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SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 • 1 Rabia I 1437 • Volume 20 Number 6642 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com [email protected] | [email protected] Editorial: 4455 7741 | Advertising: 4455 7837 / 4455 7780

Harrods Village opens in Katara Emir receives call 634,000 workers to from Saudi Deputy Crown Prince DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh benefit as 13,500 Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani yesterday received a phone call from Deputy Crown Prince of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Sec- ond Deputy Premier and Min- firms join WPS ister of Defence Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. They reviewed the fraternal ties between the two countries 30 inspectors trained to monitor system and ways of enhancing them in addition to developments on the DOHA: Some 13,500 companies are part for skilled expatriate workforce and pro- regional and international fronts. of the Wage Protection System (WPS) tecting the rights of expatriate workers, whereby all of their low-income workers as also of business owners, is one of the QNA are paid their salaries through banking main objectives of the labour section of channels. the Ministry. The WPS which was implemented on Another and more important role of Libya factions November 2 this year to help protect the Ministry is to look for and create job workers’ rights and reform the labour opportunities for Qataris in the private Minister of Transport H E Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti. Minister of State for Defence Affairs set target date market, is currently benefitting some sector and make sure that their participa- H E Major General Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah, Qatar Investment Authority (QIA) Chief Executive 634,000 workers. tion in the sector is up to the mark. Officer H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani and other dignitaries during to sign UN deal At least 30 inspectors have been trained The Ministry’s aim is to realise its mis- the opening of Harrods Village in Katara yesterday. The village will be open for 45 days. to monitor the WPS whose aim is to make sion to support and build the labour mar- See also page 3 ABDUL BASIT private companies pay their low-paid ket by making use of a productive national TUNIS: Libya’s rival factions workers salaries on time. These details workforce and skilled workforce from have agreed to December 16 as a are part of a report the Ministry of Labour overseas, and deliver high quality services target date for signing a United and Social Affairs has released on the in the field of social welfare targeting all Nations-backed national unity occasion of the National Day. categories of the community. World powers lead frenetic government agreement, the UN According to the report, the Ministry is The Ministry has helped 1,189 Qatari envoy said yesterday. planning to diversify labour recruitment job-seekers get employment in private The UN has been negotiat- sources to ensure that more skilled work- companies, and has completed at least 65 ing for a year to get Libya’s two ers are hired and their ratio to the overall percent of a study analysing the current final push for climate deal rival governments and armed labour force in the country is at least a and future situations of the labor market factions to end a conflict that quarter (25 percent). regarding the employment of nationals in LE BOURGET, France: World powers chance to avert disastrous climate change: has plunged the North African It is interesting to note that in the first private companies. led a frenetic final push yesterday to seal a increasingly severe drought, floods and state into chaos four years after half of this year (January to June, 2015) The Ministry has also achieved 28 per- UN accord aimed at averting catastrophic storms, as well as rising seas that would rebellion ousted Muammar workers were recruited from as many as cent of its programme to create work envi- climate change, as sleep-deprived envoys engulf islands and populated coasts. Gaddafi. 134 countries across the world. ronment for persons with special needs, battled in Paris over trillion-dollar disputes The planned accord would seek to revo- Successfully signing an agree- The inspection department of the Min- said QNA. blocking a deal. lutionise the world’s energy system by cut- ment would open the way for the istry has identified the future market The Ministry has also achieved 30 per- The 195-nation conference in Paris had ting back or potentially eliminating coal international community to sup- needs for expatriate labour force from cent of second phase of e-employment been scheduled to wrap up yesterday, deliv- and other fossil fuels, replacing them with port Libya in the fight against 2015 to 2020 based on the data available for job-seekers and agreed with 19 par- ering a historic agreement that would brake renewables such as solar and wind. Islamic State, which has gained for the previous years, reports Qatar News ties in the private sector concerned with global warming and ease its impacts. The biggest disputes over funding the cli- ground in the chaos and controls Agency (QNA). job nationalisation (Qatarisation) to send But weary negotiators braced themselves mate fight, worth trillions of dollars over the western city of Sirte. The department has also provided nec- Qatari nationals to complete their studies. for a third straight round of all-night hag- the decades to come, remain as potential But hardliners in both camps essary data to the Ministry of Municipality Some 270 Qatari job-seekers were sec- gling after ministers wrestled with a myriad deal-breakers in a draft accord released on have been resisting signing a deal and Urban Planning and spread awareness onded while 15 others got qualified in of deal-busting rows. Thursday night. and several past deadlines to sign among business owners about the use of cooperation with the College of the North French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius US Secretary of State John Kerry, who have failed after opponents balked technology to reduce the recruitment of Atlantic Qatar. said he would submit a proposed final agree- is spearheading American efforts in Paris, at details or demanded more con- foreign labour. As regards the development of guidance ment on Saturday morning, and declared he warned yesterday “very difficult” issues still cessions. The inspection department conducted and orientation systems for the labor mar- was “sure” of success. “We are almost at the needed to be resolved. UN Libya envoy Martin 26,522 raids on 20,431 establishments ket, the Ministry launched eight guidance end of the road and I am optimistic,” said Seeking to break the deadlock, US Presi- Kobler praised representatives while the occupational health and safety campaigns for boys and girls in schools Fabius, who is presiding over the talks that dent Barack Obama and his Chinese coun- of both factions for announcing inspectors made 15,160 visits to 3,759 benefiting 640 students. began nearly a fortnight ago with a record terpart, Xi Jinping, spoke by phone. the agreement in Tunisia after establishments. summit of more than 150 world leaders. two days of talks. Meeting the needs of the labor market THE PENINSULA Many leaders billed the talks as the last AFP AFP

Patience with Russia ‘not Israeli troops shoot three Palestinians to death HEBRON: The Israeli army Gaza Strip, controlled by Islamist Bank city where anti-Israel who said he was working at a con- them with rocks and petrol bombs killed a Palestinian who it said group Hamas, where Palestinians hostility is strong, a Palestin- struction site nearby at the time after non-lethal riot-dispersal unlimited’: tried to ram his car into soldiers massed at the fenced-off border ian motorist tried to ram troops of the incident, said. measures failed. Palestinians near Hebron yesterday, and med- with Israel yesterday, throwing who then shot him dead, the army A relative of the dead man gave said a 22-year-old local man was ics said another Palestinian was rocks at troops beyond. Army spokesman’s office said. his age as 55. fatally shot in the chest. Turkish FM shot dead by Israeli forces dur- gunfire killed a Palestinian, aged A Palestinian witness described The army did not immediately Earlier yesterday, Israeli offi- ing a violent demonstration in the 38, and wounded five, Gaza med- the shooting as potentially unpro- respond to Tarawa’s account. cials said a Palestinian gunman ANKARA: Turkish Foreign flashpoint West Bank city. ics said. voked, as it happened after the In some previous car-ramming fired at a checkpoint on the Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu yes- Israeli forces have killed 109 Palestinians are frustrated at car had stopped. attacks, the driver then emerged northern West Bank boundary, terday said Ankara’s patience Palestinians, around two-thirds the failure of long-running peace “We saw the martyr’s car to try to stab Israelis. causing no casualties, and was with Moscow after the downing of whom the army identified as efforts with Israel and its 48-year parked and he stepped out of it In the second incident in then shot by guards and fled. of a Russian warplane on the Syr- assailants. West Bank occupation. and they fired around 15 bullets Hebron, the army said troops ian border was “not unlimited”, The violence spread to the Near Hebron, a large West at him,” Osama Ahmed Tarawa, fired at Palestinians who attacked REUTERS urging Moscow to react calmly. “We are calling on Russia, our major trade partner, for calm. But we also say that our patience is not unlimited,” Cavusoglu told the private NTV television in an Canadian PM greets first batch interview. “If we are not retaliating to what you (Russia) have so far done, it is not because we are of Syrian refugees in Toronto scared or have any feeling of guilt,” he added. TORONTO: After months of the world how to open our hearts and will be followed by a second Moscow has imposed a series promises and weeks of prepa- and welcome in people who are military airlift to Montreal on of economic sanctions on Ankara ration, the first Canadian gov- fleeing extraordinarily difficult Saturday. Trudeau has said 10,000 after Turkish fighter jets shot ernment planeload of Syrian situations,” Trudeau told airport will be resettled by the end of the down a Su-24 bomber on the refugees landed in Toronto on workers and volunteers standing year and a further 15,000 by the Syrian border on November Thursday, aboard a military by to meet the refugees. end of February. 24, sparking the biggest crisis aircraft met by Prime Minister Trudeau’s Liberal government As Trudeau met the military between the two countries since Justin Trudeau. scaled back the number of Syrian aircraft amid tight security at the Cold War. Trudeau was elected to a sur- migrants it will accept by year end a special terminal, privately Ankara says the Su-24 plane prise majority in October promis- after the attacks in Paris sparked sponsored Syrian refugees were repeatedly violated Turkish air- ing to accept more refugees more concern that the election prom- arriving on commercial flights at space but Moscow insists it never quickly than the previous Con- ise to bring in 25,000 by Dec. 31 Toronto’s main terminal, greeted strayed from Syria. servative government. would not allow enough time for by sponsors and ordinary Canadi- But Turkey so far has not hit “This is a wonderful night, security checks. ans who had come to the airport back with sanctions measures of Syrian refugees are presented with a child’s winter jacket by Canada’s where we get to show not just a The plane carrying 163 Syrian to welcome the much-anticipated its own. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (left) on their arrival from Beirut at the Toronto planeload of new Canadians what refugees touched down in Toronto newcomers. AFP Pearson International Airport in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada yesterday. Canada is all about, we get to show just before midnight on Thursday REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 02 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com HOME

Prime Minister National Day parade rehearsal sends message to French counterpart PARIS: Prime Minister and Minister of Interior H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani has sent a message to the Prime Minister of France Manuel Valls, dealing with bilateral relations and ways of enhancing them. The message was delivered by Qatar’s Ambassador to France Sheikh Mishaal bin Hamad Al Thani, during a meeting with Diplomatic Adviser to the French Prime Minister Stephane Roma- tet. Attorney General

meets Marzouki Soldiers from the Emiri Guard and personnel from Lekhwiya, the Internal Security Force, seen marching on the Corniche yesterday during rehearsal for the National Day parade in the pres- ence of Minister of Youth and Sports H E Saleh bin Ghanem Al Ali and the Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Major-General Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah. Also present was the Chief of and Ghannouchi Staff of the Armed Forces, Major-General Ghanem bin Shaheen Al Ghanem.

TUNIS: Qatari Attorney General H E Dr Ali bin Fetais Al Marri who is also the UN Special Advo- cate for Stolen Asset Recovery Creative Exhibition has met with former president of Qatar, Cyprus ink MoU the Republic of Tunisia D Moncef Marzouki, on the sidelines of the Fourth Arab Forum to Recover Looted Funds , currently in on air transportation session in Tunis. The Attorney General also met with the head of Tunisia’s Ennahda Movement Sheikh Rashid Ghannouchi. Deal provides unconditional open sky rights Dr Al Marri briefed Marzouki and Ghannouchi on the agenda of NICOSIA: Qatar Civil Aviation signed by Cyprus with Qatar compared the Fourth Arab Forum and the Authority and the Republic of Cyprus with the countries of the region, as this ongoing work for the recovery of have signed a memorandum of under- agreement will reinforce the position of the Tunisian looted funds. standing (MoU) in the field of air Qatar in its negotiations with some EU transportation. countries. The MoU was signed for the Qatari side After the signing of the MoU the Pakistan Deputy by Chairman of Civil Aviation Authority General Authority of Civil Aviation Abdullah bin Nasser Turki Al Subaie and has achieved a record number in the Speaker meets for the Cypriot side by Alecos Michaelides, number of agreements in the field of air Secretary Ministry of Transport, Commu- transportation reaching 155 in a very Qatari Ambassador nications and Works. short period. With the beginning of next The MoU provides unconditional open year the Authority will draw up a plan to ISLAMABAD: Deputy Speaker skies between the two countries tak- update all existing agreements to facilitate of Pakistan’s National Assembly ing advantage of the Fifth freedom so the national carrier requirements as well Murtaza Javed Abbasi met yes- that national airliner companies in both as making new agreements with several terday with Qatar Ambassador countries can fly between the main cities countries in the world that may be used by Saqr bin Mubarak Al Mansouri. through any medium state and beyond the Qatar Airways for its future plans. two countries. QNA This is the first full rights agreement QNA A boy enjoying the Creative Qatari’s National Day Exhibition at Katara Cultuarl Village, yes- terday. BAHER AMIN Harem Al Sultan expo extended Qatar Foundation showcases

DOHA: Qatar Museums has announced that “Harem Al Sul- research and innovations tan: the Exhibition” is extended until January 10 due to popular DOHA: Qatar Foundation is Institute (QCRI) is providing an lowing question:“If I could invent demand. showcasing research and inno- automatic 2D-3D conversion of anything to solve a problem that The expo showcases original vation in celebration of Qatar sports videos. would help the Arab world…” décor, costumes and accessories National Day with the participa- Msheireb Properties is host- The ideas will be shared on used during the phenomenal tel- tion of a number of its universi- ing an activity that encourages social media for people to vote and evision series Harem Al Sultan ties and entities. children to construct houses and jury members, like Yousef Saleh, which first telecast in 2011. It ‘Electronic Circuits’ is a buildings using Legos. are involved and will be select- aired in more than 54 countries hands-on activity by Texas A&M Stars of Science is displaying a ing the winning idea. The winner and has reached more than 200 University at Qatar (TAMUQ) video about the winner of season with the ‘Most Innovative’ idea million viewers worldwide. where the audience are asked to six, Mohamad Al Hossani, and his will receive a goodie bag with tech An adaptation of the histori- build a simple circuit. Another work, including the efficient solar products. Everyone who takes cal fiction, Harem Al Sultan: activity is a demonstration on energy system called ‘Taqatec’. part in the competition will also The Exhibition displays hyper- how to make artificial snow Additionally, Mohamad is on- have their entry shared with the realistic statues of Sultan Sulei- using a common polymer, creat- site to give a short talk about Stars of Science advisers in case man the Magnificent, Ibrahim ing fake snow that is non-toxic, his journey. The pop-up innova- they fit the application criteria Pasha of Parga, Hürrem Sultan, A view of the exhibition. feels cool to touch, lasts for days, tion booth also asks the general to pitch at the casting for season Mahidevran Sultan, and Bali Bey, and looks authentic. public to tap into their inner eight. allowing guests to get an up close who became Sultana. The exhi- Harem and Janissaries recep- The Qatar Computing Research innovator and respond to the fol- THE PENINSULA and personal look at the artistry bition offers an immersive new tion decors. A gift shop is open and craftsmanship that went into perspective on the show’s most alongside the exhibition selling creating the iconic props and cos- memorable characters and lav- jewellery, costumes and other tumes that appeared throughout ish interiors. interesting Turkish Ottoman arts the series. This special section of the and crafts inspired by the series. Set in the 16th century, the TV “Magnificent Century –Exhibi- “Harem Al Sultan: The Exhibi- Quiz contest for show Magnificent Century, known tion of Magnificence” provides tion” made its world premiere in in the Gulf as Harem Al Sultan, the perfect opportunity for fans Istanbul in November 2014 and Indian diaspora is based on the life of Ottoman to experience the exquisite cos- has come to Doha for the first DOHA: The Ministry of Over- Sultan Süleyman the Magnifi- tumes and more than 300 acces- time as part of Qatar Turkey 2015 seas Indian Affairs (MOIA) has cent, the longest reigning Sultan sories from the show in the grand Year of Culture. launched an online quiz contest of the Ottoman Empire, and his setting of the Private Chamber called ‘Bharat Ko Janiye’. wife Hürrem Sultan, a slave girl of Sultan Suleiman, the Imperial THE PENINSULA The purpose of the quiz is to create awareness about diverse facets of India among youth from the Indian Diaspora abroad. The quiz is open to youth, both Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and QDVC road safety People of Indian Origin (PIOs) aged 18 to 35 years as on October promotion drive 2, 2015. The top 10 participants in each category will be called for an DOHA: The second annual onsite final round of quiz in Delhi Ooredoo COO Yousuf Al Kubaisi at the ‘Tunisian Day’ celebrations at Katara. company-wide awareness cam- on January 7, 2016. The Ministry paign launched by Qatari Diar of Overseas Indian Affairs shall Vinci Construction (QDVC) has arrange for their travel and other ‘Tunisian Day’ concludes today reached more than 5,000 employ- logistics during their trip to India. ees. This year the campaign which The winners of both the NRIs DOHA: Ooredoo is one of the relations. Several senior Ooredoo took place during ‘International and PIOs categories will be felic- main sponsors of the ‘Tunisian executives attended the opening Safety Week’ focused on promot- itated at the Pravasi Bharatiya Day’ celebrations, which con- of the event including Chief Oper- ing road safety and responsible Divas Conference 2016 at New cludes today at Katara. ating Officer, Yousuf Al Kubaisi. driving, reinforcing QDVC’s safety Delhi. Further, the participants The week-long celebrations “Sponsoring Tunisian Day is a culture. of the final round will be taken have been designed to celebrate perfect way to get involved with The 2015 campaign which was on an all paid tour for 25 days to the arrival of the Tunisian Prime such a wonderful community- geared towards reducing road Officials during the road safety campaign. know more about their ances- Minister Habib Essid in Qatar, spirited event. Not only do we get risk; consisted of five, one-day tral country, India. Details of the as well as promote the diverse to meet lots of our customers and workshops held at QDVC’s head between the 22nd and the 26th as a joint event which aims to quiz may be seen at the website: Tunisian culture in Qatar and the let them know about our money office in addition to its five work- November. increase awareness in order to www.bharatkojaniye.in. A link has achievements of modern Tunisia. saving deals on Ooredoo’s Super- ing sites: Sheraton Park project, The five- day safety campaign reduce fatalities and prevent seri- also been provided in the Indian Along with cultural activities net, but we’ll also learn about the Red Line South project, New was organised with the support ous injuries resulting from road embassy Doha website: http:// such as traditional clothing, Tuni- rich culture and history of the Orbital Highway project, Light of the Ministry of Interior Traf- accidents in Qatar. indianembassyqatar.gov.in. sian products for sale, national country,” said Al Kubaisi. Railway Tram LRT project and fic Department and Qatar Inter- music and dance, the celebra- Lusail underground project national Safety Center (QISC) THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA tions aim to boost Tunisian-Qatar THE PENINSULA SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 HOME www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 03 Harrods Village opens in Katara Deputy PM with Turkmenistan counterpart Village with 13 stores will continue functioning for 45 days By Mohamed Osman

DOHA: A Harrods Village was opened in Katara, the Cultural Village yesterday. Har- rods is the world’s most famous department store in London and owned by Qatar. The opening ceremony was attended by the Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Major- General Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah, Minister of Transport H E Jassim Saif Ahmed Al Sulaiti, CEO of Qatar Investment Authority H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud Al Thani, and in presence of H E Dr Hussain Ali Al Abdul- lah, Minister of State and an Executive Board Member of the Qatar Investment Authority, and Dr Khalid bin Ibrahim Al Sulaiti, Katara General Manager, British Ambassador Ajay Sharma and other senior officials. “It is my pleasure to have you here in Har- rods village, here in Katara, and I hope next Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs H E year will have you in bigger and better setting, Ahmed bin Abdullah Al Mahmoud with Turkmenistan’s Deputy Prime because preparation of this village only took Minister and Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov. us three months and the exhibition is here on the occasion of National Day,” said Sheikh Minister of State for Defence Affairs H E Major General Hamad bin Ali Al Attiyah and CEO of Qatar Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud Al Thani at Investment Authority H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Mohamed bin Saud Al Thani with other guests during the the opening of the ceremony. opening of Harrods Village in Katara, yesterday. ABDUL BASIT Ooredoo hosts DePaul students For his part, the British ambassador in Doha, Sharma also expressed his pleasure was opened in Sardinia in Italy, said a senior sq metres which is more than the one in Sar- DOHA: Ooredoo has hosted MBA students, from DePaul University saying “as you know, Harrods is an essential official of Qatar Investment Authority. dinia, which is 2800 sqms. who are visiting Qatar as part of a special programme initiated by part of London, so I am so glad and grateful “In mid-September we decided to organise “We got a lot of help from different insti- the “Sheikh Faisal Center for Entrepreneurship in the Middle East.” to Sheikh Abdullah for brining a bit of London this exhibition and in less than three months tutions, including Katara, which provided us Senior executives from Ooredoo answered questions by the students here in Doha”. we finished preparations, settings and instal- with the site and the sponsor of this event and showed them around the HQ1 headquarters in West Bay. Ooredoo The Village is being opened out of London lations, while the preparations for the same Qatar National Bank and Ooredoo,” said an has placed significant emphasis on encouraging innovation in recent for the first time not only in Qatar but in Village in Sardinia had taken us six to seven official from Harrods. years, opening the Ooredoo Advanced Smart Innovative Solutions the entire Arab world, and the second time months,” said the official. The Village is com- The exhibition village will be open for 45 (OASIS) Lab in Doha and launching a dedicated cross-functional team in the entire world after a Harrods Village posed of 13 stores and built on an area of 6,500 days, until January 24, 2016 and the first week to focus on innovation issues. The Q&A session was hosted by Ooredoo’s will be dedicated to VVIPs and VIPs, after The Business Development & Innovation Team, and included discus- which it will be open to the general public, sions on how Ooredoo fosters innovation internally and the company’s said the Harrods official. role in the local and global economy. There was a good response from local THE PENINSULA brands that joined the Village, including Al Bin Ali, Al Majd, Al Fardan, Mercedes and Audi. There is also an Italian brand which is com- ing to Qatar for the first time. It is Buccellati, which is famous Italian jewelry company. Speaking about the purpose of opening the Village for short while, the Harrods official explained that there is strong link between Qatar and Harrods, and “we want to take the advantage of the great Qatari occasion which is the National Day and promote our products and make people aware about Harrods and other local brands,” said the Harrods official. The village will be open from 4 pm to mid- night daily until Janaury 24, 2016. The Harrods Village in Katara. THE PENINSULA An Ooredoo official with MBA students from DePaul University. SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 04 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com GULF / MIDDLE EAST Kerry to meet IS truck bombs kill Putin on Syria peace plan 60 in Syrian town PARIS: US Secretary of State John Kerry will meet President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in Moscow on the Syrian crisis and Triple explosions target Kurdish militia in Hasaka rival visions of the fight against the Islamic State (IS) group. BEIRUT: A triple truck bomb by at least two suicide bombers, least 22 people in the attack, “They will discuss ongoing attack claimed by Islamic State struck outside a hospital, at a saying that number was likely to efforts to achieve a political tran- (IS) in northeastern Syria killed marketplace and in a residential increase. sition in Syria,” spokesman Mark at least 50 people and wounded area in the town of Tel Tamer late The Observatory said one of Toner said on the sidelines of the 80 others, a spokesman for the on Thursday, the YPG’s Redur the bombs exploded near a health UN climate summit in Paris. Kurdish militia that controls the Xelil said via an internet mes- centre and another near a veg- The Russian foreign ministry area said yesterday. saging service. etable market. It said there was said it hoped the visit, Kerry’s The town in the northeastern “There is massive destruction “confirmed information” about second this year, would improve province of Hasaka is control- in the town and the number killed casualties among the Kurdish what it said were the “compli- led by the Kurdish YPG militia, is between 50 and 60, all of them internal security force, known as cated” relations between the rival which has been battling Islamic civilians,” he said. the Asayish. capitals. The talks will also cover State with the support of US-led Islamic State later said in an The YPG has been the most differences in the parallel Russian air strikes. online statement that three of its effective partner on the ground and US approaches to the fight Kurdish fighters have advanced fighters driving three separate in Syria for the US-led coalition against IS. against the militants in the last vehicles had detonated the suicide that is fighting Islamic State. In Washington accuses Moscow few weeks in Hasaka, notably bombs targeting “bases” belonging October, it became part of the of using the war against the IS taking over the town of al Houl to Kurdish fighters. new US-backed alliance, called extremists as cover for a cam- backed up by a US-backed rebel Earlier the Britain-based the Democratic Forces of Syria. paign to shore up Bashar Al alliance that includes the YPG. Syrian Observatory for Human Residents inspect damage at a site hit by one of three explosive trucks, in Assad’s regime in Syria against The three blasts, carried out Rights gave a death toll of at AFP the YPG-controlled town of Tel Tamer, Syria, yesterday. legitimate opposition movements. The Kremlin insists its ally in Damascus has the sole right to authorise foreign military inter- vention against the jihadists and Russia backs Free Syrian Army US bombing violates Syrian sov- ereignty. And the US envoy will also alongside regime troops: Putin bring up the ongoing stand-off in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow stands accused of supporting pro- MOSCOW: President Vladimir were going to the opposition force. speaking about the Free Syrian Russian separatist rebels, Toner Putin said yesterday Russia is Western and Arab states car- Army, Peskov replied: “Please do said. supporting the opposition Free rying out air strikes against not cling to meanings in this case. Russia will use the opportunity Syrian Army, providing it with Islamic State for more than a year Such an interpretation is possi- to protest the economic sanc- air cover, arms and ammunition say that Russian jets have mainly ble.” “Russia supplies weapons to tions imposed on its economy by in joint operations with Syrian hit other rebel forces in the west the legitimate authorities of the the United States and its allies troops against Islamist militants. of Syria. “The work of our avia- Syrian Arab Republic,” he said. after it annexed Ukraine’s Crimea His statement appeared to be tion group assists in uniting the Putin said strikes by Russia’s region. the first time Moscow said it was efforts of government troops and air force and navy had inflicted “The series of confrontational actually supporting Syrian Presi- the Free Syrian Army,” Putin told heavy damage on the infrastruc- steps taken by Washington under dent Bashar Al Assad’s opponents an annual meeting at the defence ture of Islamic State, which con- the guise of the Ukrainian cri- in the fight against Islamic State ministry. trols large areas of eastern Syria sis severely hit the cooperation forces. Putin said last month the “Now several of its units and western Iraq. Defence Min- between our countries,” the min- Russian air force had hit several numbering over 5,000 troops ister Sergei Shoigu said, however, istry said. “terrorist” targets identified by are engaged in offensive actions that the influence of Islamic State Before seeing Putin, Kerry will the Free Syrian Army. against terrorists, alongside reg- was increasing in Syria, where meet his Russian counterpart A few hours later, Kremlin ular forces, in the provinces of militants control roughly 70 per- Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Homs, Hama, Aleppo and Raqqa,” cent of the country. with whom he is in regular tel- reporters that Putin had been he said, referring to the Free Syr- The number of Islamic State ephone contact over the Syrian talking about weapons supplies to ian Army. fighters in Iraq and Syria is about peace process. the armed forces loyal to Assad. “We support it from the air, as 60,000, Shoigu said, and there is AFP But Peskov did not say Putin well as the Syrian army, we assist a threat of violence spilling over Hagop Manushian, a Syrian refugee, who arrived earlier in the morning is had been mistaken or misquoted them with weapons, ammunition into post-Soviet Central Asia and reunited with his granddaughter Rita at the Armenian Community Centre about supplies to the Free Syrian and provide material support.” the Caucasus. Tunisia arrests 25 of Toronto in Mississauga, Ontario, yesterday. Army and did not deny weapons When asked if Putin had been REUTERS for plotting attacks in tourist areas Finland to boost TUNIS: Tunisian national Houthis name delegates to UN-brokered talks security units in Kasserine have French missions in arrested a terrorist group made up of 25 persons for plotting terrorist Iraq and Lebanon SANA’A: Yemen’s Houthi rebels have been locked in months of cussions in Oman on the draft Saleh. Talks are to focus on four attacks in tourist zones during the have submitted names of their deadly battles with supporters framework of talks “in order to main areas, including the terms new year’s celebrations, the Min- HELSINKI: Finland said yes- negotiating team to the United of President Abdrabuh Mansur help hold a serious and respon- for a permanent ceasefire and the istry of Interior said yesterday in terday it would boost its involve- Nations for next week’s peace Hadi’s internationally-recognised sible dialogue”, said Abdulsalam. withdrawal of armed groups from a statement carried by state news ment in a training mission in Iraq talks in Switzerland, their government. Abdulsalam will be leading the the areas under their control, a agency TAP. and in a UN-led operation in Leb- spokesman said yesterday. They have also been under fire seven-member Houthi delegation reference mainly to the Houthis. The group was also planning anon to help relieve French forces Reports had circulated that from a Saudi-led coalition since to Switzerland which will also Renegade troops loyal to Saleh for terrorist operations in pub- following the Paris attacks last Houthi rebel leaders had been March. Mohammed Abdulsalam, include a “military consultant” have been fighting alongside the lic places in Kasserine and other month by Islamic State militants. dragging their feet and refus- spokesman for the Houthis’ Ansarul- identified as Brigadier General Houthis, who took control of the governorates in addition to attacks France made an unprecedented ing to name their delegates in lah party, said in a statement carried Abdullah Yehya Qassem, accord- capital Sana’a in September 2014 on police stations, the statement call for military help from its an apparent bid to further stall by their sabanews.net website that ing to a source from the Ansarul- and swept south. added. The public prosecutor European Union partners under dialogue. the rebels have handed over a list of lah party. The United Nations, citing ordered to place the suspects in the bloc’s Lisbon Treaty follow- But UN envoy Ismail Ould their delegation to Switzerland to Ould Cheikh Ahmed had told data compiled from health facili- custody. ing the attacks, which killed 130 Cheikh Ahmed has said he was the United Nations, which is bro- reporters that in addition to the ties, says more than 5,800 people In a related development, the people. certain the Iran-backed faction kering the talks. Houthis, participants will include have been killed in Yemen, about owner of a car repair workshop EU member Finland is officially would show up for the talks to be “We hope the United Nations representatives of Hadi’s govern- half of them civilians, and more was caught by national guards neutral and not in Nato. Its con- held at an undisclosed location in has understood the remarks pre- ment and officials from the Gen- than 27,000 wounded since March while building a helicopter in Ben stitution does not allow it to take Switzerland starting on Tuesday. sented to its Yemen envoy” Ismail eral People’s Congress headed by when fighting intensified. Arous, the ministry said. part in military operations over- The Houthis and their allies Ould Cheikh Ahmed during dis- former president Ali Abdullah AFP QNA seas. However, the Finnish govern- ment said in a statement it would expand the number of people it Military parade has deployed to a training mission in the northern Iraqi city of Arbil Turkey lifts, then reimposes and was stepping up its presence in the United Nations mission in Lebanon to help free up French forces needed elsewhere. curfew in Kurdish city Finland is also considering boosting its participation in a DIYARBAKIR, TURKEY: The dreds of people had taken advan- 5 during the lockdown. The curfew crisis-management operation in Turkish authorities yesterday tage of the lifting of the curfew in Sur was imposed days after after Mali, the statement said. lifted a nine-day curfew in a key to leave the area after being sub- prominent Kurdish lawyer Tahir district in the southeastern city jected to the security lockdown. Elci was killed in broad daylight in of Diyarbakir after heavy fighting “We will move in with friends the narrow streets of the district Morocco with Kurdish militants but then who live in another district,” said on November 28, in a crime that promptly reimposed the measure. one Sur resident, Mehmet Cengiz, remains unsolved. Local resident dismantles The local authorities had kept as he moved his family and fur- Muharrem Dolek said that he fled the curfew in place since Decem- niture in a van. “What a waste.” Sur on the second day of the cur- IS-linked cell ber 2 in the central Sur district of Meanwhile, boys sifted the few. “I told the police that I was Diyarbakir, the main city of Tur- ground looking for spent bullets on the edge psychologically. They RABAT: Moroccan authorities key’s Kurdish-majority southeast, while women sat down and wept told me ‘leave, but you won’t be announced yesterday they have for an operation against suspected at the sight of the extent of the able to come back,’” he said. dismantled a “terrorist cell” that Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) damage. He came back to Sur to take was linked to the Islamic State militants. The curfew was lifted The historic Ottoman-era his possessions during the pause (IS) group and poised to carry out overnight, allowing residents to Fatihpasa mosque was severely in the curfew. “We are a family of attacks in the kingdom. inspect scenes of devastation in damaged by fire, which pro- nine people and we had to spread Nine members of the cell were some areas, with houses reduced government Turkish media had ourselves out in several houses,” arrested in towns across Morocco, to rubble and buildings pock- blamed on the PKK. he said. The Turkish government including Kenitra near the capital marked by fighting. Meanwhile sandbag barricades has been waging a relentless Rabat, the interior ministry said The governorate then reim- and trenches —which the authori- offensive aimed at crippling the in a statement. The ministry said posed the curfew from 1400 GMT ties said were set up by the PKK PKK, which has staged a string the suspects were “at an advanced Young Palestinians attend a military parade by members of the Ezzedine until further notice, just hours — were still in evidence yesterday. of attacks against security forces stage of preparing attacks on sen- Al Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas movement, to mark the after it had been lifted, saying this A police officer, who was a in Turkey since a two-year-old sitive sites” in the country. ruling Islamist movement’s 28th birthday in Khan Yunis, in the southern was necessary to remove barri- member of special forces, was ceasefire fell apart in late July. Gaza Strip, yesterday. cades, fill in trenches and carry killed in a shootout in Sur with AGENCIES out bomb disposal work. Hun- militants of the PKK on December AFP SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 ASIA / AFRICA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 05

14 killed in Boko Koreas seek to ease Haram raid in Nigeria; seven tensions at key talks die in Cameroon KANO: Fourteen people were killed, some of them decapitated, Talks extended; both sides focus on achievable targets in a Boko Haram raid on a village in northeast Nigeria, a resident SEOUL: North and South Korea falter after an initial meeting— spersed with lengthy breaks to and a civilian vigilante assisting agreed yesterday to extend rare, reflecting decades of animosity consult with their respective the military said yesterday. high-level talks into a second day, and mistrust between two coun- capitals. South Korean Vice Unification Minister Hwang Boogi (left) shakes hands In Cameroon’s Far North following an initial round of dis- tries that have remained techni- Jon said the talks were an with his North Korean counterpart Jon Jong Su during their meeting at the region, a suicide bomber killed cussions aimed at building on an cally at war since the end of the opportunity to overcome the Kaesong Industrial Complex in Kaesong, North Korea, yesterday. seven people and wounded 27, August agreement to ease cross- 1950-53 Korean conflict. decades of mutual suspicion and Communication Minister Issa border tensions. The last such sit-down, with confrontation. North Korean Studies in Seoul. Restarting the tours would be Tchiroma said yesterday, in an The vice-minister level talks, the mandate to discuss a range “Let’s make efforts to break The talks came a day after a useful propaganda victory for attack suspected to have been held on the North Korean side of inter-Korean issues, took place down the barrier, fill up the North Korean leader Kim Jong- Kim Jong-Un, as well as provid- carried out by Boko Haram mili- of the border in the jointly-run nearly two years ago. cracks and make a new and wide Un said the country had devel- ing a source of much-needed hard tants. Kaesong industrial zone, will Yesterday’s talks were the fruit road together,” he said. oped a hydrogen bomb — a claim revenue. The attack in Nigeria happened resume this morning, Seoul’s Uni- of an August accord that saw both The elephant in the room for treated with scepticism by US South Korea, meanwhile, wants at about 8 pm on Thursday in the fication Ministry said. sides step back from the brink of any North-South dialogue is and South Korean intelligence the North to agree to regular village of Kamuya in Borno State. “The two sides had a broad an armed conflict and commit to Pyongyang’s nuclear weapons officials. reunions for families separated The Islamist gunmen arrived discussion of pending issues and a process of de-escalation. programme. But while Seoul was There was no set agenda in by the Korean War. on foot and by bicycle, witnesses exchanged views in a sincere “Let’s take a crucial first step expected to raise the issue of Kaesong, but the two Koreas have Currently the reunions are said. manner,” a ministry spokesman to pave the way for reunification. denuclearisation, experts said the clear, if not necessarily comple- being held less than once a year Ibrahim Babagana, who lives in said. I hope various pending issues two sides were focused on more mentary priorities. and with only a very limited Kamuya, said he and other locals The fact that both sides agreed will be solved one by one,” South achievable targets. The cash-strapped North number of participants — despite fled the attack to the town of Biu, to keep talking will be seen as a Korea’s chief delegate Hwang “The North’s denuclearisa- wants the South to resume lucra- a huge waiting list of largely eld- some 30 kilometres away, as Boko positive step for a process that Boo-Gi told his North Korean tion needs to be seen as the tive tours to its scenic Mount erly South Koreans desperate to Haram fighters set fire to the vil- was never likely to produce any counterpart Jon Jong-Su as they ultimate goal of inter-Korea Kumgang resort, which Seoul see their relatives in the North lage. substantial breakthrough. shook hands in the morning. dialogue, not a pre-condition suspended in 2008 after a female before they die. “This morning (Friday), some Previous efforts to establish a The talks ran late into the of it,” said Kim Keun-Shik, a tourist was shot dead by a North of us went back to the village. We regular dialogue have tended to night over three sessions inter- professor at the University of Korean guard. AFP found 14 dead bodies. Some of them were decapitated and their heads placed on their torso. Seven others were shot dead. They have Cycling for their king all been buried. The entire village has been razed,” he said. In Cameroon, a local official 12 killed in Burundi violence said, “There were two suicide bombers. Only the first bomb NAIROBI: Gunmen attacked Night-time gunfire and spo- Army spokesman Gaspard exploded.” military sites in Burundi’s capi- radic blasts have become common Baratuza told state radio 12 of The bomb exploded in Kolofata, tal yesterday and 12 of the assail- in Bujumbura during a crisis set the insurgents were killed and near the town’s stadium, said a ants were killed while 20 were off in April by Nkurunziza’s bid 20 were detained after trying senior officer in the Cameroonian arrested after heavy fighting, the for a third term, which opponents to storm military bases to seize army. Authorities found a device army said. — often known as ‘Sindumuja’ — weapons. He said five soldiers for the second would-be bomber Soldiers said at least five of said violated a deal that ended were wounded. “The situation has and are searching for the attacker their number were also killed, but the civil war. Nkurunziza won a now normalised,” he added. who fled the scene. an official army spokesman said disputed election in July. Earlier, a soldier who had spo- Boko Haram wants to estab- they were only wounded in the But residents said yesterday’s ken to colleagues inside a base in lish a caliphate in northeastern latest flare-up in a nation West- flare-up was much more intense. Bujumbura’s northern Ngagara Nigeria and its attacks have ern powers fear may be sliding “Sindumuja tried to attack district, told Reuters at least two spilled across the borders of back into ethnic conflict. military camps but they failed,” soldiers were killed. An officer at neighbouring countries. The sound of firing echoed presidential media adviser Willy sites in the south of the city said Along with Chad, Niger, Nigeria across the capital, Bujumbura, Nyamitwe wrote on Twitter, three soldiers were killed in those and Benin, Cameroon has con- through yesterday after heavy describing the raids as “a diver- locations. tributed troops to an 8,700-strong gunfire and blasts erupted in the sion” to try to free prisoners. Kenya Airways, RwandAir and regional task force dedicated to Thailand’s Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn takes part in the “Bike early hours. Residents said streets “Situation is returning to nor- Ethiopian Airlines all cancelled fighting Boko Haram, although for Dad” event in Bangkok, Thailand, yesterday. The crown prince led were empty and police were out in mal as firearms are seized, many their flights to Burundi. joint operations have yet to begin. thousands of cyclists on a 29km course as part of events to celebrate force at a time when people nor- Sindumuja assailants killed or King Bhumibol Adulyadej’s 88th birthday, which fell on December 5. mally head to work. arrested,” he wrote. REUTERS AGENCIES Silver fern tops New Zealand flag referendum Manila slum fire kills nine WELLINGTON: New Zealand- erendum in March next year. able symbol of New Zealand. and he always wore the silver MANILA: An inferno in one of used to be his wife’s small canteen. ers have chosen a silver fern on “While this is a preliminary The flag and an almost iden- fern on black — I always thought Manila’s huge shanty towns has The victims include a seven-year- a black-and-blue background as result, New Zealanders can now tical banner from the same it would be on the flag one day,” killed nine people, authorities old girl. Flames and thick black their preferred flag design if the turn their attention to deciding designer, Kyle Lockwood, were the designer said earlier this year. said yesterday, the third blaze smoke trapped her and the other South Pacific nation decides to whether to keep the current flag, clear winners in the five-way race, “The Union Jack just doesn’t to have struck the city’s slums eight people in their houses, said dump Britain’s Union Jack from or replace it,” Deputy Prime Min- each receiving more than 550,000 seem right for New Zealand these in as many weeks. Residents national fire bureau spokesman its national banner, officials said ister Bill English said. first-choice votes of the 1.5 million days.” However, polling indicates grabbed clothes, furniture and Superintendent Renato Marcial. yesterday. The design beat four Prime Minister John Key has ballots cast. Lockwood’s second- the current flag remains on track appliances as they fled the burn- The blaze brings this year’s other contenders in a nation-wide led the push for reform, saying placed design simply changes the to beat any contender in next ing Damayang Lagi shanty town fire-related death toll in the Phil- referendum, according to prelimi- the existing ensign is a colonial colour of one section of the flag’s year’s run-off referendum. shortly after midnight, survivor ippines to 323, higher than the nary results released by the New relic that is too easily confused background from black to red. Formally adopted in 1902, it has Arman Altoveros said. 228 figure for the whole of 2014, Zealand Electoral Commission. with Australia’s flag. They both feature four stars of a Union Jack in the upper-left “The fire spread so fast, every- officials said. The Damayang Lagi Simply titled “Silver Fern He had previously nomi- the Southern Cross as well as the corner with the Southern Cross thing was gone in minutes,” the fire destroyed 50 houses, leaving (Black, White and Blue)”, the nated the winning design as his fern. on a dark blue background. 43-year-old rickshaw driver said an estimated 600 people homeless. design will go head-to-head with favourite, describing the silver “My father represented New as he scavenged for charred pots the existing flag in a second ref- fern as an instantly recognis- Zealand in underwater hockey AFP and pans on burnt rubble that AFP Philippine election contender talks tough on militancy MANILA: The Philippines faces a growing risk of a Paris-style attack by foreign militants, the top contender to win elections next year has warned, but there is no threat of “World War Three” with China over a South China Sea territorial dispute. Rodrigo Duterte, a tough-talking mayor of Davao City in the insurgency-plagued south, has built a reputation for fighting crime. He said two new army divisions would be formed to tackle security threats if he replaces President Benigno Aquino in the election in May. “I said terrorism will grow and grow and grow and it would be a national threat in the coming days, maybe ear- lier than later,” Duterte said in an interview on Thursday. Duterte says enhanced security is the only way to build a stable economy. “It is not for the faint-hearted,” he said. “If you are a president and you are afraid of criminals, or you are afraid to kill criminals, then you have no business being a president.” Muslim separatists have fought the security forces for 45 years on Mindanao island. Duterte acknowledges the risk of the conflict growing or being exploited by external forces. “If you are from Mindanao, there are explosions here and there and if that happens nationwide, I will not be caught with my pants down,” said Duterte. “I will use the military and police ... because I have to keep our country safe, secure, peaceful.” Duterte also said he was open to bilateral talks with China to settle their disputed claims in the South China Sea. REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 06 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com

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Editorial Le Pen’s rise Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate

ISTORY is a juggernaut and all that we can do is watch helplessly as it thunders by. The prevailing hatred and xenophobia are changing the world Hwe are living in. New political alignments are Stolen art hampers coming into force and divisions are getting uglier than they can be repaired. From Donald Trump in the US to Marion Marechal-Le Pen in France, there is a relentless and reprehensible attempt to divide the world between us and them. All of them are succeeding, though in varying degrees. Ukraine’s EU progress The most worrying news is from France, where Le Pen’s By Leonid Bershidsky National Front (FN) pulled off a historic win last weekend, more careful. As it transpired, the identified him thus and posted his pic- works ended up in a mansion in eastern ture in military garb next to OUN fight- topping the vote in the first round of regional polls. It was a bizarre episode involving Ukraine, the home region of deposed ers. The battalion’s Facebook account breakthrough that shook up the country’s political landscape two dozen stolen paint- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanuko- claims, however, that Humenyuk only before 2017 presidential elections. If the party wins one or ings by old Dutch masters vych, where his cronies had amassed handled the battalion’s public relations more regions in Sunday’s run-off, that would be a first for shows how far Ukraine still vast fortunes by running illegal coal and crowdfunding efforts until he was the party, leaving France and much of the wider world to has to go before it becomes mines and numerous other rackets. dismissed because the aid, “as it turned Aa European nation — and explains The Hoorn museum’s keepers found out, only partially reached the battal- contemplate: what would happen in a region where one of its why many Dutch people have misgivings out about the paintings’ reappearance ion.” most important countries is ruled by the far-right? about ratifying Ukraine’s association in July, when two Ukrainians showed up “Once again we declare that Borys Le Pen has been waiting for this moment for years and agreement with the European Union. at the Dutch Embassy in Kiev claim- Humenyuk has nothing to do with the has been trying ferociously. But the Charlie Hebdo attacks The Westfries Museum in the idyl- ing to represent a volunteer battalion OUN volunteer battalion,” the state- and the Paris attacks made things easy for them. They lic Dutch town of Hoorn was robbed fighting the Russian rebels in eastern ment concluded. “We count on the com- didn’t even have to try. Voters went for them, and all the in 2005. The thieves took some old sil- Ukraine. They explained they had found mon sense and decency of the Dutch.” verware and 24 17th-century paintings the paintings in the mansion; it’s not The Dutch, however, are tired of act- dire warnings about the dangers of choosing the right were by relatively little-known but accom- clear who the home’s owner was, but ing mild and patient. They want public- ignored and forgotten. But can the voters be blamed? Most plished artists: Jacob Waben, Floris van he probably fled the fighting or escaped ity because their negotiations with the people in any country are concerned about security, and Schooten, Steven van Duyven, Jan Lin- to Russia with most of the Yanukovych Ukrainians have failed. concerned about their freedom and sen. Some hold the eye even in reproduc- team. According to the museum, Humenyuk By electing values getting upended by extraneous, tion: Waben’s lusty “Vanity,” depicting “This OUN militia claimed to have initially demanded ¤50m ($55m) for the inimical forces over which they a wealthy lecher the complete collection of stolen paint- paintings. Arthur Brand, the stolen-art the far-right making a pass at ings from the Westfries Museum in hunter retained by the museum, told have no control. In that sense, the a young coquette, their possession,” the museum said on him the paintings had never been worth parties, the French results are predictable and or Henrik Savrij’s its site. “A photo showing one of the that much, and the Ukrainians’ own French are understandable. But that doesn’t make pastoral land- paintings accompanied by a current photographs showed that they were in it sensible and judicious. By electing All the museum scape with graz- Ukrainian newspaper was presented bad condition, so they’re probably not violating the far-right, the French are violating ing cows and a as proof for this claim.” worth more than ¤1.3m — more likely can do distant town. The The original OUN, or the Organi- about ¤500,000. “The other party con- the same values they have cherished the values museum put the sation of Ukrainian Nationalists, was tended that a 5 million euro finder’s fee for decades. under these th they have value of the stolen active in the first half of the 20 cen- was in order and would not settle for After gaining an entry, the National circumstances art at ¤10m. “The tury, fighting every power that held less,” the museum said. nurtured and Front is expected to consolidate heart of our col- sway over Ukraine at the time: Poland, Humenyuk is not hiding — he claims is make lection is gone,” a the Soviet Union, Germany (some OUN he never demanded money from the cherished for its gains. The anti-Europe, anti- immigration party is planning noise so that museum spokes- leaders made a short-lived alliance with Dutch, that he has never seen the paint- decades. man lamented. the Nazis). The modern volunteer bat- ings but only knew of their whereabouts, measures to please its grassroots Art thieves talion has taken on the name because, and that he was willing to testify in any supporters. For example, regional potential who are not like a number of anti-Russian fighting investigation. All the museum can do subsidies to charities helping migrants buyers of the hoping to get a units, it’s mainly staffed by people with under these circumstances is make will be axed, while schools would be restricted in offering ransom or are far- right views; it’s allied to the Right noise so that potential buyers of the art alternatives to pork in their canteens. Marechal-Le Pen, art know it’s working directly Sector movement. Formed in 2014, the know it’s stolen. who is more conservative than her aunt, FN leader Marine for unscru- current battalion didn’t initially obey The situation, widely reported in the stolen. pulous collec- the central command in Kiev and was at Dutch media, including on prime-time Le Pen, has also said she would scrap aid to family-planning tors often settle one time forcibly disarmed by the regu- television, can hardly endear Ukraine organisations. Reports say the French are likely to turn to for second- lar army, but it lived to fight on and is to the Dutch. The whole story — from tactical voting in a desperate bid to stop Le Pen winning tier works: They are easier to move now part of the regular forces. a corrupt Yanukovych ally acquiring the this weekend. For example, the Socialist party has pulled around and sell. They like minor muse- The battalion’s commander, Mykola stolen art to a nationalist militia try- out of the race in the north, leaving only Nicolas Sarkozy’s ums, too, because they are often inad- Kokhanivsky, denies that his fighters ing to negotiate its handover for a fat equately guarded. There is little chance had anything to do with the ransom ransom — smacks of very un-European rightwing former employment minister, Xavier Bertrand, paintings are ever returned, although demands. He even went to the Dutch lawlessness. It’s not easy for Kiev to do facing the far-right Front National. miracles happen: Last summer, five Embassy to demand an apology. anything, though. Ukraine is now a Taking refuge in the hands of far-right parties would be minor masterpieces stolen from a depot The museum and the Hoorn munici- country full of weapons, and these guns equivalent to turning to lion to escape from tiger. Europe where two Amsterdam museums kept pality, to which the Dutch government are in the hands of radical groups that and France must overcome the current challenges to remain them were spotted at a British auction left the negotiations, spoke with Borys don’t have much respect for authority. the Europe and France we see today and recovered. Humenyuk, who claimed to be an OUN . The Hoorn thieves were evidently commander. Ukrainian media have BLOOMBERG The other side Quote of Much-needed boon for growth the day

ECLINING foreign exchange testimony to China’s resolve to rebal- percent year-on-year to $197.2 bil- Finance announced tariff cuts for a reserves and poor trade ance away from reliance on exports lion in November and imports fell 8.7 number of popular consumer goods. growth figures are surely and fixed-asset investment toward a percent to $143.1 billion, declining for By expanding their choices between causes for caution for consumer-driven economy. the 13th straight month. Such disap- made-in-China and imports, such tariff The responsibility DChinese policymakers who are trying China’s foreign exchange reserves, pointing monthly figures have made it cuts will encourage Chinese consum- is on a lot of us to hard to arrest the slowdown of the the world’s biggest, declined to $3.44 almost impossible for China to register ers to spend more. And accelerated world’s second-largest economy amid trillion last month, the lowest level in a trade growth for the whole year, a far growth of domestic consumption, in provide language increasing global uncertainties. nearly three years. While an imminent cry from the annual target of 6 percent turn, will improve the supply side as But protectionism is definitely not hike in US interest rates is bound to growth. domestic companies will have to com- for potential an option for the world’s largest trad- rock the global financial markets, China However, in face of such head- pete hard against foreign producers. compromise in areas ing nation. cannot afford to ignore the potential winds, policymakers have not lost Deeper and wider tariff cuts are a The latest round of tariff cuts to risk that rapid capital outflows may faith in the necessity to boost domestic much better recipe than protection- where it’s possible boost domestic consumption is there- have on its economy. consumption into a key growth engine ism for consumption-led growth in this fore not only a much-needed boon Meanwhile, customs’ data indi- as soon as possible. country. (for a global climate John Kerry for domestic consumers but also cate the country’s exports fell 6.8 On Wednesday, the Ministry of CHINA DAILY pact). US Secretary of State SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 OPINION www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 07 Nepal fuel crisis to push a million people into poverty

By Gopal Sharma

ith a large cone- shaped bamboo basket The fuel shortage has led to buses cutting strapped to her back, Nirmala Bhandari down services, forcing commuters to sit treks two hours every Wday from her village to a protected forest on roofs. Taxis are no longer an option for in the hills, heaving it back filled with enough firewood to cook food for her many as they can’t afford paying six times three children. Despite knowing timber collection in the normal fare. Tour operators say the this forest is illegal and wood stoves cause deadly indoor pollution, the 35-year-old country’s key economic pillar, tourism, is widow says she has no choice since a shortage of cooking gas hit Nepal more already suffering. than two months ago. “My children and I spent three days outside a fuel shop for cooking gas but did not get any,” she said in a village in empty gas cylinders outside fuel depots ing gas. I don’t know when the situation Jhor, 12km from Kathmandu. every day only to be told that the elusive will improve,” said Shrestha. “If there is a problem collecting wood tankers have not arrived from across the Wedged between China and India, then I may have to feed them only alter- Indian border. Nepal is recovering from a decade-long nate meals,” said Bhandari, explaining With authorities imposing a ration on conflict between Maoist rebels and gov- that guards at the Shivapuri National fuel, motorists line up in queues stretch- ernment forces which ended in 2006. Park have already warned her to stop ing more than 2km outside petrol sta- Years of political instability have A group of Nepalese Human Rights Activists shout slogans against the border blockade hacking off tree branches in the fast- tions. slowed development efforts and two during a protest rally in front of the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal. depleting forests. On the black market, petrol and diesel deadly earthquakes in April and May this Bhandari’s family is among hundreds smuggled in jerry cans from India sells up year, have further hampered efforts to of thousands in the impoverished Hima- to five times the normal price. The cost of lift 25 percent of the country’s 28 million New Delhi denies the charges saying Humanitarian agencies warned this layan nation crippled by a shortage of commodities like cooking oil have soared people out of poverty. Nepal should instead resolve its consti- week that with health care facilities basic commodities after Nepal adopted amid fears inflation could hit double dig- Under these circumstances, central tutional crisis through talks and create lacking over half of their total essential a new constitution, sparking protests by its by the end of the year. bank spokesman Pangeni says it is the a safe passage for tankers and trucks to requirements, the humanitarian implica- the Madhesi minority, who say it mar- Even ready-to-eat items like noodles most vulnerable who are hardest hit. roll into the country. tions were “grave”. ginalises them. have disappeared from the shop shelves. “They are hotel workers forced to stay Nepal received 1,000 tonnes of fuel A statement signed by four UN agen- Since September, 50 people have died The fuel shortage has led to buses cut- on leave because hotels have cut down on from China to beat the immediate short- cies and other aid groups said the most in protests at border points with India, ting down services, forcing commuters to services due to fuel shortage. Transport age and is negotiating regular imports vulnerable, including pregnant women, where demonstrators have blocked sit on roofs. Taxis are no longer an option workers have lost jobs, rickshaw pullers with Beijing, ending a decades-old Indian the elderly, children and people with trucks carrying everything from petrol to for many as they can’t afford paying six are out of work,” he told the Thomson monopoly over fuel supply. chronic conditions such as diabetes and medicines from entering the landlocked times the normal fare. Reuters Foundation. Authorities are also distributing wood cardiovascular disease were already being nation, still reeling from two deadly Tour operators say the country’s key “Tens of thousands of people who were to some residents and is turning to Saudi affected. earthquakes. economic pillar, tourism, is already suf- self-employed in small pavement busi- Arabia and Bangladesh for fuel supplies. “Disruptions to public health pro- The crisis has prompted the United fering. On average, 800,000 tourists visit nesses like tea and coffee shops, cake A power cut for nine hours every day grams, including routine immunization, Nations to express deep concern over Nepal annually, contributing four percent shops, street vendors are out of work. has added to the worsening plight of will have an extremely serious and lasting what it said is a “critical” shortage of life- to the GDP. All these people have no income.” residents who had switched to induction impact on the health of children,” said saving medicines and fuel, and warns this Domestic airlines have reduced the cookers that run on electricity. the statement from agencies such as the could put at least three million children number of flights, and hotels are offer- SURGERIES POSTPONED Many power plants as well as develop- World Health Organisation, Britain’s at risk of illness in the coming winter ing only fixed menus to beat the fuel The government of Prime Minister ment projects have ground to a halt due Department for International Devel- months. shortage. “How can you expect tourists Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli has offered to the fuel crisis. Even transporting relief opment and the German Development Experts say this economic and humani- to come when you don’t have fuel even to amend the three-month-old charter to materials like warm clothes and blankets Cooperation. tarian crisis is likely to have a much to cook a full course meal for them?” address some of the key concerns of the to quake victims has been impossible, said “Access to life-saving emergency serv- wider and longer-term impact. said Jiban Ghimire of the tour operating ethnic Madhesi protesters. aid agencies. ices, including surgery, intensive care and “The fuel shortage will push more than group Shangri-la Nepal Trek. Several rounds of negotiations between The blockade is also taking a toll on blood transfusion, as well as referrals of 800,000 people below the poverty line. Large and small businesses alike have the government and protest leaders Nepal’s health sector, as 60 percent of complicated cases, have been severely This is our estimate based on the study been badly hit. have failed amid differences over how to the country’s total drug requirements are impacted.” of the losses faced by agriculture, indus- The Federation of Nepalese Chambers change the internal boundaries of newly imported from India. The rising dependence on wood will try and service sectors,” said Trilochan of Commerce and Industry says more created federal states. Pharmacists say antibiotics and drugs also increase more indoor pollution and Pangeni, a spokesman for Nepal’s Central than 2,200 industries producing food Protesters say the entire southern for illnesses such as blood pressure, dia- result in a spike in cases of pneumonia. Bank. items, plastic goods, edible oil, iron ores plain region, Nepal’s bread basket, must betes, heart and kidney problems, men- More than 800,000 Nepali children “These people are wage earners, mar- and cement have closed down, throwing not be split into more than two federal tal illnesses as well as syringes and blood under five had pneumonia in 2014 and ginalised and low income people. We have 220,000 workers out of work. provinces. They now form part of six of bags are critically low. around 5,000 died, said the UN Children’s derived this figure after a detailed and In an empty restaurant on the out- the seven provinces dominated by hill Hospitals in Kathmandu have begun Fund, Unicef. close study in all these sectors. This will skirts of Kathmandu, owner Rupesh dwellers. delaying surgeries because of a lack of But for women like Bhandari, with hit the economy badly.” Shrestha says he has been forced to give Many in Nepal blame India for sup- equipment and medicines. three mouths to feed, using firewood is leave to 25 of his 30 employees because porting the Madhesis, who share close “If it continues for a couple more her only option. “For now, my priority FUEL QUEUES, FIXED MEALS they have no gas to cook with. familial, cultural and linguistic ties with weeks, patients could start dying,” said is to somehow cook meals and feed my In streets of the capital Kathmandu, “Only five of us manage to serve a few India, by refusing to divert oil tankers to Mukti Ram Shrestha of the Nepal Medi- children. Everything else comes after the crisis is evident. of our regular customers who come. We other border points where there are no cal Association, an umbrella body of doc- that,” she said. Thousands of residents line up with use firewood to cook as there is no cook- protesters. tors across the country. REUTERS

First Greek hotspot struggles to manage migrant flow to Europe

By Karolina Tagaris scarf, drew on a cigarette and fingerprinted and handed a tem- pieces of cardboard to keep warm. smiled. porary authorisation document, The dusty plot of land turns to he young Syrian Reuters was given access to the an A4 sheet of paper with their mud each time it rains. woman beamed with reception centre on condition it The aims of the hotspots include photograph and travel restric- As winter sets in, arrivals to relief: She had just did not photographs or use the tions in Greek. Lesbos have fallen to 2,000 a day been fingerprinted, full names of asylum seekers to identifying genuine asylum seekers Children who arrive alone from up to 10,000 in the sum- photographed and protect their identities. are detained and placed under mer but the island remains the Tgranted permission to stay in More than 750,000 of the and those eligible for the EU 24-hour police guard, playing main entry point into the EU, to Greece for six months to apply 900,000 migrants who have basketball behind barbed-wired the dismay of Athens’ European for asylum. arrived in Europe this year landed relocation programme, created to gates. They wait up to 15 days partners. But Bushra had no inten- in Greece, 60 percent on Lesbos. in case relatives turn up before Antonis Sofiadelis, head of tion of doing so, any more than The so-called “hotspot” is one share among member states. being moved to Athens and given coastguard operations in Les- thousands of other refugees and of five such centres Greece has access to Greece’s underfunded bos, said unless more was done migrants registered that day on promised the European Union it child-protection services. in Turkey to register and screen the island of Lesbos at Greece’s will establish on its islands by the All others are left to their people seeking asylum in Europe, first and only EU-assisted cen- end of the year, part of measures own devices. Greece’s left-wing the coastguard would need help in tre for processing arrivals from to manage the refugee crisis. system, instead preferring to take officers of the EU’s Frontex bor- government shut down migrant terms of staff and vessels to keep Turkey. The aims of the hotspots their own chances. der management agency, includ- detention centres long-criticised up with the flow across Greece’s She and her mother, who include identifying genuine asy- In September, EU leaders ing interpreters, work with Greek by rights groups as inhumane vast, porous sea border. arrived that morning on a packed lum seekers and those eligible for approved the transfer of about colleagues to interview and fin- when it came to power in January. “The point is to not have people rubber dinghy, planned to take the EU relocation programme, 160,000 asylum seekers from gerprint new arrivals. Frontex Those who can afford the ¤60 risking their lives (to cross the the next ferry to the Greek main- created to share among member Greece and Italy under the pro- did not respond to requests for ($65) ferry ticket to Athens get sea). It is extremely dangerous land and from there continue states a refugee burden that has gramme, but a mere six families an interview. on their way. At the island’s pic- and managing the problem would their journey, by bus and on foot, fallen heavily on Greece and Italy. have been relocated from Greece For 60-year-old Reza, who fled turesque, cafe-lined port, groups be much easier on land,” he said. through the Balkans and on to But the Lesbos hotspot — inau- to Luxembourg since. Afghanistan with his family, the of men wait patiently on benches, Despite improvements at the Germany. gurated in October — has had lit- That is just 30 people out of the most treacherous part of the jour- their few worldly belongings in hotspot, Greece has been urged “It’s better there. We left tle or no success in managing the 66,000 that European states have ney was over. backpacks. to do more by its EU peers and because of the war,” said 20-year- flow of refugees into Europe, as promised to take from Greece. “It was not good. Very dan- On Thursday, more than 4,300 international organisations. old Bushra, her black boots still most arrivals like Bushra have no “We encourage them to stay gerous,” he said of their 12-week refugees and migrants landed at “Conditions are still not at the wet from the trip. Her mother, intention of seeking asylum and and apply (for asylum),” said ordeal through Iran and Turkey Greece’s main port of Piraeus standards that they need to be, her face framed by a black head- entering the EU bureaucratic Boris Cheshirkov, a spokesman before boarding a boat to Lesbos near Athens, most from Lesbos. not even at the minimum stand- with the United Nations refu- with dozens of other people. “Now For those still at the hotspot, ards,” UNHCR’s Cheshirkov said. gee agency UNHCR on Lesbos. Europe will help us.” food, shelter and toilets are pro- More staff, offices and shelters “They’re determined to move.” About 2,000 people were suc- vided by UNHCR and Greek and are needed to expand the recep- On Wednesday, UNHCR trans- cessfully registered at the camp international non-governmen- tion capacity, with EU help, and ferred 17 busloads of soaked and on Wednesday, according to tal organisations. The charita- encourage arrivals to participate exhausted people to the hotspot Antonis Gagarelis, a police officer ble foundation of a large mobile in an EU relocation programme after they had survived the three- who oversees the operation. phone company has set up a tent worthy of the name, he said. hour boat journey from Turkey Newcomers queue up based providing free Internet access and “(Greece) can’t be expected to and arrived on beaches south of on nationality: Syrians, Iraqis, phone-charging stations. deal with everything on its own. the island between midnight and Somalis, Palestinians, Yemenis, Most sleep in 68 hard tents set It’s not tenable,” he added. 10am. That was a fraction of the South Sudanese and Eritreans up by UNHCR while they wait, While there has been a rise in numbers arriving on days in the are allowed to stay in Greece either for relatives to join them, the number of people applying for summer. for six months on “humanitar- or to borrow or be sent money to asylum from the hotspot in recent On such quiet days, the 24-hour ian grounds”. The rest, including buy a boat ticket. Flimsy make- weeks, few are of nationalities Lesbos operation runs smoothly Afghans, Pakistanis and Iranians, shift tents have also been erected deemed eligible for the relocation at the disused military camp on get a 30-day notice to leave the outside the police-guarded com- programme — those from Syria, a hill several kilometres from the country. pound. Iraq, Central African Republic coast. The queues are long but In small, nondescript, pre- As night falls and temperatures and Eritrea. Most simply head orderly and the entire procedure fabricated offices, arrivals are drop to about 6 degrees Celsius to Greece’s northern border. Refugees and migrants disembark from a government chartered ferry in a lasts at most a few hours. interviewed to determine their or lower, groups of people huddle port of Piraeus near Athens yesterday. Taking eight-hour shifts, 39 nationality, debriefed, digitally among piles of suitcases, burning REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 08 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / PAKISTAN Madhesis gird up for long haul as talks fail in Kathmandu NEW DELHI: As a fresh round Terai Madhes Loktantrik Party, among others. Indian ambassa- rights finally,” said the 66-year- ernment,” cautioned the Madhesi chapur, but this government acts of talks between the govern- said. Thakur is a prominent dor in Kathmandu Ranjit Rae was old Teraian leader, who quit the leader, who is highly respected as like it knows nothing about it,” ment and the Madhesi political leader of the ongoing agitation present at the meetings. Nepali Congress in 2007 after an a “moderate”. observed the soft-spoken Thakur. parties over a statutory impasse seeking revision of the new Con- The Madhesi leaders also almost three-decade-long asso- “The major three parties are Nepal’s Terai region stretch- yet again ended inconclusively in stitution and was visiting here held confabulations with various ciation to form the Terai Madhes just doing drama in the name of ing from the Mechi river in the Kathmandu, the protest leaders earlier this week along with three Indian political leaders including Loktantrik Party. negotiations... the government east to the Mahakali river in the braced for the long haul ahead. other Madhesi leaders and was BJP national general secretary Thakur said the major political is ignoring the demands raised west and comprising Madhes in The Madhesis have been agitat- involved in wide-ranging consul- Ram Madhav, senior Janata Dal parties in the Himalayan nation by Madhesis despite our hav- its eastern part and the tribal- ing for the past four months in tations with the Indian leadership (United) leader Sharad Yadav, — the Nepali Congress, the Com- ing presented the demands to dominated Tharuhat in the the Nepali Terai against discrimi- on the current situation in Nepal. Nationalist Congress Party gen- munist Party of Nepal (Unified the government in written and western region has traditionally natory provisions of the country’s The other leaders were Rajen- eral secretaries D P Tripathi and Marxists-Leninists) and the Uni- oral forms time and again,” said suffered discrimination from the new Constitution, which was dra Mahto, president of the Sad- Tariq Anwar, senior BJP leader fied CPN (Maoist) — obdurately Thakur who presided as Speaker Kathmandu-centric ruling elite promulgated four months ago. bhawana Party; Upendra Yadav, and former external affairs min- continued to ignore the demands over the lower house of the Nepali that predominantly comprises the “We are prepared to carry chairperson of the Federal Social- ister Yashwant Sinha, Janata Dal raised by the Madhesi politi- parliament following the restora- Brahmins (Bahuns) and Chhetris on our agitation for as long as ist Forum-Nepal; and Mahendra (United) member of the Rajya cal parties and the indigenous tion of multi-party democracy in of the Nepal hills. For almost four it takes to secure our genuine Yadav, president of the Terai Sabha and former Indian dip- groups of the southern plains of Nepal in 1990. months, the plains of the Nepal demands... after all, we have suf- Madhes Loktantrik Party-Nepal. lomat Pavan Varma, and senior the Nepal Terai. “I don’t know how many times Terai have been simmering with fered discrimination for almost The Madhesi leaders held meet- Congress leader Karan Singh, “The relationship between I will have to say that the bot- protests against the country’s new three centuries under the Shah ings with External Affairs Min- among others. Kathmandu and Madhes might tom-line demand of the Madhesi constitution, which was adopted dynasty... what is some more ister Sushma Swaraj, National “It has been an uphill climb... not last longer if the demands Morcha is demarcation of states... by the Constituent Assembly on years to achieve the desired goal,” Security Advisor Ajit Doval and and the summit is yet far... but raised by the Madhesi Morcha is we need two federal states in the September 20. Mahanta Thakur, president of the Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, we are committed to securing our not taken seriously by the gov- Terai region from Jhapa till Kan- IANS

Ghani shrugs Taliban raid diplomatic off criticism over outreach quarter in Kabul to Pakistan KABUL: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani yesterday shrugged Attack targets guest house near Spanish embassy off criticism from the country’s KABUL: A massive Taliban car the assault was nearby and not on including former warlord Abdul intelligence chief who resigned bomb and gunfire rocked Kabul’s the compound. Rashid Dostum, Afghanistan’s over his diplomatic outreach to diplomatic quarter yesterday “It was not an attack against first vice-president. Pakistan aimed at reviving peace in an ongoing assault near the us,” Rajoy said, adding all employ- Yesterday’s assault follows a talks with the resurgent Taliban. Spanish embassy, officials said. ees at the embassy had been evac- deadly Taliban siege of Kandahar The resignation of Rahmatul- There was no immediate uated. airport this week as the militants lah Nabil last Thursday highlights confirmation of fatalities from “It was an attack against ramp up attacks despite the onset the domestic backlash Ghani the attack, which comes as the some guest houses very near the of the harsh winter season, when faces over his attempts to repair Afghan government scrambles embassy.” the fighting usually winds down. strained relations with Pakistan, to revive long-stalled peace talks The Taliban claimed respon- It also comes after Afghan long blamed for nurturing the with the insurgents. sibility, saying the target was a President Ashraf Ghani’s high- Taliban. Security men near the embassy foreign guest house. profile visit this week to Pakistan, Members of the Afghan Crisis Response Unit arrive at the site of a Taliban But Ghani has staked consider- ducked from gunshots as they Afghan special forces had cor- where he shored up international attack in the Afghan capital, Kabul, yesterday. able political capital in advocat- hauled away a limp body and doned off the area in Sherpur support to restart peace talks ing bonhomie with the neighbour, two wounded men — one bleed- district in central Kabul, where with the Taliban. joint Nato-Afghan base, taking The resignation of Rahmatul- saying it was a necessary partner ing from the head, the other a a huge car bomb struck during At least 50 people, including families hostage and triggering lah Nabil on Thursday highlights in restarting peace talks aimed policeman with a gunshot wound rush hour last evening, followed women and children, died in the pitched firefights with soldiers. the domestic backlash Ghani at ending Afghanistan’s long war. to his leg — through the dark to by bursts of gunfire. 27-hour Taliban siege of Kanda- As the country grappled with faces over his attempts to repair “Without positive support a waiting ambulance, a photog- Ambulances and fire brigades har airport, the largest military the aftermath, Afghanistan’s spy strained relations with Islamabad. from Pakistan, won’t the war in rapher saw. with wailing sirens were seen installation in southern Afghani- chief on Thursday quit his post, The president has staked Afghanistan keep dragging on? The embassy itself was earlier rushing to the area. stan. laying bare disagreements with considerable political capital You answer me,” Ghani told a reported to be the target of the Sherpur is home to several Eleven suicide attackers on Ghani over his diplomatic out- in advocating bonhomie with press conference yesterday. attack, but Spain’s Prime Minis- foreign NGOs and the residences Tuesday breached the high-secu- reach to Pakistan, long blamed Afghanistan’s neighbour. “If one of the main sources of ter Mariano Rajoy clarified that of senior government officials, rity complex which also houses a for nurturing the Taliban. AFP instability in Afghanistan is our neighbour... then there is a com- prehensive need to work together to end this fighting.” Nabil resigned a day after he posted a scathing Facebook post criticising Ghani’s recent high- Bangladesh arrests popular profile visit to Pakistan for a conference that shored up inter- national support for Taliban talks. “Our innocent country- men were being martyred and satirist for anti-govt posts beheaded in Kandahar airfield... at the moment when (Pakistan) DHAKA: A popular satiri- You Making Fun?”) which has try already reeling from deadly Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif cal writer has been arrested in won popularity for taking a attacks by suspected Islamist once again said Afghanistan’s Bangladesh for posting articles satirical look at Bangladesh’s militants. enemy is Pakistan’s enemy,” he poking fun at the government, an conservative society as well as The bans were originally wrote. official said yesterday, hours after rampant corruption and law and ordered after two opposition He was referring to a 27-hour a three-week ban on Facebook for order problems. But the page, leaders lost an appeal and were Taliban siege this week of Kanda- security reasons was lifted. with nearly 700,000 fans, also hanged last month for war crimes har airport, the largest military Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) mocked the government’s deci- committed during Bangladesh’s installation in southern Afghani- officers detained Refayet Ahmed sion last month to ban Facebook 1971 independence conflict against stan, which killed at least 50 peo- last Thursday night under the and mobile messaging services Pakistan. Ahmed was due to ple. Nabil’s resignation comes as country’s controversial Internet WhatsApp and Viber for security appear in a court in Dhaka yes- Afghanistan’s security establish- The Shaheen III surface-to-surface ballistic missile being launched from an law for posting pieces on Face- reasons. The government lifted terday after the police filed an ment, already without a full-time undisclosed location in Pakistan yesterday. book, the elite force’s spokesman the Facebook ban last Thursday, initial case against him of abuse defence minister, is struggling to Major Rumman Mahmud said. although many users had already of the Internet. rein in the ascendant insurgency. “He was arrested for his pro- managed to circumvent the block- Under the Internet Act, any At the Islamabad conference, vocative Facebook posts against ade, but continues to bar What- person who deliberately publishes Ghani and Pakistani Prime Min- the government and the state,” sApp and Viber. material deemed to hurt religious ister Nawaz Sharif vowed com- Pakistan tests Mahmud said. The government fears the apps beliefs, offend the state or dam- mitment to the peace process, The RAB accuses Ahmed of will be used to mobilise large age law and order can be jailed with the US and China also offer- writing under a penname for a numbers of opposition protest- for 14 years. ing support. nuclear capable page called “Moja Losss?” (“Are ers, triggering unrest in a coun- AFP AFP ballistic missile Police search for infant ISLAMABAD: Pakistan test- scientists and engineers involved Former Kazakh PM jailed fired a nuclear-capable ballistic on achieving a “significant mile- boy swapped with girl missile yesterday, the military stone” which complemented the said, two days after the govern- country’s existing deterrence from a Karachi hospital for embezzlement ment confirmed it would resume capability, it said. Jamil asserted high-level peace talks with arch- that “Pakistan desires peaceful KARACHI: Pakistani police were investigating ASTANA: Serik Akhme- Kazakh political analyst Kazakh prime ministers rival India. co-existence in the region for yesterday after a couple took their infant son tov, a former prime minister Dosym Satpayev said the case are effectively appointed by The test is the latest in a series which nuclear deterrence would home from a hospital near Karachi only to of Kazakhstan, was sen- had little to do with a genuine the president — the post carried out by India and Pakistan further strengthen strategic sta- realise later that he had been swapped with tenced yesterday to 10 years crackdown on corruption or held by former Communist since both demonstrated nuclear bility in South Asia”. a baby girl. in prison for embezzlement public politics. boss Nursultan Nazarbayev weapons capability in 1998. Pakistan last tested the Police said the parents had taken their son to in a case which appeared “Akhmetov has not played since Kazakhstan gained The military said it had fired Shaheen III on March 9 this year. the Hilal-i-Ahmer hospital in Latifabad, about to reflect infighting among political games. He has no independence in 1991 — and a Shaheen III surface-to-surface Relations between Pakistan 160km northeast of Karachi, where he was kept members of the ruling elite. political ambitions and he report to him rather than ballistic missile which can carry and India have always been for 36 hours. The court in Karaganda, a is not an opposition leader,” the parliament, making them nuclear and conventional war- fraught but soured further last The couple took the baby home, where several major city in central Kaza- Satpayev said. “The fight technical figures with fewer heads within a range of 2,750km. August amid a rise in clashes hours later they discovered that it was not their khstan where Akhmetov against corruption in Kaza- powers than in parliamentary “The successful flight test with along their borders and a row son, but an unidentified baby girl. began his career as a Com- khstan is mostly linked to democracies. its impact point in the Arabian over a Pakistani diplomat meet- “We are investigating the matter and hope munist Party apparatchik fighting within the elite.” Kazakhstan is facing head- Sea, validating all the desired ing Kashmiri separatists. Last to resolve it soon,” local police official Naik in the late 1980s, also found Oil-rich Kazakhstan, a winds from the economic parameters ... was aimed at vali- Wednesday India’s Foreign Min- Mohammad Khosa said. him guilty of abuse of power former Soviet Central Asian challenges faced by its neigh- dating various design and tech- ister held talks with Sartaj Aziz There was no other complaint of any missing and other corruption-related republic, is ranked 126 out of bouring countries and largest nical parameters of the weapon in Islamabad on the sidelines of a baby at the hospital, he said. charges, Novosti-Kazakhstan 175 in Transparency Inter- trading partners, Russia and system,” the military said in a regional summit on Afghanistan, Sons are prized in conservative Pakistani news agency reported. national’s latest Corruption China. Exports to both have statement. where they jointly announced families, and baby boys have been stolen in Akhmetov, 57, who served Perceptions Index survey. fallen, sending the current The head of the Strategic they would resume high-level the past from the maternity sections of public as prime minister in 2012- The same group has assessed account into deficit. Plans Division, Lieutenant Gen- peace talks. hospitals. 14, denied wrongdoing and its budget openness as “mini- eral Mazhar Jamil, congratulated AFP AFP pleaded not guilty in court. mal”. REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 ASIA / INDIA www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 09

Japan to fund Birthday wishes India, Japan close in 80pc of India’s first bullet on defence agreements train: Minister NEW DELHI: A deal on fast trains is a likely key component Japanese PM pledges stronger maritime ties with India of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s three-day India visit that com- NEW DELHI: India and Japan remaining 10 to be manufactured free and peaceful sea, it becomes menced yesterday, with Tokyo are likely to finalise an agree- in India, with an Indian partner, important more and more for having agreed to loan over three- ment on protection of military as part of Modi’s push to build a there to be collaboration between fourths of the project cost of the information during Prime Min- defence industrial base. Japan and India, as well as the first Bullet Train, estimated at ister Shinzo Abe’s trip beginning The Indian defence official said international community includ- $15bn, parliament was informed. yesterday that will the lay the he did not expect the deal, esti- ing the U.S.,” he said in an article “The Government of Japan has ground for Japanese arms sales mated to be worth $1.1bn, to be published in the Times of India. given an assistance package pro- to India, including seaplanes. announced immediately. Modi’s cabinet this week posal for Mumbai-Ahmedabad Abe and his counterpart, Abe, making a third trip to cleared a $14.7bn Japanese pro- high speed rail project involving Narendra Modi, have forged close India since he became prime posal to build a bullet train line financial assistance to the tune US Secretary of State John Kerry (left) shows off a bouquet he received economic and defence ties aimed minister, pledged stronger mari- between Mumbai and Ahmeda- of 81 percent of project cost as on his birthday from Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, following partly at pushing back against time ties, also involving its ally, bad, giving Japan an early lead loan,” Minister of State for Rail- a meeting on the sidelines of the COP 21 United Nations conference on China’s growing assertiveness in the United States, in a three-way over China, for high speed trains ways Manoj Sinha told the Rajya climate change, in Le Bourget, Paris, yesterday. the region. Both are embroiled in relationship that has irked China on other parts of the Indian rail Sabha in a written reply. territorial disputes with China. in the past. network. “A joint feasibility study for the Officials in Tokyo and New “In order to maintain an open, REUTERS Mumbai-Ahmedabad high speed Delhi said the two sides were corridor, co-financed by Indian negotiating a defence technology Railways and Japan International Bihar ex-MP Shahabuddin transfer agreement and another Cooperation Agency has been on sharing of military information completed in July 2015,” Sinha that are necessary before Japan said in reply to another question. gets life imprisonment can sell weapons to India and col- “No other country has offered laborate on military technology. such support for the project.” PATNA: Former MP Siwan Special Court Ajay Kumar Japan is aiming to make A joint feasibility study for the Mohammad Shahabuddin and Srivastava pronounced the progress on the two defence pacts project was jointly conducted by three others were sentenced to judgement and termed it as the during Abe’s three-day visit, a the Indian Railways and Japan life imprisonment by a Bihar rarest of the rare case. Japanese foreign ministry official International Cooperation Agency court yesterday for giving an According to a police officer, the said in Tokyo. An Indian defence in July this year. The cost of the acid bath to two brothers and court found Shahabuddin guilty ministry official said the broad 505-km-long corridor is estimated murdering them 11 years ago, a in a 2004 case in which he and parameters of the framework at just under `100bn ($15bn). lawyer said. his men were charged with giving agreement were in place. This apart, the corridor was Shahabuddin has been an acid bath to two brothers and India and Japan have been also studied by the state-run languishing in jail for several murdering them. holding talks for two years on RITES (Rail India Technical and years in connection with several Shahabuddin’s son Osama has the purchase by India of US-2 Economic Service) and Systra of serious criminal cases. Last also been charged with killing amphibious aircraft made by France, along with Italfer of Italy, Wednesday, the court convicted of a local BJP leader Rajiv ShinMaywa Industries, which will in 2010. A business development Shahabuddin and the three others Roshan, who was a witness in be one of Japan’s first arms sales study for Mumbai-Ahmedabad accused in the case. the same murder case. They since Abe lifted a 50-year ban on was also done by SNCF of the Shahabuddin was convicted on were kidnapped at Shahabuddin’s weapon exports. Japanese PM Shinzo Abe receives a bouquet from Junior Finance Minister French Railway in 2014. charges of criminal conspiracy, behest and drenched in acid India wants two of the sea- Jayant Sinha on his arrival at Palam Air Force Station in New Delhi yesterday. kidnapping and murder. before being murdered. planes off the shelf and the IANS Additional District Judge of IANS

Ahmed Patel questions Swamy vows to send Sonia, Rahul Gandhi to jail NEW DELHI: An anti-corrup- the mother and son deserve to go the Gandhis since trouncing Con- government of waging a “politi- this week quashed their plea tion crusader in Prime Minister to jail, said in an interview that gress at the ballot box last year. cal vendetta” against the Gandhis. seeking exemption from a per- airports pact Narendra Modi’s party has vowed the GST would not help the econ- At the same time, he has pushed Parliament’s upper house, where sonal appearance. The judge to send opposition leaders Sonia omy. Fighting corruption, which for economic reforms, including Modi needs Congress support to hearing the case has opined that AHMEBABAD: Congress leader and Rahul Gandhi to jail, dent- he says has drained $1.5trn out of the GST, which the government pass the GST, has been disrupted it “smacked of criminality”. Ahmed Patel has challenged the ing already faint hopes of political India, would. says could add up to 2 percentage all of this week. They have been summoned to central government’s decision compromise on a key tax reform. “The cause I am fighting for is points to the size of the economy. Swamy, who merged his small appear on December 19, at which to hand over the operations and Fresh developments in a three- far greater because that’s where In his case, Swamy accuses political party with Modi’s in they would either face detention management of the Ahmedabad year-old fraud case brought by the cancer is,” said the 76-year- the Gandhis of fraud, cheating, 2013, is best known for success- or have to post bail, unless the and Jaipur airports to a Singa- Subramanian Swamy have over- old Harvard-trained economist misappropriation and criminal fully running a legal campaign Supreme Court intervenes. Par- pore firm. shadowed attempts to bridge the and ex-cabinet minister, whose breach of trust in acquiring the against the last Congress govern- liament’s winter session ends four Patel has written to Civil political divide in search of an strident Hindu identity politics assets of a company that had pub- ment over a multi-billion-dollar days later. Aviation Minister Ashok elusive deal that would create a has attracted a fanatical follow- lished a newspaper founded by spectrum-allocation scam. Congress says the timing of the Gajathan Raju questioning the tax union in Asia’s third-largest ing. Swamy met Modi on Thurs- Rahul’s great grandfather, Jawa- In a blog post late on Thursday court’s action has been influenced move to award the operations economy. day and said the prime minister harlal Nehru. about the case, Finance Minister by politics, but Modi’s Bharatiya to Changi Airport International For Swamy, taking down a voiced no objections to his case He alleges that, through a Arun Jaitley backed Swamy and Janata Party (BJP) denies this. through a MoU with Singapore dynasty synonymous with the against the Gandhis. Senior aides series of debt and equity deals, criticised Congress for disrupting “If they don’t turn up, issue a Corporation Enterprise, signed founding of modern India is a to Modi say that he sympathised a shell company that Sonia and parliamentary business because warrant and send them to jail,” during Prime Minister Narendra bigger immediate priority than with the case. Rahul controlled acquired prop- of it. Swamy said in the book-lined Modi’s Singapore visit last month. passing a Goods and Services Tax “Modi-ji has always wanted erty worth about $300m after “By disrupting democracy, the study of his South Delhi resi- The letter, also distributed to (GST) that has in any case been to pursue legal cases against paying just $75,000. The Gan- financial web created by the Con- dence, where case papers were the media, says: “India’s policy years in the making. the Gandhi family,” said one. dhis deny wrongdoing and allies gress leaders cannot be undone,” scattered across his desk. on airport infrastructure has He says he has the tacit sup- “This case could end the Gandhi say the deals caused no financial he wrote. “(It) is a total open and shut encouraged an open, consultative port of Modi, and the powerful supremacy, and that is good for harm to the Congress party. A judge had first summoned the case. They are suffering from and competitive model of public finance minister has also voiced us.” Irked by Swamy, Congress Gandhis last year. They appealed hubris.” private partnership which his approval. Swamy, who has said Modi has tried to undermine lawmakers have accused Modi’s to the Delhi High Court, which REUTERS protects the interest of the Airport Authority of India and at the same time promotes private participation. “I find it surprising that Will handle National Herald case legally, says Rahul without any explicit change in policy, the government bypassed GUWAHATI: Congress vice (December),” Rahul Gandhi told with women entrepreneurs in very very hard here to try to help “In Assam, the chief minister is due process and has abruptly president Rahul Gandhi yester- media persons on the sidelines of Guwahati and addressed grass- the people of Assam, to help the in charge. The PCC president and selected an operator to manage day accused the Prime Minister’s a function here. roots workers of the Congress said women of Assam. I am very con- the chief minister will decide what two of India’s most important Office of pushing the National Parliament witnessed disrup- his party would return to power in fident about our party here,” the happens in Assam. It’s up to them. airports.” Herald case and said the party tions over the National Herald Assam in the next assembly elec- Congress vice president said. We are in conversation with some Patel went on, “The closed would handle it legally. case this week after a Delhi court tions. “We have just defeated our He hinted at reaching a poll alli- political parties,” Gandhi said. nature in which the government “The issue is something driven asked Congress chief Sonia Gan- opponents in Bihar. We are going ance with other parties in Assam He, however, did not mention any arrived at this crucial by the Prime Minister’s Office. It’s dhi and Rahul Gandhi to appear to do the same in Assam in the but made it clear that Gogoi and party or whether a pre- or post- decision is beyond reasonable (Young India Limited) a not-for- on December 19 in the National 2016 polls. Chief Minister Tarun Assam Pradesh Congress Com- poll alliance was in the offing. comprehension.” profit company and it’s very clear. Herald case. Gogoi-ji has worked very hard, mittee president Anjan Dutta IANS Let’s see what happens on the 19th Rahul Gandhi, who interacted the Congress also has worked would take the call on the issue. IANS

Young recruits Police find 300 trafficked brick kiln workers BHUBANESWAR: Officials in bleeding,” Telangana’s Deputy Gandhi said the rescued vasi Solidarity Council said in a investigating the death of a Labour Commissioner A. Gandhi migrants had been sent back to statement. 30-year-old pregnant woman told the Thomson Reuters Foun- their homes in Odisha and Bag’s “They did not receive minimum working at a brick kiln in Tel- dation. family given compensation of wage, had restricted freedom of angan said yesterday they had “Immediately she was taken to `70,000 ($1,040) by the Telangana movement and were subjected to uncovered an organised racket a local doctor where she died dur- state government. physical and verbal abuse. Their where hundreds of people were ing treatment.” The brick kiln owner and three living conditions were unhygienic being trafficked and forced to Gandhi said during an investi- supervisors have been arrested and they had no proper facilities.” work in inhumane conditions. gation into the death, police and and charged with culpable homi- Gandhi said the government Labour officials and police in labour officials visited the brick cide not amounting to murder has initiated action against the Telangana state said Suriya Bag, kiln and found 293 people, includ- which carries a minimum sen- owner for the violating various a migrant woman from the neigh- ing women and children, working tence of 10 years in jail. But local labour laws, but disagreed the bouring state of Odisha, died on there in unhygienic and inhumane activists said the owner should migrant workers were bonded December 3 when, despite hav- conditions. also be charged for bonded labour. labourers. Thousands of work- ing a fever and being four months He said the workers had been “The labourers were subjected ers from rural areas are lured to pregnant, she was forced to work packed into tiny filthy rooms to bonded labour conditions. other states each year by traffick- at the kiln, 180km from Hydera- made of thatch and made to sleep They were given advances of ers who promise good jobs but sell Members of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) take part in a passing bad city. on mats. There were no toilets between `25,000-50,000 per fam- them into domestic or sex work or out parade at the CRPF headquarters in Srinagar yesterday. Some 648 “When she expressed her ina- which meant men, women and ily, before being trafficked from to industries such as brick kilns new recruits were inducted into the force, which is fighting an insurgency bility (to work), the owner and children were bathing and defe- Odisha to Telangana and forced to and textile workshops. in Kashmir. the supervisors allegedly kicked cating in the open and little food work as families in a brick kiln,” her stomach and that resulted was provided to them, he added. P Vasudeva Rao of National Adi- REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 10 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com ASIA / INDIA Women’s rights group in legal battle over mosque restriction MUMBAI: A landmark mosque tutional, hoping such a decision mosque was constructed on the mosque’s other areas, where they in Mumbai is facing pressure to would mark a major step forward spot where his body was found, can pray. overturn a ban on women enter- for women’s rights. and his tomb, or “dargah”, lies in She said trustees cited men- ing its inner sanctum, a move “A positive ruling would set a the inner sanctum, the mosque’s struation as the reason for bar- that could set a precedent on precedent and would have a wider most sacred place. ring women entry to sacred gender restrictions in places of and long-term effect,” BMMA co- It is one of a string of temples spots, an argument often given worship in the deeply religious founder Noorjehan Niaz said. and mosques that restricts access by conservative elements. She country. “It would send a message and to women. Last month local media complained to the board and then A Muslim women’s rights encourage women of all religions reported that a Hindu temple approached Maharashtra state’s group is locked in a bitter legal who are barred from entering suspended seven security guards minorities commission before battle with trustees of Haji Ali places of worship to approach after a female devotee stepped on launching legal action last year Dargah, built in the 15th century courts with similar demands,” a platform to worship an idol. after making no progress. and popular not only with Mus- she added. Women are barred from the “How can you bar somebody lims but also Hindu devotees and The mosque is located on an stand and temple authorities from entering the sanctum just sight-seeing tourists. islet accessible via a causeway at later performed a “purification” because she is a woman? The deci- Women have been prevented low tide. It was built in the 1430s ceremony on the idol, according sion was anti-women and anti- entry to the mosque’s mauso- in memory of a wealthy Muslim to the reports. Islamic and we had no option leum since 2011, with its trust who gave up his worldly posses- Haji Ali Dargah is one of Mum- but to go to court. It was the last saying close female proximity to sions and went on a pilgrimage bai’s most recognisable landmarks resort,” Niaz added. the tomb of a revered saint is “a to Mecca. Legend has it that and receives tens of thousands of A member of the trust declined grievous sin” in Islam. Pir Haji Ali Shah Bukhari, who visitors every week. to comment, saying he hoped the Bharatiya Muslim Mahila became a Sufi saint, died during But Niaz said the trust started top court would settle the dispute Andolan (BMMA) has petitioned his spiritual journey and his body banning women from the mau- when it holds its next hearing on Muslims and other visitors inside the Haji Ali Dargah in Mumbai. the Bombay High Court seeking washed up on rocks in the Ara- soleum four years ago, although December 15. a ruling that the ban is unconsti- bian Sea off south Mumbai. The they are still allowed into the AFP

Hardik Patel’s 207 districts in nine supporters to intensify stir states hit by drought AHMEDABAD: Several leaders of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) yesterday decided All farmers to be given soil health cards by 2017 to resume the Patel reservation agitation across Gujarat from NEW DELHI: The government drought gets money only after the the national policy on farmers. December 15. yesterday told parliament that recommendations of an expert The minister claimed that The move came after PAAS 207 districts in nine states have committee sent by the Centre. farmers have been caught in a chief Hardik Patel and two of his been affected by drought, and “There is SDRF (State Disas- web due to the policies pursued associates were denied bail yes- that all farmers in the country ter Response Fund) in which 75 over the last six decades. terday by an Ahmedabad sessions would be given soil health cards percent contribution is from the He said since most of land in court on charges of sedition. by 2017. central government,” he said. India is not irrigated, the govern- Soures said PAAS leaders were Schoolchildren look out of a bus window near Lodi Gardens in New Delhi Union Agriculture Minister Taking a dig at the previous ment had come out with Pradhan meeting Hardik Patel and his yesterday. Radha Mohan Singh gave the UPA government over the crop Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana. father shortly to plan the future information while replying to a insurance scheme, the minister Radha Mohan Singh also urged of action since the Gujarat gov- Lok Sabha debate on the drought said he was unable to understand the states to spend money allo- ernment was pressing its cases situation in the country, which “if it was working for the benefit cated for agricultural purposes. against him. was initiated by Congress mem- of farmers or the companies”. The minister said soil health Other than seeking release of No registration of ber Jyotiraditya Scindia last “There is delay in payments. cards would enable farmers to Patel and his associates, PAAS week. We will remove the shortcom- know about the condition of soil members would submit memo- Congress members were not ings. We have already reviewed and take agricultural decisions randa to government officials and new diesel vehicles present in the house during the the scheme,” Radha Mohan Singh accordingly. demonstrate at Gandhi Ashram minister’s reply as they walked said. The Modi government had on December 21. Hardik Patel, out earlier in the day to demand He said premium would be given priority to issuance of soil 22, has been facing cases relating an apology from a Bharatiya brought down and better use health cards to about 13.5 crore to the four-month-old agitation in New Delhi: NGT Janata Party member over his made of information technology. farmers, costing `568cr. for demanding reservations for “objectionable” remarks against Referring to the members’ con- He said it is for the first time his Patidar community under the NEW DELHI: The National next date of posting subject to their party leaders. cern over the minimum support that the government has decided Other Backward Classes in jobs Green Tribunal (NGT) yester- hearing of all the concerned par- Radha Mohan Singh said it price for grain and other com- to have buffer stocks of pulses. and admissions to educational day said that no new diesel vehi- ties, we direct that diesel vehicles is wrong to assume that a state modities, Singh said he would institutions. cles would be registered in the of more than 10 years of age as facing adverse conditions such as form a committee to review IANS IANS national capital. This would be already directed, as well as new an interim step till the next date diesel vehicle would not be reg- of hearing on January 6, the tri- istered in NCR Delhi,” the bench bunal said. According to experts, said. The tribunal directed the there are about five lakh diesel Centre and state governments to cars in Delhi. consider not to buy diesel vehicles Defence ministry The tribunal also questioned for use. Three get 10-year jail term in the Delhi government’s odd-even “We direct all public authori- seeks more formula for vehicles to check air ties, corporation, Delhi Develop- pollution, and said the move may ment Authority, police and other funds post-OROP not achieve the desired results. public departments to prepare an Park Street gang rape case The NGT also said that the odd- action plan for phasing out diesel NEW DELHI: In the wake of even formula may force people to vehicles, particularly trucks, used the announcement on the imple- KOLKATA: All the three men (2)(g) (of the Indian Penal Code) a divorcee and mother of two, was buy two cars. by all these bodies,” the bench mentation of the ‘One Rank One convicted in the gang rape of an dealing with gang rape. In default, beaten up and gang-raped by five The Delhi government had added. It also directed that the Pension’ (OROP) scheme for ex- Anglo-Indian woman on Park they would have to serve another men at gun-point inside a mov- announced that private vehicles action plan must be placed before servicemen, the defence ministry Street here were sentenced to 10 six months of rigorous imprison- ing car and then thrown off the with odd and even registration the tribunal on the next date of has sought additional budgetary years of rigorous imprisonment ment,” said a lawyer associated vehicle near a city intersection numbers will ply on odd and even hearing. allocation of over `5,000cr for the yesterday by a court here. with the case. on the night of February 5, 2012, days of the week from January 1, “Although diesel vehicles pol- current fiscal. Pronouncing the quantum of If the fine amount is realised, after she had come out of a night with no such restrictions on Sun- lute more than petrol cars, you According to the Supplemen- punishment during in-camera that would go to the legal heir of club on fashionable Park Street. days. cannot stop people from buying tary Demands for Grants, tabled proceedings, Additional Sessions the woman, who died on March Prime accused Kader Khan and “In view of serious contribu- them. The demand for petrol by the government in parliament Judge Chiranjib Bhattacharya 13 this year. Last Thursday, the co-accused Mohammed Ali were tion of vehicular pollution to the cars will go up,” Vikram Tongad, yesterday, the defence ministry also slapped fines of `1lakh each judge had pronounced all three still absconding. Both Naser and air quality of National Capital founder-president of non-gov- sought `5,735.74cr in addition to on the three accused - Ruman guilty of gang rape. Ruan were also sentenced to Region of Delhi, it is important ernmental organisation, Social its budget “for meeting expendi- Khan, Naser Khan and Sumit While all three were found three simultaneous sentences that the government should take Action for Forest and Environ- ture towards increased rate of Bajaj. guilty of gang rape, Naser and of six months, six months and a serious view and a decision on ment (SAFE), said. relief on pension and growth in “The judge after considering all Ruman were also convicted under four months under section 120B whether any diesel vehicle, old “It is a short-term measure,” he pension”. aspects and hearing the accused various sections dealing with (criminal conspiracy), section 323 or new, should be registered in added. A government official said The government announced persons on the quantum of sen- criminal conspiracy, voluntarily (voluntarily causing hurt) and Delhi,” a bench headed by NGT they will take appropriate action the OROP scheme on September tence, sent them to 10 years of causing hurt, criminal intimida- section 506 (criminal intimida- chairperson Justice Swatanter after going through the order. 5, following agitation and indefi- rigorous imprisonment, with fine tion and common intention. tion) respectively. Kumar said. nite fast by ex-servicemen at the of `1lakh each under section 376 The woman, then 40 years old, IANS “As an interim measure till the IANS Jantar Mantar here. A notifica- tion was issued on November 7. The defence ministry said the pension of earlier retirees would be re-fixed on the basis of those who retired in 2013 and the ben- Nine killed in UP efit would be given with effect Parrikar deflects Donald Trump’s ‘bomb’ from July 1, 2014. The notification as fog hits traffic said pension will be re-fixed for WASHINGTON: Deftly deflect- few small pockets of extremism, all pensioners on the basis of the ing a “potential nuclear bomb” of radicalisation, but there are too LUCKNOW: Nine people were average of minimum and maxi- a question about Donald Trump’s few to treat the different sections killed and over a dozen injured mum pension of personnel retir- call to bar the entry of all Mus- of society differently.” in two road accidents in Uttar ing in 2013 in the same rank and lims to the US, Defence Minister “In India, we have equal rights Pradesh due to fog, police said with the same length of service. Manohar Parrikar said Muslims for everyone, and we don’t look yesterday. At least six people were Pension for those drawing above in India “gel well.” towards communities with suspi- killed and over a dozen injured the average shall be protected. “I think your question to me cion,” Parrikar said. US Defence when a tempo, carrying pilgrims Arrears will be paid in four has the potential for nuclear Secretary Ashton Carter also to Chitrakoot for Amavasya Mela, equal half-yearly installments. bomb,” he said amid laughter declined to comment “on anything had a head-on collision with a However, for all family pension- when asked about India’s reaction that is going on in the campaign speeding Roadways bus in the ers, including those in receipt of to the Republican presidential trail” as defence “is a department foggy morning at a bridge over special or liberalised family pen- front runner’s controversial call. that stands apart from politics.” Mandakini river, police said. The sion, and gallantry award win- Declining “comment on what “But as the president has said bus driver apparently failed to ners shall be paid arrears in one has been talked about in the US”, this, that as a matter of fact in the notice the approaching tempo due installment. The pension would be Parrikar said, “As far as India is fight against ISIL that this is not to dense fog and poor visibility. revised every five years. concerned, we believe that we are a fight with Muslims or Islam.” Three people were injured and The veterans however rejected the second-largest Muslim popu- “It’s not, as they would like to hospitalised with others, a police this scheme, calling it ‘one rank lation. And we gel well.” have us say, a Westernising of Minister of Defence Manohar Parrikar and US Defence Secretary Ash Carter official said, adding that the bod- five pension’ and continue to agi- “We believe that everyone has the conflicts in Iraq and Syria,” inspect a jet engine in the hangar deck of the USS Eisenhower, in Virginia, ies have been sent for a post-mor- tate. equal opportunity, equal rights,” Carter said. yesterday. tem examination. IANS he said. “Yes, maybe there are a IANS IANS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 EUROPE www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 11

Merkel’s party Prosecutors end Britain’s phone hacking probe says burqa LONDON: Prosecutors ann- It swiftly sank the expose-led taken in any of these cases,” she hacking when it was taking place.” calls to voicemail numbers. ounced yesterday that they would News of the World weekly tabloid, said. “There has been consider- On perverting the course of “However, it is not possible to should not be take no further action in Britain’s which was Britain’s biggest-sell- able public concern about phone justice, it said there was nothing prove the fact that the ‘double taps’ mammoth phone-hacking probe, ing newspaper. The probes into hacking and invasion of privacy. NGN employees could have done and calls to voicemail platform ending a four-year investigation voicemail interception and other Over the past three years, we between 2006 and 2011 which numbers are definitely instances worn in Germany that rocked the political and alleged media crimes amounted to have brought 12 prosecutions and would have altered or affected of phone hacking,” the CPS said. media establishment to the core. the biggest police investigation in secured nine convictions for these the phone hacking prosecutions. MGN journalists regularly used BERLIN: Under pressure to The Crown Prosecution Service British history. serious offences. “These decisions Furthermore, “the fact that each other’s phones, so it was “not toughen their stance on migrants, (CPS) said it would take no fur- Several journalists from Mur- bring the CPS’s involvement in NGN decided to settle rather than possible to determine which indi- German Chancellor Angela Mer- ther action against News Group doch’s publications have been current investigations into phone resist civil proceedings cannot be viduals were responsible for mak- kel’s conservatives called for an Newspapers (NGN), global media individually convicted of voicemail hacking to a close.” considered to be actions which ing specific calls”. effective ban on the burqa, say- baron Rupert Murdoch’s British interception offences. But since The CPS said they had been could pervert the course of justice”. It “could not be said with cer- ing the full body covering worn tabloid publisher. July, the CPS was also considering considering potential corporate Finally, there was “no evidence” tainty” that the call data “showed by some Muslim women should England’s state prosecutors whether to prosecute NGN as a charges of phone hacking and that NGN’s mass email deletion instances of phone hacking by any not be worn in public. also said there would be no fur- whole for corporate liability. perverting the course of justice policy “was undertaken in order specific individual”. Morgan, who In its main resolution for a ther action against 10 journal- It was further deciding whether against NGN. to pervert the course of justice”. was interviewed twice by police but looming party congress in the ists from the rival Mirror Group to bring phone hacking charges However, “the law on corporate Meanwhile the CPS considered not arrested, said he was among the city of Karlsruhe that is shaping Newspapers (MGN) stable — against 10 MGN journalists. But liability in the United Kingdom files on 10 MGN journalists relat- 10 told that no further action would up as a test of Merkel’s author- among them former Daily Mirror Alison Saunders, the director of makes it difficult to prove that a ing to phone hacking allegations. be taken against them. “As I’ve ity, the leadership of her Chris- editor Piers Morgan. public prosecutions, announced company is criminally liable if it Phonecall data showed a “reg- said since the investigation began tian Democratic Union (CDU) The phone hacking scandal, the CPS was dropping both probes. benefits from the criminal activ- ular pattern” of two calls being four years ago, I’ve never hacked resisted calls by some members which first emerged in 2006 and “We have decided there is insuf- ity of an employee,” the CPS said. placed to the same number at the a phone and nor have I ever told for an “Obergrenze”, or cap on the resurfaced explosively in 2011, ficient evidence to provide a real- “There is no evidence to suggest same time — so-called double-tap- anybody to hack a phone,” he said number of refugees entering Ger- engulfed top newspaper execu- istic prospect of a conviction and that any member of the board of ping to ensure a second call went to on Twitter. many. But to satisfy the critics, tives, police chiefs and politicians. therefore no further action will be NGN had knowledge of phone voicemail — and a high volume of AFP they adopted tough language on a range of immigration-related sub- jects, from security to integration. Roughly one million asylum seekers, many from Muslim coun- tries like Syria, Iraq and Afghani- stan, are expected to arrive in Germany this year, far more than in any other European country. Paris attacker was This has hit support for the ruling CDU and pushed down Merkel’s popularity ratings. Some members of her own party say she must get the number of arrivals down by the French army reject time three state elections are held in March or her hopes of running for a fourth term in 2017 would Bataclan shooter identified by text message be in danger. The 18-page resolution, which WISSEMBOURG, FRANCE: French and Belgian jihadists spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel will be debated by CDU del- Foued Mohamed-Aggad, one of already identified as the killers of Sophie Caussel. egates at the congress starting three young men who shot dead 130 victims at the Bataclan con- Most would-be soldiers in on Monday in the southwestern 90 people at a Paris concert hall cert hall and elsewhere in Paris. France are in fact disappointed. city of Karlsruhe, says Muslim a month ago, was turned down by Mohamed-Aggad had set off Only 15,000 people will be recruited garments for women that cover the French army and possibly also for Syria in 2013, and while his to the French army this year out of A boy brings back his old gun toys at the “Fabrique neuf” store to trade the entire body are at odds with by the police before Islamic State departure was no secret in his 160,000 applicants so far, according them for other toys in Ris-Orangis. The idea of barter came from a volunteer, German values. took him on to fight for them. small home town of Wissembourg to official figures, which recorded a following the decision of several major toy stores like Toys R Us or Joue “Anyone who wears them is Army recruiters in the eastern in northeastern France, some who big jump in applications after the Club, to remove the fake weapons from their shelves after the Paris attacks. demonstrating that they are not city of Strasbourg decided after knew him were shocked to learn November 13 attacks. ready to integrate in our free and conducting physical and psycho- of his role in the Paris killings. Police recruitment authorities bourg and five more young people Paris, and Ismail Omar Moste- open society. Therefore we reject logical tests that he was not a “I can’t believe it was him,” said would neither confirm nor deny from Meinau, a suburb of nearby fai, 29, a Frenchman of Algerian the use of full-body coverings suitable candidate to bear arms Yazar Mesut, a neighbour said. any application. An official cited Strasbourg, went with them. One descent who lived for a time in in public,” the resolution reads. as a French soldier. “He was intelligent and polite.” the confidentiality requirements of the Wissembourg contingent Chartres, south west of Paris. Neighbouring France adopted a Mohamed-Aggad’s identity was According to another neigh- of the inquiry into the November did not get far, intercepted at Amimour also spent time in “burqa ban” in 2011 but Germany only established this week because bour, who gave his name as 13 killings as the reason for the Frankfurt airport by his parents. Syria, as did the presumed ring- has resisted such a step. of a text message his mother Youssef, the young man failed the secrecy. Either way, Mohamed- Others came back a few leader, Abdelhamid Abaaoud, 28, The CDU resolution also calls Fatima received. The text came police entrance exam by just a few Aggad, who was 23 when he died, months later in 2014, saying they a Belgian of Moroccan origin who for criminalising expressions of from his wife, Hadjira, in Syria. It marks, and was also turned down had left his military and police had been on a humanitarian mis- died in a police raid the following support for “terrorist organisa- told the mother of four that her by the army. ambitions far behind him. sion. In May that year, seven were week. Brahim Abdeslam, 31, who tions” over the internet and for younger son had died “with his “That’s the only time I saw him According to the judicial source arrested, including Karim. They blew himself up after taking part limits on the right of migrants brothers” on November 13, the disappointed. He was complain- he was also being investigated for are still in custody. in the cafe and restaurant killings, who are granted asylum to bring night of the attacks. ing. He reckoned it was because of links to Mourad Fares, a Franco- Officials have yet to name all was a French citizen too although their families to Germany. Fearing the worst, and with her his foreign origins,” said Youssef. Moroccan man suspected of being the dead gunmen and suicide born and raised in Brussels. It also warns that if the Euro- elder son already in prison on sus- An official from Strasbourg’s a key jihadist recruiter for Syria in bombers directly involved in last Bilal Hadfi, 20, one of three sui- pean Union is not able to gain picion of having terrorism links, army recruitment office con- Toulouse and Strasbourg, and who month’s attacks, for which IS cide bombers who died near the control over its external borders, the Moroccan-born woman went firmed that Mohamed-Aggad had is already in jail in France after claimed responsibility. It remains Stade de France, dropped out of that the Schengen free-travel zone to the family’s lawyer. tried and failed to join up in 2010. being arrested in Turkey last year. unclear when and how Mohamed- school in 2014 to travel to Syria. cannot remain in place in the long- DNA matching followed, and “We have filters. We look at According to police sources Aggad returned to France. Another of the attackers, Salah term. “We want to keep Schen- the profile of yet another radical- personality and do physical and and locals, Mohamed-Aggad and The other two attackers at the Abdeslam, 26, also a Frenchman gen,” Interior Minister Thomas de ised young man, from yet another psychological tests. The candidate his brother Karim, 25, set off for concert hall have been named as although born in Brussels, is still Maiziere told a news conference to part of France, emerged this has to be healthy and viable for Syria towards the end of 2013. Samy Amimour, 28, a former bus on the run. present the resolution. week, joining other home-grown the army,” said army recruitment Two friends from the Wissem- driver from Drancy, north east of REUTERS REUTERS Ukraine lawmaker Spain detains alleged British drug kingpin MADRID: Spanish police said yesterday He has since been extradited to France, Dawes is also being probed in The Nether- that they had detained one of Europe’s most where he is wanted in connection with the lands over a wave of murders there in 2014 wanted drug lords in his luxury villa on the discovery of 1.3 tonnes of cocaine in a Paris and 2015, allegedly aimed at taking control manhandles PM Costa del Sol after an eight-year probe that airport in 2013, for which several Britons sus- of the traffic of cocaine in several European allegedly linked him to the Italian mafia and pected of being part of his crime empire were countries, police said. KIEV: Fighting broke out among But support for him has fallen South American cartels. jailed. From his base in the southern region of members of Ukraine’s ruling dramatically in the past year. Briton Robert Dawes was detained on The drug shipment, worth more than Andalucia, he is suspected of importing “fur- coalition in parliament yester- “The atmosphere in the room November 12 in a dawn raid coordinated by ¤240m ($270m), was discovered hidden in niture from China and fruit containers from day after a member of President provoked mentally unbalanced the EU’s law enforcement agency Europol on some 30 suitcases on an Air France plane after South America which he would fill with large Petro Poroshenko’s bloc physi- people. Oleh Barna served on his home in the southern resort of Benal- it landed in Paris at the end of a flight from quantities of cocaine,” and his cartel also traf- cally picked up Prime Minister the frontline and is therefore madena, where he lived with his family and Caracas’ international airport. ficked heroin from Turkey and Afghanistan to Arseny Yatseniuk and pulled him too impulsive, but that does not bodyguards, the Guardia Civil police force said. The case caused a stir in Venezuela, where Britain, police said. from the podium. excuse his actions,” the head of The 44-year-old, who “headed up the biggest the interior minister admitted that the suit- Dawes mainly used shipping containers to Yatseniuk was defending his Poroshenko’s bloc Yuriy Lutsenko criminal organisation in Britain and Europe cases had gone through security scanners that move the drugs around, but also commercial embattled government’s record told journalists. devoted to drug trafficking, money laundering had clearly showed the presence of drugs, and flights like the Air France one and leisure when lawmaker Oleh Barna The brawl interrupted a ques- and murder”, had been under investigation in 25 people were arrested, including members boats, they added. walked over to him, presenting tion-and-answer session with Spain since 2007, they said in a statement. of the military and an Air France manager. AFP him sarcastically with a bunch Yatseniuk, 41, after he delivered of red roses. Barna then grabbed a summary of the performance him around the waist and groin, of his government, which after lifting him off his feet and drag- exactly one year in power is now ging him from the rostrum. no longer immune from being dis- Members from Yatseniuk’s missed by parliament. UN climate conference People Front party waded in, “I told you a year ago that pushing Barna and throw- nobody is going to promise the ing punches. Lawmakers from moon,” Yatseniuk said, appearing extended by a day Poroshenko’s bloc joined the fray to defend his cabinet from accusa- and an angry brawl ensued for tions they have not made good on several minutes before deputies their reform promises. PARIS: The UN climate con- bal temperature rise to 2 degrees returned to their seats. “You have full constitutional ference in Paris was extended by centigrade above pre-industrial The incident exposed deep divi- right to vote on the question of a day, French Foreign Minister norms. There is also reference to sions in the pro-Europe coalition dismissing Ukraine’s cabinet. and conference president Laurent a long-term vision of 1.5 degrees. that have fuelled speculation the Put it to the vote. I’ll accept the Fabius said. UN Secretary-General Ban government could fall even as decision of the Ukrainian par- Fabius said he would be “in a Ki-moon called on envoys from Ukraine’s Western backers warn liament. I’m not clinging to this position” to present a “proposed around the world to take a “final that time is running out for Kiev chair,” he said. draft of a final text” at some stage. decision for humanity” as they to make good on its promises to Opposition parties are call- “We are extremely close to the battled to seal. “This negotia- root out endemic corruption and ing for a no-confidence motion objective,” he was reported as say- tion is most complicated, most cronyism. to be tabled and commentators ing, adding that talks were going on difficult, but most important for Yatseniuk is, like Poroshenko, say enough votes could be gath- all night. The draft text was origi- humanity. We have just very lim- a pivotal player in the pro-West- ered to dismiss the government, nally due to be presented yesterday ited hours remaining,” Ban told ern leadership that emerged but a vote is not yet likely due to A man takes a photograph of a friend posing in front of Greenpeace’s afternoon, before the scheduled last reporters as ministers grabbled after the downfall of the Mos- the lack of a candidate to replace famous giant polar bear Aurora at the World Climate Change Conference day of the COP 21 meeting today. with stubborn differences over cow-backed Viktor Yanukovich Yatseniuk. 2015 (COP21) in Le Bourget, near Paris, yesterday. The new agreement would pivotal issues. in February 2014. REUTERS aim at limiting the average glo- AGENCIES SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 12 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com AMERICAS Three top US Case against ‘9/11 Five’ airlines ban hoverboards tainted, says attorney due to fire risk NEW YORK: Hoverboards may Chances of case being dismissed remote be on many people’s Christmas lists but they present a conun- GUANTANAMO BAY NAVAL is going to meet justice and he’s fly in the judge, lawyers and other drum for airlines, which are BASE: The case against five men going to meet his maker,” Obama’s court workers. mulling the best way to transport accused of plotting the Septem- then press secretary Robert Gibbs Al Hawsawi was not in the the popular devices that could ber 11, 2001 attacks is tainted said in 2010, according to a slide courtroom on Thursday. On present a fire risk. because President Barack Obama Ruiz showed the court. Tuesday, he sat on a white cush- The three largest US airlines, and other senior officials have “He will be brought to justice ion throughout proceedings. He American Airlines Group Inc, already deemed them guilty, an and he’s likely to be executed for claims this is because he suf- United Continental Holdings Inc attorney said on Thursday. the heinous crimes that he com- fered damage to his rectum dur- People take part in an anti-Donald Trump, pro-immigration protest in the and Delta Air Lines Inc, each said Walter Ruiz, who represents mitted in killing and mastermind- ing aggressive CIA body cavity Manhattan borough of New York late on Thursday. on Thursday that they are banning Mustapha Al Hawsawi of Saudi ing the killing of 3,000 Americans. searches and has been denied hoverboards starting this week in Arabia, spoke while arguing a That you can be sure of.” surgery to correct it. carry-on and checked baggage out joint defense motion — first filed Fourteen years after about While dismissal of the case is a Majority of Americans of safety considerations. in 2012 — to dismiss the case, 3,000 people died in New York, long shot, Ruiz hopes the “unlaw- American spokesman Casey highlighting the glacially slow at the Pentagon and in a field in ful influence” motion might Norton cited an ongoing inves- pace of proceedings against the Pennsylvania, the chances of the at least persuade Pohl to split tigation into hoverboards by the “9/11 Five”. case being dismissed are remote. Hawsawi’s prosecution off into a oppose Trump plan US Consumer Product Safety Ruiz told military judge Colo- Obama tried to prosecute the sus- separate case, or take the death Commission. The federal agency nel James Pohl in a Guantanamo pects in federal court in New York penalty off the table for his client. WASHINGTON: A majority are mixed: 42 percent of Repub- is looking into at least 10 reports Bay courtroom that members of in 2009 but the move proved too The five men are appearing in a of Americans oppose Donald lican respondents back Trump’s of hoverboard fires in nine states, Obama’s administration — includ- controversial and charges were Guantanamo Bay military court Trump’s controversial plan to Muslim ban, while 36 percent said spokeswoman Patty Davis. ing the president himself — have reinstated in military court. this week for hearings ahead of ban Muslims from entering the oppose it. The changes in carriers’ baggage repeatedly asserted to the US pub- The case has slowed to a crawl an eventual trial. United States, but one in four Three-quarters of Democrats policy also coincided with com- lic that the men would be found owing to a myriad of issues stem- The hearings have been domi- supports it, according to the stand opposed. ments from the top global airline guilty and sentenced to death. ming from the CIA torture of the nated by the issue of whether first major national poll since the The poll also found that 41 association that addressed hover- Such “unlawful influence” taints detainees when they were first the five accused, who are strict furore erupted. percent of Americans believe board hazards. any potential jury pool, Ruiz said. taken into custody. Muslims, should be handled by The frontrunner for the Trump’s bombastic campaign Hoverboards do not in fact “We’ll never quite get away from “There’s fundamental questions female military guards as they are Republican nomination for the statements in general are fre- hover, but are two-wheeled the public comments from people about whether the rules of this escorted to the courtroom. White House triggered an out- quently insulting. devices also known as self-balanc- in the position of power,” Ruiz told tribunal are calculated to produce Judge Pohl on Thursday cry on Monday with the proposal, Twenty-two percent say Trump ing scooters. They have prompted the judge as he presented a slide convictions rather than ensure a declined a prosecution request which was lambasted at home and is telling it like it is and has the a host of warnings from authori- show featuring a string of officials fair trial,” said Naureen Shah, a to lift a January order barring abroad. correct approach. ties, and not just because people opining about the case. director with Amnesty Interna- the use of women guards. Obama Fifty-seven percent of adults in The survey also showed that may fall off them. The so-called 9/11 Five are tional USA. wants to close the prison at the US are against the idea, while Americans have a favourable Earlier this year, police in Brit- alleged mastermind Khalid Sheikh Further slowing matters is Guantanamo but has been frus- 25 percent are for it, according opinion of Muslims — 59 percent ain warned people it was illegal Mohammed, Walid bin Attash and the bizarre reality that the court trated by a reluctant Congress. to the new survey by NBC News positive compared to 29 percent to ride the devices on both public Ramzi Binalshibh of Yemen, Ali must travel to the defendants, and The facility has housed about 780 and the Wall Street Journal on negative — upholding a relatively roads and pavements, meaning Abd Al Aziz Ali — Mohammed’s not the other way round. Every detainees since the start of 2002. Thursday. Eighteen percent did stable position on the question people must stick to their own nephew — and Al Hawsawi. time a hearing takes place in Currently, 107 remain. not know or had no opinion. since 2002. private land to try them. “Khalid Sheikh Mohammed Guantanamo, the military must AFP Among Republicans the views AFP Britain’s National Trading Standards said this month 88 per- cent of 17,000 self-balancing scoot- ers examined at UK entry points were deemed to be unsafe, with an increased risk of overheating, exploding or catching fire. No ‘white knight’ to rescue Brazil from political crisis The International Air Trans- port Association (IATA) has rec- RIO DE JANEIRO: Some are case, about 30 percent face crimi- a glass of wine in the face of a whether or not Congress should failed to decide whether it should ommended that self-balancing charged with bribe-taking, oth- nal probes, according to a detailed senator at a dinner late Wednes- impeach the president. The open a probe into the powerful scooters be carried only in cabin ers electoral crimes and one with count by specialist website Con- day, and the idea that exchang- Supreme Court intervened hours Cunha. Fleischer estimated that baggage, but it remains up to each forming a gang: Meet the men gresso em Foco. ing Rousseff for another leader later to suspend the commission about 20 percent of Congress airline to decide their exact policy. overseeing the impeachment of The architect of the impeach- would clean up Brazil’s politics for a week, citing irregularities. members as a whole face crimi- “Each airline has to make a Brazilian President Dilma Rous- ment drive himself, house speaker looks ever less likely. The O Estado de Sao Paulo nal investigations, many of them risk-based analysis to decide if seff. Eduardo Cunha, has been charged “There’s no white knight,” says newspaper called the scenes “a linked to Petrobras. these items are to be transported The first woman to lead Latin with taking as much as $40 mil- University of Brasilia politics scandalous and depressing spec- These include senior figures or not, what mitigating measures America’s biggest country could be lion in bribes. He allegedly stashed expert David Fleischer. “There’s tacle.” “The chamber was turned like key Rousseff ally Senator are to be applied to permit car- ejected one year into her second the loot — part of a vast corrup- no national saviour riding from into a circus. We are living in a Delcidio do Amaral and even a riage of those items,” Gilberto term on charges that her govern- tion network centered on state the horizon.” Tuesday’s election degrading and humiliating situ- former president, Fernando Col- Lopez Meyer, senior vice presi- ment illegally managed the federal oil giant Petrobras — in secret of the impeachment commis- ation,” said Julio Delgado, from lor de Mello. Collor resigned from dent for safety and flight opera- budget. But many of the politicians Swiss accounts. Dozens of other sion encapsulated the mix of bad the Brazilian Socialist Party. On the presidency in 1992 during his tions at IATA, said. IATA says the directly responsible for Rousseff’s senators and deputies also face tempers and questionable legality Thursday, another group of dep- own impeachment trial, before devices should be classed as per- fate do not have clean hands. Petrobras-related charges. plaguing the capital Brasilia. uties punched and shoved each making a comeback as a senator. sonal electronic devices and says Of the 65 congressional deputies Throw in scenes of deputies Pro-Rousseff and opposition other on national television. If Rousseff is impeached, her factors to be taken into considera- elected in controversial circum- brawling on television this week, deputies pushed and screamed This time they were members vice president, Michel Temer, tion include the size of the lithium stances on Tuesday to a commit- or reports that the agriculture during voting to form the com- of the house ethics committee, would automatically take over. ion battery. tee scrutinizing the impeachment minister, Katia Abreu, threw mission, which will recommend which has repeatedly tried and AFP REUTERS

800 Central American kids Scientists coax computers to think like people to be housed in Dallas WASHINGTON: For artificial University cognitive and data sci- Standard algorithms in machine- computer. The judges found the intelligence and smart machines entist Brenden Lake said. learning require tens, hundreds work produced by the computers DALLAS: About 800 immigrant Rockwall County, the camps said. to really take off, computers are “We aimed to reverse-engineer or even thousands of training to be virtually indistinguishable children from Central America Officials in Ellis and Rockwall going to have to be able to think how people learn about these examples to yield similar results, from that of human subjects. who have entered the United counties said they received lit- more like people, according to simple visual concepts, in terms Tenenbaum said. University of Toronto compu- States will be moved to two camp- tle notice from state and federal experts in the field. Research- of identifying the types of com- In the study, computers boasting ter science and statistics profes- sites in the Dallas area over the agencies of the arrivals. ers are now making important putations that the mind may be the new algorithm and human sub- sor Ruslan Salakhutdinov said he coming days, local officials said. Reverend Rick DuBose, super- progress toward that goal. performing, and testing these jects were presented with selected hoped this new work would help Officials said the move was due intendent of the Assemblies of Scientists said on Thursday assumptions by trying to recre- characters among a data set of guide progress in artificial intel- to an increase in the number of God of North Texas, told the that they had created a compu- ate the behaviour,” Lake said. The about 1,600 handwritten characters ligence by leading to next-gener- unaccompanied minors who have same news conference that his ter model, or algorithm, that cap- algorithm was designed to make from 50 alphabets from around ation intelligent machines “that entered the country illegally in group was honoured to give the tures the unique human ability to a computer able to learn quickly the world. They even included a hopefully will come close to dis- the last few months. children a place to stay for next grasp new concepts from a sin- from a single example in the way fictional alien alphabet from the playing human-like intelligence.” Ellis County Sheriff Johnny three weeks. “We didn’t feel gle example in a study involving people do. animated TV show Futurama. The same approach used in Brown told a news conference like there was any way we could learning unfamiliar handwritten “You show even a young child a Among other tasks, the human the study might be applicable to that the campsite in his county, turn them away and not care for alphabet characters. horse or a school bus or a skate- subjects and computers were machine learning for many other the Lakeview Camp and Retreat them. We have the beds that are This work as well as research board and they get it from just directed to reproduce various tasks like speech recognition and Centre, will be patrolled around empty and the food that can be like it has the twin goals of bet- one or a few examples,” Massa- characters after being given a object recognition, Lake said. The the clock and function like a served,” he said. ter understanding human learning chusetts Institute of Technology lone example. Human judges research was published in the mini city. The children will then likely and developing new, more human- computational cognitive science were then asked to identify which journal Science. Figures recently released by move into a US government-run like learning algorithms, New York professor Joshua Tenenbaum said. characters were reproduced by a REUTERS US Border Patrol show that it facility or be turned over to family apprehended 10,558 unaccompa- members until their immigration nied children, mainly from Cen- status is decided, officials said. tral America, who entered the Ellis County Commissioner Paul Venezuela protest United States illegally in Octo- Perry said: “We have been assured ber and November, about double that the cost of housing and secu- SpaceX set to launch rocket the number over the same period rity will be borne by the federal last year. government.” WASHINGTON: SpaceX announced plans to launch its Falcon 9 on Officials say rather than flee- The previous surge in unaccom- December 19, its first mission since a massive explosion after liftoff ing, many of the children seek panied minors created what the destroyed the rocket and its space station cargo six months ago. out US officials, surrender, and Obama administration described SpaceX CEO Elon Musk wrote on Twitter that the company is pre- request political asylum, citing as a humanitarian crisis. To con- paring for a static fire — an engine test on the launch pad at Nasa’s violence and endemic crime in tain it, US authorities opened Kennedy Space Centre in Cape Canaveral, Florida — on December 16, their home countries. temporary shelters, reassigned followed by “launch about three days later”, The number of children rap- border agents, added processing The Falcon rocket will carry 11 satellites for the US company Orb- idly escalated in the summer of centres and immigration judges comm into low-Earth orbit, a company spokesman said. The spokes- 2014, totalling nearly 63,000 for and started Spanish-language man did not say when SpaceX planned to begin sending cargo to the the 10 months ended July 2014. campaigns in the countries that International Space Station again. SpaceX’s only competitor in the Many were fleeing criminal most of the children were flee- commercial resupply industry is Orbital ATK, which also suffered a gangs and drug-related violence ing — El Salvador, Guatemala major setback when its Antares rocket exploded after launching from at home. and Honduras. It also led to Wallops Island, Virginia in October 2014. Lakeview Camp is due to care sharp criticism from Republican A supporter of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro holds a portrait Orbital ATK launched on Sunday its unmanned Cygnus cargo for 500 migrant youth. Another leaders who said the Democratic of him and late president Hugo Chavez as he shouts slogans outside ship to the ISS, this time aboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas 300 Central American children president was not doing enough V rocket while it upgrades the Antares, which previously used a the National Assembly in Caracas late on Thursday. will be housed at Sabine Creek to secure the border. reconditioned Ukrainian rocket engine. Ranch, a Christian camp, in REUTERS REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 BUSINESS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 13

Dow, DuPont to merge in all stock deal Poland gets Merger is a prelude to an eventual split-up of the combined company into three businesses first gas

BENGALURU: Chemical giants eris will be executive chairman. said in a statement. The compa- delivery DuPont and Dow Chemical Dow Chemical shareholders will nies said the split would “occur as agreed to merge in an all-stock get one DowDuPont share for soon as feasible” and would likely deal valuing the combined com- each Dow Chemical share held, happen 18-24 months after the from Qatar pany at $130bn in a win for activ- while DuPont shareholders will deal closes, which is expected in ist investors that could spark get 1.282 shares in DowDuPont the second half of 2016. The com- WARSAW: The first-ever gas further consolidation in the farm- for each DuPont share they own. bination will help the companies carrier from Qatar arrived in chemicals industry. The merger, one of the biggest save about $3bn in costs in the Poland yesterday to help the The deal to combine two of of the year, will allow Dow and first two years, with the possibil- eastern EU member diversify its the biggest and oldest US chemi- DuPont to rejig assets based on ity of saving another $1bn, Dow energy supplies and reduce its cal producers is a prelude to an the diverging fortunes of their and DuPont said. dependence on Russia. eventual split-up of the combined businesses that make agriculture The biggest of the three new The Al Nuaman vessel car- company into three discrete busi- chemicals and plastics. companies by revenue would be a ried 210,000 cubic metres (7.5 nesses, Dow and DuPont said yes- The companies have been material science company, which million cubic feet) of gas to the terday. struggling to cope with falling would cater to the packaging, northwestern Polish port of But it is likely to face intense demand for farm chemicals due transportation and infrastruc- Swinoujscie. “For the first time regulatory scrutiny, given an to falling crop prices and a strong ture industries. The combined The Dow Chemical logo is shown on a wall at its corporate headquarters ever, Poland has received a gas extensive ovelap of their agri- dollar, even as their plastics busi- revenue for the materials business in Midland, Michigan, US. delivery from the Middle East,” culture businesses. The proposed nesses have thrived thanks to low was about $51bn in 2014 on an said Deputy Finance Minister split would create businesses natural gas prices. DuPont shares adjusted basis.The companies said BASF SE and Bayer AG to con- $45bn offer for the Swiss company Henryk Baranowski. “As soon focused on agriculture, materials were down 4.4 percent at $71.25 a new specialty products company solidate as falling crop prices curb in August. “The biggest impact as the (Swinoujscie) terminal and specialty products. in premarket trading, while Dow’s would focus on electronics. The sales. will certainly be in the agricul- is launched, Poland will be able Excluding preferred shares, were down 1.8 percent at $53.92. combined adjusted revenue of It could also prompt a renewed ture market, where the seeds to import liquefied natural gas existing shareholders of Dow and “This transaction is a game- that business was about $13bn in flurry of takeover bids for Euro- and crop chemical industries are practically from any place in the DuPont will each own about 50 changer for our industry and 2014. The third business, selling pean rivals, with Syngenta AG to undergo rapid consolidation,” world,” he added. percent of the combined company, reflects the culmination of a seed and crop protection chemi- the most likely target. Analysts SunTrust Robinson Humphrey Sea Industry and Navigation to be called DowDuPont. DuPont vision we have had for more than cals, generated adjusted revenue have said a Dow-DuPont tie-up analyst James Sheehan told Reu- Minister Marek Grobarczyk said Chief Executive Ed Breen will be a decade to bring together these of about $19b. might push Monsanto Co to take ters on Friday. the new supply route would facili- CEO of the new company, and two powerful innovation and The merger puts further pres- another shot at Syngenta after tate talks with Russian gas giant Dow Chemical CEO Andrew Liv- material science leaders,” Liveris sure on rivals such as Germany’s the US company abandoned a REUTERS Gazprom, which now covers about 40 percent of Poland’s consump- tion. “This means a real diversi- fication of gas supplies to central and eastern Europe,” he said. The gas carried by Al Nuaman will be used for the technological Gold prices bounce VW sales down 2.2pc in November launch of the Swinoujscie termi- nal, which should start commer- LONDON: Gold prices bounced FRANKFURT: Belea- group brands slipped by 1.7 per- The revelations sent shock- cial operation in mid-2016. Worth yesterday, erasing earlier losses guered German auto giant cent to 9.256 million units and waves through the world’s auto about ¤720m, the terminal will as the dollar fell, but was still on Volkswagen(V W) said yesterday sales of the VW brand alone were sector and there were fears the have an initial capacity of five bil- track for a seventh weekly drop that worldwide sales of all of its down 4.5 percent at 5.336 million, scandal could also hit the wider lion cubic metres per year, equal in eight as investors positioned 12 different brands were down VW said. “The VW group and German economy. The costs fac- to one-third of Poland’s needs. themselves for a likely US rate 2.2 percent in November, with its brands are currently facing a ing VW, once seen as the para- In the years to come, its capacity rise next week. the pollution-cheating scandal very challenging time,” said chief gon of German industry, are still is expected to grow to 7.5 billion A rate increase at the Fed- hitting demand for its cars. executive Matthias Mueller. “We incalculable, not only in terms of cubic metres. eral Reserve’s policy meeting VW said in a statement it are ready tp face up to this huge reputation and global earnings, Gazprom is the key gas sup- on December 15-16 would be the sold 883,700 cars worldwide in challenge. At the same time, we but with regard to the potential plier to Poland, while local gas first in nearly a decade and could November, 2.2 percent fewer are pleased that our customers billions in possible fines and legal covers about one-third of the dent demand for non-interest than in the same month a year are remaining loyal to us.” costs as well. country’s consumption and cen- paying gold. “Temporary short earlier. Sales of VW-brand cars The day before, Mueller had At the VW brand, board mem- tral Asian resources provide the squeezes could disturb the long- alone were down 2.4 percent at said that while the situation was ber Juergen Stackmann said that remaining 20 percent. Poland has term downward trend but we still 496,100 last month, it said. In difficult, it would not break the “developments in world markets, recently upgraded its gas supplies expect prices around $1,000 next addition to the VW marque, company. VW was plunged into which are in some cases tense, system, building hundreds of kilo- week,” ABN Amro analyst Geor- the group owns 11 other brands, its deepest-ever scandal in Sep- and their effects on the Volkswa- metres of pipelines and under- gette Boele said. including Porsche, Audi, Skoda, tember, when it was forced to gen Passenger Cars brand will ground storage facilities to boost Spot gold, lower initially, was up SEAT and Lamborghini. Tak- admit it had installed emission- continue until the end of the its energy independence. 0.2 percent to $1,072.35 an ounce ing the 11 months to Novem- cheating software into 11 million year.” by 1507 GMT. It was on track for An Indonesian vendor holds gold ber, worldwide sales of all of the diesel engine vehicles worldwide. AFP AFP a 1.2 percent decline for the week. necklaces at a market in Jakarta. “What we are likely to see in the next three months is the discus- ing to Reuters technical analyst sion moving from the rate hike to Wang Tao. Weakness in crude oil the pace of rate tightening cycle,” prices at seven-year lows could ETF Securities strategist Martin trigger fears of deflation, a bearish Arnold said. factor for gold, which is often used Alibaba to buy South China Morning Post “A broad range between the as a hedge against oil-led inflation. high $1,080 to $1,030 is where Short positions in COMEX gold BEIJING: Alibaba Group Hold- tion among the English-speak- nationally for the quality and of Beijing’s violent crackdown we are going to see gold in the futures and options are at record ing has agreed to buy Hong Kong’s ing elite who still dominate the credibility of its journalism over on pro-democracy protesters in first quarter, starting towards highs, while assets in SPDR Gold flagship English-language news- former British colony. Chinese- the years,” Joe Tsai, executive vice Tiananmen Square in 1989. Ma the lower end of the range in a Trust, the top bullion exchange paper, the South China Morning language dailies may be more chairman of Alibaba Group, said denied at the time that he had knee-jerk reaction to the Fed’s traded fund, are at their lowest Post (SCMP), in the most politi- influential than the Post, but in a letter to SCMP readers. “Like made such an assertion. move and then grinding higher since September 2008. cally sensitive acquisition by the changes in its editorial direction many print media, however, the Tsai sought to address concerns throughout Q1,” he added. Investors have boosted bets e-commerce giant to date. are seen as a barometer for press SCMP faces challenges amid the about editorial independence in The dollar fell against key that the gold price will soon drop Alibaba and SCMP Group Ltd freedom under Chinese rule. dramatic changes in the way news his letter. “In reporting the news, world currencies amid a selloff to $1,000 an ounce, options data announced yesterday that the Alibaba has acquired or is reported and distributed. But the SCMP will be objective, accu- sparked by market volatility con- shows. Gold, on track for a third Hangzhou-based company would invested in a growing portfolio of these changes play to Alibaba’s rate and fair ... day-to-day edi- cerns and slumping commodity straight annual decline, has lost buy the 112-year-old newspaper media and content companies in strengths, which is why we believe torial decisions will be driven by prices that overshadowed solid US 9.5 percent of its value this year. and other media properties for recent years. In June, the com- the two companies complement editors in the newsroom, not in retail sales data. Among other precious metals, an undisclosed amount. The pur- pany agreed to pay $194m for an each other well.” the corporate boardroom.” Technically, gold’s outlook silver and platinum were also chase, which follows a string of undisclosed stake in the China Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma is SCMP has a market value of remains neutral between $1,064 headed for a seventh weekly loss media deals by Alibaba, is likely Business News, the domestic no stranger to controversy at the $392m, according to Thomson and $1,084 per ounce, but a break in eight weeks. to raise concerns in Hong Kong, financial media firm. “The SCMP newspaper. In 2013, a reporter for Reuters data. below $1,064 could take prices where the South China Morning has iconic status in the region, the Post quit after quoting Ma as back to multi-year lows, accord- REUTERS Post occupies an important posi- with a strong reputation inter- having made remarks in support REUTERS US consumer spending gauge rises strongly in November WASHINGTON: A gauge of US tic product. “It dismisses any to 91.8 early this month from a November supports expectations ber. November marked the 10th in October. Auto sales slipped 0.4 consumer spending rose solidly concerns of a potential slump in reading of 91.3 in November. that the Fed will raise its bench- straight 12-month decrease in the percent last month, the largest in November, suggesting enough household spending after a cou- The latest signs of strength in mark overnight interest rate index. Dollar strength and con- decline since June, after falling momentum in the economy for ple of weaker months in August consumption prompted econo- from near zero when policymak- tinued declines in oil prices amid 0.3 percent in October. Though the Federal Reserve to raise and September. Not that there is mists at Barclays to bump up ers conclude a two-day meeting a glut and slowing global growth automakers reported strong sales interest rates next week for the much doubt any more, but this their fourth-quarter growth esti- next Wednesday, despite weak have dampened price pressures, in November, the units sold were first time in nearly a decade. supports the case for a rate hike mate by one-tenth of a percent- inflation. leaving inflation running persist- slightly below October’s levels. Other data yesterday showed by the Fed next week,” said Steve age point to a 1.8 percent annual The US central bank has not ently below the Fed’s 2 percent Receipts at service stations fell consumer sentiment nudged up in Murphy, US economist at Capital rate. The economy grew at a 2.1 raised rates since June 2006. The target. 0.8 percent after decreasing 1.0 early December, an encouraging Economics in Toronto. percent pace in the third quarter. dollar was lower against a basket “We maintain our conviction percent in October. Elsewhere, sign for future spending. Consumer spending, which In another report, the Com- of currencies, while US Treasury that dollar appreciation will weigh sales at clothing stores shot up 0.8 Retail sales excluding automo- accounts for more than two- merce Department said retail debt yields hit session lows. on the prices of core goods through percent, the largest increase since biles, gasoline, building materials thirds of US economic activity, inventories excluding autos In a separate report, the the middle of next year,” said Rob May. Sales at online retailers and food services increased 0.6 surprisingly slowed in the last increased 0.4 percent in October, Labor Department said its pro- Martin, an economist at Barclays rose 0.6 percent and receipts at percent after gaining 0.2 per- few months. The moderation suggesting inventories could be ducer price index advanced 0.3 in New York. Last month, over- sporting goods and hobby stores cent in October, the Commerce came despite a tightening labor less of a drag on fourth-quarter percent last month after falling all retail sales increased only 0.2 increased 0.8 percent. Sales at Department said. These so-called market, which has started to lift growth than previously thought. 0.4 percent in October. But the percent as automobile sales fell electronics and appliance outlets core retail sales correspond most household income. Separately, That, however, implies inventories PPI declined 1.1 percent in the and cheaper gasoline weighed advanced 0.6 percent. closely with the consumer spend- the University of Michigan’s could weigh on output in early 12 months through November on receipts at service stations. ing component of gross domes- consumer sentiment index rose 2016. Solid domestic demand in after sliding 1.6 percent in Octo- Retail sales edged up 0.1 percent REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 14 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com BUSINESS Oil slips as IEA No cheer as China yuan hits 4-1/2-year low LONDON: World stocks were on for US data which could cement the brink of a two-month low yes- expectations that the Fed is gear- terday, as beaten-down oil prices ing up to hike rates for the first warns on supply and a slide in China’s yuan to time in a decade next week. 4-1/2 year lows left markets in a US retail sales, inflation and sombre mood. consumer sentiment data isdue Middle East output rises Volatile oil markets and wor- between 1330 GMT and 1500 ries about China, the world’s big- GMT. LONDON: Brent crude was on tight oil shifts intocontraction, gest commodities consumer, have European shares fell 0.7 per- track for its lowest weekly close and it that further spending pressured many markets ahead cent, declining for a fourth since 2008 yesterday as the cuts could spur deeper output of a widely anticipated inter- straight session, while MSCI’s International Energy Agency declines. est rate hike by the US Federal broadest index of Asia-Pacific (IEA) warned global oil oversup- “There is evidence the Saudi- Reserve next week. shares outside Japan hit a two- ply could worsen in the new year. led strategy is starting to work,” MSCI’s world stock index fell month low and posted a weekly Output in the Middle East the IEA said, referring to the pro- for a fifth straight day as emerg- loss of just over 3 percent. continued to rise, figures showed ducer group’s decisionto maintain ing markets tumbled again and China’s yuan fell to its weakest this week, despite an already high output to safeguard market European shares opened at a in 4-1/2 years at 6.4564 per dol- huge global glut and the IEA, share. two-month low while the dollar lar and posted its longest weekly which advises developed nations US shale oil production, the steadied. losing streak in a decade, drag- on energy, warned that rocketing main driver of non-OPEC sup- “We are in risk-off mode,” said ging emerging Asian currencies demand growth for fuels could ply growth, is expected to fall Piotr Matys, emerging market- lower, on concerns about its slow- ebb. for a ninth consecutive month in currency strategist at Rabobank ing economy and expectations of “Consumption is likely to have January, a forecast from the US in London. a US rate hike next week. peaked in the third quarter and Energy Information Administra- “Another round of selling in Lower daily fixings for the cur- demand growth is expected to tion showed this week. commodities with oil prices at rency by China’s central bank slow to a still-healthy 1.2 mil- Oil prices fall sparked a freshw new lows has sent global stocks have also raised questions about A man rides his loaded tricycle next to three schoolgirls in Shanghai lion bpd in 2016, as support from ave of selling on european and US lower and emerging market com- how far Beijing intends to let the sharply falling oil prices begins to stock markets as paniked inves- modity currencies are under currency depreciate. “Also, if the yuan continues data scheduled to be released on fade,” the IEA said in its monthly tors fled the energy sector. pressure.” “A US. rate hike would have to depreciate, that’s negative to Saturday. report. Brent crude futures were In mid-afternoon trading, The Russian rouble tumbled 2 a major impact on money flows stocks as well, because it means China’s economy is on track down 48 cents at $39.25 a barrel major European markets saw percent against the dollar, with out of emerging markets includ- investors are not confident about to post about 7 percent annual- at 1012 GMT, not far off almost early lossess deepen with the focus on a meeting of the Russian ing Hong Kong and China,” said China’s economic restructuring.” growth in 2015. seven-year lows hit earlier in the London FTSE100 index shed- central bank later on Friday. Linus Yip, chief strategist at Chinese shares closed lower session at $39.17 a barrel. ding 1.8 percent to drop below the Investors were also waiting First Shanghai Securities. ahead of a spate of economic REUTERS US crude futures were at 36.42 6,000 mark, while Frankfurt and per barrel, down 34 cents. Ear- Paris lost 2.2 percent in value. lier in the session, US futures BP’s share price slid 3.2 per- touched $36.32, their lowest since cent to 339.80 pence and shell’s February 2009. ‘B’ shares dropped 4 percent to ECB loans $20bn Oil prices have tumbled this 1,498 pence and Anglo American month after to Opec failed to shed 7 percent in a London ses- IMF warns UK growth could suffer to 55 banks at impose a ceiling on its output. sion whichs aw jsut two FTSE100 Opec producers pumped more oil firms in positive territory. LONDON:Uncertainty about the “They say that our economy is should gradually return to tar- ultra-cheap rates in November than in any month French giant Total saw its outcome of Britain’s referendum much stronger, more resilient and get,” it said. For now, the Bank since late 2008, some 31.7 million stock sink 3 percent. US stocks on leaving the European Union has more jobs,” he said. of England should keep rates at FRANKFURT: The European barrels per day. opened more than one percent could cloud an otherwise positive Prime Minister David Cam- their record low of 0.5 percent, Central Bank said yesteday it Should sanctions on Iran be lower, with investors selling outlook for the country’s eco- eron has said he will hold a it said. lent around €18.3bn ($20bn) to lifted, its exports could rise, add- down industrial sellilng heavy- nomic growth, the International referendum on Britain’s EU “Monetary policy should stay 55 banks in a sixth round of spe- ing to the market’s oversupply. weights Dow Chemical and Monetary Fund said yesterday. membership by the end of 2017, on hold until inflationary pres- cial liquidity measures aimed at “The next quarter is going to Dupont Chemical and Dupont The IMF broadly endorsed after attempting to safeguard sures are clearer,” the report reflating the eurozone economy. be particularly tough as we go after they confirmed plans to finance minister George Osborne’s Britain’s financial sector status said, adding the risk of inflation The ECB unveiled its so-called from a high-demand to a low- merge. plans to run a budget surplus by outside the euro zone and restrict overshooting the BoE’s 2 percent Targeted Longer Term Refi- demand quarter,” said Richard Ten minutes into trade, the 2019/20, although it urged flex- EU migrants’ access to British target was less worrying that nancing Operations or TLTROs Gorry, director of consultancy Dow Jones Industrial average was ibility in case of slower growth. welfare benefits. undershooting it. last year, under which it makes JBC Energy Asia. off 1.26 percent with the broad- It also said the Bank of England Opinion polls show Britons Financial regulation -- which cheap cash available to banks for “Can you rule out $20 per based S&P500 and the tech-rich may need to get tougher on mort- fairly evenly divided on whether is largely in the hands of the BoE a period of three years on condi- barrel? No, you can’t,” he said, NASDAQ composite index simi- gage lending. to remain in the 28-member bloc. -- should continue to be “prudent tion they lend it on to the real although adding that prices larly heading South. In a regular report on Britain’s IMF Managing Director Chris- and intrusive”, with efforts to economy. would not likely fall that far. Dow Chemical and Dupont economy, the Fund said vulner- tine Lagarde, speaking at the reform banks’ culture and build It has so far conducted six such Gorry said he expected a both gave up about half the abilities for Britain included a unveiling of the report in Britain’s a better overall picture of house- operations. slow rebalancing of the market sharp gains that came wednes- “strikingly large” current account finance ministry, said the Fund hold indebtedness. The take-up of the funds in the towards the end of next year, day on leaked news of their mega- deficit which left it exposed to a would assess the alternatives to “Further macro-prudential first three TLTROs was watched with production remaining stub- merger. loss of foreign confidence, as well Britain’s membership of the EU measures may be necessary,” the closely for signs that lending in bornly high despite low bench- Most Asian markets also sank as high levels of household debt. in its next report which is due in IMF said, adding that the govern- the single currency area might mark prices. at the end of a painful week for “In addition, uncertainty asso- May. ment should give the BoE powers finally be picking up. Still, the IEA said the pace of global equites defined by a com- ciated with the outcome of the She said that, speaking person- to regulate the small landlords The ECB said that 55 banks stock-building should roughly modities rout which analysts planned referendum on EU mem- ally, she hoped Britain would stay who account for a third of gross- had bid for €18.303bn in funds halve next year and that it was expect to continue. With the glo- bership could weigh on the out- in the bloc. mortgage lending. in the latest TLTRO, compared very unlikely thatglobal storage bal economy struggling, China’s look,” the IMF said in a regular Britain’s economy has outper- On fiscal policy, the IMF said with 88 banks for €15.6bn euros capacity would be filled. growth subdued and the dollar report on Britain’s economy. formed other advanced coun- it was right for Britain to aim in the previous one in Septem- “Concerns about reaching stor- tipped to strengthen further, Osborne, who has locked horns tries in the past couple of years, for a budget surplus, as the cur- ber. age capacity limits appear tobe oil is expected to remain beaten with the IMF in the past, said and the IMF said this strength rent deficit gave it little room for The banks are obliged to lend overblown,” it said. The IEA said down until possibly 2017. that overall the report was the should persist. “Steady growth manoeuvre if another crisis hit. on the borrowed money to com- it expects a decline innon-Opec most positive since hebecame looks likely to continue over the panies and businesses. production in 2016, as US light REUTERS finance minister in 2010. next few years, and inflation REUTERS AFP

Jaguar seals Gazprom in talks to fill China pipeline deal for $1.5bn MOSCOW: Russia’s Gazprom “There is an agreement in eyebrows in the industry. has held talks with a small Sibe- principle, but we don’t know the Under the Gazprom project, rian energy firm on using its prices yet,” the source said. two large gas fields in the far- car plant gas to fill a pipeline to China if A second source, close to flung regions of East Siberia, the state-controlled giant’s own Gazprom, said the firm had Chayanda and Kovykta, are des- LONDON/BRATISLAVA: projects to produce and transport started talks with third party ignated as the principal source for Luxury carmaker Jaguar Land the gas are not ready in time, suppliers due to financial con- the supplies to China. Rover (JLR) confirmed yesterday industry sources said. straints. Gazprom had valued total it will build a car plant in Slova- As part of Russia’s strategic “Massive investments are investments for the project at $55 kia, beginning a £1bn ($1.5 bn) shift eastwards prompted by rows needed there, and it is a huge billion, which includes the devel- project which will be one of the with the West, Gazprom agreed problem in the current situation.” opment of the fields and construc- biggest ever foreign direct invest- last year to start pipeline gas the source said, confirming that tion of a pipeline called The Power ments in the central European supplies to China in 2018-2019, Irkutsk was one of the companies of Siberia which will take the gas nation. raising them gradually after that approached by Gazprom. to China. The company, which is rap- to make China one of the biggest Gazprom spokesman Sergei Apart from costly investments, idly expanding its model line-up customers for Russian gas. Kupriyanov said his firm had Gazprom has faced a problem and volumes, had said in August However, Gazprom has less had contacts with Irkutsk Oil with high helium content at Cha- it aimed to build a plant at the money available to finance the Company. But asked if the talks yanda. The company will have to western Slovak town of Nitra scheme than it had expected were about the Siberian firm separate the helium from meth- with an annual output of up to because low world gas prices have supplying gas for pumping to ane, the prime type of gas des- 300,000 cars. Slovakia’s Prime Minister Robert Fico (right) and Indian-owned luxury hit its revenues, while sanctions China, he told Reuters: “That’s tined for further sales to China. Yesterday, JLR, owned by car manufacturer Jaguar Land Rover CEO Ralf Speth sign an investment imposed on Russia over Ukraine not confirmed.” Potentially, there could be other India’s Tata Motors Ltd, said it contract for the construction of new factory. are making it hard to secure loans “The contacts were for companies able to feed their gas will begin constructing the site from the West. information only on the creation into Gazprom’s pipeline. Another next spring with around 2,800 euro zone helped encourage JLR to economic growth next year, One industry source said that of a gas balance in the east.” Russian energy champion, Ros- jobs created as production ramps pick it over neighbouring coun- and 0.8 percent once production Gazprom had asked the privately- Gazprom, which has a neft, currently produces more up. tries. launches. owned Irkutsk Oil Company, monopoly on Russian gas exports, than 7 billion cubic metres of gas “The new factory will comple- The Slovak government said it Hudak said JLR would invest which holds large gas reserves is treated by the Kremlin as a in eastern Siberia with a view to ment our existing facilities in the approved €130 million in state aid €1.4bn through 2021, when in the region and some infra- national champion. Therefore, for increase it to 16 bcm by 2022. It UK, China, India and Brazil and for the project, which helps Prime capacity should reach 150,000 structure, to pledge up to 7 bil- the world’s biggest gas company has reserves in the region esti- marks the next step in our strat- Minster Robert Fico project an cars. A further 500 million would lion cubic metres of gas per year to seek help from a small mated at 1 trillion cubic metres. egy to become a truly global busi- image of strong economic man- raise capacity to the maximum for Gazprom’s future supplies to independent to complete such a ness,” JLR CEO Ralf Speth told agement ahead of elections in 300,000. China. high-profile project would raise REUTERS reporters after signing the deal March. JLR has grown rapidly since it with the Slovak government in The car industry represents was bought by Tata in 2008 but Bratislava. 43 percent of Slovakia’s indus- has suffered in recent months due JLR’s new plant will operate trial output and a quarter of its to a blast at China’s Tianjin port, alongside its British plants at exports, according to the Automo- which destroyed thousands of its Austria repatriates its gold from London Castle Bromwich and Solihull in tive Industry Association, which cars, and a sharp decline in sales the English midlands, and Hale- expects the country of 5.4 million in China earlier in the year. VIENNA: Austria has repatri- reserves, said in May that by the OeNB said in a statement. A wood in the northwest, turning to make almost 1 million cars this Speth said targets were ated 15 tonnes of its gold reserves 2020, 50 percent of the reserves spokesman for the central bank out models such as the Jaguar year. unchanged by the setbacks. as part of a plan to hold half its would be kept in Austria, 30 per- said it hadbegun repatriating the XE sports saloon and the Range Economy Minister Vazil Hudak “There is no change in previous stock of the precious metal within cent in London and 20 percent gold from London in October. Rover Evoque. said the JLR factory would cre- plans, China is still the biggest the country’s borders, the Aus- in Switzerland. Most of its stock After the repatriation, Austria Volkswagen, Kia and Peugeot ate 12,000 jobs in supplier indus- automotive market in the world, trian National Bank (OeNB) said is now in Britain. “By the end of held roughly 65 tonnes of gold, or Citroen already build hundreds of tries in addition to those at the we can grow even more there.” yesterday. November, the Austrian National about 23 percent of its reserves, thousands of models in Slovakia, factory. The central bank expects The OeNB, which adminis- Bank brought 15 tonnes of its on its territory. which said its membership of the it may add 0.3 percentage points RETUERS ters Austria’s 280 tonnes of gold gold back into its own vaults,” REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 BUSINESS VIEWS www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 15 Stakes are high in hunt Bondholders benefit from for “real” Nakamoto By Jeremy Wagstaff air travel by US buyers HE stakes are high in the hunt for Satoshi Nakamoto, the person or people behind bitcoin, not just for the journal- ist who gets it right first, but also for the cryptocurrency By Romy Varghese the two indexes was 0.26 percentage point. Lauderdale and San Diego were among the Titself. An Australian entrepreneur and academic, Craig This year has been a good one for airports fastest growing as tourists passed through Steven Wright, is the latest candidate, outed in articles by Wired ONDHOLDERS such as Nuveen already: enplanements have increased by them, Heffintrayer said. magazine and technology news website Gizmodo hours before his Asset Management are some of almost 5 percent, which was more than the “We should continue to see strong per- home and office in Sydney were searched by police. the biggest beneficiaries of the 4 percent expected by Moody’s. Enplane- formance across the board and especially But the search has already tripped up several journalists, most resurgence in air travel among ments are key since they drive a range of in those regions that are more tourism famously Newsweek’s Leah McGrath Goodman, who identified US consumers, and they don’t see cash-generating avenues from parking fees dependent,” he said. Japanese American Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto in March Ban end in sight. to beer sales at the terminal bars. Although travelers from overseas may 2014 as bitcoin’s creator. Debt issued to fund airport improve- It’s been a good year for bondholders too. decline due to weakening economies in Dorian Nakamoto denied it — as has nearly everyone else alleged ments are outperforming the broader $3.7tr Airport debt has gained 3.5 percent through China, Latin America and Europe, US to be the mastermind credited with writing the paper, protocol municipal-bond market for an unprece- December 8, beating the market’s 3 percent passengers should compensate for that, and software in 2008 that gave rise to bitcoin and its underlying dented fifth consecutive year. That’s likely advance, Bank of America Merrill Lynch Moody’s said. An example of a medium-sized blockchain technology. to continue because the bonds have dedi- data show. A fifth straight year of outper- US airport that has seen a “tremendous Unmasking the “real” Nakamoto would be significant both for cated revenue streams and they still offer formance would be the longest streak since amount of growth” partly due to tourism is the future development of bitcoin and, potentially, the currency’s higher returns than top-ranked municipals, the firm began tracking the data in 1993. Tennessee’s Nashville International Airport, market value. said John Miller, Nuveen’s co-head of fixed Issuance has been “subdued” and should Heffintrayer said. While any changes to the bitcoin protocol can only be imple- income in Chicago. He said he’s looking to remain so in 2016 apart from projects such Investors have noticed tax-free 10-year mented by consensus, the proven founder of the cryptocurrency buy more. With the US economy growing as the replacement of the terminal at New revenue bonds sold by the authority run- could hold considerable sway. by about 2.5 percent in 2016, airlines will York’s LaGuardia Airport, Miller said. Air- ning the airport were priced to yield 2.31 “Decision-making power doesn’t rest with any individual, but see enplanements, or the number of passen- ports this year have issued $8.2bn in secu- percent, 0.29 percentage point over top- Nakamoto is such a mythical figure, if he appears he could become gers arriving or departing at airports, rise rities, up from last year’s $7.2bn, but are ranked munis. That’s lower than the 2.55 a sort of messiah to the community,” said Roberto Capodieci, a by 4 percent, according to Moody’s Inves- unlikely to reach the tally of $10.7bn seen percent for similarly rated revenue debt. Singapore-based entrepreneur focusing on the blockchain. tors Service. The credit-rating company in 2012. Moody’s median rating for airport Moody’s and S&P gave the securities the Persuading that community is not easy: while the system is expects airports to exceed their budgeted bonds is A2, four steps lower than the fifth-highest rank, A1 and A+ respectively. decentralised by design, a cluster of so-called bitcoin miners based growth and a few to win positive changes to median Aa1 grade for US states. Airports Metropolitan Nashville Airport Authority in China are key, Antony Lewis, a Singapore-based bitcoin con- their ratings or outlooks this year, said Earl with higher grades serve a vital purpose in received $1.1bn in orders for $200m in bonds, sultant, said. Heffintrayer, a Moody’s analyst in New York. large markets, while lower-ranked ones face said Lauren Lowe, director at the agency’s Unlike traditional currency, bitcoins are not distributed by a “There is still a need in the marketplace to more competition, Heffintrayer said. financial adviser PFM Group. The airport central bank or backed by physical assets such as gold, but are have that additional spread and that addi- Fuel costs comprise “an important com- expects enplanements in 2016 to rise by 5 “mined” using computers to calculate increasingly complex algo- tional yield without an enormous amount ponent” for airport bonds to outperform the percent from the previous year, following an rithmic formulas. Miners run pools of computers that process of credit risk,” said Miller, whose company overall market next year, said Alan Schan- annual growth of 4.4 percent over the past transactions and create new bitcoins, an energy intensive business oversees about $100bn in munis. kel, a Janney managing director in Phila- five years, according to bond documents. that has frozen out all but a handful of players. Securities in the Standard & Poor’s delphia. The price of jet fuel declining by 44 The bond deal “showed a lot of investor The group effectively scuttled a recent effort by one key bitcoin Municipal Bond Airport index are yielding percent since 2011 has helped support the confidence in this market and in what we’re thinker to make processing simpler and cheaper, Lewis said. 2.33 percent, compared with 1.98 percent airlines’ profitability, and consumers saving doing here at the airport and in our future David Moskowitz, Singapore-based founder of start-up Bitcoin for bonds in the national investment- grade on gas for their cars have more money to growth,” said Robert Wigington, president Brokerage, said knowing who Nakamoto was would be significant index, according to JR Rieger, vice president spend on travel, he said. and chief executive officer of the authority. “because people are looking for a core voice behind (bitcoin). It of fixed- income indexes at S&P in New York. Lower fuel costs prompted airlines to add would help us understand what Satoshi thought”. In October, the gap in the yield between more seats this year, and airports in Fort BLOOMBERG Then there’s the fact that bitcoin researchers believe he or she may be holding up to 1 million bitcoins, which if sold today would fetch $414m. If Nakamoto chose to sell out, or even hinted that he might, that would push the price down, reducing the incentive to mine, which might in turn provoke a steeper fall in the currency, Lewis said. On the other hand, Nakamoto could help reduce uncertainty by reassuring bitcoin users he was not going to sell his holdings in one go or, more drastically, do something called “burning” — publicly deleting the coin by sending them to a bitcoin address to which he or she did not have the key. “It would be like throwing the money into the bottom of the sea, and reduces the uncertainty of dumping onto the market,” said Lewis. Wright has not commented publicly on the Wired and Gizmodo reports, and Reuters attempts to contact him using various listed email addresses were unsuccessful. Fellow tenants at the north Sydney office building listed as the address of one of his companies described him as “an outgoing guy”, who they nicknamed “Mr Bitcoin” because he had once offered to pay for some work in the currency. And even if Wright did admit to being Nakamoto, he would still have to prove it. That could be done by announcing he would move some of the bitcoin believed to belong to him, and then doing so, or signing a message with one of the encryption keys used in emails known to have been written by Nakamoto when bitcoin first appeared. Wright has not been a prominent member of the bitcoin com- munity, but he has appeared at several gatherings in the past year or two. Moskowitz, who met him at a Singapore conference this year, said he was interesting and pleasant to talk to. “He’s clearly very intelligent and fits the profile,” he said. “But that doesn’t necessarily mean he is Nakamoto.” Hints as to Wright’s own feelings on unmasking Nakamoto can be found on Quora, a website where users answer questions posed by other users and vote for the best answer. In September someone with his name, position and profile pic- ture “upvoted” another Quora user’s comment that “as a currency that is meant to be ‘for the people, by the people’, it is probably smart that no one knows who exactly started this coin. It is perfect that Satoshi Nakamoto founded it and vanished.”

REUTERS Cartoon Arts International / The New York Times Syndicate Scams burn foreign buyers of Detroit properties

By Megan Davies Detroit largely missed out on conservative commentator who of dwindling foreign interest. Avenue, Detroit’s major thor- Foreigners also had trouble the mid-2000 housing boom and represented plaintiffs suing prop- Property website Trulia figures oughfare. finding contractors or prop- UYING a property in was hit harder than the United erty management company Metro also show overseas searches for Even after price rises in the erty management companies Detroit a few years ago States overall during the eco- Property Group LLC in 2013. Detroit properties fell to 6.2 per- last few years, it remains the they could trust. Amsterdam- seemed like a steal for nomic downturn, according to They accused Metro of buying cent of all searches in November cheapest among the 50 largest US based investor Edwin Schouten Boverseas investors — as property website Zillow. Now, just homes in Detroit in unpopular from 10.1 percent in February cities, according to Zillow. said he was shocked to find his little as a few thousand dollars as this city of 680,000 is gaining and destitute locations for $500 to 2014. The figures are one-year Prices vary dramatically locally-managed houses empty would get them a house in a city a reputation for industrial cool, $5,000 and selling them to inves- rolling averages. depending on the neighborhood, and vandalised. Many investors that had hit rock bottom and attracting young professionals tors for up to $50,000, despite Bernard Youngblood, Register the street and the individual have never visited Detroit and could only see better times. and artists, its housing market knowing they were unlikely to be of Deeds for Wayne County where property and while some areas were unaware of problems such Yet the promise turned into a has become tainted by reports of rentable, according to the lawsuit. Detroit is situated, said he has are stagnant, others have seen as buying the lone intact house nightmare for many and stories of scams and dubious practices. The firm made fraudulent guar- established a property fraud task significant gains. Opportunities on an otherwise abandoned block, properties vandalized, ransacked, “Nothing is as good as it seems,” antees about the properties, failed force which receives a variety of still abound for savvy investors brokers say. left untended and un-rentable says Des Curtis, who lives near to do repairs when promised, and complaints about overseas pur- but so do pitfalls for the ill-pre- Michael Jordan, founder of have sapped the interest from Bristol, England. Curtis says he created fake tenants, the law- chases. Wayne County Assistant pared. StrategyProperties.com, esti- overseas buyers, real estate bro- invested $45,000 in a Detroit suit alleged. In court documents, Prosecutor Mariam Bazzi said her According to Zillow, median mates overseas demand has fallen kers say. house in 2011 with the promise of Metro said that the vast majority office had successfully prosecuted home values for the city recovered by a third since 2013 and says for- For a city that only emerged steady rent but had his property of investors were satisfied with a case involving foreign investors modestly to $39,800 in October eigners who come to him to sell from bankruptcy a year ago, any vandalised and deemed unrenta- their returns and the services and was investigating another. from a low of $37,300 in 2012, but are often taken aback by losses setback in the real estate market’s ble. Curtis tried to hold the agents provided. A judge held Metro and A representative for Detroit’s still well below $79,500 in Decem- they would need to take. recovery could hurt prospects of a responsible and discovered he did other defendants liable to pay the mayor’s office did not respond to ber 2005. Homes fetch more than Hong-Kong-based investor sustainable rebound by depressing not actually own the property. He plaintiffs $625,000, according to a request for a comment $260,000 in some affluent suburbs Joseph Hung is among those who property tax revenues and mak- said, after a long fight, he recov- court documents. There is no hard With an eerie mix of beautiful such as Troy and West Bloom- have not given up. Speaking by ing Detroit less appealing to live. ered most of the money via set- data on foreign buying since many well-kept homes or stately man- field, still a bargain compared phone, Hung estimated that his Property tax revenues fell to tlements with firms he declined transactions are done through sions and burnt-out ruins next with $1.1m in San Francisco. roughly $155,000 investment in $100m in 2014 compared with to name due to confidentiality especially established companies door or just a few blocks away, Brokers say overseas investors four properties and one plot of $183m in 2006 as a result of pop- agreements. or intermediaries. However, out Detroit is a market like no other. got burned by their own inexperi- land was now worth $200,000. ulation loss and the aftermath of A reputation for scams “creates of seven Detroit real estate agents For example, Palmer Woods, with ence or were misled by companies “I’m confident that Detroit will the 2008 credit crisis, according to blight for the city, it creates ill- interviewed by Reuters, six said its Tudor-style houses lies streets misrepresenting the state of the eventually come back.” data from the Citizens Research will towards Detroit,” said Deb- that foreign demand was down. away from run-down properties properties and over-promising Council of Michigan. bie Schlussel, an attorney and There are other indications and empty lots across Woodward rental income. REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 16 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com CLASSIFIEDS

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22 23 24 HAMLET COAT I NG ONA I R SKATE BRB 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 UN I BROW STANLEE

33 34 35 36 RON EX I ST SPEED DEST INY RERUNS 37 38 39 40 41 DOVE DENVER 42 43 44 45 46 EMERGE C I G WAGE

47 48 49 50 RINGO SHRINKRAY ENTER ARTFORGER 51 52 53 KISSY SOUTHPOLE Yesterday’s answer 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 ANSWER TO PREVIOUS PUZZLE 62 63 64 68 Preliminary versions of a 27 Future perfect, for one paper 28 Horace’s Easy Sudoku Puzzles: Place a digit from 1 to 65 66 “___ Poetica” 9 in each empty cell so every row, every column 67 68 DOWN 30 Broadcaster and every 3x3 box contains all the digits 1 to 9. 1 Not windy 31 Take a potshot 2 Home of India and Indonesia 32 Ancient Roman garments ACROSS 37 Pig sound 3 Word repeated before 35 Beach Boys’ “Barbara ___” 1 Groups plotting coups 39 Justin Timberlake’s boy band “You’re dead!” 36 Environmental prefix 7 Places where yachts are 41 Prerequisite for calculus, 4 Right away 38 He sealed the 19-Across docked informally 5 John who wrote “A Perfect 40 Right away HYPER SUDOKU 14 Not individually, in sports 42 Step down from a position Spy” 43 Wildebeest 16 The Devil, informally 44 Cow sounds 6 Cheeky 45 Russian urn 17 Relative of a wood engraving 46 Smog-fighting govt. group 7 Pretty much 48 Dried plums 18 Hockey’s ___ Cup 47 Actress Close 8 Where couples get hitched 50 Google’s image organizer 19 Document issued on June 15, 48 Church seating 9 Abbr. on old vitamin bottles 52 Be wild about 1215 49 After: Fr. 10 Pope who issued an 53 Mark on a steer’s rear 21 Ref. books sometimes sold with annulment of the 19-Across 51 Much-photographed figure 54 Canadian gas station magnifying glasses outside Buckingham Palace 11 World’s longest river 55 Tie up, as a boat 22 Break into tears 53 Ascap alternative 12 Scored 100 on 56 Ski resort next to Snowbird 23 German prelate who was the 54 Key of Beethoven’s “Fidelio” 13 “The ___ the limit” 58 Trident-shaped Greek letter first person to be canonized, Overture: Abbr. 15 Kingston Trio hit that A.D. 993 57 Heart of the U.S. legal system, inspired the CharlieCard for 59 Ample, informally 25 Movie critic, often with roots in the 19-Across Boston commuters 60 Peeved state 28 “___ questions?” 62 Biblical wise man 20 Where the 19-Across was 61 Exams for 29 Minimum amount 64 Tropical grassland sealed coll.-bound kids 33 Before, in poetry 65 “What’d I tell ya?!” 24 Unhealthy 63 Ryan of “Sleepless in Seattle” 34 Bring in, as a salary 66 Dressed for the office, say 25 Corp. shuffle 36 Pacific weather phenomenon 67 Contents of a Sunkist crate 26 Disney mermaid

Yesterday’s answer

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

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

SCREEN 1 Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) 2:15 & 8:15pm No Tears For The Dead (2D/Action) 4:15pm Aladin (2D/Comedy) 6:15pm Bengal Tiger (2D/Telugu) 10:30pm SCREEN 2 The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 3:00, 5:00 & 7:00pm Howl (2D/Horror) 9:00 & 11:00pm SCREEN 3 Bengal Tiger (2D/Telugu) 2:15pm Hoy en la Historia Zinzana (2D/Arabic) 5:00pm A Second Chance (2D/Romantic) 7:00pm December 12, 1915 Hyena Road (2D/Drama) 9:15pm Frank Sinatra, one of the most Close Range (2D/Action) 11:30pm popular artists of the 20th century, ROYAL PLAZA was born. He sold over 150 million records worldwide and also had a SCREEN 1 The Good Dinosaur (2D/Animation) 2:30, 4:15 & 6:00pm successful career as a film actor Close Range (2D/Action) 7:45pm 1915:     No Tears For The Dead (2D/Action) 9:15pm Hyena Road (2D/Drama) 11:30pm       SCREEN 2 Aladin (2D/Comedy) 3:00pm       Howl (2D/Horror) 5:00 & 11:15pm 1955: British engineer Christopher A Second Chance (2D/Romantic) 7:00pm Cockerell patented the hovercraft Zinzana (2D/Arabic) 9:15pm 1955:      ACCELERATE, BRAKE, CHAMPION, CHICANE,   !   ASIAN TOWN CIRCUIT, COCKPIT, COMPETE, CORNER, DISTANCE, 1995: The UN tribunal investigating Anarkali (2D/Malayalam) 5:00pm DRIVER, ENGINE, EXHAUST, FLAG, FUEL, GEAR, the genocide in Rwanda issued its Amar Akbar Anthony (2D/Malayalam) 7:00pm LAPS, MACHINE, MOTORBIKE, MOTORCYCLE, first indictments, accusing eight Pathemari (2D/Malayalam) 12:30, 2:30, 8:00 & 10:30pm Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) people over the mass slaughter of 12:45, 3:00, 4:00, 5:30 & 8:00pm OVERTAKE, PIT STOP, POSITION, RACING CAR, Salt Mango Tree (2D/Malayalam) 9:45 & 10:30pm RALLY, RECORD, SPEED, SPEEDWAY, STOCK CAR, thousands in a stadium and church Bengal Tiger (2D/Telugu) 1:00, 4:00, 6:30 & 9:30pm STRAIGHT, THROTTLE, WHEEL, WINNER. " #$%  ''!"($)*

SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 20 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT T20: Record prize bag of $5.6m on offer The sleepy hill station of Dharamsala will host arch-rivals India and Pakistan on March 19, says BCCI

MUMBAI: The sleepy hill sta- “We, as hosts, are fully pre- tion of Dharamsala will host arch- pared to organise one of the most 2016 WORLD TWENTY20 FIXTURES rivals India and Pakistan at next entertaining spectacles in world NEW DELHI: The World Twenty20 will be held in India from March 8 to April 3. year’s cricket World Twenty20, cricket,” said BCCI secretary The fixtures were announced yesterday. while the final will be staged at Anurag Thakur, who is also presi- FIRST ROUND (GROUP WINNERS TO PROGRESS TO SECOND ROUND) Kolkata’s historic Eden Gardens, dent of the Himachal Pradesh organisers said yesterday. Cricket Association which runs Group A: Bangladesh, Netherlands, Ireland and Oman The bitter foes will meet in the Dharamsala stadium. Group B: Zimbabwe, Scotland, Hong Kong and Afghanistan the group stages on March 19 in India, Pakistan, New Zealand remote Dharamsala in the Hima- and Australia are placed in Group SECOND ROUND GROUPS layan foothills whose stadium 2 of the second round Super 10s Super 10 Group 1: Sri Lanka, South Africa, West Indies, England and winner houses just 23,000 fans, the Inter- stage, the ICC announced. group B national Cricket Council (ICC) South Africa, England, West Super 10 Group 2: India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand and winner group A announced in India’s Mumbai. Indies and Sri Lanka are in Group World cricket’s governing body 1. Two qualifying teams will join TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE said eight venues across India the Super 10s stage after the first FIRST ROUND would host the showpiece event, round. March 8: Zimbabwe vs Hong Kong, Nagpur; Scotland vs Afghanistan, Nagpur which runs from March 8 to April The second round gets under 3, with Mumbai and New Delhi way with hosts India taking on March 9: Bangladesh vs Netherlands, Dharamsala; Ireland vs Oman, Dharamsala staging the semi-finals and Kolk- New Zealand on March 15 in March 10: Scotland vs Zimbabwe, Nagpur; Hong Kong vs Afghanistan, Nagpur ata the final. Nagpur, in the western state of “The ICC and BCCI are fully Maharashtra. March 11: Netherlands vs Oman, Dharamsala; Bangladesh vs Ireland, Dharamsala committed and will work together Defending champions Sri March 12: Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan, Nagpur; Scotland vs Hong Kong, Nagpur Q1A to make this a memorable event,” Lanka begin the defence of their March 13: Netherlands vs Ireland, Dharamsala; Bangladesh vs Oman, Dharamsala said ICC chairman Shashank title against a qualifying team on Q1B Manohar, who also heads the March 17 in Kolkata. Board of Control for Cricket in “India has hosted World Cups SUPER 10 India (BCCI). in 1987, 1996 and 2011. We can March 15: New Zealand vs India, Nagpur “India is a country where assure you this time it will be big- March 16: West Indies vs England, Mumbai; Pakistan vs Q1A, Kolkata cricket is a religion and not many ger, better and most entertain- places can match the passion for ing,” Thakur said. March 17: Sri Lanka vs Q1B, Kolkata the game like (in) India,” said Eight teams have been split March 18: Australia vs New Zealand, Dharamsala; South Africa vs England, Mumbai Manohar, who is also the BCCI into two groups for the qualify- president. ing stage from March 8-13. March 19: India vs Pakistan, Dharamsala India versus Pakistan is set to Two of them will progress to March 20: South Africa vs Q1B, Mumbai; Sri Lanka vs West Indies, Bengaluru be one of the most anticipated the Super 10 stage of the event, March 21: Australia vs Q1A, Bengaluru clashes of the tournament but which will see a 86 percent jump fans could find tickets hard to in total prize money for the men’s March 22: New Zealand vs Pakistan, Mohali come by, with organisers over- competition from the last edition March 23: England vs Q1B, New Delhi; India vs Q1A, Bengaluru looking larger stadiums in favour in Bangladesh in 2014. The total March 25: Pakistan vs Australia, Mohali; South Africa vs West Indies, Nagpur of Dharamsala, home to the Dalai prize money for the women’s Lama. event, to be played simultaneously March 26: Q1A vs New Zealand, Kolkata; England vs Sri Lanka, New Delhi Eden Gardens, in comparison, with the men’s, is $400,000, a 122 March 27: India vs Australia, Mohali; Q1B vs West Indies Nagpur can accommodate more than percent increase from the previ- Indian cricket captain Virat Kohli places the ICC World Twenty20 India March 28: South Africa vs Sri Lanka, New Delhi 60,000 spectators while Mum- ous tournament. The sixth edition 2016 trophy during an event to announce thwe groups and schedule in bai’s Wankhede Stadium, which of the event is offering a record March 30: Semi-final (Super 10 Group 1 2nd vs Super 10 Group 2 1st), New Delhi Mumbai yesterday. A total of 58 tournament games will be played in the is likely to have been ruled out $5.6m in prize money. March 31: Semi-final (Super 10 Group 1 1st vs Super 10 Group 2 2nd), Mumbai 27-day tournament in Bangalore, Chennai, Dharamsala, Kolkata, Mohali, because of security reasons, has a Mumbai, Nagpur and New Delhi. capacity of around 35,000. AGENCIES April 3: Final, Kolkata

Golf: McIlroy, eyeing more NBA RESULTS Brooklyn 100 Philadelphia 91 British board asks Fury majors, has laser surgery Chicago 83 LA Clippers 80 Oklahoma City 107 Atlanta 94 LONDON: World number three Rory McIlroy (pictured) has under- Sacramento 99 NY Knicks 97 gone laser surgery to correct his vision as he sets his sights on more success next year. NHL RESULTS to explain comments The 26-year-old Northern Irishman posted a pic- ture of himself on Instagram wearing protective Detroit 3 Montreal 2 LONDON: Tyson Fury (pic- suggest that no criminal offence glasses and saying that the procedure went smoothly. Tampa Bay 4 Ottawa 1 tured) has been asked to attend has taken place and this matter “Human version of the dreaded K-9 cone... Only Florida 4 Washington 1 a British Boxing Board of Con- will not be investigated any fur- for sleeping though!” McIlroy posted, referring to the Philadelphia 4 St Louis 2 trol (BBBC) hearing to explain ther,” the spokesman said. protective cones worn by some dogs. Nashville 5 Chicago 1 his controversial recent media Fury has also been accused of “Laser eye surgery went well.” Winnipeg 6 Columbus 4 comments, the organisation sexism after stating that a wom- McIlroy, who has four major titles to his name, Calgary 4 Buffalo 3 announced yesterday. an’s place was “in the kitchen and formerly played with contact lenses, which he has Fury, 27, has been accused of on her back”. been wearing since he was 11. NFL RESULT homophobia and sexism since But in an interview with Sky He missed part of this season after damaging ankle ligaments play- dethroning longstanding world Sports News broadcast on Thurs- ing football, but finished on a high note when he won last month’s Arizona 23 Minnesota 20 heavyweight champion Vladimir day, Fury denied that he was sex- season-ending DP World Tour Championship and defended his Race Klitschko in Dusseldorf at the end ist or homophobic. to Dubai title. of last month. “I’m not a homophobe, I’m not REUTERS It has provoked a storm of a sexist, I’m not any of those,” he criticism and after meeting on said. “I’m not a bigot, I’m not a THAILAND GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP SCORES Wednesday to discuss the matter, racist, I am a gypsy. I’ve (had peo- the BBBC has summoned Fury to ple) being racist towards me for CHONBURI, Thailand: Leading scores after the second round of the Thailand appear before it in the new year. the past 27 years. Golf Championship yesterday at the par-72 Amata Spring course: “Mr Fury has been called for an “You don’t hear me complaining 131 Jamie Donaldson (WAL) 63-68 interview in the new year,” BBBC about it, do you? I don’t write any 133 Martin Kaymer (GER) 68-65 general secretary Robert Smith newspaper articles about it. told Britain’s Press Association. “If the police are going to waste 135 Matthew Fitzpatrick (ENG) 68-67, Sergio Garcia (ESP) 66-69, Chinnarat Phadungsil (THA) No date has yet been set for the the taxpayers’ money in investi- 66-69 meeting. gating Tyson Fury for being hated 136 Byeonghun An (KOR) 69-67, Panuphol Pittayarat (THA) 70-66 Over 130,000 people have signed week, Fury said: “Homosexuality, then that’s just a joke. It’s a waste a petition calling for Fury to be abortion and paedophilia -- them of taxpayers’ money.” 137 Clement Sordet (FRA) 71-66 removed from the shortlist for the three things need to be accom- Fury won the WBA, IBF and 138 Sam Brazel (AUS) 70-68, Sunghoon Kang (KOR) 70-68 BBC’s prestigious Sports Person- plished before the world finishes. WBO belts against Klitschko, but 139 Joost Luiten (NED) 69-70, Lee Westwood (ENG) 71-68, Brett Munson (USA) 67-72, Phachara ality of the Year award. That’s what the Bible tells me.” has been stripped of the IBF belt Khongwatmai (THA) 68-71, Matthew Giles (AUS) 69-70, Natipong Srithong (THA) 67-72, He was also investigated by But a GMP Police spokesman for granting Klitschko a rematch Jacques Blaauw (RSA) 70-69, Chanat Sakulpolphaisan (THA) 66-73 Greater Manchester Police gave Fury a rare piece of good instead of facing mandatory (GMP) after a member of the news when he revealed the fighter International Boxing Federation 140 Jin Cheng (A) (CHN) 73-67, Nicolas Colsaerts (BEL) 70-70, Darren Clarke (NIR) 69-71, David public reported him for commit- wouldn’t face action over the challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov. Lipsky (USA) 73-67, Antonio Lascuna (PHI) 73-67, Thongchai Jaidee 73-67, Zander Lombard ting a “hate crime”. comments. “The circumstances in (RSA) 71-69, Jason Knutzon (USA) 72-68, Berry Henson (USA) 70-70 In a BBC radio interview this which these comments were made REUTERS Coe defends Eugene choice amid French probe

LONDON: IAAF President Coe subsequently stepped down Later, Coe told L’Equipe that if Eugene. The preliminary investi- now a matter of police investiga- Sebastian Coe (pictured) has as a Nike ambassador, but he there was evidence of the correct gation is understood to be looking tion and I can’t maintain a run- defended the decision to award defended the process that saw the procedures not being followed, at the various suspicions raised ning commentary on that,” he the 2021 World Championships event awarded to Eugene, telling then he would favour a review of by the British media and to make said. “If that has happened, that to the American city of Eugene BBC Radio 4: “We have selected the decisions to award the 2021 sure that the French courts have will take its normal course and after French prosecutors opened cities before not within a bidding event to Eugene. jurisdiction. people will be prosecuted.” an investigation into the process. cycle. There was no bidding cycle. “Let’s be clear on this. If any It is separate to an investiga- Coe acknowledged that the Eugene, which has close ties to And Eugene was not put forward evidence emerges for any candi- tion into allegations of corruption allegations facing Diack and other American sportswear giant Nike, by the IAAF, it was put forward dature which has not been con- against Diack, who is accused of senior IAAF figures were “abhor- won the right to host the biennial by United States Track and Field, ducted properly, then we should accepting bribes in return for cov- rent”, but rejected the suggestion event despite the absence of a for- and by 23 to 25 votes. My council review the allocation, of course,” ering up positive drug tests. the affair was comparable to the mal bidding procedure. decided that for the foreseeable Coe said in an interview on Prior to succeeding Diack in corruption scandal plaguing world The BBC last month published future, this was the best oppor- Lequipe.fr. August, Coe spent eight years football governing body FIFA. an email from a senior Nike tunity to get the World Athletics A judicial source revealed on working as IAAF vice-president, “I don’t believe that, and I’m executive that suggested Coe had Championships into the United Wednesday that French prosecu- but said that deals could have not remotely walking away from lobbied his predecessor Lamine States.” tors are looking at the decision by been made during that time of the seriousness of the situation,” Diack for the championships to He added: “Every sport is fall- the IAAF (International Associa- which senior figures within the said the two-time Olympic 1,500m be awarded to Eugene, which Coe ing over itself to get into the larg- tion of Athletics Federations) to organisation were unaware. “(The champion. denies. est sports market in the world.” award the 2021 championships to IAAF’s conduct under Diack) is REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 SPORT www.thepeninsulaqatar.com 21

England’s Aussies dominate proceedings again Cook relishing Batting heroes Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh stitch highest fourth-wicket partnership chance of HOBART: Nathan Lyon put Scoreboard first win over the skids under the flailing West Indies as Australia set course for Australia (I innings): ...... 583-4 decl West Indies (I innings): Proteas an overwhelming early victory J Burns b Gabriel ...... 33 K Brathwaite lbw b Hazlewood ...... 2 despite Darren Bravo holding on D Warner c Ramdin b Warrican ...... 64 R Chandrika c Smith b Lyon ...... 25 LONDON: England captain in the first Test in Hobart yes- S Smith c Blackwood b Warrican ...... 10 D Bravo (batting) ...... 94 Alastair Cook is still hurting after terday. A Voges (not out) ...... 269 M Samuels c&b Lyon ...... 9 the Test series defeat by Pakistan At the close of a stop-start day S Marsh c Bravo b Warrican ...... 182 J Blackwood c Burns b Lyon...... 0 but believes his side are equipped through showers, the Windies M Marsh (not out) ...... 1 D Ramdin b Hazlewood ...... 8 to strike back against the world’s were 207 for six with Bravo offer- Extras (B-4, LB-3, W-3, NB-14) ...... 24 J Holder lbw Siddle ...... 15 number one team in South Africa. ing spirited resistance on 94 and Total (for 4 wkts decl) ...... 583 K Roach (batting) ...... 31 As he prepared to fly out with Kemar Roach in support on 31. Fall of wickets: 1-75, 2-104, 3-121, 4-570. Extras (B-7, LB-10, W-1, NB-5) ...... 23 his team to South Africa on Bravo and Roach kept the Win- Bowling: Taylor 17-0-108-0 (2nb; 1w); Roach Total (for 6 wkts) ...... 207 Thursday, Cook, who has never dies innings pulse beating with an 16-1-99-0 (4nb; 1w); Gabriel 10-1-59-1 (4nb); Fall of wickets: 1-17, 2-58, 3-78, 4-78, 5-89, won a Test series against the unbeaten seventh-wicket stand of Holder 24-3-75-0 (4nb, 1w); Warrican 28-1- 6-116. Proteas in his garlanded career, 91. 158-3; Brathwaite 13-0-52-0; Blackwood 6-0- Bowling: Hazlewood 16-4-43-2; Pattinson described just how important a “I think the guys are confident 25-0. 15-0-68-0 (5nb, 1w); Siddle 12-5-22-1; Lyon victory be. in Darren and me at the crease. Did not bat: P Nevill, P Siddle, J Hazlewood, J 19-6-43-3; M Marsh 3-1-14-0. “It would mean a huge amount We’ve done a pretty good job so Pattinson, N Lyon. To bat: J Taylor, J Warrican, S Gabriel. to beat the world number one far, hopefully we can carry on nation in their backyard,” the tomorrow and do a much better 30-year-old, leading the current job,” Roach said. LEFT: Australian batsman Adam Voges celebrates after scoring his fifth-ranked Test nation, told a Lyon claimed two wickets in double century on the second day of the first cricket Test match against news conference. one over to trigger a middle-order the West Indies in Hobart yesterday. Voges remained unbeaten on 269. “That’s the challenge we’ve got collapse to have the West Indies BELOW: Australian batsman Shaun Marsh plays a shot against the West ahead of us. in familiar trouble in their chase working hard,” said Lyon, who is brief rain break. The West Indies Indies. Marsh was dismissed for 182. “Reflecting back to Pakistan, after a mammoth declaration of playing in his 50th Test match. efforts were in sharp contrast to there’s something inside me say- 583 for four on the second day. The Windies sticky predicament Australia’s run spree, propelled by ing we had an opportunity we The probing off-spinner snared was accentuated by the dismissal a record 449-run fourth-wicket couldn’t quite take. I wonder if the wickets of Marlon Samuels of skipper Jason Holder, the last stand by Adam Voges and Shaun this is an opportunity I can take,” and Jermaine Blackwood in his of the recognised batsmen at the Marsh. Cook added, musing on the recent seventh over along with opener crease with Bravo. The West Australian pair defeat in the United Arab Emir- Rajendra Chandrika for 175 Test Holder refused to seek a refer- eclipsed the fourth-wicket Test ates. wickets to leave the hapless Car- ral after being struck high on the record of 437 set by Sri Lankans “Losing 2-0 in the series hurts ibbean tourists struggling to avoid pad by Peter Siddle and walked Thilan Samaraweera and Mahela me quite a lot because I didn’t a heavy defeat with three days off for 15, leaving his side in deep Jayawardene against Pakistan in think we were that far off. The left. strife at 116 for six. 2009. result didn’t seem a fair reflec- “I’m really confident in my skill Replays showed that the ball It was also the biggest Test tion of the tour. We definitely now set to get the job done. The ball was missing the stumps and the stand by Australians at home, have an opportunity.” is coming out beautifully out of towering Holder may have stayed bettering the 405-run fifth-wicket Cook believes the South Afri- my hand in the nets and I’ve been on as the players left the field for a partnership by Sid Barnes and cans, who have just suffered a Don Bradman against England humbling 3-0 defeat on merci- in Sydney in 1946. less turning pitches in India -- a HIGHEST PARTNERSHIPS BY WICKET But the duo fell two runs short loss which cut their lead in the HOBART: Highest Test cricket partnerships by wicket after Adam Voges and of Australia’s all-time highest ICC’s world rankings -- are going Shaun Marsh scored 449 for the fourth wicket in the first test between Australia partnership for any wicket of 451 through a period of transition. and West Indies at the Bellerive yesterday. held by Bill Ponsford and Brad- “It’s one side I haven’t actually Wkt Runs Players Team Opponent Year man against England at The Oval Voges and Marsh was unbeliev- outside edge to Smith at slip for beaten in a series. They’ve had a in 1934. able and to have those guys out 25. Experienced Samuels lasted bit of change,” he said. 1st 415 Neil McKenzie/Graeme Smith SA BAN 2008 Voges also posted Australia’s in the middle for that long and to only 14 balls before he was splen- “When you lose greats of the 2nd 576 Sanath Jayasuriya/Roshan Mahanama SL IND 1997 highest score against the West do that job has put us in a pretty didly caught and bowled by Lyon game -- Graeme Smith, Jacques 3rd 624 Kumar Sangakkara/Mahela Jayawardene SL SA 2006 Indies with an unbeaten 269, good position as bowlers,” Lyon for nine. Kallis, (Makhaya) Ntini, (Mark) eclipsing Doug Walters’ 242 in said. Blackwood didn’t see out Lyon’s Boucher -- there’s always going 4th 449 Adam Voges/Shaun Marsh AU WI 2015 1969. “It’s now up to us to go out and over and was gone five balls later, to be a bit of evolution in a side 5th 405 Sid Barnes/Don Bradman AU ENG 1946 Marsh holed out just before take 20 wickets.” caught at bat-pad by Joe Burns, and trying to replace them is nigh 6th 365* Kane Williamson/BJ Watling NZ SL 2015 lunch for 182, caught on the ropes The Windies made a steady giving the spinner three for 18. on impossible, especially in one 7th 347 Denis Atkinson/Clairmonte Depeiaza WI AU 1955 by Bravo off spinner Jomel War- start after lunch, but soon began The Windies bowling attack generation.” rican, ending a day’s occupation to unravel. went down a bowler when quick Cook, who led England to vic- 8th 332 Jonathan Trott/Stuart Broad ENG PAK 2010 of the crease as he compiled his Kraigg Brathwaite lasted 26 Shannon Gabriel left the field tory over Australia this year, 9th 195 Mark Boucher/Pat Symcox SA PAK 1998 highest Test score. balls before Josh Hazlewood with what a team spokesman said admitted his team have not got a 10th 198 Joe Root/James Anderson ENG IND 2014 Australia hammered 145 runs trapped him leg before wicket for was a stress reaction in his left settled top seven but thinks that * Indicates unbroken in the session to go to lunch at two in the ninth over. ankle, putting him in doubt for presents an opportunity for top- 583 for four enabling Steve Smith Chandrika followed in the 20th the rest of the series. order batsmen like Nick Compton AU = Australia; BAN = Bangladesh; ENG = England; IND = India; NZ = New Zealand; PAK = Pakistan; to declare the innings during the over when he was deceived by a and Alex Hales. SA = South Africa; SL = Sri Lanka; WI = West Indies break. “That partnership between drifting Lyon delivery and got an REUTERS Cook confirmed that the excit- ing Hales would get “first oppor- tunity” to stake his claim to be his new opening partner but stopped Scoreboard short of guaranteeing he would New Zealand (I innings): 112-4; Mathews 9-2-28-1; Cha- play in the first of the four Tests Sri Lanka fight back M Guptill c Chandimal b Mathews ...... 156 meera 20-2-112-2 (w1); Herath 19-1-46-0; in Durban, starting on Boxing T Latham c&b Lakmal ...... 22 Jayasundera 5-0-33-0 (nb1); Siriwardana 4-0- Day. K Williamson c Karunaratne b Pradeep ...... 88 24-1. Of the axing of experienced R Taylor lbw Pradeep ...... 8 Sri Lanka (I innings): batsman Ian Bell, Cook was B McCullum c Vithanage b Siriwardana ...... 75 D Karunaratne c Watling b Santner...... 84 reminded of his own feelings at after early scare being left out of England’s World M Santner c Chandimal b Chameera ...... 12 K Mendis c Watling b Boult ...... 8 B Watling c Vithanage b Chameera ...... 5 U Jayasundera c Watling b Wagner ...... 1 Cup squad this year. DUNEDIN: Dinesh Chandimal ation. “We’re slightly in a good cheaply, both caught behind by D Bracewell lbw Pradeep ...... 47 D Chandimal (batting) ...... 83 “I remember how disappointing and Dimuth Karunaratne spear- position,” he said, adding patience BJ Watling. But Karunaratne and T Southee c Siriwardana b Lakmal ...... 2 A Mathews c Watling b Southee ...... 2 and gutting that was but those headed a gritty Sri Lanka fight- would be key. Chandimal stepped up, curtailing N Wagner c Jayasundera b Pradeep ...... 7 K Vithanage (batting) ...... 10 couple of months away from the back on the second day of the first “The wicket is a bit slower than their attacking instincts. T Boult (not out) ...... 0 Extras (B-1, LB-4, NB-4) ...... 9 firing line, from cricket and hav- Test against New Zealand in Dun- we expected and it’s not turning They delicately negotiated their Extras (B-4, LB-3, W-1, NB-1) ...... 9 Total (for 4 wkts) ...... 197 ing time to be at home gave me a edin yesterday. much. way to bring up the 100 in the Total (all out) ...... 431 Fall of wickets: 1-19, 2-29, 3-151, 4-156. new lease of life,” Cook said. They came together with the “It’s two-paced and we have 45th over just before tea. Fall of wickets: 1-56, 2-229, 3-245, 4-334, Bowling: Boult 16-5-38-1; Southee 16-4-35- “Hopefully, that can be the tourists looking fragile at 29 for to wait for the loose ball and get The middle session produced 5-359, 6-365, 7-394, 8-399, 9-426, 10-431. 1; Bracewell 16-4-29-0 (nb4); Wagner 13-2- same for Ian.” two, and put on 122 for the third runs.” only 65 runs, but while the New Bowling: Lakmal 16-1-69-2; Pradeep 23.1-2- 53-1; Santner 19-6-37-1; Williamson 1-1-0-0. wicket in reply to New Zealand’s But New Zealand quick Trent Zealand bowlers sent down a REUTERS first innings 431. Boult thought there was still series of dot balls they seldom At stumps, Sri Lanka were 197 enough in the wicket to keep the looked threatening. for four with Chandimal on 83 advantage with the home side. As the pitch flattened in the Is it a bird, or a 100mph and Kithuruwan Vithanage on 10. “It’s going to be a big push in final session, Sri Lanka upped the Karunaratne was out for 84 the morning. If we can get one tempo and cracked 48 in 13 overs after providing stubborn resist- early, the cliche of one brings two before left-arm spinner Mitchell delivery by Wagner? ance with Chandimal, which and we’ll be into the tail,” he said. Santner made the breakthrough. was desperately needed after Sri Boult saw signs of reverse Karunaratne, a century-maker DUNEDIN: A low-flying seagull was blamed for interfering with the Lanka failed to make the most swing developing “and that’s going against New Zealand a year ago, speed gun yesterday when New Zealand’s Neil Wagner (pictured) of the conditions when they won to become a big factor with four had played patiently for 198 balls bowled a ball clocked at 160 kilometres (99.4 miles) per hour -- one of the toss and sent New Zealand seamers that can all exploit that”. before he slashed at a drifting the quickest on record. into bat. After the New Zealand innings delivery and gave Watling his The surprise missile from Wagner, whose normal bowling speed is With six wickets in hand, Kar- wrapped up early yesterday, the third catch. in the low 130s, lit up social media before the speed radar’s operators unaratne believed Sri Lanka were outlook for Sri Lanka darkened Skipper Angelo Mathews only said the reading may have been affected by a passing bird. in a position to save the Test from when Test novices Kusal Mendis made two before he added to The left-arm seamer’s ball came on a blustery day at Dunedin’s Uni- what had been a very tough situ- and Udara Jayasundera fell Watling’s collection and gave Tim versity Oval when he was bowling to Sri Lanka’s Dinesh Chandimal on Southee a 27th birthday present day two of the first Test. However, mem- with the finest of edges to a bullet bers of the television production team heading down leg side. operating the speed radar said a bird had Umpire Nigel Llong said not probably caused an inaccurate reading give out but a New Zealand appeal from one of two monitors at the ground. showed the faint edge picked up The alternative reading was 133kph, by the Hotspot technology and Sri more in keeping with Wagner’s usual Lanka were four down for 156. pace. Vithanage had a life five overs If Wagner did in fact send down a before stumps when he drove ball at 160kph, he would have been just Doug Bracewell hard at Kane a shade off Mitchell Starc’s Test world Williamson at short cover and record of 160.4, set last month in Perth. was dropped. Chandimal, who The fastest recorded delivery is 161.3 played a chanceless innings, has by Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar, nicknamed faced 208 deliveries for his 83. the “Rawalpindi Express”, against Eng- At the start of the day, New land in a 2003 World Cup limited-overs Zealand added a further 22 runs match. to their overnight score 409-8. “If Neil Wagner is hitting 160km, then Doug Bracewell reached 47, his the drinks cart is doing 150km and West Kithuruwan Vithanage of Sri Lanka avoids the ball during day two of the highest Test score, before he was Indian cricket is nosediving at warp,” first International Test cricket match against New Zealand at University the last wicket to fall. quipped Twitter user @eld2_0. England’s Test captain Alastair Oval in Dunedin yesterday. Cook. REUTERS REUTERS SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 22 www.thepeninsulaqatar.com SPORT

FOOTBALL FIXTURES ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES (ALL TIMES IN GMT) Tribunal upholds Platini’s suspension Norwich City vs Everton (1245); Crystal Palace vs Southampton (1500); Manchester The UEFA boss and FIFA presidential candidate will remain suspended until January 5: CAS City vs Swansea City (1500); Sunderland vs Watford (1500); West Ham United vs Stoke City (1500); AFC Bournemouth vs LAUSANNE: The Court of Arbi- expected to issue its final verdict Manchester United (1730) tration for Sport (CAS) yesterday this month, a statement said on backed a 90-day FIFA ban against Thursday. Tomorrow Michel Platini, in a new blow to Platini’s temporary suspension Aston Villa vs Arsenal (1330); Liverpool vs the Frenchman’s hopes of enter- expires on January 5 and CAS West Bromwich Albion (1600); Tottenham ing the FIFA presidential race. noted that even if it were lifted, Hotspur vs Newcastle United (1600) Platini, head of European con- there was no guarantee that Monday federation UEFA and a FIFA vice FIFA’s electoral committee would Leicester City vs Chelsea (2000) president, had been the favourite approve Platini’s candidacy before to succeed outgoing FIFA presi- the temporary ban runs out. SCOTTISH PREMIERSHIP FIXTURES dent Sepp Blatter, until he was Platini’s camp voiced optimism Aberdeen vs Hearts (1230); Dundee named in a Swiss criminal inves- after the ruling. United vs Partick Thistle (1500); Hamilton tigation in September. “Michel Platini knows he will Academical vs Ross County (1500); FIFA suspended Platini and ultimately be exonerated”, his Inverness Caledonian Thistle vs Kilmarnock Blatter in October. lawyer Thibaud d’Ales said. (1500); Motherwell vs Dundee (1500) CAS Secretary General Mat- D’Ales also highlighted CAS’s Tomorrow thieu Reeb said judges considered order against FIFA extending the St. Johnstone vs Celtic (1230) whether Platini suffered irrepara- provisional ban. ble damage from the temporary He claimed that given the LIGUE 1 FIXTURES suspension while an investigation emergence of new evidence in Stade de Reims vs Nice (1500); ES over a €1.8m ($2m) payment was Platini’s favour -- a 1998 UEFA Troyes AC vs Bastia (1900); Nantes vs completed. document seen by the media Toulouse (1900); Lille vs FC Lorient (1900); In its appeal, Platini’s camp this week -- FIFA’s ethics judges UEFA President Michel Platini leaves after a hearing at the international Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) Montpellier HSC vs En Avant Guingamp insisted the ex-Juventus star would not be able to issue a ruling in Lausanne, Switzerland. (1900) had done nothing wrong and was before January 5. Tomorrow being unfairly blocked from cam- The FIFA statement said the Monaco vs St Etienne (1300); Angers SCO paigning for FIFA’s presidency. ethics court “intends to come to the legitimacy of the oral contract been a key organiser as UEFA FIFA’s ethics court could rule vs Girondins Bordeaux (1600); Olympique In a unanimous decision, the a decision during the month of with Blatter. president. that out. Platini and Blatter will Marseille vs GFC Ajaccio (1600); Paris St three CAS judges found that no December,” without mentioning With the possibility of a life- Blatter’s replacement will mount defences against the eth- Germain vs Olympique Lyon (2000) irreparable damage had been a possible delay. time suspension pending, a vic- be decided by a vote of FIFA’s ics inquiry findings in Zurich next caused, but urged FIFA to quickly FIFA opened the investigation tory on Thursday would not have 209-member associations on Feb- week. In the meantime, the five LA LIGA FIXTURES reach a final decision in the case. into Platini after Swiss pros- marked the end of Platini’s prob- ruary 26. Blatter’s 17-year tenure confirmed presidential candidates Barcelona vs Deportivo Coruna (1500); The court ruled out an exten- ecutors said he had been ques- lems. as FIFA’s president has culmi- continue to make their case to Celta Vigo vs Espanyol (1715); Levante vs sion of the temporary ban, saying tioned over a 2m Swiss franc But it would have been a sym- nated with an unprecedented cor- FIFA voters. Granada CF (1715); Sevilla vs Sporting Gijon it would breach Platini’s rights. ($2m/€1.8m) payment Platini bolic win for the man who seemed ruption scandal, which has seen They include France’s Jerome (1930); Las Palmas vs Real Betis (2105) “Mr. Platini has lost a round, received from FIFA in 2011 for on track to become the most pow- 39 people within world football Champagne, Prince Ali bin Al Tomorrow but it’s not final,” Reeb told jour- work done a decade earlier. erful figure in the world’s most charged with corruption by the Hussein of Jordan, South African Rayo Vallecano vs Malaga (1100); Eibar vs nalists. Blatter and Platini acknowl- popular sport. US justice department. business tycoon Tokyo Sexwale, Valencia (1500); Atletico Madrid vs Athletic FIFA’s ethics watchdog report- edge there was no contract for It also would have left him free The Swiss national yesterday Asia’s football chief Sheikh Sal- Club (1715); Villarreal vs Real Madrid (1930) edly wants to ban Platini for life, the fee, but insist that their “oral to take part in Saturday’s draw told Japan’s Nikkei business daily man bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and TURKISH CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES and Blatter is also facing further contract” is valid under Swiss law. for the 2016 European Champion- that he would be back in office in Gianni Infantino, Platini’s deputy punishment. According to Platini’s entou- ships in Paris. France is hosting time for the February congress, at UEFA. Kasimpasa vs Konyaspor (1130); FIFA’s in-house court is rage, the new evidence proves the tournament and Platini has but the impending verdict from AFP Eskisehirspor vs Gaziantepspor (1400); Antalyaspor vs Mersin Idmanyurdu (1700); Rizespor vs Trabzonspor (1700) Tomorrow EUROPA LEAGUE RESULTS Kayserispor vs Akhisar Belediyespor (1100); Genclerbirligi vs Sivasspor (1200); Liverpool, Tottenham At Elbasan, Albania Group A Fenerbahce vs Istanbul Basaksehir (1700) At Amsterdam Skenderbeu (ALB) 0 Lokomotiv Monday Moscow (RUS) 3 (Tarasov 18, Ajax (NED) 1 (Van de Beek 14) Besiktas vs Galatasaray (1800) Niasse 89, Samedov 90+1) Molde (NOR) 1 (Singh 29) BELGIAN CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES advance to next stage Group I At Istanbul Charleroi vs OH Leuven (1700); Mechelen At Florence, Italy vs Lokeren (1900); Zulte Waregem vs PARIS: Liverpool and Totten- starts to the likes of Kolo Toure, Fenerbahce (TUR) 1 (Markovic 39) Waasland-Beveren (1900); Kortrijk vs ham Hotspur both advanced Divock Origi and young left-back Celtic (SCO) 1 (Commons 75) Fiorentina (ITA) 1 (Babacar 67) Belenenses (POR) 0 Mouscron-Peruwelz (1930) to the knockout stages of the Brad Smith against opponents Group B Tomorrow Europa League as winners of who required a point to confirm At Poznan, Poland their groups on Thursday as the their own qualification for the At Bordeaux, France Standard Liege vs Club Bruges (1330); likes of Fiorentina, Marseille and last 32. Lech Poznan (POL) 0 Basel (SUI) 1 STVV vs Ghent (1700); Anderlecht vs Bordeaux (FRA) 2 (Laborde 58, Anderlecht also progressed to the Smith’s performance was one (Boetius 50) Oostende (1900) Rolan 63) Rubin Kazan (RUS) 2 last 32. of the biggest plusses in a game (Kanunnikov 31, Ustinov 76) Group J SERIE A FIXTURES However, the two English rep- of few chances played in freezing At Brussels Genoa vs Bologna (1400); Palermo vs resentatives -- who will be joined temperatures and it was a result At Sion, Switzerland Frosinone (1700); Sassuolo vs Torino in the draw for the next round that suited both teams in the end. Sion (SUI) 0 Liverpool (ENG) 0 Anderlecht (BEL) 2 (Najar 28, Okaka (1700); Udinese vs Inter Milan (1945) by Manchester United after their Liverpool finish top of Group 31) Qarabag (AZE) 1 (Dani Quintana Group C Tomorrow Champions League exit -- con- B after going unbeaten through 26) cluded their group stage cam- their six games, while Sion At Baku AC Milan vs Verona (1400); Chievo Verona At London paigns in contrasting fashion. advanced as well, although even vs Atalanta Bergamo (1400); Empoli vs Qabala (AZE) 0 Krasnodar (RUS) 3 Lamela leads Spurs a defeat would have sufficed for Tottenham Hotspur (ENG) 4 (Lamela Carpi (1400); Napoli vs AS Roma (1700); (R Sigurdsson 26, Pereyra 41, Wan- Enjoying an excellent campaign them because Rubin Kazan drew 2, 15, 38, Carroll 78) Monaco (FRA) Juventus vs Fiorentina (1945) derson 75) in the Premier League, Totten- 2-2 at Bordeaux in the other 1 (El Shaarawy 61) Monday ham Hotspur clinched top spot match. At Dortmund, Germany Group K Lazio vs Sampdoria (1945) in Group J by outclassing Monaco “It was difficult; the ground Borussia Dortmund (GER) 0 PAOK At Nicosia PORTUGUESE CHAMPIONSHIP with a 4-1 win at White Hart was very difficult to play and for (GRE) 1 (Mak 33) FIXTURES Lane. both teams the first thing to do APOEL (CYP) 1 (Cavenaghi 6) St Etienne’s Jonathan Brison Group D Rio Ave vs FC Arouca (1615); Pacos de Erik Lamela was the hero for (left) in action against Lazio’s was show you were prepared for Sparta Prague (CZE) 3 (Julis 63, Lafata 77, 87) Ferreira vs Uniao Madeira (1800); Vitoria Spurs, the Argentine netting a Alessandro Matri at Geoffroy a game like this and that is what At Herning, Denmark Guimaraes vs Maritimo (1830); Vitoria first-half hat-trick to put Mau- Guichard stadium, Saint- my team did,” said Klopp. “I am Midtjylland (DEN) 1 (Sisto 27) Club At Tripoli Arkadia, Greece Setubal vs Benfica (2045) ricio Pochettino’s side out of sight Etienne, France. really satisfied, no-one is injured Brugge (BEL) 1 (Vossen 68) before Stephan El Shaarawy got and they were very focused and Asteras Tripolis (GRE) 0 Schalke Tomorrow one back for the visitors. concentrated on the game.” At Naples, Italy (GER) 4 (Di Santo 29, Choupo-Mot- ing 37, 78, Meyer 86) Nacional vs Porto (1600); Sporting vs Tom Carroll added the fourth Liverpool held Fiorentina through Napoli (ITA) 5 (Chalobah 32, Insigne Moreirense (1815); CD Tondela vs Braga goal for Tottenham late on, and Liverpool advanced to the Serie A high-fliers Fiorentina 39, Callejon 57, Mertens 65, 90+1) Group L (2030) they go through with Anderlecht, knockout stages as winners of confirmed their place in the last Legia Warsaw (POL) 2 (Vranjes 63, At Belgrade Monday who beat Qarabag 2-1 in Brussels their group after a 0-0 draw with 32 with a 1-0 win at home to Prijovic 90+2) Academica vs Belenenses (2000) in the night’s other game. Mean- Sion in the bitter chill of Swit- Belenenses of Portugal in Flor- Partizan Belgrade (SRB) 1 (Oumaru while, last season’s Champions zerland. ence, Khouma Babacar scoring Group E 11) Augsburg (GER) 3 (Hong Jeon- DUTCH CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES League quarter-finalists Monaco Jurgen Klopp’s side had already the only goal of the game. At Vienna Ho 45+2, Verhaegh 51, Bobadilla ADO Den Haag vs Willem II Tilburg (1730); are out of Europe altogether. progressed so the German handed La Viola progress in second 89) Rapid Vienna (AUT) 2 (M Hofmann PSV Eindhoven vs Roda JC Kerkrade place in Group I behind Swiss club 29, Jelic 59) Dinamo Minsk (BLR) 1 At Bilbao, Spain (1845); SC Cambuur vs NEC Nijmegen Basel, who were 1-0 winners away (El Monir 65) (1845); Twente Enschede vs Graafschap to Lech Poznan. Athletic Bilbao (ESP) 2 (Kike Sola Doetinchem (1945) Barcelona aim for €1bn goal It was a good night for Italian At Plzen, Czech Republic 43, San Jose 47-pen) AZ Alkmaar (NED) 2 (Van Overeem 26, Janssen Tomorrow clubs in the competition, with Viktoria Plzen (CZE) 3 (Kolar 8-pen, 88) Utrecht vs Ajax Amsterdam (1130); LONDON: Barcelona are aiming to become the world’s highest earn- already qualified Lazio draw- Kovarik 65, Horava 90) Villarreal Groningen vs Feyenoord (1330); PEC Zwolle ing club in the next six years and are determined to counter England’s ing 1-1 away to Saint-Etienne in (ESP) 3 (Bakambu 40, J Dos Santos vs AZ Alkmaar (1330); Heracles Almelo vs Premier League, club president Josep Maria Bartomeu said in an France and Napoli making it six 62, Bruno Soriano 90+4) Vitesse Arnhem (1545) interview published yesterday. wins from six in Group D with a The Spanish giants will make about €600m ($658m) this year but 5-2 thumping of Legia Warsaw. Group F BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES Bartomeu told the Financial Times newspaper he was aiming to lift In a game marred by trouble At Liberec, Czech Republic Bayern Munich vs FC Ingolstadt 04 (1430); this to €1bn ($1.1bn) by 2021. between rival fans, Nathaniel Slovan Liberec (CZE) 2 (Bakos Hoffenheim vs Hanover 96 (1430); SV “We want to be the first club to reach one billion euros in revenues,” Chalobah, Lorenzo Insigne, Jose 75-pen, Sural 76) Marseille (FRA) 4 Darmstadt 98 vs Hertha Berlin (1430); said Bartomeu, who won an election for a six-year term in July after Callejon and a double by Dries (Batshuayi 14, Nkoudou 43, Barrada VfL Wolfsburg vs Hamburg SV (1430); Barcelona overcame team divisions to win the Champions League. Mertens handed Serie A’s third- 48, Ocampos 90+4) Werder Bremen vs Cologne (1430); Bayer A Deloitte survey said that Real Madrid (€549m) and Manchester placed side a convincing win. Leverkusen vs Borussia Moenchengladbach United (€518m) were the of top world football revenue earners in 2014. German full house At Groningen, Netherlands (1730) The president said he wants to increase Barcelona’s presence abroad Augsburg joined fellow Bundes- Groningen (NED) 0 Braga (POR) 0 Tomorrow and embark on a €600m euro renovation of the 93,000 capacity Camp liga sides Borussia Dortmund and Group G FC Augsburg vs Schalke 04 (1430); Nou stadium. It has one overseas office in Hong Kong and plans to open Schalke in advancing by virtue of Borussia Dortmund vs Eintracht Frankfurt more in New York, Sao Paulo and Shanghai by 2017, Bartomeu said. a 3-1 success against Partizan Bel- At Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine (1630) Barcelona, which is owned by its 145,00 members, also wants to set grade in Serbia. up its own university and move into women’s sports. But the Barcelona The home side took the lead but Dnipro (UKR) 3 (Matheus 35, 60, GREEK CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES Shakhov 79) Rosenborg (NOR) 0 boss acknowledged that the shadow of England’s Premier League hangs the Bavarians, struggling domes- Iraklis vs Panthrakikos (1300); Platanias over his club’s plans. tically this season, turned the At Saint-Etienne, France vs PAS Giannina (1515); Panionios vs AEK “Our rival is the Premier League. It is not a specific club, it is the game around with Hong Jeon-Ho, Saint-Etienne (FRA) 1 (Eysseric 76) Athens (1730) strength of the Premier League itself,” Bartomeu said. captain Paul Verhaegh and Raul Lazio (ITA) 1 (Matri 52) Tomorrow He insisted that Barcelona has the financial power to hold off any Bobadilla scoring. Schalke ended Olympiakos Piraeus vs Panaitolikos Agrinion English challenge for its three top stars Lionel Messi, Neymar and the group stage unbeaten after a Group H (1300); Atromitos Athinon vs Kalloni (1515); Luis Suarez. But Bartomeu said Barcelona academy teenagers were 4-0 victory away to Asteras Trip- At Lisbon Xanthi vs Veria (1515); Panathinaikos vs being lured by big money English offers. olis in Group K but already quali- Asteras Tripolis (1730) “The 16-year-olds constantly receive offers from the Premier League fied Dortmund lost 1-0 at home to Sporting Lisbon (POR) 3 (Slimani 67, Ruiz 72, Gutierrez 78) Besiktas Monday that are very tempting. Every year there are some who go,” the Bar- PAOK in Group C. celona chief said. (TUR) 1 (Gomez 58) Levadiakos vs PAOK Salonika (1730) REUTERS REUTERS

24 SATURDAY 12 DECEMBER 2015 Sport www.thepeninsulaqatar.com Football: Al Mansoori tops field on first day Blatter says Qatar leg of 14th GCC Seniors Cycling Championships starts; action ends tomorrow $100m DOHA: UAE’s Ahmed Yusuf Al Mansoori yesterday topped the bribery case first day’s action in the Qatar leg of the 14th GCC Seniors Cycling Championship at Losail Interna- is ‘over’ tional Circuit. Qatar’s Khaleel Abduljanan TOKYO: Suspended FIFA presi- finished in second spot whereas dent Sepp Blatter insisted that compatriot and seasoned rider a $100m bribery case in which Ahmed Bassam Al Bourdainy he is reportedly implicated “is clinched the third spot. over”, and pleaded ignorance over Yesterday’s riding distance was alleged corruption by top officials 80.5kms. Riders from all GCC at the scandal-hit world body. countries completed seven laps Blatter, speaking to Japan’s around the Losail International Nikkei business daily, also pro- Circuit covering the roads out- tested that he should have been side Losail Shooting Range and warned before Swiss police the Losail Sports Arena. arrested seven FIFA officials in Al Mansoori said he enjoyed May, and said he hoped to return the battle with Qatar riders. to his job in the coming weeks. “Qatar team riders gave us a “It was a tsunami,” he said tough competition,” Al Mansoori Ahmed Yusuf Al Mansoori of the UAE, Khaleel Abduljanan of Qatar and compatriot Ahmed Bassam Al Bourdainy after the first day’s action in the of the May arrests on behalf of said yesterday. 14th GCC Seniors Cycling Championship held around Losail International Circuit yesterday. RIGHT: Riders in action. All six GCC nations are being US authorities, which plunged “It was a tough stage because represented in the championships. the world body into crisis, in the it was fairly windy and difficult interview published yesterday. when the wind was against you,” “Swiss authorities should have he added. next two days also as today was well at the start,” Al Bourdainy four-day event designed to pro- mote cycling in Qatar and the at least informed me that such a “I did this for my team. We a good start for us in Qatar,” he said after the prize distribution mote the country’s rich heritage region. GCC cycling officials also thing would happen,” Blatter said, have a great bunch of riders. They said. ceremony. and historical sights. presented a special plaque to Al adding that he was “shocked when do well as a team,” Al Mansoori Qatar’s Al Bourdainy said “They (the UAE) team did well The first day’s action of the Naimi I saw, and (what is) still going on, said. windy conditions made riding but I am confident we will come Tour will be held at Aspire Zone QCF President Sheikh Khalid what has happened in the differ- “I think I did well and I hope tough. back well in the next two stages. (3.3km prologue). said: “The Qatar leg of the GCC ent confederations”. I can continue to ride well in the “It was very windy and cold as We have done well at this event The second day’s action will Championships is popular among “I cannot be morally responsi- and we will be stronger over the commence at Al Thakira and con- the riders. We usually see great ble for the bad activities of mem- course of the next two days,” he clude at Madinat Al Shamal after contests among the riders and bers of my executive committee said. the riders complete a distance of that was the same case today as when I have no chance to intro- Today, the riders will start and 129.9kms. well.” duce them or to dismiss them,” finish the second day’s action in The third stage will begin at He added: “Qatar team is doing Blatter said. Madinat Al Shamal. Camel Race Track in Dukhan well and I am confident they will The arrests in Zurich kick- The riders will cover a distance (119.8kms) while the fourth and come back with stronger perform- started events which forced Blat- of 103.3kms, Qatar Cycling Fed- final stage begins in Simaisma ances over the next two days.” ter to announce his resignation. eration (QCF) said. and ends at Al Zubarah Fort Sheikh Khalid said: “We have He is now suspended from FIFA The third and final day of (119.8kms). a busy week with two events and as Swiss authorities investigate action will be held in Dukhan At the end of the prize distri- then we will prepare for the Tour the alleged misappropriation where the riders will cover a dis- bution ceremony yesterday, QCF of Qatar events next year.” of funds and a $2m payment to tance of 98.4kms. President Sheikh Khalib bin Ali Six weeks after the 2015 Tour UEFA chief Michel Platini. After a break of two days, QCF Al Thani presented a QCG sou- of Zubarah, Qatar will host the Blatter, who suffered a health will stage the hugely popular Tour venir to former secretary general world’s best male and female rid- scare last month, said he would be of Zubarah that will start on Magid Al Naimi. ers at the three ‘Ladies Tour of fully recovered by Christmas and December 16 and end on the 19th The ceremony held at venue Qatar’ and the ‘Tour of Qatar’ hoped to be back in office in time QCF President Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani presents a souvenir to of this month. of yesterday’s race was staged men’s race in February. to hand over to his successor, who Magid Al Naimi, former QCF secretary general. This week’s Tour of Zubarah to thank Al Naimi for his ‘out- will be elected on February 26. will be the third edition of the standing contributions’ to pro- THE PENINSULA “At least I can prepare the con- gress and I can go out of FIFA at the time when I am still the leader of the congress, because I am still the president of FIFA,” he said, explaining why he is keen Tickets go on Al Ahli striker to return. The 79-year-old’s problems sale for Inter Al Sadd controlled the Abdullah says deepened this month when the BBC said US authorities are Milan-PSG he will be back investigating evidence indicating he knew about $100m in bribes paid to former FIFA Executive clash in Doha game, says Ferreira in action soon Committee members. Sports marketing company ISL DOHA: Qatar Football Associa- DOHA: Al Ahli’s influential is alleged to have paid a total of tion (QFA) yesterday announced DOHA: Al Sadd head coach striker Meshaal Abdullah yester- $100m to officials including Joao that tickets are now on sale for Jesualdo Ferreira praised his day assured he will be fit for his Havelange, Blatter’s predeces- the prestigious friendly match players after the Wolves claimed team’s key Qatar Stars League sor as FIFA chief, and former between Inter Milan and Paris a famous Qatar Classico victory (QSL) clash against Al Rayyan FIFA executive Ricardo Teixeira, Saint-Germain. over Al Rayyan in Round 12 of next week, saying his injury was in return for TV and marketing The match will take place at the QSL on Thursday. not serious as thought of two days rights in the 1990s. Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium, The Wolves’ 2-1 success at Jas- ago. Blatter has maintained he was home of Al Sadd Sports Club, on sim Bin Hamad Stadium brought Abdullah dislo- unaware of the payments, but Wednesday December 30. Al Rayyan’s record-breaking win- cated a shoulder the BBC said it had seen a letter The match starts at at 7:30pm. ning run to an end on Thursday. bone in the game obtained by the Federal Bureau of Mansour Al Ansari, QFA Chief Hamza Senhadji and Muriqui against Lekhwiya Investigation in the United States Executive Officer, said: “I am grabbed the goals for Al Sadd on in round 12 and that casts doubt on his denial. pleased to announce that tickets what proved to be a memorable went off the field Blatter said that the bribery are now on sale for this friendly night. in the 4-0 loss. case “is over, it is finished. It was match between two of Europe’s Ferreira, in charge for only his “I underwent solved in court. And it was solved most prestigious sides. second Al Sadd game, said yester- some medical by the FIFA ethics committee”. “Both Inter Milan and Paris day: “I’m delighted with the vic- tests on Thurs- Asked whether he knew about Saint-Germain are flying high tory and the huge spirit shown day morning the payments to Havelange, his in their respective leagues, so it by the players. We controlled the with the team doctor,” Abdullah former boss, Blatter reiterated: promises to be an exciting match match and deserved to win.” said in an interview with QSL “It is settled. It was settled by and occasion. The squads of both The victory ended Al Sadd’s website. a tribunal in Switzerland. They teams contain some of the most two-game losing run and helped Coach Jesualdo Ferreira gestures during Al Sadd’s match against Al “I am no longer in any pain. I even went to the highest court. gifted players in the world and we the Wolves to second place in the will try to catch up with my team (There) was no harm to me on Rayyan at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium on Thursday. Al Sadd won 2-1. are sure that every football fan in QSL after collecting 24 points mates for our next game against ethics, nothing.” Qatar will be eager to attend this from 12 games. Al Rayyan in round 13,” he added. Blatter also denied that the prestigious game.” Ferreira added: “The players and at times frenetic match, Al Rayyan and Al Sadd. QSL “This will be the toughest game reason he has barely left Swit- Tickets are limited to three per were given the freedom to show against their fiercest rivals. Executive Director of Marketing for us during this season and I zerland for months is that he’s person and can only be bought their skills against the league “We created a lot of chances & Communications Khalifah Al want to be ready for this match,” scared of being arrested. online via www.qfa.com.qa. Spec- leaders, and they didn’t disap- and on another day we would Haroon welcomed members of he added. “First, we have been in a crisis,” tators should note that the QFA point.” have scored a lot more goals. Entrepreneurship Organization Abdullah stressed that his Blatter said in the interview. is the only official ticket source For Rayyan, it was a first loss We lacked a bit of luck tonight, at the game won by Al Sadd 2-1 injury isn’t serious and he had “This is my military education: for this match. The QFA is not of a remarkable season. The Lions including losing Victor Caceres at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium. suffered from similar discomfort When you are in a crisis, the com- responsible for any tickets sold had won 11 games out of 11 to set to injury – someone who is a key The Entrepreneurship Organ- with the Qatar National Team. mander is not leaving the com- through a third party. a new QSL record for consecutive player for us. ization is a global entity with a “After I left the field of play, mand,” he said, adding that his This will be the latest high-pro- wins going into the match. “The timing of the second Al branch in Qatar as well as several the medical staff instantly han- health was also a factor. file match involving famous Euro- Following the defeat Al Rayyan Sadd goal was crucial. We cre- companies,” Al Haroon said. dled my injury and returned the The Swiss added that he pean clubs to take place in Doha. head coach Jorge Fossati refused ated a lot of chances before half- “We had invited them to dislocated bone shoulder to its wasn’t worried about sponsors In 2014, Qatar hosted the Super to be downhearted after what he time and could easily have been in the season’s biggest QSL game normal position just to make sure leaving FIFA. Major sponsors Cup clash between Juventus and felt was a strong performance. front when they scored.” given their interest in the QSL. everything is right,” Abdullah said including Visa and Coca-Cola Napoli, while Bayern Munich Fossati said: “The winning run Fossati went on to say there is All guests at the game were yesterday. have demanded reforms includ- faced the Qatar Stars League All was always going to end at some still a long way to go in the title enthralled by the quality of foot- The striker spoke about the ing greater transparency and Stars during their winter break point. I’m proud of my players and race, which his side currently ball on the pitch and the fine team results during recent games. accountability. in January 2015. what they have achieved this sea- leads by nine points. organization off it,” he added. “We are not satisfied with the “They have just made an alarm Below are details of the ticket son – to lose their first match in He added: “After every win I “The huge turnout of fans was results that we have got recently. clock, but they will not go away,” categories and prices: December is outstanding. told the fans that the title has not a real spectacle at Al Sadd Sta- There are some reasons behind Blatter said in the interview. VIP: QR 250 “The level of performance been settled. There are still a lot dium,” Al Haroon added. this such as injuries and absence “There is a new world coming Category 1: QR 150 tonight was high. If we keep play- of matches to be played.” Entrepreneurship Organiza- of key players,” he said. Al Ahli are in. China decided to go to football, Category 2: QR 50 ing like that we will win plenty Meanwhile, QSL on Thursday tion is a global foundation with a 9th on the QSL points table with and there is India,” Blatter added Family: QR 50 more games.” hosted members of Entrepreneur- branch in Qatar. only 14 points from 12 matches. without elborating. Fossati felt Rayyan were ship Organization at Qatar Clas- THE PENINSULA unlucky to lose the high-tempo, sico clash between soccer giants THE PENINSULA THE PENINSULA REUTERS