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME CSR Qatar 2014 forum opens DOHA: Enhancing labour standards and workplace safety, sustainable development and linking CSR-related activities with sports were among the key topics of discussion on the first day of CSR Qatar 2014 confer- ence which opened yesterday. The second edition of the con- ference aims to leverage corpo- rate social responsibility (CSR) to accelerate Qatar’s socio-economic development, and build a strong framework for effective sustain- One of the booths set up by National Cancer Programme. ability reporting, according to a statement. The annual event brings 198 breast cancer cases together corporate and commu- Participants in the first panel discussion on the opening day of the forum yesterday. nity leaders from Qatar and the region to share ideas and experi- a gift nor charity handed out by discussion on ‘CSR – More “At Bank Audi, we had to reas- ences and discuss ways to enhance them; hence companies should not Than Just Charity’. Participants sess our CSR programmes to be reported last year: NCP business contribution to sustain- confuse CSR with sponsoring or included Essa Al Mannai, more strategic and get stakehold- able development. participating in sporting events. Executive Director, ROTA ers aligned” said Khoury. “We DOHA: A total of 198 breast Active Ladies Club and Hamad Supported by Qatar Chamber “The private sector has an (Qatar Foundation); Mohammed identified issues we could focus on cancer cases were reported last Bin Khalifa University. (QC), the conference is a key important part to play in accel- Hammoudi, General Manager, and then focused on a few select year, rendering it the most com- The booths proved to be a platform in further develop- erating Qatar’s economic growth Cisco, and Hasmig Khoury, Head, strategic pillars for the long term mon form of cancer in Qatar, big hit and the campaign’s cen- ing the CSR environment in the and social development. As the role CSR, Bank Audi, Lebanon. and turned down requests for according to latest National tral focus, attracting over 3,080 country and enabling decisionmak- of the private sector in the coun- On the importance of CSR pro- donations they did not fit our Cancer Programme (NCP) women throughout the Breast ers to explore how CSR can sup- try’s economic activity continues grammes to be more strategic in objectives.” data. Cancer Awareness Month. port Qatar National Vision 2030 to increase, businesses must take nature, Al Mannai said, “An organ- Hammoudi said: “From my per- However, research has shown About 3,000 leaflets on breast and drive social and economic on greater responsibility in con- isation has to realise its potential spective, when we talk about CSR that early detection of breast can- cancer, signs and symptoms, and development. tributing to the common good and to impact the community, should programmes being strategic, we cer offers better, more successful forms of prevention, were distrib- The three-day conference ensure that their actions and ini- use its core skills for better effect need to understand the relevance treatment options, saving thou- uted. Visitors met female health started with an opening keynote tiatives benefit society. I hope this and partner with others to have a of CSR and what is important to sands of lives each year. professionals and shared health address by Mohamed bin Ahmed conference will be an important bigger impact on the community. the country and community. It NCP’s ‘Be Breast Aware’ cam- concerns and keenness to learn bin Tawar, Vice-President, QC. step in taking CSR forward to the “We see a shift from philan- should never be a one-off activity, paign in October was a major suc- more about prevention. Women He said, “Social responsibility next level.” thropy to CSR which is a good has to be sustainable and have a cess, reaching out to many women interested to learn more about is the ethical obligation of compa- Yesterday’s sessions got off to sign for the future of CSR in the long-term vision.” and helping reduce the stigma breast aware were escorted to nies towards society. “It’s neither an engaging start with a panel region,” he added. THE PENINSULA associated with the disease. viewing rooms inside the booths. To increase awareness and Other institutions such as Weill the opportunity for early detec- Cornell Medical College in Qatar, tion, NCP created Monthlies, a University of Calgary in Qatar and smartphone application for young Stenden University Qatar backed women to help them become more ‘Be Breast Aware’ by handing breast-aware. out NCP leaflets to female stu- QRC allocates QR500,000 for Mali refugees Available in Arabic and English, dent community. NCP partnered the app aims to help women keep with Lulu Hypermarket and DOHA: Qatar Red Crescent (QRC) has January under a previous deal that ended in countries is Niger, particularly at the Tillabéri track of their monthly cycle and Intimissimi to promote the cam- allocated 110,000 euros (about QR500,000) October this year. With the new MoU, the and Tahoua border regions. It is also a destina- sends notifications with gynaeco- paign by attaching pink ribbons for Mali refugees who fled to Niger due to term of the project was extended to December tion of refugees from neighbouring countries logical and breast advice. to underwear on display. political and military instability in their this year to meet the increasing needs of tens witnessing security turbulence, estimated at Since its release in the begin- Fitness institutions, including country. of thousands of refugees. 315,000, but actual numbers are much higher, ning of October, the app has been Aspire Active Ladies Club, Qatar Funds were part of a joint venture with The project was launched in response to let alone the recurrent food crises and sea- downloaded over 304 times in Women’s Sports Committee, The the Office of the United Nations High an emergency appeal from Mali and Islamic sonal floods. Despite positive results of QRC’s three weeks. Venue at Al Sadd and Fitness Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Supreme Council. It has two parts: Relief for intervention, there is a pressing need for more NCP also installed interac- First at City Center, displayed Both organisations recently signed a memo- internally displaced people in Mali and relief support, particularly as clashes between the tive pink booths at educational large pink posters in locker rooms randum of understanding (MoU) to continue for Malian refugees in neighbouring countries, belligerents in Mali have broken out again. and health institutions in Doha, and bathrooms to promote the relief efforts for the refugees. UNHCR also in coordination with UNHCR and the govern- QRC medical teams have served 28,043 including Qatar University’s app. allocated 472,000 euros. Both parties will ments of the host countries. refugees at camps and 74,258 from adjacent College of Art and Science, Aspire THE PENINSULA continue medical intervention commenced in One of the biggest refugee-receiving local communities. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05 Sidra holds Open Day on science, medicine careers DOHA: The Sidra Medical and region and inspire future gen- graduates from QU’s recently Research Center’s National erations of medical professionals announced Medical College and Development Team organ- and scientists to pursue careers universities in the region,” said ised an Open Day at Qatar in medicine. Dr Eiman Al Ansari, Director, University’s (QU) Female “Thanks to Qatar’s vision National Development, Sidra. College of Arts and Sciences to promote healthcare educa- Sidra’s scholarship team was building. tion, students have access to the on hand to answer questions and It aimed to inspire students best learning facilities, educa- receive applications from students to pursue careers in science tional specialists and mentorship for scholarships at a booth. and medicine by offering sup- programmes. “Cooperation between aca- port through scholarships and “I am pleased to be here to demic institutions is building a training. talk about Sidra and our special- robust landscape for growing Encouraging students to choose ity services and hope to see more talent in our country and cre- a career in science and medicine home-grown health professionals ating opportunities for students was also the focus of a keynote joining the industry,” he said. to learn from and practise with presentation by Sidra’s Acting The Open Day follows a some of the best medical profes- Chief Medical Officer, Professor Memorandum of Understanding sionals and scientists in the world. Ziyad Hijazi who shared his jour- signed between QU and Sidra last “We are proud to work with ney about discovering passion for week on training, educational ini- institutions like Sidra to ensure medicine, with QU pharmacy and tiatives, exchange programmes our students have access to the Some of the participants in the programme. biomedical students. and student sponsorships. best career opportunities,” said “Having been born and raised “Our goal is to make Sidra the Dr Ayman El Kadi, Dean, College in Jordan, I feel fortunate to have obvious choice for medical edu- of Pharmacy. the chance to come back to the cation and careers for future THE PENINSULA 800 students attend road safety training DOHA: About 800 students Road Safety’ are in addition to its car cockpit, an advanced display have benefited from a training support of community and traffic system with wrap around screen programme on road safety at events to increase its impact on and an artificial intelligence their school this year. promoting behavioural changes. engine that reflects common It was part of a programme to The programme aims to instil behaviours on roads like tail-gat- raise awareness and change haz- responsibility in youth to develop ing, failure to indicate, flashing ardous behaviours on the roads. a positive road safety culture in lights and cutting across cars at Students aged 12-18 were schools, transforming students roundabouts. engaged in interactive presenta- into road safety ambassadors at It uses technologies originating tions and coaching by trainers in school and home. from the aviation and Formula 1 an immersive driving simulator Captain Riyadh Ahmed Salih, industries. to imitate Qatar’s roads and local Head, Traffic Awareness Section, Sheikh Faisal bin Fahad driving behaviours. Traffic Department, said, “By Al Thani, Deputy Managing Each year, it’s thought up to 75 working together we can improve Director, Maersk Oil Qatar, said, percent of road deaths in Qatar the behaviour on roads and reduce “The simulator is locally made for involved the male age group 10-29. the number of injuries and deaths. local conditions and has benefited ‘The road safety campaign The ‘Students for Road Safety’ hundreds of students in 2014. was launched a year ago by pro- is in keeping with the National “We are proud to have worked gramme owners Maersk Oil Qatar Road Safety Strategy the minis- with the ministry and Virginia and the Ministry of Interior as try launched in 2013 to make our Commonwealth University to part of the national One Second roads safer.” develop One Second and support The Acting Chief Medical Officer, Sidra, Professor Ziyad Hijazi, speaking to participants. road safety initiative. The simulator is one of its kind campaigns, including Students for School visits by ‘Students for in the Gulf and includes a full real Road Safety.” THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME Residents urged to join Gulf English School launches National Day activities

DOHA: National Day celebra- Alumni, ‘Friends’ associations tions will start at a specially set up Darb Al Saee ground in Doha next Monday, the organising committee Aim to help graduates keep in touch, build stronger school community announced yesterday. For the first time, the Traffic DOHA: The Gulf English Department and media organisations School has launched its will set up their pavilions at Darb Al Alumni Association to bring Saee, along with regular participants. past graduates back in touch Activities continue until December with each other and help 20. inspire current students. The Minister of Youth and Sports The event was opened by and Chairman of the National Day Sheikha Maha Al Faihani, Celebrations Organizing Committee School Founder and Owner and H E Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Chairperson, Board of Trustees. Al Ali called on citizens and expa- The Minister of Youth and Sports The school’s growth since she triates to take part in National Day and Chairman of the National Day founded it, has been rapid and activities. Celebrations Organizing Committee the celebration of past gradu- National Day is celebrated on ates highlighted its success. H E Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser Al December 18. It has had over 650 gradu- Ali addressing the press conference “Expatriates should not feel that ates through its International National Day is only for Qataris,” yesterday. Baccalaureate Programme (IB), the Minister told a press conference boasts the highest GSCE results yesterday. celebrations different from other in Doha with 98 percent suc- “It is a celebration of our his- countries and avoid imitating oth- cess and places its graduates The school has had over 650 graduates through its International Baccalaureate Programme. tory and remembering our past. ers,” he said. in international universities in Celebrating National Day is the The Minister cited Ad Al Qaseed, Qatar and overseas. to finish studies at Cambridge to allow parents to have more on great times, inspired the cur- responsibility of all, not just the com- Al Murada and Rabih — all unique Dr Hiba Rashid, now a University in five years instead input and guidance on what is rent generations of pupils, staff mittee,” he added. Qatari events. physician at Hamad General of six usually expected. happening at the school and and parents and that this will He said the aim of the celebrations “We are trying to highlight the Hospital, was one of the first Zaid Al Qasim, Director and help build a stronger school help us build a stronger GES is to uphold love, loyalty and values of history as well as the modern devel- students to graduate from the Founder, Ajyal Technologies, community. Community.” The school opened the founders of the country. opments in the country. We have IB programme at the school and spoke about the road safety The event organiser, Lewis in 1993 to provide a broad and “Since we started celebrations in selected Qatari poets and their old went on to study at Cambridge campaign he is running in Doha Bacchus, closed the evening, balanced curriculum based on 2008 we are getting new ideas and poems that will be used in celebra- University in England. and how the school had left him thanking Sheikha Maha for English National Curriculum. It proposals. We are trying to make tions,” he said. THE PENINSULA Addressing the event, Dr with a sense of community that support to the school and the also offers an Arabic Language Rashid spoke about her time inspired him to find something past graduates for sharing sto- and Islamic Studies programme at the school and support she to give back to the people. ries and successes with guests. as authorised by the Supreme received while completing the The school also launched “We hope this evening has Education Council. IB programme that allowed her Friends of GES Association allowed past graduates to reflect THE PENINSULA QU unveils Leiden Collection of Islamic manuscripts DOHA: Qatar University (QU) Islamic manuscripts and other works. Bokra The Film to make world hosted a ceremony to launch a The Minister of Culture, Arts and special exhibition ‘The Beauty of Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Islamic Manuscripts - the Leiden Kuwari, QU President, Prof Sheikha Collection’ in cooperation with the Abdulla Al Misnad, and the Dutch Dutch embassy. Ambassador, Yvette Burghgraef-van premiere at Dubai festival The expo is an initiative of the Eechoud, launched the exhibition at Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs QU Library in the presence of mem- DOHA: Bokra The Film, a and Dr Luit Mols, Curator of the bers of QU leadership and officials feature length documentary collection at National Museum of from the diplomatic and government on the evolution of the hit Ethnology in Leiden. sectors. charity song and music video The event until December 17 The programme included a special Tomorrow-Bokra, and the marks the 400th anniversary of lecture and guided tour by Dr Mols. impact of the arts on the lives Arabic studies at Leiden University Al Kuwari said: “Cultural heritage of disadvantaged youth, will and the collection bears witness to is one of the basic pillars of Qatar’s make world premiere at Dubai the rich historical bonds between development in line with Qatar International Film Festival the Arab and Islamic world and the National Vision 2030. The exhibition (DIFF) on the closing night on Netherlands. is a celebration of a strong relation- December 17 at Madinat Souk It aims to give the audience, ship between Qatar, the Arab Islamic Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah especially youth, the opportunity world and the Netherlands. Hotel. to explore historically-significant QNA Presented by Global Gumbo Group (G3), directed by Emirati Ahmed Abdulqader and co-pro- duced by the multi-Grammy- winning music producer Quincy Jones, Emirati social entrepre- Government keen to boost neur Badr Jafar and Emirati director Ali F Mostafa, the English and Arabic documen- private sector’s role tary will take viewers on a jour- ney across the Middle East from Continued from page 1 private sector to play a major role Morocco to Jordan with behind- The Prime Minister’s latest in the economic development, said the-scenes footage of the song’s announcement that no govern- Al Athba. creative process and inspiring Bokra The Film will make world premiere at Dubai International Film Festival on the closing night on December ment ministry or institution or He said tomorrow’s consultative stories that demonstrate the 17 at Madinat Souk Theatre, Madinat Jumeirah Hotel. agency funded by the state would meeting of the private sector with power the arts can play in the set up a new company or business the Premier assumes much signifi- lives of disadvantaged youth and 2011 debuting at No. 1 on the the region’s youth, with a focus influence music and film can or expand any existing business cance as whatever hurdles remain those in worn-torn nations. charts and went on to become on developing culture and arts. have on disadvantaged youth, without special permission from in the way of the sector’s progress “I am proud that the people one of the fastest-selling Arab Beneficiaries included World more people will unite in the his office showed that the gov- would be discussed for removal. of the Middle East and North songs of all time viewed over 11 Food Programme, Abu Dhabi power of the arts to make a dif- ernment is keen to encourage the THE PENINSULA Africa so warmly embraced the million times on YouTube. Music and Arts Foundation ference,” said Abdulqader. themes expressed in Tomorrow The charity single featured and Save the Children’s inno- “I have been close to the - Bokra and I can think of no 24 artists from 16 nations in vative HEART programme, Tomorrow-Bokra project since better place to premiere the film the Middle East and North which stands for Healing and it was an idea. To see what it on the making of the historic Africa, singing in one voice Education through the arts. The has achieved from the beginning recording than DIFF. As with for a better tomorrow. They film highlights HEART follow- is incredible, and I knew when Trucks won’t be allowed to the recording of the Bokra song included Majida El Roumi, ing its development into a pro- Badr asked for my thoughts on and music video, I know that Fahad Al Kubaisi, Kadim Al gramme that gives children an producing a documentary about the documentary will continue Saher, Marwan Khoury, Sherine outlet for expression through the importance of art, that it overtake on two-lane roads to prove my belief in the power Abdel Wahab, Tamer Hosny, art. HEART has supported 33 was the ideal subject. of music and the arts to bring Saber Rebai, Latifa, Fayez Al schools, 90 teachers and 4,000 “It has been an honour work- Continued from page 1 people together for the better- Saeed and others. International children in Jordan and Palestine. ing with Abdulqader in bringing The Salwa-Lusail TTR consists assembled and installed at the project ment of mankind,” said Jones. superstar Akon lent his voice “It is an honour for Bokra The Bokra The Film to its world pre- of a two-lane road in each direc- site. Additionally, a concrete struc- Tomorrow-Bokra, an Arabic to the track while Shakira, of Film to debut in my home — the miere at DIFF,” said Mostafa. tion separated by a median, said ture consisting of more than 7000 re-adaptation of Jones’ Lebanese descent, recorded a UAE — and at such an influen- To be part of the conversa- Mohammed Jamal Al Khazendar, cubic meters of concrete and 1,300 Grammy-award winning song special introduction to the video. tial platform for the regional tion, follow @tomorrowbokra Head of Projects Section at Roads tonnes of reinforcing steel has been Tomorrow (A Better You, A Better Proceeds from the song went film industry. It is my hope on Twitter Project Department. built to protect the gas pipelines. Me) was released in November to charities and initiatives for that by showcasing the positive THE PENINSULA He said that it starts from Lusail The project also includes the devel- Development passing through opment of services and infrastruc- Al Khor highway via a new pre- ture facilities to include rainwater fabricated steel bridge. The TTR drainage, intelligent transportation crosses Al Mazrooah Bridge (bridge systems and streetlights at rounda- number 16) and stretches from Al bouts and intersections and on the Vodafone Qatar gears up for ITU Telecom World 2014 Shamal Road to Dukhan alongside two steel bridges to improve traffic the backside of Umm Salal and Al safety. DOHA: Vodafone Qatar is gearing up for Among such technologies are integrated The panel will look at these challenges, Rufaa Street. It then intersects with According to Al Khazendar, the ITU Telecom World 2014 to be held healthcare solutions, solar panel energy and if these threats are real, and discuss Dukhan Road via a second prefab- authorities have so far temporar- from December 7 to 10 at Qatar National monitoring and others. what we should do to defend ourselves. ricated steel bridge that has been ily put up streetlights a few metres Convention Centre. Vodafone will also unveil the latest inno- Under the central theme of ‘Future in developed to ensure the traffic flow. before and after roundabouts. The company will address smart cities vation never launched locally before. Focus’ the forum will explore how disrup- The TTR then extends until it “Some areas yet don’t have elec- solutions and debate related trends with It will be represented December 10 by tive developments in technology, business intersects with Salwa Road crossing tricity, so we used generators for industry experts from around the world George Galica, Head, Managed Services, and society are transforming the ICT the existing bridge and connecting these lights,” he said. to share perspectives on the future of the who will sit on the IoT panel, moderated by industry – and examines potential scenar- with the Salwa-Mesaieed (Route 55) The Salwa-Lusail Road information and communication technolo- Charles Brookson, Director, Azenby, United ios of the future. that leads to Mesaieed and the South. (Temporary Truck Route) is one gies industry. Kingdom. Vodafone Qatar joined ITU earlier He said that both prefabricated of the projects implemented by the In line with its focus on Internet of IoT promises us a connected world, this year as a sector member in ITU’s steel bridges were developed within Roads Department of the Public Things (IoT) and unleashing the power with energy savings, medical implants and Telecommunication Standardisation Sector the framework of this project and Works Authority. of smart connectivity to improve life and monitoring smart cities and intelligent (ITU-T), which brings together experts consists of more than 2,000 tonnes of Brigadier Marafia said trucks business, Vodafone will display its M2M transport. It can also be used to monitor from around the world to develop standards structural steel that were manufac- won’t be allowed to overtake on the technologies already being used locally and individuals, and groups and to disrupt or and protocols for the global ICT industry. tured and shipped from the UK to be two-lane roads. THE PENINSULA globally. attack infrastructure. THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 MIDDLE EAST www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07

Three Egyptians die of bird flu, Gazans face winter in ruins toll rises to Reconstruction materials flowing in slowly; 8,000 tonnes of cement needed daily: Minister six this year GAZA: Three months after the in barely habitable ruins. CAIRO: Three people have died war in Gaza, Sadeeqa Naseer “The cement and gravel are from H5N1 bird flu in Egypt still lives in a bomb site. Air being regulated as if they were a in the past week, bringing the strikes turned the two upper nuclear weapon,” said Sari Bashi, death toll in the country this floors of her three-storey apart- co-founder of Gisha, an Israeli year to six, the Egyptian health ment building in the Gaza Strip organisation which monitors access ministry said yesterday. town of Beit Hanoun into a rub- to Gaza and says only a tiny frac- Egypt has identified 11 cases ble-strewn ruin. tion of cement needed to satisfy of the virus in people this year Thirty-five people shelter on the demand is reaching the strip. including the six who have died, ground floor, where holes blasted in An Israeli government official a ministry statement said. the wall by tank shells have been said Israel was willing to help in It identified the most recent covered over only by plastic sheet- any way to ensure reconstruction victims as a 40-year-old man and ing that does little to keep out the in Gaza moved forward rapidly, a 29-year-old woman in the cen- cold wind and driving rain of the but it also wanted to be sure that tral province of Minya as well as fast-approaching winter. Hamas was not rebuilding its a 25-year-old woman in Beni Suef, Someone managed to extend militant infrastructure. south of Cairo. an electric cable from a nearby “I am the unluckiest housing A two-year-old child in Minya building, providing just enough minister in the world,” said Mufeed hospitalised recently for the virus power to run a fridge and keep a Al Hasayna, a businessman who had recovered, it said. single lamp on during the night. spent most of his career in New According to data from the But there is no cement to rebuild, Jersey before joining a technocratic World Health Organisation and no one can get a bulldozer to Palestinian government formed (WHO), from 2003 through until clear the rubble. Men were chip- this year to unite Hamas-run Gaza October 2, 2014, there have been ping futilely at concrete slabs with the West Bank. 668 laboratory-confirmed human with hammers. According the Hasayna, Gaza cases of H5N1 infection officially “Who could live here?” asks needs 8,000 tonnes of cement reported from 16 countries. Of Naseer, 60, who said she had a day to meet demand. A new these cases, 393 have died. received no aid from the United system set up with the United The WHO warns that when- Nations or anyone else. Nations to comply with Israeli ever bird flu viruses are circulat- Since the July-August war requirements lets through at ing in poultry, there is a risk of between Israel and the Hamas most 2,000, he said. A Palestinian woman stands in her destroyed home in Gaza City’s Shejaiya neighbourhood. sporadic infections or small clus- Islamists that run Gaza, in which At that rate, reconstruction ters of human cases — especially more than 2,100 Palestinians and would take more than 30 years, working again, although there is United Nations came up with a government last week to equip in people exposed to infected birds 70 Israelis were killed, barely any said Hasayna, one of four mem- still almost no drinking water. strict mechanism that involves and hire local contractors to clear or contaminated environments. progress has been made rebuild- bers of the unity government But in terms of clearing the video and GPS monitoring of and recycle rubble from northern Human cases of H5N1 are rare, ing the shattered territory, based in Gaza rather than the vast mountains of rubble and materials, which can only be Gaza. It has yet to start on a big however, and the virus does not despite donors pledging $5 billion. West Bank. mangled steel, rebuilding homes transferred to vetted suppliers. scale. currently appear to transmit eas- Israel tightly monitors the “We have 18,000 fully destroyed and patching up smashed roads, For ordinary Palestinians who The men chipping away at the ily from person to person. import of construction materials buildings and about 50,000 par- bridges and other infrastructure, do not have access to the offi- concrete slabs outside Sadeeqa Egypt’s H5N1 cases have and equipment into Gaza, arguing tially destroyed ones,” he said. next to nothing has happened. cial supplies, if they can find any Naseer’s ruined apartment sell largely been found in poor rural that otherwise it could be used to “Gaza before the war needed The biggest difficulty is mov- cement at all, they can buy it only any steel and aggregate they can areas in the south, where villag- rebuild tunnels used by Hamas about 70,000 apartments a year ing reconstruction materials and from the black market at more extract. But they have made little ers, particularly women, tend to militants who control the strip to to keep pace with population other equipment into Gaza. Egypt than $50 a bag, more than seven progress with hand tools. keep and slaughter poultry in carry out attacks. growth. Now after the war, Gaza has largely kept its border with times the normal price. “Thirty-five people are living in the home. Palestinian officials and critics needs 150,000 new apartments.” Gaza closed, so any goods must Clearing away rubble is all but conditions that are not tolerable Two people died within days of Israeli policy say that has made Since the war, electricity has be transferred from Israel, which impossible, with little access to with the help of anyone but God,” of each other last month - a it impossible to rebuild, leaving been partially restored so that has two crossings open: one for diggers and bulldozers. says Naseer. “We want our house 30-year-old woman from Minya 40,000 of the strip’s 1.8 million power is now cut for only eight goods, one for people. Hasayna signed an agree- to be rebuilt before cold and sick- and a 19-year-old woman in the residents in temporary shelter hours a day. Sewage and water To satisfy Israeli demands for ment with the UN Development ness kill us.” southern region of Assiut. and thousands more facing winter treatment plants are mostly precise tracking of all cement, the Programme and the Swedish REUTERS REUTERS

Palestinian woman stabs Israeli Bahrain rights activist jailed Iran to turn uranium in absentia into reactor fuel

VIENNA: Iran will con- concentration of 20 percent, a rel- for assault vert more of its higher-grade atively short technical step away enriched uranium into reactor from weapons-grade material. A DUBAI: Bahraini human rights fuel under an extended nuclear large part of it was processed into activist Maryam Al Khawaja deal with world powers, mak- oxide. was jailed for a year in absen- ing the material less suitable for When the deal was first tia yesterday for assaulting two building atomic bombs, a dip- extended in July, Iran undertook policewomen, the state’s official lomatic source and a US think to move further away from poten- news agency reported. tank said yesterday. tial weapons material by convert- Khawaja, director of advocacy Iran and the United States, ing 25kg of the uranium oxide — a at the Bahrain Centre for Human France, Germany, Britain, China, quarter of the total — into nuclear Rights, was detained in August and Russia failed to meet a fuel during the initial four-month when she returned from Europe, November 24 deadline for resolv- extension. The diplomatic source and freed on bail pending trial on ing their dispute over Tehran’s said that under the new exten- charges including assault, enter- nuclear programme. They gave sion Iran would continue this ing Bahrain illegally and insult- themselves until the end of June work and he suggested around 5 ing H M King Hamad bin Isa Al for further negotiations. kg would be converted per month. Khalifa. It was the second time this year In line with this, a US-based The United Nations High they had missed a self-imposed research and advocacy group, A relative of suspected Palestinian attacker Amal Taqatqa goes through possessions in her home in the Commissioner for Human target for a comprehensive agree- the Arms Control Association, West Bank village of Fajar, south of Bethlehem, yesterday after Israeli soldiers ransacked the house. The Rights said on September 5 that ment under which Iran would said 35kg uranium oxide would Palestinian woman allegedly stabbed an Israeli at the Gush Etzion interchange on the West Bank, and was Bahrain’s detention of Khawaja curb its nuclear programme in be turned into fuel during the and other political activists was exchange for an end to sanctions seven-month period. It said Iran then shot by an Israeli soldier and is in serious condition in an Israeli hospital. arbitrary and expressed concern hobbling Tehran’s economy. had also made specific commit- that her arrest was linked to her As a result, a preliminary ments limiting its development work promoting human rights. accord reached in late 2013 will of advanced centrifuges to refine Khawaja’s father, Abdulhadi remain in force. Under its terms, uranium. In a letter, Iran and the Abdulla Hubail Al Khawaja, also Iran halted its most sensitive six powers asked the UN nuclear an activist for the rights of the nuclear activity in return for lim- watchdog to continue checks that Sisi sees new future for Egypt Shia majority in the kingdom, has ited easing of sanctions. Tehran is honouring its undertak- been detained since 2011. Accordingly, Iran earlier this ings, including “monitoring of fuel CAIRO: President Abdel back to the past.” Sisi said he Islamist president Mohamed Abdulla Al Dossary, chief pros- year eliminated its stockpile of fabrication” for a Tehran research Fattah Al Sisi has said Egypt had instructed Prime Minister Mursi in July 2013. ecutor of the Muhrarraq district, uranium gas enriched to a fissile reactor. REUTERS will never return to the past Ibrahim Mahlab to review the Since Mursi’s ouster, a crack- said the High Criminal Court had and is charting a new future, provisions for compensation for down on his supporters has left found Khawaja guilty of assault- after a court dismissed murder the families of “martyrs and those at least 1,400 dead and seen more ing and injuring two policewomen charges against former leader wounded in the revolution”. than 15,000 imprisoned. Dozens at Bahrain International Airport, Yemen unrest Hosni Mubarak. After Saturday’s verdict, Sisi have also been sentenced to death the Bahrain News Agency (BNA) A Cairo court on Saturday said he had also asked the legal after speedy mass trials. said. The state news agency did dropped the charges over the reform committee to examine Meanwhile, an Egyptian judge not say whether the other two deaths of hundreds of protest- amendments to the code of crimi- sentenced the leader of the out- charges had been upheld. ers during the 2011 uprising that nal procedure, as recommended lawed Muslim Brotherhood and Khawaja said in a statement ended three decades of autocratic by the court. 25 others to three years in jail she had not returned to Bahrain Mubarak rule. Seven of his secu- During the 2011 uprising, hun- for insulting the court. The judge, to attend the trial as she did rity commanders, including feared dreds of thousands of people Shaaban Al Shamy, decided to pun- not recognise the independence former interior minister Habib Al protested daily, demanding that ish the defendants after a number of the court and the charge of Adly, were also acquitted over the Mubarak step down. After he of them began chanting “void, void” assault had been trumped up. deaths of some of the roughly 800 resigned they continued to stage in response to some of his remarks. Her statement did not say where people killed during the revolt. demonstrations, insisting that Among the most prominent she was. Corruption charges against he face trial. More than 1,000 people sentenced were Rashad Bahrain, a base for the US Mubarak’s sons Alaa and Gamal protesters protesting against Al Bayoumi, the Brotherhood’s Navy’s Fifth Fleet, has been were also dropped. Saturday’s verdict at an entrance deputy general guide, Saad Al in turmoil since the 2011 Arab In a statement issued late on to Cairo’s Tahrir Square were dis- Katatni, the former parliament Spring uprisings, when mass pro- Sunday, Sisi said “the new Egypt, persed by police firing tear gas. speaker and ex-parliamentarians tests led by Shias erupted in the which emerged from the January Dozens of people were also Mohamed Beltagy, Sobhi Saleh, capital, Manama. 25 and June 30 revolutions, is on a arrested but later freed. Sisi, and Essam Erian. The judge Shias complain of political path to establish a modern demo- who was Mubarak’s intelligence also fined them 10,000 Egyptian and economic marginalisation, cratic state based on justice, free- chief, won a landslide victory in pounds ($1,399) each. Mursi, who an accusation the government People inspect damage caused by an explosion of a bomb planted dom, equality and a renunciation a May presidential election after was among those being tried, was denies. Talks between the govern- at the gate of a house belonging to a Houthi in Sana’a yesterday. The of corruption”. crushing his Islamist and secu- not punished by the judge as he ment and opposition have failed to blast did not cause any casualties, police said. “It is on an aspirational path larist opponents. As army chief did not take part in the chanting. defuse tensions. to the future and can never go he removed Mubarak’s successor, AGENCIES REUTERS TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 08 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Oil crisis Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

PEC’S decision to maintain oil output at current levels despite a steep fall in prices didn’t come as a surprise. There were enough Oindications before the meeting of the cartel on Thursday that production levels would be left untouched. Britain must accept that Hong The cartel, which pumps one-third of global oil, decided to keep production at 30 million barrels a day, sending US oil prices down more than $4 in Friday opening trades after the meeting, a selloff that continued when Kong is no longer a colony markets reopened on Monday, though prices regained some of the lost ground later. BY MARY DEJEVSKY committee, Richard Ottaway, called two systems” meant only what Beijing Gone are the days when the Opec could unanimously it “an affront to free men and women was prepared to let it mean – and as decide to cut output to boost prices. Those were the OR a Briton it is hard to know around the world”. A green light, on much as Hong Kong, with its commer- days when Opec controlled the energy market, when how to refer to Hong Kong – the other hand, would have allowed cial clout, was able to insist. their share of the market was sizeable enough to the blue-tinted complex of MPs to pose, literally and figuratively, The UK can, and should, treat manipulate the prices. The US shale production and Fpeninsula and islands that for democracy “selfies”. Stay or go, the democracy-minded envoys from Hong protrudes into the South China Sea. message would have been pretty much Kong with the respect they deserve. But the new market realities have changed the situation. You reach automatically for the word the same. if there is to be political change there, Opec is not as powerful as before because their market “colony”, then you stop and try “former More significant, perhaps, was the it is the people of Hong Kong who must share has plummeted. If the Thursday meeting decided colony”, then “territory” instead. Thirty reason for the proposed visit. MPs press their case – as, perhaps, a new not to go for a cut, it was born of the realization that years after the UK and China reached are conducting an inquiry into how generation is starting to do. such cuts would not help. Also, it would have a negative agreement on Hong Kong’s future, and the principle of “one country, two sys- In the light of this, some of what impact, which is that member countries stand to lose 17 years after the union flag was low- tems” is working; not unreasonably, Ottaway told the BBC in response to ered over that glorious harbour for the they wanted to judge for themselves. the ban was simply abject. He said, their share in an increasingly competitive market. This last time, it is still difficult to admit In a way, though, such a visit was super- among other things, that he and his had happened before, and it’s better not to forget bitter that, in judicial terms, it is part of fluous. The clashes of this autumn tell colleagues would have “refrained from lessons. China. them all they need to know. making any public comment while The latest crisis in the energy market proves that This may help to explain why the Hong Kong’s campaigners want the there”. (Er, they would clam up to save every country must devise its own strategy to overcome news in recent days has seemed so 2017 elections for chief executive to China’s face?) Then he suggested that the fall in prices. The reason is unsure-footed, be fully free and fair – conducted not the visit, “far from doing damage, would slipping and just on the basis of universal suffrage, help in raising understanding of … the that the price plunge is affecting sliding between but without would-be candidates hav- UK’s legitimate interest in Hong Kong’s producing countries differently. priorities. The ing to be vetted by Beijing. For today’s future”. Oh dear, oh dear. Opec now The Gulf economies, including clashes in Hong young protesters, a potential Chinese When will the penny finally drop? Qatar, are less affected, and are Kong this past veto looks perilously like “one country, Hong Kong as a British colony is no lacks the in a position to live with a bearish weekend were one system”, as indeed it does to yes- more. The UK has no “legitimate inter- The empire is among the most terday’s democracy heroes – the likes est” there beyond a natural concern for market for some time because energy to over. British violent since the of Martin Lee and Anson Chan – who human rights. Its MPs can go around their economies are stronger. street protests were in London this summer to press the world advocating “values” but they control the This has been acknowledged MPs preaching began two months their case. have no special hotline to Beijing, and by the International Monetary ago. Police used Some have argued that in banning any preaching about “democracy and global energy Fund (IMF), which in October to China about batons, water the British MPs, Beijing is not only the rule of law” from the former colo- assessed the oil price different hoses and pep- reminding Hong Kong who is boss, nial power is unlikely to convince. market. democracy are a per spray to keep but acknowledging the UK’s continu- The UK may have a particularly governments needed to balance minor irritant to protesters forci- ing influence and standing. According guilty conscience about Hong Kong – as their budgets. According to the bly at bay. to this logic, a bunch of high-minded indeed it should have. But if it wants to agency, at one end are Kuwait, be swatted away. Trumping MPs is too dangerous to be let loose in influence what happens there, staking a Qatar and the UAE etc, which can break even with oil these scenes in the former colony. The opposite, I fear, claim to almost proprietorial privilege at about $70 a barrel and at the other extreme are Iran, many reports, is true. is not the way. Indeed, if Zimbabwe, which “needs $136, and Venezuela and Nigeria which though, was paro- Beijing feels it can swat away what South Africa or Kashmir are any sort chial indignation it sees as a minor irritant at no cost to of precedent, attempts to lay down the need $120, and Russia can manage at $101 a barrel. that Beijing had banned a group of itself – reputational or economic. The law as the former colonial power only “Saudi Arabia, UAE and Qatar can live with relatively British MPs from making a planned UK is neither a major trading part- fuel resentment. lower oil prices for a while, but this isn’t the case for visit to Hong Kong. Diplomatic protocol ner nor, in China’s eyes, a diplomatic The British empire is over. For a Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Venezuela, Algeria and Angola,” said now dictates that rather than making a heavyweight. The Westminster parlia- medium-sized country, the more pro- Marie- Claire Aoun, director of the energy center at the scene on arrival at Hong Kong airport, ment can huff and puff, but – as visits ductive course is to seek allies, and the MPs will call off their mid-winter to China by the prime minister, the for the UK the ideal source of support French Institute for International Relations in Paris. “ trip to the tropics. chancellor and the mayor of London over Hong Kong is the EU, whose eco- A positive fallout of the current price fall is that US Such a cancellation is embarrass- all show – we need them more than nomic clout at least is more equal to shale producers now know the dangers of a glut in the ing, but only up to a point. The MPs they need us. Beijing’s. As so often, too, a little more market. As oil ministers in our region have repeatedly can claim the moral high ground The harsh truth is that for all prac- self-knowledge would not go amiss. It stressed, a stable oil price is in the interest of both either way. A refusal presents proof of tical purposes, the UK’s influence in is not only Russia that finds it hard to producers and consumers China’s inadequacies. The chairman of Hong Kong died as the royal yacht let go. . the House of Commons foreign affairs sailed away. Thereafter, “one country THE GUARDIAN The other side Quote of 5-year iqama plan: A very wise move the day HOUGH they can often be case in point. organizations as it is to expatriates both take time that could be used more frustrating, the rules laid down At a time when Saudi Arabia began themselves. For foreigners, longer- productively. by bureaucracy generally serve its rapid economic expansion, it was term clarity over their residence status A top hospital administrator says that Tsome purpose. “Red tape” is an clear that a system to regulate the pres- will enable them to make better plans. the one-year iqama has created a level easy target for critics, not least in the ence of foreigners had to be designed. For Saudi organizations there is going to of uncertainty which actually discour- media. Officials whose job it is to enforce The residence permits that expatriates be a clear boost to continuity and thus aged medical professionals from coming I have pointed regulations, may sometimes seem to are obliged to have with them at all times productivity. Many projects require the to work in the Kingdom. From the point take unnecessary pleasure in pointing have lasted for just 12 months. While long-term presence of foreign nation- of view of patients undergoing a long out before that out the complexities of a process. But this may have been adequate when als. Thus the need to renew residence course of treatment, it is clearly better by and large they do not deserve to be it was first introduced, it has become permits has been disruptive. It has also to be looked after by the same con- Occupy Central the brunt of annoyance. clear that the short time period no longer encouraged some foreign firms to send sultants and nurses rather than have a The key proof of responsive govern- serves. Indeed, a compelling case has their people to work in Saudi Arabia for succession of new faces looking at their is not only illegal ment is the way in which it will trim or been made by business that it actually just one year. This poses challenges for notes for the first time. The change to a but it will also be even cut red tape when it becomes clear represents a cost to the economy. both their Saudi partners and clients five-year residency is also going to have that a particular set of rules and regula- Thus the announcement that five- and also for the individuals concerned. a clear impact on direct foreign invest- in vain. Leung Chun-ying tions is seen to have outlived its useful- year iqamas are to be issued is as Getting used to working with new peo- ment, which the Kingdom is going out Hong Kong Chief ness. Twelve-month iqama validity is a welcome to Saudi companies and ple or acclimatizing to a new country of its way to attract. ARAB NEWS Executive TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09 Russia can play the good cop too

“But for me and many of my col- It’s clear that Russian intelligence leagues, what’s important is the verdict of the people.” services are financing - from the Russia recently outlined a new soft-power doctrine entitled “Integrated Strategy for Expanding Baltics down to Bulgaria - extreme Russia’s Humanitarian Influence in the World”. The plan, said Foreign right movements, various unofficial Minister Sergey Lavrov, was to counter “unprecedented meas- ures to discredit Russian politics groups, cultural groups, and that is and distort Russia’s image.” This month, Russia launched a state- where a lot of their cash is going. of-the-art media organisation to counter what its chief journalist BY MATT ROBINSON called the West’s “aggressive prop- In October, Russian President aganda”, with offices in dozens of Vladimir Putin was guest of hon- cities around the world, including HERE were 76, but our in Belgrade at a rain-soaked Belgrade. they were dubbed the military parade marking 70 years The Serbian office will have a ‘Russian 100’ — life- since the Red Army liberated the staff of 30 and launch a Serbian- savers flown in from city from the Nazis; this month, language news website by the end Moscow within hours Russian paratroopers held a one- of this year and radio broadcasts Tof an appeal for help from Serbia day drill with Serbian soldiers and early next, said its head, Ljubinka as the heaviest rainfall in more Russian Patriarch Kiril blessed a Milincic. “I think earlier Russia than a century inundated the statue of Czar Nicholas II outside often lost the race with Western Balkans in May. the Serbian presidency building. media,” Milincic told the Serbian Brits, Austrians and Bulgarians “They’re ramping it up,” said daily Danas on Wednesday. “We arrived too, deployed by the the diplomat, who declined to simply want to show that truth European Union to aid an aspir- be named. The Russian relief has another side too.” ing member of the bloc. But the effort in May was coordinated Western money flowed to inde- Russians arrived first, and in through the Serbian-Russian pendent media, pro-democracy A woman walks past a statue of Czar Nicholas II of Russia, outside the Serbian presidency building in Belgrade. force. “Crazy brave”, was how Humanitarian Centre, a spotless activists and politicians in the Russia recently outlined a new soft-power doctrine entitled “Integrated Strategy for Expanding Russia’s Humanitarian Serbia’s prime minister described new building opened in 2012 in 1990s as the West tried to bol- Influence in the World”. them. Russia at the time was the southern Serbian city of Nis ster opposition to then Moscow- earning the ire of the West for as a disaster-response centre with backed strongman Slobodan “Obviously, journalists too,” he was neither with the East nor with preparations for Putin’s visit dismembering Ukraine, so the regional reach. Milosevic. Western foundations said. “They are using a certain the West, and though voters in in October said the Kremlin had PR in the Balkans was priceless. It plays on the image some are still active in supporting type of soft-power there.” search of prosperity have repeat- asked that Russian staff in Nis “They won the day,” said one Serbs hold of Moscow as protec- media and civil society. Serbia, Bulgaria and Hungary, edly backed a pro-EU course, be granted diplomatic status, Western diplomat. tor of its Slav brethren and lies Western diplomats say Russian where Prime Minister Viktor many remain suspicious of the but that Western ambassadors Twenty-five years after the barely 50km from Kosovo, where money may be finding its way to Orban stands out in the EU for his West since the Nato air strikes, in Belgrade balked at the possi- fall of the Berlin Wall signalled 5,000 Nato troops still secure the media outlets in Serbia, sympa- warm relations with Moscow and in which some bombs went astray bility of Russian supplies arriv- the collapse of the Kremlin’s peace between majority Albanians thetic think-tanks and political a 10 billion euro Russian loan this and hit Serb civilians. ing in Serbia under the radar, grip on eastern Europe, Russia and minority Serbs 15 years after parties too, though firm evidence year to expand the country’s Paks To publicly cross Russia is and Serbian Prime Minister is re-asserting some of its lost alliance air strikes wrested the is hard to come by. nuclear plant, lie on the route of politically unpalatable; Serbia has Aleksandar Vucic refused. influence. territory from Belgrade. They also suggest support for Russia’s planned South Stream refused to sign up to EU sanctions While there is no suggestion That is most obvious in Equipped with shiny red right-wing groups that promote gas pipeline, and have been frus- on Russia over Ukraine despite of any Russian or Serbian mili- Ukraine, where unmarked tanks fire trucks, boats, generators the more conservative values trated by the EU’s refusal to give pressure to align its foreign policy tary threat to Kosovo, which is roll across the countryside in sup- and tents, the centre is a “pilot embraced by much of Russian the go-ahead to construction. with that of the 28-nation bloc. not recognised by Moscow or port of pro-Russian separatists. project”, said co-director Viktor society - Orthodox Christian, Anecdotal evidence suggests German Chancellor Angela Belgrade, the East-West political But it is manifested in more Safyanov, with others planned in patriarchal and anti-gay. Russian ties to a number of right- Merkel signalled her growing con- tussle over Serbia is sharpening. subtle ways too all over ex-Com- Latin America and Russia’s ex- “It’s clear that Russian intelli- wing Hungarian news portals. cern last week, saying in Sydney: As Belgrade hosted Putin, munist eastern Europe: in the Soviet backyard of Central Asia gence services are financing — from Serbia would appear to be fer- “This isn’t just about Ukraine. This Vucic’s interior minister signed a energy deals governments sign and the South Caucasus. the Baltics down to Bulgaria — tile ground, balanced between is about Moldova, this is about letter of intent accepting a long- with their main gas supplier, in It saved 3,000 people during the extreme right movements, various a government committed to Georgia, and if this continues then standing EU offer to join the closer diplomatic ties, and in what floods, he said, and has plans to unofficial groups, cultural groups, Western integration, and a gen- one will have to ask about Serbia bloc’s own crisis-response body, Western diplomats say is a grow- expand to become “international”. and that is where a lot of their cash erally conservative society within and one will have to ask about the the Civil Protection Mechanism, ing Russian effort to win over “Of course, we value the verdict is going,” said a former senior gov- which some Serbs feel greater countries of the Western Balkans.” part of the country’s slow-moving public opinion on an increasingly of the Serbian and Russian gov- ernment official with experience affinity with Russia. The tug-of-war, however, is integration with the bloc before hostile continent. ernments,” Safyanov told Reuters. working across the region. As part of socialist Yugoslavia more often played out behind eventual accession. during the Cold War, Belgrade closed doors; two sources familiar REUTERS Post-revolution changes in Tunisia media Facing IS in Syria, US-trained

BY DR MOHAMED KIRAT the country’s recently formed rebels await more help broadcast regulator to compose A key issue for HAICA has been HE media in Tunisia has new rules banning the exploitation BY TOM PERRY of rebels vetted in the year-old been undergoing drastic of privately-owned TV and radio governmental appointments to CIA programme. But like others, Tchanges since the coun- stations for partisan propaganda. YRIAN rebel commander it says the support is insufficient. try’s revolution in 2011. After The High Independent Board state-owned media outlets. Abdulaziz says US military “My message is: support the having been strictly controlled by of Audiovisual Communication Straining helped his men kill fighters properly, with ammuni- Ben Ali’s regime, nowadays many (HAICA), established last year at least 15 Islamic State fighters tion and salaries. If they support new media outlets have found after months of political disputes However, news organisations are distance themselves from belliger- in a recent battle near Aleppo. us properly, they would not need their way to millions of Tunisian over its membership, says the becoming the main stage for the ent political agendas. Journalists Three months earlier, a similar to send the warplanes,” Abdulaziz households. The newfound media changes are necessary to ensure fierce political and ideological bat- must transcend the former defi- engagement had gone the other said, referring to US-led air freedom has also turned Tunisian editorial independence. tle between the country’s oppos- nition of their role as interme- way, with two of his men killed. strikes against Islamic State. television into the main stage The HAICA is seeking to ing camps: conservative Islamists diaries between the government But his group, the Mujahideen Mainstream rebels say the where fierce ideological bat- separate media from politics to and secular elitists. The partisan and the populace. A new free and Army, does not know if more of failure of the United States and tles are “fought”. The Tunisian establish a new culture of respon- alignment of journalists between professional era of Tunisian media its men will be sent for training, its allies to support them ade- mainstream media is becoming sible and investigative journalism. these two camps has transformed requires vigilance on the part of such is the uncertainty surround- quately has allowed groups such a central feature of the political The board is composed of mem- the mainstream media into a plat- the media community itself, and ing plans for expanding aid to the as Islamic State to dominate after struggle between the new govern- bers chosen by journalists, media form for propaganda, with media an awareness of its role as the “moderate” rebels who the United 3-1/2 years of war. ment led by moderate Islamists owners and the three branches professionals once again in thrall barometer of the country’s new States hopes will fight Islamic Loosely defined as the “Free and the new secular opposition. of government. It is still strug- to political agendas. As a result, the democracy. In Tunisia, the media State in Syria. Syrian Army”, these groups have The difficulty of transforming the gling to establish its authority; opportunity for local journalists to landscape has changed radically The 50 fighters were the first suffered heavy losses fighting both Tunisian media from a closely the regulations released in March independently become more pro- over the past three years, with from their group to attend the government and jihadist forces. controlled tool of the regime to deal with television and radio- fessional could again be sacrificed substantial gains strikingly vis- training in Qatar, part of an The Mujahideen Army is one the free voice of a democratic station licensing, media ethics in the service of ideology. This is ible in the level of television news ostensibly covert CIA programme of the biggest mainstream groups society lies in the fact that the and financial transparency. A key to say that in transitional periods audiences, the range of reporting to offer military support to vetted left in northern Syria. It says it transition from authoritarianism issue for HAICA has been gov- like the one Tunisia is witnessing across all platforms, the drop in factions in opposition to President has 6,000 personnel. requires not just regime change ernmental appointments to state- the stakes are very important and self-censorship, the rise in audio- Bashar Al Assad. Northeast of Aleppo, its fighters at the top but changes in all the owned media outlets. HAICA the challenges are huge. visual and press outlets, and the “We felt the difference. Even are helping to hold a front line at mechanisms of politics and eco- had previously criticised former While the transitional media passion and determination with the (Islamic State fighters) the western edge of Islamic State’s nomics. These battles for reform Prime Minister Ali Laarayedh scene is witnessing a wider mar- which media laws and structures felt the difference. I knew this self-declared “caliphate”. Islamic may receive much less attention for ignoring a decree on media gin for freedom of expression, are being challenged by both new because this time they withdrew,” State advanced west towards than the battles taking place at freedom that allows the board to entrenched habits of praising rul- and old elites. The uneven pace said Abdulaziz, 32, describing the Aleppo this summer before halt- the highest levels of government, nominate heads of public media ers mean that the danger of new of change, reflecting a dynamic day-long battle in October and ing in September to attack the but they are just as important outlets. HAICA also accused a forms of media clientelism has transition marked by enormous giving only his first name. Kurdish town of Kobani. to the outcome of the transition government appointee of edi- not disappeared . While some edi- functional swings in both the pri- “There has been an improve- The risk of Islamic State process. The post-revolution era torial interference with state- tors, especially those responsible vate and public media sectors, ment in those 50.” resuming its westward march has raised new questions about owned radio stations, alleging a for decision making in the state- suggests that the process being Their month-long course in makes the need for more support transparency, objectivity and the pro-government bias. run media, have been fired, others experienced in Tunisia is engaging September included training on all the more acute. need for editorial independence. The state-run press and the have retained powerful positions fundamental aspects of its social how to fire mortar bombs, heavy But more than two months Once restricted to those who sup- media owned by the former rul- or have even been promoted since and communicative structures. machine guns and American- since the US-led alliance began ported the authoritarian regime, ing party and the Ben Ali family the revolution. Meanwhile, change As both private and public media made anti-tank missiles, in addi- air strikes against Islamic State Tunisia’s media sector has rap- were reorganised and restructured. is virtually impossible in the upper are consumed by large masses tion to battlefield tactics, and in Syria, such moderate groups idly expanded since the fall of Before the election of the new echelons of decision making in the their output competes not only interviews aimed partly at assess- do not know how or if they will fit Ben Ali’s regime in January 2011. Constituent Assembly in October private media, where editors are against other media in the field, ing any radical leanings. into the new training plans being Dozens of new media outlets were 2011, the interim government made often also the owners of media but affects public opinion heavily. “We returned as one unit,” set up by the Pentagon. launched as restrictions on media changes to the administrations of outlets. The crucial task is now to As the paths of media and democ- said Abdulaziz, speaking at the The US military says an oppo- ownership were removed and the some state-run media, a proc- investigate the real impact of this racy evolution intersects, the suc- Mujahideen Army’s office in the sition force of 12,000 to 15,000 is old regime’s censorship practices ess that is considered by many as new media liberalisation: Will it cess or failure of the one will affect southeastern Turkish city of needed to retake the east from disappeared. In the freer post- incomplete, as some leading figures lead to a solid, independent media, the other. It is worth noting that Gaziantep, a short drive from the Islamic State. A Pentagon revolution atmosphere, many who were prominent under the rooted in professional and respon- an active public sphere is in the Syrian border. “The guys feel they spokesman said on Nov. 4 there with political connections and former regime are still controlling sible journalism? Or will this new making in Tunisia, but still a lot are fighters at least. Their morale had been progress in setting up ambitions rushed to acquire their the decision making processes in spring vanish and be replaced is to be done to get rid of the rem- is higher.” But while the support the curriculum, readying the own outlets. Political talk shows these outlets. The media landscape by a fall of agenda wars in the nants of fifty years of censorship, has been useful, it falls short of sites and securing trainers from now dominate primetime, while has changed rapidly since the fall media? Some of the earlier chal- self-censorship and a controlled what his group says they need to the United States and other satirical puppet shows mock the of Ben Ali’s regime. Overall, the lenges and dangers remain promi- media system. advance on the battlefield where nations. country’s leading politicians. But margin for freedom of expres- nent — namely, the appetite of the The writer is a professor of public they are outgunned by the gov- But the vetting process has yet the newfound freedom has raised sion in the mainstream Tunisian new rulers for using old mecha- relations and Mass Communication ernment and Islamic State. to begin, suggesting it may take new questions about transpar- media has improved relative to nisms of media control, as well at the College of Arts and Sciences, His men returned with anti- several more months to start. ency and objectivity, prompting the situation before the revolution. as the inability of journalists to Qatar University. tank TOW missiles, the hallmark REUTERS TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 MIDDLE EAST 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com WFP stops Kurds tighten border control food aid for Displaced Iraqis strain resources; aid agencies struggle to help as winter sets in 1.7m Syrian

ARBIL, IRAQ: They used to gain access for some. to be symbols of an oil-fuelled At a checkpoint on the edge of refugees boom, but the unfinished build- Arbil, a group of people denied ings in Iraq’s Kurdish north are entry wait for their luck to GENEVA: A lack of funds has now crammed with people flee- change. All of them are Sunni forced the United Nations to ing violence in the rest of the Arabs. One man said he had spent stop providing food vouchers country. two weeks sleeping rough by the for 1.7 million Syrian refugees Of the two million people dis- side of the road, strewn with cans in Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, placed by Islamic State offen- and wrappers thrown from the Iraq and Egypt, the World sives in Iraq this year, almost windows of passing cars. Food Programme (WFP) said half sought refuge in Kurdistan, “They won’t let us in,” said yesterday. inflating the semi-autonomous Abdullah Salout, whose house in “Without WFP vouchers, region’s population by around 20 Shirqat was blown up by Islamic many families will go hungry. percent and putting acute strain State because he was a policeman. For refugees already struggling on its resources. “Only God can get us through this to survive the harsh winter, the The concrete frames of future checkpoint”. consequences of halting this shopping centres and supermar- At a camp in the disused hangar assistance will be devastating,” kets have been wrapped with of a construction company on said the UN agency, which needs plastic sheets to shelter their new Arbil’s outskirts, the displaced $64m to support the refugees for occupants as winter sets in. complain they have not been able to the rest of December. Aid agencies are struggling to wash in days and lice have spread. Suspension of the assistance provide for the displaced, and “We need soap, we need fuel, we programme comes as many vul- Kurdish authorities are tighten- need money,” says one woman. nerable Syrian families enter ing controls along their border “We need boats too,” jokes one man, their fourth bleak winter in dif- with the rest of Iraq to prevent looking out over part of the camp ficult living conditions after flee- more coming, concerned about flooded by heavy rain. ing a homeland racked by conflict the threat to the region’s own Even before three major waves since March 2011. security. of displacement within Iraq this “This couldn’t come at a The fear is of infiltration by year, the Kurdistan Regional worse time,” said UN High Islamic State militants, who have Government (KRG) said it was Commissioner for Refugees been driven back in the north by stretched to accommodate a quar- Antonio Guterres in a statement. Kurdish forces and coalition air ter of a million refugees from Syria. The impact could be particu- strikes. A bombing two weeks ago A further 76,000 people arrived larly devastating in Lebanon, in the regional capital Arbil has early this year after militants A displaced boy, who fled Islamic State violence in Mosul, sits outside a school in Dohuk province yesterday. where more than 1.1 million heightened those concerns. seized a city in the heartland of Syrian refugees — one-quarter of “The increase in IDPs (inter- Anbar. The fall of Mosul in June camps, but the rest are sheltering occupied by displaced people. The assistance will have to be cut. the country’s permanent popula- nally displaced people) coupled sent 131,400 people fleeing into in half-built office blocks, super- Kurdish regional government says The priority is to move those tion — are scattered across some with the region’s financial con- the region and two months later markets and shopping centres. Baghdad must do more to help without a roof over their heads into 1,700 communities, according to straints pose significant chal- Islamic State surged north, pre- Many Kurds sympathise with by paying salaries of displaced shelter. Beyond that, the future the UN refugee agency. Many lenges for our security agencies,” cipitating the largest influx of the displaced, but some building civil servants, delivering food of displaced Iraqis in Kurdistan live in makeshift settlements, the head of Kurdistan’s Security 492,000 people. site owners want to resume work rations, and helping to build 26 is uncertain. Kurdish authorities sheds, garages and unfinished Council Masrour Barzani said. Many more have headed for and are threatening to evict them. new camps. want as many as possible to be buildings. “There have been cases of the Kurdish region from fighting Resentment is also growing in The United Nations has also housed in camps, but the United The electronic voucher pro- Islamic State affiliates and sym- elsewhere in Iraq, and the region the Kurdish governorate of Dohuk been criticised for its response, Nations says that is not viable. gramme has already injected pathisers disguised as IDPs in has also taken in 20,000 refugees — the most heavily affected in all which Kurdish officials and smaller “There is no strategy for the about $800m into local shops Kurdistan, and arrests have been from the Syrian border town of Iraq, where the number of dis- aid agencies say has been ham- long term,” said Dindar Zebari, in the countries hosting refu- made.” Displaced Sunni Arabs Kobane. placed people equals roughly half pered by bureaucracy and red tape. deputy head of Kurdistan’s gees, and WFP will immediately have borne the brunt of the Those with friends and family its own population. The United Nations has raised Department of Foreign Relations. resume it if new funding arrives, restrictions. In the past, Arabs in the Kurdish region are stay- Two months after the start 29 percent of the $2.23bn it “The KRG wishes for these people it said. It was not clear how hun- wishing to enter the region had ing with them. Others are living of the academic year, some needs to support displaced people to go back to their own homes: gry Syrian refugees might fill the to find a Kurd to vouch for them, in rented apartments, or sharing children have not gone back to across Iraq until the end of 2015. this is the solution.” gap left by WFP suspending its but now even that is not enough motel rooms. Up to 70,000 are in school because classrooms are Unless more donations emerge, REUTERS voucher programme. WFP had warned last month that it might be forced to impose such a suspension and said it might have to announce a simi- lar measure in January for peo- Seven dead US plays down safe zone along Syria-Turkey border ple reliant on aid within Syria, where at least 7.6 million people are internally displaced. in Morocco WASHINGTON: The Pentagon Assad’s government. Ankara has wider swath of northern Syria. allies. Military experts say it The Rome-based agency has yesterday played down the idea long sought a no-fly, or safe, zone. A protected zone along the would necessitate either agree- already cut rations for 4.25 mil- of creating a buffer zone along “We are in discussions with the Turkish-Syrian border would ment from the Syrian govern- lion people it is providing food storms the Syria-Turkish border after Turks. Right now, we don’t believe help safeguard opposition fighters ment or taking out Damascus’ supplies to in Syria. a media report cited it as a a buffer zone is the best way to being trained in Syria and shield advanced air defense systems. “WFP will not be able to con- RABAT: Foul weather in possible concession to Turkey relieve the humanitarian crisis opposition supply lines, the report Such a move would risk drag- tinue its life-saving operations Morocco has killed up to seven in return for the use of bases there in northern Syria,” Colonel said. ging Western powers further inside Syria in February with- people a week after a previ- to launch air strikes against Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokes- Asked what might be better into Syria’s three-year-old war, out additional funding,” WFP ous storm left 36 dead, media Islamic State militants in Syria. man, told reporters. than a buffer zone to relieve the and anger Assad’s allies, Russia spokeswoman Elisabeth Byrs said reports said yesterday. The Wall Street Journal, cit- “But they are close allies, part- humanitarian crisis, Warren said: and Iran. yesterday. Storms again lashed the south ing unnamed US and Turkish ners and friends, and we are in “Continuing for us to apply pres- Complicating matters, Assad is The UN refugee agency has of the kingdom, with the resort of officials, reported that an agree- discussions with them about the sure on (Islamic State militants) using the US air strikes as cover said that a lack of cash has forced Agadir experiencing the equiva- ment could include a safe zone way forward.” is probably the most effective way for his own air campaign against it to prioritise as it helps those lent of an entire year’s rainfall along part of the Syrian border According to the WSJ report, to relieve that crisis.” Syrian rebels, hitting the Islamic in need prepare for winter, with — more than 250 millimetres — to protect refugees and certain the agreement would move away Ankara’s plans for establishing State stronghold of Raqqa in preference for people at higher, between Friday and Sunday. opposition forces that would from the idea of a larger, formal safe zones, with air defence as a retaliation for the group’s killing colder altitudes and vulnerable The bad weather, which finally also “be off-limits” to aircraft “no fly” zone that had been sought key component, have received a of Syrian soldiers. refugees such as newborn babies. eased overnight, led to many riv- from Syrian President Bashar Al by Turkish officials, covering a cool reception from many Nato REUTERS REUTERS ers bursting their banks and caus- ing widespread damage, especially in the Guelmim region 200km south of Agadir, which has been declared a disaster area. No official death toll has yet been released. Red carpet for Putin in Turkey “Another catastrophe: floods kill seven,” headlined the Arabic- ANKARA: Turkish President pair have met face-to-face since with Putin the last remaining language daily Al Massae. Recep Tayyip Erdogan yes- Erdogan moved from the post of major ally of President Bashar Al Both it and At Tajdid, which terday held talks in Ankara prime minister to president in Assad, while Erdogan is pressing cites “anonymous official sources”, with his Russian counterpart August, the same job change that for the Syrian leader to be ousted said two college students drowned Vladimir Putin aimed at boost- Putin himself made in 2012. without delay. on Friday in the Azilal region of ing trade and strengthening Putin, whose motorcade was But these disputes do not appear the Anti-Atlas mountain range, relations, despite sharp differ- accompanied along closed-off to have harmed other aspects of and a youth was swept away ences over the crises in Syria streets by soldiers on horseback, cooperation, with more than four southwest of Marrakesh. and Ukraine. was welcomed with full state hon- million Russian tourists visiting Al Massae and Akhbar Al Youm Erdogan personally welcomed ours at the palace which has just Turkey annually and Russia build- also reported a woman and her Putin for the one-day state visit become operational after being ing Turkey’s first nuclear power child killed when a house col- at the gates of his controversial built at a cost of $615m. plant in a $20bn project. lapsed near Figuig. The latter new presidential palace in Ankara Commentators often note the paper gave a death toll of at least and the Russian leader is only the similarities between Erdogan, 60, AKKUYU N-POWER PLANT five. Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki said second world dignitary to visit and Putin, 62, both charismatic In a decision clearly timed material damage ran into “bil- the grandiose complex after Pope strongmen accused abroad of to coincide with Putin’s visit, lions” of dirhams. Francis on Friday. authoritarianism, while retain- Turkey’s environment ministry Hundreds of homes were Talks were expected to focus ing significant support at home. yesterday approved the build- destroyed, roads cut and power on energy cooperation — with Russia and Turkey appear so ing of the Akkuyu nuclear power networks damaged, the authori- Ankara seeking not only a reduc- far to have successfully shielded plant after an environmental ties said, adding that at least 250 tion in gas prices from Russia, their close relations from poten- impact report. villages have been cut off. but also greater import volumes tially damaging disputes over the Russia, isolated by the West In the Guelmim region on the ahead of the winter — as well key crises in Syria and Ukraine. over its role in the Ukraine con- edge of the Sahara desert, that diplomatic issues. Ankara — a strong supporter flict, is also looking for close coop- also bore the brunt of last week’s Putin, heading a delegation of of the territorial integrity of eration with Ankara as it takes deadly storms, whole districts 10 Russian ministers, was also states due to its own battle with over the G20 presidency in 2015. were under water after dikes expected to discuss how to real- Kurdish separatists — opposed Even on Syria, Ankara and were breached. ise the aim of tripling bilateral Russia’s annexation of Crimea Moscow may now find common Local authorities cited by the trade to a target of $100bn in the from Ukraine this year. ground on the need to fight against MAP news agency said sev- next years from $32.7bn in 2013, It is also worried about the Islamic State (IS) jihadists who eral hundred people were being a goal some analysts see as wildly situation on the Black Sea penin- have taken swathes of the country looked after because their homes over-ambitious. sula of the Turkic Crimean Tatar up to the Turkish border. were affected. They said priority His visit came just over a week minority who, according to activ- IS is “recruiting Muslims from in Guelmim was being given to after talks between US Vice ists, are the victims of persecu- the (Russian) Caucasus as well. reopening roads, restoring power Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with his Turkish counterpart President Joe Biden and Turkey tion by the new pro-Kremlin This constitutes a serious security and providing drinking water and Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the entrance of the new Presidential Palace failed to reach a breakthrough on authorities. problem for Russia,” a Turkish health services. outside Ankara yesterday. Putin is on a one-day state visit to Turkey. cooperating over Syria. Meanwhile, the two countries official said. AFP The meeting is the first time the are at odds over the Syria conflict, AFP TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 INTERNATIONAL www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Pro-European Uruguay elects parties win Moldova vote

Leftist Vazquez CHISINAU: Pro-European parties in Moldova secured a narrow win yesterday over those backing closer ties with as president former master Russia in a par- liamentary election held against the backdrop of the bloody con- flict in neighbouring Ukraine. Former president wins another term Three parties backing integra- tion with the European Union MONTEVIDEO: Uruguay’s American country will now watch together won about 44 percent ex-president Tabare Vazquez to see how Vazquez, a straight- in Sunday’s vote, seen as a lit- won a new term in a runoff elec- laced politician with a formal mus test for the aspirations of tion yesterday, extending the style, handles the take-over from the impoverished and politically left’s decade in power, though Mujica, a former guerrilla fighter volatile country. not necessarily his predecessor famous for living in a run-down Pro-Russian parties were just Jose Mujica’s groundbreaking farmhouse and donating most of behind with about 40 percent, marijuana law. his salary to charity. according to partial results issued Vazquez, a 74-year-old cancer Vazquez, who starts his new with 88 percent of the votes doctor who previously served as term on March 1, has at times counted. president from 2005 to 2010, had clashed with Mujica within Sunday’s vote came with Russia won 55.5 percent of the vote with the FA. and the European Union locked almost 72 percent of the ballots The president-elect cuts a in a tug-of-war over the fate counted. much more sober figure than of Moldova as well as Ukraine, His centre-right opponent, his popular predecessor, who another former Soviet state 41-year-old lawmaker Luis still drives around in his beat-up where Moscow-backed separa- Lacalle Pou, conceded defeat after Volkswagen Beetle and is known tists in the east have been fighting Moldovan students shout slogans while taking part in an annual rally calling for the reunification of Moldova and three exit polls showed him los- as “the world’s poorest president.” Kiev’s rule since April. Romania as well as to commemorate Romania’s National Day, in Chisinau, yesterday. ing by a margin of more than 10 Mujica legalised abortion, AFP percentage points. queer marriage and marijuana Lacalle Pou, a former presi- sales during his administration. dent’s son and a passionate surfer, But the marijuana law, his had 44.5 percent of the vote in landmark initiative, may face the official count, according to an uncertain future in Vazquez’s results released by the national hands. Under the law, the first of electoral court. In a victory its kind in the world, marijuana Russia, Nato spar over war games speech before cheering support- users were supposed to be able to ers undaunted by a rain-soaked choose a supply source — phar- MOSCOW: Russia accused interview with the Russian news the overthrow of a Moscow- and Estonian defence ministries election day, Vazquez called for a macies, cannabis clubs or home- Nato yesterday of destabilising agency Interfax. backed leader in Ukraine in expressed concern about Russia’s new approach to face the coun- grown plants — and buy or grow northern Europe and the Baltics “The endless military exer- February, after which Russia “increased activity in the Baltic try’s “new challenges.” the drug in a regulated, fully legal by carrying out drills there and cises, transferring aircraft capa- annexed Crimea and backed the Sea region”. “It won’t be just more of the market. announced new military exer- ble of carrying nuclear arms to separatists in east Ukraine. Moscow says Nato threat- same, because Uruguay today isn’t Vazquez, who made strict anti- cises of its own, increasing ten- the Baltic states. This reality is Asked to comment, the US ens Russia’s security by offering the same as in 2005 or 2010,” he tobacco legislation one of his top sion over the Ukraine crisis. extremely negative.” ambassador to Nato said addi- membership to countries once in told the crowd. priorities in his first term, has Nato responded by blaming Moscow is sensitive to any tional measures taken by the alli- the Soviet Union, but Nato says He vowed “more freedoms and spoken out forcefully against Moscow for instability in the Nato manoeuvres, especially in ance were defensive and meant Russia has increased air activity more rights,” as well as “more smoking pot, called the idea of region and accused it of violating countries that were once part of to demonstrate members’ com- around Europe. economic, social and cultural pharmacy sales “incredible” and a ceasefire agreement in eastern the Soviet Union, and Meshkov mitment to mutual self-defence. “We see a significant military development.” said that if elected he would Ukraine by sending in large deliv- said Russia would take “every “If you look at the scale of buildup in and around Ukraine,” The win consolidates the make “any corrections necessary” eries of advanced weapons to pro- step” to protect its security. In a Russian activities in Crimea, first Nato Secretary-General Jens leftist Broad Front (FA) coali- to the law. Though the legisla- Russian separatists. move likely to be seen abroad as in Crimea and now in southeast- Stoltenberg added in Brussels. tion’s hold on power and returns tion officially came on the books The recriminations deepened more flexing of muscles, Russia ern Ukraine, it’s quite evident “Large transfers of Russian Vazquez, who swept them to in April, implementation is still the worst standoff between Russia announced it would hold more that they are destabilising,” the advanced weapons, equipment office 10 years ago, to the helm in the very early stages. and the West since the Cold War military exercises in 2015 than envoy, Douglas Lute, told a news and military personnel to violent in a game of political leapfrog for One of the law’s key compo- as the death toll mounts in a con- this year — including one in the conference in Brussels. separatists.” this country that bars presidents nents is a national registry of flict that has killed more than Central military district that Lithuanian Foreign Minister Ukraine said on Sunday a con- from serving consecutive terms. marijuana users to ensure that 4,300 people. “They are trying includes Moscow and another Linas Linkevicius told Reuters voy of 106 vehicles had entered The FA retained its legislative buyers have fulfilled the licensing to destabilise the most stable involving Belarus. Russia was to blame for insta- its eastern territory from Russia majority in the first-round vote procedures and do not exceed the region in the world — northern Military drills by both Russia bility by “carrying out aggres- without Kiev’s permission and on October 26, including a senate monthly maximum purchase of Europe,” Deputy Foreign Minister and Nato have contributed to the sion against its own neighbour” accused Moscow of sending arms seat for Mujica. The small South 40 grammes. AFP Alexei Meshkov said of Nato in an deterioration in relations since in Ukraine, and the Latvian to the separatists. REUTERS

AyayayayayayayayayayayayTense Ferguson Namibia ruling Two blasts hit market party sweeps presidential in Nigerian city MAIDUGURI: Two explosions least 15 people died. elections ripped through a market in the A police bomb squad on Friday Nigerian city of Maiduguri yes- defused a suspected remote- CAPE TOWN: Namibia’s rul- terday, witnesses said, nearly a controlled improvised explosive ing SWAPO party cruised to week after two female suicide device buried in the dirt near victory in the 2014 presidential bombers attacked the same another market in Maiduguri. election with Prime Minister area, killing more than 45 Boko Haram militants were Hage Geingob taking 86.73 people. suspected and it was thought the percent of all declared votes, “A middle-aged woman bomb was intended to hit wor- the southern African coun- approached the site where shippers at a local mosque. Two try’s electoral commission said chicken sellers attend to cus- suspected female suicide bomb- yesterday. tomers but vigilantes who stood ers were arrested in Maiduguri Second placed presidential nearby insisted on checking the last week. It was not immedi- candidate McHenry Venaani luggage she was carrying,” said ately clear whether the woman of the Democratic Turnhalle witness Ahmad Sanusi. in yesterday’s incident was a sui- Alliance limped in with 4.97 per- “The woman refused, argu- cide bomber or if she was merely cent. SWAPO also consolidated ing that what she held were carrying explosives hidden in her its power in parliament, retain- her wares. While the argument luggage. ing a two-third majority with 80 ensued, some people gathered at But another witness, Goni percent of the national assembly the scene and that was when she Abba, reported a second explo- ballot. detonated the explosive,” he told sion just seconds after the first. Friday’s election was Africa’s AFP. The Monday Market was Nearby buildings were destroyed first electronic ballot and SWAPO hit last Tuesday by two women and there were reports of deaths had been widely expected to Members of the fire-damaged Flood Christian Church attend service in a tent in a nearby parking lot in who detonated explosives hidden and injuries, he added. There was extend its 24-year rule with peo- Ferguson, Missouri. Michael Brown, the Father of Michael Brown Jr, is a member of the church whose pas- under their hijabs. The same mar- no immediate official confirma- ple in the mineral-rich state see- tor Carlton Lee has been active in the movement calling for justice in the shooting death of Brown Jr. The ket was attacked on July 1 and at tion of fatalities. AFP ing stability as their priority in Ferguson area has been struggling to return to normal since the August 9 shooting of the teenager. the face of a global commodities downturn. The former liberation move- ment turned governing party has won widespread support at the Poland’s Tusk helm of one of Africa’s healthiest Colombia’s leftist militants free army general economies through its investment takes EU helm in railways and other infrastruc- BOGOTA: Colombia’s leftist presidency over Alzate’s capture. that no act of war in the fields of an interminable exercise,” the ture, and provision of free pri- FARC guerrillas freed an army The move paves the way for battle can be used to justify the president said. He praised Alzate’s BRUSSELS: Former Polish mary education. general yesterday in a conces- the two sides to resume the two- interruption” of the peace proc- release, however, saying it “con- prime minister Donald Tusk Geingob, from the minority sion to revive peace talks, but year-old talks in the Cuban capi- ess, they said. tributes to recovering a favour- took over as president of the Damara ethnic group and known the president refused to budge tal Havana, the most promising They urged the government to able climate to continue the talks European Council of EU lead- as “Omake” (Unifier), will have on their calls for a ceasefire. bid yet to end the conflict. “redesign the rules of the game” (and) demonstrates the maturity ers yesterday, promising strong to defuse growing discontent Two weeks after sending the But no sooner had Alzate been as the peace talks take up the of the process.” leadership in foreign policy and over land and housing in the peace process into crisis by cap- freed than the FARC and Santos most sensitive issues: disarma- Alzate, 55, heads a task force “ruthless determination” to end diverse country of 2.3 million turing Brigadier General Ruben were at loggerheads again over ment and reparations for victims. charged with fighting the rebels Europe’s economic crisis. people with at least 11 ethnic Alzate, their highest-ranking the issue of a ceasefire. But though Santos said he and drug traffickers rife in Choco, The centre-right Tusk, 57, groups. captive in 50 years of conflict, Santos has repeatedly refused would meet with the govern- a remote western department who led Poland for seven years Two weeks ago more than 100 the Revolutionary Armed Forces to consider a bilateral ceasefire ment’s negotiating team to dis- that is Colombia’s poorest. of economic growth and rising protesters chanted slogans call- of Colombia handed him and two without a peace agreement, on cuss “the terms of their return to He was captured with Corporal EU influence, succeeded Herman ing for land distribution in the other army captives over to the grounds that the rebels would Havana,” he appeared unwilling to Jorge Rodriguez and army adviser Van Rompuy, 67, a self-effacing capital Windhoek, although in Red Cross in the jungle-covered use it to regroup, lengthening yield on a ceasefire. Gloria Urrego on November 16 as Belgian who forged crucial com- his election campaign Geingob department of Choco. the war. “I’m convinced that negotiating they travelled by boat to visit a promises to save the euro zone as said government would spend “Freed... in perfect condition,” In a statement from Havana, in the midst of the conflict has civilian energy project. the first holder of the job created N$45bn over the next 18 years to tweeted President Juan Manuel the FARC urged him to reconsider. been the best way to preserve the The FARC defended their cap- in 2009. “We have also enemies, build 185,000 new homes. Santos, who suspended the peace “The time has come for a bilat- essential elements of the state and ture as a legitimate act of war. not only sceptics. Politics has REUTERS talks on which he has staked his eral ceasefire, or an armistice, so prevent the talks from becoming AFP returned to Europe.” REUTERS TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 ASIA / PHILIPPINES 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

Nearly 500,000 HK gives ultimatum to protesters diagnosed with HIV/AIDS in China

Leader says tolerant police will now take ‘resolute action’; govt HQ shut temporarily BEIJING: The World Health Organisation issued a call to HONG KONG: Thousands with batons and pepper spray, action to China yesterday over of Hong Kong pro-democracy showed the frustration of protest- HIV/AIDS as government fig- activists forced the temporary ers at Beijing’s refusal to budge ures said nearly half a mil- closure of government head- on electoral reforms and grant lion people are living with the quarters yesterday after clash- greater democracy to the former disease or its precursor, with ing with police, defying orders British colony. hundreds of thousands more to retreat after more than two “Some people have mistaken thought to be undiagnosed. months of sustained protests in the police’s tolerance for weak- Bernhard Schwartlaender, the the Chinese-controlled city. ness,” Leung told reporters. “I call WHO’s representative in China, Hong Kong leader Leung Chun- for students who are planning to wrote in an op-ed in the state- ying said police had been toler- return to the occupation sites run China Daily newspaper that ant but would now take “resolute tonight not to do so.” “there is much more China needs action”, suggesting that patience Hong Kong Federation of to do” to prevent infection and may have finally run out. Students leader Alex Chow said better help those living with HIV. Speaking on a stage in the the protesters had intended to The National Health and heart of the Admiralty protest paralyse government headquar- Family Planning Commission said site next to government head- ters. “The plan was a failure on that by the end of October, a total quarters, student leader Joshua the whole, given that even if some of 497,000 people in China had Wong said he and two others, places were occupied, they were been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS including a secondary school stu- cleared by the police immedi- since the country’s first case in dent, would start a hunger strike ately,” Chow said. 1985. The figure represents an to pressure Beijing to grant Hong The democracy movement rep- increase from September 2013, Kong full democracy. resents one of the biggest threats when 434,000 people in China “Today, we have decided to for China’s Communist Party were known to be living with HIV/ do this because we feel have no leadership since Beijing’s 1989 AIDS. Another 154,000 have died other road to take,” said 18-year- crackdown on pro-democracy from AIDS over the past three old Wong, to loud applause and student protests in and around decades, the commission said. chants of support from hundreds Tiananmen Square. AFP of protesters gathered in the rain. Financial Secretary John Tsang He was speaking after chaos said the protests had damaged Police use batons against pro-democracy protesters near the government headquarters in the Admiralty district erupted as commuters made their Hong Kong’s international image of Hong Kong yesterday. Bangla court way to work, with hundreds of and hurt investor confidence, add- protesters surrounding Admiralty ing the city’s economic growth with pepper spray and batons. been told by the Chinese Embassy the vote between screened can- delays verdict Centre, which houses offices and could be lower than the govern- Scores of volunteer medics they would not be allowed to enter didates that Beijing has said it retail outlets, in a stand-off with ment’s forecast of 2.2 percent. attended to numerous injured, Hong Kong as part of an inquiry would allow. The Hong Kong on UK reporter police. The central government The territory also reported a some of whom lay unconscious into Britain’s relations with rallies drew more than 100,000 offices and the legislature were slowdown in monthly retail sales. and others with blood streaming its former colony and progress on to the streets at their peak. DHAKA: A Bangladesh court forced to close in the morning, as Hundreds of riot police scat- from head gashes. Police said at towards democracy. Numbers have since dwindled and yesterday delayed its verdict in were scores of shops. tered the crowds in several least 40 arrests were made. The protesters are demand- public support for the movement the case of a British journalist The latest flare-up, during rounds of heated clashes over- The unrest took place as ing free elections for the city’s has waned. who was charged with contempt which police charged protesters night, forcing protesters back British lawmakers said they had next leader in 2017 rather than REUTERS after questioning the official death toll from the 1971 inde- pendence war. The hearing was due yesterday, but lawyers who showed up at the court were told it would instead be held a day later. No reason was given China jails Tibetan singer Taiwan cabinet resigns for the delay. “The International Crimes Tribunal said the verdict will be on December 2,” defence BEIJING: China has sentenced arranger was also sentenced to two to “build courage” to think about after local poll defeat lawyer Mustafizur Rahman said. a popular Tibetan singer to four years in jail. It was not clear what Tibet’s “future path” was deemed David Bergman was charged years in prison for calling on crime the long-haired singer — who subversive by Chinese authorities, with contempt of court after Tibetans to unify and speak blends traditional Tibetan instru- RFA added. TAIPEI: Taiwan’s cabinet Ma is also widely expected to he questioned the government’s their language, reports said, mentation with pop influences — Wary of any challenge to its resigned en masse yesterday step down as KMT party chair- assertion that three million people highlighting tight cultural con- was convicted of last Thursday. rule, Beijing tightly controls cul- after the ruling party suffered man. The DPP took 47.5 percent died in the war, in a 2011 post on trols in the region. US-funded broadcaster tural and religious practices in a massive defeat at the island’s of the votes cast across the nation his blog about the International Kalsang Yarphel, 39, was con- Radio Free Asia (RFA) cited a Tibet, and many Tibetans com- biggest ever local elections. in Saturday’s polls, with the KMT Crimes Tribunal. Bergman is cur- victed by a court in the south- local source as saying: “He was plain of economic discrimination. The Beijing-friendly on 40.7 percent. rently in Dhaka, where he resides, western province of Sichuan after indicted for organising Tibetan Beijing says it has brought eco- Kuomintang (KMT) had their “It is not easy. The next pre- and is not being held in detention. taking part in concerts encour- concerts and singing songs... car- nomic development to poverty- power slashed across Taiwan at mier must be a person who is It is unclear what sentence he faces aging people to speak and learn rying political themes.” Yarphel’s stricken Tibetan areas, and that it the key polls on Saturday, with able to communicate and negoti- if found guilty. AFP Tibetan, India-based news website songs included We Should Learn grants broad religious freedoms. Premier Jiang Yi-huah quitting ate with the opposition on various Phayul.com reported yesterday. Tibetan and We Should Unite, At least 130 Tibetans have set hours after the disastrous result— national issues,” Windson Chen, Japan starts “Authorities accuse him of RFA reported, adding that he was themselves on fire since 2009 seen as a key barometer ahead of a senior political commentator, singing songs that have political detained last year. The concerts in protest at Beijing’s rule, with the 2016 presidential race. said. “At the same time, he or destruction of overtones,” Phayul.com reported, were in 2012, the reports said. most of them dying. In the wake of Jiang’s resigna- she must be able to display strong adding that Yarphel’s music The singer’s call for Tibetans AFP tion, Taiwan’s 81-strong cabinet leadership to press for economic chemical weapons formally stepped down yesterday development,” he said. morning. The current cabinet Stagnant wages are a major BEIJING: A Japanese-built members will continue to serve as source of widespread dissatisfac- facility in China yesterday began India ban hits caretakers until a new line-up is tion with Ma’s KMT, who were destroying the largest cache of selected by the next premier, who elected on vows to revitalise the World War II chemical weap- Nepal’s mass is likely to be chosen by embat- island’s slowing economy. ons abandoned in the country, tled President Ma Ying-jeou in A string of food scandals and Tokyo officials said, in a rare animal sacrifice the coming days. growing fears over Chinese influ- case of co-operation between the “As the cabinet is now enter- ence are also stoking the voter two countries. The facility has KATHMANDU: Hindu ing into the care-taking period, I backlash, with some analysts now been built in Harbaling in the devotees slaughtered an want to implore you to continue anticipating the KMT goverment northeast, where some 300,000 estimated 200,000 ani- carrying out your roles until the will ease off on tightening ties. to 400,000 chemical weapons mals during a recent fes- new cabinet is formed... Hopefully Taiwan and China split in 1949 are believed to have been left tival in Nepal, organisers the period won’t last too long,” at the end of a civil war, but Beijing behind, a government official at said yesterday, attributing Jiang said in a statement. still claims the island as part of Japan’s Cabinet Office said. In a sharp fall in numbers to Although he defended the its territory awaiting reunifica- 1999 Tokyo and Beijing agreed Indian export restrictions. performance of his team, Jiang tion—by force if necessary. to destroy the devices, with Some 2.5 million worship- admitted that “voters were not Since Ma came to power on a Japan providing all necessary pers from India and Nepal happy”. Analysts said that Ma China-friendly platform, frosty ties funds, technology, experts and sacrificed buffaloes, goats faced a difficult choice over who between Beijing and Taipei have other resources. The target is and pigeons to the Hindu should be the next premier, now warmed, leading to a tourist boom for the work in Harbaling to be deity of power, Gadhimai, that the China-sceptic opposition of Chinese visitors to Taiwan as finished by 2022, the Japanese on Friday and Saturday, in a Democratic Progressive Party well as expanded trade links. Cabinet Office official said. ritual held every five years, (DPP) is in the ascendant. AFP AFP despite mounting pressure from activists. In 2009 an estimated 300,000 animals had their Philippines gears up to welcome Pope heads chopped off or throats slit at the Gadhimai festival, held in the remote village of Bariyapur near the Nepal- India border. This year, however, a ban on Gadhimai-related ani- mal exports by the Indian Supreme Court provoked police to patrol the border and stop worshippers from taking buffalo and goats across to the temple. Animal rights activists applauded the court decision. According to legend, the first sacrifices in Bariyapur were conducted several centuries ago when Gadhimai appeared to a prisoner in a dream and asked him to establish a temple to her. When he awoke, his shackles had fallen open and he was able Pictures of Pope Francis are displayed at a street in Manila yesterday. Pope Francis is scheduled to visit the to leave the prison and build Philippines from January 15 to 19 next year. Millions of Filipinos are expected to congregate and welcome the temple, where he sacri- the pontiff, according to Manila Archbishop Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle. ficed animals to give thanks. AFP TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 PAKISTAN / AFGHANISTAN www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Kabul police Suicide attack at Afghan funeral kills nine chief back in KUNDUZ, AFGHANISTAN: change on December 31 from a Taj Mohammad Taqwa, the the southern province of Helmand and in order to avoid disruption job despite A suicide attack at a funeral in combat mission to a support role, district chief of Burka, confirmed that was only handed over by Nato of security affairs, General Zahir northern Afghanistan killed at with troop numbers cut to about the death toll. “The target was a month ago, and killed 12 soldiers was asked to continue his duties,” least nine people yesterday, offi- 12,500 — down from a peak of probably a number of high-rank- at a separate outpost in the same Kabul police spokesman Hashmat militant attacks cials said, underlining nationwide 130,000 in 2010. ing police officials and provin- province on Saturday. President Stanakzai said. Afghan soldiers insecurity as Nato troops end “A suicide bomber on foot deto- cial council members who were Ashraf Ghani reacted to the spate and police have suffered soaring KABUL: The Kabul police chief their 13-year war this month. nated his explosives among people attending the ceremony,” he said. of attacks by describing the Taliban casualties on the battlefield, with who tendered his resignation The blast followed a series of who were attending a funeral cer- “They are unharmed.” as “a small minority who want to more than 4,600 killed this year as after a string of attacks in the city attacks in the capital Kabul which emony in Burka district this morn- There was no immediate claim hijack the nation”. they take on the Taliban with less will stay on in the role, officials have heightened concerns that ing,” Aminullah Amarkhil, police of responsibility. A Taliban attack “We won’t allow that,” he assistance from the US military. said yesterday, as Afghanistan Afghanistan could tip into a spiral chief of Baghlan province, said. on Saturday in Kabul killed a vowed. Ghani, who came to power Afghanistan faces a fragile struggles to respond to rising of violence as the US-led military “Initial reports show nine peo- South African father running an in September, has vowed to bring economy and declining aid funds militant unrest. presence declines. ple, including two police, were education charity and his two teen- peace to Afghanistan after dec- as well as worsening violence. Zahir Zahir had been under The embattled Kabul police killed and around 18 wounded.” age children. Insurgents have tar- ades of conflict, saying he is open Ghani and chief executive officer pressure due to attacks in the chief who tendered his resigna- Amarkhil said the funeral was geted foreign guest houses, embassy to talks with any insurgent group. Abdullah Abdullah, who signed a capital targeting foreign guest- tion on Sunday will stay on in for a tribal elder in Baghlan, a vehicles, US troops, Afghan army Kabul police chief’s resigna- power-sharing deal in September, houses, embassy vehicles, US the role, a spokesman said, as province on the main road from buses and a female member of par- tion was accepted on Sunday, headed to a Nato meeting in troops and a female member Afghanistan struggles to respond Kabul to Mazar-e-Sharif that liament in recent weeks. but the decision was reversed by Brussels before attending a con- of parliament, as Nato ends its to rising militant unrest. has suffered worsening security They also launched a four-day yesterday morning. “Based on the ference in London on Thursday. 13-war in Afghanistan. Nato’s force in Afghanistan will in recent years. attack on a major military base in request of high-ranking officials AFP Kabul has been hit by at least nine attacks in the last two weeks, including a South African father and his two teenage children were killed by the Taliban at their home on Saturday. Arms cache “Based on the request of high- ranking officials and in order Imran Khan threatens to avoid disruption of security affairs, General Zahir was asked to continue his duties,” Kabul police spokesman Hashmat Stanakzai nationwide shutdown said. “His resignation was rejected and he continues his duties as the police chief of Kabul.” On Sunday Stanakzai said that Khan’s new agitation starts from Thursday Interior Minister Omar Daudzai had accepted Zahir’s resignation, ISLAMABAD: Pakistani the issue,” said the former cricket Imran Khan’s threats that the but the decision was reversed by cricketer-turned-opposition star. Followers of Khan and fire- life of Nawaz Sharif government last morning. Afghan army search leader Imran Khan staged a brand cleric Tahir-ul-Qadri would not remain as comfortable base for militants four days after major rally in Islamabad on clashed with police in late August as it remained in last 110 days of attack Sunday, threatening to shut after they tried to storm the ‘tame’ sit-in beyond November down the whole country with prime minister’s residence, leav- 30 seemed to be becoming reality protests as he bids to topple the ing three demonstrators dead and when he announced his plan ‘C’ Army searches government. hundreds injured on both sides. at D-chowk public rally. Khan, who alleges massive On September 1, the opposi- Khan’s plan of shutting down for militants four rigging in the 2013 election that tion groups briefly occupied the Lahore, Faisalabad and Karachi swept Prime Minister Nawaz state broadcaster, raising fears and the whole country starting days after attack Sharif to power for the third time, the military could intervene to from December 4 to December has been holding demonstrations end the crisis as it has done in 16 as part of his plan ‘C’ means KANDAHAR: Afghan soldiers around the country since mid- the past. the government will also have to scoured a former Nato military August. But his campaign has lost Analysts believe the protests adopt more pre-emptive political base in the south of the coun- momentum after so far failing in were coordinated by the power- steps to thwart the new phase of try yesterday, searching for its aims. ful army as a means of re-assert- protest which can cripple not only any remaining insurgents after “We will close the whole of ing its dominance over civilian the normal life in these cities but four days of fighting inside the Pakistan on December 16,” he authorities. it can also reverse the modestly perimeter fence. told tens of thousands of support- The protests destabilised recovering economy. The Taliban launched a mul- ers near parliament, adding that Sharif’s government and dented The government apparently tiple suicide and gunfire attack his party workers would paralyse foreign investors’ confidence, felt the announcement as too on Thursday evening on Camp major cities starting with Lahore, but have so far failed in their harsh and its reaction was even Bastion, now known as Shorabak, Sharif’s seat of power. stated aim of bringing down his harsher. a major airfield that was handed Khan also called for a speedy administration. The plan C was not sudden as over to Afghan control from for- judicial probe into allegations of Qadri’s followers abandoned everyone expected it from a frus- eign forces only a month ago. systemic ballot-stuffing in the their sit-in outside parliament trated Imran Khan to playing his Some attackers got into empty 2013 poll, which saw Pakistan’s last month, but the opposition last card after failing to cow down barracks inside the camp, and first democratic handover of movement remains a thorn the government by the longest Afghan forces feared a rogue power and was rated by local and in the government’s side. The dharna but the announcement militant could still be holed up foreign observers as “credible”. administration has responded by has proved too heavy. It looks gov- Pakistani paramilitary Frontier Corps officers display explosive mate- in a basement, said Omar Zwak, “The ball is in your court, briefly suspending pro-opposition ernment now feels the heat that rials during an operation, in Quetta, the capital of restive Balochistan the governor’s spokesman for Nawaz Sharif — do your talks, TV channels and buying attack has been mounted by Kaptan. province, yesterday. Helmand province. do your investigations and solve adverts against Khan. AGENCIES AFP

Asma receives award Trade officers at foreign missions serving beyond term ISLAMABAD: Up to five trade officers posted in Pakistan’s dip- lomatic missions abroad have not returned despite completing their terms, the lower house of parlia- ment was informed. According to a list provided by the commerce ministry, 48 trade offic- ers are currently serving in differ- ent foreign missions and of them five continue to cling onto their position even after their term has ended. Deputed by the commerce ministry, the trade officers are required to help increase foreign exchange earnings and promote foreign direct invest- ment. They are expected to identify opportunities for Pakistan’s export sector to ensure that exporters are quickly informed of the potential. Defending the deputations which have been tainted by controversy, the commerce ministry said that Pakistani human rights lawyer Asma Jahangir (left) receives the Right Livelihood Award from Jakob the officers have been permitted to von Uexkull at the second chamber hall at the Swedish Parliament in Stockholm yesterday. Jahangir continue in their positions till fur- receives the award for “defending, protecting and promoting human rights in Pakistan. ther orders. INTERNEWS Bottle feeding trend raises infant mortality

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has the South Asian countries. need for enforcement of laws semi-urban or rural areas who high infant mortality rate owing The survey indicates an on formula milk and marketing are feeding their babies for- to low breastfeeding, high bot- upsurge in the trend of bottle code. mula milk are unaware of the tle feeding rate in South Asia. feeding practices. The ration of “Mothers should exclusively fact that they should prepare Health experts blame lack of bottle feeding increased from 32 breastfeed their babies at least milk in clean and boiled water, awareness about importance per cent in 2006-07 to 41 per during the first six months and as contaminated water is equal of breastfeeding among moth- cent in 2012-13. avoid formula milk which is the to giving ‘poison’ to their babies, ers as well as government’s “Exclusive breastfeeding root cause of many diseases said Hazir. “The ignorance apathy in enforcing laws to dis- rates are lowest and bottle including diarrhoea and acute about hygienic practices are courage bottle feeding. feeding highest among women respiratory infections among the major reasons behind vari- According to the from upper class and working children,” he said. ous stomach-related diseases Demographic Health Survey women,” said Dr Tabish Hazir, On an average, 25 to 30 moth- among children, such as diar- (DHS) 2012-13, only 37 per head of paediatric medicine ers take their children with rhoea, which is the second lead- cent children in Pakistan are in the children hospital of the acute diarrhoea to public hos- ing cause of deaths in children exclusively breastfed till six Pakistan Institute of Medical pitals daily. aged five and below,” he said. months which is worst among Sciences (Pims), stressing the Majority of mothers living in INTERNEWS TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com INDIA

LPG, jet fuel Haunting memories Maoist rebels rates cut NEW DELHI: With global crude oil rates going under $70 gun down 13 a barrel yesterday, the price of non-subsidised cooking gas (LPG) was cut by a hefty `113 per cylinder and of aviation tur- bine fuel (ATF) or jet fuel by over 4 percent. The 14.2kg cyl- CRPF troopers inder of non-subsidized LPG is now available at `752 in Delhi as compared `865 previously, state- run oil marketers announced. Attack at Chhattisgarh’s forested area Non-subsidised LPG is that which customers buy after SUKMA, CHHATTISGARH: said a CRPF officer posted at exhausting their quota of 12 cyl- Maoists yesterday gunned down Sukma’s Dornapal base camp. inders at subsidized rates. 13 CRPF troopers engaged in “We failed to know that Maoists The price of jet fuel at Delhi an operation aimed at flushing had assembled in hundreds in the was cut by 4.1 percent, or `2,594.93 out the rebels from a thickly area with sophisticated weapons per kilolitre, and now stands at forested area of Chhattisgarh, to take on the CRPF. `59,943 a kl. In November, ATF police sources said. “But we have to admit that get- rate was cut by a steep 7.3 percent The deadly attack, the worst ting specific intelligence in the or `4,987.7 per kl. Petrol and die- Survivors and relatives of Bhopal gas victims hold the photographs of their family members who lost their in months, also killed two offic- insurgent-commanded jungle war sel prices have also been reduced lives in the accident on the eve of 30th anniversary of the tragedy in Bhopal yesterday. A gas leak at a Union ers — a deputy commandant and zone has always been a difficult with effect from last night by 91 Carbide Corporation plant in Bhopal on December 3, 1984 killed at least 15,000 people in what is considered an assistant commandant of the task,” the officer said. paise and 84 paise respectively. the world’s worst industrial accident. Central Reserve Police Force. The attack site is part of Bastar “The prices of petrol and diesel The incident took place near region that is spread out over were last revised downwards from Chintagufa area in Sukma dis- 40,000 sq km. In almost the entire November 1 by `2.41/litre and trict, Additional Director General forested interiors, the rebels run `2.25/litre respectively (includ- of Police R K Vij said. “We have a parallel government. ing state levies at Delhi) on the PM for land swap deal with Dhaka suffered a major casualty.” In the past six months the back of declining international oil The Maoists fire indiscrimi- insurgents had come under heavy prices,” Indian Oil Corp said. nately from all sides at a joint pressure from both the paramili- “The movement of prices in NEW DELHI: India has to China, a move that will allow would have the right to move to contingent of the CRPF and tary troopers and the state police. international oil market and INR- inched closer to settling a long- border negotiations to resume. live in their original country of Chhattisgarh Police. “Suddenly Prime Minister Narendra Modi USD exchange rate shall continue simmering border dispute with A deal with Bangladesh would nationality or to become nation- there was heavy firing from condemned the attack on CRPF to be closely monitored and devel- Bangladesh, possibly signal- end decades of uncertainty for als of their ‘new’ country after almost everywhere,” Vij said. troopers. oping trends of the market will be ling a softer line from Prime tens of thousands of citizens living the exchange. Most are expected He said the security forces “Words are not enough to con- reflected in future price changes,” Minister Narendra Modi than in enclaves on the “wrong” side of to stay put, according the Indian were engaged in a major comb- demn the brutal and inhuman it added. Last month, the govern- when he was in opposition. their homeland’s border. government. ing operation when the Maoists attack by anti-national ele- ment deregulated diesel prices by Yesterday, a parliamentary Dozens of enclaves exist on Neither country would lose any sprayed bullets. ments in Sukma, Chhattisgarh. linking the fuel cost to market- committee urged the government either side of the border, a histori- territory they currently control, The attack site is about 500km I salute the courageous CRPF based pricing. to table a constitutional amend- cal oddity left after British India’s said Shashi Tharoor, head of the south of capital Raipur. The area personnel who have been mar- Benchmark Brent crude fell ment that would pave the way for partition in 1947. parliamentary committee and a is cut off from all communica- tyred today. Our thoughts are yesterday to a five-year low of a land swap deal that Bangladesh The proposed solution would minister in the last government. tion networks. Officials at the with the families of those who $67.82 per barrel, dragged down and India have been negotiating enable each side to acquire the “It is merely regularising the state police headquarters said lost their loved ones,” he said in by US crude which fell to its low- for years. That followed a speech enclaves within its borders, along existing reality in a way that Chintagufa was a den of Maoists a statement here. est since July 2009 to $64.66 a bar- by Modi at the weekend that sug- with other disputed territories. permits both countries to extend where they have had several Modi said he had discussed rel. Both benchmarks have been gested a solution was in the offing. On paper, the exchange appears normal public services to the resi- major hideouts since the 1990s. the issue with Home Minister falling for five months running. In addition to Bangladesh, to leave India with about 10,000 dents of these areas,” he said. One officer said the security Rajnath Singh and Chhattisgarh Opec decision last week not to India has intractable territo- acres less territory and affects Despite the BJP’s past objec- forces were often scared to carry Chief Minister Raman Singh, and cut production in line with cartel rial disputes with Pakistan and the more than 50,000 people liv- tions, Modi seemed to back such out anti-Maoist operations in the the government “was monitoring leader Saudi Arabia’s strategy to China. Modi called off peace talks ing in the enclaves, as of a July a deal on Sunday during a speech area. “The casualty is basically the situation closely”. combat the US shale oil boom. with Pakistan in August but last 2011 headcount. in Assam, one of the Indian states due to lack of solid intelligence,” IANS IANS week appointed a special envoy People living in the enclaves that would be affected. REUTERS

Local leader shot dead as Kashmir Haryana to honour brave sisters, woman CHANDIGARH: The failing to control the situation, objected was also harassed by the votes today Haryana government yester- not informing the police and not young men. day said it will honour the helping the girls in distress. The sisters said the bus SRINAGAR: Suspected rebels two sisters who fought three The sisters had thrashed the stopped after some distance and have shot dead a village head in youths who harassed them on youths with a belt even after the youths pushed them out and Kashmir, police said yesterday, a bus as well as a woman who being assaulted. No passenger started hitting them. a day before a second stage of shot the episode on her mobile in the bus came to the rescue of While one girl fell on the road, voting in the state. telephone. the girls as they were teased and the other fell in a field. One of the Security is tight across the The three molesters — Deepak, assaulted. sisters then attacked the youth region, where thousands of extra Mohit and Kuldeep — were The matter came to light after with a brick after which he fled paramilitary troops have been arrested on Sunday evening. A the video recorded on the wom- from the spot. deployed during local elections, court in Rohtak yesterday sent an’s mobile phone was flashed The girls called up police and which are being held in five them to judicial custody for five on television. The scenes were the women helpline but failed stages. days. shown repeatedly on all leading to get any response. They said The killing occurred late on The woman passenger, said television news channels. officials at the police station also Sunday, the day after a grenade to be pregnant, was the only “We fought the men all alone. discouraged them from filing the attack injured eight people near a one among the passengers who No one came forward to help us complaint. paramilitary bunker in Srinagar, objected to the indecent behav- when they hit us and pushed us Police drew flak for not tak- the main city of the disputed iour of the youths and later out of the bus,” said Aarti. ing any action after the incident region which is also claimed by captured the harassment of the The girls’ father alleged that came to light. Pakistan. young women on her mobile police officials were mounting The Haryana government has Police said Abdul Rashid Bhat, phone. pressure on them to strike a directed the director general of an elected leader of Nazneenpora The video helped police iden- compromise with the accused. police and the transport depart- village, 60km south of Srinagar, tify the guilty and arrest them, a Pooja (left), 19, and Aarti, 22, at their home in the district of Sonepat. The victims alleged that the ment to take effective steps to died on the spot. government spokesman said. youths first blew kisses at them ensure the safety and security of “He was intercepted by mili- No other passenger in the bus and then threw slips with their bus passengers, especially women. tants outside his house and shot came to the rescue of the college- Pooja and Aarti would be given they harassed them on a mov- mobile phone numbers towards Bus drivers and conductors dead,” superintendent of police going Pooja and Aarti or the third cash awards on the occasion of ing bus of Haryana Roadways in them. have been told to make sure that Wahid Shah said. woman. Republic Day. Rohtak on Friday. When the sisters objected, such incidents do not occur again, Poll staff and security person- Chief Minister Manohar The two displayed courage by The driver and conductor of the molesters made lewd ges- an official spokesman said. nel reached all the 2,181 polling Lal Khattar announced that attacking the three youths when the bus have been suspended for tures. The woman passenger who IANS stations Monday of 18 assembly constituencies in five districts of Jammu and Kashmir where poll- ing will be held Tuesday in the second of the five phase election, World Aids Day an official said. “All arrangements including polling staff, poll material, heat- Delhi church gutted ing arrangements and security deployment is in place at all the 2,181 polling stations in the in mysterious fire five districts of Poonch, Reasi, Udhampur, Kulgam and Kupwara where voting is scheduled to take NEW DELHI: A Catholic controlled within three hours. place tomorrow (Tuesday) for 18 church in Delhi was gutted “Almost everything was gutted. assembly constituencies. under mysterious circum- Nothing is left inside the building. Turnout was high for the first stances yesterday, police said. The place where the Bible and phase of voting last Tuesday, The caretakers of the church other prayer things are kept has when more than 70 percent of have alleged the involvement of been completely destroyed,” said the electorate cast their ballots some unidentified men in the fire. Father Stanley, who lives in Gol in 15 constituencies. Police have not ruled out any pos- Dak Khana area in central Delhi. The state of Jammu and sibility and have begun a probe. The church was established in Kashmir will vote in five phases, The blaze was noticed around an area having a mixed population with results due on December 23. 7.15 am at the Saint Sebastian’s of Hindus and Christians. Prime Minister Narendra Church in east Delhi’s Dilshad Another caretaker said that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party Garden area by a chowkidar about 5,000 Christians stay in (BJP) is staging a bold attempt (guard) who informed the Delhi localities around the church to seize control of the Jammu Fire Service and the caretakers. established in 2001. and Kashmir legislature, a move “We all rushed to the spot and “The windows were broken and unthinkable until very recently. found flames coming out of the some inflammable substance has The Hindu nationalist party prayer hall on the ground floor also been detected by police,” he has traditionally had no base in and the balcony on the first floor,” said. “It appears that the fire was the Kashmir Valley, where resi- Students hold placards as they watch a street play to create awareness of HIV infection and prevention meth- Father Stanley said. started intentionally. It might be dents’ resentment against Indian ods to commemorate World AIDS Day, in New Delhi, yesterday. Four fire tenders were pressed the handiwork of some miscre- rule runs high. AGENCIES into service and the blaze was ants,” he added. IANS

TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MORNING BREAK

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Today Wednesday Thursday Weather Conditions: Partly cloudy Clear Partly cloudy Partly cloudy and slight dust to High: 24° High: 25° High: 26° dusty. Low: 18° Low: 21° Low: 21°

DOHA - SUN & SEA SUN TIDE SEA SUNRISE | SUNSET HIGH | LOW WIND 06:03 16:44 02:15 12:45 07:15 20:00 5-15 KT

THE REGION TODAY TOMORROW

HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER

MUSCAT 28/22 Clear 27/21 Clear People ride horses as the sun sets on the Clifton beach in Karachi, yesterday. The beach, located on the Arabian Sea, is popular among locals and MAKKAH 33/23 Partly cloudy 35/23 Partly cloudy tourists. KUWAIT 21/09 Clear 21/11 Clear BAHRAIN 22/16 Clear 23/17 Clear SANAA 22/07 Clear 21/05 Clear RIYADH 20/11 Partly cloudy 20/12 Partly cloudy DUBAI 26/19 Clear 26/17 Clear Stoppard awarded ‘greatest living playwright’ BAGHDAD 19/09 Mostly cloudy 20/11 Partly cloudy

THE WORLD TODAY TOMORROW LONDON: Tom Stoppard was in Love, Brazil and The Russia failed Scottish independence The nod for best director went to given a special award as “the House. The James Plays, a seven- referendum. Jeremy Herrin for his stagings of HI/LO WEATHER HI/LO WEATHER greatest living playwright” and-a-half hour trilogy by Rona Tom Hiddleston was named plays based on Hilary Mantel’s on Sunday at the 60th London Munro based on the lives of Best Actor for the title role of best-selling historical novels Wolf ATHENS 19/16 Partly cloudy 20/14 Partly cloudy Evening Standard Theatre the first three King Jameses of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus at the Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, pro- WASHINGTON 07/06 Ice Pellets 17/05 Chance of rain Awards in recognition of more Scotland, was named best play. Donmar Warehouse theatre in duced by the Royal Shakespeare SYDNEY 31/21 Partly cloudy 30/21 Thunderstorm than a half century of work A collaboration between the London. Gillian Anderson was Company’s Swan Theatre in LONDON 08/07 Chance of rain 08/04 Cloudy that has won him an Academy National Theatre in London and named Best Actress for her perform- Stratford-upon-Avon and the PARIS 04/02 Cloudy 03/02 Partly cloudy Award and four Tony Awards. the National Theatre of Scotland, ance as Blanche DuBois in a revival Aldwych Theatre in London. ISTANBUL 13/10 Cloudy 12/10 Rain The 77-year-old Czech-born the trilogy starred Jamie Sives of of Tennessee Williams’ A Streetcar Actress Laura Jane Matthewson MANILA 30/23 Mostly cloudy 31/23 Chance of storm author, whose plays include Game of Thrones fame and Sofie Named Desire at the Young Vic. won the Emerging Talent award DHAKA 28/18 Clear 28/19 Partly cloudy Arcadia, The Real Thing and Grabol, star of the Danish TV The award for best musical went for her performance in Dogfight, a DELHI 28/12 Clear 28/12 Clear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are thriller The Killing, and took to The Scottsboro Boys, a Broadway misogyny drama presented at the ISLAMABAD 22/09 Clear 22/09 Clear Dead, also co-wrote the screen- on added relevance for being transfer staged in London by the Southwark Playhouse. plays for the movies Shakespeare staged in the same year as the Old Vic and the Garrick Theatre. Mexico says goodbye to beloved comedian ‘Chespirito’

MEXICO CITY: Tens of thou- and prolific writing—created some A giant cross was erected in sands of fans filled a Mexico of the most popular television shows the stadium on an enormous red City stadium to say goodbye to in the history of Latin America. carpeted stage between towering “Chespirito,” comedian Roberto In El Chavo del Ocho (“The Kid portraits of the comedian. “A gen- Gomez Bolanos, whose beloved from the Eight”), he played a ius, a master is gone,” said actor TV characters entertained mischievous orphan who always Carlos Villagran, one of the play- generations of Latin American wore a hat with ear flaps and slept ers in “El Chavo del Ocho.” children. in a barrel in the courtyard of a El Chavo del Ocho and El A coffin bearing his remains working-class housing complex. Chapulin Colorado had millions of was carried into the Azteca sta- In El Chapulin Colorado, he viewers from Mexico to the Andes dium on a red trailer flanked by was a red-hooded superhero with and the tip of South America, as the characters he created, an antennas and armed with a yel- well as in Portuguese-speaking orphan who lived in a barrel and a low and red hammer. His victory Brazil. The shows were exported goofy superhero with a big heart. catchphrase was, “They didn’t to more than 25 countries, includ- At the sight of it, the crowd rose count on my cleverness!” ing Thailand and Russia, and to their feet chanting “Chespirito! “He was like a brother, an reruns can still be seen in some Chespirito!” uncle, a father,” said Esteban countries. His widow Florinda Meza, a Chavez, as he waited in line to In Bogota, the tallest building star in the legendary series, waved enter the stadium. “That is why in the city, the Torre Colpatria, from another vehicle to the fans we came to say goodbye.” was illuminated in red with the who had waited in line for hours Tens of thousands of children “Chapulin Colorado’s” trade- to bid farewell to the actor. He and adults thronged the stadium, mark yellow heart. His comedies died in Cancun on Friday at age many of them in the costumes of masked deep fears that haunted 85. Eduardo de la Borbolla said their favourite characters. him since childhood. he had come to say thanks “for Before arriving at the sta- Born to a Mexico City middle- all these years that he made us dium, Gomez Bolvanos’ coffin class family on February 21, 1929, laugh.” was paraded through the streets his father, a painter and illustra- In honour of his hero, he of Mexico City, past applauding tor for newspapers, died when he sported a red cap with the sym- crowds. was eight years old. bol of El Chapulin Colorado (Red Televisa, the Mexican television Gomez Bolanos studied engi- Grasshopper), one of Gomez network where Gomez Bolanos neering but, at the age of 22, he Bolanos’s most famous characters. spent his entire career, was began to write for an advertis- Children, dressed as “El Chapulin Colorado” and “El Chavo del 8”, characters by late screenwriter Roberto Gomez The actor — whose nick- orchestrating the event which ing company before moving on to Bolanos, release doves after performing at the end of a memorial in memory of Bolanos at the Azteca stadium name Chespirito meant “Little was to include a somber religious radio, television and film scripts. in Mexico City. Shakespeare,” for his short stature ceremony and speeches. AFP Cosby unlikely to face charges over abuse claims

WASHINGTON: In recent reached in 2006 with one of the compulsion” in New York can be 2004. A year later, prosecu- humiliation, embarrassment and ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’ and weeks, about 20 women have plaintiffs. The following is a look considered to be an “illegal sex- tors decided not to file criminal financial loss.” that’s a very high standard,” said come forward to accuse veteran at the allegations against Cosby, ual relationship” in California, charges against Cosby, citing lack If Cosby made any admission Slotnick. US comedian Bill Cosby of sex- and the legal parameters sur- and thus the punishment is less of evidence. Constand then filed in that civil case, that could work That is why the then dis- ual assault and even rape. rounding them: severe. a civil complaint accusing Cosby against him, attorney Stuart trict attorney in Pennsylvania’s But with most of the alleged The allegations against Cosby Most of the allegations go back of battery and assault. With Slotnick said. Montgomery County, Bruce attacks now more than 10 years date back to the 1960s, and the to the 1970s and 1980s. In the respect to possible civil suits But as this case involves a pub- Castor, chose not to charge Cosby in the past, the 77-year-old Emmy encounters took place in several states involved, the statutes of against Cosby, the statutes of lim- lic figure, it is more likely that in 2005. “I didn’t say that he and Golden Globe winner — who US states including New York, limitations bar charges from being itations have expired everywhere. Cosby simply paid the money to didn’t commit the crime,” Castor has repeatedly denied any wrong- New Jersey, Pennsylvania and brought, except in Pennsylvania, However in late 2006, the comic avoid publicity. In that event, the told NBC Philadelphia. doing — is unlikely to face crimi- California. where an alleged victim has 12 reached an out-of-court settle- only thing prosecutors could use “What I said was there was nal charges due to statutes of In America, laws vary from years to file a criminal complaint. ment with Constand, the terms is that “he paid money to make a insufficient admissible and reliable limitations. state to state in terms of the In the East Coast state, Andrea of which were never disclosed. case go away, but that’s not evi- evidence upon which to base a con- The legendary star of The Cosby gravity of the crime, the burden Constand, former director of Constand had asked for dence he did it.” viction beyond a reasonable doubt. Show and I Spy was the subject of proof, the length of the stat- operations of the women’s basket- $150,000 in damages plus inter- On the criminal side, no matter That’s ‘prosecutors speak’ for ‘I of a civil suit brought in 2005 by utes of limitations and the pos- ball team at Temple University, est, arguing that Cosby’s alleged what the state, “the legal stand- think he did it, but there’s just not 15 women, 13 of whom remained sible punishments. has accused Cosby of drugging behavior had caused her to “suf- ard to prove the crime is actually enough here to prosecute.’” anonymous. A settlement was An act of rape “by forcible and sexually assaulting her in fer severe emotional distress, the same everywhere, and that’s AFP

Tuesday 2 December 2014 10 Safar 1436 Volume 19 Number 6267 Price: QR2

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Oil jumps 3pc after hitting five-year low US shale production hit No reason for ‘excessive worries’ on price dip NEW YORK: Crude markets shale energy companies such as jumped about 3 percent yester- Denbury Resources and Newfield BY SATISH KANADY projected future earnings be, if day, rebounding from five-year Exploration took a beating for a Brent stays put at $70 per barrel lows and heading for their big- second straight session, falling DOHA: Given the current supply- for an extended period. At a lower gest daily gain since at least more than 7 percent each. demand dynamics for oil, Brent oil price, the future earnings of June after fear that the high US Data showed the new low-price is expected to stabilise between some stocks like oil services com- shale output blamed for the oil environment for oil might have $80-90 per barrel in the near to panies and chemicals producers will glut may be shrinking. started affecting US shale pro- medium term. Currently, there be directly impacted, whereas oth- A weaker dollar, which makes duction, with a 15 percent drop is no reason to get “excessively ers may suffer a knock-on effect. commodities denominated in the in permits issued for new shale worried” about the prospects for A significant portion of the GDP greenback more affordable to wells in October. long term oil price, or the region’s growth in Qatar and other GCC holders of other currencies, also “The market is still looking growth, an investment expert at countries is driven by government enticed buying in oil and other for a new equilibrium below $70, a leading independent asset man- spending, he said. natural resource markets, trad- which is a little surprising given agement firm said yesterday. On the impact of sagging oil ers said. Benchmark Brent crude that with the current prices, There is a correlation between prices on stocks, he said, most GCC oil rose $1.90 to $72.05 a barrel, much of the shale oil production the speed at which mature econo- markets dropped by around 4-6 after earlier reaching $72.43. The in the US, or part of it, will be mies invest in exploring alterna- percent on Sunday after the Opec 3 percent gain was Brent’s most unprofitable,” Commerzbank ana- tive energy sources and the price announced its decision not to cut oil since June. It had fallen as much lyst Eugen Weinberg said. of oil. At $70 per barrel, there will production. Qatari market dropped $2.62 earlier to $67.53, a low since Brent and US crude have fallen likely be a marked slowdown in 4.3 percent, with some “overvalued” July 2009. US crude was up $2.34 five months in a row, for the long- those investments and therefore stocks dropping as much as 7 per- at $68.49, after a five-year bottom est losing streak in oil since the the dependence and demand for cent. Over valuation is a problem. hit at $63.72. For US crude, it was 2008 financial crisis. Despite the oil is likely to continue, Afa Boran, Many investors are now probably the largest move since May 2013. rebound, prices are still down head of asset management, Amwal contemplating their next moves, “The market clearly got a little 10 percent from the start of last told The Peninsula. However, as buy or sell, or even exit the market. overdone to the downside and now week, before producer group the region’s economies are mainly “In times like these we recom- it’s coming back up, proof that Opec decided on Thursday not driven by hydrocarbon revenues, gas was also the driver behind the around 50 percent in the broader mend those investors who have a there will be a response from the to cut output despite oversupply drop in prices will have a marginal rapid growth of the economy dur- GCC region. Should oil however long term horizon to take advantage shale patch to these low prices,” worries. impact on corporate profits, he said. ing that period. Similar increases in remain at $70 or lower, this will of it. We are currently experiencing said John Kilduff, partner at Saudi Arabia, the most influen- Explaining on the historical government spending were seen in inevitably result in depletion of sur- a window of finding good “cheap” energy hedge fund Again Capital tial member of the Organisation relationship between Qatari gov- other hydrocarbon-rich GCC coun- pluses and will most likely result in stocks….. At lower oil prices, cer- in New York. “Several shale com- of the Petroleum Exporting ernment’s revenues and spending, tries. For instance, the government a near to medium term adjustment tain stocks will see lower profits panies are already reporting capi- Countries, blocked moves by some Afa noted the level of spending increased spending from $160bn in in the fiscal budgets,” he said. ahead, but others will not be much tal expenditure reductions next smaller producers to curb output, increase over the past five years 2009 to around $260bn in 2013. Based on latest reported earn- affected and hence the recent fall in year as their profit margins get arguing that low prices would significantly in line with the steady “This increase has also led to ings, Qatari stocks are now trad- stock prices just makes them more thinned out.” ultimately hurt US shale oil. increase in oil and gas income. The strong corporate earnings growth ing at a P/E of c. 14x. The key attractive for the long run,” he said. On Wall Street, shares of REUTERS growing revenue from the oil and of around 70 percent in Qatar and question, however, is what would THE PENINSULA

Preparing for Christmas rush QE holds US crude exports to Asia stall on Gulf oil SINGAPORE: An aggressive cutting Opec production so as to percent, forcing sellers to market seminar on strategy by Mideast Gulf pro- keep prices depressed and under- their cargoes to Europe instead. ducers to exploit the lowest oil mine the profitability of North This is partly due to higher Exchange prices in five years to defend American producers. demand for ships in the Middle market share is showing signs “There’s so much oversupply East and Africa. The US eased a of bearing fruit as US crude that Middle East crudes are now 40-year-old ban on crude exports Traded Funds exports to Asia grind to halt. trading at discounts and it is not last year in the wake of its shale Asian refineries have suspended economical to bring over crudes oil boom, opening up new trade DOHA: Qatar Exchange imports of condensate, a light from the U.S. anymore,” said routes for surplus flows to Asia (QE) hosted an ETF Liquidity crude oil produced from the US Tushar Tarun Bansal of consul- and Europe this year. Provision workshop for the shale boom, just four months after tancy FGE in Singapore. US exports of lightly processed financial industry participants they began in favour of cheaper US oil became uncompetitive condensate, also known as light including the QE broker mem- Middle East grades, according to against similar grades from Qatar, oil, started arriving in Asia in bers, custodians and asset trade and industry sources. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab August and exports doubled to managers. The suspension illustrates how Emirates after Gulf producers about 600,000 barrels in October. The David Murtagh, former competition between suppliers began dropping prices in August Royal Dutch Shell bought the head of European ETF trad- has heated up following a more to maintain their market share in last cargo coming to Asia, due to ing desk at Susquehanna than 40 percent decline in oil an oil market glut. arrive at its Singapore refinery International Group (SIG) made prices since June. Middle East crude currently in December, but as a result of presentations. David’s presenta- Last week Ali al-Naimi, the oil accounts for about two-thirds of the price shifts no more cargoes tion covered an introduction on minister of Opec kingpin Saudi Asia’s imports. Adding to pres- are expected to head east for at the ETF products, the creation Arabia, warned his fellow Opec sure on US crude exports to Asia, least the next two months, three and redemption process for ETF’s, members they must combat the freight rates from the United traders who specialise in the the management of the ETF posi- US shale boom. He argued against States to Asia have risen by 50 market said. REUTERS tions and the arbitrage opportuni- ties for the Liquidity Providers. The interactive workshop had active participation from the Honda unveils hybrid Grace attendees who also discussed the ETF products for the Qatari market and the benefits it would bring to the investors by allowing Workers unpack goods at an Amazon Fulfillment Center, ahead of the them to diversify their holdings Christmas rush, in Tracy, California. and to allow them new investment opportunities. Liquidity provision (LP) is very critical for Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). In ETFS, LPs do Barwa Real Estate sells not only provide liquidity allowing investors to buy and sell, but are also instrumental in the creation and redemption of units, which plots for QR5.34bn allows the ETF to grow, whilst ensuring that the ETF units pric- DOHA: Barwa Real Estate quarter of 2015. The real estate ing is adequately balanced against Company yesterday announced giant, through the sale of these the value of the fund , the so called it sold two huge plots of land two properties, aims at enhancing net asset value or NAV, he said. with for about QR5.34bn company’s liquidity to meet finan- ETFs provide investors with the ($1.46bn).Both the plots of lands cial obligations and implement- ability to buy and sell individual are located in Mesaimeer area, ing new projects. In the statement units, just like shares, of a fund according to a press statement. issued in Arabic, Barwa said that which is designed to mimic a par- According to the sale agree- the buyer is a local company with ticular asset class or market sec- ment, the first plot of land (valued limited liabilities, and does not tor. This allows investors to enjoy QR2.63bn) will be handed over to belong to any companies listed the benefits of asset diversifica- the buyer, a private Qatari com- in Qatar Exchange, nor does it tion, without the associated costs An employee of Japanese auto giant Honda Motor wipes water off the company’s new hybrid sedan “Grace” pany, before the end of 2014, while have any conflict of interests with of building the portfolio them- after a presentation at the company’s headquarters in Tokyo yesterday. The Grace has 1.5-litre engine with the second plot (about QR2.7bn) Barwa Real Estate. selves. an electric motor hybrid system which marks the best fuel economy of sedan models of 34.4km per litre. will be delivered by the first THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 18 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS French bosses take to streets against taxes Business owners protest excessive taxes, red tape

PARIS: Thousands of French “We are the economy, we are set France a March 2015 deadline company chiefs took the streets work,” a rally of largely small busi- to take steps to reform its econ- yesterday in a rare protest ness-owners and traders chanted omy or faces fines over its failure against what they see as exces- outside the Finance Ministry in to bring its public deficit within sive taxes and red tape stran- Paris where Economy Minister EU limits. Macron expects to have gling activity in the eurozone’s Emmanuel Macron is preparing the so-called “Law on Growth and second largest economy. the law. Police put the turnout at Activity” passed through parlia- The protests in Paris and the 2,200, about half that estimated ment by then, but the bill faces southwestern city of Toulouse by the CGPME small business resistance from some in the rul- are the first in a week of demon- lobby that organised it. ing Socialist Party and trade strations organised by employer French businesses have some of unions wary that it will erode groups before the December the narrowest margins in Europe, laboor protections. 10 unveiling of a law President while rigid labour laws are some- While French trade unions Francois Hollande’s government times blamed for discouraging are known for street protests, hopes will boost investment and employers to hire extra staff. it is rare for employer lobbies to jobs. But many business-owners Unemployment is rooted above take to the streets. One of the are skeptical that it will help 10 percent and jobless numbers last major protests was against Locks and chains are held by people the protest march by the heads of small and mid-size French companies them and want a drastic reduc- rose in October. the introduction of the 35-hour in Paris yesterday. tion in corporate tax rates. The European Commission has working week in 2000. REUTERS

New campaign Gulf Air unveils for 7up to roll QNB is QIBWF’s official banking partner new promotion DOHA: Qatar National Bank economy for the last five decades. out in Saudi (QNB), the country’s largest Its growth into one of the lead- to Shiraz and lender, has extended its sup- ing international financial insti- DOHA: The Middle East wel- port to be the “Official Banking tutions speaks highly about its Hyderabad comes the new 7up visual iden- Partner” of the upcoming Qatar mature banking practices. More tity, including a new logo design International Businesswomen importantly, their continued sup- DOHA: Gulf Air, the national and packaging, as part of a glo- Forum (QIBWF) to be held port and attention towards the carrier of the Kingdom of bal effort to refresh and unite here from December 16 to 17, SME sector is indeed admira- Bahrain, launched a “Double the iconic lemon-lime bever- said a press statement. ble. We are therefore honoured Miles” promotion offering its age, parent company PepsiCo The 5th edition of the Forum and grateful for QNB gener- FalconFlyer programme mem- announced yesterday. is being organised by the Qatari ously agreeing to be the Forum’s bers the opportunity to earn PepsiCo’s second largest bev- Businesswomen’s Association Official Banking Partner and look double miles when flying to the erage brand internationally will (QBWA) in collaboration with forward to working closely with airline’s newest destinations, launch the multi-channel cam- Interactive Business Network. It them in order to facilitate the fur- Hyderabad in India and Shiraz paign and rejuvenated visual iden- will be held at the St. Regis Doha ther development of businesses in Iran, which are both sched- tity in Saudi Arabia this month Hotel. owned or managed by women.” uled for December 15. before rolling it out across the The two-day event is to be Raed Chehaib, Chief Executive Gulf Air’s operations to rest of the GCC countries in early conducted under the main Officer of Interactive Business Hyderabad, its sixth Indian 2015 as part of a global campaign theme of ‘Business Women and Aisha Alfardan and Raed Chehaib. Network said: “QNB is among destination, will consist of five in more than 140 countries, the the New Age of Innovation, the pillars of Qatar’s economy. weekly flights while Shiraz, its company said in a statement Entrepreneurship and Social becoming a leading international aimed at empowering commercial To have their support as the third Iranian destination, will be yesterday. Responsibility’. financial institution.” and industrial SMEs of various Forum’s Official Banking Partner served with three weekly flights. “The Middle East is an impor- “QNB has been serving the “Furthermore, our commit- stages to start their new busi- is indeed beneficial towards the The resumption of operations to tant market for 7up and we look State of Qatar over the last 50 ment at providing innovative nesses or expand existing ones, as achievement of the key objectives both routes reinforces the airline’s forward to launching our new look years,” said Abdulla Mubarak products that support the small well as provide them easy access of QIBWF. Undoubtedly, QNB strategy of strengthening its net- and campaign in Saudi Arabia as Al Khalifa, Executive General and medium enterprises (SMEs) to finance,” he explained. possesses the necessary financial work with key global destinations one of the first of 140 markets Manager - Chief Business Officer sector and the mandates of the Aisha Alfardan, Vice expertise needed to assist busi- that provide strategic business across the world,” said Carla at QNB. “Since then, we have Qatar National Vision 2030 has Chairwoman of the Qatari nesswomen in making the right and tourism links. Hassan, Chief Marketing Officer, been playing an essential part in led us to hold events such as the Businesswomen Association, financial decisions that may lead Gulf Air Senior Manager, PepsiCo Middle East & Africa. the nation’s overall growth as well SMEs Open Day last April. This added: “Indeed, QNB has been an to the success of their enterprise.” Customer Experience, Kavita THE PENINSULA as its financial sector, while also SME one-stop-shop event was integral component of the Qatari THE PENINSULA Al Jassim, said: “Gulf Air’s FalconFlyer programme has been designed to make our passengers’ travel experience more rewarding by giving them access to a host of benefits and services. Our two- Zain, LinkedIn in deal month promotion will mark the resumption of Gulf Air flights to Hyderabad and Shiraz and we are delighted to welcome travellers on for employer branding these routes.” The programme, with its inno- DOHA: Zain Group, the pio- said “The evolving and competi- vative incentives and benefits for neer of mobile telecommunica- tive telecoms business is mainly the airline’s frequent flyers, offers tions across the Middle East driven by people. Having the most members attractive privileges and Africa announced that it talented team is the difference and value-added benefits such as will use LinkedIn, the world’s between being a follower and a bonus miles up to 250 percent, largest professional network leader. As Zain Group contin- family membership and special on the Internet, to enhance its ues to grow, we need to focus on privileges both on the ground employer branding and talent acquiring the best talent locally and in the air. Other advantages acquisition strategy across the and regionally and to reinforce include the best redemption rates region. our reputation as the employer and the best miles earning system LinkedIn’s Talent Solutions of choice. LinkedIn supports our for premium class in the GCC and offering will enable Zain to iden- strategy and provides an oppor- Middle East region, special online tify and recruit the best talent tunity to engage with top talent booking bonuses, a generous bag- from amongst LinkedIn’s 332 mil- all over the world at scale.” gage allowance, three years miles lion professional members. This Ali Matar, Head of Talent validity, unlimited lounge access, includes passive candidates, or Solutions at LinkedIn MENA, priority baggage handling and those not actively looking for a said, “We will work with Zain guaranteed seats among many job, but who make up the majority to reinforce their position as an other benefits intended to make of professionals. employer of choice in Kuwaitas the travelling experience more Scott Gegenheimer, Chief well as the wider MEA region.” enjoyable and rewarding. Officials of Zain Group and LinkedIn at the ceremony. Executive Officer, Zain Group THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA Eurozone companies come home as Asian costs rise MILAN: After years of mov- to get goods to Western markets. engineering at Italy’s L’Aquila open assembly lines. States. Boston Consulting Group by high transport costs from Asia ing production to Asia, some “Reshoring” is being led by University, said reshoring has The trend has affected even (BCG) said manufacturing costs and import duties. Shipping from European companies are fol- clothing, footwear and electron- become part of companies’ sur- countries which weathered the in China are only 4 percent below China also takes more time, a lowing the example of their US ics companies, partly because they vival strategies since the economic crisis relatively well. German those in the United States, com- handicap for fashion companies counterparts and coming home. are rediscovering the cachet of crisis. mid-sized companies like house- pared with 14 percent in 2004. whose customers want the latest Decisions by the likes of Italian the “Made in Europe” label. But Many Italian firms have reduced hold goods brand Fackelmann Italian wages have risen steadily products fast. Piquadro therefore leather goods brand Piquadro SpA in Spain, for example, depressed or overhauled their production and chainsaw maker Stihl have over the past decade, despite peri- decided 1-1/2 years ago to make and battery maker FIAMM SpA wage levels since the euro zone lines because of falling demand, also reshored production. High- odic recessions, and overall manu- its Sartoria line of bags near Pisa, to boost production at home do not crisis have also prompted foreign concentrating their remaining end teddy bear maker Steiff facturing costs remain almost 30 close to its leather suppliers. mark a reversal of the “off-shor- car firms to open production lines manufacturing closer to target announced in 2008 that it was percent higher than in China, “Chinese factories are designed ing” phenomenon that has shaped there. A PricewaterhouseCoopers markets. Of the around 450 relo- returning production from China according to BCG. to handle large volumes: we global business for two decades. survey of 384 euro zone non-finan- cations analysed by Fratocchi because it had quality problems Piquadro Chief Executive Marco increasingly need smaller volumes But companies are tiptoeing cial companies last month found since 2007, Italy has accounted for and transport took too long. Palmieri says the average monthly of a much larger variety of prod- back to their home regions, driven almost 60 percent had reshored roughly a fifth, second only to the Often, however, rising wages in salary of the firm’s Italian factory ucts. And we’re also under pressure by rising salaries in China that are some operations, mainly produc- United States which had the lion’s Asia are the main factor. According workers is five times the Chinese to reduce the time-to-market of eating away at the profit margins tion, over the past year, against 55 share with nearly half. to consulting firm AlixPartners, level. But this gap was around 16 our products,” Palmieri says, add- that once lured them abroad. percent which had done the oppo- In Spain, trade unions have official data show China’s average times in 2008, while executive pay ing that the “Made in Italy” label They are weighing the still lower site. Italy topped the reshoring list accepted flexible working prac- wages in manufacturing rose 364 is now the same in both countries. is a plus for his higher-end bags. but climbing manufacturing costs with 44 companies, while Ireland, tices and salary freezes due to percent between 2004 and 2014, Piquadro’s Italian produc- While fashion companies form the abroad against the difficulty of Germany and Spain also featured high unemployment, encouraging albeit from a far lower base than tion is about a third more costly bulk of those that have reshored to overseeing production far from prominently. Luciano Fratocchi, companies such as Ford Motor Co in Europe. The biggest narrowing than at its Chinese factories. But Italy, other producers are changing home, plus the cost and time taken a professor of management and and PSA Peugeot Citroen SA to of the wage gap is in the United Palmieri says this is partly offset strategy too. REUTERS TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 19 Saudi regulator Asia, Europe factory growth slackens suspends Slower pace of growth comes despite price cutting; Britain, India rare bright spots Deloitte from LONDON/SYDNEY: pressures, and when that comes The growth slowdown comes a world where official interest Asia’s economic powerhouse falling Manufacturing growth across with weak growth, like in the despite factories cutting prices at rates are already at historic lows for the first time in three months, auditing listed Asia and Europe eased in eurozone, it raises concerns,” TD the steepest rate since mid-2013 in many countries. while its measure of manufactur- November as heavy price cutting Securities head of global strategy, although neither factor will push Monday’s gloomy news began in ing activity stayed stuck in con- failed to revive demand, surveys Richard Kelly, said. the ECB into altering its already Asia with China’s HSBC/Markit tractionary territory. In Indonesia, companies showed yesterday, more evidence Markit’s final November manu- very loose policy when it meets on PMI touching a six-month trough the PMI was at its lowest since the KHOBAR/RIYADH: Saudi that a feeble global recovery may facturing Purchasing Managers’ Thursday, according to a poll. of 50.0. The official version was survey began in April 2011, while Arabia’s market regulator be grinding to a halt. Index (PMI) for the bloc was 50.1, Annual inflation fell to 0.3 per- scarcely better, slipping to 50.3 in Japan, the Markit/JMMA ver- has suspended the local unit Worryingly for policymakers at its lowest reading since June 2013 cent in November, firmly in the in November from October’s 50.8. sion of the PMI eased. of accountancy firm Deloitte the European Central Bank, who and down from a flash reading on ECB’s deflation “danger zone”, and “This is the lowest reading since India was a rare bright spot, & Touche from doing audit- are struggling to bolster growth November 19 of 50.4, despite price as oil sank to its lowest in over five March and highlights downward as it has been for a few months ing work for listed firms in the and drive up dangerously low infla- cutting made possible by tum- years yesterday with the industrial pressure on China’s growth in now, with its PMI climbing to a kingdom from June 1, 2015, tion, factory activity declined in bling input costs. That is barely bellwether copper not far behind, the manufacturing sector,” Credit 21-month high last month. according to a circular. the eurozone’s three biggest econo- above the 50 mark that separates there are few reasons to expect Agricole economist, Dariusz British manufacturing activity The November 27 circular, from mies: Germany, France and Italy. growth from contraction and, in any meaningful pick-up. Kowalczyk, said. unexpectedly picked up a little the Capital Market Authority’s “The concern is the ongoing lack a sign that there is little prospect Lower commodity prices are a China’s troubles were felt speed as domestic demand offset (CMA) Committee for Resolution of any real growth in the eurozone. of improvement in December, new boon to consumer spending power broadly across the region, with falling exports from Europe and of Securities Disputes, said the We are dealing with very low price orders declined for a third month. but have damaging side effects in South Korea reporting exports to emerging markets. REUTERS decision was due to a case involv- ing an unidentified firm and would stay in place until its conclusion. Two market sources said it was SoftBank Corp’s robot sells coffee about the auditing of Mohammad al-Mojil Group (MMG), the Saudi Brazil airline Azul buys contractor whose shares have been suspended since July 2012 due to debt problems. The suspension could have 35 A320neo for $3.6bn major implications for Saudi com- panies and the auditing market PARIS: Upstart Brazilian air- and Recife. “An important driver in the kingdom, and comes ahead line Azul, run by US-Brazilian for selecting the A320neo was the of the opening early next year of entrepreneur David Neeleman, aircraft’s low operating costs and the Saudi Arabian stock market is buying 35 fuel-efficient excellent fuel efficiency,” Airbus to foreign investors for the first mid-range A320neo planes to said, adding that the purchased time. expand its operations, accord- planes would be equipped with Two of the top five listed firms ing to manufacturer Airbus. CFM turbofan engines made by market value — Saudi Telecom The deal is nominally worth jointly by GE Aviation of the US and Al Rajhi Bank — had their last €2.9bn ($3.6bn) at Airbus’s cata- and France’s Safran. set of accounts audited by Deloitte logue prices, though discounts are Azul started as a low-cost & Touche Bakr Abulkhair & Co, routinely given. domestic outfit in Brazil in 2008, according to market filings. Azul has separately already competing with established air- Deloitte’s Saudi unit employs concluded a leasing contract for lines Gol and TAM. around 600 people and it was the another 28 A320neos. Neeleman, who founded JetBlue auditor for third-quarter earn- The A320neo is an upgrade of in the United States, has plans to ings of around 40 firms, a spokes- Airbus’s popular A320 short- and add longhaul international routes woman said. mid-range aircraft, fitted with to its services. Azul has already In a statement, Deloitte said it new engines designed to be 15 started flights to the US state of was surprised by the committee’s percent more fuel efficient. Florida. decision but it respected the regu- Airbus said in a statement that “In addition to its market lead- lator’s role. “The firm will also be Azul had chosen the A320neos to ing economics... the A320neo is SoftBank Corp’s human-like robot named ‘Pepper’ gives a coffee cup to a TV personality Kyoko Uchida actively engaging with the CMA, service routes within Brazil, par- also a perfect complement to our as they introduce Nestle’s coffee machines during a promotion event at an electronics shop in Tokyo yes- as well as other regulators and ticularly high-density ones such E-Jet fleet” of Brazilian-made terday. The robot was touted by SoftBank as capable of learning and expressing human emotions, and of relevant stakeholders, to address as between Campinas in Sao Paulo Embraer aircraft, Neeleman said serving as a companion or guide in a country that faces chronic labour shortages. The maker of Nescafe this matter as soon as possible state with the popular coastal in the same statement. coffee and KitKat chocolate bars plans to have the robots working at 1,000 stores by the end of next year. towards a satisfactory resolution,” destinations of Salvador de Bahia AFP it said. REUTERS Won-yuan trading market opens in Seoul SEOUL: A market to directly annual trade has grown about 50 will be fostered here into a world- trade currencies of South Korea times since they set up diplomatic class business with competitive- and China, rather than broker- ties in 1992, according to China’s ness,” Finance Minister Choi ing the two currencies with the (Xinhua) News Agency. Kyung-hwan said in an opening US dollar, was opened here in During the July summit meet- ceremony. Seoul yesterdasy, taking a first ing in Seoul between Chinese “If the won-yuan market step toward the Chinese yuan’s President Xi Jinping and his matures, transaction costs for internationalisation efforts in South Korean counterpart Park the two currencies will fall and Northeast Asia. Geun- hye, the two leaders agreed the bilateral trade will rise, con- To exchange the won and the to launch the won-yuan direct tributing to economic growth for yuan, one currency should have trading market by the end of both countries,” Bank of Korea been swapped into the US dol- December to resolve inconven- Governor Lee Ju-yeol said at the lar first to gain the other cur- iences and deepen economic ties launching event. Lee noted that rency that is changed with the between the two neighbours. the matured won-yuan mar- dollar later. Such brokering dou- “The won-yuan market is a ket would offer South Korea an bled currency transaction costs venture growth company having opportunity to develop into an between the two countries, whose a great potential. The company offshore yuan hub. QNA

Rouble free-fall continues, dips 8pc against dollar

MOSCOW: The beleaguered rouble hit new record lows yesterday after oil prices sank further amid spreading worries about Russia’s economy. The rouble rapidly lost eight percent yesterday, falling to 53.29 to the dollar and a 66.50 to the euro in after- noon trading. The slide in the Russian currency has accel- erated in recent weeks as the price of oil upon which the government is highly dependent for budget revenue has fallen to five-year lows, with the rouble losing about a quarter of its value in the past month against the dollar and euro. The Russian currency fell for a third day in a row, slumping to over 52 roubles against the dollar and 65 roubles against the euro in afternoon trading on the Moscow Exchange. The rouble has now depreciated by some 40 percent this year, due to falling oil prices and Western sanctions imposed against Russia’s support for a separatist uprising in eastern Ukraine. “Brent’s moving below $70 (-2.7 percent overnight) has triggered the rout, as consen- sus seems to hold that the oil price drop will persist over an extended period,” Alfa Bank said in a note. The central bank had been propping up the falling rouble through daily interventions but said in November it would limit its support to let the ruble float freely. The bank, however, reserves the right to A Russian man passes electronic information panels intervene to curb risks to financial stability. displaying currency exchange rates in Moscow yesterday. According to a new study by the polling com- The rouble dropped to all-time low against the dollar and pany Public Opinion, 50 percent of Russians the euro yesterday. said the falling rouble was affecting their livelihoods. AFP TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Thousands stranded as Lufthansa pilots strike Ninth strike this year; 1,350 services cancelled

FRANKFURT: Pilots at member Joerg Handwerg said. busiest airport. Lufthansa started a two-day VC, representing about 5,400 Industrial action in the dis- walkout yesterday, their Lufthansa pilots, is fighting to pute has already wiped ¤160m ninth strike this year, forcing keep the scheme, which allows ($200m) off Lufthansa’s oper- Germany’s flagship airline to pilots to retire at the age of 55 ating profit, adding to pressure cancel close to half of all sched- and still receive up to 60 percent from a stuttering global economy uled flights and leaving thou- of their pay before regular pen- and increased competition. sands of travellers stranded. sion payments start at 65. The carrier lowered its profit The 1,350 cancelled flights will Lufthansa has said it made con- guidance for 2015 for a second affect 150,000 passengers and cessions in recent talks, including time this October, and is expand- wipe several more millions of a 5 percent pay rise, but reiter- ing budget brand Germanwings to euros off the airline’s earnings, ated it would not accept a demand better compete with the likes of according to analysts. that new pilots, as well as those Ryanair and easyJet. Lufthansa and trade union already with the company, should Lufthansa’s supervisory board Vereinigung Cockpit (VC) have be able to retire at 55. is due to approve plans for the been at loggerheads for months The airline is striving to cut Germanwings expansion at a over an early retirement scheme costs as it battles stiff competi- meeting this week. for pilots that was developed dec- tion from budget airlines and Goodbody analyst Mark ades ago. The most recent round Gulf-based carriers. Simpson said further walk outs of talks collapsed on Friday. “If you want to go somewhere in the coming weeks could be even A long queue forms at a Lufthansa ticket counter at Munich airport yesterday as the German airlines’ pilots carry “The negotiations failed because on vacation and have it ruined for more damaging. out another strike action. we just cannot agree on key points you, it’s not OK. They should “We see any strike threats in ... Lufthansa basically wants to sit down and come to an agree- the immediate run up to the busy and tomorrow,” he said. strikestarted from midday (1100 from 3am to 1159pm today. get rid of the collective agreement ment,” Lufthansa passenger Christmas period as represent- At 1500 GMT, Lufthansa shares GMT) yesterday will continue Germanwings flights are not and have new colleagues receive Elfriede Bretagne told Reuters ing an even more significant risk were down 0.3 percent at ¤14.31. till 1159 pm today. Pilots flying affected. no more benefits,” VC board TV in Frankfurt, at Germany’s than those scheduled for today The Germany-wide for Lufthansa Cargo will strike REUTERS

Ibdar Bank and Ethiopian Airlines Gold rebounds after early close $100m deal BAHRAIN: Bahrain-based Ibdar Bank has closed a $100m slump on Swiss vote deal with Ethiopian Airlines for the lease of four Bombardier LONDON: Gold rebounded for that long,” Saxo Bank’s head of sent the yen to a seven-year low Q400 NextGen planes, the first sharply yesterday from the 2 commodity research Ole Hansen against the dollar and stimu- Shariah-compliant transaction percent losses it posted earlier said. “Buyers were lurking below lated some gold demand, trad- in Africa’s aviation sector, the after Switzerland voted against $1,150.” ers said. Islamic lender said yesterday. a proposal to boost its gold “A close back above $1,180 “The Japanese rate cut caught Under the 12-year deal, Ibdar will reserves, driven by a weaker today will be viewed as positive a raw nerve,” Simon Weeks, head lease the Canadian-built aircraft dollar and softening appetite for and most likely trigger some addi- of precious metals at Bank of to Ethiopian with an option for an assets seen as higher risk, like tional short covering. Overall the Nova Scotia, said. additional four planes, the lender stocks. dollar remain a key driver and Gold received support from said, as use of Islamic financing Swiss voters on Sunday rejected after some early strength, not the physical markets, meanwhile, increases among regional carriers. a proposal to lift central bank least against the Japanese yen, where India, the second-biggest Ibdar Bank financed $22m of the gold holdings to 20 percent of its it has since given back some the gold consumer, eased curbs on deal through equity, with $78m forex reserves. Gold slid as low gains, thereby giving metals some imports on Friday. In top con- secured through a funding agree- as $1,142.91 before bouncing back support.” sumer China premiums were ment with Export Development to a peak of $1,197.10 as traders Risk appetite was slack on steady at about $1-2, reflecting Canada, the statement said. The judged the move was overdone. wider markets, hurt by slowing strong buying interest. deal marks Ibdar Bank’s second Spot gold was up 2.4 percent at factory activity in China and Silver was up 4.2 percent at Islamic aircraft leasing transac- $1,194.98 at 1440 GMT, while US Europe, with Wall Street opening $16.05 an ounce, having earlier tion after it arranged a six-year gold futures for December deliv- weaker, European stocks falling rallied as much as 6 percent to a lease of a Boeing 777-200ER in ery were up $18.20 at $1,193.70 an 0.4 percent and oil prices hitting peak of $16.34. 2011 for Emirates Airline. Ibdar ounce. five-year lows. The dollar index Platinum gained 1.8 percent An official of the Korea Gold Exchange with gold bars in Seoul yesterday. also participated in a small syn- “Selling appetite was there, but slid 0.5 percent. to $1,217.50 an ounce, while pal- Sales of gold bars have increased after the National Assembly passed a dicated deal for Gulf Air in 2009. as it turned out, they were not pre- News that Moody’s had cut ladium was up 0.1 percent to $807 revised law to reinforce the financial transaction system. REUTERS pared to hang onto the conviction Japan’s sovereign rating earlier an ounce. REUTERS Gulf markets stabilise Chinese bid goes higher after panic sell-off for Club Med DUBAI: Gulf stock markets steadied and some rebounded PARIS: A Chinese conglomer- yesterday after tumbling a Qatar stocks rebound, ate, Fosun, has sweetened its day earlier in response to a bid to win control of French plunge in oil prices. holiday group Club Med, com- Brent crude fell nearly $2 a index up 0.75 percent ing in higher than a rival offer barrel to a five-year low below from an Italian businessmen, $68 in early trade yesterday DOHA: Qatar stocks rebounded yesterday with the index market and corporate sources but then pared some losses gaining 95.10 points when the bourse closed trading at said yesterday. and climbed towards $70. That 12,855.56 points. Fosun, which has brought appeared to soothe Gulf inves- Qatar’s benchmark rose 0.8 percent as banking and property Brazilian investor Nelson Tanure tors’ nerves and inspire some stocks led gains. Qatar National Bank added 1.2 percent, while on board as a minority part- late buying. developers Barwa Real Estate and Ezdan Holding rose 3.5 and ner, is upping its bid 50 cents a Saudi Arabia’s index rose 0.9 percent respectively. share to ¤23.50 — over the latest 1.1 percent as most market But stocks exposed to the oil and gas sector remained under 23.00-euro-per-share offer made sectors rebounded, while pet- pressure. Qatar Gas Transport Co fell 1.7 percent and drilling by Italian businessman Andrea rochemicals were almost flat. rig provider Gulf International Services lost 1.0percent. Bonomi. The bourse closes at 1230 GMT, Telecom sector led the recovery, up +2.54percent to 1, 428.38 Fosun and Bonomi are locked hours after its Gulf counter- points while real estate too did well, up +1.88 percent to 2, 531.55 in a bidding war for club Med, parts, and so reacts more to points. Banks and finance sector index was up +0.64 percent whose board in early October Western market moves. to 3,296.46 points. Consumer goods and services index was up approved the earlier Fosun offer Alinma Bank was the main +1.80 to 7,319.22 points. QNA as “more with the interests of the support, surging 5.3 percent. company”. Loss-making telecom opera- The improved Fosun offer tor Zain Saudi fell 8.1 percent rebounded, but this was not percent respectively. was being lodged Monday with after tumbling by its daily 10 enough to stop the index drop- Egypt’s benchmark edged French stock market regulators, percent limit yesterday, touch- ping 2.2 percent because its down 0.8 percent as Commercial just hours ahead of a deadline for ing an all-time intraday low of biggest listed company, Emaar International Bank and EFG that to be done. 7.25 riyals as its trading volume Properties, fell its daily 10 per- Hermes fell 1.0 and 2.3 percent Speculation that the offer could surged. On Thursday, the com- cent limit. respectively. go higher still drove Club Med’s pany proposed cutting its cap- Sunday was the record date Although Egypt’s bourse price up to ¤24 per share in late ital to eliminate accumulated to qualify for Emaar’s special has avoided the sharp drops morning trading yesterday in losses up to Sept. 30. dividend of 1.257 dirhams per experienced by markets in oil Paris. Zain Saudi also cut its capi- share, which is linked to the exporting countries, negative Club Med first became tal in 2012 to 4.8 billion riyals initial public offering of sub- regional sentiment may have a high-profile name in the ($1.28 billion) from 14 billion sidiary Emaar Malls Group slightly soured the mood in European tourism industry for riyals. It then launched a rights in October. Shares in Emaar Cairo too, said Allen Sandeep, its all-inclusive budget family issue to up its capital to 10.8 Malls rose 2.7 percent, contrac- Naeem Holding director of villages. billion riyals. tor Arabtec Holding gained 1.6 research. It has since moved up-market, Fears of another rights issue, percent and developer Deyaar Egypt’s trading volume weathering financial storms in which would force investors added 2.2 percent. was lower than on days when the process, and is now looking to commit more cash or have Abu Dhabi’s index slipped 0.2 the market gained last week, for further expansion, including their holdings diluted, may have percent but blue chips National “which suggests we are still in a in China where it has been a part- sparked this week’s sell-off. Bank of Abu Dhabi and Aldar bullish trend”, Sandeep added. ner with Fosun. In Dubai, some stocks also Properties jumped 4.6 and 3.1 AFP AFP TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

Fed rattled by elusive inflation, Biofuels burns billionaire but loath to sound alarm yet BY JONATHAN SPICER and ANN SAPHIR

ITH the US economy humming along at its fastest clip in more than a decade, the Federal Reserve should be investor Khosla again Wconfident about its ability to weather a global slowdown and start lifting interest rates around the middle of next year. But then there is inflation. BY STEVEN MUFSON create 1,000 jobs by December plaintiffs. “It was characteris- change, he said that “America’s Interviews with Fed officials and those familiar with its think- 2015. ing problems as start-up issues, scientists and technologists, ing show the mood inside is more sombre than the central bank’s UST over a year ago, During its short life, KiOR whereas the facility had design powered by new ideas and the reassuring statements and evidence of robust economic health billionaire venture capi- lost money on every gallon it and systemic issues.” energy of America’s entrepre- would suggest. The reason is the central bank’s failure to nudge talist Vinod Khosla was produced; costs ran $5 to $10 The Securities and Exchange neurs, are best equipped to price growth up to its two percent target and, more importantly, bubbling with optimism a gallon even without counting Commission issued subpoenas to solve this problem.” signs that investors and consumers are losing faith it can get there about one of his latest the cost of building the plant, KiOR in January and July seek- Many Silicon Valley tech- any time soon. Jinvestments: KiOR, a biofuel according to biofuel industry ing information about progress nology successes were built on Despite undershooting the goal for three years, the Fed has long outfit he said would turn wood analysts. According to court at the Columbus plant, according “Moore’s law,” named for Intel succeeded in convincing markets that the target was within reach. chips into hydrocarbons that papers, KiOR’s revenue totalled to KiOR filings. co-founder Gordon Moore, However, inflation expectations have begun slipping in recent weeks, could be poured straight into a just $2.25m; losses amounted The demise of KiOR isn’t who noted that the number of threatening to amplify downward momentum from plunging energy refinery, pipeline or vehicle. to $629.3m. Even injections of just another bust in the energy transistors on an integrated prices and stuttering global growth. The KiOR refinery in money from Khosla ($85m) landscape. circuit doubles every two Barring a turnaround, Fed officials would hesitate to raise inter- Columbus, Mississippi, was and Bill Gates ($15m) in Khosla is one of the gods of years — driving up capabili- est rates as soon as mid-2015 even as gradually as their forecasts “an amazing facility,” Khosla October 2013 could not stave off high-tech venture capital. He was ties at stable or lower prices. now suggest. On Friday, prices of short-term interest rate futures gushed. “It is exactly the same bankruptcy. a co-founder of Sun Microsystems. Could that dynamic apply to showed traders pushed back their expectations for a “lift-off” in as what nature does, but nature Shareholders — including And like many other venture cap- biofuels? rates from near zero until October 2015, later than most Fed offi- takes a million years and we Khosla Ventures, which had a ital entrepreneurs who struck it Swept up by that sort of opti- cials have signaled so far. take a few minutes,” Khosla 28 percent stake — absorbed the rich in technology, Khosla has mism, Congress passed a law “The primary concern at the moment is whether you can get said in a November 2013 email blow. The stock peaked at more set about applying his insight mandating refiners to mix 16 bil- back to two percent in a way that keeps expectations anchored, to The Washington Post. In a than $20 a share in September and financial skills to foster lion gallons a year of advanced and maintains the credibility of the Fed as an institution that “60 Minutes” interview broad- 2011, giving it a market value clean technology that could help cellulosic biofuels into the motor can achieve its goal,” said Jeffrey Fuhrer, the Boston Fed’s senior cast in January, Khosla boasted of $1.7bn. At the time of the slow climate change. He came to fuel pool by 2022, even though no policy advisor. of the company’s “magic bankruptcy, KiOR stock closed Washington to preach about the one was producing commercial At first sight, a combination of economic growth of nearly 4 catalyst.” at 2.5 cents a share, essentially virtues of American ingenuity quantities yet. percent, falling unemployment and price increases of around 1.6 Now, however, the spell has worthless. and technology. Khosla also dabbled in poli- percent looks good. Central bankers worry, though, that inflation, been broken. On November Separate class-action law- “The combination of bril- tics, emerging in the nexus of instead of picking up further, could head the other way. 10, KiOR filed for bankruptcy, suits brought by shareholders liant ideas and entrepre- Silicon Valley and the energy For the Fed, two percent inflation provides a necessary buffer leaving behind 2,067 credi- accuse KiOR executives of mis- neurial spirit should lead us and political worlds. A sup- against deflation, and sufficient leeway to leave crisis era “zero tors, including the state of leading investors. “Our case is to a safer and more secure porter of Democrats, Khosla in lower bound” on interest rates behind and start using them as the Mississippi, which had given that the company was not being future,” he said in prepared 2012 gave $1m to Priorities USA main policy lever again. KiOR a $75m, 20-year, no- truthful about the realities at testimony on September 25, Action, a super PAC that backed “We’re below the Fed’s two-percent target now, but what if we interest loan after the company the Columbus facility,” said 2007, at the Senate Committee President Barack Obama’s re- get to one percent? And then 0.5? You need to cut that off,” said assured officials that it would Phillip Kim, an attorney at the on Environment and Public election campaign. former Fed Vice Chairman Alan Blinder, who teaches at Princeton invest $500m in the plant and Rosen law firm representing the Works. Talking about climate WP-BLOOMBERG University. One Fed official, who declined to be named, said policymakers must resist the urge to lift rates at the first opportunity because they might be forced to backtrack if inflation failed to pick up. Narayana Kocherlakota, who has been a dissenting voice and voted against ending the Fed’s bond buying program in October, says time is ripe for the Fed to come clean on inflation and act. “A key for us would be to be communicating effectively and then taking actions to live up to that communication that we are try- ing to get inflation back to 2 percent as rapidly as possible,” the Minneapolis Fed president said last in November. Other officials, who declined to be named, were not ready to sound alarm yet but said that if inflation continued to disappoint the Fed would have to admit it did not know how long it could last, or how it might shape longer-term expectations. They also flagged a growing concern that oil prices, which hit a four-year low below $70 a barrel on Friday, will depress the “core” price measures the Fed uses to steer its policy. For now, however, most policymakers opt to stick with the tried- and-tested theory that monetary stimulus and accelerating growth will eventually lift inflation and fear that airing their doubts could make the Fed’s target even harder to accomplish. Reflecting such fears, the Fed’s October 29 policy statement left out references to recent market turmoil and economic weakness in Europe, Japan and China, while downplaying a drop in market- based inflation gauges. The meeting’s minutes, released later, showed policymakers raised those concerns but decided not to air them to avoid under- mining investors’ confidence in the US recovery. “I think deep down they are worried about un-anchoring infla- tion expectations,” said Vincent Reinhart, chief US economist for Morgan Stanley. Reinhart, who led the Fed’s monetary affairs division in the early 2000s, described recent Fed statements as “tone deaf” on downward price pressures. Primary dealers surveyed by the Fed still expect inflation to reach 2 percent by 2016, roughly matching central bankers’ forecasts. Other measures, however, have slipped. Prices of inflation-protected bonds show inflation expectations near three-year lows and a survey by the University of Michigan showed consumer expectations hit the lowest level since 1992. Furthermore, economists surveyed by the Philadelphia Fed now see inflation averaging below 2 percent at least until 2017 whereas only three months ago they expected the Fed to hit its target by the first quarter of 2015. REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Behavioural explanations make sense of oil’s plunge

BY JOHN KEMP theories of behavioural finance. Fundamentals-only approaches five months sufficient to explain slowdown in oil demand growth arisen because the market has Fundamental analysis and cannot explain such an enormous such a large price swing. Libya’s has been similarly evident, with suddenly started to incorporate HE market is behavioural finance are often set turnaround in such a short space resumption of war-ravaged oil consumption in the advanced three years or more of fundamen- not a weigh- up in opposition to one another. of time, while there has been only exports appears to have been the economies having peaked between tal data to form a new narrative. ing machine, Each has fierce defenders, espe- a small shift in underlying supply immediate trigger, but a tenuous 2005 and 2007 and now stagnating. It is not the fundamentals that on which the cially among the fundamental- and demand. increase in output of less than 1 The data has all been there in have suddenly changed; in truth value of each ist school, with many adherents “Notice how it all happened million barrels per day is not suf- plain sight in the EIA’s consump- they have been shifting since at “Tissue is recorded by an exact and attached to the ideology of the at once,” Harold Hamm, the ficient to explain the magnitude tion statistics and the quarterly least 2011. It is the market’s inter- impersonal mechanism,” Benjamin market as an exquisite and infal- chief executive of shale driller of the fall. filings of the airlines, railroads and pretation of them. Graham and David Dodd wrote in lible measuring instrument. Continental Resources, told Forbes Instead, the market is finally trucking firms. Fundamental approaches can their landmark work on “Security But fundamentals-only expla- magazine in an interview pub- catching up with a fundamental But it was rejected or inter- explain the slide in prices needed Analysis” in 1934. nations are never terribly con- lished in October. shift that has been playing out for preted away, because it did not fit to rebalance the market, but “The market is a voting vincing. They generally have to “It is not supply-demand at least the past three years but is the dominant narrative and was only behavioural approaches can machine, whereon countless indi- torture the data to relate causes related,” he complained. “The only now being reflected in prices. not incorporated into prices. explain why the adjustment has viduals register choices, which are and consequences of different market is not in glut.” Instructed For three years, the transforma- Markets can sustain a domi- been concentrated in such a short the product partly of reason and magnitudes and time scales. by Hamm, who also owns most of tive potential of shale oil produc- nant narrative for a long period, period. partly of emotion.” The best theories about how the company’s shares, Continental tion in the United States has been even when it is no longer consist- Mixed fundamental-behavioural Graham and Dodd became the markets work blend the two. The monetised its hedges for 2015 in evident to anyone who looked at ent with the evidence, as group- explanations can explain why founding fathers of fundamental greatest minds in finance — from the expectation prices would the monthly production statis- think and herding behaviour cause Hamm was wrong to dismiss the analysis and had a huge influence economists John Maynard Keynes, bounce back. tics published by North Dakota’s inconsistent data to be rejected. price fall as “a case of the emperor on generations of fundamentally Frank Knight and Hyman Minsky Instead prices have fallen fur- Department of Mineral Resources, But fundamentals do reassert has no clothes”. focused investors such as Warren to successful investors Buffett and ther. On Friday, Continental’s the Railroad Commission of Texas themselves eventually. The domi- Mixed explanations can explain Buffett as well as the Institute of George Soros and top theorists share price fell 20 percent in a sin- and the US Energy Information nant narrative begins to break the sudden surge in volatility after Chartered Financial Analysts. Robert Shiller, Benoit Mandelbrot gle day after Opec decided to leave Administration. down and a new interpretation a period of prolonged and abnor- So there is a certain irony that and Didier Sornette — have all output unchanged and Saudi Oil But for most of that time, the breaks through. mally low volatility. And mixed their work contains one of the mixed fundamental and behav- Minister Ali Ibarahim Al Nuaimi sustainability and implications of Behavioural finance is the explanations strongly suggest the most explicit and famous state- ioural approaches. reportedly declared a price war on the shale revolution were down- medium through which funda- market is likely to overreact, with ments about the effect of senti- A mixed approach is the only way US shale drillers at the organisa- played by the majority of oil mentals are transformed into prices overshooting on the down- ment, emotion, herding and other to make sense of a plunge of more tion’s meeting in Vienna last week. experts, as well as by investors prices by means of telling stories side, before establishing a new non-rational factors on pricing, than 40 percent in benchmark Brent Hamm is right there have been and Opec itself. about the world. trading range. which are central to modern prices in just over five months. no developments over the last For almost the same period, the The big fall in oil prices has REUTERS TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com MARKET

QE Indices Summary QE Index 12,855.56 0.75 % WORLD STOCK INDICES GOLD & SILVER EXCHANGE QE Total Return Index 19,173.94 0.75 % QE Al Rayan Islamic Index 4,329.08 1.35 % RATE QE All Share Index 3,275.97 0.74 % INDEX Day’s Close Pt Chg % Chg Year High Year Low QE All Share Banks & Financial 3,296.46 0.64 % GOLD Buying Selling Services All Ordinaries 5190.674 -107.438 -2.03 5672.3 5072.7 QE All Share Industrials 4,220.43 0.01 % QR137.8902 US$ ...... QR 3.6305 QR 3.6500 QE All Share Transportation 2,331.91 0.65 % Cac 40 Index/D 4363.62 -26.56 -0.6 4598.65 3789.11 QE All Share Real Estate 2,531.55 1.88 % SILVER UK ...... QR 5.6881 QR 5.7674 QE All Share Insurance 3,793.76 0.66 % Dj Indu Average 17828.24 0.49 0 17894.8 15340.69 QR 1.8520 Euro ...... QR 4.5127 QR 4.5754 QE All Share Telecoms 1,428.38 2.54 % CA$ ...... QR 3.1636 QR 3.2258 QE All Share Consumer Goods & 7,319.22 1.80 % Hang Seng Inde/D 23367.45 -620 -2.58 25362.98 21137.61 Services Swiss Fr ...... QR 3.7521 QR 3.8043 QE Market Summary Comparison Iseq Overall/D 5080.78 9.2 0.18 5195.97 4275.26 Yen ...... QR 0.0305 QR 0.0311 Aus$ ...... QR 3.0620 QR 3.1221 Today Previous day Karachi 100 In/D 31299.72 101.74 0.33 32224.79 25273.11 CRUDE OIL 01-12-2014 30-11-2014 Ind Re ...... QR 0.0582 QR 0.0593 Index 12,855.56 12,760.46 Nikkei 225 Index 17590.1 130.25 0.75 17520.54 13885.11 Pak Re ...... QR 0.0354 QR 0.0362 Change 95.10 570.47 BRENT Peso ...... QR 0.0805 QR 0.0821 S&P 500 Index/D 2067.56 -5.27 -0.25 2075.76 1737.92 % 0.75 4.28 $ 69.39 SL Re ...... QR 0.0275 QR 0.0281 YTD% 23.85 22.94 Straits Times/D 3305.64 -44.86 -1.34 3387.84 2953.01 Taka ...... QR 0.0466 QR 0.0477 Volume 13,548,109 14,411,898 DUBAI Nep Re ...... QR 0.0364 QR 0.0371 Value (QAR) 780,540,197.35 802,612,312.24 Straits Times/D 3290.99 -1.82 -0.06 3387.84 2953.01 SA Rand ...... QR 0.3266 QR 0.3332 Trades 7,402 8,316 $ 66.34 Straits Times/D 3274.06 -8.82 -0.27 3291.83 2953.01 Up 28 | Down 10 | Unchanged 02

QATAR EXCHANGE | DAILY TRADING REPORT | 01-12-2014

INTERNATIONAL MARKETS A List of Shares from the world

COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume COMPANY CLOSE NET VOLUME Volume NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED NAME CHG TRADED A B G Infra-T/D 90.05 0.3 13612 Cimmco-B/D 65.15 -0.8 3570 Him.Fut.Comm-T/D 18.8 -0.8 1407545 Kalyani Stel-T/D 156.2 -2.75 41293 Orient Hotel-T/D 23.95 0.55 3652 Land Secs Grou/D 1189.5034 2 369479 A C C-A/D 1467.3 -3.05 8271 Cipla-A/D 643.05 8.1 155491 Himat Seide-B/D 92.05 5 290423 Kanoria Chem-B/D 39.05 -0.05 4219 Orient.Carb.-T/D 379.5 -5.15 5457 Legal & Genera/D 245.393 -1.3 2854227 Aarti Drugs-B/D 789 -9.35 3975 City Union Bk-/D 91.2 -1.3 48098 Hind Motors-T/D 8.23 -0.18 102734 Kg Denim-B/D 15.8 -0.3 4600 Punjab Chem.-B/D 106.5 1.5 4900 Lloyds Bnk Grp/D 79.72 -0.64 33562547 Aban Offs-A/D 535.1 -12.95 343529 Cmc Ltd-A/D 2023.85 13.9 13481 Hind Org Chem-/D 20.4 -0.45 6096 Kilburnengg-T/D 46.95 -2.7 64848 Radico Khait-B/D 80.25 -0.65 73052 Marks & Sp./D 492.8 4.3 2049709 Ador Welding-B/D 215 -3.3 1392 Colgate-A/D 1912.75 53.75 39852 Hind Unilever-/D 808.25 21.65 130458 Kinetic Eng-B/D 48.3 -0.9 2297 Rallis India-A/D 215.35 0.95 26241 Next/D 6830 55 94320 Aegis Logis-B/D 457.85 -2.55 13543 Container Cor-/D 1320.05 -28.4 104253 Hind.Petrol-A/D 603.65 6.9 365928 Kopran-B/D 58.2 -0.45 80756 Reliance Indus/D 510.55 -12 42074 Pearson/D 1235 4 435993 Ahmed.Forg-B/D 383.45 -14.3 90739 Dai-Tichi Kar-/D 145.2 -3.9 20294 Hindalco-A/D 167.2 -6.7 500604 Lakshmi Elec-B/D 479.25 -10.4 5553 Ruchi Soya-B/D 37.15 0.1 20559 Prudential/D 1539.625 -8 867263 Alembic-B/D 42.2 -1.25 86610 Dhampur Sugar-/D 47.1 -0.35 9201 Hous Dev Fin-A/D 1138.15 -21.95 31955 Lgb Broth-B/D 629.85 -6.1 1943 Saur.Cem-B/D 48 -1.9 24916 Rank Group/D 161.724 -2.5 580 Alkyl Amines-B/D 364.95 -6.3 2928 Dr. Reddy-A/D 3626.65 24.5 10519 I F C I-A/D 39.05 -0.9 688573 Lloyd Metal-B/D 10.34 1.72 7192 Thirumalai-B/D 99.55 0.7 4982 Rentokil Initi/D 117.7 -1.4 230956 Alok Indus-A/D 10.19 -0.32 1916947 E I H-B/D 114.6 4.6 57182 Idbi-A/D 70.6 -1.8 326280 Lok.Hous&Con-T/D 13.85 0.35 23129 Timexgroup-T/D 14.65 -0.55 11324 Rolls Royce Pl/D 852.5 10 1997541 Apollo Tyre-A/D 232.65 4.5 269091 E.I.D Parry-A/D 212.6 -3.2 15384 Ifb Agro-B/D 398.7 -10.55 9354 Lumax Ind-B/D 423.35 24.45 22073 Tinplate-B/D 68.15 -1.95 49947 Rsa Insrance G/D 460.4 -7.8 758703 Asahi I Glass-/D 123.4 -3 8233 Eicher Motor-A/D 14513.15 -3.65 3523 Ifb Ind.Ltd.-B/D 490.05 9.75 26748 Lupin-A/D 1461.35 -19.75 28488 Ucal Fuel-B/D 133.5 -3.6 17684 Sainsbury(J)/D 232.7 -0.7 2183799 Ashok Leyland-/D 53.65 1.3 1677717 Electrosteel-B/D 20.85 -0.7 632420 India Cement-A/D 92.5 -3.9 188226 Lyka Labs-T/D 25.4 -0.15 21042 Ucal Fuel-B/D 133.5 -3.6 17684 Schroders/D 2689 -6 41847 Bajaj Hold-A/D 1415 -5 2197 Emco-B/D 40 -0.4 59204 India Glycol-B/D 114.85 -2.4 9068 Mafatlal Ind-B/D 150.5 -3.75 2381 Ultramarine-B/D 74.05 0.4 3666 Severn Trent/D 2038 -5 185809 Ballarpur 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Assoc.Br.Foods/D 3231 28 127095 Tomkins/D 0 0 0 Bhartiya Int-B/D 410 0 13242 Ferro Alloys-B/D 7.12 -0.1 78198 Jamnaauto-B/D 145 0.9 3523 Nahar Spg.-B/D 98.35 -1.75 20645 Barclays/D 241.044 -4.15 8034125 Unilever/D 2700 -6 505918 Bhel-A/D 274 -9.2 285561 Finolex-A/D 286 4.7 6921 Jbf Indu-B/D 215.1 -3.85 334144 Nation Alum -A/D 58.4 -2.3 214978 Bg Group/D 873.7 -26.5 6782246 United Util Gr/D 905.68 0.5 674426 Bom.Burmah-B/D 424.8 -25.65 99891 Forbes-B/D 1438.9 -8.35 5140 Jct Elect P -B/D 0.65 0.03 40068 Navneet Edu-B/D 97.4 0.75 14142 Bp/D 415.25 -5.05 12675299 Bombay Dyeing-/D 67.75 -1.3 212128 Gail-A/D 479 -8.95 43315 Jct Ltd-B/D 4.18 0.11 357922 Nepc India-T/D 2.71 0.03 15901 Vodafone Group/D 223.109 -10.8 49262491 Brit Am Tobacc/D 3762.5 -32 852922 Canfin Homes-B/D 495.8 0.45 2445 Galada Power-T/D 13 0.2 1250 Jenson&Nich.-B/D 4.11 0.19 19847 Neuland Lab-B/D 428.35 -6.1 3026 Whitbread/D 4597 10 164716 Bt Group/D 412.5563 2.4 6550362 Caprihans-B/D 91 8.05 221761 Gammon India-T/D 30 -1.15 80329 Jik Indust-B/D 1.35 0 10500 Nrb Bearings-B/D 126.1 -0.2 8514 Centrica/D 282.81 -1.8 4494008 Cast.Bo/D 510.4 8.55 158827 Garden P -B/D 32.95 -0.6 1960 Jktyre&Ind-B/D 628.3 -37.4 293795 O N G C-A/D 364.4 -15.1 484136 Gkn/D 342.7 -2.6 705923 Century Enka-B/D 156.9 -1.35 3270 Godfrey Phil-B/D 604.55 -12.75 3068 Jmc Projects-T/D 160.7 -5.7 29423 Ocl India-B/D 329 5.25 19652 Hsbc Holdings/D 630.68 -6.4 5352329 Century Text-A/D 532 -9.35 37999 Goodricke-B/D 167.45 -5.25 16768 Kabra Extr-B/D 81.5 -0.95 2149 Oil Country-B/D 41.35 -1.05 11750 Imperial Tobac/D 2939 -21 450655 Chambal Fert-B/D 66 -0.35 50883 Goodyear I -B/D 662.4 10.05 29914 Kajaria Cer-A/D 596.05 -2.15 313027 Onward Tech-B/D 68 7.6 21037 Chowgule St-T/D 19.2 0.1 2476 Hcl Infosys-B/D 63.5 -3.25 276906 Kalpat Power-B/D 176.15 -7.35 26067 Orchid Chem-B/D 70.15 -1.2 114635 Kingfisher/D 311.6 -0.4 1570311 TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 23

Datsyuk scores twice as Red Rodgers leads Packers to Wings beat Canucks

DETROIT: The streaking Detroit Red Wings were able to win over Brady’s Patriots laugh about a power outage at aging the Joe Louis Arena. Pavel Datsyuk scored twice Chargers shock Ravens; Rams show solidarity with Ferguson protest and Detroit beat the Vancouver Canucks 5-3 on Sunday for their fourth straight victory. GREEN BAY, USA: Aaron The Redskins were playing About a third of Joe Louis Rodgers drove the Green Bay their first game since benching Arena, including the Vancouver Packers to a 26-21 victory struggling quarterback Robert zone, went dark 29 seconds into over New England on Sunday Griffin III, and replacement Colt the game after a minor power that lifted them to the top of McCoy threw for 392 yards and failure. The game was delayed 33 the NFL standings and sent a three touchdowns in the loss. minutes. strong message to the rest of the AFC South rival Houston (6-6) “That’s the beauty of the Joe,” league they were genuine Super remained two games behind Niklas Kronwall said about the Bowl contenders. Indianapolis with 45-21 rout of arena that opened in 1980. “It’s Rodgers outshone the Patriots’ Tennessee as J.J. Watt caught been around for a long time. Tom Brady with 368 yards and another touchdown pass. It’s kind of the charm of it. You two touchdowns as the Packers In another lopsided affair, the never know what’s going to snapped New England’s (9-3) St. Louis Rams blasted Oakland happen.” seven-game win streak and 52-0 in a game that saw five Rams’ Kronwall, Danny DeKeyser improved to 9-3 themselves. players support a recent protest and Gustav Nyquist also scored, Continuing his MVP-caliber over the controversial shooting by Henrik Zetterberg had two assists season, Rodgers fired a 45-yard police of an unarmed teenager in and Jimmy Howard made 30 saves touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson nearby Ferguson, Missouri. for Detroit. to give Green Bay a 23-14 half- The group took the field with Linden Vey scored twice, and time edge, and they only needed hands raised to support the Shawn Matthias added a goal for three points in the second-half to “hands up, don’t shoot” gesture Vancouver, which spent a lot of secure the triumph at Lambeau utilised by the protestors. time in the Detroit zone in the Field. “We just understand that it’s final 20 minutes. While the Packers were ascend- a big tragedy and we hope some- “It’s disappointing,” Matthias ing, Arizona continued their fall thing positive comes out of it,” said. from atop the NFC after a 29-18 Rams receiver Stedman Bailey “You look at the third loss in Atlanta. told reporters. period, we dominated them. All Julio Jones shone with 189 The Jacksonville Jaguars picked the lines were working and all the receiving yards for the Falcons up their second win of the season lines were creating chances,” he (5-7) who scored the game’s first by dealing the New York Giants added. 17 points. their seventh straight defeat. The The Red Wings appeared to Arizona (9-3) have lost their Jaguars trailed 21-0 before rally- have the game in hand after last two games and appear limited ing behind rookie quarterback going to the third up 3-1 but the offensively since losing starting Blake Bortles. REUTERS Canucks hung around and twice QB Carson Palmer to a season- made it one-goal game. ending injury three weeks ago. “I didn’t think we were near as The San Diego Chargers Green Bay Packers’ quarterback Aaron Rodgers (right) scrambles for a first down in the first-quarter against NFL Results good as we can be,” Detroit coach stunned the Baltimore Ravens the New England Patriots at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on Sunday night. San Diego 34 Baltimore 33 Mike Babcock said. 34-33 with a fourth-quarter Buffalo 26 Cleveland 10 “I thought we turned over some comeback, scoring the game- Cincinnati (8-3-1). AFC North range on their final possession but starter Brian Hoyer in the fourth Houston 45 Tennessee 21 pucks and backed in a bit but we winner with seconds to play. contenders Pittsburgh (7-5) and a pair of penalties pushed them quarter. did enough good things to win,” Indianapolis 49 Washington 27 The Chargers (8-4 in the AFC Cleveland (7-5) also suffered back and ended their chances. The first-round draft choice he added. West) trailed 30-20 with about defeats. The Pittsburgh Steelers fell to finished a long drive with a Jacksonville 25 NY Giants 24 Canucks coach Willie six minutes remaining before Cincinnati’s Bengals squeaked New Orleans 35-32 as the Saints’ 10-yard run for a touchdown, Minnesota 31 Carolina 13 Desjardins begged to differ. Philip Rivers threw a touchdown past Tampa Bay 14-13 after climb- Drew Brees threw five touchdown potentially creating a quarterback New Orleans 35 Pittsburgh 32 “They were better than us,” pass to Keenan Allen and after a ing out of a 10-0 hole. passes. controversy moving forward. St Louis 52 Oakland 0 he said. “They were really strong Baltimore field goal, found Eddie A.J. Green caught a 13-yard Cleveland was knocked In Indianapolis, Andrew Luck Cincinnati 14 Tampa Bay 13 in the corners and in their Royal for another with just 38 touchdown pass in the third quar- off by Buffalo 26-10. In the tossed five touchdowns passes breakouts.” Atlanta 29 Arizona 18 seconds left. ter to put the visiting Bengals defeat, Browns rookie backup and the Colts (8-4) steamrolled Kronwall opened the scoring Rivers’ rally dropped Baltimore ahead for good. quarterback Johnny Manziel Washington 49-27 to stay atop the Green Bay 26 New England 21 at 3:15 of the first-period, beat- (7-5) further behind first-place Tampa Bay drove into field goal took over for ineffective AFC South. Denver 29 Kansas City 16 ing Ryan Miller with a slap shot, and Nyquist made it 2-0 midway through the period with a one- timer on a power play. Vey scored on a power play at 2:37 of the second, and Datsyuk Bhupathi declares IPTL a success, dismisses critics countered late in the period with a power-play goal that appeared MANILA: International Bhupathi told reporters as the —Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych concept would ever get off the to hit Canucks forward Nick Premier Tennis League boss Manila leg of the tournament and Marin Cilic — also took part ground, as well as those who had Bonino’s skate before crossing Mahesh Bhupathi (pictured) drew to a close on Sunday. while the top two, Novak Djokovic criticised it as a distraction from the line. declared its launch in the Departing from the staid, tra- and Roger Federer, are to play in training for the regular tour. Matthias and DeKeyser Philippines a success on Sunday, ditional image of the sport, the the other legs. Rafael Nadal was He said there are plans for the swapped goals early in the third ushering in a fast-paced, televi- IPTL features a DJ and skimpily- only kept out through injury. league to add to its four teams before Vey added his second. sion-friendly version of one of attired women dancing in between The IPTL tour moves to — Manila Mavericks, Singapore Datsyuk had an empty-net the world’s most popular sports. rests to work up the crowd. Singapore on Tuesday before Slammers, Indian Aces and UAE goal in the final minute. Miller Critics who have dismissed the The game is played in a team heading to New Delhi and wind- Royals — but in a gradual manner. made 25 saves in just his fourth four-city tournament as a mean- format, with ties consisting of five ing up the year in Dubai. “We’re going to make sure that loss of the season. The loss ended ingless event had been proven one-set matches. “The format has been accepted, it’s planned well because obvi- Vancouver’s three-game winning wrong by huge crowds turning It also employs innovations which was our biggest risk,” said ously, we want to sustain this to streak. up to cheer some of the sport’s such as a five-minute shootout to Bhupathi, a former doubles spe- 25 years, 30 years, and we want to The Red Wings played the biggest names since its debut on break 5-5 ties and a shot clock appearance bonuses, many of the cialist for India. make it something that both the third period without for- Friday, he said. that forfeits the point in favour game’s biggest names showed up “We just have to make sure we fans and the players enjoy.” ward Justin Abdelkader after “With the kind of high we of the receiver if a serve is not in Manila, led by the women’s top sustain this momentum going into Asked if the format would he left the game with a shoulder started off here in Manila we can made 20 seconds after the end of two Serena Williams and Maria the next three legs.” supplant the traditional game, injury. Babcock said he did not safely say that we’re off to a good the previous point. Sharapova. Bhupathi dismissed doubt- Bhupathi said the world has “time believe it was serious. start,” IPTL managing director Drawn by the $1m pot and Three top-10 men’s players ers who were sceptical the IPTL and space for all formats”. AFP AGENCIES Spurs beat Celtics 111-89 in Popovich’s return

BOSTON: The San Antonio Shooting guard Kentavious with 21 points, helping his team to Trail Blazers 107, Spurs got their coach back on Caldwell-Pope had a season-high their fifth road win of the season, Timberwolves 93 the bench and celebrated by 23 points for the Pistons, who lost 93-90, over the Phoenix Suns on Forward LaMarcus Aldridge rolling to their seventh straight their eighth straight and sixth in Sunday. scored 26 points and a season- win, a 111-89 victory over the a row at home. Center Nikola Vucevic added high 15 rebounds in the Portland floundering Boston Celtics on Bulls 102, Nets 84 18 points and the biggest basket Trail Blazers’ 107-93 victory over Sunday. Bulls guard Jimmy Butler of the night on a six-footer with the Minnesota Timberwolves Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, scored a game-high 26 points, 16 42.9 seconds left for the Magic, Sunday night at the Moda Center. who missed two games for a of which came in the first half, as who were 4-37 on the road last Guard Wesley Matthews added minor medical procedure, saw the Bulls manhandled Brooklyn. season but improved to 5-7 away 23 points — sinking 6 of 10 shots his team blow a nine-point first- The win came in the final game of from Amway Center this season from 3-point range — as the Trail quarter lead and then recover the Bulls’ seven-game road trip, a by surprising a Suns team that Blazers (13-4) rebounded from a from a nine-point second-quarter stretch where Chicago went 4-3. had won five of their last seven. 112-99 loss to Memphis on Friday. deficit to improve to 12-4. The Bulls also received 25 Heat 86, Knicks 79 Forward Shabazz Muhammad The loss was the fourth in a points and 13 rebounds from for- Dwyane Wade scored a season- came off the bench to lead row overall and sixth straight at ward Pau Gasol. Guard Derrick best 27 points in his return to the Minnesota (4-11) with a career- home for the Celtics (4-10). Rose added 14 points. Miami Heat in a 86-79 win over high 28 points while guard Mo Forward Danny Green led five Grizzlies 97, Kings 85 the New York Knicks Sunday at Williams contributed 21 points San Antonio players in double fig- Forward Zach Randolph had 22 Madison Square Garden. and 11 assists. REUTERS ures with 18 points. points and 12 rebounds and center Wade missed the Heat’s last Warriors 104, Pistons 93 Marc Gasol added 18 points to seven games with a hamstring Golden State won their ninth help Memphis win their fifth injury. Without the all-star guard NBA Results straight game and completed a straight game and improve their in the lineup, Miami (8-8) were San Antonio 111 Boston 89 sweep of a five-game road trip for NBA-best record to 15-2. 3-4. Chicago 102 Brooklyn 84 the first time since 1978. The Kings (9-8) lost their third Forward Carmelo Anthony Golden State 104 Detroit 93 Forward Draymond Green straight game despite 17 points returned to the Knicks (4-14) Memphis 97 Sacramento 85 scored 20 points and point-guard and 20 rebounds by forward after missing the last two games Miami 86 NY Knicks 79 Stephen Curry supplied 16 points Reggie Evans off the bench. with back spasms. He scored Boston Celtics forward Jared Sullinger (centre) shoots the ball against Orlando 93 Phoenix 90 and 10 assists before exiting with Magic 93, Suns 90 31 points and forward Amar’e San Antonio Spurs forward Matt Bonner (left) and forward Aron Baynes Portland 107 Minnesota 93 during the first-half of a NBA game at the TD Garden in Boston on Sunday. 8:38 remaining with a left ankle Forward Tobias Harris led a Stoudemire added 19 points and sprain. balanced Orlando Magic attack 12 rebounds. LA Lakers 129 Toronto 122 TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 24 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

Qatar Fencing Grand Prix 2014 to take place in Doha from December 5 to 7

The Secretary General of the Qatar Fencing Federation (QFF), Khalid Mohammed Al Yazeedi (centre), addressing a press conference ahead of the Qatar Fencing Grand Prix 2014 at the Gate Mall in Doha yesterday. Khalid Al Kahtani (left), Fahad Abdullah Al Mulla (second right), and other officials were also present. The three-day championship will take place from December 5 to 7 at Aspire Academy and the Gate Mall. The preliminary rounds will take place at the Aspire Academy while the finals will take place at the Gate Mall on Friday and Saturday. The event will bring together 288 fencers representing 46 countries. Fencers from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Congo, Ivory Coast, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kuwait, Lativia, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Mauritius, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Tunis, Uzbekistan, Ukraine, United States and Venezuela will be taking part. QFF has been organising the Grand Prix since 2005 in accordance with the Federation Internationale D’Escrime (FIE). RIGHT: Saleh Amer Al Hemaidi (second right), President of QFF and the Executive Board of QFF pose for a picture with Abdulsalam Abu Issa (centre) of Salam International at The Gate Mall after signing an agreement. The Gate Mall is the main sponsor of the event. PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT QPR seek Barcelona snatch end to away day blues

LONDON: Midfielder Karl victory in Valencia Henry has warned Queens Park Rangers must improve their disastrous away form if they are Busquets scores winner in injury time to haul themselves out of the Premier League relegation zone. Harry Redknapp’s side have MADRID: Barcelona closed However, there were more yet to secure a single point on to within two points of leaders Spanish League unsavoury scenes at Mestalla as the road so far this season and Real Madrid as Sergio Busquets’ Lionel Messi was struck on the will attempt to end that run when stoppage time handed them a Results head by a plastic bottle thrown they travel to Swansea City on 1-0 win at Valencia on a day La MADRID: Spanish league from the crowd as Barca cel- Tuesday. Liga was marred by the death results on Sunday: ebrated their winner. Rangers appear to be finally of a Deportivo la Coruna fan “We were lucky to score in developing some momentum at Atletico Madrid 2 (Saul 42, Turan 55) who was pulled from a freezing the last minute. These are three Loftus Road after a dismal start Deportivo La Coruna 0 river following violent clashes points that will give us a huge to the campaign left the club between rival supporters. Sevilla 5 (Bacca 24, 79, Banega 65, M’bia boost,” Busquets told Canal Plus. rooted to the foot of table. The 43-year-old man was 89, Gameiro 90+2) Granada 1 (El-Arabi “We never settle for a draw, we Saturday’s 3-2 victory over rescued by firefighters from 42-pen) tried in every way possible and fellow strugglers Leicester City the Manzanares river near the Cordoba 0 Villarreal 2 (Vietto 24, Uche 70) in the end it came from a corner. means the west London club have Vicente Calderon stadium, where Valencia 0 Barcelona 1 ( Busquets 90) We had been attacking them for collected 11 points from 13 games Deportivo went on to lose 2-0 to Played on Saturday a few minutes and when the ball with only goal difference sepa- Atletico Madrid, but died of car- Getafe 1 (Lafita 90+1) Athletic Bilbao 2 (San fell to me from Alves I gave it eve- FC Barcelona’s Argentinian striker Leo Messi (right) grabs a plastic bot- rating them from fourth-bottom diac arrest shortly afterwards. Jose 36, Benat 90) rything I had.” tle that hit his head during the Primera Division football match against Hull City. He also suffered head injuries and Espanyol 2 (Caicedo 19, Sergio Garcia 35) Barca looked on course to fall Valencia FC on Sunday night. Valencia CF will endeavour to locate the Henry believes the team are hypothermia. Levante 1 (Morales 12) four points behind Real Madrid as person who threw the bottle and he will be banned for life from the moving in the right direction but Police confirmed they made Valencia had kept their star trio must find a way to win away from Malaga 1 (Santa Cruz 90+2) Real Madrid 2 Mestalla. 24 arrests after the incidents in of Lionel Messi, Neymar and Luis home if they are to build on their (Benzema 18, Bale 83) which another 11 people, includ- Suarez quiet for the vast majority improved standing. ing a police officer, suffered minor Celta Vigo 0 Eibar 1 (Del Moral 30) of the game. of an understandably subdued the violence. “I repeat that neither “We are just a win away from injuries. insisted that Spanish society must Suarez missed a golden oppor- Calderon. Atletico Madrid nor Deportivo being on a point a game which The Spanish football league deal with the problem rather than tunity either side of half-time and Saul Niguez headed in from have anything to do with these keeps you in the league, and that’s said in a statement it had tried football clubs alone. also had a goal wrongly ruled out Koke’s free-kick to give the hosts radical groups that have their the target for us,” Henry said. to postpone the game at the “It is a social problem, not a for offside 22 minutes from time. the lead just before half-time and own histories and stories.” “We are kind of back on track, last minute, but it hadn’t been football one. They are people that However, Barca also had goal- Arda Turan’s deflected effort dou- Sevilla climbed above Valencia and if we can get some wins in possible. live for the shirt, that are fans of a keeper Claudio Bravo to thank bled their advantage 10 minutes into fourth thanks to their first our next few games, we can suck Among those arrested were team, but it is a societal problem,” for keeping them in the game as after the break as Deportivo could win in four league games, 5-1 at other teams back into it. members of the Atletico and he said. he made fine saves from Sofiane only clear a corner to the edge of home to Granada. Carlos Bacca “In the past we have been Deportivo ultra groups, Frente On the field, Barca ensured Feghouli and Alvaro Negredo in the area where the Turkish inter- opened the scoring midway accused of not giving it every- Atletico and Riazor Blues, as their title hopes remained intact the closing stages before Busquets national was lurking. through the first half when he thing, so it’s important that we well ultras from the Bukaneros when Busquets volleyed home snatched all three points. “We cannot expand on the bundled home from close range, show everyone what we’re about. and Alkor Hooligans groups who from close range three minutes Earlier, Atletico once again details because we don’t know but the visitors levelled through “We need to show that we’re follow Madrid-based sides Rayo into stoppage time to inflict relied on their expertise from them and they are under inves- Youssef Al-Arabi from the penalty going to dig deep. That’s what it’s Vallecano and Alcorcon. Valencia’s first home defeat of set-pieces to claim all three tigation,” said Atletico president spot just before the break. all about. The easy part of foot- Atletico boss Diego Simeone the season. points against Deportivo in front Enrique Cerezo when quizzed on AFP ball is working hard, and that’s something we have got here in abundance,” he added. English Premier Henry, though, believes Redknapp’s side have laid the Van Gaal dreading busy December League Fixtures foundations for a successful sur- (all times in GMT, 19.45 unless stated) vival battle. MANCHESTER, United players respec- “When you well. But against Hull we did. He Burnley vs Newcastle “Our home form has been Kingdom: Manchester United tively to sustain are challenged asked for six points as a must Leicester vs Liverpool good,” he explained. “We have a manager Louis van Gaal (pic- injuries this during the whole and we’re going to deliver that Manchester United vs Stoke game-plan at Loftus Road and it’s tured) admitted he is dread- season, during season, you yesterday. working well. Swansea vs QPR ing the Christmas period as his Saturday’s 3-0 become better “Confidence is good, with our “It’s not pretty but we’re get- team continue their bid for a win over Hull. and we have to home form as well. We’ll be com- Crystal Palace vs Aston Villa (20.00) ting points, but we need to start Champions League place against Di Maria’s train to become ing out firing again on Tuesday.” West Brom vs West Ham (20.00) picking up points on the road; it’s lowly Stoke City at Old Trafford hamstring pull better.” Meanwhile former United not enough to rely on your home today. will keep him Defender striker Hughes has an injury he will persist with a pragmatic form. The visit of Mark Hughes’ team out of the Stoke Chris Smalling, headache in midfield, with both approach when the Merseysiders “We want to go to Swansea, marks the beginning of a month game, although one of United’s Steve Sidwell and Glenn Whelan travel to Premier League strug- make it ugly, make it difficult for in which United play seven league Van Gaal was scorers against set to miss the trip to Old glers Leicester today. them to play, and hopefully come fixtures and, while his team has more optimis- Hull, believes Trafford. The Reds challenged for the away with something.” no interest in European or League tic regarding his side’s latest The pair suffered injuries title last season with an enthral- QPR will draw confidence Cup football, Van Gaal is adamant Rooney’s chances victory repre- during Saturday’s 1-0 loss at ling attacking style which saw from Swansea’s worrying habit such a schedule is too demanding. of recovering sented the best Liverpool, with Sidwell sustain- them score 101 goals and finish of allowing a lead to slip. “I’m not happy because I do from calf and performance of ing a knee problem after a Rickie just two points behind champions Once again, the south Wales not agree with that but I can- knee problems Van Gaal’s reign Lambert challenge, while replace- Manchester City. club failed to hold on after going not change that,” said the former in time. and is relishing ment Whelan, who is only just However, following the sale of ahead in Saturday’s 1-1 draw Netherlands coach. The debilitat- the prospect of back from a broken leg, failed to striker Luis Suarez to Barcelona with Crystal Palace and Garry “I don’t think it’s good for the ing injury record continuing their re-emerge from the tunnel after in the close season and Daniel Monk’s side -- who lie eighth in football players that they play is one reason why the United current vein of form against half-time after pulling his calf. Sturridge’s injury problems, the table -- have now dropped 13 within two days another match. manager has said that the lack Stoke. Whelan’s place was taken by Liverpool have failed to recapture points from winning positions this In December, it shall be like that. of fixtures in other competitions “Quite a lot of our wins this Charlie Adam, who is the obvi- that form this term. After a run season. “We also have families. I also does not give his side any advan- season have not been that com- ous choice to fill in. of three league defeats, Rodgers “We were on top of them for have a wife and kids and grand- tage over their rivals near the top plete performance but I think “I’m concerned by the injuries adopted a more disciplined and most of the 90 minutes,” said children and I cannot see them of the league table. against Hull we put on a 90 we are getting at the moment, defensive game against Stoke City Swansea goalkeeper Lukasz this Christmas,” the Dutchman “No, I don’t think so,” Van Gaal minute performance that the although you can’t legislate for at the weekend and saw his side Fabianski as he reflected on the added. said. “It depends on the injuries manager wanted,” he said. the one Steve Sidwell suffered,” grind out a 1-0 win. Palace match. “Unfortunately, we “But, I want to work in the and the other clubs are used to “The manager has said it was Hughes said. “He opened his knee And, ahead of the clash with ended up with a draw and we’re Premier League, I have to adapt playing in the Champions League. our best game of the season and up and is very sore. Leicester, Rodgers said he planned disappointed with the final result. and I shall adapt.” “You cannot say Chelsea are not I think it was. It was a complete “We just hope there’s nothing to stick with a more conservative “In some of the games this sea- Van Gaal’s concerns have been used to playing in the Champions performance. sinister to it but he’ll need to be style for the time being. son we seem to play well up until heightened by his team’s alarming League, the Premier League, the “The manager said after the checked. It’s unlikely either Steve “We’ve had a lot of changes, we the first goal and then we seem injury record with Angel di Maria League Cup and the FA Cup. They Arsenal game it was a perform- or Glenn will make it.” have a lot of different players and to lose our focus a little. But once and Wayne Rooney becoming the are used to that and they have all ance which we’d really ground Meanwhile, Liverpool man- we are dealing with a different set you score you need to push even 41st and 42nd United first-team those selections for that. out, we didn’t play particularly ager Brendan Rodgers has said of cards,” Rodgers said. AFP harder. AFP TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 25 QMMF praised as FIA event starts President Todt gives thumbs up to Assembly preparations, rates Qatar vital for sport

DOHA: Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, President, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and FIA Vice President expressed delight on the successful start of the five- day 2014 FIA Annual General Assembly, which kicked off in Doha yesterday. As many as 163 members representing 116 countries and around 800 guests, besides the international media are attend- ing the mega event. Regarding the meetings, Al Attiyah said he was very happy with the with the opening of the FIA Medical Summit, that kicked off the event, yesterday. “It was one of the FIA main concern and interest to ensure the sudden rescue process and the safety aspects related to any international event organised under FIA organisation,” said the QMMF President. Al Attiyah added that the sec- ond day (today) of this meeting, will take place in Aspetar hospi- Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, President, Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) speaks to Jean Todt, the FIA Vice President on the sidelines of the FIA General Assembly which started tal to do practical trials to iden- in Doha yesterday. RIGHT: Al Attiyah poses for a group photo along with the Sudanese Automobile Touring Club’s officials. tify the nature of accidents the hospital usually deals with, to have enough experience as Qatar how to deal with accidents com- of the event. Al Attiyah appreci- hosting this international event FIA President said he was happy ones as it will have Karting race organise many local and interna- mon in motorsport as motorsport ated the acknowledgement, say- at St Regis hotel and thanked to to be in Qatar for the second time in which the FIA world champi- tional championships at Losail is dangerous if the safety guide- ing it will motivate Qatar, Middle all the media to spread this Qatar in the hospitality of ‘friend’ Al ons of different sports will com- International Circuit. lines are not available. East and North Africa to continue achievement to all over the world. Attiyah. pete. Todt stated that he is very He further added that the Meanwhile, Jean Todt, the FIA the hardwork for the promotion Meanwhile, Todt, arrived at the Todt said he was astonished optimistic on future of the sport QMMF was keen to invite a large President and Professor Gerard of the sport. Hamad International Airport on with the arrangements. He con- with the presence of governments number of physicians to attend Saillant, President FIA Institute, Al Attiyah also thanked Omar Sunday, where he was greeted by firmed that the event will be com- like the Qatari government. the meetings to learn more from praised QMMF for preparations Alfardan for his support in Al Attiyah. Upon his arrival, the pletely different from the previous THE PENINSULA Australia, India Test dates moved SYDNEY: The first Test “It’s very clear that playing a the field, and that the Adelaide team, currently in Adelaide, can- between Australia and India Test right now is just too soon Test presents more time for them celled their flight to Brisbane, will now take place in Adelaide and we are reacting accordingly.” to grieve and mentally prepare,” yesterday. as part of a major reshuffling of The Australian and Indian ACA Chief Executive Alistair Hughes died in a Sydney hospi- the series following the death cricket boards met with the play- Nicholson said. tal last Thursday, two days after last week of Australian bats- ers’ union (ACA) and other key Adelaide Oval, which was due he was struck in the head by a man Phillip Hughes. stakeholders, including broad- to host the second Test from short-pitched delivery during a The first Test was supposed to casters and commercial partners, December 12-16, will now host domestic first-class match. start in Brisbane on Thursday before agreeing on a new sched- the series opener from December His death has triggered an but has been delayed until next ule for the lucrative Border- 9-13, in what is sure to be a highly outpouring of emotion, sympa- Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina (centre) and members of the week and switched to Adelaide to Gavaskar Series. emotional occasion. thy and support from inside and Bangladesh cricket team pose for a photograph with the tournament give grief-stricken players more The dates for three of the Brisbane will now host the sec- outside the cricketing world. trophies after the fifth ODI against Zimbabwe in Dhaka, yesterday. time to recover with Hughes’ four Tests were changed and ond Test from December 17-21 The funeral for the left- funeral taking place tomorrow. the entire series squeezed into while the third Test will proceed hander, who would have turned “Nobody should underesti- 33 days, despite fears of player as planned from December 26-30 26 on Sunday, will be held in mate just what these players are burnout before the World Cup, in Melbourne. The fourth and his hometown of Macksville in Taijul grabs hat-trick on going through right now,” Cricket which will be held in Australia final Test will still take place in northern New South Wales. Australia (CA) Chief Executive and New Zealand early next year. Sydney in the New Year, but will Hughes was a popular member James Sutherland said in a state- “Based on our discussions with start on January 6, three days of the Australian cricket commu- debut in Zimbabwe rout ment yesterday. the players and with support of later than originally scheduled. nity and several members of the “These are difficult days and health experts, we believed the Some changes were expected Australian team were playing in we need to support them in deal- first Test in Brisbane was still after CA postponed the start the match when he was struck by DHAKA: Left-arm spinner Zimbabwe collapsed after a fine ing with their grief. too early for them to return to of the first Test and the Indian the ball. REUTERS Taijul Islam became the first start. They lost their last nine cricketer to claim a hat-trick on wickets for 33 runs and were dis- his debut in a one-day interna- missed for 128 in 30 overs. tional as he set up a five-wicket Hamilton Masakadza top- victory for Bangladesh over scored for Zimbabwe with 52 and Zimbabwe yesterday. shared a 79-run second-wicket Pakistan coach Younis satisfied The win in Dhaka gave stand with Vusimuzi Sibanda Bangladesh a clean sweep in the (37) – the only high point in five-match ODI series against Zimbabwe’s innings. their fellow cricketing minnows. Panyangara and Chatara, who despite New Zealand drubbing The whitewash came after the shared the five Bangladeshi wick- hosts recorded a 3-0 win against ets that fell, briefly raised the visi- the visitors in the preceding Test tors’ hopes. SHARJAH: Pakistan cricket to fill the void well. Waqar said the series. But Mahmudullah kept his coach Waqar Younis yesterday abandonment of the second day’s Taijul bowled Tinashe composure to score an unbeaten termed his team’s performance play in the third Test against New Panyangara in the last ball of his 51, guiding Bangladesh to 130-5 over five Tests as “extremely Zealand because of Australian sixth over and returned to trap in 24.3 overs. good” as they beat Australia 2-0 batsman Phillip Hughes’s death John Nyumbu leg before and bowl The 28-year old middle-order and levelled the series against had not helped. Tendai Chatara in the first two batsman hit two fours off succes- New Zealand 1-1. “It’s not an excuse but balls of his next over to complete sive balls from seamer Solomon Pakistan went down by an the abandonment broke our Pakistani the hat-trick. Mire to seal the rout and bring innings and 80 runs in the third team’s rhythm,” said Waqar of batsman Younis Taijul, who finished with 4-11, up his 11th fifty in the process. and final Test against New Thursday’s play abandoned after Khan reacts as is only the fourth Bangladeshi to Sabbir Rahman, 13 not out, Zealand in Sharjah on Sunday, the news of Hughes death came he leaves the claim a hat-trick in an ODI after supported Mahmudullah after an ending Waqar felt should not from Australia. ground after Shahadat Hossain, Abdur Razzak Bangladesh lost their fifth wicket be criticised. Hughes died of head injury two his dimissal for and Rubel Hossain. with the score on 93. Chatara fin- “It would have been icing on the days after being hit by a bouncer a duck during Shakib Al Hasan took the last ished with 3-44 while Panyangara cake and a happy ending had we in a first class match in Sydney. the fourth day wicket to return figures of 3-30 as claimed 2-49. AFP won the last Test and the series “Our boys lost rhythm and of the third and against New Zealand but if I ana- when the Test began after a day’s final Test match lyse the performance in the five gap we lost our way,” said Waqar against New Scoreboard Tests I found it extremely good,” of Pakistan’s first innings derailed Zealand at the said Waqar. from first day’s score of 281-3 to ZIMBABWE BANGLADESH Sharjah Cricket H Masakadza b Jubair ...... 52 Tamim Iqbal c Mire b Panyangara ...... 10 Pakistan’s October win – also in 351 all out on the second morning United Arab Emirates – was their of the match. stadium in S Raza c Rahim b Mortaza ...... 9 Anamul Haque c Masakadza b Chatara ...... 8 Sharjah Sunday. V Sibanda c Mortaza b Shakib...... 37 Soumya Sarkar c Raza b Chatara ...... 20 first against Australia in 20 years. Waqar predicted a good future B Taylor b Shakib ...... 9 Mahmudullah (not out) ...... 51 Waqar said he was proud of his for Pakistan in Test cricket. S Mire lbw Taijul...... 9 S Al Hasan c Masakadza b Panyangara ...... 0 team. “Look, you need discipline T Maruma b Jubair ...... 1 Mushfiqur Rahim c Taylor b Chatara ...... 11 “I am proud of the boys, the in Tests which begins from the E Chigumbura (not out) ...... 3 Sabbir Rahman (not out) ...... 13 entire nation should be proud hotel room, like how you are rest- T Panyangara b Taijul ...... 0 Extras (LB-6, W-10, NB-1) ...... 17 of them,” said Waqar. “We had a ing during the five-day game and John Nyumbu lbw Taijul ...... 3 Total (for 5 wkts in 24.3 overs) ...... 130 depleted bowling attack but they then bowling, fielding and batting T Chatara b Taijul ...... 0 Did not bat: Abul Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza, delivered in both the series, they all need discipline and these boys T Kamungozi c Mahmudullah b Shakib ...... 2 Taijul Islam, Jubair Hossain. couldn’t finish it off but I am still are capable of keeping that disci- Extras (W-3) ...... 3 Fall of wickets: 1-18, 2-28, 3-47, 4-58, very happy.” pline in future,” said Waqar, who and when you play five Tests it “Younis and Misbah were out- Total (all out in 30 overs) ...... 128 5-93. Pakistan were without their played 87 Tests and 262 one-day takes a lot of fitness and resolve standing and the way Misbah led Fall of wickets: 1-16, 2-95, 3-108, 4-109, Bowling: Panyangara 10-1-49-2 (w3, nb1); ace spinner Saeed Ajmal who internationals for Pakistan as a and he has shown that in abun- the team was praiseworthy,” said 5-112, 6-120, 7-120, 8-124, 9-124, 10-128. Chatara 10-0-44-3 (w6); Kamungozi 4-0-21-0; is under suspension over illegal frontline paceman. dance,” said Waqar of the left- Waqar. Bowling: Mortaza 5-1-23-1 (w1); Abul 3-1- Mire 0.3-0-10-0 (w1). bowling action since September. Waqar said paceman Rahat arm paceman. Pakistan and New Zealand now 23-0 (w1); Shakib 7-1-30-3 (w1); Taijul 7-2- Result: Bangladesh won by five wickets to take But left-arm spinner Zulfiqar Ali has progressed by leaps and Waqar said Pakistan’s batting play two Twenty20s in Dubai on 11-4; Jubair 8-0-41-2. the five-match series 5-0. Babar and leggie Yasir Shah took bounds. led by Younis Khan and skipper December 4 and 5 followed by five 27 wickets apiece in the five Tests “Rahat had come a long way Misbah-ul Haq was impressive. one-day internationals. AFP TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 26 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

17th Asian Club League Championship Results Group A: Al Gharafa Club (QAT) bt Al Al Gharafa-Al Qurain match Qurain Sporting Club (KUW) 25-25 Group B: Al Kuwait Club (KUW) bt Ahli Sidab Club (OMA) 29-22 Group A: Samenalhojaj (IRI) bt Al Salt Club (JOR) 29-17 Group B: Al Khalij Club (KSA) bt ends in a thrilling draw Manyazium Ferdows Club (IRI) 27-21 Venue: Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Sports Hall Al Sadd Bader nets equaliser for Al Gharafa 30 seconds from the final hooter NB: No matches today

DOHA: Bader Al Ghamdi net- ted an equaliser 30 seconds from the final hooter to give Qatar’s Al Gharafa a deserving point in a thrilling 25-25 draw against Al Qurain Sporting Club from Kuwait in the Group A match of the 17th Asian Club League Championship Yesterday at the Ali Bin Hamad Al-Attiyah Arena in Al Sadd both teams having won their opening games were eager to stay afloat in the race. The tension was almost visible from the starting throw-off and should quickly evolve into one of the most physical matches of this tournament so far. In defence both teams fought for every millimetre using all physical power and tricks they had. Score wise the game was levelled in first half at 11-11 draw. The tough character was vis- ible with the high amount of yel- low cards and 2-minute-penalties and also the tournament’s first red card.The tight match contin- ued over second half, the Kuwaiti finding ways over their excellent right wing play with Ali Saleh scoring six important goals. The Qatari attacked mainly rolled over Action from the 17th Asian Club League Championship match between Al Kuwait Club of Kuwait and Ahli Sedab Club of Oman at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Sports Hall Al Sadd in Doha the middle with Saied Sobhi’s (6) yesterday. RIGHT: Hany Elfakharany of Al Gharafa Sports Club of Qatar scores against Al Qurain Club of Kuwait at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Sports Hall yesterday. one-on-ones and Elfakharany’s PICTURES BY: SALIM MATRAMKOT cool finishes from the line for five goals. In the end a draw was the a fitting result for the closely fought encounter. With yesterday’s draw both teams remain in the hunt for Warm welcome awaits fans in Doha: Qatar 2015 a semi-final berth. In the other matches, a solid DOHA: The Qatar 2015 countries will come to Qatar to outlined its plans for creating a With the ticketing website first half performance by Al Organising Committee has held compete in January and we need long lasting legacy for handball now live, sports fans can order Kuwait Club saw them win 29-22 a special meeting with repre- to make sure that details such as fans by encouraging interaction tickets for selected matches or over Oman’s Ahli Sadab and sentatives from the embassies of visas, accommodation and trans- through spectators’ zones, special by ‘Sessions’, which include all secure two more valuable points. the 23 nations participating in port are taken care of beforehand events, competitions and prizes in matches taking place at a par- Elsewhere, Samenalhojaj of the 24th Men’s Handball World so that everyone can enjoy the addition to handball games and ticular venue on a single day. Iran finally managed to show off Championship, as Qatar pre- games. On another hand encour- activities. The Organising Committee their full potential defeating Al pares to welcome thousands of age the communities of the 23 To enable audience inter- used this meeting as an oppor- Salt Club of Jordan 29-17, while sports fans in January 2015. participating countries to come action with a global fanbase tunity to extend an invitation Al Khalij Club of Saudi Arabia The meeting, which took place to Doha to follow their teams and the Audience Committee has for ambassadors and embassy defeated Iranian club Manyazium at the Four Seasons Hotel, out- cheer for them.” requested the embassy’s from all representatives from competing Ferdows Club 27-21. lined the progress that has been In order to achieve this the 23 nations to nominate one rep- countries to attend the opening In Group A, Lekhwiya is lead- made as Qatar prepares to host Qatar 2015 Organising Committee resentative to join the audience ceremony on January 15, 2015 ing with four points after two the championship, as well as has enabled special visas to be team. Representatives will be which will be held at the new games followed by Al Gharafa the wide range of services being issued through hotels, embassies from different levels, nationali- Lusail Multipurpose Hall. and Al Qurain Sporting Club of provided for visiting teams and and from the airport upon arrival. Saeed Abdulla Al Eida, Head ties and backgrounds to create an The 24th Men’s Handball Kuwait with three points from spectators. To issue a visa, spectators need to of Protocol and International internationally inclusive plan for World Championship will take two followed by Samenalhojaj Saeed Abdulla Al Eida, Head submit an application three work- Relations at Qatar 2015. the championship. place in Doha from 15 January to with two points in three games. of Protocol and International ing days prior to their travel date Sheikha Asma Al Thani, Head 1 February 2015. Countries com- All four teams still have a chance Relations, said: “Under the and their passport validity should of Marketing & Communication, peting include Spain, France, to secure a semi-final spot. supervision of the ministry of be no less than 6 months. the championship will be divided said: “We understand that hand- Denmark, Croatia, Algeria, In the other group, El Jaish foreign affairs and the leader- To ensure the very best of Doha on to 4 hotels: the Grand Hyatt ball supporters will travel from Tunisia, Egypt, Iran, Czech is leading, along with Al Kuwait ship of the organizing commit- is on display throughout tourna- Hotel, Marriott, Intercontinental around the world to watch their Republic, Russia, Austria, Poland, Club with four points after two teeQatar 2015, we are working ment VIP events will be held at Hotel and Hilton Doha Hotel. The team in action, which is why we Sweden, Belarus, Slovenia, Bosnia games. Manyazium Ferdows Club hard with the embassies to make the Sheraton Doha Hotel and Qatar national team will be stay- have designed our tickets web- and Herzegovina, Macedonia, and Al Khalij Club trail with two sure that we have everything in Ritz-Carlton Doha Hotel includ- ing at Four Seasons Hotel. site to allow people to select their Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, points after playing three games. place for their visiting delega- ing meet and greets and press con- The newly appointed Qatar tickets by team as well as venue Saudi Arabia and Iceland. THE PENINSULA tions. Representatives from 23 ferences. Teams participating in 2015 Audience Committee also and date.” THE PENINSULA Giri, Kramnik clash today as race hots up in Qatar

DOHA: Top seed Anish Giri of Holland will clash Vladimir Kramnik of Russia in the seventh round match of the Qatar Masters Open 2014 here yesterday. The clash between the two promises to be an interesting dual. Leader at the end of the sixth round Giri is the only player to have a perfect record in the cham- pionship having won all his six matches and has six points in his kitty. On the other hand the Russian former world champion did not have a the best of the starts in the championship and currently Daniel King, an English Grandmaster and broadcaster, shares a joke has five points from six. with another Grandmaster Mohamed Al Medaihki of Qatar and General Yesterday the 20-year-old from Secretary of Qatar Chess Association during the Qatar Masters Open Holland defeated Nils Grandelius in Doha yesterday. of Sweden while Kramnik defeated compatriot Sanan Sjugirov. Meanwhile many chess fans defeat a GM!,” wrote one fan on against Aleksandr Lenderman have been following the twitter twitter after his sixth consecutive (4.5). handle of Qatar Masters Open victory in the Doha tournament. The tournament is being con- @Qatar_Masters to update the “@anishgiri ..... Six wins in a ducted according to the Swiss progress of their favourite players. row in @Qatar_Masters...... Go System of nine rounds and if “@anishgiri you’re a monster! for the clean sweep and make us necessary a play-off. The event You’ve made it look really easy to proud,” another fan wrote. will end on December 4. Some of In today’s top pairing of the the high profile players are tak- Qatar Masters Open 2014 seventh round Kramnik (5) ing part in the event including Top pairings of Round 7 takes on Giri (6), while Mikhailo 92 grandmasters, of the 154 play- Kramnik (5)vs Giri (6) Oleksienko (4.5) faces Evgeny ers taking part. The total prize Tomashevsky (4.5). money is $110,000. The first place Grandmaster Anish Giri of Holland, who is also the top seed of the Qatar Masters Open 2014, thinks about his Oleksienko (4½) vs Tomashevsky (4½) The other top pairs are Yuriy winner will get $25,000. First next move at Hotel Crowne Plaza in Doha yesterday. At the end of the sixth round, Giri is leading with a perfect Kryvoruchko (4½) vs Shankland (4½) record having won all his matches. PICTURES BY: MARIA EMELIANOVA/DMITRY RUKHLETSKIY Kryvoruchko (4.5) vs Sam place for ladies is $5,000. Yu (4½) vs Lenderman (4½) Shankland (4.5) and Yu Yangi (4.5) THE PENINSULA TUESDAY 2 DECEMBER 2014 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 27

Spieth ‘very far away’ from Qatar Masters: Final 50-day top world ranking

SYDNEY: Rising star Jordan countdown begins today Spieth obliterated world number one Rory McIlroy by 15 strokes in his runaway Australian Open triumph, but says he is “very far Top golfers to be seen in action, organisers promise full entertainment away” from becoming the top- ranked player. The 21-year-old Texan blitzed DOHA: The final 50-day count- Commercial Bank Qatar Masters the field with a sizzling course down of the highly-anticipated will also offer family fun activi- record eight-under-par 63 to win 2015 Commercial Bank Qatar ties that demonstrate the positive the tournament on Sunday by six Masters begins today with fans health and social benefits of golf shots at 13-under 271. itching to see top golfers of the and encourage youngsters to take Spieth was runner-up at the world in action in Doha. up the sport. US Masters last April behind Staged at the Doha Golf Club, Hassan Al Nuaimi, President of fellow American Bubba Watson, the 18th edition of the tourna- the Qatar Golf Association, com- narrowly missing out on being the ment will tee off on January mented: “In 50 days’ time, the first Masters rookie to win since 21 with the final round set for Commercial Bank Qatar Masters Fuzzy Zoeller in 1979. January, promising thousands of will tee off for four days of world- But he said he was a long way spectators a weekend packed with class golf and our biggest ever from challenging for the world star-studded action and family range of family entertainment,” number one ranking, even though entertainment as Sergio Garcia he said. he was expected to climb to 11 returns to defend his title. “We have endeavoured to Spain’s Sergio from 14 after his Australian tri- The event, which sits at the ensure that this is an event for Garcia poses for a umph. “I think I’m very far away. heart of The European Tour’s all the family and encourages picture at the Doha This week was big because I was three-week Middle East swing, budding golfers of all ages to Golf Club during able to close it out,” he said. is organised by the Qatar Golf take up the sport when they see the previous edition “I still believe I am far away Association (QGA), the Qatar the European Tour stars out on of the Commercial because I believe I have to win Olympic Committee (QOC), Doha course.” Bank Qatar Masters, a major or two in order to sig- Golf Club and Commercial Bank Abdullah Al Raisi, CEO of in this January 2014 nificantly progress to that goal of Qatar. Commercial Bank added: “To file photo. Garcia will of being world number one and Much more than just four help contribute to one of the most return next month to so now I look to April (Augusta days of international golf action, enjoyable weekends of the year for Masters).” AFP Doha to defend his a family zone will allow kids of all many families in Qatar is a privi- title. BOTTOM: Young ages to try out a range of sports lege. Over the ten years of part- including mini basketball, mini nership with the tournament, we golf fans mark the final World Rankings tennis, mini golf and mini soccer have been delighted to see grow- 50-day countdown for 1. (1) Rory McIlroy (Britain) ...... 11.64 alongside gourmet food offerings ing numbers of visitors each year; the highly-anticipated 2. (2) Henrik Stenson (Sweden) ...... 8.13 for the parents. it reflects the rising popularity of championship. 3. (3) Adam Scott (Australia) ...... 8.03 The ever-popular golf trick golf in the region and the wide 4. (4) Bubba Watson (US) ...... 7.68 shot boys will return to entertain variety of entertainment on offer,” 5. (6) Jim Furyk (US)...... 7.08 kids and adults alike with their he said. 6. (7) Justin Rose (Britain) ...... 7.01 action-packed daily golf show and Tickets are expected to go on the shopping boulevard is a brand sale mid-December, and will be 7. (5) Sergio Garcia (Spain) ...... 6.92 new addition to the event. With available at Virgin Megastores, 8. (8) Jason Day (Australia) ...... 6.02 a wide selection of accessories, Doha Golf Club, and the Doha 9. (9) Rickie Fowler (US) ...... 5.62 apparel and other exhibitions, Rugby FC Day and season passes 10. (10) Matt Kuchar (US) ...... 5.44 the boulevard will be a four-day will be available for purchase, giv- 11. (14) Jordan Spieth (US) ...... 5.21 shopping hotspot. ing access to fun-packed activi- 12. (11) Phil Mickelson (US) ...... 4.92 In partnership with United ties, the Public Village live concert 13. (12) Martin Kaymer (Germany) ...... 4.77 Through Golf, the commu- and much more. For more infor- nity development initiative at mation, visit www.qatar-masters. 14. (13) Billy Horschel (US) ...... 4.64 the Qatar Golf Academy, the com. THE PENINSULA 15. (15) Graeme McDowell (Britain) ...... 4.46

Ticket sales soar as FINA Worlds

Salah Al Saadi set to kick off in Doha tomorrow (left), Head of Games Services DOHA: Tickets are selling fast Inside the swimming arena, hopes of world records and world Committee, Qatar as swimming fans are sweeping spectators will be treated to the champion titles.” 2015 Organising up the last remaining seats at high octane races from world Doha is also hosting the first Committee and this year’s ultimate swimming champions, record holders and ever Youth Programme around Mahroof Ul Haq, finale, the 12th FINA World Olympians including US Olympic the World Championships, a five Director, Go & Fun, Swimming Championships Gold Medalist Ryan Lochte, day event where 350 elite young sign a contract of (25m). South Africa’s golden boy, Chad swimmers will be given the oppor- mutual agreement With the mega event starting Le Clos and multiple World tunity to experience the FINA in Doha yesterday. tomorrow, the city will see 1,100 of Record holder, Katinka Hosszu World Swimming Championships the world’s best athletes from 171 of Hungary. first hand, gaining exposure to countries descend upon Hamad Roland Schoeman (RSA), major international events and Aquatic Center. Daniel Gyurta (HUN), Mireia familiarise themselves with com- It will be guaranteed action on Belmonte (ESP), and other top petition week format. all five days of the competition as athletes from Germany, Italy, Organised by Qatar Olympic fans can expect to see their swim- Russia, China, Japan and the Committee and FINA, the Youth ming heroes take to the water for Netherlands will also be bringing Programme will bring together a chance at World Championship their best to Doha. the swimmers of tomorrow with glory. The championship has Speaking of the crowds the talent and coaches of today. something for everyone. expected to attend the five days FINA World Swimming Go & Fun joins as an ‘Official Just last week the champi- of competition, Khalil Al Jaber, Championships (25m) category A onships revealed details of the President of Qatar Swimming tickets start from QR20 for the Market Street Fan Zone which Association and CEO of Doha morning heats and QR40 for the will be located just outside Hamad 2014, commented: evening finals. Partner’ of Qatar 2015 Aquatic Center. “Tickets sales for this Category B starts at QR10 for Open to the public and free year’s FINA World Swimming the morning heats and QR20 for DOHA: The Qatar 2015 Ginseng, which gives energy and for all, fans will experience an Championships have confirmed the finals. Organising Committee improves physical and mental abundance of entertainment for what we already knew - this is Doors will open at 8:00am each announced yesterday, Go & performance,” he said. all ages including stage perform- a must-see event on the sporting morning of the event and every Fun as an ‘Official Partner’ “We are happy to bring the ances, appearances from Bahoor calendar,” he said. evening at 16.30pm allowing fans and the Official Sport Drink of ‘Green Concept’ to the champion- the official mascot, auto-graph “We have spectators flying in to enjoy the new interactive fan the 24th Men’s Handball World ship and support the Organising sessions with competing swim- from all over the world to wit- zone and settle in before the Championship. Committee’s efforts to make the mers and even camel rides around ness the excitement as athletes dynamic races get under way. At an official ceremony in Doha, event a lasting legacy in the his- the Aquatic Center. push themselves to the limit with THE PENINSULA Salah Al Saadi, Head of Games tory of Qatar.” Services Committee, Qatar 2015 Go & Fun has a history of Organising Committee and sports sponsorship as it was the Mahroof Ul Haq, Director, Go & sport drink of choice for several Fun, signed a contract of mutual international events. agreement. It will supply the all teams of Go & Fun Sport Drink is the the 24th Men’s Handball World first ‘Green Concept’ energy Championship with their sport drink developed for athletes drink to create a healthier envi- Top swimmers without artificial ingredients, ronment for the players. from around the colours, flavours, chemicals and The 24th Men’s Handball world will vie for preservatives. World Championship is going Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari honour at the It helps athletes to stay to be held across three venues; World Swimming hydrated and sustain their per- Lusail Multipurpose Hall in Championships, formance levels during training Director General, Qatar 2015 we Lusail, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya starting from and competition. will be working closely with them Arena in Al Sadd and the Duhail tomorrow at the Al Saadi, said: “We have cho- to make the 24th Men’s Handball Handball Sports Hall in Duhail Hamad Aquatic sen the Go & Fun Sport Drink World Championship a success,” from January 15, 2015. because it provides a natural he added. A total of 24 countries from all Center. boost of energy through its choice Haq said: “We understand that over the world will participate in of ingredients,” he said. dietary and hydration require- the event. “As we work towards a healthy ments of athletes are different as More information on tick- championship we have carefully they need quicker replenishment ets and match schedules could evaluated partners that meet this of electrolytes and fluids. One of be gained from, http://www. goal and with the support of Dr the main ingredients of the Go qatarhandball2015.com/tickets/ Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, & Fun Sport Drink is organic THE PENINSULA Tuesday 2 December 2014 10 Safar 1436 Volume 19 Number 6267 Sport Price: QR2 SRI LANKA’S WEEKLY NEWS UPDATES Rodgers leads Barcelona    Packers to win snatch victory over Patriots in Valencia LANKADEEPA MIDDLE EAST WEEKLY PUBLISHED EVERY WEDNESDAY BY DAR AL SHARQ                  !"#$%&'()#*#+,'-*,)# Sport | 23 Sport | 24

www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 44557741 | Advertising: 44557837 / 44557780 Qatar slams new corruption claims People are getting tired of allegations against FIFA World Cup bids, says Al Khater

MANILA: Qatar dismissed privilege,” Al Al Khater said: tremendous progress on this issue new allegations of corruption in Khater said at the “At this point as well,” Al Khater said. the bidding process for the 2022 Asian Football our opinion is Work has started on five stadi- Platini denies receiving World Cup as they basked in Confederation that this report ums and engineers are developing strong support from FIFA chief (AFC) awards isn’t in relation air-cooled training venues and fan Sepp Blatter and Asian football in Manila late on to Qatar, as a lot zones. A 1,500-capacity fan site Picasso gift from Russia officials. Sunday. of people make was successfully cooled during Qatar 2022 communications “I guess that it sound. The the Brazil World Cup and can be PARIS: UEFA President Michel Platini (pictured) has dismissed chief Nasser Al Khater said tells you the report, I under- scaled up, Al Khater said. claims that he was given a Picasso painting in return for voting “reader fatigue” was setting in story... there’s a stand, they are He added that several dates for Russia to host the 2018 World Cup as “totally fictitious”. after a British newspaper printed story that came looking at certain were in play for 2022, which faces British newspaper the Sunday Times claims to have access to a fresh claims of vote-buying by up but they went individuals.” being moved to winter months to database of allegations compiled by the failed English bid team for 2018 hosts Russia and the wealthy to the select com- He added: “I’m avoid the harsh desert summer. the 2018 World Cup. The newspaper claimed on Sunday that Platini Gulf state. mittee in parlia- Qatar 2022 communications chief pretty sure peo- But a spring and autumn tourna- was given a painting, believed to be a Picasso, as “I’m pretty sure people are feel- ment, so already Nasser Al Khater ple are already ment are also possible, according part of a bid to secure his vote. ing tired of this story already,” Al that tells me feeling tired of to Al Khater. “I’d like to point out that the Sunday Times Khater said. “I think the same that they’re looking for some this story. I think there’s already “We’ve heard something as allegations are totally fictitious and the news- stuff is being regurgitated so protection.” reader’s fatigue in terms of this early as September or October, paper themselves admit that they don’t have many times people are question- Asia’s second World Cup enjoys story. For us we’re just focused we’ve heard November-December, any proof to support this ridiculous rumour,” ing the motive now, not the story.” staunch backing from regional on our work, we don’t really pay we’ve heard January-February, Platini said. “This affair is now in the hands of He said it was telling that the officials, with Blatter earning attention to it.” we’ve heard May and then we’ve my legal advisers in case of any eventual defa- Sunday Times sought parliamen- loud applause when he told the Al Khater said worker welfare heard the traditional date of mation case.” tary privilege, a defence against gala dinner: “The World Cup 2022 was a top priority. Qatar will pub- June-July,” he said. The newspaper made a variety of other claims libel, before publishing unproven will be played in Qatar.” lish an interim workers’ welfare “I think for us, at this stage, it including that Russian President Vladimir Putin claims it says were secretly com- Widespread calls have been report this week, looking at issues doesn’t create so much of a con- enlisted FIFA President Sepp Blatter to help lobby for votes and that piled by Britain’s bid team for the made to make Michael Garcia’s like the sourcing of labour and cern. It’s always better to have Qatar used its influence in the natural gas industry to secure votes 2018 event. report into the bidding process accommodation. things cleared but whether they through bilateral trade deals. Both Russia and Qatar, who won the “What I understand is that public. “We recognise that there have select the date end of 2022 or right to host the 2022 World Cup, were cleared of any wrong-doing they went to parliament before That, Qatar say, is not their been some problems, but we beginning it doesn’t matter.” following an independent inquiry. AFP publishing, to get parliamentary issue. also recognise that there’s been AGENCIES

FIFA President Sepp Blatter (left) gives a token of appreciation to Manila Jockey Club Chairman Alfonso Reyno (centre) as AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa looks on during the groundbreaking ceremony for a Football Artificial Turf under the FIFA Goal Project III in Carmona, south of Manila, on Sunday. Asian boss rules out tilt at FIFA presidency

MANILA: The head of Asian predecessor, Mohamed bin in the history of Asian football”, football ruled out a future bid Hammam. citing a number of failed penalty for the FIFA presidency and Blatter is seeking a fifth term appeals. said he had long-term ambitions next year, when he will be strong “In every match you will always for the continent which will host favourite to see off French chal- have some complaints regard- its second World Cup in 2022. lenger Jerome Champagne. ing a result. But I think Al Hilal Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Jordan’s Prince Ali bin Al Hussein has accepted it, and I think the Al Khalifa, who is seeking re- is also reportedly considering Sydney club have won it and con- election next year, said that even standing. gratulations to them,” said Sheikh another four years in the Asian Likewise Sheikh Salman looks Salman. job wouldn’t be enough. set to retain his position next year He added that his priorities if “No, no, no,” he said at the by winning an election which will re-elected would be to maintain Asian Football Confederation also see him installed as a FIFA harmony across the vast and (AFC) awards late on Sunday, Vice-president, after the AFC diverse region, and also raise rev- when asked if he saw himself as decided to combine the posts. enues for the AFC’s 47 member a potential leader of football’s The Bahraini said there was associations. world body. still much to do in a region that He said he is also working on “You ask me this question failed to impress at this year’s modernising the AFC’s formats today, my only focus is about Asia. World Cup when its teams Japan, and competitions, and starting I think there’s a lot that needs to Australia, Iran and South Korea new initiatives to develop football be done here. all departed without a win. in Asia. “I think we’ve achieved “Two years or another four Match-fixing concerns remain that but still I think there is more years, I don’t think it’s enough. following a number of scandals, to be done, to improve, and I hope So my focus is just to look into the including at this year’s Asian that if I get elected for the next confederation and what changes Games where suspicious betting four years from 2015 onwards we we can make for the better of the patterns were reported. can set realistic goals,” he said. game.” Last month’s AFC Champions Qatar is due to host the World The Bahraini royal was elected League final ended in acrimony Cup in 2022. It was held in Asia AFC President in 2013 to a and a mass shoving match, with for the first time in 2002, when truncated two-year term after runners-up Al Hilal later call- the hosts were Japan and South the ousting of his controversial ing their 1-0 defeat “a black spot Korea. AFP